Chapter 114: The Girl Eve

Chapter 114: The Girl Eve

“Take you in?” Ye Tian hesitated slightly. After all, Isabella was a ghost—a spirit, to be precise—and having her around felt somewhat unsettling.

“Where do you plan to stay?” Ye Tian asked.

“I want to stay inside your bead!” Isabella glanced at the Buddhist prayer bead hanging on Ye Tian’s chest.

“Stay inside this bead? You’d be risking your life!” Ye Tian exclaimed in alarm. “This bead belonged to a venerable monk and contains pure righteous energy, the very bane of ghosts like you.”

“But I feel like I can handle it,” Isabella said, her eyes fixed intently on Ye Tian’s chest. “I sense incredible power within the bead. If I can absorb it, perhaps I can regain a body—it’s not impossible.”

“Alright, since you say so, give it a try. But if you feel uncomfortable, come out immediately.” Ye Tian took out the prayer bead from his chest. Isabella, having absorbed the energy of vengeful spirits, had grown stronger and was no longer as easily frightened as before.

“If you feel anything wrong, come out quickly,” Ye Tian reminded her again.

“Okay.” Isabella nodded, placing her hand on her chest as she took a deep breath, then slowly, very slowly, laid her hand on the bead.

With a swift motion, Isabella slipped inside the bead, startling Ye Tian.

“Isabella! Isabella!” Ye Tian called out several times, but the ghostly figure showed no response. Growing anxious, he shouted once more.

Just then, the bead trembled faintly, and a white silhouette appeared before Ye Tian.

“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Isabella exclaimed joyfully, wrapping her arms around Ye Tian’s neck and spinning around excitedly.

“Are you alright?” Ye Tian asked.

“I’m fine. I discovered that as long as my mind is free of distractions, I can stay inside the bead,” Isabella said happily. “Thank you, Gray! Thank you so much!”

“That’s great.” Ye Tian sighed with relief. “You really scared me just now.”

“No worries, no worries!” Isabella tugged at Ye Tian’s nose playfully. “There’s so much energy inside that bead. I estimate it will take a very long time for me to absorb it all.”

Ye Tian nodded. That prayer bead was a treasure of Shaolin, once carried by the venerable Master Kuqin. The master was said to have saved countless souls and was regarded as a living Bodhisattva. After his passing, Shaolin honored his wish by breaking the bead apart and giving the pieces to those destined to receive them.

The Buddhist path has always been righteous, and the pure righteous energy contained within was the bane of demons and evil spirits. Ye Tian had worried that Isabella might not withstand the energy, but now it seemed unnecessary. Buddhism teaches salvation for all beings, demons included.

If salvation is to be universal, it must encompass all things; otherwise, the concept of salvation would be meaningless. Ye Tian suddenly felt deep reverence for the bead in his hand, recognizing it carried Master Kuqin’s lifetime of understanding and dedication. Buddhism, in this respect, is supreme.

“Since that’s the case, stay inside then,” Ye Tian smiled.

“I will do my best. Someday, I will have my own body again,” Isabella said with hopeful longing.

“Yes, keep it up!” Ye Tian reached out to pat her head, but it felt as if he were touching the air.

“Gray, thank you!” Isabella hugged Ye Tian earnestly. Without him, she would have been devoured by higher-level spirits and truly dissipated without a trace.

Even drifting for a thousand years, accumulating bit by bit, she knew it would yield no results. No matter how strong an ant is, it cannot compete with an elephant. Her fate was either annihilation or consumption.

“Thank you!” Isabella grinned, teasing Ye Tian by pinching his cheek before suddenly kissing him deeply on the lips. Then she dove back into the bead.

“Dizzy… I just got teased by a ghost!” Ye Tian shook his head. He carefully stowed the bead back into his chest pocket, thinking he might string it up someday.

“Gray! Gray!” A loud voice came from outside. Jerry was shouting. After waiting so long and seeing Ye Tian nowhere, he grew anxious and decided to venture into the cave again. He unscrewed the cap of the holy water bottle in his hand, ready to spray it at the first sign of trouble. With Eve by his side, they cautiously called out as they advanced a little further.

“It’s alright!” Ye Tian called back, turning his head. He noticed the magical holy water and a faint glow on the ground, which he picked up and turned off. Then he raised the luminous pearl in his hand, illuminating the entire cave clearly.

“Gray! Gray!” Jerry burst in nervously. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Didn’t I tell you to wait outside?” Ye Tian replied with slight displeasure.

“Hmph, it’s just that my brother was worried something might happen to you and came to check!” Eve, who had been hiding behind Jerry, jumped out as soon as she saw no danger. She shouted at Ye Tian in complaint.

“Careful behind you! There’s a ghost!” Ye Tian’s face suddenly changed as he shouted to Eve.

“Ah! Don’t come near! I’m not tasty! I’m not tasty!” Eve immediately cowered behind Jerry, trembling in fear.

“It’s alright, it’s alright!” Jerry smiled awkwardly and comforted her. “Why pick on a little girl when there’s nothing wrong?”

“Hey Gray, where’s that ghost now?” Jerry glanced around but saw no signs of a fight. Did Ye Tian have some magical tool to eliminate it?

“Dead. Completely gone,” Ye Tian smiled. “But now we have a new companion.” Saying this, he took out the prayer bead. “There’s a ghost inside named Isabella. When she comes out, you can get to know her.”

“A ghost? Inside there?” Jerry’s expression changed immediately.

“Don’t worry, she’s conscious but harmless,” Ye Tian said as he put the bead away. “Let’s head inside. I feel today will bring gains.”

“Going back in?” Eve peeked out behind Jerry, asking pitifully.

“Not today. We’ll explore tomorrow,” Ye Tian replied.

Jerry gave Ye Tian a grateful look, then turned to the girl. “Let’s go back now. It’s fine.”

“Alright, alright!” Eve’s initial excitement wore off, replaced by fear of the cave after recent events. At the mention of not going back, she cheered joyfully.

“What do you want to eat today? I’ll cook,” Ye Tian said with a smile. Much had happened today; he needed to rest and adjust. His intuition told him the goal was near, so he wasn’t in a hurry. First, he would take a breather.

“I want mushroom chicken soup!” Eve called out bluntly.

“Okay, mushroom chicken soup it is!” Ye Tian laughed.

“How about some grilled fish too?” Eve brightened instantly.

“Sure!” Jerry patted the girl’s head helplessly and said to Ye Tian, “Sorry for troubling you so much.”

“No trouble at all,” Ye Tian smiled. “Frankly, I should thank you. Without you here, I probably would have given up long ago.”

Jerry smiled but said nothing more. Some things are better left unsaid.

“Grilled fish, grilled fish, mushroom chicken soup, mushroom chicken soup!” Eve sat on a wooden stump Ye Tian had cut earlier to save firewood. Now they had makeshift tables and chairs and didn’t have to sit on the ground.

“Gray, if you become a cook, all chefs would lose their jobs,” Jerry joked, watching Ye Tian bustling about. He had to admit, Ye Tian’s cooking skills were exceptional. The same ingredients, but Ye Tian’s dishes always tasted better.

“That’s right. I’ll let you in on a secret—my cooking pleases even the emperor!” Ye Tian whispered playfully.

“You’re full of it!” Eve stared intently at a turtle shell. Gray was so clever, using two turtle shells flipped together as a pot, cooking whatever he wanted.

“I have a feeling we’ll find what we’re looking for tomorrow,” Ye Tian said as he adjusted the low flame.

“I feel the same,” Jerry said with a smile. “Ghosts are strange beings. They like stones like the soft moonstone—cold but glowing. So, no surprises if we make progress tomorrow.”

“If we really find it tomorrow, we can part ways. I’ve taken up too much of your time,” Ye Tian smiled.

“No way!” Jerry said quickly. “If you hadn’t helped me, I’d be dead long ago. Plus, I’ve been nursing my wounds these days and haven’t done much.”

“You can’t say that,” Ye Tian said seriously. “If you hadn’t come to help, I wouldn’t even have found this mine.”

Jerry smiled, quiet now, gently stroking Eve, who had come running to lean against his leg.

“By the way, how do you plan to live from now on?” Ye Tian asked.

“That… we’ll see,” Jerry answered awkwardly. “Maybe start a small business?”

“That’s good, but we lack capital,” Jerry sighed.

“Capital? Here, take this.” Ye Tian rummaged in his treasure pouch and tossed a large pearl over. It was one he had collected in the beast realm.

“Wow, it’s beautiful!” Eve’s eyes lit up as she snatched it.

“No way!” Jerry said firmly. “Gray, this pearl is far too valuable. We can’t accept it.”

“It’s okay, I have more.” Ye Tian pulled out another pearl even larger than the first.

“Seriously, Gray? Are you selling these things?” Jerry was speechless.

“I gathered them from the lake. Lucky to find so many. Want another?” Ye Tian smiled.

“No need. This one’s enough,” Jerry said through gritted teeth. “Thank you, Gray.”

“The fish is ready. Want to try some?” Ye Tian handed over two fragrant grilled fish. “Taste my cooking!”

“Mm-hmm! I want the biggest one!” Eve was always carefree and immediately jumped up, pointing at the fish in Ye Tian’s hand.

“Alright, the biggest one is yours!” Ye Tian swapped the fish and handed it to her. She ran to Jerry with a smile. “Brother, you eat!”

Jerry patted Eve’s head. “You eat.”

“I have a strange feeling,” Ye Tian said, handing a fish to Jerry. “Is Eve sick?”

Jerry stiffened, then smiled bitterly. “Yes. It’s partly my fault. If not for all that’s happened, she wouldn’t be like this.”

“Was she traumatized?” Ye Tian asked.

“Yes.” Jerry didn’t want to say more. He patted Eve’s head and began eating his fish.

“Eve, come here,” Ye Tian called.

“What’s up? Big fish?” Eve came over smiling.

“Yes, but first, can you give me your hand?” Ye Tian gently reached out.

“Okay, okay!” Eve happily extended her hand.

Ye Tian wrapped his arm around hers and pressed on the shoulder acupoint, immobilizing half her body.

“It’s okay. See that grilled fish? You’ll get it later!” Ye Tian said to the girl, who wanted to scream.

Eve glanced at the fish and nodded.

“Gray!” Jerry was startled, unsure what Ye Tian intended, and stood up to approach.

“It’s fine. I’m just checking on her,” Ye Tian smiled. He sent a stream of true energy through Eve’s numb arm.

“Gray, it tickles!” Though half her body was numb, Eve felt the energy’s sensation. This was why Ye Tian used acupuncture—otherwise, if Eve struggled, both would be hurt.

“Oh, I see now!” Ye Tian withdrew the true energy and released Eve’s numb side. “Here, all this is for you. Eat more!” He handed the grilled fish back to Eve.

“Ha ha, all mine!” Eve beamed and snatched the stick from Ye Tian’s hand.

“I want chicken soup too!” Eve pointed to the turtle shell lid.

“Alright, the biggest chicken drumstick is yours!” Ye Tian promised.

“Yay, yay!” Eve ran happily to show off to Jerry.

“Jerry, I want to ask you something. If I can cure Eve, would you want that?” Ye Tian stirred the chicken soup, speaking calmly.

“What?” Jerry stood suddenly. “Gray, you’re not lying, are you?”

“No,” Ye Tian said seriously. “Eve was hurt in the past—specifically, her head suffered trauma and impact, causing blood clots inside. That’s why she’s like this.”

“I’m confident I can cure Eve by removing the blood clots in her brain, but I can’t do anything afterward,” Ye Tian continued. “Physically, she’ll be fine. But mentally...” He tapped his own head.

Jerry fell silent, looking at the carefree Eve beside him. His heart struggled.

“Gray, you’re mean!” Jerry suddenly looked up.

“I’m a doctor. I only treat and save lives,” Ye Tian grinned.

“Then I leave it to you,” Jerry said, glancing at the girl. “No matter what happens, I’ll stay by Eve’s side, always.”

“Good!” Ye Tian smiled and handed Jerry a bowl of chicken soup. “Then let’s do our best!”