Chapter 634: Whoever Lets Her Die Shall Face Complete Annihilation!

Qin Ruan did not answer the little girl's question. She walked up to her and extended her slender hand, wanting to touch the piece of withered wood in the girl's heart.

This action alarmed the girl.

The little girl hastily retreated, her voice filled with despair, "No, you can't touch it!"

Her expression and tone were full of panic, as if Qin Ruan was trying to take her life.

Qin Ruan withdrew her hand and frowned, asking, "Where did the withered wood on your body come from?"

The little girl tilted her head and smiled, saying, "You can play with me, and I'll tell you."

Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke indifferently, "What kind of game?"

The little girl pointed to the Huangju tree, where countless resentful spirits hung, wanting to devour the life force of others.

She was asking Qin Ruan to climb the tree, clearly intending to lead her to her death.

Qin Ruan's cold gaze locked onto the little girl as she asked with a hint of chill in her voice, "Do you want me dead?"

"Of course! Once you're dead, we can play together," the little girl said, her tone and facial expression still as innocent as before.

Qin Ruan's lips curved into a wicked arc, and dangerous light flickered in her eyes.

"And if I don't agree?" she asked.

The little girl's face turned grim, and her previous innocence vanished. She revealed a look of hatred, filled with resentment, as she stared straight at Qin Ruan. "Then you will die."

"Hmph!" Qin Ruan sneered.

They wanted her dead?

How could her life be taken away so easily? Reincarnation was not easy, and in this life, she had too many things to worry about.

Whoever let her die would face complete annihilation!

A faint wisp of underworld power lingered at Qin Ruan's fingertips, and in an instant, a whip made of underworld energy appeared in her hand.

Qin Ruan raised her arm and swung the whip in the air.

The whip flew straight towards the little girl's face.

Although the little girl's soul was small, she was very agile. Almost as soon as the whip was swung, she teleported away from her original position.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss!!!"

As Qin Ruan prepared to strike again, a change occurred at the Huangju tree.

The sturdy trunk shook with force, and countless resentful spirits were thrown to the ground.

They flew down and rushed towards Qin Ruan like a swarm of bees.

Some crawled on the ground, some hopped on one leg, and all of them had blood-red eyes filled with malice.

They stared at Qin Ruan as if she were a delicious snack, eager to feast on her flesh and drink her blood.

Wei Linchen saw this scene and shouted sternly, "Qin Ruan, we can't handle so many vengeful spirits! Run!"

Hundreds of resentful spirits swarmed, and the situation spiraled out of control.

Even a Reaper from the Underworld would find it challenging to deal with this situation, let alone human beings.

Wei Linchen saw Qin Ruan standing there, her back looking proud and aloof, emanating a boundless sense of oppression.

However, this did not ease his worries.

Wei Linchen broke free from Lin Hao's grip and rushed forward.

But the next moment, someone hugged him from behind.

Lin Hao's voice was displeased as he warned in a low voice, "Madam has her own plan; don't go and cause trouble!"

Normally, they wouldn't easily intervene when Qin Ruan dealt with evil spirits. If it were a confrontation with humans, there might be a chance for them to help.

When facing evil spirits, they could only stand aside, worry, and watch.

Rushing up recklessly would only hinder Qin Ruan.

Wei Linchen exuded anger, "She's pregnant. We can't handle so many vengeful spirits. Are you going to watch her die?"

The air was filled with the stench of rotting flesh.

As the two struggled, hundreds of vengeful spirits surrounded Qin Ruan.

Wei Linchen saw this scene and felt a chill in his heart. He exerted all his strength to struggle but failed.

He regretted bringing Qin Ruan here. Perhaps it would have been more appropriate to find Qiao Nanyuan or Lu Wenbin.

Regret surged in his heart, making him feel defeated.

One of the resentful spirits grabbed Wei Linchen's arm and lowered its head, preparing to bite.

The strong scent of blood and flesh made it drool black saliva.

Wei Linchen's arm trembled violently, and his expression was very unpleasant.

It wasn't fear; it was because he had a cleanliness obsession.

The resentful spirit holding his arm dripped its black saliva on his sleeve.

Wei Lincen felt extremely uncomfortable, and his anger surged uncontrollably.

He reached out and grabbed the resentful spirit's head, forming a fist, and swung it towards its rotten face repeatedly.

Punch after punch turned the terrified face into minced meat.

Behind him, another resentful spirit pulled at Wei Linchen's shoulder.

He shook off the resentful spirit and kicked it towards several other attacking spirits.

Wei Linchen had lost his last life-saving weapon.

Seeing the resentful spirits approaching again, he couldn't help but feel despair.

Was he going to die here today?

He never should have involved Qin Ruan. Perhaps it would be more fitting for him to die than her.

Wei Lincen's expression turned cold, and he exuded an aura of helplessness and sorrow.

He realized that he might not be able to escape death today.

Just as he was about to be overwhelmed by the resentful spirits, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

 Chapter 69: Even with a Burnt Brain, You Remembered**

Let you go crazy!

The guy in the other car complained bitterly, "Damn, a woman is driving! I won't let you off—ahhh!"

Unexpectedly, the beat-up car was quite insane. It rammed into him, sending his car flying. Fortunately, there was a guardrail, or it would have been a disaster. The rear part of his car was crushed, while the beaten-up car continued to speed away and disappeared from his sight.

The person in the car angrily pounded the steering wheel, spat, and then made a phone call.

"Find out the owner of this license plate for me. She's too crazy, hit my car and dared to run!"

The person in the car, in a desperate rage, added, "Once we find her, make her pay with her life!"

"Sungo, I can't find any information on this plate," the person on the other end said with confusion.

"Are you useless? Can't even find information on a license plate?!" Sun Bailong cursed, "Even if it's a fake plate, find it for me!"

"Sungo, do we really need to go through this process? It will be resolved later if we do."

"Do you want me to appear in the news? I don't want to lose face at the New Year's racing event! Find a way to figure it out for me!"

The person on the other end pulled up the surveillance footage of this section of the road, zoomed in on the image. The car was moving too fast, and it took a long time to lock onto a blurry image.

The footage was slowed down until the moment of the collision between the two cars. The car owner was identified.

It was an expressionless, delicate beauty, the dominator of the racing scene in the Imperial City!

Although her driving skills weren't outstanding, she was extremely dominant in the Imperial City due to her status and influence.

Identifying her face made it easy to find her identity.

"Sungo, this woman still has some discussion heat online," the person reported.

Sun Bailong had already switched to another car, and his damaged car was towed away.

After listening to the report on the phone, he hung up. She dared to hit my car, and now she's trying to run?!

...

Jiang Chenchen took Sheng Mingsi to the hospital. She knew that the collision on the road was purely the other person's fault.

Despite her urgency, that person still wanted to create trouble, so she had no choice but to knock him over.

Fortunately, the doctor checked Sheng Mingsi's fever, and it had decreased somewhat. After confirming that he had taken fever-reducing medicine, the doctor nodded. "Since you've come to the hospital, stay here for observation overnight."

After arranging a hospital room and with doctors and nurses present, Jiang Chenchen felt relieved.

Wu Bi and the two bodyguards rushed over, wanting to transfer Sheng Mingsi to another hospital, but Jiang Chenchen stopped them.

Going back and forth would affect his condition in such cold weather.

Wu Bi felt that Sheng Mingsi had never stayed in such an ordinary hospital room. Even if they didn't transfer, they should at least move to a more prestigious ward.

Jiang Chenchen firmly opposed it. Sheng Mingsi had finally fallen asleep in this hospital bed; she wouldn't let anyone take him away.

After a brief contemplation, Wu Bi gave up the struggle. This girl was different to Sheng Mingsi, and it was better not to offend her.

The three of them waited outside the door.

Jiang Chenchen guarded Sheng Mingsi's bedside, supporting her head and dozing off.

It wasn't until after one in the morning that she remembered his birthday had passed, and he had experienced such a terrible day.

She leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "I'm sorry. I hope you'll have a healthy and happy birthday next year."

...

When Jiang Chenchen woke up, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. Pushing aside the blanket, she saw that Sheng Mingsi was already up. He was neatly dressed, and his complexion looked much better, no longer as pale and weak.

At the door of the ward, he was in conversation with a doctor, speaking softly as if afraid of disturbing her.

"Ah... Mr. Sheng!" Jiang Chenchen got out of bed and walked over to him, casually reaching out to touch his forehead, then touching her own.

"Uh, no fever," Sheng Mingsi said.

Jiang Chenchen: "..."

Recalling what the doctor had said and the situation of her rushing him to the hospital alone, she felt a mix of urgency and relief, handling it correctly.

However, the scene of her helping him cool down from the fever last night, with his brain almost fried, still lingered in his memory.

His ears irritatingly turned red.

"Mr. Sheng?" Jiang Chenchen called him in front of others, seeing no response, she called again.

Sheng Mingsi suppressed his thoughts, maintaining his usual cold demeanor. His voice remained hoarse, "It's okay."

The doctor, sensing the situation, nodded discreetly at him and then left.

"Let's go home," Sheng Mingsi looked down at the person in front of him. "Don't think about anything. Go back and rest."

"Are you really okay?" Jiang Chenchen was still worried.

Sheng Mingsi's eyes were deep. Although the fever was gone, the nightmare etched in his memory couldn't be erased.

He casually replied, "I'm fine."

On the way back, Wu Bi was driving in front, and Sheng Mingsi lazily leaned against the back seat. Suddenly, he remembered something. "Was there a collision?"

"Huh?" Wu Bi looked at Sheng Mingsi through the rearview mirror, realizing he was asking Jiang Chenchen.

Recalling the situation on the road last night, Jiang Chenchen said, "That person intentionally blocked the road, so there was a collision."

Sheng Mingsi continued lazily, "Although the car isn't expensive, it's a huge sum for someone as poor as you."

"But he caused the collision... Do I have to compensate for this?" Jiang Chenchen thought of the money, and her head almost went bald. She had restrained her impulsive actions in urgent situations, but she couldn't hold back last night.

"Last night, you did it for me. Naturally, I won't let you pay," Sheng Mingsi said. He looked at her with a side glance and added, "This thing about not having a driver's license, even in an emergency, you can't do it like this."

Wu Bi and the assistant, along with several bodyguards, couldn't take on such a dangerous task.

Jiang Chenchen nodded, admitting her mistake. However, she felt that she might encounter situations like driving in the future, so she needed to figure out a way to get a driver's license.

After consulting online, the price was several thousand yuan. She couldn't use the money in Sheng Mingsi's card, but she had the income from participating in the variety show, a considerable sum.

After considering various factors, she chose a driving school under the comprehensive consideration of Xia Changli. This happened three days after Sheng Mingsi completely recovered.

On that day, after returning home, she had a good sleep, woke up in the evening to eat, and found a strawberry mousse cake on the dining table.

Underneath it was a card that said, "I'm sorry."

There was no signature, but it could only be Sheng Mingsi. He was apologizing for overturning the cake she had made with so much effort.

But did he buy this?

Jiang Chenchen picked up a small spoon and took a bite. It was very sweet, and the sense of grievance from the overturned cake disappeared.

Why did she hate such a delicious cake so much?

She couldn't figure it out.

After Sheng Mingsi recovered, he immersed himself in work again. Jiang Chenchen, in addition to studying, left time to review questions for the first subject of the driving test.

On the morning she applied for the driving school, she was blocked on the road.

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 151: Xiao Village

What's wrong with the little one?

Bai Lu, full of confusion, was about to ask when Xiao Guofu, who couldn't wait outside the door, asked Bai Lu first, "Is Xiao Cheng at home?"

Bai Lu saw the anxious look on Xiao Guofu and Li Hongying's faces and truthfully replied, "He's out of the province and will be back in a few days. Do you need to find him for something? If it's urgent, there's a phone at home, and you can call him immediately."

"This..."

Li Hongying's anxiety turned into deep concern, "Calling won't help. There are bad people in Xiao Village. Not only do they want to reclaim the sand we picked up on the riverbank in the past, but they also want to cut down all our chestnut trees on the mountain."

"What bad people? Don't talk nonsense; be careful what you say." Xiao Guofu looked around at the people passing by and explained to Bai Lu.

"Early this morning, a man with a large group of police came to Xiao Village. They claimed that we were illegally mining sand and demanded that we immediately hand over all the sand at home. They also said that the chestnut trees on the mountain did not meet some green plant regulations and required us to return the land to the forest, cutting down all the chestnut trees and planting the ones they specified."

As Xiao Guofu spoke, he was so furious, "The sand in the villagers' homes was picked up on the riverbank years ago, before the river was contracted. It was collected when the big water swept onto the riverbank. It's never been mined from the river."

"The sand has been collected for many years. Apart from a few households using it for making cement floors or foundations, it's mainly used to bury chestnuts and store chestnut grains."

"There was no problem in previous years. Just when you started doing business and returned to Xiao Village to buy chestnuts, the villagers finally looked forward to a better life. Now, the sand is suddenly being taken away. Without the sand, chestnuts cannot be stored for a long time, and they will soon wither and rot..."

"Grandpa and Grandma asked us to find you and Xiao Cheng, saying that you have a solution."

Xiao Guofu didn't know why Grandpa and Grandma were so certain that Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng could solve the problem, but Grandpa and Grandma's decisions in the past had never been wrong. The elderly couple had a farsighted view of people and things. Xiao Guofu and Li Hongying couldn't come up with a solution, so they had to seek help.

After listening to Xiao Guofu's words, a cunning and resentful face suddenly appeared in Bai Lu's mind.

"Do you know their names? Or did they bring people who contracted the river with them?"

Li Hongying felt that Bai Lu was more magical than a fortune teller. She had already figured out who the intruders were just by listening to the story!

"Exactly, the people who contracted the river brought a brick truck to transport the sand."

"Blocked by the villagers at the village entrance, they are not allowed to enter. If the sand is taken away, the chestnuts will wither and rot. Not only will it be impossible to sell them to you for making candied chestnuts, but the villagers will also have trouble eating. The early rice hasn't even blossomed yet, there's no rice, and if the chestnuts wither and rot, what will everyone eat?"

Li Hongying and Xiao Guofu explained the situation in such detail, not to blame Bai Lu and Xiao Cheng for causing trouble by starting a business, but to let Bai Lu understand all the important information.

Even though they didn't have this intention, Li Hongying and Xiao Guofu were still inexplicably nervous, worried that Bai Lu would misunderstand.

Worried that it would affect future procurement cooperation.

Bai Lu would naturally not think wrongly. She probably already knew who was causing trouble in Xiao Village.

It was revenge from Li Chengbin, who was discharged from the hospital.

In the current situation, Li Chengbin must have found out that the candied chestnuts sold in the market were produced by her.

The chestnuts came from Xiao Village.

Li Chengbin wanted to cut off the storage method of the chestnuts and cut down the chestnut trees to prevent the chestnuts from regenerating, thereby restricting candied chestnuts from entering the market. It was nothing more than trying to uproot her business from the source, eliminating it entirely, and suppressing it.

To make her and Xiao Cheng never see the light of day again.

Xiao Village was a place Bai Lu definitely had to go. Candied chestnuts had just emerged in the market, and the subsequent operation had not yet begun. Business could not be interrupted, and the matter had to be resolved.

But now, there was something more important.

"Wait for a moment. I'll take Xiao Wei to the street to grab a meal. When I come back, we'll go to Xiao Village together."

"Haven't you had lunch yet?"

Lin Jinfan glanced at the little one who had been staring at him and then turned his gentle gaze to the slender and weak Bai Lu, "You finish your meal first before going to Xiao Village."

This statement clearly indicated that Bai Lu was only taking Xiao Wei to grab a meal and did not intend to eat herself.

And he suggested a reasonable and considerate suggestion.

Bai Lu was surprised not by what he said but by his words, "Are you going to Xiao Village too?"

Lin Jinfan's surname was Lin, and it seemed unrelated to Xiao Village. Upon careful thought, she recalled memories from the original owner.

Sure enough, there was a connection. Lin Jinfan's mother was from Xiao Village, and her maiden family was in Xiao Village.

Lin Jinfan used to visit his grandmother's house frequently when he was a child, helping his grandmother cut rice. He and the original owner were innocent playmates who shared many family stories.

Next Chapter ▶▶

  Chapter 114: Apology

"Oh." Now, Ou Yan really let go.

Due to the inertia, Xu Aiqin fell backward, and Bai Muyao wanted to help her, but her dress was stepped on by her, and both of them fell to the ground, bumping their foreheads together, extremely embarrassed.

"You, you wicked girl..." Xu Aiqin pointed at Ou Yan, too angry to get up.

When Ou Yan came out of the restroom, she saw Xu Aiqin blocking her way.

"Can you hit Muyao's face whenever you want? You instigated your friend to hit her last time, and today you dare to bully her in front of me. Let me tell you, if you don't apologize to Muyao today and let her hit you back, I'll call everyone over to judge!"

"Okay." Ou Yan agreed readily, disdainfully saying, "Then call everyone over and let them see if someone who steals someone else's piano piece deserves the runner-up trophy."

"What did you say? Don't you slander Muyao!?"

"Is it slander? Ask her and you'll know." Ou Yan looked at Bai Muyao, unfazed.

Bai Muyao felt guilty. She didn't expect Ou Yan to find out so quickly. She gritted her teeth and said, "Do you have any evidence?"

"Yes, do you have any evidence to prove that Muyao stole someone else's piano piece? Even if she did, how do you know? Do you understand piano pieces?"

Although Grandma Bai had bought a piano for this girl before, she hardly heard her play...

Just because you understand some music theory doesn't mean you can baselessly accuse others of stealing things!

"I see! You're just jealous that Muyao got second place, so you deliberately sneaked into the theater to embarrass her? You're really vicious! How could the Bai family raise such a viper like you?"

"Who raised who?" Ou Yan raised her icy gaze, curling her lips coldly. "Have you spent a penny on me since I was a child?"

"Isn't the Bai family's money my money?"

"That's Grandma's!"

"Alright, alright, you wicked girl! I won't argue with you about these things. Just tell me, are you going to apologize to Muyao?" Xu Aiqin's voice had attracted several people.

Bai Muyao felt embarrassed, pulling Xu Aiqin's hand, saying, "Forget it, Mom."

"No, today I must make this girl apologize to you!" Xu Aiqin was determined to make Ou Yan yield.

"Mom, there are other people watching..." Bai Muyao was afraid of attracting the attention of the reporters. "Let's not lower ourselves to her level. Let's go; we'll have other opportunities in the future..."

"We'll let you go, what else do you want?" Bai Muyao had never seen such an ungrateful person. Did she really have to provoke everyone around before she was satisfied?

"Oh, of course, I want you to apologize."

"I, apologize?" Bai Muyao had never heard of such a thing.

Xu Aiqin was even more stunned, "You want Muyao to apologize to you?"

Are you crazy?!

"One or two well-dressed people don't understand human language? Let me say it again, apologize." Ou Yan said word by word, "If you don't apologize, I'll ask the staff to bring out the surveillance footage over there."

Although the position of this sink couldn't be captured by the surveillance camera, Ou Yan's position just now, standing in front of the restroom, could very likely have been recorded by the surveillance camera!

Bai Muyao looked up and saw that the surveillance camera was indeed capturing the corridor in front of the restroom. Ou Yan had just been standing there...

Damn it, if I had known, I would have splashed her later!

"I see you really itching for a beating..." Xu Aiqin wanted to step forward and teach Ou Yan a lesson but was firmly held back by Bai Muyao.

At this moment, Bai Muyao's face looked a bit ugly, looking at Ou Yan with humiliation.

The onlookers had increased from two or three to four or five. If this continued, it would be a big embarrassment!

"I'm sorry, sister, it was my fault just now..." Bai Muyao could only apologize through gritted teeth.

But Ou Yan raised an eyebrow, seeming dissatisfied with her apology. "Do you want everyone to see whether it was an accident or intentional?"

Bai Muyao could only apologize humbly, "I'm sorry, sister, it was my fault just now! I won't do it again in the future."

"In the future, stay away from me." Ou Yan left these words and didn't want to waste any more time with her.

Xu Aiqin still wanted to go after her, but was firmly held back by Bai Muyao, who pleaded softly, "Mom, please, don't make a scene!"

"Muyao, why do you have to apologize to her? Why are you afraid of her? Just because she hit you twice, we're the ones who are right!"

Bai Muyao was afraid that her piano piece would be exposed. That was the real problem!

Apparently, Ou Yan already knew about her stealing the piano piece. Would she expose her next?

Remembering that the piano piece was found in the room where Ou Yan used to live, although it was only a climax, she had shown it to the piano teacher hired by the Bai family, who was very impressed. She searched online repeatedly and couldn't find any trace of the piece. So, she decided to use it and submitted it for the competition. She didn't expect it to pass and even win second place!

She went from someone who didn't understand music to a musical genius!

She had to keep this halo intact. What did an apology matter?!

Ou Yan had grown up in comfort at the Bai family's. Even if she really learned the piano and understood composition, what evidence did she have to prove that the piece was hers?

Bai Muyao comforted herself, not afraid, Ou Yan couldn't cause any trouble!

Even if Ou Yan insisted that the piece was hers, as long as she didn't admit it, what could Ou Yan do?

In the end, the clown was still Ou Yan!

At this moment, many people exclaimed, "Chairwoman Qin, you're here?"

Bai Muyao looked towards the voice and saw a woman with a strong presence and feminine charm walking towards them, wearing a suit that was both cool and stylish.

She was Qin Zhilan, the chairwoman of the National Piano Association!

She had exceptional piano skills and had won many awards both domestically and internationally since she was young. Before the age of forty, she had been the chairwoman for several years and was hailed as a piano master.

Bai Muyao saw her and quickly adjusted her attire. Looking at herself in the mirror, under the dim light, the blush on her face seemed as if it was applied with makeup.

Realizing that she still looked presentable, she hurriedly squeezed forward and introduced herself gracefully, "Chairwoman Qin, hello, I'm Bai Muyao, and I got second place in the piano competition this time."

Qin Zhilan had originally seen Ou Yan in the crowd. As she walked over, she didn't see her figure and was slightly disappointed.

She looked at the girl who greeted her and heard the familiar name. Her brows furrowed slightly, "The Bai family's daughter?"

She had heard Ou Yan mention some scum from the Bai family...

Bai Muyao thought that Chairwoman Qin knew her identity. Just as she was feeling pleased, she didn't expect Chairwoman Qin's face to turn cold.

  Chapter 113: Two Slaps

At this moment, sharp-eyed reporters noticed Ou Yan.

She followed behind the crowd, her beautiful face fair and clear, her features exquisite, and her overall demeanor a blend of sweetness and coldness, presenting an unmatched beauty.

Unable to resist, they aimed their cameras at her and stealthily snapped a few shots.

Bai Muyao sat in the sixth row of the audience, sneaking a glance at her phone. It was half past nine in the morning, and Gao Yang still hadn't arrived, nor had he sent her a message.

On the other hand, Bai Zhenhai, upon seeing a familiar friend, approached with a smile, extending his hand, "Mr. Hui, what are you doing here?"

"Zhenhai, your daughter got second place, congratulations... My daughter only got fifth place..."

"Oh, the ranking isn't important, it's the participation that counts. Yao Yao was just lucky, that's all." Bai Zhenhai smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the other party.

Xu Aiqin also unexpectedly ran into her old friend Lifen here, feeling quite surprised. "Are you here with your daughter too? What place did she get?"

"Don't mention that incompetent thing. She practiced the piano for twelve years only to get eighth place. Unlike Muyao, who is so talented and effortlessly got second place."

"Don't mention it..." Xu Aiqin put on a grand display, exchanging pleasantries before asking Bai Muyao next to her in a low voice, "Where's Gao Yang? Why hasn't he arrived by this time?"

"He..."

Bai Muyao had called Gao Yang last night, but he said he wanted to see if he had time today.

In the morning, Bai Muyao also sent him a WeChat message, and he said he was a bit busy and would see later, not knowing if he would come in the end.

"It's all because of his mother! It must be his mother instigating trouble behind his back. He was a good boy, devoted to you..."

Thinking about this, Xu Aiqin's heart felt uneasy. "When you become famous in the future, let his mother regret it!"

"Mom, don't worry, I believe Gao Yang will definitely come..."

"Don't you send him another WeChat message, and in a while, the award ceremony will start! You have to let him see your glorious side!"

"Okay..." Bai Muyao reluctantly sent Gao Yang a picture of the scene.

[Brother Gao Yang, I've saved you a seat. It's okay if you're busy and can't come.]

She also sent a kissing emoji.

On the other side, although Gao Yang had arrived at the theater entrance, he had not yet gotten off the car. When he received Bai Muyao's WeChat message, he didn't reply immediately, his eyes looking ahead, lost in thought.

"Gao Yang still hasn't replied?"

"Send a few more messages, don't be so brief."

"Be more enthusiastic, ask if he's busy first, then talk about the award ceremony!"

"If not, send a few more intimate emojis, say a few sweet words, and coax him to come."

"Boys can't resist girls' coquetry."

"Still no reply?"

"It's been ten minutes, and he still hasn't replied to you? Is your ringer on? Is the signal bad here? Try opening your phone again? Or go outside to call him?"

Bai Muyao was already feeling frustrated, being urged by her mother, she couldn't bear it anymore and stood up, saying, "I'm going to the restroom."

"Yao Yao..." Xu Aiqin knew she was upset, but Gao Yang was such an excellent candidate, many people were vying to be with him!

Yao Yao was already close to the water's edge and must seize the opportunity!

"We don't need to push Yao Yao so hard! We can't keep lowering our posture to beg others!"

"But there are so many people we know here. If Gao Yang can come, our family will gain face!"

"Just think about it, if Gao Yang comes, it shows that he still likes Yao Yao! Otherwise, if he doesn't show up at such an important occasion, do you think he still has feelings for Yao Yao?"

After hearing this, Bai Zhenhai also thought it made sense.

Bai Muyao finished using the restroom, just as she bent down to wash her hands, she saw a familiar figure passing by behind her, causing her to be surprised, "Ouyan? What are you doing here?"

People who could enter this grand theater today were either related to the competition or were backstage staff!

Someone like Ou Yan, who was just a miscellaneous person, couldn't get in at all!

Unless she was here to work at the theater?

Impossible...

She had earned so much money accompanying rich people for just one night, how could she stoop to working for such little money?

Bai Muyao suddenly realized, "I see, you came here with a sugar daddy?"

Ou Yan was originally ignoring her, but upon hearing this, she stopped in her tracks and looked at her coldly, "Does your face not hurt anymore? Do you want another slap?"

"You... dare to hit me and try..." Bai Muyao instinctively covered her face, "I haven't settled the score with you from last time!"

"Oh, let's settle it now."

"You..." Bai Muyao gritted her teeth, unable to say anything. Instead, she brought up her parents to intimidate Ou Yan, "I warn you, my parents are here with me today!"

"So what?"

"If you dare to bully me, I'll let them deal with you! You'll be the one losing face!"

"Huh." Ou Yan found it amusing. How useless could she be to still use her parents to scare others when she was already an adult?

"What are you laughing at?" Bai Muyao felt a little guilty.

"Next time I hear you mention anything about sugar daddies, I'll cut out your tongue and feed it to the fish in the sea!"

Bai Muyao suddenly felt a pang in her tongue and tried to sound imposing, "Do you dare?"

"Try me."

Ou Yan was about to enter the restroom, but unexpectedly, Bai Muyao splashed some water towards her and smirked, "Sorry, sister, it wasn't intentional."

Although Ou Yan quickly realized and raised her hand to block some of it, her clothes still got wet.

While Bai Muyao was feeling smug, she didn't notice Ou Yan swiftly slapped her across the face.

Smack!

A crisp sound echoed in the air.

Bai Muyao was stunned, unable to believe it, as she covered her right cheek, "You... dare to hit me?"

"I did." Ou Yan raised her hand again and slapped her other cheek, "I'm not Xu Aiqin, I won't indulge your bad habits."

"You...!" Bai Muyao was about to get angry when she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Yao Yao, are you okay?" Xu Aiqin, seeing that she hadn't come back from the restroom for so long, was coming over. From a distance, she saw Ou Yan slap her daughter twice!

She was furious and, upon closer inspection, noticed that Yao Yao's face was swollen! Both sides were red!

In a moment, Yao Yao would still have to attend the awards ceremony, and this dead girl Ou Yan must have done it on purpose!

Thinking like this, Xu Aiqin raised her hand to teach Ou Yan a lesson.

However, Ou Yan easily intercepted her wrist.

"You, let go of me..." Xu Aiqin didn't expect this dead girl to be so strong. She tried several times but couldn't retrieve her hand. She was so angry that she gritted her teeth, "I told you to let go, do you hear me!"

 Chapter 20 Reminder

This can't go on like this. Second Brother's temperament nowadays is like a newly unsheathed sword, extremely sharp but also attracting attention.

If this matter delays his future, it would be a loss not worth the gain.

So, silently in my heart, I noted down, Wen Mengsheng, our accounts will be settled in the future. We'll have to calculate slowly. Killing you like this would be too easy.

The pain of extermination, I won't let you taste it, how can I repay the great fire of the previous life!

"I wouldn't say I dislike him, but I just find his behavior frivolous and inexplicable. Logically speaking, our relationship with the Ministry of Personnel's Assistant Minister's family isn't that close, yet he, as the son, always rushes to talk to us. Don't you think there's something wrong with that?"

Feng Jinyao deliberately spoke seriously, letting Feng Er guess blindly.

"So, what you're saying is, it's very likely that someone behind him intentionally made him approach us?"

"Hard to say. But the Ministry of Personnel's evaluation of officials has already begun and it will continue until the end of April next year. I think it's best to avoid mingling with these families we don't usually interact with during this period. Otherwise, if they catch any handle, threatening Father and Big Brother's reputation, that wouldn't be good."

Feng Jinlin wasn't a fool either. If he passed the imperial examination next spring, he would also become an official entering the court, so naturally, he understood the importance of reputation.

So he nodded solemnly, "It's still sister's thorough consideration."

Seeing him taking it seriously, Feng Jinyao didn't dwell too much on this matter and changed the subject.

"Why did you come over here? Aren't you supposed to greet the guests in the front?"

"Humph, let me tell you, your good sister should pay more attention. That young master from the Liang family is not a suitable match. I saw him sneakily heading towards the side road just now. I followed him quietly and saw that he met with a maid from Miss Wei's side. It seems he even handed something over. I can tell you, if he's not colluding with that maid, then he's colluding with the master behind her. Either way, he's not a good person."

As he spoke, disdain was evident in his eyes. He really looked down on such people from the bottom of his heart.

Inept in both literary and martial arts, always thinking of relying on women to climb the social ladder, just like his father's behavior.

Speaking of this Mr. Liang, he was just a kid from a poor family back then. If it weren't for getting involved in a huge marriage with the Changyi Marquis, how could he have climbed so fast?

Unfortunately, the Marquis of Changyi fell into decline a few years ago because he offended the Emperor.

Mr. Liang, who used to visit his father-in-law's house every few days, has now cut off all ties. He really shows the true face of a schemer.

"I heard that the marriage alliance with the Xu family was arranged by the deceased Mrs. Liang and the Xu family, but it's a pity. If she knew that her two children were raised into such appearances by her husband, would she be furious enough to jump out of the ground?"

"Second Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Aren't you afraid of offending the gods!"

Since her rebirth, she has been very taboo about matters concerning the gods, afraid that his words would disturb something, which wouldn't be good.

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. You remind yourselves, I'll go to the front yard to find Su Cheng and the others first. That kid keeps clamoring to drink every day, so today I'll make him go back crawling!"

With that, he turned and left.

When he reached the moon gate, he happened to meet Yunxu who had just returned after seeing someone off. He left a sentence, "Take care of the Miss." and strode away.

Yunxu was somewhat puzzled. Wasn't Miss standing well in the corridor? Looking at the bare branches in front of her, Feng Jinyao began to contemplate.

Feng Jinlin's reminder made her think. Trying hard to recall her past life, what was the reason for the breakup between Liang and Xu?

This was also a big event at the time but the news that came out was true or false, making it difficult to distinguish.

Could it be...

The Liang family wanted to climb up to the Wei family, so they found a way to break off the engagement with the Xu family?

Highly possible!

Looking at Liang's attitude towards Wei Lanxuan and Xu Mingyue just now, one was just a friend and the other was a future sister-in-law. Her attitude was evident and her thoughts were clear.

A barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. Since that's the case, she'll just go with the flow and give this Mr. Liang a promising future.

"Miss, your hand warmer seems to have cooled down. I brought a new one, it's warm."

With that, Yunxu handed over the hand warmer she had been holding. Taking it from Feng Jinyao's hand, she indeed felt much cooler.

Feeling the warmth again spreading from her fingertips, Feng Jinyao's previously suppressed mood finally dissipated.

"Where's Cousin?"

"The County Princess is in the backyard. Today, the Madam was in a good mood and drank a bit more. She's a bit tipsy now, and the Madam and the others are accompanying her."

"Well, let's go over there."

"Yes."

The master and servant followed and circled back to the Shou'an Courtyard.

Unexpectedly, just a few steps after walking, they ran into Eldest Brother Feng Jinxu and Fourth Uncle Bai Chaohai, with Second Brother Feng Er following behind with a disheveled appearance.

Slightly stunned, wasn't Second Brother supposed to go to the front yard? How come they are here?

Feng Jinyao glanced at him sideways, only to see him sticking out his tongue at her slightly, looking like he was caught red-handed.

Serves him right, for not listening to advice, now he's caught by Eldest Brother.

Good little sister, please help or else Eldest Brother will surely make me copy hundreds of books as punishment!

The two exchanged glances, while Bai Chaohai enjoyed the show on the side. Being in the academy for so long, he hadn't seen such an exciting scene in a while.

Feng Jinyao cast a pleading glance at him, but unfortunately, Fourth Uncle's eyes were full of mischief.

At this moment, the folding fan that never left his hand was fluttering up and down, even in such cold weather, he wasn't afraid of getting cold?

"Eldest Brother? Why did you come over?"

"Humph, if I had come a few steps later, I'm afraid this brat would have emptied all the hidden wine in Grandfather's house. What's even more hateful is that he hasn't been to the academy for four or five months. If I hadn't run into Fourth Uncle today, I'm afraid Father and I would still be kept in the dark."

Feng Jinyao glared fiercely at Feng Er, wasn't it just two months of absence?

It seems he really needs to be taught a lesson and learn a good lesson.

So she gave up the idea of ​​helping and added fuel to the fire by saying to Feng Jinxu, "A few days ago, Second Brother went to Mingchi Mountain with his friends to hunt foxes. You don't need to think too much about it. I'm afraid it's not just him skipping school this time."

Wow, with just one sentence, she implicated all his friends around him.

Feng Er now understood what it meant when they said, 'It's difficult to raise women and small-minded people.'

Feng Jinxu sneered and glanced at Feng Er, only to see tears in his eyes and pouting, as if he would look even more pitiful if he had a cane on his back right now.

"From now on, cut off all your bad friends. If you don't pass the imperial examination this spring, I'll skin you alive!"

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 178: Becoming a Concubine

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 177: I'll Handle It

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 633:What's the Rush, It's Just an Appetizer

The small grove blocked the sparse sunlight, and a chilling coldness pervaded the surroundings, creating a horrifying and fear-inducing sight.

Lin Hao didn't dare to step forward; his feet seemed rooted to the spot.

Qin Ruan's gentle voice carried reassurance, "Brother Hao, your constitution will be like this for the rest of your life. You'll get used to it with time."

Lin Hao had to take that step.

In Qin Ruan's eyes, compared to the eighteen levels of hell in the underworld, this was a mere child's play, not worth mentioning.

She held Lin Hao's hand and led him to Wei Linchen.

"Professor Wei, hold his hand."

Wei Linchen looked at the hand Qin Ruan offered, his expression showing reluctance.

He had a cleanliness obsession and rarely made physical contact with others.

With an innocent smile on her face, Qin Ruan explained, "Lin Hao has a special constitution. If you make physical contact with him, you'll see things you can't see."

Wei Linchen looked at Lin Hao with surprise, "heavenly eyes?"

Qin Ruan nodded, "Something like that."pp

Lin Hao's constitution was more complex than just heavenly eyes.

Wei Linchen sensed Lin Hao's nervousness and fear, and he was curious about what he had seen that frightened him so much.

After much hesitation, he slowly reached out to hold Lin Hao's hand.

Wei Linchen's grip on Lin Hao's hand was met with a sticky feeling.

This made him even more curious as he turned his head to look at the Huangju tree not far away.

With just one glance, Wei Linchen's refined expression turned into one of horror, and his pupils trembled.

A chilling sensation spread throughout his body, making his scalp numb.

Countless pairs of eyes filled with hatred, resentment, and even vacant expressions stared at him.

Their bodies were mangled, their faces twisted and grotesque, covered in black and red blood, shrouded in sinister black mist.

The red cloth that was once on the Huangju tree disappeared, replaced by countless malicious and resentful spirits.

Wei Lincen's mouth exhaled a cold breath.

He had heavenly eyes, but he couldn't see these ghosts existence.

It showed how formidable the Huangju tree was to be able to block his sight.

Wei Linchen's voice couldn't maintain its calmness anymore, "Qin Ruan, why is it like this?"

Even as a Taoist priest, he couldn't bear to look directly at this scene of earthly purgatory.

The lost souls before him were of all ages, men and women, even young children.

Why did they die here?

The broken limbs scattered under the Huangju tree had piled up into small hills of horrifying skeletal remains.

This couldn't have accumulated in just a few years; it was evidence of countless killings.

Director Liu was afraid and didn't follow.

The only people present were Qin Ruan, Wei Linchen, Lin Hao, and several secret guards from the Hou family.

Only Qin Ruan and the other two could see the countless resentful spirits hanging on the Huangju tree.

Just as Wei Linchen was shocked by the horrifying scene before him, an accident occurred.

The ghost closest to them on the Huangju tree suddenly flew down to the ground.

It was a cute-looking girl with a pale face and innocent yet profound eyes.

She seemed to be around seven or eight years old.

The little girl walked towards Qin Ruan and the others, her mouth slightly open as black mist slowly escaped from her mouth.

She spoke, "Big brother, big sister, are you here to play with us?"

Her voice was innocent, mixed with childlike naivety, making people feel at ease and lowering their guards.

Qin Ruan, Wei Linchen, and Lin Hao watched the little girl approach but didn't respond.

Noticing their cold attitude, the little girl stopped a few meters away from them.

She tilted her head and asked innocently, "Why aren't you talking?"

With a smile on her face, she had two dimples that made her look adorable and carefree, evoking a favorable impression.

If her eyes didn't brim with black mist, her face wasn't pale, and she wasn't covered in black blood as she walked, one might have taken her for an ordinary child.

Unfortunately, she was a little ghost.

Qin Ruan's gaze fell to the ground behind the girl.

As she walked, she didn't know where so much thick black blood had flowed from her body.

It stained the ground, vividly bloodthirsty.

The little girl suddenly showed a pitiful expression, "I get it; you don't like me, do you?"

In an instant, her expression changed.

After speaking, the little girl's face instantly turned grim, revealing a sinister and malicious intent.

Her small face was serious, and her eyes widened, as if her eyeballs were about to fall out.

A pair of eyes filled with surging black mist locked onto Qin Ruan, Wei Linchen, and Lin Hao.

Qin Ruan remained expressionless and didn't say a word.

Compared to her calmness, Wei Linchen and Lin Hao couldn't maintain their composure.

Lin Hao tightly gripped Wei Lincen's hand, swallowing his saliva, and urged in a hushed voice, "Ancestors, please do something; my whole body is covered in goosebumps."

He didn't relax his guard because the ghost before him was so small; instead, he felt a creepy sensation.

The ghost's intentions were difficult to fathom; it might suddenly rush over to claim their lives.

Qin Ruan's eyes shimmered with depth, and her voice was indifferent, "What's the rush? This is just an appetizer."

She looked up, her cold gaze locking onto the countless vengeful souls on the Huangju tree.

They wore clothes from different eras and seasons.

The thick black aura was exactly what she currently needed.

However, she didn't feel as happy as she expected. Instead, a heavy feeling weighed on her heart.

Roughly counting, there were hundreds of lost souls hanging from this tree, imprisoned here for over a hundred years.

The long-term suppression by the Huangju tree had filled them with resentment.

This resentment turned into sinister aura and transformed into fierce ghosts, helping the Huangju tree commit evil deeds.

These lost souls had no choice; no one was there to liberate them. They could only seek their own path to survive, relying on the Huangju tree.

"Sizzle…"

A sizzling sound, like meat being thrown into a hot pot, rang out.

Qin Ruan withdrew her gaze from the Huangju tree and looked at the little girl not far away.

Her clothes were corroded by the black blood, and in no time, her clothes turned into blood, staining the ground where she stood.

Even her hair didn't escape the corruption of black blood.

The innocent little girl from a moment ago had now turned into a monster.

Her whole body was covered in densely packed wounds, and the wounds revealed black flesh, leaving barely any good parts.

Qin Ruan gazed at the little girl expressionlessly.

Suddenly, her eyes flickered, and she stared at the girl's chest.

There, a piece of blackened wood covered in black blood, wrapped in decaying flesh, caught her attention.

This piece of wood on the little girl's chest was identical to the one left in the room when Nangong Yunlong died.

Qin Ruan's face showed a hint of contemplation. She took a step forward, and the little girl almost immediately returned to her previous appearance.

She revealed a bright smile on her pale face, looking excited yet eerie.

"Sister, will you play with me?"

Chapter 632: Ancestors, Stop Playing, I'm Scared!

Cheng Xuelan's whereabouts were not found, and Qin Ruan's expression didn't look good.

However, her attention was drawn to the dark water in the center of the lake.

Qin Ruan turned back to look at Director Liu and asked in a cold tone, "Is there a boat? I want to go to the center of the lake."

Director Liu nodded and pointed to the left, where the lake was blocked by a small grove of trees.

"There's a boat over there."

Having a boat made things easier.

Qin Ruan raised her eyes and looked at Wei Linchen, who was standing beside her, and asked, "Professor Wei, do you want to come along?"

Wei Lincen casually glanced at Qin Ruan's belly and smiled with restraint, "I would be honored."

They both walked towards the small path on the left, heading towards the hidden location of the boat in the grove.

As they got closer, they approached the small grove.

A gentle breeze blew, and the leaves in the grove rustled.

When they were a few meters away from the boat, Qin Ruan suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She furrowed her brows and looked puzzled as she examined the small grove in front of her.

Not hearing Qin Ruan's footsteps catching up, Wei Lincen turned back and saw her standing motionless, staring solemnly at the small grove.

He returned to her side and followed her gaze.

"What did you find?" he asked.

"A strong smell of blood, a sinister aura, and an overwhelming provocation, all mixed with Cheng Xuelan's aura," Qin Ruan replied with her usual cold indifference, her voice filled with a chilling intent.

Wei Linchen furrowed his brows and earnestly looked at her, as if seeing Qin Ruan for the first time.

Soon, he seemed to understand something and showed a hint of realization on his face.

Staring at Qin Ruan's delicate profile, he sighed, "Anyone who can earn the admiration of Old Man Qiao and Master Lu must indeed be quite powerful."

Qin Ruan glanced at him sideways, looking puzzled. "You've also noticed?"

Wei Linchen nodded. "I only realized it when I went inside. But you could sense it from the outside; your talent is extraordinary."

Qin Ruan wasn't impressed by his flattery. She pressed on, "What did you find inside?"

Wei Linchen gazed at the grove with a serious expression, his brows slightly furrowed. "It's a Huangju tree, about to transform into a tree demon."

As far as Qin Ruan knew, the Audri Academy had been built in the capital city only a little over a hundred years ago.

It was impossible for a Huangju tree to transform into a demon within a hundred years.

She voiced her doubt, and Wei Linchen had considered the same question before. He wasn't entirely sure, saying, "The Huangju tree is covered with red cloth. It seems that it gained this opportunity through the sincere prayers of the students."

"It's interesting," Qin Ruan replied, her lips curving into a humorless smile. She lifted her foot and walked towards the small grove. "Since we're here, let's take a look."

Wei Linchen didn't say anything but followed her silently.

Lin Hao and the secret guards from the Hou family, who had fallen behind the two of them, also entered the small grove.

After walking for a few minutes, the Huangju tree covered in red cloth came into Qin Ruan's view.

Her divine eye was open, and she could clearly see the whole tree.

A moment of astonishment flashed in Qin Ruan's eyes, replaced by a furious storm of emotions and an ice-cold expression on her delicate face.

She pointedly noticed that Lin Hao, who had caught up with her, was involuntarily stepping back.

Staring at him with meaningful eyes, she asked, "Did you see it?"

Lin Hao's face turned pale, and his lips lost color visibly.

He looked into her calm and cold eyes with his stunned and frightened expression.

"Qin, Qin Ruan, I want to leave this place."

It was too terrifying; this place was like a nightmare.

Qin Ruan shook her head, "I'm afraid that's not possible. Come over here."

Lin Hao wore a mournful expression and pleaded with Qin Ruan, "Ancestors, please don't mess around, I can't take it anymore."

He resented himself all the time, wondering why he had to have this damned ability to see spirits.

If the spirits he had seen before kept him sleepless for several days and nights, then the scene before him now would become his lifelong nightmare.

He could clearly feel the chilling coldness rising behind him.

His scalp tingled, and every hair on his body stood on end. Even with all the storms he had faced, he didn't have the courage to withstand this fear.

It was too frightening, simply a purgatory on Earth!

As Lin Hao and Qin Ruan talked, Wei Linchen couldn't understand their conversation, but he could sense that something was amiss.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Qin Ruan ignored him and gestured to Lin Hao, "Lin Hao, come over here."

Lin Hao didn't even dare to meet Qin Ruan's gaze.

When his eyes met Qin Ruan's, he saw a pair of canvas shoes covered in black mist floating above her head.

Those canvas shoes were hovering in the air.

Lin Hao tried to divert his attention and not look at them, but he couldn't ignore them. They were ingrained in his sight.

Hearing that Qin Ruan wanted him to come over, Lin Hao was on the verge of tears.

He lowered his head and stared at the yellowing grass under his feet, speaking with a pleading tone, "Qin Ruan, please don't tease me. I'm really scared."

If his legs were still functional, Lin Hao would have already run away.

He stood frozen in place, not only out of fear but because he had lost the ability to move.

Qin Ruan's patience was running out. Seeing that Lin Hao still hadn't come over, she walked directly towards him.

Standing in front of Lin Hao, she noticed that his hand hanging at his side was trembling uncontrollably.

Recalling the terrifying scene they had just witnessed, Qin Ruan could understand his retreat.

She reached out and grabbed Lin Hao's sleeve, and a trace of psychic energy flowed into his body through the fabric.

Lin Hao felt a warm current flowing into his stiff body, and suddenly, he felt like he had regained control of his limbs. He could move again.

He tested his legs, and they responded.

Qin Ruan's expression softened as she calmly comforted Lin Hao, "I won't make you do anything. Just go over there and hold Professor Wei's hand. Let him see what's on the tree. With me here, you won't be in danger."

Lin Hao didn't doubt Qin Ruan's strength.

His palms were sweating, and his voice was quite low, "It's too miserable. Those... I can't pass this psychological barrier. I really don't want to see those things again."

The scenes he had just witnessed kept flashing in his mind.

Even if they were ordinary ghosts, they were no different from the dead in his eyes.

Decaying bodies oozing black blood, bones strewn everywhere, and a foul stench permeating the air.

The air was suffused with an overwhelming smell.

The Huangju tree was not adorned with red cloth.

It was covered with countless ghost with vacant, resentful, pained, and fierce expressions.

Compared to what he saw just now, the 18 levels of hell were nothing.

Who could have imagined that Audri Academy would contain such a blood-soaked purgatory.