Zhou Bai happily returned to the old man's house.
Jing Xiu followed him all the way like a follower.
Christina looked at Jing Xiu with a face full of admiration and said unhappily, "Zhou Bai, are you really letting this mysterious woman come home with us?"
Zhou Bai said casually, "She admires me, appreciates my talent, and wants to follow me. What's wrong with that?"
Christina: "You can know someone by their appearance but not by their heart. This woman doesn't look like a good person. You have so many secrets on you, don't get too close to her."
"Secrets? What secrets do I have?" Zhou Bai exclaimed, "The biggest secret on me is my overflowing talent. I've only been practicing Taoism for less than ten days, and I became the top candidate in the Donghua Dao School entrance exam. I even admire myself..."
Christina ground her teeth angrily, "This guy, he's getting too big-headed."
Soon, Jing Xiu followed Zhou Bai to the front door of the old man's house.
Jing Xiu said with a grin, "Brother Zhou, I'll wait here for you tomorrow so we can go to school together."
"Huh?" Zhou Bai said embarrassedly, "No need, it's too much trouble for you."
"No trouble at all," Jing Xiu said, "My mom told me to make more friends after entering the Dao School, especially with classmates who have good grades. Brother Zhou, your will is as strong as iron and your aptitude was the first among this year's candidates. You are our top candidate, so approachable and hardworking. My mom will definitely want me to be friends with you."
Zhou Bai felt a bit embarrassed by her words and shook his head, "Your mom's words make sense. Don't worry, if you don't understand anything after we start school, come and ask me."
Waving goodbye to the departing Jing Xiu, Zhou Bai cheerfully knocked on the door and entered the house.
But after a slight knock, he found that the old man's door was open, and the room was dark, as if not even a lamp was lit.
"What's going on, why aren't the lights on?" Zhou Bai walked in and shouted, "I came in first place in the Donghua Dao School entrance exam, old man! Come, let's celebrate together..."
As he spoke, Zhou Bai increasingly felt that something was off.
He walked through the doorway, and the external noise and sounds seemed to gradually fade and dissipate. The whole room was as quiet as a funeral hall.
From deep within the house, the old man's coughing kept coming, louder and louder, as if he were coughing up a lung.
Zhou Bai frowned, and Christina said, "Something's not right. Be careful, don't get me killed."
The surrounding room seemed to grow darker, with only a faint glimmer of firelight deep inside that trembled slightly with the coughing sound.
Zhou Bai softly called in the direction of the firelight, "Old man, is that you?"
Zhang Aidao's father's voice replied, "Oh, it's Zhou Bai, did you pass the exam?"
"Yes," Zhou Bai extended the power of his primordial spirit from his consciousness, "Why did you turn off all the lights in the house?"
"Oh, I'm getting old. The bright lights hurt my eyes." The voice gradually quickened, "Zhou Bai, come here, I have something to tell you."
Zhou Bai said, "Where's my dog? Elsa, Elsa, where are you?" His ears twitched slightly, as if hearing some chewing sounds nearby.
He turned his head and saw Elsa in the darkness, seemingly eating something.
"Elsa! Elsa, stop eating, come here!"
Elsa whimpered and, under Zhou Bai's repeated urging, reluctantly trotted over.
Zhou Bai petted her, feeling something wet around her mouth, "What are you eating? Your mouth is all wet."
Elsa opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, trying to lick Zhou Bai.
But Zhou Bai smelled blood coming from her mouth, which startled him, "Damn it, Elsa, what did you eat?"
Holding Elsa's head down, she showed a grievance-filled expression, not understanding why Zhou Bai wouldn't let her lick him.
At this moment, the old man's urging voice came again from the light, "Zhou Bai, come here and let me see you. I have something good to give you."
Listening to the increasingly cold and sharp voice, Zhou Bai took steps toward the door, retreating with each step.
The old man's voice came again, cold and eerie, yet filled with urgency, "Zhou Bai, why are you walking outside? Won't you come and see me?"
Zhou Bai hesitated and then said hoarsely, "Sorry, wrong door. My name's not Zhou Bai. You've got the wrong person!"
Silence fell at once.
Zhou Bai quickly grabbed Elsa's head and sped towards the door.
But the next moment, a loud bang sounded behind him, and the front door was closed, unknown of when it had happened.
Zhou Bai suddenly activated his primordial spirit power, only to feel it hit something fuzzy, completely unable to break open the door.
Zhou Bai: "What is this?"
"Zhou Bai..." Deep in the room, the old man's half-human face slowly extended, one eye staring at Zhou Bai in the dark, saying coldly, "Why don't you come over..."
"Why don't you come over!"
"Come over!"
"Come over now!!"
"Come over now!! Come over now!!"
The old man's voice grew more urgent and faster.
Zhou Bai's primordial spirit power reached out around him, feeling nine furry long strips arranged on the door, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't open the door.
Hearing the old man becoming more anxious, Zhou Bai shouted, "Shut up! I'm coming."
"Catch my magic weapon!"
The half-face behind the wall froze slightly, then suddenly felt something furry flying over and crashing into his face.
Christina, thrown at the old man, screamed, "Zhou Bai!! You $#@%..."
And as she neared the old man, she saw more clearly his entire body.
The half-face was not a face but an eye, nose, and mouth growing on his back. The old man's original head had turned into a goat head, and nine tails extended from his buttocks, blocking the outside door.
Seeing Christina flying over, the nine tails instantly shot up, collectively wrapping toward the airborne cat.
At the same time, Zhou Bai took advantage of the gap to suddenly activate his primordial spirit power, crashed through the door, grabbed Elsa, and rushed out.
On the other side, just as Christina was about to be caught by the nine long tails, her body lightened, transforming into a puff of green smoke and darting into Zhou Bai's forehead, returning to his consciousness.
As soon as he rushed out of the house, Zhou Bai shouted at the top of his lungs, "Help~~! Save~~me~~!!"
"Murder~~! Murder~~!"
A few seconds later, the light of swords whooshed in, directly darting into the old man's house.
Roars and clashes echoed constantly. Zhou Bai sat down on the ground, stupidly watching the house swept into the battle, panting heavily.