36: Chapter 36 Blood and Qi Enchantment

"Roar!"

The female ghost let out an excited roar and lunged directly at Jiang Hongli.

"Stop yelling! Think of something!" Chen Mo had already released his Tortoise Breathing state and roared, "Aren't you supposed to be a professional at this? Teach me how to kill it!"

Jiang Hongli dodged clumsily while shouting with a sob in her voice, "Qi and Blood! Use Qi and Blood to enchant your weapon! You've practiced the Five Animal Frolics, do you know how to channel Qi and Blood or not?!"

"How do I channel it?"

"Think! Just imagine the blood in your whole body is burning! Then force that energy into your hands! Force it onto the blade!"

Jiang Hongli performed a roll, narrowly avoiding the ghost's claws. A large piece of the clothing on her back was torn away, revealing her snow-white back, now marked with three bloody scratches.

"Hurry up! I'm going to die!"

Chen Mo gripped the red sword in his hand tightly.

Qi and Blood... burning...

He closed his eyes, recalling the feeling of hot currents surging when practicing the Five Animal Frolics.

His heart beat violently, and his blood flow accelerated.

A wave of dry heat rose from his Dantian, surging along his Meridians.

But this was not enough.

Chen Mo gritted his teeth and forcibly drove this heat flow toward his right arm.

Pain!

His Meridians felt like they were being burned by fire.

But he couldn't care about that now.

"Give me... burn!"

Chen Mo opened his eyes abruptly.

He saw that the red sword in his hand was actually glowing with a faint red light. Although it was very weak, like a flashlight running out of batteries, it was exceptionally conspicuous in the darkness.

【Skill Comprehended: Qi and Blood Enchantment (Beginner 1%)】

A line of text flashed on the panel.

It worked!

At this moment, the female ghost had already forced Jiang Hongli into a corner. With nowhere left to retreat, Jiang Hongli grabbed a handful of dirt, preparing to throw it at the ghost's face.

"Move aside!"

Chen Mo shouted, his entire body surging forward like a tiger descending the mountain.

In this moment, he didn't use any fancy Moves; it was just the simplest, most direct slash.

Cleaving Mt. Hua!

The female ghost heard the wind behind her and turned her head abruptly.

But this time, what greeted her was no longer ordinary iron, but a sharp blade imbued with masculine Qi and Blood.

"Sshhh—"

A sound like a hot knife cutting through butter.

The red sword, carrying a faint glow, sliced through the female ghost's neck without any resistance.

No blood sprayed out.

A puff of black smoke emerged from the wound, making a "sizzling" sound, just like charred barbecue.

"Ahhh—!!!"

The female ghost let out an extremely shrill scream. Her figure shook violently, and her previously solid body began to turn transparent.

While you're down, I'll take your life!

Chen Mo didn't let up, flicking his wrist to deliver two more sword strikes.

One strike pierced the heart, the other severed the head.

The severed ghost head rolled twice, the black light in its eyes finally dissipating as it turned into a pool of black water.

The headless corpse also collapsed like a deflated ball, rapidly shriveling up until it finally turned into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated into the night wind.

Only a tattered red wedding dress remained, spread out on the ground.

Chen Mo let out a long breath and sat down on the ground with a thud.

His hands were still shaking; half from exhaustion, half from lingering fear.

This was a real ghost.

If that strike hadn't landed, or if the Qi and Blood hadn't been imbued, he and Jiang Hongli would be the ones lying on the ground right now.

The courtyard returned to a deathly silence.

After a long while, a rustling sound came from the corner.

Jiang Hongli leaned against the wall and slowly stood up.

Her hair was a mess like a bird's nest, her face was covered in dirt, and her red dress had several holes in it; she didn't look much better than the female ghost just now.

She limped over to Chen Mo and looked down at him.

Chen Mo looked up and grinned: "Lord Jiang, truly heroic. That 'descending from the heavens' palm technique you used earlier, is it the long-lost…"

"Chen! Mo!"

Jiang Hongli gritted her teeth, each word sounding like it was squeezed through the gaps in her teeth.

"Did you... just poke me with a stick earlier?"

Chen Mo looked innocent: "What stick? Lord Jiang, you must have seen it wrong, right? That was just a broken tree branch."

"Damn you!" Jiang Hongli was so angry her chest heaved violently. "That position! That force! Who else could it be but you?!"

She clutched her buttocks, her face alternating between red and white.

That poke earlier, although it didn't cause injury, was extremely insulting. A dignified traveling officer of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, actually being... poked in the butt and falling down to be used as a human shield!

"Lord Jiang, you can't say it like that." Chen Mo handed over the red sword, speaking with earnestness, "The situation was critical earlier; that was tactics. Look, if you hadn't drawn the fire, how would I have had the chance for a one-hit kill? This is called cooperation, this is called tacit understanding."

"Tacit understanding my foot!"

Jiang Hongli snatched the sword, wanting to chop someone, but she felt in the wrong. After all, she was indeed the one who had chickened out and climbed the tree first.

She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down, but the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

"You... what was that earlier?" She pointed at Chen Mo. "Qi and Blood Enchantment is a skill that can only be mastered in the Tongmai Realm. You're just a beginner apprentice, how did you succeed on the first try?"

Chen Mo shrugged: "Natural talent, perhaps. Or maybe it was forced out by an overwhelming desire to survive."

Jiang Hongli looked at him suspiciously, as if looking at a monster.

At that moment, she had indeed felt the surge of Qi and Blood from Chen Mo's body. Although not strong, it was very pure and well-controlled.

This kid is a natural talent for martial arts.

Pity his character is so poor!

"This isn't over." Jiang Hongli glared at him fiercely. "Half of today's reward money is deducted! As compensation for my mental distress!"

"Don't do that!" Chen Mo immediately jumped up. "Lord Jiang, one must be kind! I saved your life just now! A life-saving grace, I don't ask that you offer your hand in marriage, but at least don't deduct the money, right?"

"I'm deducting it! Who told you to poke my... that!"

"Which? Be clear, where did I poke you?"

"Shut up!"

As the two were arguing, movement came from the direction of the moon gate.

Steward Zhao, along with the group of servants, poked their heads in to look.

Seeing that the ghost was gone from the courtyard and only two living people were arguing, Steward Zhao finally summoned the courage to call out: "Lord Jiang? That... that thing, where is it?"

Jiang Hongli immediately dropped her shrewish brawling posture, tidied her hair, put her hands behind her back, and resumed the cold, aloof image of a constable.

"It has been resolved," she said indifferently. "A mere vengeful spirit; this constable slew it in three strikes."

Chen Mo rolled his eyes beside her.

What a poser.

Upon hearing this, Steward Zhao was overjoyed. He rushed in with his people and showered Jiang Hongli with endless gratitude.

"Divine Constable! Truly a Divine Constable!" Steward Zhao was so excited his face fat trembled. "This hundred taels of silver, it's worth it! It's so worth it!"

As he spoke, he had the steward take out the silver notes and respectfully hand them to Jiang Hongli.

Jiang Hongli took the silver notes, didn't even glance at them, and stuffed them directly into her robes. Then she turned to look at Chen Mo, her eyes carrying a hint of provocation.

The meaning was obvious: Want money? Beg me.

Chen Mo looked at the stack of silver notes, his heart bleeding.

That was his lifeline! Only with money could he buy medicine, only with medicine could he practice martial arts, and only by practicing could he extend his life.

This woman, she's too ruthless.