Chapter 420: Chapter 384: The Condition
The Yunzhou province is vast and densely populated, and they have their own ways of coexisting with evil spirits and ghosts. The mortality rate of the common people is not as high as in other parts of the Xuan Dynasty.
Although each tribe believes in different Ghost Kings, all of them worship the Five Spirits God.
For the Five Spirits God, the people of Yunzhou are devout to the extent they would readily offer their lives and souls.
Considering various factors, the power of the Five Spirits God is probably similar to that of an Earth Ghost. Due to population constraints, the Five Spirits God has not reached the true Ghost God Level, yet it is still more powerful than ordinary sixth-level ghosts.
"What do you want to do?"
Qiao Ling looked worriedly at Sang Que. Having painstakingly found the new leader of Nine Songs, Qiao Ling couldn’t let Sang Que take risks.
"Drive wolves away to chase tigers," Sang Que said softly.
Sang Que glanced around, noticing the wisps of white smoke emitted from the silver needles Qiao Ling inserted on the doors and windows, blocking external qi.
Qiao Ling’s level as a Bell Doctor can’t be measured by Nine Netherworld’s levels. Without powerful medical skills, Qiao Ling might be just like those Day Traveling Envoys from the Evil Suppression Bureau.
Just like when Sang Que plays games, the healer may be fragile, but a healer that can continuously restore health isn’t easy to kill.
The interior was sealed off by Qiao Ling, allowing Sang Que to release the Yin Child with peace of mind.
The Yin Child excitedly took in the surroundings upon appearing, grinning as it saw the familiar stilted houses and Yunzhou decorations, and ran around the room like a genuine seven or eight-year-old child.
As the Yin Child reached the doorway intending to go out, it was forced back by the silver needles on the door, looking aggrievedly at Sang Que.
Sang Que didn’t avoid Qiao Ling and directly spoke to the Yin Child, "You’ve always wanted to return, but besides homesickness, I suspect you have other motives, right?"
The Yin Child’s scarlet Ghost Eye flickered from side to side, knowing it could not deceive Sang Que, and reluctantly nodded.
Facing Sang Que, the Yin Child pointed first at Sang Que, then at its own mouth, and finally at its heart, with a mischievous smile.
Qiao Ling watched in confusion, not understanding what the Yin Child was expressing. Sang Que slightly widened her eyes, comprehending the Yin Child’s intentions through their connection.
As expected, the Yin Child wouldn’t do anything without benefit; indeed, it returned with other plans, which currently align with her own goals.
If her soul were taken by the Earth Ghost, the Yin Child would die as well.
"Come back for now."
Sang Que retracted the Yin Child, turned, and grabbed Qiao Ling’s wrist, "Sister Qiao, I need your help."
"Huh?"
Qiao Ling was bewildered, listening as Sang Que quickly whispered her plan in her ear. The words of dissuasion surged several times to the tip of Qiao Ling’s tongue but were swallowed each time by Sang Que’s determined gaze.
In the end, Qiao Ling was persuaded by Sang Que, feeling that it was worth the risk.
If successful, it could not only solve the Earth Ghost problem but might yield even greater rewards, albeit potentially causing significant harm to the Yunzhou people.
"...Don’t worry, Sister Qiao. I will compensate them, to the best of my ability!"
After much contemplation, Qiao Ling could only sigh heavily and nod, indicating her willingness to help Sang Que.
After they discussed the details, Qiao Ling removed the silver needles from the doors and windows and went alone to a corner of the room to prepare medicine. Sang Que lifted the window slightly, a snake slithered by outside, flicking its tongue.
Sitting by the window, Sang Que could see halfway up the mountain, where it seemed a bonfire was lit, and rhythmic drumming and low, mantra-like murmuring could be vaguely heard.
These murmurs caused the snakes around the village to slither toward that direction, as if on a pilgrimage.
Sang Que learned from Qiao Ling that it was a sacrificial ceremony led by Cheng Ge, intending to return the Dragon and Snake to the body of the Dragon and Snake Child, Xingzhu.
Besides one Five Spirits Saintess, Yunzhou has five major Children, each corresponding to one of the Five Poisons.
Approaching midnight, the commotion on the mountainside ceased. Shortly after, Cheng Ge returned with a restored Xingzhu.
Cheng Ge’s mother was once captured and taken to Tianliang City as a female slave, where she bore him with a Xuan Dynasty person. Cheng Ge had returned to Yunzhou during his childhood, but due to his mixed heritage, he faced rejection within the village, except for the old Gu Master from Nine Songs, who was willing to teach him the Gu Technique.
Xingzhu, a younger brother of the same clan as Cheng Ge, has a certain blood relation and was raised under Cheng Ge’s care. Before being selected as the Dragon and Snake Child, Xingzhu greatly admired Cheng Ge’s prowess in Gu Technique and followed him closely like a little fanboy.
Later, Xingzhu was chosen as the Dragon and Snake Child, becoming the vessel for the Dragon and Snake. He still retains Xingzhu’s memories and continues to enjoy Cheng Ge’s company.
Because Xingzhu represents the Dragon and Snake Child and willingly approaches Cheng Ge, Cheng Ge, who frequently infiltrates Tianliang City to gather intelligence on Yunzhou’s behalf, was eventually accepted again by the Yunzhou tribal leaders and stands a chance to become the next leader of the Dragon and Snake tribe.
Throughout the journey, Cheng Ge pondered how to discuss with Sang Que the return of the Five Spirits Saintess. Yunzhou previously had only the old Gu Master reaching Sixth Level strength, while the leaders of other tribes at most reached the fifth layer.
If Sang Que resisted, having Qiao Ling’s support alongside her, Cheng Ge had no guarantee of retaining Sang Que, so he could only approach with courtesy.
Upon entering the room, Cheng Ge glanced at Qiao Ling, who was preparing medicine, then turned to Sang Que. Before he could speak, Sang Que said, "Waited all night for you, let’s sit down and talk about the Five Spirits Saintess."
Being preempted by Sang Que made Cheng Ge’s heart skip a beat, sensing hostility.
Cheng Ge whispered to Xingzhu, telling him to play on his own, and then sat cross-legged across from Sang Que.
Sang Que said, "I promised you all previously that if you helped stop the conflict between Zuo Jin and the Ghost Opera Troupe Leader, I would return with you to Yunzhou. Now that I am here in Yunzhou, this agreement is fulfilled."
At the Deceit Dynasty, one must be cautious with such agreements; this matter must be clarified first.
Cheng Ge nodded, "You know what we want."
"I know, you want the Five Spirits Saintess. But you don’t want her to continue as the Saintess; rather, you intend to sacrifice her to the Five Spirits God, allowing the Five Spirits God to select a new living Saintess afterward, right?"
Cheng Ge didn’t deny it. Since the Yin Child was kidnapped and harmed, Yunzhou people have been annually worshiping the Five Spirits God, praying for a new Saintess to be chosen by the Five Spirits God. However, the Five Spirits God never responded, leading to the annual weakening of Yunzhou’s Gu Masters and Ghost Witches.
If not for this, how could Yunzhou be repeatedly defeated by the Xuan Dynasty over the years?
Sang Que continued, "I can return the Five Spirits Saintess, but I have a condition."
Cheng Ge looked up sternly at Sang Que, accepting the return was enough; conditions could be negotiated.
Sang Que sat up straight, a slight movement of her brows caused a gloomy aura to fill the room. A paper figure in theatrical costume slowly emerged behind Sang Que, putting Xingzhu on high alert.
The Paper Macher stood motionless behind Sang Que while Cheng Ge puzzledly looked at Sang Que.
Sang Que explained, "Previously, I refused to return the Yin Child because I have stepped into the Ghost Level, existing as half-human and half-ghost. Stripping the Yin Child from me would likely result in my death. But as you can see, now that I have tamed a second ghost, I can endure the pain of separating from the Yin Child. My condition is that I must personally sacrifice the Yin Child to the Five Spirits God."
Cheng Ge thought it over briefly and understood Sang Que’s intention.
"You wish to ask the Five Spirits God to assist in dealing with the Earth Ghost?"
"Yes, that’s exactly what I mean!"
