Chapter 13

Jiang Yiguang couldn’t be bothered to care what Fu Juan thought of those words.

Her mood was good. At this moment, she wasn’t bewitched by Fu Juan’s “beauty” and could be certain that she belonged to herself, from body to soul. Under these circumstances, she decided to kindly repay Fu Juan for helping her out of a tight spot by pushing the wheelchair forward with large strides. Construction Street wasn’t far, just across a street.

From when Wang Xuanming received the call to when Jiang Yiguang and Fu Juan arrived at the destination, it was actually less than ten minutes. Yet, in those same ten minutes, the place was already deserted. Patchy bloodstains on the ground hinted at the intensity of the incident. Onlookers pointed and whispered, their snippets of conversation outlining a “scandalous affair.”

Jiang Yiguang vaguely heard the words “Fox Immortal Temple.” Unfortunately, the useful information was scarce, mostly ambiguous, suggestive jokes. People were always enthusiastic about gossip concerning romantic entanglements.

Fu Juan was looking down at her phone. Wang Xuanming had sent several messages.

【It was two Z University students. They started fighting for no apparent reason, as if possessed.】

【I asked around. They both went to the Fox Immortal Temple with the same person and hung Marriage Plaques on the tree.】

【One of them got a head wound and needed stitches. He’s in the infirmary now. They both said they don’t know why they fought. When asked about the person they hung the plaques with, they barely remember them.】

Again, the Fox Immortal Temple.

If it wasn’t resolved soon, more people might be affected.

Fu Juan thought for a moment. She couldn’t worry about so many things anymore. Pursing her lips, she said, “Z University infirmary.”

Jiang Yiguang snapped back to attention, inwardly clicking her tongue, and resignedly acted as a laborer again.

Outside the infirmary.

Wang Xuanming was pacing back and forth at the door. When he saw Jiang Yiguang appearing alongside Fu Juan, a flash of surprise and confusion crossed his eyes. Fu Juan had always disliked being taken care of by others, wanting to do everything herself. Yet now she was letting Jiang Yiguang push her—could she have been forced by Jiang Yiguang again? As this thought arose, Wang Xuanming’s expression visibly darkened.

Before Wang Xuanming could speak, Fu Juan cut him off: “Have you notified the Dao Court about the recent events?”

Wang Xuanming nodded, his voice grave. “Notified them.” He took a deep breath and frowned again. “A major incident occurred in the Outer Province. There aren’t many people left in Shen City now.” Even if a truly millennial evil ghost appeared, the Xuanzhen Dao Court couldn’t spare anyone for a while. There were still elders from the noble clans, but he had already broken with the Wang family. And he also knew that unless it was a matter of life and death, the noble clans were not willing to get involved in the Xuanzhen Dao Court’s affairs. The only one close to the Dao Court, Jiang Li… was also away on business in the Outer Province now.

Looking at Wang Xuanming’s expression, Fu Juan knew they would have to resolve the South Mountain Fox Immortal Temple matter themselves.

The Xuanzhen Dao Court’s misjudgment meant the follow-up forces couldn’t keep up.

The only good news was that the thousand-year ghost, bearing Dragon Qi and merits, showed no signs of turning into a resentful or ferocious ghost.

Wang Xuanming asked again, “Should we go see them?”

Fu Juan glanced at Wang Xuanming and replied coldly, “No need.”

Wang Xuanming shrugged, not insisting.

Knowing these two had become like this because of the “Fox Immortal Temple” was enough. Last time they went to South Mountain, they hadn’t felt any “Qi” fluctuations. Something must be masking it; either way, they had to go again. He thought this, and thus voiced it. Before Fu Juan could answer, Jiang Yiguang spoke first: “I’m going too!”

Fu Juan looked up and stared at Jiang Yiguang, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

Wang Xuanming saw her hand casually resting on the wheelchair back, almost brushing Fu Juan’s hair, and said irritably, “What are you going for? Half a year ago, you cried for your parents just seeing a little ghost.” He truly looked down on Jiang Yiguang. Not only had she failed to become the Jiang family’s heir, but she didn’t even act like a proper “person,” behaving erratically, always acting on whims. Fu Juan had suffered no small amount of trouble from her over the years.

Her old shame exposed, Jiang Yiguang’s face flushed, and her dislike for Wang Xuanming deepened. Although his words were true, “After three days apart, one should be seen with new eyes.” Whether they agreed or not, she had to make this trip to South Mountain Fox Immortal Temple. She knew Wang Xuanming couldn’t make the decision, so she turned her gaze to the silent, almost invisible Fu Juan. “I want to go,” Jiang Yiguang said, feigning calmness.

In the original plot, she probably got up South Mountain by “pestering relentlessly.” If this was a key plot point, the system would likely make her choose, letting her gain some free points. Jiang Yiguang thought to herself. And the system didn’t disappoint her; that emotionless mechanical voice rang in her head.

【Detected that the Host has triggered a plot point. The following choices are available:

A. Pester Fu Juan relentlessly to take the Host up South Mountain. (Chivalry Points +5)

B. Secretly go up South Mountain. (Daoist Skill Points +3)

C. Give up. (Charisma Points +3)】

Jiang Yiguang frowned slightly.

The rewards for all three choices were positive. The first two didn’t seem that different on the surface… Judging by the rewards, the second was most worthwhile, but doing so would be somewhat risky.

Jiang Yiguang was still weighing her options when the silent Fu Juan suddenly said flatly, “I’m not your guardian. Why are you asking me?”

That eerily familiar sentence made Jiang Yiguang freeze.

Fu Juan would probably always be this cold and unfeeling. The system’s talk of “strategy to win Fu Juan over” was utterly unreliable. In this situation, it was better to choose “B.” While the emotions controlled by fate hadn’t started acting up again, Jiang Yiguang let go of the handles, abruptly stepped back several paces to distance herself from Fu Juan. “Forget it,” she lied easily.

Fu Juan’s face was calm.

Wang Xuanming was full of suspicion. The Jiang Yiguang he knew was never someone to give up easily, especially regarding Fu Juan. “You’re not thinking of secretly going up the mountain, are you?”

Jiang Yiguang met Wang Xuanming’s gaze and said cheerfully, “Yep, I’m going to secretly go up the mountain.”

Hearing her answer like that, Wang Xuanming became uncertain again.

Ignoring Wang Xuanming, Jiang Yiguang took her buzzing phone from her bag. Seeing the name “Lu Yaotiao,” she raised an eyebrow and answered without hesitation.

“Jiang Jiang, I saw Xie Qingdu at the mall! She was with her girlfriend, but she kept staring at me. I’m getting chills all over! Come save my sorry life, quick!”

Jiang Yiguang’s ears rang from Lu Yaotiao’s shriek. She held the phone a little farther away and asked, “Where are you?”

The sound of static crackled in her ear. Jiang Yiguang feared something bad had happened to Lu Yaotiao, and her tone grew increasingly anxious as she strode out of the school grounds. Fortunately, Lu Yaotiao’s silence didn’t last too long. Soon, she heard that light, cheerful voice.

“It’s fine now. That lady from earlier showed up, and Xie Qingdu left.” After a pause, Lu Yaotiao added, “Weren’t you on a date with that lady? Why is she at the mall alone? Don’t tell me she saw Fu Juan halfway through and followed her, all distracted?”

Jiang Yiguang looked back at Fu Juan, a figure of aloof detachment outside the infirmary, unlike any mortal, and remained silent.

In a sense, Lu Yaotiao wasn’t wrong.

Only, that “lady”… she was a ghost spirit from a thousand years ago!

Jiang Yiguang said weakly, “Give me the address.”