Chapter 792: Return of the Soul

Hong Yan rushed after her in shock, glanced at Xiao Hong frantically tearing at the tree, then at Pan Yun and the others squatting in a row, and silently smoothed her expression as she squatted beside Pan Yun: "Don't do anything?"

Pan Yun: "Letting off steam helps physical and mental health."

Hong Yan fell silent, squatting quietly.

Xue Shao and Xi Jin hurried over, still gasping for breath; seeing the row of squatters, they paused, then turned to look at Xiao Hong, who was now furiously yanking up tree trunks.

Pan Yun warmly greeted them: "Rest, rest quickly."

Xue Shao stood and caught his breath for a while, then silently squatted beside Hong Yan.

Xiao Hong tore from noon until nightfall, finally shredding the massive locust tree into fragments and uprooting its trunk.

Pan Yun and the others gathered dry firewood nearby and caught two plump rabbits and two plump wild chickens.

Unfortunately, there was no water source nearby, so they had to retrieve the sealed water barrels stored in their space and use their survival water.

Just as they wrapped the wild chickens in mud and tossed them into the fire, and skewered the rabbits over the flames, Xiao Hong ran over crying, holding up ten fingers.

Hong Yan immediately rushed forward and hugged her: "Don't cry, don't cry—I found a tree perfect for tearing while gathering firewood, right over there, completely dry, tears right apart."

She asked cautiously: "Want to go tear it?"

Xiao Hong sniffled, shaking her head: "Don't want to tear anymore—my hands hurt."

She walked straight over and sat beside Pan Yun, holding out her ten fingers, her tear-filled eyes pleadingly fixed on her.

Pan Yun glanced at them, then pushed both hands away with one finger: "You're a ghost—tearing things drains your soul energy, not your body. What's there to hurt?"

"It's soul energy, yes," Xiao Hong insisted, pushing her fingers back into Pan Yun's face.

Pan Yun fell silent for a moment, her finger ready to push again, when Xiao Hong's nose twitched with a sob.

Pan Yun's heart softened; she sighed and took Xiao Hong's hands, giving her a bit of merit golden light and yuan energy.

Xiao Hong felt warmth spread through her entire body, like soaking in a hot spring.

No—not quite; hot springs were too hot. It was like a child floating in its mother's amniotic fluid, feeling only the mother's body heat.

After the warmth, a surge of energy flowed into her body; she felt she could tear two more trees.

As if sensing her thought, Pan Yun gripped her hand tightly and said sternly: "You've released your inner resentment—that's enough. If you waste more soul energy, I won't give you any more."

"Oh." Xiao Hong sighed in disappointment, quietly withdrew her thoughts, and stared at the two rabbits skewered over the fire: "There are so many of us—is this enough to eat? Don't you have plenty of food in your spaces? Why not take it out?"

Seeing Miao Zhen: "Can you cook?"

Xiao Hong looked at Miao He.

Miao He mechanically turned the rabbits; seeing her gaze, he said: "I'm too tired today—I don't want to cook."

Her gaze shifted to Tao Yan Bai.

Tao Yan Bai: "I don't want to either."

Fine—if these two didn't want to cook, no one else could be counted on.

After all, the others could go without food entirely just to avoid cooking, or even eat two meals from a single bowl.

Xiao Hong looked disgusted, stood up, and declared: "Bring out the ingredients—I'll cook for you!"

Seeing Miao Zhen immediately moved: "Xiao Hong, I knew you were the most virtuous."

Xiao Hong blushed: "Today was really a bother for you all—I should've done this."

Xiao Hong prepared them a lavish dinner; the roasted rabbits and mud-wrapped chickens became late-night snacks.

Pan Yun gnawed on a rabbit leg, carefully studying the yellow talisman wrapped in red cloth, tracing symbols in the air with her finger, memorizing: "This guy's skill isn't up to par—he wanted to kill you but lacked the power, so he just suppressed you. Tried to purify the dark energy on your soul, but messed it up and made you suffer. Still, he nurtured your soul—hmm, if he hadn't also set up the Spirit-Binding Array to trap you here, you'd have run off long ago." Xiao Hong squatted beside her, puzzled: "Why not run away sooner?"

"Of course not," Pan Yun glanced at her. "If you'd run off early, someone might've stirred up your violent nature—you could've killed and burned things, soaked in murderous rage. I'd have scattered you the moment I saw you. How could we ever be friends?"

Pan Yun shook her head: "That's what they mean—misfortune hides fortune. Xiao Hong, this is your blessing."

Xiao Hong huffed as if displeased, but her lips curled upward—clearly, she agreed, and was delighted.

"Take me out, put these three bones back, let me lie down and see if I can remember anything." Xiao Hong gritted her teeth: "The one who killed me—I'll make them suffer a thousand deaths!"

Pan Yun devoured her rabbit leg in a few bites, rubbed her hands with leaves, immediately pulled out the box, then used yuan energy to envelop the Soul-Imprisoning Nails on the three bones and yanked them all out.

Xiao Hong winced in pain but didn't go mad this time.

She looked around, found the right spot, and placed the bones back.

Xiao Hong shot back into place with a whoosh; the three Soul-Imprisoning Nails embedded in her soul surfaced, and Pan Yun removed them again with merit golden light.

Seeing Miao Zhen, Wang Cong, and the other three each took a corner of the box, silently reciting the Soul-Calling Incantation.

Xue Shao thought for a moment, then sat cross-legged and joined in.

As soon as the Soul-Imprisoning Nails were removed, Xiao Hong's spirit collapsed, sinking nearly into the bones beneath.

A gentle breeze stirred; Pan Yun suddenly looked up. Along with the five reciting the Soul-Calling Incantation, several invisible waves of energy drifted in with the wind, gradually vanishing into the wooden box.

Pan Yun murmured: "The lost soul fragments really are here."

Pan Yun immediately sat cross-legged and silently recited the Soul-Calling Incantation.

Pan Xiaohei, who had been lying beside the fire, lifted his head and "miao"ed, then walked over to the box, lay down, and closed his eyes to sleep.

Black cats ward off evil—only the true soul may return; no wandering ghosts or stray spirits dare intrude.

Bang Chui and Xi Jin each held a mud-wrapped chicken, eating with relish, occasionally glancing up at the group gathered around the box.

Xi Jin found the silence too heavy—he wasn't used to it—and turned to Bang Chui: "Why are you eating chicken too?"

Bang Chui: "If I don't eat chicken, what else am I supposed to eat?"

Xi Jin looked down at the ground beneath his feet: "Shouldn't you be eating this?"

Bang Chui moved a few steps away, putting distance between them.

The Soul-Calling Incantation continued past midnight; the eerie breeze turned into winter's biting cold wind before they finally stopped.

Pan Yun leaned over to check on the sleeping Xiao Hong, silently closed the lid, and called to the group: "Add more firewood, then get some rest."

"When Xiao Hong wakes up tomorrow, will we finally learn the truth?"

Pan Yun held little hope: "I hope so."

Facts proved Pan Yun's feeling was right.

The next day, Little Red, brimming with energy and cheerful, stood before them and introduced herself: "My name is Liu Xiaohong, from Liuxi Village. When I was twelve, my father sold me to Wan Chun Tower, and they changed my name to Zhaoyan! Although Zhaoyan is a nice-sounding name, I still prefer being called Xiaohong!"

Pan Yun and the others looked up at her.

Xiaohong also blinked her big eyes and looked at them happily.

Pan Yun: "That's it?"

Xiaohong: "That's it!"