Transaction

Upon entering Li Manor, they found themselves in a large courtyard. Long neglected, it was overrun with weeds and vines, with even a pavilion swallowed by the growth, exuding an air of desolation.

Perhaps because he had been to that haunted place, Chen Mo also caught a faint, foul stench.

That stench was familiar—very similar to the smell on that girl.

Chen Mo tugged Qiulan, making her walk behind him.

Qiulan was puzzled. "Young Master, what's wrong?"

Chen Mo asked in a low voice, "Do you smell anything?"

Women were generally more sensitive to smells than men, so Chen Mo asked Qiulan instead of Ma Tie.

Qiulan sniffed carefully, then shook her head. "No. Just that the yard's wild, full of weeds and vines, with a bit of grassy fragrance. What did you smell, Young Master?"

Chen Mo shook his head. "Nothing. Let's go."

Following Granny Li into the living room, they found the furniture complete but thick with dust from years of neglect.

Granny Li didn't mind the dust at all, telling them to sit and wait before heading into the back courtyard.

Ma Tie wiped the dust off two stools with his sleeve, motioning for Chen Mo and Xie Dong to sit, muttering, "This Granny Li, we're guests after all. Not even a cup of water to offer."

Cough, cough, cough.

Xie Dong cleared his throat. "Granny Li may have a strange temper, but she's not a bad person. She occasionally does business at our shop. Don't sweat the small stuff."

"Master Xie is right." Ma Tie immediately realized he'd misspoken, so he lowered his head and stood behind Chen Mo, saying no more.

Chen Mo didn't care about such details and instead asked Xie Dong, "Dongzi, how much do you know about Granny Li?"

Xie Dong thought for a moment, scratching his head. "Granny Li's lived in Blood Ridge for years, making a living by selling Qi and Blood Pills and Tiger Bone Essence Soup on the side. My family's shop has dealings with her, so I've seen her plenty, but... she's a recluse, rarely talks about herself. All I know is she's Old Master Li's wife."

Chen Mo wasn't surprised. He pressed on, "What about Old Master Li?"

Xie Dong shook his head. "I don't know the details. But I heard Steward Zhou mention the other day that after Old Master Li's daughter had some trouble, he went crazy."

"Do you know what happened to Old Master Li's daughter?"

"I asked Granny Li, but she wouldn't say."

Hearing this, Chen Mo fell into thought.

He felt Old Master Li's madness wasn't that simple. Whatever happened to his daughter was probably even more complicated.

Seeing Chen Mo silent, Xie Dong waved a hand in front of his face. "What was that about you being Possessed by Evil just now? I've been here plenty of times without any trouble. How come you show up and get possessed?"

Chen Mo shot Xie Dong a look and spread his hands. "How should I know? It's your fault for leading the way. The problem's definitely on you."

At that, Xie Dong flared up, ready to argue, but then remembered Chen Mo had just suffered from the possession and softened. "Fine, fine, it's all my fault, okay? I'll treat you to a drink at Spring Breeze Tower later. That's what you're after anyway."

Chen Mo: "..."

That was just how his original self was, so he didn't bother defending it. Instead, he asked about the price of Qi and Blood Pills.

Xie Dong, ever the businessman, perked up at the topic of money. "Qi and Blood Pills are rare, so they're not cheap. Normally, one costs a hundred and twenty taels. I've talked Granny Li down to a hundred and ten for you. She's doing me a favor, so don't forget my part in this."

A hundred and ten taels each... not too expensive.

Chen Mo had made Qiulan bring all the pocket money his original self had saved over the years—a full five hundred taels.

That was enough for about four pills.

Not expensive.

With that settled, Chen Mo's expression brightened. "I'll remember your kindness. That good enough?"

Xie Dong grinned. "That's more like it."

Before long, Granny Li returned from the back courtyard, holding a black wooden box the size of a baby's fist. Without a glance, she shoved it into Chen Mo's hands.

"There are only three Qi and Blood Pills. You have to buy them all."

Chen Mo took the box and opened it. Inside were three dark red pills, each about the size of a thumb, round and glossy, with a refreshing, fragrant scent.

Chen Mo was no longer the rookie he used to be. His internal energy was at the final threshold to break through to the Skin Refining Realm. With just a sniff, he could feel the strong energy fluctuations surging within the pills.

Being cautious, he handed the box to Xie Dong and Ma Tie for inspection. After both confirmed it was genuine, Chen Mo accepted it. "Three hundred and thirty taels?"

Granny Li said, "That works."

"Qiulan, give me all the banknotes." Chen Mo took the notes from Qiulan, counted them, and handed them to Granny Li. "Five hundred and fifty taels total."

Granny Li was taken aback. "That's too much."

Chen Mo said, "The extra two hundred and twenty taels—I'd like to buy the Red Candle from you, if that's possible?"

Granny Li's face twisted with disgust, and she was about to refuse when Chen Mo quickly added, "I'll add another hundred taels."

Granny Li still wasn't tempted. "What do you want the Red Candle for?"

Chen Mo replied, "I just got Possessed by Evil and nearly died in there. With the Red Candle, I won't have to worry about it anymore."

Granny Li took out the Red Candle, examined it, and said, "I can cut you half of this Red Candle. But adding a hundred taels isn't enough."

Hearing she was willing to sell, Chen Mo was overjoyed. "Name your price, Granny Li."

Granny Li set the price. "You'll need to add three hundred taels more."

"Good!" Chen Mo, afraid Granny Li might change her mind, agreed at once, then turned to look at Xie Dong. Xie Dong fumbled out the silver notes on him—only a few dozen taels.

He said awkwardly, "I've been frequenting Spring Breeze Tower a lot these past few days, spent quite a bit..."

Chen Mo didn't count on Xie Dong anymore and asked Granny Li, "Could I write an IOU? I'll have someone deliver the money within a month."

"Anyone else, no. But Second Young Master of the Chen family, that's fine." Granny Li was straightforward enough, fetching paper and brush at once for Chen Mo to write the IOU. Then she cut off half the Red Candle and handed it to him.

"To light the Red Candle, you can't use fire—you have to use your own blood. Also, you must devoutly worship Goddess Hong Deng. If your heart isn't sincere, it won't light."

"I'll remember." Chen Mo carefully put away the Red Candle, tucking it into the pouch at his sleeve.

This was a fine treasure.

From now on, he wouldn't fear being Possessed by Evil.

Before he could enjoy it for long, Granny Li said, "This Red Candle can ward off ghosts and suppress evil, but it burns your essence, blood, and vitality. Don't use it too much, or it'll seriously harm your body. Overuse, and you'll be ruined."

Chen Mo felt a chill at that, but with no better option at hand, he agreed.

He wanted to ask about Old Master Li and his daughter, but Granny Li directly showed them out. "I still have matters to attend to, so I won't entertain you. You should go. And remember, send the silver soon."

With that, Granny Li left them all behind and hobbled into the back courtyard.

Xie Dong stood up awkwardly. "Granny Li's always like this. It's getting late—we'd better head back."

Chen Mo lingered at the back, still glancing toward the back courtyard, where thick mist swirled and he could faintly hear a girl crying.

That crying... it sounded very much like the voice of the girl in red from the Ancient Well.

Hiss!

Chen Mo shrank his neck, not daring to stay, and hurried away.