Chapter 28#

Chapter Twenty-Eight#

The bridal chamber was very quiet. The noise from outside could not filter in, and this small courtyard seemed to exist independently from the rest of the world.

Xue Jingci lifted his veil. Without waiting for that pair of embroidered shoes to appear, he stood up, intending to walk outside.

Perhaps at this time, some differences could be found.

However, just as his body leaned out of the room, a cold wind surged in the courtyard. Mingled with countless wails and sobs, it swirled and blew him back into the room.

That wind was bone-chillingly cold. Xue Jingci shuddered and turned to see that in the courtyard, starting from the entrance, a row of bloody footprints was appearing.

The footprints appeared out of thin air, approaching him step by step.

Xue Jingci looked back at the candles in the main hall. The flames on those red candles had indeed turned a cold blue.

Seeing those bloody footprints pressing towards the door, he closed the door with an unfazed expression, sat back slowly, and covered himself with the red veil again.

Sure enough, that pair of embroidered shoes appeared before his eyes as scheduled. Because he returned in time, the conditions for slaughter were not triggered.

Once the female ghost left, he had a plan in mind.

Just as Pei Huang could escape, those flames were indeed an omen. It seemed that for future actions, it would be better to carry a fire starter.

The subsequent developments were the same as before, except the next day, Jiang Chengyi approached him with a troubled expression.

“They’re gone.”

Xue Jingci looked up and asked, “They?”

Jiang Chengyi steadied his mind and said, “It’s those few cultivators who left the city earlier. It seems that although this illusion can trace back time, dead is dead; they cannot start over.”

Pei Huang had been standing quietly by Xue Jingci’s side. Hearing this, he thought for a moment and said, “I’m afraid it’s not just that they can’t start over if they die.”

Seeing both of them look toward him, Pei Huang mentioned a past event.

He had also been to a similar illusion. Although not as dangerous as this one, any injuries sustained would damage the soul, and the physical body would also be injured after leaving the illusion.

Pei Huang looked at Jiang Chengyi and instructed, “You are the head of the guards and can move freely in the city. Try to find a way to notify everyone not to get injured.”

Jiang Chengyi nodded in agreement. “I’ll go right now.”

Not long after he left, a maidservant came to find the two for lunch.

Seeing that extremely familiar fish on the table, Pei Huang lied with practiced ease, “The Madam is pregnant and cannot stand the smell of fish.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the candlelight lit in the corner of the room turned a ghostly blue. The cold wind howled outside the window, and a torrential downpour fell in an instant.

Pei Huang unhurriedly grabbed Xue Jingci’s hand and called the maidservant to check his pulse.

After verifying it was a “pregnancy” pulse, the maidservant was stunned in place.

Pei Huang added, “Besides this fish, the Madam also cannot stand the smell of ordinary meat. From now on, the residence will eat vegetarian food.”

Only after the maidservant took away the fish did Pei Huang sit back beside Xue Jingci, yet his nerves remained tense.

Repeating it once, they had gained some experience and could avoid many dangerous matters in advance. But the most dangerous thing at present was still the matter of the envoy being killed outside the city.

Leaving the city was absolutely out of the question. The method Pei Huang could think of was to find someone to disguise themselves as the envoy to stall for time and work hard to prepare for battle.

But this method was not stable. If it failed and was detected by the demon race, completely enraging them, the battle would likely become even more intense.

Pei Huang glanced out the window and saw the heavy rain stop, but many puddles remained on the ground.

He turned back and looked at Xue Jingci, saying, “These days it’s always mysteriously windy and rainy. I’m worried the fields will be destroyed by the rain. Why doesn’t the City Lord come with me to take a look near the city gate?”

Hearing “mysteriously windy and rainy,” the maidservant’s expression flickered, but she soon forced a smile and approached, saying, “The City Lord wants to go out and see. I will send someone to prepare immediately.”

Xue Jingci shook his head. “To mobilize such a large force would probably disturb the people. You all stay in the residence; the Young Master and I will just travel incognito.”

He spoke firmly, and the maidservant froze in place, her eyes flickering strangely. Only after a long time did she respond, “As the City Lord says.”

The two quickly finished their meal and finally had a chance to check near the city gate alone.

As they approached the city gate, the wind poured in from outside, carrying a bone-chilling cold.

The two continued forward, each step careful. Xue Jingci lit a fire starter; the bright yellow light swayed with the wind but showed no sign of turning blue.

Pei Huang stared at the flame and guessed, “Those people died at night. Perhaps one can leave the city during the day?”

Xue Jingci nodded. “Let’s get closer and try.”

The two continued forward, and the flame still showed no change.

When they reached the vicinity of the city gate, Xue Jingci reached out and touched the stone wall. He felt it was extremely cold; with just a touch, the chill seeped into his bones.

Without thinking much, Pei Huang took Xue Jingci’s hand into his embrace and pulled him back a bit. “Careful, don’t stand too close.”

Before his words finished, the weapon rack on the city tower fell unexpectedly, and countless sharp blades fell with a crash.

Fortunately, they had already taken a step back and dodged just in time.

Pei Huang stared at the blades on the ground, which were as dense as thorns.

Those blades almost blocked all their paths of retreat. If it were someone else, they would probably have run forward to dodge in the first instance.

That way, they would have left the city gate.

This was even more insidious than the maidservant who tricked Lin Heng.

Xue Jingci’s expression was also somewhat grim as he looked down at the fire starter in his hand.

After leaving the residence, that candlelight seemed to no longer change color and could not warn of danger in advance.

“Let’s go back first.”

Xue Jingci’s gaze darkened, realizing that leaving the city was quite unlikely.

The two returned to the residence to discuss their strategy. As they approached the study, they ran into Xiao Xun.

Xiao Xun’s face was full of anxiety, and a thin layer of sweat had broken out on his forehead.

Seeing Xue Jingci, he froze. His eyes were slightly red as he said urgently, “Master… I couldn’t find you anywhere. Could it be that you went to the city gate?”

Xue Jingci nodded. Xiao Xun’s heart sank instantly, and he couldn’t help but think of the events of his past life.

A hint of hard-to-detect remorse flitted through his eyes as he said softly, “In the future, if Master goes to a dangerous place, can you take me with you? I don’t want you to always face it alone.”

Xue Jingci raised an eyebrow in confusion. He didn’t seem to have been to many dangerous places; where did the “always” come from?

However, he didn’t think much of it, guessing that Xiao Xun must have heard Jiang Chengyi’s words and searched for him everywhere out of worry, leading to confused speech.

Xue Jingci calmly comforted him, “I am not alone.”

Xiao Xun was stunned. Only then did his attention fall on Pei Huang. After a long time, he spoke with difficulty, “…That… that’s good.”

Pausing, he said softly, “Master went to check the city gate—is it out of concern for the safety of that envoy?”

Xue Jingci nodded.

Xiao Xun’s expression had already returned to normal. He smiled slightly and said, “You don’t need to worry. When the envoy comes again, I will find a way to protect him.”

Seeing how certain he was, Xue Jingci asked, “How will you protect him? Once one leaves the city, death is certain.”

Xiao Xun’s lips moved, and his gaze fell on Pei Huang. A look of difficulty appeared on his face.

Pei Huang stared at Xiao Xun for a moment. Having no intention of listening to his secrets, he took the initiative to find an excuse to leave.

Only after he left did Xiao Xun say, “Actually, I know some puppet arts.”

Having said that, he took out a half-grown wooden puppet from his storage bag.

The puppet had no features, and its limbs were polished smooth, not looking frightening at all.

Xue Jingci approached curiously. He saw Xiao Xun flick his wrist, and the puppet moved as if pulled by invisible threads, moving extremely flexibly.

“This thread is called Qianren. It’s as fine as misty rain and hard to detect with the naked eye, but it can transmit a cultivator’s own spiritual power into the puppet to perform techniques.”

Xiao Xun hooked his finger, and the puppet’s palm suddenly burst with spiritual light, striking a distant peach tree.

The tree branches shook violently, and countless flowers and leaves fell.

Xiao Xun looked at Xue Jingci and explained softly, “This way, I don’t have to leave the city. I can rely on this puppet to protect the envoy.”

Xue Jingci knew that performing this technique would not be as easy as Xiao Xun said, but this was already the safest way at present.

He nodded. His voice was still cold but had gained a bit of seriousness. “When you perform this technique, I will stay by your side.”

Hearing such words that could be called tender from Xue Jingci, Xiao Xun was stunned. A voice in his heart clamored for him to agree immediately.

The pale gold glow spilled down on the person before him. Those eyes looked toward him, and not a trace of calculation or ugliness could be found. They were clear and calm, like a gurgling spring flowing into Xiao Xun’s heart.

But in the end, he shook his head and refused, saying, “Master is the City Lord. Leaving the residence rashly will cause suspicion among those people. Besides…”

Xiao Xun fished out the protective magic tool Xue Jingci had given him from his storage bag and said gently, “With it accompanying me, it’s enough.”

Xue Jingci wanted to say more, but Xiao Xun quickly changed the subject. “By the way, I’ve been away for too long. I don’t know how things are on Lin Heng’s side. I’ll go back and check on him.”

Having said that, he turned to leave. After walking a few steps, he couldn’t help but look back at Xue Jingci and said solemnly, “Master, you must be careful too.”

Only after Xiao Xun was far away did Pei Huang jump down from a nearby peach tree and ask, “You agreed to let him protect the envoy?”

Xue Jingci nodded and mentioned that Xiao Xun knew puppet arts, not saying much else.

Time passed slowly, slower than usual. At dinner time, a maidservant came to invite them. Xue Jingci made an excuse that he had no appetite and wouldn’t eat.

Pei Huang stared at him, knowing that Xue Jingci was truly worried about Xiao Xun, and asked, “How did you and Xiao Xun meet?”

Xue Jingci spoke casually about the matter of looking for Xie Zheng. “I went to the upper realm, initially to find someone.”

“What about that person?”

Xue Jingci shook his head. Using the simplest description, he spoke of his past with Xie Zheng and his meeting with Xiao Xun.

Recalling the past was not in his character, but Pei Huang happened to be a good listener. He didn’t speak but just listened quietly, occasionally giving some responses.

If it were someone else, they would usually have some thoughts or reflections, but Pei Huang seemed to have none.

He was just listening to a story, not participating in any judgment.

Xue Jingci unknowingly spoke too much and suddenly closed his mouth, staring at Pei Huang. “Don’t you want to say something?”

Pei Huang thought for a moment and said, “It can be considered a good thing that someone was willing to help you in such a situation.”

He didn’t seem to have finished his words; he opened his mouth but swallowed them back.

If only he had also been there in such a situation.

Xue Jingci hadn’t expected him to answer this way. The worry originally pressed at the bottom of his heart seemed to vanish with these words. He smiled slightly and said, “You’re right; it’s a good thing.”

With the story told, the sky grew gloomier, and in the blink of an eye, it was evening.

The time for the envoy’s murder was getting closer and closer, and once night fell, the entire city would also become more fraught with danger.

Xue Jingci spoke no more, his gaze fixed on the room door.

The maidservant had been led away by Pei Huang early on with the excuse that the Madam’s pregnancy was unstable and some anti-miscarriage medicine needed to be prescribed.

The two sat and waited. Seeing the sun about to set completely, the room door suddenly made a sound.

Xue Jingci quickly went to pull the door. Just as he opened a crack, a strong bloody scent mixed with the cold wind rushed over.

His expression sharpened, and he quickly pulled the door open with force, seeing the wound-covered Xiao Xun at a glance.

Xiao Xun’s hair, which was usually tied neatly, was completely loose. His blood-stained fingers leaned with difficulty against the wall, and he was gasping for breath.

But those eyes were bright, sweeping away his usual steadiness. Seeing Xue Jingci, he immediately held out a scroll from his embrace and said with a smile, “Master, I got the peace treaty. The envoy has also been settled in the side room…”

He spoke hurriedly and was momentarily short of breath, a wheezing sound coming from his mouth.

“Don’t speak anymore. Go inside first.”

Xue Jingci quickly helped him into the room. Pei Huang followed behind them, eventually standing at the door to wait, not following them in.

Xue Jingci lifted the quilt and helped Xiao Xun lie down, carefully checking the injuries on his body.

He used a soft cloth to wipe the blood stains off Xiao Xun and simply bandaged the wounds. Then he sat cross-legged behind Xiao Xun to transfer spiritual energy to him.

Pei Huang said, “I’ll keep watch outside the room.”

Xue Jingci nodded and continued to focus on treating Xiao Xun.

With the circulation of spiritual power, Xiao Xun’s violently heaving chest gradually calmed down. Xue Jingci was slightly relieved and asked, “How did you get injured like this?”

Xiao Xun didn’t answer directly, only smiling and saying, “This disciple is unskilled in his arts and has made Master see a joke. When we leave this place, I will have to trouble Master to teach me slowly.”

Xue Jingci had already had suspicions in his heart. From the blades that fell out of thin air that day, he could see that staying in the city was also fraught with danger.

“Okay, I’ll teach you in the future.”

Soon, the sky grew completely dark.

Although the maidservant hadn’t returned, Xue Jingci didn’t dare to let Xiao Xun stay the night here.

Xue Jingci called Pei Huang, and the two together sent Xiao Xun back to the guards’ quarters. They also found Lin Heng and instructed him to take good care of Xiao Xun.

Only then did Lin Heng learn about Xiao Xun going to protect the envoy. He immediately beat his chest and stated that serving tea and water was not a problem and he would definitely take good care of Xiao Xun.

Xue Jingci knew that although Lin Heng looked reckless, he was very reliable in big matters, so he left with Pei Huang with a peace of mind.

However, he didn’t sleep well that night. When he got up the next day, he was also somewhat absent-minded.

Pei Huang saw that he was worried about Xiao Xun’s injuries and took the initiative to speak. “As the City Lord, visiting a guard every day will definitely arouse others’ suspicion, but I can.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go and check on him for you right now.”

Xue Jingci nodded and found quite a few precious herbs in the room for Pei Huang to take to Xiao Xun.

Pei Huang nodded in agreement and turned to go to the kitchen. Using the excuse of making medicinal food for the Madam, he sent away the mansion’s cooks and boiled the herbs into a medicinal soup.

While waiting, he conveniently checked the kitchen to see if there were any usable clues.

The envoy matter was safely resolved, but there were still many unknown dangers if they wanted to leave.

Once the medicinal soup was ready, Pei Huang carried it to find Xiao Xun.

When he went in, Lin Heng was not there. Xiao Xun was leaning against a pillow reading a book. When their eyes met, a look of surprise immediately surfaced in Xiao Xun’s eyes.

But when he saw that only Pei Huang had come, his gaze dimmed.

Pei Huang handed over the medicinal soup and said, “Your Master asked me to send this.”

Xiao Xun touched the medicinal soup jar and asked, “Where is Master?”

Pei Huang moved a chair and sat opposite Xiao Xun, speaking slowly. “As the lord of a city, how can he frequently visit a guard?”

“Brother, he is the person who follows the rules the most.”

Xiao Xun understood there was meaning behind his words. He couldn’t help but clench the medicinal soup jar, his knuckles turning slightly white, and a cold anger appeared in his eyes.

Pei Huang met his gaze without flinching and urged with a smile, “Drink it quickly. After you finish, I have to go back and report to Brother.”

The anger in Xiao Xun’s eyes subsided bit by bit, and he gradually calmed down.

He unhurriedly opened the lid. While drinking the soup, he asked, “Hard work for you. Speaking of which, Master and I have known each other for so long, yet I’ve never heard him mention you. I wonder when you two met? Your talent is outstanding. If there’s a chance, you could also come to our sect in the future.”

“It’s normal that you don’t know.”

Pei Huang leaned back in the chair relaxedly. “Brother and I have known each other since childhood. It’s not something that can be explained in a few words; it’s indeed not easy to talk about with outsiders.”

Xiao Xun subconsciously looked at Pei Huang’s earlobe.

The mark on it had already disappeared, but Xiao Xun still remembered it clearly.

He stopped speaking and focused on drinking the medicine with a spoon, hoping Pei Huang would leave this place sooner.

After Xiao Xun finished the medicinal soup, Pei Huang then asked casually, “As far as I know, there is only one Xiao family that established itself with puppet arts. That is a formidable great family. Could it be that you are also a descendant of the Xiao family?”

Without waiting for Xiao Xun to answer, Pei Huang stopped as if he had realized he spoke out of turn. He paused before continuing.

“Sorry, I forgot that disciples of prestigious families are always arrogant. How could they end up needing to seek a living in a sect? Don’t mind me. I’m just a loose cultivator from the lower realm with shallow knowledge. It was just a groundless association.”

Xiao Xun laughed softly. He had been used to being mocked since childhood and didn’t even defend himself, admitting it directly. “I am indeed a member of the Xiao family. However, I am a bastard who cannot be brought into the spotlight. Naturally, I have to rely on myself to make a living.”

Pei Huang nodded. “It seems you and I are both people with a hard life.”

“But being self-reliant is not a bad thing. This time, I also have to thank you for saving everyone from their troubles.”

Xiao Xun tilted his head, his pitch-black eyes staring at Pei Huang without blinking.

A touch of paranoid infatuation surfaced in his eyes. He said softly, “I have been lonely and bitter since childhood. Now Master is my only kin.”

“It’s just some injuries. As long as I can let him leave safely, it’s fine even if I have to give up my life.”

Pei Huang watched him quietly, as if trying to find some clue from him.

This Xiao Xun was strange and always gave him a sense of discord, as if there was one skin on his face but another set of bones in his body.

But toward Xue Jingci, he was indeed sincere, with nothing more to say.

The two lapsed into silence. No one spoke, as if a string was taut. For a moment, it was even a bit awkward.

Just then, Lin Heng pushed the door open carelessly and came in, waving a bottle in his hand. “Xiao Xun, I sold some calligraphy and paintings for a bottle of golden sore medicine. This is high-grade stuff.”

After saying this, he only then noticed Pei Huang was also there. It was just that no one was looking at him, and no one spoke.

Lin Heng withdrew his gaze in confusion, thinking in his heart how both of them stopped talking as soon as he came in. It was a bit strange.

After a long while, only then did Pei Huang stand up and take his leave, walking quickly toward the main courtyard. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Xue Jingci combing his hair in front of a bronze mirror.

His long hair was dark and thick like a waterfall, hanging smoothly in front of him. He held a wooden comb in his hand, repeating the same motion over and over again, almost like a puppet being manipulated.

Pei Huang immediately became nervous and shouted his name loudly, asking, “What’s wrong with you!”

Xue Jingci blinked, and a hint of lifelike aura surfaced in his eyes. Seeing his worry, he comforted him, “I’m trying to summon that female ghost.”

He answered seriously, and the movement of his hands slowed down.

“I’ve heard before that if you comb your hair against a mirror at night, another person will appear in the mirror.”

Pei Huang had known since childhood that he was brave. Things others didn’t dare do and places others didn’t dare go, he wasn’t afraid of.

This was the first time he felt like he had met his match.

He sighed helplessly and sat aside to watch Xue Jingci comb his hair. However, until late at night, the person in the mirror showed no change.

Pei Huang bit into a peach and asked while staring at Xue Jingci in the mirror, “Have you lost weight?”

Xue Jingci turned to look at him. The two stared at each other and eventually gave up.

He felt a bit tired and threw the comb aside, thinking what other ways there were to draw out the female ghost.

Although this mansion was full of ghosts, clearly the owner of those red wedding shoes was the City Lord, and her grievance was the core supporting the illusion.

Xue Jingci couldn’t help but think what would happen if he summoned her and killed her directly with one sword strike.

While he was deep in thought, a new anomaly finally appeared outside the room.

As the City Lord’s residence, this courtyard was built extremely exquisitely and elegantly. Besides planting peach trees, a pond was specially made by diverting running water.

Previously, Xue Jingci had been attracted by the fish inside and looked a few more times, only to find that this pond was extremely deep, more than ten feet.

At this moment, across the window, both of them heard a loud splash of someone falling into the water.

Xue Jingci stood up, pulled open the door, and walked out. He leaned over the railing of the pond and looked down. Immediately after, a pair of hands covered in cadaveric spots reached out from the pond and crawled back to the shore along the rocks.

—Splash!

Before that body could stand firm, it jumped toward the pond again.

He struggled in the water, ripples appearing on the pond surface, and soon a blood color spread.

Until the cold air in the lake surged up and he was frozen stiff, his whole body sank toward the bottom of the pond, completely swallowed by the dark water.

A moment later, a body floated up by the pond again.

Xue Jingci watched that person jump twice more, then grabbed Pei Huang and signaled for him to go over with him.

The two walked to the shore, and just then the body floated up again.

Pei Huang thought for a moment and flicked his finger. He performed some kind of secret technique and actually froze the body.

The two took a step forward and fished the body out. While the maidservants hadn’t returned, they dragged it directly back to the room to study.

The door closed with a bang. Xue Jingci cautiously lit a candle and looked down at Pei Huang’s movements.

He was extremely skillful; presumably, he hadn’t dealt with corpses just a few times.

After an unknown amount of time, Pei Huang withdrew the silver needle and looked toward Xue Jingci. “He died of poisoning.”

Xue Jingci also crouched down to stare at the body and asked in confusion, “Since he was poisoned, why did he jump into the water?”

Pei Huang guessed, “It’s not strange. Some toxins cause the skin all over the body to rot and itch unbearably. Presumably, before death, he couldn’t stand it and jumped into the water to drown.”

Knowing the cause of death, the next thing to check was this person’s identity.

To choose to die by jumping into the water outside the City Lord’s room, his identity must be extraordinary. Unfortunately, this person’s face was rotten, and his looks couldn’t be seen clearly at all.

But this couldn’t stump Pei Huang. He carefully observed the skeletal structure of the corpse, and a face then surfaced in his mind.

When that face completely surfaced, he took a deep breath.

“It’s Jiang Chengyi…”

Hearing this, Xue Jingci was also slightly startled. For a time, both were silent, the room quiet in the dark night.

But just then, a knock on the door sounded abruptly.

“Who’s inside?”

Xue Jingci’s gaze sharpened, and a dagger appeared in his hand at some point. Pei Huang subconsciously blew out the candle.

Neither of them had expected that, listening to this voice, the person knocking on the door was clearly Jiang Chengyi!

In the darkness, the scorching light source disappeared. The pale moonlight reflected the figure outside on the door, hideous and distorted.