I Am Not a Master - Chapter 59

Gu Feiyin’s plan to inherit the estate was indeed a significant secret. She understood the importance of keeping wealth under wraps, fearing that someone might try to snatch it away. She had been robbed and stolen from countless times before, and losing it now would be a real shame.

Thus, their journey was meant to be discreet. But even with such low-key intentions, a Long-haired Woman leading twenty-something ghosts from City A to City E was bound to attract attention. Especially when she was holding a ghost that looked like it had been through a shredder.

Moreover, Zhuang was a notorious figure in the ghost world, known for his charming ways. Hundreds, if not thousands, of ghosts had attended his weddings. He was quite the celebrity, handsome, suave, wealthy, and had a knack for understanding the hearts of female ghosts, making him particularly popular. Many knew him, and he was easily recognizable. Traveling so conspicuously, it was impossible not to be noticed.

Along the way, they were bound to encounter a few wandering spirits. Even if they were too cautious to ask questions directly, there would undoubtedly be plenty of gossip behind the scenes. Word of mouth spreads quickly, and trouble was inevitable.

Sure enough, quite a few “ex-wives” had caught wind of the situation and showed up to claim their share of the inheritance.

Counting them up, one, two, three, five, six, seven, eight-quite impressive. More formidable than seven brothers from a single vine; they had eight already, and two more would make a soccer team!

And this was just those who had heard the rumors and arrived. Who knows how many more hadn’t made it yet?

The scene was truly astonishing, leaving one speechless and bewildered.

Even Zhuang himself probably never imagined that one day his ex-wives would gather to divide his estate. More astonishing was that these ex-wives weren’t fighting; instead, they were getting along famously, calling each other sister and bonding over their shared history as his former spouses.

The camaraderie was so strong, it almost seemed like they were about to form a sisterhood.

“Sister, don’t worry, I won’t take much. Just a little something to show for it. After all, it’s Old Zhuang’s estate, and taking a piece proves he’s truly gone. Consider it a consolation.”

“I don’t need much either. Just a fair share so that if any ghost asks, I can say I’m a legitimate ex-wife who inherited from Old Zhuang, not just someone who was casually discarded.”

“What are you saying, sisters? We agreed to split it evenly, and that’s what we’ll do. I’m not the kind of ghost who takes advantage. We’ll all get our fair share, no more, no less.”

“Sister, you’re so kind. Zhuang was a fool to leave you. He’s blind not to recognize a true gem.”

“Well, thanks to his blindness, I wouldn’t have the happy life I have now if he hadn’t left early.”

“Indeed, thanks to Old Zhuang for not holding me back.”

“…”

Zhuang now felt utterly defeated, devoid of any thoughts. He even began to reflect on himself-was he really that terrible? After all, they had shared a hundred days of marriage, once deeply in love, watching stars, moons, and flower seas together. Why could they now so calmly watch him suffer and discuss how to divide his estate right in front of him?

Could he really be a scoundrel?

No, no, no, it wasn’t that. No matter how bad he was, he couldn’t be worse than the Long Black Straight Hair. That person, with a beast’s heart beneath a human facade, was the true black-hearted one!

As Zhuang was deeply reflecting on his own shortcomings, the Long Black Straight Hair suddenly sprang into action. She snatched the broom from the Old Lady’s hands and pointed it at the group of sisterly ghosts, her presence fierce and intimidating. “No, I disagree!”

Her pitch-black eyes glared coldly at the ex-wives, her expression growing increasingly terrifying, as if she might leap forward and bite them one by one at any moment.

The ex-wives turned their heads in unison to look at the Long-haired Woman, startled by her ruthless gaze, and took a few steps back. They thought to themselves, is this the infamous, heartless, and vicious Ghost Trader-Long Black Straight Hair? Yes, it seemed they had heard that Zhuang was brought here by a Long-haired Woman. In their excitement, they had completely forgotten about this!

The sisters had been pouring their hearts out, rejoicing in Zhuang’s misfortune, forgetting about the greatest threat-Long Black Straight Hair.

Now, they remembered, and couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy.

Long Black Straight Hair was notorious for her brutal methods, truly a “ghost’s nightmare.” If they angered her, what would happen if she decided to devour them? Especially since she had a group of Little Ghosts backing her…

Even the few humans were startled by the sudden burst of energy from the Long-haired Woman, thinking to themselves, is this a dispute over uneven spoils, leading to internal conflict? They exchanged a glance that said “take care of yourself,” and quickly retreated to the side, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire.

Fortunately, the maids were no longer insistent on feeding them the Black Blob, giving them a chance to catch their breath.

The Red-Dressed Ghost and Armless Ghost were also taken aback, probably not expecting Long Black Straight Hair to be so assertive in her refusal. But since she had spoken, they certainly wouldn’t agree either. After all, Long Black Straight Hair was formidable and their landlord, so they would definitely side with her! Although they were somewhat apprehensive, given that these ex-wives seemed to have been ghosts for much longer, they had Long Black Straight Hair on their side. They could flaunt their power behind her, and if she couldn’t win, they would just carry her and flee…

As Little Ghosts, they might not be skilled at much else, but their escape skills were top-notch. Surviving in the cutthroat ghost world required a keen sense of the situation.

In no time, Zhuang’s eight ex-wives and Long Black Straight Hair were at loggerheads, and the Little Ghosts behind them naturally showed their fierce faces, unwilling to back down!

Zhuang was overjoyed. If he had hands, he would have clapped them in celebration.

Argue, argue, wonderful arguing, argue until the cows come home! It would be best if they started fighting, resulting in mutual destruction, so he could seize the opportunity to escape! In a few decades, he would be a hero once more, able to rise again and seek revenge on the ruthless Long Black Straight Hair. By then, perhaps she would have become an Old Grandma, and he could mold her as he pleased.

Just the thought of it made him so excited that he felt his head might grow back.

In this place, while others might not recognize Long Black Straight Hair, Yingying certainly did. After all, they had a rather memorable encounter before. As the other ghosts remained uncertain and suspicious, Yingying stepped forward, letting out a playful laugh, but was quickly unnerved by Long Black Straight Hair’s icy gaze. She asked, “Master, do you disagree? Why? Is there a problem with our distribution?”

The Ghost Lady snorted, “This is my territory. I haven’t spoken yet, and you’re saying you disagree?”

Yingying moved closer to the Ghost Lady and whispered, “Sister, you should say less. We can’t beat Zhuang, and Zhuang can’t beat Long Black Straight Hair. We’re definitely no match for her…”

The Ghost Lady glanced nervously at Zhuang, who was rolling around on the ground in a mess, feeling a bit uneasy herself. She feigned calmness, rolling her eyes and saying in a haunting tone, “I don’t have a small heart like yours. You may fear her, but I don’t!”

Yingying replied, “Then go ahead, sister.”

Provoked, the Ghost Lady raised her eyebrows and glared fiercely at Long Black Straight Hair, her voice lacking confidence as she demanded, “Why do you disagree?”

Yingying: “…” That’s really something. = =

Ghost Lady: “…” If you have the guts, you say it.

Yingying: “…” I don’t have the guts.

The Long-haired Woman stared at them, her sinister demeanor growing more unsettling. Zhuang was almost cheering them on, urging them to fight, to explode, to get the rhythm going. No backing down, just do it!

The Long-haired Woman stepped on Zhuang’s belly, causing his throat to catch, leaving him speechless. He turned his head 180 degrees, burying it into the ground… What a disgrace.

Everyone present, whether human or ghost, shivered simultaneously, clutching their stomachs.

Yingying said, “Master, don’t be angry. Just tell us your demands!”

The Long-haired Woman stared blankly at her, speaking with serious conviction, “Don’t forget, Zhuang was captured by me, and I killed him. Only then did you have the chance to divide the inheritance. Logically, my contribution is the greatest. I deserve the highest merit, and naturally, I should take the largest share of the inheritance. You can take the smaller portion!”

… Huh???

The Ghost Lady paused, Yingying was stunned, and Zhuang’s ex-wives all stared at Long Black Straight Hair in disbelief. Just this???

Even the Red-Dressed Ghost and the one-armed ghost were taken aback. With such an arrogant and vicious demeanor, she only said this?

Zhuang: “…!!!”

The humans: “…!!!”

They all swallowed hard. Long Black Straight Hair truly had a ruthless heart!

The Ghost Lady, speaking impulsively, said, “Actually, I could kill too…”

For a moment, all the ghosts and humans looked at the Ghost Lady, and the Long-haired Woman also fixed her gaze on her.

Ghost Lady: “…”

Yingying asked, “Could you really do it?”

The Ghost Lady stiffened her neck and said, “What’s past is past. Decades have gone by, and even the deepest feelings have faded. Do you think I still have feelings for a scumbag ghost who abandoned me? Dream on.”

Yingying clapped her hands, praising her words. If he’s a scumbag, he shouldn’t expect any good!

Zhuang: “…!!!”

This woman, once she makes up her mind, is truly unbeatable. Zhuang couldn’t help but shed tears of sorrow.

Is Zhuang a scumbag? Yes. Is he the worst scumbag? Definitely not.

In the realm of ghosts, there are those who are despicable, just as among humans there are those who are equally contemptible. The nature of being despicable is the same, regardless of whether one is a ghost or a human. These ghosts have lived for ages, their appearances unchanged over decades or even centuries, accumulating a long list of wronged women. Compared to them, human scoundrels seem particularly vile.

However, humans only live for a few decades. As for why they have only two or three mistresses, unlike Zhuang’s impressive number, it’s simply because they haven’t lived long enough. One mistress at a time, their carefree days are limited. A human scoundrel is unlikely to reform and become virtuous; the only thing that might stop them is age, when they can no longer be despicable. If they were like Zhuang, forever young and carefree, they’d be despicable to the heavens.

…

Gu Feiyin adjusted her sleeves and asked, “Are you unwilling?”

It’s fine if they’re unwilling. Though these little ghosts aren’t tasty, a good beating might change their minds.

The ex-wives: “…”

In the end, they agreed. Gu Feiyin would take 99.9%, leaving the remaining 0.1% to be divided among the eight ex-wives. This arrangement was acceptable, as they themselves said they only wanted a token, a memory. Her taking the lion’s share was just right, satisfying everyone’s wishes perfectly.

Eight ex-wives: “…”

Long-haired Woman: “This distribution is quite reasonable, isn’t it? You shouldn’t have any complaints?”

No, none at all. Very reasonable. 🙂

Having reached an agreement, they all crowded into a stone chamber. This chamber was quite spacious, with corners piled high with gold, silver, and various jade artifacts. Some boxes contained ceramic and jade items, about twenty or so in total. Ghost Money was neatly packed in wooden boxes, stacked in the corner, about ten boxes in total, each securely locked. Gu Feiyin tried lifting one and found it quite heavy. If the denominations inside were large, she could instantly become a billionaire!

Zhuang’s ability to amass wealth was indeed impressive, no wonder he could distribute red envelopes so generously. Now, it was all hers to benefit from.

Unfortunately, she had to share so much of it, her inheritance was significantly reduced.

The Red-Dressed Ghost was truly stunned: “I never expected Zhuang to be so wealthy! He must be a high-status, wealthy ghost! And these antiques, taking just one out could be worth tens of millions.”

Armless Ghost said, “Oh my goodness, my assets over the years only amount to a few million. How many billions is this? Just how many tombs did Zhuang rob to gather so many treasures?”

“If Zhuang was so formidable, had he not fallen into Master Gu’s hands, he could have lived lavishly for centuries!”

“By then, his ex-wives could form dozens of soccer teams competing against each other. Who knows who would win the championship?”

“………”

Neighbor Miss and Old Lady were now much more cautious, floating among the piles of treasure, their gray eyes showing excitement and thrill, forgetting to roll their eyes.

The ex-wives were also shocked; they truly hadn’t expected Zhuang’s private wealth to be so vast!

Yingying wept tears of blood, lamenting, “Back then, Old Zhuang picked flowers from the entire mountain to celebrate our grand wedding and showered the guests with a rain of red envelopes. I truly believed he loved me, and he spent half his fortune to marry me, leaving me moved to tears. I thought I had found a good man in death, since I hadn’t found one in life. But when Old Zhuang said he didn’t love me anymore and wanted a divorce, I thought it was better to part amicably, remembering those happy times… Now I see I was just a fool, believing his superficial gestures!”

The Ghost Lady chimed in, “Why are you crying? At least you had a shower of flowers and red envelopes. I had to pay my own way.”

“And me? I had it rough too! Zhuang told me he was penniless and asked if I’d go on a budget trip around the world with him. Halfway through, he broke up with me because he fell for a foreign woman, saying she was fiery and exciting, and he didn’t want to deceive me anymore. He told me to find my own happiness and left a letter of separation before disappearing… Do you know how I managed to hide and make my way back from abroad? Do you know how much I suffered? Ten years, a whole decade! Was it easy for me?”

“…No, it wasn’t easy.”

With that, the accusations against Zhuang poured out, unstoppable. Now, Zhuang’s head was buried in the ground, unable to utter a word in response to the onslaught from his ex-wives.

The flowers and red envelopes were his tokens of affection, weren’t they? Discussing money between lovers is so hurtful. He and the Ghost Lady fell in love during hard times. He was charmed by foreign ghost women abroad, but he left money and a map with directions for her to return. How was he supposed to know she’d be lost abroad for over a decade? He returned home, and she hadn’t come back. She even brought a foreign gentleman back with her, but she doesn’t mention that!

Hmph, wasn’t she a lone ghost abroad, meeting a true gentleman who helped her overcome her past pain and live anew? That can’t be compared to a heartless man like you!

Zhuang: …

Forget it, he wasn’t in the mood to argue. You can’t reason with women; the more you try, the less they listen, and the angrier they get. Now, as a ghost under their roof, he had to keep his head down. Saying anything to provoke them would only lead to trouble for him.

…

Meanwhile, as they criticized Zhuang, they were also sorting through the inheritance, doing a rough tally and dividing it up. The antiques, jade, and Ghost Money were distributed, with Gu Feiyin taking the lion’s share-99.9 percent, more than any other ghost. Everything in the room was hers, while they only got a tiny portion, like small gifts given out of charity.

With so much inheritance, her nylon bags weren’t enough. She poured the Ghost Money into the bags, filling several of them, while the fragile gold, silver, and jade were packed into boxes to prevent damage.

Considering the sheer volume of items, it was difficult to transport them all with limited manpower. She glanced at the ex-wives and asked, “If you’re free, could I hire you to help move the inheritance? I can offer compensation-two candles.”

She held up two fingers.

The ex-wives: “…???”

That miserly woman with long black straight hair!

But why did they feel tempted? It had been ages since they’d had candles…

“Us…?”

“Hmph, I won’t do anything that lowers my dignity!”

“That’s outrageous; only two candles, and you’re willing to go?”

“…”

Outside the stone house, a few humans huddled cautiously, watching the ghosts sorting through the treasures. Those were genuine jade and antiques-if they could be taken out for study, their true value would be revealed. But these ghosts were crude, seeing the antiques merely as money, disregarding any other significance.

They wanted to speak up, but they were in no position to do so. Would these ghosts even listen to them?

“I can’t wait any longer. I have to take a chance,” Old Yang declared. “You all hide. Don’t come out unless I say so. If I’m gone too long, find a way to escape on your own!”

Cai Jie, panicked, asked, “Yang-Ge, what are you planning?”

Old Yang replied, “That Long-haired Woman might be our key to getting out of here!”

Zhu Cheng interjected, “What? She’s the most dangerous one. Approaching her is asking for trouble!”

“Then who should I approach?”

“…No idea. Ghost Lady? Yingying? Zhuang? Xiao Xi, the maid? No, none of them. There’s no one safe to approach.”

Old Yang had already stood up. He couldn’t wait any longer; waiting too long meant waiting for death. Better to take a risk-after all, he had nothing to lose.

Ignoring his colleagues’ protests, he sneaked inside and approached the Long-haired Woman. For some reason, even before he got close, he felt a chilling aura, shivering involuntarily, teeth chattering, and a hint of retreating thoughts emerged.

He steeled himself and took a few more steps forward. Just as he was about to reach her, a Headless Ghost suddenly appeared before him. It had no head, just a bare body with blood still oozing from the neck, revealing raw flesh…

Despite lacking a head and mouth, it could make sounds, a buzzing noise emanating from some unknown source, “Hello?”

Old Yang’s throat tightened, and he covered his mouth in terror, turning aside to retch, though he had eaten nothing for days and had nothing to vomit.

The Headless Ghost eerily patted his back, “Careful now.”

Old Yang: “…”

Cai Jie, Zhu Cheng, and Gong Shenghua, watching from behind: “…”

Their hearts were in their throats, fearing the Headless Ghost might devour Old Yang if displeased. As they were stuck in this tense moment, Xiao Xi led the maids inside, each carrying a tray of Black Blobs. Xiao Xi grinned sinisterly, “Come, come, everyone must be tired. My lady says let’s eat something first, then continue counting the money. There’s no rush.”

Indeed, they were hungry. The ghosts gleefully grabbed the Black Blobs and stuffed them into their mouths, like they were eating rice balls.

Gu Feiyin also grabbed one to nibble on, her eyes fixed on the soon-to-be-acquired inheritance, stretching her neck forward eagerly, as if her eyes could reach it. She was completely oblivious to someone trying to approach her for help.

Gu Feiyin munched on the Black Blob while clutching her money tightly, asking, “Is this Black Blob a specialty of the tomb?”

“What do you care?” Ghost Lady eyed her warily, “Just eat it. Why ask so many questions?”

“Oh, I was just thinking that the Black Blob tastes pretty good. If it’s a specialty of the tomb, I might take some back to sell.”

The ghosts were stunned: “…Sell?”

Gu Feiyin insisted, saying that selling it was perfectly normal. If the Black Blob was edible, it could definitely be sold.

In these times, being a ghost wasn’t easy. Little Ghosts had to wait for festivals to eat something that would last them half a year; they were constantly hungry. Besides offerings, they had nothing to eat but other ghosts or humans. But the Black Blob wasn’t from any ghost, and it was edible, so it could surely be sold!

She had experienced the hunger of a ghost firsthand. There was money in the pit, but it couldn’t be eaten. When she was starving, she’d go out to find something to eat. The souls of ghosts who had killed or were tainted with karma were the best, strong enough to keep her full for ten days or so.

When she was hungry, she’d catch ghosts to fill her stomach. If she couldn’t catch any, she’d starve. When desperate, she’d even consume herself, which wasn’t a big deal since she could regenerate.

But now, with the Black Blob, it made for a nice snack.

“Can the Black Blob be sold?”

“No.”

Ghost Lady turned her head stiffly, never expecting Gu Feiyin to set her sights on the Black Blob.

The Black Blob was something she discovered by accident, a form of Resentment Energy that appeared only in the main chamber of the tomb. Due to prolonged accumulation of yin and countless deaths, resentment formed, and the combination of yin and resentment, along with the right conditions, created the Black Blob.

She tried eating it once and found it surprisingly tasty, solving her dietary issues. How could she sell it?

Gu Feiyin regretfully looked at Ghost Lady, who shivered and rolled her eyes at Gu Feiyin: “…”

Gu Feiyin: “…”

Ghost Lady: “…If you want, I can sell you twenty plates a month.”

Gu Feiyin: “Great! Can I get a discount if I buy so many at once? Hehe.”

Ghost Lady: “…………???”

🙂

…

Once the inheritance was mostly sorted, with even a fraction given to Zhuang’s ex-wives, Gu Feiyin nodded in satisfaction, signaling twenty-some Little Ghosts to carry the goods home. The journey back wouldn’t allow for buses or motorcycles, but she could rent a small truck to haul everything. She couldn’t have the Little Ghosts trek over mountains with the load, and if they were robbed, who would she cry to?

She planned to stash the cash under her bed, becoming a wealthy person who slept on money. From then on, her dreams would be filled with little money bags.

As for Zhuang, once back, it’s time to give Xiao Zhang a call and have him take the ghost away. Selling second-hand goods for fifty or forty yuan is still money; having some is better than none. Thinking about it, she’s sold the same ghost twice, quite a profitable deal, never a loss.

The barely conscious Zhuang: …

“Alright, we’ll be heading back now.”

Ghost Lady and Yingying had no intention of asking Long Black Straight Hair to stay. Ghost Lady nodded gracefully in response, while Yingying giggled, “We’ll meet again if fate allows.”

“I’ll be back; there’s still so much to move, haha.” Gu Feiyin waved grandly, planning to transfer the inheritance first and then find a way to buy more plates of Black Blob. She could partner with Ghost Lady to sell Black Blob for profit!

The ex-wives felt that Long Black Straight Hair’s eyes were shining brightly, with a strong desire in her gaze, as if she might pounce and bite their necks off at any moment. They couldn’t help but drift back a bit, reluctantly waving goodbye, though what they were thinking was anyone’s guess.

“By the way, are you sure you don’t want to accept my offer? Jobs are hard to come by these days.”

“No, no need.” A bit of dignity must be maintained.

“Alright then.”

Gu Feiyin dragged Zhuang a couple of steps, suddenly remembering something, and turned back to glare venomously at Yingying, making her scalp tingle with confusion. What was going on?

Gu Feiyin dragged Zhuang over to her, sincerely saying, “Sorry, I almost forgot. The wild boar you sold me last time was completely inedible. Wild boars are protected animals and can’t be killed. I lost quite a bit.”

Yingying: “…?!”

Quite a bit, was it that thousand yuan?

“Could you help cover half of the loss?”

“……”

Gu Feiyin received five hundred yuan in compensation, carefully tucked it into her bag, and then led the little ghosts, dragging Zhuang, on their way back.

At this moment, Old Yang and the others were still outside. Seeing the Long-haired Woman emerge, they couldn’t hold back and rushed over, saying, “Master, can we leave with you? We’ll compensate you.”

Cai Jie added, “Whatever amount you want, we’ll give it to you! Just take us out.”

She squinted at them for a moment, then looked back at Ghost Lady. The ex-wives were busily discussing which hairpin looked best, not noticing that Zhuang was about to be dragged off for immediate justice, not sparing even a glance.

Zhuang deeply reflected on himself. Was he really such a failure? Surely not; he believed every one of his past loves was sincere and perfect…

Ghost Lady noticed, her cold gaze sweeping over the humans, and she chuckled icily, “My dear guests, the dinner hasn’t started, and you’re leaving already? Are you dissatisfied with my hospitality?”

Old Yang, sweating profusely, stiffly replied, “No, of course not. We won’t eat for now, thank you for your hospitality. It’s getting dark, and we’re worried about traveling at night, so we’ll head home.”

Gu Feiyin couldn’t quite make out what was in front of her. She hadn’t gotten a clear look during the meal earlier, and then she’d been too busy fighting over the inheritance to remember. But now it came back to her.

The Red-Dressed Ghost whispered softly in her ear, “These humans were obviously captured by that Ghost Lady. I noticed it before, but the situation wasn’t right to say anything. Now that we’re leaving, if they don’t come with us, they might end up dying in this tomb.”

Gu Feiyin tilted her head slightly, saying, “She just wants to play with them. That’s why she invited them to the birthday celebration.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost replied, “Really? They look like they’re about to cry from fear!”

Gu Feiyin thought for a moment and nodded. Humans do seem to be quite afraid of ghosts. But Zhuang was also someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong, which is why all his ex-wives were harmless little ghosts. These little ghosts weren’t worth much and couldn’t be sold for a good price, so she generally didn’t bother with them. Otherwise, if it were someone else like Zhuang trying to divide the inheritance, she might have taken it all and sold them for money!

“Alright, you can come down the mountain with me,” she said, glancing back. “I’ll take them and leave first. You all have fun.”

The Ghost Lady let out a cold laugh. “Even if you get out, be careful not to be haunted by evil ghosts.”

Old Yang and Cai Jie barely had time to feel relieved before the Ghost Lady’s words scared them out of their wits again. If they were haunted by evil ghosts, would they have any chance of survival? But there was no time to think about that now. They had to get down the mountain first! Once they were down, they’d immediately seek out a master to exorcise the ghosts. There had to be a way to save themselves.

Zhu Cheng and Gong Shenghua carried the unconscious Meng Jiaming on their backs, not daring to look around, and followed closely behind the Long-haired Woman.

After a few steps, the Long-haired Woman raised her hand, and the ghost embedded in the ceiling came down. She leapt gracefully onto the ghost with a stone embedded in its forehead. “Thanks, hehe.”

Neighbor Miss: “…”

The humans were dumbfounded. What kind of trick was this??? A person being carried by a ghost? Her ability to control ghosts was incredible!

They watched in disbelief as the Long-haired Woman was surrounded by ghosts, carrying nylon bags and wooden boxes, floating in the air. If they made it outside and were seen, it would surely cause a supernatural sensation.

“It seems we were right to ask this Long-haired Woman for help. She’s truly amazing! She must be one of those legendary cultivators; otherwise, I can’t think of any other explanation for her abilities.”

“She’s amazing, but also terrifying. Isn’t she afraid of those ghosts? Just looking at them gives me the creeps, yet she lets them carry her? Even among cultivators, I doubt there’s another like her.”

“Her skills must be far superior to those of the ghosts, which is why she’s not afraid of them.”

“That’s possible…”

“Indeed, the landlord is quite formidable; none of us stand a chance against her,” a ghostly voice suddenly emerged from beside them, causing the humans who were whispering to freeze in place. They stiffly turned their heads to see a male ghost, whose head appeared flattened and limbs twisted in bizarre angles!

They were so terrified they almost screamed, but the earlier shock had been overwhelming enough that they managed to suppress it, fearing the Long-haired Woman’s displeasure. One of them stammered, “W-we… we meant no harm, just amazed by the Master’s prowess.”

“Our landlord is indeed impressive,” the male ghost chuckled, “Don’t be afraid, our landlord doesn’t eat people, and neither do we.”

Meng Jiaming, who had just regained consciousness, opened his eyes to find a blood-soaked ghost standing before him, ominously repeating, “We don’t eat people… we don’t eat people…”

Meng Jiaming let out a scream, kicked his legs, and fainted again.

The four remaining conscious humans: “…”

Male ghost: “Oops, seems like I scared your friend unconscious.”

Humans: It’s not ‘seems,’ you definitely did!

…

The journey down the mountain was pitch-black and exhausting. Old Yang and the others, weary and hungry, supported each other as they finally made it down. Compared to the Long-haired Woman, who was carried by ghosts, they were in quite a sorry state.

Not knowing what else to say, they fumbled through their bags and managed to scrape together a thousand yuan: “Master, thank you for saving us.”

Gu Feiyin received the money with satisfaction, waving her hand, “You’re welcome. Get home safely, goodbye.”

…Or perhaps not goodbye? Best if they never meet again.

Old Yang and the others watched as the Long-haired Woman was escorted away by a throng of ghosts, all waving goodbye in their peculiar forms. They waved back stiffly, forcing smiles that were close to tears.

These past few days would be the most extraordinary experience of their lives.

They needed to report to their superiors immediately-the ancient tomb was filled with ghosts, and these spirits had divided the relics among themselves. Ordinary people should definitely stay away!

…

Meanwhile, City A was bustling with activity as the New Year approached. Old Man Wang and his grandson, while paying respects to their ancestors and deities, didn’t forget the ghosts who had once saved them. These wandering spirits were pitiable, with nowhere to go and likely no one to honor them. So, he specially bought pork head meat, slaughtered chickens and geese, and got up before dawn to cook two large pots.

The clattering in the kitchen left Granny Wang and Xiao Wang’s couple speechless. As ten o’clock passed, the grandson was bundled up like a ball, wearing a hat and gloves, ready to follow his grandfather out.

The grandfather-grandson duo, the elder carrying pork head meat and poultry, while the younger held incense, candles, and paper money, claiming they were going to the riverbank to honor the wandering spirits residing there.

Such talk during the New Year had Granny Wang nearly having a heart attack, though Xiao Wang and his wife were more composed. Being young, their hearts were strong, and after being startled several times, they had grown numb.

“Old man, I’m telling you, if you dare step out today, I’ll be furious!”

“Dad, please don’t go. It’s snowing heavily. What if something happens?”

“Come here, sweetheart. Mommy will put on a cartoon for you.”

Old Man Wang replied, “Ever heard of gratitude? I’m not senile yet. I know exactly what I’m doing. You ignorant mortals, I don’t bother explaining to you.”

Oh, now they’re ignorant mortals?

His little grandson chimed in, “Mom, I don’t want to watch cartoons. I want to go wish Uncle, Auntie, Brother, and Sister a Happy New Year!”

Granny Wang, Xiao Wang, and Xiao Wang’s wife: “…”

They could only watch helplessly as the grandfather and grandson headed out. Granny Wang was so upset she stomped her feet. Xiao Wang, worried, put on his coat and followed them out. The old man was in his seventies, carrying so much stuff in the snow. What if he slipped and fell? If the kid falls, it’s fine as long as he doesn’t end up with a concussion.

As they approached the riverbank, the weather was even colder. It was eerily chilly near the overpass. Normally, Xiao Wang avoided this area due to numerous ghost stories. Many people steered clear of it, yet his family seemed to frequent it, especially the grandfather and grandson.

Xiao Wang watched as his grandfather mystically arranged the pig’s head, chicken, duck, and goose by the river. His son earnestly took out incense, Paper Money, and candles, saying, “Uncle, Auntie, Granny, Sister, I’m here to wish you a Happy New Year! Have you eaten yet? Grandpa cooked lots of meat for you!”

…No, not good, not good at all.

But for some reason, right after his son said that, Xiao Wang felt the temperature drop even further…?

Naturally, he couldn’t see the little ghosts gathering around the offerings, noses stretched out, sniffing eagerly, eyes gleaming with hunger, ready to devour everything!

“So fragrant, so fragrant! I haven’t smelled such delicious pig’s head meat in decades!”

“Wow, why is it so aromatic? Who’s this kid? So sweet, knowing to offer sacrifices to us homeless souls. Good kid.”

“This is the kid who was pulled underwater by the Water Ghost and saved by the landlord. This is for the landlord. Don’t snatch it!”

“I’m not eating, just a sniff will do!”

“Get lost!”

Xiao Wang sneezed and hugged his arms tighter. What to do, it seemed to be getting colder.

If only he had Yin-Yang Eyes, he would see the tenants of the riverside villa all gathered around, watching.

With such fragrant pig’s head meat and delicious chicken, duck, and goose, who wouldn’t want a bite?