TRYMBPIETM 148: When I went in the Past (30)

The place where Master Ji Nan was stationed wasn’t far.

It took Cheng Yufei nearly ten minutes to get there, and from a distance, she saw him sitting cross-legged under the eaves, with a phone placed in front of him.

Bang bang bang. The sound of a wooden fish knocking came from the phone. As Cheng Yufei walked closer, she saw that not only had he downloaded an app for wooden fish^[1] knocking, but he had also installed an auto-clicker to tap the screen continuously.

A string of “Merit +1” messages popped up on the screen, and the bang bang bang rhythm was both steady and soothing.

Cheng Yufei: “……”

She had to admit, Master, your cyber merit accumulation was going quite effortlessly.

She rubbed her forehead helplessly. “Master, I have some things I’d like to ask you. Do you have time?”

Master Ji’nan opened his eyes and chanted a Buddhist verse. “Benefactor Cheng wishes to ask about the cooperation between this humble monk and Mister Chi?”

Cheng Yufei nodded. “Master, do you truly believe that letting Xing Su merge with the dragon vein is a good idea?”

Master Ji Nan smiled. “This humble monk understands what most people in the Bureau are concerned about. In truth, even I cannot guarantee that this is the best solution.”

The words seemed to align with those who advocated caution against Xing Su. But Cheng Yufei knew that such statements often had a “but” following them.

Sure enough, after just a two-second pause, Master Ji Nan smiled and countered, “But can they come up with another viable solution?”

“It doesn’t have to be perfect. As long as their method can ensure the damaged dragon vein won’t vanish, can restore the reversed time to normal, and can suppress that god to some extent—then I believe everyone would be willing to listen.”

Master Ji Nan looked up, his expression kind and benevolent, but his eyes clearly conveyed a question: Can they think of such a solution?

Cheng Yufei fell silent.

Of course, those opposing colleagues couldn’t come up with one. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be facing the current situation.

Master Ji Nan gazed at her quietly, saying nothing.

The steady bang bang bang of the wooden fish continued. The sound of the wind mixed with insect chirps filled the quiet night, and the ambient temperature seemed to rise slightly.

The faint eye in the sky dimmed a little, and cracking sounds echoed from the shrine of Wan Ying Gong not far away, coming from the breaking idol.

Cheng Yufei’s expression was somewhat dazed, but the tension in her shoulders gradually eased.

After a while, she suddenly spoke.

“I’m just afraid that after merging with the dragon vein, Xing Su will lose his rationality. He has always enjoyed fighting with deities and has never restrained himself for any reason.”

And his strength was formidable. Whenever he fought, it would always cause massive upheaval, affecting countless humans.

“Master, if he were merging with something else, I might not be so worried. But this is a dragon vein.”

She shook her head, her brows tightly furrowed.

Everyone in the Paranormal Control Bureau knew Xing Su had originally entered the tomb and sacrificed himself to guard a dragon vein.

The reason he had become a ghost was entirely due to that dragon vein—he had been consumed by its overwhelming grievances and deathly energy.

Unlike ghosts formed after death, Xing Su still had a physical body.

But from the moment he was tainted, his soul had been forcibly ripped from it!

Being alive while having his three souls and seven spirits torn away—Cheng Yufei didn’t even dare to imagine how agonizing that must have been.

Yes, in terms of connection to the dragon vein, no one in the world had a closer bond than Xing Su. Having him replace the ghost deity to stabilize the dragon vein seemed like the most logical choice.

But after suffering so much because of it, did Xing Su really hold no resentment in his heart?

If he truly bore a grudge, would he not lose control during the merging process?

Cheng Yufei said slowly, “If I remember correctly, the research on dragon vein fusion came from Damingguang Temple?”

Master Ji Nan nodded. “That’s right. We provided it.”

Cheng Yufei: “Then Master should know better than I do—anyone who merges with a dragon vein will fall into illusions and may even forget their connection to the mortal world. Even if Xing Su and Mister Chi are close now, once he enters an illusion, he might not remember anything.”

In that case, Chi Qingzhou’s presence wouldn’t be a safeguard for Xing Su’s sanity at all.

She lowered her head, her tone sharp and cold. “So, Master, how can you guarantee that Xing Su will remain rational after merging with the dragon vein? On what grounds do you reject my proposal to activate an emergency response plan?!”

Master Ji Nan showed no shame or discomfort in the face of her questioning.

His expression remained serene. “Benefactor Cheng, I understand that you fear ordinary people being harmed. But I can assure you—this will not happen.”

Cheng Yufei: “Why? Can you guarantee that Mister Chi will completely side with us?”

If Xing Su lost control, would Chi Qingzhou be able to restrain him immediately?

Even if Chi Qingzhou always spoke of good deeds bringing good rewards, it was unlikely he would go all out against Xing Su.

She took a deep breath. “I thought Master could see it. Their auras are intertwined—they are truly intimate lovers.”

Compared to Xing Su, whom the entire Paranormal Control Bureau could barely contend with, Chi Qingzhou was an existence beyond anyone’s ability to resist.

And now, you expect one half of a couple to take down the other? Are you kidding?

Master Ji Nan looked at Cheng Yufei warmly. “Benefactor Cheng, you don’t understand Xing Su very well.”

Xing Su was an old house catching fire^[2]—a hopeless romantic.

Cheng Yufei faltered. “…Huh?”

Master Ji Nan smiled. “And you don’t seem to understand Mister Chi either.”

Chi Qingzhou was not a typical kind person.

Cheng Yufei: “……”

She was bewildered but deeply shocked.

…

The eye in the sky completely faded, and most parts of the country were still in deep night.

After rushing back, Cheng Yufei personally shattered the enormous idol.

As the night breeze blew, fine stone dust settled on half of the idol’s face, resembling dried-up tear stains.

Cheng Yufei’s gaze swept over the shattered fragments of the statue, not lingering too long, and raised her hand to signal her subordinates.

“Come, smash all these fragments completely, turn them into powder!”

She didn’t believe that by shattering the statue completely, the ghost deity could revive from the scattered dust!

Master Du Ming couldn’t help but chuckle, and, under Cheng Yufei’s glaring stare, turned his head, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

Master Ji’e chanted the Buddha’s name as his gaze drifted toward the distance.

His brows raised slightly: “Has Mr. Chi finished dealing with the aftermath? It seems Xing Su’s fusion is almost complete?”

Cheng Yufei’s attention was immediately drawn: “What do you mean?”

Master Ji’e pointed at a few stars in the night sky, now faintly glowing: “Isn’t that responding to the dragon veins?”

Master Du Ming glanced at them and nodded: “It’s related to the dragon veins, and there are two of them.”

Two?

That would be one at Jingming Mountain and one at Linghe Village.

Cheng Yufei suddenly understood, staring at the stars for a while, her palms gradually dampened with cold sweat.

Master Du Ming stretched lazily, and, under the curious gazes of Master Ji’e and Cheng Yufei, walked toward the recently opened passage to the underworld.

A figure dressed as an Underworld official emerged from the passage, waving at the group.

“Master Du Ming, your application has been approved. This passage will remain open for ten minutes. If you’re heading to Linghe Village, you’ll need to hurry.”

Master Du Ming nodded, and, amidst the astonished inquiries from his colleagues, waved his hand and strode toward the edge of the passage.

Cheng Yufei quickly caught up: “You’re going to Linghe Village? Wait for me, I’ll go too!”

Lu Yao said, “Captain Cheng, you didn’t apply in advance, so you can’t use this passage.”

Cheng Yufei: “…”

She shot a fierce glare at Master Du Ming, who was still laughing, and hurriedly said to Lu Yao, “I’ll apply right now!”

Lu Yao smiled: “Then I’ll come back after your application is approved. For now, I’ll take Master Du Ming.”

She waved to both of them and led Master Du Ming into the passage.

“But things are going smoothly at Linghe Village, so by the time your application is approved, Zhou Zhou might have already finished dealing with everything.”

Cheng Yufei: “…Huh? Could it be that Xing Su didn’t forget the past in the illusion?”

…

Lu Yao didn’t rush Master Du Ming.

Seeing this, Master Du Ming couldn’t help but smile lightly: “It seems Xing Su’s situation is better than I thought.”

Lu Yao tilted her head and glanced at him, giving a slight chuckle: “It’s about the same. Zhou Zhou has helped him to this extent, and he should be grateful to Zhou Zhou. If he still dares to forget about Zhou Zhou…”

Master Du Ming: “…”

Got it. If Xing Su really forgets about Chi Qingzhou, he not only has to face his wife’s punishment but also the collective wrath of his wife’s friends.

He twitched his mouth, his instinct telling him it was better not to continue on this topic. He followed Lu Yao in silence as they walked out of the passage.

The rain in Linghe Village had not yet stopped, and the flames in the village were gradually dying out.

The ghostly creatures burned by the flames were still wailing, and amidst the rising and falling screams, Master Du Ming, stepping out of the passage, immediately saw the huge shadow hanging in the air.

His mind buzzed, and he was momentarily stunned.

The whole world seemed to be forcefully covered in a layer of dazzling colors: deep reds, vivid yellows, and twisted blues swirling, turning his field of vision into a bizarre painting.

The rainwater penetrated his body, which wasn’t a physical body in the worldly sense, and his blood vessels and bones began to grow spore-like plants…

With a sharp crack, someone slapped his ear.

Master Du Ming suddenly snapped back to reality and, upon focusing his eyes, saw everything before him back to normal. The strange thick colors were gone.

He quickly turned around and stared at Lu Yao, confused: “What was that just now…?”

Lu Yao, as if not surprised, replied: “That should have been an illusion. Master Shen Wenxu mentioned seeing something similar before.”

Master Du Ming collected himself and noticed that, despite being covered in wounds, Shen Wenxu was standing beside him.

Meeting his slightly disoriented gaze, Shen Wenxu raised a hand and lazily greeted: “Hello, Master Du Ming.”

Though Master Du Ming and Qing Zhi were not fellow disciples, as a junior, Shen Wenxu always referred to the elders of various sects in this way.

Master Du Ming had a good impression of him and nodded gently.

“Did you also see the illusion?” After briefly sizing him up, Master Du Ming furrowed his brows: “Your injuries are quite serious. You should go to the hospital to get them treated soon.”

Shen Wenxu gave a nonchalant response: “It’s nothing serious. I’m not dead yet. Zhou Zhou still needs my help with some things. I’ll deal with the injuries later.”

Master Du Ming showed a disapproving expression, but before he could say anything, Shen Wenxu swiftly changed the subject: “Master Du Ming, did Zhou Zhou explain the specific situation to you before asking for your help?”

Master Du Ming paused for a moment and shook his head: “Mr. Chi only mentioned that my abilities are balanced and peaceful, and that I’m effective in calming emotions.”

He had been worried that Chi Qingzhou might want to use his powers to suppress Xing Su’s violent energy, which is why he had applied for the underworld passage in advance, fearing he wouldn’t make it in time.

Shen Wenxu’s smile instantly turned subtle.

“Then you’ve misunderstood.” His eyes were filled with a pleasant joy that Master Du Ming couldn’t understand. “What Zhou Zhou wanted you to help calm wasn’t Xing Su, but the ordinary people who saw his shadow.”

Master Du Ming’s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the confused people standing within the range of the moving grave. His expression changed instantly.

“They’ve seen the illusion too, haven’t they?” he asked.

Shen Wenxu replied: “It’s not a big issue.” He spread his hands under Master Du Ming’s slightly reproachful stare. “Master, even if you don’t trust me, you must trust Zhou Zhou. He’s a kind person and knows what he’s doing.”

Kind? Is that the kind of kindness that makes friends disappear?

Master Du Ming’s temples throbbed, and he looked once more at the enormous shadow standing between heaven and earth. The thick colors again covered his vision.

Fortunately, this time he was prepared. Using his strong willpower, he slowly averted his gaze, tightly closing his eyes until the almost indelible colors faded away.

“This kind of illusion… could be considered mental pollution.” Master Du Ming’s face turned pale, his voice unknowingly turning hoarse. “Can those ordinary people handle this illusion? They won’t have gone mad, will they?”

Shen Wenxu chuckled lightly: “It’s not that serious. Zhou Zhou knows what he’s doing. Master, just help calm their emotions. They’ll recover soon.”

He looked up, staring intently at the shadow in the sky, his eyes filled with an indescribable fervor.

“But Master, do you see it? A new era is about to arrive.”