Chapter 139: Bewitched

Chapter 139: Possessed by Evil

It all happened so swiftly, so unexpectedly, that it caught not only Xiaoman off guard but also Wang Xingde, who had been watching the bout from the sidelines.

"Hmm? Her stance is so unsteady, it seems this young lady truly has no master to guide her. I was completely mistaken."

A hint of reluctance flashed in Chun Xiaoman's eyes as she raised her sword with one hand once more, addressing the taciturn youth, "Not bad, again!"

After a few rapid exchanges, Xiaoman lost again, and this time it was even worse; her sword was knocked clean out of her hand.

Though her opponent's weapon was peculiar, it was more than adequate to deal with Xiaoman.

They sparred several more times, yet Xiaoman scarcely managed a single victory.

Only once, driven by sheer desperation, did she fight fiercely, trading blows and injuries, to barely scrape through with a win.

Seeing Xiaoman's chest heaving with exertion, Wang Xingde, fearing he might reduce the young girl to tears of frustration, hurried forward to intervene.

"Miss, that's enough, that's enough. Look, it's nearly dark; let's call it a day."

Looking rather disheveled, Chun Xiaoman asked him with deep reluctance, "Is my swordsmanship really that poor?"

Everything that had just transpired left her with an overwhelming sense of defeat; the skills she had been practicing these past days were surely nothing but a laughingstock in their eyes.

In truth, it had already become a joke, as bursts of laughter echoed from the younger onlookers gathered around.

Wang Xingde gave an awkward smile. "Miss, your empty-step horizontal slashes, bow-step downward cleaves, sword-drawn forward thrusts, and knee-lift straight thrusts into resting-step downward cleaves are all quite solid. You've clearly put in the effort; dealing with one or two ordinary farmers would be no trouble at all."

He said only this much, leaving the rest unsaid.

Chun Xiaoman could read between the lines; he was simply saying she hadn't even stepped through the door of true mastery.

"If I wish to continue improving my strength, where should I direct my efforts?"

"Ah, miss, being a sword-wielding heroine isn't as easy as it seems. The tales told by the storytellers are all fiction. You'd best go back home."

As he spoke, Wang Xingde held out the tael of silver with both hands, offering it to her.

It was plain to see he had mistaken Xiaoman for a wealthy young lady yearning for chivalrous adventures.

Xiaoman pushed the silver back. "Uncle, I have no desire to be any sort of heroine. I merely wish to protect myself in these chaotic times. Please, enlighten me!"

Perhaps the resolve in Xiaoman's voice made Wang Xingde sense something extraordinary about her. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke earnestly, "Miss, your strength may be lacking, but your physical flexibility is commendable. It would be best to try a sword style suited to you. Moreover, your stance is not steady enough; you must practice the horse stance. Furthermore, when it comes to martial arts, mere repetitive drilling is not enough; you need a sparring partner."

"And of course, when it comes to cultivating martial arts, it is best to have a master to guide you."

Xiaoman glanced once more at the youth wielding the rattan shield, on the verge of asking what martial art he actually practiced. Yet, in the end, she held her tongue.

For a single tael of silver, the man had already said more than enough; to ask further would be overstepping.

Chun Xiaoman was not one to confuse kindness with malice. Taking her sword back from Yang Xiaohai, she bowed to Wang Xingde in farewell.

"Sister Xiaoman, you're already amazing. You've only been practicing for a short while; give it a few more years, and you'll surely be able to beat him," Yang Xiaohai chimed in, offering encouragement from the side.

Having said this, he cast a disdainful glance at the others in the martial arts arena.

"Besides, these people aren't formidable at all. Facing our Senior Brother Li, they probably wouldn't even last a single exchange."

"Shut up, let's go!" Chun Xiaoman quickened her pace. His words not only failed to comfort her but made her feel even more incompetent.

"Ah!" Suddenly, an old woman reeking of urine, her hair looking as though it had been gnawed by a dog, darted out from nowhere and lunged at Yang Xiaohai.

Her expression was utterly ferocious, and combined with her appearance, she looked no different from a vengeful ghost.

Just as Xiaoman's long sword was about to leave its scabbard, a gust of fierce wind swept from behind—it was Wang Xingde. Before the old woman could even touch Yang Xiaohai, he had already rushed forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

He forced a strained smile at Chun Xiaoman. "Miss, please forgive us. My master's wife is like this; she has been possessed by evil spirits for many years."

"Possessed?" Xiaoman looked at the old woman and saw her eyes staring fixedly at Yang Xiaohai behind her, her teeth clattering together incessantly with a chilling, eerie sound.

"Since she is possessed, have you invited anyone to perform exorcism rituals?"

"Sigh... we have. We invited nuns from the mountain and monks alike, but she hasn't shown any sign of recovery. My poor master..."

Sighing heavily as he finished his words, Wang Xingde prepared to lead his master's wife away.

"Possessed? Master's wife?" Chun Xiaoman's eyes lit up as a sudden idea struck her.

If she could handle this matter well, the man would offer far more than just a few words of advice; he would likely share all his knowledge with her.

"Let's go." Chun Xiaoman hurried back to the inn, beginning to search for someone among the various guest rooms.

"Senior Brother Zhao Wu, you work the abacus so swiftly, calculating it all in an instant."

"You flatter me. My family sells grain, so I naturally picked it up from a young age through constant exposure."

"Could you teach me how to use the abacus? I need to balance the accounts properly. I feel that if we keep spending like this, we'll run out of money before we even reach our destination."

Hearing the voices, Xiaoman pushed open the door beside her and saw the very person she was looking for: Bai Lingmiao.

She walked over, took Bai Lingmiao's hand, and led her out of the room into the corridor. After checking both ways to ensure no one else was around, she lowered her voice and asked, "Were the things you told me that night true? Have you really become a spirit medium?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Bai Lingmiao looked at her friend with some confusion.

"Good. Come with me; I have a matter that requires your help."

By the time Xiaoman led Bai Lingmiao to the escort agency, night had already fallen.

Looking at the large escort banner, Bai Lingmiao, clutching her drum, seemed somewhat timid. "Where is this? Maybe we should come back tomorrow."

"We can't wait. Just do me a favor." Chun Xiaoman walked in, causing another flurry of chaos and commotion.

Half an incense stick later, in a reception room of the escort agency, Chun Xiaoman addressed the stern, unsmiling elderly man sitting upright: "Sir, this friend of mine might actually be able to cure your wife's illness."

Zhao Qin set down his teacup with neither joy nor sorrow, observing the unusually pale young woman not far away.

Over all these years, every possible method had been tried, yet his wife remained exactly the same. He had long since given up hope.

His yellowed eyes shifted toward Chun Xiaoman. With a wave of his hand, Wang Xingde walked in, holding two taels of silver in both hands and placing them on Chun Xiaoman's table.

"Miss, these are the things you left behind; you forgot to take them. I apologize for frightening you today. As for my wife's condition, please do not trouble yourselves any further. She is old, and all I wish for now is to spend a few peaceful days with her."