Volume One, Chapter 43: Hui Yuanyuan Encounters the Faceless Statue

At this very moment.

“Young man, please stop chasing me. I just want to settle a score, and once I’ve had my revenge, I’ll return this body to my benefactor.”

Fleeing from Mu Ling’s relentless pursuit, Hui Yuanyuan pleaded as she ran.

But Mu Ling paid her no heed. Just as he was about to catch up, his body suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon and plummeted straight downward with a whoosh.

There was a crisp smack as the little black ball turned into a flat black pancake.

Seizing this opportunity, Hui Yuanyuan slipped away on what seemed like a banana peel, vanishing in an instant.

The scorching sunlight beat down on Mu Ling, nearly roasting him alive. At this point, he couldn’t spare a thought for Hui Yuanyuan; he hurriedly sought out a sewer and dove in.

Hui Yuanyuan didn’t know why Mu Ling had stopped chasing her, but she didn’t dare relax for a moment. She dashed all the way toward Lu Jia’s residence.

When she was a ghost, she simply floated in the right direction, but now that she was human again, the winding streets left her dizzy and disoriented.

“It should be this way…” she muttered, looking around at the nearly identical streets, growing more confused by the second.

“Miss Qin?”

A deep, melodious male voice—like the sound of a cello—called out uncertainly.

Hui Yuanyuan still hadn’t adjusted to being in Qin Yu’s body and ignored him.

That was until a handsome man caught her as she darted about.

“Why are you running?” Lu Jinyuan’s brows knit deeply.

Hui Yuanyuan’s eyes went wide. She saw only the man’s sensual lips moving, not hearing a word he said.

Lu Jinyuan’s frown deepened. Was she suffering from heatstroke?

He chivalrously placed the back of his hand on “Qin Yu’s” forehead, then checked his own.

A bit warm.

At such close proximity, Hui Yuanyuan’s face flushed scarlet.

Recalling her vengeful mission, she shook her head to banish distracting thoughts of male beauty.

“H-Hands… sir, I don’t know you. I have something urgent to do and am in a hurry.”

With that, she pulled free from Lu Jinyuan’s grasp and ran off.

Lu Jinyuan watched as the girl retreated in panic, his brow creased into three deep lines.

Could he have mistaken her for someone else?

Was she not Qin Yu?

Meanwhile—

Mu Ling followed the sewers to Qin Yu’s side.

Qin Yu pinched her nose and kept her distance with disgust. “Mu Ling, what’s that awful smell on you?”

Mu Ling’s expression soured. “You’ve got some nerve complaining about my stench. You’d better explain why you suddenly became so weak—so weak that I can’t even maintain my form under sunlight anymore.”

If he hadn’t been abruptly weakened, that dim-witted Hui Yuanyuan would have been caught by now.

“I was up against a ghost messenger this time. My spiritual power is useless against them.” Qin Yu rolled her eyes. Besides, she’d forcibly summoned her spirit sword and hurt her own foundation.

At the mention of a ghost messenger, Mu Ling immediately grew more subdued.

Among ghosts, there’s not one who isn’t afraid of ghost messengers.

“So what do we do now? If Hui Yuanyuan does something with your body, in the end, you’ll be the one to suffer the consequences.”

That was precisely why Mu Ling was so anxious.

Qin Yu pinched her fingers together and, instead, offered him a reassuring smile.

“A moment ago I was worried, but now I’m not.”

Mu Ling: …

“Can you speak in a way I can understand?”

“She fainted from heatstroke.”

Mu Ling: …

Hui Yuanyuan, even with this body, you’re not exactly impressive, are you?

“So what’s our next move?”

“Let’s turn the trap back on her.”

Qin Yu blinked, playful and charming, sending a shiver down Mu Ling’s spine.

Enough. Some ghost was about to be in serious trouble, but he’d say no more.

—

When Hui Yuanyuan opened her eyes again, cold air was blowing steadily above her.

She sat up, rubbing her groggy head, and the men’s suit jacket draped over her shoulders slipped to the floor.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

A woman’s voice spoke from behind.

Startled, Hui Yuanyuan turned to see a woman in professional attire regarding her with a polite smile.

Her palms grew clammy with nerves.

“Where… where am I? How did I get here?”

“You fainted from heatstroke just now. President Lu brought you to our shop to cool off.”

President Lu?

Hui Yuanyuan thought of the handsome man who had stopped her.

Her face flushed inexplicably.

“Miss, could you please thank President Lu for me? I have something urgent to attend to and must leave now.”

She rose as she spoke.

“President Lu specifically instructed us that if you need a ride, we can drive you wherever you wish.”

Hui Yuanyuan felt a warmth in her heart, her impression of Lu Jinyuan rising several notches.

“Thank you.”

With a ride provided, Hui Yuanyuan soon arrived at Lu Jia’s apartment complex.

She rang the doorbell and waited for a long time before the door finally creaked open.

It was Lu Jia himself.

But compared to his spirited appearance just days before, now he looked utterly drained, his cheeks sunken, eye sockets hollow, and dark circles under his eyes.

He glared at “Qin Yu,” his gaze filled with hatred.

“Haven’t you done enough to ruin me, you wretch? Why are you here?”

He reached out, intent on grabbing “Qin Yu.”

But his body was as weak as a dying candle, easily toppled by the faintest breeze.

With just a gentle push, Hui Yuanyuan sent Lu Jia sprawling helplessly to the floor, unable to rise.

“I’m not Qin Yu, and I didn’t come here for you,” Hui Yuanyuan said, stepping over him and heading straight for the room where Lu Jia kept the faceless stone idol.

Lu Jia’s eyes widened as he tried to stop her, but he couldn’t move, reduced to cursing her under his breath.

As soon as the door opened, a fragrant scent wafted out.

The room was small but the arrangements were meticulous.

A red-lacquered, carved altar table stood adorned with gold-and-jade offering plates and incense burners, all filled with fresh fruit and tributes.

Wisps of incense smoke curled gracefully through the air.

At the center of the altar stood a faceless stone idol.

Perhaps due to purer offerings, this idol was especially translucent and lustrous, a faint black aura shimmering around it.

Hui Yuanyuan looked at this thing and felt an inexplicable fear rising in her heart.

“You said that if I told you Qin Yu’s secret, you’d help me grow stronger and avenge me. Does that still hold true?”

At her words, the faceless idol’s eyes glowed, and a deep, resonant voice emanated from within.

“Naturally, I keep my word.”

“Then who was it that harmed me?”

At the thought of her parents, separated from her by death, Hui Yuanyuan’s heart filled with unwillingness.

Why? She had lived a moral life, obeyed the law, and harmed no one. Why did she have to die by another’s hand?

“Well…” The faceless idol seemed troubled. “I have my rules. If you want answers from me, you must be my devotee. But you…”

“So you’re going back on your word?” Hui Yuanyuan snapped angrily.

“Don’t be hasty, there are other ways.” The faceless idol paused, calculating. “How about this—bow to me, and I’ll tell you everything you wish to know. How about it?”