"Scared me to death!"
Back in the modern day, Lu Zheng patted his chest and took a few deep breaths.
"As the sun sets, do ghosts come out?"
After taking off the wig and ancient clothes, and changing into modern attire, Lu Zheng dressed neatly and prepared to go out for a walk.
"Zhao Si, are you free to come out? What, watching a movie with your wife? About to start?"
"Old Tong? Working overtime? Never mind then..."
"Xiaoleizi, you must be free, right? Home for summer break?"
After hanging up the phone, all three roommates were unavailable, that’s quite something...
As for other classmates, it’s not like we’re close enough to just hang out randomly.
Without friends around, there’s naturally another way to relieve stress.
This method is exhilarating and stimulating, making you feel refreshed all over. After experiencing it, you’d feel completely drained, like you’d just finished a battle, sore and wanting only to sleep.
Lu Zheng found a high-end, reputable massage parlor, and hired a professional master to give him a full-body massage from head to toe.
After going home and freshening up, he fell asleep immediately, having a dreamless and sweet night’s rest.
Early the next morning, Lu Zheng felt refreshed, full of energy, and invincible.
He even felt he could enhance his physical attributes with the Light of Fortune.
"What! Massages can actually enhance your physical adaptability?"
Life is always full of surprises; Lu Zheng had never thought he could actively shorten this adaptability cooldown.
"But let’s not rush to enhance physical attributes; I need to visit White Cloud Temple again first!"
Encountering a ghost last night, well, although it’s not clear if it was a ghost, today’s trip to White Cloud Temple is necessary.
The least he could do was find a way to protect himself; who knows if that thing has its sights on him.
The sky is already bright; those evil things shouldn’t come out during the day, right? That thing appeared at dusk yesterday.
So Lu Zheng donned his stab-proof vest again, picked up his electric baton, and carefully ventured across.
"Hmm, nothing has changed..."
Lu Zheng looked around, then lifted the pillow and picked up the yellow talisman he had placed there yesterday.
"That thing didn’t come last night." Lu Zheng murmured to himself as he opened the door, "Uncle Li!"
Uncle Li appeared with dark circles under his eyes, seemingly having a rough night.
"Let’s head to White Cloud Temple!"
"Ah, going again?" Uncle Li was startled, considering they encountered a strange entity on the way back yesterday; why not just stay home today?
"If we don’t go to White Cloud Temple, how do we deal with that ghostly creature?" Lu Zheng asked.
"Haven’t we already avoided it?"
"How do you know we’ve avoided it? We’ve already encountered it. What if it comes knocking someday? Aren’t you afraid?" Lu Zheng retorted.
Thinking of the scenario where the ghost comes to the door, Uncle Li’s face turned white, and his lips looked blue, "I... I’m afraid."
"Then let’s hurry; it’s broad daylight, will the ghost appear during the day?"
Uncle Li knew nothing about the characteristics of ghosts; common knowledge never mentioned a ghost’s weaknesses. Encountering one usually meant doom for people.
So, taking a few steamed buns Aunt Liu made and some preserved meat stored at home, Uncle Li and Lu Zheng headed to the cart station.
Honest Zhang’s cart was rented out early, so they changed to another vehicle today and hurriedly left the city.
"Two trips to White Cloud Temple in two days?"
The shopkeeper of the cart station watched the donkey cart leave, with sympathy on his face, "Something must be going on..."
Daoist Mingzhang looked at the paper talisman in his hand, with a serious face.
"The Peace Talisman ensures safety; it does not show anomalies when the Corpse Ghost hasn’t revealed malice towards you."
Daoist Mingzhang explained, "When the Corpse Ghost calls your name, that’s when it harbors ill intent, revealing its aura, hence the Peace Talisman warns."
Lu Zheng nodded to show understanding, then promptly said, "Please save me, Daoist!"
"Save you from what?" Daoist Mingzhang was baffled, "You’ve already avoided it, haven’t you?"
"It won’t come knocking again in the future?"
"Generally, no. Since you weren’t tempted by it, it will naturally seek to lure others." Daoist Mingzhang stated.
Lu Zheng blinked, "Won’t the Daoist take action to exorcise demons?"
Daoist Mingzhang shook his head with a smile, "The Corpse Ghost’s whereabouts are unknown. Where am I supposed to find it?"
"And the Heavenly Dao has its constants; since there exists Corpse Ghosts, it follows reason. Acting frivolously could lead to major consequences, which isn’t the way of cultivation."
In layman’s terms, don’t cause trouble unless necessary; don’t pay a high price for unnecessary troubles. It’s fine to help casually, but dedicating effort is unnecessary; one’s cultivation is paramount.
"Alright, thanks for clearing things up, Daoist. But, what exactly is a Corpse Ghost?" Lu Zheng inquired.
"A Corpse Ghost is formed when a person dies, the corpse decays, yet the soul doesn’t disperse, then it’s corrupted by the Nether Qi from the Underworld, morphing into an Evil Ghost that harms to seek rebirth."
"Harm to seek rebirth?"
Daoist Mingzhang explained, "Corpse Ghosts are born from Nether Qi, inherently hideous, typically found in tombs, forests, or sinister places. This particular Corpse Ghost evidently mastered the Skin Painting Technique to blend among humans and find a substitute."
"Skin Painting Technique? Find a substitute?"
"Corpse Ghosts devour hearts and refine bodies, painting skin with blood, and finally, when body and skin unify without Corpse Qi or Underworld aura, they can transform into a living person and live another hundred years."
Isn’t this an upgraded version of the Painted Skin?
"What happens after a hundred years?"
"Naturally, they pass away without illness," Daoist Mingzhang said matter-of-factly.
"Won’t they cultivate into a Ghost Immortal?"
"Becoming a Ghost Immortal isn’t so easy; it requires a pure soul to refine the Essence, Qi, and Spirit, ultimately gathering Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to transform into a human form, cough."
"In short, you don’t need to fear, young master. The Great Jing Dynasty has ruled for centuries; Corpse Ghosts dare not harm people easily." Daoist Mingzhang added.
"The Court takes care? Is it the City God?" Lu Zheng continued to probe.
"The City God oversees the Underworld, established by the Court as an Incense and Candle Ghost God, but Corpse Ghosts aren’t under their jurisdiction." Daoist Mingzhang replied.
Wow, Lu Zheng was surprised; the City God is established by the Court?
This world seems quite complex...
Seeing he might have spoken too much, Daoist Mingzhang closed the topic, "You’re not a cultivator, there’s no need to understand these things; you should just focus on studying and building your enterprise. With the Peace Talisman as a warning, you’ll be safe."
"But what if that Corpse Ghost targets me again?" Lu Zheng asked.
"Then you should come to the temple; I will personally intervene," Daoist Mingzhang assured.
"But what if there’s not enough time? Does the Corpse Ghost have a weakness? Can mortals fend it off?"
"The nature of a Corpse Ghost is ultimately still a corpse; general weapons can eradicate it. However, it’s assaulted by Nether Qi, making it fast and strong, hard for mortals to combat," Daoist Mingzhang said, "If you’re concerned, you can hire guards with silver coins, or stock up on batons, knives, and guns for extra protection."
Really, you can do that?
"If you truly manage to slay a Corpse Ghost, it’d be considered a meritorious act," Daoist Mingzhang noted. "Upon the Corpse Ghost’s death, the Nether Qi disperses; if a mortal inadvertently inhales it, they’d suffer greatly, possibly shortening their lifespan. Remember this well."
"I see, thank you, Daoist." Lu Zheng sighed in relief and asked his final question, "Dare I ask, Daoist, does this Corpse Ghost possess the Light of Fortune?"