Chapter 38: Escape from Death

“Who said that?!” Yun Jiao’s voice dropped low and firm. The faint white glow around the array finally converged at her position. Without hesitation, she lifted her foot and stomped down.

Crackle!

A sharp sound rang out as the dim white formation suddenly flared like a short circuit, bursting into brilliant light. With a thunderous boom, the ground shook violently, cracking open as the original array shattered apart.

The crimson glow vanished in an instant. Everyone felt their bodies lighten, the spiritual energy that had been draining away rushing back into them. The suffocating pressure also dispersed completely.

They… were saved!

⊙o⊙!

“No… how could this be?!” Shao Laoye’s eyes bulged, face twisted with disbelief. “Impossible! You’re all cultivators—anyone who cultivates qi cannot break the array!”

“Sorry!” Yun Jiao answered with a perfectly straight face. “I’m immune to qi.”

Shao Laoye froze, mouth agape—but he had no chance to question further. With the array broken, all the imprisoned wraiths burst free at once. They had died resentful deaths, then been trapped too long. Gaining freedom, the very first thing they did was seek vengeance.

A swarm of twisted, vengeful ghosts shrieked and dove straight at Shao Laoye.

“No… no! AHHHH!!!” His scream cut through the night, but within moments, his voice was swallowed. The ghosts engulfed him completely, leaving nothing behind.

“Father…” Shao Xian tried to rush forward, but the wrathful spirits surged like a storm, throwing him back and slamming him to the ground. He fainted instantly. By then, Shao Laoye was already silent—most likely reduced to nothing but bones, if even that.

“Sigh… self-inflicted sins cannot be lived.” Old Zhou shook his head, turning away, unable to watch.

The other cultivators’ faces were pale as well. No one had expected that what began as a simple exorcism nearly cost them their lives.

“This fellow Daoist…” Ji Feng, the blue-robed cultivator who had spoken up earlier, clasped his fists respectfully to Yun Jiao. His attitude had taken a complete turn. With his words, all the others also turned toward her, gazes filled with admiration. After all, she had saved them all.

Ji Feng asked sincerely, “May I ask… what should be done about these ghosts?” These spirits, twisted and maddened after so long, would surely become a disaster if left unchecked.

Yun Jiao blinked. Then, completely serious, she asked back, “How do you usually handle them?” How was she supposed to know?

Ji Feng froze, assuming she was politely seeking his opinion. He grew excited at her humility. Such a formidable Daoist, yet so modest! He quickly explained, “Normally, this many ghosts must be handed over to the Celestial Masters’ Hall. They have specialists who can pacify and release the spirits. All we need to do is seal them in talismans and deliver them. Since these wraiths are weakened from imprisonment, they should not be difficult to subdue.”

“Celestial Masters’ Hall?” Yun Jiao thought. There’s even a clean-up department for this? “Where is it?”

“Our Yongchang Sect is close to the Hall. If fellow Daoists trust me, I can deliver them.” Ji Feng volunteered.

“Oh.” Yun Jiao nodded with perfect gravity, as though she understood everything. “Very well, let’s collect them then.” She paused, then turned to Bai Yu. “Old man, where’s your ghost-sealing talisman?”

Bai Yu stiffened, his face pained. “I only have one!” It was the only one he’d begged from the Patriarch, paid for with half a month’s worth of chicken soup!

“Hand it over,” Yun Jiao said seriously. “Next time, I’ll teach you to draw more.”

Bai Yu: “…”

MMP! You devil! I don’t want more lessons!

But in the end, he handed it over. With a flick, the talisman flared, releasing a powerful suction. The skyful of ghosts howled, dragged irresistibly into the talisman. Within three breaths, they were gone.

Everyone stared in shock. They had never seen such a high-grade ghost-sealing talisman before.

“C-could this be… a high-tier ghost seal?!” Ji Feng asked in awe.

“Mhm.” Yun Jiao nodded solemnly. Of course—nothing the Patriarch makes is low grade. She accepted the talisman from Bai Yu, then immediately handed it to Ji Feng. Her expression remained stern and proper as she intoned:

“Here is the talisman. Take it well. That’ll be one hundred taels. Thank you.”

Ji Feng: “…”

Bai Yu: “…”

Old Zhou: “…”

Everyone: “…”

Did they just… hallucinate that?!

---

“Girl, why are we even going back to Shao Residence?” Bai Yu muttered, glancing at the unconscious youth slung across his back. He looked thoroughly unwilling.

They’d already earned money—even if from a different payer than expected. But Yun Jiao not only refused to leave, she insisted on carrying Shao Xian back, forcing him and Old Zhou to take turns bearing the burden.

Yes, the sinner had been Shao Laoye, not the son. And yes, Shao Xian had even begged for their lives. But still, he was the evil man’s heir… everyone felt uneasy.

“Of course we’re going back!” Yun Jiao said, as if it were obvious. “The Shao family hasn’t paid us yet. How do we split just a hundred taels among so many?”

Bai Yu: “…” Since when was she such a money-grubber?!

“Besides…” Yun Jiao stopped, her voice firm. “Don’t you think we forgot something?”

Bai Yu frowned. “No, we didn’t—wait…” His words caught in his throat. His eyes widened, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

Holy crap. The Patriarch!

“Quick! Old Zhou, hurry! Back to Shao Residence, now!”

Their reluctant trudge instantly turned into a mad sprint.

---

At Shao Residence.

From within the bamboo tube, the Patriarch floated out, staring at the empty dining table. His brow furrowed tightly. A surge of irritation boiled inside him.

Where was his breakfast?! Why was there nothing—no food, no people?!

Which blind fool dared abduct his disciple?!

He was furious. He wanted blood.

---

When Shao Xian finally awoke, days had passed. His whole body felt unburdened, lighter than he had ever known. Since childhood, a crushing weight had always lingered over him—now it was gone, utterly. It felt so freeing, he wondered if he had left his body and become a ghost.

Until a face appeared before him—familiar, serious, and solemn. It was a young woman’s face, one that made him instinctively trust her at first glance.

(End of Chapter)