Qiulan bought dried beef, a roast chicken, and a jar of wine, then hurried back to the entrance of the Li Family Residence.
She looked around but saw no sign of Chen Mo. Ma Tie was pacing anxiously in front of the gate, sword in hand, calling out his young master's name.
"Ma Tie, where's the young master?"
Ma Tie looked frantic. "I don't know either. I only turned away for a moment, and when I looked back, the young master was gone."
Plop.
The Mulberry Paper parcel in Qiulan's hands suddenly fell to the ground. The roast chicken and beef spilled out, rolling through the dust.
But Qiulan couldn't care less. She could think only of how she would answer to the master if anything happened to the young master.
"Go look for him! If anything happens to the young master, the master won't let either of us off."
Ma Tie's face flushed red. "I... I searched everywhere nearby. I've shouted until my voice went hoarse, but I haven't seen the young master."
Though Qiulan was a woman, she was decisive when it mattered. "Did you try going in to ask Young Master Xie Dong for help?"
"No."
"Stay here. I'll go in and ask Young Master Xie for help." Leaving him with that, Qiulan pounded hard on the gate and called out anxiously, "Young Master Xie, come out quickly! My young master is missing!"
Before long, the ancient mansion's gate creaked open.
Xie Dong came out, followed by an old woman of about sixty. She wore a long black robe, her hair was disheveled, and deep wrinkles furrowed her face. Her eye sockets were sunken, and she trembled as she walked.
After hearing Qiulan's account, Xie Dong was astonished. "Ma Tie, you're saying... Chen Mo vanished the moment you turned away?"
"That's right," Ma Tie said. "I didn't even hear the young master's footsteps as he left."
Xie Dong was at a loss. He turned to the old woman. "Granny Li, do you know what happened?"
The old woman, addressed as Granny Li, looked listless and gave no answer.
Xie Dong hurriedly said, "Granny Li, Chen Mo is my brother. He's Chen Yin Fu's son, and he came here sincerely hoping to buy Qi and Blood Pills. You can't just leave him to fend for himself. Otherwise, who would dare do business with the Li Family in the future? Isn't that right?"
Granny Li shot Xie Dong a sidelong glance before finally speaking. "Most likely, he's been Possessed by Evil."
Possessed by Evil!
The three of them sucked in a breath. Qiulan was especially frightened, her face turning deathly pale. She couldn't help recalling how Chen Mo had looked when he'd suffered from Mad Demon Disease before, and fear gripped her even harder.
"Why wasn't I Possessed by Evil?" Ma Tie asked.
"The Li Family's home is heavy with yin energy. People with weak qi and blood are often easily Possessed by Evil," Granny Li said. "You're a Skin Refining Realm martial artist, with somewhat stronger qi and blood. Naturally, you wouldn't be so easily affected."
Qiulan's eyes reddened. "Granny Li, please help my young master."
"Just how many Qi and Blood Pills does your young master plan to buy?" Granny Li asked.
Qiulan was utterly speechless. At a time like this... and she was still talking about money.
But Qiulan clearly understood human nature, so she said, "The young master is determined to practice martial arts, and Qi and Blood Pills are exactly what he lacks. Naturally, the more the better. I promise Granny Li will be satisfied."
Only then did Granny Li smile with satisfaction. "In that case, I'll help you. Xie Dong, hurry to the Black Market and find Steward Zhou. Tell him I want some Red Candle Wax."
Others might not know what Red Candle Wax was, but Xie Dong clearly did. "You want to light a Red Candle now?"
"The Li Manor is heavy with yin energy and wicked influences. The Chen Family's young master was Possessed by Evil and entered the Ghost Land. Only a Red Candle bestowed by Goddess Hong Deng can drive away evil and light the way out for him. But lighting a Red Candle in the Black Market requires informing the steward."
"Thank you, Granny Li." Xie Dong thanked her and hurried away.
Before long, Xie Dong came rushing back, drenched in sweat. "Steward Zhou agreed."
Granny Li gave a slight nod, then returned inside the Li Manor. When she came back out, she held a red candle. She didn't light it right away, but set it on the stones beside the ancient well and murmured something under her breath.
Xie Dong urged her, "Granny Li, hurry and light the candle! The longer Chen Mo stays in there, the more danger he's in!"
"This isn't an ordinary candle. What's the rush? If the Chen Family's young master is clever enough, he won't die. If he's rash, that's another matter." Granny Li scolded him with displeasure, then knelt before the candle and bowed until her forehead touched the ground.
"The Li Family of Honghe County respectfully begs the Empress to grant her favor. Today, with blood as the guide, we light the Red Candle. Let it light the way ahead for the Chen Family's young master."
With that, Granny Li bit her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the wick. With a soft puff, the wick caught fire, blooming with a crimson flame.
Only then did Granny Li rise. She clasped the Red Candle in both hands and murmured with deep reverence, "Young master of the Chen Family, don't lose your soul, don't pick at the red wax, don't be afraid. If you see the Red Candle's light, follow it out..."
Xie Dong, Ma Tie, and Qiulan stared fixedly at the flickering Red Candle in Granny Li's hands.
Before long, red mist rose from the candle and spread around them, obscuring everything. The next moment, a figure appeared within the fog, slowly walking toward them. It was Chen Mo.
"Young master!"
Qiulan hurried forward, tears streaming down her face as she cried, "You finally made it out! You scared Qiulan half to death just now."
Ma Tie also let out a huge sigh of relief and stepped forward to apologize. "As long as you're safe, young master. This humble servant was careless and let you fall into danger."
Xie Dong, however, came up and gave Chen Mo a huge hug, then pounded him twice in the chest. "Brother Chen, you finally made it out! If something had happened to you and you'd left me alone, going to Spring Breeze Tower would've been no fun at all."
Chen Mo stared blankly at everything before him, feeling as if none of it were real. For a moment, he even forgot to reply.
No one knew what he'd just gone through.
He'd nearly been killed by that female ghost.
Luckily, Chen Mo had discovered what the Red Candle Wax could do. In the end, he'd held the wax in his hand... and sure enough, the Ghost Wall had vanished, letting him find his way out. At the most crucial moment, he'd also seen a red light guiding him and heard an old woman's voice: "Young master of the Chen Family, don't lose your soul, don't pick at the red wax, don't be afraid. If you see the Red Candle's light, follow it out..."
Then Chen Mo had followed the voice and the red light until he finally made it out, returning to the entrance of the Li Family Mansion where he'd started.
He'd truly taken a trip to the Ghost Gate Pass and back.
For the first time, he'd felt how terrifying this world was.
It was terrifying!
Chen Mo glanced around. Night had fallen, and he really had escaped the ghosts. Only then did he breathe a huge sigh of relief. "I'm fine. What happened just now?"
Ma Tie recounted everything that had happened, from beginning to end. Only then did Chen Mo understand.
He'd been Possessed by Evil... and dragged into the Ghost Land.
And lighting the Red Candle bestowed by Goddess Hong Deng could break open the Ghost Land and illuminate the way out.
It seemed this Goddess Hong Deng was truly extraordinary.
No wonder so many people in Honghe County offered her incense.
Chen Mo almost wanted to worship Goddess Hong Deng himself...
Once he'd collected himself, Chen Mo looked past the crowd at the old woman, his gaze settling especially on the Red Candle in her hand.
Chen Mo cupped his hands toward Granny Li. "Thank you for coming to my aid, Granny Li."
Granny Li blew out the Red Candle and snorted. "Your maid just said you'd buy lots of Qi and Blood Pills, until I was satisfied. Don't be stingy, or I'll have lit that Red Candle for nothing."
"Of course," Chen Mo said.
If a problem could be solved with money, was it really a problem?
Granny Li carefully put away the Red Candle. "Come inside and we'll talk."
Seeing that Chen Mo was safe and sound, everyone happily followed Granny Li inside. Only Chen Mo, at the very back, couldn't help glancing at the ancient well nearby as he crossed the threshold.
Before you continue