CHAPTER 306: CHAPTER 306: SHADOW

The July night was less sultry and more refreshing.

After parting ways with Duan Yunfei and Xuan Ming at the entrance of the Shen Mansion, Shen Qinglan went directly back to the East Wing.

As soon as she entered, she saw Dong Yao sitting in the main room waiting for her.

Upon seeing her return, Dong Yao took her hand and advised, "Qinglan, this month, if there’s no urgent matter, come home early. Try to return before the sun sets."

"I understand, Mother," Shen Qinglan smiled, "You should rest first!"

"Alright!" Dong Yao said, "Remember what Mother said—July is the Ghost Month; living people should minimize activities at night. Though we haven’t done anything guilty, it’s still best to avoid it!"

Shen Qinglan: ...She seemed to have committed quite a few guilty deeds in her past life!

But, when it comes to ghosts, they exist if you believe, and are nonexistent if you don’t.

Shen Qinglan didn’t believe in them before, but ever since her transmigration, she suddenly felt these things might exist after all.

However, having lived so many years, she’s encountered many people pretending to be ghosts, but truly hasn’t seen even half a ghost’s shadow.

Back in high school, her roommate liked to read horror novels involving elevators and such stories, and classmates from rural areas often talked about some bizarre happenings in their villages. But Shen Qinglan has always been bold and courageous; such stories are usually soon forgotten after hearing them.

"Your Aunt Yang has already heated your bath water; it’s in the stove room!" Dong Yao tidied Shen Qinglan’s bangs and whispered, "Remember to bathe early and go to sleep soon!"

"Alright!" Shen Qinglan nodded.

After sending Dong Yao off, she went to the stove room to fetch the water, washed up, and then took out the scripture given to her by Chu Wuqu.

These past few days, she spent the daytime chatting with Shen Qingju at the Jiang Family and in the afternoon wandered around the Guest House and Tianming Pavilion, almost forgetting about the book.

"Operate inner strength, meditate with closed eyes, empty the mind and body, move with the wind?"

What does this mean? Shen Qinglan furrowed her brows.

Annotation: Cast off all distracting thoughts and consider yourself a wisp of smoke or a cloud, moving with the wind.

Shen Qinglan closed her eyes and tried to practice according to the scriptures.

However, no matter how much she emptied herself, her body remained sitting cross-legged on the couch, showing no sign of wanting to float up.

After attempting it for the tenth time, she finally gave up struggling.

Apparently, she should wait until tomorrow morning to ask Chu Wuqu about it on the back mountain.

She continued to flip through the pages, letting out a light sigh.

She wondered how Duan Yunfei managed to teach himself; perhaps she lacked the talent in this area?

Closing the scripture, she tidied up the bed and lay down.

Around midnight, it began to drizzle, and the sound of raindrops "pitter-patter" outside formed a lullaby in her ears.

Shen Qinglan opened her eyes, listening quietly.

With many things on her mind, she found it hard to fall asleep.

She got up, lit the candle with the fire stick, and took out the scripture again, continuing to try.

Just as she closed her eyes, there was suddenly a knock on the door.

She abruptly opened her eyes, the candlelight cast a cold glow across the room.

"Knock knock!"

The door was knocked again, she closed the scripture, got up, and walked quietly to the door.

"Knock knock!"

The door was knocked once more; she removed the latch and just opened a small gap when a sudden cold light approached.

Shen Qinglan was startled, swiftly dodging aside, with a "whoosh," a thin needle flew in through the gap.

She hid on the other side, recklessly opened the door wide.

"Whoosh—"

A strong wind rushed in, instantly extinguishing the candle on the table.