Chapter 61: Blackmail

Ning Mingmei was drunk and the system was on edge, filled with anxiety.

It watched as Ning Mingmei pushed open the door to the adjacent room, and then let out a small sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Gui Ruoxue wasn’t there.

Wait, where had Gui Ruoxue gone??

The system scanned quickly and found him in a nearby courtyard, sitting under an osmanthus tree, wearing a mask, and with his eyes closed, playing an air piano.

The system: …

Why was he drunk too?! And why was he getting all poetic about it?

But soon, the system had no time to care about Gui Ruoxue… because Ning Mingmei had walked toward Lian Chengyue’s bed.

Then, it heard something terrifying.

“Hm? No one’s in bed?”

Indeed, Lian Chengyue’s bed was empty, the messy blankets still holding the lingering warmth of a small body.

The system watched as Ning Mingmei sat down on the child’s bed, closed his eyes, and muttered, “What a shame. I finally remembered that everyone was drunk, and no one was looking after him, so I came to check if he had taken his medicine…

“You tell me, yes or no?”

Ahhhh—!!

Suddenly, Ning Mingmei bent his body in half, hanging his head straight down toward the floor beneath the bed, eerily resembling a scene from a horror movie.

The system didn’t know how the person under the bed felt, but it itself was scared out of its wits.

Why was Ning Mingmei like this when drunk?

Who got drunk and started acting like a horror movie villain?!

Sure enough, a child’s startled shuffling and defensive growls came from under the bed.

Ning Mingmei reached out to grab him but missed. “I’ll count to three.”

…

Silence.

After a moment, the child crawled out on his own.

The five-year-old was clearly still sick and his eyes were dazed and unfocused. Likely a survival instinct of the celestial fiend fragment inside him, in his half-conscious state, he had climbed out of bed and hidden under it at the first sign of Ning Mingmei’s oppressive presence.

At that moment, the child glared at Ning Mingmei with the kind of bluffing bravado a little dog shows when facing a villain.

Ning Mingmei said, “Oh? Glaring at me again?”

The child: …

The child: “Woof woof woof!”

He barked again in anger.

Ning Mingmei: “Ahahahaha!”

He laughed so hard he nearly rolled off the bed.

The system watched him, unsure how to describe its feelings.

All it could say was that its very code was on the verge of crashing from sheer disbelief.

In the tiny guesthouse, ten disciples lay dead drunk, one worker was drunkenly acting poetic under the osmanthus tree, the original male protagonist was delirious from fever but still had the energy to bark like a dog, and its host was laughing like a lunatic on the bed.

Was it possible that it was the one who should immediately leave this place?

Ning Mingmei reached out, his pale fingertips glinting faintly. “Come here.”

He placed a medicine packet in his palm and looked down at the child, his expression unreadable.

The child hunched his back, glaring at him fiercely, but hesitated and didn’t move.

The system doubted Lian Chengyue even understood what Ning Mingmei was saying.

Suddenly, Ning Mingmei tossed the medicine packet into the air, caught it with a graceful arc of his sleeve, and then hurled it at the child.

The throw was so sudden that no one had time to react.

Ning Mingmei suddenly said, “You really hate me, don’t you? You want to kill me, don’t you?”

The child: …

“You followed me to the temple. What were you trying to do? Was it a plan, or just defiance? Did you want to prove to me that you had power too?” Ning Mingmei said. “Too bad I was born twenty years earlier than you in this cultivation realm. No matter how far you run, you’ll never catch up to me…”

As he spoke, he reached for the child.

The system shrieked, thinking he was about to strangle the kid.

But Ning Mingmei only scratched his chin.

“Just kidding.” He laughed again.

That was the second time Ning Mingmei had smiled at Lian Chengyue. His smiles always came at such unexpected moments, completely unpredictable, erratic, and impossible to read.

The child stared at him in a daze, his eyes flickering before settling back onto Ning Mingmei’s smile.

“Forget it,” Ning Mingmei said.

He tapped a finger against the child’s forehead, sealing away what the system considered an utterly insignificant memory.

The black-gold-robed man grabbed the child by the collar, tossed him back onto the bed, pried his mouth open, and poured the medicine powder down his throat.

Then, just like when he came, he slid his wooden sandals on, wrapped himself in his black-and-gold robe, crossed his arms, and left.

Outside, the vast night sky stretched endlessly beneath the bright moon.

The system was full of unanswered questions.

In the end, it could only ask the most basic one, [Why did you erase his memory?]

Ning Mingmei: [Because I made his illness worse. If I don’t erase it, what if he grows up and comes back for revenge?]

The system: …

That was what Ning Mingmei said.

But the system had a feeling…

That wasn’t the real reason.

But what Ning Mingmei truly thought, only he, standing beneath the endless moonlit sky of the cultivation realm, would ever know.

***

The next morning.

When Ning Mingmei woke up, his normally expressionless face twisted slightly in pain.

“Ugh. It hurts.”

That all-too-familiar headache from waking up hungover.

Drinking had always been something Ning Mingmei hated. After all, he was infamous for his terrible alcohol tolerance.

He tidied himself up and stepped out. The courtyard was calm and quiet, even Gui Ruoxue, who had been drunkenly spouting poetry the night before, had finally crawled back to his room to sleep in the middle of the night.

Only one person stood at the entrance. As Ning Mingmei expected, it was someone from the Deputy City Lord’s household.

They had come to invite him to the mansion for a discussion.

Ning Mingmei told the man to wait and then called toward Gui Ruoxue’s window, “Wig.”

…It took a long while before Gui Ruoxue stuck his head out with a cold expression. “What wig? Are you talking to me?”

Ning Mingmei said, “When the other disciples wake up, tell the eleventh disciple not to forget what I told him yesterday. He should go out today, walk around Ye Province more, and write me a report when he gets back.”

Gui Ruoxue: “And what does ‘wig’ mean?” |26|

Ning Mingmei had used a joke that no one in this world would understand. Without explaining, he got into the Deputy City Lord’s carriage and left.

The City Lord’s mansion was in the east of the city, while the Deputy City Lord’s mansion was in the west. Though slightly less grand, it was still quite opulent.

Ning Mingmei followed the servant who led him in and then accompanied the Deputy City Lord, who had been waiting in the main hall. Eventually, they sat down in the study, a more private setting than the main hall, indicating that the Deputy City Lord wished for the conversation to remain confidential.

Ning Mingmei said, “Deputy City Lord, you don’t look like you slept well last night.”

The dark circles under the man’s eyes were almost as bad as Lin Heting’s the day before a group meeting deadline.

The Deputy City Lord gave a weary smile. “Surely, Immortal Master already knows the reason for my visit.”

Ning Mingmei ignored the topic and instead said, “Your mansion is quite grand. It’s not much different from the City Lord’s mansion.”

The Deputy City Lord explained, “This mansion was built four hundred years ago, alongside the City Lord’s mansion.”

He then recounted the history.

Back then, the Royal General Ye Feng, who fought to protect the Emperor, had five deputy generals under his command, each a formidable warrior. They were all from the same hometown as Ye Feng and had followed him into battle since the war began. They were like brothers.

When the war ended, they were all granted titles, retired from military service, and settled in Ye Province. Their residences were built at the same time as the Royal General’s mansion.

One general and five deputies returned home in triumph with drums and celebrations. A glorious sight.

Even though the Deputy City Lord spoke of it simply, Ning Mingmei could still feel the pride and joy that had once filled the hearts of Ye Province’s people four hundred years ago.

Ye Feng was a hero of the mortal realm. A hero of Ye Province.

Heroes create legends. Heroes return victorious. Heroes shed their blood on the battlefield to bring peace and honor to Ye Province. And heroes always come home.

Among them, only Royal General Ye Feng received a longevity elixir, while the five deputy generals lived out their lives in peace. After they passed away, their descendants remained who Ye Feng himself had watched grow up.

The Deputy City Lord was one of those descendants.

It was an epic tale, so grand that even the servant who had brought tea had tears welling up in her eyes. Clearly, she too was moved by the glorious history.

But Ning Mingmei simply said, “The general remains the general and the deputy generals’ descendants become deputy city lords. Ye Province truly is a place where the torch is passed down… A noble bloodline, carried through the generations.”

The system glanced at Ning Mingmei.

Why did that sound sarcastic? And why was he not moved at all?

Ning Mingmei told the system, [Ever since Ye Feng abandoned the mission and ran away, I’ve had no reason to feel anything for him.]

The system: …

Petty and vengeful, what kind of person was Ning Mingmei?

The Deputy City Lord, however, took it as praise. After the servant left, he said, “Immortal Master flatters me. The reason I invited you today is shameless of me… but I have no choice.”

Ning Mingmei: “Oh?”

The Deputy City Lord said, “Regarding the ghostly disturbances in Ye Province, the City Lord is old and weak. He believes that avoiding trouble is better than confronting it. Some time ago, we managed to persuade him to take action, but when he saw the immortals arrive yesterday, he suddenly changed his mind. However, for the safety of Ye Province’s people, this matter can’t be delayed any longer. That’s why I must ask you to investigate it in secret.”

Now, this was getting interesting.

Ning Mingmei sipped his tea. He waited until the Deputy City Lord could barely hold back his impatience before finally asking, “What exactly is happening in Ye Province?”

The Deputy City Lord said, “Surely, Immortal Master already knows. Four hundred years ago, Ye Province was the site of a great war. Demons invaded, corpses littered the land, and even the green rivers ran red with blood. The lives lost in that war were in the tens of thousands, if not more. Although we rebuilt and expanded Ye Province upon the scorched earth after the war, it was at that moment that the vengeful ghosts began to appear. In recent years, their presence has only worsened. Now, the common folk don’t even dare to step outside at night…”

He must be exaggerating. Ning Mingmei asked, “How severe is it?”

The Deputy City Lord replied, “The wind carries cries of fear and even the grass and trees seem like enemies…”

Ning Mingmei asked, “When did the ghosts first appear? How many people have they killed? What methods do they use? What is the frequency of the killings? How are the bodies distributed? What are the statistical breakdowns of the deceased by age, occupation, and gender? Have the trends and patterns changed over the years? Have you ever considered what factors influence these deaths?”

The Deputy City Lord was at a loss for words.

Ning Mingmei looked disappointed. “You don’t even know this? It seems your request for help is not sincere at all.”

He set down his teacup. “How about this? You first write a report assessing the impact of these ghostly disturbances and submit it to me for approval within the week. Remember, it must have detailed citations and be written on bamboo slips, not on rice paper, and without any corrections or alterations.”

The Deputy City Lord had initially hoped to gloss over the matter, but Ning Mingmei’s words, though peculiar, struck precisely at the key issues.

Moreover, Ning Mingmei actually stood up as if to leave!

The Deputy City Lord quickly said, “Of course, we wouldn’t let the immortals make a wasted trip. The six million we previously promised to the Supreme Clarity Sect will still be given.”

Ning Mingmei replied, “If the City Lord doesn’t agree, can you still produce this six million?”

The Deputy City Lord said, “Of course.”

Now things were getting interesting. It seemed the Deputy City Lord’s private stash was quite substantial.

And six million was no small amount. It suggested that the ghost problem in Ye Province was, for him, an urgent crisis.

Recalling the dilapidated state of the City Lord’s mansion and its people, Ning Mingmei said, “For cultivators like us, coming down from the mountains isn’t about seeking gold and silver. Resolving karmic ties, seeking the immortal path, understanding the heavens, and witnessing all beings are what we pursue. Cultivators value sincerity and tranquility above all else. Deputy City Lord, your perspective is far too narrow.”

Ning Mingmei stood up again to leave.

The Deputy City Lord hurriedly said, “Immortal Master Ning! Immortal Master Ning! I sincerely apologize. We mere mortals failed to recognize greatness. But what we can offer is only gold and silver. Regarding the reversal of our previous agreement, we truly regret it… Immortal Master, how about seven million?”

Ning Mingmei did not turn back.

The Deputy City Lord hesitated. “…Seven and a half million?”

Ning Mingmei sighed lightly. “This money was always meant to be deposited into the sect treasury, used to restore the Supreme Clarity Sect. Restoring the Supreme Clarity Sect is for the benefit of all cultivators, allowing them to receive the best guidance and ascend the grand path. Deputy City Lord, the way you’re putting it makes it sound as if the money is going into my personal stash rather than being for the good of the world.”

The system, which had been silently observing the negotiation: …

Ning Mingmei, you are so infuriating!

Using money to try to shame an immortal, how embarrassing. The Deputy City Lord lowered his head, realizing he had nothing else to offer.

Finally, gritting his teeth, he stood up. “Actually, I do have something else… A family heirloom passed down for four hundred years.”

He turned to leave. Watching his retreating figure, Ning Mingmei sensed that it was a serious matter.

If it were just an ordinary treasure, the Deputy City Lord would have sent a trusted maid to retrieve it. Why would he need to go himself?

It could only mean that the heirloom was extraordinary. So much so that only the head of the family could handle it and it had to remain a secret.

“Apologies for the wait, Immortal Master Ning.”

The Deputy City Lord returned, opening a box in his hands. Inside was an object.

A bone token.

Ning Mingmei’s eyelashes quivered slightly because he recognized the shape all too well.

It was the missing half of the bone token he currently possessed, the one that could open the imperial demon tomb at the back of Misty Peak!

When the two halves combined, he would be able to access his long-accumulated savings there. However, he did not rush. Instead, he simply said, “This token carries a strong demonic aura.”

The Deputy City Lord explained, “Immortal Master Ning, you may not know, but it is said this bone token was crafted from demon bones and can open an ancient treasure trove.”

Sorry, but I do know that.

Ning Mingmei asked, “Ye Province has a deep-seated blood feud with the demon race. You said your ancestor, the former deputy general, obtained this token four hundred years ago. Where exactly did you get it from?”

When it came to the token’s origin, the Deputy City Lord hesitated. He only vaguely said, “It was taken from a traitor… a prisoner.”

Ning Mingmei keenly sensed something.

“Was the traitor a human?” he asked. “From Ye Province?”

The Deputy City Lord became even more evasive. “Haha, well, during times of war, anything can happen.”

The mystery thickened.

Ning Mingmei said, “If you’re willing to part with this, it means the ghost issue in Ye Province is truly critical for you.”

The Deputy City Lord responded, “It is also crucial for the people of Ye Province…”

“But,” Ning Mingmei continued, “There is still one thing I don’t understand. The Royal General went back on his decision not just to avoid unnecessary trouble, right?” Suddenly, he let out a cold laugh. “Deputy City Lord, I see you as a junior, so I won’t hold it against you. But if you continue to remain silent, treating my courtesy as a weakness, then that would truly make me out to be a fool. I’ll give you one last chance. Speak. Tell me exactly what is going on.”

The system listening in: …

This Ning Mingmei, taking advantage wherever possible, lost six million yesterday, earned back seven and a half million today, and even took the other party’s family heirloom.

And yet, he was still pressing aggressively, as if the one paying both in money and effort was actually at a disadvantage.

The Deputy City Lord’s face turned pale, momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he finally said, “Immortal Master, you are right… Besides being powerless, the general also feels…”

Guilty.

Ning Mingmei: “Now, this is interesting. According to what you said earlier, weren’t those who died haunting Ye Province enemies of the mortal realm? When the general was young, he fought wars for the mortal realm, slaughtering demons and fiends alike. But now, in his old age, he feels guilty for those invaders?”

What kind of radical reflection was this?

The Deputy City Lord bit his lip. “This matter involves a secret from more than four hundred years ago…”

Ning Mingmei: “What secret?”

He pressed forward relentlessly, leaving the Deputy City Lord no room to conceal any transaction details or escape the deal.

It seemed that the six-million-spirit-stones job in Ye Province was far more complicated than it appeared.

To put it in modern terms, it was like a shady business listing a brand-new product while using stolen online images for its details.

The Deputy City Lord said, “Four hundred years ago, Ye Province did not exist. Back then, it was merely a mid-sized town. People lived in that town, and outside the town, scattered across the mountains of Ye Province, were many small villages. The people who lived there… were also human.

“But among those villages, there was one that was particularly ancient. The people of that village belonged to a tribe we called the Li tribe. The Li tribe possessed an extremely ancient secret art…”

Ning Mingmei: “What secret art?”

The Deputy City Lord uttered a word, “Witchcraft.”

Witchcraft, where one sacrificed their soul or flesh in exchange for power to fight against the demon race. Those who mastered the art and protected their kin were known as witch priests.

“At first, our ancestors believed that witchcraft was just a myth, something from the Third and Fourth Eras.”

Ning Mingmei thought of the curse on the Royal General’s arm. “Logically speaking, since they fought against the demon race just as you did, you should have been natural allies.”

The Deputy City Lord closed his eyes and remained silent.

Ning Mingmei: “Now, in Ye Province, there is only Ye Province. No other villages remain.”

“…”

“Where did the Li tribe go? Did they leave Ye Province and move deeper into the mountains?”

The Deputy City Lord’s lips trembled. Finally, he managed to force out half a sentence, “That tribe… was completely…”