I Can Devour Spirits

Duan Rong’s figure, like a specter, flickered left and right, making Yang Zhen’s heart tremble with shock.

He could have anticipated that after three years in the sect, the gap between them would only widen, but Duan Rong’s current body technique still startled Yang Zhen.

Even his hiding spot in the large beech tree was seen through at a glance, which greatly shocked Yang Zhen as well!

Yang Zhen watched as Duan Rong, with his hands behind his back, merely followed his blade’s movements. Yet, even with his three most powerful killing moves, he couldn’t touch a single hair of Duan Rong’s.

Suddenly, Yang Zhen sheathed his blade and said, "I’m done!"

Duan Rong smiled and said, "What? Not seeking revenge anymore?"

Yang Zhen replied, "I’ll just consider it as being bitten by a dog."

Duan Rong’s lips curled slightly from Yang Zhen’s insult. But Duan Rong was here to ask a favor from Yang Zhen today, so he let it slide.

Yang Zhen noticed that Duan Rong didn’t retort after the insult, and the remaining bit of anger in his heart dissipated. After all, deep down, he still owed Duan Rong a life.

Yang Zhen sighed and said, "Come, follow me to the secret chamber in that dry well. I’ll take you to meet someone."

Xiao Yu suddenly asked, "Yang Zhen, is my father, Xiao Zongting, dead or alive?"

Yang Zhen paused slightly, then said, "Once you see the person in the secret chamber, you’ll know."

After speaking, Yang Zhen went to the side of the dry well and jumped down.

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong with some worry. But Duan Rong patted her shoulder and said, "It’s okay, let’s go down too."

Though suspicious of Yang Zhen, Xiao Yu trusted Duan Rong. Since Duan Rong said it was fine, there must be a reason.

Then, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu also jumped into the well.

At the bottom of the well, Yang Zhen had already lit a flint. By its faint light, he saw an entrance at the bottom.

Yang Zhen crawled into the entrance, and Duan Rong, looking at Xiao Yu’s shadow against the dark well, said, "Follow me."

As Duan Rong said this, he also crawled into the entrance, and Xiao Yu followed last.

After entering, they crawled for a short distance and reached an enclosed space.

From this spot, moving forward led to a corridor’s bend, dimly lit from around the corner.

Yang Zhen shook the dust off his knees and walked ahead.

Xiao Yu followed nervously at the end.

After turning the corridor and walking a short distance, they reached a small chamber.

Yang Zhen had already entered, and Duan Rong and Xiao Yu stood at the chamber’s entrance.

Under the dim, yellowish light, Yang Zhen was seen standing beside another person.

The person was short, only reaching Yang Zhen’s shoulders, with a turban on their head and thick cotton clothing, their face hidden in the turban’s shadow.

Xiao Yu stood there, puzzled about who the person was.

Suddenly, a familiar soft voice, tinged with tears, called out to her, "Miss Yu!"

The person rushed to her, throwing herself into Xiao Yu’s arms.

Xiao Yu didn’t resist, already seeing tears glistening in her eyes.

Even after three years, she would never forget that voice. It was Zhu Xiaoqi’s voice!

Zhu Xiaoqi held onto Xiao Yu, crying bitterly.

Xiao Yu wiped the tears from Zhu Xiaoqi’s face and asked, "Xiaoqi, are you okay?"

"Miss, I’m fine."

"Xiaoqi, where’s my father?" Xiao Yu urgently asked, "Where is he?"

Seeing Zhu Xiaoqi was fine relieved her inner tension somewhat, thinking that if Zhu Xiaoqi was alright, her father should be too.

But unexpectedly, at her question, Zhu Xiaoqi cried even harder, saying amid sobs, "Miss, the master... he’s dead!"

Hearing the word "dead," Xiao Yu felt as if struck by thunder, her suppressed emotions surging like a tsunami, overwhelming her.

Her vision darkened, and Xiao Yu fainted.

"Miss!" Zhu Xiaoqi cried out in shock.

The moment Xiao Yu fainted, Duan Rong caught her, supporting her with one arm. He flipped his left hand, bringing a small porcelain bottle into view.

Duan Rong held Xiao Yu, handing the bottle to Zhu Xiaoqi, saying, "Take one pill and give it to your lady."

Zhu Xiaoqi quickly took the bottle from Duan Rong, poured out a pill, and fed it to Xiao Yu.

Duan Rong massaged Xiao Yu’s throat, helping her swallow the pill.

Zhu Xiaoqi noticed Duan Rong’s intimate gesture towards Xiao Yu, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

After Xiao Yu swallowed the pill, she slowly regained consciousness within a few moments.

Upon waking, Xiao Yu immediately grabbed Zhu Xiaoqi, demanding, "Xiaoqi, how did my father die? Tell me!"

Under the dim light, the veins on Xiao Yu’s forehead were bulging, clearly stirred by intense emotions.

"It was Ruan Fengshan who killed the master!"

"Ruan Fengshan?!" Xiao Yu and Duan Rong were chilled to hear this.

They had some suspicions about this, but hearing Zhu Xiaoqi confirm it hit them like lightning.

Xiao Yu, seething with rage, shouted, "My father was fiercely loyal to the Escort Agency! Why did Ruan Fengshan kill him?!"

Zhu Xiaoqi wiped her tears and pulled a letter from her bosom, handing it to Xiao Yu, saying, "The master wrote this the night he left. He specifically instructed me to give it to you."

"A letter from my father?..." Xiao Yu took the letter and noticed the envelope was blank.

She quickly tore open the envelope gently and extracted a thick stack of papers.

Seeing the handwriting, her heart ached. Though hurried and scribbled, it was unmistakably familiar, the very handwriting she had practiced under Xiao Zongting’s tutelage as a child.