The Fake Heiress's Guide to Self-Rescue - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: The Unworldly Variety Show [8] – VIP

The fog enveloped Jiang Qianqian, but it didn’t dare to get too close due to Jiang Huai’s spiritual energy. Whether it was because of what had just happened or something else, Jiang Qianqian vaguely felt that the grayish-white fog was filled with a thick scent of bl00d.

A pair of hands reached out from the fog and held her tightly. This ghost can touch me through the spiritual energy? Jiang Qianqian frowned. She grabbed a hand and tried to pry it off, raising her leg to kick.

“Stop, stop, it’s me.”

A familiar face emerged from the fog. Jiang Jing’s hair was a little messy. She had been running in the thick fog for a long time to find Jiang Qianqian’s aura, and she had followed the residual aura to get here.

Jiang Qianqian cautiously took two steps back. She didn’t know if this was the real Jiang Jing or if it was Zhang Ran pretending to be her. After all, the fake Jiang Qianqian from before had left a deep impression on her, and she was afraid of falling for it again. “How can you prove that you are Jiang Jing?” Jiang Qianqian asked hesitantly.

“She can’t prove it, because I’m the real Jiang Jing,” a figure that looked exactly like the one opposite her appeared on Jiang Qianqian’s right.

“Oh, come on, sister. You’re even going to impersonate me?” The Jiang Jing opposite her opened her mouth wide and looked at the fake Jiang Jing. “You’re trying too hard. Did you watch too much Journey to the West?”

“What are you spouting, you female ghost? Die!” The fake Jiang Jing scoffed, reached out, and started wrestling with Jiang Jing.

“Come and help, Jiang Qianqian!”

“Why help her? Come and help me!”

The two identical voices made Jiang Qianqian dizzy. She looked at the human-shaped mess and, when they weren’t paying attention, kicked them out, sending both of them into the fog. Anyway, Jiang Jing can beat this ghost, so I might as well let them fight first.

“How dare you, you female ghost, impersonate your granny!”

“Why are you the one complaining? You’re the one who’s impersonating me!”

The sound of fighting and a few curses came from the fog. Two disheveled figures appeared in front of Jiang Qianqian again.

“Are you done fighting?”

“We’re done.” The two Jiang Jings looked at each other and shrunk their necks.

“Okay, I’m going to ask you a question. Whoever can answer it is the real Jiang Jing.” Jiang Qianqian put her hands behind her back and said with a straight face. The two of them obediently nodded, waiting for Jiang Qianqian to ask the question.

“Please enrage me in one sentence.”

What kind of question is this? Jiang Jing’s face was covered in black lines. Is she really just looking for a reason to hit me?

“You first.” She pointed to the Jiang Jing on the right.

“Uh, I don’t know how.” That Jiang Jing shrugged. She also didn’t know how to anger Jiang Qianqian.

“Okay, you’re next.” Jiang Qianqian pointed to the Jiang Jing on the left, motioning for her to give her answer.

“I don’t know either, because you’re just looking for a reason to hit me. You’re not really angry.” Jiang Jing didn’t know either. Every time she got hit, it was for no reason, and she couldn’t figure out what made Jiang Qianqian angry.

Those were two unexpected answers, Jiang Qianqian thought, grinding her teeth. She didn’t expect the ghost to learn Jiang Jing’s rogue attitude to a T after impersonating her.

“You’re not learning the good stuff, only the bad stuff.” Jiang Qianqian cracked her knuckles.

“See? You’re suddenly angry again.” Jiang Jing said to the fake Jiang Jing on the side as if she were a serious person. The fake Jiang Jing nodded in a daze.

“Wait, you said ‘again,’ didn’t you?” A hand landed on Jiang Jing’s shoulder. When she turned her head, she saw Jiang Qianqian’s smiling death stare.

“Yes—” Before she could finish her sentence, Jiang Jing was pushed back. Two green lights flew past her face and hit the fake Jiang Jing’s body.

“That works too…”

“What did you say?” The dangerous tone made Jiang Jing quickly change her words.

“I said you’re amazing. You have a pair of fiery golden eyes.”

Jiang Qianqian sighed, looking at Jiang Jing, who was still fooling around. She then told her what she had just seen and heard.

“So, the deceased Zhang Ran is Zhang Man’s sister.” Jiang Jing felt a little relieved after hearing this news. It would be easier to deal with the ghost now that she knew her name.

During an exorcism, knowing the ghost’s name greatly enhances the effect. It’s like being able to awaken the ghost’s conscience and consciousness faster, but even without the name, she could directly send the ghost to the afterlife. Now that she knew the name, she could use persuasion to make Zhang Ran voluntarily give up her怨念 (resentment) and report to the underworld. Of course, this plan didn’t sound very feasible.

“So, it’s better to just find her body and send her to the afterlife,” Jiang Jing said, lowering her eyes. In Zhang Ran’s story, she was an innocent girl, but once a ghost kills, they have to be stopped and sent to the afterlife. If she were to be merciful and let a ghost go, and that ghost lost control and killed an innocent person later, her mercy would become an accomplice to murder. When they get to the underworld, the Ten Kings of Hell will either judge them or let them go. A daoist must first ensure the safety of the living.

Jiang Jing closed her eyes and channeled Qi to her fingertips. With her finger as a pen, she drew a Guiding Talisman in the air. The talisman turned into a striking blue light band in the air, guiding the two of them.

“Hold my hand. Don’t get separated again,” Jiang Jing said as she grabbed Jiang Qianqian’s hand with her left hand and walked forward.

Jiang Qianqian was holding her hand and felt at ease as she looked around. They walked past the front door. The door was still locked. She wondered how they were supposed to get out. If the door couldn’t be opened, then…

Jiang Jing led Jiang Qianqian to the right. In a few steps, they were in front of a window. Jiang Jing picked up a small copper statue from the side, weighed it in her hand, and told Jiang Qianqian to stand behind her.

Bang, bang. The glass was mostly shattered.

It seems like Chairman Zhang’s renovations were also quite shoddy, Jiang Qianqian thought. Then she heard another sound of something hitting the glass.

The glass on the window was all shattered. Jiang Jing took off her jacket, laid it on the window frame, and told Jiang Qianqian to come over. She crossed her hands to form a platform, making it easier for Jiang Qianqian to climb out.

Jiang Qianqian put one foot on Jiang Jing’s hands and the other on the window frame. She pushed off and jumped out the window, rolling onto the lawn.

“Did any glass get you?” Jiang Jing’s voice came from inside, filled with concern.

“No, you can come over now.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Jing jumped out and landed next to her.

“Heaven and earth are the guide, all four directions are clear. The spiritual light protects, and the lost are not invaded. As quick as the law, a command!”

A huge ball of light covered Jiang Qianqian and Jiang Jing. “This can block out the fog. I feel like the fog in the yard is much denser than the fog inside the villa, so it’s better to be careful.”

The two of them walked toward the spot in the yard where Jiang Qianqian had touched the spirit before. The grass in the yard had grown to a person’s height at some point, as if it had never been mowed. Jiang Qianqian quickly found the spot. A large patch of lisianthus was blooming beautifully, but the soil underneath smelled foul from being soaked in bl00d for a long time.

“It looks like this is where Zhang Ran was buried.”

Jiang Jing bit her index finger and flicked the bl00d into the air, connecting it to form a Rebirth Talisman. She waved her hand and hit the black soil, and a piercing scream came from inside the villa.

“What are you doing!”

A resentful voice came from behind them. Jiang Qianqian didn’t turn around and threw two bursts of spiritual energy at it.

“You don’t really think you can hurt me, do you?” Zhang Ran’s voice rang in her ear. Jiang Qianqian looked up and saw a highly decomposed face an arm’s length away from her. There were only a few pieces of flesh left around the eye sockets, staring at her.

Sharp nails grabbed her shoulder. The black nails dug deep into Jiang Qianqian’s flesh, and the pain made Jiang Qianqian scream.

“The righteous energy of heaven and earth, all evil spirits retreat!”

A ghost-repelling talisman was thrown at Zhang Ran’s hand and immediately started burning black smoke. Jiang Jing held three talismans in her hand, clearly prepared. Zhang Ran screamed but didn’t let go. Her nails dug another third of an inch deeper into Jiang Qianqian’s shoulder.

“Fine. You’re not letting go, are you? Let’s see if two more will make you let go.” Jiang Qianqian’s pale face made Jiang Jing take out two more talismans and throw them at Zhang Ran’s hand.

“Wait, don’t do it.”