Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Zhou Shu looked up, his face etched with surprise. "What? Mr. Chen, this was decided long ago. How can you just refuse to go? If you don’t, what will become of the village?"

Chen Ji’s gaze remained as calm as still water. He simply stated, "The Mountain Lord forbids it. This matter is not to be discussed further."

"Grandfather Mountain forbids it?" Zhou Shu was stunned. "But we already sought permission from Grandfather Mountain back then! Mr. Chen, surely you’re not implying the village’s offerings are too meager?"

"It has nothing to do with money," Chen Ji’s voice was devoid of inflection, echoing through the empty main hall. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows, pulling him into a realm of shifting light and darkness. He tilted his head slightly. "If the Mountain Lord does not permit it, I cannot descend the mountain."

"Now, leave," Chen Ji commanded.

"Mr. Chen, you can’t be so unreasonable. We—" Before Zhou Shu could finish, Chen Ji cut him off sharply, his voice low and firm, "Get out."

Zhou Shu’s face twisted abruptly for a moment, as if a dark mist was emanating from him. Chen Ji’s eyes fixed on his face, his lips moving: "Get out!"

A faint, piercing shriek of protest seemed to echo in the air. In Chen Ji’s eyes, Zhou Shu and the two young men abruptly vanished, as if they had never been there at all.

The sunlight, previously blocked by Zhou Shu’s figure, once again streamed into the main hall. Chen Ji looked at the bright spring day outside, then turned and walked toward the statue. He re-lit three sticks of incense, bowed, and placed them in the censer.

Everything proceeded smoothly.

Chen Ji’s gaze fell upon the offering table. The divination blocks, worn smooth from constant use, glowed with a soft luster. Chen Ji didn’t fully grasp the situation, but he knew with chilling certainty that he was in grave danger.

Likely more perilous than the last time he was dragged into another realm by the King Cobra.

He picked up the divination blocks, holding them in his hand, but then a faint smile touched his lips—what should he ask? How could he even be sure that the Mountain Lord before him was still Grandfather Mountain?

Yet, having picked them up, not asking would be somewhat disrespectful.

—*Can I get out of here alive?*

Chen Ji cast the divination blocks. The instant they hit the ground, he felt a sudden, dizzying blow to his head, as if struck by a heavy object. Dazed and disoriented, he collapsed sideways onto the floor. In his haze, he saw a pair of feet clad in red longevity shoes hopping toward him…

On the ground, two inauspicious blocks lay before him, still quivering.

…

On the bed, the young man’s eyes were tightly shut, his pale face flushed with a sickly redness. His slender fingers clutched at his throat, veins bulging on his arms. His lips hung open weakly, air struggling through his throat, producing a sound like a broken bellows.

The next moment, Chen Ji’s eyes snapped open.

Cold sweat trickled down his face. His hands fell limply to his sides. He gasped for air, his vision blurred. Unconscious tears slid from the corners of his eyes, leaving a dark stain on the pillow.

…What had happened?

Was he dreaming again?

He struggled to sit up, fumbling for the yellow talisman around his neck. He blinked hard to see—inside the sealed pouch, only dark gray ashes remained. He released it, then grabbed a nearby glass of water and drained it in one gulp.

The cold water sliding down his esophagus brought Chen Ji back to his senses. He changed into a windbreaker, stuffing the yellow talismans and ritual implements his grandfather had left him inside. For some reason, Chen Ji felt a restless agitation. He looked around, searching for anything he might have overlooked.

Outside, the wind howled, like a mournful cry.

So cold.

Chen Ji glanced back at the thermometer. It read 21 degrees Celsius—a perfectly comfortable temperature, yet Chen Ji felt a chill permeate him from head to toe.

…Right, where was Little Eight?

As this thought crossed Chen Ji’s mind, he felt a sinister breeze brush past his ear. As if by instinct, he dodged to the side. In the next instant, an indistinct black shadow lunged at him. Chen Ji’s heart pounded—his first reaction was to run!

Run! Run now! Don’t question why this thing could appear in the Mountain Lord’s temple, or why System Cat was missing. Escape! He had to escape! Don’t look back! This was not an opponent he could possibly resist! Run fast!

To the main hall!

Some primal instinct screamed this at him.

Grandfather Mountain’s statue was there—this entity would surely show deference to Grandfather Mountain! If he could just reach the main hall, he would be safe!

The black mist twisted, morphing into an incredibly bizarre form—sometimes human, sometimes animal-like. If Chen Ji had looked back, he would have known what it resembled—a person crawling on the ground.

Whether it was his imagination or not, Chen Ji thought he heard a faint, rapid sound, like a cat pattering on the ground. It was dense, growing increasingly distinct in his ears, as if approaching from afar.

A hand, soft and boneless, with frighteningly long, crimson nails, gripped Chen Ji’s ankle. It felt like touching ice, and he shivered uncontrollably. Only then did he clearly see what was chasing him.

Chen Ji’s pupils dilated with fear. Another hand reached out from behind him, seemingly gentle as it embraced him. The crimson nails traced over Chen Ji’s skin like a knife, and blood immediately welled up from the cuts.

A mournful, pleading voice came from all directions, indistinguishable as male or female, yet both called his name.

"Chen Ji…"

"Chen Ji…"

The creature, a black mist that was both human and beast, was now directly in front of him, suddenly transforming into a masked human face. It cackled: "Chen Ji!"

Blood abruptly oozed from Chen Ji’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, drawing five stark crimson lines on his pale skin.

His face was cupped by the black mist. The featureless face pressed almost against his, and slender, pale fingers lifted his chin.

He saw those red longevity shoes again.

He looked up—a crimson-clad specter stood in the side hall, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, silently watching him.

She seemed to be smiling.

Chen Ji felt as if he were trapped in ice. He struggled to speak: "Who are you… Why are you chasing me…"

The specter tilted her head slightly, her long hair swaying with the movement. Suddenly, she leaped over the threshold.

She was like a gust of wind, yet also like hard, unyielding stone—so light when jumping, but when she landed, Chen Ji heard an incredibly harsh, cold sound as she struck the flagstones. Chen Ji’s pocket suddenly grew burning hot for a moment. His heart turned cold as he desperately backed away. His vision was suddenly engulfed in darkness—he saw what it was.

It was her hair.

As if controlled, he raised his head, meeting her pale face and crimson eyes. She looked down at him expressionlessly, locking eyes with him.

Her lush red lips curved into a faint smile.

At that moment, a light suddenly cut through the hair that writhed like seaweed. A blade abruptly appeared in the specter’s chest. Chen Ji was dragged back by a powerful force, flying backward in an instant. Someone stood in front of him!

"Chang Xu?!" Chen Ji exclaimed in shock.

Black smoke billowed from the specter’s chest. Like a marionette, she stiffly raised her head to look at Chang Xu, seemingly unconcerned about the Tang sword in her chest. Her arms suddenly shot out straight, and she swept toward Chang Xu like smoke, emitting a sharp screech. At the same time, the shadow moved!

Chang Xu, holding the blade with one hand, pulled it out forcefully. With the other hand, he supported Chen Ji’s shoulder, pivoting and kicking sideways, sending the shadow flying. His hand holding the blade twisted, and with a swift strike, a head went flying!

But Chang Xu didn’t press his advantage. Instead, he grabbed Chen Ji and ran: "Go!"

Chen Ji’s palms were slick with cold sweat, yet Chang Xu acted as if he hadn't noticed, still gripping Chen Ji’s hand firmly as they sprinted wildly. While running, Chen Ji suddenly noticed that behind every window of the side halls stood a red-robed figure.

They stood silently inside the thresholds, watching them.

"What’s happening?!" Chen Ji’s steps grew heavy; each felt like hands were clutching his ankles, preventing him from lifting his feet. He couldn't comprehend why this was happening and struggled to say, "Have I been put on the ghost realm's most-wanted list?"

"..." Chang Xu abruptly halted, swinging his blade forward. Out of nowhere, half a human head appeared before them, as if growing from the stone bricks, its pitch-black eyes staring unblinkingly. Chen Ji felt a sharp pain in his chest and suddenly spat out a mouthful of hot blood!

As the blood spilled, his vision began to black out.

"If you pass out, you’re dead." Chang Xu's voice seemed to come from nowhere, piercing Chen Ji's ears. "Get ready, go south. On your own..."

"He's found me."

Before the words faded, the red-robed figures in the side halls stepped out in unison. Chen Ji had no time to react when a tremendous force struck him from behind. Chang Xu slashed a path for him and shouted, "Go!"

Chen Ji bolted forward without a backward glance. Staying would only hold Chang Xu back!

Strangely, even though he should have been the "prey," not a single red-robed figure turned to intercept him as he passed by.

One even phased straight through his body.

Chang Xu had become the new target.

Chen Ji's ears were filled with the sound of his own heartbeat. The temple gate was just ahead, and a flicker of hope ignited in his heart—perhaps once he stepped outside, everything would return to normal. Trembling, he pushed open the temple gate, and sunlight streamed through the crack.

A lanky, shadowy figure stood at the entrance, its height nearly matching the gate. It lowered its head, and the moment Chen Ji fully opened the door, their eyes met.

Cold sweat dripped into Chen Ji's eyes, blurring his vision, but he didn't dare blink.

The slender shadow simply watched him quietly.

It was waiting, waiting for Chen Ji to step outside.

Blood once again trickled from Chen Ji's facial features. He slammed the gate shut and turned to run toward the main hall. In that instant, he saw a pale hand pierce through Chang Xu's chest. Chang Xu's white robes were instantly stained red with blood. Surrounded by ghosts, he even shot a look at Chen Ji.

Chen Ji understood his meaning.

—*Why did you come back?*