【A plane, a plane is somewhat like a bird. It has wings, a fuselage, a nose, and wheels. There are seats inside. How could I possibly know how to build a plane? I’m just a high school student—I never studied these things!】
【Our weapons include guns and bombs… How could I possibly know how to make nuclear weapons?】
【Equilateral triangles, squares, rectangles… The circumference of a circle is 2πr, where r is the radius and π is pi. Pi is 3.141592… I can only recite up to this point…】
【We can’t achieve immortality either, but perhaps you can? I’ve already crossed over here—it completely defies scientific principles.】
【Medical knowledge? But I didn’t study medicine. I—oh right, penicillin! I know about penicillin. What was penicillin used for again?】
【Static electricity: friction-induced electrification, contact electrification, induction electrification…】
【”After the six kingdoms fell, the land was unified…” No poetry. I need valuable information. I must think of something valuable…】
……
In a daze, Yu Yang seemed to see a gaunt man sitting amidst scattered papers and writing tools.
The man was covered in wounds, his clothes in tatters, filled with despair and helplessness.
There weren’t many annotated entries after that.
In just a moment, she flipped to the final page.
【July 27th: This ghost has completely lost its soul. The Emperor ordered it to be turned into a Medicine Man. Dissection of the brain revealed no abnormalities. The Medicine Man died. The Emperor refined the bones into elixirs and consumed them.】
She handed the Shou Zha back to Xie Chi and said, “The place where these ghosts come from is truly mysterious.”
Xie Chi nodded.
“Indeed.”
Yu Yang glanced at Xie Chi and asked, “What does the Shizi think of these ghosts?”
Xie Chi had only recently learned about the ‘ghosts’ and had little direct contact with them.
His current perspective on ‘ghosts’ was still largely shaped by what the imperial court had instilled in the Celestial Guards.
Thus, he replied, “They are external enemies, exceptionally powerful ones capable of easily defeating our dynasty’s strongest forces. These ghosts are like invaders from beyond the heavens. Ordinary people are powerless against them, yet we have no choice but to resist. Now that the number of ghosts is increasing, I fear they are merely scouts paving the way. But our world is far inferior to theirs. All we can do is hasten our efforts to capture and interrogate these ghosts, learn their techniques, and defend our homeland.”
Yu Yang thought to herself that this was indeed the court’s stance.
The number of Transcendents was rapidly growing.
To the people of this world, it was equivalent to an imminent large-scale invasion by extraterrestrial beings.
Yet, the Transcendents who were forcibly brought to this world—how innocent they were.
The only slight consolation was that most of the Transcendents who crossed over tended to be malevolent. After all, the Taiyin Black Ledger only recorded evil deeds. Since it had appeared, there must be some corresponding logic to it. Moreover, the Bei Wei division of the Celestial Guards sent all captured Transcendents to the Changsheng Temple, where the National Preceptor would send them back home—offering a path to survival.
And she had a premonition: once the number of Transcendents increased, new forces would inevitably emerge to oppose the imperial court.
A storm was brewing.
By evening.
The carriage had just arrived outside Fuyang City.
The city, once plagued by rampant bandits with only swirling yellow sand at its gates, was now completely revitalized.
The city walls had been renovated.
The watchtowers stood majestic and imposing.
The gates bustled with activity, carriages and pedestrians flowing in an unending stream, vibrant and lively.
Mo Ying drove the carriage into the city and headed straight to the Lin Residence to settle in.
As night fell, the moonlight was hazy, and lantern shadows flickered gently.
The streets were filled with an endless stream of pedestrians—some pausing to admire the lanterns, others gathering to watch street performances. From one end of the street to the other, the interplay of lights and crowds painted a flowing tapestry.
After finishing their meal, Yu Yang and Xie Chi stepped out of the inn to stroll through the night market and aid their digestion.
According to Xie Chi, his mission this time was to wander around like a street loafer, hoping to encounter ghosts.
As his subordinate, Yu Yang naturally followed.
She remarked, “Fuguang Town was still quite poor a few years ago, but thanks to the Fuguang Pavilion Rhapsody, it’s now bustling.”
Xie Chi nodded.
“The Fuguang Pavilion Rhapsody is vividly written, worthy of being passed down through the ages.”
As she spoke, Yu Yang bought hawthorn drink from a vendor.
The hawthorn drink, served in bamboo tubes, was refreshing and appetizing.
She glanced at Xie Chi. “Want some?”
Xie Chi nodded. “Yes.”
Yu Yang smiled slightly.
Things naturally felt better when shared.
The two reached the end of the street, where the lantern lights had dimmed.
By the roadside stood a closed Erlang Shen Temple.
Xie Chi turned around and said, “Let’s head back.”
Yu Yang turned as well.
Suddenly, she spotted a male figure approaching from afar.
She couldn’t clearly make out his features, but she noticed a faint glow around him, with the words “Good and Bad Omens” prominently written on a yellow paper behind him.
[Good: Marriage, Moving, Entering a New Home]
[Bad: Visiting the Sick, Building Bridges]
Xie Chi walked toward the Erlang Shen Temple and said to Yu Yang, “Let’s go.”
Yu Yang immediately followed.