Chapter 36 36 Burning Incense This was the first time the three of them had seen…

The first year of the spiritual recovery, April 4th, 15:47, Fantasy Land·Sacrifice to the City God.

"You are really outstanding, Jinsong." Chi Zhaoming sighed, "I regret to hand you over to the demon tribe."

I still don’t want to talk about this, so I’ll just talk about something else.

"It's evil spirit." Ning Changkong said firmly. He had to force it a little harder to see if he could get more information out of it.

"The evil spirit that brings chaos to the world? I can't take the blame for this." Chi Zhaoming put his hands behind his back, and his smile deepened. "Speaking of evil spirits, the phoenix who can control evil spirits should know better, right?"

He wanted to use the evil spirit to trick him, but it seemed that Chi Zhaoming was not clear about the specific connection between the evil spirit and the phoenix.

Going a step further. "And I think it has something to do with what you saw during that mission ten years ago."

A stone was thrown into the calm lake, causing ripples. Chi Zhaoming's eyes darkened.

Chu Qingge suddenly said, "His heartbeat is irregular."

Chi Zhaoming adjusted his posture slightly and let out a long breath: "Humans and demons have different paths and different stances. I can't tell you, Jinsong."

This is the default.

Ning Changkong was furious when he heard his words. But after thinking it over, he still chose to sell out.

He crossed his arms, tilted his head slightly to one side, and said with a hint of loneliness and self-mockery: "I am neither a human nor a demon, I deserve to be unpopular with both sides."

Chi Zhaoming was somewhat moved. At the press conference on Monday, Ning Changkong explained the facts clearly, and insisted on staying in Jinwu Garden despite the persuasion of Zhu Huan and other monsters. There were also many monsters who believed that he was partial to humans and was unworthy of his position as an official in the Ministry of Protection of Spirits.

Chi Zhaoming subconsciously stared at his pale face and bloodless, chapped lips for a long time. This man's reputation was known to the world, but looking back, he was just a kid who had just turned eighteen and was forced to separate from his friends.

"On the mission ten years ago," Chi Zhaoming sighed and looked away, "Li Bo stayed behind to cover the rear, but he had an unexpected encounter... He showed me something I had seen on that mission, that's all."

Ning Changkong savored these words carefully. Chi Zhaoming did not say anything more.

Meanwhile, the protagonists were working on the decryption of the painting purification rune. Ning Changkong watched in fascination.

Yan Xiaoling is the chief writer. Gu Minghui still seems to be completely clueless about this. It would be quite suitable for him to be Zuo Langning's apprentice... Wen Qingsheng has made great progress in this area, which surprised him a little.

This reminded him of something. "Those two white jade pendants?"

"It should be made from materials brought back from the mission site ten years ago." Chi Zhaoming answered straightforwardly.

The mission location to find the White Jade Guan of the Queen Mother of the West... couldn't it be the Yaochi Illusionary Realm? Ning Changkong scratched his head.

Last question: "So, why Gu Minghui?"

What kind of dragon is it? Yinglong? It can’t be Longyuan’s dragon, right?

And what is the relationship between Gu Minghui and Long? Reincarnation? Bloodline descendants?

Chi Zhaoming shook his head: "I can't say that."

I couldn't get any more out of him, but I gained a lot. Ning Changkong dragged his feet towards the main hall dedicated to the City God: "It will take a long time to draw this formation. I'm leaving for a while. Can Director Chi help keep an eye on it for a while?"

"What are you going to do?" Chi Zhaoming was stunned.

Ning Changkong said without even turning his head: "Burn some incense."

The first year of the spiritual recovery, April 4th, 16:02, Fantasy Land·Sacrifice to the City God·Main Hall.

Chi Zhaoming stepped into the temple and saw the white smoke from the burning incense in front of the hall rising up, floating in the air like a veil. His eyes passed through this hazy layer and fell on Ning Changkong.

Ning Changkong was sitting on a cushion, staring at the flickering candle in a daze.

"Aren't you going to keep an eye on that?" he asked in a low voice without raising his head.

Fenghuang's reputation is on the rise, and Chi Zhaoming can't touch him. The two of them can still maintain a subtle tacit understanding and peace.

Chi Zhaoming did not sit down, but stood up, his eyes wandering around the hall, looking at the temple's furnishings. His eyes lingered on the ancient pillars and the rusty statue of the City God: "It's more scary for you to leave here without saying a word."

Ning Changkong remained seated without moving: "Just burning some incense."

Chi Zhaoming raised his eyebrows and said in a playful tone, "Oh? Isn't it because you can't stand anymore and need to find a place to sit down and rest for a while?"

Was it because he and Li Bo were both essentially fun-loving people that they had such a good relationship?

Ning Changkong was so feverish that he felt dizzy and didn't bother to pay attention to him. He just glanced at him indifferently.

Seeing Ning Changkong sitting still, Chi Zhaoming's smile gradually faded and he turned serious: "Are you okay?"

"...Why do you all treat me like paper?" Ning Changkong uttered slowly.

"You look like you're made of paper." Chi Zhaoming patted the sword at his waist. "You look even heavier than this sword. Minghui and Qingsheng, either of them can lift you up with one hand."

Ning Changkong sighed tiredly, patted the cushion beside him, and motioned him to come closer.

Chi Zhaoming took a few steps and looked directly at the City God statue: "I don't believe this."

"I don't believe it either." Ning Changkong pulled Chi Zhaoming's clothes, borrowed his strength, and stood up with difficulty.

Chi Zhaoming held his body steadily and asked, "What wish did you make when you offered sacrifices to the City God?"

In Beijing during the Ming, Qing, and Republic of China periods, it was customary to worship the "City God" during the Qingming Festival. People would go to the City God Temple to burn incense and offer sacrifices, praying for good weather, peace, and good fortune. [1]

"My luck is better this year. It's too bad." Ning Changkong silently chanted the dust removal spell, shook off the incense ash on his dress, turned around and walked out of the hall, "Let's go."

Chi Zhaoming blinked and followed with big strides: "Everything has been going smoothly so far, nothing should go wrong." Do you want to rest for a while?

"Heh." Ning Changkong laughed with an ambiguous tone.

"Every time I think that, something bad happens."

The first year of the spiritual recovery, April 4th, 16:16, Fantasy Land·Sacrifice to the City God.

How come, so strong?

Wen Qingsheng gritted his teeth and concentrated all his spiritual power. He swung the long sword in his hand violently. The light on the sword lit up instantly, blocking the claw shadow of the fierce ghost outside.

When the evil-repelling formation was about to be completed, a ferocious and vicious ghost suddenly appeared and rushed towards them, catching them off guard.

The fierce ghost's attack was blocked, and it let out an angry roar, shaking the entire space.

Where did this powerful ghost come from? Wen Qingsheng was distracted thinking, and glanced at Gu Minghui who was also holding a sword and on guard.

Could it be that this kid's unlucky physique has taken effect again?

After his spiritual energy was restored, Gu Minghui would be attacked by evil spirits whenever he left school, his magic weapon would go out of control and rush towards him during class, and ghosts would lie on his bed and watch him when he went to sleep in the dormitory.

God knows how many times he and Yan Xiaoling have picked up Gu Minghui in the past month.

"Be careful!" Yan Xiaoling's scream broke the tense air and rang in Wen Qingsheng's ears like an alarm bell.

Wen Qingsheng came back to his senses suddenly, and in a flash, he saw the figure of the fierce ghost drawing a dark arc in the air, and its arms were like outstretched black tentacles, pointing directly at his vital points with lightning speed.

His pupils suddenly dilated, and Wen Qingsheng instinctively stepped back, slashing out with his long sword with a cold light, trying to use offense instead of defense to repel this deadly attack.

However, his sword light still seemed to be a step slower.

At the moment when the sharp ghost's claws slashed through his chest clothing, the phoenix feathers on his chest suddenly shone brightly. A dazzling shield bloomed from the feathers, repelling the sharp ghost's attack.

Under the light, a black figure suddenly appeared in front of Wen Qingsheng's eyes. He panted, his vision gradually focused, and he saw the golden pattern on the flying black clothes.

The man stood in front of him, his figure was tall and straight. The overflowing spiritual energy was faintly familiar, and Wen Qingsheng's eyes were involuntarily attracted to him.

He stared at the man's profile. After a while, Wen Qingsheng suddenly realized that the mask did not cover his entire face. However, the frosty white complexion was almost integrated with the jade mask, making it difficult to distinguish.

A golden light flashed from the fingertips of the mysterious man, and the fierce ghost was immediately restrained by the shackles made of spiritual power, and the incessant wailing disappeared in an instant.

He opened his lips and said, "Chief Chi, please don't beat him to death."

This was the first time the three of them saw a phoenix.

The restrained ghost's body made of black mist has shrunk a lot. Director Chi smiled and put away his sword: "It should be enough to weaken it to this extent."

"This is the deputy director of the Soul Guarding Department, Ning Changkong." Chi Zhaoming introduced them to the three kids, ignoring the fierce ghost that was crawling in the darkness not far away.

"Hello, Naruki-kun." "Hello, Chief Ning." "Hello, senior."

These titles are really varied. Ning Changkong suppressed his laughter, put on the airs of a senior, and nodded coldly.

Chi Zhaoming waved his hand and said, "Since the three of you have accepted the mission, just explore this illusion by yourselves. Go ahead and do it, the two of us will help you."

"I'll give you ten minutes to rest and discuss strategy. When the time is up, I'll release this demon to fight you."

After Chi Zhaoming finished speaking, he motioned for Ning Changkong to retreat into the shadows and let the children discuss on their own. However, Ning Changkong turned around and extended his hand to Wen Qingsheng.

Before he could say anything, Wen Qingsheng held his feather pendant vigilantly.

Ning Changkong... this is the name of the phoenix. He wouldn't say that this is his feather and take it back, right?

"The feather's spiritual power has been used up," Ning Changkong said helplessly, with a hint of laughter in his voice, "I'll give it some more spiritual power, don't be afraid."

Wen Qingsheng looked helplessly at Director Chi who was trying to hold back his laughter. Chi Zhaoming put his fist to his lips and nodded at him.

"Oh, okay...thank you for the trouble." Wen Qingsheng carefully untied the pendant and placed it in the man's open palm.

My fingertips brushed against my palm. It was a cool, slightly damp hand.

It was completely different from the warm but dry hands he imagined a phoenix should have.

The first year of the Aura Recovery, April 4, 17:07, cemetery.

"You worry too much. You even prepared the instant-trigger teleportation technique." Chi Zhaoming lowered his head and whispered.

Ning Changkong was still looking at the three little ones muttering to themselves in front of him: "Didn't you follow them all the way into the fantasy world?"

Could it be the same? At a glance, the rune structure that Chi Zhaoming could discern alone would be enough to sell the feather for tens of millions at auction.

Chi Zhaoming: "Isn't it a bit biased? Only giving it to Qingsheng alone?"

Ning Changkong looked at him seriously: "I can make two more, as long as you are willing to help me pass them on."

Chi Zhaoming saw his own wide-open eyes in his red irises, and he quickly realized that Ning Changkong was serious.

"Such an expensive gift," Chi Zhaoming looked away, "give it yourself."

Ning Changkong muttered, "If you don't want to, forget it."

He took one last look at the three people in front of the tomb, turned around and left: "I'm going back first."

Ning Changkong made this trip mainly because he was worried about the protagonists, and accidentally ran into Chi Zhaoming, who was also escorting the three little ones. The moment he was drawn into the illusion, he and Chi Zhaoming had already sensed each other's auras, and there was no way to avoid it, so he simply talked it out.

From what he could see at the moment, Director Chi would not risk activating the emergency spell on the feather pendant and being chased by him for thousands of miles by attacking the three little ones, so he could leave without any worries.

Chi Zhaoming: "Not later?"

Ning Changkong: "Why are you just burning paper money for yourself?"

If he doesn't go back, Bai Xian will find out that he has sneaked out.

"Don't tell them that you are still alive?" Chi Zhaoming finally asked the question that had been bothering him for a long time.

"No need. Humans and demons have different paths."

The phoenix stopped walking but did not turn around, her voice was flat and restrained.

“There’s no going back.”

As the young master of the Hundred Birds Tribe and deputy director of the Soul Protection Department, the recognition of the Demon Tribe preserved his credibility when he suddenly appeared, but it also limited his position.

Chi Zhaoming took a deep breath and said, "Li Bo may not want to kill you."

The man finally turned his head, and the light drizzle was evaporated by the hot spiritual power before it could even land on his shoulders.

"The people who want to kill you are in the West."

"Thanks for the reminder."

The phoenix in black left Lin Jinsong's grave with its back to him.