Mu Bai awoke still curled on the sofa.
He shifted drowsily, rolled onto his side, and opened his eyes, only to find that the child in his arms was gone.
Startled, Mu Bai sat up, glancing around the cushions and floor but there was no trace of the boy.
The child who had only hours ago thanked him in that sweet, childish voice seemed to have vanished like a dream, gone without a shadow or a sound.
He remembered the words of older ghosts: most wandering spirits left adrift in the mortal world remained because of some unfulfilled regret.
Once that regret was soothed, the lonely spirit could finally leave, pass on to reincarnation.
Perhaps the little boy who had wept in hunger really had been a starving ghost. Now, after receiving incense food, a warm bath, and the comfort he longed for, perhaps his wish had been satisfied and he had departed, reborn elsewhere.
Mu Bai folded his legs and sat cross-legged on the sofa, turning off the television. His mood was touched with quiet melancholy.
He and A’Sheng were both lonely ghosts themselves, wandering the world for centuries and yet neither of them knew what their own unresolved regret was nor how long they would remain bound to this existence.
Just as Mu Bai was lost in his melancholy thoughts, the crisp sound of the electronic door lock opening and closing echoed through the quiet living room.
He turned his head, only then did he realize that the man had returned late tonight.
At first, Mu Bai thought he must have been caught up with work at the company, but then another thought crept in.
He suddenly remembered how, at three in the morning not long ago, a certain malicious ghost had tried to sneak away with Yan He’s new “target.”
Without hesitation, the little ghost floated up and drifted over to the man’s side. Lowering his head, he sniffed him carefully.
Yan He, who was in the middle of removing his wristwatch, felt his throat tighten slightly. He lowered his gaze and found himself staring at the black-haired little ghost, dressed in white sleepwear, circling around him with solemn concentration.
The boy’s nose twitched faintly as he leaned in, as if seriously investigating his scent.
Yan He instinctively straightened a little.
After all, Yan Ning’s soul was a living soul. Although it didn’t carry the heavy chill of ordinary ghostly spirits, it still bore traces of yin energy.
Fortunately, the boy’s soul was weak. The faint yin energy it had left behind had dissipated quickly, leaving no detectable trace. The little ghost, therefore, could smell nothing suspicious.
When Mu Bai had finished circling the man, satisfied that there was no hint of another ghost clinging to him, he nodded with approval.
He followed Yan He’s heels and soon discovered the man’s very first act upon returning home was to switch on the television.
Then, standing directly before the screen, he began subscribing to memberships.
In the living room, the cheerful chime of successful payments “Ding, Ding” sounded again and again.
Mu Bai’s eyes grew round. He stared in amazement as the man seemed to unlock nearly every single channel’s premium membership before finally putting down his phone.
Yan He turned his head slightly, catching sight of the little ghost frozen in front of the TV, eyes wide with wonder.
The boy still looked like a youth. Clad in white sleepwear, his figure appeared taller, more slender than before. His black hair was soft, his cheeks snow-pale, and his almond eyes glistened like polished obsidian, clean and luminous.
He looked as though he had been raised from childhood with the utmost care, treasured like a rare jewel, his beauty so fine, so flawless, that one couldn’t help but sigh at the sight.
Yan He’s gaze lowered again, recalling that flash of red string interwoven with gold thread he had glimpsed earlier at the boy’s collar.
When Yan Ning was small, he too had worn a red thread around his neck, from which dangled a tiny longevity lock. That little lock carried with it the Yan family’s blessings and love.
Was it possible, Yan He wondered, that this youth had once borne a similar token in his childhood?
That he, too, had been cherished deeply, raised with affection, growing into someone so pure and upright, so soft-hearted that one couldn’t help but feel protective sorrow?
And yet, despite being nothing more than a little hungry ghost himself, he still willingly shared half his incense offerings with a child he had never even known.
Yan He exhaled slowly, a long breath easing from his chest.
Lowering his eyes, his long lashes veiled the dark emotions in his gaze. When he lifted his head again, he found the little ghost had drifted close without his noticing, staring up at him with wide, astonished eyes.
It was a look brimming with reverence, awe, and solemnity, as though Yan He had just accomplished some extraordinary feat.
Yan He, who had merely subscribed to every possible television membership: “…”
Well… admittedly, that was rather extraordinary.
After all, television memberships didn’t accept spirit money.
A complex expression flickered across Yan He’s face as he watched the little ghost suddenly dart closer to the TV.
Excitement radiated from him as though he were already planning out which movie marathon to enjoy come the weekend.
Yan He couldn’t help a faint laugh. In the end, perhaps it wasn’t anything grand at all, just going to bed early, and burning incense and offerings that truly brought this little ghost joy.
The following morning.
When Mu Bai, still dressed in white sleepwear, drifted back to the cemetery, the sight that greeted the water ghost nearly made him lose his composure altogether.
His perpetually expressionless face contorted ever so slightly, nose twitching in outrage. It seemed he had never once seen the little ghost in such attire.
Pointing stiffly at the white nightclothes, he demanded to know who had stolen Mu Bai’s robe. His tone was as glacial as ever, but his words carried a sharp bite:
“Was it that Dark fearing bird?”
Mu Bai: “?”
Confused, he blinked, “What Dark fearing bird?”
The water ghost’s voice was flat and cold: “The one with the pool in his house. Afraid of the dark, afraid of ghosts. His name is something with ‘bird’ in it. Was it him who stole your clothes?”
It took Mu Bai a long moment before realization dawned.
With a helpless sigh, he explained, “His name is Yan He, not ‘something-bird.’”
The first time he had introduced Yan He to the water ghost, he had been extra careful to explain the name properly, knowing full well that the water ghost was illiterate.
He had said clearly: “Yan, as in the King of Hell. He, as in the immortal crane.”
But in the end, the water ghost had remembered nothing except “bird.”
Still brooding, the water ghost pressed on, “So it wasn’t that bird who took it?”
He muttered that anyone with “bird” in their name was obviously no ordinary person. Maybe he had deliberately taken Mu Bai’s robe, just to test his strength as a ghost.
Mu Bai shook his head. “It wasn’t him. He couldn’t possibly take my clothes.”
Patiently, he recounted the events of the night before, about the lost child, about the encounter, explaining again and again until at last the water ghost’s suspicions eased.
Without another word, the water ghost fetched his old grey robe, folded perfectly flat.
Mu Bai accepted it and slipped it on, murmuring with quiet wistfulness, “A’Sheng, that child must have reincarnated by now. When will it be our turn?”
Ghosts like them, wandering souls without masters, could not follow the underworld’s envoys, Black and White Impermanence.
They were fugitive spirits, and if they were ever caught, they would be dragged into hell to suffer endless punishment.
Only by waiting for the last traces of their obsessions to fade could they hope to reincarnate properly.
The water ghost, face as still as stone, shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Mu Bai finished fastening his robe and asked, “Do you still remember what your regret is?”
The water ghost could not. He didn’t even remember how he had died.
But since Mu Bai had asked, he thought hard for a long while before finally replying, in his same flat tone: “I can’t remember.”
All he knew was that he must continue following Mu Bai.
Lately, people often burned paper money and clothing for Mu Bai. Whenever he folded the offerings, he felt a strange familiarity, as though this had once been his job in life.
Not only had he done it before, he had done it with practiced ease.
At first, he had suspected he might have been a seller of storybooks before death. But now, watching his own hands so deftly folding clothes, he had begun to suspect he might once have been a cloth-seller instead.
Speculations aside, however, one thing he firmly believed: whatever his past identity, it had certainly been nothing like Mu Bai’s.
Hearing the water ghost admit that he couldn’t remember, Mu Bai let out a soft sigh, “I can’t remember either.”
But in truth, most wandering souls couldn’t recall the remnants of their obsessions. If fate allowed, sometimes by sheer coincidence, they might resolve their lingering attachments and reincarnate smoothly.
Compared to that, they weren’t the most pitiful ones. The most tragic were those wandering souls who had already lost all awareness, no consciousness left, yet still forced to drift aimlessly in the world.
The water ghost listened quietly to the little ghost’s words, but his own thoughts were elsewhere.
Reincarnation? Rebirth? Right now, he couldn’t care less about that.
His mind was filled with the image of that “bird man” standing by the poolside, that half-smile lingering on his lips.
For years he had been wrangled into working for those malicious spirits, collecting money for them. Because of that, his senses had grown sharper than most.
And he was absolutely certain that the man in that villa was no ordinary person.
For the little ghost’s sake, it would be far better to stay away.
The water ghost brooded for a long moment, then leaned closer and lowered his voice to whisper a few words to Mu Bai.
Mu Bai blinked in surprise, hesitant. “Do you think… that’ll work?”
The water ghost nodded firmly, his expression unusually serious. “It will. I’ve already scouted the place several times.”
The little ghost hesitated, looking at the water ghost’s solemn face. After a pause, he finally nodded in agreement.
A few days later, at midnight.
The clock in the bedroom ticked past ten. The slender hands overlapped perfectly, yet the little ghost had not appeared. Lying in bed, Yan He set aside his book, his brows faintly furrowed.
He glanced at the fluttering curtains stirred by the night breeze and silently counted a number in his heart.
Three days.
The little ghost had been showing up later and later, missing his usual timing to press down on him. For two nights in a row, Yan He hadn’t even seen him before falling asleep, only the faint trace of yin energy left behind in the morning proved that the ghost had been there at all.
Tonight was the same. It was well past ten before the little ghost came tumbling clumsily through the window.
Clambering onto the bed, he muttered in relief, “Thank goodness, not late…”
Yan He closed his eyes, feeling that familiar chill approach him. Wherever the ghost had been, he crawled under the quilt now, curling himself into a comfortable spot.
The little ghost trusted him more and more. Before, he used to stare fixedly at Yan He, refusing to blink until the man had fallen asleep. As if, without his watchful gaze, Yan He would never close his eyes.
But now, as long as he climbed onto the bed, Mu Bai would first snuggle in for a nap. Only after resting would he rouse himself to nibble at Yan He’s spirit energy, and then slip away at midnight, fully satisfied.
Tonight, he buried his head into the soft quilt, yawned, and fell asleep faster than the man he was supposed to be haunting.
After a while, the man on the bed opened his eyes, staring at the oblivious little ghost peacefully dozing by his side. The boy looked utterly unaware that he had arrived late.
What’s more, his body carried traces of some strange scent neither human nor ghost, that was unpleasant to the senses.
Yan He’s brows knitted tighter, the shadows between them deepening.
The next night, a little past ten.
Just as usual, the little ghost slipped nimbly through the window! only to notice a wind chime hanging there.
Curious, he floated closer, just in time to see Yan He, already dressed in his sleepwear, lightly flicking the chime.
The bells trembled, producing a crisp, melodious sound that carried off into the cool night.
From that evening onward, it became a ritual.
Every night before sleep, Yan He would flick the wind chime a few times.
And far away, Mu Bai would always hear its ringing, reminding him that it was time to hurry to the villa, sneak into the bedroom, and drain some spirit energy from his “new target.”
Yet, apart from those nightly visits drawn by the sound of the wind chime, the man never saw the little ghost at any other time.
No matter how thoroughly Yan He searched through the villa’s storage room, even up in the attic, there was never a trace of him.
One night, he finally noticed something unusual.
That day, Yan He had worked overtime, leaving the office past eight. He wondered: if he stayed at the company, would the little ghost show up there on his own? But no, the ghost never came.
As he drove into his gated community, he heard raised voices. Unusual, since this neighborhood was known for its peace and privacy.
It was an area of standalone villas, luxury priced, where only the wealthy or powerful could reside.
The commotion came from the neighboring villa. A young man, dressed in trendy clothes, was angrily arguing with the property staff.
“I’m telling you, someone’s been inside my villa during the day!” he shouted, voice edged with fury.
“Your surveillance is useless! Don’t tell me there’s nothing wrong!”
Several suited managers and security guards surrounded him, trying to placate him, each insisting there was no evidence of trespassing.
The young man gestured heatedly, face flushed with anger, while the scene grew chaotic.
Yan He, uninterested, turned the wheel, intending to drive away when a single glance made him pause.
In the villa’s outdoor swimming pool, a round head had popped up, hair sticking out in a small tuft. A head he knew all too well.
His foot pressed down on the brake. The black car slowed to a stop by the curb. Narrowing his eyes, Yan He looked toward the pool.
Sure enough, in the midst of the noisy quarrel, the little ghost was peeking curiously out of the water and beside him, the familiar expressionless water ghost surfaced, both of them gazing down at the humans below.
Soaking in the pool, Mu Bai hesitated. “I think he noticed us… maybe we shouldn’t come anymore?”
The water ghost shook his head, deadpan as ever. “That villa’s owner hit me with a fishing hook three times. So I’m entitled to soak in his pool for a few days.”
He had been minding his business in the wild waters, napping peacefully, until he was harassed three times in a row, each time by this villa’s owner throwing a fishing hook into the water.
Couldn’t catch a fish, so he aimed at ghosts instead.
As he scowled, the water ghost muttered coldly, “In any case, he can’t possibly be more afraid of ghosts than that bird man.”
Down below, Zhuang Xuan stormed back and forth, snapping, “I told you, someone’s been sneaking into my villa these past few days, especially around the pool.
The water’s always disturbed, like something’s hiding in it!
“You all know I’m a top celebrity. Some of my obsessive fans are extreme. What if one of them broke in?!”
As if a celebrity of his stature would make up something so absurd.
The property staff exchanged awkward looks. “Mr. Zhuang, we understand your concern, but we’ve checked the surveillance multiple times. There really hasn’t been anything unusual.”
The vein in Zhuang Xuan’s forehead twitched. He snapped, “What are you implying? That my villa’s haunted?!”
Meanwhile, the real little ghost shrank back guiltily. He ducked under the water with a soft splash, vanishing into the pool’s depths.
The private property manager spent over half an hour calming and negotiating with Zhuang Xuan, promising to strengthen security and surveillance, until the young man finally left, somewhat appeased.
Exhausted, Zhuang Xuan sank into the sofa in his living room. But not long after, the doorbell rang again.
Irritated, he assumed it was another round with the property staff. He opened the door with a trace of frustration in his voice, “Who is it? Does this ever end?!”
The words cut off mid-sentence as he caught sight of the man in front of him, holding a bottle of red wine.
The man was strikingly handsome, his features perfectly proportioned, exuding an air of nobility. His shirt buttoned all the way to the top, leaving not a single patch of skin exposed, radiating an effortless, calm elegance.
He offered a polite nod, “Hello, Mr. Zhuang, right?”
Zhuang Xuan almost fumbled as he opened the door wider. “Yes… Mr. Yan… hello, hello… Please, come in… ”
Yan He stepped into the living room, carrying the bottle of wine, and Zhuang Xuan, nearly stumbling from excitement, stammered, “Mr. Yan, I didn’t expect you would remember me…”
Inside, Zhuang Xuan’s heart pounded with exhilaration. He wanted to call his manager immediately, to announce that the very person everyone in the industry desperately wanted to impress, the person he had dreamed of meeting, was standing right before him.
Yan He had even brought a bottle of wine and addressed him correctly by surname. Even for someone like Zhuang Xuan, a top celebrity, most people in that circle wouldn’t even remember his name.
The last time he’d secured an invitation to an exclusive high society event, he’d managed to see Yan He’s face only briefly.
Zhuang Xuan politely led Yan He to sit on the sofa. “Mr. Yan, what brings you here today?”
He knew perfectly well that someone of Yan He’s status wouldn’t come here for him personally.
If Yan He had any specific intentions, he would have already investigated thoroughly, with his aides notifying Zhuang Xuan’s manager.
Yan He seated himself on the sofa, scanning the room casually before smiling faintly. “Apologies for the intrusion.”
“Your penthouse has a swimming pool, correct?” Zhuang Xuan quickly nodded. “Yes, I have a pool on the top floor. I usually swim for exercise. May I ask why?”
Yan He’s fingers toyed with a string of prayer beads as if sighing. “I hope I’m not inconveniencing you, Mr. Zhuang.
A few days ago, my master read my residence’s energy and mentioned that having water to the exact north and southeast can cause certain issues.”
The moment he finished speaking, Zhuang Xuan immediately understood the implication. Many people in their circle paid attention to such matters.
Startled, he quickly said, “Actually, Mr. Yan, I rarely use the pool to swim. Usually, I go to the gym. And it’s true, it’s a hassle to maintain the pool. I’ll have someone drain it tomorrow. That will make it easier to manage.”
Yan He smiled faintly. “Then I apologize for the trouble, Mr. Zhuang.”
“Not at all! Not at all!” Zhuang Xuan beamed. This was far from trouble, it was a stroke of luck.
So many people would kill to get on Yan He’s good side, and he, by sheer fortune, could earn favor just because of a pool. There was nothing more cost-effective in the world.
Suddenly, the water ghost in the pool sneezed. He frowned, then saw Mu Bai drifting downstairs.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
Mu Bai turned, replying, “I think I just saw Yan He here. I’ll go see what’s happening.”
The water ghost furrowed his brows. “I’ll go with you. Let’s see what this bird is up to.”
As the little ghost floated into the living room, he overheard his new target speaking calmly to Yan He, “There have been some strange things lately… I’ve been sensing something off about my house. Just now, I think I even felt a ghost hitting the walls.”
The little ghost turned pale. He’d only been playing outside for a few days, how could another ghost already be targeting his new mark?
He hurried to the sofa, floating around Yan He, sniffing carefully. Indeed, there was another ghost’s presence.
Alarm bells rang in his mind. He chastised himself for being so distracted by the pool these past few days, neglecting his duties and letting another ghost slip in.
The water ghost followed, frowning as he looked at Yan He and then at the little ghost, “He doesn’t seem like the type to be easily noticed by other ghosts…”
People who were frail, overly anxious, or mentally unsettled were more likely to attract ghosts, as their yang energy was weak. Yan He, tall and robust, could hardly be an easy target.
The man on the sofa, holding a cup of tea, sighed softly. “The master said it might be related to my Eight Characters in astrology. That’s why it’s easier for spirits to be drawn here.”
Zhuang Xuan quickly tried to reassure him. “Don’t worry, Mr. Yan. Masters nowadays…”
The little ghost groaned in frustration. “I knew it… Someone as timid and afraid of ghosts as him would be easy prey. I haven’t even been watching him all these days…”
The water ghost remained silent, but tried to reason, “If you go at midnight to press him down, it’s fine. At other times, if he’s being followed by ghosts, it’s not really your concern…”
The man on the sofa sighed again, “I don’t know what ghosts have been bothering me these past few days. I have been overly anxious; long-term, this could lead to insomnia and mental strain.”
The little ghost went pale. He seemed desperate to rush into the villa and chase away the other ghosts.
The water ghost muttered, “Maybe he’s always been like this…”
“You weren’t here before…”
Mu Bai, fretting, muttered to himself, “A’Sheng, from tomorrow, you’ll have to soak in the pool on your own. I shouldn’t have left him alone… He’s so afraid of ghosts, and scared of the dark. Who knows how the other ghosts might have bullied him these past days…”
“No wonder he’s been fiddling with the wind chime. He probably thinks that’s enough to ward off ghosts. He must have been terrified these past few days…”
The water ghost frowned. He turned to look at Yan He, who was holding his tea cup. Amid the wafting aroma, Yan He’s lips curved slightly in a faint smile, “This tea is really good.”
Zhuang Xuan, embarrassed, laughed softly. “Mr. Yan, you’re too polite. It’s just ordinary green tea, nothing like what you normally drink.”
Yan He set down the cup, tilting his head slightly. “Green tea is good. That’s what I usually drink too.”
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ChaptersChapter 1 · New TargetChapter 2 · Pervert Little Ghost?Chapter 3 · Little one is MischievousChapter 4 · New MountChapter 5 · Fake Master?Chapter 6 · Blanket StolenChapter 7 · A presentChapter 8 · Rhino HornChapter 9 · Clinging like body PillowChapter 9 · Meeting Old FriendChapter 11 · Just like ChildChapter 12 · New AddictionsChapter 13 · Jinxed StarChapter 14 · Creeping out the old IdiotChapter 14 · Creeping out the old IdiotChapter 15 · New Set of ClothesChapter 16 · Big Wife, Little WifeChapter 17 · Chapter SE 17: Raising as A SonChapter 18 · Another Ghost?!Chapter 19 · Scared away the Evil ghostChapter 20 · NingNing’s SoulChapter 20 · Chapter SE 20: NingNing’s SoulChapter 21 · Green TeaChapter 22 · VisitChapter 23 · Turned into DollChapter 24 · Reunited with Yan HeChapter 25 · I’m UglyChapter 26 · I will stomp youChapter 27 · Ghost AgainChapter 28 · Looking for new HostChapter 29 · Just a BiteChapter 30 · Chapter SE 30: BurnChapter 31 · Trapped Again!Chapter 32 · Call me Lord Official….Chapter 33 · I devote myself to you completely…Chapter 34 · Husband or son?Chapter 35 · Ghost sleep during Day time….Chapter 36 · You could buy more than four thousand sticksChapter 37 · Gu TingChapter 38 · Looks familiarChapter 39 · You’re sleeping with my ancestor?!Chapter 40 · Great great great great GrandsonChapter 41 · We can afford itChapter 42 · HotpotChapter 43 · New StoryChapter 44 · Past Memories…Chapter 45 · Kidnapping Ancestor!Chapter 46 · Copy Buddhist scripturesChapter 47 · Ancestor Flew away…Chapter 48 · Xiao He might not be spending his birthday aloneChapter 49 · May everything go as you wishChapter 50 · I lied…Chapter 51 · Young Master turned into half humanChapter 52 · LettersChapter 53 · Lord OxChapter 54 · Male… destined love???Chapter 55 · A kindred spiritChapter 56 · Chapter SE 56: I like YouChapter 57 · Yan ZhangChapter 58 · Is two hours a bit too short?Chapter 59 · Going down the middle is indeed the correct choiceChapter 60 · Excel spreadsheetsChapter 61 · He had forgotten to tell A’Sheng.Chapter 62 · The person he disliked most had become the young mistress?Chapter 63 · Rip him to shredsChapter 64 · I was wrongChapter 65 · Lord Mu is very happyChapter 66 · I’m about to get marriedChapter 67 · I want to go on a date with youChapter 68 · You’d probably overturn the entire underworldChapter 69 · Head tableChapter 70 · It was meChapter 71 · Junior King of HellChapter 72 · His wife is a little ghost who lies on the bedChapter 73 · Chen LanChapter 74 · Sister in LawChapter 75 · Chapter SE 75: Pick up my boyfriend from workChapter 75 · Extra 1Chapter 76 · Can you still talkChapter 77 · Aren’t you going to ask about yourselfChapter 77 · Extra 3Chapter 77 · Extra 2Chapter 78 · How many ordinary little spirits dare fall in love with the Yan King?Chapter 78 · Extra 4Chapter 79 · I never realized that the bird man’s status was so high… Yan KingChapter 79 · Extra 5Chapter 80 · I’ve ridden on the little Yan King’s headChapter 80 · Extra 6Chapter 81 · Is… this very important?Chapter 81 · Extra 7Chapter 82 · Young master… will you marry me?Chapter 82 · Extra 8Chapter 83 · He’s just a stubborn little old manChapter 84 · End of Main StoryChapter 93 · Extra 9Chapter 94 · Extra 10