Yin Shou Shu

Chapter 379 Disaster
Although, from Ran Qing's perspective, the group that raised ghosts were the biggest culprits behind the turmoil in Zangke.

They harm people everywhere, scattering ghost coins and offering sacrifices to ghosts at altars.

But if there truly is a Ghost King roaming the mortal realm, instructing the ancient evil spirits deep within the Wujiang Ghost Realm to indiscriminately slaughter innocents, then compared to him, these sneaky ghost breeders are indeed nothing more than rats in the gutter.

Therefore, Ran Qing asked, wanting to know the identity of the mastermind behind it all.

The corpse-driving Taoist shook his head awkwardly: "Um... they said they can't tell you the identity of the mastermind behind it all."

"Only if you, young man from the Ran family, are willing to join forces with them can they tell you the truth..."

After saying that, the corpse-driving Taoist priest quickly added, "I can guarantee that several of those ghost-raising people have indeed died. They are extremely anxious. This is not a trap."

“If it were a trap, I wouldn’t have acted as the middleman.”

"Or you could go out for a walk, stroll around Moonlit City, or ask about the current situation of your acquaintances in the Yin-Yang Path. Then you'll know that what I said wasn't a lie."

"Apart from your Yin altar, the rest of the place is truly a scene of demons running rampant and people dying everywhere!"

The corpse-driving Taoist priest spoke earnestly, his face full of pleading, almost kneeling on the ground to beg Ran Qing for her consent.

Mo Li and Long Zongshu hesitated, and the two reminded him.

"Ran Qing, be careful..."

"Those ghost breeders are no good."

The three of them knew this group of ghost breeders very well.

They even knew what was controlling these ghost-raising people behind the scenes, and they were well aware that they were a group of vicious and evil cultivators.

To join forces with such heretical practitioners is tantamount to playing with fire.

However, if what the corpse-driving Taoist said is true, Ran Qing and his group need to carefully consider whether to join forces with this group of ghost-raising people.

After all, no matter how safe a spirit medium's altar is, it's impossible to stay inside it 24 hours a day.

Not to mention, the ancient demons have even started attacking ordinary people.

After frowning and pondering for a long time, Ran Qing slowly said, "Go back and tell those ghost breeders that they want to join forces with me, fine, but I want to have a proper talk with them openly."

"Bring the leader of these groups to me and have him explain everything, including who the mastermind is, how they plan to deal with them, the complete plan and methods, and why they keep ghosts everywhere... Once you've explained all this, I'll consider joining forces with them."

Ran Qing's answer made the corpse-driving Taoist look embarrassed.

But at least Ran Qing didn't refuse immediately.

The corpse-driving Taoist sighed, stood up with a bitter expression, and said, "Then I'll go back and tell them..."

Seeing that the corpse-driving Taoist was about to leave, Ran Qing spoke again, emphasizing, "Tell them that I want to see the one who is truly in charge! Don't try to fool me with just anyone."

"And it can only come alone. It must come to me for me to talk face to face. I need to see its sincerity."

Ran Qing's reiteration startled the corpse-driving Taoist.

Such an obvious hidden meaning in his words was impossible for a seasoned veteran like the Corpse-Driving Taoist not to understand.

He turned around with a strange expression and glanced at Ran Qing and the other two.

Finally, the corpse-driving Taoist hesitated and said, "Um... young man from the Ran family, are you saying that the real head of the ghost-raising person is an evil spirit? Not a living person?"

For the living, having a face-to-face meeting with the spirits of the dead at their altar is not a big deal.

However, for evil spirits and inanimate objects, this place is an extremely dangerous and forbidden zone. Once evil spirits and inanimate objects step into this yin altar, they almost become easy prey for the spirit medium.

The corpse-driving Taoist was somewhat startled, clearly frightened by the deeper meaning behind those words.

—If the head of the ghost-raiser is a living person, then his coming to the Yin Altar alone is not a test at all.

Faced with the corpse-driving Taoist's astonishment, Ran Qing shook his head and said, "Taoist Master, just convey their original words. If they don't even have this much sincerity, then there's no point in talking about joining forces." "If we join forces with them, we'll be taking a huge risk."

After Ran Qing finished speaking, the corpse-driving Taoist nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, I understand, I understand, I will definitely pass on your words..."

After saying this, the corpse-driving Taoist priest left in a hurry without lingering.

Clearly, they are eager to resolve this matter and quickly bring the two sides together to solve the disaster in Zangke.

Watching the corpse-driving Taoist priest leave, Mo Li asked worriedly, "Are you really going to join forces with these ghost-raising people?"

Long Zongshu scratched his head and said, "...It's very dangerous to join forces with that group of evil cultivators."

Ran Qing sighed and said, "Let's take a look first. I really want to know who the so-called mastermind is, and I also want to see what kind of ghost was dug out of that coffin."

I thought these ghost breeders were the biggest masterminds behind everything.

Ran Qing has always regarded the ghost-raiser as her ultimate hypothetical enemy.

But after returning from the Ghost Realm of Wujiang, the situation changed so quickly.

No one could have predicted that the mysterious and terrifying coffin of the Ghost King would be empty.

These ghost breeders actually claim there's a mastermind behind it all... In this Moonlit City, besides these evil cultivators, is there anyone more sinister?

Ran Qing went inside and dialed Old Sheepskin's number.

"...Mr. Yang, how have you been lately?"

Ran Qing asked casually.

During the phone call, Old Sheepskin appeared quite calm and showed no signs of panic or anxiety.

However, after Ran Qing inquired about the recent situation in Zangke, the news brought by the old sheepskin made Ran Qing's expression gradually darken.

According to the information received by Lao Yangpi, after a thick fog enveloped Zangke in the past two days, eerie, pale ghostly figures were seen moving through the bustling city.

Traces of those pale, ghostly figures have appeared in counties and cities throughout Zangke.

To date, Old Sheepskin alone knows of more than forty unorthodox Taoist practitioners who died in the fog.

This is only what Old Sheepskin knows...

In addition to the unorthodox cultivators, ordinary people were also inexplicably affected and died violently in the fog. Their deaths were exactly the same as the unorthodox cultivators': their faces turned blue, their bodies stiffened, and their fingernails and toenails became long and black.

Old Sheepskin said that now even television news reports, local newspapers sold at newsstands, and radio stations are all talking about this.

"...Boss Ran, this time the Gates of Hell are opening, and it's very dangerous!" Old Sheepskin's voice rang out on the phone.

He said worriedly, "According to the information I've gathered, this dense fog has covered the entire Zangke."

“Although similar ghostly mists have appeared in the world before, the range has never been this large.”

“In the past, those evil spirits harmed people, but they never harmed ordinary people.”

"But in the last two days, there have been quite a few ordinary people who have died suddenly."

Old Sheepskin spoke with some hesitation.

He said, "...I want to take my wife and children and go away to another place, to leave for a while."

"Mr. Ran, if you need anything, just tell me now and I'll get it done for you as soon as possible."

Besides making straw raincoats and paper figures, old sheepskin can be used to make other things.

He wanted to help Ran Qing in any way he could before leaving.

(End of this chapter)