Ch 186: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan immediately pulled out a single-compartment backpack and retrieved an exorcism talisman, throwing it at the ghostly woman.

The ghost shrieked, “Ah! What is this?!”

Everyone watched as the ghost was struck by the talisman, stumbling backward several steps before suddenly vanishing.

Shen Yunxuan quickly gathered the team. “Everyone, come here and take a few talismans. These are protective talismans, these are exorcism talismans, and these are thunderstrike talismans. Stick the protective talisman onto yourself, throw the exorcism talisman at ghosts, and the thunderstrike talisman is for attacking.”

The team, still tense and somewhat stunned, took the talismans. Gao Lang, holding a protective talisman, was deathly pale. “H-h-how do I stick it on?”

Shen Yunxuan slapped a protective talisman onto herself. It flashed briefly before disappearing. “Just like this, slap it on!”

Everyone immediately followed suit, slapping the protective talismans onto their bodies.

The ghost in the red wedding dress reappeared, but this time, an elderly woman materialized beside her, her sharp features contorted in rage. “Who are you people? How dare you trespass into my estate and even harm my daughter?! Did Xiao Zhen’an send you?!”

The ghost in the red wedding dress shook her head, sobbing as blood tears streamed down her face. “No… it can’t be Xiao Lang… Mother, it can’t be…”

Shen Yunxuan sensed the drama unfolding and immediately asked, “What? Are you afraid of Xiao Zhen’an? Afraid he’ll obliterate your souls?”

The old woman’s fury erupted like a storm, her hair standing on end. “Xiao Zhen’an is a heartless wretch! Why would I fear him? If he appeared before me, I would tear him to shreds and feed his soul to wandering ghosts, ensuring he never reincarnates!”

Shen Yunxuan seized the moment. “Then we are on the same side. We also have a score to settle with Xiao Zhen’an. Why don’t we join forces and plot our revenge together?”

The others stood close to Shen Yunxuan, holding their breath, too afraid to even blink. They couldn’t believe she was casually chatting with ghosts, let alone suggesting an alliance. It was terrifying.

Still, they remembered their duty. They surrounded Shen Yunxuan, standing firm, ready to shield her with thunderstrike talismans if the ghosts made a move.

The old woman and the ghost bride were momentarily stunned, staring at Shen Yunxuan in disbelief. “You also have a grudge against Xiao Zhen’an? What grudge?”

Shen Yunxuan put on an expression of deep sorrow mixed with hatred. “He harmed my sister! But first, tell me—what is your relationship with Xiao Zhen’an?” She pointed at the ghost bride. “Why are you wearing a wedding dress? Were you going to marry Xiao Zhen’an? Impossible! He already has a wife!”

The old woman’s rage reignited. “What did you say?! Xiao Zhen’an is married?!”

She turned and grabbed the ghost bride. “Did you hear that?! And you still want to defend him?! He didn’t kill us by accident—it was deliberate! I told you he was a smooth talker and unreliable, but you let yourself be fooled!”

The ghost bride wept. “How could this be? Why would Xiao Lang deceive me? He told me his family had suffered a tragedy, that he was the only survivor, that he had been robbed of his travel money and was struggling to reach the capital to take the imperial exam. I pitied his plight and helped him in every way I could. I… I didn’t know he had a wife!

Mother, didn’t you send people to investigate his background before we arranged the marriage? Didn’t they confirm his story was true?”

The old woman recalled that she had indeed sent people to investigate Xiao Zhen’an before the engagement. Suspicion flickered in her eyes as she turned to Shen Yunxuan, who looked furious.

“He told my sister the exact same story! My poor sister was fooled by his lies and gave him a lot of money for his travels. But he was insatiable—he colluded with bandits to raid my home, personally killing my sister. Then he mocked her for being foolish, boasting that he already had a wife and children hidden safely away. All the money he swindled went to them.

If I hadn’t been away at the time, I wouldn’t have escaped either. I’ve spent so much effort tracking him down, only to find that he isn’t here? Where is he? Tell me!”

The old woman and the ghost bride had originally been questioning Shen Yunxuan, but somehow, the roles had reversed, and now they were the ones being interrogated. They didn’t even notice the shift, too shocked by what she had revealed.

“Your sister… was just another one of his victims?”

“He has a wife and children hidden away?”

“Who are they? Where did he hide them? Why did he do this to me?!” The ghost bride’s fury exploded, her eyes turning a deep blood red.

Shen Yunxuan wasn’t surprised. A woman in love might cling to the belief that a man had his reasons for betraying her, but if she discovered that he already had a wife and children, multiple mistresses, and that he used her money to support them—her fury would be boundless.

Shen Yunxuan spoke in a grave tone. “I don’t know where his wife and children are, but we can work together. Whoever finds them first must inform the other so we can take revenge together. Xiao Zhen’an won’t escape, and his family, living off my household’s wealth, won’t either!

Now, can you tell me your story?”

The old woman’s face shifted from sharp resentment to deep sorrow as she began to recount their tale.

It turned out that in this world, demons and ghosts were common, but there were also many exorcists who maintained order. As long as ordinary people stayed within the cities and avoided venturing into remote areas, they were generally safe.

This place was once a general’s manor, home to generations of military commanders who rendered great service to the court. However, they were not blessed by the heavens—every male member of the family perished on the battlefield, while many of the women either succumbed to despair, took their own lives in grief, or became nuns. The children did not fare well either—some died from falling off horses, others drowned. In the end, only the mother and daughter remained.

Rumors spread that their family had committed too many killings, bringing upon themselves divine punishment, and that their lineage was doomed to end. Though enraged, the mother and daughter had no one left to uphold the family’s honor and could not argue with the outside world. They could only shut their doors and live in seclusion, planning to bring in a son-in-law to continue the family line.

Coincidentally, the imperial exams were approaching, and the ghost bride, Qin Wenshu, went to a temple in the countryside to offer incense. At the foot of the mountain, she found Xiao Zhen’an unconscious and rescued him. Learning of his family’s misfortunes, she sympathized with him and provided him with silver to rent a small house where he could study in peace.

Afterward, Xiao Zhen’an sent her letters through the servants, expressing his gratitude. Over time, he began sending small gifts along with his letters, and eventually, feelings developed between them.

Madam Li, the old matriarch, only discovered this when it was too late. Qin Wenshu refused to marry anyone else. Left with no choice, Madam Li sent people to investigate Xiao Zhen’an’s background, but the distance was too great to uncover much. All they learned was that Xiao Zhen’an had been known for his intelligence in his hometown, but his entire family had later moved away.

This seemed to align with Xiao Zhen’an’s story of preparing for the imperial exams while his family met with misfortune. Moreover, he was courteous and well-mannered. Madam Li had met him twice and found him to be polite and filial. She agreed that once he ranked in the imperial exams, they would arrange their marriage.

Although she had publicly declared that he would marry into their family, she had privately discussed with Qin Wenshu that if Xiao Zhen’an became an official, it might be inappropriate for him to marry into her family. In that case, Qin Wenshu could marry into his.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhen’an achieved the highest rank in the exams—he became the top scholar. Before they could even celebrate, news arrived that Grand Preceptor Peng had chosen him as a son-in-law, offering his beloved daughter’s hand in marriage. Xiao Zhen’an was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he sought an official matchmaker and sent extravagant betrothal gifts to propose, completely casting Qin Wenshu aside!

Madam Li was furious and naturally demanded justice. But Xiao Zhen’an coldly threatened her, saying that they were just two helpless widows, barely holding onto their last remaining bloodline—did they dare oppose Grand Preceptor Peng?

Madam Li was the matriarch of a general’s household—when had she ever swallowed her pride and played the coward? They had already been humiliated beyond belief. If they didn’t stand up for themselves now, what meaning was left in living?

Determined, Madam Li planned to go directly to Grand Preceptor Peng and expose Xiao Zhen’an’s true nature.

Upon learning of this, Xiao Zhen’an sneaked into their manor in the dead of night, crushed Madam Li’s skull with a flower vase, and wrote the words “Divine Punishment” on the wall using chicken blood. Qin Wenshu, devastated and lost, was then approached by Xiao Zhen’an, who feigned remorse, claiming he had been forced by Grand Preceptor Peng. He lamented that fate had been cruel to them and promised that in their next life, he would marry her.

Having lost her entire family and believing that Grand Preceptor Peng had forcibly torn them apart, Qin Wenshu fell into utter despair. Wearing the red wedding dress she had sewn over several months, she swallowed gold and ended her life.

The servants looted the general’s manor and fled, leaving the place abandoned. Later, Xiao Zhen’an returned with people to perform rituals, claiming he was there to appease the spirits of the deceased. In front of outsiders, he wept with sincere grief, saying that the mother and daughter had shown him great kindness, yet he had been unable to repay them before tragedy struck.

The world, unaware of the truth, praised him for being sentimental and loyal. Madam Li, seething with fury, wanted to rush forward and tear him apart, only to realize that she couldn’t even get close to him. Since then, the mother and daughter had been trapped within the manor, unable to take a single step outside.

Madam Li firmly believed that Xiao Zhen’an had deliberately used rituals to bind their souls, but Qin Wenshu was reluctant to believe it. She insisted that Xiao Zhen’an had wept bitterly during the funeral, and perhaps he had been deceived and hadn’t known the ritual would harm them. After all, he wasn’t knowledgeable about such matters—maybe it was Grand Preceptor Peng’s daughter who had set it up.

After hearing the story, Shen Yunxuan and her team had the same thought: people blinded by love truly had the strangest logic. Even after all this, Qin Wenshu was still making excuses for that scumbag. They would bet anything that the looting of the general’s manor had been orchestrated by Xiao Zhen’an—otherwise, why would the servants have dared to steal everything without fear of legal repercussions?

Yet, on her face, Shen Yunxuan wore an expression of righteous fury. “This bastard’s crimes are beyond forgiveness! If he has truly become Grand Preceptor Peng’s son-in-law, he must now be living in luxury, holding a beautiful wife in one arm while secretly keeping his first wife and eldest son hidden away, enjoying the pleasures of both worlds. He must be killed!”

Qin Wenshu’s long hair billowed in rage. “Kill him! Kill him! I will flay him alive, tear his soul apart bit by bit!”

Gao Lang stood beside Shen Yunxuan, trembling as he forced himself not to shiver. Had this ghost woman really just asked him to be her husband earlier? Too terrifying—absolutely horrifying!

Madam Li, equally furious, declared, “Since you know he’s in the Grand Preceptor’s estate, go find him! If you avenge us, I will give you everything I hid in the underground chamber!”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes flickered with interest. As expected, a grand general’s manor with generations of military service couldn’t have just the few visible possessions left in the open. She sighed dramatically, “Even if you hadn’t said anything, I would have gone after him. He killed my sister. My parents, unable to bear the grief, passed away soon after. I will not let him live in peace.

But I have traveled a long way and do not understand the situation here. I just heard you mention that he has powerful Taoist priests by his side? And Grand Preceptor Peng is supporting him—how can I possibly deal with that? Do you have any way to help me increase my chances?”

Madam Li suddenly realized that even their grand general’s manor had been destroyed by Xiao Zhen’an—what could a young girl with a group of strange-looking people possibly accomplish? Their hair was so short—could they all be monks?

She asked in confusion, “What exactly do you do? How is it that only you escaped from your family? And how did you use that talisman to harm my daughter just now?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “I have wanted to become a Taoist since I was a child, but I never had the opportunity to find a good master. When I finally grew up and was able to travel, I sought out famous Taoists, hoping one of them would take me as a disciple. Just as one of them praised me for my exceptional talent and was about to accept me, I received news that my entire family had met with disaster.

How could I still have the heart to seek a master? After settling my family affairs, I immediately set out to track down Xiao Zhen’an.

Alas, I am not yet a true Taoist—I am self-taught and only know how to draw talismans and set up simple formations. Originally, I thought I could find Xiao Zhen’an, kill him on the spot, and then seek out a master to learn properly. But now I hear that he has already risen to high status and has powerful Taoists protecting him. What should I do now?”

Elder Xu and the others looked at Shen Yunxuan. The story was so well-crafted that even they almost believed it—they were tempted to storm in and eliminate Xiao Zhen’an immediately!

It was a good thing Shen Yunxuan was an orphan—otherwise, who knew how many times her entire family would have “died” in her stories? The thirty new soldiers who had joined the mission finally understood why, before their departure, Elder Xu and Elder Chen had instructed them to follow Shen Yunxuan’s lead in everything.

They had been puzzled—weren’t Elder Xu and Elder Chen the director and deputy director? Why were they following Shen Yunxuan’s lead? Now they understood—she was the fastest to react.

How long had it been since they arrived? They hadn’t even moved from their spot, and she had already gathered so much information. The most unbelievable part was that Shen Yunxuan could actually draw talismans and was calmly negotiating with ghosts—there was no way not to be impressed.

Madam Li and Qin Wenshu exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of pity for Shen Yunxuan’s fate. If she could harm Qin Wenshu with her self-taught talismans, and if they could already feel a slight threat from the protective talismans her companions carried—though not enough to make them fearful, it was enough to wound them if they attacked—then Shen Yunxuan’s talent was indeed extraordinary.

Madam Li hesitated, but Qin Wenshu eagerly floated forward and said, “I cannot help you find a master, but I can give you the Taoist manuscripts from my home to assist in your cultivation. As long as you succeed in your training and avenge us, all those manuscripts are yours! And…”

Madam Li hurriedly pulled her back. “Wenshu!”

Shen Yunxuan quickly waved her hands. “I cannot accept that! I have done nothing to earn such a gift. We are strangers, and you don’t even know whether I am good or bad—how could you just give me something so valuable? I cannot accept it. I believe in karmic justice—I will find a way to take revenge. Even if I fail, Xiao Zhen’an will surely face his own downfall!”

She tucked away her talismans, clasped her hands together in a respectful bow, and said, “I apologize for disturbing your peace. We will take our leave. I still need to investigate Xiao Zhen’an’s current status. Thank you both for informing us about Grand Preceptor Peng’s selection of a son-in-law. Otherwise, as newcomers, we would have had no idea where to begin. Thank you!”

Shen Yunxuan nodded toward her team, signaling them to follow her as she turned to leave.

Qin Wenshu immediately floated in front of them to block their path. Gao Lang froze mid-step, lowering his gaze as he stood stiffly beside Shen Yunxuan, trying his best not to think about the ghostly woman in front of him.

Qin Wenshu said urgently, “You have come from far away—how will you oppose Grand Preceptor Peng? The fastest way is to use magic to eliminate Xiao Zhen’an! When we pledged our love, we cut a strand of our hair and placed it in a sachet—his hair is still with me.

If you learn the proper spell, you can kill him using his hair, right?”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes lit up. “Really? You have his hair? That’s fantastic! I will immediately find someone who can teach me a spell to use it against him.”

Qin Wenshu shook her head. “You’re too naive—who would teach you such things? If you wait until you find a master, who knows how long that will take? The fastest way is to search through the Taoist manuscripts in my home. There are so many—there must be something useful in them!”

She then turned to Madam Li and said, “Mother, this time, listen to me. Look at this young lady—does she seem like a bad person? She, like us, was harmed by Xiao Zhen’an. Her sister suffered the same fate as I did. Xiao Zhen’an is our common enemy.

We should work together against him, not let our suspicions prevent us from seizing the chance for revenge. We are already dead—what use are those manuscripts anymore? Do you want to remain trapped in this manor forever? What if Xiao Zhen’an arranges another ritual someday? We might be completely obliterated then.

I am willing to take the risk. If this turns out to be another deception, I will accept my fate, even if it means my soul is destroyed.”

Madam Li sighed deeply as she looked at her daughter. She had spoiled Wenshu too much, indulging her to the point of naivety. However, her daughter had a point—those manuscripts were of no use to them anymore, and they had been powerless to act for so long. Anyone could come along and obliterate them at any moment.

They finally had someone claiming to seek revenge against Xiao Zhen’an—why not take a gamble? If they lost, all they would lose were some unused items, but if they won, their long-standing grievance would be avenged.

Madam Li floated to Shen Yunxuan and said, “We will have a much better chance of success if we work together. Don’t waste time on futile efforts—follow me.”

Shen Yunxuan hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded and followed behind her.

Gao Lang stiffened even more. Not only were they not leaving, but now they were venturing deeper into this haunted mansion! When would they ever get out? He desperately wished for daylight to arrive!

Meanwhile, Elder Xu and the others were inwardly excited—Shen Yunxuan had masterfully used a strategy of retreating to advance! She had made Qin Wenshu anxious in an instant! With Qin Wenshu now standing on their side, could Madam Li really hold her ground? This was a blatant, open scheme—even if Madam Li saw through Shen Yunxuan’s intentions, she had no other option.

And even if Shen Yunxuan’s actions were a carefully orchestrated series of maneuvers, Madam Li might not be able to fully comprehend them.

This time, Shen Yunxuan’s team was well-prepared. Seeing that this was an ancient setting, they used lanterns instead of recklessly pulling out flashlights. They followed behind Madam Li, who led them to a rock garden in the courtyard. With a wave of her hand, a small stone on the ground struck a specific spot on the rock formation, causing it to rumble and shift, revealing a hidden entrance just large enough for a person to pass through.

Dong Yue raised her lantern and shone it inside, revealing a staircase leading underground. She stepped forward and descended first.

As one of Shen Yunxuan’s right-hand protectors, Gao Lang was the strongest after her. At this moment, no matter how terrified he was, retreating was not an option. But looking down at the pitch-black underground passage, with the two ghostly women floating nearby, he swallowed hard, forced his legs to move, and followed behind as the vanguard—though his legs felt like jelly.

Shen Yunxuan found it amusing. She hadn’t expected this world to truly be one of ghosts and supernatural beings. There was nothing she could do about it—she could use talismans to protect Gao Lang, but she couldn’t stop him from fearing ghosts. Hopefully, after experiencing more of this, he would gradually adapt.

As they entered the tunnel, Dong Yue and Gao Lang lit the torches on the walls, finally bringing brightness to the space, allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

To be honest, as people raised under the red flag, firm believers in science, suddenly encountering ghosts in complete darkness was terrifying. Instinctively, they all held their breath. Now that the space was illuminated, their nerves eased a little. No one spoke, acting as Shen Yunxuan’s attendants, letting her take the lead.

The underground passage had no apparent traps. Madam Li floated ahead, and as she reached the neatly arranged chests lining the tunnel walls, her expression gradually turned sorrowful.

Shen Yunxuan asked with concern, “Madam, are you all right?”

Madam Li shook her head. “I am fine—just filled with emotions. My Qin family served the court loyally for generations, dedicating our lives to the battlefield, yet in the end, we met such a tragic fate. Our grand general’s estate has become nothing more than a haunted house. Once praised for our loyalty, we are now treated like a plague—people avoid us as though we are cursed.

And all of this is because of Xiao Zhen’an! I will never let him die in peace!”

Madam Li then introduced, “The Qin family lived here for three generations. There is a fork in this underground passage—one path leads discreetly to a simple courtyard within the city, while the other, more obvious path leads outside the city. It was built as a contingency plan for family members to escape in times of crisis.

The items stored here were meant to be taken in such an event. Some of the most valuable and rare things are hidden here. Over three generations, the generals of our family fought on the battlefield, gathering many treasures that were never reported—everything is here. The Taoist manuscripts Wenshu mentioned are also among them. Look…”

Madam Li hesitated before saying, “All of this is yours. Consider it payment from me and my daughter. I only ask one thing—avenge us!”

Shen Yunxuan’s expression grew solemn. “Rest assured, we have a deal!”

Elder Xu and Elder Chen exchanged a glance, hesitant to let Shen Yunxuan make a promise to ghosts. However, they were afraid of ruining her plan, so they held back their concerns.

Shen Yunxuan opened the chests to inspect their contents. Two of them contained gold, silver, and jewelry, all neatly packed in bundles for easy transport. She took one glance and closed the chest, uninterested. Seeing this, Madam Li and Qin Wenshu felt reassured—Shen Yunxuan was truly here for revenge, not wealth.

Next, Shen Yunxuan opened another chest and found several military strategy books!

This was a manor that had housed three generations of generals. Any military tactics hidden here must have been of the highest caliber, perhaps even lost to history. This was an incredible find!

As she set the books aside, she discovered golden silk armor, known for being impenetrable, along with a yellow imperial robe and an imperial pardon plaque. These items demonstrated the high regard the Qin family once held in the emperor’s court. And yet, despite all of this, they had still fallen. Once the tide turned, they were abandoned, leaving Madam Li and Qin Wenshu to be easily destroyed by a scoundrel like Xiao Zhen’an.

Another chest contained the Taoist manuscripts—there were over a dozen volumes, each written by Taoist masters from different dynasties. These must have been lost to time. The Qin family had recognized their value but had no one to study them, so they had simply stored them away in the hidden chamber.

Alongside the manuscripts, there were numerous odd and unknown objects. While the others could not recognize them, Shen Yunxuan knew—they were magical artifacts. And she was in dire need of them.

She had known that a manor of this stature would certainly have a hidden place for storing valuable items. When she first heard Madam Li mention that this was a general’s estate, her first thought was that there had to be treasures hidden here. In the world of “Imperial Consort Shen Yunxuan,” her ancestors, who were generals, had also left behind many valuable items.

That was why she aligned herself with the two ghosts, putting on an act of seeking revenge so that they had no choice but to rely on her. This, in turn, made them willingly hand over their hidden treasures.

With only a single day to complete their mission in this world, the fastest way to obtain resources was to find and collect them from the general’s estate. It seemed that while a Level 3 world was dangerous, as long as they handled situations properly, there were still opportunities to gather supplies—just like in the martial arts world, where they had arrived during a grand martial arts tournament, ensuring the presence of many skilled fighters. If they had instead been transported to a vast desert and spent the entire day walking without encountering a single person, the journey would have been completely wasted.

Thus, the system was still quite fair—opportunities and dangers coexisted. If the dangers were not managed well, they could lose their lives, but if handled properly, they could reap great rewards. It was also a matter of observation—if they had simply walked away, they would never have discovered the hidden supplies in the underground chamber.

At this point, they had only been in this world for half an hour.

Even Gao Lang had forgotten his fear, his eyes fixed excitedly on the chests filled with treasures. They had obtained such valuable resources so quickly—this was incredible!

Shen Yunxuan instructed the team to move the items upstairs and then asked, “Is there a suitable room where we can stay for a while? I want to study the manuscripts as soon as possible to see if there are any spells that can help us take revenge. My companions can rest in the meantime.”

Her casual phrase—”help us take revenge”—instantly made Qin Wenshu feel closer to her. Qin Wenshu immediately said, “Yes! Ever since this place became haunted, no one has dared to come here. Over the past three years, it has become completely abandoned. However, my mother and I sometimes clean the main hall when we have nothing to do. Mother says that it is the face of the general’s estate, so it must always be kept spotless.

You can rest in the main hall. There is also a flower hall on the side, so there should be enough space for everyone.”

At this moment, Qin Wenshu also became curious. “Why did you bring so many people?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “Some are my family’s guards, and some are people I saved along the way. I want to become a Taoist. I believe in karma—that good and evil will be repaid. I also believe that acts of kindness will bring blessings. So I always remember to do good deeds and help others. Over time, more and more people gathered around me.”

Madam Li sneered. “Acts of kindness? I say good people don’t live long, while the wicked live for a thousand years!”

Qin Wenshu murmured, “My mother and I did many good deeds in our lifetime. We set up porridge stations, donated clothes and medicine, and provided charity funds to orphanages. Even when we encountered beggars, we would always give them silver. But in the end, our entire family was wiped out. Where was our so-called reward? Your family suffered the same fate. Tell me, isn’t it only the heartless people like Xiao Zhen’an who manage to survive?”

Shen Yunxuan noticed a dark shadow appearing between Qin Wenshu’s brows and immediately interrupted, “The underworld has judges and King Yama to pass judgment on him. The good deeds you did are recorded in the Book of Merits. When you are reincarnated, you will surely be born into a wealthy family and enjoy a prosperous life. Xiao Zhen’an, on the other hand, is different—he will likely suffer endless torment in the eighteen layers of hell.”

Madam Li and Qin Wenshu were momentarily stunned. Ever since their deaths, they had not encountered anyone who spoke so firmly about the certainty of karmic justice. Their expressions turned dazed, and after a moment, Madam Li hesitantly asked, “Then what about my husband and the other generals…? They fought for the country, killed so many people, but also protected the court and the common people. Is that considered merit or sin?

Outside, so many people say that our family shed too much blood and that we deserved to be wiped out. I… I…”

Madam Li covered her face and sobbed uncontrollably.

For three generations, the general’s estate had sent eighteen men to the battlefield, all of whom perished in war. They had died for their country—how could anyone say such things about them?

Among the team, aside from a few experts, everyone else was a soldier. They deeply understood this feeling. They, too, were willing to sacrifice their lives to defend their homeland, but if, after their deaths, their honor was tarnished, and their families suffered, it would be a grave injustice.

The entire group’s mood grew heavy. Even Xu Wenyu’s eyes turned red.

Gao Lang, who had been the most terrified of ghosts, suddenly didn’t find them scary at all. Instead, he thought that the people who mocked and disrespected heroes were the truly frightening ones.

At that moment, they heard Shen Yunxuan’s firm voice say, “Defending the country is the greatest merit of all. Even if their descendants do not thrive in this life, they will be reborn into noble families in their next. Xiao Zhen’an harbors such malice against you, yet he has not been able to destroy your souls—who can say that this is not the protection of merit?

The cycle of reincarnation is inherently fair and just. If it weren’t, the world would have long since fallen into chaos. Believe me, accumulating virtue brings blessings. You have now met me, and you once again have hope for revenge—isn’t that a sign of good fortune?”

Madam Li and Qin Wenshu straightened up. “You’re right! We have hope for revenge now! That bastard Xiao Zhen’an won’t meet a good end!”

Seeing the dark aura fade from their brows, Shen Yunxuan finally felt relieved. She sat down and began to flip through the Taoist manuscripts. These two had suffered a tragic fate for so long but had not turned into vengeful spirits because they still had goodness in their hearts. That was why Shen Yunxuan had dared to fabricate a story and align herself with them—she had seen the golden light of merit surrounding them.

During their lifetimes, they had performed many good deeds, which had shielded them from malicious attacks—otherwise, they might not have lasted this long. Shen Yunxuan believed their words were true, and when she said she would help them, she meant it. At the very least, in this matter, they were both experiencing the principle of good begetting good.

With her enhanced intelligence, she might not have photographic memory, but after reading something three times, she could fully memorize it. As she quickly flipped through the Taoist manuscripts, each page of text imprinted itself into her mind like an image, forming an instant memory. This allowed her to read extremely fast while also comprehending the content with ease.

This was the first time, after increasing her intelligence, that she had read a book in front of everyone. The others were completely stunned by her reading speed. Then, Shen Yunxuan closed her eyes and began meditating—not to cultivate the techniques from the manuscripts, as those would be too slow, but to practice the faith cultivation method from the “Cultivator Shen Yunxuan” memories.

Everyone around her, including the special forces soldiers, Elder Xu, and Elder Chen, had unwavering faith in her. This was her source of faith power, which she could directly refine into spiritual energy. With just a little time to refine it, she would be able to freely use many of the abilities stored in her memory!

Seeing how quickly she had started cultivating, Madam Li and Qin Wenshu believed in her even more. She must have an extraordinary talent in this field to comprehend everything so quickly! They had placed their trust in the right person—revenge was now within their reach!

The mother and daughter stood together, eagerly watching Shen Yunxuan. Once their revenge was complete, would she be able to lift the seal on the estate? Would they finally be free from this place?

Shen Yunxuan remained motionless in meditation for three hours. The others, unaware that she had cultivation techniques stored in her memory, grew slightly concerned. She had only skimmed through the books before immediately beginning her training, and now, after such a long time without moving, they weren’t sure whether they should interrupt her.

Finally, just as dawn began to break, Shen Yunxuan ended her meditation and opened her eyes. A sharp gleam flickered through them, her five senses had significantly heightened, and her entire presence had transformed—ethereal and otherworldly.

In this realm, she was now a true Celestial Master with spiritual power!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆