I Am Not a Master - Chapter 50

Two young Taoists were sprinting down the mountain in sheer panic, stumbling and falling along the way. They didn’t even dare to check their injuries, scrambling back to their feet and continuing to run. When they finally encountered a search team on the mountainside, their faces lit up with relief. They rushed over, shouting, “The Ghost King is getting married! Shifu is in danger! You must send reinforcements immediately!”

“Hurry! If we delay any longer, it’ll be too late!”

The search team was stunned. They quickly helped the two exhausted young Taoists down the mountain while relaying the urgent message.

City D was thrown into chaos once again. The moment the Taoists who had rushed to the scene heard the news, they were shocked. “The Ghost King? Are you sure it’s the Ghost King?”

“Absolutely sure. It’s said there are two to three hundred ghosts on the mountain, all vicious and ruthless. Especially the Ghost King-he’s not only holding Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and three others captive, but he’s also planning to marry Shao Yizhou. A Ghost King’s wedding is no trivial matter. If the ceremony is completed, Shao Yizhou will surely die, and Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and the others won’t escape their fate either.”

“And my Shishu is there too. The Ghost King has always been at odds with us Taoists. If my Shishu has fallen into his lair, I fear the worst.”

“We must act immediately. No matter what, we have to take down the Ghost King. If we fail, it won’t just be us-ordinary citizens in City D will be in grave danger as well.”

Orders were issued swiftly, and Taoists and Special Unit members from all directions began making their way up the mountain. Their mission was clear: rescue the captives and eliminate the Ghost King at all costs.

…

Meanwhile, back at the mountain estate, the little ghosts were utterly dumbfounded. They couldn’t believe their eyes-how could that Long-haired Woman dare to attack their King? Their shock lasted only a moment before it turned into a mix of pity and disbelief. Was this woman blind or just brainless? How could she possibly think provoking their King was a good idea? She must have a death wish!

The little ghosts hovering in the air instinctively floated backward. When the King inevitably lost his temper, the Long-haired Woman would surely meet a terrible fate. It was best for them to keep their distance.

Zhang Daoist, on the other hand, froze when he got a clear look at the Long-haired Woman. At first, he was thrilled, but then a wave of shock hit him. His emotions swung back and forth as he held his breath, afraid to make a sound and risk exposing Master Gu. After all, he didn’t want to ruin her plan. In his mind, there was no way Master Gu wasn’t aware of the numerous ghosts here. She had to have a strategy, right?

Especially when he saw Master Gu grab hold of the Ghost King, his excitement grew. It seemed his hunch was correct-Master Gu had indeed planned everything. She must have pretended to be blind to lower the Ghost King’s guard, then stealthily approached him. And now, she had managed to capture him in one swift move!

The other Taoists nearby didn’t share his optimism. They looked deeply uneasy, their eyes darting between the Ghost King and the eerie Long-haired Woman. Though they had been cultivating for years and could tell she was human and not a ghost, her presence was no less unsettling. She seemed just as dangerous as the Ghost King, if not more so. Dealing with the Ghost King alone was already a daunting task-throwing her into the mix made their chances of survival look grim.

Shen Yue was on the verge of tears, overwhelmed with emotion. He had been utterly hopeless, convinced they were all doomed. But just when he thought there was no way out, Master Gu had actually shown up!

Shao Yizhou, trembling with fear, cowered behind Shen Yue. He stared at the bizarre Long-haired Woman, her face obscured by her hair, and felt a chill run down his spine. She was holding hands with Mr. Zhuang-what kind of relationship did they have? She seemed incredibly powerful. Could she be one of Mr. Zhuang’s ex-wives, back to settle some old scores?

Xia Yao swallowed hard, taking a few steps back in terror. She couldn’t help but think, Is this the end for me?

As everyone-humans and ghosts alike-was caught up in their own thoughts, the eerie Long-haired Woman suddenly opened her gaping mouth, aiming straight for the Ghost King.

Whoa, this Long-haired Woman sure had guts!

It wasn’t just the Little Ghosts thinking this; the Ghost King thought so too. What a fool, he mused. Not a single decent spiritual artifact in her possession, and now she’s resorting to using her mouth? Hah, how laughable.

Zhang Daoist, along with Shao Yizhou, Xia Yao, and the others, was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of move was this?

Shen Yue, on the other hand, was thrilled. He had personally witnessed Master Gu devour the Face Ghost Leader to the point of making it wail like a child. If she could do the same to Mr. Zhuang, it would be even better-preferably to the extent of obliterating his very soul.

But just as Shen Yue was brimming with anticipation and nervous excitement, the Long-haired Woman’s gaping mouth suddenly closed again. Her cold, sinister face scanned left and right, her eyes narrowed, before finally locking onto Mr. Zhuang. She extended her hand, seemingly aiming for his neck.

…Well, that works too. Strangling him is fine. Just hurry up and finish him off!

But Mr. Zhuang wasn’t about to let that happen. He was the Ghost King, after all. How could he possibly allow a mere human woman to strangle him so easily?

With a cold sneer, he raised his hand and swung it at the Long-haired Woman. Though he only used a fraction of his power, it was more than enough to make her suffer. Even those pesky Daoists wouldn’t survive a blow like this-at best, they’d be left crippled.

Witnessing the scene, Zhang Daoist and Shen Yue widened their eyes in alarm, their hearts practically leaping into their throats. Yet they dared not shout or make a commotion, lest they distract Master Gu.

The butler and the Aunt chuckled darkly, flashing a sinister grin at the humans. The Little Ghosts floating in the air weren’t surprised either, silently concluding that the Long-haired Woman was doomed.

“Smack-!”

The Ghost King’s palm landed squarely on the Long-haired Woman’s forehead. Her head tilted to the side, her long hair swayed, and her outstretched arm froze mid-air. She appeared completely immobilized. Zhang Daoist and Shen Yue were so terrified they forgot to breathe. The Ghost King, however, threw his head back and laughed triumphantly. “And this is what dares to challenge me? How foolish-uh?!”

The Ghost King froze in shock, staring down at the Long Black Straight Hair that hadn’t been defeated by his strike. Instead, she had reached out and covered his mouth. Her bowed head slowly lifted, revealing a face completely unscathed.

Her pitch-black eyes, devoid of focus, stared at him as she lowered her voice and said, “Shh, keep it down. Don’t make noise.”

The Ghost King blinked in confusion. Cover his mouth? Why was she covering his mouth??

…Wait, what kind of move was covering his mouth?

It wasn’t just Mr. Zhuang who was baffled; Shen Yue couldn’t make sense of it either. Zhang Daoist, Shao Yizhou, Xia Yao-they were all equally perplexed. And the Little Ghosts floating above? They were utterly dumbfounded, their faces blank with confusion.

As Mr. Zhuang froze for a brief moment, the Long-haired Woman’s hand, which had been covering his mouth, suddenly transformed into a claw. Her five fingers dug into his cheeks like talons, rendering him completely speechless. Not only was he unable to utter a single word, but his face throbbed with excruciating pain. To his horror, he realized he couldn’t escape her grasp-not even by vanishing into thin air.

What?!

Shock coursed through him. How could this be happening? Who exactly was this Long-haired Woman?

In all his years as a ghost, he had rarely suffered such humiliation. The last time he’d been so thoroughly bested was shortly after he became a ghost. Back then, he’d been smitten with a beautiful spirit who lived atop a mountain-a true stunner who had captured his heart at first sight. After their initial encounter, he couldn’t get her out of his mind.

But alas, despite years of pursuit, he never won her over. Worse still, his infatuation nearly cost him his life.

One fateful night, he enlisted a few Little Ghosts to help him set up a romantic confession scene. Just as everything was ready, an inexplicable female ghost appeared out of nowhere, ruining his carefully planned proposal. She declared he smelled “delicious” and lunged at him, biting him savagely. Before he knew it, half of his spectral body had been devoured. He wailed and begged for mercy, barely managing to preserve his soul before fleeing for his life. Afterward, he hid in a remote forest for decades, slowly recovering from the ordeal.

Only in recent years had he managed to lead a semblance of a normal life. But now, just as things were looking up, he found himself bullied by yet another woman?

He wasn’t asking for much in life-just the chance to pursue true love. Why did fate keep punishing him?

Anger and fear surged within him. He raised his foot and kicked at the Long-haired Woman, hoping to send her flying. Yet, with a swift twist of her body, she slipped away like a shadow. In the blink of an eye, she was behind him, her arm locked tightly around his neck in a chokehold. He, the mighty Ghost King, was now the one being restrained.

The butler and Aunt gasped in shock, and even the Little Ghosts floating in the air stared in disbelief at the eerie figure with Long Black Straight Hair.

Wait-how could their King be overpowered like this?

Was the Long-haired Woman truly this formidable?

But that wasn’t the end of it. After subduing their King, she didn’t make any demands. Instead, she stretched her neck, her cold, narrowed eyes glinting ominously. Without hesitation, she dragged the struggling Ghost King behind a nearby rock formation, as if she were a thief sneaking away with stolen goods.

The Little Ghosts hovered closer, peering down to see what was happening. Their jaws dropped as they witnessed their revered King pinned against the wall, being pummeled mercilessly. One punch, two punches, three punches, four punches, five punches…

All the while, the Ghost King’s mouth remained covered, muffling his cries into incoherent “mmphs.”

After several blows, even his resistance began to wane. Mr. Zhuang’s strength ebbed, and he stared in terror at the Long-haired Woman. She grinned, her eyes gleaming with a ravenous, bloodthirsty hunger. Her lips parted to reveal a mouth missing several teeth, which only made her appearance more feral. Then, she opened her gaping maw and sank her teeth into his shoulder. With a vicious bite and a savage tug, she tore into him like a wild beast feasting on its prey.

Mr. Zhuang let out a muffled scream, writhing in agony.

And then-she ripped his arm clean off.

The little ghosts floating mid-air were utterly horrified. They collectively retreated, their pale, deathly faces filled with terror as they stared at the ferocious Long-haired Woman. Their lifeless, grayish-white eyes reflected nothing but dread.

Especially the Four Little Ghosts who had accompanied the Long-haired Woman all the way here. Now, they were trembling in fear, huddled together and whispering nervously:

“Holy crap, who the hell is this Long Black Straight Hair? She actually ate our King!”

“Waaah, if she ate the King, does that mean she’s going to eat us next? I don’t want to be eaten!”

“I knew it! I always felt like she was looking at me like she wanted to devour me. Turns out she really does eat ghosts!”

“This is terrifying. Let’s get out of here. I don’t want to stay here anymore…”

“…I’m scared too.”

Zhang Daoist and the others couldn’t see what was happening behind the rockery, but the Ghost King’s agonized cries and the little ghosts’ utterly shocked expressions painted a vivid picture of the fierce battle taking place.

Even the butler and the Aunt, who had witnessed the scene, were so frightened that they took a few steps back. The butler, his face trembling like a wilting flower, stomped his foot in panic. “What are you all standing around for? Go save the master already!”

A dozen Ghost Slaves charged toward the Long-haired Woman. She, still engrossed in her gruesome feast, raised her head. Spotting the approaching dark figures, she sniffed the air greedily, her lips curling into a sinister grin. Her expression was one of eerie satisfaction, as if she had just caught the scent of a gourmet delicacy. Her cold, bloodthirsty eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of fulfillment.

This sight alone was enough to make the Ghost Slaves instinctively step back. Zhuang, whose mouth was still covered, was even more terrified. His eyes widened in horror as he watched the Long-haired Woman lower her head again and bite off his other shoulder!

The butler and the Aunt couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Hiding behind the others, they once again commanded the Ghost Slaves to rescue their master. The Ghost Slaves, though reluctant, braced themselves and charged forward…

Even the butler and the Aunt let out a sharp cry, their faces pale and fierce, as they lunged at the Long-haired Woman. No matter what, they had to subdue her and teach her a lesson.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Daoist and Shen Yue, watching the Ghost Slaves rush toward the rockery, grew increasingly anxious. There was no way Master Gu could handle so many ghosts on her own.

From behind the rockery, they could hear the sound of heavy blows-“Bang, bang, bang!”-echoing ominously. This wasn’t good. Danger was imminent!

With most of the Ghost Slaves now diverted, the pressure on Zhang Daoist’s group eased significantly. Seizing the opportunity, they fought back with all their might, wielding their peachwood swords as they battled their way toward Master Gu.

Shen Yue, unable to hold back any longer, tore the amulet for peace from his neck and gripped it tightly in his hand, splitting it into two halves. Clenching his fists, he charged forward.

Shao Yizhou shouted after him, “Shen Yue, where are you going? It’s dangerous out there! Get back here!”

Xia Yao chimed in, “Shen Yue, don’t run off!”

Shen Yue replied firmly, “Stay here and don’t move. Master Gu is out there, and she might not be able to handle all these ghosts by herself. I’m going to help her!”

Xia Yao protested, “What can an ordinary person like you do to help? Shen Yue, Shen Yue!”

Watching Shen Yue rush out, Shao Yizhou and Xia Yao exchanged worried glances.

With Zhang Daoist and the others already heading that way, staying behind didn’t necessarily mean they’d be safe. In fact, being left alone often spelled the greatest danger. Besides, if something happened to Zhang Daoist and Shen Yue, their own chances of survival would be slim. In that case, they might as well go together. Even if they couldn’t help… well, if they were going to die, so be it!

Resolving themselves, they quickly followed after him.

After Shen Yue, Shao Yizhou, and Xia Yao regrouped with Zhang Daoist and his team, Zhang Daoist, noticing they seemed relatively unharmed, quickly said, “What are you doing here? Find a place to hide, now!”

Shen Yue replied, “Hurry, they’ve all gone to deal with Master Gu. We need to help her!”

“Exactly! Every little bit helps. We won’t hold you back.”

Seeing their determination, Zhang Daoist didn’t argue further. “Stay behind us and act according to the situation!”

“Got it,” Shen Yue responded.

With that, Zhang Daoist resumed his fight with the Ghost Slaves. At this moment, they couldn’t help but feel a bit fortunate. If those little ghosts floating in the sky had decided to join the fray instead of just spectating, who knows how many times they would have perished by now.

As Zhang Daoist’s group charged toward the rockery, a sudden ringtone from Zhang Daoist’s phone startled everyone. The abrupt sound left them momentarily stunned before a wave of excitement swept through. Zhang Daoist quickly retreated behind Zhao Taoist. “Cover me! This might be news from the outside.”

Zhao Taoist nodded solemnly. “Don’t worry.”

Zhang Daoist pulled out his phone and checked the caller ID. To his shock, it was… Master Gu?! Did she drop her phone?

Dumbfounded, he answered and brought the phone to his ear. “Hello…?”

“Zhang Daoist, how are you? Been doing well lately?”

“…Uh, hello?”

“I’ve caught a few rather powerful ghosts here. Interested in buying them?”

“…???”

Zhang Daoist glanced at his phone, then toward the rockery. Suddenly, the ghosts floating in the sky above let out terrified shrieks and darted backward as if they’d seen something utterly horrifying.

Minister Li, noticing Zhang Daoist frozen in place, couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Did something else happen?”

Wiping his face with his hand, Zhang Daoist gave Minister Li a look that was hard to describe. Into the phone, he said, “I’ll take them. I’ll take them all.”

“The ones I caught this time are pretty strong. They might be a bit pricey, though.”

The Ghost King, dangling helplessly in the Long-haired Woman’s grasp, gave a futile struggle. Never in his wildest nightmares had he imagined he would be sold-and at a high price, no less. This Long-haired Woman was utterly despicable, even worse than the one he’d encountered decades ago!

“…How pricey are we talking?”

By this time, Zhang Daoist’s group had reached the rockery. The scene that greeted them was chilling: the Long-haired Woman stood there, cold and menacing, holding half of the Ghost King in her hand. Most of his body had vanished, leaving only a partial head, a torso, and two legs. His remaining form was barely held together by a thin strip of neck, struggling to maintain a semblance of humanoid shape.

At her feet lay two figures-one foot pinning down the butler, the other the Aunt. Both looked utterly defeated. Scattered around the ground were Ghost Slaves, beaten into a disoriented mess, sprawled in every direction.

And there stood Gu Feiyin, her long hair flowing eerily, holding a phone in one hand as she spoke to Zhang Daoist.

The Daoists, along with Shen Yue, Shao Yizhou, and Xia Yao, were utterly dumbfounded. “…??”

The Long-haired Woman, her expression chillingly serious, seemed to ponder for a moment. Then, in a hauntingly calm voice, she said, “Fifty for the big ones, forty for the small ones. Deal?”

Everyone: “…?”

The Ghost King: “…?!”

The ghosts in the sky: “…!!!”

The Ghost King, held tightly in the grip of the Long-haired Woman, shuddered involuntarily. His battered form trembled as his disfigured mouth could no longer utter a single word, reduced to muffled groans. His cold, eerie eyes darted around, rolling in their sockets. Strangely enough, he now looked pitiful, a far cry from his former grandeur.

The little ghosts floating in the sky shrank back even further, as if some monstrous flood or beast lay ahead. They scrambled to hide, their fear palpable.

“What’s with this Long Black Straight Hair? She’s terrifying! She’s actually trying to sell the King!”

“The King and all his subordinates have been captured. That Long Black Straight Hair is unbelievably strong!”

“Do you remember that Water Ghost who said there’s a terrifying Ghost Trader in City A? They claimed that ordinary ghosts stand no chance against her. Any ghost that falls into her hands meets a grim fate. Could it be her?”

“No way, is she really that scary?”

“Let’s get out of here. Stop watching the show. I’m scared. If the King can’t defeat her, there’s no way we can!”

“Go, go, go! Let’s leave now! From now on, we should stay as far away from the Long-haired Woman as possible!”

“I need to hurry back and warn my grandparents. They must avoid her at all costs. If she catches them, she’ll sell them for money!”

In an instant, the ghosts floating in the sky scattered like frightened birds and beasts, terrified that once the King was dealt with, they’d be next. The Ghost Trader, as they now called her, was not only powerful but also ruthless-a cold-hearted figure.

Even the Ghost Slaves, who had been locked in combat with Zhang Daoist and his group, ceased their attacks. Without hesitation, they turned and fled, vanishing into the ground.

“Honestly, the Ghost King killing people was wrong to begin with. I just didn’t dare say it-I was afraid he’d eat me. The Long-haired Woman may have defeated the Ghost King, but she also saved people. Maybe she’s not as scary as she seems?” One of the Four Little Ghosts, who had come along with the Long-haired Woman to snatch red envelopes earlier, scratched their head thoughtfully. “Besides, we’ve traveled with her for so long, and she hasn’t tried to eat us.”

“The Ghost King was a Malevolent Ghost trying to become a Ghost Immortal. We can’t compare ourselves to him. Still, I also think the Long-haired Woman isn’t as terrifying as everyone says…”

Regardless of what these ghosts thought, the reputation of the Long Black Straight Hair as a fearsome Ghost Trader spread like wildfire. One thing was certain: any ghost who encountered her would do well to steer clear. Otherwise, they risked losing their ghostly lives.

As the ghosts fled, the once bustling manor finally fell silent. The atmosphere turned cold and eerie, with an unsettling stillness settling over the place.

…

Gu Feiyin finally felt full and let out a satisfied burp.

She had only eaten a bowl of Spicy and Sour Noodles in the morning, gnawed on two steamed buns at noon, and skipped dinner entirely. While climbing the mountain earlier, she had finished off the leftover buns from lunch. By now, she was starving, but she had held back her hunger for the sake of snatching red envelopes.

Just as her stomach was growling unbearably, a Little Ghost practically delivered itself to her doorstep. This ghost was surprisingly delicious-perfect for filling her stomach. She could eat half now and save the other half to sell for some cash. It was an ideal arrangement.

Earlier, her hunger had driven her to start eating right away, almost forgetting that she was here to attend a wedding. Thankfully, she caught herself in time, dragging the Little Ghost to a secluded corner to eat discreetly. She even stuffed its mouth to keep it from making any noise, ensuring the wedding wouldn’t be disrupted and her red envelope mission wouldn’t be jeopardized.

But now, she was puzzled. What part of the wedding were they at? Why was it so eerily quiet?

She swung the half-eaten Little Ghost around in her hand, turning in circles as she pondered. Had she taken too long, and the wedding was already over? And where were the four Little Ghosts who had brought her here earlier? They must have been so busy snatching red envelopes that they completely forgot about her.

She stomped on the ghosts lying on the ground a few more times, lamenting the lack of rope to tie them all up.

By now, Zhang Daoist had finally snapped out of his shock. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Master Gu, thank you for saving our lives. This Malevolent Ghost was incredibly powerful, and I was completely helpless against it. If not for you, we truly wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Zhao Taoist and Minister Li were even more emotional than Zhang Daoist. After a night filled with peril, where they had narrowly escaped death multiple times, their gratitude was overwhelming. “Master Gu, we are deeply indebted to you for saving our lives!”

Shen Yue chuckled softly, looking at the eerie yet oddly familiar Long-haired Woman. To him, she seemed particularly endearing.

Shao Yizhou and Xia Yao, on the other hand, were utterly dumbfounded. They couldn’t comprehend how this sinister-looking Long-haired Woman could possibly be the renowned Master Gu. And judging by Zhang Daoist’s demeanor, he seemed to know her quite well.

Shen Yue whispered to them, “Don’t doubt it. Master Gu is a truly remarkable person. I encountered a similar situation on a plane before, and it was thanks to her that everyone on board survived. Otherwise… I probably wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Shao Yizhou and Xia Yao nodded blankly, swallowing hard. While Shen Yue’s words were reassuring, the sight of the Long-haired Woman-Master Gu-still sent shivers down their spines. Shao Yizhou even felt a faint resemblance to that Zhuang fellow in her demeanor. She looked like a good person on the surface but seemed sinister and cunning underneath…

Gu Feiyin followed the sound of voices and saw a few shadowy figures approaching. She couldn’t see their faces clearly, but the voices were familiar. Surprised, she exclaimed, “Zhang Daoist, you’re here too? When did you arrive?”

“We’ve been here for quite a while…”

“Heh, what a coincidence,” she said, lifting the tattered Little Ghost in her hand. Her cold, eerie face surprisingly showed a hint of sincerity. “This one’s fifty. The ones on the ground are forty each. One big one and seventeen small ones-that’s seven hundred and thirty in total. So, will you pay by mobile transfer or cash? Heh.”

Zhang Daoist and Minister Li exchanged glances, patting their pockets only to find they barely had any cash on them. Zhang Daoist hesitated before saying, “…We don’t have much money on us. Mobile transfer?”

Gu Feiyin, of course, was fine with that. Money was money, after all.

They knew Master Gu had a habit of selling ghosts. Shen Yue was aware of this too, so he wasn’t too shocked and could barely accept it. However, for Shao Yizhou and Xia Yao, who were witnessing this for the first time, their eyes widened in disbelief. “Oh my gosh, what kind of divine operation is this? Ghosts can be sold? And that Ghost King who had cornered us to the brink of despair-just like that, captured?”

This… this was just too exhilarating!

They felt dizzy, as if they were dreaming.

Of course, the ghosts being sold off for a mere seven hundred and thirty yuan were even more dazed.

Zhang Daoist pulled out his phone and transferred seven hundred and thirty yuan to Master Gu. Although seven hundred and thirty was ridiculously low-capturing a Ghost King would earn them a reward far exceeding that amount-Master Gu clearly wasn’t in it for the money. Her noble character was evident; she had casually set the price at seven hundred and thirty. After all, the last time she caught a Face Ghost, she only charged seventy-eight.

Looking at the tattered and broken Ghost King, Zhang Daoist still found it hard to believe. Had they really subdued the Ghost King?

He hadn’t seen the battle between Master Gu and the Ghost King, but judging by the Ghost King’s current battered state and the terrified reactions of the little ghosts, the fight must have been incredibly fierce. Capturing the Ghost King surely came at a great cost to Master Gu. He wouldn’t assume this was an easy feat-this was the Ghost King, after all. They could barely handle the Ghost King’s ghost slaves, let alone the king himself.

Moreover, with the Ghost King captured, the little ghosts that had gathered were now scattering in all directions. The crisis in City D was finally resolved, and Shen Yue, Shao Yizhou, Xia Yao, and the others were safe. This brought a collective sigh of relief.

Gu Feiyin, having received the payment, was now completely focused on her phone, squinting at the blurry digits on the screen. Cheerfully, she handed over the little ghost and said, “Here you go. I need to go grab some red envelopes now. Do you know where they’re holding the wedding ceremony? I want to hurry over-hope it’s not over yet…”

Zhuang: “…???”

Everyone: “…???”

Shen Yue cleared his throat and said, “…I’m afraid the wedding won’t be happening.”

Gu Feiyin exclaimed, “Not happening? Why? They were already halfway through-how could they just stop? I was wondering why it was so quiet. Turns out the wedding was canceled?”

Shen Yue couldn’t help but chuckle. He glanced at the Ghost King being held by Zhang Daoist and then at Shao Yizhou, who was dressed in a red wedding robe. “The groom was arrested for committing a crime, and the bride ran away. So, yeah, the wedding’s off.”

The arrested groom, Zhuang: “…”

The runaway bride, Shao Yizhou: “…”

Gu Feiyin sighed. A wedding could be this dramatic? Although she couldn’t grab any red envelopes now, she had already pocketed over ten thousand earlier, and with the seven hundred and thirty she just earned, this trip wasn’t in vain. Quite a fruitful haul, actually.

Zhuang, held tightly by the smelly Daoist, struggled with all his might, letting out muffled cries. His bulging eyes glared at the woman with Long Black Straight Hair, blood and tears streaming down his face. But no matter how furious he was, he couldn’t muster any authority now. He was completely at their mercy. The bound butler and Aunt were also huddled in a corner, their earlier arrogance long gone.

Gu Feiyin noticed the little ghost was making quite a fuss. Following the commotion, she landed a few punches on him. Although she missed a couple of times, she managed to land enough blows to silence him. And just like that, Zhuang fell completely silent. The ghost slaves nearby trembled in fear-this Ghost Trader was absolutely terrifying!

Zhang Daoist and Shen Yue finally noticed something unusual about Master Gu’s eyes. Alarmed, they asked, “Master Gu, what’s wrong with your eyes? Did you get injured while fighting the Ghost King?”

She touched her eyes lightly and replied, “No, this little ghost couldn’t possibly hurt me. It’s probably the Five Defects and Three Shortages. Heaven just loves messing with people.”

Shen Yue, unfamiliar with the concept of Five Defects and Three Shortages, turned to Zhang Daoist with a puzzled expression. Zhang Daoist, however, looked utterly shocked, his face grave. Shen Yue couldn’t help but feel uneasy and asked, “Is the Five Defects and Three Shortages really that serious?”

Zhang Daoist nodded solemnly, his tone heavy. “It’s one of the most feared consequences for those of us who practice the Dao. It’s complicated to explain, and you might not fully understand. Let me put it this way: I had a Shishu who once saved someone he shouldn’t have-a person on the brink of death. From that moment on, his life took a downward spiral. In middle age, his wife divorced him, and not long after, his only son died in a car accident.”

“At the time, my Shishu was determined to save that person despite my Shifu’s warnings. My Shifu tried to dissuade him, saying it might trigger a calamity. For the first half of his life, everything seemed fine, but the second half… sigh. If the person he saved had been a good person, someone who did good deeds, the calamity wouldn’t have been so severe. But this person was plagued by loneliness and misfortune, and my Shishu ended up bearing two of those calamities. It shows that the person he saved, though alive, committed many evil deeds. The seeds of those deeds bore fruit, and some of those consequences fell upon my Shishu.”

“Master Gu, did you save someone on that airplane? Is that why you’re facing the ‘defect of disability’ from the Five Defects and Three Shortages?”

Shen Yue was stunned. He turned to look at Gu Feiyin, the eerie Miss Long Hair standing silently nearby. Her face was expressionless, almost chilling. If she truly was suffering because she saved people on that airplane…

“If that’s the case, what can be done?”

“I’m afraid there’s no solution.”

No solution? Shen Yue clenched his fists, his gaze dropping. His heart felt heavy, a mix of helplessness and sorrow.

Gu Feiyin stared at them coldly, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she said, “It might not be that. I also saved a few people on Wawa Island. Then there was the kid I rescued from a Water Ghost by the river near my home. I’m not sure which incident triggered it-or maybe it’s cumulative? Besides, I was on the airplane myself. Saving others was also saving myself, so it doesn’t really count as interfering with someone else’s fate. But then again, you could argue it does. After all, even if everyone else on that plane had died, I probably wouldn’t have. Haha.”

Zhang Daoist: “…”

Shen Yue: “…”

Zhang Daoist thought back to that flight and remembered Ge Hong.

Ge Hong was notorious for his shady dealings with Fortune-manipulating and borrowing it for personal gain. If he was merely borrowing his own future Fortune for the present, that would be one thing. But rumor had it that Ge Hong’s methods were far more sinister. He didn’t just borrow from his clients; he stole Fortune from others to benefit himself.

Fortune might seem abstract, but once stolen, the victim’s life could spiral into misfortune, often ending in an early death or a lifetime of misery. Such actions were considered heinous, and most people wouldn’t dare to commit them.

Given the circumstances of that flight, if Master Gu hadn’t been there, everyone on board would have died-including Ge Hong. This meant Ge Hong’s fate had been altered…

Furious, Zhang Daoist resolved to confront Ge Hong as soon as possible. That scoundrel needed to be taught a lesson.

If you want to court disaster, fine-but don’t drag others down with you!

As the Ghost King’s aura grew weaker, the manor gradually reverted to its original state. Looking around now, where was the festive atmosphere? All that remained were cobwebs and dust. The once exquisite manor had turned into a dilapidated ruin. The previously clean and tidy floors were now littered with human bones, overgrown with weeds, and the entire place reeked of a foul stench that made people gag.

Having spent a day and a night in this place, Shao Yizhou, Shen Yue, Xia Yao, and the other three couldn’t help but retch at the sight. Shao Yizhou, in particular, was vomiting the hardest. Seeing the manor in this state, how could they not question what they’d been eating during their stay?

Who knew what horrors they’d consumed?

At this point, their stomachs were practically turning inside out.

With the wedding now a bust and no red envelopes to claim, Gu Feiyin decided to go look for her “pit.” However, her worsening nearsightedness made it a real hassle to navigate the dark mountain terrain. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that the “doggone heavens” were messing with her. First, they struck her with lightning and turned her into this state, and now they seemed intent on preventing her from finding her pit. Did the heavens plan to hoard the massive fortune buried in her pit for themselves?

The path down the mountain was treacherous. Gu Feiyin ordered one of the Ghost Slaves to dismantle a door panel, then had four Ghost Slaves carry her down the mountain on it. Sure, her poor eyesight made things tricky, but she figured there was always a way. With a clever mind like hers, nothing could truly stump her.

The Ghost King could only watch helplessly as the woman with long black straight hair commanded his slaves to dismantle his courtyard gate and use it as a sedan chair, carrying her as she floated gracefully down the path.

The Ghost King was so furious that blood tears streamed from his eyes. He struggled and groaned in frustration. This woman with the long black hair was taking ghost bullying to a whole new level!

Meanwhile, the Daoists and celebrities who had endured a harrowing night couldn’t help but widen their eyes in disbelief. Their expressions were a mix of awe and envy. Who knew ghosts could be used like this?

Shen Yue suddenly recalled the scene of Miss Long Hair being dragged through the air by the Face Ghost. He rubbed his nose and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Shao Yizhou leaned over and whispered, “This Master Gu… she’s truly one of a kind.”

Xia Yao, on the other hand, shyly approached Master Gu, wringing her hands nervously. “Master, can I… can I join you?”

Gu Feiyin glanced at her. “Sure.”

Xia Yao, thrilled, hopped onto the door panel. “Thank you, Master Gu!”

Gu Feiyin held up two fingers. “Two yuan.”

Xia Yao froze. “…”

Shen Yue quickly shoved Shao Yizhou aside and stepped forward, pulling out his phone. “If she doesn’t want to pay, I will. Master, can I ride? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

Gu Feiyin’s eyes lit up. “Of course! Hop on.”

“Thank you,” Shen Yue said, climbing aboard.

“You’re welcome,” Gu Feiyin replied nonchalantly.

Xia Yao, snapping out of her shock, exclaimed, “Wait, I want to ride too!”

Her initial hesitation had only been because the two-yuan fare seemed so… reasonable. She glared at Shen Yue, feeling that this scheming guy was a bit too quick on the uptake. Shen Yue, pretending not to notice, casually took a seat next to Master Gu.

Shao Yizhou raised his hand hesitantly. “…I, uh, I want to ride too!”

The Daoists exchanged glances. “…”

What now? Even they were starting to feel tempted to hitch a ride on the ghost sedan chair.

The Ghost Slaves carrying the door panel: “…”

The Ghost King, on the verge of tears: “…”

This wretched woman with the long black hair-why won’t she just drop dead already?!