Their leader scowled, clearly displeased with their cowardice. A glint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. Looking at his men, he seemed to steel himself, his confidence bolstered. Brandishing his blade, he strode toward Hong Ning and sneered, “It’s nothing but petty tricks! What is there to be afraid of—”
His voice abruptly cut off.
The bandits’ eyes widened in shock, their bodies frozen in place.
A disheveled female ghost stood before them, her long hair tangled and wild. Her hands had rotted to the bone, and an eerie “heh-heh” sound escaped her lips—neither laughter nor sobbing, but something in between.
The bandit leader’s face turned pale, then blue. His lips trembled, and at last, he let out a terrified scream—“GHOST!”—before stumbling backward in a desperate attempt to flee.
The rest of the bandits barely had time to think. When they saw countless shadows drifting toward them, unable to tell how many wandering spirits had appeared, they abandoned all reason and scattered in terror, running for their lives.
* * *
Inside the carriage, Duan Fei watched her with an amused smile. “Impressive. My lady is quite capable. I’ll have to rely on you more in the future.”
Hong Ning let out a slow breath, unaware of the subtle shift in the air. She lowered her head, adjusting her clothes, and remarked with self-mockery, “This is the first time I’ve encountered something like this. I used to slay demons and exorcise ghosts. Now, I’ve started killing people.”
“They were trying to kill me,” Duan Fei pulled her into his arms, gently wiping the sweat from her forehead with his sleeve. “You were saving a life, not taking one. Those men were outlaws—criminals who had already earned the death sentence dozens of times over.”
Hong Ning met his gaze and studied him for a moment before smiling. “I’m not that timid. I’ve killed ghosts and slain demons—I wouldn’t flinch at killing a man. Some people deserve death more than ghosts. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Duan Fei chuckled. “Then I was worrying too much. Was the sword useful?”
The sword she had just wielded was the very one he had gifted her. But Hong Ning was not so easily diverted from the topic. She fixed her gaze on him. “Those men weren’t ordinary bandits. Someone sent them here specifically to kill you. Think carefully—who could it be?”
“Some people assume that if I die, my fortune will fall into their hands,” Duan Fei said indifferently, shaking his head. “The truth is, they wouldn’t get a single coin.”
Hong Ning fell silent. A twenty-six-year-old man carrying the weight of an entire clan—yet there were always those with greedy, ungrateful hearts who, rather than being thankful, instead schemed for his downfall, hoping for his early demise.
Duan Fei sighed. “That’s what happens when I don’t have a son. It makes me an easy target.”
The implication was clear—without an heir, his wealth would inevitably fall into someone else’s hands after his death. But the way he said it, in a half-serious, half self-pitying tone, was so comically pitiful that Hong Ning couldn’t help but laugh. After a moment, she asked, “So you really don’t intend to do anything about this?”
Duan Fei replied, “And what would I do? Send them to the authorities?”
In this world, good deeds did not always bring good rewards, nor did evil always meet retribution. He had long known that someone was plotting against him, yet he had deliberately traveled with only a handful of guards, remaining unshaken even when ambushed. Clearly, he had expected her to handle the situation.
Hong Ning sneered. “Young Master Duan has too much faith in me. It was just a simple illusion spell—if they had truly attacked, neither of us might have walked away from this alive.”
“But we are alive.” Duan Fei lifted her chin with a smile. “Don’t be angry. I saved you once, and now you’ve saved me. That means you don’t owe me anything anymore.”
Hong Ning replied, “You don’t want me to owe you.”
Duan Fei’s smile deepened. “When we owe each other nothing, we can focus on more important matters.”
Hong Ning said nothing.
Duan Fei smiled. “Now that you’ve saved me, how should I repay you?”
Hong Ning replied, “Young Master Duan is always generous.”
Duan Fei lowered his voice. “Then how about I repay you with myself?” He swiftly stole a kiss from her lips.
Before Hong Ning could react, he had already pulled away. At some point, the carriage had arrived outside the secluded residence. Without another word, Duan Fei jumped down, then swept her into his arms and strode directly toward the rear courtyard.
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