Chapter 330: The Universal Chip of the Dream Come True Journey

After setting off several spell formations, Lu Yibei noticed the River God growing increasingly anxious. She figured that the deity was now fully convinced of the powers she had fabricated, and her gaze roamed more boldly over the ship’s hull.

Though there weren’t many spell formations left on the ship, as long as she found the River God’s weak spot and fixed her gaze there, it should be enough to break the deity’s final psychological defenses, right?

As Lu Yibei was secretly plotting, the River God suddenly shouted.

“Wait, wait, everything can be negotiated! Let’s sit down and talk this over!”

The sudden shout startled Lu Yibei, almost causing her to reflexively hurl another spell formation. Once she processed the River God’s words, she narrowed her eyes slightly.

Why the sudden panic?

Could it be that one of the places I looked at earlier is a critical point for the River God?

Lu Yibei mused, recalling where her gaze had lingered on the ship. She began to move her eyes over those areas again, subtly observing the River God’s reactions.

The entrance to the cabin-serious expression, not it.

The carvings on the starboard side-relaxed expression, definitely not it.

The foredeck-hesitant expression, probably not it.

The third mast from the left…

As Lu Yibei’s gaze moved away from the mast, the River God was about to breathe a sigh of relief. But then she saw her gaze wandering restlessly, finally settling back on the mast. The heart that had barely descended was once again sent soaring.

“Wait, wait! Can’t we just talk this out?”

Lu Yibei looked at the River God, then at the mast, and back again. After a few back-and-forth glances, she noticed the River God’s face changing colors like a malfunctioning traffic light. She finally made up her mind.

It seems the mast is indeed the weak point…

Even though there are no spell formations on it, does that matter?

This absurd ability to make anything explode just by looking at it-whether others believe it or not, as long as the River God does, that’s enough. If anyone doubts it, let them ask the deity if it dares to test it by letting me stare a bit longer.

With this thought, Lu Yibei turned her gaze to the River God, her eyes deepening with a proud air. “You want to talk? Fine! But before that, shouldn’t you do something else first?”

“Something else?” the River God stammered, eyes full of confusion.

“Lady Calamity, I think you shouldn’t waste words with it. It came here uninvited and shows no remorse. It probably thinks you’re easy to bully and might keep testing your limits!” Xing Yuan shouted.

Hearing this, the River God immediately caught on and hastily said, “No, no, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

Isn’t it just an apology?

Lady Calamity, as the King of Hauntings of this land, had her dignity offended. Not striking down the offender and merely asking for a reasonable explanation and a sincere apology was already very magnanimous.

Reasonable, very reasonable!

The River God muttered to himself, bowing slightly to Lu Yibei with genuine sincerity, “Lady Calamity, I offer my deepest apologies for this offense.”

“However, there was a reason for this transgression. It was the village chief of Baiyan Village who invited me through a Ghost Opera…”

Lu Yibei’s gaze swept coldly over the River God, interrupting, “So, what you’re saying is, you’re not at fault, but the village chief is?”

As she spoke, her eyes returned to the ship’s mast.

What exactly is that? Could it be the core entity of the haunting?

The River God’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, “No, no, I am at fault too. I am at fault.”

Admitting fault isn’t a big deal. It’s not like it costs anything. Not admitting fault, now that could cost something…

“Hmph!” Lu Yibei scoffed, “Since it wasn’t intentional, I’ll let you off this time, but…”

The word “but” is always tricky; it usually signals a change in circumstances. Hearing it, the River God’s heart tightened, and his throat constricted nervously.

Lu Yibei continued, “You must hand over that village chief to me for punishment, and then leave Hua City, never to return.”

At the very least, she needed to know what method the village chief used to bypass Hua City’s barrier and Ley Line Energy, bringing two hauntings into the city.

If this “hole” isn’t plugged, and hauntings keep causing trouble every few days, life would be unbearable. Lu Yibei thought.

“This…” The River God looked troubled.

“What?” Lu Yibei’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at the River God, her eyes slightly narrowing, “Are you dissatisfied with my decision? Or, as Xing Yuan suggested, are you planning to come back later?”

“Lady Calamity is merciful, and I am deeply grateful. I can assure you that I will leave Hua City and never return. If you don’t trust me, I can even make a contract with you.”

“But as for the village chief, I truly cannot hand him over.”

“Why?” Lu Yibei frowned.

“He fled after making his wish,” the River God explained, “He hasn’t even delivered the promised sacrifice to me.”

“That’s why I’ve been lingering on this river, waiting for an opportunity to claim what is rightfully mine. Who would have thought…”

Who would have thought I’d be so unlucky? I thought capturing a girl and being gifted a married woman would be the end of my losses, but instead, I attracted such a formidable haunting?

Damn it, although I have doubts about her abilities, I don’t have the courage to test them. It’s so frustrating.

The River God thought, then suddenly brightened, quickly looking at Lu Yibei, “However, Lady Calamity, the performer the village chief hired is still on my ship. She might know something!”

“Oh?” Lu Yibei narrowed her eyes, observing the River God, then silently glanced at the mast.

Seeing this, Xing Yuan chimed in, “Lady Calamity, the River God seems sincere in his apology. Why not accept some compensation from him and let him go? Peace is precious, after all!”

If we keep pushing him, he might retaliate, leading to unforeseen complications and innocent casualties. Xing Yuan thought.

It seemed Lu Yibei had guessed Xing Yuan’s thoughts. She withdrew her gaze and said, “Since someone has pleaded on your behalf, hand over the performer to me, sign the contract, and offer compensation, then you may leave.”

“Thank you, Lady Calamity, for your mercy.”

The River God felt a weight lifted off his shoulders and bowed slightly. As he spoke, the massive water sphere enveloping the ship began to churn.

Soon after, a graceful woman dressed in a sheer white outfit, her face adorned with opera makeup, was carried by the surging water along with her costume and belongings, and placed on the ground before Lu Yibei.

After examining the woman for a moment, Lu Yibei turned and winked at Xing Yuan, who understood immediately. She stepped forward and cast a spell formation to control the sleeping haunting woman.

Their seamless cooperation made Bai Kai’s heart ache.

How long have they known each other?

Why do they seem like longtime friends already?

I… I’m so frustrated!

Thus, Lu Yibei’s first encounter with an external haunting invasion as the King of Hauntings in Hua City concluded without triggering a large-scale battle.

Half an hour later, the raging river had receded, leaving the air slightly hot.

Lu Yibei stood on the west platform of Baiyan Village, which had mostly collapsed, watching the River God, now restored, slowly sail into the mist along the winding narrow river.

From afar, a figure emerged from the cabin, stood on the deck, and raised a stiff arm, waving goodbye to her. After a brief pause, the figure retreated back into the cabin, disappearing with the ship into the thick fog.

At this moment, Xing Yuan strolled over to Lu Yibei’s side, praising, “Nice acting, resolving the crisis without a fight. Honestly, it’s a pity you didn’t sign a contract with The Midnight Watchers Society.”

“Would you sign such a contract?” Lu Yibei retorted.

“…” Xing Yuan was momentarily speechless, then chuckled softly, “True, there are many unreasonable clauses, but it’s my job, hope you understand.”

“Understood,” Lu Yibei nodded.

“But I’m curious about one thing. You just let the Boat God go?”

Lu Yibei didn’t directly answer Xing Yuan’s question, only nodded slightly.

“Boat God? Quite a fitting name.”

According to the River God’s account, he was born from the haunting surrounding Hua City, specifically the legend of [White Boat, River God’s Tribute, Red Boat, River God Marriage], so his entity was a boat. Calling him Boat God seemed appropriate.

“Letting him go, should I have fought him to the end?”

As Lu Yibei spoke, Xing Yuan discreetly observed her expression, but found nothing, causing her to furrow her brow slightly.

“There must be another reason, right? I saw you whispering with the River God for quite a while.”

“…”

Lu Yibei remained silent.

Indeed, after signing the ally contract with the River God, she whispered with him for a long time. Her intention was to ask the River God for Gui Hua.

She initially thought the phrase “leaving the boat means death” was a scare tactic used by the River God to bind the women in red to him.

However…

“Lady Calamity, what Gui Hua said is true. I have no intention of deceiving you. To be honest, the wives I have on board, the most recent one boarded over a hundred years ago,” the River God explained to Lu Yibei.

“If I hadn’t expended a large amount of psychic energy to prolong their lives, they would have perished long ago.”

“Over the years, their lives have become intertwined with my psychic energy. If they stray too far, they might not survive,” the River God continued.

“Why would you do that?” Lu Yibei asked, puzzled. It was quite rare for a haunting to use psychic energy to extend human lives.

“They are my wives, after all…” the River God replied.

Hearing this, Lu Yibei suddenly felt that perhaps the River God wasn’t as bad as she had thought. But then, his next words made her want to smack him.

With arms spread wide as if to embrace something, the River God softly said, “Whether they like it or not, I love each and every one of them!”

Lu Yibei was speechless. “You scoundrel! Some people have all the luck while others have none!”

As she silently cursed, she glanced at the ship’s mast and curiously asked, “By the way, what’s the deal with your mast? Is it important?”

“Well…” The River God looked uncomfortable, his eyes darting around shiftily. He leaned in close to Lu Yibei’s ear and whispered something.

In an instant, Lu Yibei’s delicate face turned bright red.

“Are you an exhibitionist? Get lost, just get lost! If you don’t leave, I’ll blow you up!” Lu Yibei growled, holding her forehead.

With that, the River God shrank back, rose into the air, transformed into a stream of water, and merged into the large ship, making a hasty retreat.

Sometimes, curiosity can be too much for one’s own good!

I shouldn’t have asked him in the first place.

Who knows, after seeing such a thing, will I get a stye?

Lu Yibei thought to herself, then looked at Xing Yuan and said calmly, “Just some minor issues, nothing that would threaten the safety of Hua City.”

“Is that so?” Xing Yuan nodded. “That’s good. But you had the chance to make him sign the Indenture, didn’t you? You still have it with you, right?”

Hearing this, Lu Yibei looked at Xing Yuan, her big eyes blinking innocently. “Godmother, I forgot to bring it with me when I left!”

If I had him sign it, wouldn’t he become a lackey of The Midnight Watchers Society?

Who knows when my identity might be exposed, and then I’d be stripped of my membership and end up on the Wanted List, in danger.

Signing an Indenture with a powerful haunting is like aiding the enemy. I’m not that foolish! Lu Yibei thought.

Hearing the term “Godmother,” a sweet feeling arose in Xing Yuan’s heart, and she suppressed the urge to expose Lu Yibei’s lie, smiling shyly. “Well, let’s talk about the name change later.”

“Why not? In my heart, you already are,” Lu Yibei said with determination.

Her skill in manipulating Shui-Ge was becoming more and more adept.

Xing Yuan parted her lips slightly, about to say something to Lu Yibei, when Bai Kai approached after tending to the poisoned, unconscious performer.

“Xiao…emm, Lady Calamity, the toxins in that guy’s system have been temporarily controlled. He should wake up after a day or two of rest,” Bai Kai reported.

“By the way, what were you two talking about earlier?” he asked eagerly.

This was the main point; he wanted to know!

Hearing this, Lu Yibei and Xing Yuan exchanged a glance and said in unison, “Girl talk!”

Bai Kai was left bewildered, “???”

Despite his years of experience in the world of romance, he suddenly felt he didn’t understand women at all. And moreover…

Why is Yibei so adept at this?

How many times has she done this behind my back?

Lu Ming, you and your wife better keep an eye on her. It’s not me who taught her this; she learned it on her own!

Late the next night, deep within the underground parking lot of Xingfu Community.

In the pitch-black space, a woman dressed in a thin, white garment was placed on a stone platform. Thin blue beams of light, as thick as fingers, pierced through her body, binding her joints.

A gust of murky, cold wind swept through, and she suddenly awoke, her eyes snapping open. Upon seeing the scene before her, her pupils contracted.

Gray mist drifted about like wandering souls, filling the entire space. Numerous hauntings appeared and disappeared within the fog, some grotesque, some terrifying, some eerie and mysterious. The faint psychic energy fluctuations emanating from them filled her with dread.

Yet these hauntings, which she usually avoided at all costs, were unusually quiet. Occasionally, greedy eyes were cast her way, but none dared to act out of line.

All because of that green-clothed girl.

The girl sat regally on a dragon-shaped root-carved throne, her eyes glowing with a golden-red light, exuding an air of supremacy.

The one who could command such a gathering of hauntings must be the newly risen King of Hauntings in Hua City.

But…

Wasn’t I rehearsing on the River God’s ship? How did I end up captured here?

The haunting woman thought, nearly fainting again, when the voice of the green-clothed girl drifted over.

“Name?” Lu Yibei asked softly, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Usually, others questioned her; now it was her turn to question others!

“Uh… um…” The haunting woman stammered, “Bie… Bie Suzhen.”

Lu Yibei’s eyebrow twitched, and she maintained her composure, asking expressionlessly, “Age?”

“Sixteen…”

Sixteen, my foot! Do you think I’d believe such nonsense?

Lu Yibei frowned, glancing at the massive, fang-baring green head floating behind her, and said calmly, “Ghost Face, she’s not being honest. Take her away and feed her to the little ones!”

Hearing this, the green head opened its gaping maw, extending a crimson tongue to lick its pus-covered lips, leaving a trail of foul-smelling slime.

“Wait, wait!” Bie Suzhen cried out in panic, “Ninety-six, I’m ninety-six!”

Lu Yibei raised a hand to signal the haunting known as Ghost Face to calm down and step back, continuing her interrogation, “Where did you come from? How did you get here?”

“Lanruo Inn Customs Shop…”

“…” Lu Yibei fell silent for a few seconds, glancing at Ghost Face from the corner of her eye, and said coolly, “Ghost Face, take her away and give the little ones a treat.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ghost Face lunged forward, causing Bie Suzhen to pale in fright.

“No, no, spare me! I really came from Lanruo Inn Customs Shop!” she cried out with a sob, “It was that guy named Zhang, he spent three hundred chips to invite me to perform! We came on the Giant Train.”

“Wait!”

Finally hearing something useful, Lu Yibei’s gaze sharpened, and she halted Ghost Face once more.

She descended from her throne and approached Bie Suzhen, narrowing her eyes slightly, “Who is this Zhang? And what’s the deal with the three hundred chips?”

“This…” Bie Suzhen hesitated, casting a wary glance at Lu Yibei, unsure whether to speak.

She was hesitant, fearing that once she revealed everything, she’d be immediately sent off for “a treat.”

“If I tell you, will you let me go?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Yibei furrowed her brows slightly, stepped aside, and waved her hand, “Ghost Face, a treat!”

“Ow-!” Ghost Face howled and lunged at Bie Suzhen, the foul-smelling slime almost splattering onto her face.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Zhang is the village chief of Baiyan Village, and the chips are, they’re the universal chips for the Dream Come True Journey! Ah-stay away!”

Faced with the inevitable, Bie Suzhen decided to spill everything, hoping for a stroke of luck.

“Ghost Face, stand down!”

Ghost Face, “…” Lady Calamity, are you going to let me eat or not? I’m so anxious!

Reluctantly, Ghost Face retreated, and Lu Yibei stepped forward, “Universal chips? Do they look like this?”

As she spoke, she produced a chip with a face value of “10” and placed it in front of Bie Suzhen.

Bie Suzhen glanced at the chip, her eyes lighting up, and nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes, this is the universal chip for the Dream Come True Journey. So you’ve been there already? Then why do you…”

“Enough chatter!” Lu Yibei interrupted, “Tell me, where is this Giant Train located, and how do you board it?”

Bie Suzhen had assumed Lu Yibei had already visited the Dream Come True Journey, and after a brief pause, she responded, “The Hua City station should be at the abandoned subway station near the West Train Station. If you want to go, I can guide you.”

“Ghost Face! Take her away!” Lu Yibei commanded coldly.

Bie Suzhen, “!!!”

“Treat her well…”

Ghost Face, whose massive mouth was nearly enveloping Bie Suzhen, “???”