Chen Ming once again examined Wang Qi, finding that, as the opportunity codex predicted, he was critically ill and beyond medical help.
He was just waiting to be buried.
“Little lady, don’t cry anymore!”
Chen Ming slowly stood up and dusted himself off.
“Young Master, you can see me?”
Yi Hong wasn’t scared, just a little surprised.
But when she noticed the peach wood sword in Chen Ming’s hand, she immediately became wary.
The red silk sash on her body moved like a snake, wrapping around Wang Qi and pulling him behind her.
“Are you a Daoist?”
“Not yet.”
Knowing that the other party wasn’t a Daoist, Yi Hong breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was just passing by, and I was sleeping soundly, but your crying was too noisy!”
“Really?”
“Why would I lie to you?”
“Hmph hmph—”
Wang Qi suddenly woke up.
Interrupting their conversation.
“Qilang, are you alright!”
“I’m fine.” Wang Qi’s voice was hoarse, “Cough cough—”
Seeing her lover on the verge of death, Yi Hong suddenly thought of something, her eyes turning fierce as she looked at Chen Ming and the still-sleeping groom.
Wang Qi immediately understood what his beloved wife was thinking and grabbed her, “No!”
But at this moment, Yi Hong was beyond listening. She immediately cast a spell, forming hand seals and chanting incantations as the red silk, like a blood python, broke through the air and swiftly coiled towards Chen Ming’s face.
Chen Ming frowned as he watched Yi Hong attack him. He had initially just been watching because, although she was eerie and terrifying, she didn’t have a trace of bloodlust!
A pitiful ghost who hadn’t killed anyone!
But being pitiful didn’t mean she could take others’ lives. This female ghost clearly intended to use his and Zhang Bo’s vital essence to prolong Wang Qi’s life, and Chen Ming wouldn’t tolerate such an act!
Chen Ming directly raised his peach wood sword to meet the red silk.
The moment the sword’s edge struck the red silk, the fabric reacted as if it had touched a red-hot iron rod, sizzling and emitting black smoke as it exploded into fragments.
Yi Hong was jolted, stumbling backward and falling to the ground.
She realized that although the other party wasn’t a Daoist, he was a powerful mage!
She turned, intending to transform into a wisp of smoke and escape, but when she looked back and saw her lover barely breathing, she couldn’t bring herself to move.
“Just kill me!”
Seeing that she couldn’t win and didn’t want to flee, Yi Hong spoke helplessly, “I want to die with Qilang.”
Wang Qi saw that Chen Ming had extraordinary skills and must be a capable person.
He had also witnessed the power of Yi Hong’s red silk, which had helped him drive away more than a dozen thugs.
He struggled to get up, pushed aside Yi Hong, who was about to help him, and walked with effort to Chen Ming, tugging at his sleeve.
“Thump—”
“Young man, I failed to recognize your eminence. Please forgive me, Master. I beg you, for the sake of our meeting in this desolate temple today, save my life.”
“Thump thump—”
Chen Ming watched this scene with interest and asked, “How do you want me to save you?”
Wang Qi’s face lit up, “I beg the Master to save my life!”
“No!”
“If you hadn’t been so infatuated with beauty, where would this calamity have come from?”
Upon hearing this, Wang Qi collapsed to the ground as if the last straw had broken the camel’s back.
“Thump—”
Yi Hong also knelt down, “Master, please forgive my offense. I beg the Master to allow us to reunite in our next lives.”
She also understood that after Wang Qi died, he would surely be taken by the Underworld. As a resentful lone ghost, it would be better to go with him, reincarnate, and continue their fated connection.
Chen Ming remained silent, carefully observing the two.
And, indeed, they looked a bit like a married couple.
The hall was silent, with only the occasional crackle of the fire and the mournful howl of the night wind.
“Are you willing?”
Seeing tears in Yi Hong’s eyes and her profound sorrow, Wang Qi spoke, “Please, Master, lend a helping hand.”
Chen Ming nodded, “I’ll try.”
Yi Hong’s face showed joy, and she immediately knelt on the ground, “I humbly beg the Master for mercy!”
Chen Ming said no more, taking out a yellowed hemp paper from his cloth bag and dissolving cinnabar in ink.
Chen Ming was writing the “Calming Land God Charm” document!
“Whoosh—”
After the ink dried, Chen Ming, without much explanation, directly threw the “Calming Land God Charm” document into the fire.
In just a moment.
An eerie wind rose again around the temple.
“Daoist priest—”
A faint greeting sounded.
The voice came from far away and drew near, a figure passed through the main gate, appearing out of thin air before the three of them.
The Land God had white hair and a white beard, a face furrowed like mud, a green robe, and a gnarled staff in his left hand from which three copper coins hung.
Only his complexion seemed a bit off.
“Land God.”
Chen Ming respectfully greeted him.
The Land God surveyed his surroundings, and upon seeing Chen Ming, a hint of astonishment flashed in his eyes.
No wonder, he had been playing cards with several other Land Gods when he received the “Calming Land God Charm” document burned from his jurisdiction. He usually couldn’t be bothered to even look at documents burned by unknown Daoists, but this young mage was famously “troublesome” in Ink Mountain County.
Last month, during the Ink Mountain temple fair, seven Land Gods were actually summoned by the same document to perform a spirit dance!
The reason was that Chen Ming’s sister felt the mountain god portrayed by the performers wasn’t realistic enough!
The “Calming Land God Charm” documents he wrote could summon them, the Land Gods, at will, and they had no room to refuse.
The Land Gods had initially wanted to report him to the City God of the county, but Chen Ming’s attitude was respectful, and whether or not the matter was resolved, he would offer food and wine afterwards. After some deliberation, they just let him be.
After all, in these turbulent times, having food and wine was not bad.
“Young Master, what important matter brings you here?”
The Land God looked at Chen Ming with a smile.
Chen Ming looked at Wang Qi.
Wang Qi immediately spoke.
A year ago, Wang Qi passed by an abandoned house and heard that it was haunted. But Wang Qi didn’t believe in evil, so he moved in.
Later, he was troubled by Yi Hong, and then he heard that this ghost was a hanged ghost, who had been tricked out of her family property. She had nothing, no one to rely on, so she hanged herself from the beam.
After hearing this, Wang Qi felt pity for Yi Hong, so he cut down that beam and burned it to ashes.
But Yi Hong didn’t go to reincarnate; instead, she fell in love with Wang Qi at first sight.
After that, Wang Qi naturally indulged in the tender embrace, enjoying himself so much that he gradually became emaciated…
After listening, the Land God’s face was expressionless as he looked at Chen Ming, “Young Master, what do you wish for?”
“How about letting them have another fated marriage in their next lives?”
The Land God was momentarily speechless. This request was more difficult than the previous ones.
Previously, Chen Ming either asked them for information about spirits and monsters, or he asked them to open secluded paths and ferry departed souls.
Chen Ming saw the difficult expression on his face, raised an eyebrow slightly, and asked, “Can’t you?”
Upon hearing this, the Land God quickly stroked his beard and chuckled, “Yes, of course, it can be done! Keeping one’s word is fundamental to being human.”
“This matter isn’t difficult. Clerk Wen, who serves the City God, is my sworn brother. He might be able to help, but—”
“But what?”
The three looked at the Land God with concern.
“I heard that the Master has a talisman of the Fa'e Si Judge in his possession?”
Chen Ming nodded and said faintly, “That’s right.” He had previously asked the City God to help him investigate the whereabouts of the Painted Skin Ghost, and the reward was this Zhong Kui protective talisman.
“Only one Zhong Kui protective talisman is needed!” The Land God counted one finger, his tone cautious.
Chen Ming didn’t hesitate, taking the talisman from his satchel and handing it to the other party.
To him, this talisman was like honey to some, but a chicken bone to him (of little use).
The Land God hurriedly used his gnarled staff to suppress the talisman’s light, put away the talisman, and bowed slightly to Chen Ming, “Young Master, this matter is on me!”
“You two, come with me quickly.”
Wang Qi immediately got up, only to find himself as light as a swallow. He turned his head and saw his own body still lying stiffly on the ground, blood seeping from his seven orifices.
Wang Qi was dead.
This was to be expected.
He felt no sadness at all.
Wang Qi respectfully bowed to Chen Ming, “Finally, I trouble the Master to send this remains back to Wang Residence on West Street in Ji County! I will explain the whole story in a dream!”
“We two will never forget the Master’s kindness for all eternity!” Yi Hong also bowed.
Then, the two followed the Land God, passing through the main gate, step by step, towards the secluded path in the dark corner.
Watching the three figures disappear, Chen Ming sighed.
And then fell asleep.
…
The morning light pierced the lingering night.
Zhang Bo yawned and propped himself up. This was the most peaceful night he had slept. He looked up and saw that Chen Ming had already packed, with his peach wood sword and satchel on his back, standing beside the carriage.
Chen Ming pointed at Wang Qi’s corpse beside Zhang Bo, and then at the dispirited little donkey, “Zhang Bo, we have to go to Ji County!”