Unintended Immortality

Chapter 171: Asking a Ghost for Help

The Daoist priest remained seated cross-legged on the bed, calmly looking at him.

“It sounds like this isn’t your first offense.” Even his tone was remarkably calm.

“...” The scholar ghost was immediately startled, his entire body trembling. He realized that he had slipped up in his words.

It wasn’t because he was foolish, but the yang energy in the room was burning like fire. His body was rapidly shrinking, and it took all his energy just to endure the pain. He had no capacity left to focus on anything else.

At this moment, he could only stammer, “But it’s my first offense against you, Immortal Master...”

“I see.”

“Please, Immortal Master, spare my life!” The scholar ghost's form continued to shrink rapidly.

At this rate, he would likely dissolve completely in less than a moment, like snow under the noon sun. Seeing this, the scholar ghost dared not harbor any further tricks and pleaded for mercy with all his might. “Spare me, Immortal Master!”

“Don’t worry,” the Daoist priest said, simply waving his sleeve. Instantly, all the solstice spiritual energy and yang energy in the room dissipated.

The scholar ghost heaved a sigh of relief.

Not only was he no longer suffering from the excruciating burn as if being roasted by flames, but it was also the early hours of the morning, when yin qi was at its peak and yang energy was at its weakest. The world was shrouded in darkness.

Once the room returned to its normal state, it felt as though he had been moved from a blazing kiln to the cool and pleasant atmosphere of spring or autumn. He couldn’t help but let out a groan, akin to a fish about to die from being exposed to the sun suddenly returned to the comfort of water.

His body could now move again.

However, in front of this Daoist priest, how could he dare to move? How could he dare to run?

“Theft is not a crime punishable by death. I observe that your body is filled with thick, pure yin qi. While your cultivation is not low, it doesn't seem like you've harmed anyone. Moreover, becoming a ghost is not easy, and I wouldn’t take your life merely for theft.”

“Immortal Master, you’re right. I just have a habit of stealing. I loved stealing while alive, and I still love it after death, but I have never intended to harm anyone!”

“Be that as it may, stealing is still wrong. If you hadn’t stolen from me, I might have let it pass. But since you've come to steal from me, I’ll consider it a fated encounter.” The Daoist priest calmly gazed at the minor ghost before him.

“If you were alive, the laws of earth would govern you. As a ghost, you fall under the jurisdiction of the Earth Gods of the Heavenly Palace. I could send you to the nearest Daoist temple. What do you think?”

“Spare me, Immortal Master! Spare me!” The scholar ghost immediately kowtowed frantically.

“What’s the matter?”

“Immortal Master, you may not know this, but while demons and ghosts are indeed under the Heavenly Palace’ authority, human souls are meant to dissipate into the heavens and earth after death. Therefore, the Heavenly Palace is most severe with us yin ghosts! If you send me to the Heavenly Palace, it’s the same as sentencing me to death!”

The scholar ghost paused before continuing, “Moreover, there are now ghost hunters everywhere. Though their skills may not be high, I’ve heard that many minor ghosts have been captured by them. If you send me to the nearest Daoist temple, I fear... I fear I might not make it to the Heavenly Palace...”

“Oh?” Song You became somewhat intrigued and asked, “You mentioned that there are ghost hunters everywhere—what's that about?”

“I don’t really know the reason,” the scholar ghost replied truthfully. “In recent years, it’s become common to see Daoist priests roaming the land. When they come across minor ghosts, they capture them. If they encounter great ghosts, especially those that have caused trouble, they’ll try to capture them as well.”

The ghost continued, “Even those that haven’t caused trouble—some of them have managed to escape capture, or so I’ve heard. As for me, I’ve never harmed anyone and possess some skill in hiding my presence, which is how I’ve managed to remain free up until now.”

“...” The Daoist priest, still sitting cross-legged on the bed, lowered his eyelids slightly. After some thought, he asked again, “Do you know why they’re capturing ghosts? And what do they do with them afterward?”

“This...” The scholar ghost hesitated. He wanted to give an answer but couldn’t, so he finally said, “I’m not sure about that. But whatever it is, it can’t be good.”

“What do you think I should do, then?”

“D-Dare I ask, what do you mean by ‘what should you do,’ Immortal Master?”

“What should I do with you?”

“You want... my opinion?”

“Speak your mind.”

“...”

The Daoist priest could read his mind and only nodded with a smile, saying, “All creatures have the will to survive.”

“Immortal Master, you’re wise!” the scholar ghost quickly flattered, then lifted his head and sneakily glanced at the Daoist. “I've said all I needed to say. I wonder if you would be willing to let me off this time? I promise to turn over a new leaf! I’ll never steal again!”

“I'm afraid that won’t do.”

“Then please punish me!”

“You’re quite the clever one.”

“You flatter me, Immortal Master...”

“I can consider not sending you to a temple or monastery.”

“Immortal Master, please tell me what I need to do!”

“I need you to do me a favor.”

“Please... Go on...”

“Have you ever heard of Mount Ye in Fengzhou?”

“I've heard of Fengzhou, but not Mount Ye.”

“I’ve heard that there are many ghosts there...”

“There are quite a few ghosts...”

The scholar ghost lifted his eyes and stole a glance at the Daoist priest. Only after their gazes met did he speak, “I did hear something a couple of years ago. Some nearby ghosts went to Fengzhou for a visit. When they returned, they said they saw a procession of a hundred ghosts in Fengzhou, all of them newly dead, being led by an old ghost. They didn’t know where they were going...”

“Is that so?” The Daoist priest’s interest was piqued.

“I wouldn’t dare lie to you, Immortal Master!”

“To be honest with you,” the Daoist said, “I’m quite curious about this matter. However, Fengzhou is quite far, and it’s not convenient for me to go there at the moment. You have great cultivation skills, and you’re skilled at traveling by night. Plus, you possess the power to conceal your movements. If you would be willing to go to Mount Ye in Fengzhou to investigate on my behalf, I would be deeply grateful.”

“...” The scholar ghost lowered his head, his eyes darting around as he thought.

Though Fengzhou was adjacent to Angzhou, where Changjing was located, it was still quite a distance away. If he could leave, he would be returning to comfortable territories, like a fish returning to the vast ocean or a bird soaring in the high skies. Unless this Daoist had divine abilities, it would be hard for him to catch him again.

However, this Daoist really did seem to possess divine abilities. And since he dared to let him go, he likely had the means to deal with him if needed.

“...” The scholar ghost stared at the ground, his eyes darting around as he thought. After a moment of hesitation, he looked up and asked, “So, if I go on this errand for you, Immortal Master, will you let me go?”

“No,” came the reply.

“Huh?”

“Your theft was wrong, and you deserve punishment. However, if you sincerely repent and help me with this task, I will certainly forgive you,” the Daoist calmly said while looking at him. “But this journey to Fengzhou is not only far—spanning thousands of li—but also potentially dangerous. If you agree to go, I must reward you accordingly; the task cannot simply offset your punishment.”

“...” The scholar ghost looked up at him, momentarily stunned.

Then, the Daoist added, “If you can complete this investigation for me and return to Changjing, I’ll treat you to a cup of tea.”

“A cup of tea...”

“Yes, a cup of tea!”

The scholar ghost stood frozen for a long while before finally lowering his head, his tone noticeably different from before. “May I ask where exactly Mount Ye is located in Fengzhou? And how should I find it? Once I’ve found it, how do I return to find you, Immortal Master?”

“Mount Ye is to the south of Fengzhou in Zi Commandery of Yinnan County. On the mountain grows a plant called ‘Ghostface Grass,’ which looks like this.” The Daoist showed him the Ghostface Grass. “Wherever this plant grows, there will be many ghosts.”

“Understood!”

“My name is Song You, and I live in the western part of Changjing City on Willow Street, about midway down. There’s a flag at the entrance with the character for ‘Dao,’ and a sign that reads ‘Rodent Extermination.’ You can find me there.”