Chapter 47

The origin of the events began when Hundred Crow’s master discovered that his young disciple had sneaked down the mountain and entered the human world. The Ghost Emperor had been causing chaos between the realms of yin and yang for a long time, creating the ghost realm and wreaking havoc on the human world. The number of wandering ghosts was so vast that even if all the underworld officials were sent out to capture them, it would be impossible to catch them all. This had always been a major headache for the underworld. Half a year ago, the heavenly official who managed the sacred mountain finally discovered that his beloved young disciple had mischievously gone to the human world and became a notorious evil ghost. Hearing rumors about the upper realm’s plan to deal with the ghost realm, he took the initiative to visit the underworld. He proposed a solution to the underworld, suggesting that they could borrow a heavenly thunderbolt from the Thunder God to kill the Ghost Emperor and those wandering ghosts directly, thoroughly cleansing the ghost realm. However, he had one condition: to spare his young disciple’s life so he could personally take him back and deal with him.

The underworld, already troubled by the ghost realm, was eager to find a solution that didn’t require a massive deployment of manpower and resources. They immediately agreed to cooperate with the heavenly official. However, before the plan was fully formulated, news came that Yan Yuhe had killed the injured Ghost Emperor, throwing the ghost realm into chaos. Shortly after, Jiang Ruoming killed her sect’s uncle, stole the sect’s treasures, and fled down the mountain. It was then revealed that she was the offspring of the Ghost Emperor and a human, possessing an extremely yin body, making her the epitome of extreme yin and evil. The Taixu Sect, in collaboration with the underworld, discovered that she had been setting up yin-gathering arrays for a long time. With her human bloodline, she could disguise herself perfectly. After her father’s death, the former subordinates of the Ghost Emperor approached her and gave her the Hundred Ghosts Flag. She then fled down the mountain, activated the yin-gathering arrays to nurture her extremely yin body, and attempted to ascend as the new Ghost Emperor.

Xue Ming knew most of what happened next. Yan Yuhe, following his master’s orders, descended the mountain, killed the Jade Face Ghost King, and disguised himself as him to participate in the new Ghost Emperor’s selection. Meanwhile, the underworld sent White and Black Impermanence to assist him. The two sides had agreed to meet at the temple, which is why they hadn’t seen each other before, leading White and Black Impermanenceance to identify the disguised Xue Ming as Yan Chixia mistakenly.

Gu Jinglan, who had previously caused trouble in the underworld by releasing many evil ghosts, assisted Yan Yuhe to atone for his past actions. Their goal was to wait for the Ghost Gate to open on the Ghost Festival, gather all the ghosts in one place, and then use the heavenly thunder to kill them all, thus solving the underworld’s major problem.

It’s worth noting that there was a very subtle but crucial coincidence in all this: Xue Ming taking the Hundred Ghosts Flag from Jiang Ruoming.

The Hundred Ghosts Flag requires the bloodline of the Ghost Emperor to activate, which is why Jiang Ruoming was so desperate to take Xue Ming’s body. When Xue Ming absorbed too much yin energy and restored her extremely yin body, only she could activate the Hundred Ghosts Flag and command the ghosts. Even Jiang Ruoming didn’t know that, as a soul, she couldn’t activate the flag. So when Xue Ming grabbed the Hundred Ghosts Flag, Yan Yuhe didn’t stop her. He had likely already calculated that after she activated the flag, she would throw it back to Jiang Ruoming. However, no one expected that in the final moment, it was Xue Ming herself who activated the flag and handed it to Jiang Ruoming.

Jiang Ruoming, full of ambition, was naturally bewitched by the Hundred Ghosts Flag, commanding the ghosts to support her ascension. The heavenly thunder struck her when she became the new Ghost Emperor.

Everyone exclaimed in amazement as they discussed this. White Impermanence asked, “Miss Xue, how did you know to return the Hundred Ghosts Flag to that villain?”

Xue Ming was also quite puzzled. Recalling the scene, she still felt a lingering fear. But perhaps in extreme situations, people become calm. She saw the rolling thunderclouds above her head, with the vortex directly above her, and instinctively felt that the thunder would strike her. Knowing she was a good person who wouldn’t be struck by lightning for no reason, she immediately suspected the Hundred Ghosts Flag in her hand was the cause. So she chanted a spell and returned the flag to Jiang Ruoming.

Simply put, she hoped Jiang Ruoming would be struck by lightning. She didn’t think much at the time. She took a sip of tea, pretending to be mysterious, and said, “Heaven’s secrets must not be revealed.”

“Miss Xue is truly a divine person,” Black Impermanence sighed.

The group sat around the table in the small room where Xue Ming had stayed in the temple. The room was narrow, and with several people sitting there, it felt crowded.

You Yin disliked White and Black Impermanence and opposed Gu Jinglan, but sitting next to Xue Ming would get him thrown out by Yan Yuhe, so he sat in a corner, keeping his distance from everyone. Hundred Crow, tied with a rope in the corner of the room, sat cross-legged, knowing he had been captured and behaving very obediently.

Yan Yuhe sat next to Xue Ming, uninterested in the conversation, and focused on cleaning his sword.

Seeing Xue Ming’s tea was finished, You Yin quickly refilled it, grumbling, “Since everything is settled, why are you still staying in the human world?”

With a good temper and respect for the thousand-year-old ginseng spirit, White Impermanence smiled and said, “There is still one matter unresolved.”

After saying this, he turned to Xue Ming and asked, “Miss Xue, do you still have the souls of Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen?”

Xue Ming then remembered this matter, nodded, and rang the bell to summon them.

Nie Xiaoqian appeared in a fluttering white dress, respectfully bowing to White and Black Impermanence, saying, “Greetings.”

She had absorbed a lot of yin energy and became a powerful ghost. Given her nature, if released, she could cause significant harm. White Impermanence intended to take Nie Xiaoqian and Ning Caichen back to the underworld for reincarnation.

After being mysteriously harmed in the ghost realm, Ning Caichen’s resentment grew. Whenever he was released, he would start crying after a few words. Annoyed by this, Nie Xiaoqian scolded him a few times, and now he quietly wiped his tears, filled with resentment. Hearing White Impermanence’s words, he cried bitterly, unwilling to leave his wife and elderly mother in the human world.

White Impermanence comforted him, saying, “Don’t worry, your life in the human world is not over yet. When you reach the underworld, the officials will arrange for you to return.”

Hearing this, Ning Caichen felt relieved and thanked him repeatedly. However, Nie Xiaoqian was unwilling, saying that she had worked hard to become a mighty ghost and didn’t want to lose everything by entering reincarnation. After discussing, White and Black Impermanence suggested that there were many vacancies in the underworld, and if Nie Xiaoqian was willing, she could try to take up a position.

Throughout history, being an official has always been a prestigious matter. Xue Ming persuaded her, saying, “An underworld official is still an official. Maybe after a few hundred years of cultivation, you could even become a celestial official.”

Hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian thought, “I’ve worked so hard. How could I not become an official?” She immediately agreed happily to leave with White and Black Impermanence.

Xue Ming was somewhat surprised that Nie Xiaoqian didn’t end up with Ning Caichen. In the original story, Nie Xiaoqian was rescued by Ning Caichen and taken home, where she dutifully served his sick wife and elderly mother for years. After Ning Caichen’s wife died, she married him as a second wife and had a child. A few years later, Ning Caichen took a concubine.

Xue Ming didn’t know what Nie Xiaoqian’s personality was like in life. Although she sometimes showed weakness, her repeated scolding and disdain for Ning Caichen suggested she wouldn’t want to return to serve his family. Going to the underworld to take up a position seemed the best option.

In the end, it was decided that Ning Caichen, who would return to life, would be responsible for properly burying Nie Xiaoqian’s remains. Xue Ming didn’t have much attachment to this temporary subordinate but still sincerely congratulated Nie Xiaoqian and returned the bell to White Impermanence. Suddenly, Xue Ming remembered someone and asked, “Wasn’t Lu Man with you? Why isn’t she here?”

Lu Man had been cultivating properly and wasn’t on the extermination list. However, after they parted that day, Xue Ming didn’t see Lu Man again and didn’t know where she had gone.

Black Impermanence replied, “She practices the ghost path and is determined to support the ghost realm. She was the one who gave Jiang Ruoming the Hundred Ghosts Flag. The two of them conspired to hold the Ghost King Banquet to elect a new Ghost Emperor. But they seemed to have fallen out later for some reason, and we don’t know her whereabouts.”

“Now that the ghost realm is broken and all the wandering ghosts between the yin and yang realms have been exterminated, her plan has naturally failed. She should be cultivating honestly now,” White Impermanence said.

Hearing this, Xue Ming didn’t ask further. Lu Man’s decision to part ways with Jiang Ruoming indicated that her heart was in the right place. If she cultivated properly, she would achieve good results, so Xue Ming did not worry too much.

Xue Ming chatted with White and Black Impermanence for a bit longer. By then, Yan Yuhe had finished cleaning his sword and stood up, signaling it was time to part ways.

Gu Jinglan, holding the rope tied to Hundred Crow in one hand, ruffled You Yin’s head with the other, saying, “Hide well in the future, or you’ll be caught and cooked.”

You Yin shook his head in annoyance, complaining, “You reek of alcohol, don’t touch me.”

Gu Jinglan didn’t mind and smiled, turning to Yan Yuhe and saying, “The green hills won’t change; the flowing water will continue. Yan Chixia, see you another day.”

With that, White and Black Impermanence bowed to Yan Yuhe and Xue Ming, then left with Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian.

Outside, it was already sunset, and the afterglow was about to fade. Ning Caichen couldn’t bear the light and hid inside the bell. Nie Xiaoqian, however, didn’t mind and wanted to enjoy the human world after being trapped in the temple for so many years.

Xue Ming, still not used to her half-human, half-ghost state, was forced back by the twilight glow as soon as she stepped out of the door. She wrapped Yan Yuhe’s outer robe around her head, opened an umbrella, and slowly walked out.

The afterglow dyed a brilliant orange sky, making the world look splendid. The dry summer breeze rustled the dense treetops, and the sounds of cicadas and frogs filled the air. The sky was vast and serene.

After saying their goodbyes, Gu Jinglan and the others quickly disappeared, and Yan Yuhe suggested leaving.

Since Xue Ming had crossed over, she had been struggling to escape the temple. Now that everything was settled, she finally had the chance to leave and felt tears welling up. She draped the black robe over herself, revealing only her red eyes to see the way. Yan Yuhe held her hand and slowly led her out, with You Yin following behind. Once out of the ghost temple, they entered the forest. The three of them walked in silence, and it didn’t take long to reach the edge of the forest, which had once taken Xue Ming a long time to traverse, exhausting her. Now, with the ghost realm gone, it was only a ten-minute walk.

Once out of the forest, the view opened up. Beyond the vast wilderness were rolling mountains. The sun had set entirely, and the night sky was half-covered in darkness, with a faint moon hanging above.

You Yin said goodbye to Xue Ming here, secretly slipping a whisker into her hand. Holding her ghostly claw with his small white hand, he looked up and said, “If you ever need my help in the future, just break this whisker, and I’ll come to find you, no matter how far away.”

Xue Ming felt a wave of emotion and found the little white bundle very cute, wanting to hug and squeeze it. However, with Yan Yuhe standing nearby with a stern face, she restrained herself.

You Yin shed a few tears, bid farewell to Xue Ming, and then disappeared into the ground.

Everyone had left, leaving only the shadows of her and Yan Yuhe on the ground, one tall and one short, intimately leaning against each other. Xue Ming looked at them, feeling a bit melancholic.

Yan Yuhe, however, showed no change. He held Xue Ming’s hand and continued to walk forward. His palm was dry and warm, transferring warmth to her cold hand. Although he never said it, Xue Ming felt that he liked holding hands.

After nightfall, Xue Ming no longer needed to cover her head with the black robe. The two of them entered a town that wasn’t very prosperous. Given her current state, Xue Ming didn’t feel hungry, so they didn’t eat. They just asked the innkeeper for water to wash up.

Even though Xue Ming was now neither fully human nor a ghost, she still felt dirty and uncomfortable without a bath. While waiting for the hot water, she looked at herself in the mirror repeatedly, finding it strange. She thought she looked like a fairy but overly beautiful, with two small, playful fangs, like a vampire. Xue Ming bared her teeth at the mirror, making a funny face.

Yan Yuhe heard the noise and met Xue Ming’s gaze. He had taken off his outer robe and was wearing a white inner garment. His long hair was tied into a ponytail, the dark strands falling over his shoulders. He sat in a slightly lazy posture, holding a book. His eyes were clear and calm. After glancing at Xue Ming, he lowered his gaze, seemingly engrossed in his book. Curious, Xue Ming put down the mirror and walked over to see what he was reading. To her surprise, it was the same old book he had been studying diligently before—a pornographic book.

Previously, Yan Yuhe had twice handed it to her to choose from, but she had always brushed it off. Now, in her current state, if she wanted to recover quickly, this matter couldn’t be avoided. She stood there awkwardly, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

At that moment, faint noises came from the next room. Squeaking sounds slowly drifted through the wall, accompanied by soft gasps and moans. The noise wasn’t loud, and with the thickness of the wall, it should have been muffled. However, Xue Ming’s heightened senses picked up every little sound clearly. She didn’t realize this and thought the wall’s soundproofing was terrible, transmitting even the smallest noises.

The continuous sticky sounds and occasional thuds made Xue Ming stare at the wall for a long time, unable to catch her breath. Finally, she looked at Yan Yuhe and asked, “Did you… did you hear that?”

As soon as she finished asking, she felt her ears heat up, unsure if her pale skin would betray her with a blush.

Yan Yuhe looked down and replied, “What?”

“It’s just some strange noises,” Xue Ming said as she took a couple of steps closer to him. She was afraid that discussing these matters would be overheard by the neighbors, which would be too embarrassing. So, she sat down next to Yan Yuhe, leaning her shoulder against his, and suggested, “How about we change rooms?”

“What dissatisfaction do you have with this place?” Yan Yuhe asked.

“Isn’t it a bit noisy? And we’re so close…” Xue Ming’s voice trailed off in the second half, her gaze evasive. “It’s not convenient for… you know.”

Yan Yuhe turned a page of the book, and the sound of the pages flipping made Xue Ming instinctively glance at it. She was shocked to see an image on the page depicting a man and a woman entwined in a challenging pose, their bodies flowing together in intimacy. Xue Ming was dumbfounded, never expecting such a pose to exist.

Noticing her serious gaze, Yan Yuhe pondered, “Do you want to try it?”

Xue Ming quickly shook her head vigorously, “No, no, I can’t lift my legs that high; I’d break them!”

Yan Yuhe closed the book and casually pushed it to the center of the table. With a slight turn of his body, he reached out and grabbed Xue Ming by the back of her neck, pulling her toward him. Without warning, his warm lips captured hers.

Not knowing if it was due to the need for yang energy, when her lips intertwined with Yan Yuhe’s, a breath entered her mouth, and she suddenly felt a warmth in her chest, her heart racing as if all the blood in her body had ignited. Yan Yuhe’s tongue brushed against her teeth, sliding in along her gums, teasing her little tongue, licking it slowly and deliberately.

Xue Ming found kissing very pleasant. She wasn’t sure if it was the warmth of the moment, but her hands instinctively climbed up to his shoulders. She slightly parted her lips and began to respond slowly.

She had two sharp fangs, but that didn’t stop Yan Yuhe from wreaking havoc in her mouth. His tongue lingered several times, licking her tiny fangs as if he really liked them, while he wrapped his arms around her waist. With a slight exertion, he lifted her entirely, making her sit on his lap.

Xue Ming’s figure was more petite than Yan Yuhe, and when she sat in his embrace, he completely enveloped her. Her body leaned back under the pressure until her back pressed against the edge of the table, enduring Yan Yuhe’s kisses. He progressed rapidly, and his kissing skills had indeed improved a lot compared to the first time; he no longer bit her lips. The kisses were incredibly tender during those moments, and his hot breath brushed against her face, mingling with her quickened breaths as it swept past her nose.

Soon, Xue Ming felt something pressing against her. Feeling uncomfortable, she adjusted her position, but the sensation became even more noticeable.