At Liaonian Ghost City, Ye Yu continuously drew negative emotion points from the gathered ghosts.
Though each harvest was small, the sheer volume made up for it!
Truth be told, forcing ghosts to listen to Buddhist sutra chanting at noon was a bit cruel—basically inhuman!
But the fact was, he wasn’t exactly human himself!
What concern did a ghost have for cruelty?
Besides, this torment wouldn’t last long!
Before too long, Ye Yu would depart this place.
He knew well that no matter how many ghosts a locale harbored, they couldn’t glitch the system forever!
At noon again, the chanting of Buddhist sutras filled the city—and another wave of negative emotion points surged in!
Ye Yu allowed himself a smile.
Just then, a lean man approached, frowning at the overhead chanting.
Even after so long, it still felt deeply unsettling.
This was Qian Qian, City Lord of Liaonian Ghost City, a Mid Ghost King Realm powerhouse.
He muttered, “I’ve never understood why you do this. Why bear all these curses? What’s your aim?”
Ye Yu replied softly, “Deeds in the present; praise for ten thousand autumns. One day, you’ll see my intentions.”
Qian Qian’s eyes widened as he silently chewed over those eight words.
They rhymed like a scholar’s couplet, yet were plain to grasp—impressive!
In truth, it was merely Ye Yu’s excuse.
He certainly wouldn’t confess that it was all to farm negative emotion points!
He turned slowly to face the red moon and said calmly, “Before the appointed day, I will leave, and I swear I will not break my word.”
Qian Qian opened his mouth, but no plea to stay came out.
They’d known each other for two months.
Qian Qian had been ambushed and gravely wounded—saved only by Ye Yu’s timely arrival.
In gratitude, Qian Qian had offered any favor within his power.
After brief thought, Ye Yu had requested, “Let me serve as your city’s Grand Steward for three months. Do not interfere in my affairs, and I will not harm your interests. When the time is up, I will step down without regret.”
To Qian Qian, it was an easy promise—even if Ye Yu never left, it would’ve been fine.
Yet Ye Yu insisted on three months only.
Qian Qian agreed—and unwittingly set the nightmare in motion.
Rumor spread that most ghosts in the city were preparing to migrate away.
That thought stifled Qian Qian’s urge to persuade Ye Yu to remain.
If Ye Yu didn’t leave, the entire city might vanish!
Five days later, Ye Yu voluntarily resigned as Grand Steward and returned to Dragon-Snake Alley to see his father, Ye Tong.
Ye Tong sat in the inner chamber wearing what looked like computer-style earbuds.
Ye Yu picked one up and asked curiously, “Dad, what’s this?”
Ye Tong snorted, showing no joy at his son’s return. “You dare ask? It’s called the ‘Fountain of Joy.’ With these, the chanting’s volume drops significantly. Without them, I might’ve been driven mad by those sutras! What on earth have you been doing?”
Ye Yu smiled and shook his head. ‘Fountain of Joy’—the ghost who sold them must have had a sense of humor.
He set the device on the table. “Dad, you won’t need these anymore. I’ve resigned as Grand Steward.”
Ye Tong leapt to his feet. “What happened? Did you offend the city lord? I’ll plead for you!”
No matter his low station, a father’s love insisted on trying.
“I’ve offended no one. I came to stay for three months; the time’s up, so it’s time I left. I can’t bring disaster upon my hometown.”
Ye Yu set down a Storage Ring. Inside lay enough resources to secure his parents’ needs for eternity.
Ye Tong’s eyes ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ glistened with tears. “After all these years, you finally speak sense! Go—go sow chaos elsewhere. I’ve not left home in three months; I’m afraid one of those ghosts might kill me!”
Ye Yu’s head went black with exasperation. He waved farewell and strode out of the ghost city.
In the Ghost King Hall, Qian Qian watched Ye Yu’s departing form, murmuring those eight words again and again:
“Deeds in the present; praise for ten thousand autumns.”
What on earth was Ye Yu thinking?
Fifteen days later, three monks arrived.
Their robes were tattered, bodies emaciated—and yet their eyes shone with brilliance!
They were high monks from the Buddhist Realm, having used the Celestial Passage to reach the Underworld. Their goal: to liberate a ghost city and prove their mastery of Dharma.
There were many ghost cities in the Underworld. Any too-powerful Ghost King would deter them, so they chose a weaker one.
Thus they came to Liaonian Ghost City, fabled as the weakest of all.
In a flash, they appeared within the city walls.
The senior monk, Kuxin, spoke in a low voice, “This city overflows with resentful ghosts. Kuliang, Kushen, be my Dharma protectors. I will now use sutras to save them.”
“Yes!” the two junior monks answered, standing to either side.
Kuxin clasped his hands and began chanting. A faint golden light glimmered about him.
In an instant, the city ground trembled slightly.
Kuliang and Kushen smiled. “Master’s Dharma has advanced greatly. These ordinary ghosts’ souls must be shaking already!”
But then they witnessed an impossible sight: countless ghosts, wearing bizarre earbuds, surged forward with burning rage!
