Chapter 85

Chapter 85

Chapter 85: The Scent

From beginning to end, Bai and Mei had no intention of leaving.

If they hadn’t encountered the head and heard what it said earlier, and accidentally made their way out, that would be one thing. But since they had met it, knowing full well that deeper in Tianshan lay further dangers, how could they only care about their own escape?

Not to mention, the head’s words and actions were contradictory. To truly believe it, to think following the wind’s direction would safely lead them out—how foolish would that be?

Yet what they thought in their hearts was one thing, and their outward behavior was another.

For the next few hours, the two of them maintained the appearance of “wanting to leave, yet unable to drop the ‘famed heroes’ posture, so pretending to care about the situation of others,” each little by little giving the other compliments.

The saber hero said of the sword hero, “You care about everyone in your sect, truly deserving the praise of all as the senior disciple.”

The sword hero said of the saber hero, “Your heart is tied to the lotus pickers who may still go up the mountain; no wonder, despite your young age, your reputation spreads in the Jianghu.”

And it wasn’t just about praising each other. When being praised, one had to be modest in words.

Meanwhile, when the head joined in, it had to put on an appearance of hating evil, as if a wandering, resentful ghost like itself didn’t deserve to build relationships or friendships with them.

By the end, Bai Zhengliu almost laughed at himself. Fortunately, he still remembered what was most important at the moment, tightened his expression, and didn’t make a sound.

Watching their behavior, the head seemed increasingly at ease and quietly began to retreat into hiding.

As if it knew that as long as the two heroes didn’t “associate with evil,” it should be sensible and not soil their eyes.

This action was effective. The farther the head moved from Bai and Mei, the less they, unlike before, dragged it back to warn it.

Gradually, the head completely concealed itself in the shadows. With a pair of blood-streaked, tear-filled eyes, it watched the two figures ahead with cold malice.

Then, it turned its head and, as it had before Bai and Mei found it, began hopping off in another direction.

…

Beneath the ice crevice was darkness.

This darkness was surprisingly vast. The head hopped inside, its echoes gradually spreading.

It seemed to feel the noise was too loud. Its formerly only head began to stretch and rise… taking on a semblance of a “person” again.

Yet compared to its previous solidity, the “person” now appeared very faint. It seemed that even the slightest touch could blow it away.Several dozen feet behind, Bai and Mei quietly hid, silently watching the scene.

After noticing the head ghost had left, the flowing light beside Bai Zhengliu dimmed. Only a small bit remained, which he brushed over Mei Yinghan’s eyes.

At this moment, although there was no light around, Bai and Mei could still clearly see what was ahead.

When the head ghost moved farther away, they got up to follow.

One walked, one chased. Time passed, though they didn’t know how long, until finally Bai and Mei saw something different.

It was figures other than the head ghost.

Some stood facing the stone walls, motionless. Others walked in small groups, playing chess or gambling. Some, upon seeing the head ghost, raised their heads—or more precisely, “floated up.” Their heads flew, while their bodies stayed in place, smiling and asking the head ghost, “Isn’t this Brother Liu? How come you’ve returned empty-handed?”

The head ghost turned its head and coldly glanced at the floating head.

The head was clearly startled, then restrained its expression, as if fearful, returning to its original position without speaking.

At this moment, the head ghost continued moving forward.

Its steps were hurried and fast, clearly aiming for a specific destination.

Seeing that the head ghost was about to leave their line of sight, Bai and Mei made hand gestures in the darkness.

Bai Zhengliu asked, “Continue the pursuit?”

Mei Yinghan replied, “Ahead there are many other wandering ghosts and specters…”

Bai Zhengliu paused. Indeed, this was troublesome.

But seeing the head ghost just walking on, he still felt a bit reluctant to let it go.

While hesitating for a moment, the wandering spirits ahead reacted.

Ignoring those facing the stone wall, among the lotus-picker-disguised wandering ghosts gambling, one flared its nostrils and suddenly spoke, “Did you smell that?”

Other wandering ghosts: “What?”

The nostril-flaring ghost: “The scent of humans! Living humans!”

Other wandering ghosts laughed and scolded: “In a place like this, how could there be living humans? Wang Laoer, I think you’re going crazy wanting to eat humans. Weren’t the scraps our master threw enough to satisfy you?”Then: “This time, it seems many fellow villagers have come up the mountain. I wonder if there are any from our village…”

“Ha, if there are people from your village, what will you do?”

“I’ll have to ask about my mother’s situation first,” he said with a simple smile, “and then offer the person to the Master.”

As he spoke, the wandering ghosts laughed together.

Judging from their faces alone, it was clear they had been ruthless people in life. Now, as spirits under the Tianshan Old Ghost, facing their former fellow villagers, they naturally felt no affection.

They only wanted to capture more lotus pickers to earn the Master’s favor. If they could gain some benefit in the process, that was even better.

The wandering ghosts began to fantasize in detail while still sitting in place, rolling dice and playing Pai Gow.

Only Wang Laoer, the nostril-flaring one ahead, had moved from his spot.

He didn’t speak further, only sniffed carefully around. Even when the faint voices of other wandering ghosts came from behind—“I told you, this person in life was just an old dog. After death, the old dog stole his original master’s soul…”—he paid them no mind.

But just because he didn’t care, Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan couldn’t afford not to.

They watched as Wang Laoer approached, still maintaining a sniffing posture.

The distance between them steadily decreased. At this point, even if they tried to convince themselves, “he must be mistaken,” it was impossible.

That guy was coming straight for them. Although the knife master and sword master didn’t understand why, out of so many wandering ghosts, only this one had realized their presence, even this single one was a serious threat.

Bai Zhengliu quietly gripped the Twenty-Eight Generals.

He signaled to Mei Yinghan: “Mei brother, let’s move back first…”

Mei Yinghan nodded. They slowly retreated, reassuring themselves. It was fine—though they had let the head ghost go, now many new wandering ghosts had appeared. Following them could lead to clues as well.

For every step they retreated, Wang Laoer advanced the same distance.

Unknowingly, the other wandering ghosts had moved far from the knife master and sword master. Their figures and voices blurred in the air, leaving only Wang Laoer right in front of them.

Estimating it was time, Bai Zhengliu deliberately created a flaw.

He pretended to stumble, making a sound not very loud, but audible from Wang Laoer’s position.

Wang Laoer immediately looked in his direction, eyes flashing with excited cruelty. “So you’re here! I’ll catch you and take you as a drink snack!”

As the words fell, his neck suddenly elongated, his head stretching straight toward Bai Zhengliu.Knife Master: “……”No, you ghosts—why do you all insist on making a fuss with your heads?

In an instant, Wang Laoer’s head had already reached Bai Zhengliu!

His neck had stretched a full three zhang, while his body moved forward slowly and deliberately. His face showed a drooling expression as he said, “A living person, truly a living person! I caught such a living person to offer to my Master. Surely the Master will leave the heart, liver, spleen, and lungs for me. Then, hehe…”

He swallowed loudly, as if imagining devouring the warm flesh and blood. After a moment, he realized, “Huh, you’re not scared?”

Bai Zhengliu gripped the hilt and shook his head slightly.

Even at this moment, he could speak calmly. He said to Wang Laoer, “I’m just thinking about one thing.”

Wang Laoer: “What?”

Bai Zhengliu slowly drew his blade: “Should I let you catch me so you can take me to your ‘Master,’ or should I kill you right here, then find another way to sneak in?”

Wang Laoer froze at these words, then his expression turned absurdly ridiculous: “Hey! Are there really living people who can speak such big words? If the Master sees this, surely he will be pleased.”

As he finished speaking, the Twenty-Eight Generals were fully unsheathed.

Even in complete darkness, the blades glimmered with flowing light.

This glimmer finally made Wang Laoer’s expression grow serious. But Bai Zhengliu didn’t give him a chance to change his mind.

“Let’s go with the latter,” the Knife Master murmured to himself. “You’re so disgusting. If you try to ‘snack’ midway… ugh!”

Just imagining being treated as a dish on someone’s plate made Bai Zhengliu’s stomach churn.

Though other wandering ghosts, like Ma Er from the Tan family, had done evil under Meng Niangzi’s control, they would seize any chance to resist and would honestly tell Bai Zhengliu that they were ready to face whatever judgment came next. This one was different. Bai Zhengliu had no doubt that even when this guy called “Wang Laoer” was alive, he had committed many evils.

Such a being must be killed!

Before Wang Laoer could even realize, his head fell from midair.

His face remained stunned and disbelieving as the head rolled several times on the ground, still frozen in that expression.

“You, you—”

On the bald head, the ghost’s mouth trembled, staring at Bai Zhengliu in disbelief.

Before it could utter a full word, a long blade stabbed straight at it. Light burst from the tip, instantly engulfing Wang Laoer’s entire head.At the same time.

Bai Zhengliu looked ahead. By now, Mei Yinghan was already standing behind Wang Laoer’s body, blocking any escape route.

As Bai Zhengliu brought down his blade, he simultaneously raised his sword.

Zhenxing wasn’t like the Twenty-Eight Generals, able to cut ghosts with dispersed light, but it was still an excellent weapon. Bai Zhengliu saw Mei Yinghan make a flick and a lift, and Wang Laoer’s body wobbled as if unsteady, then toppled straight to the ground.

Throughout the process, Zhenxing didn’t even touch Wang Laoer—oh, perhaps this was Mei Yinghan’s intention.

With “the head taken care of by the Knife Master” already done, the wandering ghost was naturally cautious toward another human appearing at this moment and didn’t dare test his edge. In this way, even though Zhenxing was just an ordinary sword, it was enough to hold Wang Laoer’s body in place, leaving him no chance to escape.

This gave Bai Zhengliu enough time to approach, lift the Twenty-Eight Generals, and pierce the ghost’s heart from behind.

The moment the Twenty-Eight Generals pierced the ghost, the Knife Master let out a smile.

How could he always forget? These ghosts are different from living humans; even if their heart is destroyed, they won’t die immediately… but it doesn’t matter.

Light spread again, and every inch of Wang Laoer’s body was bathed in the radiance from the Twenty-Eight Generals. At this stage, his body wavered slightly, with no chance to move a step to escape, and then disappeared before Bai Zhengliu and Mei Yinghan.

The surrounding darkness and silence returned. Bai Zhengliu sheathed his blade and showed a grave expression, saying to Mei Yinghan, “Mei brother, there are many more ghosts here. We need to think of a plan carefully.”

Mei Yinghan said nothing.

He slightly turned his body, gazing toward the direction Wang Laoer had come from, his handsome face showing an unprecedented seriousness.

Bai Zhengliu noticed Mei Yinghan’s changed expression. A sudden foreboding rose in his heart, and he followed Mei Yinghan’s gaze. What he saw was the scene that had been hidden by the light from the sword moments ago.

Ghosts were lined up, one after another—roughly a dozen or more.

Those who had mocked Wang Laoer, those standing still in front of the stone wall, and those who had not participated in the “living human scent” conversation—all somehow had caught up. Now they stood less than three zhang away from the Knife Master and Sword Master, watching them with deep, ominous eyes.

“So there really are living humans,” one ghost said, meeting Bai Zhengliu’s gaze. He licked his lips, showing the same greedy excitement that Wang Laoer had displayed earlier.

Author’s note:

Speaking of which, I slept 14 hours today… there’s a sudden feeling of happiness when opening my eyes and seeing the time on my phone (shy).