Chapter 118 I Want a Recognition

"I want to go with you!"

Nezha couldn't pull it out for a while, but when he looked back, Ping Yu's expression was wicked; he didn't feel like he had been rewarded at all.

Nezha twitched his lips and said, "What exactly do you want?"

"Supervisor," Ping Yu frankly admitted, "It's the first time I'm eating something you've made for me, so of course I have to eat it all! What if it's not good? I'll have to supervise you and be ready to teach you at any time!"

She believed Nezha wouldn't add anything extra, but she couldn't guarantee how it would taste. Pingyu was a gourmand; she couldn't bring herself to torture her tongue.

Nezha chuckled inexplicably and pried her fingers off her arm one by one.

"Let's go then."

The two stood side by side, and Nezha said, "Let me show you if I have any faults to point out."

.

Because Jiang Ziya suddenly ordered a banquet, the cooks needed to prepare decent dishes within a limited time. Smoke rose from the chimneys, filling the air with the greasy aroma of meat. The kitchen was bustling with people, constantly bringing dishes and fetching water. Ping Yu peeked through the half-open door; the stage was packed with people, there wasn't a single empty seat.

"Or... should we just forget about it?"

She tentatively asked Nezha.

We can't just shut down the production line because she's the only one who doesn't like the food. Nezha shook his head, seemingly determined to show off his skills.

He was about to reply when his eyes suddenly sharpened.

Ping Yu frowned, and the two of them attacked simultaneously.

Clang.

The cleaver and the radish chunks were slammed together onto the cutting board.

He was locked to the wall by the Qiankun Ring, which also had a talisman thrown out by Ping Yu pasted on it.

There's an eerie aura about it.

The cooks nearby were startled and quickly moved away.

The Xiqi camp is filled with immortals and gods, how could a demon have infiltrated? Pingyu and Nezha exchanged a glance and walked over.

The man pinned to the wall by the two of them looked terrified, food juice still seeping from his hands. Divine power enveloped their eyes, their golden pupils scrutinizing him like fire. The pressure of the immortals was released, and the mortal shrank back in fear, trembling: "Have I done anything wrong to offend you two immortals?"

The human body shows no signs of fading away; it is a mortal.

Nezha gathered his fingers, and the Universe Ring returned to his wrist. The mortal slid down the wall to the ground, his legs trembling.

All living beings in this world possess "qi"—humans have human qi, and demons have demonic qi. "Observing qi" is the first lesson for those entering the immortal path. The cook before him had a mixture of human and demonic qi emanating from him, wisps of purple light emanating from him. Ping Yu helped him up and asked, "Who have you been in contact with recently?"

If he is not a demon, then he must have encountered one.

Collusion between humans and demons is not uncommon. She frowned, pondering whether the food prepared by the other party was still edible. The cook stammered, "I...I only stayed in the camp and never went out."

As soon as he finished speaking, the cooks who were watching chimed in, "Yes, gentlemen, Old Wang is the most honest one. He has never stepped out of the camp since he went to war with the army."

From the three people's brief remarks, Pingyu pieced together "Old Wang's" life story.

His name was Wang Tian, ​​and he was among the first cooks to join the army. His wife had died, and his young son had drowned after falling into a field while playing. Until last year, he had been a lonely old man living alone. Last year, before the army marched, he married a blind and mute woman, raising her with relatives and sending her his monthly salary back home for her living expenses. Everyone said Old Wang was an honest, simple man with few hobbies; his only interests were birdwatching and chopping wood. Soldiers and cooks needed to report to leave the camp, and since they saw each other frequently, they wouldn't lie or vouch for each other. Ping Yu had taken Wang Tian's pulse while helping him, and she confirmed that Wang Tian was not a man of supernatural affinity and couldn't perform any deceptive magic.

That's strange.

Hearing others testify on his behalf, Wang Tian was moved. He touched his hair, pursed his lips, and remained silent, befitting his so-called "honest" character. Ping Yu narrowed his eyes and looked at Nezha. The boy looked for a while, then asked those around him, "Will it matter if he's not at the dinner?"

"It's alright," everyone replied, "Everything is almost ready, Wang Tian won't be cooking."

Having received confirmation, Nezha then looked at Wang Tian.

The mortal was timid and dared not look Nezha in the eye. He heard the young general say, "Being tainted by yin energy is bad for mortals. Come with me."

This way, he wouldn't attract gossip or be branded as a bully. Under the pretext of "healing," Nezha took the person out of the kitchen.

They took the man to a secluded spot, preparing to interrogate him again.

Unexpectedly, Wang Tian hesitated for a moment, then finally said with a flicker in his eyes, "Two immortal masters, I have seen my wife... does that count?"

No one except the generals is allowed to bring their families on a military march.

"your......"

Ping Yu paused for a moment, then changed his words: "My deceased wife?"

Wang Tian nodded emphatically, his unease evident.

Nezha asked, "Where did you see it? At the camp?"

“No,” Wang Tian said, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. He nervously fidgeted with his fingers and whispered, “I saw my deceased wife in the water, in the pot, anywhere her face could be seen.”

"Because the anniversary of her death is approaching, I thought she had probably returned to the world and didn't pay much attention. But today, when the two immortals said there was a demonic aura, I became a little uneasy."

At this point, Wang Tian quickly glanced at Ping Yu and Nezha. He cautiously asked, "My two immortal masters, has my deceased wife become a demon?"

Unaware of the details, Pingyu wasn't certain. But wherever she was, someone was bound to encounter a ghost, and that ghost must be one of the Twenty-Four Ghosts. With the remaining three ghosts settled, Pingyu felt a surge of joy. However, considering Nezha's presence, she felt a pang of anxiety. Pingyu quickly glanced at Nezha, who looked back at her with the same thought. Their eyes met, and Pingyu saw Nezha's expression change slightly. The immortals remained silent, but mortals were even more terrified. Wang Tian lowered his head even further, barely daring to breathe. After a long while, the young general's voice rang out above him: "Do you have a ghost-sealing talisman?"

Wang Tian looked up, but Nezha wasn't speaking to him.

Ping Yu was caught off guard and hadn't even reacted yet. She froze for a full three seconds before hurriedly taking out a yellow talisman from her bracelet.

She was so clumsy and nervous that she almost dropped the thin piece of paper several times. Nezha took the talisman, folded it into a triangle, and handed it to Wang Tian. He said, "If you encounter a ghost, stick this talisman on it. Once you've trapped her, come to the tent and call me."

Wang Tian thanked Nezha, and Nezha released him.

His figure gradually disappeared from sight, and Pingyu wanted to say something to Nezha but couldn't say it.

She had nothing to say, but Nezha did.

He asked, "Which three ghosts do you have left?"

Ping Yu was terrified and answered, "魀、魆、魌".

Nezha pondered for a moment, then slowly explained to her, "The books hidden in the Golden Light Cave say: There is a demon in the mountains named 'Gui.' Because of her ugly appearance in her previous life, she was ashamed to face others and was sentenced to death by her husband's family. Therefore, after becoming a demon, she hides from people. Gui feeds on people's guilt and hopes to obtain a beautiful face to wear, as she can see into people's hearts. The more guilty someone's heart is, the more she will appear before them. If someone lies to her, she can gouge out the face of the person's beloved and wear it on her own face, preventing that person from being reincarnated for all eternity."

A regular army is a regular army; their knowledge base is indeed far superior to that of a savage like Lu Ya!

Pingyu didn't know whether to envy the rich collection of books in Jinguang Cave or to be afraid of Nezha's peaceful attitude at this moment.

After Nezha finished speaking, he didn't receive a response from Pingyu. He asked curiously, "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"No...you..."

A distinct swallowing sound came from Pingyu's throat. She asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Nezha raised one eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

Ping Yu said, "I thought you would keep it from me. And... you didn't want me to go back?"

Nezha casually remarked, "You've forgotten everything."

Pingyu: What... what did I forget?

"I don't want you to go back, but..."

Nezha was both asking and answering. He said, "Do you remember what you said to me when we were children in the garden?"

Which time?

Actually, Pingyu doesn't remember many things from his childhood very clearly; when he recalls them, they are shrouded in mystery.

Nezha continued, "That was the time when Lady Yin asked your mother if she was willing to marry you to me."

It seems I can vaguely recall something.

Nezha remembered every word Pingyu said.

"You said you didn't want future arguments, you didn't want to fight for power with your spouse. You didn't want to be sad, you didn't want to shed tears. I told you before, if you marry me, I'm willing to hand over the decision-making power to you."

At that time, Pingyu was not yet of marriageable age, and he had not yet tied up his hat.

Children's words may be unintentional to the speaker but taken to heart by the listener.

"I am unwilling to accept that you have left me behind, but I only want a title after all my fuss."

Nezha is very smart and knows the key points of relationships between men and women.

With a formal title, Pingyu would bear his mark.

"But I'm willing to listen to you until I'm given the title."

This statement was also subtle, making Pingyu hallucinate that she was a heartless, irresponsible woman who flirted with others. Nezha spoke lightly, with a hint of melancholy. Nezha gently took Pingyu's hand, and the leaves around the tent swayed, reminiscent of the lush garden at the Lin residence that day. His eyes, which he raised, shone with a luminous light, as beautiful as molten gold, vertical like an animal's pupils. Nezha lifted her hand and touched it to his forehead, and Pingyu thought of a similar gesture made by a young girl in a later entertainment work when taming a dragon.

Nezha is a dragon, a vicious dragon who loves treasures.

But in either of his eyes, Pingyu only saw himself.

He softened his stance somewhat and changed tactics: "I think you think I'm a good man."

His voice was so soft that it made her ears tingle.