Lan He, with his head firmly held down, was on the verge of losing it: What was Liu Si doing!!!
They were in the middle of a fight! Heโd just stumbled, so why was Liu Si pinning his head down? Was this something a proper immortal would do?!
Lan He could feel countless astonished gazes fixed on him and Song Futanโfrom monks, Daoists, and even Shui Yue. Everyone was stunned by the current situation.
Even though Lan He was wearing a mask, a kiss was still a kiss. Liu 13โs aim was impeccable; anyone could tell that it was definitely a kiss on the lips.
What the heck was going on?
What was this about the lord of the underworld? And Liu Immortal?
Was this Liu Immortalโs version of revenge? It didnโt seem serious, just a little bruising to his pride.
In any case, wasnโt this a bit childish considering the current dire situation? While it certainly embarrassed Lan He, it also seemed disrespectful to the boss, Shui Yue. The question marks above her head were practically materializing.
Lan He tried to rise, still feeling the pressure on the back of his head, preventing him from separating from Song Futan. Frustrated, he pounded the floor a few times before Liu 13 finally let go.
Liu 13 looked very pleased with himself, even flicking his snake tongue.
A true master of drama, Liu 13 didnโt disappoint. Lan He, his face bright red, got up, only to see that Liu Immortal still looked like he was enjoying the show. Furious, he felt like his head was about to explode. Was this really something to enjoy?
Lan He snapped, “Still laughing? Havenโt you heard the saying, โa forced melon isnโt sweetโ?”
Liu 13 was shocked. “You two are a forced melon?”
Lan He: “…”
Song Futan sat up slowly and replied, “Not exactly.”
Everyone: “!!”
Many people were dumbfounded. Some thought, *So the underworld lord actually has interests like this? He probably didnโt switch sides after all.* Others marveled at Liu Immortal, *He actually gets so much enjoyment from watching two men kissโฆ impressive.*
Wait a second. Though they didnโt recognize the man, it was clear he was a living human being. Was the underworld lord really in a relationship with a living person?
It feltโฆ odd.
Shui Yue, who had managed to maintain the composure of a senior Buddhist practitioner, couldnโt hold it together anymore. Her face darkened, her dress began to flutter despite the lack of wind, and black energy rose around her. “How infuriatingโฆ”
It was unclear whether she was angered by Liu 13โs disrespect or by the coupleโs public display of affection.
Liu 13, freshly energized from his matchmaking antics, let out a disdainful chuckle and clashed with Shui Yue at the same moment. Her sleeve lashed out like a whip, while his snake shadow extended forward. The two attacks collided.
Lan He said to Si Kong, “Go borrow a phone from someone and call for reinforcements.”
Si Kong nodded and handed Lan Heโs body over to Song Futan.
Although Liu 13โs arrival had greatly bolstered their side, any battle of this scale was bound to attract attention. This was a bustling area with many people around, including media and fans upstairs.
Si Kong attempted to borrow a phone from a staff member, but Shui Yue didnโt give him the chance. Just as he approached the stairwell door, a silk ribbon shot out, coiled around his neck, and dragged him back.
Upon closer inspection, Shui Yue was chanting a spell, her hands pressed together in a prayer gesture. Shadowy projections of multiple arms extended from her, each holding a ribbon, forming the image of a thousand arms. She managed to split her focus to deal with both Si Kong and Liu 13.
Liu 13 narrowed his eyes, realizing this ghostly woman was no simple opponent. Yet his fighting spirit only grew stronger. Scales began to appear faintly on his cheeks as he launched himself at her.
Shui Yueโs face maintained an air of compassion, but her strikes were ruthless. Her blue ribbons seemed to cover the sky, attacking everyone in sight.
Liu 13 couldnโt protect everyone and had no choice but to focus on targeting Shui Yueโs weak points.
The rest of the group huddled together, with those unable to fight at the center and the capable ones forming a protective outer ring. Lan He stood at the forefront, with no time to fold paper animals. He wielded a soul-reaping chain in one hand and a soul-restoring fan in the other.
Song Futan held Lan He while simultaneously brandishing a sword. Someone behind them suggested, “Maybe you should hand that person over to us.”
Song Futan replied, “โฆNo need.”
Everyone was puzzled. At a time like this, why was he still holding onto that bystander? Wasnโt it a bit too much? People couldnโt bear to look at this anymore!
Shui Yue and Liu 13 were engaged in close combat, their movements swift and precise. Shui Yue’s deep, dark pupils glowed faintly as they pierced through Liu 13’s true form. “Black Snake, you and I are kindred spirits. In your past life, you too fell into the cycle of reincarnation due to your obsessive desires. If I were to reincarnate, I would likely end up in the animal realm as a member of the Liu family.”
Liu 13 merely let out a snort. It was true; in his previous life, he had been a practitioner of cultivation.
This Shui Yue, even in her past life, possessed extraordinary perception, able to discern his origins.
Shui Yue continued, “Today, yin and yang are reversed. I possess the technique to counteract this imbalance. If you join forces with me, I can help you reincarnate into human form. What do you say?”
Liu 13 remained silent, responding only by striking at Shui Yue with a heavy blow.
“Not interested?” Shui Yue raised her hand to block Liu 13’s attack. Her gaze shifted briefly to Lan He, then focused on his body. She added, “Isn’t that a ready-made body? All you need to do is speak, and I will arrange for you to inhabit the body of that Impermanent, making him taste the torment of shedding his skin every year as a snake.”
Everyone else was dumbfounded.
What did she mean by “that Impermanent’s body”?
Their eyes turned toward Lan He, who was being held by Song Futan.
Master Lai?!
Lan He cursed silently. One after another, they were revealing his identity as a living Impermanent just because they had sharp eyes. Fortunately, his face had always been covered.
“What are you looking at? Yes, I am a living Impermanent. I’ve been deceiving all of you. So what?” Lan He noticed all the eyes fixed on him, more intense than when he had kissed a man. “Can you focus on your fight? Stop caring about my life and death!”
The crowd: “…………”
The Daoist priests of Dongyue Temple were at a loss. “Waitโฆ Master Lai, how could you be a living Impermanent?”
But on second thought, it made sense. The fact that the Master of the Household was a living Impermanent explained many thingsโwhy he was not greedy for wealth, why he lived among the living, and why he always covered his faceโฆ among other reasons.
It wasnโt because his face was disfigured; he just didnโt want others to know he was a living Impermanent. Though the reason remained unclear, he was excessively cautious, guarding against recognition even in such a vast capital city.
There seemed to be some crucial detail missing, but for now, everyone was focused on the immediate revelation. They were shocked to discover that Master Lai was a living Impermanent.
Shui Yue, who had casually exposed Lan He’s identity, was utterly unperturbed. Her primary target remained Liu 13. “So, what do you say?”
But Liu 13, despite Shui Yue’s tempting offer, remained unmoved.
Though he often howled about romance, Liu sect cultivation emphasized inner resolve. While he might be drawn to love stories and lose himself in others’ dramas, he had always maintained his discipline, never engaging in romantic entanglements with humans himself. Those who lacked such restraint would end up like the figure beneath Leifeng Pagoda, meeting a tragic fate.
Thus, Shui Yue’s temptation was insignificant to someone like Liu 13, who had cultivated his determination for years. Among all the beings present, only Song Futan might surpass him in inner strength.
Liu 13 irritably retorted to Shui Yue, “Get lost! I donโt want it!”
Shui Yue was momentarily at a loss for words.
She glanced at Lan He again. “Why? Are you his patron deity? But I donโt see itโฆ”
Through her cultivated perception, Shui Yue saw no indication that Liu 13 was anyoneโs household deity. If he were Lan Heโs household deity, she wouldnโt have attempted to sway him in the first place. The four great sectsโ household deities, though capricious, would never betray their patron families, let alone harm them.
Liu 13 struck at Shui Yue forcefully. “Iโm a wild household deity!” He only resided at Lan Heโs house temporarily, eating their food, but he still valued his freedom.
Shui Yue: “โฆโฆ”
This snake always seemed somewhat dim-witted. A “wild” household deity? Really??
Shui Yue sighed. “In that case, I suppose I must send you both to reincarnationโฆ You can accompany Bai Ruyi; it might do you good.”
Liu 13: “??”
Who wants to accompany Bai Ruyi?!
Shui Yue closed her eyes, and the blue ribbons surrounding her grew longer and more numerous. They overwhelmed the room, binding Liu 13 tightly and even spreading out toward the windowsโ
Suddenly, a whirlwind approached from a distance. In the blink of an eye, it slammed into the window. Instead of shattering the glass, a figure leapt through, landing directly on Shui Yue. They rolled together for several turns before pinning her down, growling like a wild beast.
In an instant, the blue ribbons filling the room, as well as the thousand-armed compassionate form, vanished like an illusion. Only the blue-clad ghost woman lay on the ground, devoid of any benevolence, her face filled with dark energy.
Even Lan He and Liu 13 only then realizedโit had all been an illusion.
The one crouched atop Shui Yue, gripping her neck and breaking the illusion, wasโฆ
Lan He called out to her, “Is that you, Hu 79?”
Since Liu 13 could figure out the situation and track the news to this place, Hu 79, familiar with his whereabouts, might not be as fast but should be able to find her way here as well.
Just then, the lights on the second floor suddenly turned on, illuminating her figure. The bright light fell on a stunningly beautiful face, her long nails pressed against Shui Yueโs neck, and her bright red lips curled up, with two droplets of saliva dripping downโฆ
Lan He exclaimed in shock, “First Lady Hu!”
—
Third Floor.
“Hey, the lights are on downstairs!”
Someone by the window shouted, and many rushed to look. The light on the lower floor shone conspicuously in the darkness, casting illumination on the trees outside.
The repair seemed promising, and everyone felt hopeful. The third floor would likely have power restored soon as well.
But after two minutes of waiting, the third floor remained without power, leaving people puzzled.
The event organizers were on the phone with the venue staff. “It will take another thirty minutes to an hour for the third floor? Why so long? Aren’t the lines on the same circuit? โฆOh, and what about the first floor?”
Fans nearby overheard snippets of the conversation and craned their necks to listen.
Moving to the first floor wasnโt entirely out of the question.
After hanging up the call, the organizers discussed the situation. “Currently, only the second floor has power restored. The third floor might still take about an hour. Thereโs a smaller hall on the second floor, but weโd need to rearrange everything if we move there. Should we stay here and wait, or move to the second floor?”
A crowd of media personnel and fans was waiting, and with a thunderstorm outside, moving around wasnโt ideal. However, the lack of power was stirring complaints.
“By the way, whereโs Teacher Lan He?”
“He went out for some air. Iโll send him a message on WeChat,” the manager replied. “The small hall downstairs is indeed a bit cramped; your equipment wonโt fit the stage setup. How about this: letโs move to a powered area downstairs. Iโll have Lan He chat with everyone to keep them entertained, and we can return here once the power is restored.”
“That sounds doable.”
“Yes, yes, let me confirm againโฆ”
—
“What Hu 79? Youโre thinking about that little fox spirit and mistook me for her!” First Lady Huโs enchanting eyes sparkled, but her tone carried a hint of displeasure. It should have been a coquettish complaint, but given how disheveled she had become moments ago, her mouth stretched nearly to her ears, revealing sharp fangs.
Lan He broke into a cold sweat. “โฆAhaha, a misunderstanding! I only messaged her, not you.”
First Lady Hu responded, “The dark array has been repaired. I came to share the good news, only to stumble upon a night demon emerging and all this chaos.” She lowered her head, sniffed Shui Yueโs face, and muttered, “I recall a night demon disturbance during the Tianqi era, caused by an outsider stirring trouble. It led to an explosion in the capital, affecting civilians, and ended with the culprit being exterminated in the Western Hills.”
**The Tianqi era?** Was she referring to the catastrophic Wang Gongchang explosion? Lan He had read some online discussions about the strange explosion that occurred in the Ming Dynastyโs Tianqi era.
The sky suddenly changed, strange noises were heard, and a mushroom cloud formed. The massive explosion caused countless deaths and injuries. Many survivors found their clothing inexplicably torn apart. Even the royal palace was within the blastโs reach, and the young crown prince was struck and killed by falling debris, leading to a lack of a direct heir and ultimately paving the way for Emperor Chongzhenโs ascension. It was a turning point in history.
Historical records such as the *History of the Ming Palace* detailed the event in Tianqiโs sixth year: โA sudden loud explosion… large trees were uprooted… pits several zhang deep appeared, and smoke and rain rose skyward… nearby houses collapsed without warning, killing thousands whose names were recorded, and thousands more whose names were unknown. Those who survived were left without their clothing or hats.โ
This bizarre catastrophe, described as unprecedented in history, remains a mystery to this day.
Later experts proposed various theories: an explosion of Wang Gongchangโs gunpowder depot, a meteorite impact, a tornado, or an earthquake, among others. Each theory, however, left some aspects unexplained. Some even speculated it was caused by a massive ball lightning phenomenon.
The capital had witnessed countless inexplicable events throughout its history, accompanied by endless legends about feng shui, disasters, dragons, and protective relics.
Lan He had previously regarded the story as an ancient anomaly, casually reading it as an odd historical account. Yet First Lady Huโs offhand remark unexpectedly shed light on the truth. Lan He suddenly recalled that, according to records, unusual celestial phenomena preceded the explosion. It was likely a night demon incident, with the disaster as a result of demonic manipulation.
Such a dramatic event only occurred once in history. In modern times, with gods and demons lying dormant, such occurrences became exceedingly rare.
But now, with Ghost Month coinciding with the rise of a night demon, Shui Yue had emerged as a threat.
Shui Yue hadnโt anticipated the arrival of a Hu sect master, who instantly dispelled her formโor illusionโleaving her resentfully wiping First Lady Huโs drool off her face.
Shui Yue muttered, “Youโve also come looking for Bai Ruyi.”
First Lady Hu, though unclear about the situation, replied smoothly, “Hmm? Whatโs your connection to Old Bai?”
She seemed to know Old Bai’s real name.
Shui Yue grabbed her with both hands, her nails extending to match First Lady Hu’s, digging into First Lady Hu’s shoulder. “No connection whatsoever.”
First Lady Hu let out a sharp cry of pain, jumping up. She felt the sinister energy from the wound seeping into her flesh, but she was far more composed than Hu 79. Instead of panicking, she gracefully traced a talisman in the air to seal the wound and reached out toward Shui Yue, chanting: “The Great Dao begins, formless and wordless. When heaven and earth are divided, all gods are given their roles. Tai Mountain and Mount Daishan secure the foundation of the earthโฆ”
As a practitioner of the Eastern Peak lineage, which governs life and death, First Lady Hu invoked the methods of Bixia Yuanjun to reduce the unruly ghost to dust.
Shui Yue, recognizing the danger, dodged repeatedly. Her illusions were ineffective against First Lady Hu. To make matters worse, Liu 13 joined in, teaming up with First Lady Hu. The tide of battle shifted. Shui Yue shrieked and lashed out with ribbons formed from condensed malevolent energy, smashing furniture, screens, and anything in her path. Though not as catastrophic as the Wang Gongchang explosion of old, the destruction was enough to force the gathered exorcists to retreat to the sidelines.
At that moment, the sound of a commotion reached their ears, drawing everyoneโs attention toward the staircase.
A Daoist priest from Eastern Peak Temple exclaimed, “Isn’t there an idol event happening upstairs? Could it be that people are coming down?”
And it wasnโt just one or two people; the noise suggested a crowd.
The exorcists all had the same thought: *We canโt let them come down here.* It wasnโt just about exposing the presence of ghostsโthough such knowledge should be shared judiciouslyโit was also about avoiding panic. If civilians stumbled upon this scene, the authorities would undoubtedly get involved. But with Shui Yue embroiled in combat against a snake and a fox, First Lady Hu and Liu 13 could only contain the fight to their immediate surroundings. Any civilians entering would surely become collateral damage.
Fortunately, the exorcists had some breathing room. Si Kong took the opportunity to dash across the chaotic battlefield. Earlier, he had been trapped by Shui Yueโs bindings, but now that she was preoccupied, he managed to escape.
Si Kong threw himself out of the room and slammed the staircase door shut. To his dismay, he saw a group of people already descending, just a few steps away from reaching him. They were separated from the battleground by only a thin wall. Seeing him standing at the door, the group exchanged puzzled glances.
The event host stepped forward. “Uh, hello? Weโd like to go in.”
Si Kong, keeping a straight face, replied, “โฆNo.”
The host was taken aback. “?? The third floor still doesnโt have power, so weโre heading to the smaller hall on this floor. Weโve already cleared it with the venue staff.”
Si Kong insisted, “No. Sorry, but itโs too crowded in here, and the air conditioning isnโt working. Please go back upstairs or head to the first floor.”
No matter what they said, he refused to move.
The group was speechless. Behind him, loud crashing noises could be heard. Looking closer, the monk himself appeared disheveled and battered. Even the venue staff found it strange. “Master, what exactly are you doing in there?”
Si Kong replied firmly, “Nothing. Thereโs an aggressive dog inside, and weโre trying to subdue it.”
The crowd: “โฆโฆ”
What nonsense! First itโs too crowded, now itโs a vicious dog?
After waiting so long, many people were growing impatient. The monkโs odd behavior only heightened their curiosity. What exactly was going on?
“Could they be fighting in there? A monk and a Daoist?”
“Definitely something shady. Otherwise, why wouldnโt they let us in?”
“Forget him. Letโs just go in. They didnโt book the entire floor. What right do they have to stop us?”
The commotion grew so loud that those inside could hear it.
A Daoist priest from Eastern Peak Temple hurriedly cracked the door open and squeezed through to assist Si Kong. “Apologies, no one is fighting! Truly, no one! But thereโs a critical situation here. Iโll explain everything to your leadership later!”
The priest happened to know someone in the brandโs upper management, having performed rituals for them before. This connection gave the host pause, as they were reluctant to offend religious figures. However, others in the group were less accommodating. “If itโs so critical, why havenโt you called the police? We even have officers here.”
The priest hesitated. He wanted to say, *Weโre exorcising a ghost,* but feared no one would believe him, causing even greater chaos.
The host stepped in to mediate. “Letโs head back for now. Iโll talk with them privately.”
This calmed the crowd enough to keep them from barging in, though they refused to leave entirely, lingering on the steps. “Fine, but you better explain everything later.”
With so many others still unaware of what was happening below, the situation remained noisy and tense.
As long as they didnโt push their way in, both Si Kong and the priest breathed a sigh of relief. “We just need a bit more timeโฆ”
—
While they felt relieved, those inside were filled with horror.
Shui Yue, pinned by First Lady Hu and Liu 13, suddenly began twisting her body unnaturally, like a snake or an insect. To everyoneโs shock, she started crawling toward the staircaseโฆ
Miss Hu was startled; her five claws had already pierced into Shui Yue’s bones, yet Shui Yue could still struggle!
Shui Yue, having endured torment in the underworld for a long time, had an extraordinary willpower. As she crawled, her deadly energy spread out, transforming into a stream of water that snaked its way toward the door. At the same time, her soul grew fainter, and she began humming her tune: “Mock me, laugh at me, my heart refuses to become a Buddha, I do not chant Amitabha or Prajรฑฤpฤramitฤ…”
The monks, seeing Shui Yue’s madness, began to discuss anxiously, realizing she might drag others down with her in a final act of desperation:
“This isn’t good! This deadly waterโwon’t touching it at all freeze one’s limbs off?”
“Should we all go and drive those people away?”
“But there are so many of them. We can’t manage everyone. And even if we tell them the truth, they won’t believe us. Calling for the lord to scare them might work, but what if a stampede happens? It’s pitch dark, and there are so many people…”
Although these people had some reputation in the religious community and were recognized by their followers, compared to the general public, they were still a minority. Their authority didn’t resonate with those young people outside. Even if they summoned a divine monk, it would likely be in vain!
Shui Yue was about to crawl her way over, and everyone turned to Miss Hu. In moments like this, only Hu Clan’s powers of manipulating hearts and minds could convince everyone to leave in an orderly fashion amidst the darkness and defuse the crisis at hand.
If not that, having a Gu Master here would also work.
But there was no Gu Master present, and Miss Hu seemed to have spent all her strength pinning down Shui Yue’s arms, unable even to notice the anxious gazes directed at her.
Instead, Shui Yue’s lips curled into a complex, detached smile.
The crowd’s hearts sank. The great demon of the Tianqi era had once sacrificed thousands of innocents. Could today’s events once again implicate innocent bystanders?
A monk said, “Fellow practitioners, let us rush out. Every person we can drive away is one saved!”
Everyone responded enthusiastically. As cultivators, they were mentally prepared for such situations.
At that moment, the door was opened by someoneโit was Lord Lai. Earlier, he had been shouting for Miss Hu to beat Shui Yue senseless. No one knew when, but he had regained his senses. While everyone was deliberating, he had already run to the door.
Ah, at this moment, Lord Lai had the same idea as the rest: saving one life was better than letting everyone be harmed by the deadly water. If a stampede occurred, so be itโit was better than everyone being poisoned.
The group moved along the wall toward the door.
Behind them, Shui Yue’s deadly energy was about to reach the entrance. Yet Lord Lai’s tone remained unusually calm, not as frantic as they had imagined. Facing away from the crowd, he pulled down his mask and said, “I think the third floor is better. Could everyone immediately turn around and line up in an orderly fashion to head upstairs? While we wait for the power to return, I’ll give everyone an autograph one by one.”
The monks: “?”
Shui Yue: “?”
What kind of persuasion was this? Why should they listen to him? Just because he thought the third floor was better, it was better? And what was this about autographs?
The next moment, there was a resounding cheer from outside. In the absence of Hu Clan powers or a Gu Master, everyone, including the host, quickly and orderly turned around and retreated to the third floor. Not a single person remained, as if they suddenly lost all curiosity about what was happening on the second floor.
Shui Yue: “???”
Author’s Note:
Without Hu Clan powers or a Gu Master, just the elder brother alone made everyone obedientโ
Monks: You… I… You???
*Lan He star powers activated*
Thank you for the chapter!
BUAHAHHAHA Lan He used the attack Actor Charm! It was super effective!!