Chapter 35

"Clouds recall her garments, flowers recall her face, the spring breeze brushes the railing, the dew is thick and rich. If not for seeing her at the top of the Qunyu Mountain, I would meet her under the moon at the Yao Terrace."

After admiring the Shadow Spirit Portrait, Huchen noticed the cursive poem on the side, and nodded repeatedly, sighing in admiration, "Good poem, truly a good poem! It fits my Yu'er's peerless elegance too well."

He also turned back to discuss with the Great God Song, "Master Song, look, although my daughter has a sword in her hand, her posture and temperament don't look like a swordsman at all; grace, luxury, dignity, and elegance are her core.

And this poem just happens to point out her core.

But this sword is not abrupt at all; after all, I am from a military background, and my daughter is the daughter of a general's family. Now that she has entered the 'Tiger Soul Seven Kills,' she must have been stained with some of the temperament of a knight-errant, and in the future...

Well, in the future, Yu'er will definitely use a sword.

'Tiger Soul Seven Kills' is a saber technique, but a sword can also be used; for a woman, using a sword is more graceful and elegant."

The Great God Song deeply approved of Huchen's analysis in his heart, but the "Tiger Soul Seven Kills" reminded him again: his subordinate ghost Luo Yan was hacked to death by the Tiger Soul Seven Kills.

"Brother Guan, you have been thinking about the Shadow Spirit Portrait, which is already painted; shouldn't we talk about Luo Yan's matter next?" He said with a sinister voice.

"Who is Luo Yan?" Huchen asked subconsciously, then caught a glimpse of the fat ghost messenger on the side who was still holding a large pig's trotter and humming, and immediately piled on a smile: "Master Luo's matter is purely a misunderstanding.

Not to mention that Yu'er knows nothing about the way of ghosts and gods, she couldn't control her own actions in her dreams.

Just talking about the 'Tiger Soul Seven Kills' itself.

The 'Tiger Soul Seven Kills' can indeed hurt ghosts and gods, but that requires an extremely high realm.

Even for me, after nearly forty years of hard work, I can only protect myself from being eroded by evil spirits, and I don't have the ability to actively kill ghosts and gods at all.

Yu'er is certainly not as good as me.

In fact, she hasn't even had time to learn the breathing method, and hasn't yet generated 'internal qi' from her bloodline."

"Then how did Luo Yan die?" The Great God Song said coldly.

Huchen clapped his hands and shouted: "Yu'er clearly doesn't have the realm and power to harm ghosts and gods, yet Master Luo encountered an accident after approaching; what does this explain?

Master Song, you come and go in the Underworld, you should be used to all kinds of people who died unjustly, right?

Some people even choke to death on water, or trip and die while walking on a night road.

Is water harmful? Can the night road kill people?

Not so, it is Heaven taking those people away through various seemingly absurd means.

Which is what the lords of the Underworld often call 'fate is such'."

The Great God Song was so angry he laughed, "Why don't I take you to see the judge, and you tell him 'Luo Yan's fate is such'?"

—If I see the Underworld judge, and the judge asks about Luo Yan's death process, wouldn't your and my collusion be completely exposed? I would certainly suffer, but you would also have the responsibility of dereliction of duty and abuse of power.

Huchen sneered in his heart, pondering for a moment on the surface, and said: "Master Song, Master Luo may not be truly dead; perhaps it is just a temporary dissipation of his physical form. If we find him later and supplement him with some incense and wish power, he could recover as before.

Ultimately, it was my Yu'er who made a mistake; the Guan Prefecture will bear the incense and wish power, and all kinds of compensation will not be lacking."

—My Guan Prefecture is willing to pay compensation, the compensation is given to you, how it is used is up to you, Master Song, even if you swallow it all, it doesn't matter; I just want to end this case tonight.

The Great God Song understood.

He was certainly not satisfied with this plan.

It wasn't that the Guan family gave too little, but that the difficulty of settling the matter was too great.

Ghost messenger Luo Yan was indeed his subordinate, but Luo Yan was not his attendant.

In the human world, officials would find a group of staff members to bring to their post before officially taking office, and then arrange various positions for them to help them govern the prefecture.

Those staff members could be appointed or dismissed by the prefect or magistrate at will, without reporting to superiors.

But the original officials in the prefecture office, even if they were subordinates of the prefect, could not be disposed of at will, at least they had to give reasons that superiors couldn't find flaws in.

Luo Yan was a ghost messenger selected by the Underworld, just arranged to work beside the Great God Song.

To put it bluntly, Luo Yan had already entered the system and had an official establishment.

His name was recorded in the Underworld civil servant roster.

At this moment, the judge had likely already noticed his death.

But the Great God Song couldn't really take the Guan family father and daughter to take the blame.

Miss Yu still has her lifespan, you, a ghost messenger, why did you go to call someone's soul for no reason?

If it really disturbs the King of Hell and opens a trial, Miss Yu would have no crime at all.

Guan Huchen bribing the Underworld is just a minor punishment—sacrificing to ghosts and gods is a "proper ritual," and inviting immortals to transmit truth is not a heinous crime.

Huchen's biggest crime is just that the matter was exposed.

If nothing happened, no one would pay attention; if no one cared, there would be no crime; only when something happens does one have to take responsibility.

The real great crime is on him, the Great God Song!

"Brother Huchen, tell me the truth, where is your confidence in sending Miss Yu to Xianyang?" The Great God Song said slowly.

Xiao Yu was shocked when she heard this: It really is Xianyang!

She had guessed it before.

The monarch of a Western vassal state would not let Painting Saint Zhang enthusiastically call her a "noble person."

Under the heavens, only the authority of the Human Emperor of the Southern Continent of China could make ghosts and spirits like Painting Saint Zhang moved.

"Can't this Shadow Spirit Portrait explain everything? My Yu'er has the posture of a noble person!" Huchen pointed to the beauty in the painting and said.

"Not enough." The Great God Song shook his head, "Brother Huchen, I guess your secret must be in this Shadow Spirit Portrait.

Otherwise, Painting Saint Zhang would not have been arrogant first and then humble, and his attitude would not have changed drastically after seeing Miss Yu's true face.

It is good that you have a cautious heart; doing big things requires caution.

In normal times, even if I had guesses, I wouldn't ask more.

Now that this matter of Luo Yan has happened... hehe, I have already seen the Shadow Spirit Portrait.

It wouldn't be difficult to go back and draw a sketch with form but no spirit; perhaps some colleague could see the mystery?"

Huchen's expression changed, "Master Song, let's go to the study next door to talk."

"Master Song, let's be open and honest; how do you plan to use the name of Yu'er as a future noble person to calm down this matter of Ghost Messenger Luo?" After entering the study, Huchen still didn't directly reveal the "Little Li Fei Plan."

The Great God Song pondered and said: "As long as I can make the lords of the Underworld believe that Miss Yu truly has the posture of a noble person, things will be much easier.

I can report to my superiors that last night, a good believer named 'Huchen' from the Guan family respected ghosts and gods, set up a vegetarian banquet at night to pray for his foster daughter Yu'er, and made a wish for her future.

That night, ghosts and gods gathered, and Ghost Messenger Luo Yan was also among them, drinking fine wine until he was dead drunk, and in his confusion, he mistakenly entered Miss Yu's boudoir, startled the noble person, and met with retribution."

He raised his head and stared at Huchen, saying in a deep voice: "I am not prying into your secret; it is really only a 'great noble person' that can make my superiors believe that Luo Yan's fate is such.

Only a great noble person who is immune to all evils would react as soon as a ghost approaches.

Mistakenly entering a boudoir courtyard and entering a dream are two different concepts.

Walking around drunk is a common thing; you just saw it too, Luo Yan was indeed dead drunk.

If it were entering a dream, I would have to explain clearly—why enter the dream."

Once the reason for entering the dream is explained, he, the Great God Song, would be implicated.

"So, can you completely deceive the gods of the Underworld?" Huchen hesitated.

The Great God Song sneered, "If they really want to investigate, 99.9% of things in the world cannot be hidden from my superiors.

But to thoroughly investigate everything, how much time, manpower, and energy would it take?

There are only ten Kings of Hell in the Underworld in total!

Moreover, no matter what kind of rules and systems there are, they must be executed by people; the Kings of Hell and judges were also once people, and they will not completely extinguish their humanity."

Huchen nodded lightly; the Great God Song would definitely go through the back door to settle Luo Yan's matter after returning.

With big shots helping, as long as a convincing explanation is given, the Great God Song could pass the test.

"Master Song, it is a great taboo for ghosts and gods of the Underworld to participate in the affairs of the Human Emperor's harem." Huchen said in a deep voice.

"Brother, rest assured, I will not participate in your affairs." The Great God Song said lightly.

"My Yu'er is fortunate to have the same face as Concubine Li." Huchen whispered.

"Concubine Li?" The Great God Song thought for a while before hesitating: "Is it the Princess Jade something from the Tu Kingdom across the Liusha River?"

He is a country bumpkin ghost messenger, who has been hanging around the Western Shu land for years and doesn't care much about the distant Southern Continent of China.

"That's her."

"How similar?" The Great God Song asked again.

Huchen patted the Shadow Spirit Portrait lightly and smiled proudly: "Before, I only felt they were very similar; now, looking at the Shadow Spirit Portrait, they are almost like sisters born of the same mother."

The Great God Song was surprised and uncertain, lowering his head again to look carefully at the Shadow Spirit Portrait, muttering: "If this is true, brother, you could have great wealth.

Even if the Human Emperor has long forgotten Concubine Li, the noble people in the palace are not sure.

When they see a 'Little Concubine Li,' wouldn't they hold the idea of currying favor and push Miss Yu into the palace?

Once she enters the palace, even if Miss Yu is not favored by the Human Emperor, she is still a great noble person."

Huchen felt very uncomfortable in his heart.

You old ghost Song, are you jealous of me to the point of madness?

One sentence "The Human Emperor has long forgotten Concubine Li," another sentence "The Human Emperor doesn't favor Yu'er"... even if jealousy has twisted your heart, can't you rationally say a few auspicious truths?

Now currying favor with the "father-in-law," in the future, a little bit leaking from my fingers would be enough for you to enjoy endlessly.

"Master Song, this matter must be kept secret for me... at least for a period of time. In the future, if I achieve my ambition, I will definitely repay Master Song for your past kindness!" He bowed and bent his back, bowing to the Great God Song.

"No need to say more, I understand."

The Great God Song waved his hand, his figure gradually merging into the darkness, and the cold air in the room slowly dissipated.

"Hoo~~~" Huchen let out a long breath; this night finally passed safely, and his goal was successfully achieved.

Looking down at the Shadow Spirit Portrait spread out on the table again, the more he looked, the more satisfied he was, and the smile on his face grew thicker.

"Godfather..." It wasn't until Xiao Yu's tentative call came from outside the door that Huchen calmed down slightly, carefully rolling up the Beauty Portrait and putting it into a box to lock it up.

"Yu'er..."

Pushing open the door and seeing the undisguised fatigue on Xiao Yu's face, Huchen swallowed the rest of his words.

He is a top martial artist; let alone staying up until dawn, even if he didn't rest for several days and nights, it was a common thing.

But he also understood the side effects of the Immortal-Inviting True Transmission Method.

"You've been tossing and turning all night, you're tired too, go back and sleep."

"Well, I'll send you back." Catching a glimpse of the many ghost shadows in the courtyard outside the door, he added another sentence.

Xiao Yu could actually hold on, but at this time, in this environment, it was indeed not suitable for "father-daughter heart-to-heart."

"Godfather, you're tired too, Yu'er can go back by herself."

She bent her knees in a salute and exited the door by herself.

Guan Zhong was still burning paper ingots in front of the brazier; seeing Xiao Yu come out, his lips moved a few times, but he still didn't speak.

Xiao Yu, however, widened her eyes, her expression somewhat surprised.

She saw a ghost!

There were many ghosts in the courtyard.

Although she couldn't see their faces clearly, she could roughly see blurry shadows.

When she entered the courtyard before, she also vaguely felt that the yin energy in the courtyard was too heavy, as if ghost objects were lurking around. But she couldn't see ghosts then, but now...

"Uncle Zhong, are you okay? It seems like there's a ghost lying on your back... and it's licking your neck with a long tongue."

(ps: Regarding the rumors from readers in the comment section recently, saying that some chapter settings and dialogue content are too much, affecting the reading experience, and even using the previous book as an example.

I apologize to everyone first.

This was not my intention.

The previous book "Dating Superman" wasn't intentionally padding the word count either; readers who persisted to the end all know that in the last month or so, over 300,000 words were posted in free chapters.

I wrote out the content I considered necessary, but the result wasn't very good.

This book uses a larger space when talking about "Qi Luck" and "Immortal Martial."

I won't quibble, just explain my thoughts: if it's content that conforms to common sense, everyone thinks so, no need for detailed explanation; if the setting is somewhat counter-intuitive, not explaining it clearly might make readers mistakenly think there is a plot bug, so before the plot begins, I explain the setting in advance.

Qi Luck is divided into Qi and Luck, which is different from what we usually think of as "looking at Qi can see through a person's future."

Qi only represents the power possessed now, Luck represents the future destiny.

Qi is easy to see, Luck is very hard to see, and Luck is always changing.

Maybe when everyone thinks of ancient gods and Buddhas, they think of fatalism, as if everything is arranged by gods and Buddhas.

Actually, it's not like that.

Whether it's Daoism or Buddhism, they all believe that fate is decided by people.

Heaven and gods can only decide a person's birth, destiny is controlled by people, gods and Buddhas cannot control it.

Honestly, when I saw the thoughts of Buddhism and Daoism about fate, I was very surprised, it was different from my habitual thinking.

What surprised me even more is that "Buddha" is actually an atheist, not only not letting people worship himself, but also forbidding idol worship.

I've gone too far.

The difference between Qi and Luck allows Xiao Yu's plot to be self-consistent; the Great Qin Daoist immortals can look at Qi and cut dragons, very powerful, but they can't see through destiny, nor can they control the great destiny of the entire dynasty.

Daoist boy Qingsong feels that Xiao Yu is nothing more than this, because he is looking at Qi, not fate.

Qingsong only inferred her fate from the existing Qi, so he made a big mistake.

Another example is "Immortal Martial, Supernatural Arts, Miraculous Powers, Immortal Dao," and the Immortal Martial theory of Heart, Spirit, Intent, Body, and Qi.

Our common sense is that the protagonist at the peak of Foundation Establishment challenging the early stage of Core Formation is reasonable.

If Qi Refining cuts Core Formation, even if it's the protagonist, it's unreasonable.

But in this book, the following plot has Qi Refining Level 1 cutting Nascent Soul big shots—Xiao Yu, who hasn't even practiced internal qi, killed a Human Immortal.

If according to common sense, Xiao Yu killing a Human Immortal is very unreasonable and is a serious plot bug.

But according to the book's setting, it can be self-consistent.

Of course, the book's setting is not intentionally violating common sense.

The book chooses "Journey to the West" and "Investiture of the Gods" as the background for the setting.

It's not a fan fiction of Journey to the West or Investiture of the Gods, but uses them as a background.

In Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods, factors like miraculous powers, supernatural arts, magic treasures, and attribute restraint might be more effective than realm during battle.

For example, the Scorpion Spirit and Red Boy, their realms are far inferior to Wukong's, but Red Boy's poisonous smoke miraculous power smokes Wukong's eyes, and the Scorpion Spirit's poisonous stinger can't even be resisted by Wukong's copper head and iron bones.

I'll stop here.

I have seen everyone's suggestions and will try my best to correct them (

I seem to have said this several times o(╥﹏╥)o, I feel that sometimes listening to advice is the same as listening to parents' requirements to "get into Tsinghua or Peking University," hard work alone is not enough).

In any case, thank you all for your support, thank you all for your tolerance and criticism, I will work hard to update.)