Chapter 15: You Call This Begging?

Wei Ze told a joke, partly to lighten the atmosphere and help Lu Qingfei feel less afraid, and partly to force himself to calm down. Yet she showed not the slightest hint of fear, her words clear and orderly, leaving him alone to amuse himself.

Wei Ze asked, “And you?”

Lu Qingfei replied, “I can handle it.”

“Then be careful.”

Seeing her so composed, Wei Ze assumed Liu Guanyun had also taken her as a disciple.

Lu Qingfei began to count down, “Three, two, one...”

As soon as she spoke the final word, before Wei Ze had even grasped what was happening, he instinctively dashed toward the door.

Lu Qingfei placed her hand on the stair railing, used it for leverage, and leapt gracefully to the higher ground. The talismans she held in her pocket flew out like playing cards.

Just as she moved, a shadow crashed down on the spot where she'd just stood, as heavy as a thousand pounds.

A deafening bang echoed! The sound was clear, but there was no visible dent.

The talisman suppressed the shadow’s fatal move, leaving the entity confused and at a loss.

Wei Ze turned to look back, shaken and incredulous, his heart pounding with lingering fear.

Her movements were smooth as flowing water, her momentum sharp and decisive.

—Surely this was not her first fight!

Major in archaeology, minor in martial arts?

Lu Qingfei lowered her lashes, straightened her sleeves, concealing the red ribbon around her wrist. She descended the stairs and stopped before the shadow.

In the philosophy of yin and yang, the black fish in the Taiji diagram represents yin—stillness. Whoever moves will be attacked. Thus, Lu Qingfei had stepped forward before Wei Ze, making herself the bait.

And just like that, she’d used up all three of her talismans for the month.

The first one destroyed a vengeful spirit, the second warded off evil for her second eldest senior, and the third... what was it?

Lu Qingfei bent down to inspect the pitch-black little lump.

It was a flail, sporting fluffy ears.

She reached out to touch its ears.

Soft and springy.

The touch was surprisingly pleasant.

“You…” Wei Ze stared at Lu Qingfei for a long time, unable to hold back his question, “Aren’t you an archaeology major?”

A hazy outline surfaced in Lu Qingfei’s mind, only to scatter like smoke an instant later.

She pulled her thoughts back and looked at Wei Ze. “PE class helped me train a bit.”

Wei Ze wanted to say more but held his tongue.

Just a bit of exercise, and she had these skills?

What is she, the reincarnation of a martial star?

Lu Qingfei added, unhurried, “I prefer peace. I don’t like fighting.”

Wei Ze fell into deeper silence.

In a daze, he suddenly caught sight of the black ball in her hand, radiating a sinister, ominous aura. “What’s that thing!”

Lu Qingfei replied, “A cutesy-looking flail.”

A cute flail?

Iron fists, tender heart?

Wei Ze swallowed hard, goosebumps prickling his skin.

She was not only a skilled fighter, but also versed in the esoteric arts.

Once there was Master Lin who hunted zombies; now there was Miss Lu who captured evil things.

“I… I’ll go keep an eye on Mei Kaihan, so he doesn't escape.” As the saying goes, each field has its own master. He knew nothing of the supernatural, so he might as well do what he could.

He turned and ran, vanishing in a flash.

The living room became quiet.

The flail trembled like a leaf, as if it were terrified of Lu Qingfei.

“Why do you have my third senior’s demonic aura?” she asked.

“Abba abba…” The flail babbled in a strange tongue she couldn’t understand.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Did you get it by chance?”

The flail’s ears drooped in a nod.

Having received her answer, Lu Qingfei tightened her grip.

The flail flailed its limbs and mumbled something like a plea for mercy.

“I… I can… grant your wish…”

Lu Qingfei ignored it completely. Without the slightest hesitation, she extracted the demonic aura from its body and spoke, her words clear and resolute:

“This is China. No chaos from demons or ghosts is allowed.”

A chill wind surged, and the black mass vanished without a trace.

*

The villa’s garden was lush with greenery and blossoms. A gentle breeze carried the rich scent of flowers through the air.

Lu Qingfei frowned faintly, raising her hand to cover her nose.

Wei Ze blocked Mei Kaihan’s way; the two began to argue, their confrontation threatening to erupt into violence.

“Be careful, or I’ll report you for abusing your position to break into private property!”

Mei Kaihan spat out his threat and was just about to act when, out of nowhere, a kick landed on the back of his knee.

He staggered in pain, then took another kick to his back, dropping to his knees.

“Who’s there?!”

With the sun sinking and the air turning chilly, Lu Qingfei stood before him, hands in her coat pockets, looking down at him with a gentle voice:

“Mr. Mei, may I ask you a favor?”

“???” Wei Ze’s worldview trembled.

You’re kneeling, and she’s asking you a favor.

You call this asking?

Lu Qingfei’s strike had been merciless. Mei Kaihan’s legs felt like they were filled with lead; he couldn’t stand.

“What are you, to speak to me this way?” he snarled, his features twisted, reaching for her—only for Lu Qingfei to twist his arm behind his back in a lock.

He could not break free.

Lu Qingfei nodded toward a square box on the ground. “Officer Wei, would you please open the box?”

Since Mei Kaihan refused to cooperate, she saw no need to waste time with him.

“That’s my mother’s urn! What are you doing?!” Mei Kaihan struggled desperately, veins bulging on his neck and brow.

Wei Ze acted swiftly, opening the box. Inside was not an urn, but the missing polychrome dragon-patterned porcelain jar!

Seeing it, Mei Kaihan stopped struggling and said instead, “As long as you give it to me, I can help you rule Chu.”

Ruling Chu was tantamount to offering her a throne.

The capitalists wanted her to chase her dreams and toil as a corporate overachiever; the gravekeeper offered her an empire—or, these days, perhaps a mayor’s seat.

“If you want to bribe me, just transfer me fifty.” Lu Qingfei released his arm and put her hands back in her pockets. “Fifty to my account, help me become immortal.”

Mei Kaihan: “…?”

That easy? Fifty thousand and she’s bought off?

“Stealing national relics, Mei Kaihan, have you lost your mind!” Wei Ze glared at him, indignant.

I’d take a knife for you, and you steal our country’s treasures.

Unforgivable!

Cold sweat beaded on Mei Kaihan’s brow. He shouted, “She’s mine!”

Lu Qingfei answered, “It’s a national relic. It’s not yours.”

“It belonged to the princess. That means it’s mine! It belongs only to me!”

Mei Kaihan raged, the string of prayer beads on his wrist snapping, beads scattering across the ground.

One smooth bead rolled to someone’s feet. Shen Nanxiang glanced back at Mei Kaihan, her voice mocking:

“Heh. Wife-beaters are truly ugly.”

It seemed the Princess Rui had not forgotten the events of a thousand years ago.

A tragic love in ancient times, a modern monk in love with a ghostly woman?

Lu Qingfei shifted her focus, turning to Shen Nanxiang. “I can’t reason with him. You talk to him.”

As she spoke, she lifted her pale hand and pressed her palm, infused with demonic energy, to Shen Nanxiang’s forehead.

Mei Kaihan glared at Lu Qingfei, and suddenly, in his field of vision, a familiar golden-embroidered robe appeared. His hands shook as if seized by a fit.

That woman, with skin like porcelain and brows like willow leaves… It was the princess!

A person appeared out of thin air, startling Wei Ze so badly he jumped back two steps, his face turning pale.

He stared, eyes wide with shock. “Who is that?!”

Lu Qingfei replied, “His Highness, this is the princess who was left hanging on the city wall for three days and nights.”

Wei Ze: “……”

Isn’t this supposed to be fake?

Wei Ze took a deep breath. Just as his nerves began to relax, he suddenly remembered something—

His pupils contracted.