Yamen Has Ghosts

Yang He finished up just as a cacophony of noise echoed in from all directions.

Several street patrol constables were already hurrying over with torches in hand.

"Song Zhi caused quite a commotion earlier. We can only believe half of what he said. He was probably eating more than ghosts—he ate people too."

"Looks like I can't keep the Hungry Ghost's Intestines. Exchange it for Spiritual Vision."

Yang He did not hesitate. The intestines in his hand vanished into nothingness.

Spiritual Vision: 14.6 points

He did not dare underestimate the authorities. Any wishful thinking could very well lead them to trace things back to him. Besides, Hungry Ghosts were everywhere in the Main World.

If he needed it, he could find another way to obtain one—for example, Jin Song from Blackwater Hall.

Jin Song would surely starve to death within half a year. The Hungry Ghost inside him should not be hard to deal with.

"Let's go. I can't muddle through the next Lore World."

Yang He did not summon the Pupil Ghost, lest it leave behind Yin energy. Using Spiritual Vision, he threaded through streets and alleys, evading the patrolling constables.

By the time he returned home, the morning sun was already rising over the horizon.

Yang He shut the wooden door to his side room and leaned crookedly against the wall, gasping for breath.

Only then did he realize how badly injured he was. Several pale wounds stretched across his chest, while his right arm was swollen and continuously leaking blood.

Fortunately, the Yin energy that had entered his body had completely dispersed.

"Compared to Lore Worlds where you die at every turn, the Main World really is... fragile."

Yang He wrapped his wounds simply. He did not even need to pretend to be sick. As soon as he lay down on the bed, sleepiness overcame him, and he soon fell into a deep slumber.

The Pupil Ghost stirred slightly, but it did not take advantage of Yang He's weakness to backlash against him.

Yin energy circulated once through his meridians, suppressing his injuries and preventing them from worsening.

Half-asleep, Yang He heard Old Man Yang leave at first light. He called out that he had left several steamed buns on the kitchen stove.

In the Condensing three days, Yang He barely left his side room.

Old Man Yang was busy with the yamen's business, leaving early and returning late every day. Still, he never forgot his youngest son's meals, always placing food on the stove when the time came.

Yang He was more than happy with that arrangement.

Aside from forcing himself to exchange a few pleasantries with Old Man Yang at the beginning, he devoted the rest of his time to recuperating and tempering his state of mind.

There was no helping it. Since he could not stop himself from falling deep into the Eighteen Layers of Hell, he could only avoid danger as best he could.

Yang He had to grow accustomed to the ghosts and monsters lurking around him.

Gradually, his expression became increasingly unruffled. Even while lying flat on his bed, a Human-Faced Ghost shaped like a lizard was causing mischief on the ceiling.

"Look at me!"

"Look at me!!"

Only after a long while did the Human-Faced Ghost crawl out of the side room in boredom.

Yang He toyed with a lotus seed in his hand. The shriveled seed had regained a trace of vitality. It would likely replenish a use in another six or seven days.

Ghost Lotus: 1/3 (43%)

"Entering and exiting Lore World about once every ten days—not too often, not too infrequent."

Yang He quietly considered what he would need for his third Lore World. Compared to his inexplicable deaths in the first two, he had to be cautious this time.

Before he knew it, the crowing of roosters sounded on the morning of the fourth day.

Cock-a-doodle-doo~~

Yang He tucked the lotus seed into his clothes, feeling that his injuries had nearly healed.

There was no visible abnormality on the surface of his right arm, though it was still somewhat stiff. His other wounds had scabbed over and healed one after another, while his three Yang Fires had returned to their peak.

Although the Pupil Ghost had yet to awaken, his constitution had already changed.

Yang He recovered from injuries far faster than before, yet his need for food had decreased. An otherworldly aura now clung to his entire body.

It was as if, just as the Spiritual Vision information described, he had become a so-called Qi Cultivator.

"Time to visit the market and buy some living creatures to test in the Lore World."

Yang He stepped out of the side room. The spring breeze blowing toward him already carried a hint of warmth.

He frowned slightly when he noticed that the shelves in the courtyard were completely empty. "Strange. The old man doesn't seem to have bought any fresh vegetables lately."

"Could it have something to do with them? I'll ask the old man later."

Yang He looked up at Wenqu Star Lord and confirmed that Old Master Bigan was still in robust health before turning to lock the door and leave.

The earthen house was not far from the market. Before long, noise and clamor filled his ears.

Perhaps it was only an illusion.

Yang He seemed to catch a lingering fishy stench, yet he could not find its source. Perhaps it came from the fish innards scattered throughout the market.

He entered the street, and the thick bustle of everyday life washed over him.

Children gathered around a stall selling meat buns, clutching copper coins as they waited for the steamers to open.

Tea house attendants eagerly courted customers with introductions to new teas, while street performers put on acrobatic acts outside, drawing repeated cheers from onlookers.

The vendors all noticed Yang He and warmly greeted him.

Yang He did not stop. Perhaps he would have been interested a few days ago.

But now...

His mind was filled with ghosts and monsters.

With a clear goal in mind, Yang He bought herbs in bulk. He purchased three or four jin of Lemongrass alone, along with all sorts of wild medicinal herbs.

Lemongrass

When burned, it could disperse Yin energy. When consumed, it could slightly bolster Yang Fire.

All the herbs served the same purpose: they could stimulate a surge of Yang energy for a short time.

He deliberately avoided touching any strange objects. Ordinary medicinal herbs were sufficient on one hand, and on the other, he did not want anyone to notice anything unusual.

Yang He spent nearly all his silver, then headed to a corner of the market.

This area was specifically set aside for vendors selling livestock.

After wandering around for a while, he ended up with a four-year-old rooster in hand.

He also spent a hefty sum on dozens of venomous insects.

"Unfortunately, there aren't any pure black village dogs. I hear they can ward off evil too."

Yang He stopped before a stall. The vendor was a woman in her early forties, carrying a basket of tabby cats as she timidly called out to passersby.

"Ma'am, do you have any cats with completely black fur?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The woman hurriedly opened the bamboo basket and found a pure black tabby kitten that had been weaned for two or three months.

"Please, have a look..."

Yang He took it and used Spiritual Vision to reveal the black cat's information.

Tabby Cat

Because of its pure black fur, the tabby cat could sense danger coming from ghosts.

Yang He smiled. The black cat seemed able to sense the Pupil Ghost's aura. Trembling violently, it exposed its belly and did not dare make the slightest move.

"I'll take it."

"Even if I can't bring it into the Lore World, it'll be useful for catching mice at home."

Yang He asked, "Ma'am, how many copper coins for the tabby cat?"

The woman hesitated before asking, "Are you... are you Constable Yang's son?"

"Constable? No, my father, Yang San, is a vegetable merchant in Peibai."

"Yang San, that's right. Your father usually looks after us. This cat isn't worth more than a few copper coins. Take it. Consider it repayment for his kindness."

Yang He was startled, overcome by an indescribable sense of unease.

The Pupil Ghost became active.

The woman pointed toward the end of the street. "Isn't that Constable Yang San right there? You two look alike. This old woman recognized it at a glance."

Yang He turned to look, only to see two constables walking down the road.

One was Zhang Huayue, while the other was unexpectedly Old Man Yang.

A sharp pain stabbed through Yang He's head. His memories of Old Man Yang being a vegetable merchant became blurred, and he began to feel that his father truly was a constable.

At that moment, the Pupil Ghost opened in his palm.

"Gah..."

The black cat curled up in fright and froze. Yang He gripped the Copper-Coin Sword against his chest.

Even wrapped in strips of cloth, the Copper-Coin Sword still transmitted bone-piercing coldness, dispelling the inexplicable false memories in his mind.

"There are ghosts in the yamen!!!"