100 Ghost Collection

Ch 18~ Ghost Painting (Middle)

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Jing Ning did not expect that the demon fox would be so powerful that he was only able to injure the demon fox gravely but was not able to catch her. Thinking that the gravely injured demon fox would definitely need to absorb more yang energy, in the past few days, Jing Ning went to set up many enchantment barriers in the city. Once the demon fox used her demon power, she would definitely not escape from his sight. 

In these days, Jing Ning had taught Mo Hua many things with all of his heart, and her cultivation had really improved by quite a lot. However, on the contrary, Mo Hua was quite reluctant to learn. 

That night, the two of them followed the demon fox to the outskirts of the city, but they lost her by the small riverbank. At that time, the city gate was already locked, so the two of them had to spend the night out in the open. Mo Hua sat by the fire staring blankly at Jing Ning, who was sitting quietly in meditation. She felt that the face of this Taoist priest was sometimes more bewitching than a monster. 

A small stone hit her on the head, Jing Ning said without opening his eyes: “Cultivation needs perseverance, every day without fail, so just concentrate.” 

“Master, I’m practicing how to keep my heartbeat from going chaotic when facing you.” 

Jing Ning opened his eyes and asked her lightly, “Last time, when you fell into the water, were you left with a psychological sickness in your heart?” 

Mo Hua rubbed her chest and said: “That’s very possible, whenever I see Master, I fall ill. It must have been because last time, Master left me all alone which gave me too many hidden pains.” 

Jing Ning just said indifferently: “If you want to be successful in the Path of Taoism, you must be pure-hearted and clear-headed, with few desires and no demands…” As he was talking about the Taoist way of cultivating the mind, Mo Hua was listening to his voice, and she slowly became absent-minded. She felt that cultivation did not mean that much to her. However, an idea grew in her heart, and she slowly made her decision. She suddenly interrupted Jing Ning and said: “Master, I don’t think I want to be your disciple anymore.” 

Jing Ning’s brows furrowed, and his voice carried a rare anger: “Nonsense!” 

“I’m serious. I’m not going to be your disciple; can I be your wife? We can just kiss whenever we want and roll around in the hay.” 

For a moment, Jing Ning was stunned. Then even more anger burned his ears red with a touch of embarrassment that was barely noticeable: “Insolent!” 

Mo Hua blinked and stared at him for a while, then stretched out four fingers and asked: “Master, what do you want to do with four fingers?” Jing Ning narrowed his eyes at her. When she saw that he was really angry, Mo Hua hurriedly waved her hand and said, “Okay, okay. I’ll just be a disciple.” 

*homophone: insolent (放肆/ fàng sì) vs. four fingers (放四/ fàng sì)

Tonight, it was about this time. 

At the third watch of the night, Jing Ning closed his eyes and rested, while Mo Hua gently exhaled into the air causing the insects on the leaves to fall onto the ground and drift to sleep within a short moment of time. Mo Hua got up and walked to Jing Ning’s back, she touched the wounds on his neck and sighed faintly: “At that time, if you went to save me, then you wouldn’t be injured. How could you, a Taoist priest, handle the Three-Tailed Demon Fox? If it wasn’t for my grave injury, how could this matter involve you.” 

*third watch: between 11pm to 1am

She buried her head into Jing Ning’s neck and lightly licked the wounds there, and the black claw marks disappeared immediately. Mo Hua’s lips could not bear to part with him, so she glued her lips to the place where his blood was pulsing the strongest with a kiss. She was satisfied to see that the place where she kissed was slowly turning red. She smiled and said: “I really want to make your entire body turn red like this.” 

Then Mo Hua took out a dagger, the blade reflected the cold moonlight, illuminating her pupils that were more blood-red than usual. 

She gently sliced Jing Ning’s index finger and smeared the blade with his blood. 

“Master, take a guess, will you still see me tomorrow morning…”