Save [New Book Please Collect!]

For all the "Literati and Esteemed Scholars" in Yuhang Town, today was undoubtedly a dark day.

Because just around dusk, as they gathered in groups or snuck their way to the Spring Full Pavilion, they found its doors shut tight, a high and mighty "no-trespassing" sign hanging outside.

The assembled Literati and Esteemed Scholars couldn't help but lament.

Inside the Spring Full Pavilion.

At this hour on any other day, it would be a scene of revelry, with lanterns aglow and songs and dances filling the air. Today, however, it was eerily quiet.

The good girls of the pavilion were all gathered in several rooms on the second floor, for their protection. They huddled together, their hushed whispers rising and falling.

Even though Mei Xiang had a bad temper and few friends usually, the thought of someone she'd seen alive and well just yesterday potentially returning as a ghost made her feel uneasy.

In Mei Xiang's bedroom, Zhao Liangcai pouted, sighing heavily. "Mei Xiang did say she was carrying my child, but how easily can a Courtesan get pregnant? She's clearly trying to trick me. If it were before, I wouldn't mind taking her as a concubine, but now, if I accept her, what will Gongsun Girl think?"

"That's why she sent someone to invite me to the Spring Full Pavilion yesterday morning, and I refused her. I gave her a thousand taels in silver notes and told her to fend for herself. I wasn't heartless, was I? Whether she wants the child or not, that money is enough for her to live comfortably for a while."

"Who knew she... had such deep resentment..."

He stammered, sounding a little wronged.

As he spoke, he looked eagerly at Li Chu. "Little Daoist Priest Li, you must save me. You have vast powers, subduing Vengeful Spirits is surely no challenge for you!"

Perhaps a few days ago, Li Chu had made no impression on him. But after the experience at the Liu Family Ghost Building, that impression was unforgettable.

Take his own Cousin, for example.

After returning from the Liu Family Ghost Building, Zhao Liangchen hid in his room and cried all night, muttering things like "so handsome and capable" in his sleep.

The next morning, with red eyes, he returned to Hangzhou Prefecture, vowing not to descend the mountain again until he reached the Spirit Fusion Realm.

This showed just how profound the psychological shadow Li Chu had cast on him was.

Wang Longqi said, "Since you feel wronged, why not wait for Mei Xiang to return and explain yourself properly? Perhaps that could purify her resentment."

"Get lost." Zhao Liangcai glared at him. "Stop spewing nonsense. Is that something a person would even think of?"

Wang Longqi chuckled sinisterly twice.

Li Chu rubbed his nose, feeling somewhat offended.

He thought, during exorcisms, casualties are quite common. A few unexpected incidents are unavoidable, right?

For instance, certain Second Generation Rich individuals who talk too much.

Zhao Liangcai, perhaps sensing Li Chu's gaze, turned his head and gave Li Chu a fawning smile.

Miss Li stood in the corner, like a nobody.

She squinted, observing the people in the room for a while before pulling Li Chu aside and whispering, "I'll handle this exorcism. Don't make a move yet."

Her words were similar to her last warning to Li Chu, but the meaning was entirely different.

Last time, she was afraid Li Chu would cause trouble by acting rashly.

This time, she was afraid Li Chu would act too quickly, leaving her no chance to show off!

Looking at the smirking faces of Zhao Liangcai and Wang Longqi, Li Xinyi felt a surge of annoyance. Why were they fawning over Li Chu with dog-like smiles, yet giving her only perfunctory ones?

It was as if she were nothing more than a useless vase.

She had to restore the prestige of Facing Heaven Pavilion!

Li Chu glanced at her, then nodded in agreement.

He had always been a refined and easygoing person.

The night deepened, and soon Zi Hour arrived.

Zhao Liangcai was uneasy and filled with trepidation. He wanted to say something, but no one paid him any mind, so he could only sit by the wall and tremble alone.

Wang Longqi, however, slept soundly.

Ever since he discovered the child was Zhao Liangcai's, he had felt much more at ease. Although he had felt a pang of discomfort upon hearing the news, upon further reflection, it was actually a good thing now.

Because this way, Mei Xiang's resentment was unlikely to be directed at him.

I'm too clean!

So he slept peacefully.

He even snored.

Li Chu sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, resting his spirit.

The wind began to blow.

His clear eyes suddenly snapped open.

Yin Qi surged.

Having seen many ghosts, he had become increasingly sensitive to the magnitude of Yin Qi. He sensed that this incoming wave of Yin Qi felt... off.

Normal Vengeful Spirits had about two hundred Lantern Monsters' worth of Yin Qi.

But this wave of Yin Qi possessed the strength of approximately four hundred and forty-three Lantern Monsters.

It was slightly stronger.

But recalling Li Xinyi's confident and determined gaze when she told him not to move just now...

She must have been absolutely certain of victory.

It was only a tiny bit stronger than an Ordinary Vengeful Spirit anyway, so for a legitimate Cultivator from Facing Heaven Pavilion, there shouldn't be any difference.

Thinking this, he peacefully closed his eyes again.

Snap.

The Lamplight in the entire Spring Full Pavilion extinguished in an instant.

A wave of panic immediately erupted, screams connecting into a chorus, fear spreading as rapidly as a stampede.

"Don't panic! We have an adult from Facing Heaven Pavilion here, stay put!" Spring Third Madam shouted, quickly stabilizing the situation.

Yin Wind blew in from the Terrace and windows, which were pushed open one by one.

This wind was bone-chillingly cold.

"I'm going to take a look." Li Xinyi pushed open the door and went out.

Everyone was settled in the nearby rooms. She walked into the corridor, able to observe the situation in several rooms simultaneously.

Immediately, she saw a liquid flowing over from the end of the corridor.

A deep red color, with a viscous texture.

It was blood.

Her brow furrowed, sensing that things were not simple.

As expected, following the large pool of flowing blood, a small shadow crawled over, like an infant, even smaller.

An Infant Spirit!

Li Xinyi's heart leaped. How could such a thing exist?

But she quickly understood. Mei Xiang had committed suicide while pregnant. It wasn't just the mother who had turned into a vengeful spirit!

This was Terrible.

The Infant Spirit was entirely red. On its wrinkled face, its two small eyes were milky white. Upon seeing Li Xinyi, it suddenly grinned eerily, "Heh heh."

Pfft--

With its strange giggle, a large gush of blood surged forward, incredibly fast! Li Xinyi was in the center of the corridor, with nowhere to escape. She raised her hand and cast a talisman.

Bang!

A wide golden phantom appeared out of nowhere, intercepting the first wave of the Blood River's impact.

But with a chira sound, the talisman lost its spirituality and tore itself apart, fluttering down.

Infant Spirit Blood was an extremely bizarre existence that could contaminate Magical Artifacts and talismans. This was also a major reason why many Cultivators were unwilling to encounter infant spirits.

But Li Xinyi had no choice. She could only grit her teeth and summon her flying sword.

Whoosh! The famed sword "Autumn Rain Begonia" was drawn into her hand. She formed a hand seal with her left hand and slashed out with her sword in her right, shouting, "Little Plum Blossom Sword Qi!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh...

An invisible sword qi detached from the sword body, instantly multiplying into dozens, like arrows raining down from the sky.

The small infant spirit was immediately pierced by countless arrows!

Pfft pfft pfft...

"Ah—"

A rain of sword qi fell upon the infant spirit, which let out a wail and rolled on the ground. But as the sword qi struck its body, blood light burst forth. The moment the blood drops left its body, they transformed into a thicker flow of blood, merging into the Blood River!

Li Xinyi gritted her teeth.

This was another troublesome aspect of infant spirits. Any damage you inflicted on it, as long as it didn't kill it, would make its Blood River stronger, and its attacks against you would increase exponentially.

In short, this was a Ghost that grew stronger offensively as its health decreased.

As expected, the Blood River that surged forth this time was even more turbulent!

Li Xinyi gritted her teeth and performed a sword flower with the long sword in her palm. The manifested Sword Light instantly formed a round shield, blocking another impact from the Blood River.

However, her body was pushed back several steps by the blow, and the light of her flying sword dimmed.

If she had encountered such a Ghost in the wilderness, her choice would have been to turn and run. Every extra round she fought, her Magical Artifacts could become more deeply contaminated.

But with so many Citizens to protect in the rooms on both sides, she couldn't.

Therefore, she resolutely unleashed her final move!

"Little Daoist Priest Li," she called out softly.

She no longer had any psychological burden to call Li Chu for help now.

If it were an Ordinary Vengeful Spirit, she could naturally deal with it herself.

But firstly, vengeful spirits created with Life Buying Coins were a tier stronger than Ordinary Vengeful Spirits. She had already experienced this before.

And then, this was also a one-of-a-kind Infant Spirit among Vengeful Spirits.

Counting from the inside out, this Infant Spirit had already soared to the heavens, possibly possessing strength close to that of a Ghost General!

So what if I asked for help?

It's not that I'm weak, I'm being targeted!

"Hmm?" Li Chu opened the door upon hearing the sound. He originally thought he wouldn't need to make a move.

Li Xinyi looked at him and said one word, with a clear conscience and concisely.

"Save."