Chapter 40 - Sharp slap

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 - Sharp slap

The shy ghosts initially fluttered away from him, but after realizing that he was actually offering them a good way to move on, they all came clamouring back toward him. Soon his whole body was covered with tiny shimmering dots of light. They floated around him, some of them even landing on his shoulders and clothes.

Ying Di, who was standing behind him, watched with his eyes wide open. "Master..."

"Shh, you might scare them away." Jua smiled back at him. "Just stay behind and guard me." Saying so, he sat down on the lush green grass and began his meditation.

The sorrow, anguish, and unfulfilled feelings that these ghosts carried all rushed into his being, slowly feeding into his dantian. Purple demonic energy began to swirl around him, creating a small vortex that pulled in whatever amount of demonic energy it could find nearby.

Warmth filled his body as an explosive strength slowly filled his veins. It felt much better than before, when his body had barely been able to handle even the smallest amount of demonic energy.

Opening his eyes, he picked up a small rock from the grass and clenched it in his fist.

The rock turned into dust instantly.

Jua looked at the dust falling from his fingers, but instead of being happy, he frowned.

That single move had already left his dantian depleted by half.

Frowning, he gazed at his fingertips and flexed them slightly. It really was a measly amount of demonic energy. It could save him during a risky situation, but with this amount, he might not even be able to use any complicated runes or spells.

He really needed to get stronger.

Sighing, he stood up.

Ying Di had been watching him the whole time, his eyes glowing faintly.

Jua lifted his fingertips and flexed the thin red strings attached to his puppet. He could immediately feel that Ying Di’s strength had increased ever so slightly.

That was the easiest part about raising a puppet. He didn’t have to personally supply it with demonic energy. The stronger he became, the stronger his puppet would become as well.

It was almost like getting stronger for free.

Seeing Ying Di’s blank face, Jua Gu couldn’t help but smile.

"I hope you gain a bit of intelligence as I grow stronger."

"Yes, Master."

The guy blankly nodded and followed after him.

Jua Gu glanced back at him and sighed.

He really hoped his wish would come true because he can’t handle being around such a dumb puppet. "lets go."

He walked out of the cemetery with the guy following behind him like a stray puppy.

The driver scrambled to start the car as soon as he spotted them. When they settled inside, the man hesitantly glanced at Ying Di before speaking. "Madam is home waiting for you, young master, so I’ll drive you straight home."

No questions asked at all.

Jua Gu raised a brow.

He was finally going to meet this stepmother of Ying Mao.

Leaning back, he settled comfortably into the seat and looked out of the window. He did not know much about this woman, but from what he had heard, she seemed to have all the servants under her control. That was a great feat, to be sure. Either she came from a good background and had enough money to make people obey her, or she was simply very good at manipulating people and using them for her own needs.

Jua Gu gently tapped his fingers against the doorframe as he thought about it.

From what he had heard from the servants’ gossip, it seemed like this woman had replaced Ying Mao’s birth mother after she died. She had brought Ying Di along with her after marrying into the family. Some of the servants even suspected that the boy was actually an illegitimate child of their master.

Jua Gu frowned slightly.

This character really did intrigue him.

He really wanted to meet her.

The drive back was quick, and soon they reached the house. The servant quickly opened the car door and stepped aside, gesturing for Ying Di to come in.

"Madam has been waiting for you for so long, young master. You have to go in," the servant urged him, his voice becoming a little more anxious when Ying Di did not move.

The puppet, however, only stood there and gazed back at Jua Gu, silently waiting for his order.

Jua Gu, who had just gotten down from the car, gave him a small nod.

Ying Di immediately followed the servant inside while Jua Gu walked behind them a few steps away, quietly observing the house as he went.

He had a feeling that meeting this woman was going to be much more interesting than he had expected.

As they walked inside, Jua Gu immediately noticed a middle-aged woman sitting in the foyer.

She was dressed in an elegant silk dress that fitted her body perfectly, the expensive fabric falling neatly around her. Her dirty blonde hair was curled and carefully styled, with not a single strand out of place. Her face was neat and well maintained, with only a minimal amount of makeup that made her features look even sharper. Even her hands looked carefully taken care of, her nails flawlessly shaped and polished.

She was sitting calmly while drinking tea, looking completely relaxed as if she had been waiting there for quite some time.

However, the moment her eyes landed on Ying Di, the calm expression on her face disappeared.

"My darling!"

She immediately stood up and rushed toward him.

Ying Di barely had time to stop before the woman wrapped both arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Mom missed you so much. How is my darling? Did anything happen to you? Why did you come back so late?" she cooed, patting his back as she looked him over. "Let Mom see you properly. Did you eat? Are you tired?"

Ying Di simply stood there.

His arms remained hanging beside his body as he stared blankly over her shoulder.

The woman continued hugging him for another moment before finally noticing his lack of reaction.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"Darling?"

She pulled back slightly and looked at his face.

Ying Di only blinked at her.

The woman frowned and immediately lifted her hand to his forehead.

"You’re not sick, are you?"

She pressed the back of her fingers against his forehead before touching his cheeks as well, checking him carefully. After a few seconds, she pulled her hand away.

His temperature was completely normal.

Her frown only deepened.

"What happened to you?"

Ying Di didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes slowly moved past her and landed on Jua Gu.

The woman noticed his gaze and finally turned around. Her sharp eyes landed on him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Jua Gu quietly observed her.

She was much taller than him, nearly a foot taller, and when she looked down at him, there was something cold and sharp in her eyes. The warmth she had shown Ying Di earlier had completely disappeared. Her expression was almost emotionless now, as if she were looking at something she didn’t particularly like.

"Ying Di, go upstairs and rest," she ordered.

Ying Di immediately looked toward Jua Gu.

Jua Gu flexed his fingertips slightly. The thin red strings connecting him to his puppet tightened.

Ying Di immediately turned around and left followed by the servants.

The moment he disappeared from sight, the woman slowly turned back toward Jua Gu.

The foyer suddenly became very quiet.

She stared at him for a few seconds before walking closer.

Then, without saying a single word, she raised her hand.

Slap!

Her palm landed directly across his cheek.