Chen Xu walked back to the Mortal World.

In the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, three "ghosts" were nowhere to be seen.

But the bustling streets remained as lively as ever, with no one noticing the disappearance of the three "ghosts."

Only the legend of the "Hanged Ghost" and the Spirit Rice Porridge continued to spread throughout the ghost market, and for a short time, the ghosts couldn't stop talking about it.

"Huh, strange indeed. Where did that Hanged Ghost disappear to all of a sudden? I wanted to buy his porridge."

There were also ghosts plotting sinister schemes, but lacking a target, they could only curse in vain.

"Damn it all! That little ghost slipped away so fast, even Ghost Grandfather couldn't catch him."

"Hmph, he'll surely come again next time the ghost market appears. And when he does, there's no way he'll escape again..."

Chen Xu was unaware of these things, but he never regarded the ghost market as a pure land. Thus, he had already formulated his plan upon his first visit to the ghost market—

On the fifteenth, he would again be able to randomly enter a nearby ghost market through the Netherworld's Unbreakable Divine Power.

But that might not necessarily be the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, and at the same time, all of Chen Xu's Puppet Masks were used up.

The Puppet Masks were obtained from the Demon Puppet, and since Chen Xu exterminated the Daoist Demon Statue in Yunjiang Prefecture last time, he hadn't seen another.

So, in the short term, he lacked a definite source for Puppet Masks.

Chen Xu also decided he wouldn't go to the ghost market without Puppet Masks.

However, he was unwilling to give up on the vast market in the Netherworld.

Therefore, as he left the Yellow Springs Ghost Market, he conveniently captured the Tray Ghost using the Ghost-Bidding Pearl.

Returning to the Mortal World, the Tray Ghost was still inside the Ghost-Bidding Pearl, not knowing the current time or place.

Chen Xu stepped back into his chamber, just in time to hear the distant clanging of the Night Watchman's clapper on the street: "Bang Bang Bang Bang!"

"Fourth watch of the night!"

"The night is deep and the dew is heavy, the curfew not lifted, each household must guard against thieves—"

The long cry instantly brought one back to the vibrant reality of the world.

At this moment, the light inside the room flickered faintly, and Chen Xu tore off the Puppet Mask from his body, fully restoring his human form.

At his waist, Little Mouse Ah Shi was sound asleep in the Spirit Garden Pouch, occasionally letting out a small mutter:

"Smells so good, did the scholar cook porridge again? Squeak, want to eat..."

The voice was so tiny it seemed to come from another space-time, only Chen Xu could hear it.

It did not realize that Chen Xu had carried it through a journey in the Netherworld's Yellow Springs.

Chen Xu raised his hand and gently stroked it through the Spirit Garden Pouch.

Although he had gone to the ghost market, Ah Shi was always carried with Chen Xu.

The little fellow had an extraordinary bloodline and was being hunted by the Demon Puppet forces. No matter where Chen Xu placed it, he wouldn't be at ease; only by carrying it with him could he be at peace.

All the experiences from the ghost market were replaying in Chen Xu's mind as he habitually reviewed everything that had happened beforehand.

Then he gently flicked the Ghost-Bidding Pearl in his hand, tossing it onto the table in front.

The Ghost-Bidding Pearl bounced on the table a few times, then suddenly a wisp of smoke emerged, gradually enlarging into the forms of the short ghost and the Tray Ghost.

The Tray Ghost let out an "ouch," feeling the vibrant life of the Mortal World and sniffing the unfathomable mysterious aura of the living before it. Suddenly, along with the short ghost, it fell onto the table, exclaiming:

"Human! Save me, it scared this ghost to death!"

As the saying goes, humans fear ghosts by three parts, but ghosts fear humans by seven parts.

This Tray Ghost had considerable cultivation, yet upon reaching the Mortal World, it didn't even have a chance to truly behold the mortal scene before it was so frightened by the mysterious vast Literary Qi emanating from Chen Xu that it nearly fled in terror.

"What? Don't recognize me?"

In the shadows of the night and the flickering light, Chen Xu smiled faintly.

After a moment, the Tray Ghost finally understood why it appeared in the Mortal World and resigned itself to acknowledging a grim truth:

There was never a Hanged Ghost cooking porridge in the Yellow Springs Ghost Market.

From start to finish, it had been controlled by the person in front of it...

The person exuded such profound Literary Qi that it could scare a ghost to death.

The Tray Ghost, dejected and tearless, desired to slap itself.

Serves you right! Why stir up trouble and provoke such a person?

Although the Tray Ghost had considerable cultivation, it was precisely because of its cultivation that it could acutely sense the overwhelming Literary Qi of the person before it.

Another ignorant little ghost might not even discern the severity of the situation.

This person can act as a ghost and traverse freely between the Netherworld and Mortal World, truly—

The Tray Ghost's self-reproach lasted only a few breaths.

Moments later, having consumed another Red Vermilion Robe, it swayed in comfort and intoxication.

There, it thought, its old ghostly perception couldn't be wrong, could it?

So what if it's a living person?

The living one gives it the Red Vermilion Robe to eat, which none of the dead in the Yellow Springs Ghost Market would do.

Those dead only fight irrationally over a few ghost coins, sometimes even selling their own ghostly lifespan for a moment of greed!

Such shortsightedness, sheer corpse-like decline, utter stupidity.

Hehe, from now on, it, the Tray Ghost, would no longer be amongst the common and lowly ghosts.

It has been hired by the master in front of it and will enjoy two Red Vermilion Robes each month from now on.

After some negotiation, Chen Xu had formally sealed a hiring agreement with the Tray Ghost using the Ghost-Bidding Pearl.

Every first and fifteenth of the month, the Tray Ghost will go to a ghost market to help Chen Xu sell Spiritual Food and garner praise from the ghostly entities there.

This arrangement was somewhat akin to Chen Xu's initial employment of Granny Ge, the only difference being Chen Xu's instruction to Granny Ge was: "Granny Ge, before my porridge cakes are sold, you must ask if they smell good.

If the response is negative, I won't sell."

For this purpose, Chen Xu even provided a reason as a side explanation.

Granny Ge merely took it as an eccentricity of the scholar, but to earn more copper coins, she diligently assisted Chen Xu in collecting acclaim.

However, with the Tray Ghost, Chen Xu offered no explanation whatsoever.

He simply gave instructions, to which the Tray Ghost obsequiously responded affirmatively, laughingly saying: "Naturally, these are crafted personally by your esteemed self. Those guys, if they don't recognize the quality, they shouldn't even think of getting a taste!"

Indeed, what a slick old ghost.

Clearly, the agreement signed between Chen Xu and it was only a hiring contract, yet it had already self-identified as a servant-like existence.

Opening with "esteemed master," it instantly elevated Chen Xu to the level of a celestial sage or sect leader, exuding a sense of superiority that emerged instantly.

Chen Xu only required the Tray Ghost to keep his identity and background a secret, never to betray him, signing the details into the hiring contract.

If violated, the ghost's life would be forfeit.

The Ghost-Bidding Pearl radiated brilliance, connecting the human and the ghost.

Finally, with a flick of his finger, Chen Xu returned the Tray Ghost to the Netherworld.

Come the first and fifteenth, he would be able to summon the Tray Ghost again using the Ghost-Bidding Pearl.

As a result, as the Tray Ghost left the Mortal World, it shouted: "Esteemed Master, the little ghost doesn't want to leave! The little ghost wishes to stay by your side, to serve and tend to your affairs. Please, esteemed master, grant the little ghost a chance!

Wuwuwu, esteemed master, with this departure, it'll be fifteen days before the little ghost can receive your guidance again..."

Chen Xu raised a hand, the Netherworld closed, and the ghost's voice vanished completely.

The Tray Ghost was too noisy, too cunning. Despite the constraint of the Ghost-Bidding Pearl, keeping it by his side would cause endless trouble.

Conversely, if he released it back to the Netherworld, guided by the Ghost-Bidding Pearl's contract, the next time Chen Xu entered the Netherworld, he could directly locate it through the guidance.

This equated to implanting a locator in the Netherworld for himself, which might prove to be unexpectedly beneficial at some point.

Finally, everything fell into tranquil order.

The Night Watchman's clanking had long faded away, while everyone in the courtyard slept peacefully.

Chen Xu opened the Food Cauldron Celestial Book, reviewing his gains with delight.

The likes exceeded thirty thousand, unlocking the [Literary Dao Spiritual Food]!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.