Category: Bloodthirsty Countess’s Overbearing Love

Chapter 15

Song Ling hurried into the main hall, where Magistrate Wang was still conversing with several soldiers. She joined them at the table.

“Magistrate Wang, you wished to see me?”

“Doctor Song, how is Miss Li’s condition?”

“She is out of danger. Thank you for your concern.”

“That’s good to hear. I was just discussing the details of tonight’s events with them. Thanks to your and Miss Li’s assistance, we managed to eliminate two of those monsters. Unfortunately, the others escaped. Do you have any insights into why those individuals suddenly became so ferocious?”

“I do know the reason, but please forgive me for not being able to disclose it. I promised Minister Chen that I wouldn’t reveal this matter. Magistrate Wang, if you trust me, I suggest instructing all the villagers to hang garlic outside their homes. This will temporarily protect them from those afflicted individuals.”

“Doctor Song, although I don’t understand why, after tonight’s events, I believe you are truly dedicated to helping the villagers. I will inform them about the garlic tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you for your trust, Magistrate Wang. It’s getting late. I would like to retire for the night.”

“Of course, Doctor Song.”

Song Ling left the main hall and returned to her room in the west wing. She found Brother Wu asleep at the table outside her door. Everyone was exhausted from the night’s events. She gently woke him up and urged him to get some rest.

“Brother Wu, everyone is tired. Go get some sleep.”

“Doctor Song, I’ll take my leave then. You should rest as well.”

“Yes.”

Song Ling entered her room and closed the door behind her. She saw Li Xinjun sleeping soundly on the bed. She bolted the door and sat down beside Li Xinjun, gazing at her peaceful face, slightly creased in a frown. Li Xinjun was growing up, and the last vestiges of childhood innocence were fading, replaced by a budding femininity.

Li Xinjun had always been handsome, with delicate features, but her sword-like eyebrows gave her a hint of boyish charm. As Song Ling watched her sleep, she recalled the events of the night. Seeing Li Xinjun’s neck in the jiangshi’s grasp, she had been terrified that Li Xinjun would die. The thought of a life without Li Xinjun filled her with dread.

In that moment, she understood her feelings for Li Xinjun. She wanted to be with her forever, to travel the world hand in hand, to share delicious food and exciting adventures. Now, seeing Li Xinjun lying in bed, covered in wounds, Song Ling’s heart ached. Unable to resist, she leaned down and kissed Li Xinjun’s lips.

The kiss ignited a new sensation within Song Ling. She was no longer satisfied with a simple touch of lips. She craved more intimacy, but lacking experience, she didn’t know how to fulfill this yearning.

Following her instincts, she parted her lips and began to suck on Li Xinjun’s lower lip. Lost in the pleasure of this intimate contact, she forgot that her actions might wake Li Xinjun. She tentatively explored Li Xinjun’s mouth with her tongue, seeking more.

Li Xinjun, though not fully awake, was roused by Song Ling’s actions. She felt someone nibbling on her lips and was about to resist, but recognizing Song Ling’s scent, she surrendered, allowing Song Ling to explore her mouth. She didn’t understand why Song Ling was doing this, but she didn’t dislike it.

Weakened from blood loss, Li Xinjun’s mind was hazy, but her body responded instinctively. Song Ling’s touch ignited a fire within her. She returned Song Ling’s kiss, parting her lips and granting Song Ling access to her mouth. She tentatively sucked on Song Ling’s lower lip. Emboldened, Song Ling deepened the kiss, her hands exploring Li Xinjun’s body. The temperature in the room rose with their passion.

Li Xinjun wrapped her right arm around Song Ling’s neck and placed her left hand on Song Ling’s waist. Song Ling felt like the world had shrunk to just the two of them. She didn’t know what to do next, only that she wanted more. She wanted to consume Li Xinjun, to possess her completely. Lost in desire, Song Ling accidentally brushed against a wound on Li Xinjun’s waist. Li Xinjun gasped in pain.

“Hiss!”

The sound jolted Song Ling back to reality. She pulled away, looking at Li Xinjun, who was now awake, and realized what she had done. Seeing the sweat on Li Xinjun’s forehead, Song Ling knew she had hurt her. Regret filled her heart. She stood up to fetch a cloth to wipe Li Xinjun’s brow, but Li Xinjun grabbed her hand.

“Don’t go…”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry.”

“I’m not angry. I liked it. Don’t go, okay?”

“Jun’er, I…”

“Sister Ling, I don’t know why you keep apologizing, but I’m really not angry. I liked everything you did, including the kiss.”

“Jun’er, do you know what you’re saying? Do you understand what it means?”

“I don’t know. I just know that I like you a lot. I can feel you pulling away, and I don’t want you to leave. I want to tell you that I liked it too.”

“Jun’er…”

“Sister Ling, I’m not stupid. I know this is something only married couples do. I saw my parents do it. My mother said it’s something you only do with your husband. But I don’t want to marry anyone else. I want to be with you forever. If I have to leave you after getting married, I’ll never marry. I just want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

“Jun’er, you’re still young. I don’t want to influence your decisions. I don’t want you to regret this later. Do you understand?”

Li Xinjun, ignoring the pain, sat up and took Song Ling’s hands in hers. She looked into Song Ling’s eyes and leaned in, kissing her lips. Song Ling, caught off guard, couldn’t dodge in time. Li Xinjun, mimicking Song Ling’s earlier actions, gently nibbled on her lower lip and then explored her mouth with her tongue, seeking Song Ling’s tongue in a dance of passion.

Song Ling was surprised by Li Xinjun’s boldness. Her body stiffened at first, but Li Xinjun’s sincerity melted her resistance. She surrendered to the kiss, lost in the sensations that Li Xinjun evoked. She slowly responded, deepening the kiss. Li Xinjun, overjoyed, continued to embrace her, their bodies entwined. After a while, Li Xinjun broke the kiss. She cupped Song Ling’s face in her hands and gazed into her eyes.

“Sister Ling, I like you. I know you like me too, right?”

Song Ling wanted to tell Li Xinjun how much she loved her, but the words caught in her throat. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She struggled to force the words out, but despite her efforts, her voice remained trapped. Li Xinjun looked at her, her expression shifting from anticipation to disappointment, then to a sad aversion of her gaze.

Song Ling didn’t understand what was happening. She didn’t want Li Xinjun to be unhappy or to misunderstand her feelings. She struggled harder, wanting to embrace Li Xinjun, to express her desire to spend her life with her, to confess her love.

“Sister Ling, Sister Ling…”

Li Xinjun’s voice reached her ears. Song Ling was disoriented. She looked at Li Xinjun, but the voice in her ears felt so real.

“Sister Ling, wake up! Sister Ling!”

Suddenly, Song Ling was jolted awake. She realized that she had fallen asleep on top of Li Xinjun. Li Xinjun, feeling the weight of Song Ling’s body, hadn’t wanted to wake her. However, Song Ling kept shifting, her head rubbing against Li Xinjun’s injured neck. Unable to bear the pain, Li Xinjun gently nudged Song Ling awake.

Chapter 14

As expected, moments later, several dark figures emerged in the distance. Although their features were obscured by the darkness, their movements suggested they were jiangshi. Brother Wu tightened his grip on the rope, instinctively holding his breath, fearing that the sound might alert the creatures.

Beside him, Song Ling gripped her sword tightly, while Li Xinjun unsheathed the broadsword strapped to her back, ready to charge out at a moment’s notice. As the jiangshi drew closer, their forms became clearer. Lured by the scent of blood, they walked towards the center of the roped-off area, one by one.

Everyone waited for Brother Wu’s signal to pull the ropes. He watched intently as the jiangshi approached the dead chickens. One of the jiangshi, at the forefront, had already entered the circle and was lapping up the chicken blood. However, Brother Wu held back the signal. He had to wait until all the jiangshi were inside the circle to capture them all at once.

Just as the last jiangshi neared the center, a soldier in the opposite house sneezed. The sound startled the jiangshi at the edge of the circle, and it abruptly changed direction, charging towards the house and attacking the wooden door. The other jiangshi followed suit, abandoning the chicken blood. Seeing this, Brother Wu had no choice but to give the signal.

With a resounding “whoosh,” the ropes were pulled taut, trapping three of the jiangshi inside the circle.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

The trapped jiangshi roared in unison. The two that had escaped went berserk, becoming increasingly violent. They launched a relentless assault on the house, smashing through parts of the door. Brother Wu, seeing that the door wouldn’t hold much longer, shouted,

“Secure the ropes to the posts! Go help them!”

The soldiers quickly tied the ropes to the sturdy posts inside the house and then rushed out to confront the two jiangshi. The jiangshi, seeing them emerge from different directions, turned to attack them, giving the soldiers inside the house a chance to escape.

Li Xinjun, brandishing her broadsword, charged towards one of the jiangshi. With all her might, she swung the blade down on its shoulder. However, the jiangshi’s body was incredibly rigid. The blade only penetrated two inches deep, lodging itself in the shoulder. Li Xinjun couldn’t cut any further, nor could she pull the blade out. She was locked in a fierce struggle.

Song Ling rushed forward and detonated an explosive talisman on the jiangshi’s shoulder. The force of the explosion dislodged Li Xinjun’s broadsword. She immediately raised the blade again and struck the same spot. The jiangshi’s right arm finally severed.

Meanwhile, the soldiers were also engaged in a fierce battle. They thrust their spears at the other jiangshi, but the weapons barely penetrated its flesh. The jiangshi swatted them aside with powerful blows. It lunged at one of the soldiers, pinning him to the ground and sinking its teeth into his neck.

“Argh!”

The soldier screamed in agony. The other soldiers rushed to his aid, trying to drive the jiangshi back, but it held on tight, relentlessly biting the soldier’s neck. They watched helplessly as the soldier slowly lost consciousness and died.

“Damn you! I’ll avenge Ah Jian! You monster, die!”

Another soldier, enraged, charged forward, leaping into the air and driving his spear into the jiangshi’s back. The spear pierced through its body. The jiangshi released its grip on Ah Jian’s neck, roared in pain, and turned to grab the soldier’s throat. Brother Wu arrived just in time, swinging his spear and forcing the jiangshi back.

Song Ling took out another explosive talisman and slapped it on the jiangshi’s head. The talisman detonated, blowing a chunk off its head. However, the jiangshi, impervious to pain, didn’t seem fazed. It stumbled back a few steps, and Li Xinjun, seizing the opportunity, thrust her broadsword towards its heart. The jiangshi blocked the blow with its hand, its claws raking across Li Xinjun’s shoulder, leaving three deep gashes that bled profusely.

“Hiss!”

Li Xinjun gasped in pain. The jiangshi, smelling her fresh blood, became even more ferocious, like a predator sensing its prey. It lunged at Li Xinjun, aiming for her throat.

Li Xinjun held her broadsword horizontally, blocking the jiangshi’s mouth. Although its teeth were blocked, the jiangshi grabbed Li Xinjun’s neck with its hands, its long nails digging into her flesh. Blood streamed down her neck, staining her clothes crimson.

Seeing this, Song Ling rushed forward, stepping between them and using her sword to pry the jiangshi’s hands away from Li Xinjun’s neck. Li Xinjun was momentarily free. As Song Ling fought the jiangshi, she shouted to Li Xinjun,

“Jun’er, get out of here! I can handle this!”

Li Xinjun obeyed, retreating to the side and tearing a strip of cloth from her sleeve to bandage her neck, trying to control the bleeding. Song Ling fought the jiangshi with all her might, using her martial arts skills and channeling her inner energy. Finally, she managed to pierce its heart with her sword, bringing it down.

After defeating the jiangshi, Song Ling rushed to Li Xinjun’s side to check her injuries. Once she was certain that Li Xinjun was not in immediate danger, she ran to assist the others in dealing with the remaining jiangshi.

Brother Wu and the soldiers were struggling. As Song Ling arrived, another soldier was killed, his throat ripped open by the jiangshi’s claws.

Song Ling, unable to prevent the soldier’s death, could only watch in horror. She leaped into the air and delivered a powerful kick to the jiangshi’s chest, sending it flying backward. The jiangshi crashed into the wall behind it, and another soldier seized the opportunity, charging forward with his spear.

The spear pierced the jiangshi’s heart. However, in its dying moments, the jiangshi grabbed the soldier and hurled him towards the pile of bound jiangshi. The soldier collided with the three creatures, who grabbed him and began to tear at his flesh. In the struggle, the soldier’s spear accidentally severed the ropes binding the jiangshi. The ropes loosened, and the three jiangshi tore the soldier apart, killing him.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Song Ling shouted for everyone to retreat to safety. She scooped up the injured Li Xinjun and ran towards the magistrate’s office. The remaining soldiers followed closely behind, fleeing for their lives.

Upon reaching the safety of the magistrate’s office, Song Ling carried Li Xinjun to their room in the west wing. She gently laid Li Xinjun on the bed and bolted the door. She then went to the bedside and examined Li Xinjun’s injuries. Li Xinjun was covered in wounds.

Despite her embarrassment, Li Xinjun didn’t resist. She knew that Song Ling needed to treat her wounds. There were four deep puncture wounds on either side of her neck, where the jiangshi’s nails had pierced her flesh. The wounds were deep and required immediate attention.

On her left shoulder, there were three deep gashes, extending from her shoulder to her arm. Her palm was also cut, the wound deep enough to expose bone, from blocking the jiangshi’s mouth with her bare hand. There were also claw marks on her waist. Seeing Li Xinjun’s battered body, Song Ling was filled with regret for not protecting her better.

She retrieved her medical kit and applied a hemostatic powder to the wounds. Fortunately, the puncture wounds on her neck had missed any major arteries, so stopping the bleeding wasn’t difficult. However, the wound on her palm was too deep and wide for the powder to be effective. Song Ling took out her needles and turned to Li Xinjun.

“Jun’er, the wound on your palm is too deep. I need to stitch it up to stop the bleeding. It will be painful, but you have to bear with it.”

“Sister Ling, I can do it. Go ahead.”

Li Xinjun bit down on the sheet, turning her face away as Song Ling prepared the needle. Song Ling pulled out a few strands of her long hair and twisted them into a thick thread. She threaded the needle and began stitching Li Xinjun’s palm, carefully bringing the edges of the wound together. Li Xinjun gritted her teeth, enduring the pain without a sound.

Song Ling’s heart ached for her. She worked quickly, wanting to end Li Xinjun’s suffering as soon as possible. Soon, the wound was stitched closed. She applied more hemostatic powder, and the bleeding finally stopped.

After treating all the wounds, Song Ling fetched a basin of warm water and gently cleaned Li Xinjun’s injuries with a soft cloth. She then covered Li Xinjun with a sheet and let her rest.

Li Xinjun, weakened from blood loss, drifted off to sleep. Relieved, Song Ling left the room. Brother Wu had been waiting anxiously outside the door. He was deeply concerned about Li Xinjun’s condition. Seeing Song Ling finally emerge, he asked,

“Doctor Song, how is Little Jun? I’m worried about her.”

“She’s alright, don’t worry. She’s not in any danger, but she has multiple injuries and will need to rest for a while to fully recover.”

“That’s good to hear, that’s good to hear.”

“Brother Wu, do you have any injuries that need attention?”

“No, no, mine can wait until tomorrow. You should go see Magistrate Wang. He’s been waiting for you, but he didn’t want to disturb you while you were treating Little Jun. He’s still waiting in the main hall.”

“Alright, I’ll go see him now. Brother Wu, please keep an eye on Jun’er. Let me know immediately if anything happens.”

“Of course, leave it to me.”

Chapter 13

Inside the magistrate’s office, Magistrate Wang briefed them on the situation in the village. It wasn’t as dire as Song Ling had imagined. The “jiangshi-like” individuals mentioned by Magistrate Wang numbered only five, and so far, there had been eight deaths and fifteen injuries.

The jiangshi only appeared after nightfall. Although they hadn’t been captured yet, Magistrate Wang had instructed the villagers to bolt their doors and windows at night and avoid going out to minimize the risk of injury or death.

The injured villagers were currently being treated in the guest rooms behind the magistrate’s office. Song Ling requested Magistrate Wang to take her there to examine them.

Magistrate Wang led them to the guest rooms, where Song Ling examined each patient. She observed multiple scratches on their bodies, the wounds a dark purplish-black, consistent with jiangshi attacks. Fortunately, the injuries weren’t too severe, and the glutinous rice they had brought should be sufficient for now.

She instructed Magistrate Wang to have several large wooden tubs prepared for bathing. Once the tubs were filled with water, Song Ling had Brother Wu retrieve the glutinous rice from the carriage and add a portion to each tub. When the water turned milky white, she had the injured villagers soak in the tubs.

For those with less severe injuries, Song Ling instructed the local physician to clean their wounds with glutinous rice water, emphasizing the importance of reporting any unusual symptoms to her immediately.

After tending to the injured, Song Ling and Li Xinjun went to examine the bodies of the deceased, which were being kept at a nearby mortuary. Li Xinjun asked the soldiers to remove the clothing from the bodies, and she and Song Ling carefully examined them.

Most of the bodies had visible bite and scratch marks on their necks. They also noticed that two of the bodies had blackened fingernails. Li Xinjun asked the soldiers to pry open their mouths and found that their canine teeth had elongated, indicating imminent transformation.

“Soldier brother, please inform the families that these bodies cannot be returned for burial. They must be cremated.”

The soldier looked at Li Xinjun with a troubled expression. “Miss Li, that will be difficult. The families are already grieving the loss of their loved ones. If we don’t allow them to bury their dead, they will surely protest vehemently.”

“Brother, no matter how difficult it is, it must be done. To be honest, if these bodies are not cremated, in a few days, they will turn into…”

“Jun’er, don’t speak carelessly!”

Song Ling, hearing Li Xinjun about to reveal the truth, quickly intervened, pulling her aside and silencing her. Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling disapprovingly and whispered in her ear.

“Sister Ling, I think we can’t hide this anymore. Minister Chen told us to keep it a secret because we hadn’t confirmed it yet. But now, jiangshi are harming people. If we don’t tell the truth, it will only lead to more trouble.”

Song Ling understood the logic, but she had given her word to Minister Chen. She felt it was inappropriate to reveal the truth without his consent, fearing it might complicate matters. Besides, Minister Chen would arrive in a few days. They could discuss it with him then and let him decide.

“Jun’er, we promised Minister Chen that we wouldn’t disclose this matter. It’s not urgent. Minister Chen will be here soon. We can discuss a plan with him then.”

“But Sister Ling, we can’t keep these bodies. You know what will happen if we don’t cremate them.”

“We will cremate the bodies, but we won’t say anything else.”

“Well… alright.”

Song Ling approached the soldier. “Brother, these bodies must be cremated. If you’re worried about the families’ reaction, tell them it was my decision and that you were just following orders. I will take full responsibility for the consequences.”

“Doctor Song, this…”

“Just do as I say. Cremate the bodies immediately.”

“Doctor Song, without a valid reason, I cannot obey your orders.” The soldier clasped his fists, his expression resolute.

“Brother, we’re not trying to make things difficult for you, but this is a matter of great importance. Please understand. Didn’t Magistrate Wang just instruct you to follow our orders?”

“Doctor Song, I understand, but this matter… Perhaps we should consult with Magistrate Wang again.”

“You… alright. Let’s go see Magistrate Wang.”

The soldier accompanied Song Ling and Li Xinjun back to the magistrate’s office and reported the matter to Magistrate Wang. Upon hearing their request, Magistrate Wang frowned at Song Ling and Li Xinjun.

“Doctor Song, why are you so insistent on cremating the villagers’ bodies?”

“Magistrate Wang, I promised Minister Chen that I wouldn’t reveal the reason, but I can assure you that everything I do is for the sake of the villagers.”

“Without a valid reason, as the magistrate of this village, I cannot grant your request. The villagers have already suffered a great tragedy. If we don’t even allow their families to bury their dead, it would be unconscionable.”

“Magistrate Wang, don’t you trust Minister Chen’s judgment?” Li Xinjun argued.

“Miss Li, it’s not that I don’t trust Minister Chen. It’s just that without a reasonable explanation for the villagers, this could lead to unrest. How about we wait for Minister Chen’s arrival and address this matter then?”

“But, sir…”

Li Xinjun was about to protest further, but Song Ling stopped her. She knew that arguing wouldn’t change anything. It was better to compromise for now.

“Magistrate Wang, let’s wait for Minister Chen’s arrival and decide then. However, I urge you to strengthen security at the mortuary. You might find it strange, but you’ll understand everything once Minister Chen arrives.”

“Alright, I promise to have the mortuary guarded day and night.”

“Thank you, Magistrate Wang.”

Song Ling and Li Xinjun left Magistrate Wang’s study and returned to the west wing, where they were staying. Song Ling closed the door behind them, and they sat down at the table to discuss the situation.

“Sister Ling, are you just going to let them leave those bodies unattended? We’re already dealing with five jiangshi out there. If those bodies also turn, I don’t know if we can handle it.”

“We have no choice for now, Jun’er. Even if we told Magistrate Wang the truth, he might not believe us, and it might disrupt Minister Chen’s plans. Besides, Minister Chen should arrive by the day after tomorrow, at the latest. If we keep a close eye on the mortuary these next few days, I think we can prevent any problems.”

“I really don’t understand these political games. I just don’t want to see any more lives lost.”

“Neither do I. I hope we’re not too late. By the way, we need to be on guard tonight. The jiangshi might appear after dark.”

“Do you have any plans?”

“I’m thinking of setting some kind of trap, but I haven’t figured out the specifics yet.”

Silence fell over them as they pondered the best course of action. Suddenly, Li Xinjun snapped her fingers.

“Sister Ling! What if we do this and that… What do you think?”

“That might work! That’s a great idea, Jun’er! Let’s go ask Magistrate Wang for permission.”

Li Xinjun and Song Ling went to see Magistrate Wang again, this time to discuss their plan to capture the jiangshi. Magistrate Wang, finding their plan feasible, agreed to cooperate.

Li Xinjun’s plan was simple and straightforward. They would set traps using ropes in areas where the jiangshi frequently appeared, using bloody chickens as bait.

The jiangshi, attracted by the strong scent of blood, would enter the roped-off areas. Soldiers hiding nearby would then pull the ropes tight, trapping the jiangshi. They would then transport the captured jiangshi to the prison, providing a temporary solution.

They led the soldiers to the designated areas and evacuated the villagers, instructing them to temporarily relocate. They then set up numerous ropes in a wide open space.

Next, they took the prepared chickens, slit their throats, and tied them to posts in the center of the roped-off areas, concentrating the blood in one central spot. Once everything was ready, they hid in nearby houses, waiting for the jiangshi to appear.

Li Xinjun, Song Ling, and Brother Wu were in the same house. They peeked through a crack in the window, observing the situation outside. No one could predict the outcome, but they all hoped to capture all the jiangshi tonight, complete their mission quickly, and return home safely.

As dusk settled, Brother Wu signaled the soldiers hiding in the other houses to be on alert. The soldiers gripped the ropes, their senses heightened, waiting for the jiangshi to emerge.

Tension filled the air. Li Xinjun instinctively grabbed Song Ling’s hand, who squeezed it reassuringly. They both knew that the night’s mission was fraught with danger and silently prayed for a safe outcome.

Fifteen minutes passed. Brother Wu and the soldiers beside him were sweating, but there was still no sign of the jiangshi. They dared not relax their grip on the ropes, knowing that the jiangshi could appear at any moment. As they waited, fatigue began to set in. Suddenly, a bell rang, startling them awake.

They had set up tripwires with bells attached in the area. Anything or anyone passing through would trigger the bells.

The ringing bell meant that something had entered their trap. Hearts pounding, they waited to see what it was. All eyes turned towards the source of the sound. Li Xinjun’s heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Brother Wu was drenched in sweat.

Chapter 12

The next morning, the Governor’s Mansion was in a state of chaos. Soldiers rushed in and out, their faces etched with worry. Minister Chen had received a disturbing report: Numerous people had gone missing from a small village fifty miles outside the city. Initially, the local authorities treated it as a routine case, but a week ago, a farmer stumbled upon the missing villagers, all severely injured and unconscious, with distinct bite marks on their necks.

The farmer alerted the local authorities, who rescued the victims and provided medical treatment. However, just yesterday, the victims suddenly went berserk, attacking and biting anyone in sight. Their appearances had become terrifying.

Baffled and unable to contain the situation, the local authorities sent a messenger to the Governor’s Mansion, pleading for Minister Chen’s assistance.

With the death toll mounting, Minister Chen was deeply troubled by the news. He immediately dispatched a contingent of soldiers to the village and summoned Song Ling and Li Xinjun to the mansion.

A frantic pounding on their door awakened Song Ling and Li Xinjun. They jumped out of bed and rushed out to see what was happening. Brother Wu, his face grim, briefly explained the situation and then escorted them to the Governor’s Mansion.

Upon arrival, they were led directly to Minister Chen’s study. Seeing them, Minister Chen rose to greet them, gesturing for them to sit at a nearby table. He then proceeded to explain the situation in detail.

“Miss Song, Miss Li, the situation in Chen Family Village is dire. I have temporarily dispatched troops to assist, but I believe this is related to jiangshi. I implore you to accompany me to the village.”

“We will do our best to assist you, Minister Chen. However, if it is indeed jiangshi, we will need to prepare a large quantity of materials. We haven’t yet found an effective method to deal with them. I can only do my best.”

“Thank you both. Please tell me what you need, and I will have it prepared immediately.”

“We need a large amount of glutinous rice and garlic.”

“Certainly! I will have it arranged. When can you depart?”

“We can leave immediately. Just have your men deliver the supplies as soon as possible.”

“On behalf of the villagers, I thank you for your selfless assistance. I will have a detachment of soldiers escort you to the village. Once I have settled matters here, I will join you tomorrow.”

“There’s no need for such formality, Minister Chen. This is our duty as cultivators. We will return home to prepare and then depart. Farewell.”

“Miss Song, Miss Li, please be careful.”

Song Ling and Li Xinjun hurried home and instructed their servants to pack all the garlic and glutinous rice they had onto a carriage. Song Ling gathered her talismans, ancient books, peachwood sword, and other tools, placing them carefully in a bag.

Song Ling informed Ah Sang that she and Li Xinjun would be away for a while and instructed her to feed Uncle Wang daily. She stood before the cage and addressed Uncle Wang.

“Uncle Wang, we’re going out. We’ll be gone for a few days. Be good while we’re away. We’ll play when we get back.”

“Roar~”

“Don’t bully Sister Sang while we’re gone, or I’ll tell her not to give you any chicken blood. You’ll go hungry.”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Alright, I’m leaving now.”

“Roar!”

Li Xinjun packed a few sets of clothes and joined Song Ling in the main hall. They boarded the carriage and set off.

Minister Chen had sent Brother Wu with a detachment of soldiers to wait for their carriage at the city gates. When Brother Wu saw their carriage approaching, he joined their escort, and they headed towards Chen Family Village.

The carriage journey was long and bumpy. Li Xinjun, lulled by the rhythmic swaying, rested her head on Song Ling’s lap and fell asleep. Song Ling adjusted Li Xinjun’s position, one arm around her protectively, while the other rested on the window sill, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. Worry gnawed at her. She glanced at the sleeping Li Xinjun, brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, and sighed softly. A sense of foreboding filled her, a premonition of something ominous.

Around midday, Brother Wu called for a break. They found a shady spot to rest. Song Ling and Li Xinjun settled under a large tree. Brother Wu brought them some dried rations and water.

“Doctor Song, Little Jun, here’s something to eat. We’ll continue our journey after a short rest.”

“Thank you, Brother Wu. Join us.”

Li Xinjun patted the space beside her, inviting Brother Wu to sit. He accepted, settling down beside her. They shared the rations and chatted.

“Little Jun, I’ve been wanting to ask you something for a while now. You’re such a pretty and adorable girl, why are you so mischievous? Why can’t you be more like Doctor Song, refined and gentle?”

“Brother Wu, what do you mean, mischievous? I can be gentle too, you know!”

“To whom have you been gentle? I’ve never seen you be gentle with me.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, why should I be gentle with you? You’re not nice to me. Look how gentle I am with Sister Ling!” Li Xinjun gave Brother Wu a disdainful look.

“Look at you, you can’t even speak properly, and you claim to be gentle. I think you’re only gentle with Doctor Song. You’re rough with everyone else.”

“It’s enough for me to be gentle with Sister Ling. Why should I be gentle with everyone?”

“Well, I’m just saying this for your own good. You’re a young lady, and you’re so rough with men. No man will dare to marry you! You’ll end up alone and miserable. Don’t come crying to me then!”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, as if I’d ever cry to you! I have Sister Ling to spend my life with. I won’t be lonely.”

“Doctor Song won’t spend her life with you. She’ll get married and have her own family. Who will have time for you then?”

Brother Wu, relishing the opportunity to tease Li Xinjun, continued to provoke her. Li Xinjun, feeling indignant, turned to Song Ling with pleading eyes.

“Sister Ling, will you really abandon me like Brother Wu said?”

Song Ling looked at Li Xinjun with tenderness and shook her head firmly. “No, I will never abandon you. Never.”

Li Xinjun beamed and looked triumphantly at Brother Wu.

“See, Sister Ling said she won’t! You’re just making things up! You’re the one who will end up alone, hmph! Don’t come crying to me when you’re old!”

“I won’t cry to you! I’ll have a wife and concubines, and my children and grandchildren will surround me. I’ll be happy and content!”

“Hahaha, you wish! I bet no one will want you, and you’ll die alone. But don’t worry, you have me. I’ll let Uncle Wang keep you company. Hahaha!”

Brother Wu’s face darkened. The thought of Uncle Wang growling at him for the rest of his life sent shivers down his spine. He stood up abruptly and went to sit with his fellow soldiers.

Li Xinjun, seeing Brother Wu retreat, felt victorious. She looked at Song Ling with sparkling eyes, raised an eyebrow, and continued to munch on her rations.

Song Ling’s earlier gloom had dissipated, replaced by a lighthearted mood. After resting, they resumed their journey to Chen Family Village. They arrived before nightfall. Brother Wu led them to the village magistrate’s office, where Magistrate Wang Zhigang greeted them.

“You must be tired from your journey. Thank you for coming all this way to help us. Please come in.”

“Thank you, Magistrate Wang.”

Chapter 11

Today was a special day. Song Ling woke up early and, before Li Xinjun stirred, she slipped into the kitchen and got to work. Ever since Li Xinjun’s stolen kiss, Song Ling had found various excuses to insist on sleeping in a separate room. Despite Li Xinjun’s protests, Song Ling stood firm, and eventually, Li Xinjun grew accustomed to their separate sleeping arrangements.

Today, Song Ling was personally preparing a meal, a rare occurrence. It was Li Xinjun’s birthday, and she had specifically asked everyone else to return to their homes the day before. She wanted to celebrate this special day alone with Li Xinjun. This was their first birthday together, and Song Ling wanted to make it memorable.

She boiled a pot of water and added a handful of longevity noodles, cooking them until tender. After rinsing them in cold water, she placed the noodles in a bowl, sprinkled chopped scallions on top, and prepared a rich chicken bone broth. She also boiled two eggs, dyeing their shells red. Satisfied with her preparations, she left the kitchen to wake Li Xinjun.

She pushed open Li Xinjun’s door and found her sprawled on the bed, a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth. Amused, Song Ling sat down beside her and pinched Li Xinjun’s nose. The sleeping figure frowned, struggling to breathe. Li Xinjun swatted at the hand disturbing her sleep, but Song Ling persisted, using her other hand to pinch her nose again. After several repetitions, she finally roused the sleepyhead.

Li Xinjun, initially frowning in annoyance, opened her eyes and, upon seeing Song Ling, instantly brightened.

“Sister Ling! What are you doing here?” She instinctively sat up and snuggled into Song Ling’s arms.

“Wake up, sleepyhead! I made breakfast for you. Get up and freshen up, then come out to eat.” Song Ling stroked Li Xinjun’s hair.

“Wow! You made it yourself? I’ll be right there!”

Li Xinjun released her embrace, jumped out of bed, and quickly got ready. She then turned to Song Ling, signaling that she was ready.

Song Ling chuckled at her eagerness. “You’re such a glutton! You get so excited about food.”

“That’s not true! I’m excited because you made it, Sister Ling. It’s been so long since I’ve had your cooking. Sister Sang has been doing all the cooking lately.”

“So you’re saying you don’t like Sister Sang’s cooking? I’ve seen you asking her to make you delicious food every day. Hmm?”

“That’s not what I meant! I’m saying I love your cooking the most. I’m not saying Sister Sang’s cooking isn’t good. You’re special to me, Sister Ling. It’s different, you can’t compare. Anything you make, I’ll love it.”

“Alright, alright, you sweet talker.” Song Ling, pleased by Li Xinjun’s flattery, decided to let her off the hook. She instructed Li Xinjun to wait for her in the dining hall while she went to the kitchen to add the chicken bone broth to the longevity noodles and place a red egg on top. She carried the bowl to the dining table.

“Jun’er, happy birthday! I made this bowl of longevity noodles especially for you. I hope you like it.”

“Wow, I’m so happy! Thank you, Sister Ling! I didn’t expect you to remember my birthday!”

Li Xinjun excitedly jumped up, hugged Song Ling, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Song Ling was momentarily startled, but seeing Li Xinjun nonchalantly return to her seat and look at the noodles, she dismissed her reaction as an overreaction.

“I remember everything about you, Jun’er. Now, stop talking and eat while it’s hot. Tell me how it tastes.” Song Ling watched Li Xinjun’s expression expectantly.

Li Xinjun took a bite and, with an exaggerated expression, exclaimed, “Wow, Sister Ling, this is the best noodle soup I’ve ever had! It’s so delicious! You have to try it too.”

Li Xinjun continued slurping her noodles, her enthusiasm contagious. Song Ling chuckled and started eating her own noodles, reminding Li Xinjun to eat slowly and not burn herself.

After finishing their noodles and peeling the red eggs, Song Ling looked at Li Xinjun, her heart filled with contentment. She pulled out a pendant from her pocket and handed it to Li Xinjun. It was her most valuable possession, a treasured heirloom she had worn since childhood, the only thing left from her parents.

“This is for you. I hope you like it.”

“Sister Ling, isn’t this from your parents? I can’t accept this.”

“I want to give it to you. You’re the most important person to me now, Jun’er. Giving this to you symbolizes that we are family. Please accept it.” Song Ling held the pendant out to Li Xinjun.

Touched, Li Xinjun no longer refused. She took the pendant and put it on, examining it closely. It was a crescent-shaped jade pendant, the jade clear and translucent, a sign of its high quality. She suddenly remembered that she also had a jade pendant, a gift from her mother when she was young. Her mother had told her that when she grew up and found someone she wanted to spend her life with, she should give them the pendant.

She untied the jade pendant from her waistband. It was engraved with the character “Jun” and adorned with a dragon and phoenix on the back. She placed it in Song Ling’s hand. Song Ling looked at her, confused.

“Is this for me?”

“My mother gave it to me. She said if I ever found someone I never wanted to be apart from, I should give them this pendant. And you are that person, Sister Ling. I want to be with you forever, never to be separated.”

Song Ling was deeply moved. She treasured this gift. They were both orphans, bound by shared experiences. Since childhood, she had longed for companionship, to no longer be alone. Now, Li Xinjun’s gift of the jade pendant symbolized their unwavering commitment to each other, a promise to always be there for one another. Her heart overflowed with happiness and warmth.

Tears welled up in Song Ling’s eyes. She carefully tied the jade pendant to her waistband. She looked at Li Xinjun sitting across from her, their eyes meeting. She reached out and took Li Xinjun’s hand. They both smiled, their faces radiating happiness.

“Sister Ling, can we take a break today? Will you take me out to explore the city?”

“I already planned it! I knew you, you little rascal, would want to go out and have fun. So I gave everyone the day off. Didn’t you notice that no one else is here?”

“I didn’t even notice! No wonder it’s so quiet. They’re all gone! I thought it was strange. Usually, Brother Wu would appear the moment he smelled food.”

“Hee hee hee, surprised?”

“So, where are we going today?”

“Hmm… Is there anywhere you particularly want to go, Jun’er?”

“Hmm… How about we go to the bustling market street? There’s so much delicious food and fun things to see there.” Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling with excitement.

“Alright! Let’s go!”

Li Xinjun, hand in hand with Song Ling, skipped towards the bustling market street. The street performers, food stalls, colorful decorations, and beautiful clothing delighted Li Xinjun.

She spotted a group of performers doing stunts and excitedly pulled Song Ling over to watch. They squeezed through the crowd and watched as a bald man lay on a bench with a large stone on his chest. A strong man stood beside him, holding a heavy sledgehammer. Without hesitation, he swung the hammer down onto the stone, splitting it in two. The bald man stood up, unharmed, and bowed to the audience.

Applause erupted from the crowd. The strong man walked around with a metal plate, and people tossed copper coins into it. Li Xinjun, not wanting to be left out, took a few coins from her purse and placed them on the plate.

After the performance, Li Xinjun dragged Song Ling to a nearby clothing shop. She picked out several beautiful dresses for Song Ling and urged her to try them on. Song Ling didn’t refuse. She took the dresses into the changing room and emerged wearing a white silk gown. She twirled in front of Li Xinjun. The luxurious silk accentuated her ethereal beauty, making her look like a celestial being descended from heaven.

Li Xinjun’s eyes lit up. She generously took out a silver note and, without even asking the price, bought the dress. The shopkeeper, delighted, packed Song Ling’s original clothes and handed them to her. As they left, he personally escorted them out of the shop.

Li Xinjun couldn’t take her eyes off Song Ling, making her blush. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she pulled Song Ling’s hand and ran towards another shop.

They arrived at a jewelry store, where the owner presented them with a variety of hair ornaments, bracelets, and gold jewelry. Li Xinjun browsed through the selection and finally found an exquisite white jade hairpin. She picked it up and gently placed it in Song Ling’s hair, admiring the result with satisfaction.

“Sister Ling, you look so beautiful.”

“Thank you, but it’s your birthday, Jun’er. Why are you buying things for me?”

“Because it makes me happy!” Li Xinjun turned to the shopkeeper and said, “Sir, we’ll take this.” The shopkeeper smiled, took their payment, and saw them off.

Li Xinjun, beaming, continued to pull Song Ling along the street. Song Ling let herself be led, a thought forming in her mind. If life could be like this forever, it wouldn’t be so bad. Li Xinjun, unaware of Song Ling’s thoughts, was focused on treating Song Ling to the best food, entertainment, and gifts.

They arrived at a renowned restaurant. The waiter, seeing the two beautiful young women, was exceptionally attentive. He escorted them to a private room and took their order. Li Xinjun ordered a basket of soup dumplings and a pot of hot tea. The waiter quickly brought their order, carefully closing the door behind him.

“Sister Ling, these soup dumplings are famous. Try them and see if you like them.”

Li Xinjun picked up a dumpling and placed it on Song Ling’s plate. Song Ling took a bite, but the broth inside was scalding hot, burning her lip. In a panic, she took a sip of tea, forgetting that it was also hot. Her tongue was burnt as well. She frantically stuck out her tongue and fanned her mouth with her hand.

“Ow! Ow!”

Li Xinjun, seeing Song Ling in distress, wanted to help. Looking around, she couldn’t find anything to soothe the burn. Acting instinctively, she stood up, cupped Song Ling’s face in her hands, and blew on her lips.

“Haa, haa, haa, does it still hurt? Let me blow on it for you. Haa~”

Li Xinjun, her face full of concern, gently blew on Song Ling’s tongue.

Song Ling’s heart raced at this sudden intimate gesture. She stared at Li Xinjun’s lips, so close to her own, as she gently blew on her mouth. She closed her eyes, a feeling of sweetness washing over her. She secretly hoped that Li Xinjun would take it a step further, but Li Xinjun simply continued to blow on her mouth, trying to cool the burn.

When she felt that Song Ling was feeling better, she stopped and looked at her. Song Ling, lost in her own world, didn’t notice that Li Xinjun had been staring at her. She had her eyes half-closed, a blissful smile on her face. Li Xinjun observed her every expression.

However, Li Xinjun was still a ten-year-old child, with no concept of romantic love. Seeing Song Ling’s dazed expression, she wondered what was wrong with her. She called out to her tentatively.

“Sister Ling, Sister Ling~”

Song Ling snapped back to reality. Seeing Li Xinjun’s confused expression, she realized what she had been doing and blushed, trying to appear composed. She picked up her teacup, hoping to take a sip to calm her nerves, but Li Xinjun stopped her.

“Sister Ling, don’t drink that. The tea is still hot. Drink mine. I’ve already cooled it down.” Li Xinjun offered her own teacup to Song Ling, who took it, looking at the rim of the cup and then at Li Xinjun’s lips. Remembering what had just happened, her heart skipped a beat again.

Song Ling felt uneasy throughout the meal. Her mind was filled with confusing and embarrassing thoughts. A seed of love had been planted in her heart, but Li Xinjun remained oblivious, happily eating, drinking, and enjoying herself.

After their outing, Li Xinjun and Song Ling prepared to return home. They walked hand in hand, but Song Ling’s mood was completely different from when they had left that morning.

She discreetly observed Li Xinjun, taking in her handsome features and her growing height. She noticed that Li Xinjun had grown taller in recent months. When they first met, Li Xinjun was half a head shorter than her, but now they were almost the same height. Her already charming face had become even more beautiful, a blend of delicate features and a hint of boyish handsomeness, a mix of mischief and gentleness.

Looking at their intertwined hands, Song Ling felt a surge of sweetness. A smile touched her lips as she gazed at the person beside her. As if sensing her gaze, Li Xinjun turned and looked at Song Ling, flashing a playful grin and winking. Song Ling’s heart fluttered, her breath catching in her throat.

Upon returning home, they exchanged goodnights and retired to their separate rooms. Li Xinjun, exhausted from the day’s adventures, fell into a deep sleep. Song Ling, on the other hand, tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Chapter 10

A month passed quickly. Autumn arrived, bringing a chill to the air. The leaves in the courtyard turned yellow and fell, scattering across the ground.

After countless days and nights of research, Song Ling and Li Xinjun confirmed that glutinous rice could indeed neutralize the corpse poison. Brother Wu’s wound had healed completely, and he showed no signs of any adverse effects after a period of observation.

To their relief, Shitou also gradually returned to normal. He no longer went berserk upon waking and no longer needed to be sedated. The scratch on his arm had also healed.

As a precaution, Song Ling had both Brother Wu and Shitou remain at the residence for further observation. However, there was no progress with Uncle Wang. Despite their attempts with glutinous rice, black dog blood, and even garlic, they could only repel him, not restore him to his former self.

The ever-resourceful Li Xinjun had exhausted every imaginable ingredient: rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, cooked rice, cold dishes, fruits, honey, flowers, herbs, and more. Anything she could find, she tried on Uncle Wang. He was practically at his wit’s end, but nothing worked.

Sometimes, Song Ling couldn’t bear to watch Li Xinjun’s relentless experiments on Uncle Wang. She believed that if Uncle Wang still had any semblance of consciousness, he would beg Li Xinjun for a swift end. Sadly, he was now like a wild beast, only responding to the scent of blood, oblivious to everything else.

They realized that perhaps once someone had fully transformed into a jiangshi, there was no turning back. If that were the case, they had to find a more effective way to eliminate them. After all, they had barely managed to destroy the jiangshi in the cave.

If there were only one or two, it wouldn’t be a problem. But if there were more, they would be overwhelmed. Realizing this, Song Ling focused her efforts on researching talismans and spells, hoping to find a better method to combat jiangshi.

Li Xinjun didn’t slack off either. She continued to experiment on Uncle Wang with various objects, but instead of food and everyday items, she now resorted to weapons. One day a knife, the next day an arrow, the day after a broadsword. Uncle Wang’s body was accumulating an alarming number of wounds.

“Uncle Wang, come out! Why are you hiding in the corner? Look what I brought for you to play with today!” Li Xinjun stood before the cage, brandishing an axe.

“Roar! Roar!” Uncle Wang growled angrily.

“What’s wrong? Are you angry? Angry that I chopped off your finger yesterday? But you don’t feel pain! Don’t be so stingy! I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m just experimenting on you for the good of everyone.”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Stingy! No, stingy jiangshi!”

“Roar!”

“Come out here! Don’t think you can hide from me! Come out!”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Fine, if you won’t come out, that’s okay. I won’t play with the axe today. I’ll play with my bow and arrow. Let’s see how you dodge that!”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

Everyone watched in astonishment as the girl and the jiangshi seemingly engaged in a conversation. Their jaws dropped. They had grown accustomed to Li Xinjun’s habit of talking to the jiangshi, but strangely, Uncle Wang had started responding to her words. Their back-and-forth banter, one speaking and the other growling, was both bizarre and hilarious.

Although Song Ling found Li Xinjun’s antics absurd, she didn’t stop her, allowing her to experiment freely. Her only condition was that Li Xinjun couldn’t kill Uncle Wang before they found the most effective way to deal with jiangshi. Otherwise, where would they find another one for their research? Li Xinjun agreed.

Brother Wu, observing Li Xinjun’s treatment of Uncle Wang, felt a chill run down his spine. He was grateful that he hadn’t become a jiangshi. Otherwise, he might be the one enduring this torture. It was a fate worse than death. He felt a pang of sympathy for Uncle Wang and thanked his lucky stars that he wasn’t the unfortunate jiangshi.

Li Xinjun, completely focused, was oblivious to Brother Wu’s thoughts. She continued to provoke Uncle Wang, determined to find the most effective weapon against his hardened body.

The cage was quite spacious, and Uncle Wang often retreated to the corner upon seeing her. This frustrated Li Xinjun because Song Ling had forbidden her from opening the cage door, fearing that Uncle Wang might injure her. Therefore, Li Xinjun had to find ways to experiment from outside the cage.

The cage, originally built by Minister Chen to protect the people inside the residence, had ironically become Uncle Wang’s safe haven, shielding him from Li Xinjun’s attacks.

Li Xinjun, looking at Uncle Wang cowering in the corner, felt annoyed. She racked her brains, trying to figure out how to make him cooperate with her experiments. Finally, she decided to lure him with blood, just like one would use treats to train a dog.

Acting on her idea, she went to the kitchen and asked Sister Sang for a bowl of fresh chicken blood. She returned to the cage and showed it to Uncle Wang, who immediately rushed forward, his eyes fixated on the bowl.

Li Xinjun smiled faintly and waved the bowl of blood in front of him. Uncle Wang’s gaze followed the bowl as if hypnotized.

“Uncle Wang, do you want this bowl of fresh chicken blood? It’s delicious! I just had Sister Sang slaughter a hen for it. It’s very fresh.”

“Roar!”

“Well, if you want it, you have to let me hit you with my axe. Then I’ll let you drink your fill, alright?”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“I’ll take that as a yes. Now, stand still and don’t move. I’ll leave the blood here for you to smell while I fetch the axe. Be good.”

Li Xinjun set the bowl down and dashed off to get the axe. Uncle Wang reached out his hands from inside the cage, trying to grab the bowl of blood, but it was too far away. He strained, desperately trying to reach it.

Seizing the opportunity while his hands were extended, Li Xinjun raised the axe and swung it down hard on Uncle Wang’s arm. Uncle Wang quickly retracted his hands and stumbled back in fear.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Ugh, it still didn’t pierce through. This is so frustrating… What weapon can I use to penetrate a jiangshi’s body? Hmm…”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Alright, alright, stop yelling. I know I promised to let you drink your fill. Here you go, okay? You’re so noisy.”

Li Xinjun picked up the bowl of blood and pushed it through the bars of the cage. Uncle Wang immediately grabbed the bowl and gulped down the blood, his mouth smeared with crimson. The sight was gruesome, but Li Xinjun was unfazed. She had grown accustomed to such scenes.

Except for Song Ling and Li Xinjun, no one else was allowed near Uncle Wang for fear of getting hurt. Since Song Ling was busy treating patients, Li Xinjun was responsible for feeding him.

“Happy now? I kept my promise. I said I’d give it to you after one hit, and I did. Is it good?”

“Roar~”

“Heh, you seem to be enjoying it.”

“Roar! Roar~”

“Uncle Wang, why don’t you just tell me what weapon works best on you? Then I won’t have to rack my brains anymore.”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Hmph! Fine, don’t tell me. Why are you so fierce? Even if you don’t tell me, I’ll figure it out myself. I’ll find even more weapons to try on you tomorrow!”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

“Hmph, I’m ignoring you now. I’m going to find Sister Ling. You can reflect on your behavior!”

Chapter 9

A few days later, Minister Chen had a sturdy iron cage built at the Li residence and then had Uncle Wang transferred there. This arrangement facilitated Song Ling and Li Xinjun’s experiments and ensured minimal public knowledge of the matter.

Minister Chen was highly efficient. In addition to Uncle Wang, he also arranged for the bitten soldier and Shitou to be housed at the Li residence, effectively controlling the flow of information.

He stationed guards around the residence to ensure their safety and prevent unwanted disturbances. Any supplies they needed were promptly delivered, leaving them well-stocked and comfortable.

Song Ling and Li Xinjun spent their days immersed in research, rarely venturing out. Li Xinjun, with her superior knowledge of classical Chinese, took charge of studying the ancient texts, while Song Ling focused on finding an antidote for the corpse poison and identifying the jiangshi’s weaknesses.

Li Xinjun discovered a passage in the ancient texts mentioning that while jiangshi craved blood, they feared black dog blood. She instructed the soldiers to bring several black dogs for experimentation. First, she sedated the dogs with a sleeping potion. Once they were unconscious, she carefully drew blood from their legs, taking only a small amount from each dog to avoid causing unnecessary harm. She then bandaged their wounds.

Every day, Li Xinjun sprinkled different dog blood on Uncle Wang, observing his reaction. After several trials, she confirmed that jiangshi indeed feared black dog blood, but only pure black blood. If the dog had any other colored fur, the blood was ineffective.

However, dog blood could only repel jiangshi, not inflict actual harm. Therefore, it could only be used as a preventative measure. Excited about her discovery, Li Xinjun went to find Song Ling, only to encounter Ah Sang, the maid sent by Minister Chen, returning from the market with baskets full of groceries.

“Sister Sang, you bought so much today! Are we having a feast tonight?” Li Xinjun excitedly helped carry some of the baskets.

“No, these are ingredients that can be stored for a long time, so it’s more cost-effective to buy in bulk.”

“Oh, I thought we were in for a treat tonight. You got my hopes up.”

“You glutton! Isn’t sweet and sour pork ribs your favorite? I’ll make that for dinner.”

“Yes, yes! I love Sister Sang’s sweet and sour pork ribs.”

Li Xinjun carried the baskets towards the kitchen. As she passed by Uncle Wang’s cage, he let out a guttural growl, “Roar! Roar!” He raised his arms defensively in front of his face.

Li Xinjun looked at him curiously. Could it be that he was afraid of her because she had sprinkled black dog blood on him earlier? She approached the cage, and Uncle Wang immediately retreated to the furthest corner.

“Hey, Uncle Wang, what are you afraid of? I don’t have any dog blood on me now,” Li Xinjun said nonsensically to the jiangshi.

“Jun’er, do you think he can understand you?” Ah Sang asked playfully.

“Who knows? Don’t you think he’s acting strange? I’ve been observing him day and night these past few days, and he’s never acted like this before. How come he’s suddenly like this? He was fine just now.”

“Hahaha, maybe he’s afraid of the smell of garlic in your hand?” Ah Sang joked.

“Hahaha, Sister Sang, you’re so funny! If that’s true, then the sun will rise from the west,” Li Xinjun said, playfully waving the garlic in front of Uncle Wang. To her surprise, Uncle Wang actually cowered in fear, dodging left and right.

“Eh? Is he really afraid of garlic?”

Li Xinjun placed the garlic on a nearby table and then approached the cage again. This time, Uncle Wang lunged at her, trying to grab her. Li Xinjun stepped back, picked up the garlic, and approached again. Uncle Wang immediately retreated. Li Xinjun repeated the experiment several times with the same result.

“Sister Sang! Sister Sang! The sun really did rise from the west! Uncle Wang is actually afraid of garlic!” Li Xinjun shouted excitedly. Ah Sang, witnessing this, was also stunned. She couldn’t believe that jiangshi were actually afraid of garlic.

Looking at Uncle Wang, now a jiangshi, trapped in the cage, a mischievous grin spread across Li Xinjun’s face. She dashed to the kitchen and returned with an assortment of everyday ingredients: rice, flour, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. She eyed Uncle Wang with a twinkle in her eye.

“Rice!” She threw a handful of rice at him.

“Roar!”

“Not afraid of rice? Then salt!” She continued with a handful of salt.

“Roar!” Uncle Wang remained unfazed.

“Not afraid of salt either? Hmph, then black vinegar!” This time, she hurled the entire bottle at Uncle Wang’s head. The black vinegar exploded, drenching him in a sour-smelling liquid.

“Roar! Roar! Roar!” While not afraid of the vinegar, Uncle Wang was thoroughly annoyed by Li Xinjun’s antics. He lunged at the bars, wanting to strangle her.

“Ha! A reaction! Now for flour!” Li Xinjun ripped open a bag of flour and showered Uncle Wang with it. Covered in black vinegar and now coated in flour, he transformed from a jiangshi into a comical snowman.

Brother Wu and Song Ling, passing by, witnessed this scene. Their faces mirrored each other’s astonishment as they exchanged bewildered glances.

“Doctor Song, are you just going to let her torment that jiangshi like this?”

“…”

Song Ling was speechless. She shrugged at Brother Wu, her expression a mixture of amusement and helplessness. Brother Wu silently thanked his lucky stars that he hadn’t become a jiangshi. Otherwise, he might be the one enduring Li Xinjun’s “experiments” inside the cage.

“Chili oil!”

“Roar! Roar! Roar!”

Unable to bear the sight any longer, the two decided to leave, leaving Li Xinjun to her devices. Oblivious to their presence, she continued her “research” with unwavering enthusiasm.

After her playful antics, Li Xinjun, even more excited, went to find Song Ling to boast about her discoveries. She found Song Ling in the main hall, treating Shitou and the soldier with experimental concoctions. She stood quietly behind Song Ling, waiting patiently. When Song Ling finished, she turned around and saw Li Xinjun’s beaming face.

“What’s up? You look so happy.”

“Sister Ling, I have a major discovery!”

Song Ling chuckled. “What amazing discovery is this?”

“I found out what jiangshi are afraid of! You’ll never guess!”

“Oh? And what is it?”

“Black dog blood! But it has to be from a pure black dog. But that’s not the best part. They’re also afraid of garlic! You should have seen me messing with Uncle Wang. It was hilarious!”

“Don’t play with him, Jun’er. What if he hurts you?”

“But it was so much fun! I just held a clove of garlic, and he cowered in fear. It was a total accident. I’m thinking of trying everything, every ingredient we have. Who knows what we might discover?”

Song Ling laughed, charmed by Li Xinjun’s mischievous spirit. Li Xinjun, seeing Song Ling’s amusement, became even more animated, eager to share her ideas. She went to the kitchen and returned with a variety of ingredients, a sample of almost everything they had.

She set the assortment on the table in the main hall. Song Ling, seeing her enthusiasm, didn’t stop her, allowing her to experiment freely. Li Xinjun, noticing the soldier waiting for Song Ling, pulled him over to be her test subject.

“Brother Wu, I’m going to try some medicine on you. Sit still and be a good boy.”

“Little Jun, you’re not going to treat me like you did Uncle Wang, are you?” The injured soldier looked at her with apprehension.

“Why not? I discovered Uncle Wang’s fear of garlic by accident. Your corpse poison can be cured too! Let’s start with garlic.”

Brother Wu looked pleadingly at Song Ling, who simply shrugged, indicating she couldn’t help him. Resigned to his fate, he allowed Li Xinjun to experiment on his wound.

With a serious expression, Li Xinjun crushed several cloves of garlic into a paste and applied it to Brother Wu’s wound. The garlic stung, causing him to cry out in pain.

“Ow, ow, it hurts, it hurts!”

“That’s a good sign! Pain means it’s working! If it’s working, it could be the antidote. Be patient, Brother Wu. I’ll check on you in an hour,” Li Xinjun declared confidently, leaving the main hall to go “play” with Uncle Wang.

“Doctor Song, is it really okay for her to do this? Will my hand be crippled?”

“It won’t be crippled, but I’m afraid you’ll have to endure a bit of pain. I haven’t found a solution yet, so we’ll have to let her try her luck. It’s a last resort.”

“But if you don’t find an antidote soon, my hand will…”

“I can’t help you with that. Who told you to let her experiment on you?”

Brother Wu looked at his increasingly red and swollen arm with despair. He was under orders from Governor Chen and couldn’t refuse. He sighed, talking to his arm.

“Arm, oh arm, be patient. We’ll be back to normal soon, and then I’ll take you away from here. Be good.”

Song Ling chuckled at their banter. She walked over to Brother Wu, intending to comfort him. As she approached the table, she surveyed the array of ingredients Li Xinjun had brought. Her eyes fell on a bowl of glutinous rice, and an idea struck her. She remembered accompanying her master to their ancestor’s tomb to confront grave robbers. Her junior brother had accidentally scratched himself on a desiccated corpse, and his wound had become infected. Her master had used glutinous rice water to clean the wound.

She took the bowl of glutinous rice, added water, and used the mixture to wash Shitou’s scratch. She washed it repeatedly, and to her surprise, the water turned black. Her heart leaped with joy. It seemed Li Xinjun had stumbled upon a solution by pure chance.

Just then, Li Xinjun entered the main hall. Song Ling waved her over excitedly. “Jun’er, come here, look!”

“Eh, Sister Ling, why are you washing the wound with glutinous rice water? And why is the water black?”

“Thanks to you! You brought all these ingredients and put them on the table, remember? I saw the glutinous rice and remembered that my master once used it to detoxify my junior brother. So I tried it, and now the water is turning black. This is evidence that the toxins are being drawn out.”

“Wow! We’re so lucky! See, Brother Wu? You doubted me earlier, hmph!”

Brother Wu was speechless. This little girl had actually stumbled upon a solution! He forced a smile. “So, can you remove the garlic paste from my hand now? It hurts so much!”

“No! Maybe garlic is more effective than glutinous rice water. Leave it on for another hour. Let me observe.”

“What?! Doctor Song~”

“Just bear with it, Brother Wu~”

Brother Wu felt like he must have owed Li Xinjun’s family a debt in a past life and was now paying for it. He looked at his red and swollen arm with despair. Li Xinjun, on the other hand, was ecstatic, practically strutting with pride. She looked at Song Ling with a triumphant grin.

“Sister Ling, am I not amazing?”

“Jun’er is the best.”

Song Ling patted Li Xinjun’s cheek affectionately. Li Xinjun basked in the praise, feeling proud of herself. She grabbed more garlic, crushed it into a paste, and applied it liberally to Brother Wu’s wound.

“Argh!”

The sound of a pig being slaughtered filled the Li residence.

Chapter 8

Song Ling and Li Xinjun rushed to the Governor’s Mansion. They informed the guards at the gate of their identities and their request to meet with Minister Chen, asking them to relay the message. Soon, the guard returned, granting them permission to enter.

They were escorted to the guest hall and offered tea and pastries while they waited for Minister Chen. Li Xinjun took a sip of tea and then picked up a piece of imperial concubine cake, taking a bite.

“Sister Ling, this is delicious! Try it!”

“You glutton! You still have the mood to eat pastries at a time like this?” Song Ling playfully flicked Li Xinjun’s forehead.

“Sister Ling, I’m hungry! We didn’t even have time for lunch.” Li Xinjun pouted.

Song Ling adored Li Xinjun’s childish antics. They were incredibly endearing. Sometimes, Song Ling forgot that Li Xinjun was still a child because she often acted mature and composed, even more reliable than Song Ling herself. It was only at times like this, seeing Li Xinjun act her age, that Song Ling remembered their seven-year age difference.

The door to the guest hall opened, and Minister Chen entered, dressed in a white robe. Judging by his appearance, he was only in his early twenties, yet he held the esteemed position of Governor, a second-rank official. He must be an exceptional individual.

Minister Chen greeted them with a friendly smile, his eyes appraising them. “I apologize for keeping you waiting. Eunuch Liu mentioned both of you. I didn’t expect you to be so young. What brings you to see me? How can I be of assistance?”

“Greetings, Minister Chen. We do have a matter to discuss with you and seek your help.”

“If it’s within my power, I will certainly assist you. Tell me, what is it?”

“It’s like this…”

Song Ling recounted their experiences in detail, her voice calm but serious. As Minister Chen listened, his brow furrowed deeper with each passing sentence.

“You’re saying that Uncle Wang, who is currently imprisoned, is also what you call a jiangshi?”

“Yes, we just came from the prison. We conducted some tests, and we’re almost certain.”

“But I’ve never heard of such a thing as a jiangshi. Can you confirm the accuracy of this information?”

“Minister Chen, to be honest, we don’t know much about jiangshi ourselves. However, the one we encountered was indeed formidable. If the ancient texts are to be believed, our situation is extremely dangerous.”

“I understand your concerns, but this is a serious matter. You haven’t been able to confirm the veracity of the information in the ancient texts. It’s difficult for me to act based on speculation.”

Li Xinjun, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. “Minister Chen, we also want to confirm this. If you don’t object, we can conduct an experiment with Uncle Wang. We heard that there’s a soldier in the prison who was bitten by him. We can observe him as well. If he exhibits similar symptoms as Uncle Wang in a few days, we can essentially confirm our suspicions.”

“That’s a viable plan. However, you must report your actions to me, and I will personally oversee the matter.”

“Agreed!” Song Ling replied readily.

“But you must keep this matter confidential for now. We’ve just managed to pacify the refugees. I don’t want to cause panic among the people before we have concrete evidence.”

“No problem. However, we need you to provide us with some manpower. We might also need some medicinal herbs and materials.”

“That’s not an issue. Tell me what you need, and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.”

“Thank you, Minister Chen. We won’t take up any more of your time.”

“You’re welcome. It’s my duty. I’ll send someone to your residence in a few days. Farewell.”

After leaving the Governor’s Mansion, Song Ling and Li Xinjun returned to the Li residence. They cleared out a space to accommodate Uncle Wang. Li Xinjun busied herself with moving things around, while Song Ling continued to pore over the ancient texts, hoping to find a solution quickly.

Since the house didn’t have a dungeon, and Li Xinjun didn’t want Uncle Wang inside the house, they decided to use the small courtyard outside the kitchen. There was a large pavilion there, sheltered from the wind and rain. It was usually used to store firewood and dried goods, but it seemed suitable for housing Uncle Wang.

After finishing, Li Xinjun clapped her hands, cleaning the dust off them, and placed them on her hips, admiring her work. She surveyed the area, satisfied with the result, and then went inside to find Song Ling.

She guessed that Song Ling would be in the study reading, so she headed there. As expected, she found Song Ling at her desk, engrossed in an ancient text.

Li Xinjun approached her. Song Ling, noticing her presence, put down the book and looked up.

“Have you finished setting up?”

“Yes, I’ve cleared out a space. It should be suitable for housing Uncle Wang temporarily.”

“That’s good.”

“Have you made any new discoveries?”

“Not yet. I’m not familiar with classical Chinese, so it takes me a long time to translate. It’s a headache.”

“I can help you. I’m quite good at classical Chinese.”

“Wait, how do you know classical Chinese? Did you learn it before?”

“Yes, my teacher at the private school loved studying classical Chinese. Out of curiosity, I learned it from him for a while. I didn’t expect it to come in handy now.”

“That’s wonderful! Come, grab a chair. Let’s read and research together. Maybe we can find more information about jiangshi faster.”

“Okay!”

Li Xinjun obediently fetched a chair and sat down beside Song Ling. They sat shoulder to shoulder, looking at the same book. Song Ling took out paper and a brush, copying down Li Xinjun’s translations.

The ancient text contained a mixture of information, not all of it related to jiangshi. Even with Li Xinjun’s help, it was still time-consuming to sift through it.

They were so engrossed in their work that they lost track of time. It wasn’t until Li Xinjun’s stomach grumbled that Song Ling realized it was getting late. They had missed dinner.

Not wanting Li Xinjun to go hungry, Song Ling put down the book and went to the kitchen to prepare a simple meal of noodles. Li Xinjun followed her and helped out, one chopping vegetables and the other washing them. Soon, two bowls of fragrant scallion oil noodles were ready.

“Wow! It smells so good!” Li Xinjun couldn’t resist taking a sniff as Song Ling poured the hot scallion oil over the noodles.

“Silly girl, help me take these out. We can eat now. I’ll get the chopsticks.”

“Okay! I’ll take them out first.”

Li Xinjun excitedly carried the two bowls of noodles to the dining table and sat down obediently, waiting for Song Ling. Soon, Song Ling emerged from the kitchen with two pairs of chopsticks. She handed one pair to Li Xinjun, and they sat down to eat.

“Eat while it’s hot.”

“Yes! You too, Sister Ling.”

“Let’s eat.”

Li Xinjun, famished, took a large mouthful of noodles but immediately yelped, burning her mouth. She opened her mouth wide and fanned herself with her hands.

“It’s so hot! So hot!”

“Oh dear, why did you eat so fast? You silly girl, are you alright?”

“Haa, haa, I’m fine, just a bit burnt.”

“Let me take a look.”

“No need, no need, I’m fine now, it’s better.”

Li Xinjun took a sip of tea from her cup, feeling much better. She continued eating, but this time, she was more careful, blowing on the noodles before putting them in her mouth.

Song Ling, watching her, smiled and shook her head, finally starting her own meal.

Chapter 7

After the events of that night, the two were certain of the existence of jiangshi. Though they had burned the cave, the Taoist priest’s words revealed a mastermind behind the scenes. If they didn’t uncover this puppet master soon, the consequences could be dire.

“Sister Ling, I fear this isn’t over,” Li Xinjun said, nestled in Song Ling’s arms in bed.

“Me too. We must find the person behind this. If more jiangshi appear, it will be even harder to deal with.”

“Do you think we’ll end up like in the ancient texts, forced to burn the entire city to solve the problem?”

“I don’t know, but I will do everything in my power to prevent that. Let’s not dwell on it now. We are both exhausted from tonight. Get some rest, we need to check on Shitou’s condition tomorrow.”

“Can I hold you while I sleep?”

“Of course, silly.”

Song Ling embraced Li Xinjun, who nestled comfortably against her chest, inhaling her scent as she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Li Xinjun woke up first. She looked at Song Ling, still asleep and holding her close. A feeling of happiness welled up inside her. She silently wished that things could stay this way forever.

She studied Song Ling’s features, her long eyelashes, and thought that Song Ling was the most beautiful and kind person she had ever met.

Aside from her parents, no one had ever been so good to her. Meeting Song Ling must be a gift from heaven. She cherished their bond. Song Ling was her only family and her only friend.

Song Ling slowly woke up, opening her eyes to find Li Xinjun intently studying her face. Curious about what the mischievous girl was up to, she pretended to be asleep.

Li Xinjun, unaware that Song Ling was awake, was lost in her own world, fantasizing about their future together.

“Sister Ling, I like you too.”

Remembering Song Ling’s confession from the previous night, she mimicked the affectionate gestures of her parents and gently kissed Song Ling’s cheek. Song Ling, hearing Li Xinjun’s words, hadn’t thought much of it, planning to tease her later. But the sudden kiss made her heart skip a beat.

What was happening? Why did Li Xinjun kiss her? Her heart raced, and her cheeks flushed. No, no, Li Xinjun was just a child. This must be a misunderstanding. Don’t overthink it.

Confused thoughts flooded Song Ling’s mind. She convinced herself that it was just Li Xinjun treating her like family, nothing more.

Li Xinjun happily got out of bed and left the room. Song Ling sat up after Li Xinjun left and patted her cheeks, a pang of guilt washing over her. She felt that she had been too indulgent with the child and decided to maintain a more appropriate distance from now on.

Leaving her room, she saw Li Xinjun humming cheerfully in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. She walked over, pretending nothing had happened.

“Good morning, Jun’er.”

“Ah, Sister Ling, you’re up. Good morning! Wait a moment, I’m making noodles. They’ll be ready soon.”

Seeing Li Xinjun acting perfectly normal, Song Ling relaxed. It must have been her imagination. After all, Li Xinjun was just a child. She pulled herself together and replied, heading to the main hall.

After a simple breakfast of noodles, they set out for Aunt Liu’s house. Aunt Liu, seeing Song Ling and Li Xinjun, greeted them excitedly.

“Doctor Song, you’re finally here! Have you found out what’s wrong with Shitou?”

“Good morning, Aunt Liu. We haven’t found the exact cause yet. How is Shitou doing?”

“He woke up yesterday, but he still kept saying his head hurt. I gave him the medicine you prepared, and he fell asleep again. Would you like to go in and see him?”

Song Ling and Li Xinjun entered the house. Song Ling went to the bedside and checked Shitou’s pulse. It was still erratic, like the day before. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with him.

“Jun’er, help me unbutton his shirt. I want to see if there are any wounds.”

Li Xinjun untied the ropes binding Shitou and removed his shirt. Song Ling stepped forward and examined him carefully. She turned him over and noticed a shallow scratch on the back of his left arm. Normally, such a minor scratch wouldn’t have caught her attention, but the skin around the scratch was a deep purple, a clear sign of poisoning.

She took a small knife from her medical kit and made a cut on the scratch to draw blood. The blood that flowed out was black. Song Ling believed this might be the source of the problem.

She deepened the cut and cleaned out the black blood. Li Xinjun handed her a jar of healing balm. Song Ling applied the balm to the wound and then had Li Xinjun bandage it.

She prescribed some basic antidotes for Aunt Liu to give to Shitou. “Aunt Liu, brew this medicine and give it to Shitou three times a day. I’ll come back to check on him in a couple of days.”

“Doctor Song, will my son recover? I’m so worried that he’ll become like Uncle Wang. Please, you must save my son, I beg you.”

“Which Uncle Wang?”

“Uncle Wang who suddenly attacked people in the refugee camp a few days ago.”

“What happened to him?”

“I think he’s gone mad. He attacks anyone he sees and bites them. The other day, he even stole a live chicken from a neighbor and ate it raw, blood and all. It was terrifying. I heard he’s been captured and locked up. Do you think my Shitou will become like that too?”

Song Ling’s heart sank. Could this be related to the jiangshi? She remembered reading that people bitten by jiangshi would also turn into jiangshi. Could it be that both Uncle Wang and Shitou had been bitten? But that didn’t make sense. She had just examined Shitou’s body and found no bite marks, only the scratch.

Li Xinjun also had a realization. She frowned at Song Ling, who, seeing Li Xinjun’s expression, knew they were both thinking the same thing. They said goodbye to Aunt Liu and went to the prison to inquire about Uncle Wang’s condition. At the prison gates, they asked the guards about Uncle Wang. The guards’ faces changed upon hearing his name.

“Miss Song, Miss Li, Uncle Wang has become terrifying! We don’t dare approach him now, fearing he’ll attack us. Last time, one of our brothers wasn’t careful, and when he went to deliver food, Uncle Wang grabbed him and bit off a chunk of flesh from his arm.

We also noticed that he doesn’t eat the food we bring him. We were initially worried that he might starve to death, but then someone saw him catching and eating live rats every night. It’s truly frightening.”

“Can we go in and see him?”

“I advise against it. He looks different now. His eyes are bloodshot, his nails have grown long, and most terrifyingly, he has these long, sharp fangs. It’s truly scary. I’m afraid you two young ladies won’t be able to sleep after seeing him.”

Song Ling and Li Xinjun’s hearts tightened upon hearing the guard’s description. What he described was clearly a jiangshi, and if they were right, a second-generation jiangshi. Li Xinjun instinctively reached out and grasped Song Ling’s hand. Their worst fears seemed to be coming true.

“Sir, please let us in. I’m worried that Uncle Wang’s condition might be contagious. I need to see it for myself.”

The guard, hearing Song Ling’s reasoning, had no choice but to allow them inside the prison. Song Ling, holding Li Xinjun’s hand, walked towards Uncle Wang’s cell and observed him.

Upon seeing them, Uncle Wang lunged at the bars, trying to grab them. Song Ling and Li Xinjun stepped back, maintaining a safe distance.

“Uncle Wang, do you remember me? I’m Song Ling.”

Song Ling tried to communicate with him, but Uncle Wang didn’t respond. His eyes were fixed on them, as if he wanted to devour them. Li Xinjun noticed a small rat in the corner. She caught it and went to a nearby table, where she took a bowl and cut the rat’s throat with a knife, letting the blood flow into the bowl. The rat squeaked a few times and died.

Li Xinjun, holding the rat’s body in one hand and the bowl of blood in the other, walked to Uncle Wang and waved them in front of him. Uncle Wang, smelling the blood, became agitated. He stared intently at the bowl, his mouth open, revealing his sharp fangs.

Li Xinjun realized that Uncle Wang wasn’t interested in the rat itself but only in the blood. To confirm her suspicion, she placed the rat’s body and the bowl of blood in front of his cell. Uncle Wang, without hesitation, lunged forward and grabbed the bowl, drinking the blood.

Song Ling, witnessing this, frowned and pressed her hand to her forehead. Li Xinjun stepped back and looked at Song Ling. Their eyes met, and they stood there in silence for a moment before Song Ling spoke.

“Jun’er, I think we need to inform the authorities about this. This is beyond our capabilities.”

“You’re right, Jun’er. But I don’t know who to tell. I’m afraid no one will believe us.”

“Didn’t Eunuch Liu, who came to reward us from the Emperor, say we could seek help from Minister Chen if needed?”

“Yes! Thank you for reminding me. We can consult Minister Chen. We shouldn’t delay. Let’s go immediately.”

Chapter 6

After Song Ling woke up, Li Xinjun shared her plan. While Song Ling understood Li Xinjun’s concerns, she disagreed with her approach. She insisted on returning to the cave to confirm whether the creature was indeed the jiangshi described in the book before deciding on a course of action.

“Sister Ling, Jun’er doesn’t understand why we have to risk going back again. If we alert the enemy, the consequences could be severe.”

“Jun’er, I know what you’re worried about, but think about it. If we set fire to the cave without investigating, what if the Taoist priest is innocent? And if it really is a jiangshi, shouldn’t we verify the methods to deal with it and uncover the conspiracy behind it?”

“Isn’t the way to deal with it just to burn it with fire?”

“Yes, but I want to ask the Taoist priest why he refined the jiangshi. Since he knows the method, he must also be aware of the tragedy that occurred in ancient times. If he knows, why would he still refine it?”

“But Sister Ling, I’m worried that we’re not strong enough to fight the jiangshi. The book says that jiangshi can’t be killed, only their hearts can be pierced, and their rigid muscles make them difficult to deal with.”

“I also read the classical Chinese text you translated. Didn’t it mention that jiangshi are blind? If we hold our breath, they won’t be able to detect our presence. We can capture the Taoist priest, find out everything, and then set fire to the mountain.”

“Alright, if that’s the case, we’ll set off early tomorrow morning.”

“I want to leave tonight,” Song Ling said, shaking her head in disagreement.

“Tonight? Why so urgent?”

“Yes, tonight. If possible, I want to wait for the Taoist priest to come out of the cave on his own. That would save us a lot of effort.”

Li Xinjun agreed with the idea. She went to a nearby shop and bought a barrel of kerosene, wanting to be well-prepared for the night. Meanwhile, Song Ling was also making preparations. She took out a stack of talismans and cut her finger, letting the blood drip into a small bowl. Using her blood, she drew demon-expelling symbols on the talismans. Although she wasn’t sure if they would be effective, she prepared them nonetheless.

She went to her wardrobe and retrieved a string of blessed Buddhist beads and a roll of red thread dyed with her blood, gifts from her master. Once everything was ready, they met in the main hall. They exchanged glances, each picking up their prepared items, ready to depart.

At the foot of the mountain, Song Ling took out the Buddhist beads from her pocket and handed them to Li Xinjun. Li Xinjun took them, looking at Song Ling.

“Jun’er, this string of Buddhist beads was a gift from my master. It possesses immense power. It’s said to be the beads of Bodhidharma himself. Use it to protect yourself in times of need, understand?”

“What about you?”

“I don’t need them. My talismans are enough. Remember, if necessary, run for your life and don’t worry about me, alright?”

Song Ling led the way, walking to the cave entrance and hiding behind a large boulder, intending to wait for the Taoist priest to appear. They sat there quietly, meditating and waiting. They didn’t know how long they would have to wait. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Li Xinjun asked Song Ling.

“Sister Ling, I’ve never dared to ask you, why are you so good to me? I’m afraid that if I ask, you’ll leave me. But tonight is extremely risky, and I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to ask you later.”

“Silly Jun’er, I’m good to you because I like you. And you deserve my help, don’t you? And rest assured, I won’t abandon you, understand? I said we’re family now.”

Li Xinjun blushed. Hearing Song Ling say she liked her, she felt inexplicably thrilled. She shyly smiled to herself.

“Sister Ling, will you marry someone else in the future?”

“Boom!”

Before Song Ling could answer, a loud explosion erupted from the cave, interrupting their conversation. Song Ling quickly jumped up and looked towards the cave. A scream followed.

“Ah~”

Song Ling couldn’t wait any longer. She rushed into the cave with a torch to see what was happening. Reaching the narrow passage, she saw the Taoist priest pinned against the wall by the jiangshi they had seen earlier, its teeth sunk into his neck. The Taoist priest, seeing Song Ling, cried out for help.

“Please, save me!”

Song Ling chanted an incantation.

“Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Zai, Qian!”*

She drew her sword from her waist, cut her wrist, and let her blood drip onto the blade. Then she charged forward, thrusting the sword at the jiangshi. The jiangshi was pushed back, but the sword didn’t pierce its body.

“Aim for the heart!”

Li Xinjun caught up from behind, shouting. Song Ling lunged forward again, but the jiangshi, seemingly aware of Song Ling’s powerful magic, leaped up to avoid her sword and then turned to grab her.

Song Ling quickly executed a roundhouse kick, sending the jiangshi flying. The Taoist priest, who had fallen to the ground, scrambled to his feet and pulled out a talisman from his sleeve. He bit his finger, chanted incantations over the talisman, and threw it at the jiangshi.

The talisman exploded upon contact with the jiangshi, destroying its left shoulder. It let out a terrifying roar. Seeing an opportunity, Li Xinjun charged forward with her sword and thrust it towards the jiangshi’s heart. Although her sword hit its target, her magic and strength weren’t enough to pierce its hardened body.

The jiangshi raised its remaining right hand to grab Li Xinjun’s neck. Song Ling rushed forward and struck the jiangshi’s arm with a talisman. The jiangshi’s arm trembled as if electrocuted, and smoke emanated from its mouth.

With his last bit of strength, the Taoist priest behind them struck Li Xinjun’s right shoulder with his palm, helping her drive the sword deeper into the jiangshi’s heart. The jiangshi, its heart pierced, went berserk and swatted them away.

Li Xinjun and the Taoist priest crashed into the stone wall behind them. Because the Taoist priest was standing behind Li Xinjun, she only collided with his chest, while he, sandwiched between Li Xinjun and the wall, coughed up blood and lay dying.

Song Ling leaped forward and kicked the sword embedded in the jiangshi’s chest, finally driving it completely through its heart. The jiangshi roared loudly, smoke billowing from its mouth, and slowly collapsed backward. Its body continued to twitch even after it hit the ground. Song Ling didn’t let her guard down. She took out another explosive talisman and stuck it on the jiangshi’s head. The jiangshi’s head exploded, and it became completely motionless.

Song Ling breathed a sigh of relief and turned to check on Li Xinjun and the Taoist priest. After confirming that Li Xinjun was alright, she went to the Taoist priest and squatted beside him. He was clearly on the verge of death.

“Can you still speak? Can you tell me why you refined the jiangshi?”

“It wasn’t me… I was only entrusted… to guard these jiangshi… I’m dying… Remember to pierce… my heart… Otherwise, I’ll also…”

The Taoist priest died before he could finish his sentence. Song Ling took her sword and pierced his heart, then helped the slightly injured Li Xinjun to her feet.

“Jun’er, let’s burn this place down.”

“Okay, I’ll get the kerosene.”

Li Xinjun went to the bamboo basket she had brought, retrieved a bottle of kerosene and a discarded torch. She handed the torch to Song Ling and then poured kerosene over the jiangshi and the Taoist priest’s bodies. She then poured the remaining kerosene around the cave.

Once Li Xinjun was done, Song Ling, without hesitation, threw the torch onto the kerosene and turned to leave the cave, pulling Li Xinjun’s hand. Soon, the fire spread throughout the cave. Li Xinjun and Song Ling, exhausted, left the place behind.

Shortly after they left, a loud roar echoed from the cave, and a dark shadow escaped from the entrance. However, the two, who were already far away, didn’t notice it.

***

T/N: Lin, bing, dou, zhe, jie, zhen, lie, zai, qian

“Refine and purify, nourish and still, bind and manifest, distinguish and be present, lead and precede.”