Wedding ceremony tomorrow

Chapter 83 Ghost Immortal, Phantom of the Night!

The next day.

As the sun rises, the ground is covered with frost and dew.

The nightingale has left.

The signs of a fight, bloodstains, and corpses in the courtyard, as well as outside the courtyard, have all disappeared.

When Xiaotao woke up, she saw nothing.

Of course, she knew nothing about it either.

Heartbreakingly, she didn't see Xiao Jing in the outer room. After searching for a while, she returned and asked Luo Qingfeng, who had just gotten up, "Young Master, have you seen Xiao Jing?"

Luo Qingfeng shook his head.

Xiao Tao asked with a puzzled look, "Last night, I remember that Xiao Jing wanted to come in and sleep with us in the middle of the night, but I was too sleepy and fell asleep. I don't know where she slept last night."

Luo Qingfeng said, "I don't remember either."

Xiao Tao said "Oh" and didn't say anything more before hurrying out to boil water.

After helping him wash up, the little girl went out and went to find Xiao Jing elsewhere.

Luo Qingfeng sighed inwardly, closed the door, and began cultivating in his room.

With a thought, the data appeared.

[Process: 42]

[Creation Heaven Fifth Star Realm, Progress: Fifty]

As expected, it increased somewhat.

Even though I only exchanged one blow with the demon last night and didn't kill him, the data still increased, though not by much.

This shows that as long as you fight against the demon, the data in the first row will increase.

Then, he looked at the book "The Art of Ghost Immortals".

"Someone once said: There are three levels of Dharma, and five levels of immortals: ghost immortals, human immortals, earth immortals, divine immortals, and celestial immortals. All of these are immortals. Ghost immortals are not separate from ghosts, human immortals are not separate from humans, earth immortals are not separate from the earth..."

"The Ghost Immortal is one below the Five Immortals. Transcending the Yin realm, their divine form is unclear. They have no surname in the Ghost Realm and no name in the Three Mountains. Though they do not reincarnate, they find it difficult to return to Penglai. Ultimately, they have nowhere to go but to be reborn into another body..."

"Those who cultivate themselves initially do not comprehend the Great Dao, but desire quick results. Their bodies are like withered wood, their hearts like dead ashes, their spirits are guarded within, and their will is unwavering. In meditation, they manifest a Yin spirit, which is a pure and ethereal ghost, not a pure Yang immortal. Because their Yin spirit is unwavering, they are called ghost immortals. Although they are called immortals, they are actually ghosts..."

"However, this is a great error."

Above the Ghost Immortals, there are also Yang Gods, whose souls are immortal, whose physical bodies are infinite, who are omnipresent, and who live forever... They transcend the Three Realms and Six Paths, and are never reincarnated...

Luo Qingfeng carefully read through a few pages and came across an image of climbing a pagoda, along with the method of cultivation.

Beside the pagoda, the levels of cultivation were written in bold strokes: Concentration, Astral Projection, Night Wandering, Day Wandering, Object Manipulation, Possession, Divided Spirit, Unity, Thunder Tribulation, Ghost Immortal, Nine Heavens Tribulation, Yang God.

Then, the method of concentrating the mind was written down in detail below.

The next page still depicts an image of a pagoda, below which are the methods for the spirit to leave the body.

Luo Qingfeng turned back and began to carefully study the meditation method.

"Calm your mind, clear your thoughts of distractions, concentrate your divine will, fix it on your soul, let it separate and reunite, making it powerful and as easy to control as your own limbs..."

Luo Qingfeng thought to himself: If I could cultivate the ability to separate my Yin spirit from my body, it would be much more convenient to do whatever I wanted in secret.

For example, if you were to explore that bamboo hut, you could go there quietly and return quietly.

You can search for any clue without anyone noticing.

Thinking this, his heart burned with excitement. He carefully memorized the cultivation method again, then closed his eyes and prepared to cultivate.

Clear your mind of distractions, calm your mind, and concentrate...

The thoughts in his mind began to slowly gather together, settling within his soul. After a short while, they slowly dispersed, spreading out to various corners. Then, he urged them to gather again...

This process was repeated over and over.

Concentrating the mind doesn't seem difficult; the difficult next step is the astral projection of the spirit.

It's not only difficult, but also extremely dangerous.

The book says that if one's soul is not strong and one's will is not resilient, once one forcibly leaves the body, it will dissipate and cannot be gathered back. Perhaps only a wisp will return, or it may all shatter and disappear without a trace. At that time, one's soul will be scattered, leaving only an empty physical body.

Therefore, the first step may seem simple, but it should not be rushed.

One must temper one's soul and divine will to be strong enough before proceeding to the next step.

Before I knew it, it was noon, and I was still practicing.

When Luo Qingfeng woke up, he had a headache, obviously due to excessive mental exertion, but he seemed to have a clearer mind and senses than before.

Before long, Xiao Tao returned with lunch.

The little girl looked rather downcast. When she saw Luo Qingfeng, she said sadly, "Young Master, they said that Xiao Jing went back to her hometown and will never come back."

At this point, her eyes reddened slightly: "We clearly agreed last night to serve the young master together..."

Luo Qingfeng sighed inwardly and softly comforted her, "Her sister had an accident in the manor. If she stayed there, she would probably think about her every day. I guess her family needs her, so they took her away."

With tears in her eyes, Xiao Tao said, "She left without even saying goodbye to me..."

Luo Qingfeng said, "I guess she was afraid you'd be sad. Don't overthink it."

Xiao Tao wiped away her tears and said, "Young master, please eat. I won't say anything more... Sigh, being able to go home is much better than being sold to those bad people. I should be happy for Xiao Jing."

Luo Qingfeng nodded and said, "That's the right way to think about it. Come on, let's eat together."

Xiao Tao said "Oh" and stood to the side.

After lunch.

Xiao Tao packed her things and left.

Luo Qingfeng returned to his room, preparing to continue his cultivation.

Just as they were about to close the window, a figure suddenly jumped in from outside the courtyard wall. After landing lightly, the figure flashed and was already at the window.

"Did I disturb your training of your pretty little maid, or your fondling of her feet?"

The nightingale, dressed in a white shirt and red skirt, stood gracefully outside the window with her arms crossed, yet she had a strange and ambiguous look on her face.

Luo Qingfeng said, "I'm all alone."

Nightingale snorted and said, "So you mean if that pretty little maid were here, you'd be planning to play with her feet again?"

Luo Qingfeng changed the subject: "How did it go? Did you catch that demon?"

Nightingale gave him a few more cold glances before saying, "No, she escaped. We searched the entire mansion but couldn't find her. However, the array's protective barrier indicates that she didn't escape and is clearly still hiding somewhere in the mansion. It's also possible that she has possessed someone else. If that's the case, it will be even harder to find her. There are hundreds of people coming and going in the mansion; we can't possibly check everyone's body."

Luo Qingfeng said with a solemn expression, "Then wouldn't we all be in danger?"

Nightingale looked at him and said, "That demon already knows that you and I came here for her. If there are other demons in the manor, I don't know if she will tell us. Anyway, it is indeed very dangerous now, especially for you. She took on demon form for you, and she probably hates you to death and wishes she could drain you dry right now. So, my advice is that you leave now."

Before Luo Qingfeng could speak, she added coldly, "If you can't bear to part with that little maid, you can take her with you. However, I won't pay for her upbringing."

The implication is that I will only support you.

Luo Qingfeng shook his head and said, "Sister Nightingale, I think you are in more danger because you hurt her and forced her to abandon her physical body. She will definitely try every means to take revenge on you. I think you should leave now, immediately."

Nightingale scoffed, "I am a demon slayer, why would I be afraid of her?"

Luo Qingfeng said, "Does that mean I'm not a demon slayer?"

Nightingale glanced at him sideways and said, "You're not just a demon slayer, you're also a lecher. People specialize in seducing lechers, so you're the most dangerous one."

Luo Qingfeng: "..."

Nightingale remembered their business and whispered, "Didn't you say there might be a clue in a small hut? Let's go check it out tonight. The sooner we catch the demon, the sooner we can leave this dangerous place."

Luo Qingfeng nodded and said, "Okay, come find me tonight."

"Will it disturb you while you're playing with the little maid's feet?" the nightingale asked.

Luo Qingfeng pretended not to hear and said, "You should also be careful."

Nightingale snorted, said nothing more, and waved her hand, saying, "I'm leaving. I still need to keep an eye on Fourth Madam; she hasn't cleared her name yet."

Luo Qingfeng suddenly asked, "By the way, why is Dong Miaomiao a suspect?"

After taking a few steps, Nightingale turned around and said, "It must be a misunderstanding. She is a cultivator. We detected residual demonic energy in her room and on her clothes. Last night, we had her use her star power to check again, but we didn't find anything."

Luo Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's really hard to accept if such a little girl really becomes a demon."

The nightingale said, "Indeed."

She then gave him another deep look, and in a flash, she lightly leaped over the courtyard wall.

Luo Qingfeng stood by the window, pondered for a while, and then returned to bed to continue his cultivation.

Evening arrived quickly.

Xiao Tao returned with dinner and whispered, "Young Master, I heard that some officials came to the manor today, probably because of Xiao Zi."

Luo Qingfeng asked, "What else have you heard?"

Xiao Tao shook her head and said, "The head steward instructed us not to discuss those things anymore. By the way, I saw Xiao Duo and Xiao Mei again today. They said they wanted to come and play with you, young master. Xiao Mei even asked me to ask you if you still need to use the back door recently. I said you need to study recently and don't want them to disturb you."

Luo Qingfeng ate his meal while listening to her gossip.

Xiao Tao laughed and said, "They just want to eat the young master's candied hawthorns. They've been saying all day that the candied hawthorns are so delicious, and they even asked me if I eat them every day. They're so envious of me."

Luo Qingfeng sighed and said, "I'm penniless right now, so I can't buy anything even if I go out."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao immediately took out her small purse and said, "Young master, I have some loose silver here, which I have saved up. You can take it and use it first. If it's not enough, I will borrow from others."

Luo Qingfeng paused for a moment, then looked at her.

The little girl looked at him with an innocent and pure expression, her tender and adorable face full of unreserved dependence and trust.

Luo Qingfeng couldn't imagine how heartbroken and desperate she would be if he left her in the future.

"Keep it for now, and ask for it again when I need it."

He said softly.

Thinking about it carefully, he really was a failure.

Now, he is heavily in debt, and all of it is owed to that little girl.

What a grown man! He owes a debt to a young girl and expects her to support him...

"Oh, right, Xiaotao."

He suddenly said, "If I leave here in the future, will you come with me to live a hard life? There might be no place to stay, and we might not be able to guarantee that we'll have food every day."

Xiao Tao nodded immediately and without hesitation, saying, "Of course I will. I am already yours, young master. No matter where you go in the future, I will follow you for life. Even if we live on the streets, even if we starve to death, I will be willing. But don't worry, young master, I know needlework. I can mend clothes and embroider for people to earn money for you."

Looking at her innocent and earnest expression, Luo Qingfeng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He didn't say anything more and continued to eat with his head down.

Dinner is over.

Xiao Tao put away the bowls and chopsticks and left the courtyard.

After placing some items around the courtyard, Luo Qingfeng entered the room, sat down on the couch, and continued to concentrate.

Outside the window, the sun was setting quickly.

As night fell, a silver moon quietly climbed onto the treetops.

The mansion fell silent.

The maids and servants all carried lanterns, walked carefully, and spoke softly, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Many people went back inside early.

Although the events that happened in the manor were not widely publicized, many servants still learned about them through various channels.

Xiao Tao came back after taking a shower.

She went to the kitchen to boil water and helped Luo Qingfeng wash up and wash her feet.

After finishing her work, she climbed into bed and warmed the blankets.

Luo Qingfeng sat on the couch and cultivated.

The little girl thought he was tired from reading and was resting with his eyes closed, so she didn't dare to disturb him.

In the stillness of the night.

A soft sound suddenly came from the courtyard outside.

Luo Qingfeng opened his eyes, got up and went into the inner room, then took off his outer clothes, got into bed, and crawled under the covers.

Xiao Tao, sleeping on the other side, said shyly, "Young master, how about tonight...?"

Luo Qingfeng said, "Go to sleep early."

The young maid said "Oh," and then whispered, "Young master, may I... sleep on the other side?"

Luo Qingfeng was playing with and stroking her delicate feet when he said, "What do you think?"

The little maid blushed and asked shyly, "Does the young master only like...like me here?"

Luo Qingfeng said, "Go to sleep, I'm sleepy."

Some things are better left unsaid, and even worse, never spoken.

The little girl said "Oh" and didn't say anything more.

Half an hour later.

The little girl's breathing became even, and she had clearly fallen asleep.

Luo Qingfeng waited a few more moments before quietly getting out of bed, putting on his clothes and shoes, walking to the window, and gently opening it.

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared outside the window; it was a piece of clothing, fluttering in the wind.

Luo Qingfeng was startled and was about to be on guard when Nightingale emerged from the darkness beside him, reached out and took the black cloak, and sneered, "You scared me to death! Serves you right for being so wicked!"

Luo Qingfeng: "..."

Nightingale suddenly mimicked Xiaotao's shy tone, saying, "Young master, tonight... young master, do you only like my... my... here?"

Luo Qingfeng: "..."

"Tsk tsk, Young Master Luo is so lucky."

The nightingale was extremely jealous.

Luo Qingfeng climbed out of the window, closed it, and said, "Business is important, let's go."

Nightingale rolled her eyes at him and walked ahead with a cold, pretty face.

Luo Qingfeng was still somewhat worried and asked, "Are there any guards nearby?"

The nightingale snorted and said, "Of course."

Luo Qingfeng was slightly relieved and asked, "Where is Fourth Madam?"

Nightingale said, "The captain is personally overseeing things there."

Luo Qingfeng asked, "Is it still the same captain as before?"

Nightingale shook her head and said, "It's been changed a long time ago. It's a woman from the advanced class named Tang Wu. She's at the eighth level of the Open Heaven Realm. She's a very nice person and takes good care of us."

Luo Qingfeng said, "That's good. In the future, when you're looking for a captain, try to find a woman. I don't mean anything by it, it's just that women are generally better."

"hehe."

Nightingale chuckled, too lazy to expose him, but a sweet feeling welled up inside her.

The vinegar smell from before has finally dissipated a bit.

The two walked quietly and soon arrived at the bamboo forest.

Luo Qingfeng looked at the familiar road, but suddenly felt nervous.

At this moment, the mansion was pitch black and completely silent.

Even with the moonlight shining through, the surroundings still felt eerie, gloomy, cold, and deathly silent, sending chills down one's spine.

"Could it be a ghost?"

Nightingale suddenly felt a little scared, pressed herself closer to him, and gripped the hilt of the knife tightly in her hand.

Luo Qingfeng led her into the bamboo forest and said, "If there are ghosts, that would be good. Hopefully, the ghosts can tell us who the murderer is and who the demon is."

The two quickly passed through the bamboo forest and saw the flower bed ahead.

At the very front of the flowerbed, the dark wooden house sat there all alone, like a silent monster lying there, its mouth agape, waiting for them.

The nightingale whispered, "Why did we come at night?"

Luo Qingfeng said, "Wasn't it you who suggested it?"

Nightingale quietly drew her knife and said, "It was clearly you who suggested it last night."

"Shh, what's that sound?"

As the two walked into the flower path in the middle of the flowerbed, they suddenly heard a strange sound coming from ahead.

Just then, the window of the small wooden house in front suddenly creaked open.

But it was pitch black inside the window, and you couldn't see anything.

The two men stood frozen in place, tense and highly alert, each gripping the hilt of their respective knives tightly.

All around was deathly silent.

The two could almost hear each other's heartbeats.

"Squeak..."

The window shook again, emitting a hoarse and eerie sound.

"It's the wind..."

Luo Qingfeng offered words of comfort, then gripped the knife and walked ahead.

The nightingale quickly followed and stayed close to him.

If it weren't for the strange story he told, she wouldn't be so scared.

The maid who had suddenly disappeared reappeared before him, led him the way, and then entered the small wooden house alone before disappearing again.

It sounds a bit unbelievable.

Thinking about it in such a quiet and gloomy night is naturally somewhat terrifying.

With their minds highly focused, the two walked step by step to the front of the wooden house.

A night breeze blew by, and the window creaked again.

The two breathed a sigh of relief.

It really was the wind.

Just as Luo Qingfeng was about to push the door open, Nightingale suddenly trembled, nudged him, and quietly pointed to the shadows of the two people on the wooden house.

The moonlight stretched their shadows long, casting them onto the wooden house in front of them.

But behind the two of them, there was another shadow standing silently!

(End of this chapter)