The instant the long nail left her body, I distinctly felt her hand trembling. Her sharp, knife-like nails moved twice near my head, but she didn't actually strike.

It wasn't until I pulled the nail from her that the woman said, "Aren't you afraid to die?"

I stood up and said, "I'm just betting you won't kill me."

"Why?" The woman asked only three words.

I said calmly, "You're not my employer; I don't need to explain anything to you. Let's go!"

I turned my back to the woman. "Get on, I'll carry you out."

The moment the woman lay on my back, the bloody, Yin energy rushed into my nostrils. I felt like I was carrying a block of ice; every step sent a chilling cold through my bones.

The woman's Yin energy was too strong. Without being able to circulate my energy to resist, I could only last two minutes at most. If I didn't get her into the carriage within two minutes, I would freeze to death on the road.

As for why I was risking my life…

It was simply because I was a shushi (sorcerer). "Take people's money and help them avoid disaster. Be loyal to those who entrust you with a task," was the iron rule of a shushi.

Although my master and Jiu Gui (Nine Ghosts) acted eccentrically and recklessly throughout their lives, they always adhered to one principle: in the martial world, your word is your bond.

When I first heard Jiu Gui say this, I found it incredible. I casually asked, "Do the heretical sects also value信用 (xìnyòng, good faith)?"

My master sneered, "The xìnyòng (good faith) of those in the heretical sects is often more reliable than that of those in the orthodox sects! After taking other people's money, they will risk their lives to complete the task; that is the foundation of their existence in the martial world."

"You can deceive people once, or even twice. But after too many times, who will give you money and ask you to do things? How will you survive in the martial world?"

"The xìnyòng (good faith) of a shushi is the foundation for the continuation of the术道 (shùdào, way of術) for thousands of years."

I didn't dare forget my master's words. Since I had taken Zhao Ci's business, I had to be loyal to my task, even if it meant paying with my life.

If I couldn't get this woman out, I wouldn't know how to find Bai Xin, so I had to bet my life on it.

As I carried the woman out quickly, she suddenly said, "Many years ago, someone carried me like this, but he carried me for my face!"

"Do you want to turn around and see my face?"

A chill ran down my spine.

The woman's face was resting on my shoulder, her head tilted as if she were a corpse. She was trying to make me look at the face of a dead person.

I said indifferently, "I'm taking you out of here. Are you unwilling to leave, or are you reluctant to part with those few nails? Is there any point in testing me like this?"

The woman finally stopped talking.

I carried her quickly to the door.

Zhao Yue Zhu was still in a daze when she saw me carrying a woman in a bright red dress and veil.

As soon as I came out, the horse at the courtyard entrance panicked and reared up, frantically trying to break free from the reins. The tethering post was being pulled back and forth by the horse, and it looked like it was about to be pulled out of the ground.

Zhao Yue Zhu screamed in fright, "Li Po, what did you carry out? The horse is going to break free; hurry up and do something!"

Zhao Yue Zhu was locked in the carriage and couldn't get out. If the frightened horse broke free, she would be the first to die!

How could Zhao Yue Zhu not be afraid?

Just as I pulled open the carriage door, Zhao Yue Zhu tried to run out. I suddenly turned around, pulled the bride off my back, and stuffed her into Zhao Yue Zhu's arms.

In a few quick movements, I stuffed the bride and Zhao Yue Zhu into the carriage. I rushed to the front of the carriage, raised my hands, and covered the horse's eyes.

As soon as I covered the horse's eyes, it calmed down.

When I released my hands, there were two Yin energy-filled handprints on the white cloth.

Taking advantage of the horse's calm, I took off the white cloth, wrapped it around the horse's eyes twice, tied it in a knot, and stuck a spirit talisman over the horse's eyes. Then, I jumped into the carriage and cracked the whip sharply. "Let's go!"

Zhao Yue Zhu leaned against the carriage partition. "Li Po, what… what's going on?"

I lit a cigarette leisurely. "Little girl, how old are you this year?"

"Twenty-four!" Zhao Yue Zhu answered subconsciously. "Why are you asking?"

I puffed on my cigarette. "Have you ever kissed anyone?"

"You pervert, are you out of your mind?" Zhao Yue Zhu pounded on the carriage. "Li Po, what exactly are you trying to do?"

I chuckled. "That's terrible. You're twenty-four and haven't even had a boyfriend, let alone a kiss!"

I deliberately tapped on the carriage partition. "This time, I'm giving you a chance. You're sitting in a wedding car with a bride. If she touches you, you kiss her on the lips, kiss her hard."

"What?" Zhao Yue Zhu's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"Sitting in a wedding car, kissing the bride? I'd get beaten to death!"

I chuckled. "Don't worry, the bride next to you has been dead for years. I doubt anyone is even waiting to receive her."

"Never mind kissing the bride; even if you do something else in the carriage, no one will say anything. That's how it's going to be."