This inadvertently revealed that the Zhou family possessed a treasure.
The other villagers listened with pricked ears, completely unaware of the two women's fervent chatter.
"Are you telling the truth?" someone finally couldn't help but ask.
Zhu Yilian replied, "Do you think we really got lost and ended up here? It's already spread far and wide that there's a great treasure in this Qiuyin Village, kept by the Zhou family."
"If we get this treasure, we'll never have to worry about food or drink again!" Wang Jing added.
There is no one in this world who does not love wealth, so under Zhu Yilian and Wang Jing's descriptions, the villagers began to stir.
However, the shadow of Young Master Zhou had loomed over them for many years. Although they desired the treasure, they also valued their lives.
"It's up to you. Besides the treasure, there's other gold and silver. Whoever gets it, it's theirs. Don't blame us if we didn't warn you beforehand."
This was the final push. After saying this, Zhu Yilian and Wang Jing left, leaving the villagers to ponder their options.
Everyone had something to do, leaving only Ning Wei and Li Ye in the courtyard.
Ning Wei kicked Li Ye towards the tree, "If Young Master Zhou really comes, can you control him?"
"Didn't you say we could control him if we got the treasure?"
"We haven't found the treasure yet!" Ning Wei said speechlessly.
"Do you really believe what that kid said?" The kid Li Ye referred to was Zhou Wei.
"He's someone who lives on the edge of hell. Seeing me as a lifeline, do you think he'd let it go?"
"Alright, as long as that fellow named Zhou shows up, I'll control him."
Ning Wei nodded heavily, the flattery segment was essential.
"I knew you were the most capable!"
Li Ye narrowed his eyes at her, "Your blood can restrain ghosts. You're asking me to act because you don't want to bleed?"
Ning Wei clutched her hands, "Don't set your sights on me!"
Li Ye rolled his eyes and leaped back into the tree.
Before long, everyone returned.
Next, they just had to wait for Young Master Zhou to take the bait.
"What if he doesn't come?" The moon had risen, the village was quiet, and everyone was growing anxious from waiting.
"Whether he comes or not, our plan must proceed!" Ning Wei replied.
Perhaps it was because there were so many people, but their fear of ghosts gradually weakened.
It was quite cool in the evening, and they lit a bonfire in the courtyard, with a group of people gathered around to warm themselves.
Ning Wei and Li Ye sat at a table, but they didn't speak to each other.
They had almost fallen asleep waiting for Young Master Zhou.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through, extinguishing the large bonfire as easily as blowing out a candle.
However, sparks flew everywhere, and everyone quickly dodged.
"He's here," Ning Wei said to Li Ye, signaling him to be ready to act.
Li Ye was playing with the Soul Returning Flower that Ning Wei had stolen.
Aside from Ning Wei and Li Ye, the others were still a bit scared, but they instinctively surrounded Yuan Yuan in the innermost circle.
The outside of the courtyard was pitch black, with only a single candle on the table diligently burning, unfazed by the chilling wind.
Then came two loud thuds as the bodies of Madam Zhang, the matchmaker, and her husband were thrown into the courtyard, placed alongside Zheng Qu's corpse.
Everyone took a look; these two had died horribly. Their clothes were tattered into shreds, and their bodies were covered in visible bloodstains. Their faces, in particular, were swollen and red, like blood-colored balloons.
Young Master Zhou's methods were truly brutal. Everyone now protected Yuan Yuan even more fiercely.
Surrounded by the chilling wind, Young Master Zhou slowly walked into the courtyard. He was hunched over, wearing a long robe that didn't belong to modern times. He coughed with every few steps, as if on the verge of collapse.
This was consumption that had eaten into his bones; even as a ghost, he couldn't escape it.
"Where is the bride?" he asked, looking up at the crowd. His face wasn't frightening; it was simply the appearance of someone who had suffered from illness for many years.
"There is no bride for you here!" Zhu Yilian bravely replied.
"Nonsense!" Another gust of cold wind blew, and those surrounding Yuan Yuan were involuntarily pushed back two steps in all four directions.
Yuan Yuan was finally revealed. She looked at Young Master Zhou with composure, suppressing her disgust, "I will not go with you tonight. I do not wish to be your bride!"
"You've already consummated with me in dreams. Do you think anyone will want you, a wilted flower?"
"You, a consumptive ghost, who would want to be your wife!" Yuan Yuan's emotions suddenly erupted.
She remembered everything that had happened in her dreams; the scenes were still vivid.
This consumptive ghost had clearly deliberately seduced her. If he had shown his true face, she would have likely vomited.
Thinking of what she had done with him in her dreams, Yuan Yuan wished she could tear off his skin!
"What did you say!" Young Master Zhou could not tolerate anyone calling him a consumptive ghost; it was the greatest insult.
"Since you don't want to be my bride, I'll send you to your death now!"
Young Master Zhou's hands stretched out infinitely, like a rubber man, directly grasping Yuan Yuan's neck.
Everyone rushed forward, desperately hitting his arm, but it showed no sign of loosening.
At this moment, Ning Wei bit her finger and smeared the blood onto his arm. The arm smoked and immediately retracted.
Yuan Yuan could finally breathe. Zhu Yilian pulled her into her arms, and everyone formed a tight circle.
Ning Wei had already charged forward and engaged Young Master Zhou in a fierce fight. This was the first time everyone had witnessed Ning Wei in action.
It turned out she was such a formidable being. Ghosts were no different from ordinary people in her presence. Every move she made inflicted damage on her opponents.
"Li Ye, how much longer are you going to watch!" Ning Wei lost her patience.
Li Ye was far too relaxed, as if nothing happening here concerned him.
Despite their prior agreement, he had delayed his intervention, which greatly angered Ning Wei.
Just as Ning Wei was momentarily distracted, Young Master Zhou's hands clamped around her neck.
This was dire. Ning Wei, the strongest fighter, was nearly choked to death by Young Master Zhou.
The next second, someone suddenly intervened.
His movements were so fast that no one could see what he did. In the end, Young Master Zhou was twisted into a heap by him, completely devoid of resistance, as if dead.
Ning Wei walked up to a coffin, bit her finger, and drew a few lines. Li Ye then threw Young Master Zhou into it, and the lid automatically closed.
Finally, they heard banging from inside the coffin, but the lid showed no sign of loosening.
Ning Wei found the noise too much and added a few more strokes to the coffin, silencing the sounds completely.
"Is he dead?"
Ning Wei shook her head, "He won't die unless that treasure is found. But for now, he's locked inside the coffin. If no one interferes with the patterns I've drawn, he won't be able to get out."