Ch37 – Wife’s about to be gone

Translator: Abo Dammen

Tao Yaozhi, the millennium-old bewitching demon, had truly honed his art of being a “green teabag” to perfection. He had steeped out experience, steeped out flair, and steeped out a classic model. 

The moment he opened his mouth, it was the absolute peak-grade Longjing tea, the kind harvested before the spring rains. But unfortunately for him, he ran into the “teabag-killer,” the utterly clueless one completely immune to such tactics.

On one hand, Tao Yaozhi was putting on his most pitiful act, insisting he wasn’t worthy of staying inside the house. On the other, Jing Liansheng remained expressionless, his voice flat as ever, “Indeed. There’s an earthen flowerpot over there. You can stay there.”

Although a little disappointed, Tao Yaozhi wasn’t too surprised. He had already seen that Jing Liansheng’s heart was as cold and hard as stone. He then turned his pitiful, beseeching eyes toward Bai Qing, filled with silent supplication.

Feeling that gaze, Bai Qing hesitated for a moment. 

He did want to bring Tao Yaozhi inside, not out of pity, but because he had plans. Before going to sleep at night, when Jing Liansheng wasn’t paying attention, he could have Tao Yaozhi give him a few gentle hits.

Maybe then, Bai Qing could conveniently traverse his dreams, filling in the missing memories and unraveling the tangled mysteries of the past. After thinking it over, Bai Qing looked at Jing Liansheng. “Liansheng, look at how pitiful he is. Just let him come inside.”

Jing Liansheng looked at Bai Qing with slight surprise.

Tao Yaozhi immediately nodded frantically, blurting out, “I’ll be very quiet, I absolutely won’t disturb the young master’s rest, really.” 

Bai Qing added, “Right, Liansheng, I won’t let him bother you. He can stay in my room. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“You… will sleep in the same room?” Jing Liansheng gave a cold laugh, though even he didn’t know why he was sneering, which only made him feel more irritated and restless.

Seeing Jing Liansheng’s displeasure, Bai Qing also felt a twinge of anxiety and quickly changed tack. “Forget it, if the young master doesn’t like it…”

“Hmph, what is there for me not to like?” Jing Liansheng went into full automatic cold-laugh mode again. “It’s your own room. You decide for yourself. Hmph.” 

With that, he turned and left, leaving Bai Qing and Tao Yaozhi staring at each other.

Tao Yaozhi asked cautiously, his face full of worry, “Bai-ge, did I say something wrong? Did I make the young master angry?”

Bai Qing replied, “He doesn’t like strangers getting too close to him. Just stay away from him.”

“Understood, Bai-ge.” Tao Yaozhi nodded obediently, looking genuinely understanding. 

Actually, Bai Qing didn’t think Jing Liansheng’s attitude toward Tao Yaozhi was that bad. He recalled that when he first arrived, Jing Liansheng hadn’t been this “polite” with him.

Now, by comparison, Jing Liansheng was actually quite gentle with Tao Yaozhi!

Just thinking about it made Bai Qing feel an inexplicable twinge of frustration. What gives? Back then, when Jing Liansheng didn’t want to share a room with me, he threatened to twist my neck and with a wave of his hand sent me flying ten kilometers away! Now, with this little peach blossom who knows how to act coy, he can be so tolerant?

Bai Qing muttered to himself, feeling a bit jealous. 

Still thinking about Jing Er’s so-called “wife-killing curse,” Bai Qing said to Tao Yaozhi, “I’m going to the main house to speak with the head of the Jing family about this. You wait here for now?”

Hearing this, Tao Yaozhi immediately looked horrified, eyes wide and round, stammering, “Me… alone with the young master? That… that’s not really appropriate, is it?”

Though Tao Yaozhi’s pitiful act was just that, an act, his genuine fear of Jing Liansheng was real.

Bai Qing reconsidered. “Forget it. Come with me to the main house.” 

As he said this, Bai Qing peeked into the room, intending to let Jing Liansheng know. Unexpectedly, Jing Liansheng was lying in the coffin with a cold expression, eyes closed, radiating an aura of “Evil Ghost Inside, Living Persons Keep Away.”

Feeling the pressure of a legendary-level ghost entity, Tao Yaozhi instinctively took a few steps back, his delicate frame trembling.

Bai Qing, never one to fear Jing Liansheng, was even less intimidated now. He was only concerned about disturbing Jing Liansheng’s rest. He tore off a sticky note, quickly wrote a few lines, and placed it on the coffin. Afterward, he quietly closed the door and left with Tao Yaozhi. The moment the door shut, the Great Fierce Ghost inside the coffin abruptly opened blood-red eyes.

He reached out with a pale hand and took down Bai Qing’s note. It read: “Liansheng, I’ve gone to the main house to check with Jing Er. If you wake up hungry, there are new incense candles in the cupboard.” 

Jing Liansheng pressed his lips together, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, but it quickly vanished.

He didn’t care for the scent of those incense candles. To him, they were meaningless.

What he craved now… was a very particular scent.

Thinking this, Jing Liansheng pressed his lips even tighter, careful not to reveal his inappropriate fangs. 

With a flick of his sleeve, the coffin lid closed tightly, allowing no light to escape. He lay there silently, telling himself to remain calm and composed, unmoved by the outside world.

Main House, Jing Residence.

Bai Qing didn’t have much trouble finding Jing Er. Tao Yaozhi, feeling that his presence was somewhat delicate, stayed outside the door obediently, waiting. As soon as Bai Qing pushed the door open, Jing Er came forward, face beaming with joy. “Master Lin Zhao explained everything in detail! My fate doesn’t interfere with marriage at all! Now I can marry without worry!”

Seeing Jing Er so happy, Bai Qing’s lips couldn’t help but curve into a faint smile. “That’s good. You can finally put your mind at ease. But…” His eyes flicked. “How did you get in touch with Master Lin Zhao?” 

Jing Er chuckled. “Didn’t you suggest I find a master to break my wife-killing fate? I happened to mention it to Teacher Ying. He said the Xuanmen Sect is very famous. Once I heard that, I deliberately had someone contact them. They said their sect leader, Master Lin Zhao, happened to be in Lotus City. After some back and forth, I finally got in touch with him.”

Bai Qing gritted his teeth. Ying Zhili again!

Jing Er, still glowing with excitement, asked Bai Qing, “Will you and the young master come to my wedding?”

Bai Qing scratched his head. It’s not that we don’t want to give blessings, but blessings from a fierce ghost and a living corpse… I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle that energy! 

Our “you-dead-I-rotting” CP shouldn’t bring ill luck to such a joyous occasion.

Seeing Bai Qing’s hesitation, Jing Er felt a bit disappointed but still managed a slight smile. “I understand. The young master doesn’t like crowds. I get it.”

Bai Qing quickly explained, “Ah, he really does have a bit of social anxiety. But he cares about you in his heart. It’s just that in that kind of setting… he might feel uncomfortable.”

“I understand,” Jing Er nodded. 

Jing Er had always considered Jing Liansheng the true eldest young master of the Jing family, yet he had to cultivate in seclusion until adulthood, which was truly arduous. Meanwhile, as an outsider, he had inherited the head of the family’s position. Whenever he thought of it, he felt he owed Jing Liansheng a lot. So it made sense that Jing Liansheng wasn’t close to him.

Since he had inherited billions in family assets, he couldn’t take advantage while pretending to be virtuous.

Bai Qing pushed open the door and stepped out. Tao Yaozhi hurried after him, a few traces of curiosity on his face, whispering, “Bai-ge, are we going straight back now?”

Bai Qing didn’t slow his pace, brow slightly furrowed. After a moment of thought, he said, “I’m going to find Ying Zhili.” 

“Ying Zhili…?” Tao Yaozhi repeated the name, brow furrowing even tighter, eyes full of curiosity. “Who is he?”

Bai Qing looked at him. “Someone ten times more terrifying than Jing Liansheng!”

Tao Yaozhi shivered. There’s someone even more powerful?!

What kind of dragon’s lair and tiger’s den is this Jing family?! 

Bai Qing quickly sifted through his memories, confirming that Ying Zhili was Wu Ying, the great shaman who had served the Ancient Lotus with single-minded devotion.

Bai Qing quickened his pace, thoughts rising and falling with his steps. Ying Zhili clearly intended to lure me into making a wish to the Ancient Lotus. I was just a naive young man back then. I probably really fell into his scheme, believed his trick, and made that wish. That’s why I became this living corpse, outside the cycle of reincarnation.

Since Ying Zhili knew the truth, could he have already recognized Bai Qing as the Ci Ying from back then?

If he recognized him and had been orchestrating these schemes all along, what exactly was his goal? 

Bai Qing realized that idle speculation wouldn’t be enough, he had to act.

Jing Liansheng had his own goals, relying on Ying Zhili to trigger the Ancient Lotus bloom. Even knowing Ying Zhili was questionable, he still worked with him. But Bai Qing was different. He felt he needed to take the initiative, go find Ying Zhili, and test him.

Bai Qing walked to Ying Zhili’s door and lightly knocked, but no response came from inside. Suspicious, he was about to knock again when Tao Yaozhi whispered beside him, “I don’t sense any yang energy inside. There shouldn’t be anyone here.”

Bai Qing paused but remained doubtful. Ying Zhili might not be human either. 

Just then, a passing maid noticed Bai Qing knocking. She stopped and said, “Teacher Ying left early this morning with his luggage.”

“Left?” Bai Qing was slightly surprised, a flush of frustration rising in his chest. This Ying Zhili really knew how to time things. Every time someone tried to confront him, he managed to vanish, leaving them empty-handed.

Bai Qing asked again, “Auntie, do you know where he went?”

“How would I know?” The maid looked helpless. 

Bai Qing had anticipated no answer, yet still thanked her politely. Once she left, he furrowed his brow, staring at the closed door, still unwilling to give up. Tao Yaozhi noticed his thoughts and whispered, “Bai-ge, do you want to go in and have a look?”

Bai Qing raised an eyebrow. “You have a way to open this door?”

“I’m a peach blossom thief! Stealing fragrances, pilfering jade, illegal entry, a thousand years of experience, perfectly suited!” Tao Yaozhi said, a hint of pride on his face.

He extended his long fingers, gently brushing the lock. A wisp of faint pink demon energy drifted out, transforming into a thin, sentient thread, silently probing into the keyhole. 

Moments later, the lock opened.

Tao Yaozhi beamed with pride, pushing the door open while giving Bai Qing a cheeky glance, as if to say, “Pretty impressive, right?”

Bai Qing couldn’t help but be impressed. My apologies for underestimating the peach blossom demon’s skills. 

Tao Yaozhi stepped inside. The moment he did, he triggered a hidden formation. Instantly, a powerful black vortex surged up inside the room like a roaring beast, sweeping toward the intruder! 

This was clearly a formation left by Ying Zhili, its magical power deep and unfathomable. Tao Yaozhi had no means of defense and was moments away from being mercilessly consumed by the vortex. At that critical instant, Bai Qing stretched out his long arm, grabbing Tao Yaozhi’s wrist and yanking hard.

Outside the vortex, the airflow surged violently. Bai Qing’s pull created a backlash that instantly swapped their positions. Bai Qing was thrown toward the vortex’s entrance, while Tao Yaozhi was flung outside the door, stumbling several steps before regaining his footing.

Tao Yaozhi shouted, “Bai-ge!”

But it was too late. Bai Qing was instantly swallowed by the vortex, leaving only a roaring gust of wind in his wake. The massive door slammed shut with a thunderous “bang,” sending a shiver through Tao Yaozhi. He froze in place, pale as paper. Though young in appearance, Tao Yaozhi was old in years. He quickly steadied himself, not wasting a moment, and instantly used instantaneous movement. In the blink of an eye, he was at the West Wing door. 

He pounded on the door, but there was no response.

Tao Yaozhi could still sense the intense yin-curse energy inside. Clearly, Jing Liansheng was there, simply refusing to acknowledge him. Tao Yaozhi ignored his fear of the ghostly entity. He boldly pushed the door open and saw the coffin in the center of the room, its lid tightly closed, radiating an aura of “Do not disturb.”

Tao Yaozhi had no time for formalities. He directly pounded on the coffin’s lid, shouting, “Young Master, stop playing dead in there! Your wife is about to be gone!”

Before his words even faded, Tao Yaozhi had the privilege of witnessing a priceless scene: a millennium-old yin-cursed spirit launched from the coffin in an instant.