My Brother Practices Forbidden Arts - Chapter 3

I jumped left. The compass needle shifted left with me.

I jumped right. It went right.

I kept hopping from side to side until the compass started smoking.

I was out of tricks.

Jiang Shixi’s expression grew grave as he stared at my face. “Why is my senior brother’s soul inside you?”

I was finished.

My brother floated over. “It’s fine. He can’t see me. Just keep denying it.”

I caught on at once and played dumb. “Senior Brother Jiang, I don’t understand what you mean.”

He closed in step by step. I could even smell the magnolia scent on him.

Without warning, his handsome face filled my vision. His voice was low and hoarse. “I’ll ask you again. Why is my senior brother’s soul inside you?”

My brother stamped his feet beside us. “Jiang Shixi! Get away from my sister!”

Before I could react, Jiang Shixi took out a golden bell and shook it. “A soul that has seized another’s body will be affected by this sound. It will suffer terrible pain and be unable to rest.”

My brother panicked. “What a nasty little schemer! He’s trying to kill me!”

But the bell rang again and again, and neither of us felt a thing.

Jiang Shixi’s expression softened. “I knew Senior Brother would never commit an evil act like possessing someone else’s body.”

Then why did you ring it?!

My brother grew smug again. “I’ll bet he bought a fake. He’s still so easy to swindle.”

I turned back and put on a performance. “Who is this senior brother you’re talking about?”

Jiang Shixi looked mournful. “Just an old friend who was far too stubborn.”

“I offended you today, Junior Sister. Please accept this bell as an apology.”

Why turn down a free gift? I took it happily, along with the compass.

“Maybe the compass has grown unreliable from disuse. I’ll try it myself and see if it works.”

Jiang Shixi still showed no sign of leaving. “Master told me you’re trying to save your brother. But the lotus seed must be planted in the body of the deceased. Where is your brother buried?”

“The Corpsewood Forest,” I blurted.

I regretted it at once. That place had more walking dead than anywhere else. What if he noticed something?

I hurried to explain. “The walking dead there killed my brother. It was an emergency, so I buried him on the spot.”

Jiang Shixi seemed to consider this. “The Corpsewood Forest is full of danger. Going alone would be too risky. I’ll escort you.”

“No, no. I couldn’t trouble you.”

“I can’t let anyone else die at the hands of the walking dead. I can clear some of them from the forest while I’m there. It’s my duty.”

My brother scratched his head in fury. “Since when is that your duty?”

“You must have nothing better to do!”

The Corpsewood Forest was our last hideout before my brother died, and the place with the most walking dead. Marsh gas blanketed it all year round, while the walking dead lurked in the swamp and among the trees. Without my brother, I wouldn’t have dared set foot there.

But Jiang Shixi insisted on coming, and I had no reason to refuse.

He summoned his bonded sword and stepped onto it. “Junior Sister, why aren’t you flying on your sword?”

I smiled awkwardly. “I haven’t learned how to fly on it yet, so my sword is just for show.”

My brother was stunned. “You’ve been here three years and still can’t fly a sword? Have you really spent all that time sweeping floors for food?”

I couldn’t be bothered with him. Eating was important, wasn’t it? Besides, I had no talent. Learning sword flight would take me ten times as much effort as anyone else. It was hard!

Jiang Shixi was much nicer. He asked no more questions, merely held out a hand. “Then we can ride together.”

I took his slightly cool hand. It was the first time I’d been so close to a man other than my brother.

Jiang Shixi stood in front, shielding me from the wind, and told me to hold on tight.

Oh, how embarrassing.

I was just opening my arms when my brother took over my body.

He folded his arms, scowled at Jiang Shixi, and said, “No need. I can stand steady.”