Capítulo 743: Chapter 727: The Plum Sacrificed for the Peach

“””However, upon meeting Qiu Zibai, Qin Liuxi immediately spotted the problem with his Eight Characters.

The real Qiu Zibai had long since died; the so-called Qiu Zibai before her was just an imposter, which is why his Eight Characters indicated death while he was alive.

As to why this person appeared alive, naturally it was because this imposter bore an eighty percent resemblance to the real Qiu Zibai—even down to the small red mole under the left earlobe being exactly the same.

However, the red mole on the current Qiu Zibai was tattooed on with specially made vermillion ink.

This imposter was quite cautious, not letting even this tiny detail slip; it could be said that he was very meticulous.

As Qin Liuxi marveled at the dedication of the counterfeit, the real Qiu Zibai wished he could strangle the imposter, but with his insufficient ghost power, he could only blow cold air.

As if sensing the intense gaze, Qiu Zibai looked over and met Qin Liuxi’s teasing eyes.

Qiu Zibai’s eyes bulged, and he swiftly floated over, stopping at a distance of about three feet before abruptly drifting back, his pale ghostly face growing even paler; his barely coalesced soul body seemed a bit unstable.

He looked at Qin Liuxi fearfully, wanting to escape; her presence was enough to terrify ten thousand ghosts.

Yet Qin Liuxi could see him.

He had been a ghost for so long, unjustly afflicted, and only Qin Liuxi could see him.

Just as Qiu Zibai was contemplating a desperate move, Mrs. Yu, upon hearing Qin Liuxi’s words, was so shocked that she tore a rip in the silk kerchief in her hands, and her heart pounded rapidly.

Even Mrs. Cheng’s face showed utter astonishment.

“Fake.” Qin Liuxi uttered these two words when the imposter was almost upon them.

Mrs. Cheng’s body swayed.

“Mother, are you alright?” Cheng Ruolian, seeing her mother’s complexion turn pale, also changed her face and hurriedly supported her.

Mrs. Cheng, taking advantage of her daughter’s support, grasped her arm and pressed a hand to her forehead, saying, “Perhaps the sun was too strong just now, and I feel somewhat dizzy; a rest at the Daoist School should help.”

“Yes, I also felt my eyes blurring,” Mrs. Yu added, “It was clear just a moment ago, and now it’s dark again; this is just how the weather is in June.”

The imposter had already approached and greeted with a bow, “Ladies, the young man gives his respects.”

Mrs. Cheng forced a smile and nodded, then said, “It looks like it might rain soon; Mr. Qiu, you should head down the mountain earlier. By the way, it’s said that the Grandmaster is efficacious; perhaps pay a visit to offer some incense, so your next endeavor hits the mark immediately.”

The imposter Qiu Zibai paused for a moment, then smilingly said, “Alright.”

Cheng Ruolian also vaguely felt something was amiss, for she sensed the distance in her mother’s tone—could it be their Eight Characters were incompatible?

But this was not the place for such questions.

Mrs. Cheng had already turned away, walking off with her daughter.

Qin Liuxi stared intensely at the imposter Qiu Zibai.

The imposter Qiu Zibai’s pupils contracted, his fingertips trembling, and he involuntarily lowered his head to avoid Qin Liuxi’s gaze, feeling inexplicably panicked.

That gaze was too sharp; just one look seemed to strip all his disguises away.

Qin Liuxi said nothing more, turned around, while that Qiu Zibai, after some hesitation, still followed and asked from a few steps behind, “Can you see me? Are you a Heavenly Master, can you help me seek justice? That imposter, Li Kui, not only kills and hides bodies but also usurps my identity and possessions; now he even uses my name to pursue other families’ daughters, he deserves to die.”

“If he deserves to die, why haven’t you killed him? You’re a ghost, don’t you have the ruthlessness of a ghost?” Qin Liuxi spoke while walking.

Qiu Zibai weakly replied, “My ghost power is too weak, I can’t even strangle him, I can only blow some ghostly breath on the back of his neck.”

“Can’t even scare people?”

Qiu Zibai, utterly ashamed, said, “I can’t even manifest a physical form, let alone blow out his lamp right now.”

“It indeed sounds quite useless. Since you’re a wronged ghost who was killed, you should be filled with resentful energy. With strong resentful energy, you could do much more.”

Qiu Zibai: “…”

Aren’t you a Heavenly Master who should be exorcising evil spirits? Why does it sound like you’re trying to tempt me into becoming an Evil Ghost!

Qin Liuxi turned her head and said, “Don’t worry, she won’t be able to charm that girl, Mrs. Cheng and the others already know that the birthday characters belong to a deceased person.”

Qiu Zibai’s gaze dimmed.

Qin Liuxi continued, “But if the marriage takes place, with these marriage papers, even if you die, Miss Cheng will still be your wife. Aren’t you tempted?”

“What’s there to be tempted about? I’m a dead man, why would I want to bring harm to others?” Qiu Zibai’s soul body halted, not daring to follow her into the Daoist Temple, since the righteousness here posed a great threat to him, and he couldn’t enter.

However, Qin Liuxi flicked her wrist and pulled him in.

Qiu Zibai widened his eyes, unexpectedly unharmed.

Inside the Daoist Room being temporarily used by devotees, Mrs. Cheng and the others were at their wits’ end. Seeing Qin Liuxi, they stood up and urgently asked, “Junior Temple Master, what did you mean by your words just now? Why mention reporting to the authorities?”

“It’s exactly as you thought. The real Qiu Zibai is already dead. That person is merely impersonating him,” Qin Liuxi said lightly.

Mrs. Cheng slumped down, saying, “This, this can’t be true. If he were dead, how could the Qiu family not know? But his servant also hasn’t noticed anything odd, even his teachers and classmates at the Prefecture School noticed nothing amiss.”

“Of course. The man not only looks very similar to Qiu Zibai but is also a born actor,” stated Qin Liuxi.

Qiu Zibai said, “No, my original servant colluded with him to deceive everyone; later, he was killed off by his conspiracy. This servant now is one he bought anew. As for my family, having a stepmother means having a stepfather, why would they pay attention to me?”

Qin Liuxi looked at him and said, “Then you’re quite miserable, betrayed even by your servant.”

“It’s all because he was fond of gambling,” Qiu Zibai said bitterly.

Mrs. Cheng and Mrs. Yu, watching Qin Liuxi converse with the void, turned pale with fright and tremblingly asked, “Junior Temple Master, who are you talking to?”

In broad daylight, could it really be so intense?

“To the real Qiu Zibai. Since he is the one you were interested in, would you like to meet him in person?” Qin Liuxi kindly asked.

What?

The color drained from the faces of the women, who forced a smile and said, “No, there’s no need.”

“It’s fine. His remains are not unsightly. Since things have come this far, further talk is futile. Why not listen to what the rightful owner has to say?” Qin Liuxi smiled, “This way, the connection you’ve made won’t be in vain.”

Saying this, she drew an Eye-opening Talisman, burned it, and recited the Eye-opening Spell, passing it briefly over their eyes.

No, we refuse!

However, before they could speak out, their eyes stung and irritated, and upon opening them again, they saw a pale ghostly face in front of them, just like Qiu Zibai they had seen before, only one was alive, and one was pale and blurred.

Cheng Ruolian’s eyes rolled back as she fainted.

Qiu Zibai: “!”

It was hard to define his feelings, but he felt this Heavenly Master was quite malevolent!