After I stopped being a lady from a rich family, I fought all over the capital

Chapter 302 What did you do wrong?

"Good child, I am very pleased that you think this way!"

The patriarch of the Zhang family pretended to be kind and patted Zhang Shen on the shoulder: "The Zhang family still has you. Be the pillar of the future. There is still hope that you can be among the Nine Ministers again."

He spoke a series of pleasant words with an air of seriousness.

He then told Zhang Shen a place, gave him a small pill, and gave him very serious instructions.

"You must keep this safe. Remember, you must bathe and fast for three days before going to this place."

"Three days! Not a single day less."

"Once you arrive at your destination, take this pill. It will ensure your safe passage through the miasma-ridden land and your arrival at that great man."

"After that, all you need to do is follow that person's instructions."

After giving his instructions in a serious manner, Elder Zhang hurriedly left.

They seemed to be in a great hurry, as if they were afraid of being discovered.

Zhang Shen naturally wanted to put on a good show of deep affection between grandfather and grandson, watching the old patriarch Zhang leave with reluctance.

Only after everyone had completely gone did his face turn cold.

He looked down at the small pill in his hand.

Keep him safe?

Ah!
They probably wanted to send him on his way!
Zhang Shen crushed the small pill in his hand with force, then called over the mute servant who was taking care of him: "You, come here, eat this!"

Without saying a word or ignoring anyone's objections, he stuffed half a pill into the mute slave's mouth.

The mute slave struggled a few times, babbling incoherently.

Until he swallowed the pill.

Zhang Shen confidently waited for the mute slave to die from the poison, but half an hour later, the mute slave was fine.

An hour passed, and the mute servant was still unharmed.

Two hours, three hours, four hours...

strange!
Could it be that Grandfather genuinely wanted to hand over the Zhang family's shady businesses to him to manage?

Upon realizing this possibility, Zhang Shen instantly became arrogant again.

I felt as refreshed as if I had just drunk a sip of ice water on a sweltering summer day.

He had been somewhat hesitant, but now he had no choice but to arrange for bathing and fasting.

If it's true...

Just thinking about it made Zhang Shen's heart burn with excitement.

As everyone knows--

After leaving the Zhang family's villa, the patriarch of the Zhang family lit incense to guide the soul in the carriage.

After the incense burned for a while, a dark shadow slowly condensed inside the carriage.

"Meet the adults!"

The old patriarch Zhang was no longer as arrogant as before; he prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to even raise his head.

"What business do you have summoned me here?"

The old patriarch Zhang mentioned that Zhang Shen would be going to the camphor forest in three days.

"...This servant is willing to offer the soul of his eldest grandson to Your Excellency as nourishment, begging Your Excellency to grant this servant high office and great wealth, and to dispel the misunderstandings that the people have about the Zhang family."

The shadowy figure seemed to be considering whether the deal was worthwhile.

After a while, he said, "I grant your permission!"

Anyway, I've promised, but I don't necessarily have to keep my word.

The Zhang family's fate is sealed; it won't be long before they bring about their own destruction.

Even if I wanted to confront him, I wouldn't have the chance.

Besides, they didn't have the ability to demand an explanation from him anyway.

Useless while alive, even more useless after death.

The shadowy figure accepted the new soul that was delivered to its doorstep without any qualms.

Then, it vanished like a gust of wind.

Just waiting for a new soul to be delivered to the door...

No one knows which powerful being he offended, but recently several places where souls were offered have been destroyed, and he hasn't enjoyed a clean and fresh soul for a long time.

Even the power of the ghosts decreased significantly as a result.

In addition, his other half was destroyed before...

The shadowy figure felt uneasy just thinking about it.

Especially to this day, he still hasn't been able to track down who destroyed his martial clone!
The remaining clone is far too fragile and weak.

It's completely useless.

However, to cultivate a suitable martial clone again requires a lot of time and soul resources.

Now, however, the puppets he controlled and the sacrificial grounds have been destroyed.

The only place left to feed him new souls is the Xue family.

The Xue family also has household gods to protect their home...

I wonder if that little kid will succeed.

The shadowy figure was lost in thought, completely unaware that it had been targeted.

Song Lan was very surprised.

She had absolutely no idea what kind of transaction the old patriarch Zhang believed in...

He seems to be a ghost cultivator, a vengeful cultivator, but neither quite.

She could even sense a human presence emanating from this thing.

Living people.

And you can also sense a trace of the aura of a demon.

But it also seems a bit like a monster.

...What on earth is this thing?!
What shocked Song Lan even more was that this thing actually disappeared—hiss!

The Gao family?!
Song Lan wanted to continue observing, but when the item went to the Gao family, they seemed to have noticed and suddenly became wary.

She had to let go of her resentment.

The shadowy figure inexplicably felt that something was watching it.

But when he went out to check, he found nothing.

"Am I overthinking it?"

The shadowy figure muttered to itself, looked around again, but still found nothing, and then gave up.
-
"Is something wrong?"

Song Lan opened the door and saw the little girl standing outside, smiling so broadly her eyes were almost closed.

The feeling of blaming vanished instantly.

"Did I disturb you?" The young girl keenly sensed the change in Song Lan's emotions, even though Song Lan's emotions could only be sensed for half a breath.

Song Lan replied matter-of-factly, "No."

She raised an eyebrow, noticing the girl's cautiousness, and unusually showed a bit more patience in explaining, "It was just a bit of a surprise."

"Why are you here so late?" she asked again.

The little girl was relieved and said, "Sister Xue is holding a bonfire poetry gathering. She invited everyone to gather around the bonfire, talk, appreciate poems, and tell stories."

"I find it very interesting."

"I was just thinking of asking if you wanted to come."

Song Lan raised an eyebrow: "You're going alone? Where's Liu Wu?"

The young girl scratched her head: "Brother Liu Wu said that it's improper for a grown man like him to join in the fun with us young ladies so late at night."

"I understand. You go ahead first. I'll change my clothes and come back in a bit."

Song Lan thought about it and did not refuse.

"it is good!"

The little girl smiled sweetly and agreed.

Song Lan changed her clothes and waited a while before heading to the courtyard where Xue Wan was staying.

As she approached the courtyard, she sensed the overwhelming resentment.

Song Lan's lips twitched slightly, and he couldn't help but turn his head to look in the direction of the main hall.

Honestly, does this Taoist temple even have a patriarch? How can it allow evil spirits to swagger in and act so arrogantly, without even a protective formation?

Grandmaster: ...

Hey? With such a huge evil creature like you coming, who would dare to activate the mountain-protecting formation? What if it crashes into you?
-
The courtyard was filled with singing and dancing, and there was no sign of any evil spirits causing trouble.

"benefactor!"

Su Xianyun was the first to see Song Lan, and excitedly called out to her before quickly running over.

"You're here!"

Like a happy, hopping little rabbit.

Song Lan gave a soft "hmm," reached out and patted the little girl's head, and casually removed the evil entity that was devouring Su Xianyun's luck.

The little girl felt a moment of disorientation, and then felt an unprecedented sense of lightness.

The barely perceptible heaviness I felt just moments before vanished instantly.

She looked at Song Lan with some confusion, as if asking what was going on.

Song Lan raised an eyebrow, not expecting the young girl to be so perceptive.

"felt it?"

Su Xianyun's eyes widened instantly: "Really... really exists..."

She was so frightened that her tongue almost tied itself in knots.

It took him a while to finally manage to say, "Is it that kind of thing?"

Song Lan was amused by her adorable little appearance.

"What, that thing?" She raised an eyebrow, suddenly wanting to tease the little girl.

Su Xianyun frowned, "It's just...it's just..."

She was too timid to speak, and even when she whispered "it's that, it's that," she would look around warily, afraid that something might suddenly appear or be behind her!
Song Lan watched as the little girl, while talking, suddenly turned her head and looked nervously behind her.

At once……

Quite cute.

“There is an evil spirit causing trouble here, but don’t worry, I’m here.”

As the person turned her head, Song Lan flicked her forehead: "No evil spirits can get close to you."

Ouch.

The little girl covered her head, protesting silently.

Then she felt that she shouldn't protest... Song Lan was her savior, how could she react if he hit her?
The young girl, deeply saddened, reflected on her mistake.

Then, Song Lan saw the little girl blink her eyes and raise her head, as if asking: Do you want me to play again?

Song Lan smiled helplessly.

"Come on, your new friends are waiting for you."

Upon hearing this, the little girl immediately frowned again: "They are not my new friends."

Su Xianyun could sense that while these people were saying friendly things to her, they were actually mocking her in their hearts. They were speaking sarcastically, exchanging furtive glances, and saying things she didn't understand—things that were tacitly agreed upon.

It's really annoying.

However, she didn't say anything in the end.

She didn't care about these insignificant people at all.

It was just a chance encounter; everyone gathered together, had a good time, and then dispersed.

It's not worth letting your benefactor misunderstand you as stingy for someone like that.

"Oh dear! A new person has arrived."

As soon as Xue Wan saw Song Lan, she greeted him with a smile.

She deliberately acted poised and generous, saying, "I suppose this is the Sister Song that the Su family's younger sister mentioned?"

"However, I vaguely remember that the Xie family's cousin seems to be quite young?"

Xue Wan emphasized the words "Xie family cousin" with a strong accent.

"Logically speaking, I should address her as Sister Song."

Her tone was very natural, as if she were bestowing a favor upon Song Lan: "Sister Song, you can call me Sister Xue, just like Sister Su."

Ha~
Song Lan raised an eyebrow at this "Sister Xue" and smiled enigmatically.

"Sister Xue?"

She leaned close to his ear and chuckled softly, "Are you sure you're the older sister, and not—the older brother?"

Xue Wan's expression instantly changed, her smile froze on her face, and she glared sharply at Song Lan: "Who are you?!"

"who are you?!"

She stared at Song Lan, looking her over and over again: "You're not Song Lan!"

The way he spoke with such certainty made Song Lan think, if she didn't know she was reborn, that he had seen through her true identity.

"Has Madam Xue lost her mind?"

Song Lan chuckled softly: "Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?"

Xue Wan was about to say that it was you who started talking nonsense when her gaze fell on Song Lan's calm face, and she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

Then, she heard the lackey beside her ask in confusion, "Sister Xue, what's wrong with you?"

She greets people politely, but before they can even say anything, she starts crying and laughing all the time, acting strangely as if she's possessed, and starts questioning them.

Others even subconsciously took a few steps back.

I was genuinely quite frightened.

Xue Wan frowned, looking at Song Lan with great confusion, and then at the lackey who had just spoken.

Didn't you hear what she just said?

A bad feeling suddenly welled up in Xue Wan's heart.

The lackey shook his head: "No, it's always been you, Sister Xue..."

She was a little scared and didn't dare to continue.

Honestly, Xue Wan's glare was quite frightening.

Xue Wan's eyes widened.

He looked at Song Lan again, still puzzled.

How did that happen?

Song Lan just said...

Just then, Xue Wan heard him say again, "What? Are you afraid? Afraid I'll reveal your secret? Brother Xue?"

Ah!
Xue Wan suddenly cried out in alarm, looking at Song Lan with terror, and took several steps back.

Then, as if remembering something, he reached out and grabbed the lackey's hand, pointing at Song Lan: "Did you hear that? Did you hear that this time?"

"Did you hear what she said? She threatened and intimidated me, didn't you?"

Lackey: ...

She swallowed nervously, looking at Xue Wan as if she were a madwoman.

Is someone talking over there?
Lady Song didn't even move her lips; she didn't say a single word.

He was perfectly fine just a moment ago, how could he suddenly go crazy?!
The lackey remained silent, leading Xue Wan to belatedly realize that the voice she had just heard was once again only heard by herself.

How could this be?
Did Song Lan do something? Or were these people all in cahoots, putting on an act in front of her?

"what have you done?!"

"What exactly did you do?!"

To others, Xue Wan seemed to have suddenly gone mad. She had just been smiling and greeting Song Lan, chatting and laughing with him.

Before Song Lan could even speak, she suddenly started crying and laughing, questioning Song Lan, saying that Song Lan was not human, and that Song Lan was threatening and intimidating her, as if she were possessed by a ghost.

The crowd whispered among themselves, all thinking that Xue Wan had gone mad.

Even Su Xianyun asked curiously, "Sister Xue, what's wrong with you? You're suddenly talking incoherently..."

She thought of something and slightly covered her mouth: "Could it be that he's sick?"

"Or...did you...probably do something wrong?"

Su Xianyun looked scared: "I heard that this Changsheng Temple had been abandoned for a long time and was only recently started to be repaired, but it is not yet finished. The ancestral master in the main hall has not been regilded. I heard that it is considered a wild temple."

"Wild places are most likely to harbor unclean things, Sister Xue, you wouldn't..."

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly showed expressions of understanding.

It was as if Xue Wan had really done something wrong.