Chapter Fifty-Five: The Little Yellow Book System

After leaving the government office, Jiang Lan quickly changed into inconspicuous clothes and slipped into the northern part of the city.

In the small courtyard, a jug of aged wine and a dish of peanuts accompanied the Three-Eyed Daoist, who was mourning the loss of fifteen hundred taels, eating with tears in his eyes.

“Master Ancestor, why must your disciple be so upright?”

By now the wine had gone to his head.

“So what if I refine corpses into pills and temper golden blood pearls, what’s it got to do with me?”

As he spoke, sorrow clouded his face.

“If I’d known, I’d have taken the money and lived a life of unimaginable luxury.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Three-Eyed Daoist’s expression froze.

In his mind:

[Little Yellow Book Cultivation System Warning!!!]

*Strive to be an exemplary youth of socialism; stand up against injustice whenever you encounter it!*

Then a voice command: Please retract your previous statement and repeat according to the screen, or you will immediately lose control of your bladder and collapse...

Three-Eyed Daoist: ...

When Jiang Lan arrived at the courtyard, she saw the Three-Eyed Daoist, clad in a yellow robe, standing in the open, his right foot propped on a bamboo stool, left hand behind his back, right hand across his chest, chin raised, looking bold and imposing!

“When I see injustice, I roar! When it’s time to act, I act! I’ll blaze a path across the nine provinces!”

“Wealth and glory drift past me like clouds...”

Jiang Lan nearly slipped and fell. Was this fellow possessed, acting like this in the middle of the night?

Just as the Three-Eyed Daoist was reciting, “Vanquish evil and uphold the Dao! Root out all manner of demons and spirits! Loyal and righteous, leading the world’s virtue! I am—,” his mind froze again.

Little Yellow Book Cultivation System: “Ten meters behind, unidentified lifeform detected. System analysis... Hurry and cling to the powerful one!!!”

The Three-Eyed Daoist turned, only to see a familiar figure. His face almost twisted in horror.

I am a Daoist, how could I bow to demons? Never, never...

Little Yellow Book Cultivation System: “Immediately cling to the powerful one, or suffer broken limbs...”

Lost in a daze, the Three-Eyed Daoist didn’t notice Jiang Lan leap down from the wall. With no warning, he dropped to his knees before her with a heavy thud.

“Great Immortal, please accept my humble knees.”

“……”

Jiang Lan took two steps back and turned to leave. It hadn’t even been a day, and this fellow had become... such a sycophant.

Remembering she had business, she hurriedly turned back and studied him for a moment.

“You’re the Three-Eyed?”

“……”

He’d already gotten up and nodded, averting his face, his expression unreadable.

“Are you possessed?”

“……” The Three-Eyed Daoist was bleeding inside. He’d just come home and started making talismans with his ancestral Little Yellow Book, preparing a ritual array. Who would’ve thought the sedative would fail while extracting dog’s blood, and he’d accidentally stabbed himself instead?

In his panic, he smudged blood onto the Little Yellow Book.

And ended up like this...

Jiang Lan scrutinized him. She’d always thought his mind was clear, though occasionally clouded. Now, it was just a white blur—she couldn’t see anything at all.

Could some seductive spirit have taken over his body?

She grabbed his wrist, feeling for his pulse, her gaze sharp then calm.

She released his arm and gave him a quick once-over.

“The soul is indeed the original. As for that behavior just now... has he encountered some strange fate?” Jiang Lan wondered to herself. Seeing how obedient he was, he didn’t seem threatening.

A strange fate?

Could he best her?

Having figured it out, Jiang Lan did not expose him, merely said blandly, “Prepare your things. We’re heading to Maple Leaf Manor outside the city.”

It was late, and the Three-Eyed Daoist was about to refuse when he heard, “Fulfill the boss’s request and cling tightly to their mighty thigh, or else—”

“Alright!” The system prompt had barely finished when he dashed inside to hurriedly pack anything he might need.

After using two more Swift Movement Talismans, Jiang Lan and the Three-Eyed Daoist quickly slipped past the city guards and out to Maple Leaf Manor, ten li from the city.

The Three-Eyed Daoist, after the Little Yellow Book fiasco, had been tormented all day by this so-called “system.” He’d barely had a chance to enjoy a drink before being dragged out to do manual labor in the wilderness, grumbling inwardly.

Alas, he had the heart to resist but not the strength.

Watching the young man ahead, sneaking around a farmhouse with a torch in hand, the Three-Eyed Daoist wanted to mutter: You were born a noble, why stoop to thievery!

But he didn’t dare.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and see if there’s any protective charm nearby, likely hanging from a neck.”

Reluctantly, the Three-Eyed Daoist put on a diligent face and began enthusiastically rummaging through the roadside grass.

In the countryside, you could find anything by the roadside. In a moment of inattention, he almost stepped into something unsavory, but managed to restrain himself.

After searching for a while, he found nothing. Glancing at Jiang Lan, who was also searching fruitlessly, he wondered what on earth they were looking for.

Just as he was baffled and exhausted, the Little Yellow Book spoke up.

“System scanning... Target located! Suspected item on a fruit tree three zhang ahead, specifics unknown.”

Three zhang? Fruit tree?

Following the hint, he looked around and spotted a fruit tree with green fruit.

What to do? How to lure the cunning demon over? If Jiang Lan discovered his so-called “system,” would she mistake him for a demon and destroy him?

Or, in a fit of rage, burn the Little Yellow Book?

But he couldn’t discard it—the book threatened to self-destruct, taking him with it!

He, a peerless young Daoist, would be finished.

Wait, he had it!

“Great Immortal.”

No response.

“My lord.”

Jiang Lan, still searching, turned with a hint of irritation, sizing up the Three-Eyed Daoist as if his features were all wrong.

“What is it?”

Noting her impatience, he almost backed out. But he couldn’t search forever.

“There’s a fruit tree over there. Shall I pick some fruit for you to quench your thirst?”

Jiang Lan frowned, eyeing his awkward manner—wasn’t it he who wanted to eat?

But since she hadn’t paid him, denying him food seemed unfair.

“Go ahead. I don’t want any, but come back quickly after you’re done.”

She’d clearly misunderstood, but that was fine—it was better than her discovering the increasingly odd Little Yellow Book.

Jiang Lan continued searching the ground.

Earlier, she’d noticed an imprint on Xue Dafu’s neck from something worn long-term, and the blood mist in the southwest corner of the Xue estate... She was forming a theory.

While she pondered, the Three-Eyed Daoist, sitting on a tree branch three zhang away, called softly, “My lord, there’s something here!”

When Jiang Lan arrived, he’d already jumped down, robe lifted.

“I meant to pick some fruit, but found a bird’s nest instead. Figured I might as well roast the eggs since I hadn’t eaten, but unexpectedly—”

Jiang Lan took the jade pendant from him, her thumb tracing its patterns...

A moment later.

“As I thought!”

But this spot was some distance from where she’d confronted Xue Dafu that morning. Was that Daoist truly just greedy? Well, whether his hunger was real or feigned, as long as she’d found what she needed, it didn’t matter.

Other people’s privacy was none of her business.

Seeing Jiang Lan’s excitement, the Three-Eyed Daoist really couldn’t understand what was so special about a simple jade Buddha pendant. The jade was decent, but not from a master artisan, and someone of the Heir Apparent’s status wouldn’t normally care for such a thing.

To be called out in the middle of the night to find this—was she messing with him?

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

Who would go to such lengths just to tease someone?

The Heir Apparent had searched more diligently than he had.

Still baffled, he trailed behind Jiang Lan. Looking up, he saw she had stopped.

The Three-Eyed Daoist turned and saw a fine mansion—backed by hills and facing water, a place of excellent feng shui!

His face froze. There was demonic energy here—and it was strong!

What should he do? Could he just stick behind the great immortal?

Seeing his trembling legs, Jiang Lan inquired, “Are you cold?”

No, he was terrified.

But he would never admit it.

He nodded, and Jiang Lan, in a tone of concern for a subordinate, kindly comforted him, “Don’t worry, you won’t be able to in a moment.”

If they weren’t both men, the Three-Eyed Daoist would have misunderstood.

Wicked thoughts, begone, spare my pure heart.

He watched Jiang Lan affix a Concealment Talisman and enter the compound, and imitated her, following after. Ahead, she quietly warned, “There are officers inside. Be careful.”

The Three-Eyed Daoist nearly stumbled at the whispered warning.

Never cross the officials, especially as a man of ill repute.

But then, compared to the inscrutable demon ahead...

Truly, Lord Jiang was the more terrifying.

From the rooftop, Jiang Lan surveyed the entire estate. As expected, the main courtyard she’d visited earlier was heavily guarded, with four or five officers on patrol.

She had no interest in that place, and instead turned toward the southwest corner.

There, resentment billowed, portending trouble. She suspected Xue Dafu’s true cause of death originated here.

When she reached the southwest corner, she heard a noise and pulled the tense Three-Eyed Daoist into hiding.

A woman appeared from somewhere, dressed in silk and gauze, carrying a lantern, and slipped toward a hidden spot.

Jiang Lan motioned for the Three-Eyed Daoist to follow.

The woman crept along, glancing nervously behind her, her manner anxious and distracted.

When she turned, Jiang Lan frowned. “It’s her!”

The Three-Eyed Daoist no longer cared who “her” referred to. He felt only the chilly wind, the eerie atmosphere—truly terrifying!

The voice in his head droned, “Danger! Danger!” without pause.

The woman, lantern in hand, went straight to a small garden in the southwest of the Xue estate.

Calling it a garden was generous—it was only a single, ancient tree, likely preserved since the estate was built.

The woman knelt beneath the tree.

Suddenly, Jiang Lan felt a chill run down her spine.