Chapter 288: Let Calamity Join the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!

“Gu Qianqian, hold off on the broadcast. There’s something off about these two hauntings!”

The system, sensing familiarity with the two hauntings Gu Qianqian had captured, quickly intervened before she could start her live stream.

Upon hearing this, Gu Qianqian obediently stepped aside. She trusted the system implicitly; if it said there was an issue, there was definitely something fishy going on.

Business is all about integrity, and anything suspicious shouldn’t be sold!

“…”

The two hauntings, knocked out by Gu Qianqian’s swift strikes, were cloaked in oversized black robes and wore bone masks that concealed their features and physiques.

The system was certain it had seen hauntings dressed like this before. It scrutinized the two, trying to recall details from its myriad battles against calamity.

These experiences ranged from decades to mere seconds. It took the system a good twenty to thirty minutes to sift through them all.

Then…

“Oh no, Gu Qianqian, we’ve got a problem. These two are participants in Hua City’s Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!” the system exclaimed in her mind.

“Huh? What?” Gu Qianqian was taken aback. “Is it Lu Yibei?”

“This time, it’s not calamity,” the system replied.

In its many encounters with calamity, Hua City had indeed hosted Night Parades of a Hundred Ghosts, but none were orchestrated by calamity.

Calamity preferred to operate solo, rarely having more than ten familiars. Such high-profile, attention-grabbing events like a Night Parade were not her style.

The system recalled her saying, “Romantic entanglements hinder one’s journey; fewer friends make for smoother travels!”

As a master of severing relationships, she indeed had few friends.

Because Hua City’s Night Parade had little to do with calamity, the system only had a vague impression of those events.

Had it not been for the distinctive attire of the hauntings at the beginning of the action, the system might have struggled to identify their origins.

“Then if it’s not Lu Yibei, who could it be?” Gu Qianqian pressed.

“Possibly another enemy, but I’m not certain,” the system replied.

Based on its hypothesis, these Night Parades occurring in random cities, including Hua City, were likely orchestrated by one of the Seven Factors of World Destruction.

However, it had only attempted once to investigate whether the organizer behind the Night Parades was indeed one of the Seven Factors.

The result?

It couldn’t even ascertain the enemy’s origins before being killed by the familiars organizing the Night Parade.

Clearly, the suspected organizer of the Night Parade wasn’t the best choice for the “opening move.”

Calamity might be cautious, but her growth phase is long, and she starts off weak!

Wouldn’t it be better to chase her down?

But…

Why is this Night Parade happening much earlier than usual? the system pondered.

How did they manage to infiltrate?

The Midnight Watchers Society’s barrier in Hua City is among the top tier of city barriers. Breaking through it would require significant power and cause quite a stir.

After some thought, the system pieced together a few clues. It realized that this unexpected situation, though dangerous, also presented an opportunity!

If it could somehow get calamity to join the Night Parade, pitting two world-destroying factors against each other, it might just reap the benefits.

With this in mind, the system promptly issued a task to Gu Qianqian.

“Beep-! You have a new task, please check!”

A mechanical-sounding notification rang in Gu Qianqian’s ear, followed by the task description.

“Under the moon, bones wrapped in red, in the palace of song, the jade star…”

The system recited the introductory poem with earnest emotion, but Gu Qianqian felt her head spin halfway through.

“Ugh! So annoying, skip the poem, get to the task!”

Do you think this is a game? Don’t you understand ceremony? The system ignored Gu Qianqian and continued, “The Night Parade leads the lost, bones turned to flutes, songs arise.”

[Epic Quest: Before the Night Parade begins, get calamity to participate and become a contender for the King of Hauntings in Hua City.

Rewards: 20,000 points, one Spirit Pattern Completion Potion…]

After a brief silence, worried that Gu Qianqian might not be interested in the rewards, the system quietly added two new incentives.

[…and fifty lottery chances. This period’s prize pool UP, Roasted Pig Trotters X30, Mad Chicken Kid’s Meal Voucher x10 (fifty draws, UP prize probability is 50%).]

After all, tasks are just a formality; the real goal is to find a reason to make Gu Qianqian stronger. But she never liked taking those potions that tasted like they came from the dark culinary arts, so the system had to find other ways to pique her interest.

Yes, just like leading a donkey with a carrot or coaxing a child with candy to take medicine!

Moreover, there’s no strange department mandating the disclosure of lottery probabilities. Whatever Gu Qianqian draws, the system decides!

“Wow! System, did you hit the jackpot? The rewards are so generous this time!” Gu Qianqian exclaimed, then furrowed her brow.

“But, system, why are we helping Lu Yibei become the King of Hauntings in Hua City? Isn’t that… what you call aiding the enemy? Have you betrayed the revolution?”

Upon hearing this, the system retorted angrily, “Nonsense! How could I betray? Even if I die, I won’t help her! This is about luring calamity into a dog-eat-dog fight with another strong enemy, how is that aiding the enemy?”

“Well, okay!” Gu Qianqian pondered for a few seconds. “But system, have you considered what if they don’t fight but instead join forces?”

“Don’t worry!” the system assured. “I have ways to disrupt things, ensuring they can’t team up.”

“What if Lu Yibei succeeds?”

“This…” The system was momentarily speechless; it hadn’t considered this scenario.

After all, compared to the other world-destroying factor that was already quite threatening, calamity was like a rare elite at the newbie village gate.

How could she possibly succeed?

“System? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Seeing the system remain silent, Gu Qianqian pressed, “You didn’t even consider this possibility, did you?”

System, “…”

A few seconds later.

[Apologies, your Super Magical Girl Demon-Slaying System may have been disconnected due to network fluctuations.]

Though Gu Qianqian had spotted a blind spot, it couldn’t admit it.

Moreover, with me here, and given the Night Parade’s danger level, calamity can’t possibly succeed! the system thought.

Hua City, Jingyi Apartment.

“Hey! It worked, thank goodness it didn’t fail!”

Lu Yibei mixed two processed alchemical substances in a temperature and humidity-controlled box. Seeing the liquid change from purple to red and then emit a faint glow, he let out a delighted exclamation.

He had long since acquired the materials needed to complete the potion. Initially, he planned to have Gu Qianqian help with the alchemy.

Unfortunately, the last transaction went awry, and Gu Qianqian “fled in fear,” leaving Lu Yibei without her assistance for quite some time.

What is she afraid of? Am I the type to retaliate over such a minor issue?

Yes, indeed! But I wouldn’t actually harm her!

At most, I’d knock her out, lock her in a small dark room, play a recording of her crimes on loop, and make her brew potions. If she fails, no food for her. Lu Yibei mused.

With Gu Qianqian missing, and the potion completion being a necessity, Lu Yibei had no choice but to roll up his sleeves and do it himself.

A science student entering university to study Chinese literature, using engineering equipment to concoct occultism potions-it’s absurd!

Then.

Once he started doing it himself, he realized that alchemy, especially in a private black-market setup like his, was incredibly costly for high-tier potions.

No wonder Fat Master warned him when he mentioned purchasing alchemical equipment, saying, “Forging ruins a life, alchemy impoverishes three generations!”

Items like laboratory centrifuges, fume hoods, and temperature and humidity boxes, costing thousands to tens of thousands, were considered cheap. Psychic artifacts like reaction kettles and psychic balance instruments were exorbitantly priced.

When Lu Yibei brought those instruments home, the little hauntings in his house thought he had robbed a bank and almost moved out overnight.

After all, hauntings robbing banks is a crime far worse than hunting individual psychic potential bearers, and is a key target for The Midnight Watchers Society.

Though Lu Yibei later used disaster water to clear up the misunderstanding, those creatures still seemed frightened and had been avoiding home at night.

A few days after placing the order.

As Fat Master’s employees repeatedly appeared at Lu Yibei’s doorstep, reciting those pay-to-unlock lines, the money he had painstakingly earned from selling disaster water was quickly depleted.

However, a more pressing issue was the recent decline in disaster water production for unknown reasons.

Previously, daily production could fill a bowl; now, filling a soda bottle cap was a struggle.

If I weren’t so broke, would I be so stingy about buying a little electric scooter?

When I was rich, I needed at least three to make me feel the pinch! Lu Yibei thought.

Fortunately, effort pays off.

Through subtle hints, Lu Yibei absorbed the Great Serpent God’s knowledge under Qing Ji’s guidance, rapidly advancing his alchemical skills.

Now, he could barely manage to slowly brew the first potion to complete his deficiencies.

Lu Yibei looked at the semi-finished potion, nodding with self-satisfaction.

Fat Master had previously advised him against attempting high-tier potion brewing as a beginner, unless he had access to The Midnight Watchers Society’s corresponding level of alchemical equipment to ensure success.

Yet, with his somewhat rudimentary setup, he had still succeeded.

Am I a little genius!?

Can other kids do this?

Lu Yibei thought, carefully placing the mixed semi-finished potion and new materials into the magnetic heating stirrer, setting the rotation speed and time, then heading upstairs.

In two or three days, the potion would be ready. Once the deficiencies were completed and he became stronger, he could confidently face enemies equivalent to one or two Ms. Rabbits.

Yes, from another perspective, my money hasn’t left me; it’s transformed into something I like more, staying by my side.

With this thought, the mental stress from financial woes eased considerably. Returning upstairs, Lu Yibei lay down on his bed and soon drifted into slumber.

As her body seemed to sink into a dark abyss, consciousness detached and then returned. When Lu Yibei opened her eyes, she found herself standing in the Dream, on that dilapidated rooftop.

She glanced around and spotted Qing Ji sitting cross-legged at the edge of the rooftop, eyes closed in meditation. Taking a few steps forward, she called out, “Ancestor, it’s time!”

Initially, she had been reluctant to practice swordplay, then accepted it grudgingly, and now she was completely accustomed to it, even finding it somewhat enjoyable.

Hearing Lu Yibei’s voice behind him, Qing Ji’s brow twitched, and the flow of psychic energy during his meditation was abruptly interrupted.

In the past couple of weeks, he had come to fully understand the saying, “There are no bad fields, only exhausted oxen.”

Since battling the projection of the Haze Deity, his psychic energy had been severely depleted, and his endurance in prolonged combat was no longer what it was when he first awakened. Moreover, Lu Yibei was making continuous progress, even deriving some peculiar applications of her own from the footwork in “The Diagram of the Gentleman Sword of Taihe.”

Over time, it became increasingly difficult to defeat her.

Where once Qing Ji could take Lu Yibei’s life hundreds of times in a single night, now he struggled to exceed eighty times without exhausting himself.

Yet, that little bastard, perhaps sensing his fatigue or having some psychological issue, seemed to have developed a liking for being challenged and had become increasingly enthusiastic about sword practice.

So now, whenever he heard Lu Yibei mention sword practice, Qing Ji felt weak in the knees.

Can’t a man enjoy his twilight years in peace?

If Qing Ji had been familiar with modern law, he would have surely sued Lu Yibei for elder abuse.

“……”

Seeing that Qing Ji hadn’t responded for a long time, Lu Yibei stepped forward again, clasped her hands, and said, “I am Wang Buliuxing, please grant me death, Ancestor!”

Qing Ji, “……”

Ignoring her, didn’t hear a thing, today I want to rest!

“Ancestor, take this fiery crimson flame-!”

“!!!”

“You wretch, what are you doing? Trying to betray your master?”

Startled, Qing Ji leapt up with a “whoosh,” landing far away on the water tank.

He knew his great-granddaughter-in-law well; the spell amplification brought by her Spirit Pattern was much greater than others, eerily so.

Although in this strange place, taking a fifty-fold amplified spell from her wouldn’t be fatal, it would certainly hurt!

The pain of being pierced by a sword was far more bearable than being blown to pieces.

However, when Qing Ji focused and looked at Lu Yibei, he found she hadn’t actually cast any spell. She was just standing there with her head tilted, eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Ancestor, all’s fair in war, as you said,” Lu Yibei remarked. “And besides, you said dying a couple of times here isn’t a big deal!”

Qing Ji, “……”

You learn other things at a snail’s pace, but when it comes to these tricks, you’re quick as lightning?

If you hadn’t told me yourself that you’re Lu Yibei’s wife, I’d have thought you were my own great-grandchild!

Qing Ji thought angrily, gripping his sword hilt, and said coldly, “Girl, you’re asking for trouble! I swear I’ll make you beg for mercy-or my name isn’t Lu!”

“?” Lu Yibei paused, sensing something was off.

Wait… you’re not even a ‘Lu’! Isn’t that our great-grandmother’s name?

“Taihe Gentleman Sword: Verdant Wall!”

“Poof-!”

Amidst the dull sound of her body being sliced in half, Lu Yibei snapped back to attention and looked at Qing Ji, seeing a taunting smile on his face.

His eyes seemed to say, “Girl, you’re still too green to challenge me!”

Lu Yibei, “……”

The night passed.

By the time the sun was about to rise, Lu Yibei had been “killed” eighty-five times, five more than the previous session.

And so.

She felt satisfied…

As the sun was about to rise, heralding a new day, Lu Yibei summoned Meng, who was diligently practicing the suona, to assess her progress.

Before leaving the Dream, Lu Yibei, while massaging her tormented ears, instructed Meng, “Meng, I remember telling you last time that I have another familiar named Du Sixian, right?”

“Uh-huh!” Meng nodded. “Are you asking us to do something?”

“Not really,” Lu Yibei waved her hand. “I just want to say, if she shows up in the Dream, pretend you don’t know her and give her a little scare!”

Du Sixian had been a great help by contacting Yang Yi and investigating the haunting game process, so Lu Yibei felt she should show some appreciation.

However, given Du Sixian’s affluent status, ordinary gifts wouldn’t impress her.

The only “gift” Lu Yibei could think of that was cost-free and practical was helping Du Sixian overcome her fear.

“Scare her?” Meng tilted her head, blinking her eerie eyes adorably.

“Just…” Lu Yibei pondered for a moment, “weave a little nightmare for her, give her a fright, you know?”

“You mean to scare her, right?” Meng asked.

“Exactly!” Lu Yibei nodded. “But don’t overdo it. Just keep the fright level at goosebumps but not deadly.”

“Once she gets a bit used to it, increase the horror level, then increase it again as she adapts.”

As Lu Yibei spoke, noticing Meng’s increasingly peculiar gaze, as if looking at a pervert, she hurriedly added an explanation.

“I’m not abusing my familiars! I’m helping her overcome her fear. Otherwise, if she encounters a haunting, and her legs give out before the fight even starts, how will she escape?”

Meng nodded thoughtfully, “Oh, I see.”

But…

Why would she need to run if she’s overcome her fear? Meng wondered.