"Don't underestimate him. He used to be a famous constable. He came here to live out his remaining years because he couldn't stand the corruption in officialdom."
After Hao Yun's explanation, Ning Caichen was finally relieved. So he was a constable. No wonder he looked so fierce.
At first, Ning Caichen thought he was some kind of notorious bandit or mountain thief. After all, with Yan Chixia's appearance, it would be a waste of such outstanding looks if he wasn't a villain.
After returning home, Ning Caichen couldn't sleep at all; the battle that night kept replaying in his mind.
Seeing Hao Yun sitting cross-legged in meditation, Ning Caichen felt embarrassed to disturb him, so he went downstairs alone to get some fresh air.
What happened tonight made Ning Caichen sigh at the hardships of life. He had come out to collect debts for Jibaozhai, but he hadn't expected to get the account book wet on the way. He couldn't collect the money and didn't even have the money to go back.
With a long sigh, Ning Caichen began to wander aimlessly, feeling dejected.
Nie Xiaoqian, who was out searching for blood food for her injured grandmother, saw Ning Caichen at this moment and thought to herself, "This silly scholar, why is he here instead of staying at Lanruo Temple?"
"Young master, young master!"
Ning Caichen, who was wandering aimlessly, heard someone calling his name, so he stopped and looked for the person who spoke.
"Why are you running around like this? It's dangerous here. Go back right now, or you'll be dead if Grandma finds out!"
A person suddenly appeared beside him, startling Ning Caichen. When he saw that it was Nie Xiaoqian, a look of apology appeared on his face. He had been dragged away by Hao Yun to escape and had forgotten about the woman in the room.
"I'm so sorry, I was only thinking about saving my own life and forgot that you were still in the temple, Miss. Are you alright, Miss?"
Hearing Ning Caichen's words, Nie Xiaoqian shook her head with a bitter face. How could this scholar be so foolish?
"Haven't you realized I'm not human? I'm a ghost!"
Ning Caichen shuddered. A ghost? It doesn't seem like one.
"Miss, please stop teasing me. I've had enough bad luck today."
Rolling her eyes, Nie Xiaoqian pulled Ning Caichen toward Lanruo Temple.
"I really can't explain this to you. You should go back to the temple and hide there. Leave here as soon as it's light tomorrow and never come back."
"Miss, men and women should not touch each other. Please let go. I can walk by myself."
Having received professional training, Ning Caichen hurriedly stopped and tried to break free from Nie Xiaoqian's grasp.
"I really don't understand you. You should go back now, or Grandma will get impatient and I'll be in trouble."
Nie Xiaoqian released Ning Caichen, her face full of sorrow.
"Miss, who is this 'grandmother' you're talking about? Is she a member of your family?"
"Why do you ask so many questions? Grandma is the tree spirit that was chasing you just now. Oh dear! Someone's coming."
Just as she was about to answer Ning Caichen's question, Nie Xiaoqian discovered two other vengeful ghosts who had gone out to find blood offerings. If they found the scholar, they would definitely take him back to offer to Grandma.
"You talk too much. Quickly squat down and hide behind me without making a sound."
Nie Xiaoqian covered Ning Caichen with a light veil and stood there waiting for the two evil ghosts to arrive.
"Hey! Isn't this Xiaoqian, Grandma's favorite? What's wrong, you haven't found any food either?"
The female ghost spoke with a sharp and sarcastic tone, mocking Nie Xiaoqian. Her grandmother's usual care for Nie Xiaoqian had long made them resentful.
"You haven't found anything either. It's almost dawn. Instead of looking for food, you're just staying here. Aren't you afraid of Grandma's punishment?"
Nie Xiaoqian snorted coldly, showing no respect to the two devils.
"Hmph! Let's see if you can find it."
The two ghosts glared at Nie Xiaoqian, then quickly left to expand the search area and go find blood food for their grandmother.
Hidden beneath Nie Xiaoqian's clothes, Ning Caichen covered his mouth tightly, not daring to utter a sound. What had happened tonight was truly unbelievable.
Chapter 35 Leaving Lanruo Temple
"Come out, they're gone."
Nie Xiaoqian tore open her veil, revealing Ning Caichen hidden underneath.
As soon as he came out, Ning Caichen sneezed and felt uncomfortable all over. He didn't know that this was a reaction caused by the entry of yin energy into his body.
If a normal person were to be invaded by yin energy, they would at least fall seriously ill. However, Ning Caichen is quite a talent. He could be invaded by yin energy and just sneeze and it would be over. No wonder he could become a ghost knight.
"Miss, are you really a ghost?"
Ning Caichen glanced at Nie Xiaoqian with a complicated expression. In his understanding, ghosts and monsters were all harmful to people, but this female ghost in front of him had actually saved his life.
Nie Xiaoqian nodded. If she hadn't been controlled by her grandmother, she would have gone to the underworld to be reincarnated long ago. Why would she demean herself like this?
"Young master, you should go back quickly."
After saying this, Nie Xiaoqian, with a sorrowful expression, turned to leave.
"Wait, those two people were talking about blood food, right? They must be talking about people. If you let me go, won't you be punished when we get back?"
How could someone who could pass the imperial examinations be a fool? Ning Caichen thought for a moment and understood the cause and effect.
"So what? I'm already dead anyway."
Why don't you run away and leave this place?
After hearing Ning Caichen's words, Nie Xiaoqian gave a bitter smile.
“My urn is in my grandmother’s hands. Even if I run away, I will be caught and brought back. Young master, please go back.”
After saying this, Nie Xiaoqian drifted away, leaving Ning Caichen standing there heartbroken. It was hard to be a human in this world, but he never expected that being a ghost would be so restrictive.
An urn, huh? In that case, I'll take your urn with me when I leave tomorrow.
Turning back to Lanruo Temple, Ning Caichen took out his pen and ink and pondered deeply over the account book. Since the boss only recognized the account book, he might as well fill in the unclear parts himself and see what the boss would say then.
Without receiving payment, he wouldn't have money to return home, so Ning Caichen was really going all out for travel expenses.
The next day at dawn, after Hao Yun finished his practice, he found Ning Caichen fast asleep on the table, so he shook his head and went downstairs to cook porridge.
After putting the rice into the pot, Hao Yun began to study the next plan. This Lanruo Temple was not a good place. If Yan Chixia was not there, he would be doomed.
It would be better to leave with Ning Caichen today and stay at an inn in the city. As for the system options that have been triggered, we'll just have to give them up. After all, no matter how good the rewards are, you still have to be alive to claim them.
This time I gained a lot. Both the Shangqing Inner Martial Arts Heart Sutra and the Palm Thunder are very practical things. As long as I continue to cultivate, I will have a chance to fight back when I encounter ghosts and monsters.
Having made up his mind, Hao Yun woke up Yan Chixia and Ning Caichen for breakfast. The three of them shared a pot of porridge, and Hao Yun said goodbye to Yan Chixia.
“Master Yan, this place is really dangerous. You know my strength. If you hadn’t returned in time yesterday, I would probably have become food for that tree demon. So I’m going to live in the city. If you miss me, you can come into the city to find me.”
"good."
Yan Chixia also knew that keeping Hao Yun here would harm him, so he didn't keep him.
"Brother Ning, let's keep each other company on the way into the city. Let's pack up and set off."
Before leaving, Hao Yun left all the sausages and instant noodles in his backpack to Yan Chixia as a way of repaying him for teaching him martial arts techniques.
"Uncle Yan, until we meet again."
Standing outside the temple, Hao Yun cupped his hands in greeting towards the second-floor window. Although there was no one there, Hao Yun knew that Yan Chixia was standing behind the window.
Hao Yun was still a little reluctant to leave. Although Yan Chixia was foul-mouthed and had a bad temper, he was absolutely loyal to his friends.
"Brother Hao, I'm going to relieve myself. Wait here for me."
"Okay, go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
Sitting on a large rock by the roadside, Hao Yun waited patiently. More than ten minutes passed, but Ning Caichen still hadn't returned, so Hao Yun got up and looked out.
"Brother Ning? Ning Caichen, are you still there?"
Hao Yun called out several times, but Ning Caichen didn't respond. He glanced at his luggage at his feet. What was going on? The things were still with him; he couldn't possibly have run away.
Picking up his luggage, Hao Yun followed the tracks on the ground.
Ning Caichen, who said he needed to relieve himself, ran to a big tree and frantically dug with a stick.
After digging about half a meter deep, Ning Caichen's wooden stick came to rest on something hard.
Speeding up the digging, Ning Caichen finally unearthed an urn containing ashes. A hint of joy appeared on his face. This must be the girl's urn. As long as he took it with him, she would be free.
Just as he was about to leave, Ning Caichen unexpectedly discovered that there was an urn of ashes in the ground. He looked at the one in his hand and then at the one in the ground, and Ning Caichen was suddenly at a loss.
Which of the two urns belongs to that girl? Why don't we take them both?
With that in mind, Ning Caichen continued digging. To his surprise, he found more and more urns. To avoid missing any, he searched the surrounding area thoroughly.
Hao Yun, who had been chasing after him, looked at Ning Caichen, who was covered in mud, and the urn of ashes on the ground. He really didn't know what to say. The three of them had been together all day yesterday. How did you manage to hook up with Nie Xiaoqian? Why don't you teach me your flirting techniques?
"Brother Hao."
Ning Caichen, who was digging in the soil, looked at Hao Yun, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and gave an awkward smile.
"Come on, explain to me what's going on."
Hao Yun threw his luggage on the ground, crossed his arms, and waited for Ning Caichen to make excuses.
"You saw that girl yesterday too. She was so pitiful being controlled by the tree demon. I just wanted to help her."
Hao Yun was speechless. "You're the only one with a kind heart. What will you do when the tree demon comes knocking on your door?"
Glaring at Ning Caichen, Hao Yun looked at the towering tree in front of him. Since the urn was here, it meant that this tree was the tree demon's true form. Why not take this opportunity to destroy it?
With his eyes darting around, Hao Yun's mind was filled with mischievous thoughts.
"Put all the urns of ashes in there, and then stay far away."
Hao Yun, who was filled with murderous intent, took out three thunderbolts from his backpack. Seeing Ning Caichen walk away, he lit the fuses and stuffed them all into the pit that Ning Caichen had dug.
After setting off the thunderbolt, Hao Yun turned and ran. At this moment, Grandma had not yet reacted. She had noticed when Ning Caichen dug up the urn, but because it was daytime and her essence had been damaged yesterday, she did not show herself.
Upon seeing Hao Yun, Grandma was quite agitated, wishing she could appear immediately and kill him. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have suffered such severe injuries.
Just as he was about to launch his attack, the thunderbolt Hao Yunsai had planted in the tree roots exploded.
boom!
The three thunderbolts exploded simultaneously with astonishing power, instantly shattering most of the tree demon's roots. The tree demon could no longer tolerate this, and dark clouds immediately filled the sky. Yan Chixia, who was cultivating at Lanruo Temple, changed his expression drastically. Oh no! The tree demon is going to fight to the death!
"Damn it! You little thief, don't run! Prepare to die!"
When dark clouds gathered overhead, Hao Yun knew something bad was about to happen. When he saw his grandmother reveal her true form and try to fight him, Hao Yun ran even faster.