Song Xiaozhou watched the approaching Lu Heng, who didn’t even try to dodge, and almost went mad.
The moment he fell into Lu Heng’s arms, Song Xiaozhou heard Lu Heng let out a muffled groan. The talisman suddenly flared brightly, turning into several red lights that pierced through Lu Heng’s body. Lu Heng stumbled, but he held onto Song Xiaozhou’s arm tightly. His consciousness was muddled, but he summoned his remaining strength. The sword slipped from his hand and flew directly toward Shen Zhi’s chest.
The sword came too fast, and Shen Zhi had not expected Lu Heng to be able to fight back. In that instant, a dense, violent ghost energy rushed toward his face, and Shen Zhi almost heard the sound of cracking.
At the critical moment, Liang Mu embraced Shen Zhi, and they awkwardly dodged the attack. The sword sliced open Liang Mu’s back, and blood flowed. He paid it no mind, his normally steady voice now tinged with urgency. “Shige, Jade!”
Lu Heng felt the power of the talismans rampage through his body, threatening to tear him apart. He opened his crimson, clouded eyes and stared at Song Xiaozhou, who was watching him. His consciousness was in chaos; he vaguely remembered who the person in front of him was but couldn’t recall.
Tears streamed down his face, as if his eyes could speak. Lu Heng couldn’t make out what was happening, but he instinctively raised his hand to touch Song Xiaozhou’s face, slowly wiping away his tears. He caught the fresh scent of Song Xiaozhou, which, for an injured, vengeful ghost, was a great tonic and an irresistible temptation.
Lu Heng breathed in almost uncontrollably and pressed his forehead against Song Xiaozhou’s cheek. His cold fingers slid down his cheek, lingering on his neck.
Song Xiaozhou’s hands and feet remained bound. Tears streamed down his face as he closed his reddened, wet eyes, assuming a posture of offering himself up for sacrifice.
Lu Heng was completely unaware. His fingers tightened around Song Xiaozhou’s neck. The flesh and essence of a living person were within his grasp. He didn’t know what he was holding back for. Like a starving beast with fresh meat in front of it, an invisible cage seemed to hold him, restraining and blocking him.
Song Xiaozhou’s lips moved, and he actually managed to say “Jinzhi.”
Lu Heng trembled all over. He lowered his eyes, and his gaze fell on the yellow talisman on Song Xiaozhou’s body. He reached out and grabbed a corner of the talisman, and his pale, slender fingers were instantly burned, revealing the bones beneath.
Ghost energy surged as Lu Heng crushed the yellow talisman into dust.
Shen Zhi coughed up another mouthful of blood, and the cracks behind his ears spread across half of his face, making him look like a piece of shattered jade.
The restriction on Song Xiaozhou was instantly destroyed. His legs gave out, and Lu Heng also lost his footing. The two of them fell to the ground together.
Song Xiaozhou crawled up on his hands and knees, whimpering as he reached for Lu Heng. Lu Heng’s body was terrifyingly cold, and the surrounding yin energy surged. His form was on the verge of dissipating.
“Jinzhi, Jinzhi…” Song Xiaozhou choked, his eyes full of tears. “Don’t die, don’t die…”
In a daze, he heard Lu Heng’s hoarse, smiling voice, which was weak and strained.
“Fool, I’ve already died once.”
Song Xiaozhou looked at Lu Heng’s dark and clear eyes. Perhaps due to the talisman, the extreme pain had made Lu Heng sober.
Lu Heng turned his head to look at the two masters. Shen Zhi, who was propped up by Liang Mu, sat up. Their gazes met, like needle points against wheat awns, with a sense of rivalry.
Both sides were injured, yet they became eerily calm.
Lu Heng was in a state of weakness Song Xiaozhou had never seen before. His face was pale, his hair bun was messy, yet he was sober and composed as he looked at the two masters.
Shen Zhi touched his right cheek with his hand and took a sharp breath. Liang Mu softly asked, “Does it hurt?” As he spoke, he took a small porcelain bottle from his clothes and poured out a translucent pill for Shen Zhi.
Shen Zhi glanced at him, bared his teeth, and said plaintively, “It hurts like hell.”
Liang Mu’s hand tightened. He turned his head and gave Lu Heng a cold stare. The vengeful ghost looked at them thoughtfully and even slowly started to smile.
Shen Zhi interrupted them, tilting his face up and saying, “Shige, blow on it for me.”
Liang Mu’s brows furrowed, showing a bit of discomfort. “Now is not the time to be delicate.”
Shen Zhi hummed softly, took the medicine, and looked at Lu Heng. “I’m Shen Zhi,” he said, nodding his chin toward his senior brother, “this is my Shige, Liang Mu.”
“What are you two trying to do now?” Song Xiaozhou stared at them guardedly, as if they were enemies. Lu Heng squeezed Song Xiaozhou’s hand and patted it reassuringly, saying, “Lu Heng.”
Shen Zhi said, “I know.” His eyes darted around Lu Heng, as if trying to see something remarkable.
Song Xiaozhou couldn’t sit still anymore. He extended an arm to block their view and said angrily, “What are you looking at?”
Shen Zhi said, “I’m trying to figure out what’s different about this vengeful ghost that made him hesitate to kill you—”
Song Xiaozhou said with a deadpan expression, “What vengeful ghost? He has a name.”
Lu Heng smiled but didn’t say anything. He raised his hand and patted Song Xiaozhou’s head. Song Xiaozhou was like a cat being stroked down its back, instantly relaxing and no longer baring his claws.
Lu Heng said calmly, “You two, want to keep fighting?”
Shen Zhi showed him half of his face and said, “If we keep fighting, I’ll be disfigured. Let’s call a truce for now.”
Song Xiaozhou said, “Serves you right.”
Liang Mu glanced at him and said coldly, “Do you think Lu Heng can still move?”
Song Xiaozhou immediately looked at Lu Heng with concern. Lu Heng said, “I’m fine.”
The three people and one ghost were divided into two distinct pairs. The morning sun had already risen in the east, and residual light filtered through the tree shadows.
Lu Heng asked, “What did Lu Xuan give you that made you so eager to work for him?”
Shen Zhi said playfully, “We are cultivators. It is our duty to vanquish demons and suppress evil. What does this have to do with Lu Xuan?”
Lu Heng smiled, clearly not believing him. “Oh?”
“If you were truly so dedicated to vanquishing demons and suppressing evil, why aren’t you making a move now?”
“Lu Xuan wouldn’t dare to let the events in Jing’an Courtyard get out. You two must have been secretly hired by him. For talented people like you, would you so easily follow someone else’s orders without asking for something in return?”
Shen Zhi clicked his tongue. “With a brother like that, it’s no wonder Lu Xuan wanted you dead.”
Lu Heng was noncommittal. He leaned against Song Xiaozhou, sitting in the shadows, and said, “What Lu Xuan can give you, I can give you too.”
Shen Zhi laughed. “What, you want us to switch sides? To be blunt, you’re dead. What can you give us?”
“Once Lu Xuan is dead, the Lu family will be without a master.” Lu Heng looked at Shen Zhi and smiled. “Xiaozhou is my wife. At that time, the entire Lu family will be his.”
“You two, think about it.”
After a moment, Shen Zhi said, “What do you want us to do?”
Lu Heng raised his hand. The mark of the Soul-Sealing Array on his wrist glowed brightly, making his black hair and dark eyes look menacingly ghostly. “Undo the Soul-Sealing Array.”
