Volume One, Chapter Nine: Encounter with a Ghost

Cheng Xi sat meditating under the moonlight throughout the night. When she opened her eyes the next morning, she felt refreshed and invigorated.

Just as she was about to go downstairs, she suddenly heard a loud knocking at the door. “Cheng Xi, come out!”

Cheng Fenglan? What was she doing here?

Cheng Xi went downstairs and opened the door. Cheng Fenglan immediately stormed in with the officials. Pointing at Baohua, who stood behind the counter, she said sharply, “It’s her! Take her away!”

“What are you doing?” Cheng Xi asked coldly, glaring at Cheng Fenglan.

“My brother has been unconscious ever since. It must be you who harmed him!” Cheng Fenglan stared at Cheng Xi, her eyes filled with hatred as if she wanted to devour her whole.

Cheng Xi furrowed her brows slightly. “Evidence? Are you going to accuse me just based on your idle gossip?”

“Cheng Xi, did you register the paper doll with the authorities? Did you sign a contract with the Tongtian Bureau? You didn’t! Since you refuse to take the legitimate route, you must have some shady motives.” Cheng Fenglan sneered.

Cheng Xi was puzzled. Was making a paper doll really so complicated? Besides, Li Zhian had seen her paper doll that day—how come he never mentioned registering it with the Tongtian Bureau?

“Arrest her now!” Cheng Fenglan ordered the officials angrily.

The officers immediately stepped forward. One of them held up a red rope and swiftly looped it around Baohua, binding her tightly.

Suddenly, Cheng Fenglan felt a chill run down her neck. Her face turned pale with shock as she shouted, “Cheng Xi, what are you trying to do?”

“What do you think? Let Baohua go, or the sword will show no mercy.”

“Cheng Xi, you’re clearly guilty. My brother’s condition is your doing!”

“Cheng Zhouxing is cunning, so how did he end up with an idiot like you?” Cheng Xi’s blade tip pressed down slightly. “I’ll count to three...”

“Stop!”

Cheng Zhouxing strode in, his face dark as he looked at the two.

“Father, save me! Cheng Xi wants to kill me!” Cheng Fenglan cried as soon as she saw him.

“Shut up. Who told you to come here?” Cheng Zhouxing said sternly, then turning to Cheng Xi with a forced smile: “Xi Xi, let’s talk this through. Release her first.”

“Just because you say so?”

Cheng Xi scoffed. “The daughter of the governor trespassing on a commoner’s home—if this gets back to the capital, who knows what consequences there will be?”

Cheng Zhouxing stared at Cheng Xi, took a deep breath, and then said to the officers, “Release her.”

The officers dared not disobey, quickly retrieving the red rope. Baohua immediately slipped behind Cheng Xi and discreetly stepped on Cheng Fenglan’s foot.

Cheng Fenglan’s face twisted in pain.

Cheng Xi shoved Cheng Fenglan toward Cheng Zhouxing, her eyes briefly flickering over the binding rope in the officer’s hand. She lifted her gaze to Cheng Zhouxing. “Why have you come here, Lord Cheng?”

Cheng Zhouxing’s expression twisted briefly at her formal address. He took a deep breath and said, “Several people were found dead last night with their brains drained. Your younger brother...” Meeting Cheng Xi’s cold stare, he paused before continuing, “Yun Jian fainted from shock and hasn’t woken. Fenglan rushed here out of concern for her brother. I’ll take her back now.”

After speaking, Cheng Zhouxing saw no change in Cheng Xi’s calm demeanor. Suppressing his displeasure, he looked at Cheng Fenglan. “Come with me.”

Cheng Fenglan fixed her gaze on Cheng Xi, speaking slowly and clearly: “Cheng Xi, do you think you can stand by and do nothing? As long as the beast responsible for the attacks remains uncaught, your paper doll is the prime suspect. It’s the only one not registered with the authorities, and it’s no ordinary paper doll. It shouldn’t even be called a paper doll—it must have evolved. It’s a paper demon, isn’t it?”

A paper demon?

What kind of term was that?

Cheng Xi remained expressionless, watching Cheng Fenglan. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“I sent an urgent letter to Senior Brother Fang Xun at Qinghe Academy. Even there, they only have two paper demons.” Complex emotions flashed in Cheng Fenglan’s eyes as she glanced at Baohua.

Baohua slightly raised her head. Although her face was hidden behind a veil, her disdainful posture was unmistakable.

Cheng Fenglan’s heart clenched.

Cheng Zhouxing now sensed something amiss. “Fenglan, is what you said true?”

Cheng Fenglan nodded. “Father, it concerns my brother. Why would I lie? Senior Brother Fang is the direct disciple of the Qinghe Academy’s headmaster. He’s incredibly skilled and wouldn’t deceive.”

Cheng Zhouxing was both pleased that his daughter had a good relationship with Fang and surprised that Fang was indeed the headmaster Jiang Zhongqiao’s direct disciple.

“Fenglan, can you ask Fang to save your brother?” Cheng Zhouxing asked eagerly.

Cheng Fenglan shook her head. “Senior Brother Fang went out with the headmaster for training and can’t come back.”

Cheng Zhouxing, not a practitioner of talisman arts, didn’t understand the details of such training but was disappointed Fang couldn’t save his son. He frowned deeply.

Cheng Fenglan then turned to Cheng Xi. “What must you do to save my brother?”

“I’m someone without talent. I can’t save him.” Cheng Xi said flatly.

“If you can possess a paper demon, you must have a way. What do you want to save him?” Cheng Fenglan forced down her anger.

Cheng Xi scoffed. “Why should I save you? Because you bullied me before? Because you’re a bunch of shameless scoundrels?”

Cheng Fenglan paled. “Cheng Xi, isn’t the past behind us? We even gave you money. What more do you want?”

“That money was originally left to me by my mother. Why should I be grateful when you return what’s rightfully mine?” Cheng Xi mocked.

Cheng Fenglan clenched her teeth, thinking of her brother. “Then what do you want?”

Cheng Zhouxing looked between Cheng Xi and Fenglan. He knew Fenglan was headstrong but didn’t speak recklessly. Could Cheng Xi really save his son?

“Xi Xi...”

“We’re no longer connected. Don’t call me that so familiarly.”

Cheng Zhouxing was rendered speechless, his face turning blue.

“Cheng Fenglan, you’re asking the wrong person. I’m useless. Leave now, or I’ll have Baohua throw you out!” Cheng Xi turned and went upstairs, ignoring them.

Fenglan grew anxious. “Aren’t you afraid the authorities will take Baohua away? She’s an unregistered entity now!”

Cheng Xi whipped around, staring fiercely. “Then you’re welcome to try!”

“Baohua, show them the door!”

Cheng Fenglan and Cheng Zhouxing were once again thrown out, with the accompanying officers kicked out like dumplings one after another by Baohua’s swift feet.

Cheng Zhouxing was too embarrassed to care. Experience made him less ashamed this time. He looked at Cheng Fenglan and asked, “Fenglan, can Cheng Xi really save your brother?”

Fenglan stood with a dark expression. “Even if she can’t, she knows how. Father, Baohua isn’t an ordinary paper doll. Since Cheng Xi could acquire it, she must have her own methods.”

If only Cheng Xi would introduce this master, then her brother could be saved!

Cheng Zhouxing’s eyes flicked. “Come back with me. Cheng Xi must still harbor resentment toward your mother. Let her come personally to plead. If she’s sincere, Xi Xi’s kind heart will surely agree.”