The Third Night

An Yang rushed to the window and watched Yan Chixia's retreating figure gradually disappear into the night. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief. When he turned around, he saw Nie Xiaoqian standing behind him in white****, staring at him in disbelief.

An Yang froze. "Didn't you leave?"

Nie Xiaoqian shook her head hesitantly. "Young Master An Yang, you knew a long time ago that I was a female ghost, didn't you?"

An Yang was silent for a moment before nodding. "That's right."

"Then why aren't you afraid of me? Why are you still willing to stay with me?"

"I didn't mean to hide it from you. I just felt that ghosts and humans aren't all that different. Although you're a ghost, as long as you don't hurt me, we can still be friends."

"Ghosts and humans aren't all that different..." Nie Xiaoqian stared at him miserably. "Do you really think so? Everyone says ghosts are born to harm people. Humans and ghosts are destined to follow different paths!"

An Yang said solemnly, "You can't believe everything people say. Look, we all possess intelligence, thoughts, and even emotions. We all have our own joys and sorrows, and we can all fall in love with someone. There are bad people among humans, so I believe there must be good ghosts among ghosts too. You're beautiful, clever, gentle, and reasonable, and you've never harmed me. You must be a good ghost!"

Nie Xiaoqian's expression turned sorrowful. She said pitifully, "But I've harmed many people before!"

An Yang immediately followed up, "Then you must have been forced to!"

Nie Xiaoqian gazed at him dreamily, her expression captivating enough to ensnare the soul. She asked softly, "How do you know?"

"It must have been that way!"

Nie Xiaoqian took a step forward. "Are you really that certain?"

Because he was familiar with the plot, An Yang answered decisively, "I could never be wrong about you!"

Moved, Nie Xiaoqian took another step forward, but then she looked anxiously out the window. "Ah, that Daoist is back."

An Yang's expression changed. He hurried over to the window and looked out. By the light of the moon, he saw a figure returning from afar. The man was muttering as he walked. It was too far away to hear clearly, but An Yang could still guess what he was saying.

"Where did that female ghost run off to? Logically speaking, once she revealed her true form, she shouldn't have been able to escape. Why didn't I see even a shadow after she went out the window?"

An Yang was stunned. He hurriedly took out the case containing the Sniper Rifle. With the abilities granted by Intermediate Firearms Mastery, he quickly assembled it, switched on the scope's infrared mode, attached the suppressor, and fired at a large tree behind Yan Chixia.

"Pew."

By the time the faint sound reached Yan Chixia, it was barely audible. But the bullet still tore through the night sky with tremendous kinetic force and struck the center of the tree trunk, producing a dull thud. The ensuing cavitation effect nearly ripped apart the bowl-thick trunk!

"Bang."

"What was that?"

Yan Chixia Keenly turned his head and saw a small tree slowly falling. His expression sharpened, and he lightly pursued it backward.

"Don't run!"

An Yang fired several more shots, luring Yan Chixia farther and farther away.

Nie Xiaoqian watched from behind. At first, curiosity glimmered in her eyes. But once she understood what An Yang was doing, she no longer cared where the case had come from or what the long object was. Her eyes held nothing but gratitude.

After hesitating for a moment, she stepped forward.

"Young Master An Yang, I... I'm leaving."

An Yang put away the gun.

"Good. Go quickly!"

Nie Xiaoqian raised her hand in a delicate orchid gesture to cover her face, appearing somewhat bashful. "Thank you for today. Otherwise, that Daoist wouldn't have let me off."

An Yang said, "It's nothing."

Nie Xiaoqian slowly retreated, gracefully bending at the waist to give him a salute. She said shyly, "Then we'll part ways for tonight."

Li Yu nodded. "Mm. I'll still be waiting for you here tomorrow."

Nie Xiaoqian looked startled. "You're not leaving tomorrow?"

An Yang said, "What? Do you want me to leave?"

Nie Xiaoqian hurriedly waved her hands. "No. This place is very dangerous. There's a..."

Before she could finish, her words were interrupted by a rough voice from below.

"Young Brother An Yang, are you all right?"

Yan Chixia had returned, and he had come back very quickly!

Nie Xiaoqian gave An Yang a worried look and finally said, "In any case, this isn't a place to stay for long. You should leave as soon as possible."

After saying this, her figure slowly vanished.

"Bang."

The window was smashed open, and Yan Chixia flew into the room. He immediately saw An Yang and hurriedly sighed in relief. "Young Brother An Yang, it's good that you're safe. I thought I'd fallen for those monsters' diversionary tactic!"

An Yang smiled calmly. "I'm fine. Big Brother Yan, go back and rest. I'll call you if anything happens."

"Just don't sleep too soundly. I suspect those monsters won't let you off so easily." Yan Chixia nodded, not forgetting to remind him before leaving.

The second night in A Chinese Ghost Story passed peacefully.

At daybreak, An Yang saw Ning Caichen off. Since Ning Caichen had never met Nie Xiaoqian, he naturally wouldn't return to bid her farewell. The subsequent plot had nothing to do with him. But to prevent the simple-minded scholar from suddenly getting another foolish idea and running back, An Yang escorted him all the way to the boundary marker of Guo Bei County. He guarded the marker until nightfall before finally letting out a long breath.

"Phew..."

He had finally gotten rid of Ning Caichen!

In Guo Bei County, An Yang bought a long saber and took out the M1911 pistol. Just like Ning Caichen in the original story, he hung up three lanterns before daring to cross the forest where wild wolves roamed, even though the wild wolves in the movie looked more like a pack of dogs.

Before long, a rustling sound came from behind him. An Yang's nerves instantly tensed. With the long saber hanging at his waist, he quietly disengaged the pistol's safety. But after he had taken only a few steps, the sound vanished again.

"Hmm! Where are the wolves?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a long wolf howl rang out behind him.

"Awooo~"

An Yang spun around and pointed the pistol behind him, but he saw nothing. He vaguely thought he saw a white figure in the trees. When he looked up, he happened to see Nie Xiaoqian grinning mischievously. Only then did he remember the original plot.

"So it was you. You scared me!"

In the original story, Ning Caichen had crossed the wolf forest alone at night and received Nie Xiaoqian's help. She had even teased him by imitating a wolf howl.

Nie Xiaoqian was startled and descended from the tree in a graceful leap.

"How did you know I was here?"

An Yang thought for a moment, quietly put away the pistol, and said, "I had a feeling you'd come help me, so I saw you."

Nie Xiaoqian smiled shyly and walked with him toward Lanruo Temple.

"Why have you come back to Lanruo Temple again?"

"You said you'd harmed many people. Someone must be forcing you. Of course I have to save you!"

Nie Xiaoqian stopped in her tracks and hurriedly said, "No. You can't defeat Grandmother. Give up on that idea and leave quickly!"

An Yang stopped as well and looked at her. "If... if I helped you regain your freedom, would you be willing to give up your chance to reincarnate for my sake and remain a wandering ghost forever?"

Nie Xiaoqian froze. Her stunning face looked even paler beneath the moonlight as she lowered her gaze and gazed dreamily at An Yang.

"If you don't mind that I'm only a female ghost, and if you don't care about the opinions of the living, then whoever saves me will have my gratitude. I ought to offer myself to him. Whether as a servant or a concubine, I would never regret it. And besides, it's you..."

"But humans and ghosts follow different paths. We can't be together. I'll gradually drain your vital energy, and I can only come out at night."

An Yang nodded. "All right. Remember your promise."

Nie Xiaoqian's expression changed. "No. Grandmother has a thousand years of cultivation. You can't defeat her!"

An Yang's eyes flickered slightly. "I have to try. Even if I can't defeat her, there's still Big Brother Yan. Sooner or later, I'll kill her."

Nie Xiaoqian said, "No! Grandmother will kill you. It's not worth it for me."

An Yang did not answer. After walking in silence for a while, he pointed ahead and said, "We've reached Lanruo Temple. Big Brother Yan must be inside. Go back first."

Nie Xiaoqian remained standing where she was.

An Yang walked two steps forward, then turned around. "If you can't bear to part with me, wait for me at the pavilion in the middle of the lake later."

He had intended to say that he would wait for her at Lake Heart Pavilion, but then he remembered that Ning Caichen had gone there that very night in the original story and had nearly been caught by the Thousand-Year Tree Demon. Fortunately, Nie Xiaoqian had drawn its attention away with her music, allowing him to escape with his life. Fearing that the Thousand-Year Tree Demon might be there, An Yang changed his wording at the last moment and said he would wait for her at the pavilion.

Without waiting for Nie Xiaoqian's answer, An Yang stepped into Lanruo Temple.

"Who is it?"

A dazzling sword flash swept toward him before stopping at his throat. Holding a longsword, Yan Chixia asked harshly, "Who are you?"

"It... it's me."

"Young Brother An Yang, why have you come back? Didn't you leave this morning?"

An Yang gently pushed aside his sword and said cautiously, "I guessed that you and the monsters of Lanruo Temple had reached the point of open conflict, and that a battle would begin soon. I was afraid you wouldn't be able to handle them, so I came specifically to lend you a hand."

Yan Chixia let out a derisive laugh. "What could a weak scholar like you possibly do to help me? Other than throwing your life away, you can't do anything!"

An Yang said, "I heard from Xiao Qian that the old monster here is a Thousand-Year Tree Demon, so I went to Guo Bei County and bought several barrels of oil. We can definitely burn her to death!"

Yan Chixia was silent for a moment, somewhat moved. Then he asked, "The Xiao Qian you mentioned is that female ghost, isn't she?"

An Yang nodded. "She's a good ghost. Her life story is tragic. I'll tell you all about it once we're inside."

Yan Chixia sheathed his sword and walked farther inside, asking as he went, "How did you know that I had already come into open conflict with the monsters here?"

"That's simple. Big Brother Yan hates evil like an enemy, while the monsters here have grown increasingly brazen and are showing signs of slaughtering innocent people. You certainly wouldn't tolerate them behaving like this!"

Yan Chixia looked at him in surprise. It was obvious that he enjoyed the flattery. He nodded and said, "Not bad. But evil can never overcome justice. I can get rid of them without your help!"

"But I also want to rid the people of these evils. Setting everything else aside, I'll be satisfied if I can make things easier for you, Big Brother Yan!"

The two chatted as they walked into Lanruo Temple, and before long, they were getting along like old friends again.

An Yang began telling him about Nie Xiaoqian's tragic past. Even Yan Chixia, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart and seemed cold on the outside yet warm within, could not help sighing repeatedly. Still, he insisted that humans and ghosts followed different paths and told An Yang to stay farther away from Nie Xiaoqian.

Late that night, An Yang went upstairs.