I'm Ximen Qing, living in a ghost story!

Nie Yunhai didn't waste any more words with Ximen Qing. He coldly told Ximen Da that he had already returned home and that Ximen Qing could leave on his own.

Then he grabbed Nie Xiaoqian, who was wearing a drafty cotton-padded jacket, and walked back, not even giving Ximen Qing a chance to tell him what had just happened.

However, it seems that Nie Yunhai didn't ask.

Never mind, I'll just leave it at that. Knowing Nie Xiaoqian's personality, she'll probably tell me.

Wait, that's not right! I was the one who was dragged away by Nie Xiaoqian just now, why are you blaming me, you old fool?

he tui!

That's prejudice!

"Young Master Ximen...we..."

Just as Ximen Qing was secretly grumbling to himself, he heard a timid voice from behind.

Cui Ji, holding his little maidservant, looked around uneasily.

Although she and Xiaoqian were very close friends, she had never left the backyard of the Cui family mansion.

The two people's "friendship" was developed through conversations at the window by the wall.

Having abruptly left his familiar surroundings, Cui Ji felt that the world was so vast that he had nowhere to go and could only look to Ximen Qing.

She looked at the man who had brought her out.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Let's go back to my residence, I'll prepare a change of clothes for you."

Ximen Qing quickly spoke up.

Just now, Nie Yunhai was probably too worried about his daughter to notice that there were people behind the two of them.

He led Cui Ji and the maid out, where the Ximen family's carriage was still waiting at the door.

Laiwang was standing in front of the carriage, chatting with the coachman, when he suddenly saw his young master and quickly got off the carriage.

But then he saw Cui Ji, dressed in tattered clothes, behind him, and froze on the spot.

"Hurry up, I'm exhausted and starving after a long afternoon. Where's my dad?"

"Oh, Master just said he needed to go home to pack his things and would be leaving now—Young Master, who is this…?"

"Miss Cui, let's drive."

Ximen Qing waved his hand, and Laiwang immediately gave him an "I understand" look, then happily ran ahead.

"Did he misunderstand something with that look in his eyes just now?" Ximen Qing scratched his head and looked at Cui Ji.

Cui Ji lowered his head, bit his lip, and remained silent.

An eerie silence fell over the carriage.

They returned to their residence.

Ximen Qing sent several personal maids to help Cui Ji with her makeup and dressing before arriving at the main hall, where he saw his father, Ximen Da.

"Son! You're back? How did it go? How did things go with that Miss Xiaoqian? It's been so long, have you already taken care of everything? Hehe, I see Magistrate Nie's face is as black as the bottom of a pot. Am I old enough to be a grandfather? Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I would have passed on our family's secret fighting techniques to you. Look at the mess this has made."

He immediately launched into a barrage of questions, causing Ximen Qing to roll his eyes in exasperation.

"What are you thinking about, Dad! I have important business to attend to today!"

As he spoke, he tossed the talisman he was carrying onto the table and began to recount what had happened that afternoon.

Upon hearing this, Ximen Da was quite impressed with Miss Cui, whom Ximen Qing had brought back: "As expected of my father's good son, taking a concubine in front of his fiancée—no one in history has ever done anything like this! Amazing!"

Seeing his father giving him a thumbs-up, Ximen Qing rolled his eyes and slammed his hand on the table: "Dad! Is that the point?"

"Hey! It's not a big problem!"

Simon waved his hand: "Based on your description, those girls were probably tricked by the young monks of Lanruo Temple. They lost their virginity because of a few brats, and they call themselves consorts? Ha! Even Abbot Yuantong of Lanruo Temple might not have consorts, so what are these girls who serve the young monks? So, it should just be some petty squabbles among the young monks, something they dare not report."

After Simon finished speaking, he pursed his lips.

"So, this Lanruo Temple is openly exploiting female worshippers? And nobody's doing anything about it?"

Judging from his father's tone, Ximen Qing asked.

"Manage? How can you manage this? It's consensual. Those women you met today, weren't they offering themselves willingly? Lanruo Temple is backed by the Wutai Sect, a major unorthodox sect, so there are some constraints overall. Oh, by the way, the magistrate said Abbot Yuantong is looking for you. You really don't know him?"

Ximen Qing shook his head.

He really didn't know anyone at Lanruo Temple!

He avoids that name like the plague!

"That's strange. But now that you've caught the eye of Laoshan Temple, you should refrain from getting involved in Lanruo Temple's affairs. Buddhism and Taoism have never been good partners. Our family still relies on Daoist Guyunzi's talismans to make a living, so we need to be careful."

Simonda gave his instructions.

"I know that. It's nothing else, I'll be going now, I'm starving."

Ximen Qing waved his hand.

"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. Oh, here, take this. Be quiet tonight, your dad is a light sleeper."

Ximen Da took out an unknown leather scroll from his pocket, threw it to Ximen Qing, and said meaningfully.

When Ximen Qing opened it, it read:

The Secret Manual of the Harmony of Heaven and Earth, the Union of Yin and Yang, and the Fierce Battle – The Secret Transmission of the Naked Cult

Look back.

Wow, so lifelike! Wait, how come this person can move?

"Father! You've misunderstood me! I was merely acting out of a sense of justice, not taking advantage of someone in distress!"

Ximen Qing spoke with righteous indignation.

"Then give it back to me?" Simonda reached out his hand.

"Ahem, this is our family's secret recipe, who else could you pass it on to besides me? It'll be mine sooner or later, just you wait and see!"

Ximen Qing stuffed the manual into his robes and turned to run away.

"That kid!" Simon shook his head.

……

Upon returning to his courtyard, he was greeted by two rows of heavily made-up maids standing respectfully on either side.

Meanwhile, in the center, Cui Ji, dressed in a pink ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), stood out like a blooming peach blossom.

"Young master, you're back? The wine and dishes are ready."

Cui Ji stepped forward, took a deep breath, and got into character.

"Miss Cui, what's wrong...?"

"Young master, you can just call me Aji."

Cui Ji shook her head. She actually wanted to develop a relationship with Ximen Qing, just like the talented scholars and beautiful women in the storybooks.

But upon arriving at Ximen Qing's courtyard, they saw the sheer number of maids surrounding him. (Thanks to my father, Ximen Da, for the gift.)

She had to admit, she was starting to panic.

Caught in a fierce competition, Cui Ji desperately needs to prove her "strength".

Ximen Qing stared at her in astonishment, and the two looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a long while, Ximen Qing touched the location of the secret manual on his chest.

Dad, you were fucking right!

"Alright! Ah Ji! Would you like to drink with me?"

"I certainly wish it, but I dare not ask you!"

A man and a woman walked into the room.

What remains is, of course, a leisurely spring nap in the thatched cottage, with the sun lingering outside the window.

The bright moonlight shines before my bed, my shadow seems to be two on the ground.

Traveling as a couple, I'm forced to try it.

Viewed from the side, it's a mountain range; viewed from the front, it's a peak. Each of A, B, C, and D looks different.

The "method of fierce battle" truly lives up to its name.

This is a perfect match for Ximen Qing's passive skill, "Absorbing Yin and Replenishing Yang".

The next morning, Ximen Qing opened his eyes.

His attribute list appeared in front of his retina.

[Strength: Third Level of Acquired Realm]

The results are so remarkable?!

I hereby declare! I will dedicate the entire day to cultivation!