The vast tomb echoed with Xiao Qiyu’s words, but there was no response after a moment of silence.
Xi Fuhong swallowed nervously and blinked.
Could it be that the Baili zombie was sleeping? Zombies shouldn’t need to sleep, right? She couldn’t help but let her mind wander.
Xiao Qiyu, not receiving an answer, chuckled softly.
Her right hand swiftly swung her long sword, while her left hand shot out a paper talisman.
With a bang, the ancient coffin exploded instantly, and even the high platform couldn’t escape the impact.
The force was so great that it blasted a large hole in the center of the stone platform.
Xi Fuhong, hiding behind a pillar, was dumbfounded, covering her ears with her hands as her heart pounded from the loud noise.
She watched as Xiao Qiyu leaped ten feet away, her gentle smile unchanged.
“…How…dare…” Amidst the swirling dust, a hoarse voice, as rough as stones grinding together, emerged.
From the shattered stone platform, a figure slowly crawled out from the bottom.
Its disjointed limbs seemed like broken bones, swaying with each movement.
When it finally climbed onto the coffin, its appearance became clear.
Under the blue-green ghostly fire, its withered, deathly pale skin exuded a chilling aura.
Its eyes were two pitch-black holes, and below the neck, only white bones remained.
Its tattered clothes hung loosely, with a crescent-shaped white jade pendant on its chest, the White Tiger Ring Head.
“…How dare…you mortals…” As it opened its mouth, black mist surged out, and the hoarse voice seemed not to come from Baili.
“Apologies,” Xiao Qiyu said with a bow, then suddenly lunged forward with her sword.
Baili raised a hand to block the sword.
The blade sank three inches into the white bone, and before she could pull it back, Baili’s other hand grabbed Xiao Qiyu’s left hand.
The decayed palm emitted black mist, and Xiao Qiyu’s eyes darkened.
She kicked twice to shake Baili off, then looked down to see her captured arm covered with a layer of blue-black fingerprints, emitting faint black smoke.
Corpse Qi.
This layer of resentment and corpse qi, once contaminated, is hard to remove.
At worst, it attracts other vengeful spirits to claim one’s life, and at best, it leads to immediate death.
She had witnessed it when she investigated Baili’s ancestral tomb months ago.
She didn’t expect that after several months, the resentment had not only intensified but also provoked Baili’s murderous intent.
Is it so unwilling to hand over the White Tiger Ring Head?
“…Mortals…don’t even think…about the Tiger Dragon Cave…” Baili shook its head and slowly approached Xiao Qiyu.
“Since Mr. Baili refuses to hand it over, I must be impolite.” Even if she had to cut off its head, she would obtain the White Tiger Ring Head.
Xiao Qiyu smiled faintly, her entire being exuding a sudden killing intent.
She retracted her right hand to retrieve her long sword, while her left hand scattered talismans into the air.
The sword blade cut her fingertip, and blood splattered on the ground, instantly summoning several shadows to surround Baili’s corpse.
“…Hahaha!…Haha!…” The sharp laughter was like a roar, and black mist churned from Baili’s mouth.
In an instant, the yin energy intensified, the air solidified, and the shadows and black mist tangled.
Baili bent and swayed, while Xiao Qiyu charged forward with her sword, spinning to stab, only for Baili to dodge.
Its bony fingers reached for Xiao Qiyu’s throat, but she blocked and jumped back five steps.
Baili followed closely, as if it had seen through her moves.
Xiao Qiyu lost her composure in dealing with the ghost, though her smile remained, sweat beaded on her forehead.
Xi Fuhong watched in shock from behind the stone pillar.
The battle had been going on for several moments, yet it was still hard to determine a winner.
She paced anxiously, seeing Xiao Qiyu’s chest heaving with breath.
She knew that dealing with so many ghosts earlier had exhausted her.
Xi Fuhong wanted to help but was powerless.
──Miss Xi doesn’t know martial arts, and if something happens halfway, it will only drag down Sister Qi Yu! Fang Qi Er’s words echoed in her mind.
She bit her lip in frustration, regretting agreeing to come with Xiao Qiyu.
Not only was she unable to help, but she also needed protection.
If it were Fang Qi Er or Qin Ke Yun, or even Luo Qingcheng, Xiao Qiyu wouldn’t have to struggle so much.
In a daze, a mournful sigh reached her ears: “…Dead…so tragic…dead…”
“Ah!!!…Mmm!” Xi Fuhong glanced and saw a human head resting on her shoulder, screaming in fright.
Not wanting to distract Xiao Qiyu, she quickly covered her mouth.
Only then did she realize that a group of ghosts had surrounded her, floating freely in the vast tomb.
I have the Soul Binding Rope! I’m not afraid! Not afraid! Not afraid, not afraid…
A cold wind brushed her neck, and even with the Soul Binding Rope, she was terrified, jumping out from behind the wall pillar.
Almost simultaneously, a glare struck her, and she turned to meet Baili’s gaze.
The hollow skull eyes stared at Xi Fuhong, sending chills down her spine, as if she were being seen through.
It knows something… It must know something…
“Miss Xi!!” Xiao Qiyu’s shout brought Xi Fuhong back.
Looking up, Baili was already approaching her, its withered fingers reaching out as if to claim her life.
Instinctively clutching the Black Dragon Tail Ring, Xi Fuhong circled around the stone pillar, desperately running towards Xiao Qiyu.
Baili’s hoarse scream echoed with inexplicable anger, causing the ghosts and shadows to retreat.
“There were so many ghosts just now, I couldn’t hold back…” Xi Fuhong said, hiding behind Xiao Qiyu.
Unusually, she didn’t offer gentle comfort but instead put away her smile and stared ahead.
Xi Fuhong followed her gaze and saw Baili approaching them, its claws bared.
Xiao Qiyu raised her sword to her chest, her left sleeve protecting Xi Fuhong behind her.
Her eyes were calm, lacking the murderous aura, but with a hint of caution.
“…Black Dragon Ring…Black Dragon Ring…” Baili murmured repeatedly.
“Miss Xi, please stay here and don’t move.” Xiao Qiyu narrowed her eyes.
Just now, when Baili saw Xi Fuhong, the sudden killing intent was significant.
It already knew the Black Dragon Ring was with us, so why react like this upon seeing it? What exactly did Baili see?
“…The Tiger Dragon Cave cannot be opened…” Baili staggered to a stop, “The Tiger Dragon Cave cannot be opened!!!”
In an instant, it roared, shaking the heavens and earth.
Dust fell heavily from the tomb’s ceiling, and the floor cracked and swayed.
Xi Fuhong lost her balance and fell to the ground, staring in horror at Baili.
The black mist from its mouth devoured the surrounding ghosts, even consuming the little ghost Xiao Qiyu had nurtured.
“What’s happening?!” She clutched Xiao Qiyu’s clothes, terrified.
“It seems it doesn’t want us to leave alive.” Xiao Qiyu said calmly, gently stroking Xi Fuhong’s head.
Hearing her steady tone, Xi Fuhong looked up in surprise.
She saw the black mark on Xiao Qiyu’s left arm, and her heart chilled.
Could she be possessed? Baili was going berserk, yet she seemed indifferent? Xi Fuhong, a bit scared, moved back awkwardly, avoiding Xiao Qiyu’s hand as she stood up.
“Are you okay?” She mustered the courage to ask softly.
“Hmm?” Xiao Qiyu turned back with a gentle smile, looking at her left hand, and said lightly, “It’s nothing.”
As they spoke, Baili had already devoured all the ghosts.
Its hollow eye sockets turned towards Xi Fuhong and Xiao Qiyu, black mist leaking from its cheeks without any skin to block it.
Each step was unsteady, yet it never fell.
Xiao Qiyu stepped forward with her sword, returning to her usual gentle demeanor.
Her smile was beautiful, now filled with an eerie charm.
“For the last time, hand over the White Tiger Ring Head.” Her tone was unexpectedly forceful.
“The Tiger Dragon Cave cannot be opened… Mortals dreaming of obtaining it… Never! Never!!” With a flick of its fingers, its figure flashed.
“Watch out!!” Xiao Qiyu shouted, and Xi Fuhong instinctively dodged to the side.
Baili’s bizarre actions frightened Xi Fuhong, making her tremble all over.
Her legs went weak, and ten steps away, Baili stood before her.
Its stench was overwhelming, making Xi Fuhong gag repeatedly.
Seeing Baili targeting Xi Fuhong, Xiao Qiyu’s expression turned stern as she advanced with her sword, forcing Baili back with a flourish of her blade.
A mere dead person, yet so stubborn.
“Ridiculous.” Her red lips parted with disdain, Xiao Qiyu unwilling to waste any more thought.
The ones who should be stubborn are the living.
“Die──”
