Chapter 108: Xiaoqian and Xiao Qi

Some were pure and adorable, possessing an innocent charm. Others were enchanting, their allure radiating from their very bones. There were those who carried themselves like well-bred ladies of noble houses, gentle and serene, while others simply wept softly or begged for mercy.

A few merely looked up at him, their expressions timid and fearful.

Li Meng observed the bevy of female ghosts with an expressionless, sage-like detachment. His youthful face, framed by flowing white hair, betrayed no emotion.

For a ghost to remain in the mortal world, they had to absorb Yang energy. There was no such thing as a resentful ghost that did not harm the living. Whether they were willing or not was irrelevant; to survive, they had to prey on others.

“Since your bodies have perished, all karma from your previous lives is extinguished. Why cling to the mortal dust?” Li Meng’s voice was calm but resonated with spiritual power. “I will perform the rites of passage for you. Enter the cycle of reincarnation.”

The eyes of many ghosts lit up with hope. They hurriedly knelt, kowtowing repeatedly in gratitude.

Becoming a ghost had never been their desire. It wasn’t that they refused reincarnation, but that they had been denied it. Without a proper rite of passage, they were doomed to dissipate into nothingness, forever barred from the cycle.

Now that an Immortal was willing to open the path to the Yellow Springs for them, how could they not be overjoyed?

“Thank you, Immortal, for your fulfillment!”

“Great Immortal, your kindness is vast. This humble woman will repay you in the next life!”

Facing those pairs of bright, watery eyes, Li Meng sighed inwardly.

Every resentful ghost had endured a tragic life. Yet, even after death, they found no peace. Bound to this specific location, they were tormented day and night by their own hatred.

Those who succumbed to madness became Fierce Ghosts, devouring others to grow stronger. To protect themselves, the weaker ghosts would often kill those on the verge of turning. It was a miserable existence from start to finish.

Li Meng flicked his wide sleeve.

A golden talisman shot out, hovering high above the gathered spirits.

“Immortal, please wait!”

A female ghost fell to her knees and crawled forward, prostrating herself at his feet. Her posture perfectly outlined the graceful curve of her waist, adding a touch of undeniable seduction to her plea.

“Xiaoqian, come with us to reincarnation! Why suffer for the grudges of a past life?” another ghost cried out, kneeling beside her. She grabbed the arm of the one called Xiaoqian, her face full of anxious desperation.

They had finally waited long enough for a chance at salvation. How could she give it up for mere hatred?

Nie Xiaoqian shook off her sister’s hand. Her expression was steel. She slammed her forehead against the ground in a deep kowtow.

“Immortal, my entire family was slaughtered in a single night. With such a blood feud unavenged, even if I were to dissipate into ash, I would die with grievance! I beg the Immortal to grant me a chance for revenge. I am willing to serve you as a beast of burden, to be your slave for a lifetime!”

Li Meng looked down at the ghost prostrating before him. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes.

Keeping a ghost servant wouldn’t be a bad idea. He did need a woman by his side to handle the miscellaneous chores that were beneath him. However, accepting her meant accepting her karma.

“What is your name?”

Nie Xiaoqian’s face lit up with joy. She raised her head, looking up at her future master with reverent eyes.

“Answering Master, this humble woman’s surname is Nie. My given name is Xiaoqian.”

Nie Xiaoqian?

Li Meng’s expression turned strange. The name was incredibly familiar. It felt like a story he had heard in a distant, past life.

He made his decision. Li Meng flicked his sleeve again, and a blank talisman paper flew out. It was a Water Element Talisman. The Great Dao had an affinity with water; it would house her soul body without harming it.

“Enter.”

“Yes, Master!”

Nie Xiaoqian turned her head, casting one last reluctant look at her sisters.

“Xiao Qi, go to reincarnation. If fate wills it, we shall meet again in the next life!”

With those parting words, Nie Xiaoqian transformed into a swirl of black mist and drilled into the talisman.

“Xiaoqian!”

A flash of longing and sorrow passed through the eyes of the ghost named Xiao Qi. They had depended on each other for decades in this wretched place. Now, they were to be parted forever.

Suddenly, Xiao Qi’s eyes hardened with determination. She turned to Li Meng and knocked her head against the ground three times, the sound dull and heavy.

“Immortal! I wish to live and die together with Xiaoqian. I beg the Immortal to grant this!”

Li Meng looked Xiao Qi up and down, evaluating her.

Both ghosts possessed excellent beauty. They were only slightly inferior to Senior Sister Qu Rou, and perhaps on par with Senior Sister Liu Siyue, though each had her own unique charm.

“Go in.”

Xiao Qi’s face blossomed with relief. “Thank you, Master, for your fulfillment!”

She dissolved into black mist and burrowed into the talisman alongside her sister.

With his new servants secured, it was time to send the rest on their way. Li Meng formed hand seals with both hands, his movements fluid and precise.

The golden talisman floating above the ghosts suddenly erupted with blinding spiritual light.

Li Meng murmured incantations. The sound of his voice carried a resonance like Buddhist chanting, washing over the area and cleansing the heavy atmosphere.

Bathed in the golden radiance, the female ghosts wore expressions of pure serenity. The Gate of the Yellow Springs had opened.

“Immortal, thank you!”

“Immortal, the grace of rebirth shall be remembered!”

Soft voices lingered in the air as the bevy of beauties faded away, their souls guided to the afterlife. After five breaths, the room returned to complete tranquility.

Li Meng, calm and composed, walked out of the chamber. He summoned the wind and soared into the sky, flying toward the rendezvous point.

In the northern woods near the Sunset Glow Temple.

Li Meng descended from the sky, his white robes settling around him as he landed.

“Senior Brother, where did you go?”

Seeing Li Meng return, Hua Biying hurried over to greet him. Her eyes scanned his youthful, robust form with a hint of hidden intimacy.

Li Meng chuckled, stroking his silky white beard. “I discovered some ghosts nearby. It took a bit of effort to deal with them.”

Hua Biying nodded, an understanding look on her face. That explained why he was the last to return.

Li Meng glanced past her to check on the others. The male disciple—Sun Ju—was sitting in meditation, regulating his breath. He was severely injured, but his life wasn’t in danger. However, curing the damage to his Dao foundation would be troublesome.

The female disciple, Su Shan, was standing guard nearby, protecting him.

Li Meng walked toward her.

“Junior Brother!” Su Shan cupped her hands in a respectful salute as he approached.

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Li Meng smiled and returned the salute with a formal bow.

“Senior Sister, matters here are concluded. Senior Brother has suffered heavy injuries; it is best to return to the sect immediately for treatment.”

Su Shan looked down at Sun Ju with concern. She nodded and performed a hand seal.

A flying skiff, roughly thirty feet long, flew out of her storage bag. It hovered a foot off the ground, humming with energy.

Li Meng’s eyes flashed with surprise. He hadn’t expected her to possess a top-grade magical artifact. A flying skiff was far superior to a flying sword for transport—faster speed and significantly less mana consumption.

Su Shan walked over to Sun Ju. “Senior Brother, let us go.”

Sun Ju opened his eyes. With Su Shan’s support, he struggled to his feet, and together they boarded the vessel.

Once on the deck, the two turned to look at Li Meng. Sun Ju, pale and weak, forced himself to cup his hands.

“Junior Brother, great grace requires no words. This Senior Brother is named Sun Ju. I will visit your abode another day to express my gratitude properly.”

Li Meng returned the gesture politely. “I am Li Meng, a disciple of Elder Ruoshui from Moon Gaze Peak.”

A disciple of Elder Ruoshui?

Shock flashed through both Sun Ju and Su Shan’s eyes.

They naturally knew of Elder Ruoshui. Who in the sect didn’t know the True Disciple of the Masked Moon Peak’s Supreme Elder?

Realization dawned on Su Shan’s face. No wonder this Junior Brother Li, despite only being in the early Foundation Establishment stage, could slay a Spirit Puppet with a single strike.

It explained why the demonic cultivator had fled in terror. The enemy hadn’t even dared to fight, choosing instead to self-detonate three precious magical artifacts just to create a distraction for escape. That demonic cultivator had been terrified of Li Meng’s background and power.

Su Shan gave a gentle, grateful smile and bowed deeply.

“If Junior Brother hadn’t rushed to our rescue, Senior Brother and I would likely have perished, our Dao extinguished here. Junior Brother, I won’t say more empty words of thanks. Please, come visit my Elegant Cloud Peak when you have time. I, Su Shan, will make sure to treat you well.”