Xia Mian’s expression was more serious than ever before. If she were here alone, she wouldn’t be afraid of anything, but now, there’s Lu Zechuan beside her. To these supernatural forces, Lu Zechuan was like Tang Seng’s flesh, possessing a deadly allure for them. For such a temptation, these creatures, who haven’t even gained intelligence, might not even care for their lives! "Always stay behind me, don’t stray away." Xia Mian grabbed Lu Zechuan’s hand and stepped up the stairs, one step at a time. Lu Zechuan obediently followed behind Xia Mian, not saying a word. As the two of them set foot on the stone steps, just about to enter the courtyard, something seemed to scuttle through the soil underneath the phoenix tree. Xia Mian suddenly turned around and flung a talisman! Something in the soil let out a series of sharp screams at once. Xia Mian didn’t give it a chance to escape, throwing out several more talismans in succession. Whatever was in the soil seemed to catch fire, and even through the earth, thick black smoke rose. Lu Zechuan squinted his eyes tightly, having his worldview renewed once again. Watching as the black smoke dispersed, Xia Mian then turned and proceeded forward. Just one step, but an invisible line wrapped around her leg. Looking down, Xia Mian saw a face covered by long hair. What was entangling her leg was, indeed, the other party’s hair. Xia Mian laughed, her tone unfathomably gentle, "Be good, roll far away!" Although Xia Mian was smiling innocently, the face covered by long hair began to tremble all over. Which wretched soul said this little girl was weak, and eating her would increase one’s magical power!? Just looking at her smile feels like it could kill me!!! The long hair swiftly retracted, gathering back on the head to form a black ball, and really rolled as far away as possible... In the room, the man gazed at the basin of water in front of him, his face graver than ever. "Underestimated her." The man spoke, glancing back at the just-awakened Shen Man, then instructed Master Xie, "Take your junior sister and leave first." Master Xie compliantly nodded, helped Shen Man up, and walked out through the back door. His master might die, but he, the humble disciple, would not. He couldn’t afford to mess with Xia Mian, but he could definitely hide. After confirming Master Xie had supported Shen Man’s departure, the man sat cross-legged, closed his eyes slightly, formed seals with his hands, and chanted softly. As spells flowed from his mouth, light danced at his fingertips, and with one point of his finger, the light entered the basin of water. The scene within the basin immediately transformed again. The already gloomy sky burst into dust clouds and fierce winds. Xia Mian’s hairstyle was blown askew. Xia Mian squinted her eyes to avoid getting sand in them, while also holding tightly onto Lu Zechuan’s hand to prevent him from being snatched away by evil spirits. "You sure know a lot." Xia Mian lightly pressed her lips together, two piercing lights flashing from her squinting eyes, eager to try. The man had actually created a mirror reality for them! Xia Mian smirked, a trace of an indiscernible smile on her face as she bared her teeth at the sky and slowly mouthed two words: "Idiot~" Even though it was only mouthed without sound, the man casting spells over the water basin turned blue with anger. "Still daring to provoke me?" The man’s hands continued flipping seals, casting one after another into the basin. Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan’s situation grew more dire. Where there was once only strong winds and sand, now there was lightning, thunder, and furious gales! However, before this commotion could fall upon them, Xia Mian merely, with a light wave of her hand, gracefully and nonchalantly waved her hand; the wind ceased, the rain halted, the thunder quieted, and the lightning bolt that was halfway through its strike abruptly changed course, hitting the center of the courtyard roof! The basin splashed water everywhere, and the man was instantly drenched. No trace remained of his previous immortal sage-like demeanor. The man’s gaze turned sinister, clenching his teeth, with a grim face, he swiftly rose, not pausing for a second, rolling away as quickly as possible. A wise man knows when to retreat. Though he failed today, tomorrow... he’ll be back! Only, he didn’t notice when scrambling to his feet, a white jade claw fell from his robe... Xia Mian shattered the man’s mirror reality and entered the room with Lu Zechuan. The room was dim, and there wasn’t even a shadow of a person or ghost. Xia Mian scanned the room, "Let him get away again!" Lu Zechuan gently shook her hand, "If he’s gone, then let him be!" Xia Mian responded with a faint "hm", just a defeated opponent after all. If he dares to show his face next time, she’ll make him unrecognizable to his own mother! Xia Mian stood in front of the basin for a moment and saw the white jade claw on the ground. Xia Mian bent down to pick up the jade claw. It was a jade claw shaped like a cat’s paw, made of fine quality and skillfully crafted, seemingly a token of a certain sect. Xia Mian examined the cat paw for a while, then put it away. Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan hadn’t found Shen Man, leaving them both in a sour mood. As soon as they stepped out, they ran into the returning Lu Zhenqing. Worried about Shen Man, Lu Zhenqing immediately blocked the two of them, demanding aggressively, "What did you do to Mannan?" Lu Zechuan looked up at him, "Your Mannan ran off with someone!" Lu Zhenqing didn’t take this well, immediately retorting with a stiff neck, "That’s her real dad! You don’t know, so don’t talk nonsense!" Xia Mian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of a smile appearing on her lips, "This real dad of Shen Man’s shows up neither early nor late, but just when Shen Man’s about to die, he appears immediately, quite timely indeed!" Lu Zhenqing didn’t catch the underlying message in Xia Mian’s words and continued to boast about his convenient father-in-law, "That’s right! My father-in-law is someone special!" Shen Man had already been given a death sentence by the hospital, but once that man appeared, Shen Man woke up. Just for that, Lu Zhenqing admired that man to the core! Xia Mian sneered, someone special? Would a true master really be someone who hides and sneaks around? Not even daring to confront her directly? Lu Zechuan didn’t even bother looking directly at Lu Zhenqing, is this really his father? This intelligence, calling him a fool, would be an insult to fools! "You better contact your convenient father-in-law quickly, otherwise, Mannan might really get taken away by someone." Xia Mian kindly reminded. Lu Zhenqing said that man was Shen Man’s biological father, which was probably just the man’s story. How credible is that story? Xia Mian had to question. Upon hearing this, Lu Zhenqing hastily called Shen Man. However, Shen Man’s phone was already turned off. Lu Zhenqing’s face turned grim, "My wife ran off with my husband’s father!!!" Once again, Lu Zechuan turned his gaze away, utterly embarrassed! This guy can’t be his actual father. He’s got to be an impostor, right?!!!