CG - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The next day, as the sky brightened, Wu Gu opened her eyes. She tiptoed to the head of the bed, reached behind the headboard, and pulled out a paper talisman. Two-thirds of it, from the top down, was burned away. No wonder it warded off evil outside the courtyard but summoned ghosts inside. So, this Master Ma was raising ghosts. She narrowed her eyes at the still-sleeping Wei Jinzhi, put the small piece of the talisman away, and decided not to tell her for now. After doing this, she tiptoed back to the foot of the bed and sat down again.
When Wei Jinzhi woke up, she saw the Little Tianshi maintaining the exact same posture as last night, completely still. A sense of admiration filled her eyes; she, at least, could never do that. She called out softly, "Wu Gu."
The eyeballs under Wu Gu's eyelids moved. She opened her eyes, her expression clear. "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No."
"I saw an alchemy room in the courtyard yesterday. You should ask Master Ma for some restorative medicine. Although it won't cure you, it won't hurt to have some."
In the past, Wei Jinzhi would have been too embarrassed to ask, but since Wu Gu had suggested it, her answer became, "Okay." She got out of bed to wash up. "I'll take you back after breakfast." Then she asked, "Did your roommates ask you to bring anything back this time?"
Wu Gu's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?"
Wei Jinzhi liked her reaction. "I guessed," she replied. "So what are you bringing this time?"
"The duck necks and braised pig trotters from that place downtown. Don't you pay for it this time, or I won't let you drive me."
"Okay."
The braised food shop downtown wasn't a chain, but its business was excellent. If you went too early or too late, you couldn't buy anything. Wu Gu timed it perfectly, arriving just as they started selling at ten o'clock. She waited in line for over half an hour before returning to the car with several bags. She handed one portion of duck necks and pig trotters to Wei Jinzhi.
Wei Jinzhi said, "You bought this for me?"
"Their food is really delicious. I just don't know if you usually eat things from small shops."
"I haven't before, but I'd love to try. Anything you like can't be bad."
Wu Gu said, "It's not just me; lots of people like it. You saw how long that line was."
Wei Jinzhi drove her to the university entrance and suddenly felt a little reluctant to part ways. She really enjoyed spending time with Wu Gu; it was relaxing and comfortable. Perhaps it was because Wu Gu was so young and full of vibrant energy that every time they talked, it made her forget she was someone who had been plagued by Yin Qi for years. The unfamiliar scent of braised food lingered in the air. It seemed as if ripples had been stirred in her long-stagnant life.
The car started up again. Wei Jinzhi's gaze rested on the food bag beside her, but her words were for Wu Yong. "From now on, don't report anything about Wu Gu to my family without my permission."
"I'm sorry, Eldest Miss."
She lifted her eyes. "Remember, I am your boss."
"I remember, Eldest Miss."
As soon as Wu Gu entered the dorm carrying two large bags of food, she was greeted with a warm welcome from her roommates. The bags were opened, and the aroma spread everywhere. The roommate still lying in bed swallowed her saliva and quickly climbed down. Eating and crying at the same time, she lamented, "Are you even letting people diet anymore? My dream guy is going to run off with someone else."
Cao Zhenzhen, with a pig trotter in her left hand and a duck neck in her right, said, "How can a dream guy be more fragrant than a pig trotter?"
Liu Ningyu sighed. "Men are all big pig trotters. Just eat. We can diet after this meal."
Wu Gu swallowed the meat in her mouth and said to her, "You say you'll diet after the 'next meal' every time." Liu Ningyu huffed and rolled her eyes at her.
After eating, Wu Gu grabbed her books to go review at the library. The others hadn't even changed out of their pajamas and had surely crawled back into their beds. Downstairs, Wu Gu hesitated for a few seconds before heading to the back mountain first. When she found no trace of Song Yang, she immediately got angry. "You just don't learn. I'm not going to bother with you anymore."
Wu Gu's grades weren't particularly outstanding, but her counselor, considering her family situation, took good care of her. Last academic year, the counselor had secured a second-class on-campus scholarship for her, so this semester, she had to work much harder to keep it. She spent the whole afternoon in the library, and after dinner, she studied until the dorms were about to lock up before heading back. For three or four days straight, she diligently embodied the spirit of hard work and effort.
After a day of studying, she washed up and lay in bed. Due to mental exhaustion, Wu Gu quickly fell asleep. Around three in the morning, she groggily felt cold and touched her blanket; it was still there. Her half-asleep, half-awake brain began to think slowly.
Suddenly, she threw off her blanket and shot up, hitting her head on the wall in her haste. The hand seal to summon the Soul-Piercing Bell was formed with lightning speed. The Soul-Piercing Bell trembled slightly, responding to her. Just as it was about to fly out, she finally saw the ghost clearly. She quickly retracted the hand seal, rolled her eyes, and sat down cross-legged.
Song Yang was kneeling at the foot of the bed, the talisman she had stuck on her forehead that day still there. Wu Gu opened her mouth, moving only her lips, her voice extremely quiet. "Are you trying to scare me to death?"
Song Yang said, "You're a Tianshi. I've been here for ages, and you only just woke up. It's a good thing we're friends. Otherwise, I'd be a ghost who has killed a Tianshi. That sounds pretty impressive, now that I think about it."
Wu Gu clutched her forehead. It was true she had been careless. With her level of alertness, she should have woken up the moment Song Yang came near the building. It must be because she was so tired from studying recently, and she had let her guard down being on campus. But that didn't stop her from being fierce with the ghost. "Believe it or not, I can send you on your way right now."
"No, no, no." Song Yang immediately became obedient. "I found out where Yiqing is. It turns out it wasn't just Yiqing and Lu He who had something happen to them; a lot of ghosts have suddenly disappeared. There must be a big conspiracy behind this." She switched into flattery mode. "A young lady like our Little Tianshi Wu, with such profound cultivation, who is not only beautiful and kind-hearted but also has the spirit of a knight-errant and a gentle heart, would surely enforce justice on behalf of heaven and eliminate the evildoers when encountering such a thing."
Wu Gu let out a laugh. "Keep going."
"With Little Tianshi Wu taking action, it'll surely be an effortless victory." As Song Yang spoke, she made gestures of slaughtering in all directions, all the while sneaking glances at Wu Gu's expression. Seeing she was unmoved, she changed tactics. "Little Tianshi Wu, for the grace of saving my life, I, Song Yang, will surely repay you with a gushing spring in my next life."
"Once you're done, leave. I need to sleep."
Song Yang lunged forward and hugged her thigh. "Please save Yiqing. I found out they're trapped in Changgu Amusement Park. Little Tianshi Wu, I'm begging you. I'm so worried about Yiqing."
"You went to the amusement park? It's huge. Do you have a more specific location?"
"It was strange. When I was still a street away from the park, I felt a pulling force. It scared me to death, so I rushed back to find you."
Wu Gu pondered, then glanced at the talisman on Song Yang's head. "The spiritual power is used up." She took out a new one and handed it over.
Song Yang took the talisman with both hands, not troubling Wu Gu to do it. She naturally took off the old one, then slapped the new one onto her forehead. Her movements were practiced, smooth, and fawning. "So, have you agreed to help me?"
"Hurry up and leave. I need to sleep." Song Yang was about to cry again. Wu Gu said, "My master told me not to meddle in other people's business. It attracts karma."
Having been a ghost for decades, Song Yang understood a thing or two about so-called karma and retribution. She started brainstorming. "How about this: now I'm shamelessly begging you to purify me and send me to be reincarnated. But I have a very important unfulfilled wish. So, to help me pass on peacefully, you help me fulfill my wish. What do you think? Will that work?"
Wu Gu thought for a moment. "That could work."
Song Yang happily hugged her. "I knew our Little Tianshi Wu was the kindest person."
"Did I agree to help you?" Though her words were blunt, Wu Gu had always been sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. She had happened to witness Lu He's soul dissipating. If what Song Yang said was true, then Lu He had lost his consciousness and become an evil ghost that devoured living souls after just a few days. It was truly bizarre and strange. Now, with Song Yang's pleading, it was impossible for her to stand by and do nothing. But whether she could actually help would have to wait until she investigated the amusement park.
Song Yang half-sprawled on the bed, aggrieved and a little resentful. "You were the one who said I could come find you. You're going back on your word."
"Then couldn't you have come to find me tomorrow? Even if you come now, I can't go to Changgu Amusement Park. And you're interrupting my sleep." Wu Gu waved her hand, shooing the ghost away. "Go on, I need to sleep."
Song Yang floated up, looking back three times for every step she took. "You agreed, right? Right? You agreed, didn't you? Little Tianshi Wu, you're the best Tianshi in the world."
Wu Gu turned to face the wall, ignoring her completely. Song Yang had no choice but to return to the back mountain, her heart filled with unease. She thought that if Wu Gu didn't agree, she would just bother her all day and see how embarrassed she'd be talking to thin air in front of her classmates. If that didn't work, she'd scare her classmates to force Wu Gu to agree. With a plan in mind, her return to the back mountain became much faster.
After being disturbed by Song Yang, Wu Gu began to doubt herself. Her master had said to be cautious in all things. She took out an exorcism talisman and stuck it on the metal railing of her bed. If an unfamiliar ghost really came next time, she might actually kick the bucket. She slept fitfully until five-thirty. With something on her mind, her brain cleared quickly. She rolled out of bed, washed up simply, and quietly left the dorm.
Early in the morning, Song Yang was resting when she was suddenly bound by a force. She materialized, her soul nearly scared out of her. Seeing who it was, she said, "Little Tianshi Wu, what are you doing? You scared me to death."
I was trying to scare you, Wu Gu thought, but her face remained calm. "I'm going to the amusement park now. But let me be clear beforehand, I can't guarantee I can help you." Her master had taught her from a young age the principle of running away quickly if she couldn't win a fight instead of trying to be a hero. "You stay here and wait for my news. Don't go running around."
After her initial surprise and joy, Song Yang said very seriously, "Thank you, Little Tianshi Wu. I'll wait for you to come back." Wu Gu was her only hope. If Wu Gu couldn't do anything, she was prepared to force her way into the amusement park. Even if it meant being scattered to the winds, she would die together with Yiqing.
Wu Gu went to the cafeteria and ate a full breakfast, only then did she leave the university with her backpack on. A few days ago at Changshan, she had not only drawn Peace Talismans but also many ghost-expelling and evil-slaying talismans. She had stuffed them all into her backpack. It was always good to be prepared. Getting to Changgu Amusement Park required transferring between buses and subways. She arrived just as the park was opening.
After getting her ticket and entering the park, she closed her eyes and lightly swept the back of her hand across her face. When she opened them again, her Yin-Yang Eyes were active. She looked around. When her gaze swept over a certain spot in the northwest corner, a look of pleasant surprise appeared in her eyes. But remembering the important matter at hand, she focused her mind and began to carefully observe the park. Although it was daytime, the amusement park was a little too clean. She looked down at the map, planning to walk a lap around the main path first.
After walking for about half an hour, she faintly sensed something was off. There seemed to be energy fluctuations from a formation operating nearby. She tapped the bell on the Soul-Piercing Bell, signaling it to pay attention to the surroundings. She walked the next stretch even more slowly than before. As she passed in front of the haunted house, a ringing sounded in her ear. She stopped. The haunted house was designed to be exaggerated and conspicuous, and at first glance, there was nothing unusual about it. But the Soul-Piercing Bell wouldn't be mistaken.
There were dozens of people lining up outside the haunted house. They were let in in groups of three or four, with a five-minute interval between each group. She walked over and got in at the end of the line. After more than half an hour, it was finally her turn, but the staff member absolutely refused to let her in. She thought, where there's an anomaly, there must be a demon. This further proved that the Soul-Piercing Bell's judgment was correct. There was a big problem with this haunted house. As for why she couldn't sense it, there must be a barrier set up.
Wu Gu asked, "Why won't you let me in?"
The staff member was wearing a baseball cap with the brim pulled down very low. Only a long, pointed chin that jutted out slightly was visible. "You don't meet the qualifications to enter." Seeing Wu Gu persisting, he impatiently shoved her. "I said you can't go in, so you can't. Don't hold up the people behind you."
After arguing for a long time, the other party still wouldn't let her pass. The tourists waiting in line behind her were also complaining about Wu Gu. It seemed she wouldn't be able to get in through the main entrance. Just as she was planning to find a back door to sneak in, a tentative, soft call came from behind her. The pleasant voice held a hidden trace of surprise.
"Wu Gu?"
Wu Gu turned around. It was Wei Jinzhi. She ran over happily. "I saw you the moment I came in. I was planning to find you after I finished my business."
Wei Jinzhi thought to herself that she had been far from the main gate all morning. In all likelihood, what Wu Gu had seen was the Yin Qi on her body. She raised a hand to her forehead. The fact that she gave Wu Gu such an impression left her not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
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