The next day was Lunar New Year's Eve. Xia Tianqiong got up early to prepare to put up Spring Festival couplets and hang red lanterns, waiting for the ghost bride to come and celebrate the New Year together.
He had just stepped out of the bamboo house when he saw a bright red sedan chair emerge from nowhere and park directly in front of the door.
"You're here so early?"
Summer Qiong was overjoyed. She walked over with a smile, took out the red veil, and handed it in through the gap in the sedan curtain.
Then the ghost bride, wearing a red veil, came out.
Although the relationship is now very close, for some reason, it just won't reveal its true face.
"I was afraid you'd be getting impatient, so I came early."
"That's perfect, let's decorate together. The New Year should have a festive atmosphere."
Xia Tianqiong retrieved items such as Spring Festival couplets, the character "福" (good fortune), red lanterns, small colored lights, and Chinese knots from the warehouse supplies and began to busily decorate with the ghost bride.
These were all obtained from the Liu family's secret base. They were of all kinds and in large quantities, enough to last for dozens of New Years.
As they chatted, they put up Spring Festival couplets, hung lanterns, and decorated the peach trees, bamboo grove, and other fruit trees in front of the house with colorful lights and other festive decorations.
The two, one human and one ghost, work together like an ordinary young couple.
Actually, these tasks could have been done by other contracted spirits, but Xia Tianqiong felt that only by doing them herself could she enjoy the fun of the New Year.
As he was pasting the character "福" (good fortune) on the glass, the ghost bride beside him suddenly looked up at the sky and said, "Someone is coming."
Xia Tianqiong turned her head to look, but saw nothing.
Two or three minutes later, a figure appeared outside the array of the Sky Island Orchard.
It turned out to be Du Fuwei.
Xia Tianqiong opened the array's protective barrier, allowing Du Fuwei to fly in.
Before he even landed, a hearty laugh rang out, "I apologize for disturbing you, I've come to deliver a New Year's gift to Captain Xia."
The Sky Island Orchard has an invisibility array, yet he was able to find it directly, which clearly indicates he possesses some special abilities.
Xia Tianqiong turned around to greet him, "Captain Du, you're too kind. Captain Zhang Luyang already delivered a New Year's gift last night."
"His copy was from the General Administration, while mine was sent by a high-ranking leader from the Central Committee."
Dufuwei landed on the ground and folded its enormous wings.
With a wave of his hand, gift boxes appeared on the ground, containing common pastries and fruits, as well as precious tonics such as ginseng, deer antler, and cordyceps, and even fresh seafood such as crabs and lobsters.
In peacetime, these things can be bought with money, but in today's chaotic times, money alone is not enough; one also needs power and strength.
"Please thank the leaders for me. Captain Du, could you please deliver these two fruit baskets and these jars of spirit fruit wine to the leaders of the Central Committee and the General Administration?"
Xia Tianqiong took out two bamboo baskets, each containing dozens of various kinds of spiritual fruits, as well as eight jars of spiritual fruit wine.
During the Chinese New Year, when people give him gifts, he has to reciprocate.
Over the past six months, various fruit trees on the island have borne fruit one after another, resulting in a bumper harvest. Not only have hundreds of jars of various spiritual fruit wines been brewed, but there are also many spiritual fruits left over, which are perfect for giving away.
"Then I'll thank you on behalf of the leader."
Du Fuwei accepted the book with a smile, then took out a yellowed ancient book and solemnly handed it to Xia Tianqiong with both hands.
"This is what Old Master Huo asked me to give you. He told me to tell you to be sure to read it, because you'll need it soon."
"Who is Elder Huo? Why do you say that?"
Xia Tianqiong took the ancient book and saw that the title "Five Thunder Orthodox Method" was written in traditional Chinese characters. He was immediately filled with doubts.
The Five Thunder Orthodox Method is a legendary Taoist magic technique, but it frequently appears in modern novels, anime, and games, and the term has long been overused.
Now someone has actually given him a manual for cultivating the Five Thunder Orthodox Method, and told him that he will need it soon.
It doesn't sound plausible at all.
The booklet is very thin, with only a dozen pages. When you open the first page, you can understand each traditional Chinese character, but when they are put together into sentences, they are a bit obscure and difficult to understand.
Du Fuwei explained, "Old Huo is a senior enigmatic figure in the General Administration, skilled in divination. If he says you'll need it soon, you definitely will."
Xia Tianqiong frowned, about to speak, when the Ghost Bride interrupted, "You mean Huo Xunxian? What level is it now?"
Du Fuwei smiled faintly and said, "Miss Qin guessed correctly. Old Huo's real name is Huo Xunxian, and he has now been promoted to the Ghost King."
Xia Tianqiong was slightly taken aback. He hadn't introduced the ghost bride to Du Fuwei, so how did he know that the ghost bride's surname was Qin?
"As expected, it is a recognized genius in the Ghost Realm. It can break through to the Ghost King level even in the human world. It has broken the record in the Ghost Realm."
The Bride of Ghosts spoke with a hint of admiration, but then her tone shifted, and she coldly snorted, "Even if it is the King of Ghosts, it cannot possibly foresee Xia Tianqiong's fate. It is clearly lying. What is its intention?"
Du Fuwei suddenly felt a powerful pressure enveloping his entire body, making it difficult for him to breathe.
"I don't know the specifics, but I do know that Elder Huo suddenly had a premonition the day before yesterday, cast a divination, and was subsequently attacked by the rules, suffering serious injuries. He is currently in seclusion to recover."
Before it went into seclusion, it found me and specifically instructed me to come this morning to deliver the Five Thunder Orthodox Method to Xia Tianqiong and tell him what it had just said. Also, Elder Huo had another message for me to pass on to Miss Qin.”
What did it say?
"Old Huo told me to tell you that, whether it's a human or a supernatural being, sometimes death doesn't mean the end, but may be the beginning of a new life."
The ghost bride stood frozen in place, seemingly pondering the meaning of those words, remaining silent for a long time.
However, it restrained its imposing manner, otherwise Du Fuwei wouldn't have been able to withstand it for long.
Xia Tianqiong frowned and said, "What exactly does Elder Huo mean? Can't you just explain yourself clearly? Is there any point in beating around the bush?"
Du Fuwei shrugged. "I'm just a messenger. I have no idea what the old man means. The gift has been delivered and the message has been conveyed. I should go now."
He really didn't want to stay any longer; the pressure from the ghost bride was too much for him.
"Alright, it's the New Year, I won't keep you any longer. These two jars of peach blossom wine are the finest of wines. Whether it's a human or a ghost, drinking it will be beneficial. This is a gift for Captain Du."
Xia Tianqiong then took out two more jars of wine and gave them to Du Fuwei.
Du Fuwei's eyes lit up, and he thanked him repeatedly. He packed his things and was about to leave when the sky suddenly darkened.
The two looked up at the sky and saw a lot of gray mist suddenly appearing above the floating island.
Xia Tianqiong frowned, feeling as if something strange was about to descend from the heavens to the earth.
The mysterious bride said softly, "Don't worry, it's probably another one bringing you a gift."
No sooner had the words been spoken than a giant beast emerged from the gray mist, and with each step it took, streaks of multicolored light were created all around it.
Wherever they go, they bring dazzling brilliance.
This giant beast had a single horn on its head, a head like a lion's, a ring of red mane, a stout body, and sharp claws; it was clearly a ferocious beast.
However, a familiar figure was riding on its back.
It was Manager Hu from the Ghost Bank!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
