Xin Zhui came too fast for Jiang Xingyan to dodge.
She instinctively closed her eyes and turned her body, trying to minimize the impact.
Suddenly, a hand gripped her shoulder tightly, pulling her forcefully back onto the carriage.
The blood followed right after.
Splash!
The ground, the carriage, and the lower half of Jiang Xingyan’s robe were all covered in filth and blood.
Some had even splattered onto her face.
Jiang Xingyan’s eyes snapped open. Not even bothering to thank Yun Chunfeng behind her, she ripped the talisman off her forehead.
The sticky sensation on her forehead and face sent her irritation skyrocketing to its peak.
Xin Zhui stared, dumbfounded, as the General before him—instead of collapsing in agony as he’d imagined—erupted with an intense, murderous aura.
The blood on “his” face made him look like a demonic Asura general crawled out from hell.
There was no doubt it was the imposing presence unique to General Huo.
Cold sweat beaded on Xin Zhui’s forehead.
What’s going on?!
Old Zhangtou swore up and down that this is exactly how they treat people possessed by wandering spirits in his village!
“This confinement talisman can trap ’em right where they stand, can’t run away.
Then, toss a handful of ghost-repelling glutinous rice to stiffen their movements, so they can’t dodge.
Finally, the most crucial step.
Dump a whole basin of black dog blood on ’em.
Guaranteed to make that wandering spirit vanish into thin air instantly!”
Faced with doubt, he had even patted his chest and guaranteed it, saying it worked every time.
“Of course it’s real! I saw it with my own eyes! My mom used these Three Exorcism Steps to drive out the evil from that guy in our village!
Just you watch. That person will definitely spit out a mouthful of black blood, their eyes will roll back, and they’ll pass out.
They’ll even have a fever for three days before they get better.”
But now, not only was the General not taken down, he was charging right at him!
Xin Zhui panicked, even forgetting to drop the basin. He turned and ran, thinking: Thank goodness I brought two helpers. They can hold him off for a bit.
He took a closer look. There was no one left on either side of him.
Even the person Jiang Xingyan had struck with her palm was dragging their injured body away, crawling off at top speed.
Xin Zhui was filled with despair: Great, just great. Fine feathered friends flee in foul weather, is that it?
“General, spare me! Old Zhangtou mis—” He didn’t get to finish the word “misled” before Jiang Xingyan launched a flying kick that landed squarely on his backside.
Xin Zhui fell flat on his face.
Jiang Xingyan seized the opportunity and planted a foot on him.
For a time, Xin Zhui’s agonized cries echoed throughout the entire military camp.
Yun Chunfeng sat back inside the carriage and calmly covered Xiao Ya’s ears.
“Don’t be afraid. They’re just slaughtering a pig outside.”
Huo Ci, beside him, closed his eyes speechlessly.
You made your bed, now lie in it.
The soldiers in the camp wore solemn expressions, standing ready. They immediately picked up their spears and began training with intense fervor.
Every face was clearly stamped with: This has nothing to do with me, I know nothing at all.
It was only now that Jiang Xingyan realized how useful Huo Ci’s body truly was.
Basically, any move she thought of in her mind, the body could perfectly replicate.
And with immense power at that.
Xin Zhui was beaten within an inch of his life, but Jiang Xingyan wasn’t done with him yet. She grabbed him by the ear and dragged him over to the puddle of blood by the carriage.
“You like splashing people with blood, do you? Let’s see you enjoy it to the fullest!”
Xin Zhui ended up like a piece of meat being double-dredged in a bowl of flour.
Within moments, he was transformed into an unrecognizable, blood-soaked mess.
But that still wasn’t the end of it.
“Someone! Drag him away and give him twenty military staff strikes!”
“Yes, sir!”
Gasping for breath, Xin Zhui still found the strength to curse Old Zhangtou: “Zhang, you liar! You tricked me!”
Old Zhangtou was the one assigned to administer the punishment. He looked at Xin Zhui pityingly, his face full of helpless compassion. “Aiya, Vice General Xin, your reasoning is too biased.
You never said earlier you suspected General Huo!
My mom said, anyone wearing an official’s uniform, no matter how high or low their rank, even if it’s some tiny sesame-or-mung-bean-sized official, wandering spirits can’t possess ’em.
Let alone our General Huo, who was just promoted to a first-rank official. How could he possibly be possessed by a ghost?
I think you, ah, just haven’t been disciplined by the General for a few days and your skin is itching for it. Making you all suspicious and seeing ghosts.”
Xin Zhui gritted his teeth. “Say what you want, but can you hit a little lighter?!”
Old Zhangtou answered honestly, “That won’t do. I’m afraid the General will punish me too.
Vice General Xin, you’ll just have to bear it.
Later, I’ll put some of the new medicine my mom gave me on you. Guaranteed you’ll be back on your feet tomorrow.
But you better not tell the General it was me who gave you the idea, you hear!”
Xin Zhui cried.
His good brother had truly screwed him over.
Hearing that things had quieted down outside, Yun Chunfeng slowly disembarked from the carriage, holding Xiao Ya.
The carriage driver nearby was terrified out of his wits.
He didn’t know whether to feel sorry for his carriage or to marvel at General Huo’s martial prowess.
Yun Chunfeng took a silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it to the driver. “Don’t worry. I’m buying this carriage. From now on, you will follow the General and me.”
At that moment, the word “delight” became tangible in the carriage driver’s heart.
He took on this private job and ended up with an iron rice bowl?
He thanked Yun Chunfeng profusely, praising him and Huo Ci to the skies, before carefully holding the silver and going to find a place to clean the carriage.
Huo Ci, following behind Yun Chunfeng, curled his lip disdainfully.
So good at buying people’s loyalty.
Yun Chunfeng offered a handkerchief to Jiang Xingyan, who was still fuming.
Jiang Xingyan, however, declined. “Thank you for your kindness, State Preceptor. This body isn’t precious. I’ll just give it a good, hard rinse with cold water later!”
She practically spat the last sentence through gritted teeth.
Huo Ci held his breath, trying hard to make himself inconspicuous.
Whatever A-Yan says goes, as long as she doesn’t hurt herself.
Suddenly, a desperately suppressed sob came from Yun Chunfeng’s arms.
It wasn’t loud, but it was enough to draw attention.
Jiang Xingyan instantly became alert and turned to look.
She saw that Xiao Ya’s round eyes were already filled to the brim with tears.
The little girl was trying her very best to hold them back, but teardrops still escaped.
The glistening tears hung on her tiny face, and Jiang Xingyan’s heart broke.
Regardless of propriety, she immediately took off the soiled armor, lifted the hem of her inner robe to wipe her hands clean, and gently took Xiao Ya into her arms.
Back in her mother’s embrace, Xiao Ya could no longer control herself and burst into loud sobs.
“Bad Grandmother! Bad Die-die (Daddy)! Bad Uncle! Bully A-Niang! All bully A-Niang!”