Twilight Boundary-Chapter 737 - 728: The Tuberculosis Ghost Gets Married (Extra Release for Votes)

"Actually, this Shangqiao, why does it seem like entering a high dimension?"

All the way, I was silently pondering in my heart. I had only glanced at the bridge, but the feeling was so novel, an unprecedented experience that resonated in my mind for a long time. The things I saw in that glance were difficult to describe with concrete words. I could see the antecedents, understand my weight in the world, and foresee the impact I could have on it—clear yet subtle. It was as if a person, muddled in the world, suddenly had an epiphany one day, and the world became clear. Human interactions, disputes, and entanglements—all made sense.

Reincarnators could effortlessly comprehend this with their transcendental concepts, but people in this world did not understand high dimensions. However, had some talented individuals created the concept of 'Shangqiao' for people to understand? Truly remarkable individuals, indeed. Were the paths these people chose really so pitiful?

According to Calculation's retelling, the path of Shangqiao seemed a dead end, but I didn't quite believe the descriptions of the Daluo Dharma Sect. After all, renowned figures like Lao Junmei and Mr. Longjing had also chosen the path of Shangqiao, hadn't they?

While I was immersed in these contemplations, the carriage I rode in was advancing, accompanied by lively music, and soon encountered the bridal procession. Red and white instantly intertwined, creating an eerie beauty.

Usually, when a wedding procession encountered a funeral procession, the former would yield. But this time was different. When the two parties met, they seemed to be in a daze, and our group was led into the village.

All around, houses stood adorned with festive lights and decorations. By the tables, elderly women gnawed on chicken bones, while stout men hoisted pigs for slaughter. Children laughed and played, running around, kicking plump, furry cloth balls. Occasionally, in a fleeting glance, one might glimpse human features appearing on a ball.

Did we enter a ghost realm?

I merely glanced through the curtain and identified the issue, not particularly concerned in my heart. The matters along the way were all handled by Immortal Miaoshan. Whether by her skills or those of that Fourth Miss Zhou—who was always with me but whose intentions were unknown—they could easily handle the specters encountered on the road, so I didn't need to worry.

"Guests, step off and join the feast..."

"Since you've joined the happy event, catch some of the joy, say a few auspicious words, and enjoy some wine and meat..."

Hearing the clamor outside, the cacophonous voices seemed to drill into my head. Finding it unbearable, I stepped down from the carriage.

I saw that the attendants and drivers around us were already in a daze, involuntarily smiling and uttering flattering words to the household hosting the joyous event. However, Immortal Miaoshan and Fourth Miss Zhou were already frowning.

Beside Immortal Miaoshan, Little Bean Official rested his chin in his hand, watching the excitement, lost in thought. Looking at Little Hongtang beside me, her eyes were also wide open... watching the children's ball, seemingly envious and wanting to join in their play.

I was indifferent. Sitting down, I saw that Immortal Miaoshan and Fourth Miss Zhou were pondering solutions. Traveling in the wilderness, it's easy to attract evil spirits. Places that can manifest such celebratory scenes are ghost realms, indicating that the evil spirits here were extremely fierce. In a ghost realm capable of such illusion, there must be a Ghost King. Once it's slain, the ghost realm would resolve. But if we acted prematurely, only slaying some little ghosts while letting the Ghost King escape, the disaster would be endless. After all, our party needed to hurry on. If it truly got away, we wouldn't have time to chase it everywhere. At this point, seeing the looks in Fourth Miss Zhou's and Immortal Miaoshan's eyes, I knew they wished to flush out that Ghost King.

While I was pondering, our group was ushered to the banquet. Dishes were already brought forward, seeming diverse—meat rich and fruits fresh. But we all merely sneered, knowing the dishes here in the ghost realm were mostly transformed from snake bugs, maggots, and flies. No one ate them.

"Eat, eat! If you don't, I'll take it away..."

The one urging us to eat held chopsticks, eating voraciously while persistently imploring.

But seeing we refused to eat, the Ghost Housekeeper ordered more wine, bringing bowls and placing them before us. The contents appeared black and murky, emitting a sour-sweet smell. Another row of people then came and stood behind us, carrying a basin. At a glance, the basin seemed to contain clear water.

Immortal Miaoshan and Fourth Miss Zhou instinctively looked to me. Seeing I was unbothered, they decided to rely on their own abilities, a sense of rivalry sparking between them.

Immortal Miaoshan waved her horsetail whisk slightly, smiling arrogantly. "Some folks see us as demon people, but we demon people are the ones who travel far and wide, solving countless troubles for the common folk!"

"Those who come from noble families, no matter how skilled, are often clueless when faced with real problems!"

Saying this, she glanced at Little Bean Official, who promptly stood on tiptoe and whispered something quickly into her ear.

Immortal Miaoshan became more composed. She fumbled in her sleeve for a long time and finally retrieved a Copper Coin, one refined by the One Coin Sect. Pinching the Copper Coin, she handed it to the Ghost Housekeeper beside her, saying, "Upon encountering a joyous occasion, it's appropriate to give wedding money."

The Ghost Housekeeper looked bewildered, then a joyful expression spread across his face as he hurriedly reached out to accept it.

Immortal Miaoshan then watched him and asked, "What are you serving us?"

Watching from the side, I understood that Immortal Miaoshan was quite clever. She followed the rules of the ghost realm by giving wedding money, and the Ghost Housekeeper here couldn't refuse. Having taken her money, he couldn't help but speak the truth when questioned. Money was a spiritual object; subduing this little ghost was not an issue.

The Ghost Housekeeper, smiling complacently, said, "Our master isn't well and needs the hearts and livers of the living to nourish him. Naturally, we must serve him well."

"This basin contains light sesame oil, scallions, peppercorns, and spices. Once you drink it, your insides will be flavorful. Then, I'll pour this basin of cold water over your heads. As your bodies shiver, I'll dig out your hearts. They'll be both flavorful and crisp."

Seeing her inquiry succeed, Immortal Miaoshan glanced at Fourth Miss Zhou, her lips curling slightly upward.

Fourth Miss Zhou, enraged, slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "I'd advise him to be less picky! Does eating a person require such finesse?"

As she grew angry, the atmosphere turned heavy. A crowd of ghosts instantly surged forward, intending to pinch her mouth and shove condiments in.

But Fourth Miss Zhou was exceptionally skilled. She stood up, and a single slap sent the Ghost Housekeeper's head flying off somewhere. Simultaneously, she snatched away his hand and the Copper Coin, placing them before Immortal Miaoshan, and exclaimed, "For you!"

The next moment, she stepped forward. The mere force generated by her movement scattered the swarming little ghosts like a whirlwind. Her form, like a ghostly shadow, moved directly behind the row of tables and chairs, stopping before the stone house. Even with the door tightly closed, she didn't look. She simply extended a hand, punched a hole into the stone wall, and dragged out a ghostly figure.

It was a ghost wearing black burial robes and a round hat, looking extremely weak with a ghastly pale face and dark circles under its eyes.

She had clearly been observing and had already found the Ghost King—not the bride in the sedan chair, but this consumptive ghost from the welcoming party.

"Are you marrying a bride when you're in such poor health?"

Fourth Miss Zhou seized the Ghost King and immediately slapped it, which sent the surrounding ghosts scattering in terror.

Immortal Miaoshan watched from the side, visibly unhappy, yet she knew that when it came to fighting, she was inferior.

Seeing the Ghost King captured, this ghost realm seemed on the verge of being dismantled by Fourth Miss Zhou. However, just then, a chilling breeze unexpectedly blew from somewhere. I suddenly became aware and raised my head, seeing the consumptive ghost's expression suddenly change.

Its mouth opened wide, spewing a torrent of dark, putrid yin qi towards Fourth Miss Zhou's face.

The yin qi of an Evil Ghost could harm people, let alone that of a Ghost King! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Yet Fourth Miss Zhou, with her considerable abilities, was not afraid of this attack. However, being a lady, she was inevitably disgusted and momentarily lost her composure.

I then raised my hand, seizing the Ghost King. Squeezing forcefully with my fingers, I crushed it into bits with a POOF.

Lowering my gaze to my hand, I noted how, when I held the Ghost King, it felt unusually heavy—quite illogical. At the same time, I sensed that with the Ghost King's death, the little ghosts scattered. The surrounding lights extinguished, plunging everything into darkness as if forming a vortex. The living essence within me was astonishingly being rapidly absorbed by this ghost realm.

"Leave here!" I realized the issue and frowned. "Someone is incense-burning at a character position to harm us!"

Judging by the speed of my cultivation depletion, I discerned that this wasn't the work of a mere wedding-procession ghost. Our party might have fallen into the Magic of the Haishou Sect. Someone had calculated our location and then performed incense-burning at the corresponding point. They were likely at the "Fa" position of the Ten Gates of Haishou, which naturally placed our party in the "Kui" position. In this position, even if no enemies were visible, our cultivation would quickly diminish. Each moment spent here was akin to a spring night with a female ghost—twelve branches blossoming; even the strongest man would wither into a husk. For me, Fourth Miss Zhou, and Immortal Miaoshan, it wasn't dire. But the attendants and drivers, within a blink, were already dizzy, their legs weak.

"Go!"

I rose, lifting the carriage with its coffin with one hand, while securing Little Hongtang with my left, lest she vanished in the darkness.

Looking back, Fourth Miss Zhou had followed me. She was anxious internally, unsure of what to do.

Immortal Miaoshan remained calm and composed. Waving her horsetail whisk, she cast a spell, "Quickly, help them!"

Thus, a gust of eerie wind blew, and I saw the Little Ghost Bean Official starting to bustle about. He swiftly flew to gather the dazed attendants and drivers into a large cart, then ran back to seize the livestock, placing them into Calculation's hands. Only then did he grip the cart shaft, hurriedly following behind Immortal Miaoshan.