He picked up the spoon and opened the plastic bag, a slight pause in his eyes. “Is this tofu pudding?”
It didn’t really look like it, did it?
Xiao Qingbei looked at Li Shaoyang’s expression, which had twisted with excitement.
He immediately felt something was off, but he didn’t overthink it.
Just as he was about to eat, Li Qiao reached over and knocked the tofu pudding out of his hand. “You can’t eat it!”
“What do you mean?”
Xiao Qingbei’s face was full of confusion.
Li Qiao narrowed her eyes. She struck Li Shaoyang with her palm, slapping a talisman onto the top of his head. His facial features began to contort wildly, and his entire body started emitting white smoke!
One moment it was Li Shaoyang’s face, the next it was a livid, cyan-colored one.
Xiao Qingbei and He Yi both let out startled cries in unison.
“A gh-ghost… a Sheqing ghost?” (Note: “Sheqing ghost” is a type of ghost from Chinese folklore known for being able to appear human and move through walls)
Xiao Qingbei and He Yi huddled together. They had clearly recognized that the person before them wasn’t Li Shaoyang; it was a Sheqing ghost capable of moving in daylight and changing its form.
Oh my god!
Help!
Seeing that it had been exposed, the Sheqing ghost whooshed straight through the wall and disappeared.
When Li Qiao chased after it outside, the Sheqing ghost was nowhere to be seen!
Back in the living room, Xiao Qingbei and He Yi were constantly retching, their faces pale.
The so-called tofu pudding had already been thrown away by the servant.
“So, you know what that thing was?”
“Qiaoqiao… why didn’t you tell me sooner? I almost, I almost…” Xiao Qingbei couldn’t finish his sentence and continued hugging the trash can, throwing up.
“With me around, you weren’t going to eat it.”
“I… thank you.” Xiao Qingbei’s expression was pained, wanting to cry but having no tears.
He Yi wasn’t doing much better. He had been by He Jingnian’s side and seen a lot, but this was his first time so close to a person’s— (implied: transformation/deception)
He covered his mouth.
Seeing their overly strong reactions, Li Qiao felt a bit apologetic.
He Yi, feeling slightly better, said weakly, “Miss Li, what was he trying to do? Why disguise himself as Second Young Master Li?”
“I don’t know. The only thing I’m sure of is that his target was me.”
As for that so-called tofu pudding—
If she had taken even a bite, it would have created a karmic link.
This Sheqing ghost wanted to take advantage of her weakened cultivation to possess her body.
It seems he didn’t get what he wanted from He Jingnian.
“Now that it’s run off, how do we find Ninth Master?”
“That talisman was a guiding talisman. Finding him will be easy.”
As Li Qiao spoke, she was about to leave. He Yi followed her excitedly, but Xiao Qingbei also quickly fell in step behind them.
He insisted on going with them no matter what!
Actually, Li Qiao had advised him not to go out today.
The implication was clear, but Xiao Qingbei didn’t care. He thumped his chest, assuring them he wouldn’t be a burden.
Truthfully, Xiao Qingbei was worried about Li Qiao.
Li Qiao could see his concern.
Before they left, she gave each of them a talisman. These talismans were different from the ones she’d given before. He Yi had received many talismans from Li Qiao, but he felt that this situation was going to be difficult to handle.
Hopefully, he was just overthinking it!
He clutched the talisman and silently prayed to the guardian gods for protection.
The three of them drove away.
Along the way, Li Qiao gave directions!
About two hours later, they stopped in front of a temple.
Xiao Qingbei looked around. “When did a temple appear here? Why haven’t I heard of it before?”
“It seems it was built about half a year ago,” He Yi replied.
But the location was very remote, so incense offerings weren’t plentiful.
Back then, He Yi had only passed by due to some official business.
He didn’t know the details.
Li Qiao looked at the temple before her, her elegant brows furrowing almost immediately. She warned them, “Be careful.”
The two of them dared not be careless.
They walked towards the temple together.
As they stepped into the main hall, a gust of eerie wind swept over them.
Xiao Qingbei couldn’t help but shiver. “It’s so cold. It’s thirty degrees outside, but here it must be barely ten.”
