I Advise You Not to Meddle

After the carriage returned to the county town, it didn't go straight to the Xu mansion. It was lunchtime, so Xiao He led the other two to a street-side eatery for a bowl of big meat noodles.

The meat was tender and still held its shape, its aroma rich, the broth thick and full of flavor, the texture satisfying. The noodles were smooth and not greasy, perfectly blended with the rich meat broth. Every bite was an ultimate temptation to the taste buds, every bite was pure bliss.

Xiang Yuan ate three large bowls in a row and silently gave Xiao He a thumbs-up. The clown might be uneducated, but he certainly knew how to enjoy himself.

After lunch, Xiao He found a bookstore and had the scroll he'd hastily acquired re-mounted. Only then did he board the carriage and leisurely head to the Xu mansion.

On the way, the two young masters bought roast chicken and other braised dishes, along with steamed buns, planning to eat their fill before nightfall and gather their strength for another three hundred rounds with the female ghost.

Seeing their high spirits, which hinted at some ulterior motives, Xiang Yuan sighed inwardly, figuring he couldn't count on them tonight.

It was still early before dark, so Xiang Yuan took a stroll around the Xu mansion, observing the surrounding terrain in case of any unexpected situations. He wasn't aiming to outsmart the female ghost, just to make sure he didn't get lost himself.

He saw the old well in the backyard. He had expected the well water to be icy cold and unbearable, but it had been abandoned for years and was even covered by a millstone.

Knowing there was a ghost inside, he only felt a slight chill seeping from the cracks and left without daring to look further.

With nothing else to do, Xiang Yuan found a quiet corner and sat down to cultivate. He practiced his stillness techniques and Nature Cultivation first, followed by his swordsmanship. His activities were a stark contrast to the two inside the adjacent room.

Over with the two clowns, Xu Jixian was not a bad person. Knowing that the old family servant was unwell, he feared the servant might be frightened by the female ghost. He took out some silver and arranged for the servant to stay at an inn for the night.

Night, dim stars, dark moon.

The wind blew through the courtyard. The trees in the garden, long untended, swayed in the breeze. A draft swept through the house, making a whistling sound. Occasionally, a door panel would slam shut, making one's scalp tingle.

Xiang Yuan's heart pounded. The atmosphere was already so tense before the ghost even arrived; what would it be like when she actually showed up?

Seeing the carefree Xiao He and Xu Jixian eating buns and playing dice, completely fearless, he suppressed his fear, held his saber, and closed his eyes to rest, projecting an air of nonchalance.

I can't back down. No matter what, I can't lose to these two clowns.

The wind gradually subsided. Outside, a white mist had somehow appeared. Driven by an unknown force, it enveloped the courtyard, isolating it from the outside world. The dim stars vanished, the dark moon hid, and everything became eerily quiet.

A pair of large hands pushed aside the mist, and within the swirling vapor, a woman in white "walked" out.

Her dress was spotless white, its hem fluttering in the wind. Her dark hair moved with a certain rhythm, as if it were one with the surrounding mist.

The woman's face was as pale as paper, her thin lips a vibrant red, as if about to bleed. Her eyes were like ink paintings, beautiful yet stiff and lifeless, exuding a chilling aura that made one's blood run cold.

She's here!

Xiang Yuan's Primordial Spirit surged, his senses becoming exceptionally sharp. The air inside the room seemed to thin with her appearance, and with every breath, he felt a bone-chilling cold.

He suddenly opened his eyes, clutching his saber. The aura he had been accumulating for a long time erupted, like a roaring tiger, blowing away all the mist that had invaded the room.

The woman, or rather, the female ghost, paused slightly, hesitating at the doorway.

If the human is fierce, even the ghost is afraid.

Unlike Xiang Yuan's readiness for battle, Xiao He was practically brazen. Relying on Wang Wenxu's calligraphy for protection, he stared at the female ghost with wide eyes.

Her appearance was graceful, her skin fairer than snow, her figure voluptuous, her waist slender. Her brows were etched with sorrow, making her seem pitiful. She was truly a temptress in bed.

Xiao He subconsciously grinned, about to swallow, when he heard a gulp beside him.

"My dear, you've finally arrived. Come in quickly, let me introduce you to my two brothers."

Xu Jixian stood up blankly, his mind lost. He had completely forgotten that he was facing a ghost, and the eerie mist around them simply didn't exist in his eyes.

Clang!

Xiang Yuan drew his long saber. The blade scraping against the scabbard made a piercing sound that jolted Xu Jixian awake. Like a clap of thunder in his ears and a tiger beside him, he shivered and retreated behind Xiao He.

"Quick, quick, give me the Master's letter."

"Get lost, I begged for this."

Because of Xiang Yuan, the female ghost's seduction had failed. She glared at the troublesome ones, her stiff lips curling into a half-smile.

Since you're here, you might as well stay and add to the feast.

A cold glint shot from her eyes. Xiang Yuan's vision blurred. He shook his head and looked again. Before him, a beautiful woman danced in the white mist. Her clothes were loose, her eyes hazy, her face flushed, as if drunk, full of desire. Her clothes fluttered down one by one, revealing glimpses of her fair arms and long legs, making one want to get closer and see clearly.

Coquettish sighs arose, and seductive sounds stirred the heart.

Xiang Yuan felt a surge of heat. His Primordial Spirit was powerful; even using only a third of it each time was far beyond that of an ordinary Qi Refining Stage cultivator. Knowing he was being bewitched by the ghost, he immediately bit his tongue to resist the temptation, sheathed his saber, and then used the momentum of drawing his blade to unleash the might of the tiger.

This draw, though it didn't break the illusion, maintained his clarity. At least the female ghost wasn't as alluring as before.

Ordinary stuff, you can find plenty of them on the internet.

Meanwhile, Xiao He and Xu Jixian were in a sorry state. Lost in the vision of beauty, they danced with the beautiful ghost, exchanging flirtatious glances and starting to undress, walking towards the door together.

"Xiao Shisi, wake up! This is an evil ghost's illusion!" Xiang Yuan blocked Xiao He with his saber, preventing him from looking at the ghost outside.

"What's wrong with living for the crotch? I advise you not to meddle. I like watching this!"

Xiang Yuan's face darkened. He cursed inwardly and kicked Xiao He back to his original spot.

He then kicked Xu Jixian back as well, grabbed both their shoulders, and shouted, "Stop looking! Listen to me, hold your breath, don't get distracted, and focus your spirit on one point."

"Difficult, I can only focus on two points," Xiao He said, his face full of lust.

"Don't hold me back. A lecher like me only makes rice more expensive by staying in the world. Let me out," Xu Jixian struggled fiercely.

Damn it all!

Xiang Yuan knew he was incapable of waking the two of them, so he directly knocked them to the ground. He took the long scroll hanging from Xiao He's waist, unrolled it, and aimed the four characters 'What humans can control' at the female ghost outside the door.

There was no golden light erupting from the ground, nor divine thunder from the heavens. The female ghost acted as if she had met her nemesis. With a scream, her illusion shattered.

Her delicate body swelled, her alluring curves no longer beautiful. Her snow-white skin tore, revealing a pitch-black, charcoal-like body beneath the cracks. Her once pitiable face became incredibly grotesque.

That's more like it!

Xiang Yuan's eyes lit up. The art style that Xiao and Xu had bent was finally straightened by him.

Wang Wenxu's calligraphy was unfurled, and the female ghost wailed continuously. The mist surrounding her retracted, and she retreated, attempting to escape.

Xiang Yuan wouldn't allow it. Since he was already here, he might as well gain some experience and learn how to kill ghosts.

He held his saber in one hand and the calligraphy scroll in the other, charging out of the house like a tiger descending a mountain. A flash of white light later, the female ghost and the mist were split in two.

The ghost was not dead. The mist reformed, gathering into a single point, its form much fainter than before.

Having a health bar makes things easier!

Xiang Yuan grasped the trick. His saber strikes became even fiercer as he pursued the female ghost out of the courtyard and into the long corridor.

"My god, pfft, what kind of hideous wife do you have!"

Freed from the illusion, Xiao He slowly regained consciousness. He looked at Xu Jixian beside him in horror and said with admiration, "Brother Xu, you can eat that? Truly, you refuse nothing."

"She wasn't like this last night. Just you wait and see..." Xu Jixian refused to be outdone, his mouth as stubborn as ever.

The two stared at each other, then with a startled cry, they both bolted out of the house and ran to the main gate of Xu Mansion as fast as they could.

Just as Xiao He was about to open the door, he heard the sounds of fighting behind him and stopped with his hands in mid-air. "This is not right. If we leave now, we'll be letting Little Yuan Brother down for protecting us. We absolutely cannot."

"If we go back, we'll only cause trouble. What if we get bewitched again?" Xu Jixian hesitated.

"Don't worry, your brother has another method that will guarantee the female ghost won't dare to touch a single hair on our heads."

"Quick, tell me. We'll go help Little Yuan Brother hold the line," Xu Jixian said righteously.

"I read in a book that the best way to deal with this kind of female ghost who drains people's yang essence is to soil yourself. She'll find it disgusting and leave you alone," Xiao He declared confidently. Although he couldn't kill the ghost, he could at least ensure his own safety. He urged Xu Jixian to set an example.

"What kind of terrible idea is that?"

Xu Jixian cursed him angrily, pushed open the door, and strode out.

A moment later, he ran back quickly, slammed the door shut with a bang, and leaned against it with his back.

"Huh? Brother Xu, why are you back?"

"No, there's still one outside."