After arriving in Liu Feng County, Chen Yi booked a room at an inn.

"Shopkeeper, I'd like a room—the best one you've got. Oh, and is there anywhere nearby that sells ready-made clothes? I'd like to change into something new."

With Yin Sword Mountain drawing closer, and it not being long before he'd meet Yin Tingxue and Zhou Yitang, Chen Yi couldn't help but want to tidy himself up along the way.

He couldn't let them think he was living poorly, could he?

The shopkeeper weighed the silver coins, thought for a moment, and said:

"The room is no problem. There's a shop selling clothes over in Alley Eighteen. Just be sure not to wander into Alley Seventeen; the house there recently had a death, and the owner is hiring a Taoist to catch ghosts."

Chen Yi asked, "A Taoist from Yin Sword Mountain?"

"Yes, when Taoists are mentioned around here, it can only mean them," the shopkeeper replied.

Chen Yi pondered briefly.

Then he asked, "Is there a gold shop here that makes hairpins?"

The shopkeeper's eyes darted around, and with a sheepish laugh, he said, "Young man, let me give you a word of advice: the female Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain only focus on cultivation. That's what the saying goes, isn't it? 'Yin means reverence,' and they revere Sword Dao alone, refusing to take Daoist partners. If you're looking to gift jewelry to someone, you've chosen the wrong sect. Better to give it to me instead."

"Give it to you? I'm not into men like that," Chen Yi retorted.

The shopkeeper chuckled, sizing Chen Yi up. Say what you will, the man was tall, striking in looks, as he said, "To be honest, I have a young daughter awaiting marriage at home."

"And how does she look?" Chen Yi asked. "Why not call her out so I can see?"

It's widely known that a daughter who's awaiting marriage doesn't just make appearances for strangers. Stroking his chin, the shopkeeper said, "Quite a bit like me."

"No wonder she's not fit for display," Chen Yi joked with a laugh, then said no more and walked straight out the door.

The shopkeeper froze, then laughed and cursed:

"No matter how ugly she might be, you wouldn't have a chance with the women from Yin Sword Mountain anyway!"

In any store, banter between the owner and customer was practically customary. After his laughter subsided, the shopkeeper lowered his head and began fiddling with his abacus beads.

Outside the inn sat a beggar, dressed in tattered clothes that hung like strips of rags.

"Spare some coin, spare a little kindness."

The beggar held out a bowl, begging for money.

Chen Yi glanced over and casually tossed three copper coins in his direction.

Midair, the copper coins traced out subtle arcs.

The beggar's hand shot up, catching all three coins neatly in the bowl without a single one touching the ground.

Chen Yi took in the scene, storing it in his memory as he slowly walked away from the inn.

.........…

"How is it, revered Taoists?"

A group of Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain, dressed in broad, heavy robes, had gathered throughout the alleys. The speaker was none other than the owner of the house.

The house had seen death, and was thus bound by a vengeful spirit, becoming a haunted residence. According to the scar-faced owner, he had recently acquired the house at a bargain price, never imagining it would harbor such a sinister past.

Afterward, the owner had sought help from Yin Sword Mountain, offering rewards for aid. Naturally, such a minor matter wouldn't attract the masters of the mountain, but rather disciples like Lu Ying and others.

It was considered a form of training for disciples of Yin Sword Mountain.

Lu Ying listened to the owner's story, then calmly explained:

"This is no easy matter. The vengeful spirit has already transformed into a ghost and is entrenched within the house. In situations like this, we'll need to conduct a minor ritual lasting three days. We should prepare now and schedule it for an auspicious day."

"Schedule an auspicious day?" The owner sounded displeased. "I had finally saved enough silver and was hoping to celebrate my big relocation. I even sent letters inviting some distant relatives to come for housewarming. If you drag this out, I won't be able to do it in time."

Lu Ying shook her head without wavering and said:

"The elders on the mountain have repeatedly warned us that there must be no margin for error in matters of rituals. Moreover, since the spirit has turned into a ghost, we must be particularly cautious in proceeding."

The owner muttered discontentedly under his breath, "I'll find someone else."

The group of Taoists from Yin Sword Mountain said nothing further but sighed quietly to themselves. Lu Ying offered no additional explanations, knowing that reasoning with people like this was futile.

Many people who hired Taoists expected immediate solutions, yet matters of Taoist skills, especially perilous actions like exorcising demons and ghosts, could never be rushed. Failure to prepare properly could lead even minor spirits to wreak havoc.

One of the female crowns commented, "I told him already, but he wouldn't listen, insisting on asking Senior Sister Lu."

"Indeed. Even after Senior Sister Lu explained everything again, he dismissed it all and wanted to find someone else."

"Odds are, whoever else he finds will make him wait even longer."

...…

The female Taoists of Yin Sword Mountain broke into chatter and gossip—it was clear they had dealt with similar situations a hundred times before. Even Lu Ying's expression turned helpless, although, as an early disciple of Yin Sword Mountain, still young, she waved her hand and said:

"Let's not discuss this anymore. If word reaches him, it won't be good."

With that, the conversation shifted topics. A younger female Taoist remembered something and teasingly asked, "Hey, Senior Sister Lu, is it true that your Cangwu Peak has a new junior apprentice sister?"

"Yes, I've seen her before. She's so lovely, bright-eyed, and adorable."

"What's her name? Does she have a Daoist title yet?"

One spoke after another, their lively chatter filling the air. Though Yin Sword Mountain stressed discipline and cultivation, women will be women—they had an innate knack for gossip. None of them noticed the subtle shadow clouding Lu Ying's face.

For Cangwu Peak, under Zhou Yitang as its Peak Master of Sword Armor, there had long been only one disciple: Lu Ying.

Zhou Yitang wasn't one for words—in most cases, her guidance was minimal.

This left Lu Ying without playmates or peers of a similar age. To her, life often felt monotonous.

She often wished for the day Zhou Yitang would take on another disciple, someone she could grow close to—a little junior apprentice sister.

But the problem was…

The little junior apprentice sister apparently got married, and the last time Lu Ying saw her, she was with none other than that Chen Yi!

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