Sleepless at Midnight

Wooden house.

Wen Jiu, as usual, lifted the lotus leaf covering the large bowl and began to eat.

But as he ate, Wen Jiu felt that his sister, Wen Ya, seemed absent-minded today.

"Sis, how are things at the Xu Family?"

The words fell.

He received no response.

It wasn't until Wen Jiu called out again that Wen Ya seemed to snap out of a deep dream, "Ah... what did you say?"

Seeing her reaction, Wen Jiu put down his chopsticks and pressed, "Sis, were you bullied at the Xu Family?"

"No, no." Wen Ya quickly shook her head, forcing a smile. Her mind was still on what had just happened, and the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Those three were probably not her brother's friends, but had some grudge against him.

"Sis, if you don't tell me... then I'm not eating anymore," Wen Jiu said firmly.

Just as Wen Ya hesitated whether to tell him, Wen Jiu asked cautiously, looking into her eyes, "Sis, if it's not the Xu Family, is it someone else? Someone from the Night Patrol Division? Or a Corpse Burier?"

After he slowly asked.

Wen Jiu got the answer he wanted.

Because when the words "Night Patrol Division" and "Corpse Burier" were spoken slowly, a flicker of surprise clearly crossed Wen Ya's face.

It was imperceptible.

Gone in an instant.

But he caught it.

"Mhm, mhm." Seeing that her brother had noticed so keenly, Wen Ya quickly nodded, her own answer forming in her mind.

It seemed.

Those three were not acting with good intentions.

Nor were they good people.

Wen Ya immediately recounted her worries about what had happened outside and the purpose of the trio's actions, one by one.

Wen Jiu suddenly understood.

His heart grew cold.

They had dared to lay hands on his sister.

They were simply asking for death!

"Sis, don't worry, I'll handle it," Wen Jiu said, trying to comfort the worried Wen Ya.

"Don't be rash."

Wen Ya warned him.

Wen Jiu nodded.

Rash?

Of course, he wouldn't be rash.

But some troubles, if not resolved, would always remain troubles.

The next morning.

Wen Jiu arrived at the Dead Corpse Land.

He had intended to act as if nothing had happened, to wait and see, but as soon as he arrived, he was surrounded. They greeted him very politely, as if the events of the past few days had never occurred.

Just as Wen Jiu was about to ask for details, Wang Nian arrived and hurriedly pulled him aside.

"You brat... why didn't you listen to advice and still want to join the Gathering Righteousness Hall?"

Wen Jiu was confused, "Brother Wang, when did I ever say I wanted to join the Gathering Righteousness Hall?"

Wang Nian's expression hardened, "Isn't there a rumor going around that your sister is preparing to join the Gathering Righteousness Hall? Steward Xu has a feud with the Gathering Righteousness Hall. If this gets back to the Xu Family, your sister's situation might..."

"That's absolutely not true."

Wen Jiu's face stiffened.

But he didn't immediately turn to look at Fang Zheng and the other two.

It seemed these three wanted to push him into a corner. If this reached the Xu Family, it was hard to say what the Xu Family would do.

But he would certainly not escape some punishment.

Hearing Wen Jiu's words, Wang Nian gradually understood, "It seems the people from the Gathering Righteousness Hall are doing this intentionally... Be careful lately. I've already contacted an elder and plan to visit him in a few days. If he can put in a good word for you, you can become an apprentice disciple even if you cultivate unorthodox paths. As for your sister's situation, I'll help explain it to Old Madam Xu."

"Thank you, Brother Wang."

Wen Jiu didn't ask any further questions.

But he was exceptionally grateful.

This kindness.

Truly deserves a bountiful repayment.

"Go on, be busy."

As the words fell, Wang Nian prepared to leave.

Wen Jiu quickly spoke up, "Brother Wang, could I borrow some more silver? I need to buy twenty to thirty catties of Monster Beast Meat."

He was already indebted.

So, he might as well owe a little more.

To quickly improve his body-refining strength.

It wouldn't be too late to repay him after becoming a disciple of Corpse Peak.

Midnight.

Wen Jiu tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

His heart felt heavy with suppressed frustration.

"I can't sleep, I just can't sleep!" Wen Jiu immediately got up and, under the cover of night, headed straight for the Dead Corpse Land.

Moments later.

One person and one zombie.

They merged into the darkness.

Like phantoms, they rushed towards the wooden houses.

But they weren't going home.

Instead, they headed to the other end of the wooden house area, closer to the marketplace.

That's where Fang Zheng and the other two lived!

He arrived swiftly, like the wind, and even the Corpse Buriers who were out relieving themselves at midnight didn't sense anything unusual.

Soon.

Wen Jiu spotted the house where Fang Zheng and the other two lived.

Unlike the usual wooden houses of the Corpse Buriers, the three of them lived in a small courtyard with blue tiles and a red door.

Though not large, it had everything it needed.

Standing at the base of the wall, Wen Jiu could hear the sounds of the three practicing. Using the stealth effect of Three Rivers Ghost Concealment, Wen Jiu looked up and saw the three sitting in the courtyard, studying cultivation methods by lamplight.

"My Qi absorption is slow, only managing to draw a wisp of spiritual energy into my dantian each night. How are you two doing?"

"About the same. I'm a bit better, but not by much... I doubt I'll even reach Qi Refining Layer One in a year. Thinking about it now, that dog Wen Jiu is truly terrifyingly talented in the Unorthodox Path, reaching Qi Refining Layer One in a month."

"Fast, but what good is it? Practicing the Unorthodox Path leads to a quick death... Though, her sister's figure is really something. If I could have some intimate time with her... Hahaha!"

Hearing this.

Wen Jiu's killing intent surged.

You brat!

You're really asking for death!

Wen Jiu immediately glanced at the Black Zombie. The next moment, the Black Zombie revealed itself, surging with a torrent of ghostly energy and charging into the courtyard wall. Killing three ordinary people was child's play for the Black Zombie.

But the instant the Black Zombie charged into the courtyard wall, a yellow talisman hanging from the eaves suddenly emitted a golden light.

BOOM--

A wave of golden light crashed down.

It struck the Black Zombie directly.

The three were startled.

"Ghost!"

Fang Zheng quickly retreated.

The other two also retreated, shouting, "Brother Li, Brother Li!"

As they spoke.

A door in the well-kept house next to the courtyard was suddenly flung open, and a Night Patrol Division disciple at Qi Refining Layer One rushed out.

But the moment he appeared, the Black Zombie, surging with ghostly energy, had already swept one of them away. Another was forcefully stomped into a dwarf by the Black Zombie's powerful leap. Fang Zheng tried to escape, but a large amount of ghostly energy was already pouncing towards him.

AH--

Accompanied by a desperate, shrill scream, Fang Zheng was instantly drained by the black ghostly energy, turning into a dried husk.

Three people.

All met a tragic end.

Seeing that the situation was dire, the Qi Refining Layer One Night Patrol Division disciple tried to flee, but how could Wen Jiu let him escape so easily?

The Black Zombie pounced.

First, it used its Blood Transformation Body to block a spell, then it suddenly performed a "Black Tiger Steals the Heart," piercing the disciple's heart.

After finishing all this.

Wen Jiu didn't dare to loot the bodies and quickly left under the cover of Three Rivers Ghost Concealment.

The Black Zombie returned to Dead Corpse Land.

He went home.

One person, one zombie.

They quickly disappeared into the dark night.

Leaving behind only four corpses.

And a large amount of ghostly energy.

A moment later.

Candles were lit in every household.

People flocked towards Fang Zheng's house.

The Night Patrol Division disciples also arrived quickly, and upon seeing the state of the four corpses and the dense ghostly energy lingering around, their expressions changed drastically. The appearance of Yin Souls and Ghost Cultivators around the side peak market was no small matter.

At the same time.

Wen Jiu lay in bed, unable to calm down for a long time.

To be honest.

If Fang Zheng and the other two hadn't involved his sister, he wouldn't have wanted to deal with them so quickly.

Because although Three Rivers Ghost Concealment could disguise the Black Zombie as a Ghost Cultivator, the deaths of the three would definitely draw Li Ye's investigation.

No matter what.

He would definitely be investigated.

But Wen Jiu had no regrets.

As the saying goes.

If a problem isn't solved.

It will always remain a problem.

Moreover, the three had already started spreading rumors. If he had been slower to deal with them, who knew what unexpected situations might arise.

"Sleep, sleep."

"Tomorrow will definitely be lively."

As he spoke.

Wen Jiu fell into a deep sleep.

The trouble was resolved.

Sleep was sound.

[Requesting monthly passes.

Recommendation tickets.

See you tomorrow, fellow cultivators.

Oh, and happy new year to everyone!]

Some people said my sister was too foolish... Alas, I originally planned to update at 8, but I was told it was too toxic, so I'm releasing it early... However, I've also made some revisions to prevent everyone from misunderstanding my sister as a naive and sweet character. Those who didn't read chapter seventeen at five o'clock don't need to worry, but if you did, you can go back and take another look