Chapter 9

Fu Juan was an extremely indifferent person. Jiang Yiguang had learned this long ago.

Her previous words might have been out of a sense of duty, or perhaps concern, but once her good intentions were rejected, whatever little regard she had was swept away entirely.

She always had far less patience for Jiang Yiguang than for others.

Jiang Yiguang didn’t feel her refusal to Fu Juan was problematic. However, as Fu Juan fell silent, several indescribable emotions gradually surfaced in her heart—unease and anxiety, and also dissatisfaction with Fu Juan’s arbitrary coldness. It had clearly been her mother who brought Fu Juan home to care for her. What gave Fu Juan the right to be so overbearing and cold? Such a thought crossed Jiang Yiguang’s mind. She frowned, her spine involuntarily stiffening and straightening. In the original plot, was that how “she” had persisted down this path, relying on such a sense of entitlement? But what use was Fu Juan’s gratitude towards her mother to her? What was the point of “using gratitude to demand favors” with someone as cold-hearted as Fu Juan?

As her thoughts swirled, Jiang Yiguang secretly glanced at Fu Juan several times. She looked incredibly weary and was resting with her eyes closed. Only when her eyes were shut would the chill enveloping her person dissipate slightly, revealing a hint of the gentle grace found in classical lady paintings. Her heart gradually warmed. Afraid she might do something to provoke Fu Juan, Jiang Yiguang hurriedly averted her gaze. Her drifting thoughts then settled on the “Daoist Skill Points” on the panel.

There was still some distance from the Southern Mountain to the Jiang Household; ten minutes wouldn’t be enough to arrive. She might as well use this time to consume the Daoist Skill Points, avoiding any inexplicable romantic tension in the narrow space. Entering Eternal Space for the second time, Jiang Yiguang quickly immersed herself. The pattern on the large screen had changed; it was no longer the True Form Chart of the Five Peaks she had mastered, but another talisman script. Jiang Yiguang barely made out the three seal script characters for “Evil-Subduing Incantation” at the side and immediately picked up the brush, dedicating herself fully to learning.

In the past, she had followed her mother to learn these skills, but it was as if she lacked a crucial nerve, utterly incapable of learning. Yet in this independent space, she unexpectedly displayed extraordinary talent—from her past repeated failures to writing talismans instantly upon setting down the brush.

【The spiritual energy in this space is abundant, very different from the world of Spiritual Energy Revival outside. You won’t achieve such results outside,】 the System promptly appeared to pour cold water on her enthusiasm right when Jiang Yiguang was feeling triumphant.

【Detected that the host possesses a sliver of self-defense ability. Now activating the main quest, “South Mountain Peach Blossom Calamity.” Upon completion, the reward item “Follow One’s Heart” will be granted.】

The main quest was activated without warning, offering no room for choice. After calming herself, Jiang Yiguang looked at the words “Follow One’s Heart.” Full of anticipation for a massive golden finger, she asked, “What’s the use of this item?”

【Significantly reduces your Compatibility Value with this small world.】

Jiang Yiguang: “…” She had thought it was a great treasure that allowed her to act without restraint! “Sounds… like it’s useless? Compared to the side quest rewards, isn’t the main quest’s reward a bit too shabby?”

The System spoke meaningfully: 【Has the host never heard of ‘the usefulness of uselessness’? When you have free time, go read more of the Nanhua Jing! (Zhuangzi)】

Jiang Yiguang was speechless for a long while before asking, “South Mountain Peach Blossom Calamity? Could it be a Peach Blossom Demon?”

System: 【I already told you it’s a Fox Immortal Temple. How could you still think it’s a Peach Blossom Demon? The ‘Fox Immortal’ enshrined in the temple is a Nine-Tailed Fox, sealed away a thousand years ago. Now, with the world’s spiritual energy reviving, it has gradually awakened.】

Jiang Yiguang looked shocked, “So the Senior is possessed by the Fox Immortal?”

【No, she was merely affected by a wisp of wicked energy. What one thinks about by day, one dreams of at night. A peach blossom calamity cannot be avoided.】

“So the task is to capture the evil Nine-Tailed Fox?” Jiang Yiguang suddenly changed the subject. A millennium-old Nine-Tailed Fox, that didn’t sound like something small fry like them could handle? Wouldn’t it require experts from the Xuanzhen Dao Court to come out of retirement? “What happened in the original plot?”

【The host’s consciousness is still being mapped within the world. Knowing too much isn’t good. There will be side quests when the time comes.】

Having heard this much, Jiang Yiguang knew she wouldn’t get more instructions from the System for now. The System fell silent, and after sorting out her chaotic thoughts, she opened her eyes—only to unexpectedly fall into that pool of icy cold water. She didn’t know how long Fu Juan had been watching her, nor did she know if Fu Juan had noticed anything different. Under that deep, obscure gaze, she broke out in a cold sweat.

Fu Juan vaguely sensed something off about Jiang Yiguang, especially when sweat inexplicably beaded on her forehead and her cheeks turned pale, looking exactly like a dead dog that had collapsed from exhaustion after running several thousand meters. Yet Jiang Yiguang was clearly sitting in the car, still wearing a magical artifact. No matter how she looked at it, she didn’t seem like someone whose “soul was startled.” Could she have encountered something highly advanced on the Southern Mountain?

“What?” Jiang Yiguang was jittery, her voice involuntarily hollow.

“The woman you mentioned, I didn’t find her,” Fu Juan withdrew her gaze and spoke calmly. “Apart from you two, no one else seems to have seen her.”

Something ordinary people couldn’t see… wouldn’t that be a ghost?!

Hearing this, Jiang Yiguang’s hair stood on end.

“Indeed, a trace of Negative Energy clung to you,” Fu Juan added. Seeing the panic on Jiang Yiguang’s face intensify, she curved her lips, almost mockingly, “But it has already dissipated.”

Jiang Yiguang’s heart, which had leaped into her throat, slowly settled back down.

Even though she was now trying to touch that bizarre and mysterious world, she had spent the past twenty-some years in a daze, just the most ordinary of mortals! The time her curiosity led her to see a ghost had scared her out of her wits; that heart-palpating fear wouldn’t just vanish with time.

She was right to be afraid.

“So don’t go out. Do you understand?” Fu Juan suddenly smiled.

Jiang Yiguang was nearly bewitched by that dazzling smile. By the time her consciousness cleared, she was biting her lower lip and thinking darkly: At this moment, Fu Juan was more like a soul-snatching seductress in human skin!

Was “she” deluded by the plot, or was she, Jiang Yiguang, fundamentally just a lecher with a wandering eye?

Jiang Yiguang secretly glanced at Fu Juan, unable to distinguish for a moment.

The car fell silent, continuing until the familiar buildings came into view.

Jiang Yiguang was the first to pull the car door open and get out. She maintained that posture for a long while. Only when her gaze met Fu Juan’s half-smile did she suddenly have a flash of understanding, grasping Fu Juan’s intention.

She was preparing to leave the Jiang Residence.

If it were the past “her,” she would definitely have forced the issue. But the current Jiang Yiguang already had the ability to suppress such wild, wandering thoughts. No System task had appeared, yet she still had to make her own choices. “Thank you, goodbye.” Jiang Yiguang’s words were polite and appropriate. She thoughtfully closed the car door and headed towards the Jiang house without looking back.

Fu Juan rolled down the car window, staring intently at Jiang Yiguang’s retreating back, her eyes gradually darkening.

“She isn’t clingy anymore? Has the sun started rising from the west?” The little paper doll Fu Yi poked its head out from Fu Juan’s pocket.

“She looks much more agreeable now. Senior Jiang was brilliant all her life, yet she gave birth to such a daughter? Truly, rotten wood cannot be carved.” Fu Er shook its head as it recited classical literature.

As for Fu San, before it could even make a sound, Fu Juan pinched it between her fingers.

A dark fire seemed to suddenly ignite in Fu Juan’s deep, somber eyes. She said coolly, “Fu San, you follow her.”

Without waiting for Fu San’s protest, Fu Juan pointed at the little paper doll, imbued it with a touch of energy, and mercilessly tossed it out the car window.

Fu Yi and Fu Er were as silent as cicadas in winter, terrified that Fu Juan might also send them to serve that wicked woman.

Jiang Yiguang, back at the Jiang Residence, had no idea Fu San was trailing behind her. With practiced ease, she grabbed a can of Happy Water from the fridge and threw herself onto the sofa, letting out a long breath.

Staying at home was still the most comfortable.

After resting for a bit, Jiang Yiguang pulled out her phone to message Lu Yaotiao.

Jiang Yiguang: 【I’m home. What about you? Didn’t run into any trouble, did you?】

Lu Yaotiao: 【Don’t scare me. What could I possibly run into?】

Jiang Yiguang thought for a moment, then borrowed Fu Juan’s advice to her and added: 【Your family’s Qi Luck is still flourishing. Evil shouldn’t be able to enter. I suggest you stay home if nothing’s urgent recently. Also, don’t contact Xie Qingdu.】

Lu Yaotiao: 【The senior… is she okay?】

Jiang Yiguang wasn’t too sure: 【Probably not too good?】

At that moment, Xie Qingdu was still sitting in the peach blossom forest.

She had a beautiful face with bright eyes and alluring glances. Even when not smiling, she could attract swarms of admirers. Yet she seemed to hear nothing at all. Occasionally, a strange and odd smile would flicker across her face. Anyone who met her eyes would inexplicably break out in a cold sweat, no longer caring about beauty, and hurriedly turn their steps away to leave.

The peach blossom forest on the Southern Mountain gradually grew quiet.

Long after, a woman dressed in a white hoodie appeared. Her face was as white as if caked with thick powder, deep melancholy and sorrow hidden in her sharp brows. Looking closely, her features bore a six or seven-point resemblance to Xie Qingdu’s.

“Xie Qingdu” suddenly looked up at the woman. A flash of dark red light flickered in her eyes, and her voice was strange and low: “Walking about in broad daylight, aren’t you afraid your soul will scatter?”

The woman met the gaze of “Xie Qingdu” as if she were seeing someone else through her. “Committing lawless acts openly, aren’t you afraid of eternal damnation?”

“Xie Qingdu” sneered coldly: “If you have the ability, go find the Dao Court or people from the Noble Clans. See if they’ll send you to the afterlife first, or suppress me!” Those people could turn a blind eye to minor ghosts, but this thousand-year-old ghost—no one dared indulge her. Once a thousand-year ghost turned malicious, it wouldn’t just be a “Malicious Ghost,” but a Ghost King on one side! “Do something for me, and I’ll let your Xie family descendants off,” “Xie Qingdu” suddenly softened her tone.

The woman abruptly raised her voice: “Tushan Yi!”

“Xie Qingdu” laughed eerily. She cast a sidelong glance at the woman, a look halfway between a smile and resentment: “So you still remember my name, huh?” After a pause, she added, “I don’t need you to do anything terribly wicked. You’re just too rigid by nature. Go buy me a box of Peach Blossom Pastry. How about that?”

Upon hearing the words “Peach Blossom Pastry,” the woman’s body began to shake violently. She stared blankly at “Xie Qingdu,” barely able to maintain her physical form. Two trails of bloody tears suddenly streamed from her eyes!