Chapter 92 A male ghost bewitched by a demon to seek revenge.

In Su Yiqing's alchemy room, Hua Deng sat in front of the counter, his hands supporting his face, his expression full of deep thought.

Su Yiqing: "What are you doing? Are you constipated? I'll write you a prescription. Don't interfere with my business."

All morning, with the streetlights like this, she hasn't had a single customer.

Hua Deng was completely absorbed in her own thoughts: "Yi Qing, do you think I'm sick?"

Su Yiqing: "You've said it at least ten times already, so what exactly is the illness?"

Hua Deng: "I don't know either, but just a few days ago, I started having hallucinations."

Su Yi was startled: "Is it that serious? What kind of hallucination are you having?"

Hua Deng said in a deep voice, "I saw a man, the kind of man who would appear in my dreams."

Su Yiqing: "...Get out of the way, don't affect my business."

Hua Deng: "It's true."

Su Yiqing: "So what about men?"

Hua Deng: "It disappeared with a single swipe, and once it's gone, you can't find it anywhere!"

Su Yiqing looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.

She caught a glimpse of a white figure stepping in through the doorway out of the corner of her eye, and quickly turned on the streetlight: "We have a guest. We'll talk to you in a bit!"

Hua Deng absentmindedly stepped aside, and heard Su Yiqing eagerly introducing the other party: "Young master, what kind of pills would you like? Would you like some Qingxin Pills? They're all beneficial!"

The young master she spoke of asked in a flat tone, "Would you sell it at half price?"

"Two...? Brother, I told you to bargain, not to bargain me!"

Su Yi lightly stamped her foot, about to argue her point, when suddenly her absent-minded best friend stood up and snatched the Qingxin Pill from her hand.

"Huh?" She was dumbfounded.

Her best friend grabbed the young man's hand, glaring at him menacingly, but the young man didn't break free, instead looking down at her.

"I'll pay for the pills! You—" Hua Deng raised his chin, "You're coming back to Ziyang Palace with me!"

*

The news that the cult leader had brought back a man spread like wildfire throughout Ziyang Palace.

It is said that the man was of ordinary appearance and only had the cultivation level of Golden Core. The sect leader had always been averse to men, so this time he was probably bewitched by a ghost.

Upon learning of this news, Mo Xiao, the wife of the Left Protector, immediately rushed to Ziyang Palace, determined to meet this cunning fox spirit.

"Master! Master, wait a minute!" Mo Xiao barged in, brandishing a token. "Let me take a look at it for you first..."

"thump!"

Hua Deng turned around, quite surprised: "Madam Mo, why are you kneeling?"

Mo Xiao: "..."

I don't know either, my legs suddenly went weak as soon as I saw him!

The man's gaze fell on her, devoid of any emotion, yet her entire body was covered in goosebumps, as if a wild beast had seized her throat.

But somehow, this feeling is actually quite familiar.

Mo Xiao quickly rolled over: "I'm sorry, Master, I'll come again tomorrow!"

Watching her run away, Hua Deng asked in bewilderment, "Did she suffer a qi deviation while practicing her martial arts?"

"A demonic cultivator like you would be strange if you didn't suffer a qi deviation," Hua Deng shook her head and continued to pull the man she had "snatched" forward, sitting down in the garden.

To be precise, this used to be a garden, but now it's full of jujube trees, supposedly planted on a whim by her.

The jujube fruit ripens once every ten years, and now is the season for it to mature.

The man sat down opposite her, his gaze sweeping over the plump, bright red fruit, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The words that Hua Deng had prepared were stopped in his tracks by that smile.

A fragment suddenly flashed through her mind.

It was a clear and sunny afternoon. She squatted down next to the wilted seedlings of the Crimson Fruit, resting her chin on her hand and sighing, "This batch won't grow again. It seems that Crimson Fruit can't grow anywhere except in the Demon Realm."

Beside him stood a man who pulled up a seedling, examined it for a moment, and said, "Keep planting, it will succeed sooner or later."

"Really? You have a solution?"

"I suppose so." The man's muddy hand brushed against her cheek, immediately eliciting a dissatisfied groan from her.

Then he laughed and said, "You'll see these seedlings come to life by next year at the latest."

"That means we won't be able to eat it for another ten years... Forget it, I'd better not plant it."

She said dejectedly that the man didn't reply, but just flicked her head with his finger.

Now, she has indeed eaten the first batch of ripe Zhu Luo fruit, and there will be more fruit to come in the future.

How did he do it?

"..."

When the streetlights came to their senses and they found the person across from them quietly watching them, they knew they had been daydreaming again.

This time, however, she strangely did not forget the scene from before, but she could not see the person's face clearly.

She cleared her mind, plucked a fruit from the air, and handed it to the person opposite her: "This is a Zhu Luo fruit."

The man lowered his eyes and said, "Mm."

Hua Deng thought, "This fool probably doesn't know the value of the Zhu Luo fruit. If I told him, he'd be scared to death."

She said, "How about trying it?"

The man took a bite, paused for a few seconds, swallowed calmly, and said, "Sour."

"Impossible, right?" Hua Deng suspiciously picked up one, popped it into her mouth, and instantly her face scrunched up. "Wow, this one isn't ripe yet, it's so sour!"

The man looked at her expression, smiled, and slowly finished the whole thing.

Hua Deng was baffled. Since they met, he had smiled many times. Sometimes, just glancing at her for a while would bring a smile to his lips. How could someone with such a smug and world-weary face be such a cheerful person?

She cleared her throat and finally asked the question she had wanted to ask earlier.

"May I have your name?"

"The sun sets in the daytime."

Who are you?

"A rogue cultivator."

"Was that you in the East China Sea that day? Why were you there?"

Shen Zhou paused for a moment. At this point, he should find a better reason. He said, "Swimming."

Hua Deng: "?"

Does she look like an idiot?

Just as Hua Deng was about to get angry, he suddenly heard a passionate shout behind him, followed by an earthquake-like commotion. Pillow-side ran and shouted as she pounced on Chen Zhou.

As for Shen Zhou, the guy she met for the second time, who was clearly cold and ruthless, he kicked the pillow away.

Hua Deng: "..."

Pillow was spoiled rotten by her and never showed such enthusiasm to strangers. What was even stranger was that she didn't get angry when she was kicked. Instead, she seemed quite comfortable and circled around Chen Zhou's legs, her short tail swaying back and forth.

Seeing that Shen Zhou only glanced at it and didn't kick it again, Pillow boldly jumped into his arms.

This time, Shen Zhou didn't throw it away. Instead, he grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and said, "You little beast."

Hua Deng froze.

For some reason, she felt that this scene was somewhat familiar, as if she had experienced it countless times.

It was in such a garden that the man picked up the howling lynx baby and coldly said, "The pillow is disobedient."

She was lying in the sun when she heard this and fanned herself, saying, "But it listens to me. It's clearly you who's not likable."

"Throw it away." The man remained indifferent.

She shouted, "You dare! If you throw it away, you'll never sleep in a bed again!"

The people in my memory are blurry and indistinct.

After the pillow bit his sleeve, the man in front of him casually tossed it away.

Hua Deng was very displeased with his unrestrained behavior, and raised her chin to ask him, "Do you know who I am?"

He seemed to be thinking of something, and after a while, he replied lightly, "Master."

"Knowing I'm the cult leader, you still dare to be so presumptuous?" Hua Deng said unhappily. "Everyone outside is afraid of me. Haven't you heard of my reputation for killing without hesitation? Be careful, or I'll eat you up."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man's lips twitched slightly, he turned his head, and let out a laugh from his throat.

It wasn't a friendly, polite smile, but a smile that you tried to suppress but couldn't help.

Hua Deng was even more displeased.

What's wrong with this person?

She grabbed his wrist, trying to find out what he was really like, but what she found out was unexpected.

He had no heartbeat.

"...What are you?" she asked, staring into his eyes. "A spirit? Or a ghost?"

She asked seriously, but he seemed amused by her question and asked in return, "What do you think?"

Hua Deng pondered for a moment: "Spirits and monsters are usually quite good-looking. You must be a ghost."

According to her aesthetic standards, this person was fairly good-looking, but in the world of cultivation, he was not considered particularly handsome and did not fit the style of a spirit or monster.

Shen Zhou gently raised his eyebrows.

This face is from a time when we had an argument. She said she didn't like him, and then pointed to a portrait in a book, saying that she only liked people like him.

So he transformed himself into this based on his memory, thinking she would like it.

Since that's the case, let's change it back later.

Looking at Hua Deng's serious face, he nodded calmly: "Yes, it's a ghost, here to take revenge on you."

Hua Deng remained outwardly calm, but his hands were practically smoking as he typed under the table: "Urgent! What do we do when we encounter a male ghost seeking revenge?"

Among the three people, Su Yiqing was the first to step forward.

[Tears Wet Pig's Trotter Rice]: If you encounter a male ghost, just give in to him.

[I am the greatest swordsman under heaven]: Where is this ghost now? My Golden Crow Sword Technique is the best against evil spirits, leave it to me to deal with!

[Tears Wet Pig's Trotter Rice]: Little Pei, you don't understand. What evil spirits can't our leader defeat? She must have fallen for someone and can't bear to part with him.

Su Yiqing sent a Q-version fox emoji with the caption "Your Majesty, come and have some fun!"

Hua Deng: I knew these two were unreliable!

She put away the communication disc, observed Shen Zhou, and became increasingly puzzled: "Are you a ghost? Aren't you afraid of the sun?"

As soon as I finished speaking, a new image flashed through my mind.

The man whose face was obscured stood in the sunlight, his skin cracked and chapped.

She went over and took off her outer robe to shield him from the sun, but he ripped it off, leaving his skin festering, and said with a fierce expression, "Just watch, you'll also hate this monster."

She didn't feel disgusted; she only felt heartache.

She watched him silently, and he returned her gaze in silence. Finally, he picked up his outer robe, held it above his head, and returned to the underground with her.

The person in this memory is different from the previous ones. They are very similar, but more unpredictable and melancholic.

She suddenly spoke up: "Is this your method of revenge?"

The person on the other end asked, "What methods?"

She said, "They implanted memories in me and drove me insane."

The man looked at her, then suddenly reached out and touched her head, whispering, "If you don't like it, don't think about it."

Hua Deng: "I don't dislike it... What are you waiting for? Do you think you can touch the cult leader's head?!"

"oh."

He casually touched her a couple more times, then withdrew his hand again, seemingly unfazed by her murderous glare.

Hua Deng frowned and snorted.

She should have kicked this guy out a long time ago, but for some reason, she found his touch somewhat comfortable.

Is this a trick only ghosts possess?

Unable to figure it out, I had no choice but to keep him by my side and find out what was going on.

Thinking of this, Hua Deng pulled him outside again.

Hua Jiaozhu began her daily routine of shopping.

This time, however, it wasn't for herself, but for the newly captured male ghost.

She thought that since she had decided to keep this person by her side, she had to make him look better. He couldn't change his appearance, but she could work on other things.

She couldn't go near Ziyang Palace; she was with a strange man, and there would definitely be all sorts of gossip. So she hid her identity and took him to a more distant place.

As soon as she entered the store, she rummaged through all the most expensive items.

"This, this looks great! You should try it on!"

Shen Zhou remained expressionless as he carried a pile of clothes to change.

Hearing the commotion, all the men outside cast glances, some openly, some secretly, and were even more curious when they saw that Hua Deng was young and beautiful.

What kind of man could win the heart of such a beauty?

They waited anxiously, and finally Shen Zhou lifted the curtain and came out.

Um……

It really is a face with no distinguishing features.

Even when faced with praise from a beautiful woman, he remained nonchalant and unrestrained, as if he owed her a debt.

A bittersweet feeling welled up inside them, and they wished they could kneel down and shout at the beauty, "I can have her! I'm more handsome and more romantic than her!"

Shen Zhou, suddenly attacked by the glares of a group of people: "

He looked back expressionlessly.

The onlookers all took two steps back, turned their heads and pretended to laugh, not daring to give him any more glances.

Damn it! Even though he's not good-looking and lives off a woman, why does he have such a murderous look in his eyes?!

Hua Deng didn't care whether Chen Zhou's clothes were appropriate or not; he paid for everything.

As they left, all the men looked on with envy.

Shen Zhou asked, "Do they resent the rich?"

The streetlights looked up and exclaimed, "Huh?"

Shen Zhou then denied this statement: "Then it should be up to you, to see what I'm doing."

Hua Deng pondered, "Maybe it's because you didn't spend any money that they hate you more."

Shen Zhou raised an eyebrow, and for some reason, Hua Deng felt that he was quite enjoying it.

When evening came, Hua Deng arranged for him to stay in a side hall of Fuxian Palace.

No one lives here year-round. Shen Zhou was assigned to this place by her, and he didn't say anything. He just looked at her and gave a faint reply.

The two gazed at each other in the moonlight, the streetlights creating an illusion.

A misconception that is considered one of the three great misunderstandings.

—He didn't come for revenge; he likes me, doesn't he?

The moment this thought popped into his head, Hua the cult leader practically fled in panic.

She has no desire to date a male ghost! Especially an ordinary-looking one!

She's looking for the most handsome and most powerful man in the world!

Wait, why would I think about dating?

Hua Deng suddenly realized, and everything became clear to him.

This is definitely part of the male ghost's revenge, to drain her life force!

...

The Fuxian Palace at night is pitch black and deep.

Hua Deng was fast asleep, with her pillow sprawled out right next to her.

Suddenly, the pillow found itself mercilessly grabbed by the back of the neck and thrown off the bed.

Pillow:"……"

It dared not speak out in its anger and huddled under the bed in grievance.

The original spot was taken by a tall man.

Shen Zhou turned his head to look at the girl's peaceful sleeping face, his fingers pressing against the side of her neck.

She has only absorbed a small portion of the power he left her, and has only now reached the late Nascent Soul stage.

If she had fully absorbed that power, she would have already broken through to the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm and become an undisputed powerhouse.

The power had been refined through his body and was now very gentle, so it wouldn't harm her, but she still refused.

This person, who always seems carefree and doesn't care about anything, can also show a stubborn side.

Shen Zhou leaned silently against the headboard, took her hand that was resting on the blanket, and intertwined their fingers.

He sat there quietly, and just after midnight, his figure turned into golden light, as if he had never been there.

The city lights did not awaken that night.

She had a long, peaceful dream.

In her dream, she lay in a flower field, hugging the man's waist, her head resting on his chest, her voice barely audible: "I don't want to be separated from you."

She thought, "He probably didn't hear me, thank goodness he didn't."

She fell asleep in his arms.

But the dream didn't end; this time, she saw what happened next.

She saw golden lines tearing across the man's body, each line seemingly about to slowly torture him.

He held her hand amidst this endless, agonizing torment, looked up at the sky, and said, "Your wishes will all come true."

*

Late at night, the East China Sea roared with waves. Jinze arrived on time and looked out at the dark, boundless sea.

A figure emerged from the sea, having regained its original appearance, and walked slowly and steadily.

He was neither the ghost Hua Deng spoke of, nor the real person.

He is one of the fragments of the soul, which condenses and dissipates daily, repeating this cycle.

This is a complex spell for ordinary people, but it is not difficult for him, after all, every fragment of his soul is thinking of her.

Jinze crossed his arms and asked bluntly, "After all this, is there any point in coming back?"

Shen Zhou said, "I promised her."

She calls his name, and he will always come back.

Jinze: "Then why don't you remind her? Maybe she can help you out."

"Wait a little longer."

"Wait for what?"

"I want to experience what it's like to be a kept man."

Jinze: "..." You're sick.

Shen Zhou asked, "What has she been doing lately?"

Jinze replied lazily, "There are a few gangs that are not behaving themselves, they don't listen to us, and they want to fight with the Immortal Alliance."

Shen Zhou said, "Lead the way."

They arrived outside the territory Jinze had mentioned, where the Left Protector was waiting. Upon seeing the two figures, he paused in surprise: "Who is this?"

Shen Zhou had no intention of saying more and looked directly into his eyes.

Within moments, the Left Protector's eyes widened, and he gradually broke out in a cold sweat.

He was recalling everything that had happened before.

Jinze, observing this scene, recalled the day before Shenzhou disappeared, a day that also made him remember everything.

If Heaven can make everyone forget him, it also has ways to make those people remember him.

Jinze couldn't help but shake his head. This person couldn't bear to see Huadeng suffer, so he had no choice but to make him suffer so that he could protect Huadeng.

"Your Highness!"

At a call, the Left Protector knelt down on one knee.

"You're back!" he said, his voice choked with emotion, tears welling in his eyes. "How should I address you now?"

"The leader's wife, perhaps."

Left Protector: "???"