CG - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The Han Family Head led Ghost Messenger Liu and Wu Gu to Han Yeshuang's room and knocked. The door was opened by a young man holding a Gold Coin Sword woven from black thread. The moment he saw the ghost messenger, he raised his sword defensively, blocking the doorway. "Dad," he said anxiously, "you can't let him take Yeshuang."

"Tianyang, don't be rude. Step aside. I have my own arrangements."

Eager to protect his sister, Han Tianyang glared and refused to budge an inch. It wasn't until Mrs. Han came over and pressed down on his sword arm that he was pulled aside. She whispered, "The little Daoist friend next to the ghost messenger has negotiated terms. As long as it's confirmed that Yeshuang's life force was stolen, they won't reap her soul tonight."

"Really?"

Mrs. Han slapped her son on the back of the head. "What kind of stupid question is that? What mother would lie to her son about her daughter's life? Now, come outside with me."

Wu Gu and Ghost Messenger Liu stood on opposite sides of the bed. The Han Yeshuang lying there had jet-black hair, but her face was gaunt and withered—the clear signs of someone whose life force had been forcibly drained. Wu Gu tilted her head. Although Han Yeshuang was thin and sallow, her features looked a little familiar. After a moment's thought, she remembered the kind female Tianshi in the haunted house who had told her where the memorial tablets had been thrown. It had to be the woman before her.

Ghost Messenger Liu said, "The little Tianshi and I will each inject spiritual power into her body to investigate. Once the results are clear, we must both honor our promise."

Wu Gu nodded. Forming a seal with her left hand, she placed the fingers of her right hand on Han Yeshuang's brow and channeled her spiritual power. Ghost Messenger Liu did the same. About a minute later, they both withdrew their hands at the same time and looked at each other with complex expressions. It was Ghost Messenger Liu who spoke first. "We will return and report this to our superiors at once."

The Han Family Head hurriedly said, "Thank you for your trouble, Ghost Messenger."

Outside the room, Ghost Messenger Wang was still lying on the floor, bound by the Soul-Piercing Bell. Ghost Messenger Liu turned to Wu Gu again. "Little Tianshi, if you would be so kind as to release my brother."

Wu Gu beckoned with her hand, and the Soul-Piercing Bell released Ghost Messenger Wang, returning to her. Wang scrambled up from the floor, stretched his arms, and looked at Liu. "Was her life force really drained by force?"

Liu's expression was grave as he nodded. "We should report this to our superiors immediately."

The Han Family Head quickly shouldered the responsibility. "Someone in the mortal realm is using evil arts to defy heaven and change fate, which goes against the Heavenly Dao. Our Han family will certainly investigate this matter with utmost diligence."

Ghost Messenger Wang also understood the severity of the situation. Before leaving, he said to Wu Gu, "Next time, remember to show me your family's other artifacts. Bye-bye." In the blink of an eye, he and Ghost Messenger Liu had vanished.

Wu Gu wrapped the Soul-Piercing Bell back around her waist. The Han Family Head and his wife approached to thank her. "If not for the little Daoist friend's help tonight, I'm afraid Yeshuang's soul would have already returned to the Underworld. In the future, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask."

"The Han family will never forget your great kindness, little Daoist friend. Tianyang, come here." Mrs. Han called her son over. "This little Daoist friend saved your sister. You should thank her first." After Han Tianyang did as he was told, she added, "You must also remember this debt. If the little Daoist friend ever asks for anything, no matter what it is, you are not to refuse."

The three members of the Han family thanked her profusely, leaving Wu Gu completely stunned. She didn't feel like she had helped with much of anything. Han Yeshuang was still lying in there, and it was uncertain if she would ever wake up. All she had done was delay the ghost messengers from reaping her soul.

Wei Jinzhi pulled Wu Gu into her arms and responded on her behalf. "Master Han, you're too kind. Wu Gu only did what her master taught her to do. She has a kind heart and was simply following her instincts to help." She then added, "Yeshuang is my friend. Now that her life hangs by a thread, if there is anything you need, Master Han, please don't hesitate to tell me as well."

The Han family saw the two of them downstairs. Only then did Wu Gu remember Song Yang. She turned to the Han Family Head and said, "Master Han, may I trouble you with something?"

"Please speak, little Daoist friend."

"There's a ghost I brought from school in the basement. Her name is Song Yang. She's good friends with Chang Yiqing, so she's very worried about her. I have to leave North City tomorrow, and I don't feel at ease leaving her at the school. Could she stay in the basement to keep Chang Yiqing company?"

The Han Family Head was taken aback for a moment, not expecting such a small request. He readily agreed. "Rest assured, little Daoist friend. She will be very safe here."

The group went down to the basement again. The moment Song Yang saw Wu Gu, she rushed over, still shaken. "You scared me to death! My legs are still weak. What was that thing upstairs?"

"Ghost messengers."

Song Yang shuddered. "Are they gone now?"

"They're gone," Wu Gu said. "This is Master Han. I've arranged it with him; you can stay here and keep Chang Yiqing company."

Song Yang threw her arms around her. "Oh, Gu Gu, you're the best."

Once everything was settled and Wu Gu had left with Wei Jinzhi, the Han family went to the basement together. In someone else's home, Song Yang looked the picture of honesty. The Han Family Head went to check on Chang Yiqing's soul and found that it was surprisingly solid. At first, he thought it was a trick of the dim light, but after a careful examination, he confirmed that her soul was indeed much more corporeal than before.

He asked, "Did the little Daoist friend treat Yiqing's injuries earlier?" Song Yang nodded. He added, "This little Daoist friend's cultivation is truly unfathomable."

Mrs. Han had also noticed that Chang Yiqing was different from before. "We wouldn't have been able to stop that ghost messenger on our own. Even with Tianyang, it would have just been one more person injured. But I saw that the little Daoist friend didn't lose any ground against that formidable Ghost Messenger Wang. To have such a level of cultivation at her age… you couldn't find a second person like her in all of North City."

Han Tianyang was skeptical. "Is she really that powerful?"

Song Yang was bursting with pride. "Wu Gu is super powerful! I heard from other ghosts that a Tianshi who can open a ghost gate to send us off directly has to be at least at the master level. But she's only twenty, and she can already do it."

Han Tianyang didn't believe it. "How is that possible? I've never even heard of her before."

Song Yang argued, "Why wouldn't it be possible? I saw it with my own eyes, okay? If I hadn't been unwilling to leave, she would have sent me on my way long ago."

Han Tianyang still couldn't accept it. Wu Gu was so much younger than him, yet her cultivation was so far beyond his he couldn't hope to catch up. He was considered one of the most outstanding talents among the younger generation of Tianshi. For this exceptionally gifted Wu Gu to suddenly appear out of nowhere was something he couldn't process right away.

Mrs. Han summarized, "Wu Xiaoyou may be young, but she is enthusiastic and kind, and not arrogant about her talents. I like her very much. When Yeshuang wakes up, I want her to spend more time with Wu Xiaoyou, to learn from her in both character and deeds." At the mention of her daughter, her voice choked with emotion again. "I just don't know if Yeshuang will ever wake up."

The three members of the Han family fell into a somber mood. Song Yang opened her mouth to speak several times before finally saying hesitantly, "She'll wake up." Her words made all three of them look at her. She mustered her courage, making her voice sound fuller and stronger. "Miss Han was injured at the same time as Yiqing. If Wu Gu could save Yiqing, she can definitely save Miss Han. Even if you don't believe in Wu Gu, you have to believe that Miss Han is blessed with great fortune!"

A smile appeared in Mrs. Han's eyes. "Alright. I'll take your auspicious words. Yeshuang will definitely wake up." She composed herself and said seriously, "While you're here keeping Yiqing company, if there's anything you need, just ask. While Wu Xiaoyou is away from North City, we will look after you for her."

"Thank you."

Wu Gu returned to the Changshan Villa and knocked on Sun Ting's door. Sun Ting opened it and asked, "Where have you been so late?"

"Daoist Sun, I just ran into ghost messengers at the Han residence trying to reap Miss Han's soul. Her life force was stolen to alter her fate. Was there anyone else who came out of the barrier in a bad state?"

Sun Ting recalled, "Everyone was scattered as soon as we entered the barrier. I only heard that Miss Han and a few other young people, like Zhou Mao, were sent to the hospital on their last breath. Hu Song and Lao Shan were just badly injured." He asked, "You just said Miss Han's life force was stolen, and you encountered ghost messengers reaping her soul?"

Wu Gu nodded. "It's so strange."

Sun Ting said, "Did you fight with the ghost messengers?" When she nodded, he asked again, "Did you win or lose?"

"I won."

Sun Ting knew her cultivation was profound, so he wasn't too surprised. "Fighting with an injured foot right after it healed… aren't you afraid of making it worse? That barrier was strange, but the higher-ups are paying more attention to it now. Don't overthink it. Go home and rest. Since the Underworld knows about this, they can't just sit by and do nothing." He then glanced at Wei Jinzhi and added casually, "You could have someone ask about Zhou Mao's situation."

As expected, Zhou Mao and the other young Tianshi had already had their souls reaped. Before they died, they too had the withered appearance of those whose life force had been drained. Wei Jinzhi wasn't able to see for herself, however. The hospital said that as soon as Zhou Mao died, his master had him sent for cremation. It was Wu Yong who managed to find a nurse who had cared for Zhou Mao and got a few details, but that was enough.

The next morning, it was time to set off for Wu Gu's hometown. Throughout the journey, Wu Gu was heavy with worry. Wei Jinzhi wrapped an arm around her, comforting her in a gentle voice. "Don't think about it. You'll find out when the time is right."

Wu Gu's brow was deeply furrowed. "Sister Wei, do you know about a Tianshi's intuition? I have a very strong, bad premonition." And that bad premonition seemed to be pointing, faintly, at herself.

Wei Jinzhi said, "Then do you know about my intuition? I believe you can handle everything perfectly."

Wu Gu buried her face in Wei Jinzhi's embrace and said in a muffled voice, "But if it's too dangerous, I'm so afraid I'll drag you into it."

Wei Jinzhi said, "Didn't you say that no matter what we encounter, we can't split up? Last time, I also felt it was dangerous and didn't want to involve you, but you refused to agree and even accused me. Put yourself in my shoes. If you were in danger, could I just stand by and do nothing?"

Wu Gu sighed. "What am I going to do? My only choice is to hurry up and learn all the techniques my master left me during the summer break."

"Your master must have taught you that more haste means less speed, and rushing will only get you half the results with twice the effort. Just pick a few useful ones to learn. Don't force it." Wu Gu fell silent, merely leaning against Wei Jinzhi and picking at the cuff of her sleeve.

Wu Gu's hometown was in the countryside of a central province, a place with many mountains. Once they left the highway, the road became a series of winding mountain paths. But the scenery outside the window was lovely. After navigating three consecutive bends, Wu Yong glanced away from the rearview mirror and said, "Eldest Miss, there's a car following us."

"How long has it been following?"

"Since the highway." Many cars travel the same route on the highway, so it wasn't strange. Wu Yong had noticed it then but couldn't be sure. It was only when it continued to follow them onto the mountain roads that he reported it to Wei Jinzhi.

Wu Gu shot up from Wei Jinzhi's embrace, her earlier worries clearly forgotten. "It's fine, I'm here," she said with an air of confidence. Back on her home turf, she suddenly became much more assertive. She rolled down the window, took out the Soul-Piercing Bell, and shook it three times toward the outside. After waiting for about ten minutes, a bird appeared, flapping its wings and struggling to chase the car from behind. She stretched her hand out the window, and the bird zipped over to land on her finger before coming into the car with her.

Once inside, the bird was incredibly excited, hopping up and down on Wu Gu. After pecking her cheek, it went for her hair. She pulled the bird down and said sternly, "You're messing up my hair. Quiet down for a second. I'm introducing you to new friends, so be polite." She extended her hand toward Wei Jinzhi. "Sister Wei, this is Pang Diao. Pang Diao, this is your Sister Wei." Then, she gestured toward the driver's seat. "That's Brother Xiao Wu." Pang Diao chirped twice, its call crisp and clear.

Wei Jinzhi recognized the species—a red-billed leiothrix, a well-known ornamental bird. She just couldn't understand why such a beautiful little bird would be given the name Pang Diao. She held out her hand, hoping Pang Diao would come to her. The bird, having gained spiritual awareness, understood her intent and immediately hopped over, chirping twice to express its delight.

Wu Gu took the frolicking Pang Diao back. "We have business to attend to," she said. She turned to look behind them with Pang Diao. There were two cars back there. She blinked, then turned back to ask Wu Yong, "Brother Xiao Wu, which car is following us?" Wu Yong gave her the license plate number. She said to Pang Diao, "The people in that car are bad guys who have been following us. Think of a way to stop them from following us anymore."

Pang Diao chirped twice and flew to the window, pecking at the glass. Wu Yong reacted quickly, using the central control system to lower the rear window. With a whoosh, Pang Diao flew out.

Wei Jinzhi and Wu Yong had their eyes opened. Choosing her words carefully, she asked, "Is Pang Diao a demon?"

"Not really. It's just gained spiritual awareness. I've raised it since it was little. Because it cultivated with me and my master, it's more spiritually attuned than ordinary birds."

"Why did you name it Pang Diao?" A red-billed leiothrix was no bigger than the palm of a hand. Wei Jinzhi felt the name, which meant "Fat Eagle," was a complete mismatch.

A nine-year-old Wu Gu had rescued Pang Diao from a river in the winter. At the time, Pang Diao was frozen stiff. She had warmed it with her body heat and run back to have her master treat it. It was a stroke of luck that Pang Diao survived. After raising it for two months, she released it, but to her surprise, Pang Diao flew in a circle and ended up landing in a tree in their yard. Her master said that if Pang Diao intended to stay, they should let it. And so, Pang Diao had lived in that tree ever since.

As for why it was named Pang Diao, first, it was indeed fat. Wu Gu had fed it until it looked like a little ball. As for the "Diao" part, it was because a young Wu Gu felt that among all birds, eagles were the most majestic. Thus, the name Pang Diao was born. Of course, she wasn't about to reveal such a childish story to Wei Jinzhi, so she said offhandedly, "My master named it. Who knows what he was thinking."

Seeing her reaction, Wei Jinzhi pressed her lips together, her eyes filled with a hidden smile. She knew Wu Gu was fibbing but didn't expose her. When Wu Gu looked back, her gaze was captured by Wei Jinzhi's warm smile. A gently smiling Wei Jinzhi was like the sky outside—bright and dazzling.

Previous Table of Contents Next