Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
"It turns out that Sister Qingmei is also a person with a bitter fate, just like me. Since you don't mind, Sister, you can stay in my courtyard tonight."
Xu Taiping pretended to sympathize and nodded.
Upon hearing this, Qingmei's face immediately showed a look of joy, and there was a flash of excitement in her eyes.
"Thank you, Little Hero Taiping. When Qingmei's injury is healed, I will definitely bring a generous gift to thank you for saving my life."
With tears in her eyes, Qingmei said gratefully.
"Sister Qingmei, the evil wolf may still be lurking nearby. If I rashly open the courtyard gate, it might come in. It's better for you to turn around and keep an eye on the surroundings. After I open the gate, you can quickly come in. This way, it will be safer."
Xu Taiping said cautiously to Qingmei.
Upon hearing this, Qingmei hesitated for a moment, then nodded repeatedly and said, "Taiping, you're right. I'll keep an eye on it. Let me know when you open the gate."
After saying this, Qingmei quickly turned around.
In the instant she turned her head, the gentle expression on Qingmei's face disappeared, replaced by a fierce expression. Then, she raised the corner of her mouth and whispered in a barely audible voice, "Seems cautious, but actually foolish. It's ridiculous that he didn't notice even when death was approaching."
But as soon as she finished speaking, her ears trembled slightly, and the sound of a taut bowstring reached her ears.
"You!…"
"Swoosh!"
Qingmei was about to flee, but the sound of the arrow piercing through the air exploded behind her. An arrow covered in frost pierced straight through her chest.
"You're seeking death…"
"Swoosh!"
Looking at the arrow in her chest, Qingmei's face turned pale with anger. However, before she could finish her angry shout, another sharp arrow flew through the air, piercing through her throat.
At this moment, Qingmei, who had turned her head, met the gaze of the young man standing on the courtyard gate behind her. She looked at him with an incredulous expression and asked, "How did you… detect me?"
"Swoosh!"
Xu Taiping raised his hand and shot another arrow, which directly pierced Qingmei's forehead, leaving a fist-sized hole.
"Sister, remember to wear suitable shoes next time you go out to gather herbs."
In the midst of Qingmei's angry gaze, Xu Taiping continued to string his bow and calmly said.
As if feeling greatly humiliated, Qingmei suddenly became furious. Ignoring her injuries, she leaped up and used her suddenly enlarged claws to swipe at Xu Taiping, who was standing on top of the courtyard gate.
"Boom!"
Before Xu Taiping could make a move, a green light suddenly appeared in the courtyard's barrier, and it struck Qingmei, who had survived three arrows, like a heavy slap, sending her flying.
"Ah!…"
Qingmei, who fell to the ground, let out a scream of agony.
Immediately, a black smoke emerged from her mouth, which then turned into a black whirlwind, stirring up a cloud of dust in front of the courtyard.
"Kid, unless you never leave this courtyard again, otherwise, sooner or later, I will catch you. When that time comes, you will beg for life but won't be able to die!"
In the black whirlwind, a sharp and fierce male voice roared.
"I seem to have never offended you. Why do you want to harm me?"
Encountering such a monster for the first time, Xu Taiping was trying hard to calm himself down. While questioning the creature, he pulled the bowstring again.
"Soon you will know!"
With a burst of mad laughter, the black whirlwind howled and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Could this be the enchanting ghost mentioned in the jade scroll?"
Xu Taiping murmured to himself as he looked in the direction where the black whirlwind dissipated.
According to the information on the jade scroll, besides the beasts in the deep mountains, there were also strange creatures and ghosts lurking in the forest where the outer disciples were located.
These strange creatures and ghosts often liked to possess the bodies of wild beasts or dead people, and then deceive other living beings to suck their blood and essence for cultivation.
Because they were strange creatures without a true form, the only way to completely kill them was through certain techniques.
"With such a monster hiding in the dark and launching sneak attacks, it will be troublesome to go hunting in the surrounding area in the future. The most important thing is that I know nothing about it."
Xu Taiping looked at the corpse on the ground and frowned slightly.
In this situation, it should be reported to the sect. However, after this period of understanding, he was very clear that even if he reported it, no one would come to investigate.
In his eyes, as a named outer disciple, he was dispensable and wouldn't receive much attention.
"Hoo…"
Just as Xu Taiping was thinking about how to prevent the ghost, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew at the courtyard gate.
By now, it was completely dark, so when this cold wind blew, it gave people an eerie feeling.
"Could it be that the ghost has come so soon?"
Xu Taiping immediately became vigilant, drew his bow and arrow, and started searching the surroundings.
"Young man, I'm here."
Just as Xu Taiping was empty-handed, little green fireflies suddenly flew out from the corpse in front of the gate, eventually turning into a nearly transparent female figure.
This phantom had the same appearance as the corpse on the ground.
"You dare to show yourself again?"
Xu Taiping immediately aimed his arrow at the female phantom.
The arrows in his hand couldn't kill ghost spirits, but arrows infused with residual sunset true qi could still cause some damage to them. Purple Yang True Immortal had mentioned this before.
"Young man, spare me, spare me. I was forced by that evil ghost. I had no choice but to come and deceive you to leave the house."
The female ghost pleaded repeatedly.
"Evil ghost?"
Xu Taiping observed her tone, which didn't seem fake, and listened to her words, which revealed the identity of the previous ghost. He immediately moved his bow and arrow to the side.
"Yes, that was indeed an Evil Ghost. I was victimized by it and became its Ghost Servant, enduring its humiliation every day."
The female ghost spoke through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with regret and resentment. It seemed she truly despised the Evil Ghost.
However, having learned his lesson just now, Xu Taiping naturally wouldn't easily believe her one-sided story, let alone leave the courtyard to meet her.
"Young man, you don't have to worry about me harming you. My soul was already incomplete to begin with, and just now it was hit by the three arrows you fired with your True Qi. In at most the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, my soul will scatter."
The female ghost seemed to have read Xu Taiping's thoughts and quickly explained to him. However, by the end of her speech, her tone was filled with desolation.