"Eh?"
Du Yueyao suddenly snapped back to attention, her expression blank for a moment as she looked at Liu Qingyan, "Sister Liu, can you also see the ghostly aura on him?"
Liu Qingyan shook her head with a smile, but then softly said, "Light steps and hollow, eyes dry and red, cheeks tinged with green, a chill on the body - these are symptoms of external evil invading the body and kidney water deficiency.
Now in the warmth of spring, the external cold is no more, and this Young Master Zhao doesnât seem like someone who indulges long-term in bed.
To nearly exhaust his primordial qi and shorten his lifespan by several years in such a short timeâother than encountering a female ghost, is there any other explanation?"
Du Yueyao: (°ăŒÂ°ă)
So thatâs how it is, to actually use worldly medical skills to judge the presence of a ghost...
Truly learned something new!
"What should we do then?" Du Yueyao asked Liu Qingyan worriedly, "Heâs not going to die, is he? Can he be saved?"
Even though heâs a playboy, Du Yueyao instinctively wanted to save him; itâs the instinct of a kind-hearted physician.
Liu Qingyan then looked towards Lu Zheng.
Logically, since theyâve encountered a ghost harming people, they would most likely save him readily, but hadnât Zhao Wenrong offended Lu Zheng?
Lu Zheng blinked, "Donât you all think this is like a modern version of Red Silkâs Story?"
Liu Qingyan couldnât help but laugh, "The real Hong Ling is a Ghost Immortal after achieving cultivation, and wouldnât cause one to lose yang energy and shorten oneâs lifespan. If Young Master Zhao continues his dalliance with that female ghost for a few months, he might not survive this winter."
Lu Zheng burst into laughter, then nodded and smiled, "Then Iâll go check it out tonight and seek Young Master Zhaoâs opinion."
Lu Zheng was just joking; if Zhao Wenrong knew that his dalliance with the female ghost would cause his death this year, he would probably run back to Yizhou Prefecture all the way.
Du Yueyao appeared eager but took a moment to calm her excitement, "So he can be saved?"
Lu Zheng nodded, "As long as he doesnât continue the dalliance with the female ghost and takes good care of himself, he should recover with time. But as for the lifespan already lost, thatâs out of the question."
Du Yueyao nodded repeatedly, finally putting her mind at ease, then with some anticipation, asked, "Brother Lu, are you going tonight? Tomorrow, can you tell me if that female ghost is beautiful?"
"Sure!" Lu Zheng laughed heartily and agreed.
...
After leaving Yu Ling Garden, though they experienced the matter of Zhao Wenrong, it didnât delay their journey, and they soon returned to the Liu Family.
Upon learning that Du Yueyao and Lu Zheng were both staying for dinner today, Madam Liu promptly returned to the kitchen to prepare several hearty dishes.
In the evening, when Elder Liu returned, the group had dinner at home.
After dinner, Du Yueyao went home, and Lu Zheng was cooling off in his backyard for a while when he saw Liu Qingyan drifting over.
"Thank you, Lu Lang!"
Liu Qingyan softly exclaimed, gently nestling into Lu Zhengâs embrace.
"Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for tolerating my willfulness," Liu Qingyan said timidly.
Zhao Wenrong wasnât only not on friendly terms with them but had conflicts; now, having entangled with a ghost and not realizing or seeking their help directly.
So they had every reason not to involve themselves in his affairs.
It was Liu Qingyanâs compassionate heart as a physician that couldnât bear to see Zhao Wenrong harmed by a ghost, so she mentioned it.
Of course, Liu Qingyan wasnât purely selfless; after all, Zhao Wenrong was just a mortal, posing no threat to them, and judging by his behavior today, he was just a dandy, not malicious, so Liu Qingyan had the heart to save him.
"Hehe!"
Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows and smiled, since Liu Qingyan took a step back, naturally, he wouldnât let the opportunity slip away.
Lu Zheng gave a mischievous smile, lightly extending his hand, "Since thatâs the case, you know what to do."
Liu Qingyanâs chest heaved with rapid breath, softly saying, "Here?"
Lu Zheng gently nodded.
Liu Qingyan slowly bent down.
...
At the late hour of Xi, Lu Zheng arrived near Zhao Wenrongâs residence.
What a steal!
Lu Zheng wore a content smile, feeling like a real performer.
Lu Zheng originally didnât plan to watch Zhao Wenrong die; although he bore grudges, he wasnât cold-blooded.
Moreover, thereâs a gain in Light of Fortune for slaying supernatural beings.
But since Liu Qingyan volunteered, Lu Zheng had no reason to refuse, right?
Zhao Residence.
Just as Lu Zheng approached, he felt a dense ghostly aura emanating from next door to the Zhao Residence, but it was concentrated and not dispersed, confined within the courtyard.
"Tsk tsk, Brother Xinâs City Patrol Envoy isnât doing his job properly, letting this ghost slip through..."
Lu Zheng used the Breath Concealment Technique and Invisibility Technique to silently approach, but before he could decide whether to go to the Zhao Residence or next door, a sharp scream echoed from inside the Zhao Residence.
"Hmm?"
Lu Zhengâs eyes flashed, and with a swift movement, he darted into the Zhao Residence.
The ghost had already shrouded the backyard and now stood outside the main house with an angry look, staring at a duster hanging on the front door.
Lu Zheng clearly saw that the duster emitted waves of Qi, enveloping the main house.
"He actually has a Dharma Artifact?" Lu Zheng was somewhat surprised, then quickly realized, "No, he must have received it just this afternoon!"
If Zhao Wenrong had the duster earlier, this wouldnât have just happened.
"Zhao Lang, why did you believe that daoistâs nonsensical ramblings and act against me?"
The speaking ghostâa charming female ghost in red, with cascading long hair and snow-white skinâspoke, though under the dusterâs influence, her eyes were pure black, and her lips deathly pale.
"Ying Niang... are you really a ghost?"
Zhao Wenrong was hiding behind the door, leaning against the wall, only showing his head as he looked at the ghostly woman outside, shaking in fear.
"So what if Iâm a ghost?" the red-clothed female ghost Ying Niang replied, "We truly love each other, so why differentiate between human and ghost? The "Red Silkâs Story" you watched today also tells of love between a human and a ghost, doesnât it?"
"But... but..."
Zhao Wenrong stammered in terror, "But that daoist said if I continue sleeping with you, I might not live through this year."
"So what?" Ying Niang said, "We could pair off as ghostly mandarin ducks, staying together day and night; wouldnât that be wonderful?"
"But... but..."
Zhao Wenrongâs face was filled with fear, "But I donât want to die yet!"
Ying Niang tried to move closer, but was thwarted by the duster at the door, furiously saying, "You said you love me the most, only me, willing to be together through lifetimes!"
"But... but..."
Zhao Wenrong stuttered, "But I thought you were human!"
Ying Niang took a deep breath, stepped back two paces, away from the duster.
Then her eyes returned to normal, her lips turning crimson, her figure tall and graceful, her jade face gentle and beautiful.
"Zhao Lang, take down this duster, letâs talk properly."
Ying Niang softly said, "The other day you said that layman named Lu did not respect you, and I even helped you scold him. We are in the same boat, both disliking cultivators, so why canât we talk it out?"