Chapter 167 - Love from the Male Protagonist’s Harem

Uncertain of what was happening to her, Xia Ge felt an unsettling mix of anxiety and anger, as if something significant was missing, leaving her feeling restless and irritable. The system, oblivious to the situation, inquired: “...Why did you throw it away? Hurry and pick up the red talisman, maybe it can still be repaired and be of some use. Also, the puppet can be sold for some points.” "......" was Xia Ge's only response. Xia Ge attempted to retrieve the talisman paper, but it couldn’t be removed without risking tearing it. In the end, she painstakingly broke each of the puppet's fingers to finally free the talisman. “You're too rough; it won't sell for a good price if you handle it like that...” the system remarked. "Shut up," Xia Ge retorted. Leaving five wooden fingers scattered on the floor, Xia Ge didn't bother with them. She, having some limited knowledge about talisman papers, clumsily combined two of them and placed them back on the round table. Nothing happened. Frowning, Xia Ge muttered, “This isn’t working.” The system, seemingly speechless, commented: “Did you think you could just tape it together like a scrap of paper?” Xia Ge replied, “That’s all I know how to do.” The system suddenly grew excited: "You need some talisman adhesive right now! Just two hundred points, and whether you’re missing a few pieces, it’s formulated so well it can put back together even a jigsaw puzzle!” "...Turning jigsaw pieces back is about skill, not glue," Xia Ge replied. “No, really, it will one hundred percent restore the talisman’s function!! Just one bottle!! Only one bottle!!” Xia Ge gave in and purchased a bottle of talisman adhesive; at least the system offered it at a relatively decent price—five hundred points. Yet, people can’t always be seen too favorably, as Xia Ge, apparently trying to fill a void, whimost threw the red-clad puppet into the system’s market. It sold for one point. Indeed, as promised, that ‘one’ point. "......" Every time Xia Ge suspected the system was out to cheat her, she knew she wasn't wrong. Given the urgency of the situation, Xia Ge decided to save her complaints for later. The questionable quality of items from the system was nothing new. Ever since that completely useless ‘instant-heart-sooth pill,’ any grand claim from the system was to be taken with a grain of salt. After using the adhesive to fix the talisman, she placed it back on the table, but still, there was no response. "......" "......" The system hesitated before suggesting, “Um...it looks like the formation might be broken. Aren’t you knowledgeable about this stuff? See if you can fix it. Perhaps it’s not the talisman but the formation that’s more severely damaged, haha.” Expressionless, Xia Ge stared at the unreactive red talisman, wishing, for the umpteenth time, that someday she could shove the system's metaphorical head deep into the earth's crust to let it experience her fiery rage firsthand. If it had a head, that is. Resigned, Xia Ge checked the ancient spirit-gathering array on the ground. Once in Lingxi Laozu’s tomb, she had acquired knowledge of three formations, and the ancient spirit-gathering array on the ground was exactly the same as the one she’d learned from the tomb. Clearly, this was indeed Lingxi Laozu’s handiwork. The spirit-gathering array wasn’t damaged and continued to function, channeling its gathered aura into the stone table in the center, but... Xia Ge turned her attention to the golden formation carved into the round table. It was one she recognized as the third formation from the tomb, the one she had never managed to decipher. The reason for its obscurity was threefold: first, she didn’t understand its purpose; second, although the formation appeared static, a closer look revealed constant subtle changes. By the time you'd discern where those alterations occurred, further observation showed the formation had altered again. Xia Ge had tried to study it before, but its myriad transformations left her unable to capture a single repeated moment. It was an elusive, ever-changing enigma. Now engraved on the stone table, each fine line emanated a rich, golden luminescence, saturated with the liquefied spiritual energy gathered by the ancient spirit-gathering array. Xia Ge speculated that, if the talisman were intact, the spiritual energy would funnel into the talisman through the formation, subduing the local malign spirits. But ultimately, Xia Ge was uncertain. Without any documentation regarding this formation, its exact purpose remained a mystery to her. After contemplating, Xia Ge placed her hand over the golden liquid still circulating within the formation. In an instant, her pupils dilated, and the entire world around her transformed— A world of radiant gold, suffused with spiritual essence, unfolded before her eyes. As the golden light shimmered, she found herself in a pristine, immaculate white world. Soft feathers drifted around, gentle birds sang softly, enveloping her in tender warmth, comfort akin to a newborn babe’s first embrace. This world was serene and tender, with ethereal chants soothing restless hearts and fears, purifying all sordid desires into nothingness, reminiscent of an infancy’s pure, unblemished state devoid of desires or sin—a tranquil paradise. Anxiety, fear, and unease all vanished into oblivion. With her hand resting on the formation, Xia Ge found herself lost in its tranquil world. Her mind was blank, all love and desire gradually ebbing away as if she were detaching from the mortal realm and entering a state devoid of wants and needs— [WARNING! Host’s mental fluctuations are irregular!] [Forceful adjustment!] Xia Ge's hand was suddenly ejected from the formation! Reeling from the shock, Xia Ge staggered back two steps, gasping for breath as her dilated pupils gradually refocused. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead, and her lips turned pale. "I..." she whispered, clutching her chest, "that place..." "...world." She murmured, trailing off. “What did you see?” the system, unable to comprehend the situation, asked. The system only detected the fluctuations in her spirit but had no idea what had transpired. For within lay a world accessible solely to the soul— A place resembling an underworld, a paradise, or perhaps, reincarnation. Xia Ge realized why she couldn’t decipher the final formation. Perhaps no formation master in the entire Fengyue Continent could unravel it. After all, crafting a formation that could create a paradise world solely for the soul—such unprecedented genius might have existed only in Lingxi Laozu. Thus, it wasn't Wuyi Lingshan that truly sealed the malevolent spirits. Rather, it was this unparalleled formation created by Lingxi Laozu’s extraordinary talent. Xia Ge picked up the red talisman. She had sensed just moments ago that the gateway between that world and this one stood open. Inside, unappeased evil spirits could freely emerge through the open "door." If her guess was correct... Gazing at the talisman paper in her hand, Xia Ge pondered. And this talisman paper served as the door sealing the formation. Now, with the door shattered, malevolent ghosts escaped from the mountains unhindered. "It isn’t broken," Xia Ge declared with certainty. "The formation itself isn’t broken." What had crumbled was merely the torn door. “But that’s impossible. Normally, glue should work unless this talisman has something special—like…” the system speculated. Xia Ge’s fingers gently traced the paper’s surface, pondering its uniqueness. “Could it be... blood?” The red on the talisman certainly wasn’t regular ink. It looked more like... blood. This was hardly surprising; sometimes, blood was an essential ingredient in creating talismans. Typically, talisman makers might use beast blood with potent energy to enhance a talisman's effects. The system’s glue was likely effective, perhaps all that was missing was some blood... The system agreed enthusiastically: “Yes, it could indeed be blood; maybe just a bit is all it needs.” "......" In this place, Xia Ge was the only one who could bleed. “Do you sell blood in the system shop?” Xia Ge asked. “Yes, but to ensure it doesn’t spoil, it’s all frozen. Do you want some?” the system offered. "......" While talisman blood didn’t necessarily need to be fresh, frozen wasn’t ideal... After a long deliberation and listening to the agonized wails outside, Xia Ge sighed and decided to make a personal sacrifice. “If I don’t enter hell, who will...” Xia Ge murmured as she carefully nicked her finger with a sickle, extracting a drop of blood onto the talisman. The talisman showed no reaction. “Ouch, it hurts.” Facade impassive, Xia Ge joked, staring at the unresponsive talisman, “And it doesn’t seem to work.” “Hold on, it seems like the talisman hasn’t recovered. Maybe try thinking of another way to repair it,” the system suggested. Xia Ge put her melodrama aside, suddenly realizing she didn’t know why she was being so dramatic. Perhaps... it was just force of habit. If her senior sister were here, she wouldn't just dismiss it with “Hold on.” If it were her, what would she do? Xia Ge felt spoiled from the attention she’d received. As she gazed at her bleeding fingertip, that crimson red—like the rouge on her senior sister’s lips—made her heart skip a beat, and her gaze drifted. What to do... she found herself missing her senior sister. Indeed, people shouldn’t be too indulgent, for once accustomed to such treatment, any deviation from the expected could easily lead to feelings of disappointment and grievance. The old Xia Ge never felt wronged. Initially, the abundance of grievances made them insignificant; later, with her senior sister around, such things never occurred, and the feeling was forgotten. After briefly indulging her sentiments, Xia Ge cleaned the blood from her fingertip and bandaged it with a plaster. Indeed, one shouldn’t fall for someone easily—once together, attachment grows, and separation brings longing. As Xia Ge was deep in thought, on the other side, the blood on the talisman slowly spread, seeping into the golden patterns covered by its red tint. Unnoticed, the faint patterns, restored by the glue, greedily absorbed the familiar spiritual force and aura from the blood until every inch was covered. The spirit-suppressing formation emitted a slight glow, and two faint cloud patterns silently emerged, slipping into the red talisman unnoticed by Xia Ge. “If it can be fixed now, fewer malevolent spirits will escape,” the system speculated anxiously, attempting to alleviate its guilt over possibly selling defective glue. “The longer it drags on, the more will awaken and escape, making it even more troublesome later.” "Sometimes, I think merely surviving is great enough," Xia Ge mumbled as she finished tending to her injury, not even bothering to look at the system. "I understand all that, but if I can’t repair it, there’s nothing to be done." About to brainstorm some other methods, Xia Ge looked up, only to realize the drop of blood on the red talisman was now gone. "…Is this talisman paper such a good absorber?" Xia Ge was preparing to examine the talisman but was caught off guard at that very moment! With a loud "whoosh—", the gold patterns on the talisman, previously hidden beneath red, suddenly lit up, emitting a blinding golden light! Instantly, the small space was awash in fierce gusts. The red talisman struggled to break free from Xia Ge's grasp, causing her to instinctively shield her eyes and step back. As she did so, the golden glow on the talisman intensified, forming even more intricate patterns that resonated with the formation on the stone table, before finally returning to its original place. The moment it settled, a golden wave shot out from the table's formation, casting a transparent barrier that rippled like stones thrown into a tranquil lake, expanding in all directions! "Howl—" Outside the passageway, as the talisman resumed its position, the evil spirits previously escaping from the stone table's formation were brutally repelled by the barrier, forcibly gathered, and repressed back beneath the earth! Dumbfounded at first, Xia Ge then burst into joy, "It’s working! It's actually working!!" The system was equally ecstatic: “I told you the glue worked perfectly fine!! Want more? I’ll give you a discount!” "..." Even a discount can’t cover up the fact that you’re shameless, Xia Ge thought. Despite the accidental success in repairing the talisman, Xia Ge added another barrier to the passageway. Although her skills were a mere shadow of Lingxi Laozu’s brilliance, it was a fine accompaniment with the spirit-suppressing help from the formation. However, Xia Ge knew that repairing the talisman didn’t mean everything was resolved. The return of the red talisman had only repressed half-escaped spirits, leaving uncertainty for those fully out already. The escaped spirits were unlikely to foolishly return unless they were utterly senseless. As Xia Ge took a few steps, she suddenly noticed that her sickle had changed again. Perhaps seeing the talisman restored, the spirit-suppressor was in a generous mood, lending more power. With a flick of her wrist, Xia Ge spun the black sickle with cloud patterns, smirking slightly and preparing to find her senior sister. But after just a few steps. She stopped, reminded of her duty as the Danfeng overseer. When the chief disciple was out on a mission, she had responsibilities to uphold. It wasn’t proper for her to appear here unexpectedly; her senior sister, with so many disciples, wouldn’t appreciate unwanted gossip if they were seen together. Hesitant, Xia Ge retrieved a fox mask from her ring and put it on. “What’s with the mask? Are you hiding something?” the system asked. Sighing, Xia Ge half-jokingly lamented, “Being too awesome is a burden, sometimes a heavy burden. I’m afraid it might become too much for me to handle.” “...” The system had never encountered such shamelessness. Unbothered by the system's thoughts, Xia Ge pondered her next moves. Though the emergence of malevolent spirits from the mountain was dire news, at least the sealed red talisman was repaired. The remaining challenge was dispatching the escaped spirits, which, with the spirit-suppressor’s boundless enmity toward evil spirits in hand, wouldn’t be too difficult. Wearing the mask given by her senior sister, Xia Ge moved with a light step. “Off we go, time to slay some spirits!” == Elsewhere, right after the red-clad puppet tore the red talisman, unleashing the spirits. Unaware of what they were about to face, people drew nearer to Evil Spirit Mountain, unease spreading as the eerie wails closed in. They were on high alert, yet most felt it natural for spirits to inhabit a place named as such. So vigilance sufficed. However, sect higher-ups, privy to the truth, grew gravely concerned at the wailing growing closer despite standing inside a sanctuary sealing the spirits. In the mountain-ringed expanse, lush with grass and meandering streams, stretched a clearing a few thousand meters across—modest compared to the seemingly endless stretches of Evil Spirit Mountain, yet ample for the adventurous. People traversed through beast-haunted forests, arriving at the clearing in groups. Yet, compared to the initial numbers, they were notably fewer. The savageness of the forest beasts was enough to turn those lacking strength into a bloody meal. “Is this... the basin of Evil Spirit Mountain?” “There’s no way, this is just empty space! The basin of Evil Spirit Mountain lies ahead, and besides, how could it possibly be so small?” As murmured exchanges rippled through the crowd, Gu Peijiu’s group realized this wasn't the basin. Their thrilled anticipation was instantly doused with cold reality, and Lu Che pouted, complaining, “How long until we reach the end, senior sister? We came here to train, not to grab whatever those enchanting garments are.” The purpose behind their venture to Evil Spirit Mountain—merely labeled as training—remained undisclosed. Gu Peijiu glanced at Lu Che, about to explain their purpose. "It's because—" But her words were abruptly cut short by the guttural screams of evil spirits, and a sudden shriek pierced the air! "Aaah—what is that?!" A remnant shadow—a specter moving too swiftly to be seen—halved an unsuspecting person trailing behind them! The unfortunate individual didn't even have time to speak as their body was brutally torn apart, sending a spray of blood everywhere. Their companion, still wearing a cheerful expression from their conversation, turned their head only to be met with a horrifying scene straight from hell. A woman with disheveled hair, face obscured, dripping with blood, held a still-beating heart in one skeletal hand while ravenously attacking her friend’s flesh with the other. The heart pulsated meekly in her grasp. The "woman," aware of being watched, slowly lifted her head, revealing a skull with one missing eyeball, bloodied fangs flashing a ghastly grin. This wasn’t a human—it was a ghost! A ghost! "Aaaah—" Overwhelmed by the horror, the man convulsed, then flopped into unconsciousness. A gentle breeze passed by. The "woman's" grin hardened as she darted away with inhuman speed. In the next moment, the area she vacated shattered under the impact of a red silk ribbon, moving with serpent-like fluidity and lightning speed. Though evading the ribbon, the female ghost seemed smug, until— Lu Che, hearing Gu Peijiu in mid-sentence, was caught off-guard during the chaos. Even so, sister Gu's celestial ribbon was already in motion—when the ghost flew in, Lu Che mistook it for a fellow cultivator unusually skilled in disguise. The blood around the friend’s mouth looked disturbingly believable, but the heart in hand didn’t seem to be that of a beast... Wait, why is there a heart in the hand?! While Lu Che was still processing, he saw their senior sister’s hand, previously empty, suddenly wielding a familiar sword. With a swift motion, the icy blade slashed through the air, cleanly piercing the skull of the approaching "cultivator"! Without missing the target, as if the angle was calculated perfectly, the heart fell from the "female cultivator's" grip. With a soft "plop," it landed silently. Ye Ze touched the bamboo scabbard at his waist, now hollow, eyeing the sword—Wen Qing—in Gu Peijiu’s grasp with stiffness. Completely unaware of when and how it had been taken. Gu Peijiu withdrew the sword, the celestial ribbon returning to her sleeve. Her large sleeves billowed as Lu Che thought he glimpsed a hint of green on her wrist. The “cultivator” crumpled to the ground, expression twisted. Afflicted by the inquiring sword, it spasmed briefly, before its spirit dissipated completely. Silently. In her plain garments, Danfeng's young girl with a cool voice completed the thought she had left hanging before: “We are here to ensure the spirits of this place remain spirits of Evil Spirit Mountain.” Looking at the cold heart on the grass, Lu Che felt a bit queasy, “Um… oh.” Gu Peijiu approached a bewildered Ye Ze, offering the sword handle, her voice placid, “I borrowed your sword, apologies.” Ye Ze retrieved his sword, “No need to apologize, senior sister.” “It’s a fine sword,” Gu Peijiu paused and added, “Does it have a name?” Ye Ze briefly paused, “It’s called Wen Qing.” Wen Qing? ...Wen Qing. The touch of the sword’s hilt lingered faintly in Gu Peijiu’s palm. She intended to ask more, but was interrupted by another harrowing scream! "Aaah—" Countless shadows descended, drawn by the allure of fresh flesh and the emptiness of their own spirits, willing to pay any price! "Ghosts—" "Help!" Almost instantly, the clearing turned into a ghastly slaughter. All suggested that the spirit Gu Peijiu dispatched was not the end. It was only the beginning. The swarm of people, hoping to snatch something from the chaos on Evil Spirit Mountain, had dwindled considerably after the beast tide's brutality. Still, even the remaining throng was vast. The terrifying slaughter scene and the flying flesh and blood painted a grim picture. Yet most spirits near the group faced swift resolution from Gu Peijiu; Ye Ze and the other Jianfeng disciples assisted at her side. As an emerging contender for chief disciple, Ye Ze's strength ranked among the best, yet he always fell slightly short compared to Gu Peijiu. Gu Peijiu focused on rapidly dealing with the nearby fast spirits, her celestial ribbon as sharp and swift as a sword, creating an impenetrable barrier. Occasionally, she let in spirits only as strong as the accompanying disciples for practice and immediately dispatched any anomalies. Truly at ease. "Ssshh—" The celestial ribbon pierced through a spirit’s skull, the green hair ribbon on Gu Peijiu’s wrist fluttering with her movements, stirring a familiar sensation in her heart. That elusive... aura. Could it be... nostalgia?! Gu Peijiu momentarily faltered, and from her side sprang a towering, blood-smeared ox spirit, attacking with ferocity during her hesitation! “Clang!” Wen Qing, its mysterious pattern-laden blade, intercepted the assault. Ye Ze called out, “Senior sister!” Drawing her thoughts back to the moment, Gu Peijiu’s heart remained unsettled. A nostalgic aura... there was no mistaking it, the fragrance of nostalgia. These thoughts… the image of a girl's radiant smile surfaced in her mind. No, that couldn't be right. There was no reason for her to be here— Everywhere, evil spirits clashed and roared as Gu Peijiu released her celestial ribbon, rising gracefully into the air! Even ghosts that attempted to soar skyward were mercilessly beaten down by her. And in just one glance. A single glance was all it took for Gu Peijiu to spot that familiar figure amongst the dark masses. There, amidst the chaos, was someone with familiar cat-like eyes, a black cloak, a scythe slung over their back, long black hair flowing, and a bright red ribbon—Nostalgia—tying the ends. It was a sight she knew all too well. Her face was pale, appearing terrified. Such obvious weakness made her the perfect target for an evil spirit, and sure enough, a ghastly ghost missing a leg lunged towards her with claws bared! Though seemingly frightened, she reacted with impressive speed, drawing her scythe with nimble fingers. The dark blade traced a cold arc through the air, and at the last moment of contact with the spirit— It vanished. The legless ghost was gone, the scythe slashing at empty air. Reappearing moments later, the spirit had ensnared the slender neck of the girl with its brutal grasp. Her face turned crimson from the strain, as the scythe slipped powerlessly from her hands. She clung desperately to the ghost’s solidified arm, yet despite being a naturally strong puppet master, her training as a Dan practitioner was insufficient against a ghost fully corporealized through centuries of cultivation. In that moment, as the girl's neck was seized, all discordance, all doubt and anxiety vanished from Gu Peijiu’s heart. Whatever the truth was, her focus now was solely on the person suffocating in front of her. She couldn't afford any possibility of loss. She could accept being rejected by this person, or facing a future with or without her own presence. But there was one thing she could not accept. That was death. This, Gu Peijiu could not accept. The instant the ghost clutched her throat. Gu Peijiu’s mind went utterly blank. Thought ceasing altogether, she was aware only of the insurmountable pain in her heart. This child, tender and dear to her, whom she'd nurtured so carefully over time, treasured beyond measure, was now ensnared in a ghost’s lethal grip, her life hanging by a thread. ——What hesitation remains? ——What reason to delay? Truth was irrelevant. What mattered most—to Gu Peijiu—was being unable to bear even the smallest chance of losing that person. Unforgivable. ...Unforgivable! Lu Che, below, was unsure why their senior sister had shot up into the sky, while realizing how powerless they were amidst these swift, terrifying specter-like spirits. They trembled, clutching the sleeve of Ye Ze, seeking refuge behind him. "What’s senior sister up to... hey, be careful man, you Jianfeng folks are always fighting, very powerful, so I’m counting on you for my safety...” Wielding Wen Qing, Ye Ze split open a ghost's skull with ease: “…” Lu Che glanced towards where Gu Peijiu had disappeared, “Hey, doesn’t that person look familiar? Like... the overseer?” Ye Ze paused, his sword still, gazing towards Gu Peijiu, nearly freezing at the sight of "Xia Wuyin." His pupils shrunk! “Ssshh—” Despite the uneasy feeling within, Ye Ze dispatched an incoming ghost with a sharp strike, maintaining his composure. “We need to assist.” Lu Che: “Huh? Assist? Assist with what... hey, don’t leave me alone, I’m scared!” Together, they battled ghosts while arduously moving toward that direction. As the red silk constricted around the ghost's neck, Gu Peijiu wondered if it hurt her. Her mind was unraveling. The blood-red celestial ribbon tightened, then suddenly unfolded, transforming into delicate strands of crimson. As tender as a whisper, they avoided the girl while encapsulating the ghost. These strands of red were razor-sharp, but instead of slicing instantly, they leisurely cut through, the ghost suffering incrementally until reduced to mere shreds of flesh. Even a spirit could taste the agony of dismemberment. Dismemberment! Gu Peijiu felt herself unraveling. No, she was utterly unhinged. She never employed such ruthless tactics. Too vicious, too cruel, too agonizing—even for demons and puppets, she aimed for quick and peaceful end. But at this moment, reason eluded her. The ghost, ensnared by the celestial ribbon, released the girl from its grip, howling and writhing in agony. Yet the more it resisted, the more profound its torment became as the strands tightened mercilessly. Unfeeling, cold. Before the girl hit the ground, she was scooped into a warm embrace. Tight, protective, like a precious treasure regained. She could hear the pounding of the person’s heart, racing wildly, both anxious and exhilarated. "Everything's alright..." With the girl safe, Gu Peijiu’s frantic heart finally calmed, though the lingering fear was unforgettable. For the first time, she realized vividly. In this world, separation means more than just farewell or refusal; it can also signify life and death. This is love. Gazing downward, the girl’s cat-like eyes glinted coldly and mockingly, but her voice was gentle, clinging shyly to Gu Peijiu’s en robe, “Senior Sister... I’m scared.” Apologetically, timidly, “I… I came to find you.” "There’s something important I wish to tell you, but you’re never around.” "……Oh." Gu Peijiu remained silent.