1445 Mist Clears

tighter.There weren't any major changes around, but the willows had already become slightly different. My brother pulled me straight towards the trunk of the tree. I squeezed my eyes shut and when I...She Lao Tai spoke in a hushed voice, "Ghosts will not leave, clinging to the yang world. If they get tainted too much, it will be difficult for them to depart later..."

I glanced at my brother. What if our great-grandmother was inside the paper figure and didn't want to leave

On a personal level, can we treat everyone equally, and would it be possible to either help her cross over peacefully or forcibly remove her I'm afraid the old man (perhaps referring to someone in authority) would use his cane to knock some sense into us.

“Don’t overthink it now, let's just get the paper man back first.” My brother stopped me from worrying and made a decision right away.

The fox spirit stayed within the paper man's frame for a while longer, and was already able to stiffly raise its leg. Furthermore, the paper man's features grew more and more lustrous with each passing glance.

This bizarre countenance, this rigid demeanor, truly embodies what it means to be a mere husk.

What's even more chilling is that Old Madam She used a material similar to scalp and fine velvet thread to make hair, sticking it onto the paper figure's skeleton. It looks somewhat out of place, yet strangely fleshy.

"Little Empress, has my servant done something wrong…" The fox spirit probably saw that my face was not good, so she hurriedly lowered her head to look at where she had done something wrong.

As soon as she lowered her head, I could feel the skin at the back of her neck tense up, as if it were about to snap. I quickly stopped her and said, “You don’t need to do anything, don’t speak, and best not be seen by anyone. Just wait until we get to the Mu family, then you can go back into the Kongming Lock.”

"Yes." The fox spirit nodded.

My brother, seeing that Old Madam She didn't accept money, left a business card for our family's small building. He said if she changed her mind and wanted to be paid, she could call or come here.

Actually, my brother felt sorry for the young child and left a way out for the old man and the child to seek help.

The long street was cool at night, and a chilly breeze blew as we stepped out, the air filled with a lonely stillness.

Because this paper doll is looking more and more "alive," there's no way we can just throw her in the trunk like an object.

There was no room for Jiang Qiyun in the car, so it was impossible for him to sit in the back with the paper man. My brother and Aqi drove off with the paper man, while Jiang Qiyun led me a few steps towards Changjiekou.

Gushes of cool wind stirred the paper ashes on the long street, and I always felt a shiver down my spine, unable to help but turn back and look.

That old woman, She Lao Tai, quickly shut the store door and the burglar-proof door. The only dim lamp in the room went out soon after. As my brother's car lights just left the intersection, the entire street suddenly fell silent.

"Qi, Qi Yun…" I swallowed nervously, clutching Jiang Qi Yun's finger and glancing around warily. "I have a feeling something is following us…"

Jiang Qiyun slightly frowned, he seemed to be sensing the subtle changes in the air.

This long street was old and decrepit, with low houses and small windows. A few pieces of clothing hung limply in the night wind.

A trace of breath meanders at the end of the long street, this atmosphere faintly familiar.

As I turned back once more, I vaguely saw something reflecting the hazy moonlight above. It flashed quickly at the end of the street before disappearing into the darkness.

"Start—" I reflexively clutched Jiang Qiyun's arm, he turned his eyes slightly, scanning the darkness behind him.

I thought he would want to do it himself and I was about to let go of his hand, not hold him back.

Who knew he just held onto my hand, a gust of cold wind swept past us, stirring up the paper ash on the ground.

Those gray robed soul reapers appeared silently. By the time I reacted, they had already vanished into the night.

These grim reapers in gray robes are rarely seen, and Jiang Qiyun seldom uses such "harsh" methods to devour souls. These reapers are silent and seem to blend with the night, making it difficult to startle them.

Whew...

I could almost hear my own breathing and heartbeat. This silent scene, like a play in pantomime, was suddenly ripped apart. A gust of wind surged forward, and Jiang Qiyun, with a wave of his sleeve robe, scooped me up and leaped onto the roof opposite us—a low building with two stories.

“Hmph, truly demonic forces are at play, stirring and plotting.” Jiang Qiyun let out a cold snort, raised his hand to form a sword seal, and drew a talisman in front of me.

The talismans used by celestial beings are different from those used by ordinary people. Our talismans contain runes for invoking and summoning deities, while theirs do not. They are much simpler.

The glowing amulet shimmered like a small shield, illuminating the area around me. Jiang Qiyun saw the dark currents swirling at the end of the street and frowned, saying to me, “Stay here. I’ll go see what dared to attack us.”

There weren't many people on this street. I wasn't really doing anything, but I felt a chill in the air and it made me uneasy. I secretly clutched the lucky charm inside my bag for protection.

The river surged, and Jiang Qiyun rose with the wind, his sleeves fluttering. I saw him leap toward the back of the old street. My gaze followed him, and I caught a glimpse of the small building across the way.

A low two-story building, its roof and the houses around me made of brick tiles, with very small windows.

Under that small building was Old Madam She's paper-cutting shop, and the floor above should be her home.

I caught a glimpse of what looked like a pair of eyes behind the window, staring in my direction. When I turned my gaze back, all that remained was darkness. Was it one of Old She's children

Before I could think, a gust of wind whipped up sand and stones, nearly knocking me over. Those figures in gray robes were tossed about by the wind, flying towards the street.

Something...no, it should be something weird in size suddenly rushed over.

Like a snake breaking free from a dark net, dragging its obese body, but its head was grotesquely shaped.

That looks like a head!

I've seen creatures like this before, these monsters formed from chaos. Why would they appear here

Is it because Old Madam She said I have demonic energy on me

Jiang Qiyun, a figure like a phantom in the darkness, brandished his long sword from his sleeve. The cold light was like moonlight.

I couldn't make out his movements, as if he were forming a battle formation, or breaking free from some kind of restraint. The fat, clumsy snake monsters on the ground writhed frantically, as if struggling against something.

What is this!

I clutched the Purple Cloud Ruyi, wanting to get a better look, but the slanted roof here made me hesitate. I didn't dare go any further, afraid of slipping and getting bitten by whatever was lurking below.

Hello.

Suddenly, a sound came from beneath my feet. I thought I had stepped on a broken brick and hurriedly squatted down to steady myself, looking down at my feet.

It's okay not to look, but once I did, I was terrified.

At some point, a hand beneath me stealthily pried open the worn roof tiles. The sound I heard just now wasn't from me stepping on the roof!

"Who are you!"

Before I could finish speaking, this hand suddenly yanked the tile from under my feet. I missed a step and fell straight through the roof, crashing down hard!

Darkness enveloped my feet. The talisman Jiang Qiyun had drawn in front of me flared with light, expanding its range as if shielding me.

In the dim light, I saw a woman standing on a stool. Her face was unclear, but she looked to be in her twenties. At this moment, she had a strange wicked smile and jumped down from the stool with a sinister grin, coming before me.

"Humph... finally met you... the little lady of the underworld... I've heard so much about you..."

I looked up at the small hole in the ceiling. Jiang Qiyun's talisman was glowing brightly, about to cover this entire building. He should be able to see that I fell!

"Don't be afraid, little empress. I'm only here to borrow something from you. My dragon and snake can hold off your esteemed deity for a while... shall we get straight to the point" The woman crouched beside me, smiling as she stared at me.

She was backlit, allowing her full, voluptuous figure and stunning features to be seen.

"I've never met you before, why would you borrow things from me..." I frowned.

She gave a cold smile. "You've never seen me, but I... have seen you—"and it is Mu Wanchen's responsibility to protect them.The original anxiety and fear gradually subsided in Mu Wanchen's gaze.I took a deep breath and lifted my gaze to meet his.Little Luo'er, Little Lu...