Telling Jokes (Continued)

Washing up, changing clothes, eating, mounting her horse— Liu Qingqing thought, "The Blood Spirit Body is really useful; I don't need to do anything."

The two continued riding along the official road. Along the way, Si Ming kept glancing at Wan Ziling. The latter endured for two hours, but finally couldn't resist.

Just tell me what's on your mind.

I'm thinking about how to cure your Vengeful Transformation.

"This is not an illness, but an inevitable phenomenon, just like the end of a person's life. It cannot be cured, and no one would consider dying of old age as an illness."

"But if a person has a comfortable living environment and healthy lifestyle habits, they can live longer. So I'm thinking about how to slow down the rate of your Vengeful Transformation."

Wan Ziling thought about it and it seemed to make sense. She wasn't just arguing for the sake of arguing, so she asked, "Have you thought of a solution?"

"I've thought of a potentially effective method, but it hasn't been tested yet."

That's a pointless statement.

"That's right, but that's exactly what I meant. You're living too hard a life; you need to relax more, like by talking a few more silly things."

Wan Ziling frowned deeply. "This is the solution you came up with?"

"Listen patiently to me. When you become a vengeful ghost, you will constantly emanate an aura filled with negative emotions. From this, it's not hard to deduce that if we do the opposite and bathe your mind and body in positive emotions, we can resist the Vengeful Transformation of your soul. For example, I noticed along the way that you were always preoccupied and highly tense, trying to make every minute count. This only increases your psychological pressure and not only doesn't help, but it also Vengeful Transformation."

"What exactly should we do?"

Simply put, it means learning to be happy, always smiling, and facing everything with optimism. Being carefree is best; I really can't imagine what a carefree person would look like as a vengeful ghost.

"But that's just who I am. I've been used to it for decades, and I can't change it even if I die."

"Even if I die, I can't change... That's a good lame joke, a double entendre!" Si Ming's eyes lit up as he encouraged, "Being able to make fun of yourself is the first step to optimism. Keep that mindset."

Wan Ziling paused for a moment, then hesitated and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell a joke. I only realized what I meant after you said it."

"It's alright, it's all about talent. But you've given me some inspiration. Just tell me more jokes to cheer you up and help you forget your troubles, and you'll achieve the same effect."

Si Ming stroked his chin, pondering, "Let me tell you a joke, let me think... In the beginning, before the Human Race was born, the world was lifeless and desolate. So Nüwa decided to create humans, using yellow earth and water to create little clay figures in her own image."

Wan Ziling was a little confused. Wasn't the plan to tell jokes? How did it turn into telling mythological stories?

"Because Nüwa was laughing while molding clay, Fuxi became suspicious and asked her what was wrong. Nüwa replied, 'The most important thing for a person is to be happy.'"

"... Are you done talking?"

"That's all."

Wan Ziling frowned and said in a very troubled tone, "This joke is quite funny, and I can tell you put a lot of effort into it, but perhaps because of different customs and cultures, I didn't quite understand it."

"I see. Using ancient mythology as a background is still Spring Snow. We need to find something more Songs of the Rustic Folk... I've got it! My sister-in-law wanted my brother-in-law to stay at her house, but he didn't want to. She insisted, and he finally said, 'Sister-in-law, I can't take it anymore.'"

"... That's it?"

"That's all."

Wan Ziling forced a smile with a conflicted expression, and said dryly, "Ha, haha..."

Si Ming hurriedly said, "It seems that Songs of the Rustic Folk won't work. Then I'll try something more relatable, a story from our daily lives. One day, Abbot Fahong of Glazed Temple tested his disciples. He took out a cup and asked them to think of a way to make it bigger. The disciples thought for a long time but couldn't come up with anything. Fahong angrily rebuked them, saying, 'You can't carve rotten wood! Just recite the Great Compassion Mantra!'"

Before Wan Ziling could react, Liu Qingqing punched Si Ming and said, "Stop telling lame jokes."

Si Ming protested, "How can this be called a lame joke? It's down-to-earth, full of double entendres, and appeals to both refined and popular tastes. It's a top-notch joke that could make you laugh for a year. A real lame joke should be like, 'A piece of candy was walking in the snow and ice and felt so cold that it turned into rock candy.' That's a real lame joke."

Liu Qingqing retorted without giving him any face, "The pot calling the kettle black."

"Then you do one."

Liu Qingqing didn't mince words. "On the journey to the West, Sun Wukong taught Zhu Bajie lesson. You idiot, monsters have come knocking on our door. Why are you still looking for a joke?"

"... To make me become Zhu Bajie, you're willing to turn yourself into Monkey. You really are a lose-lose situation."

The two were bickering when a chuckle came from the side. Turning around, they saw Wan Ziling covering her mouth with her hand, her body trembling, and occasionally making soft moaning sounds.

Success! Si Ming gave Liu Qingqing a "good teamwork" gesture.

After a moment, Wan Ziling stopped laughing. She looked at Si Ming and slowly said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, it's my pleasure."

Wan Ziling shook her head and said, "It's not just this matter, but also saving the Evil-Slaying Sword School, and last time when I became a vengeful ghost inside the Corpse Kun's belly, it was you who saved me."

"The person who saved you was that Miss Duanmu."

"I know she only saved me because of you, and before she did, you stopped me from getting worse. Also, there's the matter of killing the Beast King Anye, which has nothing to do with you, yet you've been working tirelessly for it."

Si Ming shook his head and said, "Even without you, I would have to deal with the Beast King Anye sooner or later. I'm not so desperate as to make such a life-or-death decision based on someone else's orders. If I'm unwilling, no amount of advice will change anything."

"Anyway, thank you. I know I'm a difficult person to get along with, and because of my own stubbornness, I haven't been able to thank you. And all this time, you've been so accommodating to me..."

"Stop! What you're saying sounds like a dying man's last words. People say good things when they're about to die, so don't plant any unnecessary foreshadowing." Si Ming quickly stopped the other party from planting the flag.

Wan Ziling was silent for a moment, then said, "Actually, you don't have to care about me. It doesn't matter if my wish isn't fulfilled. You yourself said that you will deal with the Beast King Anye sooner or later, so there's nothing I can't let go of. You can wait until you are more confident before you eliminate the Beast King Anye."

"Hey, stop being so considerate and accommodating. This isn't your usual persona. Quickly revert to the awkward and aloof Wan Ziling. Are you trying to make my separation even more painful by constantly raising my affection level?"

Wan Ziling smiled and said nothing more.

Si Ming asked, "Do you have any other wishes besides slaying the Beast King Anye?"

"... That's all. The Evil-Slaying Sword School has escaped danger and weathered the calamity. My younger brother advanced to Grandmaster without my knowledge. Although he is still not mature enough, he can protect himself in the martial world. I have no more worries."