Chapter 12

Shen Ze played games for three hours. When he checked the time, it was already ten o’clock at night.

He got up, took a shower, changed into his pajamas, and found the Evil-Warding Talisman that Xia Sheng had given him earlier today. After hesitating for a moment, he finally put it in his pajama pocket, keeping it close to his body before going to bed.

Perhaps his mental state had been too poor lately; within minutes, he fell asleep.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt a chill all over his body, as if a giant stone was pressing on his chest, making it impossible to breathe.

He woke up instantly. Opening his eyes, he saw that familiar white Ghostly Figure standing by his bedside.

The figure’s face was shrouded in a hazy mist, making it impossible to see its features clearly.

Previously, since no one had said it was a ghost, Shen Ze hadn’t thought in that direction.

But after hearing Xia Sheng’s words during the day, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear.

The figure was originally raising its head, as if sniffing for something.

Perhaps it hadn’t found what it wanted, because suddenly the Ghostly Figure’s head split in the middle, rotated ninety degrees, and bent down to stare at him at an extremely bizarre angle.

Shen Ze finally saw its face clearly.

There were no real features on that face-just broken facial parts and shredded flesh pieced together as skin. Eyeballs dangled from the face, staring straight at him, making it extremely creepy.

Shit shit shit shit!

It really is a fucking ghost!

Shen Ze felt like his heart was about to explode. He opened his mouth to call for help, but even though he tried his hardest to scream, not a single sound came out.

His limbs felt as heavy as lead, completely unresponsive.

His mind was clear, but the rest of his body seemed to have gone on strike.

Could someone please tell him he was just dreaming right now!?

“Why is it gone?” the Ghostly Figure muttered, bending down closer to him, as if trying to inspect him. “Why can’t I eat it…?”

The Ghostly Figure emitted the stench of rotting corpses, making Shen Ze’s stomach churn.

As she bent closer, the stench grew even stronger, so overpowering that it was hard to keep his eyes open.

That bloody, mangled face drew nearer and nearer to Shen Ze, with sticky red liquid oozing from the torn flesh, dripping down onto his face. The sensation made Shen Ze tremble all over, cold sweat breaking out on his hands and feet.

Her dry, pitch-black hands had sharp nails, reaching toward Shen Ze’s face, as if she wanted to crack open his skull and see why she couldn’t absorb his vital energy.

Shen Ze: Don’t come any closer, ahhhhhhh!!

Shen Ze was so terrified he nearly passed out.

But just as the Ghostly Figure’s hand was about to touch his cheek, she suddenly let out a shrill scream. That dry, pitch-black hand instantly burst into flames.

Shen Ze jumped in fright. Realizing he could move again, he immediately grabbed his blanket and scrambled backward, curling up in the corner.

He stared at the Ghostly Figure, only to see that the blue flames, which had just burned her fingers, were now spreading across her body. In just a few seconds, she was completely engulfed.

His wildly beating heart thundered in his ears for a long time before Shen Ze finally calmed down.

Something in his pajama pocket was burning hot. He took it out and saw that the Runes on the Evil-Warding Talisman had already burned to a crisp, and the Talisman Paper was shriveled into a ball.

Shen Ze hadn’t believed in ghosts or spirits before, but after what had just happened, he couldn’t help but believe.

He hurriedly took out his phone and called Xia Sheng, his voice trembling with the shock of survival: “Da-da-da-da…”

It was as if Xia Sheng had expected him to call at this hour. Leaning against her headboard, she calmly said, “Come on, take a deep breath first.”

Shen Ze followed Xia Sheng’s instructions and took a deep breath.

Xia Sheng asked, “Feeling a little better?”

Shen Ze: “I think so… a little…”

…Bullshit! I’m still scared!

Shen Ze always thought he feared nothing except Uncle Nine, but now he felt like he was about to cry!

“Little Celestial Master! I saw a ghost tonight! She wanted to eat me! You have no idea-her eyeballs were as big as light bulbs, hanging from her face, swinging back and forth, and blood splattered all over my face!”
Shen Ze’s way of addressing Xia Sheng automatically switched to Little Celestial Master, his voice unconsciously tinged with sobs. “Little Celestial Master, the Evil-Warding Talisman you gave me has already burned up. Will that Female Ghost come looking for me again?”

Xia Sheng replied, “The Evil-Warding Talisman I gave you burned the Female Ghost. She won’t be coming over tonight, at least for now.”

Shen Ze shuddered. “For now?”

“Yes.”

“Little Celestial Master, could you come over now? I’m scared…”

“It’s already past midnight. I need to sleep.”

“You didn’t charge me for the Evil-Warding Talisman today, right? If you come over tonight, I’ll give you five million.”

Xia Sheng instantly perked up. “Address?”

Shen Ze let out a quiet sigh of relief.

If something can be solved with money, it’s not really a problem!

He gave the address, and Xia Sheng immediately changed clothes and set out.

The subway and buses had already stopped running for the night, so Xia Sheng took out her phone, preparing to figure out how to use a ride-hailing app.

She hadn’t even finished registering her account when a black Cayenne stopped in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing a man with refined and indifferent features, and a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes.

“It’s so late. Where are you going?”

Xia Sheng answered, “Yunshang Mansion, to see a friend.”

Perhaps Shen Yanchen’s aura as an elder was too strong, so Xia Sheng answered instinctively.

“Get in. I’m heading home, it’s on the way.”

Xia Sheng and Shen Yanchen had only met once before; by rights, she shouldn’t be getting into Shen Yanchen’s car.

But…

Xia Sheng glanced at the Ghosts surrounding the car, eyeing the person inside like hungry wolves. With a wave of her hand, those Ghosts were instantly flung more than ten meters away, staring at Xia Sheng in terror, not daring to approach again.

Shen Yanchen carried a heavy Baleful Qi, making him the most likely to attract Fierce Ghosts.

This man was still outside late at night instead of going home, like a plump, juicy piece of roasted meat swaying in front of wandering spirits.

Not to mention the Ghosts-even she wanted to take a couple of bites out of him.

But there seemed to be some hidden mystery about this man, making those Ghosts only dare to watch from a distance, not daring to touch him.

Xia Sheng opened the passenger door and got in.

As the car started, Xia Sheng asked, “Ninth Master, it’s already midnight. Why are you still out?”

Shen Yanchen’s voice was as cool and clear as he was. “Working overtime. Just got off.”

Xia Sheng was a little surprised. “So your job is pretty tough.”

She had thought only wage earners worked themselves to death with overtime, while bosses always left work on time.

Shen Yanchen said nothing.

Xia Sheng didn’t speak again, but secretly inhaled another mouthful of Baleful Qi from Shen Yanchen.

So fragrant.

The girl tried to steady her breathing, slowly absorbing the Baleful Qi swirling around the man beside her, swallowing it bit by bit.

Shen Yanchen glanced at her, noticed the little look of satisfaction on her face, and smiled helplessly.

Twenty minutes later.

Shen Ze heard some movement outside the villa and immediately dashed downstairs in his slippers.

“Little Celestial Master-”

Shen Ze opened the door, arms spread, ready to hug Little Celestial Master for comfort.

Unexpectedly, he was met with his Uncle Nine’s icy face. Shen Ze shivered, instantly stunned like a chicken.

“U-Uncle Nine… Why are you here?”

His stammering attitude made it seem as if seeing Uncle Nine was scarier than seeing a ghost.

Xia Sheng explained, “Ninth Master just got off work. We happened to meet, so he gave me a ride.”

When she saw Shen Ze today, she had already guessed he was probably connected to Shen Yanchen, so hearing Shen Ze call Shen Yanchen Uncle Nine didn’t surprise her.

“My Uncle Nine actually let you ride in his car!?”

Shen Ze was shocked.

Since when had his Uncle Nine become so kind?

Wasn’t Uncle Nine the one who hated trouble most?

Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he muttered, “That’s not right, I remember Uncle Nine went home before six today, didn’t he?”