The umbrella slapped onto the ground, and the rain instantly pelted the umbrella surface with a pitter-patter sound.
Chu Yunxi tightly grabbed Shen Wuxie’s wrist, the skin beneath his fingertips cool and smooth like fine silk.
With a stern expression, he said, Attempting to murder your husband, caught red-handed. What else do you have to say?
Shen Wuxie’s gaze drifted for a fraction of a second, too fast to easily catch, yet still captured by Chu Yunxi.
However, he quickly assumed a calm expression and said, I am not murdering you.
Chu Yunxi sat up, unconsciously applying a bit more pressure to his grip, causing Shen Wuxie to furrow his brow imperceptibly.
Glancing at the pill between Shen Wuxie’s fingertips, Chu Yunxi said coldly, Then what is this?
Though he asked this, he already had his answer in mind; it was bound to be some sort of fatal poison.
He had feigned unconsciousness precisely to wait for this moment.
Now that the evidence was in hand, let’s see how this person could still brush this off as an accident…
An anesthetic. Shen Wuxie’s voice was very soft, almost swallowed by the sound of the rain, but it was still caught by Chu Yunxi’s acute hearing.
Chu Yunxi paused, doubting if he had misheard. What did you say?
Shen Wuxie raised his eyes to look at him, maintaining his composed expression as he clearly repeated, An anesthetic.
Chu Yunxi:
Not poison?
Shen Wuxie looked completely calm, even carrying a hint of confusion toward the word poison. Of course not.
Chu Yunxi stared at him in silence for a moment before he figured out Shen Wuxie’s intention, and he raised his voice in disbelief: You want to anesthetize me to perform a dissection?!
Shen Wuxie turned serious, even attempting to persuade him: My skills are proficient; I will not harm you. Besides, I have tested this medicine repeatedly; it is sufficient to render you completely unconscious and pain-free for four hours without any suffering.
Chu Yunxi only felt a sense of immense absurdity, leaving him speechless for a moment.
Seeing Chu Yunxi’s stunned, speechlessly dull expression, Shen Wuxie even naively re-extended the pill toward Chu Yunxi’s lips, his tone earnest: If you don’t believe me, you will know the moment you try it.
Looking at the pill presented before him once more, Chu Yunxi’s pupils constricted. In his mind’s eye, he could already picture his internal organs being categorized and soaked in the glowing glass jars inside Shen Wuxie’s official office.
He shuddered, then violently snatched the pill and threw it forcefully into the rain curtain. With lingering anger, he said in a deep voice, Is using anesthetics on others without permission not considered a crime?!
Shen Wuxie lowered his eyelids, his dense eyelashes obscuring most of his gaze, yet Chu Yunxi still caught a trace of low spirits within it.
Shen Wuxie said softly, It will be fine as long as I restore everything before you wake up.
Chu Yunxi:
Having transmigrated for a whole day, Chu Yunxi finally discovered that his native language was speechlessness.
Can surgery be performed without leaving a trace? What about injuries?
Shen Wuxie raised his eyes and said with utmost sincerity, I will sew it up properly. Furthermore, the imperial physician of the Dali Temple is a master of external trauma with a secret medicinal formula, guaranteeing that the injury will be healed within seven days and leave no trace of a scar within a month.
After speaking, the spark in his eyes lit up once more as he looked at Chu Yunxi, carrying a pure and scorching anticipation: Is it truly impossible to give it a try?
The corners of Chu Yunxi’s mouth twitched, and after a moment, he squeezed two words from between his teeth: No way!
Shen Wuxie’s shoulders suddenly slumped down a bit, his eyes filled with disappointment. Very well.
Clearly, he still wore that expressionless, icy face, but Chu Yunxi inexplicably felt as though he could see an invisible pair of drooping ears atop the other person’s head, looking dejected.
Chu Yunxi:.
What was with that aggrieved look? Clearly, he was the victim here, right?
Shen Wuxie bent down to pick up the umbrella, turned to step onto the carriage, and then reached out a hand toward Chu Yunxi.
Are you coming up?
Chu Yunxi looked at the extended hand; those four fingers were slender and well-articulated, looking like a piece of cold jade against the grayish rain curtain.
Lifting his gaze again, he saw Shen Wuxie slightly bent over, a few strands of rain-drenched hair clinging to his temples. Water droplets slid down the ends of his hair, grazed his side profile, and finally vanished into his slightly open collar, leaving a small patch of dampness at his lean hollow of the neck.
Chu Yunxi’s gaze lingered for a split second.
The rain won’t stop anytime soon. Shall I send you back to your maiden home?
Chu Yunxi was jolted back to his senses by the phrase maiden home, and his lips twitched speechlessly.
Instead of touching that hand, he lifted his hem and nimbly leaped onto the carriage.
He sat down in the corner furthest from Shen Wuxie, crossed his arms, and looked out the carriage window.
The rain blurred the streetscape. He muttered to himself: Such a good opportunity to make a move, and yet Shen Wuxie really didn’t harbor any murderous intent? Were the previous encounters truly just coincidences?
Thinking back to that bolt of lightning earlier, though he didn’t want to admit it, perhaps the only explanation was that the original host was simply an unlucky fellow.
Just as he was pondering, he heard Shen Wuxie’s voice ring out inside the quiet carriage: So you weren’t actually struck by lightning just now?
Chu Yunxi shifted his gaze to meet Shen Wuxie’s pitch-black eyes. After a brief pause, he let out an hmm.
The trace of light in Shen Wuxie’s eyes flared up abruptly. Almost instantly, he leaned forward, pulled out a pen and paper, and asked with poorly concealed excitement and curiosity: How did you manage to do that?
As he leaned in, Chu Yunxi caught that refreshing herbal scent once more, blending with the damp air inside the carriage to produce an oddly calming effect.
Chu Yunxi looked at Shen Wuxie’s face at close range. Those usually serene dark eyes were blindingly bright right now, devoid of schemes or murderous intent, holding only a pure, almost naive urge to explore.
He spoke almost on impulse: I felt it in advance. There was static electricity.
Static electricity?
Shen Wuxie captured this unfamiliar yet vivid term, and the brilliance in his eyes grew even more intense.
He immediately sat upright, swiftly recording in the booklet held across his knees: Three: Possesses extraordinary sensory perception, with acuity unlike ordinary people…
Chu Yunxi raised a hand to press his brow.
What on earth was he doing? Was he actually cooperating with a mad scientist to research himself?
Anything else? Shen Wuxie raised his head again, questions following one after another. Were other senses such as vision or hearing abnormal compared to before? For instance, can you see in the dark? Can you hear faint sounds? Or distinguish more scents?
Unwilling to answer further, Chu Yunxi diverted the topic. You are sending me back to my mai… He paused, swallowing the words maiden home: …back to the Marquis’s Manor. Aren’t you afraid I won’t come back?
While continuing to rapidly add notes in his booklet, Shen Wuxie replied without even lifting his head: It matters not. If you wish to stay long-term, I shall accompany you and stay as well.
Chu Yunxi was startled. Raising his eyes to look, he saw Shen Wuxie’s brush pause momentarily while writing, his pen tip unconsciously resting against his lips. The thin, pale-pink lips were pressed into a shallow white mark by the brush shaft before returning to normal, looking… rather soft.
Chu Yunxi looked away, cleared his throat, and said, What if… I never go back for the rest of my life? Can you pester the Marquis’s Manor for a lifetime?
Only then did Shen Wuxie lift his eyes, looking calm and taking it for granted as he said, You and I are already husband and wife; naturally, wherever you are, I am.
Chu Yunxi’s breathing hitched.
Yet he watched as Shen Wuxie lowered his head to write again, adding, Besides, if I do not follow you, my research will be interrupted.
Chu Yunxi:
He was completely speechless, leaning the back of his head against the carriage wall and massaging his Jingming acupoint.
He was truly losing his mind.
Then… Shen Wuxie’s thirst-for-knowledge voice sounded once more. Is this kind of perception limited to bursts during life-and-death crises, or is it usually…
Shut up, Chu Yunxi endured past his limit.
He turned his head to the other side and completely closed his eyes, using actions to signal his refusal to communicate.
Watching his entirely resistant posture, Shen Wuxie blinked his long eyelashes slowly, looking somewhat puzzled. Yet he did not press further, quietly pulling back his gaze to focus once more on the booklet in his hands, occasionally lifting his pen to add a few characters.
The carriage plunged into a brief silence.
Before long, the heavy rain ceased. The carriage wheels ground over the rain-dampened bluestone slab road and came to a stop before the gates of the Anyping Marquis’s Manor.
Shen Wuxie had already put away his booklet. Sensing that the carriage had stopped, he lifted a corner of the curtain and calmly cast his gaze outside.
In front of the vermilion gates of the Marquis’s Manor, a temporary ritual altar stood striking and conspicuous, with yellow banners fluttering. Three young Taoist acolytes were pacing around the altar chanting spells, while a long-bearded Taoist priest stood quietly at the front of the altar, carrying a rather immortal and ethereal demeanor.
A young man dressed in brocade robes bowed with cupped hands to the priest with a very respectful attitude.
Master Priest, my younger brother died an unjust death, and his corpse coming back to life yesterday must be due to deep resentment. I beseech the Master Priest to display his divine powers and ensure that the foul entity does not disrupt the fortune of the Marquis’s Manor.
As he spoke, under the cover of his sleeve, he swiftly shoved a gleaming gold ingot into the priest’s hands.
A look of satisfaction flashed across the long-bearded priest’s eyes. He swiftly and calmly tucked the ingot into his sleeve, while his expression grew even more dignified as he proclaimed in a ringing voice: Rest assured, Heir! My Xixia Mountain lineage has received imperial grace for generations and has His Excellency the National Preacher presiding over it. A mere vengeful ghost, what is there to fear? Once this poor priest finishes this ritual, I guarantee peace and tranquility for the Marquis’s Manor, free from ghostly disturbances.
His voice was loud and clear, and the surrounding commoners heard it distinctly, immediately breaking into lively discussions.
Just how terrifying is the haunting at the Marquis’s Manor that they even invited people from Xixia Mountain?
Haven’t you heard? Their family’s young master came back to life at Dali Temple the night before! The Marquis’s Manor sent people to invite the practitioners from the temple before dawn. Word has it they even want to invite the National Preacher to ‘catch ghosts’ at Dali Temple!
Amidst the discussions, some people sighed with mixed feelings: Their own child died in unclear circumstances, and instead of thinking of ways to appease the wandering soul, the eldest brother’s very first priority is to invite a priest to exorcise evil. This really is…
You can’t put it that way either. What if it really is a fierce ghost? What if it comes back to harm people?
Harm people? I heard that little Young Master Chu has the gentlest and most timid temperament; he’d be afraid of stepping on an ant while walking. Could he become a fierce ghost?
You don’t know this, but the night before, he turned Dali Temple upside down. That neighborhood has been spreading the word for ages!
Yet I heard that the Living Yama of Dali Temple has already subdued that fierce ghost. Someone saw with their own eyes that ghost being chased all over the yamen by Lord Shen!
A very light chuckle came from inside the carriage curtain.
Shen Wuxie dropped the curtain, turned his head, and saw Chu Yunxi resting his chin on his hand by the carriage window, listening with great interest.
Standing up, he said, I’ll go down and clear things up.
However, a well-articulated hand intercepted him, blocking his path. Don’t rush.
Glancing sideways, he saw Chu Yunxi staring outside the carriage door, excitement sparkling in his amber-like eyes. Such a fun matter; naturally, you must let me go first.
With those words, he leaped out of the carriage ahead of him.
Chu Yunxi, draped in crimson, suddenly appeared amidst the grayish streetscape, striking and eye-catching.
Y-Young… Young Master?!
The doorkeeper was the first to see him. His face turned pale, and retreating repeatedly; his lips trembled. A-A ghost!
This exclamation rang out sharply; the ritual activities of the priest at the altar paused, and the surrounding commoners all turned their heads simultaneously. Catching sight of the newcomer’s face, an immediate uproar ensued.
It’s Young Master Chu! The one whose corpse came back to life!
Good heavens, he’s coming out in broad daylight…
The crowd stirred in panic; many backed away in terror, while others could not resist their curiosity, stretching their necks to peer closer.
Someone with sharp eyes spotted a cyan-robed figure slowly stepping down from the carriage behind Chu Yunxi and immediately whispered, Look! It’s Lord Shen! He’s following right behind the fierce ghost, which means he must have already subdued it! Everyone, don’t be afraid!
Upon clearly seeing the newcomer, the Marquis’s Manor Heir, Chu Yunzha, constricted his pupils. He instinctively wanted to retreat, but hardening his heart, he rooted himself firmly in place.
With a gloomy face, he loudly urged the old priest, Master! Hurry and subdue him!
Chu Yunxi locked his gaze onto Chu Yunzha.
Was this the older brother from the original host’s memories who had constantly sabotaged him and whose mother-son duo cursed him behind his back as a jinx?
He suddenly curved his lips into a smile. So it is my good older brother. As he spoke, he walked step by step toward Chu Yunzha. Why is older brother looking so nervous? Could it be you’re worried I’ll harm you?
That smiling face, falling into Chu Yunzha’s eyes, exuded an eerie ghostly aura beneath its handsome exterior, causing his legs to soften by three parts. Still, he put up a bold front and rebuked sternly, Since you died outside, don’t come back to plague the Marquis’s Manor! Father married you off, so you belong to the Shen family now. If you want to haunt someone, go haunt Shen Wuxie!
Suppressing a smile, Chu Yunxi said faintly, But I just want to haunt you. What shall we do about that?
Seeing Chu Yunxi press close, Chu Yunzha’s strained expression finally failed to hold. Retreating half a step, he gripped the priest’s sleeve and shouted, Master!
The long-bearded priest let out a cold snort, stepping forward to shield Chu Yunzha behind him. Daring to manifest in broad daylight! Watch this poor priest subdue you!
He formed hand incantations with his left hand, chanting spells under his breath: Heaven and Earth boundlessly, Qiankun lend me your force!
A yellow talisman burned without wind, turning into a flash of fire that swept forward.
The crowd let out gasps.
Chu Yunxi didn’t even lift an eye. At the very instant the talisman fire drew close, he casually flicked his sleeve.
Swish,
The fire extinguished instantly, turning into wisps of green smoke. Covering his nose and mouth in disgust, Chu Yunxi waved away the talisman ashes.
The priest’s expression changed drastically. Truly a fierce ghost!
Gritting his teeth, he whipped a coin sword off the altar, bit the tip of his tongue, spat a mouthful of vital essence blood onto the blade, and lunged toward Chu Yunxi with the sword tip turned.
Yet Chu Yunxi didn’t move a single step. The moment the priest raised his sword to thrust, he raised his hand and lashed out.
Slap!
A crisp, resounding slap landed squarely on the priest’s left cheek.
The priest staggered two steps from the blow, dropping the coin sword with a clatter. Holding his face, he raised his head in shock, only to find that the figure in crimson was already right in front of him. Before he could react, his shoulder took another ruthless kick, sending him stumbling back to sit heavily before the steps.
A fierce ghost? Would a fierce ghost kick you like this?
The priest felt dizzy and disoriented. Just as he lifted his head, Chu Yunxi smacked him across the right cheek, matching the symmetrical handprint on the left.
Looking down from above, Chu Yunxi grabbed the priest by the collar, hoisting him halfway up with a haughty expression: Would a fierce ghost slap you like this?
The priest was completely dazed.
Silence blanketed the surroundings for a moment before a wave of sharp gasps broke out.
Extraordinary! Even the Xixia Mountain practitioners can’t hold him!
Run! This fierce ghost is terrifying!
The commoners panicked and scattered, shrinking into street corners and under eaves. Those few young acolytes had long since been scared out of their wits, scrambling on hands and knees to crawl underneath the offering table, clamping their hands tightly over their mouths while trembling like chaff in the wind.
Master… was beaten up by a fierce ghost!
The long-bearded priest stiffened all over, his eyes widening as he stared upward fixedly at Chu Yunxi. Amidst his extreme terror, his senses sharpened slightly: this face possessed a porcelain-white complexion, but not the greenish-white of a dead man; his lips were light in color, yet still retained warmth and blood.
Most crucial of all was the warm breath exhaled as he spoke, alongside the slight rise and fall of his chest.
Could it be…
The priest’s eyeballs rolled numbly, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse behind Chu Yunxi: that cyan-robed figure had stood motionless all along. Although the other person remained expressionless and wave-free from start to finish, the priest still managed to capture a hint of a looking at an idiot-looking expression within those ink-jade eyes.
You… The priest’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked with a tremor, Could you possibly be liv,
Chu Yunxi sneered, I am your living father!
With that, he tossed the priest aside, shook his sleeve, and stepped across the high threshold of the Marquis’s Manor with his hands behind his back.
Shen Wuxie followed at a measured pace. As he passed the priest’s side, he glanced down, his voice cold as a freezing spring: Failing to distinguish between man and ghost, it seems Xixia Mountain is merely a hollow reputation. With those words, he too lifted his hem and stepped inside the threshold.
It wasn’t until the two figures had completely vanished that the priest, sitting paralyzed on the ground, snapped back to his senses.
His complexion turned from white to blue, and from blue to furious red. Abruptly springing up, he pointed a finger at Chu Yunzha and burst into rage: What is the meaning of this, Anyping Marquis’s Manor? Are you making sport of Xixia Mountain?! That was clearly a living person! What kind of evil did you invite us here to exorcise?!
Trembling with rage from his beard to his toes, he yanked the acolytes out from under the offering table, too preoccupied to even gather his ritual instruments, and scrambled onto his carriage. He slammed the carriage curtain down with a thunderous crash: Return to the mountain! This poor priest will surely report today’s events word-for-word to the National Preacher!
The carriage sped away in a flurry of dust.
Filled with shock and suspicion, Chu Yunzha watched the spot where Chu Yunxi had disappeared, his pupils violently trembling. What? A living person?!