Before coming to Eastern Mulberry, Wu Wanying had heard plenty of local legends, but she dismissed them as mere entertainment.
They were just stories, not to be taken seriously.
Great Xia had even more tales of gods and ghosts, yet none had ever materialized.
Wu Wanying scoffed at Si Fuqingâs warnings and was determined to prove her wrong.
Seeing Wei Chengyun and Chen Wenxin obeying Si Fuqing, she felt waves of disgust.
She couldnât understand what was so special about Si Fuqing that made them fawn over her. What incredible job opportunities could she possibly offer them?
Wei Chengyun frowned. âWu Wanying!â
He didnât understand why Si Fuqing would say such things, but if she did, there must be a reason.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Si Fuqingâs gaze finally landed on Wu Wanying. âFine, go ahead.â
Wu Wanying scoffed again. âOf course Iâm going.â
With that, she led the way up the mountain.
âProfessor Xiang,â a teacher hesitated but eventually spoke gently, âour survey has reached a critical point. We canât abandon it over something trivial.â
The other students and teachers didnât share Wu Wanyingâs animosity towards Si Fuqing, but they also believed it was too early for any real danger.
Even if something did happen, they could always call for help.
Professor Xiang, being older, was more inclined to believe these things. She hesitated. âBut what if something really is wrongâ¦â
âProfessor Xiang, thatâs impossible,â Wu Wanying turned back, trying to reassure her. âWe have phones, itâs not ancient times.â
JI Xingzhi, who had followed Si Fuqing, gave her a sidelong glance. âPhones wonât help you if you canât get a signal.â
Did she really think a five-hundred-year-old bound spirit wouldnât block signals?
Wu Wanying was so furious that she started to laugh. âAnd who are you? Itâs none of your business.â
âIn that case, please proceed up the mountain,â Si Fuqing said. âWeâll take our time and enjoy the local scenery.â
Wei Chengyun and Chen Wenxin hesitated.
They believed in science, but they also trusted Si Fuqing.
Would it really be okay?
Si Fuqing understood their thoughts. It was hard to believe without seeing. She would just have to show them.
By now, the sun had completely set, and the last of the twilight had faded.
Mount Akahara was engulfed in darkness, the path lit only by streetlights.
âI told you thereâs no danger,â Wu Wanying said coldly. âLook, people are still coming down the mountain. Si Fuqing, your attempts to seek attention are tooââ
Her words caught in her throat, and she fell silent.
The people approaching them werenât walking; they were floating.
Wu Wanying stood frozen in shock as she was surrounded by wandering spirits.
The spirits stared at her with hollow eyes and pallid faces.
The temperature on Chiyuan Mountain was already low at night, but now a bone-chilling cold settled over them, making it feel like an ice cellar.
Wu Wanying screamed, nearly losing her mind.
What were these things?!
She had always received a scientific education, firmly believing in materialism, and had never encountered anything like this.
There really were unclean things!
Wu Wanying wanted to run, but her legs were paralyzed with fear. She could only watch as more wandering spirits surrounded her.
Her nerves, already strained, snapped. Overwhelming fear gripped her heart, and she let out another heart-wrenching scream.
âHelp⦠help me!â Wu Wanying, now fully believing, screamed continuously. âHelp me! I was wrong! I was really wrong!â
Her mind was a blank, filled only with regret.
How did this happen?
Gritting her teeth, she finally managed to control her legs and darted off on a side path.
JI Xingzhi was stunned. âSheâs running further up?â
The mountaintop was the nether spiritâs stronghold.
The other teachers and students were equally terrified, though not as hysterical as Wu Wanying.
They watched in horror as various spirits floated past, some passing right through their bodies.
Cold sweat drenched their backs.
âDonât be afraid,â Si Fuqing said nonchalantly. âWandering spirits arenât aggressive unless controlled. You can see them now because of some disturbances. In fact, these spirits have been around you since you arrived in Eastern Mulberry; you just couldnât see them before.â