C5 A Strange Village

I couldn't afford to be distracted, as the malevolent spirit's Yin Qi was oppressively strong. If it managed to break free, I wasn't sure I could handle it. My heart rate spiked; there was no time to waste. I swiftly formed a hand spell, ready to respond at a moment's notice. Despite the entity's violent assault, it couldn't breach the door. The talisman I had empowered was no pushover; breaking through it wouldn't be easy.

After witnessing the futile attempts, the tension I had been holding began to ease slightly. I turned my attention away from the spirit; finding its vessel was now the priority. I scoured the villa, noting its opulent decor. Pricey paintings adorned the walls, and much of the space was lavishly finished in marble. The villa was expansive, with over ten rooms to search. I meticulously examined each room and scrutinized every decorative piece.

Yet, after a thorough search, I was no closer to an answer. Standing still, lost in thought, I wondered if I had been mistaken. Upon entering, I had assumed the vessel would be here. But what if it wasn't? I knew that vessels containing such spirits emitted an intense Yin Qi, far surpassing the ambient energy in the house. But my search had turned up nothing.

It dawned on me that the vessel might not be inside after all. But where else could it be? I sat down to ponder and then it struck me—if the vessel wasn't in the villa, it had to be in Zhong Ling's family's Yin residence. Disturbing a family's ancestral grave could certainly have repercussions for the living.

With no time to lose, I hurried downstairs. As I reached the hall, I saw Zhong Ling standing there, her complexion pale and her lips quivering uncontrollably.

My eyes swiftly shifted to Zhong Ling, noticing something was off about her. Her complexion was ghostly pale, her lips tinged with a dark hue, and an ominous aura enveloped her. It was evident that Zhong Ling's condition had deteriorated.

I approached her with concern and asked, "Beauty, are you okay?"

Zhong Ling shook her head, her voice quivering as she replied, "I'm fine. Have you discovered anything new?"

I couldn't help but think how Zhong Ling, despite her weakened state, was still putting on a brave front. Moreover, the mole in her Spouse Palace had darkened significantly.

It seemed as if the malevolent entity in the room had claimed Zhong Ling as its own, intent on forging a marital bond with her.

This realization made my expression turn grave. There was no time to waste.

I couldn't just sit idly by, waiting for the mastermind to reveal themselves. Their methods were cruel and calculated; they were intent on Zhong Ling's demise, and it was clear they wouldn't stop there, even if she were to pass away.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be issues with her Spouse Palace.

The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I pondered the extent of the vendetta against her.

I had initially planned to visit Zhong Ling's family estate the next day, considering it was already late. But given the urgency of her precarious state, I feared what might happen if we waited until morning. I couldn't bear the responsibility for any misfortune that might befall her tonight.

Noticing the dense sweat on Zhong Ling's forehead and her frailty, I wasted no more time.

"Beauty, do you know where your family's estate is located?" I asked.

Zhong Ling's brow furrowed in confusion, but she nodded and replied, "I know." She hesitated before adding with disbelief, "Big brother security guard, you're not suggesting we go check out our estate now, are you?"

I confirmed with a "Yes," and urged her, "Beauty, there's no time to lose. We need to go right away."

I hastened towards the villa's entrance when Zhong Ling, momentarily lost in thought, quickly caught up and called out, "Hey, security guy, wait up."

To ensure Zhong Ling's safety, it was imperative to find the vessel tonight.

Given Zhong Ling's frail condition, her pace was slow.

Once we left the complex, we hopped into Zhong Ling's car, and she floored the accelerator, heading straight for her family's ancestral home.

It was nearing eleven-thirty at night. Zhong Ling, pale and driving, couldn't stop her body from shaking.

Helplessly, I watched on; driving was not in my skill set.

"Are you very cold?"

Zhong Ling bit her lip, her face tinged with a ghostly pallor, and replied, "Extremely."

Seeing her discomfort, I swiftly produced a talisman. I whispered a spell, imbuing it with power, and instructed Zhong Ling, "Place the talisman against your skin."

She reached out, her hand quivering, to take the talisman from me.

What I hadn't anticipated was Zhong Ling stuffing the talisman directly into her chest the next second.

A glimpse of skin caught my eye, sending a rush of adrenaline through me.

Zhong Ling, I mused, could be quite unceremonious at times.

Not five minutes after she'd placed the talisman, Zhong Ling expressed her astonishment, "Security bro, I didn't expect that talisman you gave me to work so well. I feel much better now."

I couldn't help but smile, thinking to myself, of course it worked. That was a Spirit Suppressing Talisman, designed to counteract malevolent forces. It was the perfect counter for the evil energy that had infiltrated Zhong Ling.

The relief, however, would be short-lived.

My spiritual power was, after all, limited.

We needed to make haste to the Yin Tomb at Zhong Ling's home.

Leaving the city behind, Zhong Ling picked up speed. Roughly forty minutes later, we reached the Yin Tomb at her family's property.

I had envisioned a graveyard, but to my surprise, we pulled into a village. Curiosity piqued as we entered, I wondered what awaited us there.

I found myself compelled to question Zhong Ling, "Isn't your family's Yin Tomb located in a cemetery?"

"No, my grandfather's grave is behind this village. Big brother security guard, the road ends here, so we'll have to leave the car and go on foot."

I nodded, glancing around to find nothing but darkness enveloping us. A sense of unease slowly crept into my heart. I reached into the trunk and pulled out a flashlight.

The moment I set foot into the village, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.