No matter how angry Qing Wu was, she was helpless. The true master was not present, and although she was angry at Xiao Chenyan for 'not having a mouth', she was secretly happy.
As a result, when various shocked, scrutinizing, or suspicious gazes came her way, she generously forgave these foolish giants for their rudeness.
Situ Jing's heart was in turmoil.
His gaze kept darting to the Judge's Brush in Qing Wu's right hand. Unlike others who suspected Qing Wu was Yun Qingwu faking a resurrection.
Situ Jing had never seen this person as human.
He had always suspected that a seasoned ghost with profound cultivation resided within Qing Wu's physical body.
But when Qing Wu made her move just now, Situ Jing knew he had been mistaken.
This Ghost Grandma, while not human, was definitely not simple in her identity, even as a ghost!
She had just used an 'Edict'!
To decide life and death with a stroke of the brush, that was the ability of a Judge, wasn't it? No, the Judges in the Underworld only judged and sentenced, they didn't control life and death.
"Thank you, Princess Consort, for your help. If not for you, we would all have died young today."
Situ Jing put on a pitiful expression: "Princess Consort is our reborn parents!"
Qing Wu shivered, feeling a bit disgusted.
The Black Armored Guards beside them also silently distanced themselves from Situ Jing. They knew their strategist and barefoot doctor was thick-skinned, but claiming kinship so directly was absolutely unnecessary!
"It's not that serious, you seem quite resilient."
"Really?!" Situ Jing exclaimed in surprise: "If Princess Consort says so, then I'll definitely live to ninety-nine."
Qing Wu smiled: "If you spout any more nonsense, I guarantee you won't live past twenty-nine."
Situ Jing shut up, Situ Jing became as quiet as a chicken. He would be twenty-nine next month.
"Burn the bodies of those Mountain Ghouls to prevent them from gathering miasma. Remember to remove the skulls they wore on their heads."
After Qing Wu gave the order, the Black Armored Guards quickly got to work.
This time, everyone was truly convinced, and many had awe in their eyes.
"Princess Consort, I have roughly divined Wang Yulang's location. He should be around here."
Qing Wu hummed, then walked directly into the ruined temple behind him. Situ Jing quickly followed.
"The person is in this ruined temple."
Situ Jing was stunned, "In the temple? That's not right. We checked after entering the temple, and there was no one inside."
Qing Wu stared at the dilapidated shrine. The clay sculpture on the shrine had been destroyed, making it impossible to tell what was originally enshrined there.
"They were just hidden."
Situ Jing followed her gaze and quickly called a few people over to the shrine.
After a commotion, someone exclaimed.
"There really is a child inside!"
Beneath the shrine, it turned out to be hollow. A boy about seven or eight years old was curled up inside.
The child had several scratches, his face was pale, and his body was cold. If not for a faint aura, he would have looked no different from a dead person.
The Black Armored Guards carefully carried him out.
Qing Wu strode over, her hand landing on the child's brow, and she frowned deeply.
Situ Jing also saw the clue. After examining the child, he said solemnly, "His living soul has left his body, and his life force is fading. This child has been lost for seven days. We must find his living soul before midnight, or it will be too late."
He subconsciously looked at Qing Wu.
Although Situ Jing knew how to recall a living soul, he felt that with Qing Wu present, his own meager skills were simply showing off in front of an expert.
However, Qing Wu's jade-like fingers touched the child's brow, and her voice, low and resonant, carried a mysterious and unpredictable pressure, as if it came from the Netherworld or the depths of the soul.
"Wang Yulang, soul, return."
The edict of the Underworld official reached the Netherworld.
The ghostly beings drifting in the Ghost Realm heard this voice, but after a long while, the child still showed no reaction.
Qing Wu raised her eyelids, a cold glint flashing in her eyes: "This child's living soul is not lost, it is trapped."
No wonder the trace of life force she saw was so faint.
"Then what should we do? Princess Consort, can you find out where the child's living soul is trapped?"
Qing Wu frowned. She could find it, but there wasn't enough time.
Just then, a voice sounded from outside.
"Your Highness."
Qing Wu turned back in surprise and saw a tall figure appear at the temple entrance. Behind him was the light of fire, while his face was shrouded in shadow.
And in those deep, unfathomable phoenix eyes, a wild fire seemed to be burning at this moment, gazing at her with scorching intensity.
Qing Wu's heart leaped with joy: "Xiao Chenyan."
Hearing her voice, seeing the smile bloom on her face.
Xiao Chenyan felt as if something had struck his heart. That iris flower she had drawn, like a tenacious weed, grew uncontrollably in his heart, fueling his absurd delusion.
"You're here just in time, come help me!" Qing Wu directly grabbed his hand.
Under everyone's gaze, the Black Armored Guards held their breath and averted their eyes.
Xiao Chenyan felt the strength from her hand and subconsciously tightened his grip, gazing at her. This time, he did not refuse.
"Okay."
Qing Wu pulled him and they quickly walked towards the child.
As they approached, she hesitated again. Xiao Chenyan saw her difficulty, "Didn't you want my help?"
Qing Wu pursed her lips: "Little Yulang doesn't have much time. His living soul is trapped, and it's impossible to find and rescue it in a short period."
"There's only one way now, to lend him life."
"Absolutely not!" Bai Sui was the first to jump out, glaring at Qing Wu: "What are your intentions? Are you trying to harm His Highness!"
"Stand down!" Xiao Chenyan suddenly said coldly.
Silence fell upon the temple.
"How do we lend it?" He looked at Qing Wu, his expression calm.
Qing Wu's heart was stirred. She explained seriously, "It's called lending life, but it's actually lending your Yang energy to shield him from death. It's not really lending your lifespan."
Xiao Chenyan had no objections, he simply nodded: "Let's do it."
Bai Sui knelt down with a thud, "If you need to lend Yang energy, you can take mine. I'm young and have plenty of Yang energy!"
The other Black Armored Guards also knelt down in unison: "We are also full of Yang energy and are willing to lend it!"
It was originally the loyalty of the soldiers, but the way they vied with each other to claim they had more Yang energy than their Prince made the situation sound a bit strange.
Situ Jing coughed: "I can't do it. I have kidney deficiency, my Yang energy is not as good as His Highness's."
The temple suddenly fell silent. Everyone was embarrassed, and Bai Sui also glanced at his Prince.
Qing Wu chuckled, "To deceive the Underworld, the person lending must have Great Fortune."
"Only your Prince has this kind of luck."
Hearing 'deceive the Underworld', Situ Jing looked at Qing Wu in shock, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Xiao Chenyan was already getting a headache from the commotion and said concisely, "Let's do it."
Qing Wu stopped talking nonsense. She suddenly stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, as if to kiss Xiao Chenyan's lips.
Everyone in the temple froze, quickly averting their eyes.
Xiao Chenyan's body stiffened for a moment, then quickly relaxed.
The woman's lips did not actually touch his, but were an inch away. He could clearly smell the crisp fragrance emanating from her.
Like a hook, it pierced into his senses, taking something away.
Qing Wu borrowed three days of lifespan and said thank you. Just as she was about to turn, Xiao Chenyan grabbed her wrist.
She looked back in surprise, seeing him frowning, about to speak but stopping.
"It's nothing." Xiao Chenyan released his hand.
Qing Wu nodded, squatted beside the child, formed a seal with her right hand, placed her thumb against her heart, and pushed upwards.
The Yang lifespan energy gathered at her fingertip and, guided by her, entered the child's body.
Wang Yulang's complexion improved significantly in an instant, and some of the deathly aura dissipated.
Seeing this, Xiao Chenyan's gaze shifted, and his tightly clenched fist loosened slightly.
He had thought that transferring lifespan to someone else would also require her...
"Alright," Qing Wu turned back and smiled brightly at him, "Xiao Chenyan, thank you."
Xiao Chenyan looked at her, his gaze seeming to pierce through her skin, to see the true nature of her soul.
"Yun, Qing, Wu."
He uttered her name word by word.
Yet, it sounded as if he were uttering another similar name.
His voice was inexplicably tender.
"You're welcome."
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