Chapter 34: Even Lord Xiao’s Steel Heart Took a Blow

Yan Qiao walked forward. Li Xiao and Yan Hao also wanted to follow, but she stopped them: “You two wait here. Hold onto your protective charms, and the Thunder Talisman I gave you earlier.”

“Ah Qiao, are you sure you’ll be okay going alone?” Even though he had witnessed how powerful his sister was, Yan Hao couldn’t help but worry instinctively.

“I’ll be fine. Just take care of yourselves.”

Yan Hao scratched his head guiltily. Fine, he hadn’t helped much after coming in this time anyway.

Yan Qiao approached the large pagoda tree when suddenly a massive surge of black energy lunged at her like a sharp blade.

It was unexpected—

But Yan Qiao had clearly been prepared.

She threw out a talisman, blocking the attack.

The black energy was halted, making a sizzling sound like it was being scorched.

…

…

Yan Qiao took out four more talismans, recited an incantation, and began a ritual.

Soon, the talismans seemed to gain consciousness and precisely pursued the black energy.

Four talismans in unison, enhanced by Yan Qiao’s heart technique—

The black energy was immediately trapped, letting out roars and howls, seemingly in great pain.

It tried desperately to break free from the talismans’ bindings, but it was futile.

The spiritual power was too strong!

Even stronger than those Taoist priests!

Before long, under the talismans’ influence, the black energy gradually dissipated and turned into black blood that dripped to the ground, emitting a foul stench.

Yan Qiao promptly lit another talisman, burning it and dropping it onto the black blood.

Moments later, the puddle of black blood was completely incinerated.

She then took out a different talisman, chanted her heart technique, and stuck it to the large pagoda tree.

The tree seemed to be violently stimulated.

Ghosts hidden inside it immediately burst out, fleeing in all directions…

They were all male ghosts, but they had clearly lost consciousness. Once they emerged, they became enraged and tried to attack Yan Qiao.

Since that’s the case…

Yan Qiao didn’t hesitate and threw out two Thunder Talismans. All of them would be annihilated!

She grabbed one ghost with her bare hands, gripping it by the neck. Her palm was coated in cinnabar, which was pure torture to the ghost.

“Where are those Taoist priests?” Yan Qiao asked coldly.

“I don’t know… I don’t know what you’re talking about… AHH—” Before it could finish, it screamed in agony.

Yan Qiao tightened her grip.

“I won’t ask a second time,” her voice was so cold it sent shivers down one’s spine.

Even ghosts would be terrified of her in this state. It had no choice but to confess: “T-They already ran off…”

“Do you know who they were?”

“No… but they took many of our ghost souls!”

After the ghost spoke, Yan Qiao flung it aside, and the next second a Thunder Talisman struck down—it was instantly obliterated.

Yan Qiao looked at the trunk of the large pagoda tree and kicked it hard.

A hole burst open immediately.

So the trunk had already turned hollow long ago.

Inside lay a couple in their forties.

“You two, come here,” Yan Qiao turned and called Li Xiao and Yan Hao over.

After witnessing her actions just now, their admiration for her was beyond words.

“Is it them?”

Li Xiao answered immediately: “Yes.”

The two men were finally of some use.

They carried the couple out of the hollow tree trunk.

The couple had fallen into a coma, their faces ashen.

Yan Qiao quickly gave them medicine and attached protective talismans.

“Lay them on the ground first.”

“Alright.”

Yan Hao didn’t know what his sister was planning next.

Li Xiao didn’t ask either. He stood quietly to the side, watching. At this point, no matter what she did, he wouldn’t be surprised anymore.

This girl, though young, was so decisive and forceful. The more he watched, the more he admired and liked her.

What a shame… to her, he was just a client for now.

He was still thinking about it when he saw Yan Qiao sit cross-legged on the ground.

Her hands were joined in a ritual gesture, and she seemed to be chanting a spell.

They dared not disturb her.

It went on for five minutes before she stood up.

“Alright, carry them. Let’s head out,” she patted the dirt from her clothes.

“Ah Qiao, we’re just leaving like this? What about the village?” Yan Hao asked curiously.

“It’s already cleansed. No more ghosts. And for those people, it holds no more value.”

For once, Yan Qiao gave him an explanation.

“It’s all thanks to you!”

“Were you reciting scriptures for them just now?” Yan Hao was full of curiosity.

“The Soul Summoning Incantation.”

“Who will carry who?”

“I’ll carry Madam Mu. The other one…” Yan Hao looked at Li Xiao. He didn’t dare ask Li Xiao to do it, but also didn’t want his sister to take on more after everything she’d done.

Li Xiao didn’t hesitate: “I’ll do it.”

But before the words even finished, Yan Qiao rejected him.

“No need. I’ll do it.”

“Ah Qiao, just let him. You’ve already done so much today…” Yan Hao was worried for his sister. In a place like this, he didn’t care how powerful Li Xiao was—his sister was the most amazing in his eyes.

“He’s not suitable. There’s too much black energy on him. Plus, he’s a man on the verge of death—his stamina’s too poor,” Yan Qiao said flatly.

Even Lord Xiao’s steel heart was bruised.

He’d just been openly disliked and insulted to his face.

She even said he was about to die!

Who says stuff like that?

“Ah Qiao, with you around, I probably won’t die, right?”

“I don’t know.”

Yan Qiao had already picked up Madam Mu. For her, it wasn’t strenuous at all.

Li Xiao pressed his lips together, momentarily speechless.

Yan Hao suddenly looked at him with sympathy.

Even Ah Qiao said “I don’t know”—that didn’t sound very promising, did it?

He didn’t waste time and quickly picked up Mr. Mu. Thankfully, he exercised regularly and had good stamina.

“Lord Xiao, don’t be sad. Our Ah Qiao is amazing—she’ll definitely find a way to save you.” Yan Hao still offered comfort. The young man had a kind heart.

Li Xiao pulled himself together and forced a smile: “I believe in her too.”

“Let’s hurry and get out of here!”

The three of them picked up their pace.

Yan Qiao’s face remained calm the whole time. She wasn’t even out of breath—her strength was truly formidable.

“Ah Qiao, are you tired? Want to take a break?” Yan Hao asked, panting.

The person he carried must’ve weighed at least 130 pounds and was quite tall and heavy.

They had already walked over a thousand meters. He’d never trained for this kind of physical endurance.

“I’m fine. Do you need a break?”

Yan Qiao’s gaze clearly said, you’re the one out of breath and you’re asking me?

“No, I don’t. Do you?” Seeing that she looked worried and noticing her flushed face and labored breathing, she asked.

“No need. I’ll grit my teeth and push through. Let’s just get out of here quickly!” Yan Hao’s willpower was still strong.

He remembered what his sister had said earlier: they should leave before nightfall if possible. They’d spent quite a bit of time in the village, and now the sky was gradually growing darker.

Even though the ghosts were gone, it was best to leave as soon as possible.

“Mm.” Yan Qiao didn’t insist.

After another ten minutes of walking, they finally reached the village entrance.

Yan Hao was about to call out for Mu Yunzhe to come help.

But as soon as he looked up, his face changed dramatically—something had happened to them.