“Xiao Mu, how many essence-devouring spirits are there in total over there?”
Shui Miao quickly turned to look at Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred!”
That meant they were equivalent to a hundred thousand ordinary spirits!
Shui Miao was shocked. Could these spirits even be eradicated?
“Well, all of you go maintain order for now. I’ll think about the essence-devouring spirits later,” Shui Miao said with a slight smile. He thought to himself that those young men were full of vigor and lacked girlfriends. Letting them vent on their own might reduce the crime rate and spare innocent girls from harassment… But in good conscience, it seemed better to exercise some restraint. He’d revisit the matter later.
For the sake of faith and spiritual power, Shui Miao selfishly suppressed the issue.
But then it occurred to him: the spirit king had ruled this area for so long, who knew how much faith and spiritual power it had accumulated? All that faith and spiritual power would naturally transform into shadow merit. Yet, when Elder Brother Zhang Yuan brought the spirit king’s head, Shui Miao hadn’t sensed even a trace of shadow merit. Clearly, the spirit king’s cultivation had benefited Zhang Yuan.
Right!
As he pondered, Shui Miao came to a halt.
Zhang Yuan had begun his path over a century earlier than him. Why hadn’t he gathered disciples to offer him faith and spiritual power? Logically, if he wanted, he could easily dominate a large area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some scheme behind this?
“Ah! I’ve got it! How could I be so stupid?!”
Shui Miao’s thoughts raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. He quickly turned to a group of green-skinned, fanged spirits and said, “Help me eradicate all the essence-devouring spirits and any other evil spirits that harm people. From now on, you’ll maintain order in this area. I won’t be your master, but you’ll still receive the spirit coins.”
“Little Master, are you sure?”
Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao with confusion.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, stay with me. The rest of you, go about your business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Mu and the green-skinned spirits vanished in an instant.
Shui Miao had finally figured it out: Zhang Yuan gained faith and spiritual power by devouring powerful beings like the spirit king. The reason he didn’t act was that those beings weren’t strong enough yet—like waiting for fruit to ripen before harvesting it. Shui Miao even suspected that Zhang Yuan had ulterior motives toward him. He had sent five little spirit apprentices to monitor him, and once Shui Miao’s cultivation reached a certain level, Zhang Yuan might devour him too!
One shouldn’t harbor intentions to harm others, but one must also guard against others’ schemes.
Shui Miao intentionally kept the two youngest and least influential of the five spirit apprentices, Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, by his side. Perhaps he could extract some valuable information from them.
But it wasn’t the right time to probe them yet. He had to wait for an opportunity to casually ask a question or two.
For the sake of survival, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s here. If you have anything to say, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, changing her reference from “brother” to “him.” In front of her classmates, she had introduced Shui Miao as her boyfriend. At a critical moment, she couldn’t let the act slip.
“Wow! What a hottie!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Wow! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such great presence. He’s like the prince charming of my dreams!”
“Absolutely! He’s so cool! Just like a Korean superstar!”
“Ahhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls descended from the dormitory, screaming at the sight of Shui Miao. Some were so excited they started jumping, as if they’d seen a incredibly handsome celebrity they couldn’t get enough of!
Hearing these comments, Zhang Hanya felt immensely pleased.
But Shui Miao felt goosebumps all over. These girls really knew how to lay it on thick!
His normal smile alone made them scream. If he struck a few poses, wouldn’t they all be over the moon?
“Xiao Shui, I never knew you were so popular. Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, how about we treat them to a tea house or Linhai Grand Hotel for some fun?” Zhang Hanya often ate and drank with her classmates, flaunting her family’s wealth. Her motto was simple: live it up.
But Shui Miao leaned close to Zhang Hanya’s ear and whispered, “If we were broke, they probably wouldn’t even glance our way. Believe me?”
“How could that be?!”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if he were a stranger. Her eyes clearly showed she firmly disagreed.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and glanced at the surrounding girls—there were at least fifty or sixty of them!
But after a few seconds, his smile turned strained. “Sorry, everyone. I actually came today to talk to Hanya because… well, I’m completely broke now. And Xiao Ya, your father also…” He turned, pulled Zhang Hanya behind a large tree several meters away, and lowered his voice. “Little sister, act shocked and say, ‘My father was arrested? How is that possible?’ Then I bet they’ll all scatter, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to wake Zhang Hanya up to the fact that her so-called friends were just a bunch of freeloaders.
Zhang Hanya paused, then suddenly threw herself into the act, exclaiming loudly, “My father was arrested? How is that possible?!”
Her shout was so loud all fifty or sixty girls heard it.
Instantly, the chattering crowd fell silent.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand. I need to get out of here!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how into it Shui Miao was, got into character too. “Where would I get that kind of money? I don’t even have a hundred on me, let alone ten thousand.”
“You have so many friends. Can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao acted like he was about to lose it, raising his voice in a near-yell.
“No, I have to go. I need to check on my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
Shui Miao pressed on, “Then at least lend me travel money!”
“No, I don’t have a cent…”
Zhang Hanya turned around and inadvertently noticed that all her friends had disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around and smiled wryly. “See? These are your so-called friends. Not one of them was willing to lend you money. And you foolishly believed every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I treated them so well. Did they never really consider me a friend?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be furious.
Shui Miao walked over to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed. “Alright, let’s go see your wealthy friends. Who knows, maybe they’ll disown you too.”
“Impossible! Look, one of my friends, Xiao Li, is coming over!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl rushing toward them. The girl was dressed simply, clearly from an average family—quiet, honest, and not much of a talker.
Xiao Li rushed up to Zhang Hanya, holding out a handful of small change with both hands, her face flushed. “Sister Xiao Ya, this is all the money I’ve saved by being frugal. It’s only a little over two hundred. Please don’t think it’s too little. Take it and hurry back to see your father!”
“Xiao Li, you’re a true friend!!”
Zhang Hanya gripped Xiao Li’s hands, turning excitedly to Shui Miao. “See? I do have real friends.”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Shouldn’t Zhang Hanya be moved to tears by now?
After a moment, he walked up to Xiao Li, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Li, I want to help change your destiny…”
“Enough! You’re not a good person. Sister Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I’d never believe a word you say!” Xiao Li angrily cut him off, glaring fiercely at Shui Miao.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya quickly explained the situation to Xiao Li. Once Xiao Li learned the truth, she scrunched up her nose in embarrassment. “No way, you two…”
“Hehe, Xiao Li, it’s still early. Go back and pack your things. Move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house. I’ll even set it up for you to ensure you excel in your studies and everything goes your way.” Shui Miao wasn’t boasting—he genuinely wanted to help Xiao Li. Someone so kind-hearted deserved a better fate.
Shui Miao quickly turned to Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred!”
That meant the equivalent of ten thousand ordinary ghosts!
Shui Miao was stunned. Was there even a way to eliminate these ghosts anymore?
“Xiao Mu, how many essence-devouring spirits are there over there in total?”
Shui Miao quickly turned to look at Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred!”
That meant it was equivalent to a hundred thousand ordinary spirits!
Shui Miao was stunned. Could such spirits even be eradicated?
“Well, all of you go maintain order for now. I’ll think about the essence-devouring spirits later,” Shui Miao said to everyone with a slight smile. He thought to himself that those young men were full of vigor and lacked girlfriends, so letting them vent on their own might actually reduce the crime rate and spare innocent girls from harassment… But in good conscience, it seemed better to exercise some restraint. He’d figure it out later.
For the sake of faith and spiritual power, Shui Miao selfishly decided to suppress the matter.
But then it occurred to him: that spirit, Gui Man, had been dominating this area for so long, who knew how much faith and spiritual power he had accumulated? All that faith and spiritual power would naturally transform into Yin merit. Yet when Big Brother Zhang Yuan brought Gui Man’s head, Shui Miao hadn’t sensed even a trace of Yin merit. Clearly, Gui Man’s cultivation had benefited Zhang Yuan.
Right!
As he pondered, Shui Miao came to a halt.
Zhang Yuan had started his path over a hundred years earlier than him. Why hadn’t he gathered disciples to offer him faith and spiritual power? Logically, if he wanted to, he could easily dominate a large area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some scheme behind this?
“Ah! I’ve got it! How could I be so stupid?!”
Shui Miao’s thoughts raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. He quickly turned to a group of green-skinned, fanged spirits and said, “Help me eradicate all the essence-devouring spirits and any other malicious spirits that harm people. From now on, you’ll maintain order in this area. I won’t be your master, but of course, you’ll still receive the spirit coins.”
“Little Master, are you sure?” Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao doubtfully.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, stay with me. The rest of you, go about your business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Mu and the green-skinned spirits vanished abruptly.
Shui Miao had finally figured it out: Zhang Yuan gained faith and spiritual power by devouring powerful beings like Gui Man. The reason he didn’t act was that those beings weren’t strong enough yet—like growing plants, you harvest when the fruit is ripe. Shui Miao even suspected that Zhang Yuan had ulterior motives toward him. He had sent five little spirit apprentices to monitor him, and once Shui Miao’s cultivation reached a certain level, Zhang Yuan might devour him too!
One shouldn’t harbor intentions to harm others, but one must also guard against being harmed!
Shui Miao intentionally kept the two youngest and least influential of the five spirit apprentices, Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, by his side. Perhaps he could extract some valuable information from them.
But it wasn’t the right time to probe them yet. He had to wait for an opportunity to ask a question or two casually.
For the sake of survival, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s here. If you have anything to say, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, changing her reference from “big brother” to “him.” In front of her classmates, she had introduced Shui Miao as her boyfriend. At a critical moment, she couldn’t let the act slip.
“Wow! What a hottie!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Wow! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such great presence. He’s totally the prince charming of my dreams!”
“Right, right! He’s so cool! Just like a Korean superstar!”
“Ahhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls descended from the dormitory, screaming at the sight of Shui Miao. Some were so excited they started jumping, as if they’d seen some incredibly handsome male celebrity they couldn’t get enough of.
Hearing these comments, Zhang Hanya felt quite pleased.
But Shui Miao got goosebumps. These girls really knew how to lay it on thick!
His normal smile made them scream. If he struck a few poses, wouldn’t they all be over the moon?
“Xiao Shui, who knew you’d be so popular? Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, how about we treat them to a meal at a tea restaurant or Linhai Grand Hotel?” Zhang Hanya often ate and drank with her classmates. With her family’s wealth, her motto was simply: live it up.
But Shui Miao leaned in and whispered in her ear, “If we were broke, they probably wouldn’t even glance our way. Believe it?”
“How could that be?!”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if he were a stranger. Her eyes clearly showed she firmly disagreed.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and glanced at the surrounding girls—there were at least fifty or sixty of them!
But after a few seconds, his smile turned strained. “Sorry, everyone. I actually came today to talk to Hanya because… well, I’m completely broke now. And Xiao Ya, your father also…” He turned, pulling Zhang Hanya behind a large tree several meters away, and lowered his voice. “Little sister, act shocked and say, ‘My father was arrested? How could that be?’ Then I bet they’ll all scatter, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to make Zhang Hanya see clearly that her so-called friends were just a bunch of freeloading girls.
Zhang Hanya paused, then suddenly threw herself into the act, exclaiming loudly, “My father was arrested? How could that be?!”
Her shout was so loud all fifty or sixty girls heard it.
Instantly, the chattering girls fell silent.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand. I need to get out of here!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how into it Shui Miao was, got into character too. “Where would I get that kind of money? I don’t even have a hundred on me, let alone ten thousand.”
“You have so many friends. Can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao acted like he was about to lose it, raising his voice in a near-yell.
“No, I have to go. I need to check on my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
Shui Miao pressed on, “Then at least lend me travel money!”
“No, I don’t have a cent…”
Zhang Hanya turned around and inadvertently noticed that all her friends had disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around and smiled wryly. “See? These are your so-called friends. Not one of them was willing to lend you money. And you foolishly believed every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I treated them so well. Did they never really consider me a friend?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be upset.
Shui Miao walked over to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed. “Alright, let’s go see your wealthy friends. Who knows, maybe they won’t acknowledge you either.”
“Impossible! Look, one of my friends, Xiao Li, is coming over!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl rushing toward them. The girl was dressed simply, clearly from an average family, honest and quiet, the type who rarely spoke.
Xiao Li rushed up to Zhang Hanya, holding out a handful of small change with both hands, her face flushed. “Sister Xiao Ya, this is the money I saved by being frugal. It’s only a little over two hundred. Don’t think it’s too little. Please take it and hurry back to see your father!”
“Xiao Li, you’re a true friend!!”
Zhang Hanya gripped Xiao Li’s hand, turning excitedly to Shui Miao. “See? I do have real friends.”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Shouldn’t Zhang Hanya be moved to tears by now?
After a moment, he walked up to Xiao Li, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Li, I want to help change your destiny…”
“Enough! You’re not a good person. Sister Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I won’t believe a word you say!” Xiao Li angrily cut him off, glaring fiercely at Shui Miao.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya quickly explained the situation to Xiao Li. Once Xiao Li learned the truth, she awkwardly scrunched up her nose. “No way, you two…”
“Heh, Xiao Li, it’s still early. Go back and pack your things. Move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house, arrange everything properly, and guarantee you’ll improve in your studies, everything will go smoothly, and all your wishes will come true.” Shui Miao wasn’t boasting; he genuinely wanted to help Xiao Li. Someone so kind-hearted deserved a better fate.
Motivated by the desire for belief power, Shui Miao selfishly decided to put the matter aside.
“Xiao Mu, how many essence-devouring spirits are there in total over there?”
Shui Miao quickly turned to look at Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred!”
That meant they were equivalent to a hundred thousand ordinary spirits!
Shui Miao was stunned. Could these spirits even be eradicated?
“Well, all of you go maintain order for now. I’ll think about the essence-devouring spirits later,” Shui Miao said with a slight smile, thinking to himself that those young men were full of vigor, had no girlfriends, and letting them vent on their own might actually reduce the crime rate and spare innocent girls from harassment… But in good conscience, it seemed better to exercise some restraint. He’d figure it out later.
For the sake of faith and spiritual power, Shui Miao selfishly decided to suppress the matter.
But then it occurred to him: that spirit, Gui Man, had been dominating this area for so long, who knew how much faith and spiritual power he had accumulated? All that faith and spiritual power would naturally transform into Yin merit. Yet, when his elder brother Zhang Yuan brought Gui Man’s head, Shui Miao hadn’t sensed even a trace of Yin merit. Clearly, Gui Man’s cultivation had benefited Zhang Yuan.
Right!
As he pondered, Shui Miao came to a halt.
Zhang Yuan had begun his path over a hundred years earlier than him. Why hadn’t he gathered disciples to offer him faith and spiritual power? Logically, if he wanted to, he could easily dominate a large area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some scheme behind this?
“Ah! I’ve got it! How could I be so stupid?!”
Shui Miao’s thoughts raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. He quickly turned to a group of green-skinned, fanged spirits and said, “Help me eradicate all the essence-devouring spirits and any other malicious spirits that harm people. From now on, you’ll maintain order in this area. I won’t be your master, but of course, you’ll still receive the spirit coins.”
“Little Master, are you sure?” Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao with confusion.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, stay with me. The rest of you, go about your business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Mu and the green-skinned spirits vanished together.
Shui Miao had finally figured it out: Zhang Yuan gained faith and spiritual power by devouring powerful beings like Gui Man. The reason he hadn’t acted was that those beings weren’t strong enough yet—like waiting for fruit to ripen before harvesting it. Shui Miao even suspected that Zhang Yuan had ulterior motives toward him. He had sent five little spirit apprentices to monitor him, and once Shui Miao’s cultivation reached a certain level, Zhang Yuan might devour him too!
One shouldn’t harbor intentions to harm others, but one must also guard against being harmed!
Shui Miao deliberately kept the two youngest and least influential of the five spirit apprentices, Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, by his side, thinking he might extract some valuable information from them.
But now wasn’t the time to probe them. He had to wait for the right moment to casually ask a question or two.
For the sake of survival, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s here. If you have anything to say, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, changing her reference from “brother” to “him” since she had introduced Shui Miao as her boyfriend to her classmates. At a critical moment like this, she couldn’t let the act slip.
“Wow! What a hottie!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Wow! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such great presence. He’s totally my Prince Charming!”
“Right, right! He’s so cool! Just like a Korean superstar!”
“Ahhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls descended from the dormitory, screaming at the sight of Shui Miao. Some were so excited they started jumping, as if they’d seen a incredibly handsome celebrity they couldn’t get enough of!
Hearing these comments, Zhang Hanya felt quite pleased.
But Shui Miao felt goosebumps all over. These girls really knew how to lay on the flattery!
His normal smile alone made them scream. If he struck a few poses, wouldn’t they be over the moon?
“Xiao Shui, who knew you’d be so popular? Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, how about we treat them to a tea house or Linhai Grand Hotel for some fun?” Zhang Hanya often ate and drank with her classmates, flaunting her family’s wealth. For her, it was all about having a good time.
But Shui Miao leaned in and whispered in her ear, “If we were broke, do you think they’d even glance our way?”
“How could that be?!”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if he were a stranger. Her eyes clearly showed she didn’t believe it.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and glanced at the surrounding girls—there were at least fifty or sixty of them!
But after a few seconds, his smile turned forced. “Sorry, everyone. I actually came today to talk to Hanya because… well, I’m completely broke now. And Xiao Ya, your father also…” With that, he pulled Zhang Hanya behind a large tree several meters away and lowered his voice. “Little sister, act shocked and say, ‘My father’s been arrested? How could that be?’ Then I bet they’ll all scatter, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to make Zhang Hanya realize that her so-called friends were just a bunch of freeloaders.
Zhang Hanya paused, then suddenly threw herself into the act, exclaiming loudly, “My father’s been arrested? How could that be?!”
Her shout was so loud all fifty or sixty girls heard it.
Instantly, the chattering crowd fell silent.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand. I need to get out of here!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how into it Shui Miao was, got into character too. “Where would I get that kind of money? I don’t even have a hundred on me, let alone ten thousand.”
“You have so many friends. Can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao acted as if he were about to lose it, raising his voice.
“No, I have to go. I need to see my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
Shui Miao pressed on, “Then at least lend me some travel money!”
“No, I don’t have a cent…”
As Zhang Hanya turned, she inadvertently noticed that all her friends had disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around and shook his head with a smile. “See? These are your so-called friends. Not one of them was willing to lend you money. And you foolishly believed every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I treated them so well. Did they never really consider me a friend?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be upset.
Shui Miao walked over to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed. “Alright, let’s go see your wealthy friends. Who knows, maybe they won’t acknowledge you either.”
“Impossible! Look, one of my friends, Xiao Li, is coming over!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl rushing toward them. The girl was dressed simply, clearly from an average family, honest and quiet, the type who rarely spoke.
Xiao Li rushed up to Zhang Hanya, holding out a handful of small change with both hands, her face flushed. “Sister Xiao Ya, this is the money I saved from being frugal. It’s only a little over two hundred. Please don’t think it’s too little. Take it and hurry back to see your father!”
“Xiao Li, you’re a true friend!!”
Zhang Hanya grabbed Xiao Li’s hands, excitedly turning to Shui Miao. “See? I do have real friends.”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Shouldn’t Zhang Hanya be moved to tears by now?
After a moment, he walked up to Xiao Li, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Li, I want to help change your destiny…”
“Enough! You’re not a good person. Sister Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I won’t believe a word you say!” Xiao Li angrily cut him off, glaring fiercely.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya quickly explained the situation to Xiao Li. Once Xiao Li learned the truth, she awkwardly scrunched up her nose. “No way, you guys…”
“Hehe, Xiao Li, it’s still early. Go back and pack your things. Move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house, arrange everything, and guarantee you’ll improve in your studies, everything will go smoothly, and all your wishes will come true.” Shui Miao wasn’t boasting; he genuinely wanted to help Xiao Li. Someone so kind deserved a better fate.
That’s right!
As he thought, Shui Miao suddenly stopped walking.
Zhang Yuan had been active far longer than himself—nearly a hundred years earlier. Why hadn’t he gathered numerous disciples to offer him belief power through worship? Logically, if he had wanted to, he could have easily become a dominant figure across a vast area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some hidden plot behind this?
“Ah! I figured it out! How could I be so stupid!!”
“Xiao Mu, how many essence-devouring spirits are there in total over there?”
Shui Miao quickly turned to look at Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred.”
That meant they were equivalent to a hundred thousand ordinary spirits!
Shui Miao was stunned. Could these spirits even be eradicated?
“Well, all of you go maintain order for now. I’ll think about the essence-devouring spirits later,” Shui Miao said with a slight smile, thinking to himself that those young men were full of vigor and without girlfriends—letting them vent on their own might reduce the crime rate and spare innocent girls from harassment… But in good conscience, it seemed better to exercise some restraint. He’d address it later.
For the sake of faith and spiritual power, Shui Miao selfishly decided to suppress the matter.
But then it occurred to him: Gui Man had been dominating this area for so long, who knew how much faith and spiritual power he had accumulated? All that faith would naturally transform into Yin merit. Yet when Big Brother Zhang Yuan brought Gui Man’s head, Shui Miao hadn’t sensed even a trace of Yin merit. Clearly, Gui Man’s cultivation had benefited Zhang Yuan.
Right!
As he pondered, Shui Miao came to a halt.
Zhang Yuan had started his path over a century earlier than him. Why hadn’t he gathered disciples to offer him faith and spiritual power? Logically, if he wanted, he could easily dominate a large area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some scheme behind this?
“Ah! I’ve got it! How could I be so stupid?!”
Shui Miao’s thoughts raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. He quickly turned to a group of green-skinned, fanged spirits and said, “Help me eradicate all the essence-devouring spirits and any other malicious spirits that harm people. From now on, you’ll maintain order in this area. I won’t be your master, but you’ll still receive the spirit coins.”
“Little Master, are you sure?” Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao with confusion.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, stay with me. The rest of you, go about your business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Mu and the green-skinned spirits vanished instantly.
Shui Miao had finally figured it out: Zhang Yuan gained faith and spiritual power by devouring powerful beings like Gui Man. The reason he hadn’t acted was that those beings weren’t strong enough yet—like waiting for fruit to ripen before harvesting it. Shui Miao even suspected that Zhang Yuan had ulterior motives toward him. He had sent five little spirit apprentices to monitor him, and once Shui Miao’s cultivation reached a certain level, Zhang Yuan might devour him too!
One shouldn’t harbor intentions to harm others, but one must always guard against being harmed!
Shui Miao intentionally kept the two youngest and least influential of the five spirit apprentices, Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, by his side, hoping to extract some valuable information from them.
But it wasn’t the right time to probe them yet. He had to wait for an opportunity to casually ask a question or two.
For the sake of survival, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s here. If you have anything to say, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, changing her reference from “big brother” to “him” since she had introduced him as her boyfriend to her classmates. At a critical moment, she couldn’t let the act slip.
“Wow! What a hottie!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Wow! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such great presence—he’s totally my Prince Charming!”
“Right, right! He’s so cool! Just like a Korean superstar!”
“Ahhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls descended from the dormitory, squealing at the sight of Shui Miao. Some even jumped with excitement, as if they’d seen a incredibly handsome celebrity they couldn’t get enough of!
Hearing these comments, Zhang Hanya felt immensely pleased.
But Shui Miao felt goosebumps all over. These girls really knew how to lay it on thick!
His normal smile alone made them scream. If he struck a few poses, wouldn’t they be over the moon?
“Xiao Shui, who knew you’d be so popular? Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, how about we treat them to a tea house or Linhai Grand Hotel for some fun?” Zhang Hanya often ate and drank with her classmates, flaunting her family’s wealth. For her, it was all about having a good time.
Shui Miao leaned in and whispered in Zhang Hanya’s ear, “If we were broke, they probably wouldn’t even glance our way. Believe it?”
“How could that be?!”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if he were a stranger. Her eyes clearly showed she firmly disagreed.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and glanced at the surrounding girls—there were at least fifty or sixty of them!
But a few seconds later, his smile turned strained. “Sorry, everyone. I actually came today to talk to Hanya because… well, I’m completely broke now. And Xiao Ya, your father also…” He turned, pulling Zhang Hanya behind a large tree several meters away, and lowered his voice. “Little sister, act shocked and say, ‘My father was arrested? How could that be?’ Then I bet they’ll all scatter, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to make Zhang Hanya realize that her so-called friends were just a bunch of freeloaders.
Zhang Hanya paused, then suddenly threw herself into the act, exclaiming loudly, “My father was arrested? How could that be?!”
Her shout was so loud that all fifty or sixty girls heard it.
Instantly, the chattering crowd fell silent.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand. I need to get out of here!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how invested Shui Miao was, got into character and replied, “Where would I get that kind of money? I don’t even have a hundred on me, let alone ten thousand.”
“You have so many friends. Can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao acted as if he were about to lose it, raising his voice in a near-yell.
“No, I have to go. I need to check on my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
Shui Miao pressed on, “Then at least lend me travel money!”
“I don’t have any. I don’t even have a cent…”
Zhang Hanya turned around and inadvertently noticed that all her friends had disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around and shook his head with a wry smile. “See? These are your so-called friends. Not one of them was willing to lend you money. And you foolishly believed every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I treated them so well. Did none of them ever consider me a friend?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be furious.
Shui Miao walked over to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed. “Alright, let’s go see your wealthy friends. Who knows, maybe they won’t acknowledge you either.”
“Impossible! Look, one of my friends, Xiao Li, is coming over!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl rushing toward them. The girl was dressed simply, clearly from an average family—quiet and unassuming, the type who rarely spoke.
Xiao Li rushed up to Zhang Hanya and handed her a handful of small change, blushing as she said, “Sister Xiao Ya, this is the money I saved by being frugal. It’s only a little over two hundred. Please don’t think it’s too little. Take it and hurry back to see your father!”
“Xiao Li, you’re a true friend!!”
Zhang Hanya gripped Xiao Li’s hand, turning excitedly to Shui Miao. “See? I do have real friends.”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Shouldn’t Zhang Hanya be moved to tears by now?
After a moment, he walked up to Xiao Li, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Li, I want to help change your destiny…”
“Enough! You’re not a good person. Sister Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I won’t believe a word you say!” Xiao Li angrily cut him off, glaring fiercely at Shui Miao.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya quickly explained the situation to Xiao Li. Once Xiao Li learned the truth, she awkwardly scrunched up her nose. “No way, you two…”
“Heh, Xiao Li, it’s still early. Go back and pack your things. Move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house and set it up for you. I guarantee you’ll improve in your studies, everything will go smoothly, and all your wishes will come true.” Shui Miao wasn’t boasting—he genuinely wanted to help Xiao Li. Someone so kind deserved a better fate.
“Junior Master, are you sure about this?”
Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao with deep confusion.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu will stay with me. Everyone else can go about their business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Suddenly, Xiao Mu and the green-faced ghosts disappeared.
“Xiao Mu, how many essence-devouring spirits are there in total over there?”
Shui Miao quickly turned to look at Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu paused for a moment. “Probably around a hundred!”
That meant they were equivalent to a hundred thousand ordinary spirits!
Shui Miao was stunned. Could these spirits even be eradicated?
“Well, all of you go maintain order for now. I’ll think about the essence-devouring spirits later,” Shui Miao said with a faint smile. He thought to himself that those young men were full of vigor, had no girlfriends, and letting them vent on their own might at least reduce the crime rate and spare innocent girls from harassment… But in good conscience, it seemed better to exercise some restraint. He’d address it later.
For the sake of faith and spiritual power, Shui Miao selfishly suppressed the matter.
But then it occurred to him: Gui Man had been dominating this area for so long, who knew how much faith and spiritual power he had accumulated? All that faith and spiritual power would naturally transform into Yin merit. Yet, when Elder Brother Zhang Yuan brought Gui Man’s head, Shui Miao hadn’t sensed even a trace of Yin merit. Clearly, Gui Man’s cultivation had benefited Zhang Yuan.
Right!
As he pondered, Shui Miao came to a halt.
Zhang Yuan had entered the scene a hundred years earlier than him. Why hadn’t he gathered disciples to offer him faith and spiritual power? Logically, if he wanted to, he could easily dominate a large area, yet he hadn’t done so.
Could there be some scheme behind this?
“Ah! I’ve got it! How could I be so stupid?!”
Shui Miao’s thoughts raced, and suddenly an idea struck him. He quickly turned to a group of green-skinned, fanged spirits and said, “Help me eradicate all the essence-devouring spirits and any other malicious spirits that harm people. From now on, you’ll maintain order in this area. I won’t be your master, but of course, you’ll still receive the spirit coins.”
“Little Master, are you sure?” Xiao Mu looked at Shui Miao with confusion.
Shui Miao nodded. “Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, stay with me. The rest of you, go about your business.”
“As you command!”
“Yes…”
Xiao Mu and the green-skinned spirits vanished together.
Shui Miao had finally figured it out: Zhang Yuan gained faith and spiritual power by devouring powerful beings like Gui Man. The reason he hadn’t acted was that those beings weren’t strong enough yet—like waiting for fruit to ripen before harvesting it. Shui Miao even suspected that Zhang Yuan had ulterior motives toward him. He had sent five little spirit apprentices to monitor him, and once Shui Miao’s cultivation reached a certain level, Zhang Yuan might devour him too!
One shouldn’t harbor intentions to harm others, but one must also guard against being harmed!
Shui Miao intentionally kept the two youngest and least influential of the five spirit apprentices, Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, by his side. Perhaps he could extract some valuable information from them.
But it wasn’t the right time to probe them yet. He had to wait for an opportunity to casually ask a question or two.
For the sake of survival, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s here. If you have anything to say, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, switching from calling him “brother” to “he” since she had introduced him as her boyfriend to her classmates. At a critical moment like this, she couldn’t let the act slip.
“Wow! What a hottie!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Wow! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such great presence. He’s totally my Prince Charming!”
“Right, right! He’s so cool! Just like a Korean superstar!”
“Ahhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls descended from the dormitory, squealing at the sight of Shui Miao. Some were so excited they started jumping, as if they’d seen some incredibly handsome male celebrity they couldn’t get enough of!
Hearing these comments, Zhang Hanya felt quite pleased.
But Shui Miao broke out in goosebumps. These girls really knew how to lay it on thick!
His normal smile alone made them scream. What if he struck a few poses? Wouldn’t they all be overwhelmed with excitement?
“Xiao Shui, who knew you’d be so popular? Since everyone’s so enthusiastic, how about we treat them to a tea house or Linhai Grand Hotel for some fun?” Zhang Hanya often ate and drank with her classmates, flaunting her family’s wealth. For her, it was all about having a good time.
But Shui Miao leaned in and whispered in her ear, “If we were broke, do you think they’d even give us a second glance?”
“How could that be?!”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if he were a stranger. Her eyes clearly showed she firmly disagreed.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and glanced at the surrounding girls—there were at least fifty or sixty of them!
But a few seconds later, his smile turned strained. “Sorry, everyone. I actually came today to talk to Hanya because… well, I’m completely broke now. And Xiao Ya, your father also…” With that, he turned and pulled Zhang Hanya behind a large tree several meters away, lowering his voice. “Little sister, act shocked and say, ‘My father’s been arrested? How could that be?’ Then I bet they’ll all scatter, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to make Zhang Hanya see that her so-called friends were just a bunch of freeloaders.
Zhang Hanya paused, then suddenly threw herself into the act, exclaiming loudly, “My father’s been arrested? How could that be?!”
Her shout was so loud all fifty or sixty girls heard it.
Instantly, the chattering crowd fell silent.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand. I need to make a run for it!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how invested Shui Miao was in the act, responded in character, “Where would I get that kind of money? I don’t even have a hundred on me, let alone ten thousand.”
“You have so many friends. Can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao put on an agitated front, raising his voice.
“No, I have to go. I need to check on my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
Shui Miao pressed on, “Then at least lend me travel money!”
“No, I don’t have a cent…”
As Zhang Hanya turned around, she inadvertently noticed that all her friends had disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around and shook his head with a smile. “See? These are your so-called friends. Not one of them was willing to lend you money. And you foolishly believed every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I treated them so well. Did they never really consider me a friend?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be agitated.
Shui Miao walked over to her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed. “Alright, let’s go see your wealthy friends. Who knows, maybe they won’t acknowledge you either.”
“Impossible! Look, one of my friends, Xiao Li, is coming!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl rushing toward them. The girl was dressed simply, clearly from an average family—quiet and unassuming, the type who rarely spoke.
Xiao Li rushed up to Zhang Hanya, holding out a handful of small change with both hands, her face flushed. “Sister Xiao Ya, this is the money I saved by being frugal. It’s only a little over two hundred. Please don’t think it’s too little. Take it and hurry back to see your father!”
“Xiao Li, you’re a true friend!!”
Zhang Hanya gripped Xiao Li’s hands, turning excitedly to Shui Miao. “See? I do have real friends.”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. Shouldn’t Zhang Hanya be moved to tears by now?
After a moment, he walked up to Xiao Li, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiao Li, I want to help change your destiny…”
“Enough! You’re not a good person. Sister Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I won’t believe a word you say!” Xiao Li angrily cut him off, glaring fiercely.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya quickly explained the situation to Xiao Li. Once Xiao Li learned the truth, she awkwardly scrunched up her nose. “No way, you two…”
“Hehe, Xiao Li, it’s still early. Go back and pack your things. Move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house, arrange everything, and guarantee you’ll improve in your studies, have everything go smoothly, and achieve all your wishes.” Shui Miao wasn’t boasting—he genuinely wanted to help Xiao Li. Someone as kind-hearted as her deserved a better fate.
One must not harbor ill intentions, but one must also be cautious!
Shui Miao intentionally left behind Xiao Huo and Xiao Tu, the youngest and most silent among the five ghost apprentices, hoping to extract some valuable information from them.
But now wasn’t the time to test them yet. He had to wait patiently, waiting for the opportunity to casually ask a question or two.
For survival’s sake, Shui Miao had to tread carefully.
※※※
“He’s back. Whatever you need, talk to him!”
Seeing Shui Miao return, Zhang Hanya quickly directed everyone toward him, switching her address of her brother to “he,” since she had introduced Shui Miao to her classmates as her boyfriend. She couldn’t afford to expose the truth at a crucial moment.
“Woah! Handsome guy!”
“Yeah, yeah! I’m about to faint…”
“Woah! Xiao Ya, your boyfriend has such an amazing aura—he’s like my ideal prince charming!”
“Yeah, yeah! He’s so cool! Like a Korean celebrity!”
“Ahhhh… He smiled, he smiled…”
A large group of girls from the dormitory rushed down, shrieking loudly at the sight of Shui Miao. Several excited ones even jumped up, as if they were seeing a handsome male celebrity, completely unable to contain themselves!
Hearing these words, Zhang Hanya felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
Shui Miao, however, broke out in goosebumps. These girls’ flattery skills were no joke!
If even his normal smile could make them scream, what would happen if he struck a few poses? They’d probably never come down from the high!
“Xiao Shui, didn’t expect this popularity, did you? Seeing how enthusiastic everyone is, why don’t we treat them to a tea house or Linhai Grand Hotel to celebrate?” Zhang Hanya often dined and partied with her classmates, flaunting her family’s wealth. In short, two words: extravagance.
But Shui Miao leaned close to Zhang Hanya’s ear and whispered, “If we were broke, they probably wouldn’t even glance at us twice. Believe me?”
“How could that be!?”
Zhang Hanya looked at Shui Miao in shock, as if seeing a stranger. Her expression made it clear—she absolutely didn’t believe him.
Shui Miao smiled faintly and looked at the surrounding girls—at least fifty to sixty of them!
But a few seconds later, Shui Miao’s smile turned into a strained one. “Sorry everyone, I actually came here today to talk to Hanya because… because I’m completely broke now. And Hanya, your father is also…” Saying this, Shui Miao suddenly pulled Zhang Hanya behind a tree several meters away and lowered his voice, “Little sister, now you dramatically exclaim in shock, ‘My father was arrested! How could that happen?’ Then I estimate they’ll all run off, and no one will acknowledge you as a friend anymore.”
Shui Miao wanted to wake Zhang Hanya up to reality. Her so-called friends were nothing but a group of freeloading, fake girls.
Zhang Hanya hesitated, then suddenly threw herself into the act with great intensity, shouting loudly, “My father was arrested! How could that happen!?”
Zhang Hanya shouted so loudly that all fifty or sixty girls heard her.
Instantly, the previously chattering girls fell into complete silence.
Shui Miao quickly followed up, “Lend me ten thousand, I need to escape!”
“…”
The playful Zhang Hanya, seeing how immersed Shui Miao was in his performance, surprisingly got into character as well and responded in kind, “Where would I get money? Not to mention ten thousand—I don’t even have a hundred on me.”
“You have so many friends, can’t you borrow some for me?” Shui Miao pretended to be on the verge of exploding, shouting loudly.
“No way, I’m leaving. I need to go see my dad!” Zhang Hanya improvised.
But Shui Miao quickly added, “Then at least lend me some travel money!”
“No, I don’t have a single cent…”
As Zhang Hanya turned around, she unintentionally noticed that all her friends had already disappeared.
Shui Miao also turned around, shaking his head with a smile. “Well, did you see that? These are your so-called friends. Not a single one of them is willing to lend you money. And you naively thought every word they said was genuine.”
“How could this be? I’ve been so good to them—did they never consider me a friend at all?”
This time, it was Zhang Hanya’s turn to be on the verge of exploding.
Shui Miao walked up beside her, gently patted her shoulder, and sighed, “Alright, let’s go meet your rich friends again. Perhaps those friends won’t recognize you anymore either.”
“Impossible! Look, my friend Xiaoli is coming!”
Zhang Hanya excitedly pointed at a girl running toward them. This girl was dressed simply, clearly from a modest background, and appeared honest and quiet.
Xiaoli rushed up to Zhang Hanya, handed her a bunch of loose change with both hands, blushed, and said, “Sister Xiao Ya, this is money I’ve saved by being frugal. It’s only over two hundred, so please don’t think it’s too little. Take it first and quickly take a taxi to see your father!”
“Xiaoli, you’re truly my friend!!”
Zhang Hanya grabbed Xiaoli’s hands, excitedly shouting at Shui Miao, “See! I do have a real friend!”
“Huh?”
Shui Miao was puzzled. How could Zhang Hanya react like this? Shouldn’t she be moved to tears?
After a pause, Shui Miao stepped in front of Xiaoli, took a deep breath, and said, “Xiaoli, I want to help you change your fate…”
“Stop it already! You’re not even a good person. Xiao Ya is so kind, yet you want to break up with her. You’re terrible! I won’t believe anything you say!” Xiaoli angrily interrupted Shui Miao, glaring at him fiercely.
Seeing this, Zhang Hanya hurriedly explained the truth to Xiaoli. After learning the facts, Xiaoli looked embarrassed and wrinkled her nose, “No way… you two…”
“Hehe, Xiaoli, it’s still early. Hurry back and pack your things, move out, and I’ll find you the best feng shui house, decorate it for you, and guarantee that your studies will improve, everything will go smoothly, and all your wishes will come true.” Shui Miao wasn’t bragging—he genuinely wanted to help Xiaoli. She was so kind-hearted and deserved a better fate.
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