Ghost

Ye Wuyou did not think the choice was much of a problem.

Both cells were empty anyway, so he could just pick one and go in.

Once the two aberrations outside broke their stalemate, unless one of them was completely gone, Ye Wuyou figured the Mute Woman and the Legless Man would both come looking for him again.

If the Mute Woman could enter his cell, that would mean it belonged to her. If she could not, then it did not.

If neither the Mute Woman nor the Legless Man could enter, that would mean he had chosen the cell of some other, unknown aberration.

But its aberration was absent. Surely an aberration that had escaped its cage would not be too eager to return?

Just like a prisoner who had finally escaped his cell during the chaos in the Heavenly Prison-would he willingly go back for no reason?

And so, carrying Lu Caiwei, Ye Wuyou chose the nearer cell.

Beside this cell was the one holding Wooden Stake, though there was still plenty of distance between them.

He carried Lu Caiwei inside and closed the door. The pressure from the two aberrations outside immediately dissipated.

He had no idea what divine ability or spell had been cast on this cell, but the space he could see after entering was much larger than it appeared from outside.

It was over thirty feet long and wide, and nearly twenty feet high.

What a wondrous spell.

In the corridor, the stalemate between the Mute Woman and the Legless Man continued.

One stared with hollow, gray-white eyes, while the other tossed her long hair.

Both aberrations were motionless now, as though their systems had frozen.

Ye Wuyou glanced at them, then withdrew his gaze and looked at Lu Caiwei.

The young woman's legs were still there, but she could no longer stand. She sat on the floor, her eyes vacant in her icy face.

Ye Wuyou crouched down and glanced sideways at the shadow in the corner.

A shadow without legs.

After a moment's thought, Ye Wuyou crouched in front of her and waved a hand before her eyes. When she did not respond, he patted her cheek.

At last, a little focus returned to the young woman's eyes, and she looked at Ye Wuyou.

"I'll help you get your legs back." Ye Wuyou offered no words of comfort, only that earnest statement.

Then he pointed outside the cell, toward the Legless Man.

"The Legless Man is right outside. Once they've both battered each other, I'll make my move."

Lu Caiwei followed the direction of his finger. Of course, she could not see anything, and could only vaguely make things out through her senses as a cultivator.

Only after a long while did she nod faintly. Her lips parted, but she seemed unsure what to say.

"Th... thank you."

After saying that, the young woman turned her head away, seemingly conflicted, then spoke again.

"Y-you-you saved me. I-I-I don't know what I can do to th-th-thank you."

Ye Wuyou raised an eyebrow. What's the big deal? If Lu Caiwei hadn't been watching over me these past few days, I'd have died ages ago.

Never mind anything else-without the water and food from her storage ring, he would have starved to death.

Xia Anmeng's voice rose from deep within him.

"This disciple of mine may look dim, and she isn't particularly clever in reality either, but she has a proud streak in her bones. She doesn't like owing people favors."

"But she saved me before, too." Ye Wuyou felt her reasoning was off. Was she trying to get him to ask for something?

Well, I won't.

Men and women are equal, aren't they? I'm not going to live off a woman.

Xia Anmeng fell silent for a moment before sighing and speaking leisurely.

"She saved you... only because she believes it's natural for the strong to help the weak when it's no trouble to them. Of course, my disciple doesn't look down on you."

Ye Wuyou's expression froze briefly.

"Of course, that's only what my disciple thinks. If you do manage to get out alive, don't assume everyone thinks that way. I'd hate for that to get you hurt," Xia Anmeng warned.

Ye Wuyou smiled. Naturally, he knew that.

In this world of cultivation, where individuals could wield tremendous power, perhaps most people believed the strong were meant to grind the weak beneath their heels?

Heaven has brought the spoon right to my mouth. Wouldn't refusing to eat be failing to appreciate its kindness?

Fuck it. I'll eat!

So he looked at Lu Caiwei, who wore a conflicted expression with her head slightly lowered, and after thinking for a moment, spoke.

"Lu Caiwei, if you feel bad about it, then promise to grant me one request after we get out."

"And that includes getting this leg of yours back." Ye Wuyou pointed at Lu Caiwei's legs.

"It... it's t-two legs," Lu Caiwei said quietly, then added,

"Wh-what r-r-request?"

Ye Wuyou waved a hand. "Haven't thought of one. I'll tell you once we're out and I've come up with something."

Lu Caiwei murmured an acknowledgment and lifted her head slightly, her expression seeming a little more relaxed.

She looked at Ye Wuyou and was about to speak, but suddenly froze.

The next second, a tremendous force swept Lu Caiwei up, carrying her straight to the other end of the cell and suspending her in midair.

As though something had grabbed her.

The sudden change sent Ye Wuyou springing to his feet. He snatched up Lu Caiwei's Sword from the floor, his energy bursting forth.

There's another aberration in this cell?

But how could I not see it???

[Even the most meticulous plans have an overlooked flaw. To think it was an Invisible Aberration! Even you, whose bare fists are unmatched beneath heaven and can suppress an entire age, could only voice such an exclamation now. But no matter-it is not too late. Having realized all this, you will be able to discern its movements.]

Spectral, deep-blue arms gradually solidified in Ye Wuyou's vision. Just as the damned narrator had said, he seemed able to see it now.

Before him was a blue creature occupying almost half the cell.

The aberration had no body, but possessed a distorted human face. Countless deep-blue arms extended from beneath it, and at that moment, they were holding Lu Caiwei.

So it was not that the cell had no aberration, nor that its aberration had left.

This aberration had been here all along, even patiently watching them chat.

But it could not be observed!

Just like a ghost!

"Let her go! Come at me if you've got the guts!" Ye Wuyou roared, sword in hand.

She was his meal ticket! He had only just decided to live off her, and he had not even had his first bite!

Ghost seemed to hear Ye Wuyou's words. The blue face swayed, and Lu Caiwei, whom Ghost had only just caught, was casually tossed aside. Then countless large blue hands reached for Ye Wuyou.

Holy shit.

You're actually coming!

Despite that, Ye Wuyou still raised his sword and met the attack.

Sword Rises with Wind and Thunder! Wind and Thunder! Wind and Thunder!

Three consecutive uses of Sword Rises with Wind and Thunder severed dozens of blue arms-and brought Xia Anmeng's slightly hurried voice.

"What happened... I can't sense anything. Stop using that move over and over. I don't have enough soul power for you to burn through it like this."

Ye Wuyou turned a deaf ear.

Xia Anmeng could not sense it, but Ye Wuyou could see it perfectly clearly.

The blue arms were endless. Even after he had cut off dozens, plenty still remained.

As for why he kept using that move...

It was the only move Ye Wuyou knew!

Before long, after another two uses of Sword Rises with Wind and Thunder, the endless blue arms wrapped around Ye Wuyou and bound him tightly.

Ghost wants to eat me!

This ghostly aberration was clearly different from the others.

Unlike the Legless Man, who only stole people's legs, or the Mute Woman, who only lusted after his body.

Ghost truly could inflict harm.