Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

"If we’re talking about dreams of evil wraiths, I have had similar nightmares myself," Chen Li muttered to himself as he stepped outside.

However, he had not had any since that one time.

"It must only be a coincidence, a case of ’daytime thoughts become nighttime dreams,’ after all."

The evil wraith he had encountered during the move had been blocked by an Evil-Repelling Talisman and had not even reached him before it was scared away by the Yu Family’s old ancestor. He had not been affected in the slightest, which was entirely different from Bai Jinwang’s situation.

He shook his head, no longer frightening himself.

...

Two days later, when Bai Jinwang’s health had slightly improved, he started rushing about, visiting relatives and friends, arranging his affairs. One by one, he gave away the concubines and maidservants in his home. From time to time, sobs could be heard from next door as scenes of parting in life and death unfolded.

"Alas, this is all fate."

In the evening, in the light of the setting sun, Bai Jinwang’s wrinkled, old face was tinged with an ineffable sense of sorrow and late-life gloom.

Watching his beautiful, flower-like concubine being dragged away by his friend, looking back three times with each step, her tearful, mournful eyes brimming with unspoken words, his heart ached, and he could not help but cry bitterly.

"If you are so reluctant, why send her away?" Chen Li stepped out and saw this human tragedy unfold, unable to hold back his words.

"Fellow Daoist has seen something laughable," Bai said as he quickly wiped away his tears and sighed, "What’s the use of delaying the affairs of a man who doesn’t have much time left to live? Finding them a better place before I die, I can leave this world at ease."

"You truly are open-minded!" Chen Li admired him sincerely.

He knew he could not do the same.

"When you’re about to die, you’ll be just as open-minded," Bai Jinwang said with a laugh.

Chen Li’s heart skipped a beat at these words.

What a thing to say.

He had a long life ahead of him and had never thought about death.

"When are you planning to leave?" Chen Li asked.

"Are you that eager to see me go?" Bai Jinwang gave Chen Li an odd smile and teased him.

Whether it was a psychological effect or not, Chen Li felt a sense of eerie and frenzied agitation in the old man’s countenance.

"Heh heh, just a little joke. I still have some relatives and friends to say my last farewells to. It will be the night after next; you don’t need to see me off then. Let me go quietly, all by myself!"

With those words, Bai Jinwang waved his hand and turned around, walking unsteadily back through the courtyard gate. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Creak," went the sound.

The gate closed.

Chen Li stood at the door, his brows tightly knit.

Thinking of the other’s odd behavior.

He quickly pulled out a thick stack of Evil-Breaking Talismans from his chest and checked them, only to discover that the top one was slightly warm, imperceptibly so.

"This is..." Chen Li’s expression changed slightly.

...

After dinner,

Chen Li handed a stack of thirty Evil-Breaking Talismans to Zhou Hong.

"What’s this for?" Zhou Hong asked, puzzled, as she took them.

"Keep them on you. The evil possession in Old Man Bai next door is getting worse, and I’ve been worried something might happen these few days," Chen Li said with a solemn expression.

Zhou Hong’s face changed: "He seems quite normal on a daily basis."

"Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it’s better to be cautious than to have regrets," Chen said.

He decided to buy another fifty Evil-Breaking Talismans the next morning for peace of mind.

Talismans had a long shelf life; even if they weren’t needed immediately, they wouldn’t degrade in quality if kept for a short period. He could resell them at his stall and recoup most of the cost. As for the slight loss of Spirit Stones, it was nothing to him, who had plenty of wealth to spare.

But if they were needed, it would be a matter of life and death.

...

The night passed peacefully.

Early the next morning, after buying fifty Evil-Breaking Talismans from the Longevity Sect’s talisman shop, Chen Li didn’t go out again. He practiced his swordsmanship and spells in the courtyard while he kept an ear out for any activity from Bai Jinwang.

It wasn’t until close to noon that he heard Bai’s severe coughing from next door.

After a while,

"Creak," the gate of the neighboring courtyard opened.

Bai Jinwang seemed to be heading out.

Chen Li stopped what he was doing and listened intently.

Soon, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away, and when they could no longer be heard, Chen Li opened his courtyard gate.

An old figure staggered in the distance. Perhaps because he had looked too long, he seemed to see a terrifying shadow flickering and dancing over the man. He quickly blinked and took a closer look, but everything was back to normal.

"This can’t just be an illusion; the possession has worsened... Damn it!" Chen Li cursed under his breath.

Sensing the gaze on him, Bai Jinwang turned around and smiled.

That smile...

Chen Li felt an indescribable sensation; it was sinister, gloomy, and even carried a faint trace of malice.

Bai quickly turned the corner and disappeared into the streets.

"Damn it, just what kind of evil creature is this... Luckily, he’s leaving tomorrow!"

He withdrew his gaze, about to turn back into the courtyard when the gate next door suddenly opened, and Sun Yu stepped out:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing! Are you going out?"

Ever since Zhou Hong had told him that Sun Yu was a courtesan cultivator, Chen Li couldn’t help but see it; every gesture Sun Yu made seemed to carry a hint of seduction.

"Yes," Sun Yu said with a pursed smile, closing the courtyard gate: "Otherwise, I’d have nothing to eat."

The two of them exchanged pleasantries but remained distant, and then they went their separate ways.

...

At night.

Afterward!

Zhou Hong, with bleary drunken eyes and a flushed face, took quite some time to regain her senses. She gently slapped Chen Li and gave him a beguiling look, scolding him: "It’s all your fault; don’t use that dangerous secret technique again. You’ll break me!"

Heh heh!

Chen Li chuckled smugly to himself.

The Yellow and Red Skill was indeed as formidable as its reputation. The intricacies of its secret techniques were ineffable.

Every time they tried it, Zhou Hong collapsed completely, helpless against it.