Translator: Dj22031

Editor: Dj22031

Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi

---

Li Yuebai drove onto the less crowded outer ring road.

In less than half a day, he and Ye Qing had fallen into the same dead end— both had become fugitive criminals.

Ye Qing was a vampire with the ability to control minds, so even when wanted, he could always find a way to slip through checkpoints.

But he didn’t have that ability. Once Director Wang started laying down his net, there was no escaping.

What crime was assaulting a police officer?

The tranquilizer gun he used was a contraband… and the rattan-patterned silver-plated longsword was also a contraband, already left in the city police station’s parking lot, with no time to retrieve it.

After thinking it over, Li Yuebai took out his walkie-talkie and sent a call request to Director Wang.

Soon, the other side answered.

Director Wang probably had never seen such a daring suspect, who dared to make a call right after escaping.

“Director Wang, don’t issue a warrant for my arrest.” Li Yuebai made a ridiculous request with a straight face.

“What? A fugitive suspect is asking the police not to issue a warrant? This is unheard of!” Director Wang must be slamming his fist on the table again, the sound echoing loudly.

“I’ve always abhorred tattling,” Li Yuebai said helplessly. “But if you’re going to issue a formal warrant for my arrest, I’ll have no choice but to report you to the National Security Bureau.”

“Xiao Gu, I advise you to pull back from the brink,” Director Wang said, his anger rising, his tone becoming increasingly serious.

“It’s you who should pull back from the brink,” Li Yuebai’s voice trailed off. “Do you really want to become a vampire?”

In the original storyline of this world, within the human camp, there were constantly people who tried to be possessed by dormant entities to become vampires because they feared death and craved immortality.

Director Wang was now one of those people.

In his youth, he was spirited and energetic; but in his old age, panic began to creep into his heart. The most terrifying and powerful weapon in the world is time; even the strongest person has to bow before it. Decades had passed, and everything once easily possessed, even health, had become a luxury. The shadow of death was drawing ever closer. At this age, too many people developed a fanatical pursuit of health preservation— various drugs, health products, and treatment devices were rampant, and no matter how expensive, people were willing to buy them. This human nature was not something to be ridiculed, but rather a kind of helplessness— no one was unafraid of aging, no one was unafraid of death. At this age, coupled with the temptation of “immortality,” it was easy to become hopelessly addicted.

The vast majority of them were deterred by order and law— although becoming a vampire was desirable, being granted immortality, but the next second they faced the risk of being killed by human legal institutions.

Director Wang, being a leader of a legal institution, wielded considerable power and personal strength, and had the opportunity to contact dormant bodies. Once driven by desire, it would be almost inevitable for him to vie for dormant bodies.

When Li Yuebai was cornered by Director Wang in the parking lot, he almost genuinely believed for a moment that Director Wang and Director Yang had conspired to lure him there.

But upon calming down and thinking it over, he found the loopholes.

First, if this was a trap set by Director Yang, and if their sole purpose was to arrest him, why not ambush him inside the city police station building, at the station entrance, or near the safe— any of these locations would have been easier to use to ambush him than the parking lot? Why wait until he arrived at the parking lot, about to drive away, before waiting to intercept him? Second, if it was a trap, why did Director Yang actually use a real black coffin as bait? He could have easily placed a rock or something else in the safe; there was no need to risk such an important item.

Third, Director Wang was clearly attending a meeting out of town at this time; why was he the one rushing to arrest him? When he tentatively inquired, Director Wang, after some thought, actually followed his line of reasoning and admitted to conspiring with Director Yang to lure him there. If it were truly a conspiracy, Director Wang could have remained silent, revealing no information, and simply made the arrest; why would he expose the trap in front of his subordinates?

Finally, Director Wang’s focus on the black coffin was far too intense. Although he consistently used the guise of arresting himself to conceal his true purpose, it was clear that his deeper aim was singular— to obtain the black coffin and the dormant body.

Director Wang wasn’t lacking in cunning or concealment; he was simply driven by an overwhelming desire. Even the most cautious person could not hide their intentions under the weight of surging ambition.

From beginning to end, everything Director Yang told him was true: someone tried to decipher the safe’s combination, someone tried to steal the dormant body, someone tried to defect to the vampire camp— and that person was Director Wang.

“Director Wang, you haven’t committed any actual crimes. It’s not too late to back down now. I won’t say a word,” Li Yuebai said sincerely. “Several people in the National Security Bureau already suspect you. If I report you, they’ll immediately start watching you. Even if you successfully convert, they’ll immediately assassinate you with silver bullets… So, how about we compromise?”

“The dormant body,” Director Wang uttered, ignoring his previous statement.

Director Wang knew perfectly well that their conversation would be recorded and could potentially be used against him later. Therefore, he remained tight-lipped, refusing to admit any desire to become a vampire, no matter how much Gu Xisha provoked or tried to trap him. Every word he uttered was carefully chosen to avoid giving himself away.

To ensure his escape, Li Yuebai tossed the small black coffin to Director Wang. With the coffin in his possession, Director Wang held a significant advantage. His phrase “dormant body” implied “the dormant body is with me,” and further implied: “What right do you, Gu Xisha, have to negotiate with me? Since the dormant body is with me, I hold the power and can transform into a vampire at any time. From the time you report me until the National Security Bureau arrives, it will take time. In that time, a vampire could easily escape. Therefore, you have absolutely no right to negotiate with me.”

“Yes, if the dormant entity was in your hands, things would be very difficult,” Li Yuebai said helplessly. “You can immediately become a vampire and escape, perhaps leaving a suicide note before you go, pointing the finger at me as the murderer. Not only can you ignore my threats, but you can also trick me again, making me a wanted fugitive for eternity… But unfortunately, the one you have is fake.”

Fake?

Director Wang frowned, looking at the small black coffin in his hand.

Both the material of the coffin and the sealing silver rope were exactly the same as the evidence in previous cases. These craftsmanship techniques could not be replicated by modern human technology; they couldn’t be more real.

“The coffin and the sealing silver rope are real, but there is no dormant entity inside,” Li Yuebai said.

The alarm bells in Director Wang’s mind immediately went off.

He didn’t hang up the walkie-talkie. Instead carrying the black coffin, he went into his private office at the city police station. There was a well-sealed cubicle there, perfect for possession. He removed his usual glasses and put on electronic display glasses— specially made for special missions, with lenses that acted as electronic displays, allowing him to clearly observe the dormant entity.

After preparing, Director Wang opened the small black coffin.

It was empty.

Even with the electronic display glasses, the dormant entity was completely invisible.

On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Li Yuebai heard the crackling sound of the silver sealing rope being pulled open and immediately said, “Now you believe me? Sorry, that was just something I used to fool you.”

The small black coffin he kicked to Director Wang in the parking lot was actually the one from the museum that had once contained the Joker and Vila.

As for the coffin with the dormant body that he took out of the safe, it was still on his person.

Not to mention Director Wang, even Director Yang, and none of his other colleagues at the Municipal Bureau knew that there was a dormant Joker body in the museum. The only people who knew were Li Yuebai, Ye Qing, Zhuo Zhuo, Wang Wen, and Xiao Tian. The latter three were probably still unconscious and couldn’t possibly have told Director Wang about it remotely. Therefore, Director Wang had no way of knowing that Gu Xisha had a second black coffin on her person, and that it was actually empty.

“Where did you get this extra empty coffin?” As expected of Director Wang, even in his anger, he didn’t lose his temper and was able to sort out his thoughts and continue to ask.

“I’ve been investigating all sorts of vampire-related cases lately. There are just too many of them, as many as you can get,” Li Yuebai casually made up. On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Director Wang seemed to light a cigarette and take a long drag.

Without the dormant form as leverage, he had to seriously consider Gu Xisha’s demand for a “compromise.” Actually, it was quite simple. As long as he didn’t order Gu Xisha’s arrest, the people who had been tranquilized were all his trusted confidants and wouldn’t say a word. Given Gu Xisha’s character, he naturally wouldn’t push him too far or report his dangerous intentions to the National Security Bureau. He could still remain the head of the Municipal Bureau, as if nothing had happened, and everything would be peaceful.

It had to be said, such a deal was excellent, fair, and a win-win situation.

“Director Wang, if you don’t speak, I’ll take that as your acceptance of my compromise proposal.” Li Yuebai sighed. “That’s settled then. Goodbye.”

The call was disconnected.

Director Wang smoked several cigarettes, still seething with anger. He’d been completely outmanoeuvred by Gu Xisha, a truly humiliating defeat.

Even if he couldn’t issue a public arrest warrant for Gu Xisha, he was determined to find another way to get revenge.

In this day and age, you didn’t necessarily need to use public power to “issue a warrant” to ruin someone.

Gu Xisha had plenty of enemies; simply spreading his recent activities would attract those seeking revenge.

Just as Director Wang was considering the best approach, the phone rang. It was Building 39 of the Military Region General Hospital calling.

“Hello, Director Wang, I have something to report.” On the other end was the guard watching over Weng Zichen. He kept a daily record of everything and reported it to Director Wang: “Just this morning at two o’clock, your former police officer, Gu Xisha, came here. He first met with Liang Jing, and then he and Liang Jing visited Weng Zichen.”

“Is there anything suspicious?” Director Wang frowned.

“Yes, when he and Liang Jing went to the ward to see Weng Zichen, Weng Zichen was extremely agitated, almost wanting to rush up and fight Gu Xisha.” The guard was also puzzled: “I don’t know what happened, but Gu Xisha had high authority, so we didn’t stop him.”

“Although this matter is small, it should be taken seriously.” Director Wang ordered: “Send me the video footage, I will investigate it personally.”

There was very little video footage, only a photo taken by the security camera at the entrance of the military hospital when Gu Xisha drove in.

The photo clearly showed Gu Xisha’s face and the license plate number.

Such a photo, once posted online, would expose Gu Xisha’s recent whereabouts. If someone wanted to kill him, they could simply trace the license plate number, which would be much faster and easier than issuing an arrest warrant.

Director Wang clicked the mouse and anonymously sent out the photo.

Of course, at this time, Director Wang did not expect that his move would be even more effective than he imagined.

To ordinary humans, it was just an ordinary photo; at most, they’d say, “Oh, that’s the former police officer who was released on bail, the one who was in the news before.”

But to vampires… even through a photo, they could see through a Vila’s true nature.

Shortly after the photo was posted, at 1 AM in Damascus, Gao Chengyu’s underground vampire kingdom received the information, elevating Gu Xisha’s importance level to number one.

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Translator: Dj22031

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---

The subsequent filming went smoothly without any problems, and the work was quickly and successfully completed.

Min Lei, the actress who played the ghost, also came to her senses, completely forgetting what she had done. However, being a carefree person, she was incredibly excited upon hearing that her performance was excellent and that she worked well with Gu Wuji, simply believing she had become too immersed in the role.

But in reality, the ghost hadn’t completely left… After chatting with Gu Wuji, she seemed to have developed a passion for the entertainment industry and felt that the script perfectly suited her past. So she stayed by Min Lei’s side, preparing to possess her and finish filming the movie.

Gu Wuji thought this was a win-win situation! So he didn’t say anything; and everyone seemed quite happy.

Afterwards, Gu Wuji checked the dressing room and found that the clothes and wigs inside looked very ordinary. The clothes and wigs Min Lei had worn however were nowhere to be seen. “Could it be just a coincidence that this ghost appeared here?”

“I don’t think so. There’s a very strange aura in this space. It doesn’t seem like a vengeful ghost, but it’s definitely not human either,” Austin said, frowning. “If I had to say, it’s like… the props used by those players.”

Gu Wuji took a deep breath. “Just as I suspected, there’s definitely a high-level player later in this script. Although I don’t know who he is, it’s clear that this person is targeting me.”

Although Gu Wuji casually chatted happily with the ghost the other party had brought.

“Should we find out where this person is?” Austin hurriedly said, “We can’t let him continue like this!”

“It’s not a big deal,” Gu Wuji said, “Finding him is absolutely impossible. There are countless tricks up their sleeves for high-level players. Besides, if his idea is to send these ghosts to cause me trouble… wouldn’t that be perfect?”

Austin: “…”

He suddenly realized that he seemed to be too worried about Gu Wuji’s safety. In reality, with Gu Wuji’s strength, he didn’t need to be afraid of these vengeful ghosts at all! On the contrary, it would be ridiculous for them to come and deliver their heads.

Anyway, since he couldn’t find out anything, Gu Wuji prepared to go back to the hotel. He was still waiting for that ghost to send a few more ghosts for him to purify.

“Compared to investigating these things, improving my own strength is the most important thing. That way, even if I face that high-level player head-on later, I won’t be afraid.”

Gu Wuji suddenly felt like he was actually playing some kind of monster-fighting and leveling-up game.

But thinking that other high-level players had already leveled up for so long, they must have many more trump cards than him. Thinking about this, Gu Wuji became more worried.

In reality, Gu Wuji was overthinking things. After all, the purification spell was rarely used from the beginning, and even if it was used, there weren’t many opportunities to purify ghosts, making leveling it up extremely difficult… otherwise, it wouldn’t have been criticized by so many players as a useless skill.

These advanced players certainly wouldn’t have imagined that after the purification spell reached a certain level, it would actually grant points directly.

….

After dark, the eerie atmosphere in the village grew stronger.

The villagers seemed to sense something, staying indoors after dark, which caused many tourists to complain, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Since there were no activities in the village, they had no choice but to stay in their lodgings.

Occasionally, a few tourists would insist on going out at night to test their courage, only to be severely traumatized afterward… If it weren’t for the fact that most of these ghosts only attacked Gu Wuji, countless people would probably have died here long ago. Surprisingly, no one here thought about leaving. It was as if an unknown force forcibly diverted their thoughts to other directions when they thought about it. Even if they wanted to leave the village, they would unconsciously return.

Meanwhile, in a corner of Gu Wuji’s mansion…

The ghost from the daytime was in a secluded room, surrounded by several high-level ghosts, each exuding deep resentment and with ferocious expressions. They scrutinized the ghost with sinister eyes.

“Is the information you provided really accurate? You’ve thoroughly investigated that human’s situation?”

“Absolutely!” the ghost declared confidently. “That human only has two lackeys, one of whom is quite powerful… and a mysterious pet. If we lure his minions away, this human will be helpless!”

“But the time isn’t right yet. We can’t unleash our full power.” One of the high-level ghosts hesitated. “What if something unexpected happens…?”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” the ghost quickly said. “Now is our chance! If we wait a few days, and the other, more powerful ghosts awaken, there won’t be any chance for us!”

The ghost’s words clearly swayed the other high-level ghosts, and a plan to target Gu Wuji unfolded.

….

Meanwhile, a staff member was walking along the road, rushing to deliver some information to the director about a filming location being unusable.

Just then, he suddenly remembered the rumors he’d heard before coming to this village.

“I heard this village is haunted, and that you absolutely mustn’t go out at night, or ghosts will appear and steal your soul…”

At that moment, everything was eerily quiet; everyone seemed to be asleep. This silence sent a chill down the staff member’s spine. He also realized that all the staff members seemed to have disappeared after dark.

“No way, if it were really haunted, would so many people still be here?” the staff member tried to reassure himself, but then he remembered the staff member who had suddenly gone mad yesterday, Qiu Jian, and the inexplicable power outage earlier that day. “I should have carried that talisman with me! I don’t know if it’ll even work, but at least it’ll give me peace of mind…”

The next instant, the streetlights dimmed, plunging the entire space into complete darkness.

The staff member nearly screamed. Finally spotting someone ahead, he rushed forward, patted the person on the shoulder, and the person turned around.

In the dim moonlight, the staff member clearly saw that the person’s face was deathly pale, the features completely empty.

“Ahhhhhh—”

Overwhelmed by the intense shock, the staff member fainted. The pale-faced ghost revealed a chilling smile, its form attaching itself to the staff member.

The staff member, who had been lying stiffly on the ground, opened its eyes again, this time with lifeless eyes, stiffly picking up the surrounding papers.

“Finding someone without a talisman is really difficult.” The ‘staff member’ sneered, looking down at the documents in its hand. A flick of its finger caused some of the text to change naturally. It walked towards the director’s location.

“In that case, that human definitely won’t survive tomorrow.”

….

Not just these ghosts, although it had only been a few days, a large number of ghosts had already begun to act for Gu Wuji.

Those ghosts who rashly rushed forward were actually a minority; most ghosts used all their strength to try and maximize their chances of killing Gu Wuji.

Although they couldn’t directly kill anyone except Gu Wuji, the extent of possession was irrelevant.

Gu Wuji slept peacefully through the night; nothing happened, and he even managed to contact Yang Shao.

Yang Shao was safe; they had all made thorough preparations, and the ghosts couldn’t even find his location.

“Are you still out there?” Yang Shao suggested that Gu Wuji find a place to hide quickly. What was about to happen was no joke. If all else failed, he should at least put on that red dress.

Thinking about how Gu Wuji had previously thought he was a cross-dresser, and now Gu Wuji himself was going to wear the dress, Yang Shao found it rather amusing.

Gu Wuji, of course, didn’t agree; he still had filming to do! Wearing women’s clothing would be too strange.

In fact, Gu Wuji had a similar prop— the black coffin— which could isolate him from all other energies. If all else failed, he could lie in it and have Austin bring him food… but he would never delay the film crew’s schedule because of his own affairs. Besides, there’s a high-level player watching him closely; he’s basically just waiting to die.

Yang Shao was immediately startled. “A high-level player already has their eye on you? Actually, I’ve heard before that there’s a reason why there are so few high-level players. It’s not just because the advancement dungeons are difficult, but also the ten-day trial after advancement. What’s even more terrifying is that other high-level players will come and attack.”

“Why?” Gu Wuji didn’t quite understand. In his view, they were all players; it was one thing for them not to help each other, but for them to fight each other— wasn’t that too intense?

“I’ve only heard about it. After becoming a high-level player, there seems to be something very important that everyone wants, related to completing the entire game. But that thing is limited in quantity, meaning not everyone can complete it. Under such circumstances, of course, the fewer competitors, the better…”

Yang Shao’s emotions became complicated. After all, having come this far, who wouldn’t want to break free from the system’s constraints and return to a normal life? And these high-level players basically don’t care about human life anymore; how could they possibly care about killing other players?

He had always been like that. If he hadn’t encountered Gu Wuji, he wouldn’t be worried about Gu Wuji’s safety at all… In fact, he was quite happy to have one less opponent.

But if someone like Gu Wuji really died because of the system’s rules, Yang Shao couldn’t describe the complexity of his feelings.

“I see.” Gu Wuji nodded, his attitude quite frank.

“Don’t you think it’s terrifying?” Yang Shao couldn’t help but ask, still wanting to know what Gu Wuji was thinking.

“It’s alright.” Gu Wuji said, “Anyway, living is just like that. If I die, I’ll just help purify their souls. If I were to die myself… I’d feel a bit sorry for the others.”

Of course, he had never cared about death itself. After all, becoming a ghost was just like that, wasn’t it? There was no essential difference from being alive.

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Translator: Dj2203

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---

The quality of the medicinal herbs delivered by Mia Alice was successfully assessed and measured.

After it was over, she received the payment at the reception desk, and Mia Alice was now returning to church.

Meanwhile, Sylphy and the others were preparing small items at the reception desk.

But Manny-san took the medicine and disappeared behind the guild.

“All right! Big brother, is Grandma ready? Let’s get going soon.”

We were also impressed by Najina’s voice, and Mia Alice too.

We stand up together. We stop by the reception desk to thank everyone for today and for tomorrow.

I say, “Thank you very much.”

Femi must have really liked the fruit sandwich because she was smiling.

She waved goodbye.

I was curious about what Manny was doing when she disappeared behind the guild, so I decided to go and see.

We all went out the back door and found Manny there.

With practiced hands, she tied the piece of paper she had picked up earlier to the bird’s leg,

Then she sent them flying into the sky one after the other.

However, the body of the pigeon was not rounded like a normal pigeon’s and even looked angular.

“Hmm? Is this the first time you’ve actually seen this, Genta-sama?”

Manny came over while giving pieces of paper to birds.

“Um, ah, yes. It’s the first time I’ve seen it.”

Meanwhile, another bird flew away.

It was clearly different from the pigeons that fly away in front of train stations, etc.

When we see pigeons taking off, they first touch the ground with their legs.

They then step on the branch of a tree and then fly upwards.

Float…levitate yourself and then fly in the direction you want.

In other words, to fly away, they had to float up for a moment.

A “preparatory action” was thus required.

However, this “arrow pigeon” did not have that. It instantly soared into the sky at high speed.

The trajectory was similar to that of a baseball player with a strong arm who throws the ball without bouncing.

That’s why it flies on a low trajectory.

I’m sure the person receiving this arrow pigeon will think, “An arrow pigeon has flown in.”

Rather than saying it, it feels like “the arrow has landed.”

There’s no doubt about it…or so I thought.

According to Manny, the arrow pigeon is a bird that flies very well.

It is said to be fast, but not so good for long distances.

Apparently, it’s not good at flying. It’s probably what you call a type of sprinter.

That’s why we need to communicate information “quickly” in our interactions within the town.

When you want to… This time, Mia Alice had picked fresh herbs.

The guild thus received a shipment of high-quality medicinal herbs containing a lot of magical power.

To immediately inform medical personnel, wholesalers, etc., she tied pieces of paper to the legs of arrow pigeons and sent them flying.

There were exceptions such as minerals, but there are also plants and trees with medicinal properties.

Or animal organs, such as bear liver, of course.

As they gradually rotted.

Therefore, once collected, they had to be disposed of appropriately as soon as possible.

Otherwise, no matter how valuable a medicinal herb may be, it will just become garbage.

Also, it is better to dispose of it quickly even if it hasn’t been long enough for it to rot.

The more time passes, the more the active ingredients are lost.

For example, it’s like a carbonated drink that has been left out for a long time.

The flavor soon changes, it’s not tasty, and you lose the refreshing feeling of carbonation.

That’s why they’re letting them know.

“Good things need you to come faster…”

Manny says as she releases the last arrow pigeon.

“We will inform our customers immediately, after they have bought it. There’s no other way to sell it. Genta-sama, have you ever been to a morning market? It is said that this is sometimes done in tourist areas with fishing ports.”

I had heard of it but I had never been there, so I shook my head.

Manny said as she closed the door to the pigeon house.

“Those kind of things are done a little early in the morning. Otherwise it’s no good. It has to be before dawn…or at least. Good things come sooner. If they come later, it’s gone. The rest that were not touched by the connoisseurs are the ones that remain. So the sooner the better. So, “the sooner the better.”

Finally, she turns to me and smiles.

“Knowing that, it looks like Miss Manny will be a good wife.” said Mr. Wozma, who was married.

“Yo, Yome!? Bah, don’t say stupid things! Wozma-sama! I’m nobody’s wife…”

Perhaps because she was embarrassed, Manny’s voice became quieter towards the end of her sentences.

“No, Miss. It’s important. You should choose the good stuff, at all times and in all circumstances.”

Maon said kindly.

….

After parting ways with Manny and leaving the guild, we headed towards the commercial district.

I was walking while carrying the empty, light basket on my back.

Mia Alice was also there.

“Even so, this is the first time I’ve heard that the medicinal herbs delivered are treated like this. To think that a deal could be made like that…”

“It’s an essential item for us, after all it’s medicine. I guess it was fate that I found out about it.”

There must have been some facts that even veteran adventurers didn’t know.

The two of them said impressed.

“But you communicate incredibly quickly. If I want to make sure I buy good products and secure them. That must be the case.”

When I gave my thoughts on what they had said, Mia Alice said, “That’s one reason, but it’s also because they can move on to the preparation right away.”

“Preparation?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that many enthusiastic herbalists and pharmacists want to prepare the freshly picked herbs right away and it seems they are thinking about that.”

Wow…that’s a bit of a hard worker…

“Well, that was quite a while ago. They are sometimes very impatient.”

Najina-san voiced the thoughts and questions I had exactly as they were.

“If you leave the herbs in the area, the ingredients will gradually become wet. If they remain wet, they tend to rot and get moldy, so they are dried in the sun and wind. Pre-processing with heat to prevent the loss of effective ingredients is necessary. Apparently, with that, it can be stored for a long time. When you grind herbal medicine into powder, you get the familiar medicine.”

“Oh, I see. So that’s why on the wholesaler’s shelves, there are dried herbs and tree roots and things like that placed there.”

It must be a common sight in the other world.

I was looking at some bottled herbal medicine from a Japanese herbal medicine store.

I recall the plants that could be used to make medicine.

“Fresh herbs are better than dried, small, hard ones. It’s easy to cut… I picked some today. Moonlit grass is effective even without any treatment, depending on the area, the effect may be weak or almost non-existent. So, if the effect is not so great, you can remove them and let the remaining soft leaves dry. By doing so, we can create a better, more effective medicine…”

“So, the medicine made from the moonlight leaves is so much in demand. That’s exactly what it means.”

“But what happens to the stems that are removed…?”

I asked Mia Alice about something that had been bothering me.

“I don’t throw them away either. For example, I drink them as herbal tea. And the pharmacist would dry it and grind it into powder. I’ve heard that they use it…”

“An ineffective drug? Does that mean it’s an ineffective drug? What are you going to use it for? I don’t think there’s any use for it…”

“Take advantage of the fact that it has almost no effect and use a small amount to see the effect. Mix it with the medicine you’re taking to increase the amount and make it into a pill. I’ve heard of it.”

I see… For example, it is about the size of a grain of sand, and there are strong medicines that are effective on the human body in just two or three grains.

Let’s say there is. How can we manage it so that such a small amount is not lost?

It’s difficult. But still, it’s hard to give such a powerful medicine in its entirety.

Taking a single pill will not only not heal your body but will also improve it.

However, there are ineffective drugs that have almost no efficacy and seem to be useless at first glance.

It was then used as an ingredient in overly effective medicines. This is amazing.

Anyone can throw away unnecessary things.

But it’s not easy to find a way out.

I’m a very stingy person, so I don’t like to buy things like this that I don’t think I’ll ever use.

I like using things thoroughly, and I respect the people who came up with this idea.

“Miss Mia Alice is very knowledgeable about medicinal herbs. Perhaps… she’s training to become a pharmacist… I guess?”

“No, no. I work as a servant at the church… Sometimes when injured people come to see us, we give them these medicines. I sometimes also use it. I deliver medicinal herbs to the pharmacist, and then I was given some of the medicine that was made, and at that time the pharmacist told this to me when he saw me asking about medicine…”

“I see, so you know a lot about medicines, young lady.”

“I’ve only heard a little about it.”

Mia Alice was touched by the words of Wozma and Maon.

It was impressive to see her reply with a slightly embarrassed look on her face.

---

The author has something to say:

Thank you as always for your ratings and bookmarks.

I am very happy and encouraged to receive it.

Now, the “Ineffective Medicine” mentioned in this article is an item that appears in the game “Taikou Risshiden V.”[1] In this game, in addition to the life of a samurai, you can also aim to succeed as a ninja, swordsman, or merchant. Among these, you can also aim to become a successful doctor, producing various medicines and treating patients.

The medicines they produce range from cold medicines to cure-all medicines, but sometimes they end up with ineffective medicines that have no effect at all.

However, that doesn’t mean that this is completely useless; in fact, to put it bluntly, it seems to be very effective for people who are faking illness…

Potions and other medicines appear in many Narou novels. There are often scenes in which the protagonist, a pharmacist or alchemist, produces them.

In this novel, I plan to focus on products…various items and write a story that involves the characters.

It won’t necessarily be a flashy heroic tale, but I would like to create a work that will please history buffs, people who like making things, and people who like old manga.

Thank you for your continued support.

---

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taikou_Risshiden_V

Translator: Dj22031

Editor: Dj22031

Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.

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That evening, when Jing Yuan and Jing Xuan returned home, Jiang Shining sensed a heavy atmosphere between them.

“What’s wrong with you two?” Jiang Shining asked curiously.

Jing Xuan changed his shoes, took off his suit, walked over, put his arm around Jiang Shining’s shoulder, and rested his head on her shoulder.

“Jing Yuan hit me,” he complained, sounding aggrieved.

Chu Jingyuan then felt Jiang Shining’s gaze fall upon him— he looked expressionlessly at Jing Xuan, who was leaning against his mother like a well-behaved child, and gave a slight smile.

“Chu Jingxuan, repeat what you said this afternoon again.” Jing Yuan smiled sinisterly, “I promise I won’t hit you.”

“Mother, look! He’s trying to scare me again!” Jing Xuan said immediately. “He just hit me at my company. Can’t you believe it?”

“You didn’t fight back?” Chu Jingyuan raised his eyebrows, feeling that Jing Xuan’s shameless behavior in front of Jiang Shining was increasingly inheriting his brother’s traits.

“What exactly happened?” Jiang Shining asked helplessly.

Jing Xuan remained silent, so Chu Jingyuan recounted what had happened that afternoon. He had originally intended for Jiang Shining to uphold justice, but after finally finishing his account, he saw his beloved mother laughing happily, her expression filled with schadenfreude.

Jing Yuan: …

Jing Yuan: “…Mom, aren’t you going to say anything to him?”

“What’s there to say? You’re both my sons anyway, so it doesn’t matter who’s older or younger,” Jiang Shining said seriously. “You two can settle it yourselves. Just one thing: no fighting!”

After saying that, Jiang Shining hummed a song and went upstairs to see Guoguo.

In the living room, the two brothers stared at each other, the atmosphere frozen.

The next second, Jing Yuan pulled the clothes hanger off the clothes rack and chased after Jing Xuan, leaping over the sofa like a parkour performer, while Jing Xuan almost simultaneously began to run away and dodge.

“Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t hit me?” Jing Xuan said, nimbly dodging around in the living room.

“Stop and let me think about it,” Chu Jingyuan said ominously.

The two circled around the living room and returned to the sofa and coffee table. Jing Xuan had nowhere to run, so he grabbed a cushion from the sofa to block it. The next second, Jing Yuan’s coat hanger came down.

Jing Xuan caught the blow, his wrist jerked, and he almost dropped the pillow. Feeling the force of the blow through the pillow, Chu Jingxuan groaned, “You really hit hard!”

“Didn’t you dodge it?” Jing Yuan sneered. “We’re going to the island anyway, let’s have a good spar. I’ll see if you’ve lost your skills as a boss.”

Jing Xuan’s skills were naturally better than the average person’s, but even with his exceptional abilities, he couldn’t possibly beat Jing Yuan— he couldn’t in his past life, and in this life, Jing Yuan had gone abroad to become a mafia boss, growing up immersed in real combat from a young age. How could a law-abiding citizen like him, striving diligently in the city, possibly possibly defeat him?

“Jing Yuan, I think you’re just angry because you’re embarrassed,” Jing Xuan said earnestly. “No matter how angry you are, you can’t change the fact that I’m a year older than you.”

Jing Yuan smiled dangerously. Jing Xuan was sprawled on the sofa, with nowhere left to run. So he braced himself against the back of the sofa with one hand, leaned down, and gently and tenderly stroked Jing Xuan’s hair.

At that moment, Chu Jingxuan felt a chilling sensation, like a lamb being licked by a wolf.

While gently patting his head, Jing Yuan smiled maliciously, “So what if I’m a year younger than you? Would you dare call me ‘little brother’?”

Chu Jingxuan: …

In truth, the two brothers were no different from any other brothers. In that world, they held rules in even higher esteem. Moreover, the saying “the eldest brother is like a father” was not untrue. When Jiang Shining died, Jing Xuan was only seventeen; wasn’t it Jing Yuan, who had just become the new emperor, who later acted as both brother and father to him as he grew up?

Frustrated.

It’s really frustrating.

I never imagined that being born seven years too late would prevent me from getting ahead, and now that I was born a year too early, I’m still being bullied.

Chu Jingxuan’s eyes flickered, and Jing Yuan knew he was up to no good.

Before any threats could be made to stop him, Jing Xuan raised his voice and said, “Jing Yuan is bullying people again!!”

Downstairs, there was a commotion, and upstairs, Jiang Shining could barely contain Guoguo’s boundless curiosity.

Jiang Shining’s temples began to throb. As she walked down the stairs, she saw Jing Yuan and Jing Xuan wrestling together. Although their fight resembled the playful tussle of felines, the entire living room was a mess.

Seeing the two of them fighting and then rolling around on the sofa, Jiang Shining couldn’t help but speak up.

“I said…”

–Bang!

The next second, the sofa flipped backward, belly up. This pushed the two young people onto the carpet.

The two loosened their collars, looked up, and met Jiang Shining’s gloomy gaze.

…it’s over.

One of them gave them a nod, and only then did the two of them obediently lower their heads and start cleaning.

Jiang Shining stood by, hands on her hips, supervising the work. She couldn’t help but wonder why the two of them seemed to be fighting more often than in their past life.

Is it because they are close in age in this life that they are prone to friction?

“Jing Yuan, give way to Jing Xuan. He’s still your older brother, and he can’t beat you—”

“No, I’m not his brother,” Jing Yuan sneered.

Jing Yuan’s domineering and cold aura hadn’t even lasted a few seconds before it was forced to stop because he was kicked in the thigh.

Jing Yuan, feeling dejected, leaned on the sofa and turned to look at Jiang Shining.

“Why do you only ever hit me and never him?”

“When did I ever hit you?” Jiang Shining asked, bewildered.

Jing Yuan: …

What was that just now?

Not to mention, in his previous life, when he was a child, he almost got caught red-handed because of an impulsive act. But Jiang Shining’s people rescued him at the last minute, and after he returned, she whipped him ten times!

This isn’t enough?

I’m so frustrated, but I can’t talk back.

Jiang Shining sighed as she looked at his expression.

As the saying goes, every monkey needs a different way of being chained. She had so many children, and each one had a different personality.

Jing Xuan was kind and obedient, so Jiang Shining was naturally gentle with him as well, because he listened to what she said.

Both daughters were very sweet and caring, and were easier to manage than sons, so she also treated them gently.

Chen Tanliang was obedient, but he had a strong sense of justice and valued efficiency and results. Therefore, when Jiang Shining communicated with him, she had to treat him like an adult from a young age, explaining things to him. Once he understood, he would listen. If he disagreed with her views, he would patiently explain his thoughts to her. If he was unwilling, Jiang Shining would comply with his wishes unless it was a matter of principle.

As for Jing Yuan, he was deeply wounded by the world when he was young. So he trusted no one, like a small beast that had just grown its fangs— sensitive, brooding, and with strong opinions of his own. He was intelligent and could normally understand Jiang Shining’s words, but when he lost his mind, no one could stop him— there was no way around it. Once, in a fit of rage, he wanted revenge and almost stormed into the palace of a powerful concubine. After being rescued, he showed no remorse and couldn’t be reasoned with.

If she didn’t fight back and make him calm down, Chu Jingyuan would probably have rushed to the emperor’s residence in a fit of anger next time— that’s how he died in the end in the book.

However, as he grew up and became more mature, Jiang Shining never hit him again.

In summary, Jiang Shining only ever beat Jing Yuan.

“Because you’re the eldest brother,” Jiang Shining sighed. She even had to coax her own son. “You’re the eldest son, aren’t you?” she said.

In the past, the eldest son was responsible for supporting the entire family.

Jing Yuan remained silent, but he clearly accepted what Jiang Shining had said.

He always told himself that he was the eldest son and his responsibilities were different.

Thinking about it this way— made him feel better.

However……

“That won’t do.” Jing Yuan stared longingly at Jiang Shining and said, “I want to be your only eldest son, no matter how many sons you have.”

This was a bit beyond the scope of the curriculum.

Jiang Shining immediately clutched her lower back and said wearily, “No, I’m too old. I can’t get involved in your affairs. You two can decide for yourselves from now on. I’m going to rest now.”

“…Mom, you’re only twenty-three!!”

---

The author has something to say:

Jiang Shining: Mom is over a hundred years old, please don’t bother her anymore, okay?

….

Today, even the eldest brother is struggling to maintain his status as the eldest brother (?).

---

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Previous • Table of Contents• Next

Translator: Dj22031

Editor: Dj22031

Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.

---

In his dream, he had a mountain of winter vacation homework, the Taoist temple was bustling with miscellaneous tasks, and he was constantly preparing for inspections. His father was complaining about his relationship with Shi Changxuan, calling him home and having a neighbor introduce him to girls, trying to “straighten” him out. Shi Changxuan’s parents were also very dissatisfied with him, hoping he would find a female Taoist priest…

Xie Lingya woke up with a start, the feeling of being overwhelmed still lingering in his mind.

He sat up, catching his breath, and realized he was sweating profusely on his back.

“Yes, running a Taoist temple is really troublesome. There are so many things to deal with. Not all tourists are well-mannered, and not all Taoist priests are talented. I don’t know when I’ll be able to save enough money to expand, and it’s quite difficult to get government cooperation. On top of this, there are more and more lessons to learn in life, and parents are so inconsiderate. When will this ever end?”

Xie Lingya felt dejected. Then he got up, put on his slippers, and without even putting on his coat, pushed open the door and went out to stand in the corridor in the cold wind.

The night wind was bitterly cold, and Xie Lingya was stunned when he stepped outside.

The entire Baoyang Temple, apart from a vegetable garden in the backyard, some potted plants in the front yard, and a circle of bamboo around the wall, had hardly any trees.

Yet now, on the wall, layers upon layers of green leaves could be seen, interspersed with clusters of red flowers, spreading out in large swaths, as if the outside world had completely surrounded the temple, obscuring all other buildings.

The red flowers were dazzling, vibrant and beautiful, but Xie Lingya couldn’t tell what kind they were… He momentarily forgot why there were so many flowering trees outside the wall. The flowers were beautiful, but they only added to his unease. He thought of all the unpleasant things in his life, even the few thugs he’d bumped into on the pedestrian street earlier that day, wondering why he hadn’t beaten them up then.

A feeling of unease built up inside him, making Xie Lingya feel nauseous. Leaning on the railing and looking down, the height of the several stories made him want to jump and end it all.

Xie Lingya stared blankly down when, just then, a rooster crowed beside him.

“Cock-a-doodle-doo—”

Although it was quite a distance away, it sounded like a thunderclap to Xie Lingya.

He jolted awake, feeling a foul stench in his nose that almost made him vomit. He immediately covered his mouth and nose. At the same time, Liu Lingtong’s urgent calls entered his mind; that soft voice had been preventing him from waking up. Looking down, he saw Guai Long rolling on the ground, seemingly also because of the stench.

The stench was indescribable, like garbage left for a hundred years, or a mass grave on a sweltering day, stirring up all sorts of anxieties.

Xie Lingya sniffed for a while before confirming that the smell was coming from the nameless flowering trees outside the wall. The contrast was so stark that he found it hard to believe that such beautiful flowers could emit such a foul stench.

His worries still lingered, and Xie Lingya felt a sense of foreboding. He wondered if the others had been affected. Looking up and down, thankfully no one had fallen from the ground floor, he immediately went next door and banged on the door, trying to wake them.

Shi Changxuan, pale-faced, leaned against the door, covering his mouth and nose— he hadn’t been bewitched, but having just woken from a dream, the stench was unbearable.

They tried to wake the others, but most seemed to be trapped in a nightmare.

Xie Lingya knew that prolonged nightmares could lead to thoughts of jumping, just like he had just experienced, except that while he was awake, the others might have been sleepwalking.

“What is this thing?!” Xie Lingya said, his face grim. “Is it an illusion?”

Shi Changxuan hesitated, unsure what to say. The two hurriedly went downstairs.

Red flowers fell softly outside the wall. Shi Changxuan saw the petals clearly, closed his eyes, and recalled for a moment before saying, “Inapara tree, the foul-smelling tree of afflictions.”

Or rather, this tree was affliction itself; what they saw was not a tree, but an illusion of tangled afflictions.

Xie Lingya murmured, “Inapara tree…”

Shi Changxuan said, “That’s Sanskrit; you might find it unfamiliar.”

Inapara symbolized afflictions, while sandalwood, which was more familiar to everyone, symbolized enlightenment. Indeed, this was the Buddhist interpretation.

Xie Lingya understood the Sanskrit upon hearing it, but he wondered, “…Back then, there were so many Hongyang Daoists, were any of them caught?”

The Inapara tree reminded him of the charnel ground he encountered when investigating the Hongyang Dao; both were distorted versions of Buddhist doctrine, and he had no connection whatsoever with the Tantric monks. If there was any real connection, the evil Buddhas of the Hongyang Dao might be considered.

Since Xie Lingya destroyed the spirit of the Primordial Mother, if the remnants of the Hongyang Dao wanted revenge, they were right to target him.

Those Hongyang Daoists had infiltrated many places; Shi Changxuan couldn’t completely deny that a few might have escaped. And considering their motives, it was indeed quite possible.

Xie Lingya was pondering when he suddenly heard several screams and vomiting sounds, but they didn’t come from inside the Taoist temple; they came from outside. His brow furrowed. Someone was passing by in the middle of the night— had they been implicated?

A chill ran through him. He drew his Three Treasures Sword, chanting, “Sunlight flows like crystal, moonlight flows like light, sweeping away evil, all wickedness perishes. True officials and generals, their might is like thunder and lightning, their divine water spreads everywhere, bringing ten thousand blessings!”

Xie Lingya dipped the Three Treasures Sword a few times in the lotus vat in the courtyard, then splashed water.

The water sprayed like shattered jade, imbued with Taoist power, but it had no effect on the flowers outside the wall. Instead, it seemed to nourish them, making the red flowers bloom even more vibrantly, and the stench even more pronounced.

Xie Lingya could barely breathe in the stench. Seeing the peach wood sword in his hand, a sudden inspiration struck him. He said to Shi Changxuan, “I understand. Watch.”

Shi Changxuan, who had been covering his mouth and nose to calm himself, looked at Xie Lingya after hearing his words.

Xie Lingya twirled his three swords, pointed them eastward, closed his eyes, and chanted, “Fire and wind, the four seasons are bright. I obey the true god, commanding all spirits. By the decree of the Nine Heavens, manifest yourself immediately!”

With a clear shout, an east wind blew in from outside the wall, carrying pale pink petals. The almost imperceptible sweet fragrance dispelled the stench of the Inapara tree flowers. The seemingly soft petals further sliced through the Inapara tree like blades.

A petal gently landed on Xie Lingya’s pale pink lips. He opened his eyes— he was surrounded by countless petals.

Shi Changxuan’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes fixed on him.

Xie Lingya smiled arrogantly, “Peach blossoms ward off evil.”

Both were red, but the Inapara tree was a bloody red, emitting a foul stench. The peach blossom, however, was a sweet pale red, a traditional Chinese talisman against evil. The spellcaster was no ordinary person; using water to break the flowers only nourished them, and the Taoist peach blossoms had a miraculous effect on the Buddhist evil tree.

The illusion of the Inapara tree had vanished, and peach petals fell to the ground within the temple, covering the ground with fallen blossoms.

The peach tree on the roadside flowerbed, less than a hundred meters from Baoyang Temple, had been carelessly forced to bloom in late winter, and then carelessly shaken down its blossoms, leaving only lonely stamens. The fleeting bloom, suddenly bursting with vitality, dispelled all evil.

Shi Changxuan brushed the peach blossoms from Xie Lingya’s head, and couldn’t help but cup his cheeks, lowering his head.

Xie Lingya: “Senior Brother—”

Shi Changxuan’s heart started burning with passion, and he was unusually impulsive, ignoring Xie Lingya’s shy resistance, and kissed his lips.

Xie Lingya’s lips seemed to still carry the sweet taste of the peach blossoms. So Shi Changxuan held his shoulders and kissed him deeply for several seconds before pulling away.

Xie Lingya stared blankly, “…”

Shi Changxuan, noticing his expression, realized something was wrong and immediately turned around.

From the first floor to the top floor, all the Taoist priests and staff of the entire temple were standing in the corridor, all leaning on the railings and staring blankly in their direction.

Shi Changxuan: “………………”

….

“Holy crap, I don’t believe it, you guys aren’t just using magic for romance?” Hai Guanchao said.

They had also been troubled by the Inapara tree, and one by one they went outside, only to be awakened by the peach blossoms. Before they could even ask what had happened, they saw Teacher Xie and Taoist Master Shi kissing in the courtyard, and Hai Guanchao couldn’t stop them.

Xie Lingya slumped on the table, “Are we crazy? Getting up in the middle of the night to scatter flower petals and talk about love! Didn’t you smell the stench when you woke up?”

Hai Guanchao muttered to himself, “I thought it was the stench of love…”

Xie Lingya: “…”

He was very frustrated. He hadn’t planned to come out to everyone because he was considerate of his father’s feelings, but he hadn’t been careful, and everyone had seen it… Did they have some kind of negative buff? They always got seen!

The others were alright, and because of Xie Lingya’s intimidating reputation, they didn’t dare to do anything. The simple-minded Xiao Dian was speechless for a long time after witnessing his respected teacher Xie and senior brother Shi kissing.

Fang Zhe took the initiative to comfort him and went to talk to Xiao Dian.

After a while, Xiao Dian came over with red eyes and said to Xie Lingya, “Teacher Xie…you and my senior brother have really gone through so much. I… I support you!”

Xie Lingya: “…Thank you?”

He asked Fang Zhe in a low voice, “What did you say to him?”

Fang Zhe also whispered, “I helped you play the victim.”

Xie Lingya: “That works? My dad even broke his leg!”

Fang Zhe: “…”

Xiao Dian was so innocent. Xie Lingya looked up and smiled at him again, then seeing Xiao Dian’s pained expression, he was a little speechless. Thinking about it, he felt like he had forgotten something, but couldn’t remember it for a moment.

….

Of course, even worse off than those at Baoyang Temple were the few young people from the underworld who came to Baoyang Temple last night to cause trouble after being confronted by Xie Lingya.

This morning, they were found unconscious in a puddle of vomit, their belts loosened, and with marks on their necks. They were rescued by tea drinkers who came to fetch water early in the morning, who thought they had attempted suicide.

Xie Lingya cried out in surprise when he heard someone say there was someone fainted outside. He suddenly remembered something he’d forgotten from the previous night, so he said he’d heard screams from passersby.

Luckily, as soon as he went outside, he discovered that the so-called passersby were just the few thugs who had caused trouble for Tan Qing on the pedestrian street the day before.

The youths, terrified, said that last night they saw some trees here and tried to climb them over the wall, but they smelled a stench and then inexplicably wanted to hang themselves… they couldn’t remember what happened after that.

Xie Lingya pushed through the crowd, put his hands in his pockets, and asked, “You guys wanted to climb in last night?”

The youths: “…………”

Upon seeing Xie Lingya, they became very guilty, stammering and unable to speak. They simply then got up, covered in filth, and ran away.

The remaining people were bewildered. “Are these thugs talking nonsense or hallucinating? There aren’t any trees on or off the wall, but the peach blossoms in the roadside flowerbed seemed to have bloomed last night.”

Indeed, the attention of the onlookers was immediately diverted; no one cared about the loud, sleazy youths anymore.

Last night, the peach blossoms in this area bloomed and fell overnight. Before anyone could see the full bloom, all that remained upon waking was a carpet of fallen petals. Beautiful as it was, it was perplexing.

Early risers on their way to work couldn’t help but take photos, both puzzled and delighted.

“Could it be that the warm weather a while back made the peach blossoms think their blooming season was over, so they opened early, only to be knocked down by last night’s sudden drop in temperature?”

People discussed.

Someone looked at Xie Lingya, “Xiao Xie, don’t you think so?”

Xie Lingya smiled, arms crossed, looking at the fallen petals. Although no one had seen their blossoms in full bloom, he gently smiled and said, “All things have a spirit. Perhaps they bloomed last night to do something righteous.”

Everyone laughed. “Young people are so funny. What good can peach blossoms do? Maybe they’ll help people find love?”

Xie Lingya: “…Hehehe.”

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The author has something to say:

Recently, some people in related industries have messaged me privately, saying they think my comment section has a unique style and potential, and want to promote it through me. I’m not a monk or Taoist priest… but it’s also quite amusing. My readers’ wishes and vows have been a continuation from when I was a Nine-Tailed Fox, like sharing koi fish and praying to the God of Exams. Perhaps because of the subject matter of this story, it seems even more… well, you know. Actually, what I write is all for the protagonist’s enjoyment. There are so many comments that I sometimes can’t read them all, so I hope both new and old readers will keep their eyes open. Even if you’re genuinely interested in this kind of thing, please be discerning.

Also, this story is nearing its end, so I’ve listed some reference materials. There’s also some information on rituals that I found scattered on Taoist websites; you can find them by searching for incantations. They’re all ancient traditions, and most of them aren’t my original work. I only made some adaptations and rearrangements, including some personal interpretations, so they’re not entirely accurate and contain many errors. Please don’t take them too seriously.

*Yunji Qiqian*, *Baopuzi*, *Luban Jing*, *Dongling Xiaozhi*, *Zi Bu Yu*, *Youyang Zazu*, *Liaozhai Zhiyi*, *Daoting Tushuo*, *Taiping Guangji*, *Soushen Ji*, *Taoist Priests in Qing Dynasty Folk Secret Religions*, *Early Taoist Incense Offering Culture*, *Menshi Tangui Lu*, *Chinese Folk Gods*, *Lushan School of Taoism*, *Chinese Gods and Monsters Dictionary*, *Folk Taboos*, *Jinfa Jing*, *Zhuyou Shisan Ke*, *Fangshu Jiyi*, *Three Supreme Treasures of Taoism— Taboo Words, Seals, and Scepters*, *A Treatise on the Five Ghosts Transporting Wealth at the Celestial Master’s Mansion*, *Qingyao Dong Lishiji— An Ancient and Mysterious Ancestor Worship in Quanzhou, Guangxi*, *A Study of Qiangmu Ritual Dances*, *Lingga Disposition and Bardo Salvation in Tibetan Buddhist Qiangmu Ritual*, *The Logic of Folk Beliefs— Taking the Phenomenon of the Belly Immortal in Cixi as an Example*, *A Study of Classical Chinese Ghost Marriage Novels from the Early to Mid-Qing Dynasty*, *A Study of the “Family Letter Style” of Taoist Magic*

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---

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Previous • Table of Contents• Next

Translator: Dj2203

Editor: Dj2203

Advance chapters available for patrons on Patreon. And a chapter can be sponsored by buying me a ko-fi.

---

At this moment, Lu Huan found a side quest on the screen that didn’t pop up automatically but could be completed to increase points.

He was immediately delighted and opened the side quest—

There were no prompts on the screen, and we were immediately taken to some scenes with the message “Some past events that can be completed”.

The past? Could it be that this curtain, like a carriage that could move across space, could also move across time?

Before Lu Huan could even think, the scene started.

The story began at the foot of Su Xi’s building, where Su Xi’s parents were carrying food containers and seemed to be rushing somewhere. Perhaps because they were walking too fast, Su Xi’s mother did not notice the banana peel under her feet and almost slipped on it.

Lu Huan, standing outside the curtain, subconsciously raised his hand to steady her, and unexpectedly, his gesture had an effect. Su Xi’s mother glanced behind her with a puzzled look, barely managing to stand, but because she was in a hurry to get somewhere, she didn’t think much of it.

A conversation then popped up between the two:

“I don’t know how Xi Xi is doing at the hospital. We need to go quickly. This thermos doesn’t keep the soup warm very well, and it won’t taste good if the chicken soup gets cold.”

Hospital?

Lu Huan, who was outside the curtain, had already learned about the dynasty of Su Xi over the past few days, so he could naturally understand where the hospital was, and he immediately felt a little anxious.

Seeing that the number of dots in the upper right corner had increased by two after he helped Su Xi’s mother, he immediately unlocked the hospital.

Upon unlocking, the screen switched to the hospital, where Su Xi, looking somewhat sad, put down the brick she was holding.

–What’s wrong?

She was wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, and something was wrapped around her leg, so it looked like she had injured her leg.

Lu Huan immediately went to check her leg, but he couldn’t help her through the screen.

Lu Huan felt slightly annoyed, but then he thought that the medical technology there was advanced, and that she was in a hospital, where the best doctors should have examined her. Since this was in the past, and her leg was fine now, it meant that she had recovered.

Then he saw Su Xi on the screen pick up the brick again, press it a few times, and then communicate with someone else.

Judging from the pop-up conversation, it seemed to be about… borrowing money?

Lu Huan immediately took out the silver notes from his pocket, but the curtain could not be used for object teleportation.

If he wanted to help her, he could only do so through other means.

So when he saw her asking someone to buy lottery tickets, he spent dozens of silver notes to exchange for something called a “winning ticket” from the mall, allowing her to win the prize as she wished.

Seeing the small shop, and Su Xi excitedly shouting with her two friends, Lu Huan finally smiled.

However, the male cartoon figure next to her kept trying to help her up, and Lu Huan couldn’t help but slap the other’s hand away.

After completing the second task, two more dots appeared in the upper right corner.

As Su Xi mentioned on the screen that she was going to the mall, he unlocked a third place: the mall.

This time, seeing the steaming fish soup about to be poured over her, his pupils constricted sharply, and he shoved it away.

This was the third thing.

Lu Huan thought for a moment and used the newly added points to unlock Su Xi’s most frequently visited school.

Upon arriving here, Lu Huan also noticed that Su Xi seemed to have a lot of bad luck. On this day, she was desperately trying to catch up with a large carriage, but just as she was about to catch up, the carriage suddenly decided to leave. She chased after it frantically, looking completely devastated.

Just then, the person in front of her got on the bus. Lu Huan frowned and, while having the person swipe a small card, grabbed the person’s hand and slowed down the journey.

Just as the coachman was about to urge them on, Su Xi rushed up, covered in sweat, panting heavily while supporting her knees.

She patted her chest: “That was close, I almost missed the bus.”

Lu Huan smiled from behind the curtain before releasing the hand of the person in front of her. The person looked around in astonishment, then thinking it was just their imagination, twisted their wrist, and walked towards the back of the carriage.

This was the fourth thing.

Fifthly, Lu Huan had just unlocked Su Xi’s school and hadn’t even had a chance to take a look when he saw her walk out of one of the rooms. The corridor was filled with cartoon characters.

So, there were so many students in the schools of their dynasty?

Lu Huan was slightly shocked and gently pushed aside the people around her to prevent them from crowding her.

The person standing to Su Xi’s right felt as if she had been pushed by a gust of wind for no reason. She subconsciously thought it was the person to her left who had pushed her, so she glared at Su Xi.

Su Xi, who was inexplicably glared at, was speechless.

Lu Huan outside the curtain: …

He touched the tip of his nose guiltily and didn’t push through the crowd any further.

However, while descending the steps, Su Xi was seen being pushed and nearly falling.

He quickly caught her.

He only breathed a sigh of relief after watching Su Xi leave the high-rise building safely.

….

After completing these five side quests, the screen returned to the scene where Su Xi was lying in bed clutching her stomach, and the points in the upper right corner finally reached 112.

Lu Huan suddenly remembered that Su Xi had been chatting with him these past two days, saying that her luck had improved after she got to know him. At the time, he thought it was just something to make him happy and didn’t take it too seriously, but now something flashed through his mind.

So, it turns out that he was the one who influenced and interfered with the past on the other side of the stream?

Lu Huan had a vague feeling that the appearance of this curtain between the two of them was not accidental, but he couldn’t figure out why for the moment. So he could only give up for the time being.

He continued searching for tasks on the screen to increase his points to two hundred as quickly as possible so he could see her sooner, but for a while, no new tasks appeared on the screen.

Lu Huan thought for a moment, tucked the blanket around her on the bed, and then zoomed in on the table in front of her window.

He found a book with a cover full of crooked, tiny characters. He opened the last few pages and, based on the correspondence between the tiny characters and the Chinese characters, memorized the meaning of the tiny characters.

The candle burned until dawn.

….

Su Xi drank the brown sugar ginger tea, and her menstrual cramps improved a lot.

She took the day off this morning, but she still had to go to school this afternoon.

She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, got up, and packed her schoolbag, only to find that the English textbook on the table hadn’t been put in her bag last night.

Without thinking much about it, she put it in, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and went out.

If she were to open the game and take a look at it now, she would be shocked as if struck by lightning.

In the game, the sky began to lighten with the first light of dawn, and the boy in the tent used a brush to copy five whole pages of English words onto a piece of paper.

He was pacing back and forth in the tent, his brow furrowed, trying to understand the inverted grammar of this tiny script, which was completely different from the language of Yan.

Perhaps because he hadn’t slept all night and was slightly tired, he rubbed his temples and poured himself a cup of bitter tea to refresh himself.

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The author has something to say:

After meeting.

The cub: Hello. (this is in English)

Su Xi (bewildered and questioning her existence in the wind): …?????????

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