“Scandalous couple! How dare you defile the Shrine of the Divine Lord with your illicit affair!!!”
Gao Tuo: “Quick, don’t mind me, you run first!”
Qu Manqing: “No, you… I…”
“Someone come! There’s a scandalous couple having an affair in the shrine!!!”
Gao Tuo: “Go quickly! You’re a woman, you go! I’ll be fine, I can protect myself!”
Qu Manqing ran away crying.
Gao Tuo: “Damn it. Why am I so unlucky…”
The sound of gongs and drums appeared.
Yu Yang was utterly shocked.
This actually worked.
This really worked!
Xie Chi called to her softly: “A Yan, over here.”
He led the stunned Yu Yang to climb through another window.
Not forgetting to remind her, “Hurry.”
If they didn’t leave soon, they would become the scandalous couple having an affair.
Yu Yang quickly regained her composure.
She deftly followed Xie Chi out through another window.
When they reached the street, they saw many people gathering toward the back of the shrine.
Yu Yang glanced at Xie Chi.
“That man…”
“Ah—don’t hit me—” a scream came through.
Xie Chi said: “He’s from Xi Wei, no need to worry about him.”
Yu Yang asked: “What about the ghost?”
Xie Chi looked at Yu Yang, “That ghost seems to have taken over Young Master Su’s fiancée’s body?”
Yu Yang nodded slightly.
“It seems so.”
Xie Chi said: “After all, there are ties to the county magistrate’s family. If we take her away rashly, it becomes a legal case. Probably Gao Tuo wants the ghost to voluntarily leave the Su family.”
Yu Yang asked: “Do you get credit for capturing ghosts?”
Xie Chi: “After I left the capital, Huangshang issued an order. The commander who captures the most ghosts within a year will have the authority to select five thousand people upon returning to the capital to form the Nation-Protecting Vanguard Army to fight against the Enemies from beyond the heavens.”
Yu Yang: “……” So ridiculous?
She asked: “Then aren’t you going to compete for ghosts?”
Xie Chi was silent for a moment, then took out a copper coin.
Under Yu Yang’s puzzled gaze, he muttered: “Heads worth competing for, tails not worth the effort.”
He tossed the coin, and it landed in his palm.
He showed it to Yu Yang.
Yu Yang said confusedly: “Not worth the effort.”
Xie Chi put away the coin and nodded: “Then it’s not worth the effort. Gao Tuo has made quite a sacrifice. If we compete with him, he’ll probably go mad. Besides, that ghost is somewhat useful in Gao Tuo’s hands. The interrogation record mentioned that 985 is an Advanced Academy from the Otherworld. Ghosts from there are highly sought after by both Xi Wei and South Second Guard.”
The two walked toward home for a while.
Xie Chi said: “Earlier that ghost mentioned temperature, measuring temperature… The method of making fermented beans mentions that when making fermented beans, it’s best to keep them warm like under a person’s armpit. Silkworm breeders also use their bodies to measure – wearing thin clothes, if the person feels cold then the silkworms are cold. Herders making cheese also find slight warmth relative to the human body most suitable.”
He said thoughtfully: “These are all measuring temperature.”
They actually use “temperature” to do things, but they haven’t abstracted the common essential characteristics of these sensory perceptions, nor created a specific concept of temperature.
He smiled and said: “That other world is truly marvelous.”
It makes them all feel somewhat inferior, like small tribes facing a great celestial empire.
Yu Yang said: “This world isn’t bad either.”
Xie Chi said seriously: “Of course. In the future, it will be better.”
Yu Yang smiled but didn’t respond further.
At night.
Yu Yang lay in bed, thinking about Qu Manqing.
She had heard Su Yingqian mention that his fiancée had been weak since childhood, and that both her father and brother had died early from illness.
But she never expected that the girl had become a Transcendent.
And one who wasn’t very likable at that.
Submerged in the Ghostly Path…
What does Submerged in the Ghostly Path mean?
Does it mean this Transcendent will remain a ghost forever? Or is this world equivalent to the Netherworld?
Never mind.
I’ll just go with the flow.
Now that Qu Manqing has been targeted by the Celestial Guard, if she takes the initiative to break off the engagement, it would probably be better for Su Yingqian. Perhaps the pain of a lover’s change of heart is easier to bear than the pain of a lover’s death…
Yu Yang turned over and buried her head under the quilt.
The night passed without dreams.
Yu Yang woke when the stars had yet to fade.
Xie Chi also rose at the crow of the rooster, following his biological clock.
The two met.
Yu Yang simply wrapped herself in a cloak and took Xie Chi to climb Fuguang Pavilion.
The slightly worn but sturdy wooden stairs echoed with each step, as if tapping into the whispers of history.
As dawn had not yet broken, the interior remained dim.
The elderly keeper recognized Yu Yang, so he allowed them entry despite it being before opening hours.
When they reached the top floor, the horizon was just beginning to glow with the first light of dawn.
Leaning against the railing, they gazed into the distance where rolling hills stretched like a painted scroll. A river meandered past the mountains, and amidst the swirling clouds and mist, a waterfall could be seen cascading from the heights.
The mountain breeze brushed their faces, the world felt gentle, and the mortal realm seemed free of troubles.
Yu Yang’s heart grew calm.
Xie Chi said, “The misty clouds and soaring waterfall are truly refreshing and uplifting.”
He gazed into the distance, his demeanor bright and elegant.
He appeared exceptionally serene.
Yu Yang finally withdrew her gaze.
Then, a clear male voice came from behind.
“Ah Yan!”
Yu Yang turned around to see a fair-skinned scholar ascending the stairs from the doorway.
She exclaimed in surprise, “Yingqian, what are you doing here?”
The newcomer was none other than Su Yingqian, the son of the county magistrate.
Yu Yang couldn’t help but think of the events from the previous night.
Su Yingqian said, “I came to paint the sunrise.”
He set down his easel and lifted the case in his hand, smiling as he asked, “When did you arrive in Fuyang County? Why didn’t you let me know?”
As he spoke, he glanced at Xie Chi with curiosity.
“And this gentleman is…”
Yu Yang smiled and said, “This is my senior brother Qi Zhao. He came to Fuyang County to admire Fuguang Pavilion.”
Then, turning to Xie Chi, she added, “Senior brother, this is Su Yingqian, the son of the Fuyang County magistrate. I was able to open an inn opposite Fuguang Pavilion thanks to Young Master Su.”
Xie Chi nodded in greeting.
“Qi Zhao pays his respects to Young Master Su.”
Su Yingqian set down his easel, his eyes crinkling with a warm smile.
“Greetings, Master Qi. Are you also a disciple of Qiyuan Hermit?”
Xie Chi had already learned about his false identity during the journey.
He replied gently, “Yes. I previously secluded myself with our master to study. After failing the imperial examination last year, I was disheartened, so our master instructed me to travel with my junior brother to see the mountains and waters and ease my mind.”
Su Yingqian was astonished.
This man, who appeared exceptionally intelligent, had actually failed the imperial examination.
But…
This gentleman didn’t seem very old.
“I see,” he said with a smile. “Master Qi, your timing is perfect. Today is my birthday, and I’m hosting a banquet at my home. Please come along with Ah Yan.”
Xie Chi replied, “Then I shall impose upon your hospitality.”
Su Yingqian shook his head and asked with a smile, “How old are you, Master Qi?”
Xie Chi answered, “Twenty-three.”
Su Yingqian said, “Then you’re three years older than me. I’ll call you Brother Qi. Brother Qi, has Ah Yan ever mentioned me to you?”
Xie Chi: “…” I’m not as familiar with Yu Yang as the two of you are.
Su Yingqian widened his eyes and said to Yu Yang, “You didn’t even mention me to your senior brother? Am I that unimportant in your heart?”