Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 487 Departure, to the Ghost Kingdom
Chen Zhao helped Chen Qing off the boat, then suddenly exclaimed with delight, "Sister, what brings you here?"

"I've come to pick you up." Chen Lingzhi stood gracefully beside the Marquis's carriage, her eyes red with excitement.

"Lingzhi." Chen Qingzhi looked at his daughter deeply, and seeing that her beautiful eyes were slightly dull, he called out to her with emotion.

"Father," Chen Lingzhi said, tears streaming down her face, "is your injury any better?"

"It's mostly over now," Chen Qingzhi said with a smile. "Although I can't use my supernatural powers yet, at least I'm back in the country and don't need to wield any weapons anymore."

"Let's go, we can talk about it when we get home," Chen Zhao said, gesturing for his younger sister to get into the driveway.

"Brother and Father, please go back first. I have something to do and need to go out for two days," Chen Lingzhi said apologetically.

"Huh?" Chen Zhao was taken aback. In his memory, his sister had never left the house.

Chen Qingzhi turned around knowingly, looked at Fa Xiu's boat, and asked, "Is it waiting for you?"

"Go ahead," Chen Qingzhi said with a wry smile. "Be careful on the road."

"Yes, Father, take care." Chen Lingzhi bowed to Chen Qingzhi and watched his father and brother board the carriage.

As soon as he got into the carriage, Chen Zhao asked impatiently, "Father, are you at ease?"

"There's nothing I can do, girls are naturally inclined to be outgoing." Chen Qingzhi smiled wryly, "My father came back seriously injured, and she left after asking him just one question. She even had the nerve to say she came to pick me up, it's really outrageous."

"That's not what I meant. I'm worried about her safety," Chen Zhao said helplessly.

“This is the only thing we don’t need to worry about,” Chen Qingzhi said calmly.

"Ah, why? She's a frail woman, and her eyesight isn't good," Chen Zhao asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing, just don't worry." Chen Qingzhi ended the topic and said softly, "Let's go, let's go to the palace to report to the Emperor!"

"Sigh, alright..." Chen Zhao had no choice but to nod in agreement.

~~
Watching the carriage depart, Chen Lingzhi turned around and smiled warmly at Faxiu, saying, "Little monk, it's been years since I last saw you, you've grown so much."

“Lingzhi… Sister…” Faxiu stared wide-eyed at Chen Lingzhi, a chill running down her spine. “So alike, so incredibly alike, they’re practically identical…”

"What do you mean exactly the same?" Chen Lingzhi asked with a smile, and then walked towards the ship.

"Sister, watch your step." Fa Xiu quickly jumped off the boat and tried to help Chen Ling onto the boat.

"Don't worry," Chen Lingzhi said with a smile. "If I couldn't even walk properly, I wouldn't be causing trouble for you guys."

"How could I be causing trouble? I feel so secure with my sister by my side." Fa Xiu quickly added with a smile, "By the way, does your sister have any twin sisters?"

"No, why?" Chen Lingzhi shook his head and smiled.

"No, no, it's nothing, I was just asking casually." Fa Xiu had an extraordinary sense of perception and could tell that she and the witch were not the same person, so she suppressed her doubts.

At this moment, Chen Lingzhi looked at A Yao standing at the bow of the boat and smiled, "Sister A Yao, this is the first time we've met."

“I’m older than you,” Ayao scoffed.

“Alright, Sister Yao.” Chen Lingzhi paused for a moment, but still readily agreed, “Although this is our first meeting, I have long admired your name and have been friends with you for many years.”

"Me too." Ayao was the last person she wanted to talk to, but since she needed her help, she had no choice but to patiently say so.

"Giggle, giggle." Amidst a string of silvery laughter, Su Xiaoxiao appeared. She smiled and looked the two women over, saying, "You've worked together in the same government office for so many years, yet you've never met?"

"It hasn't been many years..." Ayao said shyly, then exclaimed with delight, "Sister, you're here too?" "I had to come, I was afraid you'd all start fighting," Su Xiaoxiao said teasingly, holding up her red paper umbrella.

"Sister is joking," Chen Lingzhi said with a smile. "I've never even fought with anyone before."

"..." Ayao rolled her eyes at her and didn't say anything.

"Alright, alright, let's get serious." Su Xiaoxiao realized that when it came to talking, ten of A Yao couldn't beat one Chen Lingzhi, so she stopped her and asked, "Can my brother A Yuan really be saved?"

Everyone, including Fa Xiu who was steering the boat, looked at Chen Lingzhi, who nodded firmly and said, "Yes."

"Great!" The little monk jumped three feet high and steered the boat very fast.

"How can we save her?" Su Xiaoxiao hurriedly asked.

"Is that yarrow stalk on you?" Chen Lingzhi asked A Yao.

“Of course.” Ayao nodded and took out the yarrow stalk that was still warm from her body from her bosom.

The reason she didn't live and die with Ren Yuan was because before the war, Ren Yuan gave her this yarrow stalk... telling her to take it back to China and find Chen Lingzhi to revive her.

Ayao knew that Ren Yuan had foreseen his death. This was the only way to defy fate and survive against all odds. That's why she obediently left Ren Yuan...

During this time, when no one was around, Ayao would hold yarrow stalks and call Ren Yuan's name, but there was never any response. She even thought at one point that Ren Yuan was deliberately lying to her, a lie he made up to prevent her from going to her death with him.

"Is this really useful?" She handed the yarrow stalk to Chen Lingzhi.

“Of course.” Chen Lingzhi nodded and said, “The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine. This is the one that has been hidden away.”

As she spoke, she tied the yarrow stalk to Sai Xueqishuang's wrist and said in a deep voice, "A Yuan was beaten to death by the Dream God, leaving only this sliver of life, which she pins on this yarrow stalk."

"Then hurry up and revive him." Ayao was annoyed by her actions.

“It’s not that simple.” Chen Lingzhi lowered his sleeves and said softly, “We have to go to the Rakshasa Ghost Kingdom and ask the Ghost King to lend us the Soul-Returning Lamp so we can bring A Yuan back.”

"I see," Su Xiaoxiao said suddenly. "No wonder you wanted me to come with you."

He chuckled and said, "I also have supporters among the high-ranking officials of the Ghost Kingdom."

“That’s right.” Chen Lingzhi nodded and said, “The Ghost King and the Dream God are sworn enemies. Logically speaking, A Yuan is the Dream God’s enemy, so he should be able to help. But the Ten Ancient Witches are all eccentric, and who knows what kind of trouble they might cause. With more people, we can better deal with it.”

“That makes sense,” Su Xiaoxiao agreed. “I didn’t expect that you could talk to the Ghost King without leaving your house.”

"I've never met the Ghost King either," Chen Lingzhi said frankly. "He was introduced to me by an acquaintance."

"Goodness..." Su Xiaoxiao couldn't help but smile wryly, "That's really hard to say."

"Let's just see how things go," Chen Lingzhi sighed softly, then rallied her spirits and said, "In any case, we'll definitely bring A-Yuan back!"

“That’s for sure!” Fa Xiu said, full of energy.

"..." Ayao glanced at Chen Lingzhi suspiciously, but also said softly, "Definitely."

"Let's set off then, destination: Fengdu!" Su Xiaoxiao stood at the bow of the boat, pointing ahead.

"We must bring A-Yuan back!"

End of this volume

(End of this chapter)