I Am Not a Master - Chapter 49

“Yes, we only passed away recently. We heard that the King is getting married, so we came to offer our congratulations. Since it’s our first time here, we might have been a bit clueless and caused some offense. Please forgive us,” Zhang Daoist said with a smile, doing his best to disguise himself as a naive Little Ghost. Inside, however, he was sweating bullets.

Minister Li chimed in, “Exactly, exactly. We were worried that barging in might upset the King, so we planned to just watch the festivities from outside and leave. We wouldn’t dare offend the King… By the way, who is the King’s bride? On our way here, we heard quite a few ghosts talking about it.”

A young disciple of the Daoist cautiously added, “The bride must be stunning, surely a perfect match for the King. Congratulations to the King, best wishes to the King!”

An Aunt, her expression stiff, forced a smile. “Whatever the master likes is naturally beautiful and the perfect match for him. As for who it is, you’ll find out soon enough. Follow me inside.”

Zhang Daoist, Minister Li, and their group of seven were shoved into a crowd of ghosts by the Aunt. She even said, “The King is very generous. Make sure to grab as many red envelopes as you can. These days, nothing comes for free. If you want to reincarnate early, you’ll need to bribe the higher-ups.”

Zhang Daoist and the others repeatedly thanked her, standing cautiously among the ghostly crowd, not daring to move a muscle.

There were many ghosts who had come to celebrate. Among them were inconspicuous Little Ghosts, which could be transcended with just a single Talisman. But there were also Malevolent Ghosts with profound cultivation, far beyond the reach of a simple Talisman. The only reason they were all coexisting peacefully at the moment was undoubtedly due to the formidable presence of the legendary Ghost King. No one dared to act out in his presence. However, if their human identities were discovered, they would instantly become the target of every ghost in the courtyard. Escaping alive would be nearly impossible.

The group huddled in a small corner, doing their best to avoid drawing attention. Fortunately, the courtyard was packed with ghosts-floating in the air, crawling on the ground-creating a chaotic and noisy scene. Most were too engrossed in the joy of grabbing red envelopes to notice them. It was a small blessing amidst their dire situation.

Minister Li whispered, “No matter what happens, the moment we get a chance, someone must get out and alert reinforcements. We can’t all be trapped here.”

The group nodded in unison. “Understood.”

They hadn’t been standing there long when the butler’s voice rang out loudly, “Everyone, quiet! The master is here.”

The entire courtyard fell silent.

Zhang Daoist, Minister Li, and the others tensed, their expressions turning serious as they looked up. A man dressed in a red robe emerged from the house. He appeared to be in his thirties, his hair neatly parted and slicked back with pomade. Though his complexion was pale with a bluish tint, it lacked the stiffness typical of Little Ghosts. With a faint smile on his lips, he exuded an air of warmth. If not for the overwhelming ghostly aura emanating from him, one might have mistaken him for a refined gentleman, a groom radiating joy on his wedding day.

Zhang Daoist and the others were horrified, cold sweat dripping down their backs. The ominous feeling in their hearts grew stronger. This Ghost King was indeed extraordinary. The sheer malevolence and resentment radiating from him far surpassed any ghost they had encountered before. Such an aura was a testament to his immense cultivation. Compared to him, the Face Ghost they had previously faced was nothing.

“Zhang Daoist, do you think you can handle this?”

“I’m afraid not. The Ghost King is brimming with Resentment Energy. My strength alone won’t suffice. I’ll need my Shifu¹ and Shishu to assist me.”

“Sigh, let’s hope they’ve already received the message and made it to City D…”

Standing before the crowd, Mr. Zhuang raised his hand. The noisy chatter of congratulatory words from the ghosts immediately ceased. He spoke, “Thank you all for traveling such great distances to attend my wedding. Today, we are gathered here by fate, and it is indeed a joyous occasion. Please, eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves to the fullest!”

The moment Mr. Zhuang finished speaking, the ghosts responded in unison with cheers and applause.

A few Big Ghosts who seemed to share a close relationship with Mr. Zhuang teased, “Old Zhuang, why are you here alone? Where’s your bride? Are you hiding her because you’re afraid we’ll steal her away?”

“Exactly! On the way here, we heard so many rumors about how your bride is as stunning as a goddess, a beauty that could make fish sink and birds fall from the sky. Don’t keep her hidden-bring her out already!”

Even the Little Ghosts began whispering among themselves, their curiosity piqued. Who was this legendary bride? How beautiful could she be to make the King decide to marry again? After all, the more something is concealed, the more it stirs people’s curiosity.

Seeing the eager faces around him, Mr. Zhuang felt a surge of pride. He declared loudly, “Let’s go! Time to fetch the bride!”

The butler shouted at the top of his lungs, “Fetch the bride-!”

The entire crowd of ghosts echoed, “Fetch the bride!”

“Fetch the bride!”

“Let’s go fetch the bride-!”

In an instant, drums and gongs resounded, blending with the vibrant red decorations. The atmosphere was jubilant and chaotic, a scene of pure festivity.

Zhang Daoist and his group followed behind the horde of ghosts, their faces frozen in awkward, stiff smiles. Zhang Daoist muttered nervously, “I don’t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this. What if the bride is someone we know? Do you remember that phone call from Xia Yao? She told us to hurry and save her. Could it be…?”

“I think it’s possible,” another chimed in. “The timing is too coincidental. Xia Yao and the others disappeared, and now the Ghost King is getting married. There’s a good chance Xia Yao was taken by him.”

“Keep your eyes open later. If the Ghost King is marrying another ghost, that’s one thing. But if he’s really marrying Xia Yao, we’re in big trouble!”

“And what if it’s not just Xia Yao? What if Shao Yizhou and Shen Yue are here too?”

“…”

Dealing with a crowd of ghosts was already a daunting task. If Xia Yao, Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, and the others were all trapped in this ghostly mansion, rescuing them from the clutches of the Ghost King would be nearly impossible.

The thought made Zhang Daoist and Minister Li’s faces grow even paler, their anxiety mounting with each passing moment.

“Stop overthinking. Just keep moving! If we draw suspicion, we’re done for.”

They followed the horde of ghosts for about ten minutes before arriving at a secluded courtyard. Fortunately, the Ghost King still adhered to some human traditions and chose to walk the entire way. Otherwise, Zhang Daoist and his group, who couldn’t fly, would have been exposed on the spot.

The Ghost King was indeed generous. Every bridge they crossed or slope they climbed, he scattered Ghost Money, causing the ghosts to scramble and fight over it in a frenzy. The scene was both chaotic and lively.

Even Zhang Daoist and his companions managed to grab a few red envelopes. Upon opening them, they found denominations of ten thousand, twenty thousand, and even forty or fifty thousand. Altogether, they had collected over a hundred thousand-a considerable sum.

Holding the Ghost Money in their hands, they felt an odd mix of emotions. It was neither entirely joyous nor entirely unsettling.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Zhang Daoist thought to himself, “Is inflation in the Underworld really this bad?”

…

Xia Yao was on the verge of tears. Her face was pale, her breathing rapid, and as the sound of drums and gongs grew louder, her complexion turned even whiter. She paced back and forth in the room, choking back sobs as she whispered, “What do we do? They’re coming! What are we supposed to do now?”

Shen Yue sat nearby, his expression grim but noticeably calmer than Xia Yao’s. After all, he was a man who had fought Face Ghosts before, so he managed to maintain a semblance of composure. “Don’t panic. We’ll deal with whatever comes our way. With all this commotion, we might be able to slip away unnoticed.”

One of the staff members who had come with them was trembling uncontrollably, his voice shaking as he stammered, “Y-yeah, we can escape… We have to… We will!”

“Exactly. The more people there are, the easier it is for chaos to break out. They won’t be able to keep an eye on us the whole time. We’ll find an opening, knock them out, and make a run for it!”

Shen Yue glanced at Shao Yizhou, who looked equally unsettled. After a moment’s thought, Shen Yue pulled one of the many amulets for peace hanging around his neck and handed it to Shao Yizhou. “I got this from Zhang Daoist’s Daoist Temple. It should offer some protection. Take it.”

Shao Yizhou looked at Shen Yue, his strikingly handsome face as pale as a sheet. He took the talisman and stuffed it into his pocket, hesitating for what felt like an eternity before blurting out, “I… I don’t want to get married! Why me? I’m a man! A straight man, for crying out loud!”

Everyone else: “…………”

Shen Yue patted him on the shoulder and said, “Hang in there, brother.”

Shao Yizhou was genuinely on the brink of tears. Earlier, when he saw the manor decked out in festive decorations and heard that Mr. Zhuang was getting married, he’d been thrilled. He even congratulated Mr. Zhuang and asked about his bride, planning to send a wedding gift. Little did he expect that moments later, a phoenix coronet and bridal robes would be presented to him. Mr. Zhuang, with a shameless grin, declared, “Ever since I met you, I felt like I found my soulmate. I don’t care if you’re a man or a woman; our connection is all that matters.”

The shock had sent Shao Yizhou sprawling to the ground, utterly flabbergasted. He immediately refused in no uncertain terms, insisting that he was only interested in women and had no interest in men. But Mr. Zhuang simply replied, “I like women too. But after living for so long, I’ve come to see past gender. If there’s love, does it really matter whether you’re a man or a woman?”

Shao Yizhou protested, “But I don’t like you! I won’t marry you! I’m leaving this place! If you force me, it’s illegal. The police will arrest you, and you’ll go to jail!”

Mr. Zhuang chuckled, “Jail? Human laws can’t bind me. If I want to marry you, no one can stop me.”

With a wave of his hand, the phoenix coronet and bridal robes were suddenly fitted onto Shao Yizhou, as if they had grown onto him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t take them off. He was utterly dumbfounded. A staunch believer in science, he had never encountered anything so unnatural. Stammering, he asked, “W-w-what… what are you?”

Mr. Zhuang replied, “I’m not human.”

“You’re right, you’re not human. But I am! Humans and… whatever you are… are fundamentally different. There’s no future for us!”

“That’s fine. I don’t mind that you’re human.”

“…But I mind that you’re not!!!”

Shao Yizhou barely had time to process what was happening before the Housekeeper Aunt shoved him into the bridal chamber, telling him to stay put and prepare for the wedding. She warned him not to overthink things, reminding him that guests would be arriving soon and he shouldn’t embarrass Mr. Zhuang.

Shao Yizhou: …

How could he not overthink? At this moment, he deeply regretted not listening to Shen Yue earlier. He had foolishly trusted the sweet-talking Mr. Zhuang-someone who could wave his hand and magically dress him in bridal attire was clearly no ordinary person. He was probably some kind of demon or spirit from the mountains.

Shao Yizhou wanted to escape, but there were guards stationed outside the door, and even the windows wouldn’t budge. He didn’t know what kind of spell Mr. Zhuang had cast, but it left him utterly powerless. Fear gripped him now, and all he could do was hope that Shen Yue and Xia Yao would realize the danger he was in and come to rescue him soon.

But before long, his “hope” arrived-only to be locked in the same room with him.

The Housekeeper Aunt declared that they were his family from the bride’s side, and it would be improper to send off the bride without her relatives.

Shao Yizhou: … He wanted to cry.

Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and the others, now designated as “relatives”: …

Xia Yao couldn’t believe her luck. She had narrowly escaped being the bride, and now it was Shao Yizhou instead?

She silently thanked the heavens for their mercy.

Looking at the trembling Shao Yizhou, Xia Yao couldn’t help but snap, “Serves you right! We warned you that Mr. Zhuang was suspicious, but you refused to listen. Now look at you, being forced into this ridiculous wedding. What are you going to do now?”

Shen Yue interjected, “Let it go, Xia Yao. Don’t scare him any further. His slow brain isn’t something he can help. Let’s focus on figuring out how to get out of here.”

Shao Yizhou: …

As they were busy discussing escape plans, the sound of festive drumming and cymbals suddenly echoed from outside. The wedding procession had arrived!

The wedding procession?!

Panic surged through Shao Yizhou. He was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing frantically. Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and the others were equally anxious, unable to sit still. But no matter how desperate they were, the tightly shut door swung open.

Standing outside was Mr. Zhuang, dressed in a bright red wedding robe. Behind him floated a horde of grotesque ghosts-some missing limbs, others lacking noses or eyes. They crowded the doorway, their cold, grayish-white eyes fixed on the group like predators sizing up their prey. It felt as though they could devour them whole at any moment.

It was over.

The thought struck all of them simultaneously.

Shao Yizhou’s legs gave out, and he stared wide-eyed, too stunned to speak. Xia Yao and the other three staff members were equally horrified, their faces pale as they stumbled backward. One of them, too frightened to handle the sight, rolled their eyes and fainted on the spot. Shen Yue was the only one who managed to keep some semblance of composure, though his face betrayed his shock. He had encountered Face Ghosts before, but there had only been a dozen or so. This-this was an army of at least a hundred!

Even if Master Gu were here, facing this many ghosts would be a daunting challenge.

Despair welled up in Shen Yue’s heart. He had thought Mr. Zhuang might be stronger than the Face Ghosts, but now it was clear-he wasn’t just stronger; he was on an entirely different level.

What could they possibly do now?

Even if they managed to escape, they’d likely be caught again…

Mr. Zhuang stood at the doorway with a cheerful smile, looking at his stunned future spouse. “I’ve come to fetch my bride. Come on out and let’s get married. Once we bow to heaven and earth, we’ll officially be husband and wife.”

Shao Yizhou froze in place, too terrified to move. His eyes darted to the countless demons and ghosts swirling in the air, and he swallowed hard. His legs trembled so much that he could barely stand. He stiffly turned his neck to glance at Xia Yao and the others, who were equally horrified, their faces pale and filled with fear.

Seeing no response from his bride-to-be, Mr. Zhuang curled his lips into a smile. “Why aren’t you coming out? Are you feeling shy?”

Shao Yizhou: “……” Shy, my foot!

Just as Shao Yizhou was at a loss for what to do, Shen Yue stepped forward, forcing himself to remain calm. “You can’t just take him away so easily. Shao Yizhou isn’t the kind of person who would just go along with this, haha…”

Mr. Zhuang tilted his head, considering this. “You’re right. So, what would it take for him to come with me?”

Even the little ghosts trailing behind Mr. Zhuang joined in, laughing and jeering. “Yeah, what would it take for him to go with our King?”

Shen Yue stammered, “Uh… first, give us a red envelope.”

With a wave of Mr. Zhuang’s hand, the butler stepped forward, carrying a basket. He grabbed a handful of paper money and handed it to Shen Yue. Not only Shen Yue received some, but Xia Yao and the two unconscious ones on the ground were also showered with paper money and Ghost Money. The bills floated down onto them like a funeral offering, leaving them trembling. Shen Yue clutched the eerie money, his hands shaking, regretting his impulsive demand for a red envelope. Was this a mistake?

“Now that you’ve taken the red envelope, can you come with me?” Mr. Zhuang asked.

Shao Yizhou: “……”

His teeth chattered as he turned his wide eyes toward Shen Yue, silently pleading for him to come up with something-anything.

Shen Yue had already done his best. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but the butler behind Mr. Zhuang was glaring at him with a menacing look. That dark, sinister expression made it clear that if Shen Yue dared to speak again, the butler might claw him to death. How could he risk saying anything more?

The Aunt approached with a strange smile. “The bride must be feeling shy. Come, let me help you onto the bridal sedan.”

The Aunt looked ancient, her back hunched and her movements slow, yet her strength was astonishing. With one hand, she hoisted Shao Yizhou up as if he were a mere chick. Despite being a tall man over six feet, he seemed utterly powerless in her grasp.

She announced loudly, “The bride is getting on the sedan!”

Bride Shao Yizhou: “……”

The little ghosts in the sky and on the ground were thrilled, rushing forward to get a closer look at the bride. Gu Feiyin was among the crowd of ghosts, surrounded on all sides by spirits-front, back, left, and right. The Four Little Ghosts floated in mid-air, chattering away.

“Wow, the bride is really beautiful! The King sure has good taste.”

“But… doesn’t he look a bit like a man? Does the King like men now? Weren’t the previous ones all women?”

“You’re right, he does look like a man. And kind of familiar, too.”

“Why does it feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before?”

Gu Feiyin wasn’t interested in the bride; she was busy counting money. On her way here, she had managed to grab quite a few red envelopes, totaling over ten thousand yuan. Though her luck wasn’t as good as some of the other kids, having something was better than nothing, and it made her journey worthwhile.

She looked up at the kids in the sky, tugging at a pant leg floating in mid-air, and asked, “Are there more red envelopes to grab later?”

The celebratory music never stopped, so they had to shout to be heard.

The kid floating in the air was pulled down, scratched his head, and said, “Yeah, after the ceremony, there’ll be more when they enter the bridal chamber… Oh, I grabbed 150,000 yuan, how much did you get?”

Gu Feiyin was genuinely envious, as she had only managed to grab 15,000 yuan, which was nothing compared to them. But it wasn’t her fault; she had tried her best. She said helplessly, “There’s nothing I can do about it. You guys fly too fast, and the envelopes are snatched up before they even land. Getting 15,000 yuan is already pretty good for me.”

The four kids scratched their heads, as if realizing she had a point.

Gu Feiyin asked, “Do you know where the bathroom is? I need to go. Let’s hurry and try to be back in time to grab more envelopes during the ceremony.” She had been holding it in for a long time just to grab envelopes.

The four kids: “……???”

In the end, two of the kids carried Gu Feiyin to find the bathroom, one on each side, because it was faster that way, saving time for a quick return. The other two stayed behind to keep an eye on the situation and grab envelopes.

Hiding at the back, Zhang Daoist vaguely saw three little ghosts floating away arm in arm. The one in the middle with long black straight hair looked somewhat familiar, resembling Gu Feiyin, Master Gu.

Impossible, Gu Feiyin should still be in City A at this time. Even if she had come to City D, she wouldn’t be mingling so casually among the ghosts, would she?

Minister Li noticed Zhang Daoist staring off in a certain direction and asked, “What’s wrong? Did you see something?”

Zhang Daoist replied, “Nothing, I must be seeing things.”

…

When Mr. Zhuang led his bride out, Zhang Daoist and Minister Li finally caught a glimpse among the ghosts. That one glance made their faces change dramatically. They were shocked to see Shao Yizhou dressed in wedding attire, never expecting him to be the bride!

Not Xia Yao, but Shao Yizhou??? This Zhuang guy, is he a bit…

Beside Shao Yizhou were Shen Yue and Xia Yao. The three of them stood out among the ghosts, their faces pale, bodies weak, seemingly on the brink of panic.

They exchanged glances, wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, and said, “Now that we’ve found them and know the location, let’s get out of here quickly.”

At this point, even if they wanted to rescue Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, and the others, they were powerless. With so many ghosts watching, they were outnumbered.

After discussing, they prepared to find an opportunity to leave. However, when Mr. Zhuang returned to the main hall with the bride, his sinister eyes glanced around, sniffed the air, and said suspiciously, “Why do I smell a Taoist? Could there be a Taoist attending my wedding? Good, very good, let him witness the joyous union of humans and ghosts.”

Mr. Zhuang’s voice boomed across the courtyard, loud enough for everyone to hear. Naturally, Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, and Xia Yao caught every word. Their faces lit up momentarily-Taoists? Did this mean they had a chance to be saved? But just as quickly, their expressions darkened. If the Taoists had been discovered, could they still hope for rescue?

The Little Ghosts hovering in the air began to stir, their icy gazes darting left and right. Their whispers grew into a cacophony of anxious chatter.

“A Taoist? Here? Are they here to catch us? What do we do? I’m scared!”

“Where? Where’s the Taoist? Show yourself! I’m not afraid of you!”

“Hee-hee-hee, I hate those phony, self-righteous Taoists the most. I’m not scared of them. Bring ten of them, and I’ll take them all on!”

“Quick, find them! Find the Taoists and drag them out!”

The crowd of ghosts descended into chaos, shouting and jostling as they searched for the intruders. Some even grabbed at each other, demanding, “Is it you? Or you? Maybe it’s you?”

Meanwhile, Zhang Daoist and Minister Li felt their hearts tighten. Had they been discovered? Could it be that their Concealment Talismans had failed? This was bad-very bad.

They began to retreat discreetly, inching toward the courtyard gate. Just as they were about to slip out, Minister Li’s back bumped into something. Startled, he turned around, only to find the butler standing behind him, his face twisted into a sinister grin. The butler’s cold eyes bore into him as he asked, “The wedding isn’t over yet. Where do you think you’re going?”

Minister Li stammered, “I-I wasn’t going anywhere. I just heard there were Taoists around and got scared, so I thought I’d step outside to hide…”

The butler let out a chilling laugh and, with a single shove, sent Minister Li stumbling into the middle of the ghostly crowd.

Zhang Daoist and the others clenched their fists, their eyes fixed on Minister Li. He gave them a subtle shake of his head-don’t act rashly! If only one of them was exposed, then only one would die. But if they were all discovered, none of them would make it out alive. Worse, the critical information they carried would never reach the outside world. The consequences were unthinkable.

Minister Li staggered forward, his face pale. The butler sneered, “Master, I find his behavior highly suspicious. Could it be him in disguise?”

Minister Li swallowed hard, his fists tightening. He dared not say anything more, standing motionless as Mr. Zhuang approached to scrutinize him.

Mr. Zhuang circled him slowly, his expression unreadable. He said nothing, but the oppressive chill of his presence silenced everyone around. The air grew heavy, and even the ghosts seemed reluctant to make a sound.

Shao Yizhou didn’t know who Minister Li was, but he could tell the Taoists hiding among the ghosts were in grave danger. Shen Yue tugged at his sleeve, and Shao Yizhou understood the signal. Clearing his throat, he feigned irritation and said, “Mr. Zhuang, are you getting married or not? If you’re not, I’m leaving.”

Mr. Zhuang turned to him with a smile that seemed almost gentle. “Just wait a moment. Don’t be impatient. I’ll deal with this little intruder, and then we can proceed with the ceremony.”

Shao Yizhou frowned. “But I don’t want to wait. If we miss the auspicious hour, there’s no point in going through with the wedding.”

Shen Yue chimed in, “Exactly. A wedding is a big deal. If the timing is off, you’ll have to pick another auspicious day. Otherwise, it won’t be lucky. Mr. Zhuang, if you truly care about Shao Yizhou, shouldn’t you consider his feelings?”

Shao Yizhou shot Shen Yue a sidelong glance but decided it wasn’t the time to bicker.

Xia Yao, keeping her head down, mumbled nervously, “Y-yeah, if the auspicious hour is missed, th-there’s no point in continuing. The wedding should just… stop.”

Mr. Zhuang fixed his gaze on Shao Yizhou, and even the Little Ghosts present turned their attention toward them. Zhuang remarked, “I didn’t expect you to be so eager to marry me. It seems we truly are kindred spirits, a match made in heaven. I’m delighted.”

Shao Yizhou nearly choked on his disgust. He had once thought Mr. Zhuang to be a refined and cultured gentleman, but now it was clear that he had been utterly deceived. He suppressed his nausea and forced a reply, “Then hurry up! If we don’t get married now, I swear I’ll never agree to marry you in the future!”

Mr. Zhuang let out a hearty laugh, waved his hand grandly, and said, “Marry? Of course! Let’s proceed with the wedding immediately. We shouldn’t let unrelated matters ruin the mood.”

Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, and the others exchanged subtle glances of relief, even Zhang Daoist and his companions loosened their grip on the Yellow talisman paper. Minister Li, who had been under the Ghost King’s menacing scrutiny, also felt a fleeting sense of gratitude. But just as the tension seemed to ease, Zhuang’s voice rang out again: “Since that’s the case, there’s no need for further questioning. Kill them all and be done with it!”

Minister Li’s head snapped up in shock, his eyes darting toward the Ghost King.

The Ghost King’s cold stare bore into him, his lips curling into a sinister smirk. “Anything dangerous must be eliminated. Better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let even one slip through.”

With his hand clawed into a menacing grip, the Ghost King lunged at Minister Li’s chest, nearly ripping his heart out. Fortunately, Minister Li reacted swiftly, throwing himself backward and rolling away to safety. But before he could even catch his breath, the Ghost King was already upon him, his blackened nails clamping tightly around Minister Li’s throat. Within seconds, Li’s face turned a ghastly shade of blue-purple, his breath coming in desperate gasps.

Zhang Daoist, who had been watching from the sidelines, could no longer remain idle. He couldn’t stand by and let Minister Li die before his eyes. Gripping his peachwood sword tightly, he charged forward, shouting, “You vile creature! How dare you wreak havoc? Surrender now!”

Joining Zhang Daoist were several other Daoists, though only four of them dared to rush into the fray. Two younger Taoists remained hidden in the shadows, their eyes red with frustration. They couldn’t abandon the mission their Shifu had entrusted to them-they had to get the word out about what was happening here.

The two young Taoists exchanged a determined glance and carefully maneuvered their way past the ghosts, slipping out of the manor unnoticed. Their only thought now was to risk everything to deliver the message and summon help to save their Shifu and Shishu…

…

Zhang Daoist and his group of five fought valiantly, but within ten minutes, they found themselves surrounded by a sea of ghosts. Facing the Ghost King alone was already a daunting challenge, but his butler and Aunt, who guarded the manor, were clearly formidable adversaries as well. The five Daoists were besieged by dozens of ghosts, quickly losing ground. They could only form a defensive circle, standing back-to-back to stave off the relentless attacks. Yet even this strategy seemed unlikely to hold for much longer.

The ghosts present rarely witnessed their King in such a fury. Some of the less experienced ghosts were trembling with fear, retreating to the back doors and avoiding even a glimpse of the chaos.

Seeing the dire situation, Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and the others couldn’t help but feel a wave of despair. If even the Daoists couldn’t defeat the Ghost King, what hope did they have of escaping? They wanted to help, but their lack of ability made them hesitate-any attempt to intervene might only make things worse.

Shao Yizhou exclaimed, “What do we do? What should we do now?”

“You need to talk to Mr. Zhuang! Ask him to spare the Daoists!”

“Mr. Zhuang doesn’t listen to me at all! I’ve tried talking to him, but he still kills whoever he wants. Ugh, what are we supposed to do?!”

“If only… she were here. Maybe we’d still have a chance.”

But given the current situation, that seemed unlikely. Besides, Master Gu was in City A-how could she possibly show up in City D?

While Shao Yizhou and the others were drowning in despair, Zhang Daoist and his group, who had already exhausted their spiritual artifacts, were in an even worse state. Their supply of Talismans was dwindling, and their strength was fading fast. If this dragged on, it would only lead to their demise.

The Taoists and the ghosts were locked in a tense standoff, neither side willing to back down.

The Ghost King stood off to the side, watching the humans struggle with a leisurely air. His aura was now fully unleashed, a far cry from his earlier refined and gentle demeanor. Even the ghosts were cowering like turtles, too frightened to act out.

It seemed these humans were doomed.

“If you kneel and beg for mercy now, pledge your loyalty to me, I might spare your lives. Otherwise, you’re all headed for certain death.”

“In your dreams! We would never beg an evil ghost like you for mercy!”

“I’ll give you three minutes to think it over. Choose wisely.”

“…We’ll consider it.”

Zhang Daoist didn’t object this time. After all, three minutes of respite was better than nothing-it might allow them to hold on just a little longer. But deep down, he was still hopeless. Even if reinforcements arrived at the fastest possible speed, it would take at least an hour. Could they last that long?

Minister Li, barely clinging to life, rasped, “Why did you rush out here? My life isn’t worth much-if I die, so be it… You… you! You’re making me furious!”

“What are you saying? How could we just stand by and watch you die? Even if we managed to escape, how could we live with ourselves?”

But there was no denying that the situation was utterly bleak.

Just as Zhang Daoist was sinking into despair, he suddenly noticed a Long-haired Woman approaching from the distance. With most of the ghosts floating in the air, someone walking on the ground was immediately noticeable.

Her head was bowed, and her hands seemed to be rubbing her eyes. She took a step, then paused to glance around, as if unsure of where she was going. Zhang Daoist couldn’t make out her features clearly, as her face was obscured by her long hair cascading down her cheeks. But the chilling, eerie aura she exuded was unmistakably reminiscent of Master Gu…

Could it be her? But even if it was Master Gu, facing this many ghosts would surely be beyond her capabilities…

“Why is it so quiet all of a sudden? Did everyone finish grabbing the red envelopes already?”

The Long-haired Woman’s cold voice rang out abruptly, causing the Ghost King, who had been enjoying the show, to narrow his eyes sharply and turn his head. There she was-a Long-haired Woman who had somehow appeared unnoticed. She craned her neck, looking around with squinting eyes, as if struggling to see clearly. She even grabbed a nearby Little Ghost and asked, “Why is it so quiet? Did the wedding finish already? It couldn’t have-it’s just been a moment since I went to the restroom.”

The Little Ghost shuddered, staring at the Long Black Straight Hair woman in front of him, who was peering at him with an earnest and anxious expression. He stammered, “N-no, it’s not finished…”

“Not finished? Oh, good,” she chuckled darkly. Then she added, “Could you do me a favor and take me over there? My eyes aren’t working too well right now-I can’t see clearly.”

The Little Ghost: “…………”

Under the oppressive gaze of the Long-haired Woman and the Ghost King’s piercing stare, the Little Ghost finally couldn’t take it anymore. With a shriek, he vanished into the ground, leaving the Long-haired Woman scratching her head in confusion. She craned her neck again, squinting her dark eyes as she noticed someone else standing nearby. She fumbled her way over and asked, “Hi there, could you tell me where everyone’s grabbing red envelopes? Could you take me to join them? Thanks so much.”

The Ghost King stared blankly at the Long-haired Woman standing before him.

This Long-haired Woman exuded an overwhelming amount of Yin Energy, so much so that it nearly drowned out the faint traces of human vitality on her. If it weren’t for the shadow cast by her feet, no one would have believed she was human. And to top it off, she was here to snatch red envelopes? Missing teeth, and apparently blind? She was the complete opposite of his aesthetic preferences.

Gu Feiyin hadn’t expected that after grabbing a red envelope and taking a quick bathroom break, her vision would turn into a hazy blur. It was as if she’d suddenly become severely nearsighted-everything in front of her was just a vague, indistinct silhouette. Trying to see clearly was practically impossible.

The little ghost who had been waiting for her outside had disappeared somewhere, leaving her to grope her way back alone. She had initially followed the sounds to find her way, but then the sounds had vanished, leaving an eerie silence, as if there were no ghosts around at all. She had thought the wedding ceremony had ended-did that mean she’d missed her chance to grab more red envelopes? No way! She had only collected a little over ten thousand so far, and her goal was a hundred million!

She sniffed the air. Was that a pleasant aroma she detected? Or maybe not? It was faint and indistinct. Could it be that her nose was malfunctioning too?

Never mind, focus on the red envelopes!

Meanwhile, the Four Little Ghosts hiding nearby to watch the drama unfold couldn’t help but cover their eyes. They had heard something had gone wrong and rushed over to see the commotion, completely forgetting about the Long-haired Woman. Who would’ve thought she’d find her way here on her own and march straight into the heart of the battle? And now, she had actually grabbed hold of their King.

And didn’t anyone notice the King’s expression had changed?

What were they supposed to do now? Sure, the Long-haired Woman was a bit terrifying, but they didn’t want her to die either!

The Long-haired Woman sniffed the air again. “It really does smell delicious, doesn’t it?”

Her pale, eerie head tilted slightly, her gaze shifting toward the shadow beside her. Mr. Zhuang could clearly see the greed and bloodlust flickering in her dark eyes!

This Long-haired Woman, who was so far from his aesthetic standards, didn’t even give him a chance to think. He instinctively raised his hand, intending to fling her away. But when he tried to throw her off, she didn’t budge. Instead, the Long-haired Woman stretched her neck forward, her pitch-black eyes narrowing, and suddenly opened her gaping, bloodthirsty mouth wide!

Ha! Was she really about to bite a ghost without so much as a word?

Footnote:

1. Shifu(师父):A respectful term for a master or teacher, particularly in martial arts or traditional crafts, indicating a mentor-student relationship that often goes beyond instruction, involving personal guidance and moral support.