Chapter 271: Farewell

The bus ambled along the road leading to the city center of Hua City, passing streets once bustling with life but now exuding a sense of decay.

This route was originally designed for the Floral Sunshine Resort Hotel, with the buses themselves being attractively decorated sightseeing vehicles.

However, the Floral Sunshine Resort Hotel has become a ruin, surrounded by various haunting legends, and no one visits there anymore.

It might not be long before this sparsely populated route is discontinued, and the hotel, along with its tales, gradually fades into the annals of whispered hauntings.

Lu Yibei gazed out the window at the scenery rushing by, lost in thought.

Earlier, Jiang Li mentioned that the haunting at Xingfu Community had suddenly attracted many tenants, and a welcome party was held a day early. This might be related to my discovery of the Pure Lotus Sword.

But what is its purpose for advancing the event?

If the welcome party hides some sort of ritual, could it be aiming to strengthen itself to counter me, now that I possess the Pure Lotus Sword? Lu Yibei pondered.

After returning to the city center of Hua City, with time to spare, Lu Yibei decided to visit his apartment.

Living with Jiang Li at Xingfu Community was inconvenient for washing, bathing, and sleeping, so he took this opportunity to return home, enjoy a comfortable shower, and rest well.

Besides, if he stayed away too long, his pesky little sister, Gou Meng, would probably throw a fit.

Upon entering his home, Lu Yibei saw Gou Meng rummaging through the storage room, pulling out the black rolling suitcase he had picked up from Lin Yiqi, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Surrounded by a mess of items, she was carefully sorting and packing them into the suitcase.

Seeing Gou Meng packing as if preparing to leave, Lu Yibei approached and gently held her hand, gazing deeply into her eyes.

“Leaving without saying a word? Sneaking around to pack your things?”

“If I hadn’t caught you by chance, were you planning to leave without a goodbye?”

Gou Meng glanced at the shimmering mark on her hand, forcing a slightly awkward smile.

“My injuries healed faster than expected, almost completely now, so there’s no need for me to stay here any longer, right?”

“As the highest leader in Taoyuan, there’s a pile of matters waiting for me to handle back there!”

Lu Yibei tilted his head, skeptical, “Is the reason really that simple?”

“Mm…”

Gou Meng pondered for a moment, straightening her back, “I didn’t want to tell you initially, fearing you’d blabber and cause unnecessary chaos.”

“But considering our acquaintance, I should give you a heads-up: Hua City might soon become chaotic, with someone secretly organizing the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts.”

Gou Meng worried Lu Yibei might report to The Midnight Watchers Society, knowing him well enough to predict he’d stir up trouble.

In her view, a region birthing a leader through the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Having a leader implies rules, which is better than a chaotic, leaderless land.

It’s a balance that aligns with haunting survival rules, bringing relative peace.

“I advise you not to meddle; when the Night Parade begins, if you sense anything unusual outside, just go home, lock the doors and windows, and sleep through the night.”

“Of course, I’m not afraid of these minor hauntings causing the Night Parade. Back in the day, I fought my way from the foot of Mount Fanjing to Huangguoshu Waterfall without batting an eye.”

“How did you manage that?” Lu Yibei mused.

Gou Meng lifted her chin proudly, “Because I’m valiant and invincible!”

“I mean, how did you cover over four hundred kilometers without blinking? Do hauntings lack tear ducts?”

“…” Gou Meng glared at Lu Yibei, “Anyway, don’t say I didn’t warn you! With your current level, if you get involved, even a resurrection armor won’t save you.”

Gou Meng worried Lu Yibei might go to watch the commotion, likely encountering a fight where onlookers are the first to suffer.

She observed him for a while, sensing a peculiar aura similar to the Plague God’s power inheritors she had seen, a “bad luck magnet” type.

Yet, he was more mysterious, seemingly growing stronger.

Such individuals typically die young, not reaching adulthood, yet he survived.

Perhaps he’s extraordinarily lucky among the “unlucky” ones?

Though Grandpa Turtle predicted calamity for me, avoiding disaster through foresight is also a way to eliminate calamity, Gou Meng thought.

Lu Yibei, “…”

The Night Parade sounds dangerous…

Where there’s danger, how could Lu Yibei be there?

I would stay far away without needing you to say it.

Lu Yibei thought, scrutinizing Gou Meng, “Really leaving? Can’t you stay?”

“Of course not.” Gou Meng shook her head, patting Lu Yibei’s shoulder, “I know you’re deeply attached to me, reluctant to part.”

“But in this world, farewells are abundant; learn to accept it. Even if you try to keep me, I must leave.”

“It’s not that I’m reluctant to part with you…”

Lu Yibei glanced at the carefully selected items in Gou Meng’s suitcase-blue-ray discs, a switch, manga, and novels-and said expressionlessly, “I wish you’d leave sooner, but what’s with taking my stuff?”

“People can leave, but the things must stay!”

“Bang-!”

Gou Meng jumped onto the rolling suitcase, clinging to it like a sloth, glaring at Lu Yibei, “You heartless jerk!”

“I’ve been so good to you; what’s wrong with giving me some things as a farewell gift? Why are you so stingy?”

Is this a thousand-year-old spirit playing the victim?

Lu Yibei crossed his arms, eyeing Gou Meng, “The ancients said, ‘Taking without asking is theft.’ A farewell gift should be given by me, not taken secretly!”

“Move aside!”

“I won’t!”

“…” Lu Yibei rolled his eyes at Gou Meng, exasperated, “I mean, if you want a gift, let me choose!”

“Look at what you’ve picked! ‘From Tranquil NTR1‘? Interesting taste! ‘FIFA192‘? I wouldn’t buy it if it weren’t on sale! ‘Hunter x Hunter3‘? You might wait till you’re old and gray without seeing the ending…”

Lu Yibei grumbled while removing Gou Meng’s selections, realizing she had picked every pitfall he had encountered over the years-unfinished, delayed, poorly optimized.

Unbelievable!

Lu Yibei spent over an hour selecting works he deemed classic and fun but didn’t plan to revisit soon, neatly packing them into the rolling suitcase for Gou Meng.

“These…” He stood up, pointing at the packed suitcase, “Should last you two or three years. When you’re done, let me know, and I’ll send more.”

“Hmm?” Gou Meng eyed Lu Yibei suspiciously, “Why are you so eager today? Planning to get something from me before I leave?”

“How about I stay tonight and leave in the morning?” Gou Meng teased, batting her eyes.

“No need!” Lu Yibei refused without hesitation.

Though he had learned some things about familiars from the mysterious girl last night, he still felt confused.

If Gou Meng offered to share her experience, it would be great.

But how could he dare ask such questions?

Asking would be like admitting his identity!

Moreover, he’d seen this trick many times; it seemed sweet but was a trap.

Sleeping with a deity responsible for reproduction, even doing nothing, she’d have a hundred ways to make you experience the joy of drinking from the River of Mothers, with no one to take responsibility.

The neighbor’s neutered old cat fell for it.

Lu Yibei witnessed it; the cat came to his home, Gou Meng petted it all night, and its belly grew.

Now, the neighbor is still arguing with the pet hospital about the neutering.

Since then, Lu Yibei never dared accept Gou Meng’s “sweet temptations.”

Sometimes he even thought, Gou Meng said she often officiates weddings in Taoyuan, not without reason.

Couples who invite her to officiate might not achieve lifelong happiness, but early parenthood is guaranteed.

Lu Yibei thought, handing the packed suitcase to Gou Meng, “When are you leaving? Should I see you off?”

Gou Meng waved her hand, taking the suitcase, “No need, no need. I’ll fly from the balcony; I’ll be home in a meal’s time.”

With that, she turned toward the balcony.

After a few steps, she stopped, beckoning Lu Yibei, “Come here; our contract is completed early. I need to help you dissolve it.”

Besides keeping promises, it’s mainly to avoid being implicated… Gou Meng thought.

Gou Meng sensed the ominous aura around Lu Yibei was slowly growing. If this trend continued, it might lead to person-to-person or person-to-haunting transmission.

“Just dissolve it like that?” Lu Yibei frowned, “Why not keep it as a memento?”

“I might not see you again.”

“…”

Gou Meng pondered briefly, nodding, “Alright, if you want to keep it, let’s leave it for now.”

Anyway, if something happens, I can sense it and unilaterally dissolve the contract. Gou Meng thought.

As she considered, she waved to Lu Yibei, dragging the suitcase toward the balcony. As she stepped through the glass door, she transformed into a faint green light, enveloping the suitcase, disappearing into the brilliant sunlight.

“Ah-!”

Watching Gou Meng vanish, Lu Yibei sighed, feeling a sense of loss.

Above Hua City, amidst the clouds.

A streak of green light, seemingly merging with the wind, wriggled briefly, transforming into a bird-like shape, spreading its wings in the spring breeze, soaring through the sky.

Soon, it seamlessly joined the flock of migratory birds wintering here annually.

On this day, the local birds saw a group of strange magpies from afar.

They spoke in odd dialects, loudly chattering about bird eggs, cloacas, and colorful tail feathers.

They seemed crude and bizarre, yet inexplicably impressive, prompting the birds to offer bottle caps, metal buttons, and colorful plastic fragments as gifts.

But upon approaching, seeing what they held, the birds abandoned the idea.

Manga, game consoles, light novels… Aren’t these human favorites?

Darn! These foreign magpies have peculiar tastes!

Meanwhile, as Gou Meng’s magpie form flew over Hua City.

At Hua City University of Technology, in the Liberal Arts Building, a visiting professor was passionately lecturing when he suddenly sensed something, looking out the window, his gaze penetrating the clouds, focusing on something.

“Professor, professor? Are you alright?”

A student’s voice reached him, and he blinked, smiling at the student, shaking his head, then addressing the class, “Sorry, everyone, I need to use the restroom.”

With that, he left the classroom.

Exiting, he entered the restroom, locking the stall door, then took out a tattered white porcelain saucer, pressing its edges, whispering, “On certain nights, a woman binds a figure made of straw, with a face of paper and powder, and dressed in a headscarf and skirt…”

As he murmured, the stall’s light dimmed, something filthy and impure writhing in the shadows behind him.

After a while, the saucer trembled slightly, and he stopped whispering.

“Master, that terrifying presence has left, seemingly heading away from Hua City. You can notify those you mentioned to start preparing.”

“Ding-!”

As if responding, the saucer shook, emitting a crisp sound, then fell silent, the shadows retreating like a tide.

Light returned to normal.

The man waited briefly, then took out his phone, opening a rarely used chat app, sending a message to someone named “Child of Miracle.”

[Gou Mang’s power inheritor has left Hua City. Whether to intercept midway, it’s up to you.]

[I promised to monitor her for you. When will you deliver what you promised me?]

After a long pause, his phone vibrated, receiving a reply.

[After it’s done, you’ll get double.]

Elsewhere.

In a secluded villa on the outskirts of Hua City, often closed and rumored to show eerie figures to delivery persons.

Meow Xiaoqi crouched on a chair like a cat, watching the haunting chat group’s core members’ conversations, her ears twitching.

After a while, she frowned, turning to the old pervert beside her, who was anxiously watching the download progress of Little Yellow Oil.

“Ah-Se, have you noticed the boss hasn’t changed his ID for a long time?”

Without looking at Meow Xiaoqi, the old pervert continued browsing more Little Yellow Oil descriptions, dismissively, “Is that a problem?”

“Of course, it’s a problem! He used to change IDs faster than you change anime wives!”

“What do you mean change? I increase them; they’re all equal, and I love them all… Never mind, you wouldn’t understand.”

The two spoke past each other, exchanging a few words before falling silent, each returning to their tasks.

Meow Xiaoqi, while watching the chat group’s core members’ conversations, licked her pale hand, suddenly noticing a message from a group member, frowning uncontrollably.

Pure Love Warrior: “@Void, boss, those guys watching Gou Mang’s power inheritor seem to be moving. Should we follow?”

Void: “Follow and see. In my judgment, this information might be quite valuable in the future!”

After reading the messages, Meow Xiaoqi hurriedly turned and patted the old pervert’s shoulder, “Look at the message Pure Love Warrior sent.”

The old pervert glanced at Meow Xiaoqi, “What’s that dog saying now? Hunting Bull-headed men? I’m telling you, ignore him; kids don’t understand.”

“When he grows up, he’ll realize he doesn’t truly love pure love or hate Bull-headed men; he’s just plain lustful!”

“…”

Meow Xiaoqi glared at the old pervert, “Just look, stop talking nonsense.”

“Alright, alright!”

The old pervert couldn’t resist Meow Xiaoqi, agreeing twice, then switched his computer screen to the core members’ group, scrolling up to read the messages, frowning.

“Gou Mang’s power inheritor is Gou Meng, and Gou Meng is Wang Buliuxing’s lover?”

“Is the boss planning to sell the information to Wang Buliuxing?”

Meow Xiaoqi nodded, interjecting, “Seems like it, but didn’t the boss say that jerk is an important ally? If they’re allies, why not share the information directly?”

The old pervert shrugged, “How would I know what the boss thinks? As long as he means no harm.”

He paused, adding, “Probably the principle of an information trader at play?”

Hearing this, Meow Xiaoqi nodded thoughtfully, “Just wonder how Wang Buliuxing will choose-learn her father’s cause of death or her lover’s safety first.”

“Mm…”

The old pervert pondered, “I have a hunch she won’t choose either.”

“Why?”

“No reason, just a weird intuition from seeing many women.”

Meow Xiaoqi, “…”

Footnote:

1. From Tranquil NTR(来自风平浪静的NTR): A web novel, controversial in China due to its themes of infidelity and betrayal, often criticized online.
2. FIFA19(FIFA19): A football video game, criticized in China for optimization issues and its microtransaction system.
3. Hunter x Hunter(全职猎人): A Japanese manga with many fans in China, but widely mocked for its frequent hiatuses, earning it the nickname “Full-Time Hiatus.”