I Am Not a Master - Chapter 67

Gu Feiyin had never expected that Baiyu Town was actually Mu Village. This revelation nearly made her head spin. She remembered falling asleep, waking up hungry, and then leaving her shelter to devour a Malevolent Ghost. While she was eating, several bolts of heaven thunder struck, and she was transformed into a human.

Despite the drastic changes in the outside world, she had never imagined that Mu Mountain’s Mu Village, a mere small village, had transformed into a large town, becoming unrecognizable. Could it be that the lightning strike not only turned her into a human but also catapulted her far into the future?

Although she had suspected as much given the significant changes in the times, the confirmation still seemed unbelievable. “Goddamn Heaven, how much karma did I accumulate in my past life to deserve this torment? Could it be that one of the ghosts I devoured was related to it?” She mused about the power of connections.

Zhuang was almost in tears; he had managed to locate Mu Village so effortlessly. He hadn’t expected Baiyu Town to be Mu Village either. Just a few decades had passed, yet Mu Village had developed too rapidly!

Now that Mu Village was found, his usefulness was exhausted, and he hadn’t yet regained his Soul Power. It seemed he was doomed to a tragic fate of being sold by the Long Black Straight Hair for money.

This thought made Zhuang even more sorrowful. He hung his head low, his face a picture of misery and coldness, overflowing with Resentment Energy. Tears streamed down as he covered his handsome face and sobbed, eliciting pity even from the ghosts.

Of course, Gu Feiyin felt no pity for him; after stepping on him a few times, he finally quieted down.

Zhuang: …Indeed, nothing but food and money could ever sway this heartless, ruthless woman with Long Black Straight Hair!

The lonely spirits, seeing Zhuang’s pitiable state, couldn’t help but shiver. Old Master Yu also shivered a bit but was ultimately quite thrilled and eagerly invited Gu Feiyin and a few of the lonely spirits to join him for a drink tomorrow. “I mainly want to thank you. If it weren’t for you terrifying Gong Sisi by the window, I wouldn’t have succeeded so easily in getting my revenge.”

A drink? The ghosts were nearly ecstatic. Who wouldn’t want to partake? Just thinking about the fruit wine made their mouths water, and they immediately agreed: “Sure, we’ll definitely come!”

“Wow, I didn’t expect such good fortune! It’s been so long since I’ve had any meat.”

“You mean to say you didn’t manage to snatch even a bite of meat during the New Year celebrations? You’re really down on your luck.”

“Ah, well, it’s not my fault. In the past, I could grab some, but this year a very powerful ghost appeared. Many little ghosts were recruited by him. Whenever there’s an offering, they act in groups. Us loners struggle to snatch even a bite.”

“Why don’t you join them then, are you foolish?”

“I value my freedom; why should I bow down for a few pieces of meat!”

“…Oh.”

As they were getting into their discussion, Old Master Yu asked Master Gu, “Master, will you come? I don’t have much to offer you, just a meal.”

Of course, Gu Feiyin said, “I’ll come.”

We need to find the pit, and we need to eat too-how else would we have the strength to search for it?

Speaking of which, now that we’ve found Mu Village, the mountain behind it must be Mu Mountain, though it has changed so much I barely recognized it. And what’s with that Baiyu Temple they built on it? I hope they haven’t dug up her grave.

She shivered uncontrollably, filled with worry. If they had dug it up, there were still so many treasures in that pit… she had to find them, no matter what!

But it was getting late now, and everything was pitch black, making it hard to see. She decided to head back to the hotel and get some sleep, and then resume her search at dawn. After all, she was human now, and staying up late could lead to wrinkles-unlike when she was a ghost, when she didn’t need to sleep at all, and even after hundreds of years, she wouldn’t get a single wrinkle and still looked fabulous. Being human was truly tough.

She tiptoed back, hands clasped behind her back, leading Zhuang by the hand. His pale face looked even more sinister and unapproachable.

They hadn’t gone far when two drunken men appeared, staggering arm in arm, laughing and joking with cigarettes clamped between their lips, looking no different from the hooligans usually found loitering on the street corners. Before they even got close, a strong smell of tobacco and alcohol hit her.

She didn’t take it too seriously until one of the strong and tall men glanced her way, causing her heart to skip a beat. She stumbled, nearly falling over, half thinking she’d seen a ghost. But then she focused and saw only a Long-haired Woman walking with her head down, leaning on a wooden cane, her eyes vacant as if she were blind struggling to see the world. Her shadow stretched long under the streetlight, clearly not a ghost, just someone with an unpleasant and somber air.

The strong and tall man stepped forward, pointing at the Long-haired Woman with a fierce expression: “You ugly woman, it’s bad enough you look scary, but scaring people late at night is just wrong. If you scare my soul away, not even becoming a ghost will stop me from haunting you!”

The two men beside him looked over but did nothing to stop him; instead, they looked at Gu Feiyin with unfriendly faces.

“What’s with this woman, offending our Zhuang-Ge and not even apologizing quickly!”

“If you apologize nicely, we might even let you off this time. Next time you see us, better walk around. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!”

“Come on, kneel down and apologize to our Zhuang-Ge!”

Despite all the men said, the Long-haired Woman continued to walk slowly as if she hadn’t heard a word, her Long Black Straight Hair swaying at the same frequency as before.

This really stirred up a hornet’s nest as they felt utterly ignored!

That said, Gu Feiyin wasn’t even aware they were speaking to her. After all, she couldn’t be associated with “ugly”. She thought she looked quite pretty-her nose and eyes were well-defined, her cheeks were naturally white without needing any makeup, and her hair was long, straight, black, voluminous, and silky, which was quite enviable in a world where balding is common. She definitely had an advantage, even though it meant using more shampoo, but it was worth it. So how could she be considered ugly? She might not be as beautiful as the celebrities on TV, but she was definitely a beauty in her own right.

So naturally, Gu Feiyin didn’t think the “ugly woman” these young men were talking about was her. She continued to walk leisurely with her wooden stick, pondering that if she couldn’t find the pit by tomorrow, she’d have to enlist the help of some wandering spirits. After all, her vacation was almost over, and she needed to get back to work.

Unbothered and focused, she paid no mind to the young men, which only infuriated the three drunken men ahead. Feeling ignored and not receiving the expected cries for mercy, they felt utterly humiliated.

“Zhuang-Ge, what should we do? This woman doesn’t know her place!”

“Yeah, teach her a lesson. She needs to see what we’re made of.”

Zhuang-Ge’s face darkened as he took a big step forward, intending to slap the Long-haired Woman to teach her a lesson. But to his surprise, his hand didn’t land on her; instead, it hit nothing but air, stopping a palm’s width away from her. The sensation was cold and hard, like striking a stone.

Zhuang-Ge was dumbfounded. What was going on? Even though he wasn’t well-educated, he knew you couldn’t touch air. Had he run into an invisible wall? This wasn’t a video game!

Unable to resist, he touched it again. This cold, hard stone… no, it felt like he was touching something resembling a nose and mouth. A big head? No, no, no, he must be hallucinating from the alcohol. Just as panic set in, the mouth beneath his hand suddenly opened wide and bit down on his palm!

The teeth were sharp and strong, biting down hard enough to make Zhuang-Ge scream in agony. He fell to the ground, frantically shaking his hand, feeling as if his palm was about to be severed. What was more terrifying was that it was clearly air in front of him-how could a mouth appear out of nowhere?!

“Help, help! What are you? Let go of me…”

“Ouch, it hurts! Let go of me!”

The two companions, expecting the Long-haired Woman to beg for mercy, were instead startled by Zhuang-Ge’s frantic rolling on the ground, babbling nonsense. They found it amusing and said, “Zhuang-Ge, what’s wrong with you? Are you drunk?”

“Haha, Zhuang-Ge, you must be wasted. Who’s biting you? There’s no one… Come on, let’s record this.”

As they spoke, they pulled out their phones to record Zhuang-Ge’s pitiful state, laughing and chatting non-stop. They planned to show him the video tomorrow and even post it online for everyone to enjoy. No one gets this drunk, they thought.

But as they continued, they suddenly saw crimson blood flowing from the back of Zhuang-Ge’s hand, trickling down his arm and soaking into his sleeve, sticking to his skin in a sticky mess…

Zhuang-Ge was rolling on the ground, eyes wide with terror, disbelief etched across his face. Even the two who were recording realized something was off. They swallowed hard, peering closely at the scene. To their shock, the bleeding wound indeed bore the marks of teeth.

Teeth marks?

A chill ran down their spines as they instinctively stepped back, exchanging a wide-eyed glance. “W-what’s going on here?”

“No idea, but it’s really bleeding. Damn, there’s clearly no one there!”

“Could it really be a ghost?”

As they spoke, they suddenly felt a tap on their shoulders. Both froze, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads, teeth chattering. They turned their heads stiffly, only to find no one behind them.

“Ahhhh-help! There’s a ghost!”

Without a second thought, they bolted, desperate to vanish on the spot.

As they ran, they glanced back and caught a glimpse of the Long-haired Woman’s leisurely retreating figure. Beside her, a few shadowy figures seemed to walk, one of them turning his head. His pale, rigid face fixed them with an eerie smile.

He even waved at them, beckoning, come on, come on, come on…

The two thugs realized they had stumbled into something supernatural. Terrified, they stumbled and fell, scrambling to their feet in a panic, not daring to look back. At this point, who cared about Zhuang-Ge’s fate?

They ran, but peace eluded them that night. They kept replaying the video, haunted by the strange shadows. Eventually, they posted the video on a paranormal forum, claiming they had encountered ghosts.

The video gained some traction, as the man’s genuine tears and terror, along with the mysteriously bleeding hand, sparked lively discussions among netizens.

“You guys should consider acting; you’re pretty convincing!”

“Haha, this is hilarious. Your special effects are decent. Maybe try makeup artistry instead?”

“Whoa, this video is creepy. I swear I saw a shadow biting the man’s hand, and some blurry figures standing nearby… Did I see that right?”

“Commenter above is clearly a troll.”

“Did you guys do something to deserve ghostly revenge? If ghosts really wanted to kill you, why just bite your hand? They’d go for your neck! How are you even posting this? Maybe reflect on your actions?”

Old Man Wang, wise as ever, wasn’t fooled by appearances. The fact that the ghost bit the hand and not the neck suggested no lethal intent-perhaps they had provoked the ghost somehow.

This comment startled the two thugs. Could it be because they had offended the Long-haired Woman? Yes, as they left, they did see those shadowy figures beside her…

The next day, Jingxing and Jingkong descended the mountain.

Jingkong said, “The Yu family claims their old man couldn’t rest in peace. Last night, he actually climbed out of the coffin, his eyes wide open, scaring them so much they couldn’t sleep all night. That’s why they want Shifu to perform Transcendence.”

But Shifu, being eighty-nine and needing proper rest due to illness, couldn’t go. So he sent Jingxing along with Jingkong to handle it.

Jingkong, still young and as lively as ever, was a child Shifu had picked up from the streets, just like Jingxing. He followed his brother cautiously, asking, “Brother, do you think the Yu family is really haunted? I’ve never seen a ghost in my life, so why can you and Shifu see them?”

Jingxing, calm and composed, showing the demeanor of a disciplined young monk, replied, “You’ll know when we get there.”

Jingkong obediently nodded.

Jingxing being the disciple of the Abbot of Baiyu Temple was no secret in Baiyu Town. The Yu family was somewhat disappointed to see Jingxing instead of the old abbot, but Jingxing was no less capable. Besides, meeting the old abbot had become increasingly difficult over the years, so they didn’t show much displeasure and quickly invited Jingxing and Jingkong inside.

Third Yu, with a somber face, recounted the events of the previous night and nervously asked, “Young monk, my father’s coffin suddenly overturned, and his eyes opened and moved. I saw it with my own eyes. Do you think my father can’t rest in peace and holds a grudge against me? If it weren’t for me marrying a wicked woman, my father wouldn’t have died.”

As he spoke, he began to sob.

Jingxing approached the coffin, clasped his hands together, and looked at the ghosts sitting on the altar.

Old Master Yu sat in the center, pointing at Third Yu with a look of disappointment. Beside Old Master Yu were a few wandering spirits, each holding a large chicken leg. Among them was a child, sniffing a chicken leg with a delighted expression.

Jingxing: “…”

Old Master Yu, meeting Jingxing’s gaze: “…”

The wandering spirits hiding behind Old Master Yu: “… We are respectable guests, invited here. We didn’t steal or rob. You can’t catch us!”

“That’s right, young monk. We didn’t do anything wrong. Last night, we even helped Old Yu expose Gong Sisi’s true colors. We did a good deed, not a bad one.”

“Young monk brother, I just want to eat a chicken leg. I haven’t had one in so long. Please don’t catch me and my mom, okay?”

Jingxing: “…”

Jingkong looked at the altar and whispered, “Brother, why are you standing there stunned? Did you see something?”

Jingxing glanced at his junior and then turned to Third Yu, saying, “Shizhu, if there’s anything you wish to say, speak it now. Your father can hear you.”

Third Yu was taken aback, “Re-really?”

Jingxing nodded, “Truly.”

Third Yu knelt and wept, repeatedly saying he was sorry, blaming himself for marrying the wrong person and causing his father’s death. First Yu and Second Yu also came over. Although they were upset with Third Yu, they were still brothers by blood. Knowing Third Yu had no ill intentions and that the fault lay with Gong Sisi, they offered some helpless words of comfort.

Old Master Yu sat on the altar, watching the scene unfold. With a sigh, he said, “Young monk, please tell my wayward son that this isn’t his fault. He shouldn’t blame himself too much.”

Jingxing nodded and replied, “Shizhu, since your wishes are fulfilled, it’s time for you to go where you should.”

Old Master Yu nodded stiffly, saying, “I understand, but I still owe my benefactor a meal. Once I’ve treated her, my wishes will truly be fulfilled.”

Jingxing was puzzled for a moment and asked, “Benefactor?”

Old Master Yu assured him, “Young monk, don’t worry, we mean no harm.”

The three Yu brothers, hearing Jingxing’s words, were immediately startled. “Young monk, who are you talking to? Are you speaking with us…?”

Jingxing said, “You will soon have an honored guest. You owe them a favor.”

The Yu brothers became even more agitated. “An honored guest? What guest? Young monk, did you see our dad? Has he returned? Is he still here? Can we see him?”

Third Yu nearly grabbed Jingxing’s leg, pleading, “Young monk, please, let me see my dad. I beg you! I have so much to say to him face-to-face…”

Jingxing replied, “The paths of humans and ghosts are different, Shizhu. Do not force it.”

No matter how much the Yu brothers pleaded, Jingxing remained unmoved. Jingkong stood behind his brother, puzzled, wondering if Old Master Yu was really still there. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see him.

Jingxing moved to the side and sat down on the floor. Holding prayer beads in one hand and tapping a wooden fish with the other, he closed his eyes and began chanting the Diamond Sutra. Seeing this, Jingkong followed suit, mimicking his brother and reciting the sutra.

As the sutra was chanted, the wandering souls and little ghosts became restless. Holding their chicken legs, they jumped around, feeling their spirits elevated, and started shouting, “I don’t want to go to the Underworld! Ghosts like us, who’ve done nothing and have no money, have to wait decades to reincarnate. I’ve heard the Underworld is overcrowded, with dorms packed with dozens of ghosts, or else you sleep on the streets. I’m poor, but at least my cave is spacious. I don’t want to go to the Underworld or become human. Being a ghost is great!”

“Being human means suffering, but being a ghost is wonderful. You can go wherever you want, though there are borders, so you can’t travel abroad. But within the country, I’m free to roam. I don’t want to go!”

The ghosts chattered away, leaving Old Master Yu dumbfounded. “Wait, isn’t the Underworld overrun with ghosts?”

“Exactly! We didn’t do much good in life, so we don’t get any perks in death. We have to queue like everyone else. But you’re different, Old Man. You have family, sons, and grandchildren. In death, you have money and a home. If your sons do good deeds to accumulate blessings for you, the Yin Messengers will show you respect. You’ll live well, unlike us.”

“That’s why I admire Long Black Straight Hair. She made that Ghost House rental, and I want to go there. She’s done a good deed for us ghosts, giving us a home. But thinking of leaving my old home, I hesitate.”

“Let’s go, let’s go. This chanting is making my head spin.”

The little ghosts quickly fled outside, while Old Master Yu, unable to leave, scratched his head and sighed helplessly.

…

Gu Feiyin woke up early, eager to explore the mountain. Unfortunately, the landscape had changed drastically over the years, and she wandered aimlessly without finding anything familiar. She had taken countless photos on her phone but still hadn’t spotted a recognizable place. As noon approached, she decided to head to Old Master Yu’s house for lunch.

The wandering spirits had mentioned that the farmhouse feast was particularly lively, with neighbors and friends from all around gathering. The tables stretched from one end of the village to the other, with pots set up nearby to cook dishes that were then brought to the tables. The farmhouse offered a variety of specialties, including plenty of fish and meat, so much so that the table couldn’t hold it all.

It had been years since they had enjoyed such a grand meal, and if it weren’t for Old Master Yu’s invitation, they wouldn’t have had the chance to indulge.

Gu Feiyin was tempted by their words, practically drooling at the thought. As the time seemed right, she grabbed Zhuang and headed over.

However, shortly after descending the mountain, she stumbled upon a small path and accidentally stepped on someone. It wasn’t her fault for being blind; the person was lying right in the middle of the path. She tripped over him and fell flat on her face with a shriek, “Ah-!” Luckily, she wasn’t wearing her denture since she wasn’t working, or it might have flown out from the fall.

Zhuang chuckled, almost bursting into laughter, but managed to stifle it by covering his mouth. He glanced at the man sprawled on the ground, and for some reason, felt an inexplicable fondness for him at that moment.

He turned the man over and recognized him as a familiar face-the little monk who had borrowed ten yuan from Long Black Straight Hair.

Gu Feiyin also took a closer look, noticing the man’s forehead, which was swollen and bruised, still bleeding slightly. Fortunately, he was still breathing, not dead. Being stepped on seemed to have restored some of his consciousness, and he groggily opened his eyes, immediately spotting the Long-haired Shizhu squatting in front of him, her face expressionless as she looked at him.

She was indeed familiar-the one who had helped him before but insisted on a promissory note for the good deed. A good person, indeed.

“Shizhu, thank you for saving me once again.”

Gu Feiyin, puzzled, craned her neck to get a better look at his face, which was covered in mud except for the bump on his forehead. “Who are you?”

“… I am Zhen Du, the monk who borrowed ten yuan from you by the river bridge.”

“Oh, it’s you. Can you repay the money now?”

“…” He really couldn’t.

After being discharged from the hospital yesterday, he had gone to Baiyu Temple to recuperate. He not only patched up his torn monk robe but also managed to replace his cotton shoes. His previous pair had a hole, letting in cold air and freezing his feet, but he couldn’t afford new ones and had to endure. Fortunately, a monk friend of his Shifu at Baiyu Temple took good care of him.

Today, he had intended to stroll down to the town but unexpectedly stepped into a void and fell flat on his face. He had fallen many times before but never this severely-usually, he would just get up after a minor injury. This time, the fall was so brutal that he fainted, nearly freezing to death. Luckily, he was awake now.

He touched the bump on his forehead, which was quite large and painful to the touch. At this moment, he might as well have looked like a unicorn.

Zhuang stared at the monk named Zhen Du for a moment, puzzled. “Was that you who fell into the sewer that night? I thought that shadow looked familiar. I can’t believe it was really you. I’ve never seen anyone so unlucky. Did you offend the heavens or something?”

Zhen Du: “…”

Zhen Du: “There is a destiny in the unseen world. Amitabha, well done, well done.”

Zhuang rolled his eyes. Gu Feiyin glanced at Zhen Du again. “So you can see ghosts?”

It was only then that Zhuang realized that Zhen Du might have overheard his earlier words. Damn, this monk wasn’t doing his job. Seeing him being bossed around by this fierce Long Black Straight Hair ghost and not saying a word?

Zhen Du replied, “I was born with Yin-Yang Eyes and have seen all sorts of strange things since I was a child.”

Gu Feiyin suddenly understood. So this little monk had some skills after all.

Zhuang, annoyed, said, “Since you can see, you must have seen me being bossed around by this Long Black Straight Hair. All this mess on me is thanks to her. How could you just pretend not to see?”

Zhen Du said, “I see you are entangled in sin. It is only right for the female Shizhu to catch you.”

Zhuang: “…??” What happened to the compassion of monks? What happened to all beings being equal?

Gu Feiyin quickly gave Zhuang a couple of punches. How cunning and vile to incite a monk to catch her right in front of her.

Zhuang’s secretly cultivated Soul Power was almost scattered again from the beating. He was so angry he gritted his teeth and silently cursed the two black-hearted ones. That monk was no good either!

Zhen Du struggled to his feet, swaying a bit before he managed to steady himself by holding onto a tree. It made people worry for him. Gu Feiyin thought for a moment and handed the stick she was holding to the little monk. “Use this. Go see a doctor and get your forehead bandaged. Don’t let yourself get knocked silly.”

Zhen Du took the stick, grateful. “Thank you for your kindness, Shizhu.”

Gu Feiyin waved it off, saying it was nothing. If he got knocked silly, he might forget to repay the money.

…

The two people and one ghost continued on the road together. Zhen Du’s foot hadn’t healed, and now he had a new injury on his forehead. He wobbled his way to a pharmacy on the main road outside, where a doctor treated him. He was worried that if he didn’t apply medicine, given his luck, this minor injury might fester and require surgery, potentially affecting his brain, and he might really end up a fool!

He didn’t dare take the risk. Only after applying some medicine did he feel at ease. Fortunately, he got in touch with his Shifu, who arranged for the abbot of Baiyu Temple to send him money to pay the hospital fees. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the money to treat his injury.

Once his forehead was bandaged, he used the stick to make his way to the Yu Family. According to his Shishu at Baiyu Temple, Old Master Yu might have died unjustly, and such a person could easily become a Malevolent Ghost seeking revenge. His fellow monks Jingxing and Jingkong had already gone there, and he intended to take a look as well. On this journey, he hadn’t forgotten his mission to transcend calamities and save himself, nor his Shifu’s instructions to save all beings.

Old Master Yu’s family is quite lively these days. The three Yu brothers have been reminiscing about the benefactor Jingxing mentioned, but unfortunately, they have no idea who the person is. They don’t even know their name, whether they are male or female, fat or thin, tall or short-completely clueless, just waiting for the destined one to show up at their door.

Second Yu’s wife said, “Could it be a hoax?”

“Would you please be quiet? How could Shifu Jingxing spout nonsense? Besides, from the way Shifu Jingxing looked, he must have seen our dad.”

“Our dad’s wrongful death is an undeniable fact, and with all the commotion last night, how could it be fake?”

“I just feel so sorry for our dad. At his age, he still hasn’t been laid to rest peacefully and has to be dragged away for an autopsy… Doesn’t it break your heart?”

“Rather than feeling heartbroken, I’d prefer my dad could die peacefully. Those who harmed my dad won’t get away with it!”

That’s true; nothing is more important than the truth. They absolutely cannot let the guilty continue to roam free!

While they were discussing, suddenly a Long-haired Woman appeared at the front door. She stood there eerily, her face pale and cold, neck stretched out, her dark eyes rolling wildly-her bloodthirsty and chilling appearance was truly terrifying.

The Yu brothers were momentarily stunned, wondering if she had come to the wrong place. Then they saw the eerie Long-haired Woman smile at an empty spot before walking into the house.

Everyone was puzzled.

They watched as the Long-haired Woman eerily walked from outside into the house, crossed the yard, and went straight into the living room, standing in front of the altar. Suddenly, a chicken leg-the favorite of Old Master Yu, so they hadn’t forgotten to prepare a bunch of chicken legs for the ritual-flew up and landed right in front of the Long-haired Woman. She reached out and grabbed it.

Then, they watched in horror as the Long-haired Woman opened her gaping maw and tore off a piece of the chicken leg with a loud chew. Although it was a normal scene, it somehow seemed morbid and bloody at that moment.

The Yu brothers were shivering and huddling together, saying, “Could this Long-haired Woman be the honored guest little Shifu Jingxing mentioned?”

“I-I’m not sure, but I think I just saw a chicken leg flying. Did you see it?”

“It… it seemed like it?”

“Was that our dad?”

…It’s hard to say. The Long-haired Woman didn’t even glance at them, just stood at the door for a while and then made her way into the living room as if led by someone, even eating the chicken leg from the altar. Under normal circumstances, they would have rushed to confront her and driven her out, but the Long-haired Woman’s demeanor was too eerie, and with chicken legs flying, how could they dare?

However, a moment later, while the Yu brothers were still in shock and unsure of what to do, another figure appeared at the door-this time, a young monk, limping with a bandage wrapped around his forehead.

“Amitabha, well done, well done.”

“Hearing of the Shizhu’s father’s passing, this humble monk has come to chant sutras and pray for his soul.”

The three Yu brothers were silent.

Maybe it would be more persuasive to pray for themselves first?

Of course, while thinking this, it couldn’t be said aloud. They respectfully invited the young monk into the house. The young monk, limping, didn’t hesitate to head straight for the living room, leaving the Yu brothers exchanging puzzled looks.

Upon entering the living room, Zhen Du expressed his surprise, “Long-haired Shizhu, we meet again.”

Gu Feiyin was already on her second chicken leg. Glancing back, her unfocused dark eyes met Zhen Du’s. Behind him stood the three Yu brothers, who were also staring at her in disbelief. The Long-haired Woman chuckled darkly at them, and with a forceful tug, she pulled a large chunk of meat from the chicken leg, causing the brothers to wince and take a couple of steps back.

Zhen Du glanced at the chicken leg in the Long-haired Shizhu’s hand, its aromatic and appetizing appearance undeniable. He said, “Shizhu, so you are also here for Old Master Yu. So am I.”

Gu Feiyin shook her head, “No, I’m just here to eat. Yu invited me for a meal, and I’ll leave after eating.”

Zhen Du: “…”

The Yu brothers: “…??!!”

What did she mean? Yu invited her for a meal? Could the “Yu” this Long-haired Woman mentioned be their father?

Third Yu recalled Gong Sisi saying she saw a long-haired woman outside the house staring at her, claiming there was a ghost. At the time, he didn’t take it seriously, dismissing it as Gong Sisi’s imagination. Now, could the long-haired woman Gong Sisi mentioned be the one right in front of them?

Immediately agitated, Third Yu approached and said, “This, this Master, can you see my father? Is he still at home? Where is he? Please help me, I just want to see my dad one more time!”

As he spoke, his eyes reddened again. He was truly unable to let go. Even if his brothers didn’t blame him, the fact remained that his father died because of him, and Gong Sisi was the woman he brought home… an undeniable truth.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Long-haired Woman looked at him and said stiffly, “He said he doesn’t want to see you. Seeing you just makes him angry.”

Zhen Du: “…”

The Yu brothers: “…?!”

Third Yu’s lips quivered, and then he truly began to cry, sobbing uncontrollably.

Old Master Yu and the solitary ghosts stood by with stiff faces: …………

Gu Feiyin glanced at Old Master Yu, “Yu, you’re too harsh. Why don’t you comfort the kid and stop him from crying?”

Yu: “…”

The kid: “…”

Zhen Du: “…”

The Yu brothers: “…”

…

Even if Old Master Yu tried to console him, Third Yu couldn’t hear him anymore. Besides, that wasn’t Old Master Yu’s intention; he simply couldn’t stand his youngest son’s incessant apologies, saying everything was alright while constantly apologizing. If one were to really consider it, Third Yu’s suffering was no less than anyone else’s. His father had died, and it was his wife who betrayed him, causing his father’s death. It was a burden too heavy to bear, so Old Master Yu wished his son could move on. What else was there to live for?

Now, a single sentence from Long Black Straight Hair had made him burst into tears.

The living room was indeed lively now, with the ghosts chattering nonstop while Third Yu continued to cry. First Yu and Second Yu were beside him, urging him to stop crying. Long Black Straight Hair, holding a chicken leg in each hand, continued to munch away happily, a chipped front tooth not hindering her in the slightest.

Seeing the chaos, Zhen Du simply lifted his monk’s robe, sat down on the floor, and began reciting the Earth Store Sutra.

Just then, Jingxing and Jingkong returned.

Amidst the messy scene, Jingxing immediately noticed the Long-haired Woman gnawing on the chicken leg.