The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife-Chapter 21: You’re Only Holding Me Back

Upon hearing these words, Master Li assumed it was one renowned master offering guidance, but to his surprise, it was a young girl.

He glanced at her, quickly retracting his gaze with an air of arrogance.

A mere young girl was not worthy of his attention.

The disciples accompanying him immediately spoke up, "Little girl, our master is the esteemed Master Li, how dare you question him!"

"Indeed, what does a young girl like you know? Step aside, you have no place to be so audacious here!"

Xiao Wanyi grew angry, "How dare you speak in such a manner? You’ve frightened my sister!"

She positioned her plump figure in front of Nanli, hands on her hips, resembling a protective mother hen ready to fight for her offspring.

As Ah Ye’s future Aunt, she would never allow anyone to bully her.

Master Li smirked arrogantly and slowly said, "Miss Xiao’s words make it unnecessary for me to intervene."

Xiao Wanyi’s parents immediately grew anxious.

On one side was their future daughter-in-law, and on the other was the renowned Master Li. Neither side could afford to offend.

Nanli didn’t want to put them in a difficult position, so she remained composed and said, "Apologies, Master Li. I spoke out of turn earlier. I kindly ask for your assistance in helping my sister Xiao."

Master Li’s expression softened slightly as he held a peach wood sword and raised a talisman, assuming a confident stance.

"Then let me show you the power of this talisman."

How could a young girl dare to question him? He had to show her his true strength.

Moreover, since she was an official’s relative, he could establish his reputation in the capital through this encounter.

The sky darkened, and several braziers illuminated the courtyard, casting a bright glow.

Despite it being early summer, a chilling wind blew, causing goosebumps to rise on Xiao Wanyi’s skin.

Master Li performed his ritual, assisted by his disciples.

Xiao Wanyi stood in the center of the talisman formation, feeling a bit apprehensive. Suddenly, Master Li shouted, "Activate the formation!"

The disciples formed hand seals, assisting their master in raising the talisman formation, instantly forcing a starving ghost to materialize.

The emaciated ghost had a gaping mouth, despite its shriveled body.

Trapped within the talisman formation, it cried out in agony, "I want to eat! No one can stop me from eating!"

Ignoring the pain, it clutched the talisman formation tightly, attempting to escape.

In an instant, a fierce wind surged, making it difficult for everyone to keep their eyes open.

There weren’t many people left in the courtyard, but those who caught sight of the starving ghost either fainted or turned pale, their eyes tightly shut.

Xiao’s parents belonged to the latter group, too terrified to even breathe.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wanyi had been possessed by the starving ghost all along, and now that it had been forced out, she stood there unconsciously.

The vengeful aura emitted by the starving ghost was overwhelming, casting a dark cloud over the Xiao’s residence.

The situation was dire. Master Li hadn’t anticipated the strength of this starving ghost. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and his hand holding the peach wood sword trembled slightly.

Seeing that a corner of the talisman formation was about to be breached, Master Li leaped forward, attempting to cleave the starving ghost into oblivion.

"No one can stop me from eating!" the starving ghost roared, biting through the talisman formation, causing the young disciples to retreat and fall to the ground.

With a loud bang, Master Li was also thrown back, spitting out blood, his peach wood sword broken in two.

The starving ghost dispersed its vengeful aura and charged directly at Master Li, its claws aiming for his throat.

In the nick of time, a small figure darted forward, a flash of golden light, and one of the ghost’s claws was severed.

A putrid stench filled the air.

The starving ghost howled in pain, immediately retreating and disappearing into the depths of the mansion.

Master Li looked up.

Amidst the flickering flames, Nanli’s face remained calm as water, holding a sword, her dress billowing in the wind, exuding a heroic aura.

"Master Li, are you alright?"

Master Li felt a sense of confusion, followed by overwhelming shame.

He had been saved by a young girl.

He had lost face in front of a young girl!

Unaware of his thoughts, Nanli knew that the vengeful aura of the starving ghost had affected everyone who hadn’t fainted, causing them to attack one another.

She used a few talismans to dispel the vengeful aura from the young disciples. They ceased their fighting and collapsed to the ground. At this moment, Master Li finally understood that her earlier words were not mockery but the truth.

Compared to her, his talismans were indeed weak and easily destroyed.

"Fair maiden, were all these talismans painted by your master? I wonder who your esteemed mentor is," inquired Master Li.

Little did he expect that this Jing City was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided.

Nanli cast him a disdainful glance and retorted, "At a time like this, you still have the audacity to ask such questions? Your provocation has already affected the people of the this mansion, consumed by the vengeful aura of this starved ghost."

Master Li felt a pang of shame, and then composed himself, saying, "Very well, I shall assist you in vanquishing this malevolent spirit."

It was a perfect opportunity for him to gauge her abilities.

The young maiden was easily deceived, and if he could take her as his disciple, he would have her charging into battle while he sat back and collected the rewards.

Ah, the thought of it brought him great delight.

However, Nanli swiftly crushed his hopes, saying, "No, you will only hinder me."

Master Li, at his age, couldn’t even subdue a starved ghost.

He may be considered mediocre, but in reality, he was simply inept.

If someone like him sought to become her disciple, she would advise them to return home and tend to the fields, for without talent, the study of Dao would be futile.

Otherwise, they would end up like Li, narrowly escaping death.

Li’s face reddened with embarrassment, "You need not be so brutally honest."

Nanli, witnessing the intensifying vortex of vengeful aura above them, paid no attention to him.

With Xuanyue sword in hand, she proceeded towards the Mansion of Xiao family, while master Li futilely called out to her, insisting on following.

The starved ghost was surely in the kitchen.

Although she was unfamiliar with the layout of the mansion, she could sense the gathering of vengeful aura, leading her to the right place.

Many of the inhabitants were under the influence of the vengeful aura, congregating there.

They rummaged through the kitchen as if they hadn’t eaten for days, behaving like madmen.

Li trembled, his body shaking, and said, "This starved ghost is truly formidable, to be able to control so many people with its vengeful aura."

If it weren’t for the intervention of a skilled practitioner tonight, he feared he would have become one of them.

With that thought, he cast an admiring gaze towards Nanli.

Standing at the entrance of the kitchen, Nanli furrowed her brows slightly, "But its true form is among these people."

Li scanned the crowd and remarked, "It’s not easy to find among so many people."

Nanli looked at the people in the kitchen and asked, "Does the meager food supply suffice for you?"

The people in the kitchen replied in unison, "Naturally, it’s not enough. But if we add you, tender and succulent... hehe, then it will be sufficient."

"But I fear you won’t be able to handle it," so Nanli continued her usual tactic of persuasion, "There is a distinction between humans and ghosts. You should not remain here. If you obediently come out, I will have a venerable monk recite scriptures to dispel your vengeful aura and guide you to reincarnation."

The people in the kitchen, however, unanimously declared, "We haven’t eaten enough yet, we won’t go to reincarnation!"

Nanli raised an eyebrow, "Very well, then do not blame me."

This starved ghost, possessing a human body, would drive people to eat uncontrollably until they burst.

Xiao Wanyi had been possessed, and though she hadn’t reached the point of bursting, she had become obese and unfit to be seen.

When it came to such malevolent spirits, Nanli never showed mercy.