She's Here!

That night.

Heavy snow fell in sheets, the cold wind howling like blades.

It was the hour when every household was deep in slumber. Yet the silent Chen Mansion suddenly sprang to life, as corridor lamps, wall lamps, and palace lanterns were lit one after another.

Maidservants and servants from various storage rooms and side chambers scrambled up, threw on their clothes, and rushed from all directions toward the Central Courtyard.

"In the dead of night, not letting us sleep—what's the point of gathering in the central yard?"

"I just emptied the chamber pot and barely got any rest, and now I have to get up... Living under someone else's roof, life is never truly free."

"Both of you, keep it down. It's the Second Young Master who suddenly gave the order..."

"What? It's the Second Young Master's order? Oh, then never mind."

Upon hearing it was Chen Mo's command, the servants and maids dared not complain further and hurried along with heads down.

No other reason.

They had all witnessed Chen Mo single-handedly slaughter Liu Mazi's three Blood Rush Realm experts on the Training Ground.

Who would dare question the Second Young Master's decision?

Even Haitang, the head maidservant of the mansion, dared not refute anything. She opened the gate to the Central Courtyard and let everyone in.

The Chen Mansion had over eighty people in total. Fortunately, the central yard was spacious enough that no one felt crowded after entering, though the noise and chaos briefly reigned.

It wasn't until Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan walked out of their bedchamber that the clamor immediately subsided.

Chen Yin Fu swept his gaze over the crowd and called Zhou Liang over. "Brother Zhou, do you know what's happened?"

Zhou Liang shook his head. "I was just woken up by Qiulan, who said the Second Young Master urgently ordered everyone to gather in the Central Courtyard."

Chen Yin Fu then summoned Qiulan. "You serve Xiao Mo day and night—surely you know what's going on?"

Qiulan stepped closer, made a curtsy, and quietly recounted what she knew.

Chen Yin Fu was greatly shocked upon hearing this, his face turning pale.

The entire Xie Manor, gone just like that?

No wonder Xiao Mo had given such an urgent order—he must have sensed that the Chen Mansion was also in danger.

At this thought, Chen Yin Fu's heart grew even more terrified.

Fortunately, as the head of the household, he quickly composed himself and addressed the crowd outside the door. "My son's arrangements must have deep meaning. There's no need for panic. Wait until he arrives, and we'll know the reason.

Haitang, take a few nimble-handed ones to the adjacent kitchen and bring some firewood. Light a few bonfires in the snow to keep everyone warm—don't let anyone freeze."

Then, Chen Yin Fu had a few elderly and frail servants move into the main hall to warm themselves. The crowd's emotions soon settled.

Six bonfires were lit in the yard, and everyone gathered around them for warmth, anxiously awaiting the Second Young Master's arrival.

Without him, their hearts remained uneasy.

Creak—

As the courtyard gate was pushed open, everyone turned to look.

Chen Mo walked in with Ma Tie, who carried a burlap sack in his hand. It looked heavy, and no one knew what was inside.

Seeing Chen Mo arrive, everyone felt much more at ease.

Wearing a blue brocade robe with a broadsword at his waist, Chen Mo swiftly crossed the yard and strode into the main hall. He clasped his hands in greeting to Chen Yin Fu and the others but didn't explain first. Instead, he instructed Haitang: "Haitang, go take a headcount. See if anyone is missing."

As the head maidservant, Haitang was familiar with all the servants, guards, and maids in the mansion. She quickly fetched the roster and began counting.

Before long, Haitang returned to the hall with the roster and respectfully reported to Chen Mo, "Second Young Master, only the guard Ma San and two grooms from the stables haven't arrived yet. One is called Li Erniu, the other Li Tiezhu—both from the same village."

Chen Mo knew Ma San had gone out to deliver a message, so he shot a glance at Qiulan. "Did you notify the stables earlier?"

Qiulan nodded. "I did. Li Tiezhu even answered me, saying he'd come right away."

Chen Mo nodded and looked back at Haitang. "Do you know what's going on with those two?"

Haitang said, "They're the mansion's veteran grooms, excellent at tending horses. But they caught a chill a few days ago. I gave them leave and called a doctor to see them and prescribe medicine. Perhaps they're too weak to get up?"

Chen Mo shook his head, a strong sense of danger rising in his heart.

Soon, he called out to the door, "Wei Heng, Liu Jiang—take torches and blades and go check on Erniu and Tiezhu at the stables. Remember, don't split up. If anything seems off, retreat immediately and shout. At the critical moment, I'll step in."

Even if Wei Heng and Liu Jiang were slow on the uptake, they knew something was wrong in the mansion. But hearing that Chen Mo would intervene steadied them somewhat. They each grabbed a torch and went out to search.

After they left, the remaining people grew more uneasy.

Before long, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Wei Heng and Liu Jiang rushed back into the Central Courtyard.

Chen Mo shot to his feet. "How are Erniu and Tiezhu?"

Liu Jiang was gasping for breath, terrified. "They, they... were hanging from the rafters. There were water weeds and mud on their bodies, no signs of struggle. And their deaths were utterly gruesome... I think they've encountered an Evil Spirit."

Chen Mo's heart sank.

Li Hongxi... had indeed come.

And faster than he'd expected.

Evil Spirit!

The moment these words rang out, everyone in the mansion was seized with terror, erupting into panicked chatter like a pot boiling over.

"Another evil spirit in the mansion?"

"Last time, that Liu Mazi lost his head and could still swing a blade. Now this... this place isn't safe."

"Li Erniu was built like an ox. A minor cold shouldn't have killed him, but he's dead. I don't want to die here."

"I don't want to die!"

Most of the servants and maids were barely in their teens. Hearing such talk, they lost their composure, growing frantic and shouting that they had to leave the Chen Mansion.

The courtyard was already crowded, and now everyone stood up at once, plunging the scene into chaos. A burly manservant even took the lead, stirring up trouble as he strode toward the gate, bellowing, "The Chen family has provoked an evil spirit, and now it's come for revenge. Stay here and you'll die. Follow me, quick!"

Fear and panic had already gripped the crowd, and with someone leading the charge, the rest surged after him like a dark tide. The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Chen Mo dashed into the courtyard in one stride and swung his blade at the ringleader's neck. With a wet thwack, the man's head flew a full yard into the air, blood gushing from the severed stump.

"Anyone else who tries to run—this is what you get!"

Chen Mo's roar finally cowed the rest. They shuffled back to their places, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

Chen Mo said coldly, "I gathered you all here because I intended to protect you. If anyone dares to stir up more trouble, I'll tear them apart limb from limb—not even a scrap left!"

Having witnessed Chen Mo's brutal methods, everyone shrank back in terror, too afraid to speak.

Chen Mo finally let out a breath. "Wei Heng, Liu Jiang, and the rest of the guards—keep order. If anyone causes trouble or runs off, cut them down on the spot!"

The Chen family held enough power that killing a few servants or maids wouldn't draw the authorities' attention.

Liu Jiang and Wei Heng acknowledged the order. Chen Mo returned to the main hall and had Haitang lead the elderly and frail servants to the eaves to warm themselves by the fire.

With that, only the family and Zhou Liang remained in the hall.

Chen Mo finally explained the whole story. "Father, Mother, here's what happened..."

He recounted everything in detail: how he'd gone to the Blood Ridge Black Market to buy Qi and Blood Pills, stumbled into the Ghost Land after being possessed, and the grudge between the Li family and Third Master Xie.

There was nothing left to hide now.

He hadn't spoken of it before for fear of worrying his parents.

But now that Li Hongxi had come knocking... they deserved to know the truth.

After hearing Chen Mo's account, everyone was deeply shaken.

Even Chen Yin Fu, the head of the household, turned pale.

Chen Mo set out the Red Candle he'd bought from Granny Li on the table. "This is the Red Candle I got from Granny Li back then. It can suppress evil spirits. There's no need to panic too much."

Hearing that it was the Goddess Hong Deng's Red Candle, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.

After all, everyone in Honghe County had worshipped the Goddess Hong Deng since childhood.

But Chen Yin Fu wasn't reassured. He scanned the room, then stood and walked toward the bedroom. "Xiao Mo, Yu Lan, come with me."

Not knowing what his father had in mind, Chen Mo followed.

Chen Yin Fu closed the bedroom door behind him, then pulled a small wooden box from under the bed. With a solemn expression, he pressed it into Chen Mo's hands.

Lin Yu Lan seemed to recognize the box. She said nothing, but her eyes turned red.

Sensing something was off, Chen Mo asked, "Father, what is this?"

Chen Yin Fu sat wearily on the edge of the bed, his earlier vitality gone. He looked as if he'd aged years in an instant. "Don't think of me as just a merchant, son. I know quite a bit about possession. Especially after getting to know Daoist Priest Li, I've learned many secrets. That vicious evil spirit wiped out the entire Xie family, and now it's come to our Chen Mansion. Even with your martial arts training, you're likely no match for it... but you're the one in this family with the best chance of escaping.

This box holds all the Silver Notes I've saved over the years. A few of them are ten-thousand-tael notes from Tongbao Bank alone. There are also other valuable collectibles. If things go wrong, take this box and leave."

Chen Mo's heart clenched painfully.

He never expected Chen Yin Fu to make such a decision.

Before Chen Mo could respond, Lin Yu Lan stepped forward, tears streaming as she cupped his face. "When you're out there, spend wisely. And I've always nagged you to find a wife—I know you found it annoying. But once you're outside, find a good girl. Don't let the Chen family bloodline end... If you have a daughter, give her the character 'Yu' in her name. If you have a strapping son, even better—give him the character 'Yin'..."

Listening to his mother's rambling, Chen Mo's fingers trembled as he gripped the brocade box. His knuckles turned white from the force.

He lifted his head and gazed deeply at his parents, whose temples were already streaked with gray.

For some reason, his nose stung and his eyes burned hot.

Chen Mo had lived two lives. He saw through many things and wasn't easily moved. But hearing his parents' words now, he felt his composure crack.

After a long silence, Chen Mo finally spoke. "Father, Mother..."

Chen Yin Fu raised a hand to cut him off. "Enough. A man doesn't act like a simpering girl. It's settled! Everyone outside is watching us. Don't stay in here too long, or they'll start guessing."

He'd thought about entrusting Xiaoyuer and Chen Wu to Chen Mo.

But Xiaoyuer and Chen Wu were too weak—they'd only weigh Chen Mo down. So he chose not to mention it. Let him, Chen Yin Fu, bear the burden of being the villain and handling the dirty work.

Chen Yin Fu didn't give Chen Mo a chance to argue. He pulled open the door and stepped out first.

Lin Yu Lan couldn't bear to let Chen Mo go. She held him back and whispered a few more words before finally leading him out of the bedroom.

The atmosphere in the main hall remained tense. Everyone stared at Chen Mo, then at the Red Candle on the table, restless and uneasy.

Chen Mo took a seat at the side, lowering his head to drink his tea in silence. His parents' words echoed in his mind.

Compared to his parents' actions, Chen Mo felt a bit ashamed...

He'd had a sudden urge just now to say something like "I'd rather die than leave." But the words got stuck in his throat and wouldn't come out.

Having only transmigrated three months ago, he wasn't sure he could follow through...

Fortunately, Chen Mo was far from an indecisive person. He quickly suppressed the stray thoughts and told himself: Why overthink it? Just swing a few times with all your strength and see what happens.

Once his mind was made up, Chen Mo hesitated no longer. He circulated his blood energy, channeled his true qi, gripped the broadsword tight, and opened all six keen senses, alertly scanning his surroundings.

Time passed slowly. The atmosphere was deathly still.

Just then, the courtyard gate suddenly rattled with knocks.

Thump thump thump!

The crisp sound cut through the silent courtyard, sharp and jarring.

A timid servant suddenly shrieked in terror, "It's the Evil Spirit, it's the Evil Spirit..."