Chapter 164: The Music Ends and the Crowd Disperses

“Rong, Rong'er, how... how can you be here?”

Yuan Jing had never been this flustered; he had even forgotten that at this very moment, he was still holding another woman.

Li Rong was very calm—so calm that it made his scalp tingle with dread.

“Weren't you supposed to accompany President Wang tonight? So, she is President Wang.”

Her gaze, devoid of any fluctuation, fell upon the woman.

Even though rumors about them were everywhere outside, this was the first time she had actually seen this woman.

The woman's eyes were brimming with tears, looking pitiful and moving.

Yuan Jing snapped back to his senses and immediately let go of the woman.

“Rong'er, let me explain, it's not what you think...”

Embarrassment, unease, and even more fear.

“Yuan Jing, who is she?”

Realizing something was wrong between the two from her state of terror, the woman also looked toward Li Rong.

After a brief moment of confusion, she seemed to realize something.

“Is she Li Rong?”

The woman actually knew Li Rong, and she seemed surprised as to why Li Rong would appear here.

Yuan Jing froze completely on the bed. He clearly wanted to reach out and pull Li Rong toward him, but his arms felt as if they weighed ten thousand catties.

“Master Li, now is not the time for reminiscing! Quickly, subdue this monster!”

Although the woman's father also saw the issue between Yuan Jing and Li Rong, he hurriedly issued a warning.

Yuan Jing's breath hitched, and his eyes shook violently.

He even wondered if he had misheard.

“Rong'er, what does Uncle mean by that?”

“It means exactly what you heard. You have never known what I have been doing; now is the perfect time to see it with your own eyes!”

Li Rong's voice was cold as she decisively threw out a fire talisman, intending to completely burn the monster before her along with her rage!

In Yuan Jing's violently contracting pupils, there was nothing left but shock.

At this moment, it was as if he understood everything.

But he was unwilling to believe it.

The current Li Rong was so strange to him, so... terrifying.

Seeing his terror, Li Rong suddenly felt it was hilarious.

This was the answer he had given her!

Aside from Li Rong, the other three were all trembling as they watched the monster twist and struggle within the ball of fire.

They thought this nightmare would end soon, but to everyone's surprise, the monster actually broke through the binding talismans once again.

Yuan Jing and that woman were standing close by; the monster grinned wickedly, intending to take the woman down with it even in death.

“Yuan Jing!”

Terrified, the woman hugged Yuan Jing tightly once more, as if he were a life-saving straw.

Almost subconsciously, Yuan Jing pulled her into his arms.

Li Rong's heart was bleeding, but she still used the Soul-Binding Chains to firmly lock down the monster.

Yuan Jing gasped for air, whether from fear of the evil spirit or guilt toward Li Rong, it was hard to tell.

“Rong'er, I'm sorry, let's save the people first!”

He was guilty of a thousand deaths, but he felt he must ensure everyone was safe before he could plead for her forgiveness.

With that thought, he pulled the woman away quickly to dodge the monster.

The restrained monster twisted and struggled, trying to escape the Soul-Binding Chains.

Beads of bright red blood fell from Li Rong's palm.

The human and the ghost were locked in a stalemate.

Soon, a sinister voice rang out, “Exorcist, your man is currently holding another woman. Are you truly content with that?”

At this moment, Yuan Jing and the woman were standing close together not far behind Li Rong, as if only by doing so could they feel at peace.

Yuan Jing's face was pale as he wanted to refute it, but he could not make a sound.

Li Rong pressed her lips tightly together, and the blood and qi in her body surged once more.

This monster was even more powerful than she had imagined!

“What benefit would you get from subduing me? Would you just let them live happily ever after? It would be better to let me go. I only want that woman; your man will still be your man. That would be a happy ending for everyone!”

The monster's sinister voice was like a hypnosis, attempting to shake Li Rong's will.

Just a little bit.

Just a little bit.

Li Rong's expression remained firm, not relaxing in the slightest.

The monster lashed out again, pulling against her with all its might.

Blood slid down from the corner of Li Rong's mouth.

The monster was also suffering; it could feel its yin energy rapidly draining away.

“Exorcist, do you want to perish along with me? Don't you want to know how your man is looking at you right now?”

Li Rong's heart trembled.

How was he looking at her?

Did she still need to care about such things now?

“Jie jie!”

The monster had been waiting for this moment; even a tiny moment of distraction was enough.

In the next second, it suddenly lunged into Li Rong's body.

This sudden turn of events left Yuan Jing and the father and daughter in utter terror.

“Rong'er!”

Yuan Jing let out a shrill cry. Even though his legs wanted to rush forward, his reason forcibly held him back.

He was afraid.

He watched Li Rong's gaze turn from lucid to distorted, and then back to lucid.

Her mouth even began to continuously emit the monster's voice.

“Exorcist, what's so good about men? Why don't you just follow me instead.”

“Exorcist, stop resisting. Don't forget how that man just protected another woman. But look at him now—he is afraid; he doesn't even dare to approach you.”

The monster's words were like the sharpest blades, stabbing into Li Rong's heart one by one.

Tears and fear filled Yuan Jing's eyes as he slapped himself violently.

Only pain could make him forget his cowardice.

Li Rong's pained gaze fell upon him once more, but what surfaced in her mind was the desolate yet honest youth from four years ago in the graveyard.

“Why have you come back again?”

“I was just too nervous just now and forgot you were still here. I came back specifically to pick you up.”

“You really are a fool.”

A youth who was so afraid of ghosts had mustered his courage for her sake.

In truth, the current Yuan Jing had not changed, it was just that this bravery no longer belonged to her.

“Exorcist, be good, try to accept me. I can give you everything you want; I can help you kill this pair of dogs.”

The monster's words came one after another.

Li Rong was in so much pain she was nearly unable to support herself.

Yuan Jing and the father and daughter were trembling incessantly.

“Rong'er... how can I... help you...” Yuan Jing sobbed uncontrollably.

He was wrong, truly wrong.

If only he were given one more chance, he would surely spend the rest of his life atoning.

Sensing Li Rong's wavering, the monster redoubled its efforts to persuade her.

Li Rong gasped for breath, sweat dripping down her cheeks.

“Want... my body? In your dreams!”

Accompanying her resolute roar was a talisman that had appeared in her hand at some unknown moment.

She didn't even leave herself a shred of leeway, using all her strength to slam the talisman into her own body.

“AAAAAHHH!!!”

Following a ghostly, wailing scream, wisps of black yin energy drifted out from Li Rong's body.

Li Rong's eyes regained their original clarity.

It was as if everything had ended.

“Rong'er!” Yuan Jing cried out, rushing toward her.

“Pfft!”

Blood sprayed from Li Rong's mouth. The last thing she saw before losing consciousness was Yuan Jing's face, consumed by grief.

Love... is truly laughable...

(End of Chapter)