The medicinal powder from Xie Sanbao's nose, upon contacting the yin energy, reacted like ignited gunpowder, exploding into a burst of fire between them.

Both figures recoiled, Xie Sanbao crashing heavily onto the bed. The woman scrambled to her feet, standing with the marks of fire upon her.

The scorched bridal veil remained on her head, and I could almost see the woman's sorrow.

Without the veil being lifted, one couldn't tell whether the woman beneath the wedding gown was crying or smiling.

The woman spoke softly, "So, you are still this way." She slowly faded away from the room.

I frowned slightly, "What is this woman trying to do?"

Lin Zhao said, "You only guessed half of what's happening with Xie Sanbao!"

"The woman in red who appeared in the mirror was giving us a clue, leading us to take Xie Sanbao to Erlin Town."

"Looking at it now, she was only reminding us how to get into Erlin Town; it wasn't that she personally wanted to see Xie Sanbao."

Lin Zhao continued, "And Zhang Hua's ghost was probably another trick the woman used to attract our attention."

"At first, I thought she was trying to use Zhang Hua's ghost to warn us about Wang Peng, to be careful."

"Now, I think..."

Lin Zhao paused before saying, "I think that woman knew she couldn't stop us from entering Erlin Town. So, she wanted to give us a route but wanted us to release Xie Sanbao."

Ye Yang retorted, "You mean, in that woman's eyes, whether we enter Erlin Town or not doesn't matter; the key is that Xie Sanbao can't enter?"

Lin Zhao nodded, "Yes, that's what I mean!"

I scratched my head, "Isn't this overkill? Why not just say it directly? What's the difference between this and taking off your pants to fart?"

Lin Zhao glared at me, "You're single because of your own abilities; you don't understand women's hearts. That woman in the wedding gown clearly has a love-hate entanglement with Xie Sanbao..."

I scratched my head again, "But why do I feel like that woman is Xie Yueling?"

Lin Zhao rolled her eyes again, "Have you ever seen a daughter fall in love with her own father? You can trust me on this; Wang-jie (Sister Wang) said your EQ has reached the point of no return. Don't even talk to you about women, let alone lovey-dovey stuff; it's like playing the lute to a pig."

"Playing the lute to a cow might at least elicit a reaction if you can play something the cow understands. Playing the lute to a pig, even if you smash the lute over its head, it won't even look at you."

"Watch me!" I unexpectedly flicked her forehead, and as Lin Zhao clutched her forehead and screamed,

the video flickered again. Xie Sanbao, who was lying on the bed, sat up and said to the camera, "Li Tangzhu (Hall Master Li), I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Just now, I remembered a lot of things. I have a debt to settle with Erlin Town that I need to understand myself."

"I'll find my own way to Erlin Town. I apologize for making Li Tangzhu (Hall Master Li) make a wasted trip and will compensate you with three times the reward, according to Jianghu (martial world) rules."

"If I can return, I'll apologize to Li Tangzhu (Hall Master Li) in person."

Xie Sanbao finished speaking and turned off the camera.

I narrowed my eyes and said, "Looks like we've been fired."

Lin Zhao also said in frustration, "A sorcerer without a client can't touch ghosts and gods anymore, isn't this..."

"Isn't what!" I said in a deep voice, "Let others talk about those rules! I have to get involved in the karma of Erlin Town, no matter who tries to stop me. Lin Zhao, track Xie Sanbao."

Lin Zhao shook her head, "All the tracking charms I placed on him have失效 (shixiao, become ineffective). I can't find him now. But we can find a way to intercept him."

"Xie Sanbao wants to enter Erlin Town; there are only two ways. One is to search for the nine corpses like us and open the gateway to Erlin Town. The other is to get permission from a ghost or god to enter Erlin Town directly."

"I think Xie Sanbao should take the first route. We already know the approximate locations of the nine corpses; we can go ahead and block Xie Sanbao."

I shook my head, "Xie Sanbao isn't a sorcerer; I can sense it. Unless he can summon all nine corpses one by one, he won't be able to take the first route."

"I think we should ignore Xie Sanbao and go directly to find the nine corpses." I turned to look at Jun Jixue, "What do you think?"

Jun Jixue shrugged, "Whatever you think is fine."

I narrowed my eyes, "I don't think it's convenient for us to do the task together. Why don't you act on your own, and we'll meet in Erlin Town?"

The Ancestral Master's intention was for Jun Jixue to help me, but I have no intention of that. I always feel like having him by my side is like having a bomb.

Jun Jixue still shrugged indifferently, "Whatever you think is fine!"

Jun Jixue didn't waste any words and turned to leave the hotel.

Lin Zhao frowned, "Li Po, aren't you afraid he'll sabotage us in the dark by chasing Jun Jixue away like this?"

"If they are friends, we share the wine. If they are enemies, I have a knife in my hand. Don't think so much!" I turned around directly, "Since Ye Yang's method of 引煞 (yin sha, attracting evil) doesn't work, then I'll do it. Lin Zhao, I'll lure the ghosts out; tonight is up to you."

"Me?" Lin Zhao looked at me inexplicably, taking two steps back, "What are you going to do again?"