Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 423 Night Raid on the Ghost Village
Chi Mei knew she was no match for the two people in front of her, and there were some conditions she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.

Moreover, Lu Zheng even brought out a martial arts technique, making it hard for her not to be tempted.

Chi Mei quickly replied, "I'll agree to any conditions, as long as I can do it."

Seeing that Chi Mei's attitude was sincere, Lu Zheng handed the cultivation technique to her, saying, "I've never practiced ghost cultivation techniques before. Try it out and see how it works. If it's not suitable, I'll give you another one."

Chi Mei didn’t expect Lu Zheng to be so generous, actually giving her the cultivation technique first. Judging from what he said, there were other ghost cultivation techniques as well.

Lu Zheng was naturally very generous, but his things weren't so easy to take.

If Chi Mei's performance doesn't satisfy him, and she tries anything funny, then she won't even be able to be a ghost anymore.

Seeing Lu Zheng's calm expression, Chi Mei carefully took the cultivation manual and began to read it.

After a moment, Chi Mei said apologetically, "I don't quite understand some of the content here, and I'm afraid I won't be able to learn it in a while..."

Although she could read, this technique was too advanced for her, and she couldn't understand some of the words on it.

No matter what kind of cultivation method you practice, you need talent. If you don't have the comprehension, even if a Saint-level cultivation technique is placed in front of you, you probably won't learn much from it.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng calmly said, "This ghost cultivation technique uses the pure yin energy that exists in the world for practice. To cultivate this technique, you need... Of course, isolated yin and yang cannot last long. You also need to nourish your yang energy every now and then. Just bask in the sun..."

Lu Zheng tried his best to explain the cultivation method in a relatively easy-to-understand way, and also explained some of the obscure words in detail.

Lu Zheng continued, "This is my personal understanding. Try to draw upon your own Yin energy in the way described above, so that..."

Chi Mei felt that if she still couldn't understand this, then she would truly be as stupid as a pig.

She quickly began cultivating according to Lu Zheng's instructions, stumbling and struggling through a full cycle.

After cultivating for only one cycle, she found that a small portion of her impure aura had been cleared away, and her cultivation level had dropped slightly, but her Yin energy had become more refined, truly deserving of being called a high-level cultivation technique.

Overjoyed, Chi Mei exclaimed, "I succeeded!"

She didn't expect to learn this skill so quickly, and she adapted to it very well without feeling any problems.

"Very good." Lu Zheng said slowly, "From now on, you will stay here to protect the villagers. You must not absorb anyone's yang energy for cultivation or to condense essence stones..."

Upon hearing this, Chi Mei exclaimed in surprise, "Just these few conditions? That's very simple!"

Chi Mei thought there would be some demanding requirements, but it turned out to be just this?
At worst, she could pretend those villagers didn't exist, stay here in seclusion to cultivate, and incidentally protect those people. She wouldn't need to put in any effort at all.

Lu Zheng said calmly, "The simpler something is, the harder it is to stick to it. So I will draw up a soul contract. If you don't do well, I will take everything back, with interest. Of course, if you perform well, you will naturally be rewarded... The cultivation technique I'm giving you has a follow-up, which will give you the opportunity to reach a higher realm."

As he spoke, Lu Zheng took out another piece of paper and drafted a contract.

"Leave your soul imprint, and this cultivation technique will belong to you."

Chi Mei looked at the contract and thought to herself, "Has she sold her ghostly life?"

Given the current situation, it seems she has no other choice.

After a brief moment's thought, she wisely signed the contract, leaving her mark on the market.

Lu Zheng put away the contract and said, "Now, tell me briefly about the other six ghost villages."

Chi Mei's eyes flickered, wondering if Lu Zheng was going to make a move against those people again.

She dared not hide anything and told them what she knew.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly and said, "Go over there now and call them all over."

“This…” Chi Mei couldn’t help but say, “There are a few who are no weaker than me. Even if I go to call them, they might not be willing to come.”

Qingwan, standing beside her, excitedly exclaimed, "I'll go with you!"

Lu Zheng replied, "Alright, you go with her and we'll see what happens."

Sending Qingwan out to gain experience on her own is also an opportunity.

Qingwan quickly got up and gestured for Chimei to follow her, looking very anxious, since they were going to six ghost villages and needed to hurry.

After Qingwan and Chimei left, Lu Zheng slowly took out a stack of papers and began to write a contract. It seemed that he needed to prepare more of these things.

Lu Zheng had no better place to settle the Chu people living in the ghost village. If he took them to other prefectures and counties of Chu, they would likely be exploited by the gods and officials.

The only thing that can be done is to restrain the ghost kings who built these ghost villages and allow them to protect these people.

Lu Zheng felt conflicted; this cannibalistic world was rife with darkness.

In the mountains, Qingwan and Chimei each rode the wind.

The night was dark and the wind was blowing, carrying eerie sounds.

Chi Mei looked at Qing Wan beside her and asked curiously, "What is the background of your young master? He seems very impressive."

Qingwan said calmly, "Don't be too curious about our affairs. You should take care of yourself first."

Chi Mei muttered to herself, "Isn't she perfectly fine now?"

She thought for a moment, these two came from Anguo, but they taught her the martial arts and asked her to protect the villagers. Could there be some other conspiracy?
Thinking about the relationship between the two great powers, Chi Mei even wondered if she had been involved in some serious incident.

Is she now considered a pawn that Anguo has planted in Chu?
This is terrifying to think about! Chi Mei felt she couldn't think about it any longer.

Qingwan, unaware of Chimei's unfounded speculation, asked, "Do you know why we're keeping you alive?" Chimei's eyes flickered, and she whispered, "Why?"

Qingwan said, "Because you are temporarily available, and there are quite a few ghosts in Ghost State, there should be some good ghosts among them. Now that we're asking you to guard a village, it's not that we can't do without you."

Upon hearing this, Chi Mei's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly replied, "Don't worry, I will definitely do my job well! Afterwards, I will go find some more Chu people..."

Chi Mei figured she needed to perform well, recruit more soldiers and horses, win over more people and ghosts, and build her own power.

When Anguo and Chuguo go to war in the future, there might be a time when I can be of use to them.

Of course, one should be careful and cautious when doing such things, and not let outsiders notice.

In a short time, Chi Mei had thought of many things.

She felt that Lu Zheng's instruction to perform well was definitely an implication of these things, but some things were just not easy to say outright.

Yes, that must be it... Chi Mei's mind raced.

She said to Qingwan, "This ghost isn't bad at all; I'm quite good at managing villages. You can entrust the people of the other six ghost villages to me, and I guarantee I'll raise them to be plump and healthy! I can also help you train some martial artists to serve the An Kingdom..."

Qingwan: ? ? ?
Qingwan couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"

Chi Mei blinked. Wasn't that what she meant?

Qingwan thought for a moment and said, "These are not things you should be considering. Even if loyalty is to be pledged, it should be you who does it."

They are just ordinary people; why should they be dragged into the conflict between the two countries?

"I'm definitely loyal!" Chi Mei said, patting her chest.

She had just acquired a good cultivation technique and didn't want to be eliminated so quickly.

The two women soon arrived at a mountainous area, where a sizable village was shrouded in perpetual fog.

Chi Mei stood outside and warned, "There are ghostly creatures patrolling this fog, and a kind of ghostly grass growing there. Unauthorized intruders will be easily discovered..."

Upon hearing this, Qingwan said, "Stay close to me."

With a hand seal, Qingwan concealed her and Chi Mei's auras and swaggered through the mist barrier.

Upon entering, Qingwan scanned the area and discovered that nearly a thousand people lived there.

However, the people here seem to be living very poorly. They are all thin and weak, which is due to excessive loss of yang energy.

Obviously, not every ghost king who establishes a ghost village will treat the humans who join the village well.

Qingwan noticed that some ghosts were still wandering outside the village, likely the Ghost King's subordinates, preventing the villagers from escaping.

Seeing this, Qingwan flicked her finger, and a burst of spiritual energy struck a vengeful ghost.

The vengeful ghost immediately emitted blue smoke and let out a piercing scream.

In a stone house in the village, a large demon with a blue face and fangs heard the commotion outside, frowned, and slipped out to check the situation.

Soon, the blue-faced demon saw Qingwan and Chimei.

"Red Demon? What are you doing barging into my place in the middle of the night?" The blue-faced demon frowned and said unhappily.

Qingwan looked at the giant ghost and asked, "Are you the ghost who built this village?"

The giant ghost had never seen Qing Wan before, and sized her up, asking, "Who are you?"

Qingwan said calmly, "Come with me. I need to talk to you."

Upon hearing this, the giant ghost's eyes gleamed with a sinister light, and he said in a low voice, "What is it?"

Qingwan was too lazy to waste words and pulled out a long sword.

The big ghost's expression shifted slightly upon seeing this. Where did this guy come from? He drew his sword after just a few words. Did he really think he was a pushover?
However, in the next instant, a streak of cyan sword energy slashed down with lightning speed.

The big ghost inexplicably felt a pressure enveloping him from all directions.

The demon immediately threw a punch, and billowing black smoke-like yin energy swept out.

The cyan sword energy tore through the yin energy wind in the blink of an eye, and the righteous energy completely eliminated the surrounding yin energy.

With a light step, Qingwan approached the great ghost, her powerful sword aura causing the ghostly energy to recede.

With a flash of sword light, the big ghost had no time to dodge and was directly struck in the waist.

The great ghost felt a sharp pain as his own soul was split in two and burned by a force he had never encountered before.

With a slap of her small hand, Qingwan obliterated the lower half of the giant ghost's body. Then, with a wave of her hand, she grabbed the other half of the giant ghost.

Under the suppression of righteous energy, the great demon could not break free at all, and instead let out painful screams.

Qingwan frowned, took out a jade bottle, and stuffed the giant ghost inside.

If it weren't for the fact that this ghost still had some use, it would have died several times over in the past, given the dense evil and yin energy emanating from it.

(End of this chapter)