Heh.
“You woke up just in time.”
Li Qiao stepped forward to examine He Jingnian, but before she could ask further, he collapsed unconscious again.
“Hey—passing out just like that? He Jingnian! He Jingnian!“
Li Qiao hooked an arm around his waist and lifted him, preparing to carry him back to the bedroom.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Jian Lanfeng, who had just arrived.
His jaw slackened in shock.
Li Qiao glanced at him but said nothing, continuing straight to the room with He Jingnian in her arms.
A petite girl effortlessly carrying a grown man—and in a princess carry, no less—left Jian Lanfeng utterly astonished.
Li Qiao never fails to surprise me.
In the Bedroom
He Jingnian’s pulse was normal, yet he remained unconscious.
“His condition is critical. He needs to be hospitalized immediately.” This was a doctor’s instinct kicking in.
Li Qiao stopped Jian Lanfeng from dialing.
“He’s not sick.”
“Li Qiao, this is a matter of life and death,” Jian Lanfeng said sternly. He was a responsible doctor, after all.
Her expression hardened. “If he were truly ill, I wouldn’t stop you. But the truth is, He Jingnian’s hun soul is being controlled—trapped in a sealed space.”
“Absurd.“
Jian Lanfeng thought she’d lost her mind. How could anyone believe such nonsense?
He Jingnian wasn’t an ordinary man. If something happened to him, Li Qiao would bear the consequences.
Out of concern, Jian Lanfeng called for Li Shaoyang.
“Doctor Jian, trust Qiaoqiao. She’s never wrong.”
Jian Lanfeng’s heart sank.
Are the Li family all insane?
None of them were making sense!
“Second Brother, tie this red cord around the doors and windows.”
Li Shaoyang immediately got to work.
Once everything was set, Li Qiao placed a talisman above the headboard.
Watching from the sidelines, Jian Lanfeng left with a conflicted heart.
If the Li family won’t accept my help, so be it.
With preparations complete, Li Shaoyang frowned.
“Qiaoqiao, are you sure about this?”
This was He Jingnian. He couldn’t afford to die here.
“It’s tricky. I’ll notify that old fox, Qingxu.”
Before he could react, Li Qiao drew out a talisman, flicked her fingers over it, and spoke:
“Qingxu, go to the southern district and find He Yi. He Jingnian’s life is in danger.“
Talisman in hand, Daoist Qingxu jolted upright.
Was that Li Qiao’s voice?
After confirming it came from the protection charm she’d given him, his excitement bubbled over.
“Little friend, this charm also works as a communication talisman?”
“Just a minor tweak. Daoist, if you don’t hurry, He Yi will be a goner.“
Instantly, Qingxu’s smile vanished.
He grabbed his horsetail whisk and bolted out of the temple.
…
Li Qiao sat calmly in an armchair, eyes closed in meditation.
Meanwhile, Li Shaoyang fidgeted as the room grew eerily silent.
His heart pounded wildly as he clutched the protection charm she’d given him.
Ding ling ling—
The tiny bell on the red cord trembled, emitting a faint chime.
Li Shaoyang’s breath hitched.
“Qiaoqiao…”
Dark mist surged from outside, but the red cord barred its entry. The shadowy figures gnashed elongated fangs, and Li Shaoyang gulped, tightening his grip on the charm.
When none could break through, his fear morphed into bravado.
Pointing at the creatures, he taunted, “Hah! Useless trash. Come in if you dare! I’m right here!”
The shadows screeched, hurling themselves at the barrier—but not a single one breached it.
“And here I thought you were something scary. Pathetic.“
Just then, a streak of black light shot toward them—
Swish!
Li Qiao’s peachwood sword pierced through it. A shrill wail echoed before the darkness shattered.
The remaining shadows dissolved instantly.
Silence reclaimed the room.
“What were those things?” Li Shaoyang exhaled.
“Entities sent to harm him.”
Li Qiao turned to the bed, where He Jingnian had awoken, his gaze dazed.
His mind was still foggy from the ordeal.
During his coma, he’d been trapped in a surreal world—one where seasons cycled relentlessly, and Li Qiao was his sole companion.
Certain memories from that place made his pulse race.
Now, he couldn’t even look at her.
“Mr. He? Are you alright?”
Li Qiao studied him worriedly.
After multiple unanswered questions, she grew uneasy.
Li Shaoyang scoffed.
“Can’t hear her”? Please.
This was obviously deliberate.
“I’m fine. Thank you.”
“You’re my benefactor—no thanks needed.” Her blunt reply made He Jingnian’s smile falter.
Li Shaoyang smirked. Serves him right.
…
The awkward silence broke when Qingxu barged in, carrying an ashen-faced He Yi.
The young man’s sunken, shadowed eyes screamed yang energy depletion.
“Qiaoqiao, how is he?” He Jingnian asked urgently.
Li Shaoyang’s eye twitched. “Qiaoqiao”?! Since when?!
“He’ll recover with rest and tonics,” Li Qiao assured.
Qingxu wiped his brow. “Another minute, and that ghost would’ve sucked him dry.”
As He Yi was taken to rest, Li Qiao pressed, “Where’s the female ghost? Did you capture her?”
The daoist rubbed his neck. “The southern district was odd. She vanished the moment I turned around—no trace left.”
No residual energy. No signs of escape.
As if she’d never existed.
Li Qiao frowned. “Highly suspicious.“
Qingxu shrugged. “At least Jingnian’s safe.”
Then, he did a double-take.
He Jingnian’s once-fatal aura had transformed completely.
“Incredible!” He whirled to Li Qiao. “Your doing?“
She nodded.
Qingxu’s admiration skyrocketed.
For twenty years, he’d agonized over He Jingnian’s cursed fate.
Yet this young woman had rewritten it effortlessly.
“Little friend… will you take me as your disciple?“
His eyes shone with desperation.
Li Qiao: “No.“
“Why not?!”
“You’re trouble,” she said flatly, eyeing his dramatics.
As she walked away, Qingxu muttered, “Jingnian, am I really that bad?“
He Jingnian sipped tea.
“Don’t undervalue yourself, Daoist. You’re simply not her type.”
“…”
That’s not helping.
On a serious note, today’s events proved one thing:
“Jingnian, someone’s getting impatient to replace you.”
