Chapter 52

But the moment his fist connected, Jiang Luo's expression froze.

It was like punching a rock. The rock felt nothing; he was the one about to die from the pain.

Jiang Luo's brow twitched. He forcibly suppressed the pain, withdrew his hand without a change in expression, and then viciously kicked Chi You in the abdomen.

Chi You's back slammed into the coffin lid with a heavy thud. The music outside abruptly stopped, and the coffin ceased its rocking.

The Livid Ghost chuckled, the laughter growing louder. Jiang Luo pinned him beneath, used Inch Tiger to shove open the coffin lid, and gracefully flipped out of the coffin.

The water ghosts and the wedding-dressed ghost in red were already gone outside. He immediately turned, ready to push the lid shut.

'Teacher Chi,' he said with a thin, insincere smile, looking at the ghost inside the coffin. 'Stay in there by yourself and go look for your heart.'

As the coffin was about to close, in the last sliver of gap, the ghost leaning against the wood had somehow changed his posture. He lay elegantly flat inside, hands resting on his abdomen.

The lid gradually covered his strangely upturned mouth, then his deep, shadowed eyes.

A 'click'—the coffin sealed shut perfectly.

Jiang Luo slapped dozens of Spirit Papers onto the coffin lid.

He looked around. Though the ghosts of the Red and White Pair of Fiends were gone, the fog was thick, and beyond five meters he could not even see his own hand. The wedding palanquin had stopped beside the coffin. Aside from a stream, it was impossible to tell where they were.

Jiang Luo patted Inch Tiger's head, looked at the coffin, and suddenly gave a cold laugh. 'Ram it.'

Inch Tiger yawned, its maw gaping wide. It backed up a few steps, gathered strength in its claws, and suddenly charged headlong into the coffin.

The coffin was instantly sent tumbling, rolling over and over before splashing into the Creek Flow.

The creek water bore the coffin away. Jiang Luo stood where he was, laughing freely. 'Bon voyage, Teacher.'

*

The receding coffin was intercepted by a monk.

The handsome, bald monk leisurely peeled the Spirit Papers from the coffin. The next moment, Chi You pushed open the lid and sat up with perfect composure.

Ge Wuchen sighed. 'Master, was this trivial matter the reason you summoned me and had me lure Ge Zhu away?'

Chi You stepped out of the coffin and led him toward the densest part of the white fog. 'Don't you want to see your brother?'

Ge Wuchen lowered his eyes, gently turning his Flowing Pearl beads. 'You jest, Master.'

*

After 'sending off' Chi You, Jiang Luo lifted the curtain of the Wedding Palanquin.

Lu You lay unconscious in the wedding palanquin, his brows tightly furrowed as if caught in a nightmare. Jiang Luo patted his face. 'Lu You?'

After being called three times in a row, Lu You suddenly jerked awake. 'Fuck!'

He flailed all four limbs in panic, and Jiang Luo stepped back in time. After a while, Lu You gradually calmed down. He looked at Jiang Luo, felt his heart loosen, and let out a long breath. 'You scared me to death, Jiang Luo. Do you know what I ran into?'

'I blinked, and you were gone. I was inside the palanquin, and a Livid Ghost dressed as a bride was sitting there.'

His face was ashen, thoroughly terrified. 'She almost killed me.'

So I'm not the only unlucky one.

Jiang Luo felt comforted. His mood instantly improved. 'It's fine now. Come out.'

The two of them stepped out of the palanquin. Lu You looked at the heavy fog and frowned. 'Something's not right.'

They had no Compass. Jiang Luo shook the Yin-Yang Ring a couple of times, but it merely glowed faintly in all directions, unable to point north. This was the first time the ring had failed. Jiang Luo's brow also creased. 'The Yin-Yang Ring isn't working either…'

In ordinary locations, the Yin-Yang Ring, positioned at the confluence of yin and yang, could accurately determine direction regardless of whether it was sky or earth, dense forest or skyscraper.

There was only one place without east, west, south, or north.

That was the Underworld.

Jiang Luo tore the red silk flowers from the palanquin. 'Lu You, use the earth-seeking method.'

Lu You nodded. He took out a small knife, cut down the inverted-triangle ornament at the top of the palanquin, ran to the stream to fill it with water, then carefully carried it back. Lu You buried the pointed tip of the triangle in the soil, leaving the exposed side shaped like a bowl.

Jiang Luo pulled a few threads from the red silk and twisted them into a rope, still finding time to say, 'Lu You, looking at it now, who seems more unlucky?'

Lu You said miserably, 'Me.'

He couldn't help but try to explain. 'But I thought about it again carefully. When I stepped down, there really wasn't that dead branch under my foot.'

Jiang Luo glanced at him. 'I don't believe you.'

Lu You let out a heart-sore sigh.

Jiang Luo took the twisted rope to the bowl. Lu You planted a straight, whittled branch upright in the middle. Before the branch could fall, Jiang Luo quickly wrapped the rope around it several times, then pressed the two ends down with both index fingers, pulling hard to the left and rear until they reached their limit.

The rope tightened, binding the branch firmly in the middle. Lu You dipped his index finger in the clean water in the bowl and lightly touched the tip of the branch.

The branch slowly began to move.

It bent gradually from upright until its tip touched the ground. Bound by the cord, the branch tip drew a straight line in the dirt.

Once the line was drawn, the branch suddenly went slack and fell beside the bowl and onto the ground.

Jiang Luo let go and looked along the line. 'Let's go.'

The two walked through the dense fog, but the mist around them grew heavier. After an unknowable length of time, two faint red lights appeared ahead in the white fog.

Jiang Luo and Lu You exchanged a glance and quietly approached the red light. Once they got closer, they saw that it was actually two red lanterns hanging on an ancient city gate.

On the gate were written four characters, sinister as bleached bones: 'Fengdu Ghost City.'

Below the gate, a constant stream of people came and went. Among the crowd were those dressed in strange, ancient-style clothing like Teng Bi, and also men and women in modern attire. Some Underworld Walkers in Black Robes hurried in and out with heads bowed. Guarding both sides of the gate were Niu Tou and Ma Mian.

Everyone moved lightly, their heels not touching the ground—clearly not living people.

Jiang Luo's expression was grave as he and Lu You hid by the roadside and watched the Ghost City.

'The earth-seeking method pointed us here. We probably have to pass through the Ghost City to get out,' Lu You said softly. 'The Red and White Twin Fiends must have been the yin and yang escort carrying us through from the Ghost City.'

Jiang Luo said, 'We have to enter the Ghost City, but we can't go in like this.'

His gaze swept through the coming and going crowd.

Those entering and leaving the Ghost City weren't necessarily all Ghosts. There were also living people.

But the living were all Underworld Walkers, who could only stay in the Underworld for a short time. Underworld Walkers had a uniform dress code. Generally, ordinary Ghosts wouldn't trouble them, but if they encountered a cruel, unreasonable Livid Ghost, an Underworld Walker had almost no chance of survival.

Therefore, Underworld Walking had always been a last-resort measure.

Lu You frowned. 'How do we get in? Pretend to be underworld walkers?'

Jiang Luo said offhandedly, 'You think it's that easy to pretend? Unless two people just happened to die, where would we get their clothes?'

They weren't above just stealing them, but after being robbed of their clothes, those Underworld Walkers would be left to die.

Lu You let out several sighs, but then a few little ghosts suddenly came out from inside the Ghost City.

The Little Demons dragged the corpses of Underworld Walkers, cursing as they went. 'Another three dead.'

'The Rakshasa Ghost is in a bad mood. I really hate dealing with the corpses he kills. He kills them, then devours both soul and flesh, leaving bits of meat scattered everywhere. So damn unlucky.'

'How many Underworld Walkers have died today?'

'Eight!'

Another Little Demon said, 'He can't open the Demon Arena, of course he's in a bad mood. That Rakshasa Ghost thinks too highly of himself. Only the strongest ghost can open the Demon Arena and become its king. He's not at that level yet. How many years has it been since our Ghost City last opened a Demon Arena? A brutal ghost like him just loves watching us struggle in the mouths of ghost beasts.'

'These Underworld Walkers really came at the wrong time today.'

'Not just the Walkers. We all need to keep our heads down. That Rakshasa Ghost isn't picky; he's eaten several Little Demons too.'

'Sigh.'

The Little Demons found a secluded spot, dumped the Underworld Walkers' corpses, and returned to the Ghost City.

Lu You silently turned his head to look at Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo: '…'

Jiang Luo: 'Not my fault.'

Lu You said gloomily, 'Jiang Luo, never underestimate your jinxing power. In this regard, you're number one.'

The two of them hid in the white fog, slowly approaching where the Little Demons had dumped the bodies. Up close, they indeed found eight corpses of Underworld Walkers clad in Black Robes.

Jiang Luo and Lu You picked out two clothes that had not been stained with much blood and put them on, and also took the things carried by the underworld walkers. As thanks, the two of them recited the sutra for the dead over the corpses.

Once prepared, the two headed for the Ghost City.

Jiang Luo hefted a black cloth bag taken from one of the Walkers. 'What's in this? It smells bloody.'

He opened it and immediately raised a brow, intrigued. 'A Pig Heart.'

He could understand an Underworld Walker carrying other things, but why a Pig Heart?

Lu You also opened a black cloth bag and looked up. 'Mine is also a pig heart.'

Jiang Luo thoughtfully touched the Yin-Yang Ring.

From within the thick white fog, a golden mouse, carrying the Divine Statue Heart, scurried up from beneath Jiang Luo's Black Robe and silently delivered both the heart and the Yuantian Pearl it held in its mouth into Jiang Luo's hand.

Jiang Luo had been secretly using the Golden Script from the Yin-Yang Ring to protect the Divine Statue Heart.

First, the Runes could isolate the heart's sinister aura, preventing others from detecting its presence. Second, if anyone tried to snatch the heart from the mouse, Jiang Luo would sense it instantly and swiftly recall the mouse back into his bracelet.

Jiang Luo had a profound understanding of his own unlucky constitution. If the Divine Statue Heart and Yuantian Pearl stayed on him, they would absolutely not be safe.

They reached the Ghost City gate.

Niu Tou and Ma Mian, who had their eyes closed, opened them to glance at the pair and stretched out a hand. 'Entry fee.'

Jiang Luo asked, 'What counts as an entry fee?'

'A heart,' Niu Tou's voice boomed deep and resonant like a great bell. 'No heart, no entry.'

Jiang Luo smiled. 'We have hearts.'

He kept his head down, the brim of his hat hiding his face. Jiang Luo's smile vanished, his expression blank.

What a coincidence—entering the Ghost City required handing over a heart.

No matter how he thought about it, this seemed like a requirement Chi You had tailor-made for him.

Maybe it was even more than that. Maybe even the whole Red and White Twin Fiends affair was Chi You's scheme. The entire purpose was to get the divine statue heart in his hands.

Jiang Luo handed the black bag containing the Pig Heart to Niu Tou and Ma Mian.

Niu Tou and Ma Mian opened it to check. 'Go in.'

Jiang Luo and Lu You finally entered the Ghost City.

Inside, the Ghost City was as bustling and prosperous as a mortal marketplace, yet permeated with a sinister, eerie atmosphere. At the stalls lining the streets, a red lantern hung in the center of each, with the stall owner standing beneath it.

The owners' faces were deathly pale, their lips as red as if painted with blood, smiling cheerfully at the flow of people on the road.

The white fog disappeared within the Ghost City.

Jiang Luo glanced sidelong. Frightful-looking ghosts and monsters were everywhere. Severed hands crawled on the ground; skinless creatures clung to walls with their limbs; female ghosts with long, eerie hair drifted about. A timid person here would go mad from a single glance.

His gaze fell on the stalls.

The items on display were even more bizarre: human hands, heads, skins, and dried-up infants.

Jiang Luo didn't look long, quickly making his way toward the Ghost City's exit.

But halfway there, their path was blocked by a crowd of Ghosts gathered together.

Standing conspicuously in the center was a Rakshasa Ghost. It was a towering three meters tall, with red hair, green eyes, a dark body, and a ferocious, fanged face—utterly terrifying.

His voice was thunderously loud, almost enough to shatter eardrums. 'Hand over your son for me to taste. I, Old Ghost, have traveled through many Ghost Cities, but this is the first time I've seen a ghost with five heads.'

An old woman's weeping sounded. 'Please, sir, spare our family.'

The Underworld was no different from the mortal world. Ghosts here, relying on their strength, still committed atrocities and did evil.

Jiang Luo watched coldly, already calculating a route out. But he knew Lu You was a man with a strong sense of justice. He had once turned against Jiang Luo for Chi You, had once risked his life to save Jiang Luo, and would also want to stand up to such injustice.

Jiang Luo said softly, 'Lu You, you need to understand, this is the Ghost City.'

He paused. 'Ghosts who can freely enter and leave the Ghost City without being taken by Ghost Officers, whether that old woman or her sons and grandsons, are likely not good ghosts.'

Lu You said, 'I know.'

He muttered, 'I already feel guilty for dragging you into the Red and White Twin Fiends with me. Don't worry, I won't drag you down again.'

Jiang Luo thought to himself, Sorry, but the real situation is probably that I dragged you into the Red and White Twin Fiends.

But he did not say that to Lu You. Not only did he not say it, he instead said with righteous satisfaction, 'You've grown up.'

Lu You: '…'

The Rakshasa Ghost ahead seemed to grow impatient. He grabbed the five-headed ghost he fancied with his bare hand and shoved it into his mouth, swallowing the heads one by one, chewing them roughly. 'Delicious!'

The five heads screamed in unison, but the cries diminished one after another, reduced to mere scraps under the Rakshasa Ghost's sharp teeth.

The old woman who had been wailing so dramatically neatly stopped her crying and slipped away into the crowd to hide.

The Rakshasa Ghost finished his feast. He laughed uproariously, patting his belly, and turned to leave.

The crowd parted a path. Just as the Rakshasa Ghost was about to pass through, he suddenly halted and lifted his head to sniff the air. 'The scent of humans.'

The Underworld Walkers hiding in the crowd trembled, bowing their heads and trying to conceal themselves more carefully.

Jiang Luo and Lu You exchanged a glance and slowly backed away.

The Rakshasa Ghost's green eyes rolled over the crowd. He saw nothing, but he didn't give up. He sniffed the air again and declared loudly, 'No mistake! It's human scent! And an extremely delicious human scent!'

His nose twitched as he followed the scent through the crowd. The Ghosts shivered and made way for him.

The Rakshasa Ghost's route was clearly aimed at Jiang Luo and Lu You.

Jiang Luo decided instantly. 'Run.'

By the time Lu You had not yet reacted, he had already broken into a run toward the Ghost City exit.

Lu You was startled. 'Fuck!'

He hurriedly chased after him.

The two of them ran so fast they stirred up a wind, their hoods blowing off behind them. Jiang Luo glanced back, his black hair flying. The pursuing Rakshasa Ghost cried out excitedly, 'It's them! The human scent is coming from them!'

Lu You could not help but sniff his own armpit. 'I don't fucking stink!'

Taking advantage of his speaking, Jiang Luo pulled another meter ahead of him.

At times like this, Lu You was very reassuring.

The Rakshasa Ghost gave chase.

This evil ghost stood a full story tall. Each of his strides covered two or three of Jiang Luo's. He quickly closed the distance, laughing wildly. 'Compared to ghost flesh, human meat is the tastiest thing.'

Jiang Luo narrowed his eyes, looking into the distance. The Ghost City exit was still a considerable way off. At this rate, in half a minute at most, the distance between them and the Rakshasa Ghost would shrink to zero.

If you can't outrun it, then stop running.

Jiang Luo abruptly stopped.

Lu You almost crashed into him, gasping for breath. 'Why did you stop?'

Jiang Luo turned to face the Rakshasa Ghost, his expression calm. 'Lu You, today I'll teach you a lesson.'

Lu You asked blankly, 'What?'

Jiang Luo touched the Yin-Yang Ring. The massive form of Inch Tiger suddenly appeared beside him, lifting its head in a sky-shaking roar.

'You run because you want to avoid trouble, to reduce unnecessary complications,' Jiang Luo said with a smile, his eyes fixed on the approaching Rakshasa Ghost, his voice growing softer. 'But when running becomes useless, there's no need to run anymore.'

'At that point, you just go straight at them.'

As soon as the words left his mouth, Inch Tiger shot forward like an arrow, charging at the Rakshasa Ghost.

Roars echoed. Inch Tiger's speed increased. The Golden Script on its body danced through the air like tongues of burning flame, slamming fiercely and violently into the Rakshasa Ghost.

The Rakshasa Ghost's eyes widened. He was sent tumbling to the ground.

Inch Tiger leaped forward, viciously planting its paws on the Rakshasa Ghost's body and roaring into its face.

Jiang Luo's blood began to race, heating up rapidly. Excitement and agitation surged within him. Watching the Rakshasa Ghost completely subdued by Inch Tiger, a cruel, dark thought rose.

Kill him.

Tear into him.

Just as the Rakshasa Ghost had devoured the five-headed ghost, bite off his flesh, rip off his head, tear him to pieces, devour both soul and flesh.

Jiang Luo's heart beat faster and faster with this thought.

Thump, thump.

The Divine Statue Heart suddenly began to beat in sync with his own.

Each beat seemed to vibrate through Jiang Luo's entire soul. In the distance, a rumbling sound suddenly arose. Massive stones collapsed, and dust abruptly billowed up.

All the ghosts and monsters in the Ghost City stopped what they were doing, staring dumbfounded at the commotion in the distance.

'The Demon Arena has appeared.'

Countless pairs of eyes turned to Jiang Luo.

The black-haired youth stood cloaked in a Black Robe, his breathing slightly heavy. His eyes held a sharpness not yet settled, pure malice not yet dissipated from his person.

Whispers broke out among the Little Demons.

'How can the king of the Demon Arena be a human?'

'Who cares about that? As long as the Demon Arena opens, we get a show. The king of the Demon Arena has absolute authority within it. Whichever ghost he says to throw into the arena, that ghost must go in. The ghost beasts in the arena haven't fed on dead souls for years; who knows how hungry they are. The scene will definitely be spectacular.'

Innumerable Ghosts surged toward Jiang Luo, cheering and crowding around him, ushering him toward the Demon Arena.

Before Jiang Luo even understood what had happened, he was already standing with Lu You at the edge of the demon arena.

The Demon Arena was a deep pit.

It was over ten meters deep, overwhelmingly vast. Beside the pit, on a raised platform, stood a single seat.

And it was the only one.

Then, Niu Tou walked over from among the dancing, grotesque ghosts to Jiang Luo's side. His attitude was respectful. 'My lord, please take your seat.'

Jiang Luo looked down into the pit and said softly, 'This is the Demon Arena they spoke of?'

Dozens of iron cages were embedded in the pit's walls. Within them, faint green lights glowed—the eyes of ghost beasts.

Niu Tou said, 'Yes, this is the Demon Arena. My lord opened the Demon Arena. It will be buried underground again at the next Zi Hour. For this entire day, you are the king of the Demon Arena.'

Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he didn't dare wipe it. 'Within the Demon Arena, your word is law. Whichever ghost you wish to send down to fight the ghost beasts, that ghost must go. Here, you have no constraints, save for one rule: any ghost who survives the Demon Arena will come to see you once.'

After thinking in silence for a moment, Jiang Luo suddenly curved his lips and said to Lu You, 'Lu You, go ahead and leave through the Ghost City exit first.'

Lu You said worriedly, 'I'm not leaving.'

Jiang Luo smiled. 'I'll only be at ease once you're gone.'

After persuading Lu You a few more times, Lu You finally left, turning back every three steps.

Once he saw that Lu You had safely left the Ghost City, Jiang Luo turned back and looked at the densely packed, fanatical ghosts behind him.

His spirit was both utterly relaxed and intensely exhilarated. Holding a smile, accompanied by Niu Tou and Ma Mian, he walked step by step up to the high seat.

When Jiang Luo finally sat upon the 'throne,' he looked down at the evil ghosts below, crossing his long legs. The smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

Carnival.

The evil ghosts cheered and shouted loudly. Their forms were twisted and bizarre, a scene of demons dancing wildly, wailing like wolves—a thoroughly sinister and horrifying spectacle.

Utterly ugly.

But Jiang Luo thought to himself, This is truly magnificent.

His soul seemed to have become one of these ugly evil ghosts, eagerly awaiting the birth of bloodshed.

Evil, desire, looking down upon all living things.

The Divine Statue Heart in his chest synchronized its beat with his own.

Jiang Luo lightly tapped the armrest of the seat. His gaze swept over the crowd below and suddenly settled on the Rakshasa Ghost.

The corners of his crimson lips lifted. He said with a smile, 'The first one—him.'