The air was cool, carrying the scent of dry leaves and old earth. On the highest ridge overlooking Ping Village, a man stood cloaked in dark robes, his presence calm, but potent—like a silent storm waiting to break.
His gaze lingered on the dirt road below, where a girl with a basket full of rice, tofu, and fish had just walked past. A faint breeze ruffled his sleeve. He spoke, voice deep and smooth, touched with a quiet amusement.
"Interesting woman."
Behind him, a man in dark armor appeared, kneeling. His face was hidden beneath a plain black mask, voice respectful.
"Master Yēn Jiǔ, why were you looking at that girl?"
Yēn Jiǔ's eyes didn't move. "Because she has a soul following her."
The guard hesitated, unsure if he'd heard correctly. "A… soul?"
"Yes. A soul that looks exactly like her, down to the last eyelash. But the body—it's moving, breathing, living. Laughing, even. As though the second soul doesn't exist." His lips curved faintly. "But it does. And it's loud. Screaming. Accusing. Pointing fingers like a mad spirit. Trying to force its way into her body, but it fails every time. How can two souls possess one shell? It can't. So it follows her. That poor thing… all it can do now is watch."
He laughed softly, the sound low and cold.
The secret guard shivered but remained composed. "Master, should I run some investigations on her?"
Yēn Jiǔ turned his gaze to the distant horizon. "No need. We'll meet again."
The guard hesitated. "Master… do you mean you've placed the—"
Before he could finish, an unseen force slammed around his throat. His knees buckled as he collapsed, choking, his hands clawing at his own neck. The invisible grip didn't let go. His eyes bulged, terror written in every inch of his face. Was this it? Was this the end?
Just as suddenly, the grip vanished. He gasped, dragging air into his lungs, the sound sharp and desperate.
Yēn Jiǔ looked down at him, still calm. "Remember. Don't speak of what you're not allowed to say."
The guard nodded quickly, bowing low until his forehead met the earth. Inside, his thoughts were in chaos.
Dear Buddha… I almost died for a question. He's still as terrifying as ever. And they said he'd lost his strength? Ha! They must be mad.
Yēn Jiǔ raised his hand, fingers cutting through the air like a blade. In the blink of an eye, they vanished into mist, the breeze swallowing the evidence they were ever there.
—
Back in Ping Village, Lianhua scowled as she walked, rice basket bouncing on her hip.
"Just like that? 'System, I should go home.' You said dangerous entity detected! Who was it?" She glanced sideways at the snake still wrapped around her neck like a smug scarf. "And you, oh mighty spirit beast, looked like you'd seen death itself. So much for your scary aura."
The silver-eyed Tengshe hissed but didn't respond.
The system said nothing either. Utter silence.
"Tch. Useless. I'll remember this when you need something," she muttered.
The sky had grown darker now. The last glimmers of sunlight slipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the village paths. Lanterns were starting to glow in the windows of small houses, and distant dogs barked as they were tied for the night.
Lianhua picked up her pace.
The thought of her grandmother pacing around the small courtyard, worried sick, had her nearly jogging.
This had been a long day. No food, one fight, a freaky snake companion, a bunch of stolen cave crystals, and now some ghost-level nonsense from the system.
She didn't need more weird.
Not today.
Fear.
Cold. Paralyzing. Deep in her bones.
The soul that trailed Lianhua trembled. Her form flickered like mist under sunlight, translucent and unstable. She hovered a few paces behind, her spectral form floating but never able to bridge the distance.
"Who was that man…?" the soul whispered to herself, voice laced with panic. "God, that was terrifying."
Her mind raced, filled with the image of the tall, cloaked figure. Just remembering how his eyes seemed to pierce through every layer of her being sent tremors through her spectral form.
That man… he saw me.
Really saw her.
Not just a glance. He saw everything—her rage, her desperation, her attempts to force her way into Lianhua's body. He'd laughed. Not a laugh of amusement, but of condescension. Like a lion amused by a mouse with a sword.
"I have to find a way," the soul growled. "I have to reclaim what's mine. That body… it was mine first. Everything Lianhua has—her breath, her limbs, her cultivation, her fate—it all belongs to me!"
But the image of that man lingered. She remembered his aura, how just his gaze had stopped her in her tracks. "Still… I have to try."
The system watched her, silent. She thought it didn't see her, but oh, it did. And it was unimpressed.
Reclaim this body? Hmph. I'd like to see you try, the system muttered to itself. And who told you this body ever belonged to you? Delusional ghost.
—
When Lianhua returned to the village, baskets full of food in hand, whispers followed her like gnats.
It wasn't just that she was returning with food—that alone would be enough for stares. But the events of the morning, the very public humiliation of Green Tea Lady Bai Xuexin, were still fresh in everyone's minds. People muttered from their stalls, their doorways, pretending to sweep or feed chickens just to get a look at her.
"Isn't that the jinx girl?"
"She came back with food? How…?"
"And after what happened with Lady Bai this morning too…"
Lianhua rolled her eyes. "Tsk. Do I have the words your concern is not needed carved on my forehead?"
She ignored them all and picked up her pace, the snake still lazily coiled around her neck like a fancy winter scarf. When she neared the old wooden gates of her grandmother's courtyard, her posture softened.
"Nǎinai!" she called, joy cracking through her voice.
From inside the house, a flurry of slippers slapped the ground before an elderly woman burst through the door, wiping her hands on her apron. Her silver hair was tied in a high bun, her back straight despite her age.
"Huā'er! You're back!" she cried with a wide smile. She rushed forward, taking the baskets from Lianhua's arms. "How was the journey? Did anything happen? Are you fine? Did you cause any trouble? Tell grandma so I can be prepared to defend you!"
She thumped her chest like a warrior, her smile gleaming.
Lianhua burst out laughing. "I'm fine, nǎinai. Just tired."
The system chimed in with its usual dry tone.[Ding! Host, remember—no matter what you do, you need to start planting. You've got your first seed already.]
"You don't have to remind me, okay! I know, I know!" Lianhua huffed, then mumbled under her breath, "Nagging spirit rice cooker…"
She paused. "Oh, system, where should I plant to complete my task? In the real world or the farm space?"
[Either is fine. Once you reach Level 3, you'll get more inside information about your farming potential.]
"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "Nice. So I should start with radish seeds?"
[Actually, you don't have to start with those. Anything you plant will count. I was just trying to give you direction since you were too busy being lazy when you first got here.]
"Excuse you? I was settling in! Getting my bearings! You donkey-headed kettle!"
[Charming.]
"You data-brained expired dumpling!"
[Very mature, host.]
"You sanctimonious spirit with the IQ of a cabbage!"
She kept going until her grandmother came back out, chuckling softly, arms full of ingredients. Lianhua followed, dragging the rest of the supplies inside.
Just as they were placing the vegetables on the stone counter, a shrill voice shrieked from outside.
"Hua hua! Hua hua!"
Lianhua froze. "Oh for—"
A familiar figure burst into the courtyard, arms flailing with a fake worried expression. Bai Xuexin.
"Hua hua! Thank goodness you're back! I was so worried!" she cried as she sprinted toward the house.
Before she could cross the threshold, Lianhua stepped forward and raised a hand.
"Did no one ever teach you to knock before entering someone's home? Why act like an ill-mannered child?"
Bai Xuexin froze mid-step, her leg half-raised. Her expression cracked.
What is wrong with this bitch? She should be honored I want to be friends with a jinx like her! Where does she get the audacity to act so proud? she muttered under her breath.
Grandmother Lian's expression turned frosty the moment she saw Xuexin. Still, she said nothing—her silence colder than any rebuke.
Xuexin, ever the performer, switched to a dramatic voice, "Hua hua, I was so scared for you! You've been gone for hours! Did something happen? Were there men? Did they try to do something to you? Tell me! I'll beat them up—Don't worry, I'm not afraid—"
Before she could finish, Lianhua launched forward and landed a solid kick to her abdomen.
With a satisfying whoosh, Bai Xuexin flew out of the house and landed squarely at the gate, flailing in the dirt like an overturned chicken.
"Oh fuck I've been wanting to do that," Lianhua muttered, gently bringing her leg back down.
She stretched casually, brushing nonexistent dust off her clothes.
The snake hissed in approval.The system snorted.And her grandmother? She calmly returned to sorting the tofu, completely unbothered.