PWE – Chapter 45 Strange Totems

Although he didn’t really know what kind of relationship Comrade Xiao had with Zhan Zeyan, that didn’t stop him from badmouthing Zhan Zeyan in front of her.

After all, that guy was simply unbearable! His father had once thrown him into Zhan Zeyan’s military camp, and that bastard had trained him like he was some kind of soldier. That period was the darkest time of his life—dragged out of bed for drills before dawn, yanked up again at night right after he fell asleep. He never got a full night’s rest, living every day in sheer misery.

What was even worse was that Zhan Zeyan had always taken his father’s side, constantly trying to persuade him to go back home.

But his dream was to succeed in cultivation. Before he achieved that, he had no intention of returning.

After finishing his complaints to Xiao Wange, he shot Zhan Zeyan a smug look, arms folded, ready to enjoy the show.

Zhan Zeyan hadn’t expected this little bastard He Xiuyan to be so obnoxious—ratting him out the second he opened his mouth.

His eyes darkened unhappily as he glared at He Xiuyan, then turned toward Xiao Wange.

Xiao Wange looked at him with a faint smile. “I’m a fraud, am I? And you’re going to bring me to justice?”

“Wange, this is all a misunderstanding. I didn’t know the person he was talking about was you. His father said he’d met a ‘master,’ so I thought the so-called master was a con artist trying to scam him. That’s why I said what I did.” Zhan Zeyan explained anxiously, afraid she would get the wrong idea.

“Even if you didn’t know he was talking about Comrade Xiao, you shouldn’t just go around calling people frauds. Saying things like that is slander—you’re falsely accusing someone!” He Xiuyan said with a grin, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Zhan Zeyan clenched his fists. If Xiao Wange weren’t here, he’d already have punched that brat. Who did this little jerk think he was provoking?

He took a step toward Xiao Wange. “Wange…”

But Xiao Wange stepped aside quickly, dodging him. She glanced at him sideways and said coolly, “You’ve never even met the person, yet you called them a fraud—that was pretty reckless. At least see someone in person before judging them, no?”

Seeing her attitude, Zhan Zeyan’s heart sank.

She’d already been upset with him that morning. If she got angry again over this “fraud” business, then when would he ever have a chance to get closer to her?

Frowning, he quickly said, “Wange, I was wrong. It’s my fault. I was too hasty. But I only said that because I was worried about this brat! He’s been scammed by a ‘master’ before. When he first started cultivating, he met some old man, thought he was the real deal, and gave him six hundred yuan! Turns out that old man was the leader of a fraud ring. I was the one who got his money back. I thought this time was the same kind of scam, so I—”

“Why are you explaining so much? You’re just digging up old dirt. No matter what you say, it doesn’t change the fact that you called Comrade Xiao a fraud and said you’d arrest her!” He Xiuyan added, gleefully stirring the pot.

Zhan Zeyan’s expression darkened. He grabbed He Xiuyan by the collar. “Can you just shut up?”

He Xiuyan smirked. “My mouth’s mine. I’ll talk if I want to.”

Zhan Zeyan: “…” He really, really wanted to hit this kid.

Shoving He Xiuyan away, he looked steadily at Xiao Wange. “Wange, I was wrong. I apologize. I was too rash, I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions, I—”

“Enough. No need to explain. Let’s head down the mountain to the town.” Xiao Wange said coolly. Then she took little Zhao Zhao’s hand and started walking toward the temple gate.

Zhan Zeyan: “…” Great. His wife was definitely mad now.

He Xiuyan came over, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smug grin, “Comrade Xiao’s mad at you. Wonderful.”

Then, as if realizing something, he added curiously, “Hey, by the way, what’s your relationship with Comrade Xiao? How do you know her?”

Zhan Zeyan’s gaze turned icy. He tilted his head and gave him a cold look. “She’s my wife. Satisfied with that answer?”

He Xiuyan: “!”

He froze, looking thunderstruck.

“That’s impossible!” he cried.

Zhan Zeyan snorted. “It’s the truth. You can go ask her yourself if you don’t believe me.”

He Xiuyan’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening. Grinding his teeth, he said coldly, “Fine, I’ll ask! A great immortal like Comrade Xiao, marry you? What kind of delusion is that?”

With that, he stomped off toward Xiao Wange.

Zhan Zeyan watched his back, a cold smile curling on his lips.

That brat really had guts—coveting his wife? Impossible.

He took a step forward, ready to follow after Xiao Wange and Zhao Zhao—

—but the moment he moved, he felt a sharp, burning pain on the back of his neck.

It was an intense, searing sensation, as if a hot iron brand had pressed against his skin.

He frowned and reached up to touch the spot.

Nothing. His neck felt perfectly smooth.

His expression darkened. What the hell was that? Had some insect bitten him?

“Daddy, what’re you doing back there?” Zhao Zhao suddenly turned around and called out.

Pulled from his thoughts, Zhan Zeyan looked up and said, “Coming, son.”

He dropped his hand and started walking again.

He didn’t notice the strange, intricate symbol that had appeared on the back of his neck—its faint red light pulsing like it wanted to peel away from his skin.

Then, just as suddenly, the glow faded, and the mark vanished.

…

The temple had been built two hundred years ago, a sprawling old complex with winding corridors.

As they passed one of those corridors, a faint figure floated out from Xiao Wange’s sleeve—it was Wen Feilan.

Pointing toward a nearby Taoist priest, she said angrily, “Wange, Zeyan, that’s him! That’s the one who harmed me! He’s the one who set up the formation around my grave and helped Xu Meifeng’s family destroy me!”

Fury burned so strongly in her that ghostly energy began to surge around her.

Fortunately, Xiao Wange quickly cast a suppression spell, sealing the ghostly aura and calming her.

“You—you—you’re a ghost? How did a ghost even get in here?” He Xiuyan exclaimed in shock. The temple was protected by wards on every side—no spirits could enter.

And yet here one stood, right before them!

Then, catching Xiao Wange out of the corner of his eye, he understood. Of course—it had to be her doing. She must have done something to this ghost. Otherwise, the ghost would never have made it inside.

Now, with every trace of ghostly energy sealed away, Comrade Xiao’s control was flawless. She was amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Xiao Wange ignored him, her gaze following Wen Feilan’s finger to the Taoist priest sitting beneath a ginkgo tree, quietly meditating with a duster in hand.

Her eyes narrowed, a cold smile curving her lips. “I’ve heard the priests here are all kind and virtuous, said to be as merciful as Buddhas. They call this place sacred and pure… Who’d have thought that in such a ‘pure’ place, a venomous man like this could exist.”

Zhan Zeyan glanced toward the priest, his eyes sharpening. He turned to Wen Feilan. “Mother, are you sure it’s him? If you are, then he won’t leave here unpunished.”

Wen Feilan nodded vehemently. “It’s him! Even if he turned to ashes, I’d recognize him! He looks gentle and kind, but he’s a vile hypocrite!”

He Xiuyan followed their gaze, then blinked in surprise. “That’s him? He’s the abbot’s favorite disciple, the future successor of this temple. He’s caught many spirits and helped countless people. Everyone says he’s a good man, kinder than a saint.”

Xiao Wange sneered. “A hypocrite, that’s all. People like him do a few good deeds just to cover up the evil they’ve done.”

He Xiuyan frowned, puzzled. “What did he do, exactly? Sounds like he’s committed a lot of sins, from the way you’re talking.”

Xiao Wange didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed locked on the priest.

They were hidden behind a rock garden, peering through a small hole that gave a clear view of the ginkgo tree.

From the priest’s side, though, the hole looked tiny—he wouldn’t easily notice them, nor hear their low conversation.

Just then, the priest rose from meditation, picked up his duster, and turned to leave.

But before he could go, a short, plump man approached him with a fawning smile.

Seeing him, Xiao Wange’s lips curved slightly. She turned to Zhan Zeyan. “Well, look at that—it’s your uncle. What do you think he wants from that priest?”

Zhan Zeyan’s expression turned ice-cold.

“That old fox’s family just suffered losses these past two days,” he said grimly. “He’s probably here to get the priest’s help dealing with us.”

Xiao Wange’s smile deepened. “But he’s broke. What could he possibly use to pay the priest?”

Her gaze shifted toward the two men. “Why don’t I go find out?”

And with that, she cast an invisibility spell and vanished, swiftly moving toward Zhan Songbai and the priest.