Chapter 1215: Human in Life as Well

"Very dry," Jiang Lishui said instead. "Since we took over the mining area, it hasn't rained once."

"This is just a big stone mountain, with little soil and water, and it hasn't rained recently. Ghosts shouldn't like staying on the mountain or at the bottom of the mine all the time. So the people you sent down afterwards couldn't find the little ghost." Fu Liushan mused. "Then it must be by the water and near the village."

These two places are damp and have human scent; they're much better than the cold, hard stone mountain.

Fu Liushan asked the two as he walked, "Do you know who it was in life?"

"I only heard he was a fierce general, named Wang Xuanlu, who was defeated and died in the Sharp Howl Forest, later turning into a fierce ghost."

"Regarding the Ghost King Xuanlu's past, there are too many folk legends and fabrications; the truth has been lost. Good thing you ran into me." Fu Liushan casually rolled up his sleeves. Dong Rui had already observed that he often made this gesture before he started boasting wildly. "My family has collected the affairs of the Ghost King before and after his life for generations, separating falsehood from truth. You'll be right if you listen to me."

"His original name was Wang Xuanlu. Three hundred years ago, he originated from this Rolling Stone Valley area. He was valued by the local leader for his outstanding cultivation and brave fighting, and was promoted all the way up; the leader even married his daughter to him. Wang Xuanlu did not disappoint, clearing thorns and brambles, achieving brilliant military exploits. However, once, his father-in-law contended with a powerful enemy, and Wang Xuanlu was besieged in the city until food and arrows ran out, finally surrendering. Later, the enemy had him go back to persuade surrender; his father-in-law refused, and died violently five days later. Wang Xuanlu swallowed his troops and defected to the enemy, and the next year, in the name of revenge, beheaded this new superior."

Dong Rui listened and let out a long "Oh": "What a talent."

"What repaying kindness to his father-in-law? Fake, all fake. It was just an excuse for a second betrayal."

"After the second annexation was completed, Wang Xuanlu finally became a regional lord, his power growing. He began to expand outward. But his first target wasn't well chosen; it was too strong. Wang Xuanlu brought allied forces and fought fiercely for two days but couldn't win, so he had to retreat." Fu Liushan laughed. "The exciting part comes now: he actually abandoned his allies and ran. During the retreat, he didn't even say goodbye, letting his allies cover his rear alive. As a result, his ally, caught off guard, was surrounded and died of severe injuries."

Isn't this just 'I'll go first, you cover the rear'? The ghost ape sitting on the wall spat out a fruit peel with a 'pah', expressing contempt.

When it fought, it always covered the rear for others.

"After this battle, Wang Xuanlu's reputation became a bit bad. But he indeed fought bravely, his troops were elite and well-supplied, and he was a powerful figure. Everyone wanted to win him over, or at least not offend him. So Wang Xuanlu indeed had several more years of smooth sailing. But whenever he teamed up with others, he always put in appearance but not effort, suffered the least losses, slipped away the earliest, yet demanded the most benefits. Over time, fewer people were willing to deal with him."

"A few years later, Bao Ning rose up, sweeping the central and western Shanjin Plain. Wang Xuanlu sought help from outside, but no one responded. He couldn't beat them, so he had to pick up his old trade——"

Lingguang interjected from the side: "Surrender?"

"Right."

"Bao Ning?" Dong Rui blinked. This name sounded a bit familiar.

"Over three hundred years ago, the owner of Luo Shengjia at the time."

"Oh——" Right, right. That rainy night, Fu Liushan had told the various past events of Luo Shengjia in the Wuxian Town tavern. Luo Shengjia had many owners, so naturally there were many legends. One of them was about Bao Ning. "That was a fierce person, almost truly unifying the central and western Shanjin. Wang Xuanlu lost to him, not surprising."

Fu Liushan continued, "After he surrendered, Bao Ning didn't make things hard for him, and assigned him to guard the White Orchid Pass. But Bao Ning's methods were fierce and ruthless. The next year, problems arose in his territory; uprisings and mutinies followed one after another, with a momentum like wind and clouds rising. Wang Xuanlu saw the opportunity was not to be missed, and again, cough, led a rebellion."

Born with a rebellious bone? Dong Rui laughed. "Okay, this is so Wang Xuanlu."

He Lingchuan, however, noticed the phrase "fierce and ruthless methods" he used. Come to think of it, Luo Shengjia's successive owners all seemed to have this trait: cruelty.

"Who knew that after Bao Ning cleared out the enemies to the north, he waved his troops south to suppress the rebellion. That was truly like the autumn wind sweeping fallen leaves; few were his match in a single exchange. Wang Xuanlu couldn't beat him this time either, and still wanted to repeat old tricks and surrender again. But Bao Ning wouldn't have it, offering a thousand gold for his head."

"Wang Xuanlu fled into the Sharp Howl Forest, and was then beheaded by his subordinates who seized the opportunity, and his head presented to Bao Ning."

"Presumably, his resentment was too great at the moment of death, and the Sharp Howl Forest has Yin Sha Qi, thus facilitating the birth of Xuanlu's evil spirit. Actually, I think calling it a 'Yin General' might be more appropriate." The appearance of such evil ghosts often involves many coincidences.

Jiang Lishui looked indignant: "Heaven really has no eyes. Such a person was a scourge in life, and after death can still turn into a fierce ghost to continue wreaking havoc in the mortal world. Yet so many heroic figures bury their bones in loneliness — why don't they get this treatment?"

Why don't heroes have the chance to return to the mortal world and exterminate evil spirits again?

The speaker meant nothing by it, but He Lingchuan's heart stirred upon hearing it: Yeah, that makes sense.

"Wang Xuanlu was killed by Luo Shengjia's owner in life. That was the first time." Fu Liushan touched his nose. "Over a hundred and fifty years ago, Luo Shengjia defeated it again. At that time, it was possessing the Yingren clan chief, who was also Fu Tianlin's father."

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui looked at each other, understanding.

This evil ghost really has bad luck. Or rather, it really has a karmic entanglement with Luo Shengjia.

"Encountering Luo Shengjia twice, losing twice. It's not strange that the Xuanlu Evil Ghost harbors resentment."

Dong Rui murmured: "I even feel a bit of sympathy for this evil ghost."

Afraid it's about to suffer a third failure soon.

Fu Liushan looked at He Lingchuan, his eyes not hiding his schadenfreude. It was unclear whether he was happy to see He Lingchuan meet disaster, or the Ghost King Xuanlu. "Xuanlu holds a grudge over the slightest slight. You'd best make some preparations."

He Lingchuan nodded: "The Sharp Howl Forest that can give birth to a Ghost King — what's unusual about it?"

Fu Liushan said seriously: "That forest is dense, and inside it's dark all year round, the earth Qi gloomy. It's said there are Yin Sha rampant inside the forest, most suitable for ghosts to inhabit."

He Lingchuan let out an "Oh": "There's Sha Qi, huh."

"Isn't that so?" Fu Liushan shook his head. "Cultivators are all unwilling to go there."

What living thing isn't afraid of Sha Qi?

Dong Rui immediately looked at He Lingchuan, who touched his nose.

Fu Liushan continued: "Xuanlu Tianzun's Dao cultivation is extraordinarily profound. My father said it can separate many avatars to act far from its main body. Twenty years ago, Xuanlu sent little ghosts to Jishi Village to hook away living souls, precisely because it was injured, or regenerating an avatar, and urgently needed replenishment."

Dong Rui exclaimed: "Counting from the time, it really seems like that's the case."

Miners in Rolling Stone Valley and Jishi Village started being harmed, seemingly right after they killed Nangong Yan and the evil ghost's avatar.

(End of Chapter)