Yin Shou Shu

Chapter 309 Handwriting
“But it’s different now.”

"Now we need to find the Ghost King's Coffin, to enter the depths of the Wujiang Ghost Realm, and to pass through those ancient Luo Kingdom evil ghosts. This will be an extremely dangerous journey, with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death."

Even with the protection of your ancestral tablet, you are not guaranteed to escape unscathed.

“If any of us died on the road… especially Zongshu, if Zongshu died, you wouldn’t know how to face his mother.”

"After all, neither Zongshu nor I have any reason to get involved in this, right?"

Mo Li looked at Ran Qing and said, "So you want to go alone, without us."

"That way, even if you die, only you will die."

"Anyway, Ran Qing is an orphan who is dispensable. Her father doesn't care about her and her mother is dead. Even if you die, you won't be a burden to this world... right?"

Mo Li spoke the terrifying words in a calm tone.

These words, like sharp needles, pierced deeply into Ran Qing's heart.

It prickled him so badly that his whole body itched and his face burned.

For the first time, he realized that the girl in front of him understood him so well, and even knew his innermost thoughts clearly.

The feeling of having your inner secrets forcibly dug out, ripped open, and exposed to the blazing sun...

Ran Qing looked embarrassed, like a deflated balloon.

Mo Li raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Don't you have anything to say?"

Ran Qing looked at her, bewildered, and asked, "How did you guess?"

He believed he had hidden it well enough.

This was a plan Ran Qing had made from the very beginning, and it had never been revealed.

He was very grateful for Zong Shu and Mo Li's kindness in wanting to help, but he agreed because he had his late master's memorial tablet with him and was confident that no matter how fierce the ghost he caught was, the memorial tablet would be able to keep it in check.

Ran Qing was most afraid of owing favors, but he was even more afraid that if something happened to Zong Shu and Mo Li, he would spend the rest of his life in guilt.

But Mo Li revealed his little schemes without warning.

Mo Li looked at him smugly and said, "With your little schemes, isn't it only natural that I could guess them?"

"You don't have to bring Zongshu, but I have to go with you."

Mo Li said, "No matter how annoying the old woman is, this matter is also related to me, and I also want to help her find peace and liberation."

"Then we can keep it a secret from Zongshu and do it together..."

Before Mo Li could finish speaking, Zong Shu's weak voice rang out from inside the room.

"Um... can't I come along too?"

"I won't hold you back, don't leave me behind on something so important."

The door opened, and Muneki, looking tired and with messy hair, came out.

Seeing the surprised looks from the two people outside the door, the tall, thin, and introverted boy shrank back weakly and said, "I drank too much water before bed and wanted to get up to go to the bathroom. I just happened to hear you talking..."

The three of them stared at each other, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.

Finally, Ran Qing broke the silence: "...But when we go to find the Ghost King's Coffin, I really can't take you with me, Zong Shu."

Ran Qing said sincerely, "I am Sixth Aunt's disciple, and Mo Li is Sixth Aunt's daughter. We have an inescapable responsibility to find the Ghost King's Coffin."

“But you’re just here to help. You’ve helped us so many times, we’ve already paid back any favors we owe you.”

"Going to find the Ghost King's Coffin is far too dangerous, it's almost certain death. What if something happens to you? How are we going to explain it to your mother..."

Ran Qing spoke with heartfelt sincerity.

And that is indeed the reason.

Young people are often idealistic and idealistic, but many things cannot be done on a whim.

Zong Shu is loyal and wants to help, but Ran Qing has to consider things more for him.

After listening to Ran Qing's advice, Long Zongshu opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to refute.

But in the end, he couldn't find the words to say. Ran Qing's words were so beautiful, practically flawless, and even carried a hint of moral blackmail.

Long Zongshu could only lower his head in frustration and say, "But at least let me help you out a little..."

Ran Qing thought for a moment and said, "At that time, we can trouble you to guard the road signs in the mortal realm for us."

To find the Ghost King's Coffin in the Ghost Realm of Wujiang, you must leave a trail marker in the human world.

This is a risk-free job that doesn't even require anyone to watch over it.

But Zongshu nodded after hearing this, and his depressed mood eased somewhat.

He clutched his stomach, went to the toilet, and then came back to sleep.

Only Ran Qing and Mo Li remained in the courtyard in front of the cement house.

Mo Li asked, "What time are we leaving tonight to catch ghosts? And where are we going to catch them?"

Mo Li finally asked about the important matter.

Ran Qing said, "We'll leave at 11 o'clock and go to the intersection of Kantou Street to wait for the midnight minibus."

A midnight minibus, a strange legend in Moonlit City.

It is said that at midnight, you will encounter a strange minibus at the intersection of National Highway 302, which is nicknamed "Head-Cutting Street".

No one knew where the car was headed or where it came from.

However, those who got on that minibus and escaped halfway through the journey would quickly become mentally impaired and only be able to talk nonsense.

If they hadn't managed to jump off the moving vehicle and escape, and had been taken away by a minibus, they would have never been found again...

This eerie legend has circulated in Moonlit City for decades.

It is said that during the Republic of China era, when there were no minibuses and only horse-drawn carriages, there were already similar terrifying legends of ghosts pulling carriages.

This midnight minibus was the last evil spirit near Moonlit City, mentioned in the booklet left by Aunt Liu.

As soon as Ran Qing finished speaking, Mo Li was stunned.

She looked at Ran Qing in astonishment and said, "Midnight minibus? Shouldn't it be the 875 slaughterhouse?"

Mo Li stared in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.

Ran Qing was also taken aback for a moment, and asked, "What 875 Slaughterhouse?"

The two stared at each other for two seconds, then Mo Li suddenly reached out and said, "Give me that booklet! Let me see it!"

This was the first time she had asked to see her mother's belongings since Mo Li returned.

She never mentioned or touched the belongings left behind by her sixth aunt.

But now they've taken the initiative to ask to see the booklet...

Ran Qing found it strange, but had no reason to keep it a secret, so she took out the booklet that her sixth aunt had left behind and handed it to Mo Li.

Under the sunlight, Mo Li opened the booklet and flipped through it quickly.

Soon, she turned to the last few pages.

Mo Li's eyes lingered on the page about the midnight minibus for a while, then he flipped through the pages before and after it.

Finally, with a furrowed brow and a serious expression, she looked at Ran Qing and asked, "Did the old woman really give you this booklet? Did she give it to you herself?"

The girl's unusual reaction made Ran Qing's expression turn serious.

He silently took the booklet and said, "I found it in the box under her bed, following her last instructions... Is there a problem?"

Mo Li stared at the booklet in Ran Qing's hand and said, "There's a problem, a big problem."

As she spoke, the girl said expressionlessly, "The handwriting on this isn't mine."

"This booklet was written by someone else..."

(End of this chapter)