FCRCG Chapter 28

The rabbit head squatted on Nan Deng’s head, silently looking toward Lian Yi.

He stood in the darkness, watching Nan Deng leave.

The surrounding evil energy was too heavy, completely masking Nan Deng’s faint presence as he and Ren Shi disappeared completely from sight.

Turning around, Lian Yi was stunned by the sight of a large group of Celestial Masters arriving outside the motel.

There were a tremendous number of ghosts on the ground, far more than they had seen even when Hui Shou appeared. They had never seen so many ghosts gathered together.

Lian Yi stood motionless in the center, rain soaking his entire body, his gaze lowered to the Bagua ring spinning continuously in his palm.

Weng Ping Ran stared at Lian Yi intently, instructing his subordinates to capture all the ghosts on the ground in clay pots. The remaining Celestial Masters surrounded Lian Yi in a tight circle.

Lian Yi was the Chief Celestial Master, exceptionally powerful. Weng Ping Ran had brought almost all the available forces and even borrowed some from neighboring districts.

Fortunately, the ghosts on the ground had been severely weakened by spiritual arts, almost immobilized. Their only concern now was Lian Yi.

Weng Ping Ran’s voice was cold. “What have you done?”

Lian Yi’s tone remained indifferent. “As you can see.”

Before Weng Ping Ran arrived, there had been no other Celestial Master here. The ghosts could only have been subdued by him.

The sheer number of ghosts was something few could handle, but Lian Yi was different.

Weng Ping Ran frowned deeply and pressed on. “Where did all these ghosts come from? How did they suddenly gather like this?”

Other than following the Ghost King, ghosts rarely mobilized in such large numbers simultaneously. The compass had not detected any concentration of malevolent energy equivalent to that of the Ghost King.

Lian Yi lifted his eyes, his black-gray heterochromatic eyes fixed on Weng Ping Ran. “I would like to know that too. Why don’t you tell me?”

The rain gradually stopped, and the severely injured ghosts were quickly cleaned up. A large area cleared around Lian Yi, and no one dared to approach him.

Weng Ping Ran met his gaze and raised the communicator in his hand. “The Inner Court has issued new orders suspecting your involvement in the recent plague. They want to conduct a thorough investigation.”

He paused briefly before continuing, “You’ve already disobeyed the Inner Court’s orders by leaving your post. Come back with us immediately, and perhaps you can still avoid severe punishment.”

“An investigation?” Lian Yi’s expression remained indifferent. “So pursuing these ghosts here counts as leaving my post?”

Weng Ping Ran fell silent. Regardless of the credibility of Lian Yi’s words, they had all witnessed what had just happened.

He ignored the latter part of Lian Yi’s statement and said in a low voice, “You are suspected of maliciously spreading the plague. Additionally, Elder Gu Xu believes you are related to Zhuo Qing’s disappearance and wishes to question you personally.”

“Suspected? So there hasn’t been a conviction yet.”

Lian Yi’s lips curled mockingly, and he slightly raised his right hand. The suspended Bagua ring froze for a moment and then shot out at extreme speed.

Before the surrounding Celestial Masters could react, the Bagua ring was already in front of Weng Ping Ran, angled towards his throat.

A tense atmosphere filled the air as someone loudly exclaimed, “You dare to openly attack an elder!”

Ignoring the alarmed voices, Lian Yi tightened his raised right hand slightly.

Weng Ping Ran immediately showed signs of being choked. Unable to speak coherently, his face turned red from the struggle to breathe.

Lian Yi watched him weakly struggle, a hint of hostility in his tone. “If I wanted to kill, why go through all this trouble?”

“As for Zhuo Qing,” veins bulged on the back of his hand as the Bagua ring hummed loudly, “he’s my teacher. Why would I want to kill him?”

In the next instant, Lian Yi released his grip.

Weng Ping Ran, released from his restraint, nearly collapsed to the ground, supported by his subordinates as he bent over, coughing.

Everyone dared not make any sudden movements. Lian Yi had single-handedly dealt with so many ghosts and almost killed Weng Ping Ran. Combined, the people present were likely no match for him.

Lian Yi recalled the Bagua ring, his gaze lowered to conceal the intense pain in his heart.

He did not linger any longer and turned to leave.

Weng Ping Ran lifted his head, watching Lian Yi’s departing figure with wide eyes.

His subordinates anxiously asked, “Elder, what should we do now?”

Lian Yi’s strength was terrifying; no one dared to approach to stop him.

Weng Ping Ran took a deep breath several times. “Let it go.”

He had just been unexpectedly controlled by Lian Yi, feeling death looming over him, which inevitably brought fear to his heart.

Lian Yi clearly showed no intention of going back with them. If they provoked him further, who knew what consequences it might lead to…

Moreover, his recent actions indirectly suggested to Weng Ping Ran that the plague was not related to him.

And Zhuo Qing… Weng Ping Ran sighed silently, feeling conflicted.

Lian Yi’s final words seemed to ask, “Don’t you know the real reason why I killed Zhuo Qing?”

Zhuo Qing was his teacher. If there was still any sense of mentorship left, who would willingly bear the accusation and consequences of killing their master?

Considering the pros and cons, Weng Ping Ran decided to return first, carefully investigate the source of the plague and the reasons for the gathering of so many ghosts in this place.

“Are we just going to let him go like this?” His subordinate was still unwilling. “What if he harms someone again?”

Weng Ping Ran remained silent, offering no explanation.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to intervene, but rather that he couldn’t control the situation. He also didn’t know if the restrictions placed by Zhuo Qing would still be effective.

Even after Lian Yi’s death, it would still be a major problem. If he completely lost control… it could only mean that calamity was inevitable in this world, utterly unavoidable.

“Remove his position as Chief, demote him to Junior, and the rest…” Weng Ping Ran shook his head. “Let whoever wants to catch him go ahead.”

He instructed a small team to stay behind for cleanup and to reassure the frightened residents of the motel, while the others returned.

In his residence, Gu Xu, nursing his injuries, learned of the mission’s failure and squeezed his communicator until it warped.

Suppressing his anger, he borrowed a subordinate’s communicator to contact Xie Yun.

The communicator waited for a long time without being answered.

Inside the underground passage, the fog-shrouded specter pounded against the stone wall in a frenzy. “I will kill him… kill him!”

He had lost one puppet and suffered heavy injuries, and too much time had passed; he could no longer detect the scent of the filthy head.

Tonight was supposed to be a perfect opportunity. Weng Ping Ran led people to pursue Lian Yi. As long as Lian Yi separated from the filthy head, the resentful spirits could easily find it along with the Mountain God.

But the plan was completely disrupted. They hadn’t even caught sight of the filthy head, achieving nothing.

“There will be other chances,” the voice from the disk remained calm. “Just a few resentful spirits lost. We’ll catch more.”

The fog-shrouded specter finally calmed down and spoke intermittently, “We need to devour him… devour his soul.”

“I share the same intention. He is the biggest obstacle,” the disk flickered slightly. “The filthy head has been hiding, so timid. It probably hasn’t fully recovered its strength yet.”

First, it hid in Yezhang Tower, then it chose to hide near Lian Yi.

If the tower hadn’t collapsed, he wouldn’t have missed such a place all those years ago.

“It’s somewhat clever,” the hoarse voice chuckled coldly, “but it can’t hide forever.”

The Mountain God, locked in the tower and never coming out, no matter how long it survives, can only be a ghost.

—

Nan Deng followed Ren Shi all the way forward, away from the area near the motel where there were more patrolling celestial masters.

But he noticed that when the celestial masters saw Ren Shi, they would consciously retreat and avoid it, which allowed Nan Deng to quietly come out without being seen by anyone.

Nan Deng was very curious, realizing that the true identity of the “little fairy” was not simple.

It could easily repel the resentful spirits, and even the celestial masters seemed “afraid” of it. Could it be…

Nan Deng racked his brains but couldn’t make sense of it. In his understanding, there was no such creature as an “earth spirit.”

But regardless of what the “little fairy” was, since their first meeting, he could feel its friendliness and goodwill.

Somehow, Nan Deng thought of Lian Yi again.

As a Celestial Master and a very powerful one at that, Lian Yi had never harmed him.

Upon closer reflection, there were actually quite a few doubts.

Deceived for so long, Nan Deng wondered, should he be angry?

Maybe… he should listen to Lian Yi’s explanation first. If he could accept it, then he wouldn’t be angry.

But Nan Deng wasn’t sure if, when he saw Lian Yi again, their relationship would be the same as before.

Even if he got angry, would Lian Yi explain? He was such a powerful Celestial Master; he could just arrest Nan Deng directly.

Their statuses and strengths were unequal. Before this, Nan Deng couldn’t believe that a Celestial Master would be willing to be friends with a ghost.

He had even bitten Lian Yi…

No, Lian Yi had actually let him bite.

Nan Deng felt conflicted and confused. He felt both fear and timidity because of Lian Yi’s identity. Yet, he couldn’t help but want to see him again.

With so many ghosts here tonight, could he get hurt…

Before leaving, Lian Yi stood still, watching him.

Nan Deng could feel his gaze. But when he turned back, he couldn’t see that intersection anymore.

Lost in his thoughts, Nan Deng saw Ren Shi ahead come to a stop.

Ren Shi turned back and waved the long sword, signaling to follow.

Looking around, Nan Deng found himself in an abandoned courtyard, overgrown with thick vines and various plants covering walls and ground alike.

In the center of the courtyard stood a small green house woven entirely from plants.

Ren Shi guided him inside, where the light bulbs automatically flickered on.

The room was tiny; Nan Deng almost grazed the ceiling standing inside.

In the room, there was a large low bed draped with soft cotton cloth. A black cat lay curled up on it, lifting its head at the sound of movement.

Spotting Nan Deng, the cat became visibly excited, meowing and attempting to get up to greet him.

Its voice was weak, and it bore several wounds that looked like they had been treated already.

Nan Deng quickly crouched down to gently hug the black cat, concerned. “How did this happen?”

His guess was right; Ren Shi had indeed brought him to see Hei Mao. But Nan Deng wasn’t sure how to help.

Hesitating, Nan Deng considered seeking help from the celestial master outside and quietly placed Hei Mao on the roadside where they could see it.

At that moment, Hei Mao struggled to nestle itself into his embrace, whimpering as it licked its front paw.

There was a wound on its paw. As Nan Deng gently touched it, the wound emitted a faint glow, showing signs of rapid healing.

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