After this realization dawned on Shao Yanzhe, his heart gave a violent jolt and his footsteps faltered.
Coincidentally, the footsteps behind him also paused simultaneously.
Shao Yanzhe instantly felt his scalp tingling with dread. Remembering this was a world of ghosts and monsters, his heart leaped into his throat.
Could it be that the owner of the footsteps behind him wasn’t human?
Instantly, countless terrifying images flashed through his mind, making his hands tremble uncontrollably.
Fortunately, he was no longer a novice who had never encountered supernatural beings. He now possessed Literary Qi to deal with ghosts and monsters. Moreover, having just passed the Imperial Examination, the Literary Qi within him had increased by more than half, giving him some slight confidence.
Shao Yanzhe’s right hand reached for the brush tucked in his robe, ready to draw it at any moment.
There were some limitations to wielding Literary Qi—he needed to control it through the brush.
“Hehe, you noticed me?”
Suddenly, an eerie female voice sounded behind him.
Simultaneously, Shao Yanzhe could feel something like a block of ice emitting cold air pressing against his back, making his entire body shiver uncontrollably.
A pair of freezing hands slid upward from his shoulders, then crept toward his neck. The icy arms wrapped around his throat as if the entity behind him had completely clung to his back.
“Hoo!”
The thing blew a breath by Shao Yanzhe’s ear, a cold gust drilling into his ear canal, finally snapping him back to awareness.
With trembling hands, Shao Yanzhe drew his brush and began writing an essay in front of him. As the first character formed, Literary Qi glowing with pale light enveloped his body, bringing slight warmth to his nearly frozen form.
Just as he was about to continue, the entity behind him seemed to detest Literary Qi intensely, quickly detaching from him.
Shao Yanzhe broke into a run, even abandoning the lantern in his hand by throwing it to the ground.
The creature left behind paused in surprise, then gave chase.
“Young Master Shao, wait for this humble maid~”
The voice was melodious and charming, carrying a seductive quality that seemed to melt one’s bones upon hearing it.
Shao Yanzhe stumbled, feeling his legs becoming disobedient. This ghostly creature was far too powerful!
“Young Master Shao, why won’t you wait for me? You’ve made this humble maid chase after you so desperately~”
The owner of the voice suddenly materialized in front of Shao Yanzhe. She wore flimsy gauze garments that revealed her rounded shoulders and most of her chest, her eyes seeming to hook into him with every smile and glance, exuding boundless allure.
Shao Yanzhe wavered for a moment but quickly regained his senses.
“Stay away from me!”
He scrambled backward on hands and feet to distance himself from the woman before him—he knew perfectly well she wasn’t human.
“Young Master Shao, what has this humble maid done wrong? Why are you treating me so cruelly?”
“I’ve waited for you so long and suffered so much~”
The woman’s beautiful eyes filled with sorrow, as if Shao Yanzhe had committed some heinous offense against her.
She took dainty steps forward, her face full of mournful grace as she said, “Have you forgotten, Young Master? We were childhood sweethearts since we were young. Later, my family fell into poverty and I had to sell myself into servitude. Now I’ve finally earned enough silver to come back for you. How can you be so heartless?”
After speaking, she covered her face with a handkerchief and began weeping pitifully, her mournful sobs enough to stir anyone’s compassion.
Shao Yanzhe: ???
The original owner actually had a childhood sweetheart?
However, he was now in his original body and feared he would let her down.
He cleared his throat lightly and said, “My apologies, I truly have forgotten. So, miss, you should seek someone else!”
The woman choked back her words, secretly rolling her eyes. She hadn’t expected this poor scholar to be so upright.
In the past, when she had spoken like this, other scholars would be overjoyed. Once she mentioned offering herself to them, they would eagerly embrace her and perform the rites of Zhou Gong with her.
What a pity. If she hadn’t received orders to kill this scholar, she truly wouldn’t have had the heart to do it.
“Shao Lang, I never thought you could be so cruel!”
The woman blinked, and streams of tears rolled down her cheeks. She held a handkerchief and gazed sorrowfully at Shao Yanzhe.
“However, before this humble one departs, I wish to share a quilt with Shao Lang and journey together to the clouds and rain of Wushan, to leave a memento. I wonder if Shao Lang would agree?”
No man would refuse!
The woman’s lips, hidden behind her handkerchief, curled confidently. If this scholar agreed, it would be easy to make her move.
Shao Yanzhe’s lips twitched. What was wrong with these ghosts and monsters?
Why did they insist on performing the rites of Zhou Gong upon first meeting?
When he returned, he would have to ask Yun Weiyue and the others.
“Apologies! No!”
He refused decisively. This woman was clearly suspicious, and he was no lecherous man.
The woman was completely stunned this time. She looked Shao Yanzhe up and down, almost suspecting that this scholar was a woman in disguise.
“I take my leave!”
After saying this, Shao Yanzhe turned and ran, afraid the woman would chase after him.
Watching his panicked retreating figure, the woman was both angered and amused.
Forget it. Since gentle methods didn’t work, she would have to exert herself and resort to force!
Shao Yanzhe prayed that the woman was human and not a ghost, but before he had run far, he sensed a silk gauze carrying a fierce wind wrapping toward him from behind.
The silk gauze was too fast. Before he could react, it entangled his waist and yanked him back.
“Tsk, Shao Lang, you really refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. In that case, don’t blame this humble one for turning hostile~”
The woman’s delicate, pale hand rested on Shao Yanzhe’s chest. Her eyes, once filled with melancholy, were now icy cold.
She exerted slight pressure with her fingers, piercing through his clothes and into his skin, aiming straight for his heart.
Instantly, crimson blood gushed from the wound.
The pain from the injury jolted Shao Yanzhe, who had been unable to move, clearing his mind. His hand, clutching a brush, instinctively swung toward the woman.
A burst of white light mixed with golden sparks suddenly erupted.
“Ah!”
The woman was injured by the light and let out a piercing, miserable shriek.
Where the light touched, her fair skin shed its pristine appearance, transforming into a bloody, scar-riddled mess. In some places, even stark white bones were exposed. Her once beautiful face was now covered in bloody wounds large and small, a horrifying sight.
Seeing her arm and realizing what had happened, the woman screamed and covered her face with her hands.
“Ah! My face!”
Shao Yanzhe fell to the ground with a thud, and the silk gauze on the ground vanished.
But due to the earlier outburst, his body was completely drained, devoid of even a trace of Literary Qi. Weak and limp, he could only collapse on the ground.
The woman covered her face, her gaze seeping with venom from between her fingers.
Seeing this, Shao Yanzhe inwardly cursed, “This is bad.”
Sure enough, the next moment, the woman freed one hand and reached to strangle Shao Yanzhe’s neck.
“Meow!”
An angry cat cry rang out, followed by a black shadow swift as lightning, swiping at the woman’s face.
To dodge the attack, the woman immediately withdrew her hand and evaded the suddenly appearing Mystic Cat.
“Where did this wretched cat come from? Mind your own business!” The woman glared hatefully at the Mystic Cat.
“Bleh! Your stench is choking this feline!” Xuan Yao retched, his gaze full of disdain toward the woman.
“Damnable cat! You’re asking for death!”
The woman’s face darkened instantly, and she charged at Xuan Yao with murderous intent.
Xuan Yao swiftly dodged, perching on the wall and letting out a triumphant meow at the woman.
The woman’s expression changed abruptly. She quickly turned around as two ink-black blades were dispersed by the silk gauze in her hands.
“Coward hiding in the shadows! Show yourself if you dare!”
“After all these years, Mo Ying, I never expected you’d remain exactly the same.” Yun Weiyue’s cold voice accompanied her gradual appearance.
“Young Miss?” The woman, Mo Ying, paled slightly, tilting her head as if trying to hide the scar on her face.
“No need to hide. I’ve already seen it.” Yun Weiyue looked at Mo Ying with complex emotions, the hatred she once felt for her betrayal diminishing considerably in that moment.
“Hmph! What? You must be delighted to see me like this, aren’t you, Young Miss?” Mo Ying abandoned all pretense, fully revealing her face.
“Mo Ying, how could you think that? Did Shen Moyuan do this to you?” Yun Weiyue asked, though she already knew the answer in her heart.
At the mention of Shen Moyuan’s name, Mo Ying trembled, fear flashing in her eyes.
“So what if he did?”
Remembering her mission, she instantly appeared beside Shao Yanzhe, her fingers forming claws aimed at piercing his chest.
Shao Yanzhe mustered his last ounce of strength to evade the attack.
Mo Ying prepared to strike again, but it was too late—Yun Suqing suddenly materialized.
Sensing the overwhelming pressure emanating from her, Mo Ying dared not linger. Her form vanished abruptly as she fled the scene.
“Are you alright?” Yun Weiyue glanced in the direction Mo Ying had disappeared before floating to Shao Yanzhe’s side to check on him.
“I’ll manage. Just exhausted. Some rest will suffice.”
Shao Yanzhe struggled to sit up: “That Mo Ying from earlier—was she your former maid?”
“Indeed. I never imagined she would come to such an end.” Yun Weiyue sighed with melancholy.
“So it’s possible Mo Ying was sent by Shen Moyuan?” Shao Yanzhe speculated.
“Correct. This bears his signature. After all, you becoming the Top Candidate ruined his plans. Sending someone to kill you isn’t surprising.”
Shao Yanzhe nodded, growing even more wary of Shen Moyuan.
After regaining his strength, he hurried back to Wenyuan Academy.
The next morning, just as Shao Yanzhe began his morning studies, the academy’s gatekeeper approached him, saying someone wished to visit.
He found it strange—most people the original host knew were scholars from the academy, and no one else would specifically seek him out there.
When he reached the academy entrance, he saw an unfamiliar young nobleman standing outside.
Spotting Shao Yanzhe, the young man hurried forward and bowed with clasped hands: “You must be Scholar Shao?”
Shao Yanzhe returned the courtesy: “Indeed, that is I. May I ask what business you have with me? I don’t believe we’ve met before.”
The young master unfurled his fan to cool himself, a warm smile gracing his features. “It’s true we weren’t acquainted before, but aren’t we getting to know each other now? Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Zhou Jiming. Recently, I heard Scholar Shao had earned the title of Top Candidate and thought I’d come make your acquaintance.”
Shao Yanzhe couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Still, he found himself rather taken with Zhou Jiming’s disposition—making a new friend wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
Just as the two were conversing pleasantly, a figure suddenly rushed over, dropping to their knees and kowtowing repeatedly.
“Scholar Shao! I beg you! Please, I implore you to spare Shao Ran!”