"Nuonuo..."
Si Yan leaned against him, looking listless.
"That little ghost came straight for me. The bracelet you gave me... saved me again."
He felt so wronged.
Jiang Nuo softened at the sight and stroked his face soothingly. "All right, I'll teach her a lesson for you."
The little ghost girl on the floor: "..."
Are you fucking blind?!
Can't you see I'm the one who's hurt?!
I can't even get up!
You humans are going too far!
The resentment surrounding the little ghost girl grew heavier, and she lunged at them again.
Only, she didn't make it.
A talisman flew out, brimming with spiritual power and killing intent, and instantly scorched the little ghost girl's neck. Flames spread from her neck to her entire body. She screamed and rolled in the fire, giving off foul-smelling smoke.
The guests and camera operators huddling together in terror all retreated a few steps.
Scary, stinky-stay away!
"I'll kill you!"
The little ghost girl's voice abruptly became unbearably shrill. Even in this state, she still hadn't been reduced to ashes.
But despite her vicious words, she broke through the window without hesitation and flew out.
Just then, the tightly shut door opened.
Everyone stared blankly, not knowing what to do next.
Because everything that had just happened... was simply... far beyond their understanding.
"What are you standing around for? Get out."
Holding Si Yan's hand, Jiang Nuo led the way, glancing in puzzlement at the petrified group. "Miss your window, and you'll have to stay inside for the rest of your lives."
Everyone: !!!
They practically swarmed out.
Jiang Nuo, the bane of ghosts and monsters! I love him so much! A blessing for strength worshippers!
Waaaah, God Nuo, I love you! From now on, you're my one and only fave in showbiz!!
The shameless shippers score big again! God Nuo really spoils Si Jiaojiao! As long as you're happy together~
Of course, some furious haters still refused to admit how capable Jiang Nuo was. This was what it meant to be blind with your eyes open, but mixed into the screenful of praise, their comments weren't so noticeable.
They haven't even escaped the illusion yet! And you're already praising him? I'm fucking dying laughing.
If he's so amazing, why hasn't he gotten out yet? Seriously speechless. Just mindless praise, huh!
Weeds overran the courtyard. Gone was the bustle of daytime; it looked utterly desolate. Moonlight shone through the grass, casting strange shadows on the ground like countless lone ghosts baring their fangs and claws. The wind howled past like weeping spirits and ten thousand wailing ghosts.
Unable to tell which way they had come, the group wandered aimlessly beneath the faint moonlight, as though they would never find a way out.
In such a stifling, oppressive illusion, it was easy to lose one's composure.
"Ah!"
Already terrified to her limit, Yang Xiaoxiao suddenly cried out, her eyes bulging as though they might fall out as she clamped her hands over her mouth.
Following her gaze, they saw a woman in a red dress standing eerily beside the courtyard well, dancing in the fierce wind. Her movements were strange and uncanny, her pale face twisting stiffly.
As though suddenly sensing humans approaching, she turned stiffly, her neck tilted and her eyes lifeless, yet the corners of her mouth lifted.
More horrifying still were the little ghosts hanging from her legs, bobbing their heads. They had no feet and clung stubbornly to her legs. Every time they swayed their necks, the red-clad ghost woman danced along.
Enough, enough! Camera guy, please spare me, thank you! Just point the camera at the guests!!
Help, I'm trembling under my blankets!
Let's all shout together: Jiang Nuo-
"Jiang... she's so scary."
Yang Xiaoxiao was almost crying. Trembling, she tried to hide behind Jiang Nuo, but inexplicably felt Best Actor Si's hostile gaze and could only quietly give up. Staying close beside him would do.
"What an ugly dance."
Jiang Nuo offered his assessment of her dancing.
Whether the red-clad ghost woman heard him or something else happened, she suddenly stopped moving and stared fixedly at Jiang Nuo.
Only then did everyone finally get a clear look at the red-clad ghost woman.
She was none other than the nanny from that afternoon!
Yet now she looked incomparably alluring, like a breathtakingly beautiful asura.
"I'll kill you!"
The red-clad ghost woman shrieked and flew straight at Jiang Nuo.
"Heaven-shaking fire, soul-searing phantom thunder!"
Jiang Nuo swiftly formed a hand seal, and a paper talisman flew out.
Boom!
A pillar of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, mingled with spectral flames, and struck down at the red-clad ghost woman.
It hit her squarely between the brows.
The red-clad ghost woman screamed, her expression contorted with agony. She abruptly let out a piercing shriek, rolled across the ground several times, and disintegrated into ashes.
As though drawn by the scream, every room surrounding the courtyard opened. The relatives from that afternoon slowly emerged, like zombies or wandering ghosts, their arms stretched straight toward the group and identical resentment on their faces.
"Oh my god!"
Chu Xiu grew frightened too and hugged Yang Xiaoxiao tightly. She had never seen so many ghosts!
She wanted to take back what she had said when they first arrived!
Lin Yu forced himself to remain calm, but his fingertips were nearly digging through his palms.
Only Tian Dong was different.
With his neck tilted, he actually wanted to quietly join them.
An idea struck Jiang Nuo, and he grabbed the others and led them beside the well.
"Stay here. Don't come out. I'll draw you a safe circle."
He pulled another red cord from his pocket and arranged it in a circle, then bit his finger and dabbed a drop of blood onto each end where they joined.
Red light flashed, and the safe circle formed.
Good thing the cord was long enough, or there really wouldn't have been room for everyone.
Jiang Nuo even had time to think about that.
"Nuonuo."
Si Yan caught his hand.
"All right, I'll deal with this quickly. No ghosts will dare come near this spot. Don't be afraid."
Thinking Si Yan was frightened again, Jiang Nuo stroked his head. "The bracelet can protect you too."
He was a precious treasure. Absolutely nothing could happen to him.
"Then be careful."
"Okay, okay."
Jiang Nuo replied with a smile.
Then he turned. The relative ghosts had almost surrounded him, eager to bite straight into him.
This time, Jiang Nuo didn't use any talismans.
A smile that didn't reach his eyes touched his handsome face. He formed a strange spell seal with his fingers and silently chanted for a few seconds.
"Ghosts kill ghosts."
Those final three words rang out with perfect clarity.
"Hah!"
All the relative ghosts poised to charge suddenly froze, then abruptly turned and began attacking one another with vicious, malicious moves.
His eyes sharp and cold, he looked across the crowd of ghosts at the little ghost girl lying on a roof beam, watching the battle.
"Little piece of trash."
Jiang Nuo's thin lips parted, their corners curling mockingly.
The little ghost girl, who heard him perfectly clearly: ???
I'm so pissed!
I'll slaughter you!
She shrieked for her younger brother and swooped down from the roof beam.
Jiang Nuo caught the little ghost girl effortlessly, holding one leg as though flying a kite and letting her sway in the air.
His teasing gaze fixed on the little ghost boy and Master Li, who rushed out at the same time.
"Finally willing to come out?"
"This sin began with you. It should end with you too."
Master Li no longer showed the fear he had felt toward him that afternoon. He was frighteningly full of venom.
"Nonsense, all nonsense! I only wanted wealth and prosperity for the Li family! What did I do wrong?!"
Jiang Nuo's voice was colder still. "So you dug up the siblings' graves, kept them from reincarnating, and trapped them in the manor to serve as yin feng shui?"