Yu Xinghe, now free, clutched the hem of his clothes, wiping away tears, and sobbed, "Junior Brother, you're so kind. I'll never speak ill of you again."
Mu Zhe: "..."
Mu Zhe said expressionlessly, "Again?"
Yu Xinghe choked for a moment before quickly wiping away his tears, changing into a mature and composed demeanor, and coughed, saying, "Thank you for saving my life, Junior Brother."
Mu Zhe gave him a cold glance.
Four years have passed, and this little good-for-nothing hasn't improved at all.
His body hasn't improved, and his mind has regressed even more.
Mu Zhe glanced outside, making sure no one would approach for the time being, before coldly asking, "What are you doing here?"
Yu Xinghe said aggrievedly, "I've been investigating the thirteen plague demons for years. A few days ago, I finally got some clues, so I rushed here following the leads Fenglu City gave me. I never expected this place to be a ghost city..."
He was still wearing his bright red phoenix coronet and wedding robes, which he couldn't remove no matter how hard he tried, so he gave up. He pouted, "As soon as I came in, they started talking about living souls and stuff, and they wanted to beat me to death and force me into marriage! Waaah, Junior Brother, I don't want to get married! Marriage is so scary!"
Mu Zhe frowned, annoyed by his crying, "Can't you be a little more dignified? You cried before, and you're still crying now."
Yu Xinghe had improved quite a bit. If it were before, he would have fainted from fright long ago if he had accidentally entered the ghost city. The fact that he was still holding on was a result of the torment his older sister had inflicted on him over the years.
Yu Xinghe remained silent, still feeling aggrieved.
Mu Zhe thought coldly to himself, he loathed men who cried incessantly.
Just then, the sound of suona horns welcoming a wedding suddenly drifted in from outside. Mu Zhe raised his hand and draped the black cloth he had taken from the demon cultivator over Yu Xinghe, concealing Yu Xinghe's life force.
"Come with me."
Yu Xinghe lifted a corner of the black cloth and asked timidly, "Where to?"
Mu Zhe said, "To find someone to paint your face."
Yu Xinghe: "?"
This ghost city had existed for a hundred years. Being a mortal city, the ghosts within had forgotten their names and faces over the centuries. Some didn't even recognize themselves as ghosts, living normally in this secluded city like ordinary people.
Ghosts are born from the image of their hearts. Because of the blurring of memories, their faces gradually became indistinct. To make them easier to identify, most people in this ghost city would seek out someone to paint their faces.
Mu Zhe led Yu Xinghe to a street lined with lanterns. The long street was filled with lit lanterns, but unlike ordinary lanterns lit by candles, these lanterns contained will-o'-the-wisps. Standing at the entrance and looking out, it resembled a road to the underworld, eerie and sinister.
Yu Xinghe whispered, "They won't find us, will they?"
Mu Zhe replied expressionlessly, "As long as you don't take off that black cloth, no one will notice."
Yu Xinghe relaxed and followed Mu Zhe through the bustling crowd of ghosts.
Yu Xinghe's black cloth and the ghost-face paper Mu Zhe had somehow stolen from his face successfully blended into the ghost street. People around them were excitedly looking at the lanterns, some with incomprehensible riddles. Yu Xinghe glanced at them casually and discovered that the answer to every single riddle was the word "ghost." He immediately shrank back to Mu Zhe in fright.
Mu Zhe disliked people getting close to him, and frowned, saying, "Don't move."
Yu Xinghe nodded and followed Mu Zhe, saying, "You're here. Is Master here too?"
Mu Zhe nodded, casually replying.
"That's great," Yu Xinghe said happily. "I haven't seen Master in so long, I miss him."
Mu Zhe thought coldly, "Too bad Master doesn't miss you."
Master misses me more than enough.
The two walked through Ghost Street, finally stopping at a small stall in a corner. There was a small table there, and a man with wide sleeves and a smiling face was sitting cross-legged, drawing something on a piece of paper on the table.
Mu Zhe walked over, expressionless, and said, "Give me a face."
"The Painter" looked up, his painted ghostly eyes glancing at Mu Zhe, then suddenly chuckled, "Didn't you already have one painted?"
Mu Zhe said, "I didn't like that one, so I'll paint another."
The Painter smiled, "That's a different price."
Mu Zhe: "Agreed."
The Painter didn't press for their origins, squinting as he began to paint on the paper.
Yu Xinghe leaned forward and whispered, "Junior Brother, you're so kind."
'Junior Brother' coldly replied, "Remember to send the money to Liren Peak."
Yu Xinghe: "..."
A moment later, the Painter finished the face painting and handed it to Mu Zhe with a smile.
Mu Zhe, as if applying a talisman, slapped the paper directly onto Yu Xinghe's forehead. Then, he took out a spirit stone and, right in front of the painter, crushed it to dust. A burst of ghostly fire ignited the stone, turning it into specks of light that merged into the painter's palm.
The painter smiled and said, "Thank you for your patronage."
Mu Zhe nodded slightly, then pulled the bewildered Yu Xinghe towards the city gate.
Yu Xinghe asked, "Where are we going?"
Mu Zhe replied, "We're going out of the city to find Master."
Yu Xinghe was taken aback, then hurriedly said, "No, no, this ghost city seems to have some kind of barrier. With our cultivation levels, we can't possibly get out unless Master comes in person..."
Mu Zhe raised his hand, directly unleashing a burst of spiritual energy. The pressure of a Mahayana stage cultivator pressed down on Yu Xinghe's head, coldly saying, "Whose cultivation level are you saying prevents us from getting out?"
Yu Xinghe: "..."
Yu Xinghe was stunned for a long time, then suddenly lunged forward and hugged Mu Zhe's leg, shouting, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother, you're my half-brother!!"
Mu Zhe glanced at him and continued walking towards the city gate with him.
Yu Xinghe was incredibly excited, still babbling on and on: "This is amazing! I've been cultivating every day for years, but I haven't even reached the Nascent Soul stage. I never imagined you, Senior Brother, would already be at the Great Ascension stage! Waaah, I'm such a waste! I wonder if Master will despise me when he sees me."
Mu Zhe hated his crying the most, saying, "Shut up, stop crying."
Yu Xinghe had no choice but to stop his supernatural powers and get down to business: "This city is strange. The matter of the Thirteen Plague Demons must be hidden here. I'll conserve my energy for one night, and I must come back in!"
Mu Zhe coldly said, "Go back in and get kidnapped and forced into marriage?"
"No way!" Yu Xinghe howled, his face turning red, "I didn't know this city was a ghost city at first, and I was dragged in by force. I didn't have time to prepare a disguise."
Mu Zhe paused: "Dragged in by force?"
Yu Xinghe nodded.
Mu Zhe vaguely sensed something was wrong. It seemed like someone was deliberately trying to lure Shen Gurong to this city.
Whether it was the demon cultivator who rushed up upon arriving in Xianzhou, the spirit boat swaying precariously at the entrance of Fengdu, or…
Yu Xinghe.
Mu Zhe's face was extremely grim. He grabbed Yu Xinghe and swiftly broke through Fengdu's barrier, rushing out.
Upon returning to the spirit boat, Shen Gurong was indeed nowhere to be seen.
Mu Zhe's face was dark and sinister. He coldly said, "You wait here. I'm going to find Master."
Yu Xinghe: "But… but…"
Mu Zhe didn't wait for him to finish his sentence: "Don't move. I don't want to be distracted looking for you again."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xinghe immediately teared up: "Okay, Senior Brother, I promise I won't move an inch."
Mu Zhe thought for a moment, still not entirely at ease with this useless fellow. If he didn't take good care of him, Master would surely blame him again. He reluctantly threw his Jiu Xi Sword over, keeping it to protect Yu Xinghe, and turned to re-enter Fengdu.
On Lantern Street, Shen Gurong tightly embraced Lin Xia Chun, slowly walking forward with Wanglan.
Everything he saw, everything that passed by, was filled with the ghosts he feared most. If it weren't for Mu Xi and Lin Xia Chun, Shen Gurong might have lost his footing.
Mu Xi reassured him, "Your Majesty, the ghosts here are easily defeated; no one will harm you in the slightest."
Shen Gurong forced himself to remain calm, "I...I know."
In Huitang City, he had heard tales of vengeful ghosts that claimed souls. Even knowing they were false, he dared not get up alone at night, let alone now, with "living" ghosts.
Shen Gurong broke out in goosebumps. The more he looked, the more frightened he became. His nose stung, and even his arms began to tremble slightly.
Mu Xi noticed his unusual behavior and asked, "Holy Lord?"
The more Shen Gurong walked down the street, the more terrified he felt. The fear that arose from the bottom of his heart was like a large hand slowly gripping his heart, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
He trembled uncontrollably, unable to take a few more steps. Standing in a bustling ghost street, he stammered, "I'm scared."
Mu Xi: "Your Majesty, what did you say?"
Shen Gurong dropped the Lin Xia Chun sword from his hands. He clutched his arms tightly, trying to embrace himself. The surrounding noise sounded to him like a cacophony of weeping and wailing; the will-o'-the-wisps on the lanterns appeared to him as a sky full of flames shooting into the heavens.
He slowly crouched down, hugging his arms, finally covering his ears in despair, sobbing, "I'm so scared, so scared."
Shen Gurong had never felt such terror before. The ghosts around him were nothing more than objects he could easily disperse. If he wanted, his Mahayana cultivation could slaughter every ghost in the city, condemning them to eternal damnation.
But Shen Gurong was still afraid.
Fear seized his mind, transforming the surrounding noise into endless screams.
Just as Shen Gurong was on the verge of collapse, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Shen Gurong turned around in surprise, tears streaming down his face.
Standing behind him was a man dressed in blue, carrying a small lamp. His face was covered with paper, the drawing of which was unclear. It seemed out of place among the surrounding ghosts, yet strangely comforting.
Shen Gurong felt inexplicably unafraid of him; his near-collapse eased slightly. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't know what to say.
The man's voice was gentle, looking at him with concern: "Are you feeling unwell?"
When a paper face is placed on a ghost's face, it can represent the ghost's expression, appearing indistinguishable from a normal face, only noticeable upon close inspection.
Shen Gurong looked at him blankly, stammering, "I can't find my way."
The man smiled and raised his hand to him.
Shen Gurong hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed his hand in the man's palm.
So cold.
Shen Gurong's fingers felt as if they had touched ice, causing him to shiver involuntarily.
Was this the hand of a ghost?
It was devoid of warmth, as cold as if it had crawled up from the depths of hell.
The man helped him stand up, then sighed, gently wiping away the tears that had appeared on Shen Gurong's face.
"Don't cry," the man said with unparalleled tenderness. "Your face will be smudged if you cry."
Shen Gurong hadn't even realized he was crying. Hearing this, he paused, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
He wiped his face haphazardly, only to get ink all over his hand.
His face was truly smudged.
The man chuckled softly, but there was no mockery in his voice. He took Shen Gurong's hand, as if leading a lost child, and walked a few steps forward, stopping beside a stall.
"Mr. Painter, please paint a face." The painting master had already made a fortune from Mu Zhe's job and was lazily playing with the spirit stones in his hand.
He glanced at Shen Gurong before smiling, "The second face will cost separately."
The man said, "Alright." The painting master then continued painting.
Shen Gurong sat obediently beside the man, looking up at him blankly. But when the man turned to look at Shen Gurong, Shen Gurong immediately looked away.
He coughed dryly, feeling that he had been treated so well for no reason, something seemed amiss, but he didn't want to think about it now; the thought terrified him.
Just then, Wanglan, who was walking ahead, suddenly ran back, his voice still childish, "Daddy! How come you..."
He ran back, glanced at Shen Gurong, then at the man beside him, paused for a moment, then bit his finger, asking in confusion, "Huh? Two daddies?"
The man smiled, beckoned to him, and said, "Wanglan, come here. Who did you mistake for your daddy this time?"
Wanglan stared at him for a long time before letting out a joyful shout, finally recognizing his father. He rushed over, crying out, "Daddy!"
The man hugged him tightly.
Wanglan wriggled in his arms, softly saying, "Isn't it because Daddy always leaves home to see someone? I'm starting to suspect you're having an affair with some lover behind Mommy's back?"
The man: "..."
The man gently scolded, "Nonsense."
Wanglan wasn't afraid of him, and pouted, "If you don't come back soon, I really won't remember what you look like anymore."
The man smiled gently, seemingly very indulgent, "I've only been away from home for half a day."
Wanglan wouldn't listen, and huffed.
The man said helplessly, "On the contrary, did you tell your mother you were going out to play?"
Wanglan guiltily shifted his gaze to the side, pouting and lying, "I told her."
The man said, "You definitely didn't."
Wanglan fell silent.
The man pinched his chin and looked at it, saying, "Where's your face?"
Wanglan pointed to Shen Gurong beside him, saying, "I gave it to this father."
The man: "..."
The man said strangely, "Could it be that while I was away from home for half a day, you were out there recognizing all sorts of strange fathers?"
Wanglan: "..."
Shen the Strange Father: "..."
Shen Gurong was initially frightened, but upon closer listening, he realized these ghosts weren't as terrifying as he had imagined.
They looked like ordinary people living here, only their habits and bodies were different from others; otherwise, there wasn't much incongruity.
At this moment, the painter had finished his painting. He handed the paper to Shen Gurong, who silently replaced the paper on his face. In the space between the torn paper, the aura of his living soul emanated, but it was quickly concealed again.
Both the man and the painter's expressions changed.
The man hesitated for a long time, then took out two spirit stones from his robes and handed them to the painter.
The painter was taken aback: "Only one."
The man's eyes darkened slightly, but he insisted on giving him two.
The painter knew he was trying to shut him up, so after a moment's thought, he accepted the two stones, indicating that he would keep his mouth shut.
The man breathed a sigh of relief and took Shen Gurong's hand, leading him forward.
Shen Gurong was led forward in a daze, saying blankly, "Where are we going? This is the road out of the city, I don't want to go out for now..."
If it were any other ghost, Shen Gurong would have already unleashed his white hair and spiritual power recklessly, but being led so gently by the man, he couldn't muster any thought of resistance.
The man quickly led him to the entrance of Fengdu, whispering, "Hurry up, living souls aren't welcome here."
Shen Gurong was stunned for a moment before realizing that this man had recognized him as a living soul, yet hadn't exposed him and had even kindly escorted him to the gate.
Shen Gurong's eyes inexplicably reddened, and he said softly, "I...I'm looking for my disciple. I'll leave once I find him..."
The man frowned. "Your disciple, is he also a living soul?"
Shen Gurong nodded.
“That’s not good,” the man said thoughtfully. “Yesterday, we captured a living soul, and they’re about to get married. If that were your disciple, things might be…”
Shen Gurong said, “No, no, my disciple just came in, but he’s planning to rescue the living soul from yesterday.”
The man thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, “Are you still afraid?”
Shen Gurong was startled, realizing that this man had seen him embarrassingly walking down the aisle, crying and shouting “I’m scared!” His face flushed, and he stammered, “I’m not afraid anymore.”
It seemed that with him around, he wasn’t afraid of anything.
The man smiled and said, “Then I’ll take you to the wedding hall. Stay close to me, and no matter what happens, don’t take off the paper on your face, okay?”
Shen Gurong nodded and said softly, “Okay.”
Seeing him like this, the man paused for a moment, then, as if possessed, reached out and gently stroked Shen Gurong’s head.
Shen Gurong looked up at him blankly.
The man said softly, "Good boy."
Shen Gurong… Shen Gurong's face flushed red.
It had been so many years since he had been treated like a child.
Perhaps worried about being discovered as a living ghost, the man led him along the moat's embankment. Passing an underpass, Shen Gurong glanced over and noticed a man in white sitting there, engrossed in telling stories to the ghosts around him.
Shen Gurong listened closely and realized he was talking about half-face makeup.
Shen Gurong couldn't help but laugh.
How interesting, a ghost telling ghost stories to another ghost.
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