Chapter 82 The Ferryman's madness has improved considerably.
The Ghost King was in a daze from drinking when a soldier outside whispered something in his ear, instantly waking him up.
"Wen Jun, I have some news to share. Would you like to hear it?"
"If it's about one of your female confidantes getting into a fight over someone else's affections, don't bother me."
The Ghost King was a womanizer, indulging in wine and women, only caring about his own pleasure and never taking responsibility. Because he needed his help, Wen Qianchu had been forced to clean up his messes many times over the years, which made him a notorious figure in the underworld, a pariah. In the end, Wen Qianchu had no choice but to hold a sword to his crotch and threaten to cut his leg to cure him if he didn't stop.
After that, the Ghost King calmed down for a while, but Wen Qianchu still got a headache whenever she saw him.
Seeing that he was trying to avoid him, the Ghost King laughed and said, "No, no, I've been reformed for a long time now. The news I just received is about your little apprentice."
Wen Qianchu's heart suddenly tightened. The Ghost Lord leaned against the door and continued, "Isn't it a coincidence that someone saw your little disciple in the Yellow Springs?"
*
On the upper floor, Chu Shu stood by the railing. The high vantage point offered a clear view of the bustling traffic and people below, especially those coming from Yunxiang Tower.
Xu Zangyu stood beside him and saw Chu Shu pick up a bow and aim it at the direction of Yunxiang Tower.
"Junior brother, guess who will come out next?"
Xu Zangyu had no interest in guessing. Looking at the crowd below, he said, "In front of everyone, do you not want to go back unscathed?"
"So you're protecting him already?" Chu Shu raised her long eyes. "If he really is your lover, I'll spare his life today, or at least his manhood."
Xu Zangyu shut up at the right moment. Although Chu Shu seemed normal at this time, he was like a powder keg ready to explode. Once he and Chu Shu clashed, the powder keg would explode.
So he might as well not say anything, since Chu Shu wasn't after him.
A person rushed out of Yunxiang Tower. Xu Cangyu was stunned for a moment, but Chu Shu seemed not to be too surprised.
"Wen Qianchu".
The person who did not surprise him hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering the bow and arrow in his hand.
“His virginity is still intact, so he is probably not the person my junior brother loves.”
According to the information, Wen Qianchu indeed saw a familiar figure by the river. The figure was wearing a mask and acting suspiciously. Wen Qianchu rushed over, her heart skipped a beat, and finally took off the mask.
It was an unfamiliar face.
He immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Where did you get your clothes from?
These are clothes that Xu Zangyu once wore. They are simple and elegant, and Xu Zangyu's figure makes them look like graceful bamboo.
Wen Qianchu's face turned completely cold. She was never afraid of any gentle gazes to begin with, but now she stared at people with a gloomy look, making people tremble with fear more than the ghosts and demons in the underworld.
The little ghost wearing Xu Zangyu's clothes felt a chill as if his soul was being squeezed tightly. He trembled and said, "I really didn't steal it. I fished it out of the river. You won't believe me, look."
The little devil pointed towards the middle of the river, where a piece of cloth floated, covered with many shimmering starlight. It was soaked in blood, and the stench attracted the fish in the river, who eagerly pecked at the piece of cloth.
Without a second thought, Wen Qianchu jumped into the river. The arriving ghost king was stunned and tied up the little ghost who was trying to slip away in the chaos before standing aside and watching the show.
"Wen Jun, do you know how to write the words 'saying one thing and meaning another' now?"
On the high platform, Xu Cangyu saw Wen Qianchu clutch the blood-stained rag tightly, carefully embracing it along with the starlight on it.
"Isn't this my blood-stained clothes that I threw away?"
At that time, Chu Shu had already asked someone to pick them up and wash them clean, preparing to use them today?
Chu Shu: "I never imagined that the rumored cold-hearted Sect Master Wen would risk his life to jump into the river for a little disciple."
Xu Cangyu had a feeling that Chu Shu was about to have another episode, so he tugged at Chu Shu's sleeve and said, "You've already saved your people, aren't we leaving yet?"
"What's the rush? Wen Qianchu has been looking for you for so long, why haven't you shown up?"
Chu Shu didn't seem to want him to meet Wen Qianchu, and he casually replied, "There will be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future."
Chu Shu chuckled, her tone noticeably lighter, "It's truly a pity that Sect Leader Wen, despite his sincere sincerity, was willing to fall into such an obvious scam, even at the risk of damaging his soul."
Xu Zangyu was stunned and speechless. Chu Shu pinched his face and turned him back, pointing at Wen Qianchu who was surrounded by swimming fish, "These swimming fish like to eat spirits. Taking a bite is definitely no less than cutting flesh with a dull knife."
Xu Zangyu suddenly asked, "How did you know?"
Actually, what he wanted to ask was why Chu Shu was able to describe things in such detail. Also, these fish were so dangerous, and Chu Shu only reminded him of it now!
Fortunately, he wasn't overly curious and ran into the river to scoop up the starlight.
“I’ve been here for so many years, of course I know,” Chu Shu said, pressing his back against Xu Cangyu’s, making Xu feel as if he was being squeezed tighter.
"Why do you think Wen Qianchu would risk his life to do this?"
When Xu Cangyu saw Wen Qianchu swim ashore, her face seemed even paler. She lifted the tattered cloth in her bosom and carefully searched through the few specks of starlight.
Chu Shu: "Does he think you really became a shattered soul in the water?"
"Impossible... Don't talk nonsense, we're just master and disciple." Xu Zangyu's voice wasn't firm. He couldn't understand it and just thought Wen Qianchu had gone mad.
"Actually, Wen Qianchu is very good to his disciples, not as heartless and ungrateful as the rumors suggest."
Although Xu Zangyu could deceive himself, Chu Shu did not believe it. He never doubted his own excessive sensitivity, especially in matters concerning Xu Zangyu, where he was almost always right.
"Hopefully, Wen Qianchu can uphold his hypocritical bottom line and not violate the proper teacher-student relationship."
"Absolutely impossible." Xu Zangyu repeated, as if trying to convince himself.
After getting ashore, Wen Qianchu's meticulously neat robes were torn to shreds by the fish, and even her once-untangled hair was now tangled up in strands.
The Ghost King made no attempt to hide his mockery of Wen Qianchu's disheveled state, "Stop searching. You haven't found a trace in five years, but suddenly you have news today? Wen Jun, can't you see something strange about this?"
Wen Qianchu was always smarter than him and acted with caution and composure. Even the womanizing romantic entanglements that gave him a huge headache could be dealt with cleanly and efficiently.
How could such a calm and collected person fall for such an obvious scam? How could the Ghost King not laugh at him?
He realized that Wen Qianchu was incredibly capable, but it turned out he hadn't met anyone who could stir his heart.
"Hahaha, Wen Jun, you still dare to say you have no feelings for your little apprentice?"
Wen Qianchu remained expressionless, coldly stating, "He is the Ghost General I selected."
The Ghost King then stopped laughing. "No way, Wen Qianchu. You just wanted to make him your ghost general?"
He also had some understanding of the strange techniques of the Go-No-Door Sect. Just like sword cultivators spend their entire lives searching for a natal sword that matches their heart, disciples of the Go-No-Door Sect will also seek out suitable soul points to become ghost generals, accompanying them and fighting side by side throughout their lives.
For them, having nowhere to go, this was their weapon.
So, Wen Qianchu regarded people as his natal sword?
He had mistakenly thought that the thousand-year-old iron tree had blossomed.
Wen Qianchu failed to find Xu Cangyu's soul. He discarded the starlight in his arms and the blood-stained rags, and with a wave of his sleeve, he returned to his usual serene and gentle state.
Reaching out, he pinched the bound little devil, who let out a wail, feeling as if its soul was about to be crushed.
"Who sent you?"
"My lord, spare my life!" This man was clearly a coward. Before Wen Qianchu could even exert any force, he was already terrified and confessed while crying.
"I don't know anything. That man gave me a thousand taels of ghost money. All I had to do was wear the clothes and do as he said."
This man was a gambling addict whom Chu Shu had captured at the casino. He was heavily in debt, and he agreed to the offer almost without thinking.
It wasn't until they saw the Ghost King that they trembled with fear.
Wen Qianchu's gaze suddenly turned to Yun Xianglou. He threw the little ghost into the water, and the Ghost King's men were rushing over.
"My lord, the little demon guarding Yunxiang Tower has been taken away."
The Ghost King said calmly, "Immediately seal off the Yellow Springs."
He then looked at Wen Qianchu and said, "You should be happy. Since someone is keeping his information from you, it means your little apprentice is still alive."
At this moment, Xu Zangyu had already been dragged away by Chu Shu, who had grabbed him by the neck.
The ferryboat drifted leisurely, just like Chu Shu's lighthearted mood. "What are you still looking at? Did you really think I wanted to invite you to meet up with him?"
Xu Zangyu wasn't looking at Wen Qianchu, since he couldn't even see a ghost in the distance. He was looking at the ghost soldiers who had caught up and were sealing off the city.
Thinking of Wen Qianchu's words, Wen Qianchu still hadn't given up on the idea of taking down the Ghost General!
As the protagonist of the world, Xiao Mingxin is inferior to him in every way, so why doesn't Wen Qianchu set his sights on Xiao Mingxin?
The city behind them had already been sealed off by ghost soldiers, and Chu Shu flicked his forehead with her finger.
What are you regretting?
Xu Cangyu snapped out of his daze, touched his reddened forehead, and angrily pointed his finger at Chu Shu's forehead. Chu Shu didn't flinch, but looked at him with a smile on her beautiful face.
He hesitated for a long time but still couldn't bring himself to do it. "I'm wondering why Wen Qianchu is so insistent on making me a ghost general?"
What else could it be for? Ghosts obey their masters, making them easy to control and do as they please.
Chu Shu grew angrier the more she thought about it, and looking at Xu Zangyu's blockheaded head, she started hitting him again.
"What kind of master do you need now? Stay away from Wen Qianchu. Isn't what you need most right now me?"
This was the first time Chu Shu had pointed it out, but he still watched from the sidelines, after all, it was Xu Zangyu who should be anxious. If Xu Zangyu wanted to ask for help, he should also adopt the attitude of asking for help.
Therefore, Xu Zangyu began to reflect.
After the boat docked, Xu Zangyu saw the endless expanse of spider lilies. Unlike the gloomy and somber atmosphere of Huangquan Ferry, the spider lilies were extremely intense, like splashed blood.
This riverside scene is quite unique.
That night, Xu Zangyu slipped out and sat under a dim blue ghost lamp, waiting for the spider lilies to fully bloom.
The twinkling lights on the river drifted over, curiously observing him. As soon as he reached out his hand, the lights were frightened and ran away.
Some accidentally bumped into the ghost lanterns hanging on the trees, were scorched by the fire, and turned to ashes.
These shattered souls are too weak.
On the riverbank, people were still casting nets.
Xu Zangyu looked in the direction of the sound and found that it was the same cultivator from earlier that day.
Has he gone mad?
A commotion came from the flower bushes, and two heads emerged, just like Xu Zangyu's, crouching there.
"Do you think that's the Lord of Salvation?"
Another voice said, "Are you blind? That's not the ferryman."
"I just don't understand. Besides the Ferryman, what madman would have been fishing for fragments of spirit in the river for years?"
"By the way, the Ferryman hasn't gone mad for a while now, so it seems his condition has improved."
"Is this person suffering from the same madness as the ferryman? Do you think he would also go into the river to fish? Things in the river can eat souls."
Xu Zangyu sat frozen for a long time, when he suddenly remembered Chu Shu's words.
"These fish love to eat spirits, and taking a bite is no less painful than cutting flesh with a dull knife."
Since she knew it would hurt and still went down, Chu Shu was truly insane.
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Author's note: Here's an explanation of Wen Qianchu's initial purpose in appointing Xu Cangyu as a ghost general.
Wen Qianchu was about to become a Ghost Immortal. Originally, after eliminating the trouble caused by Black Mountain, he could have transcended the tribulation and ascended to immortality, and he would have also taken Xu Cangyu with him. However, he felt that Xu Cangyu's talent was insufficient for ascension, so he decided to take the back door.
But after seeing the situation in Black Mountain, he guessed that Xu Zangyu was the culprit. Later, after the disaster was averted, he did wonder if Xu Zangyu was truly dead.
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