Back to White Cloud Temple

Back to White Cloud Temple

"That scared the life out of me!"

Back in the modern world, Lu Zheng patted his chest and let out several long breaths.

"Sunset at dusk, ghosts come out to roam?"

He took off his wig and ancient clothes, changed into modern attire, and, once neatly dressed, prepared to head out for a stroll.

To calm his nerves! "Zhao Si, are you free to come out? What? Watching a movie with your wife, and it's about to start?"

"Lao Tong? Working overtime? Then forget it..."

"Little Lei Zi, you can't be busy too, right? You went home for summer vacation?"

After hanging up, Lu Zheng found that all three of his roommates were unavailable. What a pain in the ass...

As for his other classmates, they did not seem close enough for him to invite them out for idle chatter.

Without friends to keep him company, there was naturally another way to relieve stress.

This method of stress relief was exhilarating and stimulating, leaving one feeling good all over. After a round of it, one would feel thoroughly satisfied, as if they had fought a great battle, their whole body limp and sore, wanting only to sleep.

So...

Lu Zheng found a legitimate, high-end massage parlor and hired a professional master masseur to give him a full-body massage from head to toe.

After returning home and washing up, he lay down on his bed and fell asleep immediately. He slept sweetly and deeply, without a single dream.

Early the next morning, Lu Zheng felt refreshed from head to toe and full of vigor.

He could even use the Light of Luck again to increase his physical attributes.

"What? Massages can also improve my body's adaptability?"

Life was always capable of bringing surprises. Lu Zheng had never imagined that he could actively shorten this adaptation cooldown period.

"Still, no rush to increase my physical attributes. I need to visit White Cloud Temple again first!"

He had encountered a ghost last night. Well, he still did not know whether it had truly been a ghost, but he still had to make another trip to White Cloud Temple today.

No matter what, he had to obtain some means of protecting himself. Heaven knew whether that thing had set its sights on him.

It was already broad daylight. Those evil entities probably could not come out during the day, right? That thing yesterday had appeared at dusk as well.

Thus, Lu Zheng put on his stab-resistant vest again, took his stun baton, and crossed over cautiously.

"Mm, nothing has changed..."

Lu Zheng looked around, then lifted his pillow and picked up the yellow talisman, exactly as it had been when he placed it there yesterday.

"That thing didn't come last night," Lu Zheng muttered to himself as he pushed open the door. "Uncle Li!"

"Young Master!"

Uncle Li appeared with two dark circles under his eyes. It seemed he had not slept well last night either.

"Let's go. To White Cloud Temple!"

"Huh? We're going again?" Uncle Li could not help but jump in fright. They had encountered a strange creature on their way back after going there yesterday. Instead of hiding safely at home today, why were they going again?

"If we don't go to White Cloud Temple, how are we supposed to deal with that ghostly creature?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Didn't we already avoid it?"

"How do you know we avoided it? We've already come face-to-face with it. What if it comes to our door someday? Aren't you afraid?" Lu Zheng countered.

At the thought of a ghostly creature coming to their door, Uncle Li's face immediately turned pale and his lips went blue. "I-I-I-I... I'm afraid."

"Then hurry up and go. It's bright daylight—would a ghostly creature come out in the daytime?"

"It... probably wouldn't?"

How could Uncle Li know the traits of ghostly creatures? Common knowledge did not mention their weaknesses. Usually, when people encountered a ghostly creature, they were simply dead.

So they took several steamed buns Aunt Liu had made, along with some preserved meat stored at home, and Uncle Li and Lu Zheng returned to the carriage and horse depot.

Zhang Laoshi's cart had already been rented out early in the morning. The two changed to another cart today and hurried out of the city once more.

"Two trips to White Cloud Temple in two days?"

The proprietor of the carriage and horse depot looked in the direction the donkey cart had departed, his face full of sympathy. "Something must have happened to them..."

White Cloud Temple.

Daoist Priest Mingzhang looked at the paper talisman in his hand, his expression solemn.

"The Peace Talisman keeps one safe. When that Corpse Ghoul had not revealed any malice toward you, the Peace Talisman would not display any unusual sign."

Daoist Priest Mingzhang explained, "But when that Corpse Ghoul spoke and called to you, it had developed malicious intent toward you, revealing its aura. That was why the Peace Talisman issued a warning."

"So that's how it is."

Lu Zheng nodded to show his understanding, then immediately said, "Please save my life, Daoist Priest!"

"Save your life from what?" Daoist Priest Mingzhang looked utterly baffled. "Didn't you already escape it?"

"It won't come looking for me again in the future?"

"Generally, it will not. Since you did not fall for its temptation, it will naturally tempt others instead," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said.

Generally, it would not...

Lu Zheng blinked. "Daoist Priest, won't you take action to subdue demons and vanquish evil?"

Daoist Priest Mingzhang shook his head with a smile. "That Corpse Ghoul's whereabouts are already obscure. Where would I go to find it?

"Besides, the Heavenly Dao follows its constants. Since a Corpse Ghoul has appeared, there is naturally a reason for it. Acting rashly would entangle one in great karma, and that is not the way of cultivation."

Put simply, he would not seek trouble unless it landed on his own doorstep; he would not seek trouble unless the reward outweighed the cost. Doing something in passing was fine, but there was no need to go out of his way. His own cultivation was what mattered most.

"Fine, then. Thank you, Daoist Priest, for clearing up my confusion. But what exactly is a Corpse Ghoul?" Lu Zheng asked again.

"A Corpse Ghoul is a ghostly creature formed after a person dies, their corpse decays but their soul does not disperse. Then, eroded by Nether Energy from the Netherworld, it transforms into an Evil Ghost that devours hearts and harms people in pursuit of rebirth."

"Devours hearts and harms people in pursuit of rebirth?"

Daoist Priest Mingzhang explained, "Corpse Ghouls are born from Nether Energy. Their forms are wicked and their appearances ugly. They generally exist in tombs and sinister, perilous places. This Corpse Ghoul clearly possesses the Painted Skin Technique, allowing it to mingle among humans and seek a substitute."

"The Painted Skin Technique? Seeking a substitute?"

"A Corpse Ghoul devours hearts to refine its body and paints skin with blood. In the end, its body and skin merge into one. With no more Corpse Qi or nether aura, it can transform into a living person and live another hundred years."

"Hiss!"

Isn't this just an upgraded version of Painted Skin? "What happens after a hundred years?"

"Of course, it dies a natural death without illness," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said as though it were only natural.

"It cannot cultivate into a Ghost Immortal?"

"Ghost Immortals are not so easily cultivated. One must possess a pure soul, reverse-refine essence, qi, and spirit, and finally gather Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy to transform into a human body. Ahem, ahem."

"In short, Young Master need not be afraid. The Great Jing Dynasty has ruled for hundreds of years, and Corpse Ghouls do not dare harm people at will," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said.

"The imperial court handles them? Or perhaps the City God?" Lu Zheng continued probing.

"The City God guards the Netherworld Bureaucracy. They are incense-fed ghostly gods established by the imperial court, but Corpse Ghouls do not fall under their jurisdiction," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said.

Well damn, Lu Zheng could only think, well damn. The City God had been established by the imperial court?

The waters of this world ran rather deep...

Feeling that he had said a little too much, Daoist Priest Mingzhang ended the topic. "Young Master is not a cultivator, so there is no need for you to understand these things. You need only return home and study peacefully to establish your career. With the Peace Talisman's warning, your safety can be ensured."

"But what if that Corpse Ghoul sets its sights on me again?" Lu Zheng asked.

"Then Young Master need only come to the temple. This poor Daoist will naturally take action," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said.

"But what if there isn't enough time? Does the Corpse Ghoul have any weaknesses? Is there any way for ordinary people to defend against it?"

"At its root, a Corpse Ghoul is still a corpse. Ordinary blades and sharp weapons can generally destroy it. It is merely that, having been invaded by Nether Energy, it is swift and immensely strong, making it difficult for ordinary people to withstand," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said. "If Young Master is worried, you may spend silver to hire guards and stock up on cudgels, blades, and spears. That will ensure your safety."

That could work too? "If you truly manage to kill a Corpse Ghoul, it would count as an act of merit as well," Daoist Priest Mingzhang said. "If a Corpse Ghoul dies, its Nether Energy will scatter in all directions. If ordinary people inhale it unintentionally, at best they will suffer a serious illness; at worst, it will damage their Lifespan. Remember this well, remember this well."

"So that's how it is. Thank you, Daoist Priest." Lu Zheng let out a long breath and asked his final question. "May I ask, Daoist Priest, does this Corpse Ghoul possess luck?"