Chapter 0008: The Departure of the Shadow Spirit

Inside a villa owned by the Zheng family in Tianhe, Zheng Shaowen was beside himself with rage. Nothing within arm's reach was spared his wrath—every object he could lay hands on was shattered into pieces. Master Zhang stood to the side, shaking his head and sighing. Twice now, their plans had been thwarted by Zhang Xiao, and each time, it was his own schemes that had come to nothing. At this point, it was best to keep silent, lest Zheng Shaowen vent his fury on him.

"King of Soldiers? Master? You're both worthless! Useless trash!" Zheng Shaowen roared, and when he finally ran out of things to smash, his mind fell upon the true culprits—Master Zhang, and Chen Wei, the so-called king of soldiers who had fainted and been casually dumped by the roadside.

Seeing that silence was no longer an option, Master Zhang braced himself and said, "There's something strange about that Zhang Xiao. In all my years, I've never seen a martial artist under twenty who’s already reached the Fifth Realm. I miscalculated this time."

Zheng Shaowen's expression darkened. "I think Zhang Xiao was right—you’ve wasted your decades of life. Always miscalculating! Have you ever been right about anything?"

Master Zhang was cowed by the scolding, knowing that if he couldn't find a way to turn things around or calm Zheng Shaowen, his days in the Zheng family would be numbered. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with an idea, and he whispered to Zheng Shaowen, "All of this trouble started because of that little brat from the Jiang family. But I have a way for you to have her tonight, make her your plaything, and vent your anger."

Zheng Shaowen's anger was replaced by a lecherous gleam in his eyes. He beckoned Master Zhang closer and asked in a low voice, "You really have a way?"

Master Zhang put on a sycophantic smile. "There is a way, though it will take some effort. But don't worry, this time I’ll make sure it works."

Zheng Shaowen considered for a moment before replying, "If it involves force, forget it. I could get a few men to do that, but it’ll only cause more trouble."

Master Zhang chuckled, producing a black strand of hair from his sleeve. It was so fine that if not for Zheng Shaowen’s sharp eyes, he’d hardly have seen it.

"What’s this?" Zheng Shaowen asked suspiciously.

"I picked this up at the Jiang family’s home earlier, when no one was looking—it's a strand of that girl’s hair. With this, I guarantee she’ll be utterly obedient, yours to toy with as you please!"

Zheng Shaowen’s face lit up, though he still harbored some concern. "Are you sure this will work? Especially with that Zhang Xiao around—there's something odd about him, and if he interferes again, what then?"

Master Zhang’s lips curled into a sly smile. "Rest assured, my method is foolproof."

Zheng Shaowen was intrigued. "So, what exactly is your plan?"

Master Zhang laughed softly. "I will use a ritual to help your spirit leave your body. Ordinary people wouldn’t be able to perceive you at all. Entering the Jiang household will be as easy as taking something from your own pocket. Even if Zhang Xiao’s martial prowess is high, he’s just a brute before the mysteries of Daoist arts."

Zheng Shaowen was overjoyed. "Is it really that miraculous? And once my spirit is out, how do I handle Jiang Kongqing?"

Master Zhang twirled the strand of hair, sneering, "I have my ways. All you need to do is enjoy yourself, Young Master Zheng."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without the need for words.

...

Meanwhile, at Yunshui Manor, after dinner, Housekeeper Zhao—following Jiang Yan’s instructions—prepared a guest room for Zhang Xiao. With the time set for the next day’s inspection of Jiang Kongqing’s mother’s grave, everyone retired to their rooms for the night.

As soon as Jiang Kongqing returned to her room, a wave of fatigue overtook her. So much had happened in one day that she felt utterly exhausted. Yet years of habit compelled her to take a hot shower before bed. Clad in a white bathrobe, her hair still damp, she sat before her vanity, blow-drying her hair. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her brow, her consciousness grew hazy, and she collapsed onto the vanity, the hairdryer crashing to the floor.

Moments later, a gust of cold wind swept in through the window, making the white curtains billow. A vague, ghostly figure appeared at Jiang Kongqing’s side.

It was Zheng Shaowen’s spirit!

He eyed the unconscious Jiang Kongqing, her long, fair legs exposed, and the bathrobe barely concealing the curves of her chest. A surge of lust shot through him.

With a cold laugh, Zheng Shaowen muttered, "You’ve always acted so aloof, ignoring me. Tonight, I’ll have my way with you and play with you to my heart’s content!"

He reached for the neckline of her bathrobe, his face twisted with desire.

But just as his hand was about to slip inside, a voice suddenly spoke in the room, "I knew you were despicable, but I didn’t expect you to stoop this low. Spirit leaving the body? Master Zhang really has some filthy tricks."

Startled, Zheng Shaowen spun around and saw Zhang Xiao sitting on the window ledge, legs swinging, looking at him with great interest.

He can see me!?

Zheng Shaowen was shaken. According to Master Zhang, when one’s spirit leaves the body, it’s like the soul departing—ordinary people can neither perceive nor see it. Yet here was Zhang Xiao, staring straight at him. How could he possibly be aware?

Zhang Xiao leapt lightly from the window and walked toward Zheng Shaowen’s spirit, smiling. "You must be wondering how I can see you, aren’t you?"

Zheng Shaowen, now both angry and frightened, desperately wanted to know the answer. Master Zhang had assured him that Zhang Xiao was just a martial artist, with no trace of spiritual energy—definitely not a practitioner. This man was too strange!

Zhang Xiao continued unhurriedly, "I don’t mind telling you—because even if you know, you won’t have a chance to tell anyone else. I’m a bit special. I was born in the utmost yang hour, on a yang day, in a yang month, and a yang year—a body of pure yang. My vital energy is so strong that ghosts and spirits usually keep their distance. I’m especially sensitive to anything yin. Haven’t you noticed that since I arrived, your spirit has felt uncomfortable?"

Hearing this, Zheng Shaowen was even more terrified. Now that Zhang Xiao mentioned it, he realized his head hurt terribly, and he felt indescribably unwell.

And the closer Zhang Xiao came, the worse it got. Zheng Shaowen was soon unable to speak, dropping to his knees, clutching his head in agony.

Zhang Xiao looked at Zheng Shaowen’s spirit kneeling on the floor without expression and said softly, "Just accept being a fool for the rest of your life."

Zheng Shaowen didn’t grasp his meaning, but terror filled his eyes as he stared at Zhang Xiao.

Zhang Xiao bit the tip of his right index finger, flicked it, and a drop of fresh blood shot toward Zheng Shaowen’s spirit.

The moment the blood touched him, Zheng Shaowen began to howl, wailing as white smoke sizzled from his spectral form.

As a body of pure yang, Zhang Xiao’s blood was pure yang essence—deadly to all things evil and ghostly. He had previously used his blood to break the evil formation that imprisoned Jiang Yan’s soul. Now, Zheng Shaowen’s spirit was nothing in comparison and could not withstand the burning of a single drop.

Meanwhile, back at Zheng Shaowen’s villa, Master Zhang sat cross-legged at the center of a strange ritual. Suddenly, Zheng Shaowen’s physical body began to convulse. Alarmed, Master Zhang hurriedly manipulated the array, trying to recall Zheng Shaowen’s spirit.

Zhang Xiao watched as Zheng Shaowen’s spirit turned to mist and fled out the window. He didn’t bother to pursue, only shook his head. "Too late."

He then glanced at Jiang Kongqing, slumped over the vanity. With a smirk, he muttered, "This girl certainly has assets. I’d give her a ninety out of a hundred for her figure."

He stepped over and picked her up, intending to lay her on the bed. But as he reached the bedside, Jiang Kongqing slowly regained consciousness. Opening her eyes, she found herself in Zhang Xiao’s arms and cried out, "Pervert! What are you doing!?"

Zhang Xiao smiled faintly. "What am I doing? You almost lost your virtue. I saved you, and you call me a pervert? Like biting the hand that feeds you."

Unaware of what had just transpired, Jiang Kongqing only saw herself, disheveled and held in his arms, both embarrassed and angry. She struggled to break free.

Zhang Xiao let her go without protest, and she tumbled to the floor, gasping at the pain.

"Why are you in my room? What do you want?" Despite her pain, Jiang Kongqing paid it no mind, clutching her chest and shrinking into a corner.

Zhang Xiao picked his ear and replied, "Master Zhang was behind it all. He separated Zheng Shaowen’s spirit from his body. Zheng Shaowen’s spirit was just here, planning to harm you. I drove him off."

Seeing the sincerity in his face, Jiang Kongqing was half-convinced. "Spirit? What are you talking about?"

Zhang Xiao couldn’t be bothered to explain. Heading for the window, he said, "With your intelligence, you wouldn’t understand even if I tried. But I can tell you this—your fiancé, Zheng Shaowen, will be a fool for the rest of his life."

He paused at the window, adding, "By the way, I didn’t expect you to have such a fiery temper and such impressive assets…"

With that, he vaulted out the window, leaving Jiang Kongqing terrified and alone.

Just as Zhang Xiao said, Zheng Shaowen had become a fool.

When Master Zhang summoned his spirit back, he found it severely damaged, his mind in chaos, and his intelligence reduced to that of a three-year-old. Master Zhang realized disaster had struck and immediately dialed a number.