40: Chapter 40 The Evil Spirit That Drains People's Yang Energy

Li Family, back hall.

The banquet was set in the flower hall of the back hall, quite lavish.

Steward Li sat in the main seat, while Ding Qing was pulled to sit at the head, still holding the swaddled infant in his arms.

Instructor Wang accompanied them at the lower seat; though his face was still pale, he insisted on toasting and apologizing.

Qiu Shuzhen was also invited, sitting on Steward Li's other side, smiling charmingly.

Her gaze, however, occasionally fell on Ding Qing and the infant in his arms.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of dishes.

Steward Li, his face flushed with drink, slapped his chest and boasted, spitting everywhere.

"Strong Man Ding is truly a Heavenly God descended to the mortal world! This old man has lived most of his life and has never seen a person like you.

With you here, any monstrous fiends, any evil cultists or bandits who dare to act wildly in my Li family are simply seeking their own demise.

This old man's heart can finally rest!

He raised his wine cup, leaned towards Ding Qing, and whispered, with a hint of mystery and unconcealed fear.

"Strong Man Ding, having you as a personal guard is actually... for an even more important matter, and only you can do it!"

Ding Qing put down his chopsticks, his gaze from under the brim of his hat like a cold pond, quietly watching him.

Steward Li licked his somewhat dry lips, the muscles on his plump face twitched, and he leaned in closer, almost whispering.

"Panshi City... is haunted! A Red-clothed Female Ghost! She only appears at night, targeting strong and vigorous men... sucking... sucking their Yang Qi."

He subconsciously touched his fair, plump face and shivered.

"This old man's... this old man's physique, fair and plump, with the most abundant and alluring Yang Qi, what if that female ghost targets me... what should I do?

Therefore, Strong Man Ding, I implore you to guard the side room outside my bedroom every night. If there's any rustling, any unusual sound, you must rush over immediately! Protect me!"

His eyes were full of pleading and fear.

"As for accommodation, I have already ordered people to clean up the separate courtyard next to the bedroom. It's quiet and elegant, fully equipped. Strong Man Ding, what do you think...?"

As he spoke, he pulled out a small, gleaming yellow object from his sleeve and placed it before Ding Qing.

"This is a small token of my appreciation. If you can protect me, there will surely be a generous reward!"

It was a small gold ingot, shimmering alluringly in the candlelight.

Ding Qing's gaze did not linger on the gold.

He originally just needed a place to stay, an environment to temper his blade embryo.

The Li Residence was merely a temporary stop.

But a "Red-clothed Female Ghost"? Specifically sucking the Yang Qi of strong men?

These words were like stones cast into a deep pond, instantly stirring ripples in his tranquil heart.

Phoenix Mountain's shadow, remnants of the past...

Bizarre evil spirits, for him, were never a threat, but rather a whetstone to be torn apart, ground down, and used to temper himself.

The ferocious Battle Intent dormant within him was quietly ignited by the word 'ghost,' like lava surging beneath ice.

The infant in his arms seemed to sense the subtle change in his internal Qi, its little feet gently kicking in the swaddling clothes.

Ding Qing slowly raised his head. Under the shadow of his hat brim, a cold and intrigued arc formed at the corner of his mouth, like a beast smelling blood.

"Good."

He assented, his voice low, yet carrying an undeniable resolve.

"This ghost, I will kill."

He casually took the gold ingot, tucked it into his embrace without even looking at it.

"Where is the separate courtyard?"

Upon hearing this, Steward Li's expression of fear was instantly replaced by wild joy, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw.

"Good! Good! Strong Man Ding is straightforward! Butler, quick! Quickly take Strong Man Ding to the Eastern Warm Pavilions Separate Courtyard and serve him well!"

The butler quickly bowed and led the way.

Ding Qing, holding the swaddled infant, cast a deep shadow in the flickering candlelight as his tall figure stepped out of the noisy flower hall.

Night had fallen deep, and Panshi City was as silent as a tomb.

On the paper window of the Li Residence's Eastern Warm Pavilion, a tiny, bean-sized lamp glowed.

Ding Qing sat cross-legged on the couch, the infant in his arms breathing steadily.

He closed his eyes, adjusting his breathing.

Nine black Pattern beneath his skin faintly appeared and disappeared, like nine dormant black Dragons.

...

Days flowed within the high walls of the Li family, and for Ding Qing, it was like still water with faint ripples.

Day after day, oblivious to the passage of time.

He sat cross-legged in the Eastern Warm Pavilions Separate Courtyard, his eyes closed like an ancient well.

The nine Body-Suppressing Black Pattern moved beneath his skin, each pulsation drawing the Qi and blood throughout his body, like lava surging deep within a dormant volcano.

He was currently organizing a martial art.

A martial art suitable for the Blade Master, one that would allow him to embark on his destined path.

This was a long wait.

This era, from the current perspective, seemed to be an era where martial Dao was revered.

In such a flourishing martial Dao era, the martial art needed to replace the original Blade Master could certainly not be mediocre.

Long and distant.

Fortunately, Ding Qing was no longer anxious this time; he had calmed his mind.

All of this was a baptism of Realm for the Blade Master and for him.

A slight movement came.

Ding Qing's eyes moved; it was from Steward Li's bedroom next door.

Every sound from Steward Li's bedroom.

The groan of the wooden bed under his plump body, the heavy gasps from nightmares in the dead of night, even the almost imperceptible click of the mechanism when the heavy iron door of the treasury opened.

All of it clearly reached his ears, in minute detail.

This nearly "Heavenly Ear Divine Power" meant he didn't need to divert his attention to watch.

After Ding Qing intentionally revealed it once, Steward Li completely abandoned the idea of him having to guard outside the bedroom.

Steward Li only took it as a Divine Being's method, becoming even more awestruck, and naturally dared not comment on his whereabouts.

In recent days, the Li family had become quite lively.

Steward Li had recently lost his legitimate wife.

However, he believed the words of a sorcerer about bringing good fortune through remarriage and was preparing to take a new wife.

Everyone in the mansion knew that the girl, Qiu Shuzhen, who had sold herself to bury her mother, was the designated new madam.

This future mistress of the Li family now held an extraordinary status in the mansion, living a life of pampered ease.

Every day, she would either groom herself in front of a mirror or sit idly by the railing, appearing gentle and naive.

During the day, she always loved to gracefully walk through the covered corridors, seeking out Steward Li to talk.

Perhaps bringing a bowl of soup she personally simmered, or asking for advice on trivial household matters.

Steward Li was so charmed by her soft voice and sweet words that his bones went soft, thinking the beauty was smitten, and was utterly delighted.

He completely failed to notice the hint of cunning and amusement, like a cat toying with a mouse, hidden deep within her watery eyes.

Night was a different scene.

Not long after Steward Li's plump body sank into the brocade quilt, emitting satisfied snores.

A lithe figure, light as a swallow, silently slipped out of the West Wing Courtyard.

Qiu Shuzhen, with a gold needle as fine as an ox's hair between her fingers, silently touched Steward Li's Sleeping Acupoint behind his neck, and his snoring immediately ceased.

She skillfully removed the brass-cast, intricately patterned treasury key from Steward Li's greasy neck.

Like plucking a fruit that was already ripe.

She spun around, her toes barely touching the ground, her figure merging into the shadows beneath the corridor, so fast that only a faint fragrance remained.

The treasury was located deep within the inner courtyard, with a heavy iron door and intricate mechanisms.

However, in Qiu Shuzhen's hands, the key seemed to turn with a spirit of its own, and the faint click of the mechanism opening was absorbed by the night wind.

She darted inside, not being greedy.

She only picked out a few gold ingots from the neatly stacked ones, and from a brocade box, selected a few dazzling yet portable pieces of jewelry, wrapped them in a plain handkerchief, and tucked them into her embrace.

Her movements were fluid and practiced, clearly that of a seasoned expert.

She was about to retreat.

However, a cold, heavy, almost tangible aura of ferocity silently blocked the treasury's only exit.

Ding Qing.

He held the swaddled infant, his tall figure almost filling the doorframe, the shadow under his hat brim unfathomably deep.