Chapter 322: with translation of chapter title

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles.

The opponent just keeps hiding like this; even if we have myriad methods, it's of no use.

And this sweet deal is right at hand—Liu Mu's inner elixir.

Liu Junyan hesitated for a long time, then shook his head: 'No, Xiao Jiu, I cannot draw the fire of the Linghai Dragon Clan to the pawn shop, draw it onto you, I...'

'Āyàn, do you think this fire hasn't burned onto me yet?'

At this moment, I am unusually calm: 'Do you know how far he chased me that day in Linghai? If it weren't for him, he might not have been able to cross that abyss on the back of Cangwu Mountain; he could swallow me in one bite!'

Just thinking back to that sense of oppression, that despair, my heart can't help but race.

He has already had his eye on me.

But back then, many people didn't expect I would make it out of Cangwu Mountain smoothly.

Even Feng Xianqiu couldn't stop me.

Liu Junyan still couldn't make up his mind: 'Xiao Jiu, give me a moment to think.'

I didn't push him either, I gave a big yawn and shoved my phone at him: 'So much has happened this day and night, I'm exhausted; let me sleep a bit, Āyàn, first look at the videos and data on my phone, then go find Fifth Lord Hui and Sister Qingying to talk, don't call me for dinner—tonight we still have a tough battle to fight.'

Before, I thought we would fight separately—he would handle the Linghai Dragon Clan side, I would hold down Wufu Town.

Now it seems we were simply daydreaming.

What can't be separated is basically a pot of porridge.

Since that's the case, let the overall situation be left to Liu Junyan; I just need to take care of my own affairs.

And now my top priority is to catch up on sleep, after all I still need to guard the pawn shop tonight.

Having said that, I stopped worrying about Liu Junyan, turned over to face inward, and almost fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes.

I slept so deeply it was dark heaven and earth, my whole body relaxed.

This relaxation is not only because Liu Junyan returned, my mental burden has lessened a bit, but more importantly, I can feel my mother's inner elixir merging with me more quickly.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was dark.

The fleeting shadow of that multicolored butterfly vanished again the moment I opened my eyes.

In the smoke-gray curtains, a pleasant floral fragrance permeated.

The floral scent began to dissipate after I woke up, but it was clearly fading slower than before.

I habitually reached for the right side of my pillow and took out my phone.

Liu Junyan knows these little habits of mine; he must have finished looking at the content on my phone and left it here.

I found Tang Tang's phone number and called her.

As soon as Tang Tang answered, she said: 'Hey, my dear cousin, how do you have time to call me?'

For a moment I wasn't used to her addressing me that way.

'Senior sister… uh, aunt,' I called out, and Tang Tang immediately smiled proudly; I wasn't annoyed and asked, 'Aunt… Tang Aunt...'

Oh dear, all mixed up.

In the end I decided to let her be her and me be me: 'Has Aunt recently returned to the Tang family? Is she doing okay?'

'Aunt hasn't come back.' Tang Tang restrained her smile and spoke seriously: 'But she has sent word back, saying she's fine on Mount Hu, telling us not to worry.'

I asked: 'When was the last time she sent word back?'

'About a week ago.' Tang Tang asked, 'Why are you suddenly asking this?'

I felt a bit worried: 'Can you contact the person who delivered the message? Please have him inquire about Aunt's latest situation; I'm afraid she might not be well.'

Tang Tang didn't understand: 'She's on Mount Hu… how could she be unwell?'

Seeing me silent, Tang Tang then said: 'Xiao Jiu, don't overthink it; I'll think of a way and call you back if there's news.'

After hanging up, I got up and washed up.

I pushed the door open and went out, just hearing movement from the Nan Shu Fang side; Li Qingying was standing there talking to someone.

I walked over and saw that Dou Jinsuo was installing a threshold at the small street-facing door of Nan Shu Fang.

Dou Zhile was directing Dou Jinsuo while chatting with Li Qingying.

Seeing me awake, Li Qingying said: 'The food is heating in the pot, Xiao Jiu, go eat yourself.'

I pointed at the threshold and asked: 'What is this for?'

'The Seventh Lord ordered it.' Dou Zhile said: 'This is century-old peach wood; though not struck by lightning, its mana is decent. I calculated that once this threshold is installed, it should be able to withstand those eight female corpses for three days.'

Right, why didn't I think of installing a threshold to block those female corpses?

After the incident happened, my first reaction was to get to the root and solve the problem at its source.

But I couldn't find those eight pawn tickets, so I could only tough it out.

I had prepared myself for a fierce battle tonight.

I laughed helplessly; Liu Junyan's mind is still quick.

Although it's only three days, buying even one day is still a day.

For us, every second could bring a new opportunity.

I didn't foolishly ask Dou Zhile whether, after three days, we could install a new threshold to keep extending the time.

Because behind those eight female corpses there is a controller, and he will also counter our moves.

The threshold was installed quickly; after the Dou family uncle and nephew left, I then went to eat.

While eating, I asked Li Qingying: 'Where's Āyàn? Isn't he home?'

Li Qingying said: 'In the evening, Lord Xiao came by; they chatted for a while, then the Seventh Lord went with Fifth Lord Hui to explore that underground tower.'

I was startled and urged: 'Why didn't you stop him?'

'How could I stop him?' Li Qingying said helplessly: 'The Seventh Lord said, since the tower in Lingnan Yunchan Temple could be sealed by Master Dahui Chan, he might not lack a way to seal this underground tower either; Fifth Lord Hui has always followed the Seventh Lord's lead, not only not advising against it, but constantly adding fuel to the fire.'

I was speechless and asked again: 'And Lord Xiao—did he go too?'

Li Qingying shook her head: "Xiaoye seems to have just been released after the seal was lifted, came to play with Seventh Lord, but Seventh Lord had things to do, so Xiaoye went back."

Does Xiaoye really have that much free time?

Especially since Liu Junyan had just returned from the Linghai Dragon Clan, logically Xiaoye should now be busy looking for that White Dragon, right?

This gives me an inexplicable feeling… why does everyone seem a bit odd?

As night fell, Li Qingying early on brought over the neighbor's rooster, tied it under the clothes-drying rack, put a bowl of grain, and the rooster again desperately shoved the grain into its mouth.

Tonight there is no moon; the skin doll is curled up under the black cloth, not coming out to absorb the moon's essence.

At eleven o'clock, the first female corpse wearing a red veil arrived as promised.

She came from the west, walking on tiptoe, familiar with the way.

Yes, she was walking on tiptoe, not jumping; the iron chain dragged on the ground, making a damp sound.

Her steps were not large, but her movement speed was quite fast.

I think it's probably because the iron chain is restricting her movements; otherwise, given her cultivation, she'd likely leap high with a single bound.

Soon she arrived outside the Nan Shu Fang door, her steps unceasing, taking tiny quick steps, and a thudding sound immediately rang out.

The female corpse's feet, wearing embroidered shoes, kept striking the century-old peach-wood threshold.

Each impact produced a mournful wail…