Given his master’s whims, Ge Wuchen could only do his best to comply. But with the master entering the Mirror World while the person behind the scenes still lurked in the shadows, Ge Wuchen decided to use the bone flute Huali had left him—just in case.
It was a palm-sized bone flute, pure white and smooth like human bone, with a red cord tied at the end. Standing by the window, Ge Wuchen blew it three times without pause.
Made from Huali’s finger bone, this flute produced a sound only Huali could hear. Moments later, a figure in red flashed through the wind and snow and entered through the window. Huali walked barefoot across the floor, his tone sharp and cold. “Why are you calling me halfway through?”
“You need to help me watch over the Master,” Ge Wuchen replied.
Huali frowned.
Glancing at the human lying on the ground, Ge Wuchen led Huali toward the bedroom. “And not just the Master—you must also keep an eye on the human he’s interested in.”
Huali suddenly recalled Jiang Luo’s infuriating face. His expression shifted, a trace of rejection flickering through him.
Ge Wuchen caught the look from the corner of his eye. “I won’t follow Master on his first trip into the Mirror World. But on the second, I will go with him. So, I’m leaving them in your hands for now.”
Huali paused in his steps and looked at him. “You’re going too?”
Ge Wuchen smiled faintly, a gleam of calculation flashing in his eyes as he nodded slightly. “I want to see… what the person behind the scenes is really up to.”
Huali had no interest in Ge Wuchen’s motives. He replied, “I don’t care what you’re planning. I’ll only ensure the Master’s safety. As for you and that human? Ask Teng Bi to protect you.”
“No need to waste manpower,” Ge Wuchen said. “I know you can handle it, Huali.”
Huali gave a cold laugh and folded his arms without responding.
Ge Wuchen added, “If you do well, I’ll carry you in ranked games and won’t let anyone call you a brainless elementary schooler again.”
Huali’s face darkened. “…Deal.”
***
Teng Bi, who was sucking on a lollipop, suddenly sneezed.
He looked around in confusion. Seeing nothing unusual, he went back to focusing on his game controller.
“Ahhh! Dead Ghost, help!” Lu Youyi shrieked from beside him. “A monster ambushed me—get in here, quick!”
Teng Bi nodded seriously, as if heading into battle, and controlled the warrior on the screen. But while his face looked like he was about to unleash a powerful move, the on-screen character clumsily jumped twice—straight onto a blade—and killed himself.
Teng Bi: “…”
Lu Youyi: “…”
The screen flashed: Game Over. Lu Youyi tossed his controller in despair. “That’s it, I’m done. This game sucks.”
Behind them, Ye Xun was carefully grooming Little Pink on the couch, weaving tiny braids into the fur. He commented blandly, “How many times have you died now?”
“Three hundred ninety-eight times,” Lu Youyi replied weakly. “Impressed?”
Ye Xun nodded and mocked without malice, “To persist through that many deaths, I have to admit, that’s some commitment.”
Just then, Wenren Lian and Kuang Zheng came through the door, arms full of shopping bags. The warmth of the house warded off the cold wind outside. They removed their gloves, scarves, and coats, hanging them on the rack as they smiled. “Have you gotten in touch with them?”
Ge Zhu put down his phone. “Cyril returned to his country. He said he’ll come back around New Year’s to celebrate with us. But I still can’t reach Jiang Luo’s number.”
“Did you try calling Zhongqiu?”
“I’m trying now,” Ge Zhu said, waving his hand. “She hasn’t picked up yet.”
Lu Youyi got up from the floor and walked over to Ge Zhu. Teng Bi glanced over at them and silently put down his game controller.
A few seconds later, Zhuo Zhongqiu answered the call. Before Ge Zhu could speak, she said first, “I just came back from the Lian family estate. Jiang Luo and Lian Xue went up the mountain. It’s been snowing for days there, and there’s no signal. It’s normal if you can’t reach him.”
“What?!” Lu Youyi slumped in disappointment. “We finally get some time off to hang out, and he can’t come. I haven’t seen him in over two weeks—and today’s Ye Xun’s birthday!”
Ye Xun sighed and picked up Little Pink, equally disappointed. “Nothing we can do.”
Ge Zhu asked, “By the way, why did Jiang Luo go to the Lian family? Zhongqiu, do you know?”
Zhongqiu sounded puzzled. “Last time I delivered his luggage, I asked him and Lian Xue—but neither told me. The Lian family rarely leaves their estate. If they went up the mountain, it must be to consult their elders. What could be so serious that even Lian Xue can’t handle it and had to bring Jiang Luo?”
She thought for a while but couldn’t figure it out. “Forget it. We’ll plan another get-together when Jiang Luo comes back.”
By noon, the group—who hadn’t gathered in over half a month—was finally reunited and enjoying a lively gathering. But before they could get far into the celebration, there was a knock at the door.
Even though he knew it was impossible, Lu Youyi perked up. “Could it be Jiang Luo?”
Wenren Lian laughed. “No way.”
Muttering under his breath, Lu Youyi went to open the door. “…It just feels like something’s missing without him.”
But when he opened the door, the person standing outside was completely unexpected.
Lu Youyi froze for a moment. “The funeral parlor owner?!”
The people inside the house quickly got up and came to the door. Surrounded by everyone, the person at the entrance was indeed the funeral parlor owner, bundled up tightly and covered in dust from travel.
In this freezing weather, what was the funeral parlor owner doing here?
Ge Zhu, projecting his own thoughts, said, “Is it because we’re on vacation and no one’s buying your shop’s stuff, so now you can’t afford to eat and came door-to-door to promote your business?”
Ji Yaozi gave a light cough and said in a low voice, “If I lacked anything, it certainly wouldn’t be your money. I came here to give you a warning.”
“A warning?”
Ji Yaozi lifted his eyes slightly from behind the deep black scarf and looked at them. “Two things.”
“First, Dean Xu has long harbored resentment because the Qi and Chi families kept targeting Baihua University’s students. He’s been secretly gathering evidence all along, and a few days ago, he finally submitted it to the Administrative Office of the Twelve Academies—the Xuanling Joint Committee. The Qi and Chi families are now under investigation. As victims, you’ll be confronting them in a public hearing held by the Joint Committee ten days from now. If even one of you is missing, the hearing will be postponed again—and who knows when the next chance will come.”
Ji Yaozi coughed a few more times. Wenren Lian came to his senses from the shock and said, “Please, come inside and tell us more.”
“No need,” Ji Yaozi slowly raised his hand. “The second thing.”
He opened his hand. From within the dark sleeve, a blood-red earring slipped down—an old-fashioned trifold clasp design, with three tasseled chains hanging below. It carried a distinctly exotic charm.
“Deliver this to Jiang Luo within three days. Otherwise—”
Ji Yaozi raised his head and looked at them. “Jiang Luo will encounter some… dangers you won’t be happy to see.”
