At the foot of the mountain, on the narrow path below…

It had already been dusk when Xu Mu reached the mountain base. After he climbed up, spent time at the temple, and then descended again, night had fully fallen.

Leading his donkey down the path in the dim evening light, Xu Mu felt a pang of frustration.

It wasn’t so much the thought of traveling home in the dark—he still had nearly a hundred li to go and would likely have to sleep under the open sky, enduring the chill of the night dew—but rather his worry over not having been able to bring back the temple owner. While his mother’s behavior was disturbing, what concerned him most as a son was her well-being.

What if, one day, those ghosts called her to follow them? Or worse, harmed her or someone in the family?

“

Sigh

...”

He could only hope that the temple owner of Leiqing Temple would recover soon. After all, for hundreds of li around, he was known for his talents, albeit with a reputation for greed.

Or maybe that gentleman surnamed Song …

The man had carried himself with an uncommon grace, saying he’d come from Yizhou—a journey long enough to suggest he truly had some abilities. Xu Mu hoped he’d reach Zhijiang County soon, and that his skills were real enough to bring his mother some relief.

Lost in thought, he realized that it had grown almost entirely dark. Fortunately, it was a clear night with a sky full of stars and a new moon hanging like a hook. Though his vision wasn’t the best at night, he had adapted to the darkness and could make out the path.

When he grew tired, he mounted his donkey, letting it carry him along the way.

Not long after, he reached the main road. But as he continued, he heard noises ahead—voices, as if people were talking.

“...” Xu Mu’s senses went on high alert.

This was a dangerous land, and even the main roads were sometimes haunted by bandits. Could he have run into trouble?

Quickly, he dismounted his donkey, leading it into the cover of the trees. Holding its mouth to keep it quiet, he stilled his own breathing.

The voices grew steadily closer. At last, he could make out what was being said. Someone shouted in a loud, eerie call, “Ghostly officials passing through…!

“Living souls, clear the way…!”

A chill gripped Xu Mu, his scalp tingling with fear. He was utterly terrified.

But despite his terror, a fierce curiosity overtook him; the more scared he was, the more he felt compelled to peek. Holding his breath, he looked out through the leaves.

Across the road, a procession of spirits appeared, moving at a leisurely pace much like ordinary travelers. Ghosts holding hands, accompanied by others dressed in official garb, marched in an orderly line.

Where had they come from? And where were they going?

Suddenly, several of the spirits turned their heads in his direction.

“Ah…!” Xu Mu felt a fresh wave of fear wash over him.

Not only did all the ghosts turn their heads in unison toward him, but they kept staring in his direction, without turning away. The sight was eerie and terrifying, sending shivers through Xu Mu, who feared they might drag him away if he made the slightest mistake. Ṝ𝓪ꞐỒ𝔟Êš

However, it seemed the ghosts had no intention of approaching him. Perhaps the ghostly officials had their own rules; they merely looked his way without drawing closer, and as they continued on their path, they finally turned their gaze back.

“Ghostly officials passing through…!

“Living souls, clear the way…!”

The call echoed intermittently, growing fainter as they moved away. Only then did Xu Mu exhale in relief.

Yet, feeling a sudden impulse, he turned around—

“Ah!”

It wasn’t a ghostly face he saw. Instead, from the mountain he’d just descended, he saw a massive blaze engulfing Leiqing Temple.

Though distant, the flames looked like a small but intense beacon, lighting up the entire mountaintop and casting a reddish glow across the night sky. The entire temple appeared to be ablaze.

Xu Mu realized with a start that the ghosts might not have been staring at him, but at the great fire on the distant mountain. If they’d seen him at all, it had been incidental.

“This...” He stood there in shock, then a wave of panic swept over him.

The temple owner of Leiqing Temple was still up there, bedridden. He was a rare master in the area and Xu Mu’s last hope for helping his mother.

And that gentleman he’d met, Mr. Song, was also on the mountain.

Mr. Song, though only a passing acquaintance, had been remarkably polite. Despite their brief conversation, he had kindly asked for Xu Mu's address, offering to visit and help if fate allowed. Whether genuine or just a kind gesture, it had left a positive impression on him.

Mr. Song was probably fine.

Xu Mu had a strong urge to go back and check, but the mountain was far. By the time he arrived, the fire would likely have burned through much of the temple. Besides, a procession of ghostly officials and spirits had just passed by; if he hurried back, he might run right into them, and they could very well think he intended to join them.

“...”

Caught between concern and fear, he suddenly noticed two figures running toward him. Squinting in the dim light, he realized it was the two young Daoists from Leiqing Temple!

“Young Misters...” He forgot his fear and rushed out, tripping over some brush before stumbling onto the road. “What happened up there? Why is it on fire? Why did you two run out? Is Mr. Song and the temple owner all right?”

But the two young Daoists, visibly terrified, paid him no mind. They barely glanced back, too focused on fleeing in panic. Their bags, overstuffed, swung back and forth as they ran.

A heavy object fell from one of their bags and landed by the roadside. Xu Mu picked it up and saw it was a ten-tael silver ingot.

***

Behind the temple, on the hillside…

“

Cough… cough...

” The grave-digging Daoist coughed violently, staring at Song You. “Then why haven’t you finished me off?”

“Why would I?”

“Aren’t you here to make my soul scatter?”

“When did I say that?” Song You replied calmly.

“Hmm?”

“I gave you a choice, and I intend to keep my word.” Song You looked at him intently. “Do you think I’m toying with you?”

“...” The grave-digging Daoist’s gaze hardened. “You’re waiting for me to die and become a ghost, so you can torment my…

cough, cough

… my soul.”

“Seems you’ve done that yourself before,” Song You paused. “But no, I’m not as malicious as you think.”

“Then what do you intend…?”

“Have you heard of the underworld?”

“The underworld...”

“Though the underworld isn’t fully formed, the heavenly order has shifted. The State Preceptor, preparing for the rise in ghosts, has begun recruiting ghostly officials to gather wandering souls,” Song You explained patiently. “Have you heard the northern tales of the night processions of a hundred ghosts?”

“...” The grave-digging Daoist seemed too weak to reply.

But Song You continued, “Though the underworld isn’t complete, there’s already a ghost city in Mount Ye of Fengzhou. It’s said that any ghost entering there, no matter how powerful, is subjected to the State Preceptor’s judgment. Those with evil deeds in life are sentenced to burn. I may not know what the State Preceptor’s end goal is, but of this, I’m certain.”

“

Huff

...” The grave-digging Daoist took a deep, labored breath, his chest swelling as he made an unpleasant sound. The breath lingered, never quite exhaled.

The calico cat, intrigued by the strange noise, stretched her neck to peer at him. She was curious about what this dying man was trying to do. Song You bent down and picked her up, holding her close.

At last, the Daoist released his breath, and with one final twitch of his legs, he lay completely still.

Song You then looked over at the swordsman.

“Are you afraid of ghostly officials?”

“I’ve slayed dozens of ghosts back then.”

“Are you well enough to move?”

“It’s just a mere scratch. Just give your orders, sir!”

“There’s a procession of ghostly officials passing on the main road below. Please go and summon them here to deal with a ghost.”

“Consider it done!” Without hesitation, the swordsman mounted his horse.

With a sharp “

clop

,” the black horse dashed down the mountain in the night.

The grave-digging Daoist was a practitioner with considerable cultivation skills. If Song You guessed correctly, his Dao of cultivation and the spells he practiced were all related to the Dao of ghosts and spirits. Thus, after his death, he almost immediately became a ghost.

However, due to the damage his soul had suffered from his failed spell days before, he was far from regaining his strength as a spirit. Unlike ordinary souls that quickly adjust upon becoming ghosts, he remained in a weakened and sluggish state.

The night deepened, the sky blanketed with stars and a sliver of a crescent moon. Behind them, flames raged, casting a fiery glow over the mountain as the living faced off against the dead.

But now, confronted by Song You, the grave-digging Daoist had lost all prior composure, replaced by panic and fear.

“Duke of Thunder Fu, save me!

“Exalted Thunder Supreme of the Celestial Heavens, I am Yao Yushan, the temple owner of Leiqing Temple. I’ve served you for over twenty years. A wicked Daoist seeks to harm me—come to my aid, quickly!”

Song You, however, remained calm.

“You may not realize, but the first statue I burned was his. You won’t get a response.”

“How dare you burn the statues!”

“Gods are made by human faith. People honor gods, but if a god fails to protect them, anyone has the right to burn the statue,” Song You replied. “If a god holds a grudge over that, then they’re unworthy of worship.”

“You...”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“You… Aren’t you curious why I planned for that girl, young Miss Cao, to have a ghostly wedding with the Ding family’s eldest grandson and why I intended to bury her alive?” the Daoist’s ghost asked.

“Are you finally willing to tell me?”

“If you swear to let me go, I’ll tell you everything.”

“...” Song You looked at him with only a faint smile.

“Well?” The grave-digging Daoist’s expression hardened.

“You've misunderstood,” Song You replied with a smile. “I'm actually not that interested.”

“...”

Just then, the ghostly officials had made their way up the mountain.

“Who summoned us?

“Where is the ghost?”

Two consecutive sharp cries rang out, yet they sounded terrified.

Turning around, Song You saw a few elderly ghosts dressed in official garb, addressing him while casting wary glances at the blazing temple nearby. The fire’s intense heat radiated spiritual energy so powerful that even they seemed visibly unnerved by it.

“G-Greetings, immortal!”

“I am no immortal,” Song You replied with a polite nod. “I am Song You from Lingquan County, Yizhou. I found this evil Daoist committing heinous deeds and thought it best to ask you to take him to Ghost City of Mount Ye.”

“If you’re no immortal, how do you know of Mount Ye?”

“I came across it by chance.”

“We understand. We’ll bring him back to Mount Ye for thorough questioning. If he is indeed guilty of such terrible crimes, he will be subjected to the punishment of burning until his soul is utterly dispersed!”

“This one had some abilities when he was still alive—he may retain a fraction of them in death. However, his soul is damaged, so take care.”

“Thank you, Immortal Master...”

The grave-digging Daoist’s ghost looked utterly stupefied.

The ghostly official showed no mercy, immediately binding him in chains.