Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Lu Lingzhu was a Maoshan Taoist, a master of both martial arts and Taoist sorcery. More importantly, she possessed a pure yin birth chart and a resilient constitution, making her blood the perfect key to opening the Ghost Tomb.

Song Feifei was her disciple-an ordinary second-generation rich girl with a natural passion for adventure. Lu Lingzhu took her everywhere.

I grabbed Lu Lingzhu’s arm in dissatisfaction.

“Director Chen is my friend, and we’re all here now. You’re a person beyond the secular; why are you being so particular about these things?”

“Hmph, the ‘things’ are secondary. The point is that you lied to me. Get lost!”

Lu Lingzhu shoved me hard. I stumbled back three steps, clutching my chest with a look of utter disbelief.

“We’ve been friends for so many years, and you’re hitting me over this? That’s it!”

“Bring it on! I’ve been sick of looking at you for a long time!”

Lu Lingzhu lunged forward and threw a heavy punch. As the two of us began to brawl, Song Feifei flailed her arms nearby, trying to mediate.

“Stop it! Please, stop fighting! Don’t fight anymore!”

“Ah, this-how did it come to this?”

Director Chen stood to the side, helpless and sweating profusely.

Jiang Haoyan remarked coolly, “In ancient times, two peaches were used to kill three warriors. Now, you offer just one item and expect two masters to risk their lives for you. Tsk, I have to say, Director Chen, you really don’t know how to treat people.”

Director Chen had a sudden epiphany and slapped his forehead.

“It’s my fault! Masters, please, stop fighting! You can each choose one item from the castle.”

I gripped my Thunderstruck Wood Talisman, turning a deaf ear to him.

“Hmph, Lu Lingzhu, don’t think you can lord it over me just because you studied Wudang’s Xingyi Quan. If I blast your forehead with a Palm Thunder, how will you handle that?”

“Don’t make me laugh! I was born with a screw loose anyway; you think I’m afraid of your lightning? Come on!”

“Hah! Five Thunders Command-”

A flash of lightning streaked out, hitting Lu Lingzhu square in the head. Her whole body stiffened, and her eyes widened.

“Damn it, Qiao Moyu, you actually did it! I’m going to kill you!”

I turned and ran, whispering a plea for mercy as I fled.

“If I don’t make it look real, how is he going to fall for it?”

That’s right-this was a scheme Lu Lingzhu and I had designed in advance. We were both extraordinary masters; it would have looked tacky to haggle with Director Chen directly. So, we conspired to use this tactic to get him to raise the price.

Director Chen fell for it completely, waving his arms and shouting after us.

“Four items! Each of the four of you can have one! Masters, please stop fighting!”

Song Feifei stamped her feet nearby, fully committed to her role.

“Lingzhu, I’m begging you, please stop fighting!”

Lu Lingzhu delivered a flying kick that sent me sprawling on the ground. Director Chen panicked and gritted his teeth.

“Six items! You can take six items from the castle-that’s really the limit! Masters, give me some face and stop fighting!”

Lu Lingzhu and I locked eyes. She reached out and pulled me up from the ground.

“Sigh, that face-plant of yours reminded me of the first time we met twelve years ago. The way I pushed you down back then was just as graceful and moving.”

“I suppose I’ll risk my life for a friend this time. What choice do I have with a friend like you?”

Director Chen was overjoyed.

“Master Lu, that’s the spirit! Please, come inside, both of you. Try our famous local cream tea.”

Director Chen’s ancestors had immigrated to England long ago, and his family was prominent. His estate covered a hundred acres, with dozens of servants. He warmly invited us into the drawing room, where a long dining table stretched out almost as far as the eye could see.

Flowers and beautiful porcelain decorated the center of the table. Near several seats, there were servings of black tea, snacks, and… piles of garlic.

Lu Lingzhu peeled a clove of garlic and stuffed it into her mouth, grimacing in disgust.

“What is this? Garlic and black tea? And why is it called cream tea? This taste is ridiculous.”

Director Chen gave a dry cough.

“Ahem, well, Master Lu, those scones with cream over there are the tea snacks. This garlic… it’s for the two of you to ward off evil.”

“I wasn’t sure if our domestic Taoist tools would work out here. In foreign countries, silver and garlic are used to repel spirits, so I prepared a bit of everything just in case. Haha.”