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Holding Lu Qingqing in his arms, Lu Sheng felt a tangle of emotions stir within him.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84c1NGkT6e
Though they were siblings, there was little real affection between them.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSKRMlR0p8
Lu Qingqing had spent many years training in martial arts away from home, and besides that—he wasn’t truly the original Lu Sheng.
Still, in this moment, as her brother, he had to show grief.
With Lu Qingqing in tow, Lu Sheng led Zhuan Feng to inspect the small dungeon.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4K1do4uLN
Aside from the corpse and the three vacant-eyed fools, nothing else remained.
They carried the dazed trio out of the dungeon, stepping into the light to find Yan Kai and Duan Rongrong waiting outside.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw1vtbJ9cN
Yan Kai sat cross-legged on the ground, his face flushed. A trace of blood clung to the corner of his lips, and a pool of thick black blood had been freshly vomited beside him.
"It's nothing. Just some blood clots," Yan Kai said calmly.
" Miss Lu Qingqing, injured by Yin energy—it’s a miracle she’s even alive."
"I..."
Lu Sheng parted his lips but couldn’t bring himself to speak.
A chill settled in his chest. He was starting to realize just how precarious his situation was.
When he’d emerged from the dungeon carrying Lu Qingqing, a sudden, unnerving thought had come to him:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJPerFtU8R
Wasn’t he now playing the exact role of those minor noble children—the background characters doomed to tragedy in ancient ghost stories?
The reality was grim.
The demons and ghosts of Jiulian City had vanished into the shadows. No one knew when or where they might strike next.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NYFmpndba
And the Lu family could very well be the next target.
As an ordinary person, all he had were the martial arts and modifier embedded in his body.
But when it came to supernatural forces—ghosts and demons—he had no reliable way to defend himself.
Just one had nearly drained him.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXmI9IiWJX
If two appeared? That would be a nightmare.
That thought darkened his expression. The sorrow on his face grew heavier, laced now with dread.
"My sister ended up like this all because of demons and ghosts," Lu Sheng said, his voice calm but weighted. "Venerable Taoist, may I ask—what can ordinary people like us do to defend ourselves against such things?12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu4iepjLfl
Or... is there anywhere we can go for help?"
On the surface, he was seeking guidance. But beneath his words was a careful probe—was there some organization or group that specialized in dealing with supernatural threats?
Yan Kai fell silent for a moment, his expression turning solemn. Then he looked at Lu Qingqing with a trace of regret and spoke.
"This... I know very little. But one thing is certain—ordinary people cannot fight ghosts. That much is undeniable."
He paused, then added, "As for who you can turn to... we exorcists are one option, but most of us are hard to find, elusive by nature."
"My advice, Mr. Lu: keep posting recruitment notices. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and find a few more exorcists willing to help."
Lu Sheng listened carefully, then fell into thought. After a brief silence, he asked again.
"Would the Taoist priest be willing to accept disciples?"
He had no intention of joining himself. His real plan was to entrust a few promising children from the Lu family to Yan Kai's sect. If they could gain some skills for self-defense in this chaotic world—and perhaps form ties with the exorcists—it might one day save their lives.
At the mention of discipleship, Yan Kai’s face suddenly tightened with discomfort.
"To be honest, sir, most exorcists are born with this ability. It's not something that can be trained. The mental cultivation method I practice would actually harm ordinary people." Yan Kai paused, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "That’s why, even now, I’m still searching for a second disciple who can inherit my techniques. Unfortunately..."
"Born with it?" Lu Sheng echoed, a trace of disappointment crossing his face.
"Yes. The reason I can restrain ghosts lies mainly in my blood. Once it's mixed with certain techniques, it produces a suppressive effect on spirits. That’s also the key method we use—many exorcists rely heavily on their bloodlines," Yan Kai explained without reservation.
"Blood..." Lu Sheng murmured, finally beginning to understand.
There was no need for Yan Kai to lie about this, especially when Duan Rongrong—standing silently beside them—nodded in agreement. It appeared true: exorcists really did depend on their blood to combat ghosts.
"Is there really no other way?" Lu Sheng asked with a sigh.
Yan Kai glanced at Lu Qingqing in Lu Sheng’s arms. A flash of pity flickered in his eyes.
"I truly don’t have any solution for those without the talent. I simply can’t pass on my abilities to someone who lacks the innate qualification. That said..." His tone softened. "There are still countless ordinary people living, surviving, multiplying. There must be hidden forces in this world working silently to protect them—fighting back the darkness. We exorcists are just one part of that. If you're determined, ask around. You may stumble upon something."
Lu Sheng gave a quiet nod.
"Sigh... then this is the only way." After a pause, he continued, "In that case, would you be willing to sell me something—anything—that can help restrain ghosts?"
Yan Kai gently shook his head.
"I’m sorry. It’s not that I’m unwilling, but anything crafted using my blood can only be used by me. It becomes ineffective if passed to someone else. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have asked Rongrong to stay hidden all this time."
Lu Sheng believed him. After all, if Yan Kai had truly been deceptive, he wouldn’t have shared such sensitive information so openly. If someone malicious got wind of it, they could easily drug him, tie him up, and drain his blood day by day like a living reservoir. That kind of risk wasn’t small.
Letting out another quiet sigh, Lu Sheng held Lu Qingqing more tightly in his arms. Then, alongside Yan Kai and the others, he made his way out of the Taoist temple and mounted his horse.
"In that case, Taoist priest, shall we head back together?"
"No need," Yan Kai replied, shaking his head. "I’ll stay here a while longer—see if I can find any trace of the original demon. Jiulian City is crawling with evil spirits. If we don’t locate the true source, it’ll only continue to grow stronger with time."
"In that case, if the Taoist priest ever needs anything, just come to my Lu family. I, Lu Sheng, will do everything in my power to assist you!" he declared. "Also, please don’t forget to visit the Lu residence to collect your reward."
With one hand on the reins, Lu Sheng turned his horse and galloped off in the direction they had come, leading the fools and a group of guards with him.
As they rode off, Yan Kai suddenly raised his voice behind them.
"Mr. Sheng! You just killed a demon—its lingering aura will cling to your body. If there are still demons lurking in the city, they’ll be drawn to you first. There’s even a high chance that a greater demon will appear. Please, stay vigilant! If anything happens, send word to me at once!"
Lu Sheng stiffened at the warning. A chill crept down his spine.
"Thank you, Taoist priest! Thank you, Miss Zhuanfeng!" he shouted back, raising a hand in farewell.
The group rode on, following the same winding path back down the mountain. The terrain was rugged, and the horses were forced to slow their pace. Yu Han rode closely beside Lu Sheng, keeping a watchful eye on him.
The rest of the guards, still shaken by what they had witnessed, remained silent. Aside from the steady rhythm of hoofbeats and the sound of heavy breathing, the journey was quiet.
Lu Sheng’s mind, however, was anything but still.
"A greater demon..." he thought grimly. "I could barely handle that last ghost—how am I supposed to face something even stronger?"
The sense of danger that had momentarily faded returned in full force. Just when he thought he had gained a measure of protection, Yan Kai’s words had shattered that illusion. In truth, he was still in the eye of a storm.
"There’s something strange going on in Jiulian City. First, every major force was desperately searching for someone—or something. Now, demons are appearing all over the place. There's no way these events aren’t connected."
His brows furrowed as he considered his next steps.
"Right now, my only path forward is to upgrade the Black Fiend Art. That’s the only method I have left to increase my strength."
As he frowned in concentration, Lu Qingqing—still dull and expressionless in his arms—lifted a hand. She gently touched the crease between his brows and let out a soft, silly laugh.
Lu Sheng gently pressed Lu Qingqing’s hand and fell into deep thought.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbBSWx7f36
The situation he faced now was far more dangerous than he’d initially realized.
The Lu family was powerful and influential, with deep ties across many aspects of Jiulian City—commerce, politics, and more. Like a towering tree that drew the wind, any ripple within the Lu family would quickly become public knowledge.
The matter of the weeping ghost at night had already been resolved, and news of that was sure to spread fast.
"Since there are people who clearly understand the nature of demons and ghosts... what exactly is the purpose of those at that level?"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv7hdpCfHi
Yan Kai and his group had shown up too conveniently—just days after the family posted a notice seeking help.
"Perhaps there’s another force operating behind the scenes."
Lu Sheng trusted Yan Kai’s explanation about bloodline-based powers. The ability to exorcise ghosts clearly required a special kind of blood. That might also be the true threshold for stepping into the world of higher power.
As he rode through the city, Lu Sheng kept thinking. The weight of reality pressed down on him.
By the time he returned to the Lu Mansion, he had composed himself somewhat. Dismounting from his horse, his expression remained serious.
Yan Kai’s words still echoed in his mind, leaving behind a bitter taste.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2W55WqYk2
He lacked the qualifications.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Sk6nPFqM
In Yan Kai’s eyes, he was just an ordinary person.
And though Yan Kai had said that reaching Lu Sheng’s current strength as an ordinary man was already remarkable, it didn’t change the core truth:12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfClb4vrAwk
There was a gap—a deep, natural divide—between him and those born with the power to fight ghosts.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaB0ewrvNW
That gap meant that no matter how hard he worked, he would always be at a disadvantage in the face of true supernatural threats.
As he stepped into the courtyard, Lu Sheng saw Second Mother approaching with his father, Lu Quanan. They walked slowly, side by side. When Second Mother caught sight of Lu Qingqing in his arms, her expression softened with relief.
Lu Sheng’s heart grew heavier.
"Come, take the young lady back to her room. Let her bathe and rest."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9PYZV5RCm
He spoke loudly, masking his inner turmoil with firm command.
Lu Sheng called over several sturdy maids to carefully take Lu Qingqing into their care.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgXeyczRBL
He gave a few more orders, instructing others to help the two confused fools bathe and rest.
Both Lu Quanan and his second wife, Liu Cuiyu, quickly sensed that something was wrong—not just because of the presence of two strangers, but because of Lu Qingqing herself.
Her eyes were vacant. When she looked at them, she didn’t react at all.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxxr82tJed
No greeting, no recognition—just a slow yawn, as if they were complete strangers.
"Little Sheng? What… what is going on?!" Liu Cuiyu’s voice trembled, her face pale with worry.
"Let’s talk inside."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEkCzqT5VR
Lu Sheng raised his hand, motioning the guards to stand down and get some rest.12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3kSOcMVQ4
He left the task of accounting for the remaining guards to Yu Han.
The group moved into the mansion, and Lu Sheng immediately had people prepare the reward and silver notes for Yan Kai and his companions.
Then, he led Lu Quanan and the key family members into the inner courtyard's main hall.
After dismissing the remaining maids and servants, Lu Sheng sat down and began recounting the entire ordeal—how he had discovered Lu Qingqing, and everything that had happened along the way.
When he finished, Second Lady Liu Cuiyu suddenly rolled her eyes and fainted on the spot.
"Second Mother!"12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYXZoi562U
Lu Sheng rushed over to catch her, while the Fifth Lady and several others hurried forward to massage her Ren Zhong acupoint, trying to revive her.
"Gently..."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4ZJZJnTSq
Lu Quanan muttered, his voice hoarse. He sat motionless, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
After a long silence, he finally looked at Lu Sheng with a faint glimmer of hope.
"Is there really no way? No chance at all?"
"We could ask Taoist Master Yan Kai. Maybe he—"
Lu Sheng closed his eyes, his expression bleak. Then, he slowly shook his head.
"I already asked..."12Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSv6ymr7pU
His voice was low and hoarse.
A silence fell over the room.
From the side, the Fifth Lady’s daughter, Lu Yingying, whispered quietly, unaware that her words could be heard.
"Maybe… maybe it’s better like this for Second Sister… At least she won’t be running around causing trouble all the time…"
The others didn’t catch it, but Lu Sheng did.
His martial arts had sharpened his senses, and her whisper was as clear as thunder in his ears.
He lifted his head and shot a sharp, icy glare at Lu Yingying.
She paled, her whole body trembling, and immediately lowered her gaze, too afraid to say another word.
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