On either side of the Divine Lord Temple were narrow alleys. Following these alleys led around to the back of the temple.
Behind the temple lay a vegetable plot, and beyond that, a residence.
At that moment, someone was stealthily emerging from the residence.
Yu Yang immediately noticed the overlapping shadow on that person.
【Taiyin Black Ledger】
【Qu Manqing, born February 12, 2014, currently 19 years old, natural lifespan not yet exhausted. Evil deeds recorded in Black Ledger: 2】
【Evil 1: Bullied classmate Shi Li until she developed depression and dropped out of school. Shi Li has since fallen to her death, increasing Qu Manqing’s culpability】
【Evil 2: Spread malicious rumors about close friend Xuan Baihui out of jealousy, causing severe consequences】
【Refrain from all evil, cultivate all good. Meritorious Renovation Extends Life. Judged, Qu Manqing, Submerged in the Ghostly Path】
Yu Yang was somewhat surprised.
When Xie Chi drew the “Fuyang County” slip, she had considered that she might encounter Transcendents on this journey.
She hadn’t expected to come across one so quickly.
Unfortunately, this was a Transcendent with evil deeds recorded in the Black Ledger, likely of little use to her.
As she pondered this, a creaking sound was heard. Xie Chi lightly tapped her shoulder, then took the lead in opening the rear temple window and leaped inside.
Yu Yang: “……”
Reflexively, she followed close behind, entering the temple through the window.
The temple was pitch black.
Yu Yang finally regained her senses.
“Senior brother, why are we hiding?”
Xie Chi said, “When we left earlier, I cast the dice. A high number means we can encounter ghosts, a low number means we cannot. I rolled a six. Then we ran into Xi Wei Gao Tuo, so the girl approaching us must be the ghost.”
Yu Yang: “…Is that so…”
Casting dice?
So mystical?
Suddenly, a woman’s cheerful voice came from outside.
“Gao Tuo! You actually came! I’ve missed you so much!”
Followed by a man’s voice.
“Jiao Guniang, you… maintain propriety. I only came to make things clear… mmm.”
Unspeakable sounds emerged.
Clearly, the Jiao Guniang possessed by Qu Manqing was quite passionate.
And soon enough.
The two became entangled near the window.
Xie Chi and Yu Yang exchanged glances, then simultaneously jumped onto the offering table, hiding behind the large statue of the Erlang Divine Lord.
They listened as the couple entered through the window.
Heard them sharing intimate moments.
Yu Yang sat with her back against the statue, expression numb.
Xie Chi stood beside her, awkwardly looking elsewhere.
Fortunately, the pair didn’t proceed further.
Qu Manqing said: “Gao Tuo, I don’t want to marry that so-called fiancé. I like you. You came tonight because you like me too, right?”
Gao Tuo: “Jiao Guniang, I’m just a military man, hardly comparable to Young Master Su who’s the county magistrate’s son. Why should you suffer with me?”
Yu Yang’s mind buzzed upon hearing this.
County magistrate’s son?
Jiao Guniang…
Young Master Su Yingqian had a childhood sweetheart fiancée. Six months ago, Su Yingqian specifically went to bring his fiancée and her wet nurse to Fuyang County. In his letters to her, Su Yingqian mentioned they were about to marry, and this trip was to introduce her, his life-saving benefactor, to his fiancée.
So this Transcendent had possessed that childhood sweetheart fiancée Jiao Jiayin?
Her expression turned serious.
So, the original Jiao Jiayin had already died, possessed by the Transcendent Qu Manqing?
Qu Manqing said: “But I don’t like any county magistrate’s son. He’s too short, barely 173 centimeters, and looks rather effeminate… Gao Tuo, take me to the capital with you, okay? I want to marry you.”
Gao Tuo hugged Qu Manqing, teasingly saying, “What’s wrong with being 1.73 meters tall? Young Master Su is a scholar after all, and quite handsome too—how can you say he’s effeminate?”
Qu Manqing snorted.
“I just don’t like that type. I prefer someone like you—tall and handsome…”
The two nestled together for a while longer before Qu Manqing began boasting proudly.
“Gao Tuo, let me tell you, I saw a scammer today.”
“A scammer?”
“Yeah, on the street, there was this person who put their bare hand into a boiling oil pot, tricking people into throwing copper coins into it and saying whoever retrieved them could keep the money,” Qu Manqing said with a laugh. “That was totally a scam.”
“Oh?”
Qu Manqing continued, “There must have been vinegar underneath the oil. Oil and vinegar have different boiling points. Vinegar boils at only 60 degrees, so when the vinegar starts boiling, it makes the oil on top bubble along with it, making it look like the oil is boiling. But actually, if you put your hand in, it wouldn’t burn at all.”
Upon hearing this, Yu Yang glanced at Xie Chi.
He saw Xie Chi looking back at him.
It was clear they both agreed that Qu Manqing must be a ghost.
Outside, Gao Tuo’s tone carried a hint of eager curiosity.
“What is a boiling point?”
“Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid starts to boil. Different liquids have different boiling points. For example, oil boils at over 200 degrees, but water only needs 100 degrees to boil.”
“What’s the use of knowing the boiling point?”
“It’s definitely very useful,” Qu Manqing paused, then suddenly added, “Like with liquor! When distilling liquor, if you know its boiling point, the taste and quality can be completely different!”
Gao Tuo followed up with more questions, “How do you determine the boiling point? What does 100 degrees mean? Why is vinegar 60 degrees? And what exactly is a ‘degree’?”
Qu Manqing exclaimed, “Oh, you ask so many questions, always questioning everything… You can measure temperature with a thermometer, but alas, you don’t have thermometers here. You probably don’t even know how to measure temperature, do you…”
Gao Tuo chuckled.
“I really don’t. But you, how do you know so much? It’s like you’re a Celestial Child.”
Qu Manqing said, “I am one. I originally thought about taking down the Talent Recruitment Board, but then I reconsidered—I don’t want to study at the Hall of Education. I’ve had enough of studying, and here I am, still studying. But just because I’m not joining the Hall of Education doesn’t mean I’m not talented. I can play the guzheng, paint, dance—I got into a top-tier university through art exams. If it weren’t for you in this world, I’d probably want to kill myself and go home.”
Gao Tuo whispered, “Celestial Child, can you really go back by killing yourself?”
Qu Manqing replied, “I don’t know, but this world is so backward, I feel like dying staying here. That day I went to the river intending to jump in, but I didn’t expect you to save me.”
She added somewhat pitifully, “Think about it, I’m practically a ‘white, rich, and beautiful’ girl—I should at least have been reborn as a princess or something…”
Gao Tuo said, “It’s a good thing I met you.”
“You’d better cherish me, or I’ll leave!” Qu Manqing snorted.
Another moment of intimate murmurs followed.
Gao Tuo suddenly said, “Alright, it’s time for you to go back. Any later, and your wet nurse will worry.”
Qu Manqing, slightly breathless, complained pitifully, “How can you restrain yourself so much? Do you not like me?”
Gao Tuo replied, “It’s not that. Being like this is already not good for you. If you hadn’t written in your letter tonight saying you wanted to run away from home, I wouldn’t have come. Be good and go back now.”
Qu Manqing laughed and said, “You’re really so innocent. Handsome and innocent—I like you even more now. Alright, I’m heading back. But remember, when you’re about to leave, let me know and take me with you!”
Gao Tuo replied, “That would have to be after you break off the engagement.”
Qu Manqing declared, “I’ll break it off soon!”
“Alright,” Gao Tuo responded.
As the two left, Yu Yang’s mind lingered on that paper about “Good and Bad Omens.”
On Gao Tuo’s list, the taboos were: visiting the sick and building bridges.
Following the “idealistic” method she had practiced earlier with Lu Huaice, she silently thought: I am the sick person. Just now, Gao Tuo entered the temple, stood beneath the deity’s statue, and looked at the deity—which is essentially looking in my direction. Doesn’t that count as visiting the sick?
No sooner had she finished the thought than—
Suddenly.
“Thud—”
A sound echoed through the night.
It sounded like someone had jumped from a window and fallen.
At the same time, Qu Manqing’s voice rang out, “Gao Tuo! How did you fall?”
Gao Tuo groaned, “Ouch… I think… I twisted my back.”
As soon as Gao Tuo finished speaking, an old man’s angry shout was heard.