Chapter 14: The Enchanting Ghost Maiden

“The Ghost Princess has come to pay homage to the Dragon Mother, please inform the generals!” Clad in a long, pale green skirt that hugged her mature, voluptuous body, the Ghost Princess, slightly shorter than her daughter, halted at the gate of the Crystal Palace.

Compared to her daughter’s gentle and natural demeanor, the Ghost Princess was clearly more cautious. She bowed respectfully, then carefully lifted her head, allowing the soldiers and generals to see her face clearly.

Her black hair was adorned in a high, cloud-like bun, accentuating her full, rosy, and enchanting face. Unfortunately, an ineradicable hatred veiled her with a ghostly aura.

The shrimp soldiers and crab generals finally fully believed what Xiaoyou had said. They sighed inwardly with pity, then directly opened the Dragon Palace gates, saying, “Go in, the Goddess has been waiting for you for quite some time!”

When Qiao San half-pulled, half-carried Qingniang home, dawn was just breaking. The emotionally conflicted Qingniang dared not face her young brother-in-law’s fiery gaze. She hastily made an excuse and slowly retreated into her bedroom.

Only after his sister-in-law closed the door did Qiao San finally tear his longing gaze away. He knew that this was definitely not the time to push too hard. Based on his understanding of her, he was confident he could completely win over his sister-in-law’s heart and body.

The scorching magma had already branded her like a mark. The previous night’s intimacy was like a seed of desire, carefully nurtured by time—how could it not take root, sprout, bloom, and bear fruit?

Having stayed awake all night, fatigue was inevitable. Qiao San returned to his room and fell into a blissful sleep. It was not until the next day, when the sun was setting, that he lazily stepped out of his room.

“Brother, Sister-in-law!” Qiao San appeared perfectly normal in front of his elder brother, just as he had promised Qingniang he wouldn’t fight with his brother for his sister-in-law. Seeing this, Qingniang’s anxious heart finally eased, and a spontaneous smile crept onto her face.

“Third Brother, I heard about last night’s incident!” Of course, what Qiao Da heard from Qingniang was a heavily edited version. The stubborn scholar spoke seriously to his younger brother: “It’s understandable that you became a ruffian, but why must you flatter the powerful? That’s not the spirit of the Qiao family!”

“Hehe… Brother, you mean Mr. Wang?” Qiao San didn’t blush at all. He casually smiled and, just as Qiao Da was about to get angry, he shifted tone and solemnly explained: “Brother, I’ve been a ruffian for over two years now. You know I’ve been investigating who injured you and ruined our family!”

“Third Brother, does this have anything to do with the Wang family?” Concerned about herself, Qingniang momentarily forgot her inner turmoil and eagerly asked.

“Yes!” Facing his sister-in-law, Qiao San was also emotionally conflicted. Qingniang’s loyalty exceeded his expectations. In just half a day, he clearly felt her wariness of him increasing.

Qiao San suppressed his swirling thoughts, paused briefly, then continued solemnly, “I’ve investigated every faction in Liumang Town, but found no clues at all—except for the Wang and Li families, which I couldn’t investigate thoroughly, so…”

“I see!” Although Qiao Da was stubborn, he wasn’t stupid. He completely understood Qiao San’s implication and sighed, “Alas… I’m sorry I can’t help. If so, you must be careful! I’m going back to my study now.”

As always, Qiao Da buried himself in his study whenever he had free time. It was not only to study diligently but also to escape the pain of facing his wife. How could a “cripple’s” feelings be understood by a normal man?

“Qingniang!” As soon as the elder brother left, Qiao San excitedly and gently embraced his sister-in-law, whispering tenderly into her ear—his voice filled with genuine care, yet burning with desire.

“San… San Di, no!” Qingniang, however, struggled frantically, forcing her voluptuous body out of her young brother-in-law’s arms. The graceful and beautiful woman murmured softly, “Don’t… don’t force me, or else…”

Again this trick! But it really worked!

Qiao San couldn’t help but bitterly smile inwardly. His sister-in-law’s strong resistance was both unexpected and understandable. Last time, he had only succeeded by taking advantage of the situation.

If this beauty were so easily swayed, she wouldn’t be Qingniang!

“Sister-in-law, please be careful at home and don’t tire yourself! I’ll be back soon!” Ignoring Qingniang’s protests, Qiao San spoke softly, like a loving husband, caressing his sister-in-law’s troubled heart with tenderness and care.

For Qingniang, respect and affection moved her far more than fleeting passion.

※※※※※※※※※

Under the hazy moonlight in the suburbs, a seemingly empty space suddenly rippled like water. After a silent tremor, two semi-transparent figures crossed the boundary between life and death, appearing out of nowhere in the misty night.

“The Ghost Princess has come with her daughter to pay respects to the Dragon Mother. Kindly inform the generals!” A mature female ghost, slightly shorter than her daughter, clad in a pale green long dress that hugged her voluptuous figure, paused at the gates of the Crystal Palace.

Compared to her daughter’s natural elegance, the Ghost Princess was noticeably more cautious. She bowed respectfully and then cautiously lifted her head, allowing the soldiers to see her face clearly.

Her dark hair, styled in high clouds, framed her fleshy, radiant face, though an indelible resentment cast a ghostly aura over her.

Only then did the shrimp soldiers and crab generals fully believe Xiao You’s words. With a sigh of regret, they opened the gates of the Dragon Palace. “Go in, the Dragon Mother has been waiting for you for a long time!”

When Qiao San half-carried, half-supported Qing Niang back home, the sky was just beginning to lighten. Qing Niang, with a complex expression, dared not face her brother-in-law’s intense gaze. She found an excuse and, with unsteady steps, retreated into her bedroom.

Only after Qing Niang closed the door did Qiao San withdraw his infatuated gaze. He knew that this was not the time to push too hard. Given his understanding of Qing Niang, he was confident that he could eventually win over her body and heart.

The scorching magma had already branded itself into Qing Niang’s body. The previous night’s intimacy was like a seed of desire, and with time’s careful nurturing, how could it not take root, sprout, and bear fruit?!

Having stayed up all night, it was inevitable to feel a bit tired. Qiao San returned to his room and fell into a deep sleep. It wasn’t until the next evening that he stretched and walked out of his room.

“Big brother, sister-in-law!” Qiao San appeared normal in front of his brother, just as he had assured Qing Niang. He would never compete with his brother for her, allowing the physically challenged Qing Niang to slowly calm her anxious heart, and she couldn’t help but smile secretly.

“Third brother, I heard about last night!” What Qiao Da heard from Qing Niang was naturally a severely abridged version. The stubborn scholar spoke very seriously to his brother, “Although being a rogue outside is a last resort, why do you have to curry favor with the powerful?! This is not the character of our Qiao family descendants!”

“Haha… Big brother, you mean Squire Wang!” Qiao San didn’t blush at all, casually laughing. Just as Qiao Da was about to get angry, he changed the subject, speaking earnestly to unravel the mystery, “Big brother, I’ve been a rogue for over two years now. You know, I’ve always been investigating the real culprit who injured you and ruined our family!”

“Third brother, is this related to the Wang family?” Concerned about herself, Qing Niang momentarily forgot her chaotic state of mind and eagerly asked.

“Yes!” Facing his sister-in-law, Qiao San was also troubled. Qing Niang’s chastity exceeded his expectations. In just half a day, he clearly felt that her guard against him had increased!

Qiao San forcefully suppressed his myriad thoughts, paused briefly, and then continued earnestly, “I’ve investigated all the forces in Liublind Town, but there’s not a single clue. Except for the ‘Wang’ and ‘Li’ families, which I couldn’t investigate, so…”

“I understand!” Although Qiao Da was pedantic, he wasn’t a fool. He fully understood Qiao San’s meaning and couldn’t help but sigh, “Alas… it’s a pity I can’t help! Since that’s the case, you must be very careful! I’m going back to the study.”

As always, Qiao Da, whenever he had time, would retreat into his study, both to study diligently and to escape the pain of facing his wife. The feelings of a “cripple” are not something a normal man can understand!

“Qing Niang!” As soon as Qiao Da left, Qiao San excitedly gently embraced his sister-in-law, whispering tenderly in her ear, with both genuine concern and fiery desire.

“Third… third brother, don’t!” Qing Niang struggled in panic, her plump figure insisting on leaving her brother-in-law’s embrace. The dignified and beautiful woman murmured softly, “You… don’t force me, otherwise…”

This trick again! But it really works!

Qiao San couldn’t help but secretly smile bitterly. His sister-in-law’s strong resistance was both unexpected and reasonable. Last time, he had only succeeded by taking advantage of the right time and place!

If the beauty were so easily compromised, she wouldn’t be Qing Niang!

“Sister-in-law, take care of everything at home, don’t tire yourself! I’ll be back soon!” Qiao San, ignoring Qing Niang’s objections, spoke softly and tenderly like a loving husband, using his tenderness and consideration to soothe her chaotic heart.

For Qing Niang, respect and affection were far more moving than fleeting passion.

※※※※※※※※※

In the moonlit outskirts, the empty space suddenly rippled like water. After a silent wave, two semi-transparent figures crossed the boundary between yin and yang, appearing out of thin air in the night mist.

“Mother, do we really have to harm someone? I can’t do it!” Xiao You, a ghost with an ethereal aura, looked up at the moon, her phoenix eyes filled with reluctance and hesitation.

“Xiao You, our mother and daughter died tragically in a foreign land and were thrown into the Ghost Forest by villains. We’ve been wandering ghosts for ten years!”

The resentful words infused the ethereal space with a cold aura. The Ghost Princess turned in the air, her voice tinged with joy as she continued, “This time, we finally have this opportunity. As long as we help the Dragon Mother with this, we can be reborn as humans! Xiao You, we must not be soft-hearted!”

The Ghost Princess, of moderate build, sighed helplessly, then changed her tone to one of hatred, “Silly girl, we’re dealing with lecherous scum! Besides, many evil spirits in the Ghost Forest have ill intentions towards us. If we don’t leave the Ghost Forest soon, we’ll surely become playthings for the demons!”

“My dear, we were both murdered in a foreign land and thrown into Ghost Forest, becoming wandering spirits for ten years!”

Her resentful words injected a chilling coldness into the empty space. The Ghost Princess turned in the air, continuing joyfully, “This time, we finally have a chance. As long as we help the Dragon Mother complete this task, we can reincarnate again as humans! Xiaoyou, you absolutely cannot be soft-hearted!”

The Ghost Princess sighed helplessly, then changed tone, her voice filled with hatred: “Foolish girl, we’re targeting lecherous scoundrels! Besides, many evil creatures in Ghost Forest have ill intentions toward us. If we don’t leave soon, we’ll surely become playthings for demons!”