uddenly transformed from a handsome young man into the shriveled face of an ancient corpse. A small snake crawled out of his empty, dark eye sockets.Ugh… Really disgusting."If you don't come in, you'l...Old Joe's voice was a bit panicked, there are only me, grandma, and the two little ones at home now.

What kind of people would come knocking at this time to stir up trouble

I carried the two little ones out. Grandma came over and took one of them, saying, "Xiao Qiao, there's evil energy outside. Be careful! Don't let it be any leftovers from last time!"

Grandma hurriedly carried the child back into the house. Xiao Nie stood alertly by my side and said, “There really was something outside. Fortunately, there is a magic circle on the door, so ordinary things can't get in. Let's go out and have a look.”

"There's a magic formation on the door How did I not know about it" I looked at Xiao Nie in confusion.

Xiao Nie let out a snort: "Of course you wouldn't know, the Emperor went for a walk in the courtyard after waking up two days ago, that's when he painted it."

So…it turns out he left behind a protective barrier formation.

"Lao Sao, what's going on outside" I held the Zi Xiao Ruyi tightly in my hand.

"Miss, it seems like it's suddenly gotten dark outside. I'm just a shallow person, only half a bottle of vinegar, I only know something is wrong... I'll have to rely on you to take a look." He said with some alarm.

I nodded and told him to sit at the door of Grandma's room and watch for anything unusual. If he saw anything, he should yell for us.

I took Xiao Nie and went around the screen wall to come to the back of the gate.

The doorframe had complex silver glyph patterns on three sides. These were Jiang Qiyun's incantations.

The air outside was biting, piercing to the bone. On this cold night, it felt like it could freeze a person solid.

I glanced at Xiao Nie. It lay on the ground warily, peering out from under the crack in the door.

"What did you see" I asked. "Can I open the door"

Little Nie frowned and said, "It seems like there's a black... hole"

"Ghost swarm"

"Unlike... ghosts that billow out like a mass of black smoke, this... it's more like a swamp."

"...I'll open the door. Be ready."

Just as I creaked the door open a crack, a figure with wild hair and skeletal hands suddenly burst from the black muck on the ground!

And with both hands, he suddenly lunged and slammed them onto the threshold!

"Ah!" I stumbled back in fright—what in the world was this thing!

Xiaonie roared, transforming into a dharma body. Its canine teeth grew large, sharp as daggers, its body as big as a lion, surrounded by wisps of pale gold mist. It charged forward majestically and in one bite, ripped the head off the "human"!

It shuddered its head in disgust and whispered, “This is a dummy!”

I see now, that "headless corpse" dangling on my front door frame is just a dummy.

Why would a doll move Is someone around casting a spell

The little sprite flung the doll's body outward, and it plummeted into the black mire.

I thought I would sink, but my body was like being operated by strings. My bare neck showed black wood, it was a wooden puppet, dressed in fabric that looked like "human skin". It hung there looking shriveled and terrifying.

The doll stood up again, swaying as it walked towards us.

Another doll emerged from the Black Marsh. I peered at it through the light of the Purple Violet, and both dolls were identical – their hair was messy and looked like cheap wigs stuck on.

"This is ventriloquism, isn't it" I tilted my head towards Xiao Nie.

It bared its teeth and growled, "What kind of puppetry connects to the netherworld... these puppets truly house vengeful spirits!"

No wonder the yin energy is so heavy. Since the puppet doesn't feel pain, killing it won't work. I'll immediately summon a small ghost clerk to restrain the soul.

When the adorable little imp appeared, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew from the alleyway. The imp jumped in fright: " ...Which official is here "

He strode toward the end of darkness and asked, the little ghost clerk looked at me, somewhat flustered, and said: "Little Lady, it seems like trouble has arrived!"

"What's up"

"We, the minor officials of the underworld, should obey our superiors. The aura of this cold wind belongs to an official of the Yin Marshal's rank! It's only one level below the Seven Lords and Eight Lords! Much higher than us! We should avoid it!"

He said just as he finished, two rolls of black cloth flew over from the long alleyway, tightly enveloping the two little demons!

What a bold person! To even lock the ghosts away!

"...Humph, are you Mu Xiaoqiao" A woman walked out of the darkness.

Her face was hidden in the darkness, only her outline visible.

This woman's voice carried a hint of arrogance, and her whole body emanated an oppressive, icy aura.

She... a ghost marshal

"Since you're from the Underworld, how dare you lock up your own kind" I glared at her.

She smiled: “One of us I am under the command of Fuling Mingwang. I haven't seen these two little ghost messengers, how can they be considered one of us”

Here comes Fuling Mingwang again! What's this old king trying to do

"They are summoned by me. Since you know who I am, you dare to attack them Are you here to provoke me" I was furious inwardly.

This Old Master Wang is the biggest snake in the world, he even dares to disobey Jiang Qiyun!

This woman suddenly showed up to provoke me, what does she want

"Hmph, hmph~ My dear Lady, please calm your anger. These two little imps failed to protect you properly, I shall take them down and question them… How does that sound!" She let out a cold snort, lifted her finger slightly, and the two puppets instantly lunged towards me.

It's so infuriating! Did they just pick the perfect time to show up!

As soon as Jiang Qiyun left, they showed up at our door!

Without a demon to do my bidding, could I not bind souls myself!

I quickly formed the hand seal for "Binding Demons and Closing Gates," and a ghostly door erupted from the ground. Chains shot out, wrapping around the necks of the two puppets, dragging them inside.

>

"Go, you two! I'll handle this bizarre apparition!" I told the little demons.

"No way, we're staying to protect Little Lady!" The adorable little ghost official said indignantly: "Although we belong to different jurisdictions, after all, we are all people from the Underworld. You actually dare to attack a colleague!"

The woman let out a few cold laughs: "Comrades Who among you shallow little devils are my comrades! Shameful!"

The little ghost was furious. I stepped in front of them, grabbed the Zi Xiao Ruyi and walked down the stairs, saying to her: "Since you don't admit that you are under the rule of the Hades King, then I won't be considered bullying a subordinate if I make a move"

“Humph, our Old Master Wang said that those ghosts and spirits on Mount Luofeng in the Underworld are all puffed up with pride. All the work is done by our City God, but the credit goes to those people on Mount Luofeng! Looking at how you speak, Lady, you certainly don't think much of us! No wonder you can do such cunning and ruthless things!” she said proudly.

Intrigue and Power Struggles

What did I snatch

Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from Grandma in the courtyard.

Old Joe shouted loudly, "Help! Miss! Quick, quick—the young master has been—"

My heart turned cold. She actually used a diversion tactic Was she planning to use the child as a hostage

She sneered, "Go on then, the moment you turn your back, I'll catch you. Hehehe…"

I suppressed the anger and panic in my heart, gritting my teeth and shouting: "Little beast! Go and have a look!"

Then—“ She gave me a dubious look.

“The two children can’t be in any danger. Go quickly.” I said in a low voice.otsteps. When I opened my eyes, Mu Wanchen had already left.Someone was running outside, and I hurriedly wrapped myself in my clothes and went out the door. Grabbing someone, I asked, "What's going on...