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"So Sister Qingmei is just like me, a victim of fate. Since you don't mind, why don't you stay in my courtyard tonight?"
Xu Taiping pretended to sympathize and nodded.
Upon hearing this, Liu Qingmei's face lit up with joy, and a flash of excitement flickered in her eyes.
"Thank you, Young Hero Taiping. Once my injuries heal, I will definitely bring you a generous gift to repay your kindness for saving my life."
Tears welled up in Liu Qingmei's eyes as she spoke, her face filled with gratitude.
"Sister Qingmei, the demon wolf might still be lurking nearby. If I open the courtyard gate carelessly, it might sneak in. Why don't you turn around and keep watch while I open the gate? Once it's open, you can rush in quickly. That way, it'll be safer."
Xu Taiping spoke with a tone of caution.
Liu Qingmei was momentarily stunned by his words but quickly nodded in agreement.
"You're absolutely right, Taiping. I'll keep watch for you. Just let me know when the gate is open."
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Qingmei turned around.
The moment her back was turned, the gentle expression on her face vanished like a mask being removed, replaced by a look of fierce malice. Her lips curled into a sneer as she muttered under her breath, "He thinks he's being cautious, but he's actually a fool. He's about to die, yet he hasn't noticed a thing. How laughable."
However, as soon as these words left her lips, her ears twitched. The sound of a bowstring being drawn tight reached her ears.
"You!..."
"Whoosh!"
Before Liu Qingmei could react, the sharp whistle of an arrow cutting through the air rang out. An arrow covered in frost shot straight through her chest.
"You're asking for death..."
"Whoosh!"
Staring at the arrow in her chest, Liu Qingmei's face turned pale with rage. But before she could finish her sentence, another arrow pierced through her throat.
By now, Liu Qingmei had turned her head, her eyes meeting those of the young boy standing on top of the courtyard gate. With a look of disbelief, she asked, "How... how did you notice?"
"Whoosh!"
Xu Taiping raised his hand and fired another arrow, this one piercing directly through Liu Qingmei's forehead, leaving a gaping hole the size of a fist.
"Sister, next time you go out to gather herbs, remember to wear more appropriate shoes."
Under Liu Qingmei's furious gaze, Xu Taiping calmly nocked another arrow, his expression serene.
As if deeply insulted, Liu Qingmei suddenly flew into a rage. Ignoring her severe injuries, she leaped up, her claws elongating as she swiped at Xu Taiping, who was still standing on the gate.
"Bang!"
Before Xu Taiping could react, a burst of blue light shot out from the courtyard's protective barrier. Like a powerful slap, it sent Liu Qingmei flying backward.
"Ah!..."
Liu Qingmei let out a piercing scream as she hit the ground.
Then, a plume of black smoke erupted from her mouth, quickly forming into a swirling black vortex that kicked up dust around the courtyard.
"Boy, unless you plan to stay in that courtyard forever, you'll eventually fall into my hands. When that happens, I'll make sure you beg for death!"
A sharp, menacing voice echoed from within the black vortex.
"I don't recall ever offending you. Why are you trying to harm me?"
This was Xu Taiping's first encounter with such a creature, and he was doing his best to stay calm. As he questioned the monster, he drew his bowstring taut once more.
"You'll find out soon enough!"
With a burst of maniacal laughter, the black vortex whirled away and disappeared into the night.
"Is this what the jade slip referred to as a spirit or ghost?"
Xu Taiping muttered to himself as he stared in the direction where the black vortex had vanished.
According to the jade slip, the mountains where the outer sect disciples resided were not only home to demonic beasts but also spirits and ghosts. These spirits often possessed the bodies of animals or corpses, using them to lure and deceive living humans, feeding on their flesh and vitality to cultivate their power.
Since these spirits had no physical form, the only way to truly destroy them was through specific spells or techniques.
"With such a creature lurking in the shadows, hunting in the surrounding areas will be troublesome. The biggest problem is that I know nothing about it."
Xu Taiping glanced at the corpse on the ground, his brow furrowed in concern.
In situations like this, it was customary to report the incident to the sect. However, based on his experiences so far, Xu Taiping knew that even if he reported it, no one would come to investigate. In the eyes of the sect, outer sect disciples like him were expendable, not worth the effort.
"Sigh..."
Just as Xu Taiping was pondering how to deal with the ghostly threat, a chilling wind swept through the courtyard gate once more.
By now, the sky had completely darkened, and the cold wind felt particularly eerie.
"Could the ghost have returned so soon?"
Xu Taiping immediately nocked an arrow, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.
"Young man, I'm over here."
Just as Xu Taiping was about to give up his search, tiny green fireflies began to emerge from the female corpse at the gate. They coalesced into a translucent figure of a woman, identical in appearance to the corpse on the ground.
"You dare show yourself again?"
Xu Taiping aimed his arrow at the spectral figure.
Before reaching the Ice Formation stage, his arrows couldn't kill a ghost's spirit, but the residual energy from his arrows could still inflict some damage. This was something Elder Ziyang had mentioned during his lectures.
"Young man, spare me! I was forced by the ghostly servant to deceive you. I had no choice!"
The female spirit pleaded desperately.
"Ghostly servant?"
Xu Taiping observed her tone, which didn't seem deceitful, and she had accurately identified the ghost's nature. He slightly lowered his bow.
"Yes, it was a ghostly servant. I was its victim, forced to become its servant, enduring its torment day after day."
The female spirit spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with regret and hatred. It was clear she harbored deep resentment toward the ghostly servant.
However, having learned his lesson earlier, Xu Taiping wasn't about to trust her blindly, nor would he step out of the courtyard to confront her.
"Young man, you don't need to worry about me harming you. My spirit is already fragmented, and after being struck by your three arrows infused with true energy, I'll dissipate within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
The female spirit seemed to sense Xu Taiping's hesitation and quickly explained, her voice tinged with sorrow.