### Chapter 271: The Female Ghost
The three of them had come to a consensus: today would be a day of relaxation and recharge, and tomorrow they would tackle their senior’s last wishes feeling refreshed.
Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xinghe were both excited, wanting to take this opportunity to explore the renowned Tianhai City. With essential oils being all the rage lately, it was only right to visit the birthplace of the essential oil industry and snag some exquisite products. Since they were here, how could they let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away?
In contrast, Yun Zhonghe wasn’t quite as keen on essential oils, thinking Tianhai City was no better than Cangzhou City, and he probably wouldn’t find anything worthwhile here.
Even if there were treasures to be had, only someone lucky like Huang Aotian could snag them. It had nothing to do with him!
Yun Zhonghe was reluctantly dragged along.
However, things had been a bit tense lately in Tianhai City, and he didn’t want to leave Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xinghe alone, even if Su Xinghe was a Yuan Ying Cultivator who didn’t actually need him to worry at all.
But come on, he was a guy! Naturally, he had to be a gentleman, escorting the two young ladies and looking after their safety.
Yun Zhonghe had a very high awareness of this!
Moreover, with Huang Aotian out of the picture, he really felt the duty to protect the female leads.
Especially since he had recently been followed by some demon cultivators; he couldn’t let his guard down!
…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the three wrapped up a joyful day full of activities and returned laden with goodies.
“They say people are on edge in Tianhai City, but I didn’t feel any crisis at all!”
“Right?! We had so much fun today! We must come back if we get the chance!”
The three of them returned to their inn, completely spent.
After a day of shopping and feasting, Yun Zhonghe felt like his back might snap at any moment.
In just half a day, they had walked all over the streets and alleys of Tianhai City, doing everything from shopping to sampling the local delicacies, and even made a trip to the local branch of the Immortal Alliance to report their victorious battle against the demon cultivators, in which they had successfully knocked one off its feet.
However, as the day came to an end, Yun Zhonghe was dead tired, dragging his feet behind him, while Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xinghe seemed like they were still ready to conquer the world, their energy levels enviable.
They walked ahead, chatting away, bursting with vitality, showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
Is this the power of girls?
No! It’s just that Yun Zhonghe’s stamina is absolutely pathetic.
Su Xinghe was a Yuan Ying Cultivator. Even though she practiced spells, she had abundant spiritual energy due to her spiritual root, and with that surplus energy, her physique was spruced up, eliminating fatigue. This is why all cultivators above the Yuan Ying stage don’t need sleep.
As for Su Xiaoxiao, her tough physique made this level of activity feel like a walk in the park for her!
In the end, it still boiled down to Yun Zhonghe not keeping up; he felt a bit helpless about it.
But there was nothing he could do—his spiritual root was average, and plus, he had to maintain his personal spirit sword, leaving no extra energy to boost his stamina.
When the trio finally returned to the inn, it was already late. Dinner was served, and they returned with full bellies.
After a brief conversation, they decided to head to their rooms to rest, regenerating their energy for their visit to the Chen Family tomorrow.
“Ha… I’m dead tired.”
As soon as Yun Zhonghe opened the door to his room, it felt like he divested a thousand-pound burden. He let out a long sigh and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
However, in that moment, he felt a soft thud as he landed in something warm and squishy.
It wasn’t the bed’s softness that embraced him; it was the warmth of another body!
With his eyes half-open, he began to register that he had landed on Xue Yunjian.
At that moment, Xue Yunjian had taken on human form, her soft body clad in an alluring bunny outfit; under the ambient light, she looked particularly enticing.
A faint fragrance enveloped him, almost enchanting.
But Yun Zhonghe had no energy left today; he needed a break.
“Sorry, Xue Yunjian, not today.”
Gotta give the girl a day off.
But Xue Yunjian’s pure and flawless face slightly puffed in protest, “Hmm~ Do you think I’m just a filthy girl who only wants ‘that’ when I’m around you, Master?”
At that, Yun Zhonghe’s face registered shock; he blurted out without thinking, “Isn’t that the point?!”
Since joining the Xuantian Sect, Xue Yunjian had shown a particular enthusiasm for their “training,” almost bringing it up every three days!
And her training sessions were borderline intense, as if she wanted to squeeze every last bit of spiritual energy from him.
It was one thing if it was the regular intensity expected between cultivated partners, but with Xue Yunjian’s fervor, who could handle it?
A stick could catch fire with so much friction!
Xue Yunjian: “…”
Noticing she had gone silent, Yun Zhonghe couldn’t resist cutting in, “Come on, at least admit it to yourself!”
Xue Yunjian tilted her head slightly, “I’m an honest sword spirit.”
However, before she could finish, her expression suddenly turned serious, bearing a mix of earnestness and wariness Yun Zhonghe had never seen before.
“Let’s put this aside, Master. Ever since we started talking, something has been watching us from the shadows.”
Yun Zhonghe’s playful mood vanished in an instant, replaced by anxiety and vigilance.
Something was watching him?
Not a person—something.
His heart sank. He checked the Book of Prophecy, but there was no sign of danger.
Could it be that the demon cultivators he encountered earlier were related?
For some reason, ever since leaving the Xuantian Sect, he felt like all kinds of monsters were closely trailing him.
More importantly, if Xue Yunjian hadn’t warned him in time, he wouldn’t have even sensed the strange aura.
That aura was completely alien, filled with an unexplainable peculiarity and evil.
“How did you sense it?” Yun Zhonghe couldn’t help but ask.
Maybe Xue Yunjian wasn’t human, making her more sensitive?
Just as he was about to get up and check the window, Xue Yunjian pressed a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing his head against her chest. “The other party is very cautious. If you go near, they’ll probably take off. Master, why not pretend we’re getting intimate? This way, we can observe their reactions.”
Yun Zhonghe narrowed his eyes, skepticism creeping in. “Are you sure this isn’t just your way of tricking me into something more?”
Xue Yunjian’s clear gaze met his. “How could it be, Master? I’m an honest sword spirit.”
Fine, but Yun Zhonghe sensed an unusual presence.
If that thing remained cautious, it would only continue to hide in the shadows, silently observing.
What a peeping Tom!
“Master, being still isn’t enough,” Xue Yunjian chimed in again, “If we want to lure it out, we might need to take some action.”
Her suggestion was constructive, but Yun Zhonghe was somewhat reluctant.
However, his spiritual perception detected that the entity was still lurking nearby, watching them. If he did nothing, he might miss his chance.
With no other option, he reluctantly decided to play along with Xue Yunjian.
So Yun Zhonghe reached out and started to caress Xue Yunjian’s body.
“Ha~ Mmm~~ Master, your technique is getting better and better; it’s no wonder you were trained by me.”
She let out a breathless sigh laced with hidden meanings.
Zhonghe felt his cheeks heat up, his voice carrying an almost imperceptible tremor. “Did it react?”
Xue Yunjian shook her head gently. “It seems it hasn’t completely lowered its guard; we might need to exert ourselves a bit more before it loosens up.”
Yun Zhonghe: ???
He suspected Xue Yunjian might be up to something.
Xue Yunjian quietly stuck her tongue out, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “I wonder what kind of pervert is so interested in watching the fun between us.”
With that, she pressed her body closer to Yun Zhonghe, her legs winding around him, as if wanting to deepen the intimate atmosphere.
Her hands slipped inside his clothes, softly touching his warm, smooth skin.
“Master, your skin is so smooth,” she murmured, as if critiquing a piece of art, wearing an expression imbued with significance, mixed with teasing and appreciation.
As the room began to fill with a suggestive haze, the lurking entity seemed to sense something and stirred.
Xue Yunjian was relentless; she extended her tongue, licking Yun Zhonghe’s collarbone, trailing up to his neck and giving it a nibble.
Yun Zhonghe shivered.
His ears flushed crimson; he felt rock solid.
Just as things were heating up, Yun Zhonghe suddenly noticed a pair of ghostly white hands silently clinging to the window!
The presence was like a specter in the night, quietly peering into the room.
It looked like a woman’s hand—delicate and slender, but extraordinarily pale, as if it had never seen sunlight. Its nails were an unnatural red, as if freshly stained with bl**d.
The sudden appearance turned the already charged atmosphere eerie and tense, as if pulled into a horror game!
Yun Zhonghe’s eyes sharpened. Stuck in a warm embrace with Xue Yunjian, he leaped up like an arrow, charging toward the window, loudly calling out!
“Xue Yunjian!”
Yun Zhonghe shouted for her, but Xue Yunjian had nearly melted into him and suddenly halted, silently wishing the other party had more timing and could wait a moment longer.
But Yun Zhonghe had called for her, and Xue Yunjian instantly transformed back into her sword form.
With Xue Yunjian in hand, he dashed toward the window without hesitation, aiming to catch the voyeur. However, the moment he moved, the figure retracted its hand and quickly darted into a nearby alley, disappearing without a trace.
Even though their encounter was brief, Yun Zhonghe caught a glimpse of a girl in white clothing.
In the dead of the night, was that… a female ghost?!
However, that white-clad girl’s speed was astonishingly fast—Yun Zhonghe didn’t have time to get a good look at her. He thrust himself into the dark alley, but after pursuing for a while, he found nothing.
“Gone.”
Yun Zhonghe halted, his brow furrowing as confusion set in. That thing had been too quick! Even with his skills, he couldn’t catch up—it was beyond his expectations.
After all, Yun Zhonghe had always been confident in his burst speed and agility; he believed he could reach most targets in a blink. He just wasn’t particularly enduring—his stamina and endurance were lacking.
He never expected to lose track of something so easily; clearly, this opponent was formidable.
Just then, Xue Yunjian buzzed in his grip: 【Master, you were too hasty. If you had gone in deeper, the other party would have let down its guard and we could have caught it.】
Yun Zhonghe chuckled inwardly.
He knew full well what Xue Yunjian was scheming.
This sword spirit was indeed… naughty.
“Could that be the culprit behind all the recent assaults?”
Doubt crept into Yun Zhonghe’s mind.
After all, many reports indicated that the assailant was a humanoid monster.
…
That night, Yun Zhonghe’s sleep was particularly light, as though every nerve in him was hyper-tensed, unable to completely relax.
After all, the events just witnessed were hard to forget.
The sudden attack from the female ghost, those ghostly pale hands on the window, and the flickering figure in white—nothing about that was exactly delightful.
He worried that if that white-clad female ghost really was the assailant spoken of in the city, she could come back for round two.
In this state of anxiety, Yun Zhonghe found it tough to sleep soundly.
When the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains and brushed his face, he awoke.
Opening his eyes, he noticed his arm was a bit numb. Turning his head, he found Xue Yunjian, bare and snuggled tight against his side, her breathing even and peaceful, completely immersed in sweet dreams.
She had promised to keep watch last night so Yun Zhonghe could sleep soundly.
And yet, here she was, off in dreamland while her heavy limbs had been resting on his arm all night—no wonder it felt numb!
With that pure, enchanting face, if she kept quiet, she’d definitely be a heart-stopping beauty.
Though now, she was still a jaw-dropping beauty.
Yun Zhonghe used their bond to transform her back into sword form, allowing her to continue her beauty sleep in her sheath.
Then he got ready, changing back into his signature stylish outfit before heading down to the inn’s common area.
Since it was still early, Su Xiaoxiao and Su Xinghe were still resting, so he didn’t disturb them and decided to wait until they awoke.
Sitting alone in the inn’s teahouse, he ordered some light snacks.
By now, patrons were trickling into the teahouse despite the hour being early. Regulars looking for gossip had gathered, enjoying tea and exchanging tales.
Yun Zhonghe found a window seat and settled in with some delightful pastries and a fragrant pot of tea, listening to the storyteller ramble.
On stage, the storyteller was animated, his saliva flying as he spoke loud enough to be heard through the crowd, passionately declaring, “Just last night, a Yuan Ying powerhouse from Daxia City, a figure of great renown, met a tragic demise by assassination! It truly is lawless; the world is about to descend into chaos!”
“I shall recount how many strongmen have perished this month! First, the Yuan Ying general from Chiyang City was eliminated with barely a sound; then, in Wuming City, three Yuan Ying experts fell in succession; followed by two Yuan Ying masters from Qingfeng Prefecture who couldn’t escape their fate; and in Wang Gu City, a staggering four Yuan Ying cultivators were slaughtered! Last night, once again, a Yuan Ying powerhouse from our very own Daxia City met an untimely end…”
At this point, the storyteller’s excitement ramped up, his eyes shining with indignation. “In less than a month’s time, eleven Yuan Ying powerhouses have perished in Eastern Continent alone! These were not just any nobodies! As for the countless Golden Core masters and Foundation Establishment cultivators who have met mysterious ends, they are almost too many to count! It’s suspected to be the work of an organized group!”
With these words, shock and chatter erupted from the crowd below, with people exclaiming, “Who could possibly be so brazen?!”
The storyteller sighed, shaking his head. “Who knows? We’re in chaotic times, it’s a prelude to widespread turmoil! The Immortal Alliance has urgently ramped up security and patrols, trying to intimidate those demons!”
“Sigh, what a troublesome period! Those devils dared to infiltrate various cities to assassinate Yuan Ying powerhouses—it’s utterly terrifying, and even our Tianhai City is not at peace.”
“Word has it someone encountered that monster just yesterday?”
The storyteller’s expression turned serious as he continued, clearly troubled, “Yes, there are even reports claiming to have seen it. Apparently, it was extraordinarily tall—eight feet high, with skin so pale it looked like a corpse, as if it had clawed its way out of a grave. And… its figure resembled that of a woman…”
Sitting in the audience, Yun Zhonghe processed these bizarre rumors with a grimace: what’s this about the Eight-Foot Lady?
His thoughts drifted back to the scene he encountered last night—though she’d also been a female ghost in white, she hadn’t appeared that exaggerated.
Eight feet tall!
How big must that be!
But more than being spooked by the Eight-Foot Lady’s odd rumors, Yun Zhonghe was more concerned with the previous mention of the assassination events. With so many Yuan Ying powerhouses falling, there had to be an evil force behind the scenes!
Could it be that the demon forces had been lurking for a hundred years and were now genuinely gearing up for battle?
This plotline didn’t even exist in the original!
Yet, Yun Zhonghe had grown numb to deviations from the original “script.” It had become a regular occurrence.
But really, the audacity of the demon forces was astounding; how did they dare to assassinate so many Yuan Ying cultivators consecutively? Was there a massive powerhouse from the Transformation Stage lurking behind it?
Just as Yun Zhonghe fell into contemplation, he suddenly noticed a girl in white nearby, continuously sizing him up.
Ever since coming to Tianhai City, he had caught plenty of women’s attention dressed as a wealthy playboy, but he had ignored them all.
Yet, the way this white-clad girl was looking at him felt as if her gaze could pierce through his face—a near-licking stare that was hard to bear.
So, following her line of sight, he looked over.
Hmm? This time, Yun Zhonghe blinked in surprised recognition—the face of this white-clothed girl seemed eerily familiar.
“Ah! It’s really you!”
The girl’s eyes lit up with excitement as she called out.
This time, Yun Zhonghe actually recognized her. He was momentarily taken aback. “Oh? Senior Sister?”
This girl in white was the one he had made a secret deal with in Questioning Way Alley!
Back then, Yun Zhonghe had shared his unique insights on sword techniques with her in exchange for five precious Yuan Ying Pills.
He never thought they’d run into each other again here!
“I thought you looked familiar! Indeed, it’s you, Junior Brother,” the girl smiled, glancing him up and down. A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes. “Your getup is different from last time; I almost didn’t recognize you!”
Yun Zhonghe felt a bit flattered by her compliment, awkwardly scratching the tip of his nose. “Senior Sister, what a coincidence!”
“Quite a coincidence indeed,” she smiled gently.
“Senior Sister, what brings you here?” Yun Zhonghe invited her to sit, and he requested more dishes to be served.
Encountering someone familiar like this was indeed a rare stroke of good luck.
Plus, she had previously helped him!
The girl was candid, elegantly sipping her tea as she spoke. “Thanks to your guidance, I made huge strides in my swordsmanship. My family noticed my rapid progress and sent me out to do some tasks. I never expected to run into you here.”
As they munched and chatted, the atmosphere became very amicable.
After their chit-chat, Yun Zhonghe learned that this Senior Sister’s name was Xia Linglong, and she was actually the daughter of the Xia Family Business!
This revelation sent a shiver down his spine. No wonder she had acted so lavishly before—she’s a wealthy heiress!
The Xia Family Business was a colossal entity at the top of the cultivation world, with an immense fortune that could only be described as staggering.
Plus, Xia Linglong was also an Inner Gate Disciple of the Xuantian Sect.
But despite being an heiress, Xia Linglong had a strong drive for ambition, getting into the Inner Gate with her own skills.
This much Yun Zhonghe could relate to.
Being able to master the Southern Sky Fire Sword Technique to perfection showed that Xia Linglong must have put in a ton of effort, and sharing a passion for sword-fighting, he could sense the kindred spirit in her.
Just as passionately devoted to swordsmanship as he was, Xia Linglong shared the same enthusiasm.
Xia Linglong felt the same way; last time was inconvenient for them to connect, and since they had only interacted based on mutual benefit, they hadn’t discussed more. But now that they met again, it felt destined.
They were destined to become close friends along their swordsmanship journeys.
As they delved deeper into their conversation, it naturally heated up.
“Junior Brother Yun,” Xia Linglong gently called, “what’s with your attire?”
She pointed out Yun Zhonghe’s flamboyant outfit. In her understanding, he wasn’t the sort to fall for such flashy styles.
Xia Linglong, donning a simple and elegant outfit, didn’t appear to flaunt her status as the daughter of a millionaire. She looked pretty much like an ordinary cultivator.
When they first met, perhaps her clothing didn’t showcase her remarkable figure since it restricted her mobility for the sake of practicing swordplay.
But this time, she was openly displaying her charm!
Xia Linglong’s figure was even more impressive than Su Xiaoxiao’s, leaving one in awe!
Wow, she’s really stacked!
Yun Zhonghe quickly looked away, startled by her voluptuousness but quickly regained his composure.
“When out and about, it’s necessary to disguise my identity to evade unnecessary trouble,” he replied.
Upon hearing this, Xia Linglong immediately understood, smiling as she nodded, her eyes twinkling with comprehension.
Then Yun Zhonghe shot back a question: “What brings Senior Sister here? Isn’t the sect gearing up for the grand competition? With your abilities, wouldn’t you have a shot at entering the Four Beasts Secret Realm?”
Xia Linglong was candid, showing a bit of carefree charm. She laughed, scratching her head. “No, no, I probably wouldn’t cut it. There are too many geniuses in the sect. I’m quite self-aware.”
Then she shared her real purpose for being here.
Turns out, the Xia Family Business’s essential oils were selling like hotcakes, so her family had tasked her with coming to Tianhai City to explore the local essential oil market and attempt to make a deal with the essential oil giant, the Chen Family.
But beyond that, Xia Linglong seemed to have another objective.
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhonghe’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued; his eyes lit up as he queried, “Oh? What’s that?”
Before he could finish speaking, he caught a faint blush appear on Xia Linglong’s face, bringing a hint of surprise to his heart.
Xia Linglong took a deep breath, gathering her courage, “I’m here to find my sweetheart!”
At that moment, Yun Zhonghe’s interest skyrocketed. He stopped sipping his tea, raising his eyebrows, “Really?”
Can you believe it—getting attention from a wealthy heiress? That fellow must be the luckiest guy alive!
It’s like a skyrocket moment straight to the peak of life!
“Yes,” Xia Linglong softly confirmed, her gaze instinctively averting Yun Zhonghe’s probing eyes, her blush deepening, her voice barely audible, “My sweetheart is also here in Tianhai City. I’ve come to chase her down.”
Yun Zhonghe’s gossip-loving spirit ignited. He could hardly contain his excitement, “Who’s your crush, Senior Sister?”
“She… is also a disciple of our sect,” Xia Linglong shyly mumbled, her small hands unconsciously fiddling with the hair falling over her shoulder, her voice getting even softer—she looked just like a little girl!
The flavor here… is sweet and innocent—a taste of first love!
Who would have thought that Senior Sister Xia, looking like she was around twenty, was still new to love?
But… a disciple of the Xuantian Sect? And she’s currently in Tianhai City?
Suddenly, Yun Zhonghe’s expression turned serious as if realization dawned on him.
He watched as Senior Sister Xia, blushing sheepishly, murmured, “I believe her name is Su Xiaoxiao…?”
Yun Zhonghe:！！！
His heart jolted as if hit by lightning.
“Hey… Senior Sister, don’t make such reckless choices; why go for a yellow-haired girl?!”
