[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele":3,"chapter-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-147":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Invincible Female Ghost Is A Bit Of A Hopeless Romantic",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1706526,2180,"Chapter 147: The Current Celestial Master, Take Him Down!","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-147",147,"\u003Cp>Celestial Master He Xun was full of question marks on his face now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You brat?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is just like when you handled Shen Jizhou back then, that flawless suite of moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This and that again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now when it’s He Ming’s turn, you tell me you have no plan at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming back to his senses, He Xun glared at Lu Yuan and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then if you have no plan, why did you pick He Ming!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Lu Yuan blinked, then let out a quiet chuckle and stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You brat, what exactly are you thinking? Say it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there between you and me that we can’t tell each other!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to He Xun, Lu Yuan was silent for a few seconds, then he turned serious and looked at He Xun:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe He Ming will deliberately throw the match the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment those words came out, He Xun stared at Lu Yuan in complete bewilderment and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is that possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know full well what happened between your master and He Ming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back then, your master almost boiled with rage over what He Ming did. Who would let that go? He Ming certainly won’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan slightly shook his head at He Xun’s words and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think He Ming might throw it. Compared to those old grudges, perhaps...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan paused, then looked at He Xun with a solemn expression and continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps there’s been someone hanging over his head for decades, constantly pressing on him, and that bothers He Ming more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan’s words made He Xun pause. For a moment He Xun blinked, wanted to say something, but stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put that way...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That actually makes sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun knew He Ming better than anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface he seemed indifferent, detached from the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, that man’s heart was rotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the gap between He Ming and Shen Jizhou wasn’t that large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least in an earlier period, He Ming had even seemed to have the momentum to surpass Shen Jizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But later, Wuqing Temple pulled ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Ming wouldn’t be willing to accept that quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Lu Yuan had already won...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be precise, the hardest part for Zhenlong Temple—the Shen Jizhou problem—was already over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was obvious to everyone that if Zhenlong Temple succeeded in the challenge, they would replace Shen Jizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wouldn’t be impossible for He Ming to throw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of this was conjecture; only He Ming himself knew for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Lu Yuan didn’t need to do these convoluted things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could have just chosen He Cheng and He Zhu — one a Three-Star Celestial Master, one approaching Four-Star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deity of Beauty would certainly beat those two; that would be keeping initiative firmly in his own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But choosing He Ming meant having to rely on He Ming’s mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun sighed and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did some unnecessary things here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought you had some other reason...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s hope He Ming is truly as you say...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, He Xun looked at Lu Yuan seriously and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare for both possibilities. If it doesn’t go that way, we must fight our hardest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already toppled Shen Jizhou; there’s no reason to fail at He Ming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan nodded earnestly at He Xun’s words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I still think the chance He Ming throws it is high...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun looked at Lu Yuan curiously and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s your reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan blinked at He Xun and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was He Ming who actively suggested it. He actively wanted me to choose him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, He Xun pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That nod might have meant he agreed with Lu Yuan, or maybe it meant something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally He Xun said earnestly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll see the day after tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s really as you say, then the day after tomorrow we can send someone to bring your master here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, He Xun stood up and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m relieved now that you’re okay. Rest and heal properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When the Grand Ceremony re-confers the title, you will personally drape the Celestial Master robe over your master. He’ll be overjoyed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan immediately nodded as He Xun prepared to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lu Yuan could say anything, He Xun seemed to think of something else and stood there snorting,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If what you say is true...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then He Ming is really something else, and truly devious...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan looked at He Xun with curiosity, and He Xun fixed his gaze on Lu Yuan and said seriously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you were going to issue a Questioning Heaven Challenge, nobody gave you a chance. No one expected you to actually beat Shen Jizhou...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that time he jumped out and said to have you choose him...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At He Xun’s words, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but grin and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe it isn’t that complicated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe he just played a double game. If I could pull Shen Jizhou down, he would lend me a hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I couldn’t, then when I pick among the Upper Three Gates, he wouldn’t let me leave Riyue Temple out alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lu Yuan, He Xun thought it over and couldn’t help but crack a smile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re right, that really does sound like his style.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun stopped hesitating, turned to the door, and looked back at Lu Yuan:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time something like this happens, tell me ahead of time. Don’t make me worry sick!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that He Xun lifted the door curtain, and his tall figure vanished into the snowy night outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the room, Lu Yuan let out a long breath, his body slackening as he leaned back against the soft pillow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he was thinking, the cloth curtain at the door was lifted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time it wasn’t He Xun with his chill, but Zhao Qiao’er and Song Meiqin, bringing the scent of home cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two aunties carried a red lacquer tray between them, set with a few delicate side dishes and a steaming bowl of meat porridge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done talking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qiao’er set the tray on the kang table, arranging bowls and chopsticks as she scolded Lu Yuan with a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The town physician said you can’t eat solid food now, only some porridge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Meiqin sat on the kang’s edge, reached out to check Lu Yuan’s forehead temperature, then felt the blanket over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once she confirmed he was warm, she relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really scared me and Qiao’er earlier when you first came back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan chuckled, picked up chopsticks, and grabbed a slice of marinated cucumber — crisp and refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, afraid you’ll be a widow within days of getting married?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Lu Yuan said that, Aunt Qin and Aunt Qiao’er shot him reproachful but playful glares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan grinned and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right, all right, enough, enough. Eat first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth filled the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The coal brazier glowed red as small pieces of spirit meat sizzled, occasionally giving a soft pop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the window, the wind and snow continued, but inside it felt like another world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Meiqin and Zhao Qiao’er sat at the kang’s head, each holding a bowl, one tending to him while the other served.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qiao’er stirred the meat porridge with a ceramic spoon, lifted a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Lu Yuan’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was soft like a March breeze, eyes overflowing with unavoidable concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan obediently opened his mouth and swallowed the spoonful. The porridge was warm, neither scalding nor cold, just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rice was thoroughly cooked and soft, the minced meat finely chopped, with a touch of shredded ginger to remove the gamy taste. The warmth spread from his throat down to his stomach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tasty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chuckled and scanned Zhao Qiao’er’s face, then glanced at Song Meiqin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Meiqin was holding a hot cloth to wipe his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands were soft and gentle, wiping finger by finger, not missing even the gaps between fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloth had just been dipped in hot water, steaming slightly; the warmth on his skin made him want to hum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at these hands of yours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Meiqin lightly scolded him, her tone half reproach, mostly tenderness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The zhenran drained them dry, wringing the life right out of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I actually think they look pretty handsome in a battle-scarred way. Once they recover in a few days, you won’t even be able to take your eyes off them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Aunt Qin scolded playfully,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop with the smooth talk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Meiqin glared at him, but her wiping didn’t stop. She finished his right hand, swapped for another hot cloth, and wiped his left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Qiao’er, who had saved a spoonful of porridge, lifted it to Lu Yuan’s mouth and asked curiously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So after what happened today, is it settled then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan ate another spoonful of porridge and nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, it wasn’t entirely settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Lu Yuan believed the chance that He Ming wouldn’t contest was high — and even if contesting he would throw it, allowing the Deity of Beauty to win easily, so that his master would replace Shen Jizhou — He Ming still had a chance to challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If He Ming failed to become Celestial Master this term, his prestige would indeed take a hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if He Ming managed to represent the traditional Daoist side and win, he could rise in fame above Shen Jizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either outcome was possible; it depended on what He Ming chose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Lu Yuan thought it was far more likely He Ming would not contest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if He Ming chose option two — to contest — he wouldn’t just have to win, he’d have to win impressively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Deity of Beauty’s strength was obvious to everyone today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan had never met He Ming in person, but from these events it was clear he wasn’t the type to take risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One option required doing nothing and letting Shen Jizhou’s prestige drop so He Ming could unobtrusively become the top beyond the Great Wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other option required a decisive, spectacular victory to become first beyond the Great Wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how you look at it, He Ming would pick the first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, they would see soon enough. If He Ming chose the second, it wouldn’t be scary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deity of Beauty was not just Lu Yuan’s trick — she was a proper deity, an object transformed into a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, the second day of the Questioning Heaven Challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the Deity of Beauty took victory over He Xun again on the second day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun didn’t even come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deity of Beauty went on stage and declared victory immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the third day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most crucial day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Deity of Beauty could secure the win today, they could immediately send people to Zhenlong Temple to fetch Lu Yuan’s master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagine Lu Yuan personally draping the Celestial Master robe on his master — what a glorious scene that would be!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, at this point, nothing surprising happens...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indeed, nothing surprising happened!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Ming, just like He Xun the day before, didn’t appear at the Grand Ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deity of Beauty went on stage and again declared victory outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What made the third day different from the second, though...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After He Ming of Riyue Temple publicly relinquished, He Cheng of Beidou Temple also announced he would forfeit his challenge scheduled for tomorrow, the fourth day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone present felt He Cheng’s forfeiture was natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What’s He Cheng even worth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the previous masters He Xun and He Ming not contesting, sending a Three-Star Celestial Master up seemed ridiculous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew Zhenlong Temple would be replacing Wuqing Temple’s Shen Jizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, this term belonged to Zhenlong Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Upper Three Gates don’t fight, why should the Lower Four Gates be the ones to step up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then fine, I won’t either!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, that term’s Questioning Heaven Challenge ended like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan didn’t win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ling Mei” won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhenlong Temple won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the third morning, the Questioning Heaven Challenge was completely over; the fourth day at noon a lucky hour would be chosen for re-bestowal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right after He Ming announced his withdrawal, a fast horse tore out of Fengtian City and raced straight for Zhenlong Temple on Qixia Mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At high speed, Lu Yuan’s master could arrive around one or two in the morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, the Grand Ceremony would adjourn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the ceremony ended, the Daoist community beyond the Great Wall seemed a bit dispirited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Xun not contesting the Deity of Beauty surprised no one,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all he was Lu Yuan’s master uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Riyue Temple’s He Ming not appearing left many puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had expected some spectacle today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People had brought melon seeds and benches, all ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Ming didn’t even show up...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For other Daoist factions beyond the Great Wall, it felt anticlimactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Lu Yuan’s family, they could pop champagne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the third day Lu Yuan had mostly recovered and could walk, so he went to the ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still walked a bit floatingly, but overall his recovery was good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a bone-deep injury; over the past few days the two great aunties had fed him many tonics, especially spirit meat, mixed into his meals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just two days he recovered greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as the ceremony ended on the third day, Lu Yuan had Aunt Qiao’er and Aunt Qin prepare a welcome party for his master at midnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also had them prepare the most fashionable clothes, jewelry, and rouge in Fengtian City to bring back for Qingwan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Yuan had already planned the next steps carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After his master received the Celestial Master title tomorrow, he would personally lead Aunt Qiao’er and Aunt Qin back to Zhenlong Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he’d just married, he still needed to take his wives home to meet the temple patriarch and formally acknowledge the sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master would return to Zhenlong Temple to get ready and would need to visit the Liu Family that controls ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a good while, Lu Yuan would stay to watch over Zhenlong Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also a chance to recuperate, so he couldn’t go out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything was set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who rode the fast horse from Fengtian City to Zhenlong Temple earlier that morning returned around 7:30 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Yuan’s master was not at Zhenlong Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They asked the people in the temple.\u003C\u002Fp>",2439,"2026-06-06T14:45:54.833Z",1,"novelbin.me","5c0cc704b947491464f9202343374488bd6cc491c22f62166c19a01c0ce74f17","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-148","the-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-chapter-146",241,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-invincible-female-ghost-is-a-bit-of-a-hopele-cover.jpg"]