Chapter 6: Ghost Hunting (Part Two)

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Since he had chosen to wait for the rabbit to come to him, the Ghost Venerable seemed entirely unconcerned. He took a cloud rug from his storage ring. It was snow-white, and when he placed it on the ground, it floated several inches above the earth. Leading Yan Nianqing onto it, the Ghost Venerable settled down with him. Spiritual fruit juice, cloud cakes, nuts, grapes, peach-blossom pastries... All kinds of snacks were arranged across the rug. The Ghost Venerable looked nothing like someone who had come to capture a ghost; rather, he seemed to have come out for a spring picnic.

Yan Nianqing leaned against the Ghost Venerable’s chest, holding a cloud cake in one hand and a peach-blossom pastry in the other. His cheeks were puffed out with food, making him as adorable as a little squirrel.

Whenever Yan Nianqing was with him, the Ghost Venerable generally refrained from drinking alcohol. After all, he had a previous incident to consider and had to take precautions. But now, using the spiritual fruit juice to ease his craving for wine, the Ghost Venerable’s cheeks gradually flushed. Somehow, in his hazy state, a trace of drunkenness came over him.

His porcelain-pale face revealed every sign of intoxication. His eyes were unfocused, and he lifted the wine flask filled with spiritual fruit juice to his lips and took a drink.

The Ghost Venerable was relaxed and at ease, but Ghost Servant Ding was entirely different. His hand was clenched tightly around the Soul-Reaping Scythe fastened at his waist, his brows knitted, his nerves stretched to their limit. Fine beads of cold sweat gradually soaked through his official uniform, and he scarcely dared to breathe.

Ghost Servant Ding understood the situation perfectly. Unlike the newly arrived Impermanence Lord, he was merely an ordinary servant. If the starving ghost’s resentment got out of control, it could cost him half his life. He had to proceed with extreme caution.

As for that foolish new Impermanence Lord? Ghost Servant Ding cast a sidelong glance at the father and son beside him, who were enjoying themselves immensely, and sneered inwardly. What did their fate have to do with him? His own life was what mattered most. If that fool were lucky enough to subdue the evil ghost, then he would be safe as well. If the fool perished, that would give him plenty of time to flee. When he returned, he could simply claim that the Impermanence Lord had stayed behind to buy him time to escape. That story would even leave the foolish Impermanence Lord with a good reputation. Neither side would lose.

Ghost Servant Ding indulged in his beautiful fantasy, never noticing the Ghost Venerable’s clear gaze behind him—or the way those eyes regarded him like a corpse.

The full moon climbed gradually to its highest point in the sky. Noon was almost upon them. Those who lived in the underworld had no shadows. Though the silver moonlight shone brilliantly, the three figures on the ground cast none at all, creating a scene both eerie and chilling.

On the barren ground, where there had never been a forest, a strange sound suddenly arose—the sound of a gentle breeze passing through trees, rustling the leaves, a sound that could only be heard in a woodland.

Hearing it, Ghost Servant Ding became instantly alert. He swallowed nervously, trembling as he drew his Soul-Reaping Scythe. His eyes darted in every direction, his whole body poised for battle, terrified that the starving ghost might suddenly emerge from some unseen corner.

The Ghost Venerable narrowed his eyes slightly, set down the wine flask, and stared at Ghost Servant Ding with an eerie smile. He had sensed it. The ghost had arrived, and it was right behind Ghost Servant Ding...

Sure enough, a figure drifted out from behind Ghost Servant Ding without warning. The Ghost Venerable sensed the dense yin energy surrounding it and could almost certainly identify it as the starving ghost they had come to capture.

The starving ghost’s hair hung loose around its face. Its faded yellow Taoist robe was tattered and worn. The exposed limbs were mostly rotten, as though they had been steeped in yin energy. Beneath its disheveled hair, foul yellow pus slowly seeped from its empty eye sockets. Its torn-open mouth stretched into a grotesquely wide smile, and a voice as shrill as metal scraping against metal suddenly rang beside Ghost Servant Ding’s ear.

“Heh heh heh heh... Found you. At last, I’ve found you...”

Ghost Servant Ding’s legs went weak. He had never expected the ghost to arrive so quickly. Terror drained all his strength, leaving him unable to flee. He squeezed his eyes shut and abruptly thrust the Soul-Reaping Scythe behind him.

It was useless. The starving ghost slipped away in an instant. With a clang, the scythe fell to the ground, and Ghost Servant Ding collapsed to his knees. The starving ghost was crouched atop his head, its hair wound tightly around his throat.

Ghost Servant Ding screamed soundlessly and stretched a hand toward the Ghost Venerable, his eyes full of desperate hope. The moment he reached out, the starving ghost yanked him back. Ghost Servant Ding reached out again, only to be dragged back once more. The starving ghost chuckled softly, delighting in the game.

The Ghost Venerable watched coldly, the contempt in his eyes growing ever deeper. What an ignorant fool—to dare scheme against him.

Yan Nianqing seemed only now to notice what was happening. After finishing the food in his hands, he tugged at the Ghost Venerable’s sleeve.

“Mother, aren’t you going to help?”

The Ghost Venerable raised an eyebrow. “Do you think Mother should help him?”

Yan Nianqing’s expression was exactly like the Ghost Venerable’s, and his childish voice was equally cold.

“No. Our task is merely to capture this starving ghost and bring it to justice. That servant has repeatedly shown us disrespect. Why should we save him? I could tell that he was trying to escape on his own just now.”

His tone was full of disdain.

The Ghost Venerable smiled approvingly. This was his child: clear-sighted, capable of seeing through the heart of a matter, not deceived by appearances, and free of foolish mercy. He patted Yan Nianqing’s head with satisfaction.

“Little Nian is right. Mother will listen to you.”

Nearby, Ghost Servant Ding had already lost consciousness completely. His outstretched hand slowly fell. The starving ghost tilted its head and studied the father and son. It jumped down from Ghost Servant Ding and observed them warily, as though it had sensed their strength and did not dare rush forward recklessly.

Under the moonlight, the rustling of the leaves grew louder and louder. Wisps of faintly silver smoke were slowly drawn in from every direction. The starving ghost suddenly raised its head and opened its torn mouth until it was as wide as a washbasin. All the smoke poured into it.

The starving ghost greedily devoured the yin energy of the barren land, while the Ghost Venerable watched calmly from the side. Letting one’s prey lower its guard before delivering the most fatal strike—that was what a true hunter ought to do.

Perhaps it had absorbed enough yin energy. The starving ghost’s nails gradually lengthened and turned black. The whites of its eyes emerged within its hollow sockets, and its torn mouth slowly closed and returned to normal. Its loose hair, however, turned white in an instant.

The starving ghost gave a few sinister chuckles before suddenly lunging toward the Ghost Venerable.

The Ghost Venerable rose calmly and dusted off his robes. Then, in a flash, he appeared behind the starving ghost and locked a Soul-Binding Cord around its waist.

Yan Nianqing grew excited at the sight. He raised both hands and waved them.

“Come on, Mother!”

The Ghost Venerable gave him an helpless smile, but suddenly there came a sharp crack. The starving ghost’s body was unbelievably fragile; the Soul-Binding Cord actually squeezed it in half. It fell to the ground and slowly melted into liquid.

The Ghost Venerable frowned, seemingly not expecting such a result. He withdrew the cord and returned to Yan Nianqing’s side.

Then Yan Nianqing cried out from in front of him.

“Mother, look out!”

The Ghost Venerable shielded Yan Nianqing with his body. With a thought, the Soul-Returning Whip appeared in his hand. He turned and lashed out.

“You’re courting death!”

The starving ghost, which had been planning a sneak attack, was suddenly knocked to the ground. It seemed never to have expected the Ghost Venerable to counter so quickly. The Soul-Returning Whip tore into its body, splattering filthy fluid onto the Ghost Venerable’s white robes.

That was something the Ghost Venerable could not tolerate in the slightest.

He placed a seal upon the Soul-Returning Whip and ordered it to finish off the starving ghost. Then, holding Yan Nianqing in his arms, he returned to the Yama Hall in the space of a breath.

How revolting!

The Ghost Venerable glanced around the Yama Hall, but suddenly discovered an unremarkable courtyard behind it. A natural hot spring bubbled there. Delighted, he did not stop to think and hurried straight toward it.

Back on the barren ground where the Ghost Venerable had left him, Ghost Servant Ding, who had seemed completely lifeless, suddenly drew in a sharp breath. His eyes rolled back, and he rose, gasping repeatedly. He could hardly believe that he was still alive.

Several sharp whistling sounds came from beside his ears. When Ghost Servant Ding looked up, he saw a whip continuously lashing the starving ghost.

His eyes flew open. He stumbled backward twice, then fled without looking back.

Good heavens! Had those foolish Impermanence Lords really died? What was that whip? No, this would not do. He had to resign of his own accord. Being a ghost servant was far too terrifying!

The starving ghost gradually became transparent. Once the Soul-Returning Whip had completed its task, it returned to the Ghost Venerable’s side.

The moment the Ghost Venerable entered the courtyard, he could hardly wait to remove his clothes. Just as he had seen, steam rose in a hazy veil over the water, while peach blossoms bloomed in profusion beside the spring. A few petals occasionally drifted down into the water, adding a touch of poetic beauty to the scene.

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The Ghost Venerable removed all of Yan Nianqing’s clothes as well, then entered the hot spring with him. The moment they sank into the water, they both let out sighs of pleasure.

This hot spring truly relieved all fatigue.

The spring had been designed with considerable elegance. A series of steps surrounded it, providing places to sit and lean against. Yan Nianqing sat to one side, his little face flushed from the heat.

“Mother, this feels wonderful!”

The Ghost Venerable lowered his eyes to the child’s chubby little body and laughed softly again.

“You really are something. Don’t stay here forever just because it feels good. If you soak too long, your little head will become dizzy.”

Yan Nianqing nodded with narrowed eyes and an expression of utter satisfaction. The Ghost Venerable smiled helplessly. Once enough time had passed, he would send the little one off to sleep and return for another bath himself. After all, he would probably have to bathe two or three times before the scent of that starving ghost finally came off. Otherwise, he feared he might go mad.

As expected, Yan Nianqing was still too young. His bedtime had long since passed. His head bobbed as he nodded off, and in the end he leaned against the Ghost Venerable and fell asleep.

Resigned, the Ghost Venerable rose, took out a fresh set of clothes from his storage ring, and returned to the main hall of the Yama Palace in a flash. He settled Yan Nianqing carefully, then surrounded him with barriers and seals. As usual, he placed the Soul-Devouring Bell beside him.

Only then did the Ghost Venerable feel at ease. He returned once more to the courtyard.

The moment he entered, he sensed that something was different. The courtyard, which had originally been warm and comfortable, suddenly felt as cold as an ice cellar.

The Ghost Venerable formed a suspicion and slowly concealed his presence as he approached the hot spring.

Through several peach trees, he could vaguely make out a figure sitting in the water. The Ghost Venerable suddenly felt his mouth grow dry.

He had seen Yan Yunqing in many forms, but never like this—never in a form so alluring.

It was as though a feather kept teasing his heart, leaving it unbearably itchy.

Yan Yunqing’s upper body was bare, lean and well defined. His dark hair spread loosely around him, and his eyes were closed. His cheeks were faintly flushed, and he breathed softly. From time to time, droplets of water slid down his chest, and the Ghost Venerable’s gaze inevitably began to travel lower...

It was covered!

Covered, of all things! Yan Yunqing’s lower body was still clad in trousers, with an additional layer of cloth wrapped around the front.

Damn it! Why bother bathing if he was not going to take everything off? Was there something wrong with him?

The Ghost Venerable felt not the slightest bit of shame over his act of spying. Somewhat dissatisfied, he struck the peach tree beside him with his fist.

Peach blossoms scattered sparsely into the spring.

“Who is there?”

Yan Yunqing turned toward the direction in which the Ghost Venerable had concealed himself.

The Ghost Venerable was satisfied—very satisfied. As Yan Yunqing rose from the water, he studied every curve of that silhouette with painstaking attention.

Tsk. What a bewitching figure!

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