Everyone turned sharply toward Lěng Yè, and the atmosphere instantly froze.
One of Zēng Shàotán's disciples glared at Lěng Yè with utter disdain and sneered, "My master enjoys a stellar reputation in the esoteric arts, and his professional expertise is beyond question. What kind of nobody are you to dare question his judgment?"
Lěng Yè replied calmly, "Naturally, I respect Master Zēng's skill, but I believe no one can guarantee they will never make a mistake."
Zēng Shàotán's expression darkened as he demanded of Xiong Yujiao, "Ms. Xiong, what is the meaning of this?"
Xiong Yujiao had not anticipated Lěng Yè's sudden move and hastily apologized to Zēng Shàotán, "Master Zēng, this is my younger brother. He's hot-tempered, please don't take it to heart." At the same time, she tugged at Lěng Yè's sleeve and lowered her voice, "Stop making a scene!"
Lěng Yè insisted, "I'm not making a scene. I just don't want you to be misled."
Zēng Shàotán sneered, "Misled? I have traveled the rivers and lakes for decades, and this is the first time I've ever been slandered like this!"
His disciples widened their eyes in anger and threatened Lěng Yè, "Brat, you've got a death wish!"
Zēng Shàotán stopped them, turned to Lěng Yè, and said, "If you think I'm wrong, then you tell us—where does the root of the problem lie?"
Without another word, Lěng Yè turned to Xiong Yujiao, grasped the wrist where she wore her beaded bracelet, and held it up for all to see. "The root of the problem is right here!"
"This bracelet?" Zēng Shàotán asked.
Lěng Yè nodded firmly.
Zēng Shàotán sneered, "It seems you really are an outsider!"
He approached the bracelet with his compass, but the needle remained completely motionless, indicating that the bracelet was harmless. "You actually think I would make such a basic mistake?"
With that, he had a disciple fetch an ancient painting. When the compass was brought near the painting, the needle trembled noticeably, proving that there was indeed something wrong with it.
"Now, what do you have to say?" Zēng Shàotán taunted.
Xiong Yujiao grew dissatisfied with Lěng Yè as well. "Apologize!"
Ignoring her, Lěng Yè took off Xiong Yujiao's bracelet, threw it to the floor, and smashed it to pieces with a single stomp. When the others lowered their heads to look, they saw that the bracelet actually contained ferocious little skulls and a foul-smelling dark green oily substance.
The air inside the villa instantly turned chillingly sinister, and Xiong Yujiao retreated behind Lěng Yè in terror.
The compass needle trembled violently before finally shattering, and Zēng Shàotán's face drained of color as he cried out, "Nanyang sorcery! Someone is trying to harm you!"
A gust of eerie wind swept through the room, and the skulls transformed into a ferocious ghost with bared fangs that lunged directly at Xiong Yujiao.
"Hand over your life!" the female ghost shrieked.
Zēng Shàotán produced a bronze mirror and temporarily immobilized the ghost.
Silently praising Zēng Shàotán's methods, Lěng Yè borrowed a piece of yellow talisman paper and a cinnabar brush from him. He rapidly drew an exorcism talisman, using his own blood as a catalyst, and the yellow paper instantly blazed with a brilliant golden light. Rushing forward, he slapped the talisman onto the ghost's forehead. Enveloped in the golden light, the ghost shrieked continuously until it was completely purified.
The crisis averted, tranquility returned to the villa.
Lěng Yè walked over to Xiong Yujiao and asked, "Sister Jiāo, are you alright?"
Xiong Yujiao forced herself to remain calm. "I... I'm fine."
Lěng Yè cleared away the remnants of the bracelet and asked, "Who gave you this?"
"Long Kun!" Xiong Yujiao said through gritted teeth.
At that moment, Zēng Shàotán walked over and dropped to his knees before Lěng Yè. "I was blind and failed to recognize a person of true greatness. Please forgive me, Realized Person!"
Lěng Yè quickly helped him up. "Master Zēng, you are being far too humble. We can simply learn from one another."
Zēng Shàotán pleaded to become his disciple, but Lěng Yè politely declined. Even so, the two men exchanged contact information.
Xiong Yujiao looked at Lěng Yè with a newfound sense of awe, her eyes filled with curiosity.
Lěng Yè made to leave. "Sister Jiāo, since everything is fine, I'll be heading out. Your composure just now was truly admirable. I still need to tend to my injuries, so I shouldn't stay long."
Xiong Yujiao grabbed his arm. "Don't go!"
"Is there something else?" Lěng Yè asked.
Xiong Yujiao said shyly, "My legs have gone weak. Help me upstairs and stay the night. I'm scared."
Only then did Lěng Yè notice her trembling. He channeled his Spiritual Power to massage her legs, helping them relax.
Xiong Yujiao recovered her composure and said gratefully, "You exceeded my expectations. I owe you a favor this time—just name whatever you need."
Lěng Yè mentioned that he required medicinal herbs, and Xiong Yujiao immediately arranged for someone to purchase them.
The next morning, Lěng Yè took the self-made Medicinal Pill, his injuries completely healed, and his cultivation realm advanced to the Second Layer of Qi Refining.
"If I run into Lín Hǔ again, I can defeat him in three moves!"
A knock sounded at the door. When Lěng Yè opened it, he found Xiong Yujiao accompanied by a dashing and imposing man named Niè Fēng. She introduced him, saying, "This is Niè Fēng, a master of the Fifth Stage of Internal Energy. He will be your bodyguard."
Lěng Yè looked surprised. "I don't need a bodyguard."
Xiong Yujiao insisted, "You're injured. Having an expert protect you is safer, consider it me repaying the favor."
Lěng Yè was about to refuse when Niè Fēng chimed in with displeasure, "Kid, don't try to act tough. With my Fifth Stage of Internal Energy strength, who are you to say you don't need protection?"