Glancing at her meltdown, Han shook his head. Still green—can’t handle the big leagues.


    “Your grit’s lacking, An Lang! It’s just external junk—burned and done.”


    Checking his tally, he’d torched a few rounds—barely a third of a percent of the Eternal Life Taoist Fruit. To drain it this month, he’d need 330 years a day. No way he’d keep that pace—just a demo for An Lang. When it wrapped, she flopped on the carpet, limp, eyes vacant, muttering, “Gonna die soon… body’s breaking… no more burning…”


    Han patted her head. “Quit freaking out.”


    “Why’d you do that?!” She bolted up, yelling, “That’s too much—how could you?!”


    “Not just me—you’re next,” he said. “Master Life-Devouring Ghost, then chow down on my lifespan—suck as much as you want.”


    “Am I good to you or what?” He leaned in, coaxing, “No ghost master out there’s feeding their spirit like this—I’m betting my life on you. Step up—craft incense, brew pills. Without me, who’d burn this much for you?”


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    An Lang stared, lost. “Why, though?”


    Humans going this nuts—tossing lifespan like confetti—had to be madness or a death wish. She couldn’t see another angle.


    “Don’t dig—just suck,” Han said. “No harm to me—Aunt Mo’ll check me back home; you’ll see.”


    No need to swear her to secrecy—his will as ghost master locked her lips. The carpet zipped into Black Cloud Town, An Lang still dazed.


    Peach grove. Surprise—Bai Ruoyue was there. Spotting Han, she hit him with, “Back late, huh?”


    Caught me—patrol duty!


    “Stayed for dinner,” he said.


    “Mission accomplished?” Lu Qingmo asked.


    “Yep—traded some arts with Ao Xuanwei,” Han volunteered. “Aunt Mo, check me out.”


    An Lang perked up, watching eagerly as Lu Qingmo ran her hands over him, nodding. “Vitality steady, lifespan intact—no signs of burning.”


    An Lang’s jaw dropped. Impossible—I saw him torch it like crazy! Lu Sis, look closer! Han’s face stayed cool—zero shock. Pfft, just spare change.


    An Lang clammed up, dreamlike, smart enough not to blurt questions in front of everyone. She knew whose side she was on—whose boots she licked. That night, Bai Ruoyue crashed at the grove. Back in his room, An Lang shot him a look. He nodded. “Spill—no one’ll hear.”


    “Master, what’s going on?”


    “Simple—I’ve got no lifespan worries short-term. No loss, no fallout.”


    “How’s that possible…” She couldn’t wrap her head around it.


    “Don’t sweat it—how’s Life-Devouring Ghost coming?”


    “Easy art—quick to pick up.”


    “Then hustle—nail it tonight and start sucking.”


    “For real?”


    “Suck away!”