Inner Demons

Chapter 90: What Kind of Ghost

"The Dragon's Son is looking for him." Li Yunxin looked at Pei Juezi. He didn't know when Lingkongzi discovered that this Artificer from Jinghua was somewhat abnormal, but he knew that the possessed Artificer had been controlled.

Pei Juezi was sitting neatly behind the table, but his eyes had become somewhat panicked—he couldn't move.

"The Dragon's Son and I... well, I call him Young Master Nine. After Young Master Nine and I traveled back to Weicheng, he disappeared. During that time, things also started happening near Weicheng—I thought it was him, but later I felt the method wasn't like his."

"Some time ago I was walking around the city and asked some people. Some people's relatives lived in the suburbs, and their cattle had died. When I asked about the state of death, I knew it shouldn't have been done by Young Master Nine—Young Master Nine eats people, but this thing devours souls."

"And at that time I already had this thought, and I started investigating Young Master Nine. From the Temple Annals of the Dragon King Temple, I guessed he was Chiwen, the ninth son of the dragon—and now you also say he is the Dragon's Son, so I guessed right."

"I also discovered from the Temple Annals... that as long as there are records of unusual rainfall, there are almost always missing people. Young Master Nine loves to eat people, and he is the Dragon's Son. So I guess... he is the... Wei River Dragon King in the temple."

"If he is the Wei River Dragon King, then this area is his territory. I think he should be a home-loving man—according to his appetite, eating only a dozen people a year near Weicheng is already too restrained. So now someone is causing trouble in his territory—although they are eating the souls of cattle, he can't bear it."

"However, later I found out that it wasn't just eating cattle, many poultry died this way too. But cattle, a cow can change a farmer's luck for a lifetime, it's a large animal, so everyone is talking about cattle."

"Then I guess Young Master Nine is looking for this thing... this ghost. Just now he came in, and there was a fierce storm in the world. As for him, he kept looking up at the sky. I could tell he was a little proud. Because Young Master Nine should be looking for him in the sky above Weicheng right now. But what I'm very curious about is..."

"He can't be found by a great demon like Young Master Nine, but he can be controlled by us. But just now I didn't feel any Yin spiritual energy at all. So...""Your Excellency, what kind of ghost are you?"

He had already turned to the "Pei Juezi" and was asking sincerely and curiously.

Lingkongzi flicked a finger, as if lifting some restriction. So this "Pei Juezi" spoke in a human voice: "Why did you bind me, sir?"

"...Sure enough, it can speak human language." Li Yunxin praised sincerely, "Before, I saw him silent and it was always that manager speaking, I thought he couldn't speak human language."

"It seems to be a hundred-year Great Ghost." Lingkongzi said, "It's normal for them to learn human speech. They were originally human, became ghosts, and by chance lingered in the Yang realm, becoming foolish. But after staying in the Yang realm for a long time, those who devour living souls will gradually regain human knowledge—this one, has at least two hundred years of cultivation."

"Ah... I don't understand this very well. If that's the case, after living for a long time, aren't these ghosts no different from humans? And will they become stronger? Look, they can even use magic now."

Li Yunxin was asking for advice, and Lingkongzi answered him. Only this ghost was still staring with wide eyes, repeatedly asking "Why did you bind me, sir?"—at this time, its difference from "human" became apparent.

"Ghosts are after all Yin spirits." Lingkongzi answered patiently, "Spiritual Soul was originally one with the physical body, inseparable. When a person dies, there is a ghost soul. The reason it is called a ghost soul and no longer a Spiritual Soul is because the body is the temple of the soul. When the body dies, the Spiritual Soul is inevitably damaged, losing the temple that housed it, and thus becomes a ghost soul."

"So a ghost soul is actually a damaged Spiritual Soul. Since it is damaged, it will not be repaired. Therefore, no matter what, it is always different from a human. For example, a ghost soul always has an obsession. Some things are actually a part of its lost body and are difficult to remember, unless they are completed, only then can it remember clearly. Listen to this ghost speak—is there anyone who speaks like this now?"

Before, Li Yunxin only felt that this Great Ghost spoke strangely. Now listening to Lingkongzi speak and re-examining its words, he realized that it was indeed different from humans—different from people today.

Although the Great Qing Dynasty was a strictly hierarchical ancient society in Li Yunxin's eyes, the atmosphere was actually relatively enlightened and open. For example, girls from well-off families like Yin Xuerou could appear on the streets every day, and people didn't feel there was anything wrong.

Specifically in terms of etiquette and conversation, it was much more "vulgar" than the previous dynasty.

For example, Old Daoist Liu didn't quite understand the rules of the Treasure Blossom Assembly banquet today. It was called ancient ritual, but in reality, it was a secular etiquette that ordinary families of the previous dynasty would also follow.

As for conversation...

In the previous dynasty, both men and women were respectfully addressed as "Jun". People of the Great Qing Dynasty laughed at the previous dynasty for being pedantic, saying that when two people argued and cursed, they would still say "You are a scoundrel, sir," which was quite comical. Now looking at this Great Ghost...

It was also addressed as "Jun".

"I need this ghost." Li Yunxin said, "It's not appropriate here, I have to take it back. Young Master Nine is looking for it, maybe it knows something about Young Master Nine. Anyway... he used to be my friend. Even if I have to deal with him, I hope I'm the one to do it. So I want to know more about him."

He looked at Lingkongzi and repeated: "I need this ghost. I hope you can help me. After this matter is done, when I get the jade slip, I'll go back to the mountain with you."

Lingkongzi seemed a little hesitant. Just now, Li Yunxin had led the conversation to the Great Ghost and asked her some questions that effectively relaxed her. At this moment, her Mental Defense relaxed again, and the suggestion Li Yunxin had implanted in her heart gradually gained the upper hand.

She tapped her slender fingers on the back of her hand twice and suddenly asked: "You can create a Precious Scroll like the 'Perverted Eating Picture', which shows that your cultivation is reaching the peak of the Manifestation Realm. I know that Painting Daoists are not good at fighting. But I see that your aura... seems a little off."

"Because I fought with two Sword Cultivators from the Lingxu Sword Sect before—at that time I hadn't had much contact with people from the Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect. Those two Taoist priests carried powerful Talismans that sealed my Snow Mountain Qi Sea. To this day, I can only use a little Spiritual Power. You are correct." Li Yunxin said truthfully, "But... why would two Sword Cultivators from the two Schools, with Intent Realm and Illusory Realm cultivation, come to my house to find me?"

"That day they said that an old Daoist said there was a 'Myriad Li Rivers and Mountains Scroll' in my house, and they came for that painting. I believe what those two fools said, but I don't believe that the person who guided them to find me was really for that painting—it was probably just an excuse. According to those two Sword Cultivators, that person was dying, and only then did they say this, and they found me. So I want to know, who was that person?"

He truthfully stated his situation, knowing that it would reassure Lingkongzi—that was what the other party wanted to know.

He also knew that the other party would have a mentality of "Since that's the case, I'll temporarily go along with you. I'm not afraid of your schemes and tricks—once you are taken to the mountain, everything will no longer be a problem"—the other party also knew that he was not a fool.

If she was confident in having absolute power to control the final outcome, then with sufficient goodwill towards him... she should not mind some of his other small actions.

And she should also know that he was a difficult opponent.

Indeed, after he finished speaking, Lingkongzi pondered for a moment and then said: "Hmm. So that's how it is. That person... I can't tell you for now."

"As for you wanting this ghost and wanting to understand some things, that's up to you. If you need my help, you can ask."

"But time... I hope it's no more than half a month. I've been out for a long time, it's time to go back to the mountain."

"Okay."

Lingkongzi thought for a moment and said: "You are an interesting person, and a smart person. But there is one thing... I should make clear."

"I am a Taoist priest, at the peak of the Manifestation Realm. Earlier, two low-level Sword Cultivators could seal your Qi Sea with Talismans, you should know that Daoist Orthodoxy cultivators have some means in fighting."

"So if I wanted to..."

"Within a radius of ten li around Weicheng, no one can survive."

"I hope you can make the right decision."