Chapter 8

The moonlight was serene and quiet; a lone man and a solitary ghost lay side by side on the bed, their eyes meeting.

Xie Jinhuan turned his head and suddenly spotted a hanging ghost—he jolted upright, scrambling to sit and reach for his weapon, but after a closer look, he felt the specter seemed familiar, and he cried out in shock and anger:

"What are you doing?!"

Ye Hongshang leaned against the inner side of the bed, shedding her hanging ghost's appearance and instead propping her cheek with her hand.

"I saw you couldn't sleep, so I came to help."

Xie Jinhuan had indeed been unable to sleep earlier—but now that he was hugging a female ghost, he could sleep?

Still, the current silence was far more comfortable than before…

Xie Jinhuan calmed his racing heart, paused briefly, then set down his weapon and asked:

"What exactly is your origin? I've read countless books—if you were a legendary titan from history, I couldn't possibly not know you."

Ye Hongshang lay on her side, twirling a strand of blue-black hair between her fingers.

"I've lost my memory—how would I know? Perhaps too many died during the Wu Sect's chaos, and since I wasn't top-tier, they just forgot me."

A hundred years ago, the Wu Sect plunged the world into chaos, slashing the population by a third and even toppling the previous dynasty; countless humans and demons were buried in the annals of history.

But anyone or anything granted the honor of being buried in the "Terror-Subduing Mausoleum," still wandering free after a century underground, could never be an unknown.

Every demon from history who received such treatment had a record of slaughtering millions—even after a thousand years, their names still rang like thunder.

Xie Jinhuan strongly suspected Ye Hongshang had misremembered her name, but he had no way to verify it now, so he asked:

"Can you really not help me with anything? I'm being hunted across the entire city and can't leave—couldn't you at least offer some advice?"

Ye Hongshang pulled out a red round fan from nowhere, waving it gently before her chest, her posture like that of a wealthy, bosomy lady.

"All problems stem from insufficient strength. Your cultivation technique is too thin, your foundation still has room to solidify—just find some miraculous pills, cleanse your marrow, fortify your bones, strengthen your tendons, and moisten your meridians, and you can instantly enter Martial Path Rank 3. Even if you still can't seal the Terror-Subduing Mausoleum, at least you'll have more leverage to protect yourself if the imperial court finds you."

Pills can enhance strength, but body-fortifying medicines are exorbitantly priced—those suitable for Ranks 3–4 warriors are astronomical.

Ye Hongshang was a ghost; she certainly had none. Xie Jinhuan had no silver either, so he asked:

"Can you teach me to refine pills?"

Ye Hongshang shook her head: "I've forgotten how. But that female physician today? She's a Wu Sect demoness, and her cultivation technique seems flawed—her yin-cold energy is crushing her lungs and organs. If you apply a little pressure, offer incentives, and help her resolve this issue, you won't just get a few pills—she might even offer herself to you willingly."

Xie Jinhuan had already stirred up enough trouble—he dared not threaten a Wu Sect demoness who could cast curses—but mutual aid was acceptable:

"How do I fix her cultivation problem?"

"Bring me her technique—I should be able to spot the flaw. As for the yin-cold energy, you need a man of extreme yang vitality, use the yin-yang harmonization method, and spray a hundred times or so—the yin-cold energy will naturally drain out…"

"Huh?!"

Xie Jinhuan, hearing this outrageous claim, could hardly believe it:

"Spray? A hundred times?! Are you sure you're not a succubus trying to trick me into defiling innocent women?"

Ye Hongshang looked baffled: "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just telling you the method—who told you to do it yourself? What if she has a lover? Even if you don't find a man, carve a peachwood rod and stick it in yourself—it still works."

Self-stick?

Xie Jinhuan didn't know how to respond—he flopped back against the pillow.

"Wu Sect demonesses are ruthless—no telling who'll end up sticking whom. Any other way to get pills?"

Ye Hongshang blinked her eyes, leaning close to inspect him carefully.

"Your physique? You could earn a fortune as a male concubine. There are plenty of wealthy ladies nearby—sacrifice your soft skin and tender flesh, and getting a few pills would be effortless."

Xie Jinhuan was a seven-foot man—he felt it would be too disgraceful to sell himself outright. Seeing that the great succubus had nothing but lewd ideas, he fell silent, silently pondering how to rapidly enter Rank 1.

Perhaps he was distracted—his gaze unconsciously landed on the nearby collar.

Though it was an illusion, Ye Hongshang's appearance and figure were exquisitely detailed, appearing as if a real person were right before him.

Her form was no longer as massive as in the courtyard, yet her collar still rose high, heavy and obeying gravity, revealing a faintly spread effect…

Ye Hongshang noticed Xie Jinhuan's gaze was off—she sat up and traced her finger along his cheek.

"Young master~ Would your sister help you cultivate?"

"?!"

Xie Jinhuan jumped, but since he was cornered and couldn't shake her off, he gritted his teeth and reached out to grab her arm!

Alas—he passed right through; there was no physical sensation at all.

?

Xie Jinhuan instantly lost all interest and closed his eyes.

"You're just an illusion—visible but untouchable. Even if your true form is a man-woman, I won't fall for it. Disappear."

"Who said you can't touch me?"

Ye Hongshang raised her slender fingers and lightly scraped his cheek.

To his shock, his skin actually felt smooth—and warm.

Wait, what?

Xie Jinhuan froze, then quickly grabbed her wrist—only to pass through again.

"Huh?"

Xie Jinhuan refused to believe it and tried a few more times—but each time, he was merely teased. He gave up.

"Fine, fine, you win. Disappear now. I need to practice urgently."

"Hehe~"

Ye Hongshang smiled like a blooming flower, her form silently fading away.

Xie Jinhuan exhaled in relief, about to get up—when he suddenly noticed Meiqiu crouched in the corner, wings spread, fur standing on end, staring at him in terror.

?

Xie Jinhuan was baffled:

"What's wrong with you?"

"Gukji?"

Meiqiu wanted to ask why Xie Jinhuan had gone mad.

Lying on the bed, he flailed his arms and legs, as if possessed, muttering to himself in sudden fits of alarm.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan had returned to normal, Meiqiu flew over and flapped her wings vigorously, as if trying to exorcise the evil spirit…

Slap! Slap! Slap!

——

On the other side.

Night deepened, yet the County Warden's office remained brightly lit; constables and coroners clustered in the morgue, while in the adjacent guard room lay wooden chests and ledgers sealed with official wax.

County Warden Yang Ting smoked his pipe, standing beside Chen Yuan's corpse, watching the coroner dissect the wounds, his gaze solemn:

"A single sword strike, sudden and swift, pierced from nearly ten feet away—cut the heart meridian yet left him alive. Then a mace shattered a monk who practiced 'Immovable Vajra Zen.' This martial cultivation must be at least Rank 4–5. At barely twenty, such skill is unthinkable. Are you certain his background holds no secrets?"

Yang Dabiao had served in Jingcheng for nearly three years and knew Xie Jinhuan well; he patted his chest in assurance:

"Xie Jinhuan matured early—he was exceptionally diligent even back in Jingcheng, studying from dawn till dusk. It's no surprise he's accomplished so young. He told me he spent these past years training in 'Wind Spirit Valley,' claiming to follow the Hidden Immortal lineage. Have you heard of it, Father?"

Yang Ting had spent his entire life in law enforcement and had broad experience; he sucked on his pipe, thinking:

"Among today's prominent Daoist sects, there are three main branches: Danding Sect, Divination Sect, and Hidden Immortal Sect. Danding Sect is mostly in the south; Divination Sect is revered by Northern Zhou; Hidden Immortal Sect is the most mysterious, following the path of seclusion—they only emerge in times of chaos. The last time they appeared was a century ago during the Wu Sect uprising. Now Xie Jinhuan has surfaced…"

Yang Dabiao pondered: "Perhaps the dynasty is nearing its end, and chaos is coming—some transcendent master sent him forth…"

Pah—

Before he finished, the pipe cracked against his skull.

"You're a grown man—how can you speak so recklessly? Great Qian is in the midst of a glorious golden age! Where did you get this nonsense about the dynasty collapsing?!"

Yang Dabiao rubbed his head and stared at the room full of corpses:

"Then what about these…"

"These are merely common bandit demons—not celestial demons that bring ruin to the nation."

"Then what about the one on Mount Zihui…"

"If you know it's a celestial demon, why aren't you rushing to find it?!"

"With my meager skills, how could I possibly track down a Super Rank demon? Even if it came to me, I might not even recognize it…"

…

As the father and son spoke, sudden footsteps and urgent voices rang out outside the office:

"Lord Linghu, you must rest properly—I didn't dare report this to Princess Lingning. If she finds out…"

"I know my own limits."

…

Yang Dabiao's heart leapt—he knew the compassionate female bodhisattva had arrived. He immediately dropped his fire-stick and ran outside.

In the front courtyard of the County Warden's office, three Wu Zu carried lanterns, running behind her as his deputy Liu Qingzhi pleaded with her to stop.

Linghu Qingmo strode ahead with her sword, dressed in ordinary robes instead of armor—her snow-white skirt fluttering in the night breeze beneath the torchlight, radiating an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

As the direct disciple of the Mount Zihui sect master and sworn sister to Princess Lingning, Linghu Qingmo's status was clearly high; ordinary constables considered it an honor just to glimpse her from afar.

Yet as a Daoist, Linghu Qingmo never acted haughty. During her training at Wang Fu, she refused to sit in an office—she charged into the front lines, treated Wu Zu and constables as comrades-in-arms, took the lead in dirty, exhausting tasks, and even took blame for them when trouble arose.

For this, every officer in the office regarded her as the 'Female Bodhisattva'—and now that she had arrived, they all rushed forward to offer warm greetings.

But Linghu Qingmo, though righteous, was outwardly cold and awkward with pleasantries; she walked straight into the back courtyard, saw Yang Dabiao running over, and asked bluntly:

"What's the situation? Any leads?"

Yang Dabiao had nearly died of fright today; seeing Linghu's limbs intact, he finally exhaled:

"So far, we can confirm the three men from East Granary Alley are connected to the recent bandit demons—but the mastermind is extremely cautious; no trace was left in the warehouse…"

"Where is Xie Jinhuan now?"

"Uh…"

Yang Dabiao knew she'd ask this—he bowed low, grinning apologetically:

"Lord Linghu, it was all a misunderstanding. Xie Jinhuan is the son of the former Wanan County Warden Xie Wen—he's my lifelong buddy, we've known each other since childhood, he's a well-behaved lad. Today he came to visit me, happened to stumble upon the bandits—perhaps it was sudden, and he accidentally injured you…"

Linghu Qingmo wasn't stupid—could someone who knocked out the direct disciple of Mount Zihui's sect master really be ordinary?

"He killed three people in the blink of an eye—and you call him well-behaved?"

"One mustn't show mercy to bandits—Master Xie taught me the same."

"Which cell is he in?"

"Uh…"

Linghu Qingmo turned toward the jail, but seeing Yang Dabiao's forced, nervous grin, her brows snapped together:

"You let this key witness go?!"

"No, I'd never dare release him!"

Yang Dabiao smiled apologetically: "He's under soft confinement—in the sixth courtyard on Qingquan Alley, just a few steps from my house. I stake my head on it: Xie Jinhuan is completely innocent. If you wish to interrogate him, I'll fetch him right away…

Linghu Qingmo had already learned the case details while treating her wounds; seeing Yang Dabiao stake his head on it, she let go of her suspicions.

But someone who had knocked her unconscious with a single blow—she couldn't even know what he looked like. She turned on her heel and walked out:

"I'll go see him."

Yang Dabiao feared this female bodhisattva would cause trouble for his brother and hurried after her:

"I'll guide you, my lord."

"No need. Quickly solve this case—report any leads immediately."

"Uh… yes."

Yang Dabiao stood still, watching Linghu Qingmo depart alone…

——

Recommend a book: "Who Talks About Love When Roaming the Jianghu?" It's a martial arts harem novel. Interested masters, feel free to take a look~

Everyone, if you're interested, feel free to take a look~

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(End of this chapter)