Chapter 8: The Ruthless Return of the Sun

  I don't know where I got the courage from, or what kind of idea it was, but I ended up saving a ghost without any hesitation.

  It's clear that Li Ying will definitely turn into a pile of white bones after witnessing Daozhang and Nanmanzi's battle just now.

  I pulled up Li Yan and said to Qing Shan Dao Chang: "She helped me, she's really a good ghost, she doesn't harm people."

  Qingshan Daochang put away the red robe, turned it over and wore it on his body again, and put away the peach wood sword. At this time, the street was quiet and clean as before, and it really couldn't be seen that there had been a bloody storm here just now.

  The Taoist priest looked at Li Yan carefully, then glanced at me and shook his head, saying: "Alas, the calamity has not been eliminated, and the opportunity cannot be broken. You all take care of yourselves."

  I don't understand and I don't want to understand either. I just feel that saving Li Yan makes me very happy.

  At this moment, Li Yan leaned softly against me. The fragrance of the woman came in waves, soft and alluring, I was a little dazed. What kind of ghost is this? It's clearly a beautiful woman with a branch of pear blossoms, tears falling like spring rain, what more could she want?

  I comforted Li Yan and said: "The Taoist priest is great and merciful, whatever your troubles are, don't hesitate to tell the Taoist priest, he will save you."

  Qingshan Daochang seemed to be fine with me taking charge, perhaps because I had helped him out earlier and he hadn't seen anything unusual, so he just remained silent and prepared to leave.

  It was almost dawn at this time, if the east had turned white, Li Yan's life would be hard to escape, and there is no time to wait.

  Li Yanfu fell to the ground again, her eyes brimming with tears, and she cried out "Save me, Zhang!"

  I was anxious and said, "What's the rescue for? You'd better explain clearly, Master Dao. Didn't you see how powerful he was just now?" I muttered to myself, following my chaotic thoughts, but to be honest, I was really worried.

  Qingshan Daochang suddenly turned to me, I was shocked, earlier his face was full of blood, but now it was a pale white, even his eyes were white and terrifying.

  "Do you really want to listen?" Dao's words were slow and powerful, his eyes staring straight at me, I didn't dare to look directly.

  I said: "What are you listening to? I'm letting Li Yan and you talk."

  "Do you really want to listen?" Dao Chang asked again, and the white light grew even brighter.

  Mom is really weird, it has nothing to do with me. Or you can even say that the whole thing has nothing to do with me. You ask me like this, I'll just listen then.

  I nodded.

  Li Yan suddenly cast a grateful glance at the ground. Hehe, it seems that this Yin world is quite interesting, in the mortal world, everyone does things secretly and mysteriously, and they can't wait to cover it up. Now, I'm answering questions for an audience, and they're not afraid of me revealing secrets, but instead, they keep asking again and again, and they're grateful too, how interesting.

  "I was originally a spirit guide, leading ghosts through the Netherworld. As a half-spirit being, I'm not worthy of speaking with you, Daozhang. However, since the Spirit Messenger has given me permission, I beg of you, Daozhang. I was sent by our sect's master to plead for a soul transfer in South Village, but halfway through, I was pursued and killed by the Wuying Gate due to my own desires. My spirit power is only half of what it once was, and I'm no match for the Wuying Gate's pursuit. If you don't help me, Daozhang, I'll be forced to transform into a white skeleton. I'm not afraid of becoming a white skeleton, but I'm unwilling to give up my original vow to guard the lamp tower person. In this life and the next, I've had dreams of being with that person, but it seems we're not fated to be together. Now, in the underworld, I beg for your help once more, Daozhang, save me!"

  Good heavens! I feel a cool breeze on my face. Is it another mischievous ghost? But when I touch, it's just tears streaming down.

  I only understood the words of Rong Yan after he lit the candle, earlier Li Yan told me that this was related to me, the affection of the yin ghost is not different from the yang world. But Li Yan's words "wait later" are confusing, could it be a curse for me to die and marry her in the netherworld? Spit spit spit, I don't want to think about it anymore.

  Suddenly, Qing Shan's long outer garment flew out and spread wide in the air. Oh no, is he going to hit Li Yan again? But it turned out that his clothes were all black, forming a large umbrella that hung above our heads. It didn't fall down, so I felt at ease. Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat, a strong gust of wind blew up, making my teeth chatter and the streetlights flicker. Underneath the garment, a faint white light appeared. Instinctively, I leaned in closer to Li Yan, whose face turned pale with a racing heartbeat. In this critical moment, I was actually relying on a ghost for support, how absurd!

  Qingshan Daochang's face turned solemn, his voice low and measured: "Yang, Dao, Gui, the three realms are at odds with each other, and their births are mutually restrictive. This is already a great taboo. Now that I have entered the Yin realm to offer sacrifices, everything I say has nothing to do with my Dao. But I repeatedly pressed Yang, it was because he willingly took on this calamity, what can I do? You must take responsibility for this, you forced out the true spirit messenger, I previously called him a knife-wielding man, there will be changes in the future, it's not my concern, now it's clear. I originally followed Master's orders to clean up the door, but got entangled in it and violated the Dao rules, I will ask Master for punishment, this has nothing to do with you. But Yang has already stirred up the spiritual blood, and insists on crossing realms to speak, this is your sin. Master taught me to fulfill my duties as a human and help the vengeful spirits cross over, it's my duty to exhaust all means to help Yang, you withdraw your emotions and help Yang cross over, I will then agree."

  What grudge and what resentment? It seems like there's still something of mine, what kind of vengeful spirit is this?

  The words fell, and Li Yan had already cried into a tearful person. The bony hands of the white skeleton pounded the cement floor under the pale light, shaking the green trees by the side of the road, raising dust and settling it again. And I was shocked and trembling all over my body. This overwhelming grief, even human sorrow is not as much as this.

  Suddenly Li Yan raised her face and turned towards me.

  Good heavens, my heart suddenly tightened. The peach blossom face was all gray and white, the bulging twin peaks were limp and flat, the whole body trembled like a twig in the gloomy wind, as if it had aged several decades in an instant.

  "I wish the bright moon would always be full, never to wane and sink below the mountains. May this night last for a hundred years! I only hope that all lovers in the world will become mandarin ducks in their next life, with you and me as a pair, so that we won't have to suffer the pangs of separation in the underworld." Li Yan's words were like a lament, tearing my heart apart. My dear, my dear, what a night this is!

  On the side, Qing Shan Dao Chang suddenly raised his peach wood sword and shouted: "Yin Dou Gui, you have already burned half of your spirit, are you determined to hurt your body for love, or hurt your bones for infatuation? Why not let me help you turn into a white skeleton instead!"

  "Ah ah ah!" Li Yan suddenly threw her head back and let out a mournful scream, her mouth filling with blood as she spat out half a mouthful of fresh blood, her entire body trembling violently like thin paper.

  "The way is long and virtuous, but one must keep their promises, have a sincere heart, cherish oneself, I'm leaving." The words were suddenly transformed into a wisp of light mist, quickly dispersing.

  By my ear, the two words "heart heart" still lingered, but in an instant, only I and Dao Chang were left.

  The Taoist's face turned even more ashen, the peach wood sword was sheathed, and his robes fell back into place. In an instant, he seemed to have recovered as if nothing had happened, except that I couldn't help but take a sharp breath of cool air.

  "What do you mean?" I said with tears.

  Qing Shan Dao pulled me along and we floated forward quickly. Hurry back, he said, this place has already turned into a sunny day, don't startle the people of the world, hurry up and go.

  "Li Yan has been moved by desire, regardless of the cost, burning half of her spirit to ashes. I'll sacrifice my sword and drive away the remnants of her body to save her." The Taoist priest said as he walked away.

  "Ah!" I seemed to understand, but thinking of Li Yan's miserable appearance earlier, I couldn't help but shed tears. "She's a good ghost, maybe she can help us. You're so capable, save her!"

  "You are a person who has entered the underworld, and now you have just returned to the world of the living. Don't speak recklessly again. If I hadn't collected your spirits in time, I'm afraid none of us would be able to return. My ritual robes were used to enter the underworld, which is a ghostly affair. You insisted on listening, but as someone who has communicated with the underworld, you should be careful not to reveal too much. Your childhood encounters and current spiritual connections have coincided, and Li Yan's deep emotions have compelled you to become a true spirit messenger. Don't leak out what I'm saying now. I will return to the sect to report back, as the bloody rain of the underworld is imminent. To repay your kindness in helping me with my spiritual blood, I will fulfill my promise to guide ghosts and practice incantations with you to recount this matter. Take good care of the copper bell, and the changes that will occur in your future life are up to you to choose. You must remain calm." Qing Shan Dao Zhang said these words as he arrived at my rental house, where the eastern sky was already brightening.

  At this time, the Qing Shan Dao Chang standing in my house was just an ordinary old man. His robe had no holes or tears, and his body had no unusual features. After all that had happened, I wasn't surprised, but I still had doubts about becoming a real Spirit Envoy.

  Qingshan Daochang said to me with a serious expression: "There are three things that will happen next. Firstly, I will fulfill my promise to help you escort the ghost. Secondly, after I return to the sect and report back, I will use all my strength to assist you in repairing your spirit for 49 days. Thirdly, we will wait for the opportunity to obtain the Spirit Knife. When the time comes, I will come and go as I please, you don't need to worry about it, just live a normal life. We still have a long way to go, and who knows whether you will be leading me or I will be leading you in the future."

  My mind was full of unsolved puzzles, and I just wanted to ask something. But suddenly, the first ray of sunlight poured into my rental house through the window, and the whole room lit up instantly. Qing Shan Dao Chang also suddenly switched to a normal tone and said to me: "Are you hungry? Let's go have breakfast together, aren't you going to work?"

  I'm at a loss whether to laugh or cry, this change is too sudden. One moment it's blood rain and strong winds, the next it's just ordinary daily life.

  Qingshan Daochang saw me like this and smiled at me kindly, just like an ordinary old man.

  This smile, as if it opened up my heart. I suddenly understood all the words of Qing Shan Dao Zhang just now. The Yang world only takes care of its normal life, and the Yin world has variables that are the Yin world's business. People in front of me and behind me call me Li Zong, but I'm still just an accountant, Old Qian is still a dirty old man who ogles girls on the street every day, but he's still my friend, highways need to be repaired, bridges need to be built, houses need to be rented, cases are still unsolved, and our boss is still a scoundrel as Old Qian said. So I'm not some destined sword-wielding hero or righteous spirit messenger, Qing Shan Dao Zhang is just an ordinary old man who gets hungry too, and even now has a bit of a lecherous look on his face.

  "I deliberately said: 'Old man, why don't you go have a bowl of beef noodles downstairs? It's the best in the whole city.'"

  The Taoist priest smiled and said: "Clear broth, clear mind."

  "Let's go, old man!" I pulled Qing Shan Dao Chang down the stairs together.

  Arrived at the noodle shop, Daozhang ordered a bowl of plain noodles, while I had a large bowl of beef noodles and asked the boss to add more chili peppers. My numb nerves really need to be stimulated now.

  The noodle shop is always crowded and bustling. Fortunately, I grabbed two seats with Daozhang, and I was actually overjoyed. Compared to the gloomy and desolate atmosphere, I still prefer this worldly and mundane scene.

  On the surface, I and Daozhang were really hungry, lowering our heads to eat non-stop.

  Suddenly a young man beside him shouted: "Brother, stop searching, this old guy is almost done."

  I took a look and saw two silly young men standing behind Dao Zhang. Dao Zhang's small bowl of plain noodles was almost empty.

  How rude! Just as I was about to lose my temper, Daozhang waved his hand at me and stood up, saying to the two burly men: "Young men, I'm done now. Please sit down."

  The two young men were embarrassed and smiled awkwardly: "Sorry sir, we're in a hurry to get to work."

  The Daoist smiled warmly and said, "It's nothing, sit down."

  I thought to myself, these two guys are lucky to have recovered quickly, otherwise I really don't know who would have finished first. It seems that in the mortal world, it's still best to keep a low profile, maybe there's a great god sitting right next to you!

  I was about to finish eating when Daozhang walked up to me and whispered, "The matter will be handled during work hours, and at midnight, I'll fulfill my promise to Li Yan."

  I nodded.