Chapter 488: Skeletal Bride

“Master. Yue Yue said Madam Yu can be saved.”

The voice came from Sword Ghost, and “Gu Qingcheng” felt quite incredulous at her words.

“What?”

Puzzled, “Gu Qingcheng” asked for more details, then Sword Ghost recounted what had just happened between Ghost Mother and Liu Churan in the room.

Liu Churan, unwilling to see her elder sister die, had Ghost Mother examine Madam Yu. They discovered a small amount of the Yin Pearl’s residual power inside her body, and deduced that Madam Yu was likely the one who had snatched the Yin-Yang Pearls from Liu Churan’s hands over a decade ago.

There was no limit to how many times a non-human could use the Yin Pearl to conceive, but a human could only use it once. Madam Yu, who already possessed a Mystic Yin Physique, had severely damaged her body when she used the Yin Pearl to give birth to Qiao Ni. Additionally, she gave the Yang Pearl to Qiao Ni as a form of protection, which further worsened her health.

“Now, here’s the question: what should I do to ensure that Madam Yu doesn’t die?” After hearing Sword Ghost’s general explanation, “Gu Qingcheng” was about seventy to eighty percent convinced but still felt that some details were unclear. However, given the current situation, “Gu Qingcheng” didn’t bother to think through all the specifics, and just wanted to know the result.

Sword Ghost paused for a moment, before relaying the feedback: “Ah Ran said the Yin Pearl is damaged, and only another Yin Pearl can help her.”

To Ye Wenxin, this was no different than saying nothing at all. She had the Yin Pearl in her, but no way of taking it out. If it were possible, she would have gladly given the Yin Pearl to Madam Yu.

“Gu Qingcheng” sighed. Madam Yu was still curled up in her arms, looking so fragile, as if she could say goodbye to this world at any moment. Ye Wenxin carefully checked her pulse, feeling how weak it was. Madam Yu wearily opened her eyes, gazing at her as if reluctant to let go.

“Qingcheng, do you… really not remember anything?” Madam Yu seemed to be making one last desperate attempt before death, wanting to know if “Gu Qingcheng” remembered anything at all. “Gu Qingcheng” was momentarily stunned, unsure whether or not to give Madam Yu some hope.

In the end, “Gu Qingcheng” nodded slightly with uncertainty, then asked, “Did something happen between us?”

Madam Yu let out an involuntary laugh, as if still unwilling to reveal that secret. If she were to tell “Gu Qingcheng” this secret, it wouldn’t be to try and hold on to her, and certainly not for any hidden purpose. But if she revealed it on her deathbed, it would feel a little too deliberate.

“If you’re truly interested, take my hairpin after I die, and open the black box in my bag of holding. You’ll find the answer there.”

Madam Yu’s exhaustion grew. She no longer had the strength to fight the sleep overtaking her. With a relieved smile on her face, she gently leaned her head to the side and contentedly drifted off into sleep.

At that moment, Sword Ghost suddenly appeared. “Gu Qingcheng” didn’t understand why, until she saw Sword Ghost attach herself to Madam Yu, trying to keep her hanging on to her last breath. Sword Ghost looked as though she was in great pain, and “Gu Qingcheng” couldn’t understand what was happening.

“Sword Ghost, what are you doing?”

Sword Ghost, already fused with Madam Yu, responded, “Master, I have the Yang Pearl within me. Since we can’t extract the Yin Pearl in your body, I will transfer my Yang Pearl to the madam. But I don’t know how to force the Yang Pearl out, so I can only attach myself to her and see if the Yang Pearl can repair the damaged Yin Pearl.”

Sword Ghost’s words stirred mixed feelings in “Gu Qingcheng’s” heart. Ghost Mother had left with Liu Churan, and seemed unwilling to return to her side anytime soon. Now, even Sword Ghost was trying to be a martyr, leaving “Gu Qingcheng” deeply affected.

What saddened her most was that despite all her skills, she could only watch as the inevitable unfolded before her, powerless to change anything. After all, she was no female lead, and thus could not alter anyone’s fate.

Sword Ghost’s possession was a complete success, and Madam Yu’s complexion gradually returned to normal. However, something was different—the skeletal bride aura was gone, and had transformed into Sword Ghost’s likeness. Not only that, a crescent moon shape appeared on Sword Ghost’s forehead.

It seemed to symbolize her merging with the damaged Yin Pearl to form a Yin-Yang Pearl, and perhaps also hinted at a future transformation between Sword Ghost and Madam Yu. “Gu Qingcheng” stood there, dazed, feeling a sense of melancholy and loss.

Although the Yin-Yang ghosts hadn’t been with her for long, “Gu Qingcheng” had developed a bond with them. Now, witnessing this scene, she couldn’t quite put into words the complex emotions she was experiencing.

“Master, don’t be sad; this isn’t permanent.”

Sword Ghost was dressed in a crimson gown, and her flowing red hair seemed to blend with it. She smiled, unburdened by what she had done. For ghost races that could live for an incredibly long time, something like this was merely a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things.

“Gu Qingcheng” remained silent, and then noticed Madam Yu slowly opening her eyes. Madam Yu appeared bewildered that she hadn’t died, her beautiful eyes fixed on “Gu Qingcheng” with a look of disbelief. She didn’t know why she was still alive, but she felt a bit shy in this person’s arms.

“Why am I not dead?”

“Looks like even the heavens are unwilling to take away such a beautiful lady.”

“Gu Qingcheng” couldn’t help but tease. But then, realizing she was supposed to be “Gu Qingcheng” and not Ye Wenxin, she quickly reverted to a serious expression. Madam Yu seemed to think she had misheard and gently sat up. Other than the icy coldness that filled her body, she felt like nothing had changed.

Madam Yu thought she had sensed herself being reborn, and the moment she tilted her head upward, she nearly screamed.

“Who are you?”

Madam Yu stared at Sword Ghost floating in the air. Her red-dominated appearance was strikingly beautiful, yet austere. Madam Yu couldn’t comprehend why there was suddenly a strange-looking woman with them.

Sword Ghost seemed to have taken on a new form after fusing with Madam Yu’s aura. With a soft smile, she responded, “You may call me Ri Ri.”

“Gu Qingcheng” wished she could rewind time and give Sword Ghost ten or so more elegant names. But since Sword Ghost had already spoken, all she could do was hope Madam Yu wouldn’t laugh at the name.

Sadly, Madam Yu didn’t seem to find the semantics of the name amusing. Instead, she looked more concerned, perhaps even fearing she had gone mad. She tugged lightly at “Gu Qingcheng’s” sleeve, wanting to ask her something, but then remembered that she wasn’t that familiar with “Gu Qingcheng”.

As she recalled the unreasonable demands she had made of “Gu Qingcheng” earlier, Madam Yu suddenly realized that not only had she survived, but she had also completely lost face as the manor lady of Green Isle Manor.

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TL: Ok, these nicknames have rarely come up since the Yin-Yang ghosts’ debut in the secret realm, so, for those who forgot…

Ghost Mother, the 阴 Yin ghost, is 月月 Yue Yue (literally ‘moon moon’). Sword Ghost, the 阳 Yang ghost, is 日日 Ri Ri (literally ‘sun sun’).

Also, Sword Ghost MVP.