Ch 187: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Shen Yunxuan, now possessing spiritual cultivation, immediately noticed the restrictions placed on Madam Li and Qin Wenshu, as well as the formation enveloping the General’s Manor.

With daylight breaking, Shen Yunxuan stepped into the courtyard, looked up at the sky, then examined several locations before making a calculation. She walked over to a large tree. “Was this the place where Xiao Zhen’an had someone perform the ritual?”

Qin Wenshu was startled. “Yes! How did you know?”

Shen Yunxuan replied, “The formation that seals the General’s Manor was set up here. This is the formation’s core.”

Qin Wenshu clenched her fists, suppressing the grief and anger in her heart. “So he really did set up a formation. What kind of formation is it? Is it harming us?”

Shen Yunxuan glanced at her with sympathy. “It’s an Annihilation Formation, meaning that any soul trapped within it will gradually be erased over time. This type of formation is usually used against powerful vengeful spirits to prevent them from returning for revenge. The only reason you two have survived this long is because of the karmic merit you accumulated through your good deeds—it has been shielding you from the formation’s deadly effects. However, after three years, much of your merit has been consumed.”

Madam Li suddenly realized something. “No wonder I felt a burning sensation in the beginning, but then it quickly disappeared. So doing good deeds really does bring divine protection.” Her tone then turned somber. “But alas, karma isn’t endless. Once all our accumulated merit is depleted, we’ll just fade away, won’t we?”

She held Qin Wenshu’s hand, her face full of sorrow. “It was my failure to see through Xiao Zhen’an’s treacherous nature that brought you to this fate.”

Qin Wenshu quickly shook her head. “No, Mother, it wasn’t your fault. I was the one who was blind and foolish to trust him. Now, all I hope for is to see his downfall before we disappear.”

The mother and daughter looked utterly hopeless.

Shen Yunxuan stepped forward, smiling. “I’m not telling you about this formation to announce your doom—I’m telling you because I can break it.”

“…What?”

The two of them took a moment to process what she meant before their eyes widened in disbelief. “You… you can break the formation? You can save us?”

They exchanged glances, still struggling to believe it. “Are you saying… we won’t have to fade away?”

“Of course!” Shen Yunxuan pulled several items from her backpack—incense, an incense burner, a money sword, a compass, and other ritual tools. Then, she had someone bring over a table, set up the incense burner, and said, “I will perform the ritual now. Pay close attention—you should feel a sense of release, as if a binding on you has been lifted.”

She adopted a solemn expression, held up three sticks of incense, and waved them slightly. The incense instantly ignited! Holding them before her, she bowed to the four cardinal directions before placing them into the burner. She then picked up the money sword and executed a swift series of sword techniques, murmuring an incantation under her breath—though no one could hear exactly what she was saying, not even Madam Li and Qin Wenshu.

The mother and daughter remembered how Xiao Zhen’an’s so-called Celestial Master Taoist had performed a similar ritual that day, and their anticipation grew.

Meanwhile, the others were stunned. Had Shen Yunxuan truly become a Celestial Master after just three hours of meditation? How was that even possible? Did she simply cultivate her abilities like she had with internal energy? This was ridiculously fast! They could only attribute it to her exceptional intelligence and physical aptitude, which must have allowed her to master cultivation at an accelerated rate.

Her speed of advancement was downright genius—on par with those protagonists in martial arts dramas who mastered supreme techniques in just a few moves. But then again, if TV protagonists could do it, why couldn’t Shen Yunxuan? It made sense—after all, the system wouldn’t have chosen just anyone to bind with.

Suddenly, Shen Yunxuan flicked a few talismans into the air, and as she thrust her money sword through them, the talismans spontaneously combusted. She then flicked the burning talismans with her fingers into a bowl of wine on the table. The flames flared dramatically, and at the same moment, explosions erupted from beneath the large tree and from four corners of the estate.

The explosions weren’t particularly loud, more like firecrackers, but they still startled everyone. Madam Li and Qin Wenshu both shuddered.

Shen Yunxuan calmly sheathed her money sword and smiled. “It’s done.”

The group was momentarily stunned before turning their attention to the base of the large tree. A small crater had formed where something had been buried, and in its center lay a shattered piece of wood. The special forces soldiers quickly spread out to check the four corners of the estate and reported back that each site had been similarly damaged, with remnants of broken wood scattered around.

Shen Yunxuan explained, “These were coffin planks saturated with malevolent energy and resentment. Using such materials in a formation makes it extremely lethal—even newly formed vengeful spirits wouldn’t have survived in it. Now that I’ve dismantled the formation and destroyed the materials with a yang-based explosion technique, the oppressive aura in the General’s Manor has completely dissipated.”

Qin Wenshu focused on her surroundings and suddenly gasped with joy. “Mother! The restriction is gone—I can feel it! We’re free!”

Madam Li was stunned as she took in the familiar yet changed surroundings. The once-menacing General’s Manor finally felt like home again. “Yes… yes, it’s true. This place is no longer shrouded in darkness.”

Her eyes filled with emotion as she gazed at the estate she had spent her entire life in. From the moment she married into the General’s family as a young bride, to managing the household, raising her children, and overseeing the family’s affairs—every defining moment of her life had taken place here.

After being trapped here after death, she had felt indignant and furious. But now that her connection to this place was severed, she suddenly felt a sense of loss. She was dead—this place was no longer her home. From this moment on, she truly had nothing to do with it anymore.

Qin Wenshu didn’t understand such complex emotions. She only felt that now that they were free, they could finally seek revenge against Xiao Zhen’an. She grabbed Madam Li and floated away, filled with boundless hatred. “Mother, let’s go kill Xiao Zhen’an together!”

Shen Yunxuan hurriedly called out, “Wait, if you go like this, you might be in danger!”

Xu Wenyu also shouted, “Don’t be reckless! Didn’t you say he has a powerful master by his side?”

But the mother and daughter were too consumed by their thirst for vengeance. Before they could finish speaking, the ghosts had already vanished. Everyone exchanged glances. “What now?”

Shen Yunxuan sighed. “Forget it. They’ve been trapped for three years, their hatred festering all this time. We can’t fully understand how desperately they want revenge. Their accumulated merits will still protect them for now, so they won’t be immediately destroyed. However, they might get injured. We’ll wait for them to come back.”

Elder Xu asked curiously, “Wait for them to return? I’ve been meaning to ask—why did you agree to help them take revenge in the first place?”

Shen Yunxuan didn’t have such deep personal hatred herself, but in her memories of “Cultivator Shen Yunxuan,” she did. That past self had spent more than a decade painstakingly avenging her grievances, and she too had once been imprisoned, unable to gain freedom. Because of that, she could somewhat empathize with Madam Li and Qin Wenshu’s pain. If she had the ability, she was willing to help them. Besides, this way, she had a justified reason to exchange for their treasures.

Of course, Shen Yunxuan had planned this well. She knew she could cultivate and use that strand of hair for revenge. Even if they couldn’t find Xiao Zhen’an within a day, it wouldn’t be a problem. However, that wasn’t something she could openly say. Instead, she explained, “One day is too short. None of us here have effective means to deal with ghosts, and we could easily lose our lives. Making a deal with Madam Li and Qin Wenshu is the safest approach—at the very least, we secured the treasures of the General’s Manor.”

Elder Xu nodded. “It was a necessary trade-off. But now that they’ve left, we don’t know when they’ll return. If we just wait here, we’re giving up opportunities outside.”

This was indeed a problem. They had trained in internal energy and lightness skills, but they didn’t know how to exorcise ghosts. Their firearms were useless against spirits, rendering their combat abilities ineffective in this situation.

Since this was an ancient setting, casually trading for goods outside wouldn’t yield anything particularly valuable. If they wanted items related to exorcism, spirits, or Celestial Masters, they would have to interact with those kinds of people, which was extremely risky. It felt like they were trapped in the General’s Manor, hesitant to venture outside.

Shen Yunxuan suggested, “I can go out and scout the situation. I’ve already cultivated my abilities. A Celestial Master walking in the streets should be safe. I won’t go to remote areas—I’ll just see if I can exchange for anything useful.”

“No!”

“Absolutely not!”

“That’s too dangerous!”

The group immediately voiced their objections. She was their priority to protect—no matter what, they couldn’t let her go out alone. Even if they couldn’t fight supernatural creatures, they had to stay by her side. If something happened, they would at least serve as shields. This wasn’t about being overconfident or dragging her down—it was about the immense importance of her special abilities. No one could afford to take that risk.

Shen Yunxuan calculated for a moment and said, “They’ll be back in less than half an hour. Let’s just wait here. I’ll use this time to read—I’ll learn as much as I can.”

Everyone agreed. Securing more resources was secondary; Shen Yunxuan’s safety was the top priority.

She returned to the main hall and pulled out the Celestial Masters’ manuals to study. Earlier, she had read them quickly and memorized their general content, but true learning required deeper understanding and comprehension of the principles. Besides, any knowledge she gained here would be converted into dimensional points for her—a win-win situation.

The others didn’t disturb her and dispersed to explore the General’s Manor, hoping to find anything valuable left behind. Some objects that were insignificant here might be considered priceless antiques in the modern world. They couldn’t afford to miss any opportunities.

Only Gao Lang stubbornly stayed behind. “I’ll guard Captain Shen! I’ll follow her orders! We can’t leave her alone, can we? You all go ahead—I’ll stay here.”

Dong Yue chuckled. “You’re just afraid of ghosts and don’t dare to leave her side, aren’t you? We already said the formation has been broken. The General’s Manor is probably the safest place in this dimension now. What are you so scared of?”

Gao Lang stiffened and insisted, “I’m not scared! I’m just here to protect Captain Shen! Now go away and stop distracting her from reading.”

Dong Yue shook her head in amusement and ran off with the others. “Just don’t lose sight of her, and don’t slack off on your duties!”

Everyone knew Gao Lang was genuinely terrified of ghosts, so they didn’t argue with him. They let him stay by Shen Yunxuan’s side.

Shen Yunxuan found his determination amusing and asked, “You’re really staying with me? No regrets?”

Gao Lang shook his head so hard it was like a rattle drum, clutching the talisman she had given him. “No regrets! Not even if I die! No one can make me leave Captain Shen’s side!”

Previously, since Shen Yunxuan was younger, they had all affectionately called her “Xiao Shen.” But ever since she had driven away the ghost with a single confrontation and later cultivated spiritual power to break the formation, everyone started calling her “Captain Shen”—a title that carried genuine respect.

The title was quite fitting—wasn’t she leading them through different dimensions like a true captain?

In reality, after arriving in this realm, Shen Yunxuan had already formed a plan for their journey here. However, there was no point in bringing it up too soon; everything had to proceed step by step. Now that things were unfolding just as she had anticipated, all she needed to do was wait for Madam Li and Qin Wenshu to return.

Calculating their luck, today wasn’t too bad. They might suffer some injuries, but nothing fatal. In fact, they might even gain something from the ordeal. At this moment, Madam Li and Qin Wenshu should have already confronted Xiao Zhen’an.

Indeed, they had found him.

After leaving the General’s Manor, they concealed their presence and headed straight for the residence of Grand Preceptor Peng. However, the residence had been fortified with some sort of supernatural defense that repelled all spirits and creatures. The moment they approached, they were forcefully thrown back. This made them extremely wary. Fortunately, they overheard the servants’ conversation and learned that Xiao Zhen’an was not at home. He had taken his beloved wife and young son on an outing.

The revelation was like a spark to gasoline. While they had suffered unbearable torment, trapped inside the General’s Manor for years, tormented night and day, with the looming threat of complete annihilation, Xiao Zhen’an was out enjoying a peaceful family outing with his wife and child?

Qin Wenshu’s fury ignited instantly. She and Madam Li immediately rushed to the outskirts of the city, where they quickly located Xiao Zhen’an’s family.

There were no other people around. Xiao Zhen’an was happily flying a kite, his wife, Madam Peng, holding their two-year-old son in her arms as she watched with a smile. Two servants sat on a distant carriage, but aside from them, there was no one else.

Watching Xiao Zhen’an dote on his son with that affectionate expression, running back and forth playing with the kite, Qin Wenshu felt as if her heart had been stabbed.

What was that nonsense about being forced into marriage? What about the supposed next-life reunion? Lies. All lies. Every single word. At last, she could see the truth—this man had been lying to her from the very beginning. Even his supposed love for Madam Peng was nothing but a calculated move.

Qin Wenshu revealed herself, transforming into the most terrifying version of herself as she lunged forward. The previously clear sky instantly darkened, an ominous gloom settling over the area.

Her once delicate voice now carried a mournful, piercing wail. “Xiao Lang, why did you do this to me?” Then, her voice sharpened into an unbearable shriek. “Xiao Zhen’an! Do you have any conscience?!”

Xiao Zhen’an’s face turned ashen, his eyes widening in terror. “How are you here?”

Madam Li floated forward with a cold sneer. “Surprised? You locked us in the General’s Manor with that wretched spell, hoping we’d be erased from existence. Unfortunately for you, karma exists. Even the heavens couldn’t bear to watch your treachery any longer, so they set us free to take our revenge!”

Madam Peng turned pale, clutching her child tightly as she staggered backward. “H-husband, what is this? Who are these women?!”

Qin Wenshu suddenly spun toward her, her spectral form now inches away. Her voice dripped with hatred. “Who am I? I was supposed to be his bride! He killed my mother with his own hands, tricked me into taking my own life, then trapped our souls inside the General’s Manor, afraid we would return as vengeful spirits to take our revenge! Your so-called husband is nothing but a venomous serpent, a despicable wretch!”

Madam Peng frowned and shook her head. “That’s impossible. My husband is not that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding. You claim you were once his fiancée? Do you have any proof? Are you truly the daughter of the General’s Manor, Miss Qin?

My husband told me that when he first arrived in the capital, he was in a miserable state. He said the young lady of the General’s Manor took pity on him and wanted to take him as a husband, but he refused. It was only after that he married me. Miss Qin, could you have misunderstood him?”

Qin Wenshu let out a crazed laugh. “You think I was the one who was deluded?” She gestured at her crimson wedding dress. “Do you see this? This is the very dress I painstakingly embroidered by hand, stitch by stitch, after he swore to marry me! We recited poetry together, exchanged vows, and promised that once he passed the imperial exams, we would wed.

What nonsense about me trying to force him into marriage? If he wanted to become an official, how could he be a mere live-in husband? My mother and I had already agreed that I would marry into his household.

There was no misunderstanding. You are the one who has been utterly deceived. Or perhaps you knew all along? Did you help him kill us?”

With her restraints lifted, Qin Wenshu’s powers surged. Her hair extended in an instant, wrapping around Madam Peng and hoisting her high into the air. “Was it you? Speak! Were you part of this?!”

“I didn’t! I didn’t! Let me go!” Madam Peng shrieked in terror, her child wailing in distress. She turned toward Xiao Zhen’an, screaming, “Husband, save me!”

But Xiao Zhen’an had his own problems. Madam Li had just slapped him so hard he crashed into a tree, two of his teeth flying out. His mouth was filled with blood. Terrified, he begged, “Madam, madam, please spare me! I swear, I only wanted to perform a ritual to send you off to reincarnation—I had no idea I was being tricked! It was not my intention to harm you!”

Madam Li let out a cold laugh, sweeping up the gravel from the ground and grinding it against his face. “You are a liar and a fraud! Every word you speak is poison! You relied on your handsome face and honeyed tongue to deceive countless people. Today, I will destroy your face, crush your throat, and make sure you never deceive another soul again! Not even in death!”

As she spoke, she waited until he opened his mouth to plead again—then she shoved an entire handful of coarse gravel straight into his mouth.

Xiao Zhen’an’s eyes bulged in horror. His hands clawed desperately at his throat, tearing at his own flesh, trying to remove the sharp stones embedded in his mouth. Veins protruded from his forehead, his face turning crimson as he struggled against the unbearable pain. It looked as if he might suffocate to death at any moment.

The two servants on the carriage had long been trembling in fear, their pants soaked from fright. However, upon seeing Xiao Zhen’an making hand gestures behind his back, his personal attendant gritted his teeth, grabbed a jade pendant from the carriage’s drawer, and rushed over to throw it to him.

Hearing the commotion, Xiao Zhen’an scrambled up, rolling and crawling to catch the jade pendant. Without hesitation, he charged straight toward Madam Li.

At first, Madam Li didn’t realize what he was doing, but suddenly, she felt an overwhelming sense of danger. A force struck her, sending her flying as she let out a pained cry.

Qin Wenshu turned around in shock. “Mother!” She immediately released Madam Peng and her child, regaining her senses just in time to lash at Xiao Zhen’an with her hair like a whip. However, instead of retreating, Xiao Zhen’an advanced, raising the jade pendant as he ran toward her.

Qin Wenshu’s expression changed drastically. Before she could dodge, she was sent flying backward, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Xiao Zhen’an’s unexpected resistance completely enraged Qin Wenshu. She charged toward him with a furious roar. “I want you dead! I want you dead!”

This time, she didn’t get too close. Instead, she let her hair grow wildly, covering the sky as it lashed toward Xiao Zhen’an and his family. The surrounding trees and stones were swept up by the force of her attack. A massive tree trunk crashed into Xiao Zhen’an’s back, sending him sprawling onto the ground. He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, feeling as though his spine had shattered. For a moment, he was completely unable to move.

Yet, at the same time, Qin Wenshu was also thrown backward, collapsing onto the ground without getting up.

Xiao Zhen’an laughed. “Qin Wenshu—cough, cough—I knew you… you would come after me. So I had a master… prepare a spell. I took your bones—cough, cough—and used them in a ritual. If you hurt me… you will suffer the same injuries! Hahaha, what can you do to me now?”

Madam Li rushed to help Qin Wenshu up, both of them glaring at Xiao Zhen’an with deep hatred. They had thought today would finally be the day of their vengeance, yet he had been so despicable. He had stolen their bones while arranging their so-called burial, using them to perform a spell that made it impossible for them to seriously injure or kill him.

No wonder he hadn’t begged for his life earlier—he had been completely fearless!

They couldn’t kill him, nor could they seriously wound him. If they tried to attack, he still had the jade pendant that could harm spirits. Their revenge had suddenly become impossible.

Qin Wenshu’s expression turned ice-cold as she abruptly turned her gaze toward Madam Peng and the child in her arms. “If I can’t kill you, then I’ll kill them!”

Without hesitation, she rushed toward Madam Peng, her intent murderous.

Madam Peng’s face twisted in terror. “Husband! Save me! Save our son!”

Before she could finish speaking, Qin Wenshu’s hair wrapped around her and her child like a cocoon. A piercing scream rang out, followed by the abrupt silence of the child’s cries.

The two servants on the carriage fainted from sheer terror. The eerie silence that followed was suffocating.

Xiao Zhen’an’s voice carried a tragic sorrow. “Yue’er… I failed you. Rest assured, I will avenge you.”

Qin Wenshu sneered. “Still pretending? If you truly cared about them, why didn’t you throw them the jade pendant for protection? You only care about yourself—you never cared whether they lived or died!”

Xiao Zhen’an slowly pushed himself up. He had finally regained enough strength to move. His previous facade of sorrow vanished, replaced by a sinister sneer. “You wretched woman! As stupid as a pig! You thought you could make me your husband? You tried to trap me with a few coins and favors—how was I wrong to fight back?”

Qin Wenshu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You dare insult me? You twist the truth! If it weren’t for me giving you silver, arranging your lodging, finding servants to care for you, introducing you to teachers—how would you have ever passed the imperial exam and become a top scholar? The moment you secured a marriage with the Peng family’s daughter, you turned your back on me. Worse—you murdered me and my mother! How dare you accuse me of trying to control you?”

Xiao Zhen’an smirked cruelly. “And what of it? No matter what you say, who will believe you? You just killed the Grand Preceptor’s daughter and grandson. The Grand Preceptor will now despise you more than anything. I don’t even have to say a word—he will personally hire a master to obliterate your souls.”

Madam Li seethed. “It was you who killed Madam Peng! You only married her to climb the social ladder. I will go to the Grand Preceptor myself and expose you!”

Xiao Zhen’an burst into laughter. “Do you think he’ll believe you or his devoted and outstanding son-in-law? You should be thanking me—I no longer have to deal with that spoiled, difficult woman, and now I can play the part of the grieving widower. By mourning her properly, I’ll earn the Grand Preceptor’s sympathy, securing my position and guaranteeing my rise to power.”

Qin Wenshu, seeing him reveal his true nature, suddenly calmed down. Her voice rang out, loud and clear, “You’re dreaming. You think your crimes will remain hidden forever? You believe no one knows about the wife and son you’ve hidden away?”

Xiao Zhen’an stiffened. “What wife and son?”

Qin Wenshu’s voice turned sharp. “How many women have you deceived? Do you not even know? You conspired with bandits to slaughter entire families just to steal their wealth—did you not think a survivor might come seeking revenge? You destroyed my family, just as you destroyed Madam Peng’s, and yet you continue hiding your other victims!

You thought no one knew about the wife and child you stashed away? Do you really believe they willingly gave up their names and status to live in secrecy?”

Xiao Zhen’an’s brows furrowed. He couldn’t comprehend what she was saying, nor could he guess what her intention was. Unwilling to waste time figuring it out, he swiftly raised the jade pendant and charged at Qin Wenshu.

Qin Wenshu no longer wanted to waste words with him. She dodged his attack, called for Madam Li, and the two of them quickly flew toward the city.

Xiao Zhen’an threw the jade pendant after them from a distance, but having sustained serious injuries, he lacked the strength to make it hit its mark. However, it didn’t matter—so long as he returned quickly and wept before Grand Preceptor Peng, twisting the truth in his favor, the situation would soon be resolved. He was confident he could convince the Grand Preceptor. After all, back when he had taken over the General’s Manor, he had either silenced or eliminated the disobedient servants, leaving only those who would testify that he had been wronged and mistreated by the mother and daughter.

Since those two wretched ghosts refused to rest in peace, he would make sure the General’s Manor bore the mark of disgrace, forever shaming them before their ancestors!

Xiao Zhen’an, vengeful by nature, sneered as he envisioned their miserable fate. He slowly approached the carriage and roused the two terrified servants, wearing a face of deep sorrow. “Quick… we must return. Go back and report the deaths—those wicked ghosts… they killed them… they killed…”

His grief seemed to overwhelm him, and he collapsed onto the carriage. The two servants, remembering the horrific scene before they fainted, trembled uncontrollably. Seeing that Madam Peng and her child had indeed been slain by the vengeful spirits, they hastily drove the carriage back to the city.

Meanwhile, Qin Wenshu and Madam Li had arrived at the gates of the Grand Preceptor’s residence. With a flick of Qin Wenshu’s hair, Madam Peng and her child tumbled to the ground, shivering and looking grief-stricken.

Qin Wenshu glanced at them with some pity. “I only made your child faint just now—he’s fine. Take him back, call a physician, and let him rest for a while. He’ll recover soon. Make sure to let him get plenty of sunlight.”

Madam Peng was stunned. She raised her head and looked at Qin Wenshu in disbelief. “You… you’re not going to kill me?”

The madness in Qin Wenshu’s eyes had faded. Though she had failed to exact revenge today, she had finally seen Xiao Zhen’an’s true colors with her own eyes—the way he had abandoned his wife and child without hesitation. The sheer ugliness of his betrayal had forced her to mature.

She shook her head. “You and I share the same misfortune. Why would I kill you? The only one I have ever hated, from the very beginning, is Xiao Zhen’an. You and I were both unfortunate to have met him in this life. But at least you are still alive, and you have a powerful father. You still have a chance to escape from him. The child is innocent—such an adorable child shouldn’t have a father like that.”

Turning away, she called, “Mother, let’s go.”

Madam Peng stared at her retreating figure before suddenly calling out, “Was everything you said true? He deceived other women too? He destroyed other families? He… he has a legitimate wife and son hidden away?”

Without turning around, Qin Wenshu replied, “Everything I said was true. Don’t let him fool you anymore.”

With that, she and Madam Li disappeared into the night.

The gatekeeper of the Grand Preceptor’s residence saw Madam Peng and her child lying on the ground and ran over in shock. “Miss! What happened? Why are you and the young master in such a state? Where is the master?”

Madam Peng hesitated for a moment before her expression turned cold. “From this day forward, there is no ‘master’ in this household! If Xiao Zhen’an dares to return, seize him, tie him up, gag him, and throw him into the woodshed. No one is allowed to see him without my order. Do you understand?”

“I… I understand!” The gatekeeper was bewildered but did not dare to question her. The young lady of the house was their true master—Xiao Zhen’an was nothing more than a peasant who had climbed into the family. They would, of course, obey her orders.

Meanwhile, Qin Wenshu and Madam Li hurriedly made their way back to the General’s Manor. Along the way, they encountered several ghosts, which terrified them. Ever since their deaths, they had never left the manor. Other spirits had been unable to enter due to the formation that trapped them, so they had never seen other ghosts before.

But now, out in the open, they saw horrifying specters—a ghost with a long, protruding tongue from hanging, a corpse-poisoned ghost with blood oozing from all seven orifices, a grieving mother dragging the remains of a stillborn child. The sight of these spirits left them utterly terrified, and they rushed back home as fast as they could.

Both had sustained injuries—especially Qin Wenshu, who was severely wounded. But when they arrived home and saw that Shen Yunxuan was still there, they finally felt a sense of relief, followed immediately by shame.

They recounted everything that had happened after they left the manor. Then, with a guilty expression, Madam Li bowed to Shen Yunxuan and said, “We were reckless. Not only did we fail to take revenge, but we also alerted him.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and replied, “It’s no matter. Throughout history, blessings and misfortunes have always been intertwined. This experience may not be entirely a bad thing.”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆