Chapter 6

The air in the palace seemed to freeze, with only the forceful, echoing voice of Yu Zhengzheng still reverberating within the hall. That powerful “shit” word resounded in a 3D-like effect, looping in the ears of everyone present.

Everyone was stunned, their jaws almost hitting the ground.

It was incredible—truly astonishing!

How was the Ghost King supposed to respond to this?

Could he possibly perform some sort of crude act and feed it to her fresh?

Yu Zhengzheng felt a sticky, damp sensation in her palm. She dared not open her eyes, clenching her teeth, her entire body tense, silently praying that the Ghost King would not find fault with her. Normally, she was so sensitive that even pulling out a white hair caused pain, let alone the Ghost King taking action that could cost her an organ or even her life.

A cool breeze faintly drifted into the hall. The agate beads hanging in a curtain swayed, their delicate sounds ringing as they collided.

Through the gaps in the curtain, Rong Shang could see the woman standing there, trembling slightly. Perhaps because she was too nervous, her body instinctively stiffened, causing blood to seep from the wound beneath her collarbone. She usually wore dull, coarse clothes, but today she was in the white robe of an inner-city disciple. The robe, a little too large for her, made her look fragile, like a willow, weak against the wind.

This was the first time Rong Shang truly looked at her.

He lightly ran his fingers over the Buddhist beads, tracing the grooves with his fingertips. “Would you be willing to die for me?”

Yu Zhengzheng froze, her body stiff as she slowly raised her head.

Shanshui shook his head in regret.

If she said “yes,” the Ghost King would undoubtedly kill her. But if she said “no,” the Ghost King, with his temper, wouldn’t spare her either.

It seemed like a no-win situation.

Yu Zhengzheng didn’t want to answer his question but couldn’t avoid it either.

She took a deep breath, gritting her teeth. “I am willing to live for the Ghost King.”

Rong Shang’s thin lips curved slightly, and he glanced at her with a look that was half-smiling. “Oh?”

She understood he was probing for a reason. If her answer pleased him, perhaps he would let her go.

Yu Zhengzheng, her legs as weak as cooked noodles, steeled herself to speak, staring at the gently swaying agate beads. “Death is not frightening; living requires courage.”

Being bitten by a zombie was painful, but once consciousness was lost, there was release. But for those of them who were still alive, they had to endure panic and torment every day, helplessly watching those closest to them fall, unable to do anything.

Hearing her voice tremble, Rong Shang paused in his motion of rubbing the beads, his gaze lowering slightly, hiding the coldness in his eyes. He lifted his lips back into a neutral expression.

Yu Zhengzheng noticed he remained silent and couldn’t guess his thoughts, but she vaguely felt that she had somehow displeased him.

Clinging to the hope that flattering him might work, she began complimenting him: “The Ghost King is as handsome as the moon, as elegant as the stars, as unrivaled as the stars in the sky, as stunning as a human being..”

She used every idiom she knew from her nine years of compulsory education to praise him, until she had exhausted her words and ended with a summary: “I have admired you for a long time, and I wish to serve you forever, through all my lives.”

She had praised him to the heavens. Surely, he’d be in a better mood now, right?

Rong Shang’s gaze darkened as he looked at her with meaning, “I’ve heard that you once blocked a sword for my enemy… Do you like him?”

Yu Zhengzheng was stunned. The Ghost King’s enemy—was he referring to Senior Brother?

Senior Brother’s wet nurse had been a survivor of the Donghuang Dragon Clan, fleeing to the human world after the slaughter of her family. The Ghost King was believed to be behind this incident, which led Senior Brother to travel to Penglai Mountain to train, seeking revenge on the Ghost King one day.

It seemed that the Ghost King had learned of Senior Brother’s true identity, which was why he had sent someone to Penglai Mountain to hunt him down.

But according to the original story, the Ghost King only learned of Senior Brother’s true identity just before he was about to ascend to the next level, after Senior Brother had reached the Great Ascension stage. 

But now, Senior Brother was still in the Nascent Soul stage, so the timeline didn’t match. 

Wait, what did this have to do with her?

She had already blocked a sword for that bastard. There was no way she was going to block a second one because of him.

With that thought, Yu Zhengzheng smiled brightly. “Of course not! He’s just a toad wishing to eat swan meat. I only accidentally blocked his way.”

Her tone was firm, as if she wanted to distance herself from Senior Brother entirely, her words full of disdain.

Suddenly, Rong Shang laughed, and his laughter echoed through the palace. It was a wild, mocking sound that resonated like a devil’s voice, shaking everyone’s hearts and making them feel a dull pain.

At some point, his laughter stopped, and the white figure behind the agate curtain was gone.

Yu Zhengzheng knew she had narrowly escaped death and finally sighed in relief, trembling as she stepped away from the front of the group.

As soon as the Ghost King left, the Shura King followed suit, exiting shortly thereafter.

The oath-taking process became simpler after that, with male and female disciples lining up to make their declarations. Then, the Ghost Sect members split them into groups and took them to their respective places for arrangements.

Yu Zhengzheng was still grouped with the people from Penglai Mountain, but now there was an addition of Xiao Yuqing and two female disciples from the Yuling Sect.

Becoming the Ghost King’s furnace companion wasn’t that simple. Today was just the first selection, and there would be several more rounds of screening. The Ghost Sect would choose the most suitable candidates, who would then receive careful teaching from the elders before being given the chance to try living in the Ghost King’s residence, the Luán Palace.

Shanshui led Yu Zhengzheng and the others in a circle around Gui Xu Mountain, patiently explaining which areas they could visit and which they should avoid.

Xiao Yuqing looked at Yu Zhengzheng’s pale face and couldn’t help but express concern. “Yu, are you alright?”

Yu Zhengzheng didn’t want to answer such a pointless question. Did she look fine to him?

She gave a perfunctory nod. If not for Xiao Yuqing’s handsome appearance, she wouldn’t even have bothered with that small gesture.

Yu Jiangjiang leaned in, pulling out a golden pill from her storage ring. “Sister, this is a Guiyuan Pill, which can replenish your energy and spiritual power. You’ll feel better after taking it.”

Yu Zhengzheng glanced at her. The Guiyuan Pill was worth fifty high-grade spiritual stones, but since she wanted to salvage her image in front of Xiao Yuqing, she was willing to accept it.

“Sister, don’t be mad. I was just frightened earlier and forgot to speak up for you.” Yu Jiangjiang grabbed her arm and gently shook it, almost like she was acting coquettishly. “Next time, I’ll make sure to protect you!”

Xiao Yuqing seemed to want to mediate. He spoke softly, “You two are sisters. How could Yu Zhengzheng hold this against you? I’m sure she won’t blame you for it.”

Yu Zhengzheng chuckled in exasperation. Yu Jiangjiang was practically a carbon copy of Madam Lu—both cut from the same cloth. When Yu Zhengzheng was down, it was Yu Jiangjiang who gloated at her misfortune. Yet now, with just a few words, it somehow became *her* fault for resenting Yu Jiangjiang for not protecting her.

If she didn’t forgive Yu Jiangjiang, it would make her seem petty.

Yu Zhengzheng glanced at the Guiyuan Pill in Yu Jiangjiang’s hand, biting her lip. “I’m not angry. This pill is expensive—you should keep it for yourself.”

Yu Jiangjiang slightly raised her chin, a hint of subtle smugness in her tone. “It’s alright. You can have it, Sister. I still have over a dozen of these.”

“Oh, I see. My dear sister is indeed generous.”  

Without further protest, Yu Zhengzheng accepted the pill and swallowed it. The moment it entered her stomach, a wave of warmth spread through her dantian, as if a gentle current flowed within her body, bringing immense comfort.

Even the pain from the wound on her chest eased significantly.

As expected of a pill worth fifty high-grade spirit stones—far superior to the cheap, low-quality ones her lousy father used to force-feed her. Even the taste of the Guiyuan Pill was sweet.

Noticing both Xiao Yuqing and Yu Jiangjiang watching her, Yu Zhengzheng slowly raised her pale, slender fingers and pressed lightly against her temple, wearing a pained expression. “I’ve always been frail since childhood. While this pill has helped ease some of the symptoms, I fear my heart condition will flare up again by nightfall… If only I had a few more Guiyuan Pills, I wouldn’t have to worry.”

Yu Zhengzheng’s loosely fitted white robe, slightly oversized, made her appear even more delicate and pitiable. Paired with her hesitant, vulnerable demeanor, even the most stoic of men would find themselves melting like boiling water.

Xiao Yuqing, who didn’t have any qi-restoring pills on him, turned to Yu Jiangjiang. “Miss Yu, there’s no need for concern. Sisters share a bond of the heart. Since your younger sister has over a dozen Guiyuan Pills and cares so deeply for you, I’m sure she’ll gladly give you more.”

Yu Zhengzheng feigned surprise and waved her hands hastily. “Oh, the Guiyuan Pill is far too precious! How could I possibly take another one from my sister? That wouldn’t be right… no, not at all.”

Xiao Yuqing turned expectantly toward Yu Jiangjiang, whose expression stiffened as if she had swallowed a fly. She was caught in a dilemma—whether to give the pills or not.

If she refused, all her earlier efforts at pretending to be a caring sister would be for naught. After all, she had just put on a show of sisterly affection, and this persona had to be maintained in front of Xiao Yuqing.

The Yuling Sect was the foremost sect in the cultivation world, unrivaled in both power and resources. Moreover, Sect Master Xiao had no children of his own and only Xiao Yuqing as an adopted son. Naturally, the Yuling Sect would eventually pass to Xiao Yuqing.

Although Senior Brother was excellent, Xiao Yuqing’s background was far more distinguished. If she could be with Xiao Yuqing, the marriage alliance between Penglai Mountain and Qingcheng Mountain would make her the wife of the Yuling Sect’s future leader. From then on, she would enjoy endless wealth and glory.

Even so, Yu Jiangjiang’s heart ached bitterly. The Guiyuan Pills had been purchased with her own spirit stones, costing her an entire year’s stipend—a considerable expense.

Her face turned green as she reluctantly retrieved the remaining Guiyuan Pills from her storage ring. With stiff movements, she shoved the pills into Yu Zhengzheng’s hands, forcing a strained smile through clenched teeth. “Sister, remember to drink water when you take the pills. Don’t choke on them!”

Yu Zhengzheng tucked the pills into her storage bracelet with a beaming smile and patted Yu Jiangjiang’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, my dear sister. I’ll take each pill diligently and never waste your kind intentions.”

Yu Jiangjiang’s expression visibly twisted in frustration.

Meanwhile, Shanshui, acting like a diligent tour guide, gave a detailed explanation of the history of Guixu Mountain before leading them to the final sightseeing spot.

They were surrounded by a sea of black clouds rolling across the sky, with wisps of white mist drifting through the air. Before them stretched a river with no visible end. The water, an eerie deep green like that of a dead sea, was spanned only by a single, decaying tree trunk serving as a “bridge” between the two banks.

Shanshui pointed to the river. “Crossing the river leads to Luan Palace, His Majesty’s sleeping quarters.”

Luan Palace was the most heavily restricted area of Guixu Mountain, even off-limits to members of the Ghost Sect. There wasn’t much to say about it—after all, none of them would be able to enter.

Shanshui herself had entered once before under her master’s guidance, and that single experience was enough to ensure she never wanted to go back. It was simply not a place meant for the living.

“This river is called Wuchuan. When crossing, be sure to carry spiritual herbs, and above all, avoid falling in.”

Yu Zhengzheng eyed the rotting wooden bridge nervously and asked, “What happens if you fall in?”

Shanshui chuckled. “It’s no big deal.”

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Shanshui continued, “You’ll just have to be more careful in your next life.”

Yu Zhengzheng: “…”

One of the Yuling Sect female disciples smirked and sneered, “The Luan Palace isn’t a place just anyone can enter. It seems this Yu girl is full of confidence—already planning how to get inside.”

Her twin chimed in with mock concern, “Oh, Sister, you can’t blame her for that. It’s important for a person to have self-awareness. Yu Zhengzheng just happens to lack a bit of it, that’s all.”

These two had been displeased with Yu Zhengzheng ever since they saw her getting close to their Senior Brother back at the palace. Now that they had a chance, they naturally seized the opportunity to ridicule her in his presence.

Yu Zhengzheng, understanding they were picking a fight over Xiao Yuqing, couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “If I wanted to go in, I could do so right now.”

The Yuling Sect disciple snorted. “Who do you think you are?!”

Fearing the argument might escalate, Shanshui quickly waved her hand to signal everyone to return and rest. Just as she was about to speak, the jade bracelet on her wrist lit up.

She tapped it twice, and a beam of green light projected an image into the air.

Xiang Feng’s pale face appeared before the group. He cast an indifferent glance at them before addressing Shanshui. “His Majesty has ordered Yu Zhengzheng to attend him at Luan Palace.”

Shanshui froze and instinctively turned to Yu Zhengzheng. “When?”

Xiang Feng replied, “Immediately.”