Chapter 121 The Vengeful Ghost: Xiao Yan

Chapter 121: The Vengeful Spirit – Xiao Yan

Xiao Jing's pupils narrowed sharply.

It felt like all the blood had drained from his body, a chill running from head to toe.

A ghost… it really is a ghost…

Xiao Yan has become a vengeful spirit coming for his life!

Xiao Jing's throat felt as if an invisible hand were choking him.

He tried to shout, but no sound came out.

He tried to run, but his legs wouldn't move.

He just stood there, his legs trembling faintly, staring in terror at the vengeful spirit Xiao Yan.

He looked like he might faint from fear at any second.

Neither did the vengeful spirit Xiao Yan expect to see Xiao Jing here.

He had only just returned…

"Host, why is Xiao Jing here?" Little K asked inside Xiao Yan's mind.

Xiao Yan stood still: "You're asking me? Didn't you upgrade? Can't you even detect that?"

Faced with a barrage of questions from its host, Little K didn't dare speak.

The light orb in Xiao Yan's mind shrank into itself, flickering pathetically.

"I… I did upgrade, but I can't detect anything unless I actively scan," its voice trailing off. "And who would have thought he'd be wandering a haunted house in the middle of the night instead of sleeping…"

Little K had directly transported Xiao Yan to this "haunted mansion." He didn't even know what was going on, so he didn't dare speak recklessly.

Little K, on the other hand, was completely at ease and even started laughing: "He seems really scared, hahaha~"

Xiao Yan: "?"

How could a system seem even happier than he was?

"Ghost! There's a ghost!"

Before Xiao Yan could do anything, Xiao Jing had already snapped out of it.

The sound that tore from his throat was so shrill it didn't sound human.

Xiao Jing turned and ran.

His legs, frozen a moment ago, now stumbled and staggered as he fled outside as if a ghost were chasing him.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The guards outside the mansion heard the shouts and rushed in.

Xiao Jing stood in the courtyard, his face as pale as paper, his voice trembling.

"Ghost… ghost… he's in there…"

The guards exchanged bewildered glances.

"Your Highness, what did you say?"

Xiao Jing pointed at Lan Yue Xuan, his finger shaking violently.

"Xiao Yan… Xiao Yan is inside!"

One of the guards plucked up his courage and looked toward Lan Yue Xuan.

Under the moonlight, the door still hung open, revealing nothing but pitch black inside.

"Your Highness, there's no one inside…"

Inside Lan Yue Xuan.

Xiao Yan leaned in the shadows by the window, watching as Xiao Jing was half-supported, half-carried away by the guards.

Moonlight fell on him, silhouetting his dark figure with particular clarity.

Little K was cracking up inside his mind.

"Hahaha, host, did you see his face? Scared to death! I'm dying laughing!"

Xiao Yan ignored it. He just gazed out the window, his deep eyes profoundly somber.

"Little K."

"Huh?"

"Where is he now?"

Little K was startled for a moment, then understood.

"You mean Liu Qingci?"

It scanned and said, "He… he's currently being held under house arrest by Xiao Jing in the palace—the 'locked in a dark room' plot from the original novel…"

Xiao Yan's face darkened completely.

Little K said quietly: "Host, are you regretting that you didn't pretend to be a ghost and kill Xiao Jing just now?"

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth: "Regret? Of course I regret it. I regret not strangling him to death just now."

Little K: "..."

It shrank its nonexistent neck and muttered quietly: "Host, don't be impulsive. You're a citizen of the new era. Killing is against the law…"

Xiao Yan: "I'm going to the palace."

"Host, I know you're anxious, but… you're still technically dead. First, take a look at my plan, we'll first…"

Little K tried to present its grand plan in Xiao Yan's mind, but was interrupted by Xiao Yan.

"We'll talk about these things later. Now, I'm going to find him."

"How will you find him? If you go out, everyone will think you're a ghost…"

The courtyard of Lanyue Pavilion had quieted down, empty and still, with only the rustling wind of the early morning.

Xiao Yan walked straight out.

Now, Prince Yu's mansion was almost unrecognizable, completely devoid of its former splendor.

Xiao Yan crossed the courtyard, heading toward the stables.

The stables were still there, but empty inside, with only one old horse left.

The horse was gaunt, its coat dull, and it lazily lifted its head at the sight of someone approaching.

Xiao Yan walked over and untied the reins, "You'll have to do."

Xiao K, resigned to the situation, helped his host come up with a plan: "Host, there's a hidden compartment under the west window of Lanyue Pavilion. Inside is a gold medallion of immunity granted by the emperor, left as a backup for Prince Yu. Now you can use it to storm the palace!"

Xiao Yan curled his lips, "I knew you'd have a way."

He went back to the bedchamber in Lanyue Pavilion and retrieved the gold medallion of immunity that Xiao K had mentioned.

This medallion carried the same authority as the emperor himself. Although Xiao Jing now had the final say in the palace, he still lacked legitimacy unless he was willing to rebel.

Xiao Yan tucked the medallion into his robe, mounted the horse, and galloped straight out of the mansion.

The sound of hooves echoed in the empty courtyard.

Just as he passed through the ornamental gate, a trembling figure emerged from the doorway of a side room.

"Who... who's there..."

Fu'an, awakened by the commotion in the dead of night, came out wrapped in a coat, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

He caught sight of a figure on horseback riding out; moonlight fell on the face, and he recognized it.

"Your Highness?! Ah no—a ghost—!"

Fu'an let out a shrill scream.

Xiao Yan glanced at him but did not stop, riding straight out of the mansion.

—

Back in the palace, Xiao Jing was still shaken.

He slumped onto the couch, his hands still trembling.

Outside the window, the sky was not yet fully bright, shrouded in a gray haze.

Dawn was usually the quietest time, but the palace was in chaos.

Xiao Jing ordered someone to immediately fetch the abbot and the Taoist master from the National Protection Temple.

"Something unclean has entered the palace," Xiao Jing said. "We need to hold a major ritual to drive out evil and purify the palace."

All the attendants in the hall exchanged glances, wondering what exactly had happened to Prince Rui on his trip to the mansion.

The old eunuch dared not dwell on it and quickly bowed low: "Yes, I'll see to it immediately, Your Highness!"

After the old eunuch left, Xiao Jing stood by the window, looking out at the gradually brightening sky.

He suddenly remembered something else and gave another order.

Inside the bedchamber of the Qianqing Palace.

Liu Qingci was lying in bed, half-asleep, also disturbed by the commotion in the palace.

He had just sat up in bed, trying to listen carefully to what was happening outside.

Just then, several young eunuchs from Xiao Jing's side rushed in.

"Young Master Liu, Prince Rui orders you to go to the National Protection Temple. Please come out to the gate."

Liu Qingci said in surprise, "Now? To the National Protection Temple?"

The National Protection Temple was atop a mountain in the distant outskirts, at least two or three days' journey away. It wasn't even dawn, and Xiao Jing was in such a hurry to send him away?

The young eunuch said nothing more: "Yes, please hurry, Young Master Liu. Prince Rui is waiting outside the gate."

Liu Qingci rose calmly, picking up his outer robe and draping it over himself.

As he was fastening his belt halfway, Xiao Jing burst in.

He looked as if he had grown tired of waiting, and directly grabbed Liu Qingci's wrist and pulled him out.

"Come with me."