Chapter Thirteen: False Assistance, True Rivalry

“Ah? Why search for this?” Nan Xian was somewhat puzzled.

“That’s more like it,” Si Ming sighed softly. “There’s still hope.”

“What are you talking about?” Nan Xian pushed her aside with a look of disdain. “Do you think everyone has to sleep in a den like you foxes?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going to prepare the finest palace for the little fierce ghost, buy the most beautiful villa! Living in a hole? Tch, that’s embarrassing.”

“You…” Si Ming took a deep breath. “Do you even remember you’re here for a tribulation?”

“Tsk! Don’t bother me with that, I have my own rhythm.”

Nan Xian, neither blushing nor flustered, carried two bags of flour and cheerfully followed Xu Si’s pace.

Looking at him, if he had a tail, it would be wagging like a propeller. And yet he claims to have his own rhythm?

Si Ming narrowed her phoenix-shaped eyes and sighed inwardly.

‘Forget it, I’ll help you cheat this time.’

Just as she thought this, a gleaming bone sword appeared again in the mortal realm, sharp killing intent sweeping over her head.

Si Ming wielded the sword with one hand, fiercely stabbing toward Xu Si’s back.

“Nan Xian, watch closely! This is the latest trend in wife-killing cultivation!”

“Si Ming, wait!” Nan Xian hurriedly called out.

Xu Si’s expression faltered; he put away his phone and abruptly turned.

With a low kick and a twist, he grabbed Si Ming’s arm and slammed her onto the ground.

With a bang, the bone sword vanished.

…

Nan Xian tilted his head back forty-five degrees and muttered, “I told you to wait, and she even slapped me.”

“Shut up!”

Knowing that the love-struck brain is unreliable, Si Ming resigned herself to lying on the ground. Pointing at Xu Si with disbelief, she still held onto a glimmer of hope: “You… you couldn’t have been able to see me from the start, right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Xu Si smiled sweetly, his dark eyes subtly scanning Si Ming.

Then he jogged forward, blinking his moist, doe-like eyes at her.

“Really sorry, I’m not used to people getting so close. Did you hurt yourself when you fell?”

“N-no, I’m fine.”

A beauty like a painting, her face like a peach blossom; up close, Si Ming couldn’t help but catch her breath, stammering as she pushed herself up with her hands, scratching her head and looking around nervously. “Actually, I should be the one apologizing for scaring you.”

‘Si Ming, how could you do such a despicable sneak attack on a young maiden in the bloom of youth!’

“It’s okay, I don’t blame you,” Xu Si replied sincerely, his exquisitely handsome face full of understanding and kindness.

---

Si Ming suddenly breathed more easily, her ears flushing red.

‘She doesn’t blame me, she really doesn’t. She’s so kind, really adorable!’

“Miss Xu, you remind me of someone from my past…”

Nan Xian watched the scene before him with a sense of déjà vu.

Damn it—this is just like the opening lines of a romance novel where a poor scholar seduces a rich lady!

Seeing Si Ming shy and hesitant, Nan Xian decisively stepped forward and covered her mouth.

“Little fierce ghost, it’s getting late; let’s hurry back, okay?”

“Oh, alright.”

Xu Si nodded, took out his phone, and led the way down the hallway. His glossy eyes instantly turned cold.

The screen glowed faintly with the search page still open.

Question: How to captivate a man in one second?

Answer: The Thirty-Six Stratagems of Sun Tzu—The Beauty Trap! Wishing the poster success.

Though the language was rough, Si Ming had sensed it the moment she appeared. But humans can’t defeat gods… and she found life on ancient Earth quite agreeable, so this body must be hers!

Xu Si lowered his gaze, turned off his phone, and quickly entered his small rented room.

Behind him, Nan Xian, carrying two large bags of flour, blew his cheeks and glared angrily.

“Why did you cover my mouth?”

“You have some nerve asking! What was that slogan you shouted just now? Your soul sword is supposed to be a bond of fate, yet it can’t even cut a scratch, let alone kill. And you call that wife-killing cultivation?”

“But wife-killing cultivation is popular in mortal romance novels right now!”

Si Ming frowned. “It’s called keeping up with the times, you understand?”

“Hmph!”

Nan Xian rolled his eyes. “You? Teaching me about tribulations?”

“You don’t get it. I have my own rhythm to help you through your tribulation!”

“Tsk—Rhythm guy, I’m home. You better head back now!”

“Nooo!”

“Bang!” Nan Xian slammed the door mercilessly.

Si Ming walked through the door and met Nan Xian’s incredulous gaze. She said blankly,

“Nan Xian, don’t tell me you don’t know this door is useless against us gods.”

“You…”

“Rest assured, brother, I’m definitely not here to ruin this home; I’m here to join it!”

---

“You…”

“Oh, your friend’s not leaving?” Xu Si, now changed into pajamas, looked surprised. The warm yellow light cast a glow on her fair collarbone.

Her chestnut hair, often tied up, now curled loosely down her back. If Xu Si was usually a bright, flamboyant girl, now she seemed a languid, soft enchantress. Nothing had changed, yet she made hearts melt utterly.

Seeing this, Nan Xian quickly flashed forward and stood between Xu Si and Si Ming, oblivious to Si Ming solemnly hoisting the bags of flour behind him.

“He’s leaving soon!”

“Yeah, once I put away the flour and help Miss Xu tidy up, I’ll go. By the way, where should I put these two bags?”

“Si Ming, you…” Nan Xian turned back and glared. “Scoundrel!”

“Hey, Nan Xian, don’t curse in front of Miss Xu.”

Si Ming put down the flour and scolded without changing her expression.

“Besides, you’re a guy; you should keep an eye on the housework. Miss Xu is young and busy with studies, so she can’t handle it. Look at this floor—how dirty!”

With that, Si Ming took the broom and bent down to sweep.

Not to be outdone, Nan Xian grabbed a cloth and vigorously wiped the table.

“This is our family’s business; no need to trouble outsiders!”

“Outsiders?” Si Ming rolled her eyes, full of righteousness. “Nan Xian, how can you have such outdated ideas? As gods, we must cherish the mortal world as our own home. Have you forgotten?”

“Si Ming, you… fine, fine, you win. You’re greener than I am.”

Seeing a faint spark of tension between the two gods, Liu Jiu’s silence was deafening: …Once we get back, he’ll burn all the romance novels in Si Ming’s shrine, all of them.

Xu Si smiled with satisfaction: Hmm, sleepy. Tonight, I can finally have a good rest!

---

Meanwhile, the city center of A City was experiencing its first chaos of the year.

In a top-tier VIP single hospital room, Si Jin Cheng stared expressionlessly at the middle-aged man his mother had brought.

His fists clenched unconsciously, murderous intent unmasked.

“Mom, there really is something around her.”

“Mom trusts you, Jin Cheng, I really do!” Si Jin Cheng’s mother tenderly approached the bedside and held his bloodshot fists.

“This master was invited through a trusted contact. He’s truly skilled. Tomorrow, we’ll…”