The group of white-clad men were headless, dressed in prison uniforms, each holding a severed head, looking like a group of decapitated prisoners. They slowly approached the oxcart, the heads in their arms still murmuring incessantly. Xie Lian whispered to the other two, "When they approach, be sure not to make a sound."
Sanlang glanced at Ruo Xie, who was suspended in the air, and asked with his head tilted, "Brother, you are actually a remarkable person, aren't you?"
His tone was full of interest. Xie Lian said, "Not bad. I wouldn't call them extraordinary people, but I know a little bit. They can't see us now, but if they get closer and make a sound, it's hard to say."
The old man driving the carriage was stunned when he saw the white silk flying and the headless person walking. He was shocked when he heard the words and shook his head repeatedly: "No, no! I'm afraid I can't hold it in anymore."
"..." Xie Lian said, "Well, I'm sorry." He quickly struck out, tapping him from behind. The old man immediately fell back on the cart and passed out. Now, there was no need to worry about him screaming out in fear and being discovered. Xie Lian gently caught him and placed him on the ox cart. He turned around and said to Sanlang, "It's okay. Don't be nervous."
It was dark, and Sanlang's expression was unclear; he could only make out a nod. Xie Lian then sat in front of the cart, picked up the rope, and gently coaxed the cow. The group of ghosts in prison uniforms approached, trying to cross, but they felt something blocking the road. They all grumbled, "This is really weird! Why can't we get through?"
"Really! I can't get through! Damn it!"
"Damn it! We are ghosts ourselves, what ghosts can we see?"
Xie Lian finally managed to coax the ox back, and then brushed past this group of headless ghosts in prison uniforms. He found them arguing and arguing over their heads hilarious. The ghosts also complained, "Um, did you get the wrong one? Why do I feel like the one you're holding is my head?"
"Why is the cut on your end so uneven?"
"Alas, that executioner was a novice. He took five or six strikes before he finally cut it off. I even wondered if he did it on purpose."
"Your family didn't give him any money, did they? Next time, remember to give him some money beforehand and pay him off immediately!"
"There's no next time!"
…
The Ghost Festival, July 15th, is the ghost world's most important festival. On this day, the gates of hell open wide, and all the demons and monsters that usually lurk in the darkness pour out, reveling revelry that the living must avoid. Especially on this night, staying indoors is the best option. The chances of running into something are much higher than usual. Xie Lian, who always had trouble with his teeth even when drinking cold water and couldn't see ghosts even when wearing Taoist robes, had now stumbled upon something. Green, ghostly flames floated in all directions, chased by numerous ghosts. Others, expressionless and mumbling, dressed in shrouds, crouched before a circle, reaching out to receive offerings like paper money and gold ingots burned by their descendants. The scene was a scene of demonic chaos. Xie Lian was walking through it, remembering to check the almanac before leaving home, when he suddenly felt something moving behind him. He turned and saw the young man sitting behind him.
Xie Lian asked, "Are you okay?"
Sanlang supported his chin with one hand and said, "Something's wrong. I'm scared."
“…” Although there was absolutely no trace of fear in his voice, Xie Lian still comforted him, “Don’t be afraid. You’re behind me, and nothing can hurt you.”
The young man smiled but said nothing. Xie Lian suddenly realized he was staring at him. After a moment, he finally realized he was staring at the cursed shackle around his neck.
This cursed yoke was like a black collar around a person's neck; it couldn't be hidden, and it easily led to negative associations. Xie Lian was about to speak when the old ox, pulling the cart, came to a fork in the road. Seeing two dark mountain roads diverged there, Xie Lian immediately grabbed the ox's rope.
You have to be extremely careful at this fork in the road.
On the Ghost Festival, people sometimes find themselves walking on a road that doesn't normally exist. Living people are forbidden to travel on such roads. If they take the wrong path and end up in the realm of the ghosts, it's difficult to return.
Xie Lian, a newcomer, couldn't tell which of the two mountain roads to take. He remembered that he'd just picked up a large bag of junk in town and some other miscellaneous items, including a fortune stick. He decided to get a fortune, so he fished out the stick from his bag and shook it, explaining to Sanlang, "The first stick goes left, the second stick goes right. Whichever way is better, that's the one we'll take." He summoned a little magical power, silently chanted three times, and two sticks fell out. He picked them up and looked at them, then fell silent.
Very bad luck!
Both lots are bad, which means that both paths are very bad. Doesn’t that mean death no matter which one you take?
Xie Lian was helpless and said to the fortune stick, "Tong, Tong, today is the first time we meet. Why are you so heartless? One more time, please give me some face."
So, he changed to holding the cylinder with both hands and shook it again. He shook out two more sticks, picked them up and looked at them. They were still all bad signs, very unlucky!
Xie Lian decided not to waste any more mana. At this moment, San Lang beside him suddenly said, "Let me try."
Since it didn't matter whether he tried or not, Xie Lian handed him the fortune stick holder. San Lang took it with one hand, shook it casually, and two sticks fell out. He picked them up and handed them to him without even looking at them. Xie Lian took a look and found that both sticks were auspicious.
Xie Lian was slightly surprised. Because, with his bad luck, he often seemed to bring down the luck of others. He didn't know if it was true, but he'd often been complained about it. But this young man, surprisingly, wasn't affected at all by him, and directly drew two excellent lots. He exclaimed with sincere admiration, "My friend, you have great luck."
Sanlang threw the lottery box back and said with a smile, "Really? Well, I think I'm lucky too. It's always been like this."
Hearing him say, "It's always been like this," Xie Lian rubbed his brow, thinking that the gap between people was indeed like a chasm. Sanlang asked again, "How do we get there?"
In this situation, he could only leave, not stay. Xie Lian had originally planned to pick one at random, saying, "Since both are excellent, let's just go."
After a few tugs on the rope, the wheels of the oxcart began to roll again. Xie Lian had been on edge, prepared for any eventuality, but surprisingly, the journey was smooth. Soon, the oxcart slowly climbed out of the forest and onto the open mountain road. He had chosen the right path.
Puqi Village was already at the foot of the hillside, its clusters of lights gleaming warmly. A night breeze blew by, and Xie Lian looked back. Sanlang seemed in a good mood, lying back down, resting his head on his hands, gazing at the bright moon. The young man's features, under the faint moonlight, seemed unreal.
After a moment's silence, Xie Lian smiled and said, "Friend, have you ever had your fortune told?"
As he walked along, he finally began to feel a little suspicious.
Encyclopedic and well-informed, that's all. But walking among ghosts at night, this young man seemed a bit too calm. While it's not impossible that some people are naturally calm, Xie Lian still felt the need to confirm it.
Hearing this question, Sanlang turned around and said, "I haven't calculated it."
Xie Lian asked, “Then, do you want me to help you calculate?”
Sanlang looked at him and said with a smile, "You want to help me calculate?"
Xie Lian said, “I kind of miss it.”
Sanlang nodded slightly and said, "Okay."
He sat up, leaning slightly towards Xie Lian, and asked, "How do you want to settle this?"
Xie Lian asked, “How about palmistry?”
Hearing this, Sanlang's lips curved slightly. It was hard to tell what that smile meant, but he just said, "Okay."
As he spoke, he stretched out his left hand towards him.
The fingers of this left hand were long, the knuckles distinct, a truly beautiful sight. And it wasn't the kind of delicate beauty that was reserved for weakness; instead, it held within it a hidden power. No one would want to be strangled by such a hand. Remembering the slight change in Sanlang's expression when he'd touched him earlier, Xie Lian took special care to avoid physical contact, avoiding touching his hand directly. He simply lowered his head to examine it closely.
The moonlight was pure white, not quite dark, not quite bright either. Xie Lian watched for a moment. The oxcart continued to crawl along the mountain path, its wheels and axles creaking. Sanlang asked, "How is it?"
After a while, Xie Lian slowly said, "Your destiny is very good."
Sanlang asked, "Oh? How is it possible?"
Xie Lian raised his head and spoke gently, "You have a strong and resolute character. Despite the hardships you've faced, it's important to always stay true to your heart. This often leads to good fortune and blessing in times of trouble. This number promises long-lasting blessings, my friend. Your future is bound to be full of blossoms and a bright future."
The above sentences were all fabricated and nonsense. Xie Lian couldn't read palms at all. When he was demoted, he often regretted not learning palmistry and physiognomy from the imperial masters at Huangji Temple. If he had, he wouldn't have to constantly perform on the streets and break rocks while trying to make a living in the human world. And the reason he wanted to read wasn't to determine the boy's fate, but to see if he had palm lines and fingerprints.
Ordinary demons and monsters can conjure up false bodies and pass for the living, but the minute details of these bodies, like palm lines, fingerprints, and even the ends of hair, are usually not as detailed as this. Yet, not only was there no trace of magical power emanating from this young man, leaving no trace of it, but his palm lines were also crystal clear. If this was truly a demon or monster in disguise, only a demon of "ferocious" or higher could achieve such a flawless disguise. But why would a ghost king of that rank and rank follow him on a oxcart ride in a small mountain village? Just as the priests in heaven are constantly occupied with their duties, they too are very busy!
Xie Lian feigned confidence and steeled himself to make up a few stories, but he finally ran out of ideas. San Lang stared at him intently, listening to his nonsense while chuckling softly, a laugh that was quite intriguing. He asked, "Anything else? Hmm?"
Xie Lian thought, "Isn't that the next thing you want to do?"
Sanlang said, "Since it's fortune-telling, doesn't it also involve predicting marriage?"
Xie Lian coughed lightly and said solemnly, "I'm not very skilled in marriage divination. But I guess you don't have to worry about it."
Sanlang raised an eyebrow and said, "Why do you think I don't have to worry about this?"
Xie Lian smiled, "I'm sure there will be many girls who like you."
Sanlang asked, "Then why do you think there will be many girls who like me?"
Xie Lian was about to respond when he suddenly sensed something. This kid was actually trying to trick him into praising him directly. Feeling helpless and amused, he didn't know what to say. He rubbed his brow and said, "Sanlang."
This was the first time Xie Lian called him "Sanlang". The young man laughed and finally let him go. At this time, the ox cart had already climbed into the village panting. Xie Lian turned around, held his forehead slightly, and quickly got off the cart. Sanlang also jumped off the cart. But when Xie Lian looked up, he found that he had been lying lazily on the ox cart all the way. Now that the two of them were standing together, the young man was actually taller than him, and they couldn't even look at each other. Sanlang stood in front of the cart and stretched. Xie Lian said, "Sanlang, where are you going?"
Sanlang sighed, "I don't know. I'll probably sleep on the street, or maybe find a cave to stay in."
Xie Lian said, “No way?”
Sanlang spread his hands and said, "I can't help it. I have nowhere else to go." He glanced over, laughed twice more, and said, "Thank you for telling my fortune. I appreciate your good words. See you later."
Xie Lian blushed at the mention of fortune-telling. Seeing that he had indeed turned around, Xie Lian hurriedly said, "Wait, if you don't mind, would you like to come to my temple?"
Sanlang paused, turned halfway around, and said, "Is it okay?"
Xie Lian said, “That house wasn’t originally mine. I heard many people used to stay overnight there. It’s just that it may be much more shabby than you imagine. I’m afraid you can’t live there.”
If this young man was truly a runaway, he couldn't just be left running around like this. Xie Lian doubted he'd only eaten half a steamed bun all day. If a young man continued to act recklessly, he'd probably faint on the street one day. After hearing this, Sanlang turned around. Instead of answering, he walked over to Xie Lian and leaned forward. Xie Lian hadn't figured out what he was going to do, but he felt the distance between them suddenly grow incredibly close, and he felt a bit overwhelmed.
The young man stepped back again, and he even picked up the huge bag of scrap metal that Xie Lian had brought back. He said, "Let's go then."
The author has something to say: First, regarding the ashes plot, there will absolutely be no plot where someone cheats the ashes out of the ashes or accidentally breaks them. This kind of plot would drive me crazy myself, so don't scare yourself.
Second, there's no such thing as a "you're a fairy, I'm a ghost" relationship between top and bottom. We have an insurmountable gap in status and generation, and we can't be together. In love, just love when you want to, and love hard! We're all hundreds of years old, so just let it go! La la la la la la...
From then on, His Highness and the childlike Huahua lived a happy life as ragpickers! (Not really!
Puqi is actually water chestnut or water caltrop. We pronounce it as "Pujiu" in our area, so we combined it and called it Puqi.
Don’t worry about the old man, we’ll deal with him in the next chapter!
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