A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 130 Rainy Night in an Abandoned House

The heavy rain continued relentlessly, and the mournful cries around me added a touch of sorrow to the downpour.

Xing Ji remained hidden in the shadows. Xiang He and He Suian stood in front of the gate, which had no plaque. The two exchanged a glance, and Xiang He stepped forward and pushed the gate open first.

With a creaking sound, half of the door opened wide, and He Sui'an followed closely behind her, his copper coin sword hidden in his sleeve.

The dust and mud that had been hidden under the eaves blew up, and the two men covered their noses with their sleeves, waving away the dust and looking up.

The screen wall in front of them was dilapidated. The two walked lightly and silently, and after passing the screen wall, they arrived at the main hall in the front yard. The door was wide open, and there was no one inside.

Xiang He glanced around a few times, then pulled He Suian along to the side of the veranda. They passed through the hanging flower gate and arrived at the small courtyard. In the main house opposite the two dried-up ponds, a white figure stood with his back to the two of them.

The two immediately stopped and looked at him warily. Black energy swirled around the white figure, extending all the way to the rooftop.

The yin energy was so heavy that even He Sui'an felt something was amiss, and his furrowed brows deepened.

In the blink of an eye, two streams of yin energy flew straight towards the two of them.

Xiang He raised his hand to defend with his large umbrella, while He Sui'an drew his copper coin sword and slashed at it. The two streams of yin energy were cut off, drifted back and merged, and launched another attack.

Xing Ji leaped out, wielding the wooden sword Xiang He had given him, inscribed with talismans. With each strike, yin energy scattered.

The wailing continued, deafeningly loud. Xiang He felt a headache coming on. His eyes were fixed on the white figure. He clicked his tongue and took out his Taoist robe to put it on.

He opened the large umbrella to shield his head, pulled He Sui'an over as well, and instantly dodged a gust of yin energy. Xing Ji immediately sheathed his sword and stood to the side.

"Should we call it a coincidence?" Xiang He coldly stared at the figure. "Qi Xin."

He Sui'an concealed the copper coin sword in his sleeve, his eyes turning cold and deep. A dark figure was reflected in his eyes, standing on the rooftop holding an oil-paper umbrella, looking down at the two of them.

"I never imagined that Prince Shen would be a thief."

The figure in black descended, and Shen Zhuoci chuckled, his eyes filled with arrogance. "Unworthy of being called a gentleman, but what were you doing just now?"

He Sui'an glanced at the swelling yin energy, "Can't the young master see it?"

What should I see?

Xiang He had been staring at the white figure. He seemed to have just heard the sound and slowly turned around, his face still beaming with his usual cheerfulness. "Oh! What brings Brother He and Miss Xiang here?"

Candlelight flickered in the main room, and a thick, eerie aura surrounded Qi Xin, its wisps resembling snake tongues, coiling around him without harming him.

Qi Xin smiled slightly, a hint of surprise in his eyes. The yin energy around him seemed to wail in pain, causing Xiang He's head to throb with pain, which was unpleasant to hear.

She turned the umbrella handle with her wrist, and a talisman was already pinched between two fingers of her left hand. "Stop arguing, I have a headache."

Perhaps the threat had an effect, for the gloomy figure lowered his voice, and there was only a slight sob.

Qi Xin walked out with a worried look in his eyes, "What happened to Miss Xiang?"

"Stop, just stand there."

Stopped by her, Qi Xin dared not continue, only looking at her with suspicion, "Miss Xiang, what's with that robe you're wearing...? How did you suddenly appear here..."

"Can you hear that? The crying and screaming coming from inside this house?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Xin looked surprised. "Miss, how did you know... Could it be that you can see?"

"Don't play dumb, we were attracted by the sound."

Tonight, whether by coincidence or not, the cries and screams echoed through the overcast sky, resonating with the rainy night. The streets were deserted, and the heavy, oppressive yin energy, absorbed by the rain, seemed to amplify its power.

Now, as the cries subsided, the rain also began to lessen.

Shen Zhuoci stood by the door, his eyes reflecting He's black attire. "Miss, could you tell me what you were doing just now?"

"Let Qi Xin answer my question first."

Not annoyed by the lack of response, Shen Zhuoci simply poked his head inside and said, "Brother Qi, the young lady is asking you a question."

Qi Xin paused, his gaze falling on the talisman in her hand. "I can hear it, I can hear it every time I come... What is that in your hand, young lady...?"

Xiang He picked up the talisman, "A talisman to ward off evil spirits."

"Exorcising evil spirits...?" Qi Xin was surprised, but a smile appeared on his face. "The young lady can see them?!"

Seeing his expression, Xiang He relaxed his shoulders and said, "It was a lucky accident."

She put away the talisman. The rain had lessened to just a few drops. She closed the large umbrella. "No wonder the rabbit spirit didn't know. It turns out you only appeared after you came to the capital."

He Sui'an tilted her head to look at her, "A rabbit spirit?"

"This sinister aura only appeared after Qi Xin arrived. It appeared twice before, and with this time, Qi Xin has come three times, right?"

Qi Xin nodded blankly, "He did come three times."

He wanted to press for more information, but He Suian spoke first, "You ever suspected us?"

Shen Zhuoci put down his oil-paper umbrella and leaned against the door, looking relaxed. "It's not that I doubt her, but I feel that Miss Xiang is not simple. Moreover, on the handle of the large umbrella in her hand, I saw incomprehensible characters that looked like Buddhist scriptures."

The words on the umbrella handle were so small that they were hard to see with the naked eye; I didn't expect him to have such good eyesight.

The situation is now as clear as day. Xiang He spread his hands and said, "Yes, I am a cultivator, and I was attracted here by the yin energy of this place."

"Taoist priest?"

Qi Xin's eyes shone brightly, while Shen Zhuoci's smiling eyes held a hint of inquiry. "Brother He, are you also a cultivator?"

He Sui'an's expression softened. "Not so. Now that you know He'er's identity, shouldn't you tell me your purpose in approaching us, Your Highness?"

“Hehe,” Shen Zhuoci gestured with his left hand toward the main room, “I originally just wanted to take another look, but now I have a different idea. Would you two like to hear it?”

Xiang He stood there, confused, her gaze fixed on the corner. "You guys stay away. I'm covered in healing items. I won't be responsible if you get seriously injured by touching me."

The faint sobbing stopped instantly, and Qi Xin stared in astonishment.

The two walked towards the main house, and Xing Jifei flew onto the roof and squatted down to keep watch.

In the main room, there was a pair of memorial tablets placed on a long table, with an incense burner burning incense and candles that were about to burn out.

Xiang He pulled out three candles, lit them, and stuck them in the candle holder. He Suian also pulled out three candles and lit them with the candlelight.

As wisps of smoke rose, He Sui'an flicked the water droplets off his clothes. "The rain poured down for a while, then the crying stopped and the rain ceased. What could be the reason for this?"

“They are crying out to Heaven for justice.” Xiang He looked up at the main house. “The house is located in the due northwest, at the point where the Qian position connects with Heaven. The wronged spirits are growing louder and louder, their cries shaking the heavens. Heaven’s will is conveyed to us, and the Yin-Yang Umbrella is the closest ritual implement. Therefore, it has brought us here to answer Heaven’s call for justice.”

It is said to be destiny, but it is just that the Yin-Yang Umbrella felt the Yin energy growing and expanding.

These words were only meant for Qi Xin's ears.

Sure enough, he couldn't hide his excitement and knelt down before Xiang He, pleading, "Daoist Master, please help us!"

"..."

The sudden change in address left Xiang He momentarily speechless.

He Sui'an, however, reached out and helped him up, saying, "Let's call her 'Miss,' she doesn't like being addressed like that by acquaintances."

He glanced at Xiang Hexi and knew that she was no better than He Sui'an.

"Tell me properly. I'm good at exorcising evil spirits, but I'm not good at anything else."