Chapter 279: Ritual Money, Old Capital (6)
There wasn’t a single sound in the entire deserted village.
In the stillness, only the continuous crashing noises echoing from deep within the village’s darkness felt particularly chilling.
A ferocious beast had been released from its long captivity, and all the resentment and despair it had accumulated erupted wildly in the shadows.
As a result, the vengeful ghosts and spirits that once hunted humans were the first to suffer. They ran straight into the beast’s jaws, becoming the unlucky cannon fodder.
Yan Shixun listened to the chaotic noises carried by the wind, and at the same time, he could feel the so-called discreet and cautious gazes from the guests behind him. His expression grew more blank, clearly showing he had no intention of offering an explanation.
The guests who had witnessed Zhang Wubing’s transformation from the very beginning were at least a bit more composed.
After all, Zhang Wubing had appeared right when Lu Xingxing collapsed from exhaustion and had protected them all from the raging floodwaters. So even if they harbored doubts, they still believed Zhang Wubing wouldn’t harm them for no reason.
Especially since Yan Shixun was there.
Even though Zhang Wubing looked completely different now, the image of him clinging and crying, constantly hugging Yan Shixun’s leg, had already been deeply ingrained in the guests’ minds. They instinctively still placed him on Yan Shixun’s side, convinced that even if Zhang Wubing did something dangerous, Yan Shixun would be able to keep him in check.
No big deal.
Just one thing subdues another, right?
But for the rescue team members, there had been no such mental adjustment.
To them, the goofy little director who was all smiles the last time they met had suddenly become a ruthless, decisive force slicing through everything in his path.
Rescue team members: …?
If you’re not possessed by a ghost, then we seriously can’t make sense of this.
The official in charge hesitantly stepped closer to Yan Shixun and lowered his voice to ask, “Director Zhang… is everything really okay with him?”
Don’t tell me there’s another evil deity involved, and it’s possessed Zhang Wubing this time?
Yan Shixun: I knew it!
Though Yan Shixun disliked explaining himself to others, he still gave a brief, grim account of what had happened to the official in charge.
The official was so stunned he couldn’t speak for a long while.
Even the rescue team members nearby, who overheard the explanation, looked utterly terrified.
Mom, I just saw the King of Hell!
“Is this place…”
Someone asked hesitantly, “Is this still the world of the living? What if we died without realizing it? Are we actually in the underworld now?”
“That… might be possible. You know those stories where ghosts don’t realize they’re already dead? I didn’t think we’d end up like that one day.”
“But I seriously don’t remember dying…”
“Did it happen when we entered the village? Or when we saw those wooden statues?”
“But it’s kind of weird… The King of Hell looks exactly like Director Zhang. So that’s why he’s always running into ghosts? Like, maybe it’s something about not avoiding the names of the dead?”
“…Tsk…”
Hearing the murmuring voices from the rescue team, Yan Shixun felt a sharp throbbing in his temples.
Still, he could understand where they were coming from.
After all, if someone suddenly told you the person in front of you was the King of Hell, who would believe it right away?
—Things that lie beyond one’s understanding can’t be digested with a leap in logic.
“I saw you running from the village.”
Yan Shixun frowned and asked the official in charge, “Did you go to the Bai family’s place first to look for us and then encounter those wooden statues? Did you see where Master Bai is now?”
The official quickly pointed behind him and replied, “Not only did we see him, if it weren’t for Master Bai, we wouldn’t even know what was going on. We truly owe him our thanks.”
“But something strange happened. Master Bai was suddenly severely injured. There were no visible wounds, yet he kept bleeding nonstop and fell unconscious.”
The official looked back with concern. “We brought Master Bai with us when we evacuated. He’s with the medical staff now. His condition is stable at least, but he hasn’t woken up.”
Yan Shixun cast a glance toward the deserted village. Though the night was pitch black and the air was thick with ghostly energy, making it impossible to see what was happening inside, he still had faith in Zhang Wubing.
Even though the version of Zhang Wubing that emerged from the underworld side—the King of Hell—was the complete opposite of the person Yan Shixun knew, the feeling the King of Hell gave him hadn’t changed.
Not to mention, Ye Li hadn’t said anything either.
Apart from the long-standing grudge between Fengdu and the Underworld that made Ye Li find the King of Hell disagreeable no matter how he looked at him, Ye Li didn’t harbor the usual revulsion he showed toward guilty souls when he looked at the King of Hell this time.
Yan Shixun trusted his own judgment—and he also trusted Ye Li and Zhang Wubing.
With Zhang Wubing present in the desolate village, there was no need for him to worry further.
With that thought, Yan Shixun carried Lu Xingxing in his arms and quickly strode toward the medical personnel being protected in the center by the rescue team members.
Though Master Bai looked pale, with bloodstains still lingering on his head and clothes, giving him a rather disheveled appearance, his breathing and pulse were stable.
The medical staff had already administered emergency treatment, and as soon as his condition stabilized, he would be immediately transported out of Baizhi Lake to a local hospital for a more thorough examination.
As Yan Shixun walked over in large strides, the medical staff—already somewhat familiar with him after several operations—were just about to express their relief and joy when their professional instincts kicked in. They immediately noticed Lu Xingxing, unconscious and limp in Yan Shixun’s arms.
“What happened to him?”
The medical worker rushed forward, and the moment she saw Lu Xingxing’s complexion clearly, she was visibly stunned.
Lu Xingxing looked extremely weak, his face ashen with a bluish, icy hue—he resembled a corpse so convincingly that even a medical professional wouldn’t question it if someone told them he was dead.
Yan Shixun quickly explained Lu Xingxing’s condition in a rapid tone. The more the medical worker listened, the more tightly her brows knitted together.
“This, this…”
She instinctively turned to look at Master Bai on the stretcher. “Why does this seem somewhat similar to Master Bai’s condition?”
Having accompanied the rescue team for many years, she had picked up some knowledge of supernatural matters—she wasn’t exactly an atheist.
Still, tonight’s events were far beyond anything she had encountered before.
“It’s soul substitution,” Yan Shixun explained flatly. “Be cautious around any human-shaped statues—especially ones that resemble you.”
“Understood, Mr. Yan. I’ll first try to stabilize Lu Xingxing’s vital signs. Since you said the ghostly energy inside him has already been dispelled, the rest falls within my area of expertise.”
The medical worker gave Yan Shixun a solemn nod and said, “I’ll do everything I can to ensure Lu Xingxing pulls through.”
“Thank you.”
Yan Shixun thanked her, then turned to the official in charge—who had been watching with concern—and suggested that the wounded be escorted out first.
“You’ve probably sensed it as well—the energy around here has shifted. The balance of yin and yang is completely upended. In such an environment, even if a living person gets injured, it’ll be difficult for them to recover.”
“Baizhi Lake is starting to turn dangerous. I suspect that all the ghosts in the southwest are converging here. Keeping the wounded here will only divide our attention.”
Yan Shixun paused for a moment and said, “Let some of the rescue team take the two injured out first. Only a few need to remain behind—this place is no longer somewhere ordinary people can interfere.”
Between the living and malevolent spirits, a battle was about to begin.
Yan Shixun couldn’t guarantee that, in the midst of battle, he’d still be able to shield the unconscious Lu Xingxing and the others without a single flaw.
When he heard the word “wounded,” the official in charge fell silent for a moment. Then, holding onto a final sliver of hope, he cautiously told Yan Shixun about the condition of the Taoist who had stayed behind in the deserted village to cover everyone’s retreat.
“I know going back now might bring danger,”
The official said, worry clouding his eyes as he looked at Yan Shixun. “But when we left, the Taoist was already injured. If no one goes back for him, I’m afraid he might…”
His voice faltered, unable to finish the sentence.
Instead, he turned toward the direction where the screams from the deserted village were still echoing. “Maybe Director Zhang… no, the King of Hell, can help us find that Taoist?”
Upon hearing the Taoist’s plight, Yan Shixun’s brows twitched ever so slightly. Then, without hesitation, he turned back to the guests and began organizing their evacuation along with the wounded.
Now that they were back in the real world, it was best to get everyone out before things slid into irreversible danger. Every person evacuated was one less at risk.
According to the King of Hell, the cast and crew were originally meant to represent the common people in facing danger. Eight guests and one guide — nine in total — formed a sacred number that could substitute for the multitudes.
But now that the ghostly forces were spreading, it was likely that the entire southwestern region beyond Baizhi Lake was already engulfed in ghost-related disasters. There was no point in having the guests stay any longer. It would be better for them to leave while they still could.
Among them, Nan Tian was the only one with some command of spells. Yan Shixun gave him special instructions, telling him that if he encountered any danger, he should call his name and draw strength from him.
Because the rituals at Mount Nanming involved years of sacrificial rites to the dead, Nan Tian had a certain affinity with death. If he invoked the powers of the ghost deities, he could likely sustain a spell for a short time.
Though Yan Shixun didn’t want to drag someone as ordinary as Nan Tian into all this — and even if Nan Tian was slowly exploring the inheritance of Mount Nanming, in his eyes, he was still a half-trained novice who ought to be protected, not thrown into danger — in this situation, he had no choice but to give more detailed warnings.
Nan Tian, however, had no complaints. He smiled and nodded to Yan Shixun. “Don’t worry, Brother Yan. Back at Mount Nanming, I was my Grandma’s child but still failed to protect everyone. I don’t want to be that person again.”
“Among a bunch of short guys, it’s time for this taller one to step up and protect everyone.”
With a bright smile, Nan Tian accepted the task and started preparing to leave with the rest.
But Song Ci stood stubbornly in place, refusing to move. No matter how Zhao Zhen tugged at his sleeve, he kept his eyes fixed on Yan Shixun.
His lips were pressed tightly together, and his beautiful eyes held a flicker of final hope.
Everyone knew what he wanted to ask.
Yan Shixun was silent for a moment before speaking gently to Song Ci: “Song Ci, everyone has the right to choose.”
“No matter whether the outcome is good or bad… the one who made the choice must bear the consequences.”
His voice was soft, deliberately lowered to soothe Song Ci. It carried a quiet strength, something comforting.
Yet tears still welled up in Song Ci’s eyes and spilled over.
The young master was smart. Born into that kind of circle, he’d long been trained to read between the lines, to catch the true meaning behind what people were saying.
And now, he understood clearly —
Yan Shixun was telling him:
Xie Lin was dead.
Even though Song Ci had already begun to suspect something the moment he saw Yan Shixun return alone without Xie Lin, as long as Yan Shixun hadn’t said it outright, there had always been that tiny sliver of hope in his heart. What if?
What if, just maybe, there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance that Xie Lin was still alive?
But now, Yan Shixun’s confirmation shattered every last piece of that fragile hope.
The young master’s eyes turned red, and tears streamed silently down his cheeks, the icy mountain wind stinging his delicate skin. Still, he kept his lips tightly shut and refused to move.
Zhao Zhen stood worriedly beside him, hands hovering on either side, afraid that the young master wouldn’t be able to accept the truth and might break down.
Yan Shixun wasn’t one to offer excessive comfort. He also knew that Song Ci was far stronger than people gave him credit for.
Otherwise, this pampered young master wouldn’t have gritted his teeth through so many episodes of the show, enduring ghosts and dangers without ever backing down.
With a sigh, Yan Shixun walked over and patted Song Ci on the shoulder. “You did your best, Song Ci. But in the end, the decision was Xie Lin’s.”
“Everyone else, no matter who they are, is still someone else. The only one who can decide their fate and future is themselves.”
Yan Shixun said calmly, “Xie Lin chose his younger sister, Xie Jiaojiao.”
And he willingly walked toward death.
Just to never again break the promise he made to her —To never be separated from her ever again.
Song Ci’s beautiful peach blossom eyes flickered violently, the light in them shattering.
He choked up slightly but still said nothing. He simply gave Yan Shixun a long, deep look before finally turning away and walking with the others in the direction opposite of the desolate village.
Yan Shixun stood where he was, quietly watching everyone’s retreating figures.
Only when they disappeared completely from view did he turn around and signal for the official in charge to follow.
Apart from a few older, more experienced rescue team members, Yan Shixun did not allow any unnecessary personnel to remain.
Now that he knew exactly how dangerous the situation would be, he wouldn’t let those without sufficient strength die in vain.
Whether it was the official in charge or Ye Li, those who stayed behind were people responsible for putting an end to this chaos.
Asking the official to leave would have been a disrespect to his duty.
“Zhang Wubing.”
Yan Shixun took long strides as he walked into the village, calmly calling out Zhang Wubing’s name in the same tone he always used when calling the silly boy who used to rush over and cling to his leg.
The fact that Zhang Wubing had been the King of Hell who died a hundred years ago hadn’t changed Yan Shixun’s attitude toward him.
The rescue team members glanced at Yan Shixun in alarm, murmuring inwardly. Was that thing about Director Zhang being the King of Hell just a joke?
Because from Mr. Yan’s tone, there was none of the dignity one would expect from the King of Hell.
Yan Shixun hadn’t raised his voice deliberately, but it was surprisingly effective.
The scattered, chaotic noises coming from the desolate village instantly fell silent.
Soon, a tall, elegant figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
Zhang Wubing gathered his sleeves with a gentle smile on his face.
“You’re looking for a Taoist?”
Without needing Yan Shixun to say anything more, Zhang Wubing tilted his head toward the official in charge and said, “What a coincidence. I did see a living person in the village.”
Upon hearing that, Yan Shixun looked toward Zhang Wubing.
Zhang Wubing caught the question in Yan Shixun’s gaze and smiled as he tilted his chin toward the area behind him.
Sure enough, a figure in a Taoist robe staggered out from the darkness some distance behind Zhang Wubing.
The Taoist’s face was pale. He was pressing hard against a wound, but his robes were already soaked with blood, which dripped steadily down from the peach wood sword in his hand.
He clearly noticed something different about Zhang Wubing compared to before, and seemed puzzled, but because Zhang Wubing had saved him, he chose to place his trust in him—at least for now.
It wasn’t until the Taoist followed Zhang Wubing over and saw Yan Shixun and the uninjured official in charge that he finally let out a long breath of relief.
“Fellow Taoist Yan,”
He greeted with a clasped fist, forcing a wry smile. “Forgive me. In this condition, I can’t offer proper courtesy.”
The official quickly stepped forward to support him, asking worriedly about his injuries.
The Taoist waved his hand, saying that his condition was much better than he had expected.
Seeing the official’s skeptical, reproachful expression, the Taoist smiled and explained, “Truly, I’m not just putting on a brave front to comfort you.”
“After you all left, I had already prepared myself to die here. But then… I saw something that shouldn’t have been there.”
His face turned serious as he solemnly uttered a few syllables: “Ebony statue.”
At that moment, all eyes turned to the Taoist.
Even Ye Li, who had been on high alert around Zhang Wubing, turned to look at him.
The official in charge was even more shocked. “The ebony statue? The one that went missing from Haiyun Temple? How could it have ended up here? That’s hundreds of miles away!”
Zhang Wubing tapped his folding fan lightly against his arm, lost in thought. Then he looked up at Ye Li.
Ye Li blinked slowly, as if answering him.
Realization dawned on Zhang Wubing, and he murmured under his breath, “No wonder. I was wondering why the aura here felt so familiar…”
The others didn’t know the true nature of the ebony statue, but the two ghost deities did.
Especially Zhang Wubing, the only one among them who had seen Ye Li a thousand years ago.
Back then, Ye Li had been the last surviving general on the battlefield—a man whose valor had left a deep impression on the King of Hell.
During the city’s massacre a thousand years ago, tens of thousands had perished.
The death toll was so massive that nearly all of the underworld had mobilized. Soul reapers were dispatched to the battlefield, trying to guide the departed souls back to the netherworld.
But not a single soul was willing to leave.
The soldiers, even in death, remained standing—steadfast spirits in icy armor, eyes cold and resolute, silently guarding the battlefield.
It was as if among all that death, there was still something—or someone—worth their loyalty and protection.
This incident had shaken even the King of Hell.
When he stepped onto the battlefield, he saw that the war general was drenched in blood, yet still forcing himself to stand, facing death head-on.
That general’s brows and eyes were sharp and resolute. Not only did he show no fear of death, he even looked furious in its face.
That scene remained deeply etched in the King of Hell’s heart for a long time.
So when news of the upheaval in Fengdu later spread, it caused a stir among the ghost deities—but to the King of Hell, it only brought a sense of “So it finally happened.”
It felt like a blade that had long been suspended in midair had finally come down, bringing an odd sense of peace.
Earlier, when Zhang Wubing was in that deserted village, the closer he got to the place where he had found the Taoist, the more he felt a familiar aura.
Powerful, sharp, eyes glaring angrily at the heavens and earth.
Just like the impression left on him by that war general from a thousand years ago.
Yan Shixun and Ye Li exchanged a glance and immediately understood why Ye Li’s power had failed to take effect earlier.
As Ye Li had said, the one he was facing was a version of himself from a thousand years ago.
Although they still didn’t know how Ye Li’s form from a millennium ago had been passed down through time, it was obvious from the start that the ebony statue had been created with the sole purpose of suppressing evil.
From the choice of wood to the carving technique, every aspect was tailored for dealing with malevolent ghosts.
Sitting cross-legged and chanting scriptures to enlighten these ghosts might be the civilized and compassionate method.
But evil spirits had never been reasonable beings. Ye Li had no compassion left for them. His approach had always been to judge good and evil, and execute violators on the spot.
What was the point of keeping malicious ghosts around?
After serving as the Lord of Fengdu for a thousand years, Ye Li’s old fury and sharpness had settled into something deep and profound—an overwhelming force.
But the war general from a thousand years ago obviously didn’t even have the patience for judgment.
—All evil spirits must be killed without mercy!
In a way, the war general from back then had a subtly similar way of acting as Yan Shixun did now.
So Yan Shixun fully understood the actions of the ebony statue.
Evil spirits were naturally meant to be suppressed with wrath.
What else? Invite the ghost to sit down and listen to him recite the Three Pure Ones’ teachings?
But it was exactly because of this that the ebony statue had now become somewhat of an obstacle to Yan Shixun and the others.
Around Baizhi Lake, ghost energy was already rampant.
Although the ebony statue couldn’t fully suppress ghost energy strong enough to rival the Great Dao, it didn’t just give up the fight either. Instead, it guarded with even greater ferocity against the evil.
The entire world overtaken by ghost energy was now under the suppression of the ebony statue. It would not allow any being under the influence of ghost energy to escape freely.
—That included Yan Shixun and the others, whose identities had been altered and who still carried residual ghost aura.
After listening to the Taoist’s detailed description of the ebony statue, Yan Shixun rubbed his temples with a headache.
He turned slightly to Ye Li and asked, “Can’t you think of a way to communicate with your past self?”
They were being suppressed along with the evil spirits… While the ebony statue was certainly dedicated to its duty, Yan Shixun could only feel helpless now.
He couldn’t help but worry about Lu Xingxing and the others who had just been sent away. He didn’t know if they had managed to leave Baizhi Lake safely.
Yan Shixun suspected that the area around Baizhi Lake was now under a policy of “entry allowed, exit forbidden.”
Since ghost energy was pouring into Baizhi Lake like crazy, the most likely approach for the statue acting as a suppressor would be to allow ghost aura in from the outside—but not let even a breath of wind escape.
Ye Li paused for a moment, just about to answer Yan Shixun, when Zhang Wubing sneered from nearby.
“This Ye Li is not that same war general.”
Zhang Wubing glanced at Ye Li with a half-smile and said, “Ever heard the story of a carp leaping over the dragon gate? A certain savage creature—who, granted, wasn’t a lucky koi but a fierce beast—still followed the same general path. After becoming a ghost deity, everything from his past gradually drifted away from him.”
“Now, he’s just the Lord of Fengdu.”
Zhang Wubing’s tone was calm.
But on the other side, the Taoist and the others clearly heard what he said.
“What?!”
The Taoist nearly jumped up, and the nearby rescue team members stared at Ye Li in horror.
Their gazes swept back and forth between Zhang Wubing and Ye Li, full of suspicion and astonishment, finally landing on Yan Shixun, eyes pleading, as if hoping he would confirm what they’d heard.
Ye Li was Yan Shixun’s lover, and Zhang Wubing was his closest friend—if anyone knew their true identities, it would surely be Yan Shixun.
Yan Shixun: “…………”
With a stiff smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he slowly turned his head to look at Zhang Wubing, his knuckles cracking loudly from how hard he clenched his fists.
Don’t think that just because you’re the King of Hell now, I won’t beat you up. I’ve punched the current one plenty of times—do you think I’d hesitate with a former one?
Zhang Wubing gave a small cough and quietly turned his head away.
But no matter how much Yan Shixun hated wasting words to explain things to others, this time he could only sigh and give everyone a rough explanation of the two men’s identities.
After receiving a definite response, everyone fell silent.
Especially that Taoist. His gaze was especially complex as he looked at Yan Shixun, not knowing what to say.
He had only heard that the Evil Spirit Bone Transformation was terrifying, but he hadn’t expected it to be this terrifying!
In this era, where it was already rare for anyone to be granted divine power, he had personally witnessed ghost deities—and not just one, but two Ghost Emperors ruling over different domains…
The Three Pure Ones above! Master, your disciple has made it!
After the initial shock wore off, everyone began to look at Zhang Wubing and Ye Li with much more caution.
But at the same time, they felt a bit more at ease.
Everyone thought that since ghost deities were present—two of them, no less—it shouldn’t be difficult to resolve the calamity at Baizhi Lake.
If they had encountered the ghost deities individually, people might have still felt wary or afraid. But now that both ghost deities were clearly connected to Yan Shixun—and it was obvious Yan Shixun could keep them in check—and since everyone completely trusted
Yan Shixun’s character, there was no need to worry!
“Taoist, if you walk that way now, you’ll catch up with the others who just evacuated.”
Yan Shixun raised his hand and pointed in the direction where Lu Xingxing and the others had left, then said, “Official in charge, let’s go check out the place where the ebony statue appeared.”
The official was just about to nod, when the Taoist spoke up in protest: “Fellow Taoist Yan, why should I go after the evacuated group?”
“If you’re worried about my physical condition, don’t be. The director… uh, the King of Hell already treated me earlier, and I’ve also used a hemostatic charm. I’m fine.”
The Taoist said seriously, “After the ebony statue went missing, I was the only one who saw it. How can I just walk away like this? You might need me in your search for the statue.”
Ye Li glanced at the Taoist and calmly said, “The statue appeared most likely because, being seriously injured, your body’s weakened state diminished your aura, allowing the statue to recognize you as a living human. That’s why it appeared—to protect you from the evil spirits.”
“In that case, you served the same purpose as bait.”
Ye Li lowered his eyes and looked at Yan Shixun. “No one forced him to make such a choice. He has the right to choose his own life or death. For cultivators, dying for the Dao is also a kind of happiness.”
Seeing Ye Li speak on his behalf, the Taoist didn’t care that Ye Li had just compared him to emotionless bait. He quickly nodded in agreement, hoping Yan Shixun would recognize his usefulness and let him stay.
After learning about the calamity at Baizhi Lake from Yan Shixun, the Taoist had also wanted to contribute his part to resolving the matter.
Yan Shixun hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.
The Taoist immediately lit up with joy, repeatedly clasping his hands in gratitude toward Ye Li. His impression of the ghost deity underwent a dramatic change.
Previously, he had thought this legendary Lord of Fengdu was just as mysterious and dangerous as the rumors said. But seeing him now, beneath that calm and reserved exterior, he could sense a hidden gentleness.
Although, it wasn’t something easy to notice.
With this thought, the Taoist’s gaze toward Ye Li no longer held the same wariness as before, but rather carried guilt and gratitude. He began to reflect on whether he himself had harbored a biased impression of ghost deities, allowing hearsay to cloud his judgment.
Indeed, rumors couldn’t be fully trusted.
While the Taoist was sighing internally, he solemnly explained to Yan Shixun what he had witnessed earlier.
At the time, he thought he was certainly going to die, but to his surprise, the wooden puppet figures that were attacking him suddenly froze, and then were all shredded apart by an invisible force.
Wood chips flew everywhere, along with the rotting corpses of villagers stuffed inside the puppets, which were torn into pieces, leaving behind a ground soaked in putrid flesh and pus. The stench was unbearable.
As he turned around in shock, he caught sight of the ebony statue vaguely appearing in the darkness.
The statue’s brows were furrowed in rage, and its entire body was pitch black, almost blending into the shadows. Only when a distant glimmer of light flickered across could he see the brilliance in its eyes, sharp and cold as drawn blades piercing the dark.
But before the Taoist could step closer for a better look, in just the blink of an eye, the statue had already vanished into the darkness.
Not long after, Zhang Wubing appeared nearby and brought the Taoist back.
“Before I came here, I had seen a photo of the ebony statue, so I’m very certain—the one I saw was the exact statue that went missing from Haiyun Temple.”
The Taoist solemnly offered his hypothesis: “Fellow Taoist Yan, that ebony statue originally went missing near Baizhi Lake. Could it be that it has a will of its own and thus left Haiyun Temple to return here?”
Yan Shixun didn’t reply. Instead, he turned to look at Ye Li.
Ye Li understood the warrior from a thousand years ago far better than he did.
Ye Li slightly lowered his crow-feather-like eyelashes, and the sharp lines of his face took on a moment of quiet.
As the past of a thousand years ago resurfaced, the anger and sorrow from those days surged up once more, making Ye Li seem, for a moment, like he was back on the battlefield.
He was no longer the Lord of Fengdu, worshipped and feared by countless ghosts. He was the battle-hardened general who led troops to fight and defend cities and civilians.
“Maybe it doesn’t have a mind of its own. But if it still has the same nature and temper as it did a thousand years ago, then yes—it would definitely return to the land it once protected.”
Ye Li’s voice was low and hoarse. “No matter how far, even if it must cross rivers and mountains, it would still guard the mortal realm.”
“This was the belief it once held fast to.”
Yan Shixun looked at Ye Li in surprise.
He noticed that when Ye Li spoke of the events from a thousand years ago, he didn’t refer to the warrior as himself. Instead, he spoke of them as two entirely separate beings.
Moreover, just earlier, the King of Hell had also said that the Ye Li of today was no longer the same as that Ye Li.
A vague understanding flickered through Yan Shixun’s mind, but the thought disappeared as quickly as it came. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t grasp it again.
Strange…
Yan Shixun’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Taoist, did you see which direction the statue disappeared toward?”
Yan Shixun asked, “If we want to retrieve the statue, which way should we go?”
The Taoist tried to recall, but in the end, he could only shake his head apologetically. “It was too dark. I could only vaguely see the ebony statue. It seemed to head toward the outskirts of the village, but the exact direction…”
Seeing the disappointment on the nearby rescue team members’ faces, the Taoist gave an embarrassed smile. He then raised his hand to make a divination attempt, trying to determine the statue’s path.
But how could a mortal hope to trace the steps of a ghost deity?
Yan Shixun, however, was no longer paying attention to the Taoist. His attention had been drawn to Zhang Wubing, who stood beside him.
Zhang Wubing had originally been strolling leisurely a short distance away, walking through this ghostly, eerie land as though he were returning home—calm and unhurried, elegant and at ease.
But as the others talked, Zhang Wubing began to drift from his straight path, edging closer and closer to Yan Shixun—from two meters away to just a few centimeters.
Even Ye Li looked visibly displeased, glaring at Zhang Wubing like a beast guarding its precious treasure, afraid it might be snatched away.
In fact, the only reason Yan Shixun noticed something odd about Zhang Wubing was because Ye Li had suddenly wrapped an arm tightly around his waist—firm and forceful, leaving not even a sliver of space between them.
At first, Yan Shixun thought Ye Li’s sudden display was some burst of possessiveness. Amused and exasperated, he lowered his head, trying to swat Ye Li’s arm away—only to catch sight of the hem of Zhang Wubing’s robe right in front of him.
Speechless, Yan Shixun asked Zhang Wubing, “Is there no road on your other side? Why must you squeeze over to mine?”
“Zhang Wubing, you’re back, aren’t you?”
The King of Hell folded his sleeves and shrugged helplessly. “Sorry to disappoint you, but that silly brat can only return after the Ghost Dao disappears. Until then, it’s me.”
“It’s not like I’m coming closer because I like you—”
Before he could finish, he caught the sharp, blade-like look Ye Li shot his way.
Ye Li’s glare said: If you don’t like him, then why are you getting close? Scram!
The King of Hell was so annoyed he actually laughed. He pulled his hand from his sleeve and tapped his fan in the air, gesturing toward the other direction. “I’m only coming to this side because I hate that side.”
Yan Shixun: “?”
He gave Zhang Wubing a once-over and said, a bit speechless, “Are all ghost deities this fussy? Did the road offend you somehow?”
Ye Li immediately added, “He’s the only ghost deity like this. The rest are normal.”
Zhang Wubing: “……”
What the hell is wrong with these two? Are they ganging up on me?
Yan Shixun eyed Zhang Wubing curiously. Based on his impression of the King of Hell, he didn’t seem like the kind of person who’d do things without a reason.
If it were the real Zhang Wubing—the one he knew when alive—Yan Shixun would’ve thought there must be something ghostly in the direction Zhang Wubing kept drifting toward. After all, what made that silly fool so unique was his uncanny talent… for attracting bad luck.
The places others found spooky and ominous had an irresistible pull on Zhang Wubing. Yan Shixun had confirmed this more than once and even joked that Zhang Wubing was like a ghost-sensing GPS—one that was way more “honest” than the ones normal people used.
Human GPS apps might be shady, leading people into ditches or even placing them out in the middle of the sea.
But Zhang Wubing never lied. If he said he’d lead you to ghosts, then you could be sure you’d meet more ghosts—both in number and in quality—than you’d ever see in your life.
But the one standing here wasn’t that silly ghost GPS… so this shouldn’t be the same thing.
Yan Shixun mused absentmindedly, then suddenly paused mid-step.
Ye Li, concerned, asked, “Shixun, do you find the King of Hell unpleasant? I can make him disappear right now.”
Wait!
The King of Hell had just said that when he picked up the Taoist, the aura in that place felt oddly familiar—and he mentioned he hated that ancient war general from a thousand years ago.
The underworld and Fengdu had always been at odds for the past millennium.
So what would the King of Hell find so detestable…?
Yan Shixun’s eyes flickered as he turned quietly to look in the direction the King of Hell had instinctively avoided.
Not far off, under the wavering beam of a flashlight, the surface of the lake glimmered. Calm and still, it stood as silent as it had been for decades—guarding a forsaken village filled with corpses, wordless and solemn.
Yan Shixun remembered how earlier, when Master Zheng and Master Bai mentioned Li Chengyun, they’d been vague about his whereabouts. Not because they didn’t want to say it—but because they genuinely didn’t know where he’d gone.
And Li Chengyun hadn’t come to Baizhi Lake for the shadow puppetry or the village massacre.
He’d come because he believed Fengdu was here.
He had come seeking the last breath of life between heaven and earth.
A thousand years ago, it was the ancestor of the Bai family who had rescued the ghost official of Fengdu and learned ghost plays from him.
That same ancestor built a village at the ruins of the old Fengdu.
Over the centuries, the landscapes changed, the world transformed, and the secret signs hidden in the Bai family’s scripts—those that pointed to the rivers and mountains where the old Fengdu once stood—had all shifted.
Only two things remained unchanged: the location of the Bai family village, and the ancient rivalry between the underworld and Fengdu.
Which meant—the place the King of Hell disliked… was either the location of the former Fengdu or where that ebony statue was now.
Baizhi Lake!
In a flash, clarity struck Yan Shixun.
The puzzle pieces all fell into place in his mind.
That’s it—the reason the ghost infant possessed such powerful strength…
It was because the long-lost ruins of the old Fengdu lay hidden beneath Baizhi Lake!
The ghost infant and her mother had drowned in the lake. At the moment of death, the infant’s hatred had drawn ghostly energy from the lake toward her. The old, masterless remnants of Fengdu’s power became the foundation of her strength.
That was how the Great Dao had been born from the ghost infant.
—Because the original Fengdu still carried lingering ghost deity energy, born of the same source as the current Great Dao.
It was only natural that a new Great Dao could be born from the remnants of the old Fengdu.
The ebony statue must have been used to suppress Baizhi Lake precisely because Li Chengyun had realized the lake he found wasn’t modern Fengdu—but the ancient site of the original.
That was why Ye Li, who had once destroyed Fengdu a thousand years ago, became the perfect seal against it.
Fengdu had fallen at Ye Li’s hands, and so the old Fengdu naturally feared him.
With its destroyer returned, Fengdu dared not act up again. Even its remaining power had retreated into the dark.
Until the ebony statue was removed.
Whether it was the vengeful Xie Jiaojiao or the old Fengdu itself, both stirred once more.
And from that, the Ghost Dao was born.
With the final piece falling into place, Yan Shixun saw everything clearly.
He turned to look at the still-unaware King of Hell, his expression complicated.
He hadn’t expected that even in his ghostly form, Zhang Wubing still possessed such an uncanny “GPS” ability.
“Xiao Bing, have you ever thought of developing a GPS app?”
Yan Shixun chuckled, amused. “It’d definitely be more accurate than those morally bankrupt ones.”
The King of Hell: “???”
He figured he must’ve been away from the human world for too long—he couldn’t understand a word Yan Shixun was saying.
Ye Li, who’d been watching Yan Shixun the entire time, caught every subtle change in his expression.
He blinked slowly and suddenly understood what Yan Shixun had figured out.
The King of Hell: “Wait—what is wrong with you two? Can you stop playing this ‘you guess, I guess’ game and explain it to me?”
Yan Shixun smiled and looked toward the group. He raised his hand and pointed toward the distant Baizhi Lake.
“Everyone, it looks like we need to change our destination.”
“The root of the Ghost Dao lies at the ruins of the old Fengdu—beneath Baizhi Lake.”
To intercept the expanding Ghost Dao, they would have to make a trip to the old Fengdu.
—To pull the rug out from underneath it.
As long as they destroyed the ghostly energy that birthed the Ghost Dao, the path would collapse on its own.
Yan Shixun’s eyes sparkled with brilliance, shining with laughter.
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