Sometimes Shen Yimian really couldn't understand why they had to call him for such a dangerous matter.

Xie Lu was the first to disagree. "First, you don't know the whole story. Second, you have no connection with Hua Rong. Finally, you can't guarantee Shen Yimian's safety. So I have to go."

Su Yuning frowned and retorted without hesitation, "Do you think I became a Heavenly Rank disciple solely through cultivation? I know what to do. You're just worried about your brother's safety. I can protect him."

"Even if you can protect it, there's no need for you to go there. How about this," Zuo Yan suggested a compromise. "My brother and I will stay here, and you two can go."

This proposal instantly gained the support of Shen Yimian and Su Yuning.

Shen Yimian: "One vote in favor!"

Su Yuning glanced at Shen Yimian, knowing that he was timid, but she also felt that this was not bad, at least she could spend a whole day with Xie Lu.

"Okay, I agree then."

Zuo Yan raised an eyebrow and looked at the silent Xie Lu. "Now it's three votes to one, so it's settled."

Xie Lu didn't say anything else. He just glanced at Shen Yimian very lightly and quickly, then looked away.

If it were just the two of them, this wouldn't have happened.

He couldn't decide what he wanted to do, and the familiar feeling of irritation came over him again.

Maybe they are right, Shen Yimian and Zuo Yan would be safer if they stayed in the City Lord's Mansion.

Tang Yuncai stopped talking after knowing that his daughter was still alive. Although he knew that his daughter might have really done something, as long as she was still alive, there was still a way to go.

The next morning was a rare cloudy day, with floating clouds covering the sun and a strong wind, and it seemed like it was going to rain.

When Shen Yimian got up, Xie Lu and Su Yuning had already set off. Zuo Yan said that before Xie Lu and Su Yuning left, they drew an evil-repelling formation in the City Lord's Mansion to protect them.

What reliable junior brothers and sisters.

Shen Yimian sighed in his heart and asked, "Did Lawyer Xie say anything?"

Zuo Yan answered nonchalantly, "They just told us not to leave here and that they would be back in the evening."

As long as you don't go out, you'll be fine.

Shen Yimian felt more at ease after hearing this. The less ability one has, the less responsibility one has. As long as he and Zuo Yan don't cause trouble for them, it will be fine.

In the early morning, the City Lord's Mansion was still shrouded in mist, and the shade of the trees blocked out most of the sunlight, making the courtyard look a little gloomy. Shen Yimian always felt that the house was spooky on cloudy days. It didn't look like a wealthy City Lord's Mansion, but more like a haunted house.

The two of them huddled in the pavilion in the courtyard, reading books boredly, occasionally exchanging a few words, and the day passed quickly like this.

Until the evening, Xie Lu and Su Yunning had not returned.

"I've finished reading the book, why haven't they come back yet?" Zuo Yan asked worriedly, "Did something happen? Otherwise, I'll go check it out."

Shen Yimian immediately refused, "No, Xie Lu said we can't leave here, and none of us can go out."

Zuo Yan's eyes dimmed as he closed the book in his hand, "Senior brother really listens to him."

"This isn't Yanshan, so of course we'll listen to whoever's more powerful." Shen Yimian earnestly taught him his survival skills. "Remember, it's okay if we don't do anything, as long as we don't cause more trouble."

Zuo Yan looked at him with a confused look and said softly, "I understand. Senior Brother likes stronger ones."

Shen Yimian: "...That's not what I meant."

"If I were as good as Xie Lu, would Senior Brother like me?" Zuo Yan rested his chin on his hand and said thoughtfully, "It seems that this is the only difference between Xie Lu and me."

Shen Yimian didn't know what kind of mess was going on in his head every day, so he patted his shoulder helplessly and said, "The most important reason why I can't like you is because you are a man."

Zuo Yan blinked, "If I were a woman, Senior Brother would like me."

Hearing this, Shen Yimian imagined what Zuo Yan would look like as a woman. It must be pretty.

"Perhaps."

"I see."

"...You understand what?"

Zuo Yan looked at him steadily, his expression not pretending, "I want to castrate myself."

Shen Yimian: ""

"I was just kidding." Zuo Yan couldn't help laughing at his horrified expression, "Brother, why do you believe everything others say?"

Shen Yimian deeply suspected that Zuo Yan was a little mentally ill, or at least there was something wrong with his brain. The expression on his face just now didn't look like he was joking at all.

But on second thought, it would be abnormal if Yanshan's disciples didn't have some mental problems.

He was too lazy to discuss this topic with Zuo Yan anymore. Just as he was about to get up and lie down in the side room for a while, he heard a light knock on the door not far away.

Shen Yimian stiffened slightly, turned around suddenly, stared at the temple door, and lowered his voice, "Did you hear any sound?"

Zuo Yan shook his head blankly, "No."

Is this another illusion of his?

Shen Yimian walked towards the mansion gate suspiciously. Xie Lu had pasted yellow talismans to ward off evil spirits on both sides of the gate, and there were several guards standing guard nearby.

He held his breath and listened for a while, but didn't hear any strange sounds.

Maybe he was really overthinking it.

He breathed a sigh of relief and was about to leave, but when he saw the tiny crack in the door, he stopped.

Shen Yimian pursed her lips, cautiously moved closer to the crack in the door, and looked outside.

——Nothing.

Two weeping willows outside the door were swaying in the wind, and there were no footprints on the long street in front of the door. For some reason, there was no one setting up stalls outside the City Lord's Mansion today. He thought that it was probably the sound of willow branches hitting the door.

"What are you looking at?"

Shen Yimian shuddered all over, turned his head and met Zuo Yan's curious gaze.

Seeing that it was him, Shen Yimian breathed a sigh of relief, "No, nothing."

"Brother, are you too nervous? I brought a herbal bag for calming the nerves. Please wear it..." Zuo Yan lowered his head and took out a jacquard embroidered herbal bag from his lapel.

However, a shadow quietly covered his head. Shen Yimian slowly opened his eyes and watched the shadow gradually cover Zuo Yan's figure - it was clearly a human figure!

He suddenly looked back and saw a human figure like thick fog lying on the eaves.

He said it was not an illusion every time!

In an instant, Shen Yimian's breathing stopped abruptly. He grabbed Zuo Yan and ran into the corridor, "Run!"

The human figure looked at him silently, as if it had been spying on them for a long time, since the first day they came here. Maybe this ghost thing had been spying on them!

Zuo Yan was dragged by him and ran without knowing why, until he ran into the side room. Shen Yimian closed the door tightly, took out the yellow talismans and pasted them all over the doors and windows. After doing everything, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"What happened, Brother?" Zuo Yan worriedly wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve. "You seem very scared."

Shen Yimian swallowed in fear and explained in a panic, "Just now I saw a ghost lying on the eaves. It didn't even have a face. It was definitely not a living person!"

Zuo Yan looked at him in confusion. After a while, he whispered, "Did you not sleep well last night?"

Shen Yimian's back was soaked with cold sweat, and he said anxiously, "No, there really is a ghost, you don't believe me?"

"Hmm..." Zuo Yan pondered for a moment, then drew the sword from his waist. "Don't be afraid. Even if there really is something dirty, I will protect you."

Shen Yimian: "..."

Is this true? This doesn't make me feel safe at all.

He closed his eyes and silently prayed that Su Yuning and Xie Lu would come back soon. He had a strange illusion that every time he left Xie Lu, he would be unlucky.

Half an incense stick of time passed, and everything seemed to calm down.

When dinner time came, the mansion gradually became lively again, and maids would occasionally pass by their room door carrying meals.

Shen Yimian gradually felt relieved and thought, even if there was some dirty thing, it would be impossible for it to get in because of the formation drawn by Xie Lu, and no one here could destroy Xie Lu's formation.

Of course, it could also be that he was just nervous and too suspicious.

There was a sporadic drizzle outside the window, making the world seem especially quiet.

"Senior brother, are you feeling better?" Zuo Yan asked the maid for a pot of new tea and poured a cup for Shen Yimian.

Shen Yimian took a sip of the teacup and felt relieved. "Much better."

He just said, how could so many bad luck happen to him?

Seeing him like this, Zuo Yan smiled slightly and said gently, "That's fine. I'm still worried. If there really is something dirty, I'm really afraid that I won't be able to protect you."

Shen Yimian guessed that he must be afraid too, and smiled to comfort him, "I am your senior brother, and after all, I am wearing the earth-level Taoist robe, so I should be the one who protects..."

Before he could finish his words, the rest of his sentence suddenly got stuck in his throat.

Zuo Yan turned around and made himself a cup of tea. "What should I do? Senior brother, why don't you continue?"

Shen Yimian's face turned pale. He clearly saw that Zuo Yan was carrying someone on his back.

The "person" seemed to have noticed Shen Yimian's gaze, and slowly turned his head, and a blank human face appeared in front of him.

In an instant, with a loud bang, Shen Yimian felt his brain go blank. Fear swept through his mind like a wave. His whole body was stiff. He wanted to escape, but he couldn't move at all. He wanted to speak, but he couldn't make a sound like a mute.

Help, help.

He stepped back tremblingly, but saw that the "person" slowly turned his face towards Zuo Yan. Suddenly, a bloody mouth appeared on his face, dripping with blood, and swallowed towards Zuo Yan's head.

Almost subconsciously, before Shen Yimian's brain could react, he rushed forward and pushed Zuo Yan away.

He casually grabbed the porcelain vase on the windowsill and threw it at the horrible thing without hesitation, then grabbed Zuo Yan's wrist and started to run away.

Zuo Yan was stunned for a moment, then followed Shen Yimian's horrified gaze and also saw the faceless "person".

"Brother, run!"

Zuo Yan drew his sword and pushed Shen Yimian out of the room. "Hurry up, I'll buy time!"

Shen Yimian said anxiously, "Come with me, Zuo Yan!"

As if he thought of something, Zuo Yan suddenly took off the Xiuyu necklace from his neck and put it around Shen Yimian's neck without saying a word.

He waved his sword to drive away the evil thing in front of him, turned around, and looked at Shen Yimian deeply.

"Brother, don't forget me."

Shen Yimian was so shocked that before she could say anything, Zuo Yan closed the door tightly without hesitation.

"Zuo Yan! Zuo Yan!"

Shen Yimian tried to kick the door open, but Zuo Yan had set up a formation on the door, obviously to protect him and the people in the City Lord's Mansion. He was determined to keep the ghost thing in the room.

"Open the door, Zuo Yan!"

Shen Yimian shouted anxiously, her heart burning with worry. There were fierce noises coming from inside, the crisp sound of porcelain shards breaking, the loud clanging of tables, chairs and benches, and the painful groans of Zuo Yan when he was injured.

He looked around. Since he couldn't get in, he decided to find someone who could!

Shen Yimian turned around to look for the guards of the City Lord's Mansion, but when he brought the reinforcements, the formation set up on the door of the wing room had disappeared.

There was dead silence.

All that was left was the sound of raindrops falling heavily from the sky.

Shen Yimian pushed open the door with trembling fingers, saw everything in front of him clearly, and his breathing stopped suddenly.

Zuo Yan fell in a pool of blood.