Chapter 24

“——Is he really unconscious?”

The ghost woman squatted next to Yinshan Qi and poked his face with her finger.

“Can someone like him really be considered a Seventh Realm cultivator?”

The mountain demon standing beside her looked down at the third master of the Yinshan clan with a sneer.

“These noble family sons, even if they’re worthless, inherit the accumulated force passed down through generations. They start at the Third Realm at the very least, and with guidance from famous teachers and piles of natural treasures, to still be at the Seventh Realm at his age means he won’t get any better in this lifetime.”

Despite the harsh words, the mountain demon felt a subtle surprise.

Setting aside the respect for the late master, he had assumed that other members of the Yinshan clan would carry some of the dignity from ruling the Colorless City. Yet…

The grand third master of the Yinshan clan, the younger brother of the clan leader Yinshan Ze, had fainted merely from seeing the demonic form of the Lord’s ghost.

Could he be scared?

They weren’t even planning to kill him, so what was there to be afraid of?

The mountain demon clicked his tongue in complex emotions.

“Never mind, he is at least a senior of the Lord. Let’s call Sister Ting…”

“No need for that trouble.”

Liuyu dismounted from the ghost chariot and walked over slowly.

“My third uncle is just afraid of those boneless wriggling things. Just put him in the chariot to sleep for a while.”

With that, Liuyu waved her hand, and the two servants who had come with Yinshan Qi lifted him up.

Seeing the black Lin emerging from the chariot, the two servants, pale-faced, instinctively stepped back a few paces, making way for him.

The demon ghost, standing three steps away, had a cold and handsome face.

His dark hair hung down in front of his forehead, lying across his eyelids. His eyes were as cold as thin ice, and just one look could make you feel as if you were falling into a deep, mysterious forest gorge, about to be swallowed by an endless green sea.

Such features were so beautiful they were almost demonic.

However, recalling the countless tentacles that had just surged out of the ghost chariot, the two servants swallowed nervously.

This master of demons was indeed terrifyingly eerie.

Mo Lin didn’t spare them a glance, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious Yinshan Qi.

“Was he really scared just by seeing?”

Turning his head, he gave Liuyu a meaningful look.

“Could it be that you also…”

As if someone had stepped on her tail, Liuyu’s expression stiffened, and she spoke quickly:

“Not the same, I just can’t stand… strange ugly things.”

She and her useless third uncle were not on the same level at all.

Liuyu would never let Mo Lin know that back in the Yinshan clan’s mountain estate, whenever they encountered snakes, insects, rats, or ants, she and her father would first seek her mother’s help.

Mo Lin silently watched the young woman.

Clearly, the same words now carried different meanings. After experiencing so much, the subtle clues covered by pride finally surfaced clearly in his mind.

Perhaps… she didn’t hate him for being a demon ghost.

Even the mountain demon, who had initially been extremely critical of Liuyu, felt no more ripples in his heart upon hearing her words.

This young lady simply liked beautiful, shiny things.

Anything not pretty enough was equally disliked in her eyes.

The so-called ugliness of demon ghosts was no different to her from the ugliness of an unsightly dress.

“Young lady,” the servant lifting Yinshan Qi spoke to Liuyu, “It seemed that the third master received news from Yujing and wanted to tell you…”

News from Yujing?

Liuyu nodded. “Understood, I will ask him when he wakes up.”

“Sister Ting!”

A figure in white approached from afar, it was Bai Pingting, the ghost doctor they hadn’t seen for several days.

“Sister Ting, the Lord’s third uncle fainted just now. Do you want to take a look?”

Bai Pingting paused.

How did he faint out of the blue?

“Hmm, I’ll go later, but…”

Bai Pingting’s expression turned serious as she spoke to Mo Lin and Liuyu:

“The Lord and the Lady might need to visit the Ghost Dao Academy. Since Generals Shen Tu and Yu Lei brought back the demons from Luming Mountain the day before yesterday, there’s been… some chaos.”

Liuyu was puzzled. “Chaos?”

“To be precise——the Nine Underworld Demons and the Luming Mountain Demons started fighting.”

On the way to the Ghost Dao Academy in the ghost chariot, Liuyu listened to Bai Pingting recount the events.

It all started with the Ghost Dao Academy.

The day before yesterday, Liuyu had ordered Shen Tu and Yu Lei to bring the captured Luming Mountain demons back to the Nine Underworlds.

Because the demonic nature of these three thousand demons hadn’t been eradicated, they couldn’t be directly incorporated into the Nine Underworlds defense forces nor simply released. So, they were temporarily stationed outside Yedu City.

Coincidentally, the camp was near the Ghost Dao Academy.

It just so happened that after Liuyu left for Taiping City, she had sent her female attendants from Yujing to the Ghost Dao Academy.

Liuyu’s intention was for Bai Pingting to familiarize them with the Nine Underworlds. Future cooperation required at least basic respect and understanding.

However, this appeared differently in the eyes of the Luming Mountain demons.

“Demons and humans are mortal enemies! Not only did you not kill these noble family members, but you also married into their families, and even their servants can enter your Ghost Dao Academy—back then, not siding with the demon Mo Lin was indeed the right choice!”

“To hell with your so-called correctness!”

Lan Zhu’s voice was always loud, but now, outside the Ghost Dao Academy, it was practically a shout that could be heard by the three thousand demon ghosts stationed on the opposite side.

“Why don’t you mention how you act as enforcers for the immortal families? They point, and you strike. You’re such good dogs!”

“That’s nonsense!”

One of the eighteen ghost generals of Deer Call Mountain stepped forward and said:

“We are using their power against them. We dare to burn, kill, and plunder humans. Can you Nine Nether demon ghosts do that? I heard that not only do you not kill humans, but you also kill man-eating plague ghosts, turning on your own kind. Who’s the real dog of the humans?”

As the words fell, the eighteen ghost generals made beastly, indistinct noises from their throats, inciting mocking boos from the demon ghosts behind them.

Chao Ming and Chao Ming, standing beside Lan Zhu, looked serious.

Liuyu lifted the curtain of the ghost carriage and looked far into the scene of the three-sided confrontation.

“Miss.”

Chao Ming stopped the ghost carriage, still some distance from the Ghost Dao Academy.

“The situation over there is too chaotic. You should…”

The eighteen ghost generals, with their excellent vision, immediately spotted Liuyu inside the ghost carriage.

“It’s Yinshan Liuyu! From an immortal family!”

The demon ghosts of Deer Call Mountain were suddenly in an uproar.

They did not realize that the person they had seen on the cliff the night before was her. In the worried eyes of Chao Ming and Chao Ming, Liuyu slowly stepped down from the carriage, calmly meeting the eyes filled with killing intent.

Even the mountain demon was nervous, saying to Mo Li inside the carriage:

“Master, aren’t you going to persuade her…”

The Lord of the Demon Ghosts gazed steadily at Liuyu’s back.

After a long while, he finally said:

“No need.”

She was never the sparrow seeking shelter under his wings.

Woken by the commotion caused by the Deer Call Mountain demon ghosts, Yinshan Qi in the ghost carriage opened his eyes, slightly confused.

What’s happening?

Did the housekeeper forget to feed the spirit beasts in the Beast Garden?

“So this is how you see yourselves—”

The girl’s voice, tinged with a smile, was like pearls and jade. As she walked calmly, her radiant beauty gradually revealed itself before the crowd.

In the roaring commotion of the demon ghosts, she showed no fear on her face. The girl of eighteen or nineteen, with flowing and elegant features, moved lightly, as if these demon ghosts with killing intent were nothing more than wild cats and dogs snarling at her from the roadside.

The eighteen ghost generals felt her disdain, their loud voices filled with anger:

“Yinshan Liuyu! No matter what you say today, we of Deer Call Mountain will never submit to you!”

As soon as the words were out, many echoed them.

But Liuyu didn’t even blink, smiling faintly as she said:

“Fools who don’t even know they’re being used, even if you wanted to join me and serve as my oxen and horses, I would find you too stupid to be of any use.”

“…What did you say!?”

Shen Tu and Yu Lei, holding spears, blocked the eighteen ghost generals from approaching Liuyu.

Liuyu turned and said to Lan Zhu and the many demon ghosts behind him:

“I heard that last night, these Deer Call Mountain demon ghosts tried to attack my maids, but you noticed and protected them?”

The thousand demon ghosts within the Ghost Dao Academy were seeing Liuyu for the first time.

They had only heard that the new consort had, on Shifang Street, once pressed the young master of the Jiufang family to apologize to Lord Lan Zhu. Today, seeing her in person, they found she indeed had an aura of authority befitting a daughter of an ancient family.

“It’s not that exaggerated…”

One of the demon ghosts scratched his head and said softly:

“That pair of twins—especially the girl with the long knife—fought fiercely. We didn’t even get a chance to step in.”

The pair of twins were each only sixth-level cultivators, but together, they had the strength of eighth-level cultivators. Just the two of them could pressure the eighteen ghost generals into retreating from the Ghost Dao Academy.

They had never seen such a scene before.

“And we all heard,” another demon ghost said, “someone told us yesterday that at some kind of monthly review in Xiandu Yujing, the scholars called you… well… a hero of the people, but a disgrace to the noble families… It’s like they were stomping on the face of our Nine Nether.”

Yinshan Qi, still groggy inside the ghost carriage, suddenly woke up, slapped his thigh, and said to Mo Li beside him:

“Yes! I came to tell you about this! I heard from Tanning that it was done by the Zhongli family. Zhanghua tried to stop them, but somehow didn’t succeed…”

Yinshan Qi’s voice grew smaller.

The space inside the carriage was narrow.

The demonic and ghostly auras filling it grew increasingly oppressive.

He felt that if his nephew-in-law didn’t restrain himself soon, he might suffocate.

Outside, Liuyu’s long lashes fluttered slightly.

Perhaps it was the series of changes she had triggered since her rebirth; this scene did not occur in her previous life.

Hero of the people… disgrace to the noble families.

Though unpleasant, it was indeed accurate.

Even if Liuyu’s marriage alliance had alleviated the immediate crisis for the noble families, over time, they would forget this favor and only remember the shame of having to marry a noble daughter to a demon ghost.

Fortunately, for the current Liuyu, reputation was the least important thing.

Using this incident to foster a sense of shared honor and disgrace among the demon ghosts of the Ghost Dao Academy, and having them protect her maids, turned out to be a good thing.

“Chao Ming.”

Liuyu turned her head and asked, blinking:

“Have you enjoyed your time at the Ghost Dao Academy these past few days?”

Chao Ming nodded.

“The demon ghosts here are all good fighters. I like it here.”

The cultivators of Xiandu Yujing, though skilled, wouldn’t spar so readily.

The nobles, proud of their status, preferred elegant conversations.

Talking about Taoism, discussing profound principles, discarding the mundane martial arts, and pursuing the highest realms far from the mortal world.

Chao Ming didn’t like such empty things.

She liked this kind of knife-edge tension, with fists meeting flesh.

“How is Chao Ming?” she asked.

Chao Ming glanced at the dark mass of Yaogui (demon ghosts) from Luming Mountain, feeling extremely tense. However, seeing his mistress acting as if it was no big deal, he sighed and turned his face away.

“…It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”

After coming to the Gui Dao Institute, he realized that he didn’t really understand the Yaogui before.

He had always thought that Yaogui were ignorant slaves, monsters disguised as humans.

But after arriving, he discovered that the difference between Yaogui and humans wasn’t as significant as he had imagined.

In their human forms, they didn’t hide any inhuman true forms.

Some might manifest insect-like antennae, others might grow gills and fish tails for underwater breathing, and some could peel off their skin as if it were clothing.

But apart from those strange features, they couldn’t transform into beasts nor did they survive by eating humans.

They weren’t as monstrous as legends claimed.

One Yaogui from the Gui Dao Institute gave a thumbs up:

“I also think the food made by you Yujing people is really tasty! Before, I thought you guys ate rocks every day!”

Chao Ming looked up at the Yaogui who had complained about his wasting food and had finished his leftovers, and couldn’t help but say:

“…It’s not rocks, it’s jade scraps, thank you.”

At least someone appreciated the culinary efforts of Xiandu Yujing.

Chao Ming felt rather proud.

After hearing both answers, Liuyu smiled lightly.

“—I too once thought like many of Da Zhao’s citizens, believing Yaogui to be violent, murderous, and ignorant, thinking that there was an insurmountable bloodline boundary between humans and Yaogui, and forgetting that Yaogui are descendants created from the ignorance and cruelty of humans.”

The previous Da Zhao imperial family, in their ignorance, offered human women as tribute to the extraterrestrial demons, seeking temporary peace.

The extraterrestrial demons then created a large number of Yaogui and, together with them, ravaged Shenzhou, producing even more Yaogui offspring.

The Yaogui inherited powers beyond humans from the demons, but their flesh and minds were human in origin.

“Humans have sages as well as villains. Though Yaogui have non-human appearances, they can develop human hearts. If they possess human hearts, why can’t they share the same world with humans and be treated with the same respect?”

Liuyu glanced around, her smile slightly subdued.

Under her arched eyebrows, as distant as mountain ranges, her eyes, bright like morning stars, reflected ten years of turmoil and frost.

“Today, as all of you protect me, Liuyu of Yinshan, I also promise here—”

“If you sincerely honor me as the Queen of the Nine Netherworlds, one day, I will lead those Yaogui willing to coexist peacefully with humans, beyond this Great Wall of Yaogui, to see the flowers blooming in the southern mountains and the prosperity of Yujing.”

Her words caused countless ripples.

Outside the Gui Dao Institute, there was a profound silence, with no one making a sound.

Fang Fuzang, squatting on the wall of the Gui Dao Institute, lowered his head, the tobacco in his pipe igniting with a crackling sound.

Amid the swirling smoke, he exhaled deeply.

Young people… they truly have an inexhaustible vigor.

After a long while.

A Yaogui from the Gui Dao Institute quietly asked:

“…What does that mean? Are we going to see flowers next time we have a day off?”

“If you’re ignorant, just keep quiet. Don’t embarrass the Gui Dao Institute.”

The Eighteen Ghost Generals finally came to their senses.

They understood all too well, and that was precisely the problem. Looking back, they saw hints of wavering in the eyes of the three thousand Yaogui from Luming Mountain.

Leading these three thousand Yaogui, with support from noble families, occasionally raiding border villages for a feast—they had been living quite comfortably.

To follow these two young people and go against the immortal noble families?

Are they out of their minds?

“Don’t listen to this brat’s nonsense! These immortal nobles are experts in smooth talk. In the end, they’ll sell you out and make you count the money for them!”

The eyes of the Eighteen Ghost Generals were filled with ferocity.

The young mistress was only a few steps away. If they could catch her off guard and kill her on the spot, they might break their formation and have a chance to escape…

The moment they harbored killing intent.

Having just taken a step forward, the Ghost General only vaguely heard the roar of flames.

By the time he realized what was happening and turned his head, his entire field of vision was filled with the green ghostly flames.

For the first time, the three thousand Yaogui from Luming Mountain witnessed the limitless ghostly fire of the Nine Netherworlds’ Yaogui Lord.

This eerie green ghost fire seemed to pierce through all restraints, shattering the barriers formed by demon contracts and ghostly qi. In the blink of an eye, more than half of the Eighteen Ghost Generals were engulfed in the flames.

Liuyu turned to watch this scene.

“…Spare us! Spare us, Your Majesty! We are willing to submit…”

“From the moment you refused to submit to the Nine Netherworlds and obeyed the immortal noble families to raid villages, you lost the right to surrender.”

The ghost fire burned brightly in his palm, and the wind stirred by the flames rustled his robes.

Standing atop the ghost chariot, the Yaogui Lord gazed down at the sea of flames, his eyes devoid of joy or sorrow, only a profound tranquility.

“And when you harbored killing intent towards her, your death was sealed.”

The ghost fire consumed everything.

The eighteen corpses couldn’t even get close to his ghost chariot.

Mo Li lifted his eyes and scanned the three thousand Yaogui behind him, speaking in a calm voice:

“Ten days from now, it will be the Nine Netherworlds’ Ghost Festival. It is also the day for the Twelve Demigods to be re-ranked. Those willing to submit will have the opportunity to participate.”

The Yaogui from Luming Mountain suddenly lit up with excitement.

The Twelve Demigods of the Nine Netherworlds—could they also compete?

If they could break through, wouldn’t they transform from mere outlaws into official soldiers of the Nine Netherworlds?

But there was still one clueless Yaogui who asked:

“What if we don’t want to submit—”

Lowering his lashes slightly, the Yaogui Lord’s cold, somber gaze fell on the eighteen corpses.

The three thousand Yaogui: “…”

“Understood.

So, there really isn’t a choice, is there?

Night fell.

The Extreme Night Palace was lit by flickering lanterns.

Having traveled far, the journey had been bumpy, and she realized she hadn’t had a proper sleep.

Once the matter with the deer-cry mountain ghost was settled, Liuyu finally returned to the main building and enjoyed a long, comfortable bath for an hour.

When she emerged, her brows and eyes were tinged with the lazy satisfaction of the misty steam, much like a contented raccoon. Every move she made exuded a leisurely, relaxed air.

As she pushed open the door, the green-clad ghost was leaning against the window sill, gazing out at the Nine Nether City beyond the Extreme Night Palace.

His stern face seemed to hold unresolved worries.

Liuyu couldn’t understand how someone could always look so burdened.

“Finished bathing? Just in time, I have something to…”

Mo Li had just turned his head and saw Liuyu in her current state.

She had bathed for so long that the warm water had turned her cheeks rosy, and her eyes were as clear as jade stones immersed in water. A few strands of her black hair were damp and clung softly to her cheeks, making her face look as delicate as flower petals.

“What were you saying?”

She stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over the sand table casually placed on the table in front of him.

She guessed he wanted to talk about the three thousand ghost soldiers from earlier in the day.

For a ghost known for their combat prowess, three thousand was not a small number and definitely needed a thorough discussion for future arrangements.

And the Ghost Play Immortal Tour Festival…

Liuyu recalled some unpleasant memories from her past life.

But she waited for a long time, and Mo Li still didn’t speak.

She raised her eyes, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Mo Li looked at her moist, delicate eyelashes, and for a moment, he couldn’t remember what he was going to say.

Liuyu glanced around the room.

“If you’re not going to speak, then I’ll go first.”

She walked past Mo Li and lay down on the rosewood chaise by the window, her arm hanging loosely over the armrest. Lying down once again, she still felt that, though the chaise was a bit ugly, it somehow fit her body perfectly and was much more comfortable than other chaises.

This was why she hadn’t moved it out initially.

With a slight smile at the corners of her eyes, she said, “I heard someone spent a lot of money to buy some celestial rosewood from my third uncle. Let’s guess who the big spender is?”