Chapter 720: Although the Strings of the Zither Are Old
Gong Mengbi said, "This is the body of a friend of mine. It was stolen by the Ghost Concubine, and now I want to return it to its original owner."
Su Shangxian breathed a sigh of relief and said, "So that's how it is."
Gong Mengbi asked, "Why else would I steal a female corpse?"
Immortal Su curled his lips and said, "Who knows you? Get rid of me quickly! I want to become an immortal, how can I leave a female corpse in my Taoist temple!"
Gong Mengbi waved his hand and said, "I'll be leaving right away. My business in Gusu has concluded, and I'm about to return to Wuning to teach. It's not good to leave without saying goodbye, so I came here specifically to say goodbye to you."
Su Shangxian got off the cloud bed and said, "There's no need to say goodbye to me. I'll feel more at ease when you're gone."
Gong Mengbi said, "Then we'll meet again if fate allows...Ah, are you going to the Tianhuyuan banquet at the end of the year?"
Su Shangxian refused without hesitation, saying, "No, I'm so annoyed."
Gong Mengbi said regretfully: "Then we will meet again if we are destined to do so."
Su Shangxian nodded repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, just go."
Gong Mengbi walked out of the Tianping Mountain Taoist temple. The smoke and clouds lifted up Madam Chen's body, rolled up the fat ghost, and then flew towards Wu Ning.
When the smoke and clouds rose in the mountains, you could still see Su Shangxian's Taoist robe fluttering slowly in the night wind. When it rose to the sky, only the bright moon was shining.
If Gong Mengbi were to travel from Suzhou to Wuning alone, he would arrive in a moment even if he walked on the moon.
But carrying Mrs. Chen's heavy body, they were not so quick. It was almost dawn when they returned to Wu Ning and landed in Shouyue Tower on Wuhuan Peak.
The fat ghost rolled down from the cloud, and the jewels fell to the ground with a tinkling sound. He picked them up and hid them under his belly.
Gong Mengbi ordered, "Go and clean up, an old friend will come to visit."
Gong Mengbi's shadow squirmed, and Fu Xin emerged from it, answering, "Yes."
The skull hanging from the giant horned ghost's waist could not wait to drop down, and in mid-air it transformed into a short skull god, saying, "As you command."
The Skull God looked at Fu Xin, then at the Fat Ghost, and took charge of the internal affairs without hesitation. He said, "I'll clean the inner room. Big guy, sweep the front of the door, and little guy, wipe the door beam."
The big guy Fu Xin was not going to go into the inner room to clean. It was too cramped for him, so he naturally did not object. The fat ghost looked at Fu Xin and then at the skull god. After all, he was a newcomer, so he did not dare to say much and took the job of cleaning the door beam.
The Skull God had the lowest level of Taoism, but he was very happy to be able to command two "juniors" whose Taoism was far superior to his. He went into the Shouyue Tower and unfolded the small flag that he had renamed the "Peach Fairy Flag", and called out all the little peach people in it.
"My dear grandson, come and help grandpa clean up!"
The little peach man babbled, pulled out branches and leaves, and under the guidance of the Skull God, transformed into a broom and rag, running up and down the sixth floor of the Shouyue Tower.
Gong Mengbi arranged Mrs. Chen's body, then lit the incense burner and burned a letter to Yu He, agreeing on a time to meet.
Then he summoned the nearest Mr. Qing - with a thought and a spell, he heard a rustling sound in the woods, and a green-clothed ghost emerged from the old tree in front of Shouyue Tower.
Gong Mengbi asked him to deliver a letter to Meirenling and agreed on a time to meet.
Later, Gong Mengbi took out the plum blossom harp that was buried with Madam Chen, held it in his arms and tried the sound. He could hear that although the strings were old, they were still beautiful.
As dawn was about to break, Gong Mengbi went to Ruyun Peak. Granny Shi's grave was already covered with green grass and wildflowers. The area around the grave was clean, and the stones beside it were shiny and not even moss had grown on them.
Gong Mengbi sat on a rock, holding the plum blossom harp and playing it softly. The music depicted the fresh breeze and bright moon in the mountains, the plum blossoms piled up in the snow between the ridges, the peaks reaching the clouds and soaring to the sky, and the caves coming out of the clouds, which were gentle and affectionate.
When the song ended, the sky was filled with golden clouds, and the morning light fell on Gong Mengbi, on the plum blossom harp, and on the green grave.
"Mother-in-law, I found the zither. I don't know if you and Senior Qi Xiu have met again."
The green tomb is silent, only the morning breeze blows and the grass and flowers sway.
Gong Mengbi gathered his thoughts and returned to Wuhuan Peak with his zither in his arms.
The Skull God was playing with the little peach people in front of Shouyue Tower, while the Fat Ghost was lying on Fuxin's horns and refused to come down.
Seeing Gong Mengbi, the fat ghost immediately complained: "Sir, these little ghosts always catch me, and the old man doesn't do anything about it."
The Skull God quickly said, "The kids just thought he was cute and wanted to play with him. They didn't have any bad intentions. Why are you still complaining?"
The Fat Ghost was so angry that his body turned red, but when he looked at the Skull God, he looked like a kind and loving grandfather.
Gong Mengbi shook his head and said, "When the little devil falls asleep, you beat up the old man, and next time there will be no little devil to catch you."
The Skull God cried out to the heavens, "Master! It's just a kid joking, how can you take it seriously!"
Gong Mengbi ignored him and went into Shouyue Tower.
The Fat Ghost held the ox horns and raised his fist to the Skull God.
The Skull God said, "You are a senior and a great master, why are you treating the same issue as a child?"
The Fat Ghost said, "I don't hit children either. I only hit you."
The Skull God held his breath and whispered, "The child is naughty. I will discipline him. Don't be angry."
"Hmph!" The fat ghost let out a breath and didn't bother to continue.
Fu Xin crossed his arms and watched the fun, laughing, then jumped onto a tree and took a nap.
Gong Mengbi burned incense and offered sacrifices to the empress, and then fell into a state of meditation.
As dusk fell, the sound of crows could be heard in the forest.
The lanterns hanging in front of Shouyue Tower all lit up. Fu Xin went to greet them and brought Yu He into the tower.
After a while, the wind picked up from the forest, and three women came in, accompanied by a fragrant scent. The Skull God came to greet them and invited them into the building.
The building was brightly lit, and Mrs. Chen's body was lying on the couch, her face looking the same as when she was alive.
The first thing the three female cultivators who entered the room saw was Madam Chen.
"It's you." Madam Qiongfang, dressed in purple, said softly.
"They look exactly the same, not even their eyebrows or eyes have changed." Zhiruo examined them carefully and said, "They're just a little older."
Jiaying looked dazed as she walked to Mrs. Chen's body. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face, she was overwhelmed with emotions and didn't know what to say.
Qiongfang and Zhiruo supported her on both sides and asked, "What are you still hesitating about?"
Jiaying said with tears in her eyes, "I'm scared. After all these years, is this still me?"
It's not just because of fear, but also because once she comes back to life, she will no longer be able to get along with her sisters as usual.
Humans and ghosts have different paths. One lives during the day, while the other two come out at night. Even if they meet at dusk and dawn, they can no longer sleep and wake up together, nor can they be as close as before.
Jiaying is not only afraid of this strange body and life, but also afraid that everything will change drastically and become unknown.
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