Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 111: Two Ways
Xu Wang gently pushed open the Moon Gate, and the door creaked softly, like a whimper.
The four entered in single file.
As Qian Ai, who was last in line, stepped into the Eastern Courtyard, the door closed behind them with a “snap”, startling everyone.
Xu Wang turned to pull the door open again, but it wouldn’t budge.
The wind here was colder than in the Western Courtyard, piercing through their clothes.
The scene before them—if ruins could be considered a scene—was more desolate and bleaker than the Western Courtyard, with fallen dead trees and a dried-up pond. The ground was covered in foul-smelling mud, and the pavilion at the end of the corridor had collapsed. In the cold moonlight, it seemed like ghostly figures were flickering among the wreckage.
The companions were certain they had never visited this part of the Eastern Courtyard during their last attempt at 5/23.
“This place is supposed to have good Feng Shui?” Qian Ai said in a barely audible voice, full of frustration. “This is good Feng Shui?”
Wu Sheng sighed softly. “You need to think in reverse.”
Qian Ai: “……”
Wu Sheng: “……”
Qian Ai: “And then? That’s it?”
No further explanation?!
“You’re so dense,” Xu Wang whispered to Qian Ai, pulling him closer. “What he means is, this place might be distressing for humans, but for ghosts, it could be the ultimate comfort zone, get it?”
Qian Ai understood. “…A hell for the living, a paradise for ghosts.”
“Captain, don’t blame Qian Ge for being dense.” Kuang Jinxin joined in, trying to suppress his laughter. “Imagine if Qian Ge understood every glance from Wu Sheng like you do, immediately deciphering the full meaning with just one word…”
Wu Sheng looked up silently at the sky.
“Lao Qian” Xu Wang immediately turned to his teammate and patted him on the shoulder sincerely. “You don’t need to improve; just stay as you are. You’re good.”
Qian Ai: “……”
“You guys—” A ghostly howl came from not far away, eerie yet righteous in tone. “You there, don’t move!”
As soon as the voice fell, a ghostly figure rushed in front of them.
He was around forty years old, lean and gaunt, with a sallow and pallid complexion like a dead man. His lips were black, but his eyes were moving erratically, making him seem more “alive” than other ghosts.
“How did you get in here?” The ghost sized them up suspiciously.
“We… We climbed over the wall,” Xu Wang lied without batting an eye.
“We’re homeless wandering spirits,” Wu Sheng added. “Looking for a place to settle.”
Xu Wang, Qian Ai, Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Their advisor had been reading “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio” on the train yesterday. Whether he learned ghost handling or not wasn’t clear, but he definitely memorized these ancient-sounding lines.
“There’s a main gate. Why climb a wall?” The ghost chided, but his hostility lessened. “If the boss finds out I didn’t guard the gate and let living people sneak in, I’ll be nailed again.”
Again?
Xu Wang hadn’t noticed any obvious wounds on the ghost, assuming he had died of poisoning. But hearing these words and taking a closer look, he noticed a large nail pierced through the ghost’s fontanelle, with only the head of the nail visible, hidden by disheveled hair, and difficult to spot.
“Alright,” the Nailed Ghost sighed in relief. “Luckily, I found you. Come on, I’ll take you to see the boss. Whether you can stay here depends on him.”
The four companions exchanged glances—Are they going to meet the boss now?
Xu Wang pursed his lips—What if this boss asks us to go undercover?
Qian Ai widened his eyes—Infiltration within infiltration?
Kuang Jinxin frowned—This is too difficult…
Wu Sheng held his forehead—No one designs a script to be a never-ending loop!
“Why are you four winking?” The Nailed Ghost walked a few steps, then turned back to see the four hadn’t moved and said impatiently, “Hurry up and follow.”
The four collected their thoughts and quickly followed the ghost through the corridor, twisting and turning, until they arrived at a small, secluded courtyard.
The courtyard was small and could be seen at a glance. There was only a crooked tree that seemed about to fall and a well underneath it.
Xu Wang looked puzzledly at the Nailed Ghost. “Your boss… is in the well?”
“Don’t be deceived by your eyes,” the ghost suddenly said solemnly. “You see it as a well, but it’s actually a gateway to the deeper courtyard.”
“So next…” Xu Wang had a bad feeling.
The ghost: “We jump into the well together.”
He knew it!
As the four and the ghost approached the well, the Nailed Ghost suddenly stepped back two steps and gestured. “Jump.”
Xu Wang promptly insisted, “You first.”
“Hurry and jump. Don’t wait for me to kick you in.” The ghost’s tone turned fierce again, and in his fierceness, there was a hint of… urgency?
Xu Wang narrowed his eyes and stood still.
Suddenly, Wu Sheng pulled him behind, shielding him, and negotiated with the ghost. “We’ll jump first, but don’t stand so far away. You need to stay by the well and watch us go down.”
The ghost didn’t speak; he just stared at them, and a wisp of black smoke started rising from the nail in his head.
The next second, the ghost lunged forward, pushing the unsuspecting Kuang Jinxin into the well with force!
Kuang Jinxin’s body tilted, and he fell headfirst into the well!
Qian Ai gasped for air and reached out to catch him, but it all happened too fast. Before he could grasp him, Kuang Jinxin had already fallen!
“Xiao Kuang—” Qian Ai shouted loudly into the dark well!
Wu Sheng quickly extended his catching vines into the well to pursue!
“I’m okay…” Kuang Jinxin’s response finally came from the well.
Soon after, Classmate Kuang was pulled out of the well and back into daylight by his severed hand, which was tightly grasping his collar.
The [Man Catching Vines] didn’t catch up with Classmate Kuang, who managed to save himself using his stationery.
Qian Ai and Wu Sheng were astounded.
This isn’t a severed hand; it’s a divine hand of steel!
Meanwhile, as Kuang Jinxin fell, Xu Wang manipulated his spirit to tightly entangle the Nailed Ghost, wrapping him tighter and tighter!
Could a ghost be strangled? Xu Wang wasn’t sure. But at the moment, he couldn’t think of a better way to deal with this guy.
As he was lost in thought, a dark shadow suddenly rushed from the gloomy corner, grabbed the Nailed Ghost’s waist, and rushed to the edge of the well in one breath!
Kuang Jinxin had already come out of the well, and the three companions instinctively moved aside, seeing a blur of ghostly figures rapidly approaching.
With a swift motion, the shadow pressed against the back of the Nailed Ghost, lifted his legs, and directly shoved him into the well!
It all happened in an instant. The shadow moved so fast that it was impossible to discern its appearance, and the Nailed Ghost had no time to resist!
There was a loud “thud” as the ghost seemed to hit the dry bottom of the well, and then, in the next moment, its wailing cries filled the entire courtyard.
The wailing was so piercing it made one’s scalp tingle and heart tremble.
Fortunately, it soon weakened, and then there was silence.
A pale blue, ghostly flame slowly floated out of the well and landed in the shadow’s hand.
Only then did they see clearly that the shadow was a young man in his twenties. However, he was pale and emaciated and had a haggard appearance. Even among ghosts, he didn’t instill fear but rather evoked pity and the realization of how tough life in the ghost world could be.
“He lied to you,” the ghostly figure said. There was a sense of honesty in his voice. “He’s not a gatekeeper; he’s a Ghost Eater.”
Xu Wang: “Huh?”
Wu Sheng: “A Ghost Eater?”
Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin: “……”
Why did the advisor’s words suddenly seem somewhat cute?
“Yes, a Ghost Eater,” the pale, thin figure said, giving them a disdainful look. His eyes, which were previously cloudy, rolled back, revealing clarity. “He specifically targets new ghosts, luring them here and pushing them into the well. Once their primordial souls are extracted, he devours them.”
“What happens to the ghosts that are pushed in?” Xu Wang asked.
“The moment their primordial soul is extracted, they cease to exist,” the pale, thin figure said.
“We’re new ghosts, inexperienced,” Advisor Wu said, using what had become his standard opening line for inquiries. “Ghosts shouldn’t fall into wells, right?”
“It’s not about falling into wells in general, but this particular well,” the pale, thin figure said, looking solemnly into the well. “This well is called the Soul-Refining Well. Whoever falls in, no matter how powerful they are as ghosts, will have their primordial soul extracted.”
The four looked around the small courtyard, unable to tell that such an inconspicuous and remote corner hid such a deadly well.
Qian Ai broke out in a cold sweat from the realization. “I mean, with such a dangerous place, couldn’t you put up some caution tape or a sign or something?”
The pale, thin figure stared at him for a while and then laughed. “No one’s ever thought of that.”
“Each ghost sweeps the snow in front of their own door. Why bother about the frost on another ghost’s roof tiles? This bad habit, brought from the world of the living to the ghostly abode…” Qian Ai shook his head in disappointment. “I didn’t expect the ghost world to be so indifferent too.”
Wu Sheng and Kuang Jinxin pulled away their overly involved teammate and switched with Captain Xu.
“Is this the primordial soul in your hand?” Xu Wang had been staring at the ghostly flame for a while.
“Yes, consuming it can increase ghost powers.” The pale, thin figure offered. “Who wants to eat it?”
Xu Wang, Wu Sheng, Qian Ai, and Kuang Jinxin: “……”
The greatest sorrow is finally meeting a friendly and united ghost but not being able to share the “nourishing pill”.
Xu Wang chuckled awkwardly. “Well, you saved us. We couldn’t possibly take this from you. Keep it for yourself.”
The pale, thin figure looked at them for a while, then nodded and swallowed the primordial soul with a gulp.
The four companions watched carefully but couldn’t discern any change in the pale, thin figure.
…Maybe he grew in inner strength?
Just as they were wondering, the pale, thin figure’s stomach suddenly growled.
Xu Wang looked at him puzzledly. “Ghosts get hungry?”
The pale, thin figure scratched his head embarrassedly. “I died of starvation.”
The four companions: “……”
Flawless logic.
“Speaking of which, I heard you talking with the Ghost Eater about finding a place to stay?” the Starved Ghost suddenly asked.
Turning back to the main topic, Xu Wang refocused. “Yes.”
The Starved Ghost pressed his extremely flat belly, as if that could make him less hungry. “If you’re not picky, living in the underworld is fine.”
Wu Sheng: “The underworld?”
The Starved Ghost nodded. “Yes, here and the few courtyards ahead are collectively known as the underworld. You can live anywhere. No one will mind.”
Wu Sheng sensed something. “Is there anywhere else?”
“Yes, the courtyards further inside are called ‘the Human Realm’,” the Starved Ghost explained. “‘The Human Realm’ has stronger ghostly energy than here in the underworld, but not just anyone can go there. You have to find the person in charge and pass an assessment.”
“The underworld, the Human Realm.” Qian Ai found it odd. “Why not go higher, like the Heavenly Realm?”
The Starved Ghost: “There is. The boss lives in the innermost part, the Heavenly Realm.”
“……” Qian Ai forced a smile. “As expected of the boss, aiming high.”
Xu Wang seemed to understand. “So if we want to live in a better place, closer to the boss, we need to pass at least two assessments.”
The Starved Ghost looked at him surprised. “You really want to go to the Heavenly Realm? It’s difficult. The Ghost Spring is there, and the boss rarely lets anyone in. Only powerful ghosts can live in the Heavenly Realm.”
The Ghost Spring!
The four companions were startled, not expecting to come across such information so soon.
In the ensuing silence, a severed hand suddenly gently tugged at the Starved Ghost’s clothing.
The Starved Ghost turned, not seeing a ghost at first glance, then looked down to see Kuang Jinxin crouched on the ground.
“Xiao Hungry,” Kuang Jinxin tentatively said. “Can I ask about two ghosts?”
“…?” The new nickname complicated the Starved Ghost’s feelings, but the way it was said was quite endearing, so he felt a bit… not bad about it?
“Who do you want to ask about?”
“The Flirtatious Ghost and the Dream Ghost.” Kuang Jinxin asked, “Do you know where they live?”
Now that they had information about the Ghost Spring, the next target was naturally the badge.
“They’re here in the underworld,” the Starved Ghost replied without hesitation. “I don’t know the specific courtyard, but they definitely haven’t entered the Human Realm.”
Xu Wang leaned in. “So certain?”
The Starved Ghost nodded. “The Flirtatious Ghost isn’t qualified. The Dream Ghost is very afraid of ghosts and always hides in places with no ghosts. He wouldn’t actively seek out the person in charge, and I heard the courtyards get smaller the further in you go. If he entered, he’d have even fewer places to hide.”
Xu Wang and his three companions exchanged glances and then addressed the Starved Ghost, “We’re thinking of going to the Human Realm. Can you take us to find the person in charge?”
The Starved Ghost frowned, advising, “Are you sure you want to go? It’s actually quite nice here…”
“Ghosts aim high, water flows low*,” Xu Wang was now adept at speaking like a ghost. “But the four of us haven’t reached a consensus yet. Can we have some more time to discuss?”
*Water flows to lower places while man goes to higher position (人往高处走，水往低处流) Proverb that means people always seek to climb higher, yearning for a better life, while the habit of water always flows downwards. In this case, instead of man, it’s ghost.
“Alright,” the Starved Ghost agreed readily, squatting down and holding his rumbling stomach. “You’ve given me a primordial soul. If you really want to enter the human world, I will take you to find the manager.”
On this side, the Starved Ghost waited obediently and patiently.
On the other side, the four friends gathered together for a “Wangwang’s Team emergency meeting.”
“The Ghost Spring is in the Heavenly Realm, and the badge is in the Underworld. If we can’t find the save point, we will have to split up.” Wu Sheng hit the nail on the head.
Qian Ai sighed. “We didn’t find the save point last time we came, and I think we shouldn’t bother looking this time either. Let’s just split up and act.”
Kuang Jinxin said, “I agree with Qian Ge. If the tasks for other teams are simpler, there will be even less time left for us. Rather than looking for a save point where we don’t know where it is, it’s better to complete more definite tasks and find the badge.”
Xu Wang called everyone for a meeting, and this was the purpose. “That’s settled then. Wu Sheng and I will go to Heavenly Realm to find the Ghost Spring and submit our task, while Lao Qian and Xiao Kuang stay here to find the badge.”
A minute later, the four friends returned to the Starved Ghost.
The Starved Ghost was quite curious about the meeting’s outcome. “Have you decided?”
“Yes.” Xu Wang pointed to himself and Wu Sheng. “We are going to the human realm. Of course, it would be better if we could stay in the Heavenly Realm.” Then he pointed to Qian Ai and Kuang Jinxin. “These two don’t want to go, so they’ll stay in the Underworld.”
Qian Ai: “……”
Staying in the Underworld. No matter how you hear it, it sounds ominous! Can’t they say underground workers? Even guardians of the negative first floor would be better!
The author has something to say:
Qian Ai: (╰_╯)
<<< || Table of Contents || >>>
Kinky Translations 