Chapter 17

The air seemed to freeze. Yu Zhengzheng stared at his face in shock, stammering after a long moment, “G-Ghost King… why are you here?”  

Rong Shang curled his lips into a faint smile, leaning slightly forward. His lazy gaze tilted to the side as he said, “If I didn’t come, how would I know someone was planning to run away?”  

He was so close that his cool, thin lips brushed against her pale earlobe intentionally or not. His warm breath slipped into her ear, sending a tingling sensation down her body like an electric current.  

His deep, magnetic voice was like a bass line that left her mind blank.  

Her blood rushed to her head, her cheeks flushing as if she’d just downed two pints of white liquor, turning faintly red.  

Clearly, his face wasn’t particularly striking. His actions were seemingly ordinary, but together they had a peculiar effect. Yu Zhengzheng, someone who adored handsome men, found herself soft and helpless under his gaze.  

Seeing her merely blushing and silent, without offering any explanation, Rong Shang’s smile faded slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.  

Not killing her didn’t mean he wouldn’t punish her.  

Even if he broke her legs, as long as she was alive, she could still apply medicine for him.  

Such was the price of her escape attempt.  

His pale, slender fingers flexed slightly, the calloused pads rubbing against the jade ring he wore. A single move from him could easily snap her legs.  

Where should he break them, he wondered.  

While Rong Shang was deep in thought, Yu Zhengzheng snapped out of her daze, seemingly sensing a faint killing intent. She quickly took two steps back and nervously made up a lie.  

“I heard Guardian Xiang mention that you were coming to the human world. I was worried you might lose your way, so I planned to go meet you at the city gate.”  

Rong Shang lazily lifted his eyelids, chuckling slowly, “And this… chicken?”  

The plump hen sat idly on the ground like an amused spectator, its beady black eyes fixed on the two of them, almost as if mocking her.  

When Yu Zhengzheng saw the locator bracelet still on the hen’s leg, she suddenly understood why the Ghost King had found her so easily.  

It turned out that the one controlling the bracelet wasn’t Xiang Feng but Rong Shang himself. That’s how he knew exactly where she was.  

Irritated, she kicked the smug-looking hen.  

What kind of useless chicken was this? Even after being released for so long, it hadn’t moved an inch, and now it dared to mock her.  

And now, caught red-handed, how was she supposed to explain the bracelet on the hen’s leg?  

“Let me explain! This isn’t what it looks like!” she blurted.  

“Hmm,” Rong Shang replied flatly.  

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”  

Why was he always like this?  

In those old melodramatic stories, whenever the male leads or villains misunderstood the female leads, they’d refuse to listen to explanations.  

But this Ghost King, the ultimate big bad of this novel, was already over ten thousand years old, and yet he was still so rebellious. It was giving her a headache!  

She swallowed nervously, her gaze inadvertently landing on the bracelets on her hands. Her eyes lit up.  

“I forgot to return your communication bracelet after leaving Luan Palace last time. Since my left wrist has the storage bracelet and my right has your communication bracelet, wearing another bracelet was too heavy. So I temporarily put it on this chicken’s leg.”  

Her story grew increasingly far-fetched.  

“I thought that once I met you at the city gate, I’d return your bracelet to you and then put the other one back on my wrist. I even planned to slaughter the chicken and make a nourishing soup for you—a plan that benefits us both.”  

She removed the communication bracelet as she spoke, holding it with both hands and presenting it respectfully.  

Rong Shang wasn’t interested in her string of lies. His gaze drifted past her to the plump hen.  

It was no ordinary chicken but an ancient divine beast known as the Chongming Bird. It resembled a chicken but had the cry of a phoenix and double pupils in its eyes. Known for its ability to repel evil, it was adept at disguise and was therefore also called the Chongjing Bird.  

The Chongming Bird possessed immense strength, could ward off demonic creatures, and its eggs were a rare treasure in the cultivation world. A single egg could elevate a Qi Refining cultivator to the Golden Core stage.  

How it ended up in the human realm was a mystery. But the Chongming Bird was notoriously proud and loathed cultivators. The fact that it hadn’t escaped from her was remarkable.  

Rong Shang’s lips curved into a smile as he paused his finger’s motion on the jade ring. He decided not to take the communication bracelet.  

“Keep it. I might need to contact you,” he said.  

He had changed his mind.  

Consuming the Chongming Bird’s eggs would buy him more time.  

Since she had found the bird, he’d consider her merits and flaws balanced. Her legs could remain intact—for now.  

Yu Zhengzheng was utterly confused. What could he possibly need her for?  

She hesitated. “What about the communication bracelet?”  

Rong Shang didn’t answer. Instead, he raised his hand slightly, and a thin silver chain glimmered as it fell from his slender fingers.  

“Tie it around your ankle,” he commanded.  

Knowing when to yield, Yu Zhengzheng, ever adaptable, carefully took the chain and obediently fastened it around her ankle.  

Rong Shang didn’t explain what the chain was, but she could guess its purpose. It likely had a function similar to the locator bracelet.  

She picked up the hen and forced a dry smile. “It’s getting late. Would you like to return to the inn to rest?”  

He slowly folded his oiled paper umbrella. “No.”  

Yu Zhengzheng: “Then where do you want to go?”  

Rong Shang: “To the brothel.”  

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”  

The largest brothel in the capital, Golden Apricot Pavilion, was also where Nangong Tianba’s ninety-ninth queen was being auctioned for her first night.  

Xiang Feng and the others had already gone to the pavilion. Who knew when the auction would begin? The Ghost King, ever youthful in spirit, seemed keen on such frivolous matters even at his age.  

Although she had no interest in visiting such a sordid place, she had no choice but to follow since the Ghost King insisted.  

Dressed in a white robe and with her hair pinned up, Yu Zhengzheng looked convincingly like a young man. Her slightly hunched posture and malnourished frame added to the illusion.  

Golden Apricot Pavilion was indeed grand. Yu Zhengzheng had expected heavily made-up women to swarm them upon entry, but reality proved otherwise.  

According to Xiang Feng’s intel, tonight was the annual auction event. The pavilion’s most cultivated courtesans were auctioned for their first night.  

Most of the guests were nobles and young masters from the capital, leaving the madam too busy to greet new arrivals.  

As soon as Yu Zhengzheng entered, she spotted Xiang Feng and the others in the first-floor lobby.  

The women had all changed into men’s attire. Except for Shanshui, most looked rather uncomfortable.  

She waved at them, and Xiang Feng, upon seeing Rong Shang, hesitated briefly before stepping forward to bow. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”  

Rong Shang glanced at him lazily. “Why not go to a private room?”  

Xiang Feng replied, “No money.”

 The Golden Apricot Pavilion prohibited women from entering, so he had to spend extra money to make a few sets of men’s clothing for them. This unexpected expense strained their budget, and simply blending into the main hall was already a challenge.  

The sour expressions on the women’s faces were because they didn’t even have a place to sit and blamed him for being stingy.  

In truth, he had quite a bit of money, but most of it was reserved for buying snacks for Shanshui. She had a large appetite and was always pestering him for treats whenever he ventured into the human realm.  

He had to spend sparingly to save enough to satisfy her cravings.  

Rong Shang, however, was wealthy beyond measure. Whether it was spiritual stones or gold, he had an endless supply. Casually, he tossed out a banknote worth 100,000 taels. “Pick a good private room.”  

Xiang Feng quickly complied and went to negotiate with the brothel madam.  

No one in the hall recognized Rong Shang as the Ghost King, nor did they overhear his conversation with Xiang Feng. They simply assumed Rong Shang was another member of the Ghost Sect.  

Shanshui brightened up upon seeing Yu Zhengzheng and noticed the hen in her hands. Curious, she asked, “Sister Zhengzheng, is this your spirit pet?”  

In the world of cultivation, many practitioners kept spirit pets, often rare species that brought them prestige.  

The hen appeared to possess a certain spiritual charm, making it seem rare and valuable in Shanshui’s eyes.  

Before Yu Zhengzheng could answer, Ziyu interjected with a mocking tone. “I’ve heard of people raising birds, but raising chickens? That’s a first.”  

Ziqian chuckled derisively. “Birds of a feather flock together. A chicken spirit pet is a perfect match for Sister Zhengzheng. Truly a pair made in heaven.”  

While Yu Jiangjiang didn’t join in on the taunting, she snickered faintly, her disdain evident.  

Yu Zhengzheng ignored them. She had only just managed to brush off the matter of the chicken earlier and had no desire to bring it up again in front of the Ghost King.  

If the Ghost King were to suspect something odd about the tracking bracelet on the chicken, she would be in big trouble.  

Ziyu and Ziqian’s jeers were meant to gain favor in front of Xiao Yuqing, but neither noticed his attention was entirely elsewhere.  

He was staring at the man in white behind Yu Zhengzheng, lost in thought.  

Xiao Yuqing finally asked, “Is this gentleman a friend of Miss Yu?”  

Yu Zhengzheng hastily recalled that they hadn’t met the Ghost King before and introduced him quickly. “This is my—”  

Rong Shang cut her off. “Godfather.”  

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”  

Had it not been for Xiang Feng returning with the brothel madam at that moment, she would have protested immediately.  

Hearing Rong Shang’s claim, Xiang Feng instantly understood his intention.  

No wonder His Majesty changed his appearance—he didn’t want others to recognize his identity.  

Xiang Feng refrained from addressing him as “Your Majesty” but still treated him with deference. “The private room is on the third floor, labeled Tian.”  

Rong Shang nodded slightly and headed upstairs first.  

Yu Jiangjiang glanced at Xiao Yuqing before remarking pointedly, “Sister has such good luck with men. Just a few days in the Ghost Sect, and you’ve already gained two godfathers. If only I had even a fraction of your charm.”  

Yu Zhengzheng sneered. “If my dear sister wants a godfather, just say so. The gentleman upstairs—kneel, bow twice, and call him ‘father,’ and I’ll hand him over to you.”  

Yu Jiangjiang was rendered speechless, her face turning pale with fury.  

Seeing that her sister had nothing more to say, Yu Zhengzheng didn’t press further. She picked up the hen and ascended to the third floor.  

One after another, the group filed into the private room, with Xiao Yuqing trailing slightly behind.  

The auction began not long after.  

The “princess consort” was the evening’s grand finale, naturally scheduled for the end of the event. Yu Zhengzheng wasn’t interested in the auction of first-night rights and idly leaned against the balcony, fiddling with the hen’s tail feathers.  

The Zhumen Bird remained lazily indifferent, unconcerned with anyone touching its tail. It seemed to enjoy the warmth emanating from her body—a perfect incubator for its egg.  

Shanshui, who usually went to bed early, was drowsy at this hour. Unable to stay awake, she leaned on Xiang Feng’s shoulder and fell asleep.  

The private room buzzed with casual conversation, the occupants showing little interest in the proceedings below.  

Yu Zhengzheng, on the verge of dozing off herself, happened to glance down at the red stage in the main hall.  

What she saw made her rub her eyes, thinking she must be mistaken.  

The woman being auctioned looked exactly like the long-deceased palace master of Lingbi Palace from thousands of years ago.  

Yu Zhengzheng’s thoughts immediately turned to Shanshui. She was about to find an excuse to close the private room’s window when she noticed Xiang Feng staring blankly outside.