Chapter Thirty-Three: The White Flag's Astonishment

  It's really a puzzle within a puzzle. I thought I had saved Zhang Mei and was full of pride, I thought I had fooled Hei Bai Wu Chang with the paper man trick and couldn't help but feel joyful, but now it turns out that I'm just like a clown, making a fool of myself in front of others, looking like a stupid idiot.

  Nothing is more infuriating than being led by the nose and having your secrets exposed, but what's even more infuriating is that this person who seems to see right through everything is standing in front of you, clearly telling you that you're a complete idiot.

  No wonder the old man said "the underworld lawsuit is over, we still have things to do." Damn it, why didn't I turn around at that time? And then, get the red-clothed boy and the spirit cat, and get lost, damn it, this isn't just a simple case of Zhang Mei's future father-in-law accusing someone in the underworld court. The crow group drove us into the formation, everything was pulling us forward, step by step into his trap, damn it, there's big trouble.

  Elsewhere, listening to this old man's tone, speaking with Wuyingmen in the same tune, damn it, they're all talking nonsense with their red mouths and white teeth. At that time, when Nanmanzi occupied Yangdu, he said, "It's those people in the world who have greedy thoughts and evil thoughts, I'm helping Yangdu clean up some human trash." In the end, step by step, it became clear, damn it, they were all cleared away, even to the point where you found a spiritual knife. This white-robed old man is the same, saying that he's kind-hearted and saving us, but we're messing things up inside, making the situation irretrievable, wasting his kindness, and we're just adding chaos, not helping at all. On the contrary, he's been trying to salvage the situation, saving Zhang Mei, saving us. Now that it's come to this, he's being forced, it's us who are forcing him to make things like this. Ah, damn it, is it black or white? I'm really a stupid cunt, at this point when my life is almost gone, I should have seen clearly by now.

  I raised the copper bell, but it was still on top and let go. In my heart, I was helpless, really damn it, we were in a lot of trouble, and what's even more deadly is that we didn't know who was behind this scam that made us unable to get out.

  At this time, the old man in white spoke up.

  "One report for one report, to untie the bell still needs the person who tied it. What you have done, you will have to come back and undo." The old man said with a sorrowful expression on his face. But I was even more perplexed in my heart. Thinking carefully about this, it's all because others forced me, one moment in the underworld, one moment in the world of the living, I don't even want to live anymore, where would I have the leisure time to do evil deeds?"

  "What is your honorable surname, sir?"

  "I am the guardian of this place," said the old man. "This place has been peaceful for generations, all because of a promise. My family has shed blood to protect it for generations. This is none of your business, I'll tell you later, but what I want to say now is that you have made a big mistake. Why did you become a killer and harm my son's life? You speak empty words, while my son's bones are cold and white. How can you say you're a good person?"

  "Ah?" I was startled. It turned out that this Taoist priest was the one in charge of all the spirits here, and it seemed like there were some hidden circumstances involved, possibly related to the Battle of Chengzi Mountain back then, where countless white bones were buried and lonely ghosts roamed everywhere. And this Taoist priest seemed to be their leader. According to what he said, it was possible that there was something left unfulfilled back then, so he refused to leave and continued to guard the place. Our construction project disturbed the peace of his life, causing ripples in his quiet existence. In fact, relocating the spirits' dwelling wasn't impossible, but perhaps he was still bound by some promise or vow to continue guarding this place.

  "I risked my life to protect your true identity, just so you could return my son's life." The old man was entangled in this matter, but what I was thinking about was the entire project being suspended and all these sinister events. Forget it, let's solve the immediate problem first. Dammit, I didn't do anything wrong!

  "Who are you, always saying I owe you a life?" I asked.

  The old man's face turned black at this time, but it was even more desolate. It seems that everyone, no matter how good or evil they are, will be moved to emotion.

  "The Moonlight Forest Master, and her subordinates, a group of good girls, have all been turned into white bones, all harmed by your Ghost Sun Blade. Now you should understand." The old man said, and was about to swing the willow branch again, causing the small ghosts to shriek in unison.

  Good grief, after going around in circles for half a day, I thought it was complicated, but it turns out it's still the calamity of Moonlight Lin's transformation into white bones. Alas, indeed, this calamity brought about by Gui Yang Knife is truly pitiful. All those girls have turned into white bones, especially Moonlight Lin's final sorrowful words, "Protect my white bones on their way back to the nest", still seem to be echoing in my ears.

  Now I have a bottom in my heart. As for other things, such as the hidden story of Zhang Mei's language, and this old man is not just for the sake of his daughter, Yu Guanglin, there are still many strange things that will be said later. Otherwise, it would not have created so many monsters, nor would it have stopped the construction project.

  I put down my hand and said loudly: "Dao Zhang, if it's really this matter, I think we can discuss it."

  The old man pretended to swing his willow branch.

  I said: "Even if you take our lives, your daughter still can't come back. Why don't we discuss this together, maybe there's a way."

  As soon as I spoke, the white-robed old Taoist put down the willow branch, and a group of little ghosts stood with their heads bowed, it seems this works, in front of children, parents are always the most ruthless.

  "I promised to protect your daughter and her followers, but there's something that needs to be clarified. The Ghost Yang Knife was obtained through deception by Feng Chen Jiu Shi. Moreover, on that day, you weren't present, and your daughter was also deceived by Feng Chen Jiu Shi. Furthermore, she was blinded by emotions and believed in Feng Chen Jiu Shi's lies, thinking that the Ling Blood could restore her beauty, which is why she fell for the deception. It's all recorded in my mind, I'm innocent!

  I've thought it through, damn it, aren't we all just trying to save face? I need to clear this up, or else, if I'm not careful, I'll really be torn apart by that old Daoist's group of little ghosts and die an unjust death."

  "What young man is not in love, what maiden does not have spring in her heart? You are still a romantic at heart, unlike me, an old man." The white-robed elder's words were surprisingly softer now.

  I understood the underlying message, which is to stop worrying about these things and just focus on saving my daughter, we can talk about everything else later.

  I said: "You set up this formation, it's not all for your daughter. Now that things are clear, no matter what you're after, but if you want to save your daughter, you have to let us go and allow the construction to start. Otherwise, it will cause chaos in the world of the living and we won't be able to resolve our deep-seated grudges. After the construction is completed, we can talk about it."

  The old man in white clothes bowed his head and thought for half a day. Looking at him like that, I thought to myself, "Damn it, I've been had by the old man again." First, he said I was a zombie passing through, then he said I was a harbinger of doom, and now there's even a little ghost urging me on. Does he think I'm made of wood? Screw that! As long as I can get out of this formation safely, nothing will happen to the project. I'll go invite Master Qing Shan, expose his true nature, and then we'll settle the score later.

  "Alright, as you say." Guan Lingdao said.

  "How does Baigui Xiewu proceed?"

  Guan Lingsheng said: "No other, with you is enough."

  "I said: 'Let us go, let's go.'"

  Guan Lingdao said: "Hurry up and say it's good."

  The willow branch waved, and the little ghosts rose into the air, disappearing in an instant. The white clothes fluttered, Guan Lingdao made a turn, his hands spread open, and with a flip of his palm facing downwards, he seemed to press down on something, but it was actually very spiritual. The trees stopped swaying, the wind died down, and the bloodstains on the ground were swept away in an instant. All the trees returned to their original height, just above our waists. And, we were clearly standing inside Zhang Mei's courtyard. The eerie atmosphere was gone, the moonlight was clean, and everything was back to normal.

  Mother, between the yin and yang worlds, it's just separated by this thin layer.

  The lynx suddenly darted out, but it was a normal cat in shape, with only two eyes that looked at me for a few seconds before standing aside. However, the two eyes looking at me were eerily overgrown, as if they had thousands of words to say.

  The red-clothed boy wielded his staff with a gentle swaying motion, seemingly intentionally slowing down as he passed by my side, yet his eyes were fixed on Guan Lingdao, with an unmistakable hint of fear in his expression. He didn't dare to stop, and hastily whispered a sentence in my ear, "Be careful, we'll talk later." In a flurry, it seemed like something had driven him into the new tomb. Wait, no! Guan Lingdao doesn't belong to either the Zhenglingmen or the Wuyingmen... damn it! How did the red-clothed boy and the spirit cat manage to get his Tao? And another boundary has appeared?! I'm all confused now... actually, what's been on my mind all along is the construction project. Old Qian and I came here for that very reason - if the project doesn't go through, our lives are at stake!

  Guan Lingdao walked up to me with a dark face and said, "You've brought everyone, let's all go to Chengzi Mountain together and escort the white bones back to their nest."

  "I'll go alone."

  But Guan Lingdao had already floated forward, and we could only follow up.

  Upon arriving at the top of the mountain where the ancient city was located, Guan Lingdao danced lightly in her white clothes. Suddenly, a flat area appeared before us, just like the one that Old Qian and I had seen when we first arrived.

  The tube spirit appeared with a sorrowful expression and said: "My child is suffering, both cold and hungry!"

  I and Old Qian were naturally in a state of sorrow, we were the parties involved, indeed, like a flower-like woman, suddenly turned into white bones, it was really unbearable for people. My eyes were moist, Old Qian was an emotional animal, and he even had a sobbing sound. Zhang Mei and Zhao Cai as well as Liu Pang saw us like this, also got infected, a sorrowful scene.

  Guan Lingdao suddenly took off his white robe, revealing a blue garment underneath, which matched the dark and gloomy expression on his face, making him look even more eerie.

  The Taoist priest tore the white robe into strips with a whoosh, and in an instant it became a bunch of white strips. His hands swung again, and I thought he was going to take out another willow branch, but instead a group of small twigs and trees came flying over, and with a few quick twists, they instantly formed a pile of wooden sticks, each with a white cloth strip tied to the top. With one swirl, they were inserted all around, and upon closer inspection, it looked like a lotus flower. How many times had I seen this lotus flower? I had my doubts, but I endured.

  Guan Lingdao said in a calm voice: "The Bone Protection Formation is complete. The messenger will enter the formation, and the others will pray for the spirits."

  I advanced according to his words and entered the formation, while the crowd around me didn't know what to do.

  You're so cruel and ruthless, you're the one who's been harming my child all along! Kneel down and beg for mercy!

  "Damn it, when did we become murderers? Get down on your knees!" It was Old Qian's voice, and his hot temper had flared up again.

  But the words had just fallen, and suddenly a strong gust of wind rose up. This strange wind was like a series of straight clubs, striking directly at people's bodies. Old Qian, Zhang Mei, Zhao Cai, and Liu Pang were all knocked to the ground by this gust of wind, and Zhang Mei knelt down, moaning in pain, apparently having been hit quite hard.

  "Hurt my friend, you're not keeping your promise, I'm coming out." Originally, I was about to jump into the formation, but seeing this situation, I pretended to come out. Actually, I didn't really want to come out, damn it, can't come out anyway. But my obvious intention was to tell this old guy that if he continued to mess around, I wouldn't serve him anymore.

  It really works. Guan Ling said with a gloomy face: "Arrogant words, should be punished."

  "Swift Lotus", Guan Lingdao suddenly appeared beside me, shouting loudly. What's wrong, mother? Where did this bloody aura come from? This bloody aura is so familiar... Ah, Guan Lingdao should be a Daoist master who has traversed the realms of yin and yang, his body shouldn't have any bloody aura, right?

  "Hurry up!" Guan Lingdao urged from behind. I quickened my pace, fortunately Qing Shan Dao Chang had taught me some footwork and the lotus step was familiar to me, so I ran swiftly like flying.

  The pipe spirit suddenly rose into the air, its hair and beard all standing on end, its green robe puffed out, its eyes glowing red as blood. Yet from its mouth came a mournful wail: "When my son leaves, I am in pain; when he comes back, I am at peace; if he is cut off, my soul is destroyed; if he departs, my spirit becomes a ghost. Thinking of my son who has come near, begging him to return... In the Three Talismans there are no wronged spirits, on the lotus throne urging my son's spirit to return, the spirit banner high and waving, guiding my son's road, my son leading all the spirits back to their peaceful dwelling place. Hurry, hurry, as if by imperial decree!"

  Loose earth and sand swirl up, the wind howls loudly.

  "Quickly sprinkle the spiritual blood on the white banner!" Guan Ling shouted in mid-air.

  No time to think, I bit through the middle finger, and a few drops of spiritual blood splashed onto the white banner in the lotus flower formation. Suddenly, a thick white mist rose, forming into circles of light.

  Suddenly a white shadow stirred, and a strange fragrance wafted over.

  Soft voice and gentle words, layers of light gauze unfolding before one's eyes.

  The crowd around him let out a collective cry of surprise. Moonlight Lin and the other girls had all fallen into the formation at the same time.

  Still so charming and lovely, still so endearing.

  "My son is hardworking, gather the array!" Guan Ling suddenly descended from mid-air, waved his hand, and the lotus flower formation on the ground disappeared without a trace. The white cloth strips, however, flew straight towards Guan Lingdao and instantly wrapped around his entire body. With a rustling sound, he was restored to his original state, wearing a white Daoist robe once again.

  The moonlight forest master saw me and knelt down with a thud, the other girls also knelt on the ground together, loudly calling out to thank me for saving their lives, a debt of gratitude that will never be forgotten.

  Guan Lingdao's face turned black with joy, and he hastily stepped forward to help up the fallen Moonlight Lin, Lord White Shangjie.

  At this time, however, something strange happened. The mistress of the Moonlight Forest, Bai Shangjie, had a look of terror on her face. She took a step back, not allowing Guan Lingdao to support her, and fell backwards towards me. The group of girls behind her also scattered like frightened birds, hiding behind Old Qian and the others.

  Guan Lingdao saw this and his face sank, shouting: "Daughter come back".

  Put his hand into his bosom and pulled out a willow branch.

  At this time, Yue Guanglin's master Bai Shangjie grasped my arm tightly and shouted: "Messenger, save me and the girls!"

  Chilling to the bone, as if his heart had already been startled beyond all description.

  Mom, this has completely confused me. The father went through great difficulties to rescue his daughter who had turned into a pile of white bones, but the daughter was ungrateful and still shouted for help! But the father took out a willow branch! Mom, is this really the father? And is this really the daughter?

  Heaven, isn't it, has forced us into another predicament?