As the newly appointed Heavenly Master of the Feng family, one of the six great sects, Feng Li naturally recognized the face of Chi You, the head of the Chi family.
His brow furrowed, surprised not only that this sinister energy came from Chi You, but also by the contents of what he had said.
Both man and ghost told the same story, so it was clearly not a lie. But Feng Li couldn’t accept this kind of “deep, unwavering affection.” His right hand fluidly formed a seal, with his slender index and middle fingers pressed together in front of him, and he said coolly, “Withdraw.”
A flame invisible to ordinary eyes suddenly ignited, distorting the air with its heat. Surrounded by the crowd, the fire created from pure Yang energy could dispel all evil spirits, and at its strongest, even reduce them to ashes and scattered souls.
Chi You, who had been watching Jiang Luo with interest, finally turned to look at Feng Li.
As the flame approached, Chi You narrowed his eyes slightly. As though unable to withstand the invisible fire, he finally peeled himself away from Jiang Luo and disappeared without a trace.
Feng Li calmly lowered his hand, but his brow furrowed again as he looked at Jiang Luo, his tone stern: “The paths of the living and the dead are different. He’s already become a vengeful spirit—what are you still hoping for?”
Jiang Luo had watched Chi You be dispersed with just one word from Feng Li and was filled with doubt and unease. Was Feng Li really this powerful?
The protagonist gong from the original novel—was he truly this strong?
“Teacher Feng,” Jiang Luo looked dazed and lifeless, “he was just keeping me company. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
A trace of mockery appeared on Feng Li’s face. “Wouldn’t hurt you?”
He glanced around at the Feng family disciples and, under the gaze of many hopeful eyes, picked a few well-regarded talents. Then he looked at Jiang Luo. “You and the others—come see me tomorrow at 3 p.m.”
Feng Li paused, his pale eyes settling deeply on Jiang Luo. “I’ll show you whether a malicious ghost would hurt someone.”
After speaking, Feng Li turned and left the garden.
Under the envious and admiring gazes of the crowd, Jiang Luo sighed.
Feng Li was far too powerful. If he could get on his good side, that would be the best outcome. But Feng Li’s attitude—at best, he was someone who took his role as teacher seriously. At worst, he was arrogant and domineering. That uncompromising personality alone showed just how difficult the original novel’s gong protagonist would be to deal with.
What’s more, Feng Li’s sudden summons caught Jiang Luo completely off guard. To others, this would seem like an amazing opportunity, something to be grateful for. But Jiang Luo didn’t believe in such sudden acts of kindness.
He sighed again and left the garden under everyone’s watchful eyes.
His plans to relax and tour Yunnan were temporarily shelved, but meanwhile, the students from Baihua University had arranged a group dinner.
They only learned after returning to the hotel that several contestants had been injured.
Compared to them, the students from Baihua University had been exceptionally lucky—especially Cyril, whose luck stat seemed maxed out, forming a stark contrast with Jiang Luo.
They went out to the countryside for a BBQ, setting up a grill and pulling out ingredients. Lu Youyi even foraged some wild mushrooms nearby, almost mixing them into the skewers for everyone to eat.
Next to their picnic spot was a small grove of maple trees, though in May, the leaves were still a vibrant green. Jiang Luo asked Wenren Lian for a cigarette and walked over to smoke, watching the dazzling natural scenery as his mood gradually calmed.
After a while, Wenren Lian walked over and handed him a bottle of water, smiling: “Feeling better?”
Jiang Luo smiled back. “I’ve been in a good mood this whole time.”
Wenren Lian said slowly, “They might not notice, but I can’t not notice. Jiang Luo, haven’t you realized?”
He pointed vaguely at Jiang Luo’s chest. “Ever since Chi You died, your mood has been off.”
“It’s like something is constantly pushing you forward,” Wenren Lian said softly. “You’re more and more on edge, like there’s a thorn in your back, like something urgent is pressing down on you. Like if you don’t act soon, it’ll be too late… Tell me, how long has it been since you truly relaxed?”
Jiang Luo gave a thumbs-up in admiration. “Wenren, you’re good.”
Wenren Lian smiled faintly, then sighed. “What are you so worried about?”
Jiang Luo gave no clear answer.
Wenren Lian had picked up on the emotional instability he’d been hiding. In truth, ever since being killed by Chi You eighteen times in his dreams, Jiang Luo had been teetering between madness and reason.
Being killed once is terrifying enough. Jiang Luo had been killed again and again by Chi You in eighteen different ways—feeling each death vividly. The fact that he could still wake up and open his eyes rationally was already proof of his extraordinary willpower.
But the damage had carved itself deeply into his mind. No matter how much he tried to return to normal, a sliver of Chi You’s madness remained embedded in his spirit.
He appreciated his companion’s concern, but mental trauma isn’t easily discussed. Unless he could kill Chi You just as many times, any words were ultimately meaningless.
Jiang Luo smiled and said, “I’ve never participated in a competition this big before, so I was nervous. But after the two rounds, I feel much better now.”
Wenren Lian didn’t press further. After chatting for a bit, he thoughtfully gave Jiang Luo some space and returned to the BBQ group.
Jiang Luo took a long drag from his cigarette and narrowed his eyes at the multicolored butterflies fluttering by. The corners of his long, narrow eyes lifted slightly. Just as he was admiring the view, a sudden gust of chilly wind blew from behind, whipping his hair over his face.
“…D*mn it,” Jiang Luo muttered, expression dark as he tied his hair back again. “I’ll cut it all off tomorrow morning.”
The barbecue that night was immensely satisfying—they ordered a lot of local Yunnan delicacies. Jiang Luo found the taste of qingke liquor a bit strange, similar to how he could never quite get used to butter tea.
After a relaxing evening, Jiang Luo slept in the next day, only getting up close to the afternoon. After eating, he planned to go get a haircut.
However, after visiting three barber shops, not a single one was open. Jiang Luo finally gave up and bought a pair of scissors, deciding to cut it himself in the hotel.
He carefully measured the length he wanted to keep and was about to make the first snip when he discovered that the scissors, once opened, couldn’t be closed again.
His expression darkened.
Gripping the scissors tightly, his fingers turned slightly pale from the force. Even though it hurt, the wide-open blades didn’t move an inch.
Jiang Luo slowly raised his head to look into the mirror.
In the reflection, his long hair cascaded over his shoulders like silk. The fringe on his forehead curled slightly like lotus petals, perfectly framing his elegant, striking brows.
He loosened his grip, and the silver scissors dropped heavily to the floor with a crisp clang.
And just then, the scissors—which had refused to close—finally snapped shut upon hitting the ground.
Jiang Luo’s brows were drawn tight. On the mirror, a slow and deliberate trail of watery characters appeared:
I still prefer how you look with long hair.
—Chi You.
Jiang Luo ground the name silently between his teeth.
He nearly wanted to skin him alive, pull out his tendons, and see whether his blood tasted just as dull as his tricks.
That godd*mn ghost just won’t leave me alone.
What the h*ll does my haircut have to do with you?
Jiang Luo stared coldly as the words slowly faded from the mirror. At that moment, the alarm he’d set went off, and Lu Youyi’s voice called out loudly from the other room: “Jiang Luo, it’s time to meet with Feng Li!”
Suppressing his anger, Jiang Luo ignored the mirror and strode out of the bathroom.
With a loud bang, the door slammed shut behind him.
***
Three o’clock in the afternoon.
Jiang Luo showed up right on time to meet Feng Li.
By the time he arrived, the others were already there. Seeing him arrive so late, the disciples of the Feng family—who regarded Feng Li as a god—glared at Jiang Luo like they wished they could burn two holes in his body.
Jiang Luo, unbothered, stood off to the side. Feng Li gave him a brief glance but said nothing. Instead, he rose to his feet and said, “Let’s go.”
They all got into the car. On the way, someone respectfully asked, “Teacher Feng, where are we headed?”
“Someone invited me to handle a minor issue,” Feng Li replied lightly. “You’ll observe.”
Everyone answered in unison.
An hour later, the vehicle stopped in front of a large mansion. Feng Li got out first, and the others followed behind him, eyes forward, entering the estate.
Before they even reached the main hall, a tired-looking young man in his twenties hurried out to greet them. “Teacher Feng, you’ve finally arrived!”
Feng Li gave a slight nod. The young man sighed in relief, as if clinging to a life raft. “Please, come in.”
The mansion had two stories, and the first floor alone was about 150 square meters. As soon as they stepped through the door, Feng Li stopped and turned to look at Jiang Luo and the others. “What do you see?”
A man named Wang Santan beside Jiang Luo answered seriously, “A pine tree is planted in the Kan position of the courtyard. Pine trees dispel evil and bring fortune. The Kan direction is water, which nourishes wood, doubling the pine’s effectiveness. It’s a symbol of eternal prosperity.”
Another disciple added, “There’s a bonsai Podocarpus by the entrance, which wards off evil and invites wealth. Inside the house, there’s also Buddha’s Belly Bamboo—associated with Zen and feared by malicious ghosts and spirits. I see many talismans for protection here, and the overall structure suggests great wealth. The owner must be extremely rich and influential.”
Wang Santan looked a bit regretful, thinking his own explanation wasn’t thorough enough.
Feng Li gave a nod, neither approving nor disapproving, then turned to Jiang Luo. “And what do you think?”
Jiang Luo replied with a straight face, “I think this family has encountered a lot of supernatural trouble.”
