The Cold And Aloof Senior Sister Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 46

A jade bit (yu le) is a bit made of jade, a crucial item used to control a horse.

Qi Xianqing held the jade bit and asked, “What is this?”

Yan Jue naturally knew that Qi Xianqing was testing her knowledge, so she frowned slightly and replied, “It looks like a ghost bit (gui le).”

Qi Xianqing: “Exactly.”

Yan Jue had encountered relevant reading material before and knew that demonic cultivators used jade bits to control ghosts. This type of jade bit was also called a ghost bit.

A ghost bit appearing in the backyard of this household… meant that the vengeful spirit was not spontaneous; someone was controlling the ghost to come here.

Yan Jue’s pupils contracted slightly.

Little Apricot Village was very small, with only about a hundred people. Every year, several households suffered hauntings. If it were true that every time a family was haunted, they sent their children to the Suyang Immortal Estate to expel the evil, then there should be over forty children sent there by now. None of the children sent away had ever returned. Was it because the evil hadn’t been completely expelled, or because they hadn’t finished learning the immortal arts? The villagers, naturally reverent towards the Suyang Celestial Master, who was an old immortal, dared not ask.

Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing returned to the village head’s house. Before they got close, they saw a disheartened man standing at the door: “Village Head, it’s already night, why hasn’t the Suyang Immortal come yet?”

The Village Head seemed long accustomed to the situation and couldn’t even be bothered to open the door: “The Immortal Master has grace upon our village. You are facing disaster tonight, how could he not come? Go home and look after your wife and children, that’s what’s proper.”

The man clutched his head, his face ashen: “But I don’t dare go back! I won’t feel safe until I see the Immortal Master. Is he not coming tonight?”

He suddenly heard footsteps behind him and spun around, seeing two… women in black cloaks.

“You…”

“We are just passing by.” Yan Jue cupped her hands towards him and smiled politely: “Excuse me, sir… has something happened?”

The man’s physiognomy was terrible : his yìn tang (the area between the eyebrows) was dark, and his complexion was pale. Even though Yan Jue was just an inexperienced outer disciple, she could tell there was something wrong with this person. This was the state of being entangled by evil spirits.

The man’s eyes lit up when he saw the long sword behind Yan Jue: “Heroine! Heroine, save me!”

Yan Jue: “Please tell us what happened.”

The man trembled: “The Immortal Master said a few days ago that a vengeful spirit would target my home tonight, and he promised to come and help me expel it. But it’s late, and he hasn’t arrived.”

On the road, Yan Jue had gathered the general situation from the man. The man’s surname was Fang, a poor scholar, usually called Fang Sheng. This all began a few years ago when the village started being cursed by vengeful spirits. Since the entire Li family was murdered by a vengeful spirit five years ago, every year in the third lunar month, a family would be targeted by an evil ghost.

Fang Sheng: “We have an old Immortal Master who can expel ghosts to thank for it.”

“Because the ghost’s target changes every year, none of us know who will be next. Fortunately, the old Immortal Master comes to the village a month before the vengeful spirit is about to arrive to warn us in advance, so we can prepare.”

“But…” The man’s expression suddenly changed as he spoke: “A month ago, the old Immortal Master suddenly sent someone to notify us that this time, the vengeful spirit’s target is our Fang family!”

“Since then, our Fang family’s luck has turned bad, my wife has gone mad, and our mule and horse were stolen!”

“Wouldn’t you say this old Immortal Master is a master diviner!”

Yan Jue: “…”

It was already this obvious, yet Fang Sheng still hadn’t realized it. There was no vengeful spirit causing trouble. Everything was a sham orchestrated by that Suyang Celestial Master!

In this world, there are four types of beings fundamentally opposed to the Righteous Path: demons (yao), devils (mo), ghosts (gui), and monsters (guai). Ghosts rank third.

Yan Jue, having spent almost every day in the Scripture Pavilion recently, naturally knew there were three main types of ghosts in this world:

1. Vengeful Spirits (ligui): These ghosts are usually transformed from people who died wronged, possessing extremely strong resentment and aggression. Their targets are often those who caused their deaths. Over time, their resentment escalates, causing great harm to the human world.
2. Ethereal Ghosts (pogui): A person’s hun (spirit) has sentience, but the po (soul fragment) does not. Ghosts that attack indiscriminately without consciousness, such as zombies, belong to this category.
3. Bound Ghosts (fudigui): As the name suggests, they can only appear in a specific location, such as a blood eating ghost at a slaughterhouse or a water ghost by a river. Their attack power is often not high.

Although ghost entities are myriad, the main types are these few. Righteous Immortal Sects do not practice ghost controlling; only Demonic Cultivators can control ghosts. Given how ferocious and mindless ghosts are, allowing them to be controlled by others can lead to unimaginable consequences. This is why the Immortal Sects are so wary of the resurgence of the Demonic Cult.

Based on Fang Sheng’s description, combined with the tragic ways the previous families were killed, Yan Jue was certain the culprit in Little Apricot Village was a Vengeful Spirit. This was strange, as the previous victims’ families had no known major grudges, suggesting this vengeful spirit was likely released by someone else.

The Suyang Celestial Master was also highly suspicious. Releasing the ghost first and then coming to expel it could not only make the villagers grateful but also serve some hidden objective. If… the Suyang Celestial Master was actually a Demonic Cultivator…

Qi Xianqing listened to her explanation and her lips curved almost imperceptibly: “Very good, you’ve improved.”

Yan Jue smiled: “Senior Sister taught well.”

Fang Sheng fell into deep despair: “What should we do? The Old Immortal is so late and still not here. What if our family suffers the same fate as the Old Liu family…?”

Qi Xianqing slightly raised her chin, and Yan Jue instantly understood her meaning. She turned to Fang Sheng and said, “We can help you.”

Fang Sheng was stunned: “But who are you two, and how do you know ghost-expelling arts?”

Yan Jue took out a token from behind her: “To be honest, we are disciples of the Five Dragons Sect, ordered to come to Little Apricot Village to expel the ghost.”

She was using Qi Xianqing’s identity token. The token of the chief disciple of the Fiery Tremor Sect was quite useful; the dark red jade carving on it was like a symbol of stern authority.

Fang Sheng was startled, his eyes instantly widening. Being a scholar, he had read enough to know that the Five Dragons Sect, one of the six major Immortal Sects, used the Qilin as its sect mascot. The token in front of him was exquisitely crafted and couldn’t be fake. His peripheral vision caught the black sword on the back of the silent woman behind the young lady, and his legs went weak, about to kneel: “Immortal Master…”

Fang Sheng: “Immortal Master, my wife and I have always been honest and upright and have never committed any major mistakes. You must save us!”

There were six great Immortal Sects in the world, as well as countless smaller sects. Apart from the orthodox immortal arts of the six major sects, the others were somewhat questionable. Although Fang Sheng called the Suyang Celestial Master the “Old Immortal,” he wasn’t foolish enough to truly believe he was a god. Fang Sheng was also aware that the Suyang Celestial Master’s power was likely not as profound as those of the major Righteous Sects. In the eyes of ordinary commoners, the Six Great Immortal Sects were heaven itself. Furthermore, Fang Sheng wasn’t an idiot; he had long been puzzled why the Suyang Celestial Master came to expel ghosts every year, yet the ghosts still visited Little Apricot Village annually. Perhaps it was because his power was insufficient, and the ghosts hadn’t been fully expelled!

Yan Jue quickly helped him up: “Stop kneeling.”

“I have a way to ensure Little Apricot Village will never be disturbed by ghosts again.” Yan Jue changed the subject and smiled: “It will require Mr. Fang’s cooperation.”

When Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing arrived at the Fang residence, the home was in chaos. Madam Fang, cursed by the vengeful spirit, was lying on the bed, tossing restlessly, her eyes wide open with extreme terror. Her face was extremely weak.

Madam Fang muttered: “She comes every day… every day!”

The Fang children, a boy and a girl, huddled in a corner, trembling fearfully. Fang Sheng led Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue in respectfully: “Two… young ladies, this is my humble wife.”

Fang Sheng then called out: “Da Lang, quickly bring your little sister over!” Amidst Madam Fang’s ghost like muttering, the boy lingered for a while before leading the little girl by the hand. The two children stood before Qi Xianqing.

Fang Sheng said: “The boy is my son, named Fang Hu, and the girl is Fang Hua. They both just turned eight this year.”

Qi Xianqing stared at the faces of the boy and girl for a long time, then took out a talisman tablet from her Qiankun Pouch. Yan Jue remembered this talisman tablet. Talisman tablets had storage functions; various divine abilities of a cultivator could be stored on them.

Qi Xianqing crushed the talisman tablet. A faint halo of light seeped out from the cracks of the fragments, gradually enveloping her. When the white light dissipated, Qi Xianqing had vanished. In her place stood… a boy identical to Fang Hu, the Fang family’s eldest son. The boy was pale, his features refined, dressed in coarse white cloth, and his eyes were dark and clear he looked exactly like Fang Hu!

Immortal Art: Thousand Changes and Transformations (Xian Fa · Qian Bian Wan Hua).

Qi Xianqing glanced lightly at Yan Jue. Outside, Qi Xianqing and Yan Jue had already come to an agreement. Since their purpose was to investigate the true nature of the Azure Jade Temple and expose the person behind it, their identities could not be revealed. Therefore, taking on the appearance of the Fang children was the safest approach. After all, once the Suyang Celestial Master came to ‘exorcise’ the ghost tonight, the Fang family would send their children to the Daoist’s dwelling anyway. Before leaving the mountain, Qi Xianqing had prepared two talisman tablets storing the “Immortal Art: Thousand Changes and Transformations,” allowing her to transform into any desired appearance by crushing one when necessary.

Yan Jue also crushed her talisman tablet as previously agreed, transforming into the likeness of the Fang family’s little daughter. This girl wore a shabby grey-white padded jacket and had two childish buns in her hair. However, her eyes were bright and spirited, far more lively than the real Fang Hua’s, and her skin seemed… fairer than before.

Qi Xianqing: “…”

Yan Jue smiled awkwardly: “I didn’t memorize Fang Hua’s appearance too well, so it’s not an exact match.” Never mind, the Suyang Celestial Master’s cultivation wasn’t high, and he probably didn’t even know what the Fang children looked like; Yan Jue should be able to fool him just enough.

Qi Xianqing then walked over to the real brother and sister pair and gently placed a Breath Concealment Shawl (Min Xi Peng) on the boy’s and girl’s heads: “Wear this garment and hide in the wardrobe to completely conceal your presence.”

The little boy, Fang Hu, looked up, casting a timid glance at the person standing before him who looked exactly like him: “Thank you.”

Qi Xianqing then looked at Fang Sheng: “Whether the vengeful spirit can be completely expelled depends on Mr. Fang’s cooperation.”

It was late into the night. Madam Fang on the bed was writhing more uneasily, her eyes wide open, her expression one of utter horror. Fang Hua and Fang Hu who were now Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing crouched in a corner, just like the original Fang siblings. Would the vengeful spirit really come tonight?

Yan Jue stared at the distraught Madam Fang and suddenly said, “Brother, I have an insignificant question.”

The expressionless boy beside her glanced at her, silently allowing her to continue. Yan Jue turned her head, glanced at Qi Xianqing, and mockingly asked: “Does your transformation as a boy change everything about your body, or…”

The air around them instantly quieted. Yan Jue had been anticipating admiring Qi Xianqing’s embarrassment, but when she turned back, she met Qi Xianqing’s dark, clear eyes head on. Although her appearance had changed, Qi Xianqing’s eyes were exactly the same still incredibly beautiful and profound, possessing an air of pressure.

“…”

“Why does little sister ask this?” Qi Xianqing nudged Yan Jue’s waist with her knee, staring at Yan Jue’s profile with a subtle smile, unhurriedly: “Are you very curious?” Her tone was somewhat suggestive.

Yan Jue’s face instantly flushed crimson, and she replied with a blank expression: “I’m not curious at all!”