Chapter 142: Chapter 141: Fading Talismans!
[Goodness, leave me some food scraps to eat.]
[Nom nom ~]
[Old Shen, you’ve been working under the master for so many years, yet you still don’t know what it means to understand human relationships?]
[If the soul is shattered to pieces, you’ll really go for it? Leave me a bit of the soul to eat, will it kill you?]
[Aww, save the nourishing stuff for me next time.]
Jiu Ying smelled the scent of the evil ghost, extended two heads, and ’slurped’ down all the ashes post-judgment.
The Blade of Judgment spoke with an arrogant young voice, [Want to eat? Come and grab it yourself!]
Jiu, [...I really want to smack him.]
[I’ll bite off one head at a time!]
[Old Shen, no wonder you don’t speak. Your voice ruins your image in a second; each entrance is so cool, but the voice is still childish, tsk, the older the ginger, the spicier it is; we’re the seniors here.]
[Yeah right, remember to respect your elders, got it?]
The Blade of Judgment said nothing and flew back to Yu Nianzhao’s side, silently becoming invisible.
Haha, not talking to this idiot Jiu Ying.
Relying on having nine heads, among nine sentences there’s bound to be one that hits where it hurts; if not, it babbles on deadly. He’d rather stay silent.
"Alright Jiu, this soul is yours to eat."
Listening to their conversation, Yu Nianzhao rubbed her temples in headache.
Finally understood why old King Yan advised her to reconsider before accepting Jiu Ying back then.
Give him a small space, and he’d definitely chatter for three days and nights non-stop.
[Really? Master is too good to me, love the master the most.]
[Old Shen, I’m still the one who wins the master’s favor, don’t be too envious and jealous.]
[Master, then I’ll not be polite.]
Witnessing Zhang Hao’s soul shatter into pieces, Zhang Ze heaved his last breath, his soul separating from his body, and true to his promise, flew to Yu Nianzhao’s side.
Jiu eagerly devoured Zhang Ze’s soul in one gulp, savoring the taste, and couldn’t help but shake all nine heads.
Yu Nianzhao reminded him, "Jiu, don’t get carried away, as my soul beast, you can only eat the remnants and fierce spirits I discard, and souls voluntarily sacrificed. If you act as recklessly as before, not even I can protect you."
[Master, Jiu understands, Jiu gets it.]
[One head eats, none of the nine would starve.]
[Jiu will definitely remember the master’s words and won’t repeat past mistakes.]
"Zhaozhao, the fierce spirit is gone?" Xie Jiuxiao couldn’t see Jiu Ying’s shadow but could feel the magnetic field change nearby, sensing something else around Yu Nianzhao.
"Yes, the soul has shattered." Yu Nianzhao flipped her hand, and the Blade of Judgment disappeared.
Dragon Shadow Guards also awakened, Yu Nianzhao handed each an Exorcism Talisman, "You’ve been stained by evil spirits, even though they’ve been dispelled, their negative effects remain. Wearing this talisman close will help."
Dragon Shadow Guards gratefully accepted, "Thank you, Princess."
Yu Nianzhao turned and reached out to Xie Jiuxiao, "Prince, remember to settle the payment."
Xie Jiuxiao resignedly replied, "Alright, I’ll give it to you once we’re back."
"Hmm, that’s doable."
Mr. Zhao, having cleaned everything up, said with emotion, "I didn’t expect Zhang Hao and Zhang Ze are brothers, and even more unexpected that the mastermind was always in the Imperial Prison; no wonder we couldn’t find any clues before."
"You lacked clues because you didn’t think in terms of fierce spirits," Yu Nianzhao casually said, "If the Imperial Prison had someone versed in mysticism, more cases would be solved. Nowadays, evil thrives, not every crime’s perpetrator is human."
She said it offhandedly, but it struck a chord with listeners.
Xie Jiuxiao pondered a moment and then ordered, "What Zhaozhao suggested is indeed feasible, Mr. Zhao, next time hire a disciple from the mystic gate into the Imperial Prison."
Mr. Zhao hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes, I’ll handle it immediately."
Watching Mr. Zhao leave, Yu Nianzhao tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Xie Jiuxiao, I feel this matter isn’t completely resolved. Zhang Hao aimed to revive, yes, but the missing organs from his crime scenes are unaccounted for. I think the sacrifices are real, but the reviving person behind it isn’t Zhang Hao. We must catch those he contacted to calculate who’s truly behind."
Xie Jiuxiao naturally trusted her abilities, "Hmm, others from the Black Market have been captured, meanwhile, a Nether Messenger caught is being apprehended, hopefully returning within days."
"Hmm."
Yu Nianzhao was intrigued by the mastermind’s real purpose.
On the way back to Prince Su Mansion, Yu Nianzhao suddenly hugged Xie Jiuxiao’s chest.
"Zhaozhao..."
Xie Jiuxiao froze at her sudden movement, instinctively puffing out his chest, hands protectively on her slender waist, "What’s going on?"
"Just looking for something."
Yu Nianzhao grasped around his broad chest, her touch occasionally intentional.
Noticing Xie Jiuxiao’s rigidness, she playfully smirked, and then found the sachet hanging from his waist she gave him earlier.
"Just to get this?" Xie Jiuxiao’s ears reddened, seeing her pull away, exhaled, unsure whether to feel relieved or regretful.
"Hmm, the talisman’s color has faded."
Yu Nianzhao frowned, seeing almost just a piece of yellow paper left on the talisman, worriedly said, "Initially lasting two days, now it doesn’t even hold a day. When the evil rushed at you earlier, I felt something’s off, indeed, solely relying on talisman isn’t enough, need to custom make a Buddha Beads Chain for you."
Her talisman lasted long, others’ might hold for mere seconds.
"Dongfang Chenyuan sent word to the Dongfang Family. The Buddha Beads are made of rare material and consecrated by the ancestor. There’s only one in the whole Dongfang, and such material isn’t found elsewhere. They’re finding ways, sent a new bead chain, we’ll see if it fits, it’s being escorted over." Xie Jiuxiao calmly informed her.
"You’re so composed!"
Yu Nianzhao burned the faded talisman, stuffed new ones in the sachet, and handed it back.
Xie Jiuxiao received it, cherished it like treasure, gently said, "I’ve gotten used to it."