The night, the drizzling rain, still couldn't conceal that glaring crimson. Jiang Tao's recently relaxed mood tightened instantly, and Gu Yi's heart sank as well. Although there was something wrong with his eyes and he couldn't clearly discern the surroundings, his innate discerning sight perceived the anomalous red hue and the surging tide of resentment.

Gu Yi couldn't help but offer a wry smile; he had still underestimated the resentment within human nature. When a person dies unjustly and transforms into a vengeful spirit, the flaws in their character are involuntarily magnified infinitely. Vengeful spirits that persist in the mortal realm rely precisely on this resentment to stir up trouble.

It had to be admitted that after Jin Qiu’s sister died tragically, the sheer amount of resentment contained within her was formidable, even exceeding Gu Yi’s expectations. It seemed that dialogue alone would not resolve the confrontation with this female ghost clad in red.

The female ghost, suspended mid-air, suddenly stiffened, her deathly pale face twisting into an unbearable sight, the complexion even turning a sickly green. Staring with blood-red eyes that seemed poised to drop out, her figure flickered and vanished into the air. Immediately, swirling gusts of malevolent wind swept in from all directions, spiraling towards the three of them.

Although Gu Yi possessed protective arts, the two behind him did not. If even one gust of that Yin wind struck them, the least consequence would be skin torn and flesh gashed; the worst could be the loss of life.

Yet, the female ghost’s method was more subtle. Accompanied by the gusts of Yin wind, her silhouette continuously manifested within them, approaching them inch by inch from the flowerbed. However, her form would only flash momentarily, as if she deliberately wished to prevent Gu Yi and the others from grasping her trajectory.

Gu Yi started in surprise. He hadn't expected this female ghost to be so utterly committed, exhausting all her spiritual resentment to unleash the 'Bone-Gnawing Yin Wind' technique. It appeared the ghost was prepared to pay the price of soul annihilation just to drag the three of them, or perhaps just one of them, down the path to the Yellow Springs.

In the blink of an eye, several swirling blasts of Yin wind approached the spot where Gu Yi and the others stood. Just then, a sudden aberration occurred. Jin Qiu, who had been silent behind Gu Yi, suddenly let out a piercing scream. With strength seemingly conjured from nowhere, she abruptly stood up, shrieking unintelligible words while bolting toward an empty stretch of ground.

“Damn it!” Gu Yi cursed, whirling around and shoving Jiang Tao. “Go! Catch up to her, then immediately drop to the ground and stay put.”

Jiang Tao froze for a moment, then grit his teeth and stepped out in pursuit of Jin Qiu.

Gu Yi flipped his wrist, and as if by magic, several talismans appeared in his hand. With a flick, these talismans instantly transformed into several balls of flame that lunged toward the encroaching Yin winds.

The small fireballs collided with the Yin winds just as they were about to reach his vicinity, causing instantaneous mutual annihilation. But the trails of Yin wind behind them continuously gathered, forming a larger gale, and the talismans Gu Yi threw were limited; he couldn't completely dispel the wind.

However, Gu Yi was not relying entirely on the talismans. He merely used them to buy himself a brief window of time. His figure blurred as he rapidly moved toward the direction Jin Qiu and Jiang Tao had fled, all the while pressing his hands together, fingers interlaced, forming an arcane hand seal, muttering incantations under his breath.

A faint azure light began to emanate from his hands. With a sweep of his arm, the blue light shot out, vaguely morphing in the air into a semi-transparent, blue Bagua symbol, which swept over a gust of the Yin wind. The moment it touched the gust, the wind was instantly scattered and neutralized in the air. Yet, the blue Bagua remained floating, as if alive, moving to intercept the next wave of wind.

Gu Yi dared not be complacent. With his current abilities, the Bagua Seal could only manifest three iterations at most. Thus, the second, faintly visible Bagua seal formed as he completed his hand gesture and shot forth.

The Yin winds sweeping towards him dissipated into nothingness under the relentless charge of these two Bagua seals.

Although the Yin winds vanished, Gu Yi’s expression remained grim. He turned sharply, gazing with heavy concern at Jiang Tao, who had already tackled Jin Qiu to the ground not far away.

But at this moment, it was not Jiang Tao pinning Jin Qiu down; rather, Jin Qiu was pressed above him, a sinister grin plastered on her face, one hand gripping Jiang Tao’s throat while the other extended two fingers, pressing precisely onto Jiang Tao’s eyes.

Clinging to Jin Qiu’s back was the female ghost in red, her long, unbound hair draped over Jin Qiu’s shoulder. At a glance, it appeared as if Jin Qiu had grown an extra head.

Gu Yi stomped his foot; he was indeed a step too late. If Jin Qiu hadn't panicked and run at the last moment, his Bagua Seal could have handled that female ghost. Unfortunately, man proposes, but fate disposes. The female ghost successfully used the Yin wind to distract Gu Yi, while she went after the fleeing Jin Qiu.

Seeing the posture of Jin Qiu and Jiang Tao, Gu Yi halted his steps. The female ghost emitted a high-pitched, thin laugh. Though restrained, Jiang Tao couldn't help but grimace. The sound felt like countless fine needles pricking his ears, causing his eardrums to ache to the point he wanted to scream. But hampered by the gentle but firm pressure on his eyes, he dared not struggle, let alone the fact that his throat was constricted by Jin Qiu’s grip.

“What exactly do you want?” Gu Yi’s tone clearly carried a degree of impatience.

“I want everyone I intend to kill to die with me,” the female ghost’s voice resonated again.

“You could have just said so earlier; why make such a grand display?” Gu Yi retorted coldly.

“If I had said so, would you have agreed to my terms?” the female ghost’s voice was equally chilling.

Gu Yi had to admit that if she had simply stated her wish earlier, he wouldn't have even considered it.

But now, he also had no desire to consider it. Although the person doing the killing was clearly Jin Qiu’s boyfriend, and arguably deserved to die, he was unwilling to take orders from a female ghost under these circumstances.

Of course, Gu Yi didn't invoke the idea of handing the killer over to the police. Setting aside whether the female ghost would agree, given her currently surviving level of intellect, she probably possessed nothing beyond sheer resentment as an emotion.

“Listen, I can’t fulfill your demands in this state. Do you prefer you stay here while I fetch the person, or do you control these two and come with me in the car?” Gu Yi used words to buy time.

Unexpectedly, after emitting a burst of grating laughter, the female ghost suddenly declared, “There’s no need for any of that. I only require you to stay put obediently. I will naturally take my dear sister and this driver to find him.”

If Gu Yi had been more thin-skinned, he would surely have flushed crimson.

This female ghost, it seemed, was not unintelligent.