Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Riddlers Are the Most Annoying

Wisps of golden light flickered in the air.

Illusory figures appeared before Lu Wu’s eyes, their forms materializing as they floated in midair.

The ghosts, who should have retained the gruesome appearances from their violent deaths, were restored by the influx of Spiritual Power.

The disfigured were made whole, the maimed regrew their limbs, and the witless regained their clarity...

Among them, Lu Wu saw the hanged ghost from a moment ago.

Only now, he had lost his terrifying appearance and looked normal.

’He’s actually kind of handsome.’

When their eyes met, Lu Wu’s "psychic reception" was working perfectly this time. The hanged ghost was thanking her.

"Thank you, Boss Lu."

"The pancake was delicious. In eighteen years, I’ll come find you again, Boss Lu."

Lu Wu: ’...That’s really not necessary.’

"I’ve gotten stronger again, Xiao Yue’er! Let me take the lead from now on! Bwahahaha!"

The cacophonous voices of the ghostly figures merged as they descended to the ground and slowly bowed in Lu Wu’s direction.

The phantasmal forms of some ghosts grew more solid, their auras becoming more formidable. Others simply dissipated, choosing to enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Points of faint golden light intertwined with Ghost Energy, weaving a grand and magnificent tapestry.

It was beautiful.

"Heavens, I finally sent them off. My wallet should be a little fuller from now on."

Zhang Yue’s comment, however, somewhat spoiled the atmosphere.

Seeing some of the ghosts release their attachments and enter the cycle of reincarnation, Zhang Yue—the very one who had just been complaining about how much they ate—showed a glimmer of gratification on her face... no, in her eyes.

For a Ghost Cultivator, the beings closest to them weren’t their fellow sect disciples, but the ghosts who accompanied them day and night.

Most ghosts had attachments so deep they were unwilling to move on.

Zhang Yue didn’t rely on force to tame her ghosts. Keeping those with immense resentment around wasn’t just useless; it also meant she had to constantly provide for them.

The expense was so great that even Zhang Yue, who hailed from a major sect, could barely afford it.

One could only say that the disciples of the Ghost Sect were fated to be with ghosts; every last one of them became dirt-poor.

Now that a dozen or so ghosts had been sent on their way, with another batch having regained their sanity and ability to communicate, this was a joyous occasion for Zhang Yue.

The pressure lessened, and this mental release triggered a moment of sudden enlightenment for Zhang Yue.

In that instant, the world seemed to shift.

A massive amount of Spiritual Power swirled above Zhang Yue, forming a funnel-like vortex that poured down into her.

Zhang Yue’s Early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation began to climb, bit by bit.

The Spiritual Power in the surrounding area was almost completely drained.

This strange phenomenon drew the gazes of some of the villagers in Little Sea Village.

They marveled at the celestial phenomenon triggered by a cultivator’s practice. As mortals, they were deeply moved by such supreme power.

When Lu Wu glanced back, she saw the blind old man wearing an extremely conflicted expression.

Not prepared to fight a "boss" right now, Lu Wu’s eyes flickered, and she gently averted her gaze.

Fortunately, the phenomenon didn’t last long. Once Zhang Yue’s cultivation reached the Mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, the Spiritual Power dissipated.

"Hahaha! This lady is stronger again! Let’s see who dares compete with me in the Heavenly Prodigy Tournament!"

She threw her head back, planted her hands on her hips, and laughed.

But even an increase in cultivation couldn’t fix her deadpan face, on which not even the slightest hint of a smile appeared.

After collecting all her remaining ghosts, Zhang Yue rushed to Lu Wu’s side and seized her hands.

"Boss Lu, from now on, you’re my sworn sister! If you point east, I’ll never go west."

"Even if you told me to go back and beat up my own master, I’d do it in a heartbeat and curse his ancestors while I’m at it!"

If she hadn’t met Lu Wu today, who knew when her cultivation, burdened by so many ghosts, would ever have improved.

Not to mention that so many of her ghosts had been purified.

This assistance represented a massive karmic debt.

But Zhang Yue didn’t fear karmic debts.

Besides, for the sake of those pancakes, she didn’t mind shouldering a bit more karma.

"There’s no need, really..."

Lu Wu laughed nervously.

’Why would I want her to do anything to her master and his ancestors?’ Having encountered yet another wildly enthusiastic "disciple," Lu Wu looked at Zhang Yue, who was practically begging to be "Tool Person Number Five," and "reluctantly" agreed.

’However...’

"Who’s stronger, you or Qin Zhan?" Lu Wu asked curiously.

She didn’t know much about these so-called heavenly prodigies. Backed by major sects and infused with sufficient resources, their cultivation realms were far beyond what ordinary Cultivators could ever hope to achieve.

This Heavenly Prodigy Tournament was a chance for them to test their strength against one another.

"Ahem, it’s... probably, maybe, a forty-sixty split."

"And I’m the forty..."

In response to Lu Wu’s question, Zhang Yue gave a sheepish smile. She brought her thumb and forefinger together until they were almost touching, illustrating the gap between her and Qin Zhan.

Lu Wu got the picture.

’Looks like Tool Person Number One’s position is still secure. How gratifying.’

"ACHOO!"

Qin-the-Tool-Person, who had just arrived in Yuanhai City, let out a massive sneeze.

"It must be my master, that Old Deng, cursing me."

"Right back at you!"

Qin Zhan declared confidently, then cursed him back in his mind.

And with that, Lu Wu’s first day of business came to an end.

She glanced at her system and was pleasantly surprised.

[Mission Progress: 57/2000]

’The progress is "touching,"’ she thought. It seemed the ghosts had all counted as her customers.

This gave Lu Wu an epiphany.

’In a place so prone to hauntings, if there are no normal customers, maybe I should seek out some ghostly clients to help me complete my mission.’

With that thought, Lu Wu packed up her stall, exchanged contact information with Zhang Yue, and bid her farewell.

Zhang Yue still had matters to attend to.

After Lu Wu left, a figure appeared beside Zhang Yue.

It was the City Lord, Dan Ji.

Her arrival went unnoticed by the people of Little Sea Village.

"What’s the situation?"

Dan Ji asked Zhang Yue. Both of their gazes fell upon Little Sea Village, their expressions visibly grave.

"Not good. But... a breakthrough has presented itself."

"Now we just have to see if he can figure it out."

Zhang Yue watched the back of the blind old man, who had returned to the village entrance after Lu Wu’s departure, a pensive look on her face.

"Let’s hope it’s soon. They don’t have much time left."

Dan Ji sighed as well.

The two of them were speaking in riddles. It was a good thing Lu Wu was gone, or she would have definitely shot them a massive eye-roll to express her disapproval.

Back in Yuanhai City, Lu Wu rented a small courtyard to stay in.

In the courtyard grew a jade-green plum blossom tree, its elegant petals trembling in the cold wind. It was a lovely sight.

After picking a few blossoms to fragrance her room, Lu Wu placed the two little ones, who were sleeping like the dead, into their special nests and then flopped into bed herself.

Tired and sleepy, she was out like a light... Zzz...

Next door, Lou Xiaotian was wide awake. He opened his One World Communication and looked at all the "disciples" who were begging and pleading with him to reveal Boss Lu’s stall location, and let out a wicked little laugh.

"Alright, folks, I’ve got a treat for you."

"DING! Boss Lu’s pancakes are now available for viewing. First come, first served!"

He had deliberately saved a pancake just to tantalize these followers. The moment he posted it, countless "good buddies" sent "cordial greetings" to all eighteen generations of his ancestors.

Qin Zhan, who was also following the feed, saw Lou Xiaotian’s post and smiled.

On One World Communication, if two people were friends and both gave permission, they could locate each other.

’So he’s in Yuanhai City, too.’

’What a coincidence.’

Compared to bickering online, he much preferred a "solo kill" offline.

Qin Zhan, who had thought he’d have to go days without Boss Lu’s food, was suddenly energized.

’Hah! You little thief who stole my pancake, this grandpa is coming to deal with you!’

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