Chapter 52: Dual Swords Unite, When a Teammate Is in Trouble, It Actually Steps Up

"Vixen, you dare to ruin my plans!"

A rough, vicious, and feral curse spilled from Shen Peng's mouth, echoing within the narrow bedchamber.

Madame Shen's exclamation rose to her lips, but Shen Qinghe hastily clamped a hand over her mouth, dragging her back a couple of steps with a grave expression.

The thing speaking before them was definitely not his son!

Shen Peng stared fixedly at Lang Jiuchuan, his eyes abruptly turning blood-red, as terrifying and hideous as an evil ghost, the fierce light within wishing nothing more than to lunge forward and tear Lang Jiuchuan to pieces.

Jiang Che emerged from the spiritual platform, unleashing the awe-inspiring coercion of the Tiger King: "How dare you be so audacious!"

Only Lang Jiuchuan was allowed to bully her; what kind of trash was this thing, daring to curse her?

As the overbearing and ferocious malevolent Qi erupted, a gale instantly swept through the room, charging straight at the evil Qi overflowing from Shen Peng's body.

Lang Jiuchuan curled her lips in a rare smile; when necessary, the white tiger didn't hide away to watch the fun and freeload—when trouble arose, it truly stepped up.

Splendid! This was the teammate she wanted!

Jiang Che belonged to the lineage of the divine beast White Tiger and had practiced cultivation for five hundred years, long since attaining success. Had its fate not been slightly lacking, resulting in failure during the heavenly tribulation, a divine beast would surely have emerged into this world to become a supreme overlord of a realm.

When it failed to withstand the lightning tribulation, only a wisp of spiritual consciousness remained. However, its regal dominance did not vanish because of this, especially since it had somehow received enlightenment and fortuitous opportunities, using the power of wishes to heal itself. Even if its strength was no longer equal to what it had been during the tribulation, it was still more than enough to terrify many demons and evil specters.

Now that its imposing aura was unleashed, it directly locked horns with that dark red, sinister, and ominous miasma.

Invisible waves of energy raged within the room.

Shen Qinghe tightly embraced Madame Shen; both of their faces were deathly pale, and breathing was difficult for them.

Seeing this, Lang Jiuchuan did not delay, nor did she waste words in a verbal sparring match with the evil Qi. With a thought, the imperial bell in her hand seemed to come alive, beginning to chime rhythmically.

Chime after chime.

It sounded as if it were coming from the primordial era, profound and lingering.

Shen Peng hugged his head with both hands, emitting a painful roar: "Two against one, shameless wretches!"

It wanted to resist, but the bell tolls were like magic sounds, swallowing it whole, and the ferocious malevolent force of the white tiger directly crushed its aura.

Lang Jiuchuan shook the imperial bell with one hand, while the fingertips of her other hand pinched a spiritual talisman. Her wrist turned, and the talisman fluttered in her hand, landing in the bowl of ash water from before the Buddha nearby.

The talisman met the water, and fire ignited spontaneously.

After a flash of golden light, the originally turbid ash water from before the Buddha became limpid and clear.

"Pour this water down your young master's throat."

Hearing Lang Jiuchuan's instruction, Shen Qinghe hurriedly released Madame Shen, picked up the bowl, and hesitated as he stepped forward. With his son looking at him as if he were an enemy, would the boy knock the bowl of water away?

Seeming to sense his hesitation, Jiang Che's ferocious malevolent Qi grabbed Shen Peng's hands, pulling and wrapping them backward so that he could not move at all.

"Pour it!"

Seeing this, Shen Qinghe hardened his heart, pinched his son's mouth open, and poured the bowl of water down his throat.

Gulp, gulp.

Shen Peng's expression twisted viciously, and he let out a long, heaven-ward howl. Evil Qi mixed with bloody mist burst out from his mouth, writhing like a snake as it tried to escape. Jiang Che leaped forward, its maw wide open, and swallowed it all in one gulp.

Although it was murky and ominous Qi, it carried the power of wishes, so it could digest it on its own.

Jiang Che licked its lips, completely unaware of Lang Jiuchuan's disgusted glance.

As the evil Qi dissipated from Shen Peng's body, he spewed a mouthful of dark blood, fell backward limply, his eyes tightly closed, his complexion like gold foil.

"Peng'er!"

Madame Shen lunged forward in terror.

Shen Qinghe scooped him directly into his arms, resting the boy against his chest, and looked at Lang Jiuchuan with a gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

"He won't die. It's a good thing." Lang Jiuchuan's complexion was no better than Shen Qinghe's; after all, she had made quite a big move—did mental energy not consume a person?

Hearing this, although Shen Qinghe found her words grating on the ears, the heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

Seeing that the room had calmed down and was no longer as gloomily terrifying as before, Madame Shen asked, "Has that thing left my son's body?"

"Mhm." Lang Jiuchuan gazed at her with bright, penetrating eyes: "Your young master is fine, so Madame, it is time for you to pay the price."

What?

Madame Shen was momentarily stunned, and Shen Qinghe's expression changed instantly: "Can we..."

"No." Lang Jiuchuan stared straight at him and said, "Going back on your word will inevitably incur karmic backlash."

Madame Shen hastily waved her hand: "I will not go back on my word."

Only then was Lang Jiuchuan satisfied. She took out the Judge's Brush and said, "Then I shall collect my reward."

Madame Shen was somewhat bewildered, subconsciously glancing at the Judge's Brush. A sense of awe and chill arose in her heart, and she clutched her sleeves tightly.

"Madame, please close your eyes."

Madame Shen closed her eyes, trembling all over from tension. Losing lifespan sounded extremely mysterious, and she had no idea how it would happen, so naturally, she felt nervous.

Shen Qinghe even wanted to renege on the deal, but he did not dare, keeping his eyes glued to Lang Jiuchuan's movements without blinking.

He thought it would be as mystical as before, but he only saw her using that strange talismanic brush to draw a rune on Madame Shen's forehead and body.

Lang Jiuchuan watched as the golden light sank into Madame Shen's spiritual platform. Directly above the woman's head, a heavenly book seemed to flip open rapidly, revealing the ledger of fate belonging to her. In the column recording her lifespan, the numbers were shifting.

The reduced lifespan vanished, merging into another page.

Lang Jiuchuan could not see it, but she could feel her soul becoming solid and substantial. Her complexion also gradually transitioned from pale blue and white back to normal, even carrying a faint rosy flush.

Lifespan gained from golden light of merit was indeed a supreme tonic.

Lang Jiuchuan was so delighted that her eyes narrowed into slits, and Jiang Che was rolling around happily on her spiritual platform as well—such dense destiny and fortune!

Her complexion visibly improved, and Shen Qinghe, watching it all unfold, felt his heart shatter. Turning his gaze to his wife, her face was devoid of color, and at her temples, a streak of white hair had actually grown.

Shen Qinghe clutched Shen Peng tighter, his eyes burning red.

This was the price Lang Jiuchuan had spoken of!

It was far more precious than gold, silver, status, antiques, or anything else.

Madame Shen opened her eyes, feeling somewhat dazed. Seeing the tears in Shen Qinghe's eyes, she asked, "Is it done? It doesn't seem like anything happened."

Shen Qinghe could not utter a single word.

Finding it strange, Madame Shen suddenly felt the world go dark before her eyes and slumped directly toward the floor.

"Madame!"

Just as Shen Qinghe wanted to set aside his son to catch her, Madame Shen was already caught by Lang Jiuchuan. However, because Lang Jiuchuan was physically weak and had just exerted magic arts, her strength was somewhat exhausted, and the two of them tumbled to the floor together—with Lang Jiuchuan even serving as the human cushion!

Lang Jiuchuan's back hurt terribly; she had taken a loss again.

Shen Qinghe hurriedly shouted for the servants outside; at the moment, he and Lang Jiuchuan alone could not properly manage two unconscious people.

The maidservants bustled about with hurried hands and feet.

Shen Qinghe looked at Lang Jiuchuan: "Why did my wife faint?"

"I told you, once her lifespan is reduced, Madame will be sickly and weak for three months. During this period, just let her recuperate quietly," Lang Jiuchuan said, glancing at Shen Peng on the bed. "The evil Qi on your young master has been eradicated, and he will no longer decline. Afterward, he should also slowly recuperate. Since there are divine buddhas bestowing protection in the temple, there's no rush to leave; you might as well offer incense here in the temple to soothe his soul."

Hearing this, Shen Qinghe's brows finally unfurled. As long as he was fine, that was all that mattered, but seeing his wife's pale face, guilt gripped his heart once more.

Lang Jiuchuan poured herself a cup of tea from the table, handed it over, looked at Shen Qinghe, and said, "Your young master's matter is settled. What about you, sir? Won't you consider buying some lifespan?"