Chapter 545: I’ve Been Wanting to Visit the Great Pure Palace for a Long Time!

Time: 8:47 a.m.

A faint pink hue spread from the horizon, enveloping the sky above University Town. Shafts of golden light poured through the gaps in the clouds, and all things gradually awakened, bathed in the morning sun.

The time belonging to the haunting had ended.

A soft, bone-melting moan drifted faintly from deep within the unfinished buildings at the edge of University Town. Before long, a handsome, cold-faced young man climbed over the wall surrounding the unfinished buildings and strode quickly toward the nearest main road.

The directional soul-summoning spell formation had been practiced enough on Suolang Baima; it was about time to try summoning Hu Chuan. Lu Yibei planned to head to school to share this good news with his senior sister, and later, he’d have to visit The Midnight Watchers Society to “check in” on Huá Sāng.

Riding his little electric scooter along the street toward Hua City University of Technology, he recalled how, just now, he’d asked Suolang Baima several times why he had ambushed his father. Suolang Baima’s reactions weighed heavily on his mind.

Back in Taoyuan, when Suolang Baima’s Spirit Pattern lost control and underwent haunting transformation, he hadn’t had time to get an answer. Around the seventh successful soul summoning, Lu Yibei finally asked.

But just like in Taoyuan, before Suolang Baima could say anything useful, he was overcome by fear, and his body exhibited a series of abnormal reactions.

After trying two or three more times and getting the same result, Lu Yibei had to give up. Still, with each successful soul summoning afterward, his methods grew increasingly ruthless.

It was as if, in his impotent rage, he was taking it out on Suolang Baima.

Although he couldn’t get anything out of Suolang Baima, it wasn’t a big problem. After all, he’d already found a lead on Zhang Shuo. A living person would surely know more than a muddled remnant soul.

But what exactly was it that terrified Suolang Baima so much? Was it that bizarre, enormous black shadow?

A similar shadow had appeared in Wang Yingying’s memories… The shadow that appeared during the car accident and the one that attacked the white house where Wang Yingying was born–could they be the same?

If so… was it the one that killed his father?

As Lu Yibei pondered, a blaring horn snapped him out of his thoughts.

Unknowingly, he had arrived at Gate 1 of Hua City University of Technology. It was the morning rush for classes, and the road in front of the campus was bustling with people and vehicles.

“Hey, watch out, classmate! Can’t you look where you’re going while riding? Seriously!”

With the sound of a horn, a young woman on a little electric scooter zipped past him, tossing a resentful remark over her shoulder as she sped away.

“Uh… sorry.” Watching the girl’s departing figure, Lu Yibei muttered softly, turned his scooter around, parked it in the garage near the gate, and then walked toward the teaching building.

——–

Sitting in the classroom, Lu Yibei was distracted the entire morning. When it was time to switch classrooms for the second period, he nearly went to the wrong room.

Arriving at the classroom for the second period, he found a seat in the back row. As soon as he set down his backpack, he overheard something interesting.

“I’m telling you! That cherry blossom ghost has actually been in our school all along–it’s just that someone dug her up not long ago!”

Lu Yibei looked over at the sound. As he expected, it was Yang Yi and He Liang’s group talking.

That’s right, the same group who nearly got themselves killed last time playing the one-person hide-and-seek game. Now they were at it again.

That’s why “history teaches us many lessons, one of which is that no one ever learns from history.” That saying is absolutely true.

Fortunately, most of the hauntings in Hua City are under my command now. As long as you don’t go messing around in Red Mountain Villa or that abandoned coal mine, do whatever you want… Lu Yibei thought to himself.

“Look, these are photos my buddy risked his life to take near Cherry Blossom Avenue this morning.” Yang Yi pulled out his phone, opened his album, and passed it around.

“See? The soil’s freshly turned, and there are two depressions the size of human heads! Oh, and a security guard uncle saw the cherry blossom ghost too–he was so scared he quit his job!”

“They say the cherry blossom ghost was a senior sister from the Republic era. She fell in love with a teacher while in school, but the teacher went off to join the national salvation movement and was beaten to death. The senior sister was so heartbroken that she hugged the teacher’s ashes and committed suicide under the cherry blossom tree…”

Lu Yibei, “……” Hey, that story is way too ridiculous! While I can guarantee senior sister won’t kill you for this, if she decides to beat you up… I’ll definitely ask her to take me along!

As Lu Yibei was thinking this, under a glance from a girl in their group, Yang Yi suddenly turned to look at him, raised an eyebrow, and asked, “Lu, you seem pretty interested in the cherry blossom ghost, huh?”

“Want to join us for a discussion?”

“Not interested at all.” Lu Yibei replied expressionlessly, “I just wanted to remind you, the cherry blossom trees on Cherry Blossom Avenue were only planted seven or eight years ago, after the College of Agriculture developed a new variety.”

“So, that senior sister must have been so heartbroken she accidentally time-traveled, and only then committed suicide under the cherry blossom tree.”

Yang Yi, “……”

After confronting Yang Yi, the gloomy mood Lu Yibei had because of Suolang Baima eased quite a bit.

It’s probably the principle of “when I’m unhappy, as long as I shift my unhappiness onto someone else, I’ll become happy.”

Sitting in the classroom, she listened attentively to the lesson. As soon as the bell rang and the teacher said “class dismissed!” Lu Yibei left the classroom and hurried straight to the main path of Gate No. 4.

Arriving at the main path of Gate No. 4, Lu Yibei saw from afar Du Sixian, dressed as a student, sitting under a lush peach tree, holding a management book and reading intently.

That peaceful, tranquil look gave no hint that, every night, she would turn into the “vampire” who “exploited” all the hauntings in Hua City.

Walking closer, Lu Yibei noticed that the grass and soil around the small warehouse ruins, which had been corroded by the black mist spreading from the time capsule, had already been cleared away. The air was filled with a faint fragrance.

That was a special incense made by The Midnight Watchers Society, used to neutralize lingering psychic energy fluctuations, leaving behind its scent.

Hearing footsteps, Du Sixian looked up and saw Lu Yibei. Her face immediately broke into a smile, and she waved, calling out, “Senior, over here, over here!”

As soon as Lu Yibei walked up, she leaned in close and lowered her voice, “Senior, the haunting incidents that happened here before, they were all done by your sister, right?”

When did I ever have a sister… Lu Yibei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized and nodded, “Yeah, right! It was… my sister who did it.”

“Hehe!” Du Sixian chuckled, “Then there’s no problem! Qing-Jie even asked me to come and keep watch, saying that the culprit often returns to the scene of the crime.”

Lu Yibei, “….” Well, she’s not wrong–the culprit is right in front of you.

“But Qing-Jie definitely doesn’t know, even if the benefactor really shows up here, I wouldn’t tell her.” Du Sixian said proudly.

Lu Yibei, “….” Seriously, you’re getting more and more skilled at being a traitor, huh?

Don’t you feel any guilt at all? Who did you learn this from?

Definitely not me, Lu Yibei–loyal to The Midnight Watchers Society!

Thinking this, Lu Yibei asked Du Sixian, “By the way, how long have you been here? Have you seen a haunting in red?”

“You mean Sister Jiang?” Du Sixian nodded, “I’ve seen her! She’s already left, said she was going back to her original city to visit her parents.”

Already gone? Looks like she really is eager to return home… Lu Yibei nodded thoughtfully.

Forget it, tonight I’ll summon Hu Chuan’s soul, first get the whole story straight, then have some fun with him, and later, if there’s a chance, I’ll tell senior sister. Lu Yibei thought.

——–

Afternoon, Hua City Folk Culture Administration Bureau.

In front of the office building, the mushroom girl held a big black umbrella, squatting in the shadow of a crooked old tree, staring intently at the senior brother and sister in wheelchairs moving through the courtyard, seriously wondering if there was something wrong with their brains.

But after thinking for a long time, she couldn’t figure it out–after all, she was just a delicate and charming mushroom.

“Damn it, I can’t stand another day in this Hua City Midnight Watchers Society, there’s not a shred of human warmth, I’m like this and not a single person is willing to help, it’s infuriating!” Li Xuan said.

When he got to the angry part, he even slammed the wheelchair’s armrest a few times.

Last night, after An Qing treated him and he slept soundly, his condition had improved a lot. Early this morning, as soon as the sun rose, he got busy, contacting several other operators, hoping to get help sending Huá Sāng back.

Huá Sāng’s Spirit Pattern had lost control more than once; Li Xuan absolutely couldn’t trust her to return to the Great Pure Palace alone.

However, after he’d asked every colleague in Hua City Midnight Watchers Society, his heart was chilled.

Everyone refused him, and each had a reason he couldn’t argue with.

The mushroom girl’s situation was special–she absolutely couldn’t leave Hua City.

The Nocturnal Syndrome outbreak had only just passed, and there was always a risk of resurgence. As the only operator in Hua City Midnight Watchers Society who mastered various medical spell formations and Alchemical potion preparation, An Qing naturally couldn’t leave.

No need to even ask Gu Xiliu–one pigeon and one turtle on the road together, crossing half of Country Z, at least one would get lost, most likely both.

Bai Kai had recently encountered something, apparently in seclusion preparing for something. Except for the night shift, he hadn’t been seen at all, let alone for this kind of thing–if Li Xuan asked him, all his “wives” might miscarry.

Jiang Li, though she didn’t get along with Li Xuan, was originally the only one who might help. But just this morning, she received notice from the Jinguan City Midnight Watchers Society: soon she’d be heading to headquarters with several outstanding operators from the southwest region to complete Spirit Pattern advancement–she had no time at all.

Watching Li Xuan’s furious expression, Huá Sāng gently shook her head, pushed the wheelchair forward, and calmly said, “Senior brother, you really don’t need to be upset. Like I said, just pack me up and mail me back.”

“Just remember to write [Contains valuables, handle with care] on the box. Last time I forgot, got dizzy from the delivery, and when Shifu unpacked me, I threw up right then and there.”

Dizzy from delivery… Li Xuan’s mouth twitched, he opened his mouth, just about to say something to Huá Sāng, when an annoying voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

“What the hell? What are you guys doing? A patient support group? Do all you people from the Great Pure Palace have some special fetish for wheelchairs?” Lu Yibei asked in surprise.

Arriving at the Hua City Folk Culture Administration Bureau, when he saw the afternoon sunlight spilling over the two-person wheelchair team in the courtyard, he almost thought he’d walked into some elderly rehabilitation center.

“By the way, Operator Li, how did your face get so swollen? I’ve told you before, don’t make snide remarks behind people’s backs. It’s fine among colleagues at The Midnight Watchers Society in Hua City, but no one outside will put up with you. See, you finally got beaten up, didn’t you?”

Li Xuan looked at Lu Yibei, his face darkening, “……” Other than when I’m pissed off by you weirdos, I never make snide remarks, uh, I just speak up for what’s right, okay?!

Looking at Lu Yibei, Huá Sāng’s eyes brightened slightly. She turned to Li Xuan and said, “Senior brother, haven’t you asked Operator Lu yet? Wasn’t it him who took me back last time?”

Last time at the airport, Lu Yibei had physical contact with her when her Spirit Pattern was on the verge of losing control, but nothing unusual happened, which really surprised Huá Sāng.

After all, after suffering the same degree of black night erosion, Li Xuan, whose psychic energy fluctuation level appeared higher than Lu Yibei’s, was already barely human, while Lu Yibei acted like nothing had happened.

Still, surprise aside, it was impossible for Huá Sāng to investigate further.

The reason was simple: too much trouble!

Neither the Headmaster nor that man could fully cure her, so Lu Yibei was even less likely to. Even if she found out why he could resist that level of black night erosion, it wouldn’t help; better to spend that time resting.

But considering that Lu Yibei wasn’t affected by black night erosion, and her senior brother insisted on finding someone to escort her back, Huá Sāng thought he might be a good candidate.

“Him?” Li Xuan rolled his eyes disdainfully. “He’s just like Bai Kai, taking you to the airport last time was an exception.”

As if she hadn’t heard Li Xuan, Huá Sāng looked at Lu Yibei and asked, “Could you take me back? My senior brother doesn’t feel comfortable letting me go alone. It’ll only take a day or two.”

Li Xuan waved his hand at Huá Sāng, “Don’t ask him, he won’t take you.”

“Sure! I’ve always wanted to see the Great Pure Palace!” Lu Yibei blurted out.

“See, he’s just like this–” Li Xuan’s words stopped halfway, his expression suddenly freezing. He whipped around to stare at Lu Yibei, eyes wide. “Did you just say you’re willing to take Huá Sāng back?”

Weird, why did this guy agree so quickly? Something’s off! Is there some trick? Li Xuan thought to himself.

“Yeah! Didn’t you know? I’ve always admired the Great Pure Palace. I even wanted to apply for spring training, but the spots were already full when I applied,” Lu Yibei said.

If I’m escorting her all that way, surely the Great Pure Palace won’t be stingy enough to refuse to let me stay a night, right?

Then I can use the opportunity to scout the place. Besides…

This Huá Sāng girl has a ninety-nine percent chance of having come into contact with Pure Lotus Sword fragments. If I can get some info from her, things will be much easier!

Lu Yibei was secretly plotting when Li Xuan’s snide voice suddenly reached his ears.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you to actually admire my sect’s style?”

“Yeah!” Lu Yibei nodded.

Hearing this, Li Xuan raised his chin slightly, his face full of pride. “So what do you want to see? As a reward for helping escort my junior sister back, I can arrange it for you. I do have some reputation in the sect.”

“……”

I want to see where the Pure Lotus Sword fragments are, and all the Visualized Diagrams. Can you arrange that? Lu Yibei thought.

But of course, he couldn’t say that out loud, so he changed the subject, “I just want to see what kind of place could produce two weirdos like you…”

Li Xuan, Huá Sāng, “……”