Chapter 22: Intimidation and Strategy

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At this moment.

Nothing that Louis feared had occurred in the hotel room.

Despite Esther’s subtle antagonism, Emma paid no mind and even greeted her with a smile; no conflict arose at all.

In the corridor, Esther, dressed elegantly in a black dress, unapologetically brushed past Emma’s shoulder. Emma lowered her head silently and quickly retreated to her room.

Watching Emma’s retreating figure, Esther furrowed her brow in confusion. Their interactions over this period had made it clear to her that Emma was no innocent lamb, but rather a bloodthirsty, albeit less frenzied, youthful demon much like herself.

There was no way Emma would simply submit and back down.

Unless, she was secretly plotting something.

“Looks like this trip means I have to get rid of you first.”

Thump, thump, thump.

Louis hurried over and, seeing Esther alone, let out a breath of relief.

Esther noticed Louis and approached him with a smile. “Louis, where have you been? You look so anxious.”

“Nothing,” he replied, then tried to head back to his room.

Esther’s expression instantly turned cold. She reached out to block him. To control this household, she knew she had to eliminate Emma, who occupied so much of David’s affection, and also tame Louis.

Otherwise, he would be a future threat.

“Louis, there’s something I think you should hear. Come with me.”

Her tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal, which immediately annoyed Louis.

“Forget it. It’s safer this way. I really can’t trust you troublemakers,” Louis murmured softly.

“What?” Esther didn’t catch that.

The next second,

a hand landed on her shoulder.

Murmurs echoed from all directions. In a daze, she even saw the beast she had personally killed—or rather, her lover—her father...

Though Esther’s soul was that of an adult, her body was still that of a dwarf child, so the “tugging” technique was not as effective as on Emma but still significant.

Watching Esther fall into a deep sleep after returning to her room, Louis’s eyes flickered. He pondered whether to push her to suicide and stage a disappearance.

This was not home but outside, where the chance of exposure was much lower.

A few seconds later, Louis abandoned the idea.

This was Mary Show’s territory; it was best not to do anything unnecessary. Stability was paramount.

Now, it was time to deal with another hidden danger.

Louis turned toward Emma’s room.

He knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

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...

Late at night.

An inexplicable force drifted through the town.

It was dark, obsessive, and powerful.

It listened to every voice in the town that whispered her name!

Then... it surged forward, stealing the voices—all sounds!

Just as the nursery rhyme said:

She would tear open your mouth and rip out your tongue!

Tonight, she sensed an outsider entering, reciting that rhyme, speaking her name...

Should she watch? Or not?

The dark force wandered the streets. She was coming, she was coming!

Outside the hotel, the sound of wind rustling leaves, pebbles rolling, and faint cat-like cries echoed...

Suddenly, all sounds eerily vanished, as if entering a realm of absolute silence.

But as the force tried to enter the hotel and unleash its terror, a faint yellow aura flashed within.

That aura made the force feel disgusted—different from the church faction’s power but... too weak!

Whoosh!

The force penetrated, precisely targeting a room.

Oh!

It was a boy!

Just as adorable as the boy from the performance who claimed his mouth moved on its own.

It extended toward the room.

The next moment,

Buzz!

A faint golden spiritual light enveloped the entire room, isolating all dark forces outside. Vaguely, a majestic phantom stood atop the hotel.

!!!

The dark force rapidly retreated and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Yes, it fled.

It knew what that was—though somewhat changed, it was much like the church faction’s power and highly suppressive of her strength. Damn it, just wait; once I kill off that family and create the perfect puppet...

After its retreat,

inside Louis’s room.

He hadn’t slept, gripping a peachwood sword, mouth containing a mixture of blood and saliva, restless and alert. Above his brow, where the Mud Pill Palace lay, the ancient text quivered faintly.

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At that moment.

He saw the statue of the Kitchen God he had brought and placed in a corner suddenly stir.

He hurried over, his expression changing instantly. The statue now showed faint cracks, especially in the eyes that should have been dim, which now gave off a strange dull illusion.

Seeing this, Louis quickly understood, knelt down, and kowtowed, lighting incense.

He also offered some food.

Only then did he sit back on the bed.

“Looks like she’s already been here but was repelled by Godfather. Still, Godfather’s current state is probably severely weakened; not sure if he can hold her off.”

He glanced at the sky.

Dawn was near.

Louis decided not to sleep. Sitting on the bed, holding the peachwood sword, he began reviewing the ancient text.

Yesterday, he had mastered the Chicken Head Exorcism technique. Combined with the Godparent method he learned successfully from the start and the Blade-Spitting technique he recently mastered a few days ago, three techniques were now fully initiated, allowing him to turn to the next page.

Moreover, Louis intended to review and summarize the methods he had learned.

Since obtaining the ancient text, he had acquired thirteen folk techniques.

Life-taking blade defense, Scolding Curse, Willow Branch Ghost Strike, Blood Gold Shear, Yang Energy Exorcism, Peachwood Crafting, Tugging Technique, Needle Rust Method, Kitchen Ash Technique, Life Borrowing Method: Kowtow, Chicken Head Exorcism, Godparent Method, and Illusion Technique: Blade-Spitting.

Initiated: Blood Gold Shear, Yang Energy Exorcism, Peachwood Crafting, Life Borrowing Method: Kowtow.

Proficient: Scolding Curse, Needle Rust Method, Kitchen Ash Technique, Chicken Head Exorcism, Illusion Technique: Blade-Spitting.

Mastered: Tugging Technique, Godparent Method.

As for Life-taking Blade Defense and Willow Branch Ghost Strike, since he had initially bypassed by killing Emilia directly, these two were not initiated.

Careful reckoning showed that the most useful among them was the Tugging Technique. The others were uneven in utility, most with limited use.

Human energy was limited. With more and more techniques, some could never be mastered or even become proficient. Planning ahead was necessary to avoid future chaos.

“Yang Energy Exorcism offers all-around enhancement. No active practice needed; the stronger the body and spirit, the stronger the effect.”

“Scolding Curse, although its strength is uncertain, is easy to use and practice and can synergize with other techniques. Worth practicing casually.”

“Peachwood Crafting lacks consecration; peachwood’s power is limited, but it might help others in the future. Worth practicing.”

“Kitchen Ash Technique is currently the only method to actively borrow power from the deity statue. Must practice.”

After careful consideration, Louis drafted a rough training schedule.

Daily physical strengthening, then practice Kitchen Ash Technique and Peachwood Crafting, with Scolding Curse practiced alongside.

Besides that, there was plenty of time. Louis wanted to see if any newly discovered folk techniques were worth adding.

He flipped the pages.