When Ji Linxi returned to the Wang estate, the other Daoist priest had already arrived. The old Daoist put on quite a show of extravagance; he brought four or five young disciples, wore magnificent Daoist robes, and was currently speaking with Master Wang. He stroked his white beard repeatedly with his hand, a horsetail whisk resting in the crook of his arm.

“Daoist Chu, you’ve returned. Come, sit. Someone, pour tea for Daoist Chu.”

Sigh…

Sitting in his chair, Ji Linxi was still in a daze, his soul seemingly lost.

In his seventeen years of life, he had finally encountered a beauty he fell in love with at first sight. However, the beauty appeared to be incredibly pampered and noble, as if he would never be able to reach him in this lifetime.

No, Ji Linxi immediately denied the thought. There is nothing unattainable in this world. As long as one works hard enough, the heavens will reward their diligence.

As long as a person amassed enough money and grasped enough power, what under the heavens couldn’t they obtain?

Hasn’t history shown beggars becoming emperors? Who’s to say a swindling, hiding-in-the-shadows street punk like him couldn’t become the next brilliant ruler? Even if he couldn’t be emperor, there were plenty of commoners who rose to become powerful ministers or the wealthiest men in the nation. How was he, Ji Linxi, any worse than them?

He had the looks, he had the brains. As long as he was willing to fight for it, why couldn’t he pull a beauty into his arms?

Thinking of this, he pulled himself together, his entire body brimming with motivation. The first step to amassing wealth would begin right here with the Wang family.

The old Daoist turned his head. Seeing Ji Linxi’s youthful and ordinary appearance, a flash of contempt and disdain crossed his eyes. In his view, this little fraudster was simply too young and posed no threat whatsoever.

He and Ji Linxi actually shared a mutual consensus: ghosts simply did not exist in this world. They were all competitors here to swindle money. Whoever could “exorcise” this non-existent ghost would be the one to claim the Wang family’s fortune and strike it rich.

Ji Linxi had barely sat down when the old Daoist asked, “Dare I ask which lineage my young friend inherits? I am the 128th generation successor of the Zhengyi Dao Maoshan Sect. My Daoist name is Qingweng.”

Ji Linxi gathered his wits, temporarily pulling his soul back from the beautiful young master, and opened his mouth to spout nonsense: “It is no famous or prestigious sect. Just a small faction of wandering mountain Daoists, not worth mentioning.”

The old Daoist smiled. “My young friend must be joking. Or perhaps you are deceiving this old Daoist? I just heard from Master Wang that you possess a secret sect array called ‘A Fleeting Dream of Mortal Life’. And it requires… what was it… roasted chickens and a roasted suckling pig?” He paused, then continued, “He said they are for offerings. It is truly my first time hearing of such a method for exorcising ghosts.”

A young disciple beside him chimed in, “Could he be some random fraud? We’ve followed our master wandering everywhere to subdue demons and slay evil spirits, yet we’ve never heard of this ‘Fleeting Dream of Mortal Life’ array.”

Master Wang looked at Ji Linxi, suspicion showing in his eyes.

Ji Linxi frowned. “You suspect I am a fraud?”

He was already annoyed that he hadn’t seen where the beautiful young master went after leaving the apothecary. Now he had to deal with people questioning his identity. It was truly infuriating.

Even if he was, in fact, an absolute fraud.

The old Daoist sighed, “Young friend, I did not say that. It’s just that you look far too young. To practice our trade and gain the ability to subdue demons and spirits requires at least twenty or thirty years of bitter cultivation. If the arts of exorcism could be learned so easily, wouldn’t everyone be able to banish malicious ghosts?”

Ji Linxi set down his teacup and looked at Master Wang. “Since Master Wang trusts that Daoist Qingweng can resolve this malicious ghost, there is no use for this humble Daoist to stay. I will take my leave now and stop wasting my time here.” Anyway, he was certain Master Wang wouldn’t let him leave so easily.

The Wang family servant who had gone out with him—now firmly believing Daoist Chu was genuinely capable—hurriedly spoke up to keep him. “Daoist Chu, our master does not mean that at all. Please do not take it to heart.”

Master Wang also stepped in as a peacemaker. Sitting in the master’s seat, he said a few placating words and managed to make Ji Linxi stay.

By now, it was already evening. Master Wang ordered a table full of excellent dishes and brought out several bottles of fine wine for everyone. Daoist Qingweng and his good disciples maintained a solemn facade, declaring that cultivators do not touch a drop of alcohol, and they only took small, restrained bites of the food. Ji Linxi, however, was hungry again and refused nothing. Watching him wolf down the food, the old Daoist’s throat bobbed a couple of times, though he maintained his look of an unblemished immortal untouched by mortal dust.

The food on the table disappeared like clouds swept away by the wind; half of it was quickly gone, along with a few cups of wine.

“If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were the reincarnation of a starved ghost. A cultivator who hasn’t even entered the state of bigu (fasting from grains), yet still has the nerve to claim he can exorcise ghosts and demons.” The young disciple who had previously called Ji Linxi a fraud was muttering under his breath again, his eyes full of disdain.

Ji Linxi set down his chopsticks, held his hand vertically in front of his chest, and gave a very authentic-looking Daoist salute. “Not so, fellow Daoist. It is precisely because exorcising ghosts and demons consumes an immense amount of bodily energy that one must consume large amounts of food.” Even if I die, I have to be a full ghost. I’ve already starved enough in life; wouldn’t it be ridiculous to be a starved ghost after death too? Although… it’s impossible for ghosts to exist in this world.

Both sides had their own arguments, but Master Wang was growing impatient. He spoke up, “Daoist Qingweng, when shall we begin the exorcism?” He then looked at Ji Linxi, piling on a smile. “Daoist Chu, please don’t misunderstand. It’s just that we need to try both methods. If both you and Daoist Qingweng can successfully exorcise the ghost, my Wang family can easily afford to pay the five hundred taels reward to each of you.”

Young Master Wang sneered from the side. “However, if a certain someone is a swindling, stinking Daoist who dares to con my Wang family, then don’t blame us for being ruthless.”

Daoist Qingweng felt a chill down his spine but feigned calmness. He had brought so many people with him; even if he were exposed, the Wang family wouldn’t dare do anything. Furthermore, in all these years, he had never once failed.

Master Wang led the group back to the Junzi Pavilion. Seeing the array Ji Linxi had set up earlier, Daoist Qingweng inspected it. Suddenly, as if he had laid eyes on something utterly foul, his expression drastically changed. His eyes went wide with fury as he bellowed, “This array! Who set this up?! This is sheer nonsense!”

Master Wang hurriedly asked what he meant.

Daoist Qingweng assumed the posture of an absolute expert, shaking his head and sighing. His tone was full of indignation and helplessness. “Master Wang, you do not understand. This array is not an orthodox formation at all. It is a twisted, evil array. The longer a malicious spirit remains trapped in this, the harder it will be to deal with.” What better way to strike down a competitor than throwing dirty water on them? Daoist Qingweng was well-versed in this tactic.

Hearing this, Young Master Wang’s expression immediately warped. He said ferociously, “I knew it! I wondered why he demanded my blood!” He was already displeased about this so-called “Daoist Chu” taking his fresh blood and had harbored vague suspicions. Now, hearing Daoist Qingweng’s words, he rejoiced that he hadn’t yet handed over today’s first bowl of blood.

Hearing Young Master Wang mention his blood, Daoist Qingweng felt another surge of joy in his heart. Outwardly, however, he looked horrified. “He asked for your blood as well?! If Young Master Wang’s blood were offered as a sacrifice to this malicious spirit, it would instantly mutate into a major demon and slaughter everyone in the Wang estate!”

The young disciples he brought along immediately chimed in, one after another, with righteous indignation.

“This is too despicable! Who doesn’t know that blood cannot be casually given to spectral beings? A ghost that obtains the fresh blood of a living person becomes incredibly difficult to handle!”
“That’s right, that’s right! Our master taught us from a very early age that blood must never fall into the hands of a ghost.”
“Could it be that he is trying to murder Young Master Wang?”

Goaded by their words, Young Master Wang entirely lost his mind. He pointed at Ji Linxi and spat with hatred, “Men! Tie this stinking Daoist up! I want him dead! He’s definitely that cheap slut’s lover! He came here on purpose to assassinate me!”

Just as the nearby servants stepped forward to tie him up, Ji Linxi raised a hand. “Wait just a moment, Young Master Wang.”

“What else do you have to say, you stinking Daoist?!”

Ji Linxi offered a bow and said hypocritically, “The innocent remain pure; the guilty remain muddled. Since Young Master Wang believes I am trying to harm you and that I am a fraud, why not wait for Daoist Qingweng to demonstrate his exorcism arts? I am right here. A lone man cannot run far. If Daoist Qingweng eradicates this malicious spirit, it won’t be too late for Young Master Wang to deal with me then.”

Young Master Wang had no patience to wait. In his heart, he firmly believed this Daoist Chu had come to harm him. That day, when he had forced himself on the girl, he discovered she wasn’t a virgin. A woman whose body had already been taken by someone else still dared to play the chaste, fiercely loyal maiden in front of him! Thus, he grew even more furious. After thoroughly humiliating her, he grabbed her head and smashed it against the table until she died.

This man had definitely come to take revenge. Letting him live even a second longer was a threat to his own life.

“Tie him up!”

“Stop.” Master Wang was far shrewder than his idiot son. “Daoist Chu is right. We will wait until Daoist Qingweng eradicates this malicious spirit before doing anything.”

He looked at the old Daoist. “Daoist Qingweng, please begin.”

Seeing this tactic fail, Daoist Qingweng didn’t push the issue. After all, he had more than one trick up his sleeve.

He said, “I need to construct a new array to seal this courtyard. However, this evil array must be broken first; otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Ji Linxi, however, completely dropped his previous calm and composed demeanor. He said anxiously, “My array absolutely cannot be broken! If my array is broken, then the consequences will be unimaginable!”

“It is about to get dark. If my array is broken, that malicious spirit will manifest, and her power will surge!”

Daoist Qingweng sneered. “I’m afraid if we don’t break your evil array now, once night falls, this ghost will truly go on a killing spree.”

The two men argued, neither willing to yield an inch. Seeing this, Madam Wang looked frantic, tears welling in her eyes. “Husband, who on earth should we listen to?”

Master Wang couldn’t make a decision immediately. Right at that moment, Young Master Wang took the initiative, taking large strides forward. He kicked the glutinous rice away and ruthlessly stomped and smeared the blood on the ground with his boots.

“Young Master Wang! You must not!” Ji Linxi looked terrified and rushed to stop him. He grabbed Young Master Wang. “This array absolutely cannot be broken!”

Young Master Wang ignored him completely. He spat on the ground and forcefully smeared it with his foot again, erasing more traces of the array. Watching his array be destroyed, Ji Linxi looked completely stunned and drained of all strength. Young Master Wang used the momentum to shove him back, delivering a vicious kick to his body. “Stinking Daoist! Still trying to harm me! No way!”

“Daoist Qingweng, quickly set up your new array! As long as you eradicate that cheap slut’s ghost, my Wang family will guarantee you wealth and prosperity!”

Kicked to the ground, Ji Linxi lowered his head, muttering, “It’s irreversible… it’s irreversible now.”

Half of his face was hidden in the shadows, making him look incredibly distressed. However, beneath his bangs, his gaze stared at the Wang family’s young master with extreme coldness. Soon after, a thoroughly cunning smile spread across his lips.