The boy fell to the ground, bottom hitting the earth, pain spreading throughout his body.
Ouch ouch ouchâ¦
The boy was in so much pain that he could hardly think; propping himself up with his palms on the cold ground, he suddenly paused.
Did I⦠come down?
Chuzheng floated down.
The boy looked up, and underneath his messy hair, a pair of beautiful eyes appeared.
âItâs not an illusion?â
Chuzheng reached out and touched his head, the soft hair somewhat improved her mood, but the boy did not feel as good.
âSo coldâ¦â He felt as if ice was placed on top of his head.
Now he was in pain and cold.
âLittle Beauty, Little Beauty, what did I do to offend you? Please spare me,â the boy pleaded softly.
Chuzheng withdrew her hand: âWhy were you hung up here?â
Rubbing his arms to warm up, the boy muttered gloomily: âMaster was angry at me for running around, so he ordered my senior brothers to punish me, and they tied me up.â
This was the most remote place on Taokong Mountain; he usually lived here alone, and even if he shouted himself hoarse, no one would hear.
âLittle Beauty, why are you here?â
âI should be the one asking you that.â
âI donât know.â The boy shook his head, baffled: âI suddenly saw you, and I thought it was an illusion.â
The boy pinched himself, his face contorted in pain: âNot a dream.â
Chuzheng: ââ¦â
âAchoo!â
The boy sneezed, sniffling hard before turning with a smile: âLittle Beauty, you must have come especially to rescue me, youâre really a good ghost.â
His eyes sparkled as he said this.
Yes, yes, yes, Iâm a good person.
However, the Kingâs Account showed no reaction.
Chuzheng: ââ¦â Little liar.
âAchoo!â The boy sneezed again.
âGet up,â Chuzheng said, stepping aside.
The boy got up, hugged his arms, and hobbled inside, not forgetting to beckon Chuzheng: âLittle Beauty, come in quickly, itâs so cold outside.â
The roomâs light came on, Chuzheng floated to the doorway but did not enter.
The room made her uncomfortable.
The boy seemed to remember something, walked to the side, and tore down a few talismans.
âAll right.â He tossed the talisman paper into a drawer: âCome in quickly.â
With the talisman paper torn down, that bit of discomfort disappeared.
Chuzheng floated into the room.
The room was spartan, with a bed, a table, two chairs, and two old cupboards standing beside them.
âI usually live alone, so itâs a bit simple, feel free to sit anywhere,â said the boy, his tone carrying a hint of dejection.
âIt is quite simple,â Chuzheng agreed with him.
The boy laughed, a mixture of resignation and indifference.
The boy was not wearing the same dragon-embroidered garments he had on last time; they were somewhat dirty.
He rummaged through the cupboard for the dragon-embroidered clothes and turned to look at Chuzheng.
Chuzhengâs face remained indifferent. What are you looking at me for? Is there something on my face?
The boy spoke up: âLittle Beauty, do you want to watch me change clothes?â
Chuzheng: ââ¦â
Chuzheng turned away, rustling sounds coming from behind her.
âItâs done.â The boyâs crisp voice came through, and as Chuzheng turned back, the boy put down the dirty clothes and stretched out: âMuch more comfortable.â
The next second, he grimaced in pain and drew his arms back in.
He rummaged for medicine, hastily treated himself, and sat down on the chair next to Chuzheng, leaning on the table to look at her, his chin pressing down on the dragon embroidered on his sleeve, making his skin look even more fair.
âLittle Beauty, are you really a ghost?â
âWhat else?â
The boy tried reaching out and poked the back of Chuzhengâs hand. He withdrew his hand, resting his chin on it: âSeeing me, donât you have any other urges?â
âWhat urges?â
âSoâ¦â the boy thought for a moment, âexcited, thrilled?â
âNo.â Why would I have such impulses towards you, has this little liar been in the mountains too long, possibly gone mad?
âThen why do other ghosts, when they see me, act as if theyâve seen their long-lost brothers and sisters and can hardly wait to tear me apart and devour me?â
Chuzheng: ââ¦â Your description is kind of interesting.
What kind of brothers and sisters could be so ferocious.
âMaybe youâre easier to bully.â
ââ¦â The boyâs face darkened slightly, and after a moment, he murmured, âIndeed.â
Even the least skilled of his âsenior brothersâ could hold their own against a ghost for a few moves.
Only he, besides being able to see ghosts, had no abilities whatsoever.
âLittle Beauty, youâre really pretty, the prettiest ghost Iâve ever seen.â
Chuzheng with an indifferent face.
Given he said he was a good person, itâs likely not sincere.
âWhy would I appear here in the first place?â
Chuzheng looked at the boy, who was already asleep on the table.
Chuzheng: ââ¦â
Do you fall asleep instantly?
Chuzheng floated out of the room, but a moment later, she turned back, moved the boy to the bed, and casually pulled over a blanket to cover him.
She should be on Taokong Mountain right now.
âThe outskirts of Dongfu City.
Even though it was not far from Dongfu City, she couldnât just appear on the mountain out of thin air!
Chuzheng drifted back to Dongfu City overnight but was delayed by a few dimwitted ghosts. By the time she found Murong Yi and Tang Yiyue, it was already morning.
Before she could do anything, the next time she opened her eyes, she was back in that ancient room.
Chuzheng: ââ¦â
What the hell!!
Chuzheng, feeling a little irate, kicked the table.
The table, unable to bear the burden, collapsed into pieces, ending its service life.
Chuzheng: ââ¦â
I just kicked it gently, how could it collapse? This is a set-up! It has nothing to do with me!
Chuzheng quickly withdrew her foot and stepped far back, to show she had nothing to do with it.
âWaterâ¦â
The boy on the bed murmured in his sleep.
Chuzheng drifted over, the boyâs little face buried in the blanket, showing only his profile.
The side of his face was slightly flushed, his hair damp with sweat, sticking to his forehead.
âWaterâ¦â
Chuzheng looked around the room, where was there water?
Her gaze landed on the carved wooden basin at the doorâ¦
[Miss, please do something human for once.] Kingâs Account was somewhat desperate.
âIâm not human, how can I do human things?â
[â¦] Miss is actually quite nice, quite nice, Kingâs Account brainwashed itself, [Miss, if you go out and take the small path to the left, there is clean spring water there.]
Chuzhengâs eyes coldly fixed on the void: âYou actually want me, a ghost, to wander around in a sect that specializes in catching ghosts?â
[⦠Miss, youâre not afraid.] Kingâs Account was a bit scared.
âWater⦠I want waterâ¦â the boyâs voice was hoarse, and in discomfort he pulled down the blanket, revealing a feverishly red face.
Chuzheng glanced at him, annoyed, and left the room.
When she returned with the water, she found a male ghost beside the bed, staring menacingly at the boy.
Chuzheng stood at the doorway, and asked calmly, âWhat are you doing.â
The male ghost was startled, and in the next second, his fingernails stretched out, aiming for the boyâs neck.
Just as the male ghost was about to touch the boyâs neck, a chill seeped in, and the next second, the ghostâs body was flung out, crashing into the cabinet.
He passed through the cabinet and rolled onto the floor.
The male ghost had a ferocious look in his eye, filled with malice.
âYou nosy wench, stop meddling in othersâ business!â
Chuzheng stepped on the male ghostâs chest, and he struggled a few times, but Chuzheng suppressed him. She leaned forward slightly and asked calmly, âOr what?â