I Just Want To Be Quiet#1097 - 1110

 Chapter 1062: Under the Moon. (First update! Please subscribe!)

In the dimness, the double-eaved hip-and-gable roof stood silently, like a crouching beast.

The dougong were like woven embroidery, the beams and pillars had coiling clouds, the colorful decorations were exquisite, and the alga patterns encircled them, while between the green latticework and vermillion pillars, hazy, indistinct paintings of clouds steaming and mists rising were depicted.

This was an ancestral hall.

In front of the gate, a vast courtyard held an ancient pine tree, its crown like a magnificent canopy, its rugged, uneven branches covering more than half of the courtyard.

At this moment, the surroundings were silent and empty.

Only from within the ancestral hall, through the latticework panels depicting 'Five Sons Achieving Success' and 'Continuous Gourd Vines', a faint light emanated.

The faint light came from the altar.

The high altar, made of golden nanmu, intricately carved with chi patterns, upturned ends, and scrolling cloud motifs, had lost its fresh wooden color over the years, replaced by a slightly darker, softer hue, making it appear even more solemn and stable.

Two cantaloupe-shaped green gauze palace lanterns burned quietly.

The dim yellow light illuminated a simple shrine at the head of the hall.

The pearl curtain was drawn back, but behind it was a human figure with no facial features, its face as smooth as a mirror.

A cold wind howled from all directions, passing through the courtyard and rooms, its mournful sound intermittent.

Yu suddenly opened his eyes, and just as he moved his body, he found that his forehead was pressed tightly against the ground, the icy touch seemingly able to penetrate his bones, and his legs were already numb, without any sensation.

He was kneeling on the ground!

Yu frowned, his already sickly and melancholic expression becoming even more dejected.

Immediately after, he discovered that his cultivation was gone!

After a moment of daze, Yu immediately took a deep breath, sat up from the ground, and carefully observed his surroundings.

What met his eyes was a rather spacious hall, empty of furniture, with the most striking features being the offering altar and the shrine above.

Yu's gaze quickly fell upon the faceless deity statue.

He saw that it was a commoner man, wearing straw sandals, seated cross-legged within the shrine, his face completely blank, which looked exceptionally eerie.

After staring at the statue for a moment, Yu's expression instantly became solemn; after careful consideration, he immediately knelt down again before the statue, disregarding his still numb legs.

The ancestral hall was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Time slowly passed; outside the window lattice, dark clouds surged like a tide, and soon, the bright moonlight silently streamed down, casting a clear radiance everywhere.

The cold wind blew, and the ancient pine swayed.

Specks of shimmering silver light, like frost and snow, filtered through the branches and leaves.

The clear, soft moonlight, passing through the pine branches, shone on the ancestral hall's entrance, and the latticework panels covered with mulberry paper gradually began to display various bizarre silhouettes.

These silhouettes quickly began to move, wander, and whisper.

However, as if restricted by something, the silhouettes' range of activity never entered the ancestral hall.

※ ※ ※

Fish-shaped pendants and grass-entwined railings, with balustrades and pillars, and numerous wind-proof lanterns cast a dim, chaotic halo.

A figure in splendid robes and brocade boots, wearing a mask like it was forged from steel, stumbled forward.

Outside the railing, flowers and trees were sparse, occasionally swaying with the chilling wind; the rustling of leaves contained faint sobs.

Pei Ling gasped as he walked into a small garden.

From his room, past his private courtyard, there was a secluded path lined with flowers and trees.

At the end of the path was a white marble arch bridge; beneath the bridge, water flowed gently, with sounds of what seemed to be fish or snakes emerging from the water, their exact forms indistinguishable in the night, only a gurgling sound could be heard.

After crossing the bridge, there was a moon gate surrounded by coiled patterns.

Beyond the gate, there were layers of pavilions, rockeries and ponds, osmanthus trees and orchids everywhere, as if it were an extremely vast backyard.

The place he was currently in was one of the small gardens in this backyard.

Perhaps because it was night, all the pavilions were completely dark, with no human sounds heard.

But in such a large residence, as he walked along, it was understandable not to see other masters, but he didn't see any Guards, houseboys, or Maids?

Pei Ling felt puzzled, but due to his physical condition, he had to sit down on a stone bench in the small garden to catch his breath.

He needed to figure out who else lived in this residence.

His identity was that of a Young Master, but if he was the only Young Master in this residence, along with the Maid from earlier, then it would be very difficult for him to gather any useful clues!

Besides confirming the occupants of the residence, he also needed to explore the residence of the family head.

Under normal circumstances, in a residence that clearly had major problems like this, the family head would definitely know the most insider information!

He just didn't know if the owner of this residence was dead or alive now...

“The Legacy of the ‘Curse’ is divided into two parts: first, Curse; second, the struggle for Dao.”

“The previous two Opportunities of the ‘Curse’ were similar situations.”

“This fortune will most likely not deviate from these two points.”

“As long as I can ascertain one or two safe rules, I can try to use the System…”

While he was thinking, Pei Ling's body also regained some strength; just as he was about to continue forward, he suddenly heard a faint female voice say: “Young Miss, where are you… Young Miss…”

“Young Miss…”

“Where are you…”

“Young Miss… where are you…”

Upon hearing this, Pei Ling immediately got up and hid behind a large tree nearby.

Soon after, he saw a Maid with twin buns, wearing an indigo embroidered dress with intertwining plum blossoms, emerge from behind a cluster of flowering trees.

Her face also bore a mask like it was forged from steel, and as her skirt brushed, a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes were revealed.

The embroidered shoes were already soaked in many places by the night dew and had quite a bit of grass and plant residue clinging to them.

The Maid did not notice Pei Ling; she looked around, searching, while calling out “Young Miss,” and heading in one direction.

Pei Ling immediately held his breath and concentrated, his mind racing; this Maid's voice was completely different from the one who entered his room earlier.

Although their attire was somewhat similar, their figures, gestures, and so on were different, so they were clearly not the same person.

He also didn't know if the Young Miss this Maid was looking for was his current identity's older or younger sister?

Or perhaps, she was also an outsider, for example, the Crimson Powder Bride!

Pei Ling couldn't determine the situation for a while; watching the Maid gradually move further away, he quickly thought it over and decided to follow her to observe the situation.

If the Young Miss the other party found was truly the Crimson Powder Bride, then in the current situation, it would definitely be a good thing for him!

Firstly, knowing the Crimson Powder Bride's identity in advance would allow him to seize the initiative to a certain extent!

Secondly, and critically, at a crucial moment, he could use the System to host the Six Desires Secret Canon and use this Dual Cultivation Technique to break the deadlock.

Of course, without truly seeing the Crimson Powder Bride yet, and not being truly pushed to a desperate situation, he dared not do so directly.

Because he still couldn't be sure if this was an Illusion Realm?

What if, after using the System to host, the System gave him some random, life-threatening things again?

Thinking of this, Pei Ling cautiously followed her.

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly tickets! Please give recommendation tickets! Please subscribe!

Chapter 1063: Can’t Sleep. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

Leaving the small garden, there was a winding covered walkway.

Lush vegetation lined both sides of the walkway, and the sound of night dew dripping could be heard occasionally.

Other than that, there was no other sound; neither insect chirps nor bird calls, as if they had been erased, completely gone.

"Young Miss, where are you?"

"Young Miss…"

The Maid walked ahead, calling out, constantly glancing around, occasionally climbing onto the railing of the walkway and leaning over to push aside the vegetation, carefully observing the situation within.

Pei Ling trailed far behind, maintaining a considerable distance, and continuously used pillars and railings to conceal his figure, ensuring that even if the other party suddenly turned back, he would always be able to avoid her gaze.

Leaving the walkway, a hexagonal garden gate stood before them. Upon entering, one saw a ground paved with green bricks and ancient trees reaching to the sky, with numerous flowers and plants hanging over artificial rockeries, appearing extremely vibrant and lush.

The Maid walked along the winding path that led deeper, calling out from time to time, "Young Miss, where are you?"

Throughout the entire process, she never looked back, as if she hadn't noticed anyone following her at all.

Suddenly, the Maid's calling stopped abruptly.

Pei Ling immediately hid, but after waiting for a moment and not seeing her turn back, his heart stirred. Had she found the "Young Miss"?

So, he looked around, confirmed that no one was nearby, then emerged from his hiding place and cautiously moved forward.

Behind the artificial rockery was a magnificent house.

Lights were on inside, and bright candlelight shone through the window lattices onto the outside, casting two figures, one sitting and one standing, onto the folding screen.

The sitting figure was adorned with pearls and jade, and numerous hairpins swayed, still wearing her ornate hair ornaments and luxurious robes late into the night.

The standing one had her hair styled in a double bun, and was clearly the Maid from before.

"Madam," the Maid seemed to curtsy slightly, speaking respectfully.

The Madam asked calmly, "Where is Xiang'e? Have you found her?"

The Maid whispered, "This servant is useless, I've searched the entire estate and haven't found the Young Miss."

The Madam said, "Where was Xiang'e last seen?"

The Maid replied, "To answer Madam, she was in the embroidery building."

"At that time, the Young Miss said she wanted to embroider a parrot and asked this servant to fetch the parrot cage for a pattern. After this servant fetched the parrot and returned upstairs, the Young Miss was gone…"

Pei Ling half-crouched, using the skirt board at the bottom of the folding screen to conceal himself, listening to the voices from inside. He immediately knew that the Young Miss the Maid was looking for was named "Xiang'e," and the one sitting and asking questions was the mistress of this estate, who should also be his current identity's mother.

Currently, something had happened to "Xiang'e," causing her to disappear from the embroidery building, but for some reason, the conversation between the mistress and the Maid sounded very calm, as if it wasn't the Young Miss who was missing, but merely an ordinary lost item…

After listening for a moment and realizing he wouldn't get more information, Pei Ling prepared to leave quietly.

But at that moment, a cold wind blew through, and a chill immediately spread throughout his body. He quickly covered his mouth tightly, but his frail body still uncontrollably let out a violent cough.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

The conversation between the Madam and the Maid inside the room immediately stopped.

Pei Ling's expression changed. This body was too weak!

He hadn't felt anything while following along earlier, but now, after catching a chill, he could barely stand steady!

"Xiao Zheng, why have you come?" The Madam's voice immediately came from inside. Immediately after, the door opened, and a luxuriously dressed woman, appearing to be the mistress, walked out quickly with two Maids.

All three of them wore masks that looked like they were cast from steel. Judging by their figures and attire, one of the two Maids serving the Madam was the one he had just followed, and the other was the one who had brought him medicine.

Seeing his Maid also here, Pei Ling remained calm. In this situation, he absolutely could not panic!

The Legacy of the "Zhou" was nothing more than Curse and Dao contention.

Among them, Dao contention… was to disguise oneself as another person and replace everything about them, including their destiny!

His current identity was the young master of this estate.

Only by playing the role as perfectly as possible could he be safer now!

Thinking of this, Pei Ling forced himself to bow and said, "This child greets… cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…"

Before he could finish speaking, he had another violent coughing fit. A strong sense of weakness washed over him. For a moment, Pei Ling felt his vision fill with golden stars and the world spin, and he immediately lost his balance and fell sideways.

The mistress and the two Maids immediately stepped forward, holding him up with many hands.

"Take Xiao Zheng back to his room!" The mistress immediately ordered, her tone revealing obvious anxiety.

The two Maids respectfully said, "Yes!"

They carefully helped Pei Ling up and walked back the way they came.

The mistress followed closely beside them, her hairpins swaying rhythmically with her steps, appearing even more dignified.

During this process, Pei Ling's mind was still clear, but he couldn't exert any strength in his body. If any of these three, master or servants, wanted to harm him now, he would be unable to resist.

As Pei Ling gasped for breath, he rapidly pondered.

This mistress before him was his current identity's mother. When he almost fell, her displayed tension and anxiety did not seem feigned. She should care deeply for him, her son. As long as his identity wasn't exposed, she should be trustworthy!

A moment later, he was sent back to his original room.

Upon entering the bedroom, without the howling cold wind, it immediately became much warmer.

Pei Ling's complexion recovered slightly. At this point, the two Maids, under the mistress's direction, helped him lie down on the bed.

After arranging his pillow and covering him with a brocade quilt, the Maids discreetly withdrew.

The mistress stepped forward, sat obliquely on the edge of the bed, and asked, "Xiao Zheng, are you feeling better now?"

Pei Ling said in a weak voice, "Mother, I have something I want to tell you privately."

The only person he could trust now was this mistress. Naturally, he wanted to seize this opportunity to tell her about the Maid trying to kill him earlier, so he could eliminate a potential threat!

Upon hearing this, the mistress nodded slightly and immediately said, "Good."

Saying this, she raised her hand to tuck in Pei Ling's quilt, then turned to instruct the two Maids, "You two go down first."

The two Maids curtsied and said, "Yes!"

As they were about to withdraw, the mistress caught sight of the medicine on the table and immediately said, "Wait a moment."

Saying this, she stood up, walked to the table, picked up the medicine, tasted a spoonful, then shook her head and said, "This medicine is completely cold. Take it down and warm it up before bringing it back."

"Yes, Madam," the two Maids replied, taking the medicine out.

"Bang."

The door was gently closed.

After this delay, Pei Ling felt fatigue surge like a tide, his eyelids felt like a thousand pounds, uncontrollably wanting to close.

The mistress's voice sounded in his ears: "Xiao Zheng… Xiao Zheng…"

Pei Ling wanted to answer, but his weak body showed no movement. A boundless sense of exhaustion overwhelmed him, yet he remained unresponsive.

Clang!

A faint sound of a sharp blade being unsheathed suddenly rang in his ears.

Pei Ling woke up abruptly, immediately not daring to open his eyes, and then let out an earth-shattering cough.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough…"

The mistress instantly put away the dagger.

At that moment, Pei Ling slowly opened his eyes and said, "Mother…"

"Xiao Zheng, what is it you want to tell Mother privately?" The mistress asked with a gentle voice and a face full of maternal love.

"…" Pei Ling paused for two breaths, then said, "This child… doesn't want to take medicine…"

"No!" The mistress immediately shook her head, "That medicine is for your illness. If you drink it, your illness will slowly get better."

Pei Ling weakly said, "This child understands…"

The mistress asked softly, "Is there anything else?"

Pei Ling immediately shook his head and said, "No."

Hearing this, the mistress nodded, then said, "It's getting late. You should sleep first."

"Mother has already sent someone to warm the medicine."

"It will be brought over once it's ready, so don't worry."

Pei Ling nodded: "This child understands."

As he spoke, his eyes slowly closed again.

The mistress nodded slightly, and seeing that he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, she then stood up and walked towards the door.

"Creak."

"Bang."

The door opened and closed.

Confirming that he was alone in the room, Pei Ling immediately opened his eyes, his expression becoming incredibly grim.

Tonight, he couldn't sleep!

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly tickets! Please give recommendation tickets! Please subscribe!

Chapter 1064 Dawn. (First update! Please subscribe!)

The sound of pines rustled, and clear dew dripped.

Time flowed slowly.

The dark blue brocade curtain, embroidered with gold and depicting mandarin ducks playing in water, hung low, the jade hooks empty, and the candlelight within the thick gauze cover flickered quietly.

Pei Ling sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, leaning against the bedpost. His eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, constantly drooping, but as soon as his head dropped, he immediately woke up with a start, raising his head abruptly!

The dim, faint lamplight illuminated the entire room.

It was deathly silent and deep.

After a long while, there was a soft creak.

Behind the screen, the door gently opened, and a slender figure slipped in.

A Maid with a double bun hairstyle slowly walked around the screen, carefully holding a bowl of freshly warmed medicine.

In the five-petaled, sunflower-rimmed, gold-foil-decorated bowl, the medicine was dark, and as the Maid walked, ripples spread out in circles.

Pei Ling immediately raised his bloodshot eyes and looked towards her.

Seeing her young master sitting by the bed, the Maid paused slightly, then quickly walked a few steps to place the medicine bowl on the table. She then curtsied and said, “Young Master, the medicine is ready. This servant will now assist you in taking it.”

Hearing this, Pei Ling shook his head slightly and said very directly, “Just leave the medicine on the table. You should go back and rest first.”

“Without my command, you are not to enter my room again.”

The Maid couldn’t help but be startled, but she quickly curtsied again and said, “Yes!”

Immediately, she bowed once more, turned, and left.

“Bang.”

Hearing the sound of the door closing, Pei Ling finally let out a sigh of relief. Immediately after, his eyelids uncontrollably closed. Weakness, exhaustion, fatigue… surged over him like a tide. His frail body could no longer support itself, and he immediately collapsed onto the bed…

“Ooh-ooh-ooh!”

A clear rooster’s crow came faintly from an unknown distance.

Pei Ling suddenly awoke from his sleep. He was about to get up when he suddenly realized that he was lying on his back in the center of the bed, his head resting on a jade pillow, and a brocade quilt covering him. The quilt had obviously been carefully tucked in, tightly and without any gaps.

His expression immediately changed!

He remembered very clearly that after the Maid brought him the medicine, due to his extreme weakness and fatigue, he had ordered her not to enter and then uncontrollably fell into a deep sleep.

But in that situation, he should have just collapsed onto the bed, without even the strength to lift his hand. It was impossible for him to be in this normal sleeping posture now, and even less possible for him to have covered himself so tightly with the quilt!

Someone had entered his room again in the latter half of the night!

Who could it be?

And what was their purpose?

Thinking of this, Pei Ling frowned deeply. He turned his head to look, and the thick gauze lampshade was pitch black. The entire room was dim and murky. The candle used for getting up at night had already extinguished.

Through the closed windows and the crack in the door, a very faint glimmer of dawn was visible.

It was already light outside.

Pei Ling took a deep breath. Given the current situation, he had to continue gathering information and could not sleep anymore…

So, he used all his strength to sit up from the bed.

Perhaps because he had rested for a night, although this body still felt as weak as it did last night, with waves of weakness assailing his heart, he had accumulated a good deal of strength.

He finally managed to climb out of bed and sat on the edge for a short rest, then, leaning on the bedpost, slowly stood up.

Using the little light that filtered through the cracks, Pei Ling slowly walked to the clothes rack and fumbled to get dressed.

Afterward, he walked to the table, leaned on its edge, and sat down on an embroidered stool, looking down at the table in front of him.

The bowl of medicinal soup that the Maid had brought last night was nowhere to be found.

Pei Ling rested for a while, feeling that the strength expended by his recent movements had largely recovered. Just as he was about to get up and leave, he suddenly heard a soft knock on the door from beyond the screen.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

After three light knocks, the voice of the Maid who had served him last night sounded from outside the door: “Young Master, it’s time for breakfast.”

“This servant has been ordered to bring breakfast.”

“Young Master, may this servant enter?”

Pei Ling frowned, about to speak, but due to his extreme weakness, he couldn’t help but cough again.

Hearing the cough from inside the room, the Maid, who was asking for permission, immediately pushed open the door and walked in quickly.

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl in a blue dress came around the screen. She had a round face, arched eyebrows, large eyes, fair and delicate skin, and a refined and beautiful appearance. Although there was still some childishness in her expression, her movements were very nimble.

At this moment, she carried a black lacquered, gold-painted food box on her arm, her indigo sleeves revealing a section of her snow-white wrist, adding to her charm.

Seeing Pei Ling already neatly dressed and sitting at the table, the Maid was momentarily startled, but quickly recovered. She immediately placed the food box on the table, then went to the nearby cabinet, took out a red fox fur cloak, shook it open, and draped it over Pei Ling.

She then carefully tucked in the fur so it wouldn’t block his mouth or nose, and then softly asked, “Young Master, how are you feeling today? Is your body a little better?”

Pei Ling nodded slightly and said calmly, “Mm.”

Seeing this, the Maid then moved to a nearby spot, first replacing the extinguished candle, and then removing the thick gauze lampshade.

The room immediately brightened up.

At this point, the Maid returned to the table, opened the food box, and first took out the upper layer, which was a copper basin filled with hot water, with a neatly folded cloth beside it.

She deftly dipped the cloth into the hot water, wrung it dry, and carefully cleaned Pei Ling’s face.

The steaming hot cloth covered his entire face, as if all his pores opened, and a sense of comfort spread throughout his body.

Afterward, the Maid offered him some rock salt and fresh willow branches, assisting Pei Ling in brushing his teeth.

After finishing the washing, she tidied up and then opened the lower layer of the food box. It contained a pot of congee, five small dishes of finely chopped pickles, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a plate of sugared lotus root, and a block of braised tofu.

Serving Pei Ling a bowl of congee, the Maid stirred it with a silver spoon, scooped some up, blew on it, and said to Pei Ling, “This servant will assist you with your meal.”

Pei Ling looked at the food in front of him. These foods, which seemed very suitable for this sickly body, might have some problems.

However, his current physical condition was extremely weak, and he needed immediate replenishment!

Whether he ate this food or not, it was very dangerous for him.

After a brief thought, Pei Ling calmly said, “You can go down first.”

“I don’t need assistance here right now.”

“Come back in an hour to clean up.”

The Maid bowed and said, “Yes!”

With that, she put down the silver spoon and the congee bowl, curtsied, and withdrew.

Once he was alone in the room, Pei Ling looked at the food in front of him and no longer hesitated. He immediately picked up the bowl and chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

Soon, after a whirlwind of eating, Pei Ling contentedly put down his chopsticks.

The dishes in front of him were a mess, with very little left. He was completely full and had not detected any abnormalities in his body.

Pei Ling sat quietly, waiting patiently.

At this moment, if his body showed even the slightest discomfort, he would immediately use the System to Cultivate!

Chapter 1065 The Master Has Ordered. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

Up until now, Pei Ling knew almost nothing about the Opportunity that “Zhou” left behind in You Su Tomb.

If there were no problems with these dishes, then that would naturally be for the best.

But once there truly was a problem, he wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest!

Yes, no matter what Cultivation Technique or spell he was Hosting, as long as he experienced poisoning or any other abnormal situation, the System would prioritize helping him resolve the problems with his body itself.

This was also his trump card for daring to eat directly.

The palace lantern burned quietly, occasionally bursting into a brilliant bloom.

Amidst the tranquility, time unknowingly slipped away.

Pei Ling had not detected any problems with his body; on the contrary, due to eating, his entire state was much better than before.

He began to walk around the room, inspecting it carefully.

However, this seemed to be just an ordinary Young Master’s bedroom; whether it was the items on the curio shelf, the things in the chests and cabinets, or the walls, under the bed, etc… there were no secrets or clues.

The only suspicious thing was the nailed-shut windows.

Pei Ling tried, but the wooden boards of those windows were nailed particularly firmly; with his current condition, it was impossible to pry them open.

Moreover, he still didn’t know the consequences of doing so.

So, after only a slight attempt, he stopped trying.

An hour later.

Faint footsteps came from outside the door, followed by a gentle knock on the door, and the Maid’s voice sounded: “Young Master, are you ready? Can this servant come in to serve you now?”

Pei Ling calmly said: “Yes, come in.”

“Creak.”

The door opened.

The Maid quickly walked in, swiftly cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, and after putting the miscellaneous items into the food box, she deftly wiped the table clean before excusing herself and leaving.

Pei Ling sat alone in the room, deep in thought.

The people in this residence wore masks at night, but showed their true faces during the day.

Furthermore, the food delivered after dawn had no problems; the daytime was much safer than the night!

Thinking of this, he stood up and walked directly out the door.

Just as he stepped out of the room, he saw a tall, energetic middle-aged Guard standing outside. Upon seeing Pei Ling emerge, he immediately cupped his fists and said: “Young Master, the Master has ordered you to go to the Main Hall now.”

Pei Ling’s expression remained unchanged. He glanced at him, and seeing his face was square and he wasn’t wearing a mask, he slowly nodded and said: “Alright.”

The Guard immediately turned and led the way, with Pei Ling following closely behind.

…

An embroidered building with carved beams, painted pillars, and half-rolled pearl curtains.

In the flower hall with brocade screens and golden curtains, untouched dishes were placed on a round table made of huanghuali wood inlaid with marble and carved with Phoenixes piercing peonies.

“Thump, thump, thump!”

Dull sounds continuously rang out.

Blood splattered!

Like a blooming Mandala.

The Crimson Powder Bride held a pure gold long hairpin, repeatedly stabbing it into the heart and neck of a Maid with a double-bun hairstyle.

The Maid was covered in blood, her eyes wide open, and a gurgling sound came from her throat as she gradually lost her breath.

The Crimson Powder Bride stabbed dozens more times, making sure the Maid was as dead as could be, before she finally sat down exhausted on a nearby chair.

The Crimson Powder Bride stared expressionlessly at the not-yet-stiff corpse in front of her. This was the Maid who had been looking for her last night!

Although the other party wasn’t wearing a mask now, she recognized her voice!

Now that this trouble was eliminated, she was temporarily safe.

Thinking of this, the Crimson Powder Bride glanced at the dishes on the table and immediately let out a cold snort.

These foods didn’t look as delicious as the newly deceased Maid.

After a short rest, the Crimson Powder Bride had recovered enough strength. She walked to the Maid’s corpse, dipped her finger in a bit of the other party’s heart blood, brought it to her lips, and extended her small tongue to lick it, but quickly felt a wave of nausea and vomited it out directly!

The Crimson Powder Bride’s delicate brows furrowed. This body was truly troublesome!

She no longer attempted to eat, but instead rolled up her sleeves, grabbed the corpse by its hair, dragged it out of the flower hall, pushed open the separating pearl curtains, and entered the inner chamber’s boudoir.

This boudoir was not small, but it didn’t have many furnishings, only a bed, a small table, and a cabinet.

The Crimson Powder Bride didn’t hesitate at all, pushing the corpse under the bed, then smoothing and pulling the bedspread straight.

Next, she walked to the cabinet, pulled open the door, and took out a set of clean clothes, completely changing out of her blood-stained garments. Afterwards, she found several blankets from under the cabinet and spread them on the blood-stained floor to cover the traces.

After doing all this, she didn’t touch the food on the table and went directly out the door.

Just as she stepped out of the embroidered building, she saw an old Guard with white hair and beard standing not far away. Upon seeing the Crimson Powder Bride, the Guard immediately bowed and said: “Young Miss, the Master has ordered you to go to the Main Hall.”

The Crimson Powder Bride’s expression was cold, and her voice was faint as she asked: “Did you hear anything just now?”

The Guard shook his head and said: “Young Miss, forgive me, I didn’t hear anything just now.”

The Crimson Powder Bride stared at him for a moment, nodded slightly, and then said: “Take me to the Main Hall.”

…

Ancestral Hall.

On the offering table, candlelight flickered slowly.

After a long period of dim yellow light, as if tired, it began to slowly fade.

In its place was the daylight streaming in from the window lattice behind.

The original gloom and confusion gradually dissipated, and the entire ancestral hall’s appearance was revealed more clearly before their eyes.

The vermilion pillars and colorful decorations, bathed in the morning light, showed meticulous and exquisite details in every stroke.

The paintings on the walls were elegant and intricate, continuous, seemingly narrating the glorious honor of the ancestors.

Below the hall, Yu, who maintained a prostrate kneeling posture, suddenly looked up.

He saw that above the offering table, the pearl curtain in front of the shrine had fallen at some point, obscuring his vision, and the statue behind the curtain was vaguely indistinct.

Yu pondered, then supported himself with his hands, intending to stand up directly.

However, because he had been kneeling for too long, his legs and feet were numb, and after several attempts, he still couldn’t stand up.

He had to first change his posture, from kneeling to sitting. Soon, his legs felt as if tens of thousands of insects were gnawing at them, sore and numb.

After resting for a moment, Yu was finally able to stand up.

He moved his limbs, and after confirming that he could move as usual, he walked outside.

Stepping out of the main door, he entered a wide courtyard. Overhead, ancient pines stood tall like a canopy, their lush branches covering most of the courtyard, filtering a hint of chill from the originally gentle and warm morning light.

The damp and cold morning breeze blew, scattering a few fine pine needles.

Amidst the rustling, the unique fragrance of pine wood diffused.

Not far away, a short but upright Guard stood. Upon seeing Yu emerge, he immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said in a deep voice: “Young Master, the Master wants you to go to the Main Hall.”

Yu nodded, then ordered: “Lead the way.”

The Guard bowed and said: “Yes!”

Saying that, he turned around and led the way.

Yu stepped forward to follow.

Remember to vote after reading!

Chapter 1066: The Faceless Immortal. (First update! Please subscribe!)

Crimson railings stood in lines, and green tiles were scattered unevenly.

A cluster of red plantains extended from outside the beauty's couch into the corridor, swaying gracefully with the wind.

Pei Ling walked slowly behind the Guards.

As the two of them had just walked out of a moon gate, he suddenly spoke, "Did the Master say what he wanted to see me about?"

The Guards replied, "Replying to Young Master, the Master did not say, and this subordinate is not entirely clear either."

Upon hearing this, Pei Ling nodded slightly. The Guards did not know, perhaps because he was unwilling to say, or perhaps it was something important that the Master had not revealed a single word about, and the other party truly did not know.

With his thoughts turning, he then asked, "Besides me, is anyone else going?"

This time, the Guards said, "There's also Misty Young Master and Young Miss Xiang'e."

Young Miss Xiang'e?

Didn't she go missing last night?

As for that "Misty Young Master," Pei Ling had no clues whatsoever and couldn't determine his identity at all.

However, this time, besides himself, the ones who entered the land of creation left behind by "Zhou" were the Crimson Powder Bride, Yu, and the Greedy Slave. If that "Young Miss Xiang'e" was the Crimson Powder Bride, then was the remaining "Misty Young Master" Yu or the Greedy Slave?

Or was it that the other two young masters and young misses in this residence were not Yu, the Greedy Slave, and the Crimson Powder Bride?

Thinking this, Pei Ling continued to ask, "Has anything unusual happened in the family recently?"

The Guards shook his head and said, "Replying to Young Master, no. Everything in the family is normal."

As the two spoke, they passed through several more courtyards.

Along the way, the plants were lush, the houses were neat, the decorations were elaborate, and the gold inlays and embedded jewels made it appear extremely luxurious and exquisite.

However, they didn't encounter anyone along the way.

The entire residence was silent, and their footsteps echoed in the empty courtyard.

A moment later, a spacious and magnificent building appeared before their eyes. Judging by its layout, it was indeed the main hall.

"Young Master, the Master is inside," the Guards said, but he showed no intention of entering. Instead, he walked to the corridor and stood by.

Pei Ling glanced at the half-closed main door, walked forward alone, pushed the door open, and entered.

He saw an eight-fold screen depicting "Four Seasons Flowers and Figures with Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl and Pearl Carved Scrollwork Marble" facing him. The screen was complex and magnificent, over a zhang in both height and width, blocking most of the natural light.

After turning past the screen, the light quickly dimmed, and a sense of oppressive gloom immediately enveloped him.

The scarlet felt carpet with intertwined lotus patterns was over an inch thick, and stepping on it felt like treading on soft clouds.

At the head of the hall was an ivory carved landscape painting, and the offering table was adorned with fruits and fresh flowers.

In a zitan wood inlaid shell Grand Tutor's chair sat a middle-aged man of about forty or fifty, sitting upright. His beard reached his chest, and his face was square, giving him an air of natural authority.

There was no one else in the entire main hall apart from him.

He knew that this person must be the "Master" mentioned by the Guards.

So, Pei Ling immediately stepped forward and bowed to him, saying, "This child greets Father."

The Master nodded slightly, playing with a pair of iron balls in his hand, and said, "Sit down first."

Pei Ling sat down at the lower seat as instructed. After sitting down, he saw that the Master did not speak much, and knew that he was probably waiting for Misty Young Master and Young Miss Xiang'e to arrive.

He maintained a respectful posture, thinking to himself that, without any surprises, everything that happened last night should have been "Zhou's" most basic test.

If one couldn't even survive that night, they wouldn't be qualified to inherit the creation that the other party would bestow!

And coming to see this Master now was probably when the real show would begin.

Just as he was thinking, the Master suddenly asked, "Xiao Zheng, did you sleep well last night?"

Pei Ling cautiously said, "This child has made Father worry. This child slept well."

Upon hearing this, the Master's expression remained unchanged. He just nodded slightly, then fell silent.

As the two fell silent, the main hall gradually became so quiet that a needle drop could be heard.

The sense of oppression caused by the dim light grew heavier.

Soon, a series of footsteps came from outside, followed by a slender and delicate figure turning past the screen and entering the main hall.

After the Crimson Powder Bride entered, her gaze immediately fell upon Pei Ling and the Master, observing the two of them without a trace of emotion.

And when Pei Ling saw that the person who entered was an unfamiliar young girl with an oval face and delicate features, he immediately knew that this should be the "Young Miss Xiang'e" that the Guards had just mentioned, and furthermore, her current reaction most likely meant she was the Crimson Powder Bride!

After all, if it were "Xiang'e" herself, she would certainly be extremely familiar with the family members and would not look at him and the Master with such cautious and wary eyes.

Thinking of this, Pei Ling's expression remained completely normal. He merely glanced casually at the Crimson Powder Bride, then began to close his eyes and rest, as if he were just an ordinary patient, too weak to greet his family.

At this moment, the Master spoke, "Sit down."

Upon hearing this, the Crimson Powder Bride walked to a seat not far away and sat down.

None of the three spoke again, and the main hall fell silent once more.

After a moment, a man in luxurious clothes walked in with steady steps. After Yu entered, he saw the three who had arrived earlier. Similar to the Crimson Powder Bride before him, he said nothing until the Master told him to sit down.

Seeing this scene, Pei Ling gradually had a clearer idea.

This "Misty Young Master" was very likely one of Yu or the Greedy Slave.

However, he couldn't be sure who it was yet.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, the Master showed no intention of wasting time and immediately began, "My Xiao Family, our ancestors were originally just commoners, toiling in the countryside, achieving nothing of note."

"The reason why we are now wealthy enough to rival a region and enjoy unimaginable riches is entirely due to our ancestor's Destiny and good fortune in consecrating the Faceless Great Immortal."

"The Celestial's Divine Ability is vast, and he is compassionate, bringing prosperity to our Human Race."

"Over these years, our Xiao Family's actions have been met with unfailing success."

"All who dared to hinder our family have seen their wives scattered, their families ruined, and even their bones vanished!"

"Our Xiao Family members must remember the Celestial's grace and never forget it."

Speaking of this, the Master paused, then continued, "The reason I called the three of you here is to have you prepare the sacrifices for the next offering."

"The requirements for the sacrifices are still the same as before."

"Only by maintaining these sacrifices can our Xiao Family continue to flourish, and even advance further!"

"If the sacrifices are not prepared, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"The three of you must not be careless or neglect the Celestial, do you understand!?"

Faceless Great Immortal?

Sacrifice?

Pei Ling frowned, secretly glancing at Young Miss Xiang'e and Misty Young Master.

He saw that Young Miss Xiang'e was similar to him, with a look of confusion in her eyes, clearly not knowing what the Faceless Great Immortal was.

But Misty Young Master seemed to have no surprise about this. His expression revealed an unshakeable melancholy, as if there was nothing in the world worth being happy about. From beginning to end, he was dejected and unhappy.

Misty Young Master's demeanor was not like the Greedy Slave, but more like Yu!

Chapter 1067 Sacrifice. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

Thinking of this, Pei Ling remained silent, and "Xiang'e" and Misty Young Master also said nothing.

Seeing that none of the three responded, the Master seemed to take it as their default, and nodded slightly, saying, "Remember everything that happened today, and do not make any mistakes!"

"Alright, you may all leave."

The three looked at each other, bowed, and said, "Your children bid farewell."

Then they slowly departed.

Soon, only the Master remained in the spacious Main Hall.

He took out a scroll from his sleeve; upon opening it, he saw a densely packed list of names.

This was the Xiao Family's family tree.

However, on this family tree, most of the names were already crossed out with a red line; only a few names remained untouched by the red line.

Including his wife's name, the red line on it had long since faded...

...

Outside the Main Hall, the wind rustled through the pines, and the green grass was like a carpet.

Three Guards stood with their hands clasped, respectfully positioned beneath the covered walkway; upon seeing Pei Ling and the other two emerge, they immediately stepped forward and bowed, "Greetings, Young Master and Young Miss."

"Xiang'e" and Misty Young Master did not speak, seemingly not even noticing them; at this moment, Pei Ling nodded slightly and said, "You may dispense with the formalities."

The three Guards then said, "Your subordinates will escort the Young Master and Young Miss back."

Hearing this, Misty Young Master glanced at "Xiang'e" and Pei Ling, and briefly said, "Alright."

With that, he followed the Guard who had been guarding the ancestral hall earlier and turned to leave.

"Xiang'e" stood still, watching Misty Young Master's retreating figure, and gave a cold laugh: "Yu..."

Saying that, she turned to look at Pei Ling, her expression clearly hesitant, but in the end, she said nothing and simply walked away.

The Guard who had led her there immediately followed.

Pei Ling calmly watched this scene; the identities of "Yu" and the Crimson Powder Bride were now clear!

However, his disguise just now was good, and since the Greedy Slave who came in with him was not present, the number of people was incorrect, so although the Crimson Powder Bride was now somewhat suspicious of his identity, she did not seem to have enough certainty, and thus, she did not communicate with him at all just now.

Thinking of this, Pei Ling said to the last Guard, "Escort me back."

The Guard bowed and said, "Yes!"

The two then walked through the corridors and courtyards along the path they had come.

Amidst the swaying branches, which obscured the vermilion pillars, the empty long corridor echoed with footsteps.

Halfway there, seeing no one before or behind them, and having already moved far from the Main Hall, Pei Ling suddenly asked, "How much do you know about my Xiao Family's Faceless Great Immortal?"

The Guard was startled, and quickly asked, "Young Master, what is a Faceless Great Immortal?"

Hmm?

Pei Ling frowned; he had originally intended to inquire about the sacrifice from the Guard, but now there was no need.

The other party hadn't even heard of the Xiao Family's Faceless Great Immortal, clearly knowing nothing, so he wouldn't be able to get any information.

Thus, Pei Ling said no more.

Seeing that he did not respond, the Guard did not press further.

The two silently passed through layers of buildings, finally returning to Zheng Young Master's bedroom.

Pei Ling walked into the room alone; he closed the door behind him, turned past the screen, and just as he sat down by the table, he uncontrollably burst into a violent fit of coughing.

"Cough cough cough cough cough..."

After a long bout of heart-wrenching coughing, Pei Ling finally recovered; his current state was much better than last night, but his body was still very weak.

The trip to and from the Main Hall just now was still too much for him.

"The Faceless Great Immortal should be the real problem with this mansion."

"The upcoming sacrifice is most likely related to the creation of the 'Curse'."

"My physical condition is too poor right now; otherwise, I should have gone to look for a statue of the 'Faceless Great Immortal' in the mansion just now, which might have provided some key clues."

"Cough cough cough cough..."

"I slept too little last night; my body now... I need to rest first!"

Thinking of this, Pei Ling immediately propped himself up on the table, stood up, walked to the bed, and lay down.

This mansion was safe during the day and dangerous at night.

Once night fell, he certainly wouldn't dare to sleep again; for now, he could only rest during the day to regain his energy, and then investigate clues at night.

He had just pulled the covers over himself when sleepiness swept over him like a tide, and he fell into a deep sleep in an instant.

In the dim room, the palace lantern flickered quietly, casting strange and varied shadows in the gloom.

...

Embroidered Building.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Accompanied by faint footsteps, the Crimson Powder Bride gracefully ascended the stairs.

Upon returning to her boudoir, a stench of decay immediately assailed her; she quickly locked the door, then hurried into the inner room, knelt by the bed, and looked beneath it.

She saw a stiff corpse with a head full of filthy blood and a greenish face, lying beneath the bed.

Its clothing was intact, but its Physical Body was severely decomposed, almost completely deformed, with white bones clearly visible in some places.

This Maid did not look like she had just been killed, but rather a corpse that had been dead for a very, very long time!

The Crimson Powder Bride frowned; the Faceless Great Immortal the Master mentioned just now, she didn't know if it was the "Curse", but no matter what, the upcoming sacrifice was very likely related to the creation of the "Curse".

She had to prepare in advance!

However, this corpse was already in such a state, it probably couldn't be used as a sacrifice; she would have to find another one.

As her thoughts turned, the Crimson Powder Bride stood up, her skirt swirling like multi-petaled flowers as it fell, intending to go out directly, but her hungry and tired body quickly made her feel an irresistible fatigue and weakness.

The Crimson Powder Bride had no choice but to walk to the table and sit down; on the table were still the meals the Maid had brought her in the morning.

The meticulously simmered rice porridge had already formed a crust on its surface, and the various colored pickles were mostly shriveled; the food, which was not particularly appetizing to begin with, now looked even worse.

Looking at these bland porridge and dishes, the Crimson Powder Bride's eyebrows furrowed tightly; although these were completely unappetizing to her, the Mortal body was too weak, and after climbing the well all night, if she didn't eat, she feared she wouldn't even have the strength to walk.

The Crimson Powder Bride then picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat with great distaste...

The room was silent, save for the occasional clinking of chopsticks against the porcelain bowl.

A moment later, the Crimson Powder Bride finished her meal, her strength largely recovered, but her expression was weary, and she was still very tired.

After considering for a moment, she casually lifted the bed curtains and lay down on the bed; smelling the decaying scent of the corpse beneath the bed, she fell into a sweet sleep.

Time slowly passed, the golden crow set in the west, and the light of day gradually receded.

The Embroidered Building gradually darkened, and the originally magnificent furnishings seemed to be continuously covered by a strange shadow.

Beneath the bed, black hair extended silently, like flowing water.

Soon, it spread throughout the entire inner room, surging towards the outer room.

Suddenly, a fair, slender hand reached out from beneath the bed frame.

Remember to vote after reading!

Chapter 1068 Mask. (First update! Please subscribe!)

In her sleep, the Crimson Powder Bride felt increasingly cold.

Gradually, she felt as if something was wrapped around her neck, and her breathing became extremely difficult.

Her long, dark hair, like a stream of black ink, slowly spread and rose, quickly filling the entire boudoir.

Fine, tenacious strands of hair, nimble as snakes, probed into the bed curtains, wrapping around the Crimson Powder Bride's neck in circle after circle, then tightening more and more...

The Crimson Powder Bride's eyes were tightly shut, her originally rosy complexion gradually turning pale blue, and her peaceful expression showed signs of struggle.

She desperately wanted to wake up, but her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand catties, and she simply couldn't open her eyes.

Soon, her breathing began to weaken.

Suddenly, a bloodstain abruptly appeared on the Crimson Powder Bride's glabella, and then, a blood-red eye filled with venom, coldness, and fury, abruptly opened!

At the same time, all the hair wrapped around the Crimson Powder Bride's neck instantly broke.

Her slender, graceful body suddenly sat up. The Crimson Powder Bride opened her eyes, now fully awake, but the blood-red pupil on her glabella was forcibly erased by an unseen force at the same moment.

The Crimson Powder Bride's expression changed abruptly. Without any hesitation, she immediately rolled out of bed, but before her feet could touch the ground, a Maid poked her head out from the side. Her figure was familiar, with a double bun hairstyle, and she wore a mask as smooth as a mirror on her face.

The Crimson Powder Bride was startled. This was the Maid who served her, but hadn't she already killed her?

Before she could think carefully, the next moment, the Maid raised her sleeve and extended a pair of fair, slender, yet ice-cold soft hands, instantly gripping the Crimson Powder Bride's throat!

A strong sense of suffocation, like surging tides, instantly engulfed the Crimson Powder Bride. She struggled fiercely, but the Maid's hands, like iron clamps forged from ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, firmly restrained her, making it impossible for her to resist.

After struggling in vain, the Crimson Powder Bride suddenly thought of something. She grabbed the Maid's mask and abruptly pulled it off!

As the mask fell, it immediately revealed a delicate face with curved eyebrows, large eyes, and bangs falling across her forehead. Between her brows was an ingrained submissiveness. The next moment, all the Maid's movements instantly froze, and her body began to rapidly decay.

Her originally fair and youthful Physical Body, in an instant, turned into a highly decomposed female corpse, festering everywhere, with yellowish pus flowing freely.

The Crimson Powder Bride quickly struggled free and immediately got out of bed. She didn't even have time to change her dress and ran directly outside.

“Thump, thump, thump...”

Her elaborate skirt constantly fluttered. The Crimson Powder Bride quickly rounded the screen and ran to the door, but when she pulled it hard, the door remained motionless, still tightly shut, completely unable to open.

At this moment, the Maid by the bed slowly turned around. With this movement, the pus flowing from her body intensified, and an eyeball rolled out of its socket, splashing foul-smelling blood on the ground.

The Maid called out faintly, “Young Miss, where are you?”

Before her voice faded, she took a step and walked towards the Crimson Powder Bride, again raising her sleeve and extending a pair of slender hands. But now, these hands were mottled with black and blue, blood flowing freely, rotten beyond recognition, with chunks of flesh constantly falling off, “plop,” “plop,” littering the path she walked.

Inside the boudoir, a chilling aura rapidly permeated, making the entire embroidered building feel like an ice cellar.

The stench of decay was thick and palpable, making one nauseous.

Although the boudoir was relatively spacious compared to an ordinary girl's living quarters, it was ultimately limited in space and difficult to hide in.

Seeing the Maid gradually approaching, the Crimson Powder Bride frowned slightly, and the hand gripping the door tightened, desperately trying to open it.

But no matter how hard she pulled, kicked, or punched, the seemingly delicate door in front of her was as heavy as a mountain. Even with all her might, she couldn't budge it an inch.

This didn't seem to be an unlocked door, but an immovable mountain!

“Young Miss, so you're here!”

The Maid's voice had already sounded from behind her. The chilling aura, like a fierce cold wave, roared towards the Crimson Powder Bride, almost instantly engulfing her.

The rotten, foul-smelling claw slowly extended, seemingly about to once again grip the Crimson Powder Bride's neck.

At the crucial moment, a flash of inspiration struck the Crimson Powder Bride's mind. She suddenly picked up the mask she had just snatched and put it on her face!

In an instant, a strong chill swept through her entire body. The Crimson Powder Bride shivered uncontrollably, feeling as if everything before her suddenly dimmed. Everything she saw was gray and hazy, dim and confusing, unlike the human world.

Then, she pulled the door again. This time, there was no obstruction whatsoever, and the door opened with extreme lightness.

The Crimson Powder Bride did not hesitate and immediately fled outside.

The Maid's voice came from behind: “Young Miss, don't run...”

“Young Miss, where are you?”

“Young Miss...”

Night fell, starless and moonless. The large, dim mansion, with its double eaves and red pillars, was densely packed and silent as death.

“Thump... thump... thump...”

The Maid took steps and chased out of the room. “Plop,” “plop”... As she walked, rotten chunks of flesh fell little by little, covering the places she passed.

The luxurious and vast mansion, like a silent Vicious Beast under the night, calmly watched this scene.

......

At the same time.

In “Zheng” Shao Ye's bedroom.

“Creak.”

The door suddenly pushed open.

“Shao Ye, Shao Ye...”

The Maid's gentle, sweet voice softly drifted in.

Pei Ling suddenly awoke and immediately spoke without hesitation: “What is it?”

No sooner had he spoken than he saw a familiar figure turn around the screen. Her indigo dress was as before, and she wore a mask that seemed forged from refined iron on her face. She walked in with light steps, carefully carrying a five-lobed, sunflower-mouthed, gold-leafed sea bowl.

Inside the sea bowl, the ink-black liquid was deep and steaming hot.

The Maid said softly: “Shao Ye, this servant has brought you medicine.”

“I will serve you to take it while it's hot.”

Pei Ling struggled to sit up and quickly discovered that his Physical Body was still weak, but perhaps due to eating and sleeping, his strength had recovered quite a bit. It seemed that this nap he just took was not short.

Thinking of this, he asked: “What time is it now?”

The Maid said softly: “Replying to Shao Ye, it is now You Shi (5-7 PM).”

As she spoke, she placed the medicine on the table, walked to the bedside, and helped Pei Ling sit up.

With the Maid's assistance, Pei Ling saved a lot of effort getting out of bed. Seeing that the Maid was about to bring the medicine to feed him, he immediately said: “Drink the medicine later. I have some questions for you.”

The Maid immediately said respectfully: “Yes, Shao Ye.”

Seeing her being very cooperative, Pei Ling nodded slightly. It seemed that as long as he didn't fall asleep in front of her, this servant was still very obedient to him as her Shao Ye.

Thinking of this, he immediately asked: “Do you know the Faceless Great Immortal?”

“The Faceless Great Immortal?” The Maid's tone was clearly hesitant, “It seems... I've heard of it... but I can't quite remember...”

Chapter 1069: Almost died. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

Seeing this, Pei Ling's heart stirred, and he asked again, "Then do you know about the sacrificial offerings?"

He was still completely in the dark about the Xiao Family's situation.

Xiao Shou said he needed to prepare sacrificial offerings for the Faceless Great Immortal, but regarding the requirements for the offerings, he only said they were the same as last time, with no further explanation. Therefore, he needed to first clarify the specific requirements for the offerings.

However, upon hearing the words "sacrificial offerings," the Maid's body visibly stiffened, and the sea bowl in her hand trembled, causing the dark medicine liquid to slosh heavily.

After a long while, she slowly spoke, "Misty Young Master, I remember now."

Pei Ling immediately said, "Speak!"

Clang!

Pfft!

The dagger was unsheathed and, with lightning speed, plunged into Pei Ling's body!

Splat!

The sea bowl fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

The Maid looked at Pei Ling coldly, her voice filled with hatred: "I am the sacrificial offering!"

"Misty Young Master, last time it was you who personally offered me to the Faceless Great Immortal..."

Before she finished speaking, the Maid suddenly pulled out the dagger and fiercely stabbed Pei Ling again.

Puff, puff, puff, puff, puff...

The dull thuds of the blade entering flesh were continuous, and as blood splattered, Pei Ling fell to the ground powerlessly.

After being stabbed more than a dozen times, he completely lost his last shred of vitality.

The Maid raised the dagger again, but seeing that Misty Young Master was already dead, the sharp blade did not fall again.

From the eye sockets of the smooth, blank mask, like cast steel, two lines of blood tears slowly flowed.

Her figure began to slowly dissipate.

"Thump..."

The mask fell to the ground, making a soft sound.

The palace lantern swayed, and inside the room, it was dim and gloomy, filled with a pervasive chill.

After a long time...

"Ding-dong! This Cultivation session is complete. Thank you, Host, for using the Intelligent Cultivation System. One-click hosting, worry-free Ascension! We look forward to your Cultivation review. Please give us a five-star rating if you are satisfied..."

As control of his body returned, Pei Ling immediately began to cough violently.

That was close!

If he hadn't promptly used the System to host the Heart Withering Art and successfully deceived that Maid, he might have truly died just now!

However, he was currently in a Mortal body, already gravely ill, and having been stabbed so many times, even though he had just escaped death, he would still die if not treated in time!

Thinking of this, Pei Ling disregarded everything else and immediately said, "System, I want to Cultivate. One-click hosting of the Eclipse Sun Secret Record!"

He couldn't Cultivate himself now, but the System could!

His current injuries and illness were very severe for a Mortal, and his life force was like a flickering candle in the wind; even a slight vigorous movement could cost him his life.

But in the eyes of a true Cultivator, such a level of grave illness was not even considered a superficial wound.

Yes, no matter what Cultivation Technique he ran now, as long as the System helped him recover some Qi, he would be able to fully recover from his current injuries and illness in an instant!

Originally, the Six Desires Secret Canon was also a good choice, but right now, his Maid was a Ghost, and the Madam he saw last night was likely similar.

What if the System gifted him the Madam and Maid from here if he hosted the Nameless Cultivation Method?

In comparison, this place was a creation of "Zhou", so Cultivating the Legacy Cultivation Technique of "Zhou" was the safest choice.

"Ding-dong! The Intelligent Cultivation System is at your service! One-click hosting, intelligent upgrading! Hosting Cultivation begins now. Friendly reminder: During Cultivation, the Host will lose control of their body. Please do not panic..."

"Ding-dong! Detecting that the Host's destiny is suppressed, unable to Cultivate..."

"Ding-dong! The System will remove the suppression for you..."

The next moment, under the System's control, Pei Ling barely managed to prop himself up, crawled a few steps to the side, picked up the mask the Maid had just left behind, and put it on his face.

The moment the cold sensation covered his face, his vision changed, and he immediately saw a blood-soaked altar.

At this moment, he was bound hand and foot on the altar with his arms tied behind his back. Not far away stood a very familiar young man, who was none other than Zheng Young Master!

Pei Ling was slightly startled, and soon realized that he was currently the Maid who served him.

"Father." Zheng Young Master raised his hand, forcibly lifted the Maid's face with a dagger, and turned to say, "Look at this sacrificial offering, young and beautiful, with tender skin and flesh. The Celestial will surely like it!"

As he spoke, his Adam's apple quickly bobbed a few times, as if he had swallowed saliva, and his eyes were filled with a look of craving.

However, this craving was clearly not related to female beauty, but another kind of almost frenzied desire.

Behind Zheng Young Master stood Xiao Shou, Young Miss Xiang'e, and Misty Young Master. At this moment, their gazes were all fixed on the Maid. After scrutinizing her for a moment with the same look one would use to examine pork in a market, they nodded slightly.

Immediately, Xiao Shou said, "The time has come. Do not delay the sacrifice."

Zheng Young Master showed a happy smile: "Father, don't worry!"

Before he finished speaking, Pei Ling heard the Maid's terrified plea: "Misty Young Master, Xiao Shou... No! No... Ah!!!"

Next, Pei Ling's vision was only a blur of blood, unable to clearly see what else Zheng Young Master did, but from the continuous cutting and unbearable pain coming from his body, he knew the Maid was currently enduring cruel torment.

After this continued for a long time, Zheng Young Master finally threw down the dagger, stepped back a few paces, and stood with Xiao Shou, Young Miss Xiang'e, and Misty Young Master. The four instantly adopted solemn expressions, then lifted their robes, knelt down, and began to chant facing the altar.

Blood slowly flowed down the altar, soaking into the corners of their robes.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"

Incomparably shrill screams echoed throughout the entire altar...

Pei Ling suddenly came to his senses, only to find himself back in the room. The palace lantern burned quietly, and the room was as dim and hazy as ever.

At some point, a trace of spiritual Qi was flowing within his body; he had unexpectedly recovered his Qi Training Stage Cultivation!

The wounds on his body were also rapidly healing at a visible rate.

However, before he could ponder the scene he had just witnessed, the System had already continued to control his body, walking towards the clothes rack.

On the clothes rack hung the mask he had seen when he first woke up. The System raised its hand, took it down, and put it on his face again.

The two masks merged naturally, as if water and milk had blended together.

Pei Ling immediately felt that his Cultivation had recovered another portion, but it was still at the Qi Training Stage level.

Next, he walked towards the door, still under the System's control.

Remember to vote after reading!

Chapter 1070: Teach you how to be a ghost. (First update! Please subscribe!)

The ancient trees were lush with branches and leaves, their canopies like grand parasols, appearing in the night like continuous, rugged mountain ranges.

A wind lantern hung high on a branch, swaying back and forth with the night breeze, casting shadows that lengthened and shortened.

The scattered shadows swayed and spun, like countless demons and monsters, clustered in the courtyard.

Beneath the lamp, an Ancient Well, its inscriptions worn away, stood silently.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

Accompanied by hurried footsteps, a figure emerged from the moon gate, slender and graceful, her robes fluttering, her demeanor usually dignified but now slightly flustered.

Her beautiful skirt swept quickly over the fallen leaves, stirring up a small gust of wind that swiftly whirled the leaves around her feet, dancing and fluttering.

Looking up along her graceful figure, her impossibly slender waist, high-set chest, and long, pale neck led to a face covered by a mirror-smooth mask, completely obscuring the anticipated moon-like beauty.

The woman’s wide sleeves billowed in the wind, her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, flying with the breeze, and as she hurried along, she constantly looked back, revealing her to be the Crimson Powder Bride, fleeing from the Maid’s pursuit.

Upon entering this courtyard, she did not pause, intending to pass directly through and continue her escape, but her gaze swept over the wellhead, and she immediately stopped.

Last night, she had hidden at the bottom of this well, escaping the Maid’s tracking!

Although climbing out of the well was extremely difficult, at this moment, she couldn't afford to consider such things.

Thinking of this, the Crimson Powder Bride immediately took three steps in two, walked to the well’s edge, lifted her elaborate and exquisite skirt, straddled the well curb, and directly jumped down.

“Plop!”

The murky well water splashed high, hitting the surrounding well walls.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.”

The water surface surged for a while before gradually returning to its original calm.

As soon as the Crimson Powder Bride fell into the water, she immediately felt a biting cold, an icy chill that seemed to penetrate to her bones.

She shivered involuntarily, and just as she steadied herself, a chilling voice entered her ears: “Young Miss, where are you?”

“Young Miss…”

“Young Miss… where are you…”

The Crimson Powder Bride did not hesitate, immediately submerging her entire body in the water.

“Young Miss… Young Miss… where are you… where…”

Accompanied by the rustling of crushed fallen leaves, the Maid’s voice grew closer and closer.

Soon, a bloated, decaying head extended from the Ancient Well opening: “Young Miss, where are you?”

The chilling call echoed back and forth between the well walls.

As soon as her voice fell, pieces of decaying flesh and murky blood dripped directly into the well.

“Drip,” “Drip…”

Flesh and blood diffused in the well water, and a foul stench quickly permeated the air.

The Maid lay at the wellhead, showing no intention of leaving; in a moment, the corner of her mouth, mostly decayed, suddenly revealed a grotesque, ferocious smile: “Young Miss, so you were here!”

Before the Crimson Powder Bride could react, the next moment, a sticky, rotten hand quickly passed through the well water, forcibly removing the mask from her face.

The Crimson Powder Bride’s expression changed, only to see the fully decayed Maid already in the well, suspended before her!

The Maid put the mask on her own face, and instantly, her body returned to its original state, appearing fair and slender, full of youthful vitality, an irrepressible vigor.

The previous decay and stench seemed like nothing but an illusion.

She slowly, slowly raised her masked face, her icy gaze piercing through the mask, staring intently at the Crimson Powder Bride, and said chillingly: “Young Miss, I found you!”

Before her voice faded, the Maid extended her lotus-root-like pale arm and seized the Crimson Powder Bride’s throat!

Without any power to resist, the Crimson Powder Bride was immediately pressed to the bottom of the well by an immensely powerful force, her cheek directly sinking into the mud and sand.

An intense feeling of suffocation instantly overwhelmed her, the aura of death sweeping over her, she struggled desperately, but the Maid’s strength grew stronger and stronger.

Gradually, a fleeting memory flashed through her mind…

Before an ancient, crude altar stained with layers of mottled blood, she stood in splendid robes, adorned with jewels, gently pulling out a gleaming dagger with her soft, dyed impatiens-stained hands.

The dagger radiated cold light, its blade like a mirror, reflecting her intrigued eyes and the Maid on the altar, bound with ropes, her face filled with terror and pleading eyes.

“Tap, tap, tap…”

Her crimson crepe silk pleated skirt embroidered with acacia flowers swayed gently, revealing the gilded auspicious cloud pattern on her scarlet sheepskin boots beneath; accompanied by faint footsteps, she trod upon the carved intertwined lotus floor tiles, slowly circling the altar without haste.

Each step seemed to land on the Maid’s heart.

Watching the Maid’s expression grow increasingly terrified to the point of death, even her entire body going limp, a soft laugh escaped.

Immediately after, a slender, pale hand steadily plunged the dagger into the Maid’s chin, then, with an upward slice, evenly split her face in two.

Blood quickly seeped out, spreading along the wound.

The dagger moved deftly, the pale human skin was forcibly peeled away, and amidst agonizing screams, the occasionally twitching flesh gradually became exposed…

The autumn wind rustled the branches and leaves, and yellow flowers drifted across the sky.

Amidst the light frost, the gleaming dagger suddenly slipped from her sleeve and fell to the bottom of the well.

“Thud.”

The sound of something entering the water echoed between the well walls, ripples shimmered slowly, and in a moment, it was as quiet as before.

…The Crimson Powder Bride suddenly came to her senses. She had no time to think; one hand was still desperately clawing at the Maid’s arm, while the other quickly fumbled in the mud and sand.

Soon, her fingertip touched the hilt of a dagger; without any hesitation, she immediately grabbed this dagger, which she remembered falling into the well, and fiercely stabbed it into the Maid’s neck!

“Ahhhhhhh!!!”

The Maid let out a high-pitched, shrill scream, and at the same time, the strength in her hand loosened; the Crimson Powder Bride once again broke free, quickly kicked off the well wall, floated to the surface, and began to climb up the well.

The well walls were thick with layers of moss, sticky and slippery, making climbing extremely difficult. But this time, the Crimson Powder Bride only needed a slight effort to effortlessly leap out of the well opening and stand steadily on the bank.

Looking at the ancient trees, wind lanterns, and courtyard before her, the Crimson Powder Bride was slightly stunned, only then realizing that she had recovered her Qi Training Stage level of power!

The Maid’s chilling voice came from the well again, accompanied by the “whoosh” sound of the well water being stirred: “Young Miss, don’t run!”

Before her voice faded, seemingly endless strands of hair quickly spread from the well; looking at them under the dim lantern light, they resembled surging black well water.

The hair continuously wriggled, and soon, the Maid’s figure was revealed.

The Crimson Powder Bride stood still, showing no intention of continuing to flee; she slowly raised the dagger in her hand, smiling like a flower: “I’ll teach you how to be a ghost!”

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give me monthly tickets! Recommendation tickets! Subscriptions! Rewards!

Chapter 1071: Strange Memories. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

Dense bamboo groves, rustling with myriad leaves and sounds.

Under the dim lamp, the flickering branches and leaves reflecting on the window lattice, Yu sat alone leaning against a small table, holding a peach blossom note with a melancholic expression, his eyes cast down in contemplation.

On the peach blossom note, names were recorded in tiny, fly-head script, followed by a few brief annotations.

These were the clues he had gathered from the Guards during the Daytime.

Within this vast Xiao Mansion, the true Xiao Family Bloodline now consisted of only four individuals: Xiao Shou, Miss Xiao Xiange, Young Master Xiao Zheng, and Xiao Meng, the body he currently inhabited.

The mansion originally had some Maids and servants, but every so often, a servant would mysteriously disappear, their whereabouts unknown.

According to one of the Guards, Xiao Shou, in order to protect his three children, had specifically hired highly skilled individuals like them from afar to serve as manor protectors.

However, according to the rules set by Xiao Shou, these individuals were only allowed to patrol the mansion during the Daytime to protect the Xiao Family Bloodline.

As soon as the sun set, they had to leave and were not permitted to stay overnight in the Xiao Family.

Furthermore, Xiao Meng, Young Master Xiao Zheng, and Miss Xiao Xiange had no established seniority among themselves; the Guards still didn't know who was the Eldest Young Master or the Second Young Master...

Although various situations aroused suspicion, because the Xiao Family offered extremely high wages, the Guards, despite finding it strange, never pursued the matter further and instead strictly followed Xiao Shou's instructions.

The peach blossom note in front of him listed the names of all living people in the Xiao Mansion.

There were only ten names in total.

The first four were Xiao Shou, Young Master Xiao Zheng, Miss Xiao Xiange, and Xiao Meng... and the rest were all names of Guards.

Gazing at this list, Yu slightly shook his head.

"The sacrifice required by that one must be a fresh, living person."

"The Xiao Family has already posted notices to recruit Maids and has also made arrangements with the brokers to quickly procure poor girls who can serve as servants."

"But even ants cling to life; it's hard to say when new Maids will be recruited."

"For now, the sacrifices can only be chosen from these Guards or the Xiao Family members."

Thinking this, Yu carefully put away the peach blossom note and pondered slightly.

There were currently four members of the Xiao Family Bloodline, and his current Physical Body was one of them.

Besides him, Xiao Shou must be a setup by the Curse, and the remaining Miss Xiao Xiange and Young Master Xiao Zheng were very likely the Crimson Powder Bride and the Curse's successor.

As for the Greedy Slave he brought, it probably didn't qualify...

"Creak."

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open.

As the sounds of bamboo rustled in, a faint sound of footsteps approached.

Soon, a young girl dressed as a Maid, wearing a smooth, mirror-like mask, entered the room, carrying a food box and turning around the screen.

Upon seeing Yu, she immediately curtsied and respectfully said, "Young Master, the kitchen has prepared supper; your Maid has brought it for you."

Saying this, she walked to a nearby round table, placed the food box on it, and carefully opened the lid.

An enticing aroma immediately wafted out.

The Maid took out dish after dish: stir-fried gardenia flowers, wild bamboo shoot braised pork, honey-glazed ham, deer head soup, shredded chicken with tremella, fried quail, braised fish lips...

And a pot of warm osmanthus wine.

Yu sat still, leaning against the table, silently watching this scene, his expression dark and gloomy.

The Xiao Family shouldn't have any Maids right now!

However, he hadn't eaten anything all day, and a Mortal's Physical Body was very fragile. He could already feel his body starting to slow down.

If he didn't eat soon, he might not even have the strength to prepare the sacrifices.

Thinking this, Yu spoke in a low voice, "Taste all the dishes and wine."

The Maid's tender, slender hands, which were arranging the bowls and chopsticks, paused slightly, clearly surprised.

But considering it was the Young Master's command, she didn't ask why and immediately said, "Yes!"

So, the Maid picked up the chopsticks and quickly sampled all the dishes. Then, under Yu's gaze, she poured a small cup of wine, covered her face with her sleeve, and drank it in one gulp.

After putting down the wine cup, she looked at Yu and hesitantly asked, "Young Master, is this enough?"

Yu nodded slightly.

The Maid immediately curtsied and respectfully retreated to the side, waiting for the Young Master to finish so she could clean up.

However, Yu remained seated, not moving an inch.

He waited quietly, for a full half an hour, and seeing that the Maid was fine, he finally got up, picked up the chopsticks the Maid had just used, and began to eat from the bowls she had used.

As the food and wine entered his stomach, a warmth immediately surged.

Yu clearly felt his energy and stamina rapidly increasing.

As he ate, a very unfamiliar memory gradually surfaced in his mind...

He looked at a gilded, painted, intertwined lotus-patterned vase with ear handles nearby, took a cloth band handed to him by a beautiful Maid, covered his eyes, then took an arrow without a tip from a leather pouch at his waist, weighed it, and threw it forward.

"Buzz."

Where the arrow landed, there was a sound like metal clashing, and the Maid's joyful voice came, "It hit! Young Master, it hit!"

Yu suddenly came back to his senses, finding the table in front of him a mess, all the food and wine consumed by him without his knowledge, leaving only empty bowls and plates.

His brows gradually furrowed; for a moment, he thought he had truly become Xiao Meng!

As he was thinking, Yu suddenly realized that he had recovered his Qi Training Stage power!

These meals could restore his original power?

Before Yu could figure out this question, the Maid suddenly spoke, "Young Master, shall your Maid clean up for you?"

Yu put down his chopsticks, nodded slightly, and then ordered, "Send another identical meal over."

The Maid curtsied and said, "Yes!"

※ ※ ※

Meanwhile, on another side of the Xiao Mansion.

"Creak."

The door opened, and as Pei Ling stepped out, yellow leaves swirled rapidly in the courtyard. Amidst the rustling sounds, a gust of cold wind blew towards him, making him feel a chill throughout his body.

A strong sense of coldness swept through his entire body, reaching deep into his bones, and his original illness seemed to have worsened a bit.

Just then, the System's prompt sounded: "Ding dong! Detected external attack. This Cultivation session ends here. Thank you, Host, for using the Intelligent Cultivation System. One-click Hosting, Ascension without worries! We look forward to your Cultivation review. Please give five-star praise if you are satisfied..."

Pei Ling regained control of his body and couldn't help but immediately burst into a violent cough: "Cough cough cough cough cough..."

He coughed until his face was flushed, and his body trembled, as if he was trying to cough out his heart, liver, and lungs.

Feeling his still incredibly weak Physical Body, Pei Ling frowned, immediately realizing that this was not an illness, but a Curse!

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly tickets! Recommendation tickets! Subscriptions! Rewards!

Chapter 1072: Creation in the Underworld. (First update! Please subscribe!)

Pei Ling immediately cast the Grievance Nightmare Divine Power, but quickly realized that without the Curse Ghost Dao Foundation, the Legacy of the “Curse” could not be used at all.

He frowned, immediately turned around and returned to his room, closing the door.

Compared to the courtyard with gusts of cold wind, the tightly shut room was warm, quickly soothing Pei Ling’s ailing body, and he felt his condition gradually stabilize.

Bypassing the screen and returning to sit at the table, Pei Ling thought seriously for a moment, then suddenly took off his mask.

The moment the mask left his face, his aura instantly dropped, returning to that of a Mortal.

At the same time, a completely unfamiliar memory emerged in his mind.

He held a foot-tall coral tree in his hand, examined it carefully, then nodded slightly, looked up at the middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper not far away, and opened his mouth to speak…

In a daze, Pei Ling suddenly came back to his senses, only to see the palace lanterns dim and the shadows flickering all around.

On the curio shelf, rare treasures were displayed, and even in the dim light, their brilliance and luster could not be concealed.

Pei Ling’s expression was puzzled.

The scene just now was “Zheng” Shao Ye’s memory, but it also felt somewhat like his own memory…

That subtle feeling of having personally experienced it was very familiar!

Realizing this, Pei Ling’s expression immediately turned solemn, and then, he quickly put the mask back on.

As the chilling sensation enveloped him, his aura immediately returned to the Qi Training Stage, and his thoughts also regained their calm.

Under the mask, Pei Ling was thoughtful.

He had originally thought that this was an Illusion Realm, or that he was experiencing everything before him using someone else’s Physical Body.

But the System’s prompt just now…

His fate was being suppressed!

It was not that his Cultivation was Sealed, nor was his Physical Body replaced!

Yes, he was currently using his own Physical Body!

It was just that he was now suppressed by a Mortal’s fate, and for now, he could only act like a Mortal, following all the rules of the Xiao Family!

Fate…

The “Curse”’s Cultivation Technique, Eclipse Sun Secret Record, could forcibly seize the fate of others and completely replace the target’s identity.

However, the current situation was exactly the opposite of the Eclipse Sun Secret Record.

He was forcibly given the fate of a “Zheng” Shao Ye.

It seemed like he had replaced “Zheng” Shao Ye, but in reality, “Zheng” Shao Ye had replaced him!

It was just that he still temporarily retained his original consciousness.

“If I’m not mistaken, next, I should gradually Awaken ‘Zheng’ Shao Ye’s memories, slowly start to believe that I am ‘Zheng’ Shao Ye, and finally, transform into the true ‘Zheng’ Shao Ye!”

“The last Opportunity on Tianwai Island, the moment I entered Sang Village, I was still completely confused, but the Dao competition directly began.

And this time…”

“From the moment I woke up, the Dao competition had already ended!”

“The ‘Curse’’s fortune is truly sinister!”

“In this situation, it’s either successfully obtaining the fortune or death!”

“To break this situation now, I must find a way to resist ‘Zheng’ Shao Ye’s fate!”

Thinking of this, Pei Ling nodded slightly.

Only one day had passed, and there was still enough time before the first sacrifice.

Moreover, from the situation just now, the mask could help him to a certain extent in lifting the suppression of “Zheng” Shao Ye’s fate!

So what he needed to do now was to get more masks!

“Those Maids wearing masks, and even the mistress of this Xiao Family, are very likely already sacrificed offerings!”

“To get masks now, I must target those offerings.”

“Crimson Powder Bride and ‘Yu’ are both Ghosts from You Su Tomb, and they might also notice these things later.”

“I need to act quickly and grab the most masks!”

With his thoughts racing, Pei Ling opened the cabinet, took out a set of thick clothes and changed into them, then without further hesitation, he quickly opened the door and left.

※ ※ ※

The night was as dark as ink, pressing down heavily.

The outlines of the ancient, towering trees were only vaguely discernible, swaying like demons or Ghosts, chilling and eerie.

Below the trees, an Ancient Well stood.

Black hair, like a rising tide, swirled and danced, overwhelming the Crimson Powder Bride.

The Crimson Powder Bride moved like lightning, quickly dodging.

Immediately after, she suddenly let go of the dagger in her hand.

A cold glint flashed, and the dagger flew out on its own, like a nimble snake, making a strange arc in mid-air, then suddenly shooting towards the Maid’s back.

Puff!

The dagger pierced the Maid’s back, going straight through her chest.

Blood splattered, like a red epiphyllum blooming and fading abruptly at the Maid’s heart.

“Ah!!” The Maid let out a sharp scream, then looked at the Crimson Powder Bride with venomous eyes, and said shrilly, “Young Miss, why are you doing this to me!?”

As she spoke, the blood hole in her chest rapidly contracted, and soon, the dagger was forcibly squeezed out, falling to the ground.

Her injury completely recovered, leaving no trace.

The Maid continued to pounce on the Crimson Powder Bride.

Her hands, extending from her indigo sleeves, had their originally tender fingernails rapidly growing, turning into Ghost claws in an instant, fiercely grabbing at the Crimson Powder Bride’s neck.

At the same time, the long hair filling the courtyard whistled and crisscrossed, instantly blocking all escape routes for the Crimson Powder Bride.

The Crimson Powder Bride stood coldly, her five fingers moving.

The dagger on the ground flew up again, turning nimbly in the air, then suddenly slashing towards the Maid’s throat.

Swish!

Blood splattered, and white bones were clearly visible at the wound, even the trachea.

However, the Maid’s movements were unimpeded, and she continued to rush towards the Crimson Powder Bride.

Seeing the attack fail, the Crimson Powder Bride’s fingertips moved again.

Under her control, the dagger fluttered up and down, strangely elusive, easily avoiding the layers of hair obstructions, then suddenly flashing out from a blind spot, fiercely striking the mask on the Maid’s face!

Swish!

The cold gleam flashed and disappeared, the dagger’s speed reaching its extreme in that instant, seemingly about to pierce the mask, but the next moment…

Clang!!

A sharp and unparalleled blood-colored Saber Qi suddenly broke through the air, instantly striking the dagger away!

Remember to vote after reading!

Please vote for monthly tickets! Recommendation tickets! Subscriptions! Rewards!

PS: Starting today, I will resume four updates.

The remaining three updates will be available tonight.

Chapter 1073 The same method. (Second update! Please subscribe!)

The Crimson Powder Bride’s expression suddenly changed, and her slender finger moved instantly, retracting the dagger into her hand.

She turned her head and looked towards the moon gate.

Under the swaying tree shadows, a chilling wind arose, and amidst the swirling yellow leaves, a frail figure slowly emerged, clad in layers of brocade robes, wrapped tightly from head to toe.

However, a smooth, mirror-like mask with no facial features covered her face. This mask was largely similar to the one worn by the Maid, except for two shallow bloodstains near the corners of the eyes, appearing like dried tears of blood.

It was “Zheng” Shao Ye from earlier today!

After recognizing the other party’s identity, the Crimson Powder Bride did not hesitate and immediately fled into the distance.

As she left, the Maid’s body paused slightly, then she suddenly retracted her long hair that had filled the courtyard, and her ghostly claws reverted to slender, delicate hands, as if she had instantly forgotten everything that had just happened. She stepped forward a few paces and respectfully bowed to Pei Ling, saying, ““Zheng” Shao Ye!”

Pei Ling coughed a few times. He had already prepared for battle, but seeing this, he immediately restrained his Aura and nodded slightly at the Maid.

He had not been out of the house long before he heard the sounds of fighting from this direction. When he rushed over, he saw the current scene.

In essence, both the Crimson Powder Bride and this Maid were Ghosts.

It didn’t matter to Pei Ling who won or lost between the two. However, the mask on this Maid’s face could not be damaged by the Crimson Powder Bride.

Thinking of this, he immediately commanded, “Come to my bedroom.”

Upon hearing this, the Maid was visibly startled and hesitantly said, “This Maid is currently looking for Young Miss Xiang'e…”

This Maid had been looking for Miss Xiao Xiange for two nights now…

Miss Xiao Xiange was the Crimson Powder Bride, and the Crimson Powder Bride’s Aura just now had clearly recovered a certain level of cultivation.

This situation was a bit strange. The Crimson Powder Bride clearly didn’t have a mask, so how was she resisting the suppression of her fate and recovering her strength?

No! The “Zhou”’s arrangement was very subtle. In such a short time, the Crimson Powder Bride couldn’t possibly know about the fate yet!

The other party most likely wasn’t resisting the suppression of her fate, but rather, Miss Xiao Xiange’s memories had already awakened, and her fate was beginning to be devoured!

As he pondered, Pei Ling couldn’t help but cough again. Although he had now recovered his Qi Training Stage cultivation, being out and about for a long time still strained his body. He immediately stopped thinking and directly commanded in an authoritative tone, “Follow me!”

Seeing that the Young Master’s voice was displeased, the Maid dared not refuse and quickly responded, “Yes!”

***

A moment later, in Young Master Xiao Zheng’s bedroom.

With a “creak,” the door was pushed open.

A gust of cold wind rushed in first, causing the candlelight in the cantaloupe-shaped begonia palace lantern to flicker violently a few times before finally steadying. The shadows on the four walls danced wildly, as if countless monstrous Ghosts were baring their fangs and claws.

The Maid, supporting Pei Ling, carefully stepped over the threshold and entered the room behind the screen.

The warmth of the room, with its windows nailed shut, immediately dispelled the chilling cold that enveloped both of them.

Feeling the coldness recede, Pei Ling’s condition began to stabilize.

After helping him sit down inside the bed curtains, the Maid knelt on the footrest, intending to remove the Young Master’s shoes and socks, but Pei Ling shook his head slightly.

Seeing this, the Maid hurriedly asked, “Does Young Master have any instructions?”

Pei Ling looked at the mask on her face and directly asked, “Do you know anything about the Faceless Great Immortal?”

The Maid was instantly startled, her reaction almost identical to the Maid who had served Pei Ling earlier. She stopped what she was doing and replied with some uncertainty, “Replying to Young Master, this Maid… seems to have heard of it, but just can’t recall it now.”

Upon hearing this, Pei Ling nodded in satisfaction. If he could truly inquire about the Faceless Great Immortal’s situation now, that would naturally be best.

If he couldn’t, it didn’t matter.

As long as he could get the other party’s mask, just like the Maid who had served him earlier!

Thinking of this, Pei Ling directly asked the same question as before: “Then do you… know about sacrifices?”

Upon hearing the words “sacrifices,” the Maid’s body stiffened. After a long moment, she stiffly turned her head and looked at Pei Ling.

The Maid’s voice suddenly turned chilling: “This Maid… is a sacrifice!”

“This Maid should go find Young Miss Xiang'e now!”

Her words were filled with immense hatred, and her Aura surged wildly. Without any hesitation, she stood up and walked out of the room.

Seeing that the Maid didn’t pull out a dagger to stab him, Pei Ling was instantly startled.

If the other party didn’t attack, how could he activate the Heart Withering Art?

And how could he obtain the mask on her face?

Yes, he intended to directly repeat the operation of obtaining the first Maid’s mask: first, make the other party recall memories about sacrifices, and then use the Heart Withering Art to muddle through, thus successfully obtaining the other party’s mask…

If this failed, he would simply snatch it!

However, looking at the Aura surging from the other party, it was no longer something a Cultivator in the Qi Training Stage could withstand. Pei Ling wisely remained silent, allowing her to depart.

“Thump, thump, thump…” The hurried footsteps quickly faded away, and only Pei Ling was left in the bedroom.

He frowned. This Maid was indeed a sacrifice!

Moreover, she should have been personally sacrificed by Miss Xiao Xiange.

Now that the other party had been reminded by the word “sacrifice,” her strength had greatly increased. Trying to get her mask now would probably be difficult. It would be better to change targets…

With a shift in his thoughts, after a moment, Pei Ling walked out of the bedroom again.

***

The sound of a rooster crowing from an unknown location, accompanied by the faint light of dawn, awakened the entire Xiao Mansion.

The long night had passed. In the early morning, Pei Ling, covered in night dew, returned to his room.

During this night, he had already toured the entire Xiao Mansion and found that all the Maids wore masks at night. However, he had tested a few and discovered that each Maid had a different target of hatred, making it difficult to obtain their masks through the same method.

Furthermore, none of the Guards from the daytime stayed overnight in the residence.

As he pondered, he walked around the screen and entered the inner room, sitting down at the table. The warmth in the room and the chilling cold from the mask intertwined, emitting a faint white mist.

The chilling sensation seemed to bore into Pei Ling’s body like a persistent ulcer. He couldn’t help but lower his head and cough violently.

After a night of traveling with a sickly body, his condition seemed to be worsening.

Pei Ling frowned and immediately reached out to remove the mask.

His Aura instantly dropped to that of a Mortal, but his condition improved somewhat, and his illness clearly got much better.

But the next moment, he had a slight trance and saw himself holding a freshly picked bouquet of flowers, hurrying through the long corridor towards the backyard. As he walked, he spoke to the person behind him: “Mother must have just woken up at this hour. If I send these flowers now, she can arrange them in a vase… If I make her happy, then the black cloud-covered snow steed I’ve set my eyes on will also be settled.”

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly votes! Recommendation votes! Subscriptions! Rewards!

Chapter 1074 Day and Night. (Third update! Please subscribe!)

Behind him, like a servant, she followed closely, and upon hearing his words, respectfully said, "Young Master is astute!"

…Pei Ling suddenly came back to his senses, only to see the palace lanterns dim before his eyes, and the various ornaments on the curio shelf, dazzling with light, yet exuding a chilling Death Qi.

His expression immediately became incredibly solemn; he had awakened another segment of Zheng Young Master's memories!

The mask could help him recover his power at night, but during the White Day, it would worsen the Curse!

However, if he didn't wear the mask, Young Master Xiao Zheng's memories would gradually begin to revive over time.

The other party's fate would gradually Awaken, slowly replacing his own!

He had originally thought that in this mansion, the White Day was safe and the night was dangerous, but now it seemed the actual situation was exactly the opposite!

The White Day was a dead end; the night was their opportunity!

As he was thinking, a soft knock suddenly came from outside the room.

A clear yet submissive voice came, "Young Master, this Maid has come to bring your breakfast."

Upon hearing this, Pei Ling immediately snapped back to attention, looked towards the screen with a puzzled expression, thought for a moment, and quickly said, "Come in!"

"Creak."

The half-closed door was pushed open, and a Maid wearing a blue cloth skirt, carrying a food box, turned past the screen and entered the room.

This Maid was not wearing a mask; she wore a blue blouse and a blue skirt, with some vine-like patterns embroidered on her cuffs, and her hair was styled in a drooping bun with a side part, a strand of hair tied with a red string falling over her left shoulder.

She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a round face and round eyes, fair skin, and a delicate charm mixed with a hint of naivety.

Upon closer inspection, there was an inconspicuous small scar on her forehead, as if she had bumped it somewhere before, leaving a pea-sized indentation.

After turning past the screen, she quickly walked to the table, and after a slight curtsy, placed the food box on the table, opened the lid, and said, "This Maid will serve Young Master his meal."

Pei Ling carefully observed this new Maid; her face was unfamiliar, completely different from the Maid who had served him yesterday.

He just didn't know whether this Maid in front of him was a living person or a sacrifice that had also been offered.

However, the other party was not wearing a mask right now, so he would wait until night to decide…

Thinking of this, Pei Ling said as he had yesterday, "You may withdraw first; I don't need to be served. Come back in an hour to clean up."

The Maid immediately bowed and said, "Yes!"

Seeing that Pei Ling had no other instructions, she turned and left.

Watching the Maid leave the room and listening to her footsteps fade away, Pei Ling finally picked up the food and began to eat.

Soon, he had cleared the food in front of him, and as the warm porridge and dishes entered his stomach, his entire being felt much livelier.

Pei Ling felt his condition had clearly improved, and his original illness had also somewhat alleviated.

However, he did not let down his guard; after putting down his chopsticks, he continued to sit at the table and wait.

As long as his body showed any discomfort, he would immediately use the System's Hosting (trusteeship/management).

Time slowly passed, and an hour later, nothing happened.

"Bang bang bang."

Just then, the door was knocked on again, and the Maid's voice from before came, "Young Master, may this Maid come in to clean up?"

Pei Ling nodded slightly and said, "Come in."

"Creak."

The door was pushed open, and the Maid in the blue skirt walked in, very skillfully tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, wiping the table clean, and leaving with the food box.

Pei Ling watched her back disappear behind the screen, and suddenly felt an overwhelming wave of drowsiness.

Having lost his cultivation, his Physique had significantly declined, and now, after a night of toil, even after just eating, he had no energy to do anything else.

"I'll sleep first…"

Thinking of this, Pei Ling took off his outer clothing, then walked to the bed and lay down.

At this moment, his drowsiness was like a surging tide, almost drowning him. Pei Ling barely managed to pull the quilt over himself and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

The palace lantern burned quietly, the shadows in the room slowly wriggled with the slight sway of the lamplight, the brilliance of pearls and jade reflected in myriad ways, dazzling yet cold, and the dim room seemed to be brewing some disaster and misfortune…

※ ※ ※

In the desolate courtyard, the once lush and green flowering trees were withered and scattered.

The Crimson Powder Bride was covered in wounds, her skirt torn and stained with blood in many places, making her appear utterly disheveled.

She stood beneath a flowering tree that had been almost cut down to a stick, her rosy face splattered with blood, and her clothes and cuffs exuded a strong scent of blood, her face ashen.

Suddenly, the Crimson Powder Bride bent over and let out an extremely violent cough.

She was very seriously injured this time!

The Maid who had been chasing her, for some unknown reason, had suddenly become much, much stronger; even with all her tricks, if not for the rooster's crow just now, which caused that Maid to suddenly retreat, she would most likely have been killed by the other party!

"It seems that as soon as day breaks, it's safe."

"From now on, I'll be careful at night, and do important things during the White Day!"

"First, prepare the sacrifices!"

Thinking of this, the Crimson Powder Bride rested briefly, and after recovering some of her strength, she immediately got up and headed towards the embroidered building where she lived.

Soon, she returned to a private courtyard shaded by flowers and trees, where an embroidered building with carved beams and painted pillars stood.

The Crimson Powder Bride walked directly into the building, and just as she sat down at the table, a knock sounded behind her.

The Maid's voice came from outside the door, "Young Miss, this Maid has brought breakfast."

The Crimson Powder Bride's expression turned cold, and she immediately said, "Come in!"

"Creak."

The door was pushed open, and the Maid in the indigo skirt entered, carrying a food box.

She had her hair styled in a double flat bun, and on one side of her bun, she had a freshly picked pink chrysanthemum, its petals still dewy, giving off a bitter scent with a hint of coolness.

This Maid had curved eyebrows and large eyes, a delicate appearance, bangs falling across her forehead, and a habitually submissive look between her brows; she was precisely the Maid who had chased the Crimson Powder Bride last night.

However, the other party now seemed to remember nothing of what had happened last night; upon entering, she immediately curtsied and respectfully said, "Young Miss!"

The Crimson Powder Bride quietly watched her, saying nothing.

Seeing that the Young Miss's expression was somewhat off, the Maid felt puzzled and asked with a slight apprehension, "Young Miss, what's wrong?"

The Crimson Powder Bride calmly instructed, "Take out all the food."

The Maid quickly said, "Yes!"

Saying this, she placed the food box on the table, opened the lid, and took out a plate of ru yi rolls, then a bowl of almond tofu, followed by various pickled vegetables, fermented bean curd, water chestnut cake, stir-fried heart of cabbage…

Just as the Maid was lowering her head to arrange the dishes, *Pfft*!

With a muffled sound, a dagger suddenly pierced her from behind.

The Maid's expression was startled, but before she could react further, her throat felt another chill…

Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft…

The gleaming sharp blade moved in and out rapidly, and amidst the splashing blood, the Maid had already become a bloody mess; her once warm body quickly cooled, and she soon collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly votes! Recommendation votes! Subscriptions! Rewards!

PS: The fourth update is already half-written, it won't be ready before 24:00, it will be later.

Chapter 1075 Blood Food. (Fourth update! Please subscribe!)

After confirming that it had no signs of life, the Crimson Powder Bride unhesitatingly raised her hand and instantly summoned a ghostly green flame.

The flame landed on the corpse, and in a blink of an eye, the Maid's body was reduced to ashes.

Immediately after, the Crimson Powder Bride pointed a finger, and a gust of wind rose from the ground, sweeping up the ashes before her, whistling out, and in an instant, scattering into the Void Realm, mixing with dust, leaving no trace.

Looking at the empty ground, the Crimson Powder Bride nodded with satisfaction.

If she couldn't kill him at night, she could during the day!

After dealing with the Maid, she didn't even look at the food on the table; now that she had cultivation, she no longer needed to rely on these Mortal foods to sustain her life.

She lifted the beaded curtain and walked into the inner room.

The Crimson Powder Bride took off her tattered, blood-stained, and soiled dress, then opened the cabinet and searched through it, only to find among the colorful luxurious clothes a crimson pleated skirt with gold floral patterns, which immediately reminded her of her original wedding dress, so she unhesitatingly reached out to take it.

Just then, a strange memory surfaced in her mind.

It was a beautiful spring day in the courtyard, and she was standing by the window with the Maid, slowly unrolling a piece of fabric as vibrant as blood and as lustrous as jade.

Beside them stood a servant woman with a blurred face, chattering incessantly: "...This was brought back by the caravan from a distant land. I heard it was originally a tribute item. The head of the Royal workshop took a bribe to secretly get this much out, and we bought it all. This Maid says our Young Miss is most suited for crimson..."

"Make a short jacket with wide sleeves and a pleated skirt. This vibrant color, like a drop of blood, even just holding it up without wearing it, can make a person glow crimson. It needs to be embroidered with gold and silver thread to depict the Phoenix and peony to truly complement it..."

...The voice abruptly faded, and the Crimson Powder Bride suddenly came back to her senses, only to find that she had already changed into a clean dress.

However, the dress she had changed into was not the crimson one she had chosen, but a light purple short jacket with narrow sleeves and a goose-yellow flowing skirt, cinched at the waist with an emerald green brocade.

The Crimson Powder Bride's delicate brows furrowed slightly, but then she immediately felt that this dress seemed quite good too?

She looked up at the bronze mirror not far away; her long hair was unbound, her face was pale, and the purple jacket and yellow skirt appeared fresh and neat, offering a different kind of charm compared to the crimson dress.

After a moment of hesitation, the Crimson Powder Bride shook her head slightly. There were still important matters to attend to now, and this was not the time to fuss over such things.

"First, find a suitable sacrifice..."

"Then there's that Young Master Xiao Zheng; he helped that Maid last night..."

"I'll go meet him during the day!"

As her thoughts turned, she quickly walked to the dressing table, pulled open a drawer, and casually took out a long hairpin inlaid with red gold, coiling her long hair high up, and adding a few more hairpins. Only after ensuring it wouldn't hinder her movements did she turn and walk towards the door.

***

In a certain courtyard of the Xiao Mansion, bamboo shadows were dense, and all sounds resonated, reflecting on the window lattice, appearing to dance gracefully.

Inside the house.

On the round table of yellow pear wood inlaid with marble carved with landscapes and figures, two stacks of empty plates a foot high were piled up.

The aroma of wine and food filled the room. Yu sat gloomily by the table, wolfing down the food before him.

Delicious dishes entered his stomach, accompanied by a warm cup of wine. As he drank, the clear fragrance of osmanthus flowed, bringing immense pleasure.

As Yu devoured the food, he suddenly came back to his senses.

His Qi had already reached the Peak of the Qi Training Stage!

However, while he was eating just now, he saw several more unfamiliar memories.

One time, he was squatting in the courtyard in a horse stance, a tall and burly man, bare-chested with a sturdy build, holding a horsewhip, standing by his side, sternly explaining the essentials of the horse stance; another time, he was standing by a window obscured by banana leaves, practicing calligraphy with a brush, the wolf-hair brush meticulously outlining strokes with force penetrating the paper; and yet another time, he was holding a gilded folding fan, dressed in a brocade robe, with a jade ring binding his hair, elegantly dressed, wrapped in a red fox fur, slowly walking through a plum blossom forest covered in snow, approaching a cluster of low-hanging branches, gently picking up a branch full of buds with his folding fan, smiling as he turned his head and said to the person behind him: "'Plum blossom snow, pear blossom moon, always longing.' 【Note】 During these days when my father forced me to study, I constantly thought of you, but I wonder if you, the most renowned courtesan in the world, ever thought of me?

These unfamiliar memories, each longer than the last, felt as if he had experienced them himself.

Yu put down his chopsticks and looked around. The palace lamp in the room was still burning quietly, but the dim yellow light only illuminated a small area.

Outside the window lattice, the faint morning light gently spilled in.

A night had passed, and the morning sun was just rising.

The Maid who had been waiting by his side was nowhere to be seen.

Yu rolled up his sleeves, preparing to clean up the bowls and chopsticks himself, when he suddenly noticed that the residual oil stains at the bottom of the bowls had all turned into blood.

【Bloody Harmony】

And the bowl of tofu soup he had been drinking halfway was clearly stewed.

Yu immediately frowned. He himself was a Ghost; devouring living people was a matter of course for him. This table full of human flesh seemed utterly normal to him; he felt no disgust or revulsion whatsoever.

However, the current situation made him feel that something was amiss.

Before he could figure out these problems, "Thump, thump, thump," someone knocked on his door.

Immediately after, the Maid's voice came: "Young Master, this Maid has brought breakfast."

Yu came back to his senses and ordered: "Come in."

Soon, a Maid in a blue skirt walked in, carrying a food box. She had a long face, slender eyebrows and long eyes, a small nose and mouth; not exceptionally beautiful, but with a delicate and charming appeal of a modest family's daughter.

Her black long hair was simply braided into two pigtails, hanging down her chest.

As soon as she turned past the screen and saw the mess on the table, as well as the horrifying bloody scene, the Maid's eyes instantly widened, and she immediately recoiled a few steps, almost dropping the food box she was carrying.

Yu said indifferently: "Take out all the food."

Upon hearing this, the Maid came back to her senses and quickly said: "Yes!"

She composed herself, stepped forward, took out the food, and placed it on the empty space on the table.

This time, Yu did not ask her to taste the dishes, but directly picked up the bowls and chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

Soon, he had cleared all the dishes, but the power within him did not increase at all, nor did those unfamiliar memories continue to appear.

Noticing this, Yu nodded slightly, immediately understanding that only the food delivered at night could help him recover more power.

However...

This was too simple!

That one's good fortune could not be so easy!

He always felt that something very dangerous had already happened to him, and he had not yet realized the problem.

There were too few clues!

Thinking of this, Yu immediately ordered: "You may leave first."

The Maid curtsied and said: "Yes!"

She quickly bowed and left.

Yu sat by the table, waiting quietly for a moment, then suddenly got up and walked out of the room.

"Creak."

The door opened, and a Guard was already standing outside. Seeing his Young Master come out, he immediately bowed and saluted: "Young Master..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Guard felt his throat tighten, and he could not make any sound. A hand, as if cast from steel, gripped his neck and instantly dragged him into the room.

"Bang!"

The door immediately closed, and there was no further sound from the surroundings, only the rustling bamboo forest, ten thousand leaves and a thousand sounds, like a tide and waves, deep and surging.

【Note】 Zhang Huiyan 【Qing Dynasty】 "Xiang Jian Huan · Nian Nian Fu Que Hua Qi".

Remember to vote after reading!

Please give monthly votes! Recommendation votes! Subscriptions! Rewards!