Chapter 93

Suddenly, Su Xing opened his eyes and glanced sideways, lifting the butcher's knife in his hand and slashing again. A surging ghostly aura was poured into it, and a pitch-black crescent moon blade of light detached and flew toward the roof.

*Bang*

The apartment building exploded, and the black-clothed ghost, who was previously hidden, was now revealed, dressed in white and clinging to the wall, its eyes rolling like a gecko.

"How did you discover me?" the black-clothed ghost asked calmly.

"Intuition!" Su Xing didn't bother to waste words, his left eye flashing with a terrifying scene reflected in his pupils: a red land, flames reaching the sky.

The black-clothed ghost showed a strange expression and said in surprise, "A Ghost Soldier realm can actually use ghost techniques. It seems I can't underestimate you."

"Breaking into the room, killing Dongmei, leave your life behind." Su Xing said coldly, his left eye suddenly glaring. Instantly, a sea of fire erupted, like a red tide sweeping away.

*Boom*

A huge explosion, the wall of the room facing outward was blown away, black smoke billowing, mixed with sparks. The broken corners of the wall showed signs of melting, and a scorching heat wave rushed out, making a sizzling sound.

The black-clothed ghost threw something unknown, instantly blasting through the wall. Then, the white clothes flared out, like a pterodactyl, and it leaped from the sixth floor, arms spread wide, gliding on the wind.

Unfortunately, Su Xing didn't let him get away. The sparks from the ground fire had already burned his clothes, and after being fanned by the cold wind, the fire quickly spread, instantly engulfing the area. The black-clothed ghost didn't even have time to scream before he fell into the shrubs around the apartment.

*Puff* The shrubs caught fire.

"Hmph!" Su Xing stood at the edge of the exploded wall, looking out, and let out a cold snort, preparing to turn and leave.

At this moment, he suddenly stopped, looked again, and showed a look of surprise.

A jade talisman flew up and exploded in mid-air, scattering jade light that extinguished the ground fire on the shrubs. Then, a disheveled figure escaped and ran away.

"Still alive? You have quite a few tricks." Su Xing frowned, took a step back, and then suddenly jumped, immediately flying out from the sixth floor, leaping into the air, and rushing toward the black-clothed ghost.

The wind whistled in his ears, his long hair was lifted and wildly danced behind him. Su Xing's eyes narrowed slightly, finding the black-clothed ghost who was cautiously fleeing ahead. He was now leading a wind elephant from behind a rock, preparing to leave the Cooking Academy.

*Bang*

Su Xing fell like a meteor, creating a deep pit. The ground sank with a thud, and debris flew, fine cracks spreading out.

Landing accurately, the black-clothed ghost was right in front, leading the wind elephant. Both were stunned, staring at each other with wide eyes.

"Damn!" The black-clothed ghost finally lost his composure, cursing and immediately mounting the wind elephant.

"Run, run for your life!" The black-clothed ghost shouted urgently, slapping the wind elephant's buttocks.

*Whoo!*

The wind elephant raised its trunk and let out a long cry, its large ears flapping quickly, and its massive body, heavy and cumbersome, suddenly left the ground with a single step.

Su Xing's face was cold as he pulled his legs out of the pit, calmly watching the black-clothed ghost leave. He changed his mind and decided not to chase him, letting him go.

"He's not Shen Shi." Su Xing shook his head, showing a wise look, "But he must be related to Shen Shi. Just from the brief confrontation, I can tell that the black-clothed ghost is not simple. The power behind him must be significant. I need to find a few ghosts, then... lure the snake out of its hole!"

A smile appeared at the corner of Su Xing's mouth as he turned and left, the gravel falling from his pants.

At this time, in the West Garden, Dongmei's room. After Su Xing left, two more ghosts arrived.

"Master, why are we here? It's just a dead ghost servant. It might be the end of their soul's lifespan. Isn't it common for ghost servants to die mysteriously in the City God's Mansion every year?" The small book boy, carrying a bookshelf, raised his face and asked the young man in a light blue robe, who was none other than the master of the Hanlin Academy, Li Hanlin.

"Book boy, you've been with me for so long. Don't you know my personality?" Li Hanlin shook his head and tapped the book boy's head with his fan.

"Ouch." The book boy clutched his head and cried out in pain.

"I've told you many times, ghost servants are also ghosts. Don't think you're superior because of your status. Remember, you are also a ghost servant." Li Hanlin put on a serious face and said to the book boy.

"Master, I understand." The book boy pouted and lowered his head, walking forward.

"Wenji's personal maid's soul has vanished. As her brother, I can't just ignore it, can I, little book boy?" Li Hanlin muttered to himself.

"Master, you're right." The book boy nodded quickly.

At this moment, a short-haired little girl approached from a distance. As expected, it was the master of the West Garden, Li Wenji, who was waiting for Li Hanlin.

"Brother Hanlin!" Li Wenji threw herself into Li Hanlin's arms, looking pitiful, wiping her nose and tears on his light blue robe.

"Brother Hanlin, Dongmei is dead." Li Wenji looked up, her big, bright eyes filled with tears, her small, cute nose hanging with clear snot, her bangs disheveled in Li Hanlin's arms.

"It's okay, I'm here now." Li Hanlin said, petting Li Wenji's head and holding her down, "Take me to Dongmei's room."

"Okay." Li Wenji nodded obediently and led Li Hanlin to Dongmei's room.

The book boy remained silent, head down, not daring to speak or look, knowing that his master was a lolicon.

Although Li Hanlin often acted foolishly and didn't associate with other descendants of the City God, as the master of the Hanlin Academy, he was the most powerful and influential among the City God's Mansion, with supreme authority that could not be violated.

After several turns, they approached Dongmei's room, and faint sobbing could be heard.

Li Hanlin's expression changed, and he pushed open the door, finding a woman sitting on Dongmei's bed, sobbing.

"Who is she?" Li Hanlin asked.

"She is Dongmei's good sister, Dongyue. In the days since Dongmei's death, Dongyue has been mourning in Dongmei's room. The other ghost servants, however, have been extremely overbearing, vying to become my personal maid." Li Wenji nodded, seemingly satisfied with Dongyue.

"Are you Dongmei's sister?" Li Hanlin walked over and asked.

"Master, the elder sister was always kind to me." Dongyue wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, looked up, and said weakly.

"Do you know who I am?" Li Hanlin asked next.

"Master, I know. You are the master of the Hanlin Academy, one of the ten major academies." Dongyue answered, knowing Li Hanlin's name but not daring to call him directly.

"Okay." Li Hanlin looked deeply at Dongyue, nodded, patted Li Wenji's head, and began to wander around Dongmei's room, asking Dongyue questions that seemed unrelated to Dongmei's death.

After about an incense stick's time, Li Hanlin stood by the desk, looking at the paper.

"From afar, I know it is not snow, for there comes a faint fragrance. What did Dongmei mean by this?" Li Hanlin muttered to himself.

"Master, did you find something?" The book boy, unable to contain his curiosity, asked eagerly.

After an incense stick's time, his heart felt like a cat was scratching, eager to hear Li Hanlin's explanation.

"Be patient." Li Hanlin smiled and turned to Dongyue, "Apart from me, has anyone else come here?"

"Yes." Dongyue hesitated for a moment and answered, "Su Xing from the Cooking Academy came."

"Su Xing from the Cooking Academy? What did he come for, and what does he have to do with Dongmei from the West Garden?" Li Hanlin's eyes flashed, and he asked immediately.

"This..." Dongyue involuntarily lowered her head.

"Dongyue!" Li Wenji, sitting on the bed and swinging her legs, suddenly scolded.

"Yes!" Dongyue tensed up and immediately said, "The elder sister once invited Su Xing, but he refused. She was not satisfied and... sent other ghost servants to纠缠 Su Xing. In the end, Su Xing, in a fit of anger, came to the door."

"Oh..." Li Hanlin glanced at Dongyue meaningfully, "Then what happened?"

"Then... then I don't know..." Dongyue shook her head.

"Was it that after Su Xing and Dongmei had a conflict, Su Xing, in a fit of anger, killed Dongmei?" Li Hanlin pressed.

"I, I really don't know. Su Xing didn't seem to have a conflict with the elder sister. When he left, the elder sister was unharmed. Besides, Su Xing's cultivation is lower than the elder sister's, so he couldn't have done it." Dongyue stammered, flustered.

"Nonsense! Just the methods I know to make a ninth-level Ghost Soldier's soul vanish are more than a hundred!" Li Hanlin's voice turned cold, and he suddenly scolded.

"Su Xing once had a conflict with Dongmei and hit her buttocks!" Li Wenji testified.

"Indeed, the culprit is Su Xing!" Li Hanlin said firmly, a mysterious smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"What!"

Dongyue and Li Wenji were both stunned, one in shock, the other in anger.

"How could Su Xing be the murderer of Dongmei?" Dongyue's eyes were blank, almost falling to the ground, while Li Wenji was furious, her short black hair floating without wind, the jade pendant on her chest flickering.

"Su Xing, how dare you lie to me!" Li Wenji gritted her teeth, angry that Su Xing had deceived her.

What was even more infuriating was that Su Xing had once touched Li Wenji's head, giving her a big brother-like feeling!

"Master, is it really like that?" The book boy asked curiously, seeing Li Hanlin's strange smile, a question forming in his mind.

"Come over, let me reveal the truth!" Li Hanlin glanced at the book boy and said with a smile.

Dongyue walked over trembling, while Li Wenji, grinding her teeth, came to Li Hanlin's side, and the little book boy stared at Li Hanlin, eager for his explanation.

"Look, what's different about these floorboards compared to the ones around them?" Li Hanlin pointed to the floor and asked.

"These floorboards are clearly newer than the ones around them." The book boy answered.

"Good." Li Hanlin nodded in satisfaction, praising, "Little book boy, your eyesight has improved."

"What's the problem with that? These floorboards were indeed new ones the elder sister replaced." Dongyue asked.

"But why did she replace them?" Li Hanlin suddenly asked, and Dongyue fell silent.

"Because they were broken! But why were they broken, and how?" Li Hanlin smiled, his deep eyes becoming even brighter.

---

The page turns, and the advertisement begins.

The page turns, and the advertisement ends.