After Constantly Courting Death, I Became the White Moonlight - Chapter 7

The lair of the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain was hidden beneath the Star-Picking Pavilion. Ning Ning descended from the top floor, the spiraling staircase seemingly endless.

This place was filled with grand pavilions and splendid towers, a palace of jade and crystal. The laughter of men and women spread freely with the evening breeze, painting a scene of decadent festivity, like a celestial paradise.

However, walking alone through it, one constantly felt a gloomy killing intent following like a shadow—making it impossible to feel at ease.

The candle flames within the lanterns lining the corridor flickered as if thousands of spirits and ghosts floated inside. The dim orange light trickled like water, completely swallowing the girl’s slender figure.

The swaying light cast eerie shadows on the ancient carved beams and painted rafters. Countless wooden faces, some dazed and some maniacally grinning, appeared and disappeared—looking less like revelers and more like hideous, hungry ghosts.

Ning Ning slowly made her way down the stairs. The Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain had likely already sensed a puppet’s death and dispatched other puppets to investigate.

She had long since left her private room. The building teemed with people and noise; for the Ghost Mother, finding the true culprit herself wouldn’t be easy.

—Ning Ning decided to go find her first.

The underground chamber was hidden beneath a secret passage on the first floor. Following the original text, Ning Ning groped her way along until she finally found the extremely well-concealed entrance. As she opened the hidden door, a strong stench of blood rushed out from the tunnel.

She furrowed her brow slightly but didn’t show much disgust. After taking a quiet breath, she slipped into the underground passage.

The passage was extremely narrow at first, shrouded in darkness with not a hint of light. Fortunately, sword cultivators had heightened senses; even in pitch blackness, she could barely make out the path ahead.

As she went deeper, the tunnel suddenly opened.

A few ever-burning lanterns hung at either end of the corridor like floating firelights in the dark. Their soft glow pushed back the surrounding darkness, but their flickering gave rise to an unsettling atmosphere, heightening the sense of danger.

The once-cramped corridor suddenly expanded, forming a large circular cavern at the end—shaped like a droplet nearing fullness. At the center stood a monster with the upper body of a woman and the lower half of a spider.

This was the infamous Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain.

Hearing footsteps, the Ghost Mother’s lifeless eyes slowly opened. When she lifted her head, a cracking sound echoed—like bones grinding together.

This was a massive creature. Though her upper half was an alluring woman’s form, her lower body filled nearly half the cavern—grotesque and bloated. Black hair flowed down her pale skin like writhing water snakes. Her eight spider legs were long and blade-sharp, laced with deadly venom. Even the slightest scratch from them meant instant death.

Let alone the fact that she was extremely powerful, having absorbed years of essence from the Star-Picking Pavilion, her injuries had nearly healed.

“…You?”

Her seductive woman’s face sharply contrasted with her raspy voice, which sounded like an old hag on the verge of death: “A sword cultivator?”

Ning Ning made no effort to hide the Star-Marked Sword at her waist and smiled slightly. “That’s right.”

She looked the creature in the eye. “I’ve heard the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain is incredibly powerful. How did you end up stealing essence from others? This pavilion doesn’t seem to be your creation. Aren’t you afraid the real owner will find out?”

The Ghost Mother let out a chilling laugh, and the thousands of spider threads coiled around the cavern stirred in response. “I use essence if I want to. I come and go in this pavilion as I please. You think I’d be afraid of that useless fool on the top floor?”

“Oh?”

Ning Ning raised a brow. “You’re seriously injured. I doubt you have the strength to fight back.”

“Ridiculous! I’m the true master of this building now. That demoness thinks she still has control, but most of the little demons here have already become my puppets. Once my power reaches its peak, I’ll snatch this pavilion from her hands!”

Ning Ning’s words had clearly provoked her. The spider silk dropped like rain, hanging in midair. “What now, a mere sword cultivator wants to take me down?”

The threads shot downward, each as sharp as a needle, weaving into a dense white net that surged straight toward the girl at the entrance.

Ning Ning didn’t even move—

Yet a formless power blocked the attack, sending the fierce web flying backward.

“It’s not me who wants to take you down.”

She curved her lips into a light smile and stepped to the side, her tone now carrying a trace of reverence: “Madam, you heard everything, right?”

The Ghost Mother shuddered all over.

From the narrow tunnel where light couldn’t reach—from the thick and deep darkness—

A white-clad figure slowly stepped forward.

Her dazzling white gown pierced through the gloom like a blade, abruptly severing the eerie, ominous atmosphere of earlier.

Or perhaps… it only made the tension more explosive.

With black hair and white robes, the Lady of White Bone looked like a goddess of unrivaled beauty-pale skin, flawless curves, hair flowing like mist down a waterfall. Under the warm glow of the ever-burning lanterns, she looked like someone who had stepped straight out of a painting.

But once she spoke coldly, the illusion shattered completely.

Lady White Bone furrowed her brows and let out a scornful snort: “No wonder I haven’t been sleeping well lately. So, it’s some wild hen from the mountains making a fool of herself. You think you’re worthy of stealing my essence? Flapping your gums like you’re something special barking like a dog, more like. Let’s see if I don’t snap your rotten legs in half!”

Getting caught red-handed wasn’t exactly a glorious moment.

Even the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain froze for a second, then hardened her tone. “What, you intend to join forces with a righteous sword cultivator to deal with me?”

The sword cultivator clearly harbored the mindset of reaping the benefits while others fought—a fisherman profiting from the struggle between the crane and the clam. He planned to sit back and enjoy the spoils once she and the other were exhausted from fighting.

If the Bone Lady wasn’t a fool, she ought to team up with her first to get rid of that little girl.

Hmph, trying to play games with her?

No way.

Today, she was going to take off that sword cultivator’s headfirst!

While the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain declared this with grim determination, the Bone Lady remained expressionless, completely motionless.

Instead, it was Ning Ning who smiled softly and casually tore off the skin mask on her face, revealing the identity hidden beneath it.

It turned out to be… one of the female demons from the brothel—a face vaguely familiar but whose name the Ghost Mother couldn’t recall.

There was no aura of a puppet on her, but the Ghost Mother couldn’t be sure whether she had planted one or not.

After all, she controlled far too many demons—so many that she couldn’t remember their names or appearances.

A miscalculation.

So, the sword cultivator had merely been a decoy. Their real objective…

It was to trick her into confessing the truth!

“Impossible!” the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain snapped, furious. “You clearly have the sword cultivator’s weapon, and my puppet was killed by a sword cultivator—there’s no way I’m mistaken!”

“There were indeed a few sword cultivators in the building today. Who knows which one killed your puppet?”

Zhao Yan clumsily picked up the sword, examining the carvings on it like a curious child. “The sword cultivator I served drank too much and let it slip—they’re here to exterminate the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain. Honestly, we should thank you. If not for that, we wouldn’t have known there was a thief hiding in the building.”

She paused, then shrugged nonchalantly. “As for the sword? I stole it after I got her drunk. Had to make the act convincing if I was going to fool your sharp eyes, right? Respected Ghost Mother?”

“You—!”

To be fooled so thoroughly by such a low-level little demon—rage made the Ghost Mother’s entire body tremble. She used all her strength just to choke out a few words.

“I’ll kill you!”

As she spoke, a sudden violent wind swept through, reeking of blood. The cobwebs clinging to the cave walls surged forth, revealing layers of dried blood beneath.

The stench of blood mixed with the crimson glow, flickering under the dim lamps. A sharp gust of wind tore through.

Zhao Yan staggered back in disbelief, slamming into a stone wall.

“Damn it… That blow…”

She couldn’t even stand, slumped like a dead fish to the side. Trembling, she pointed a shaking finger at the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain.

“Seemingly casual… yet hiding immense force. The poisonous wind has already invaded my internal organs. As expected of the Ghost Mother… how vicious!”

Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain: ??

Why was she narrating her own injury?! You thick-skinned little freak! That attack wasn’t even real! What “seemingly casual yet secretly powerful”? It was literally just a gust of wind!

Zhao Yan ignored her stunned look, turning to the Bone Lady with a faint, trembling voice.

“Madam, please… you must destroy her… for the sake of our sisters in the building… Ah! It hurts!”

Before she could finish, her head tilted, and her eyes shut.

She was “dead.”

The Ghost Mother was stunned.

This bitch was clearly acting! Could she be any more shameless?! How could such an utterly brazen person exist in this world?!

But unfortunately, that idiot Bone Lady believed her. Her eyes, like a pie chart, were sixty percent angry and forty percent grieving. Finally, she shouted sharply:

“You dare drain my essence and harm my sisters? DIE!”

Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain: …Shit.

A fierce battle was inevitable.

The spider silk surged in dense layers, each thread laced with deadly poison and bloodlust, like silver needles raining down on the Bone Lady’s head.

The woman in the white dress shot a cold glare. Suddenly, skeletons materialized before and behind her, like a sentient army protecting their mistress at the center.

Webs clashed with bone; smoke rose from white skeletons.

For a time, the cave was filled with blinding white. The crimson blood splattered across the stone walls only heightened the eerie and grotesque atmosphere.

The vast army of skeletons—those who had died tragically at the hands of the Bone Lady—rushed forward, wailing, their empty eye sockets like bottomless pits.

The original text had never described a detailed fight between the two, as both were essentially cannoning fodder—like characters from Calabash Brothers sacrificing themselves one after another to save the protagonist group.

But based on the lore, the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain was slightly stronger—

After all, she’d been farming minions for years. If she hadn’t leveled up by now, that would’ve been embarrassing.

Bone fingers tore through webs, while webs ensnared and shredded skeletons.

The clash between the two female demons never ceased. Amid the flashes of white light and shadows, the Bone Lady coughed up blood and was knocked to the ground.

Though the Ghost Mother still had some strength, she wasn’t in great shape either. She curled her lips into a terrifying grin and panted.

“Didn’t expect this, did you? You pathetic worm! Today I—”

She didn’t finish.

She suddenly froze.

The little demon lying in the corner, supposedly unconscious, was now opening her eyes… and smiling faintly at her.

“Zhao Yan!”

The Bone Lady burst out laughing. “Quick, use the Divine Travel Powder to get me out of here!”

This had been their backup plan—if the Bone Lady fell into danger, Zhao Yan would use the powder to let them escape in a flash.

That old hag thought she had cornered them. She’d never expect this secret trump card! Ha! Who would’ve thought—

But suddenly, the Bone Lady’s triumphant expression froze too.

The air was filled with a sense of glee, making the atmosphere a bit awkward.

Then, they saw Chao Yan casually reach up and tug at her temple.

To everyone’s horror, the mask peeled off—revealing…

Crap! Why was it still that sword cultivator’s face?!

Ning Ning smiled sweetly and finally said what neither of them had had the chance to have earlier.
“Haha, didn’t expect that, did you? I prepared two faces.”

Yin Mountain Ghost Mother looked as if she’d just been struck by lightning—like someone who lost eighty million in an online romance scam.

Lady White Bone rolled her eyes and coughed up another mouthful of blood.

What the hell?! Why?!

…

It all started about one incense stick ago.

The two junior brothers were nowhere to be found. If she wasted time looking for them, she might end up alerting the enemy. Right now, the only power Ning Ning could rely on was her own. And if she wanted to win this game…

Wasn’t Lady White Bone still living on the top floor?
In the original novel, the protagonist group took them down one at a time—but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be clever and pit them against each other first.

Lady White Bone: free tool. Irresistible.

After killing the demoness Chao Yan, Ning Ning easily took the mask that looked exactly like her own face.

Not only that, but she also didn’t forget the human-skin mask already stuck on the demoness’s face.

With that, she now had two disguises.

One: as Ning Ning, disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect—to draw out Ghost Mother’s secrets.
Two: as Chao Yan of the Star-Seizing Pavilion—to gain Lady White Bone’s trust.

With Chao Yan’s death, Ghost Mother would surely sense something and send other puppets to investigate—

But Ghost Mother knew what happened. Lady White Bone, on the other hand, knew nothing.

Although both were powerful demons, they were in opposition to one another.

Even if Ghost Mother found out her puppet was killed, given her secret methods of stealing vital essence and her shady identity, there’s no way she’d tell Lady White Bone.

She could only bottled up her fury and slowly investigate through puppets.

Unbeknownst to her, Ning Ning had already found Lady White Bone’s lair.

If she leveraged the information gap and misunderstanding between the two demons, this whole scheme was in the bag.

Convincing Lady White Bone wasn’t hard.

She wasn’t Ghost Mother—she couldn’t tell if someone was a fake through puppets. Sword cultivators weren’t welcome, so Ning Ning just had to wear Chao Yan’s face and visit in a panic, deliberately exposing Ghost Mother’s existence…

Even if Lady White Bone had a sliver of suspicion before, once Ning Ning stoked her anger over being secretly drained of essence, it was enough to shift all her attention.

What had Ning Ning said again?

“Madam! While entertaining a guest tonight, I encountered a sword cultivator. After three rounds of drinks, she suddenly claimed there’s a century-old demon—Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain—hidden beneath the Star-Seizing Pavilion. They say she cultivates by consuming human essence and blood and disappeared years ago after being wounded by righteous cultivators. Could it be… that she’s the reason the pavilion’s yang energy keeps dwindling?”

Lady White Bone wasn’t a complete fool. She hesitated. “A sword cultivator?”

“Exactly! She claimed to be from the Xuanxu Sword Sect. I didn’t dare act rashly, so I got her drunk first, then came here to report to you.”

The logic was flawless—cause and effect perfectly aligned effects. Simply impeccable.

What’s more, Ning Ning subtly formed a hand seal, and made the hidden mask in her sleeve appear in her palm:

“This is the sword cultivator’s appearance. If you don’t believe me, I can use this face to test her. That wicked woman will surely reveal her crimes.”

Changing appearances using masks was a unique technique of the demons in the tower.

So loyal, so careful, so considerate—and she could even whip out a face mask at a moment’s notice.

Of course it had to be Chao Yan herself! Why would Lady White Bone suspect anything?

So, she followed her all the way here.

Now, Lady White Bone regretted it deeply.

She thought she had brought along a loyal little sidekick, but it turned out to be a two-faced traitor as dark-hearted as coal. From start to finish, she was just a tool—and was sold out without hesitation.

The Ghost Mother was furious.

She thought herself smart and well-prepared, certain that these two were no match for her. But in the end, she fell into their trap, beating the only possible ally she had half to death in front of a righteous sword cultivator.

Ghost Mother shrieked:

“You led a sword cultivator to my lair? You idiot, were you kicked in the head by a donkey?!”

Half-dead Lady White Bone growled through clenched teeth.

“You’re the one who stole my fortune, you wretched hag! Barking like a dog even now—I’ll smash your mouth in!”

“Moron!”
“Thief!”

Why did they sound like bickering children?

Ning Ning listened to their squabble for a bit before hesitantly saying,

“Um…”

Ghost Mother and Lady White Bone, in unison:

“Shut up, you damn sword cultivator!”

Ghost Mother, seething, gritted her teeth and began chanting a spell.

From the bloodstained stone walls, dozens of deep red venomous spiders crawled out. The webs shimmered with a ghostly blood light.

“You think this is over? I am the Ghost Mother of Yin Mountain, commander of thousands of Nether Venom Wombs. Even now, my strength remains. What can a mere sword cultivator do to me?!”

“Oh.”

Ning Ning gently touched the cold sheath of the Star Scar Sword, then raised her gaze with a soft smile:

“Then allow me to introduce myself too.”

Star Scar responded with a flash, glowing like the Milky Way.

Sword aura surged like waves, instantly filling the dark cave, suppressing the stench of blood in the air.

“I am the disciple of Tian Xianzi from the Xuanxu Sword Sect. I have come down the mountain today specifically to slay demons. You may call me—”

She paused, then added playfully:

“The Thousand-Layer Pancake.”

“Hahahahahaha, Thousand-Layer Pastry!”

By the Mystic Mirror, Tian Xianzi was laughing so hard his whole body trembled, pointing proudly at Ning Ning in the illusion: “Did you see that, Senior Brother? That’s my disciple! Hahaha, isn’t she just too adorable?!”

Zhen Xiao: …

Zhen Xiao glanced at the youth beside him, noting the patched-up white robe and the grin so wide it could split his face.

So plain and unpretentious. So simple and sincere.

Just like a poor kid hundreds of years old with not-so-high intelligence.

Zhen Xiao muttered, “As expected of your disciple.”

Also… women’s minds are terrifying.

He still liked his sword the most.