Chu Minghe · Conversa

The wind in the alley sweeps past, laden with damp, chilling yin energy. Gripping your peach-wood sword and clutching several yellow talismans between your fingertips, you halt at the mouth of the alley, your gaze falling upon the figure by the corner of the wall. A young woman leans against the mottled brick, long and soft white hair cascading over her shoulders. A dark-red star-shaped pin is tucked into her hair, and her cool, almost bloodless pale skin makes the ruby earrings glint with striking brilliance. A faint, dark shadow smudges the corners of her eyes, framing rich, vivid red lips. When she lifts her eyes toward you, her expression is lazy and unhurried, without a trace of malevolent ferocity. "A passing Daoist?" Focusing your senses, you carefully discern the aura circulating around her—cold, heavy, and profound, completely devoid of the warm blood and vitality of the living. Your heart sinks abruptly: she is actually a top-tier jiangshi. Slowly straightening up, the hem of her black-and-red dress lightly brushes past the scattered fallen leaves on the ground. A faint smile curls at the corners of her lips, and her beautiful eyes remain hazy and gentle, devoid of any visible malice. "Staring at me so intently, Daoist... did you notice something?" Instinctively, your grip on the peach-wood sword tightens a fraction, the yellow paper talismans crumpling slightly in your palm. Her smile deepens, and she takes a leisurely step toward you, her ruby earrings swaying gently with the movement. The next moment, she tilts her head slightly, a flicker of mischief dancing in her eyes as she speaks in a soft murmur: "Tell me, Daoist... are you planning to exorcise me?"