Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

"If you're scared, go home and hug your husband!" Gu Jun Gui said irritably, pulling Chu Ming Kong away to stop the women from her family from taking advantage of her under various pretexts.

"Mingkong isn't your husband, so why are you hugging him so tightly?" Gu Junan teased.

Gu Jungui was speechless for a moment. Normally, she shouldn't be speechless in the face of such a question, but with all sorts of thoughts swirling in her mind, she paused for a while and almost let her family see through her.

With a stern face, she scoffed, trying to cover up her misunderstanding, "You think you can bully me because I'm a widow with no one to protect me? I raised Mingkong, can't I even give him a hug?"

“Okay~ Of course you can hug me.” That was Chu Mingkong’s reply.

In front of a group of married women and young wives, he wrapped his arms tightly around Aunt Gu. Although it was a bear hug and there were no small gestures like hugging her waist or touching her buttocks, they still looked incredibly intimate.

Gu Jun Gui was surprised that this boy was so bold as to hug her like that in front of so many people. Her face flushed red, her beauty as radiant as a peach blossom, and her eyes showed panic.

"Alright, Aunt Gu, you don't need to worry about Gui Chong. I'm not injured. You must have been very frightened last night. Let me tell everyone what happened."

Chu Mingkong steered the conversation toward the matter of Gui Chong. He estimated that Aunt Gu must have said quite a bit after the Gu family woke up in the morning, so he mentioned it in detail, focusing on the situation of finding Zhang Youshu in Jinbao City and the sudden incident of the little Taoist priest blocking the way.

"Zhang Youshu? I remember him. That young man was taking the exam when he was the same age as me, but he said he had to make a living and often sold calligraphy and paintings and worked as an accountant. He didn't have time to study and was unsuccessful for several years. Later, several talented scholars in Jin unfortunately encountered the evil creature in the abyss and died. Zhang Youshu lost his formidable opponent and suddenly rose to prominence. I never expected there to be such a story behind it. That female ghost was actually his wife!"

The speaker was Gu Wenkai. After taking diluted Golden Crow Jade Marrow and having a good night's sleep last night, his complexion was a little better today. However... as he spoke, he was kneeling on a washboard in the corner.

Beside him, a young woman with a narrow waist and round hips cracked her whip; that was Gu Zixuan. She shouted:

"You're so proud of yourself for sleeping with someone else's ghost wife, aren't you? In the middle of the night, you actually went to a ghost brothel because of that kind of situation! And you even brought the ghost home with you, you've completely disgraced me!"

Gu Wenkai trembled.

Another woman glared and said, "What's the deal with that young Taoist priest? Why did he stop His Highness's business without even asking what happened?"

Chu Mingkong comforted him, saying:

"We can't blame the Taoist priest entirely. It's a good deed for him to come and exorcise demons and protect the human world. Besides, the female ghost did come to cause trouble for the Gu family. However, she hasn't committed any serious crimes against the Gu family yet, so we can still be lenient with her and show some sympathy."

Furthermore, I dislike being lectured to my face, and that young Taoist priest just happened to run into me, which led to his predicament.

If the female ghost Qiao'er causes a member of the Gu family to be on the verge of death, then whatever suffering she has endured is none of my business, while what the little Taoist priest did becomes an extremely good deed.

Unfortunately, the situation didn't reach that point, and everyone's position, interests, and thoughts are different, leading to different evaluations.

It's normal to feel regret and emotion, but getting caught up in right and wrong is pointless. Just stick to your own ideas and that's it.

Even history is written by the victors, and aren't the little things that happen in the world still decided by fists?

"Furthermore, the Gu family should stop doing business in Jin recently and try to reduce the number of trips between the two places. We'll accept any losses, no matter what," Chu Mingkong warned seriously, without a hint of joking.

"Why?" someone asked.

"I didn't encounter the haunted brothel that Wen Kai's son-in-law mentioned, but do you all remember the town where the tragedy occurred?"

"Of course I remember. Some people in the clan didn't believe me and even went to check it out secretly. They could smell a strong stench of corpses from a great distance. It was desolate and unsettling, so they quickly ran back."

"Yes, when Qingning and I passed by there, we found that the town had mysteriously come back to life. It was hard to tell the people inside from the real ones. I don't know what happened. Let's wait until things are settled there before resuming trade. This time, let's not go there out of curiosity."

The front hall of the Gu family fell silent for a moment, the entire hall utterly still.

Chu Mingkong spoke very lightly and simply, but those of them who had no cultivation felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing it.

The town that was tragically destroyed has come back to life, and there is no indication of what happened to it. This is a truly terrifying thing.

The old patriarch of the Gu family frowned in thought. What if a member of his clan went to that town, died accidentally, but became a "fake dead" in that town, indistinguishable from a ghost, and then returned to his Gu family like a normal person...?

This is truly a terrifying thing!

These guys lurking in our homes could cause trouble one day, and these normal tribespeople wouldn't even know how they died!

The old man gave a stern order and said to the butler:

"Pass down my orders: temporarily sever all business ties with Jin. There's nothing we can do about the losses. Every day, roll call is required to report the whereabouts of clansmen. Anyone who secretly goes to Jin is not allowed to enter their home until this matter is resolved!"

The Gu family members felt it was a bit excessive to have to report their whereabouts every day, but upon further reflection, they realized that it was indeed the right thing to do.

The nightmares that the female ghost brought to the Gu family were indeed terrifying, but at least she came openly, and each night it was just a nightmare that scared them. But if there really were one or two ghosts disguised as family members hiding around, behind the familiar laughter would be a strange face and a sinister smile that could be revealed at any time.

Just thinking about it is terrifying!

"Wait..."

Gu Zixuan had just scolded her husband for being indecent, saying that it was fine for him to sneak into brothels and entertainment venues occasionally, but he dared to enter such a suspicious place!

How is this any different from getting horny and acting promiscuous in front of a grave?!

She quickly hid from her husband and moved closer to Chu Mingkong, afraid that her husband might suddenly turn into a ghost.

"Wen Kai has been to those kinds of awful places before, so what if... How can you prove that you are Wen Kai?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Jungui felt there was some truth to it, and he became both happy and worried.

They had just said that no clansmen were allowed to secretly go to Jin, but there was a suspicious one right now, and he even personally went deep into that strange place.

Chu Mingkong wasn't sure what was going on either. He said, "Son-in-law Wenkai might not have actually done anything with the female ghost. He might have just gone in and had a wet dream, but he felt like he was actually doing *that*..."

However, this concern is indeed somewhat valid.

He didn't know how to identify his true identity.

If they could really tell at a glance, Chu Mingkong and Wei Qingning wouldn't have been so confused in that small town.

Wei Qingning suddenly said, "Actually, there is still a way. Even if it is difficult to distinguish from the aura, the essence of Gui Chong will not change. Gui Chong is most afraid of the Haoran Thunder Light."

The open-minded girl took out an empty talisman, and after some simple writing and drawing, she created a thunder talisman of moderate power.

It has power, but it's unlikely to kill ordinary people; it's best used in the current situation.

"Won't anyone die?" Gu Wenkai asked timidly as he took the thunder talisman.

"Hurry up! Qingning said everything's fine. Are you hiding something and afraid to try because you're afraid of being exposed?" Gu Zixuan questioned, as she was terrified that her husband sleeping next to her was a ghost.

Gu Wenkai didn't dare to say anything more. He quickly shocked himself with an electric shock. His whole body convulsed, and a burning smell filled the air. His hair stood on end, making him look like a Saiyan, but he was not in any danger.

Although Wei Qingning said the power was average, it really was "average" level power; it didn't even kill an ordinary person.

"It seems to be genuine." Everyone felt relieved.

“They just shocked his hand. Is it possible that those evil spirits have attached themselves to the second son-in-law’s penis? Why don’t we shock it too to purify it? Otherwise, what if it passes on some evil spirit to Zixuan in the future?” a woman suggested. This was not meant to be malicious, but such things were truly worrying.

Zixuan, who had just calmed down, immediately became worried again.

"Qingning, won't there be a problem with the electricity?" a male colleague asked with concern.

"I don't know either..." Wei Qingning was undecided.

Soon, several younger members of the Gu family, carrying thunder talismans, approached the trembling son-in-law with sympathetic expressions.

"Second son-in-law, I'm so sorry!"

"Don't come any closer! Ah↗Ah↘Ah~?!"

There was one more person shedding tears in the Gu household, but at least it proved their innocence.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Skillful Hands, Masterful Hands, and Common Hands

The Gu family's matter has come to a temporary end, but the situation in that small town cannot simply be left as if nothing happened.

The appearance of such a large ghost town has a significant impact, but let's just say...

If these people in the town, who are indistinguishable from ghosts, integrate into the life of the surrounding towns, and converge in all aspects such as logistics and transportation, and enter Xiling, and even marry and have children with some of the people of Xiling.

What kind of existence will be born? Will these hidden threats finally erupt one day?

Take Gu Wenkai's situation today, for example. If he was really switched at birth on his way to the brothel, then a ghost would be hiding in the harmony of the Gu family. Gu Zixuan would be living with a ghost as husband and wife day and night without knowing it.

After returning to Tianya City, Chu Mingkong didn't even bother to greet Jin Yu and the others. He went straight to Yun Nongyu and quickly told her about the situation in the small town, hoping the female Taoist priest might have some insights.

"...On the way back, I've been pondering what exactly is going on. Does Master Yun have any insights?"

Chu Mingkong sat upright, showing no sign of joking.

Faced with the seriousness of the Lord of Xiling, Yun Nongyu naturally wanted to respond with a serious attitude in return, at least... she got up from the bed first.

Unfortunately, she was hugged tightly by Zuo Qiuchi. Perhaps the sword fairy was practicing her sword and grip strength in her dream, as her hands were still wrapped around Yun Nongyu's "burden".

"Your Highness, may I ask your master to get up first..." Yun Nongyu, lying on the bed, asked Chu Mingkong for help.

In the entire Qingxin Mansion, only Chu Mingkong could pull Zuo Qiuchi along. Feng Ying might be able to as well, but Feng Ying never bothered with such matters.

Zuo Qiuchi rested her chin on Yun Nongyu's shoulder, occasionally brushing against her delicate collarbone, looking quite comfortable and at ease. She said:

“Nongyu, don’t pay any attention to my rebellious disciple. Just lie down and chat with him openly. Give him a hard time. He just hit your Taoist disciple, shouldn’t you take the opportunity to be a little tough? You’re too honest and easy to bully. You really have to listen to me on this matter!”

"..."

In the silence, Chu Mingkong got up and went over to arrest his master, pulling her into his arms to "control" her, preventing her from doing evil and bullying the honest and simple Yun Nongyu anymore.

The warm fragrance enveloped Chu Mingkong, making him feel cozy and warm, a scent that carried the sweet aromas of Zuo Qiuchi and Yun Nongyu.

"Don't touch me, old lady! Nongyu defeated me badly in chess, and I'm upset. It's damaging the reputation of my 'Precious Chess Game'. I have to reason with her!"

You were utterly defeated, yet you're acting even more arrogant than the victors... Chu Mingkong secretly peered down, and the flawless, full-moon-like flesh warmed his heart, dispelling the sadness and confusion he felt in that small town.

"Master, I'll explain to you the basic moves, brilliant moves, and common moves in chess. Even if you can't beat others at chess, you'll at least be able to talk your way out of it."

Zuo Qiuchi looked up, pinched his traitor's cheek, and said with a hint of disdain, "I don't care what kind of skill, wonder, or vulgar technique you have, just take your groping hands off me!"

Chu Mingkong pretended not to hear, and seeing that Yun Nongyu was already seated, he got back to the main topic:

"Master Yun, what's your opinion on this matter? What exactly is the situation in that town?"

"Have you sent anyone to monitor the situation?" Yun Nongyu asked.

Chu Mingkong shook his head, expressing his concerns:

“Under normal circumstances, I would have definitely sent people there to keep an eye on things, but at the time I found it difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake. I was afraid that the soldiers I sent to monitor would all get into trouble, and that I would be tricked into a ghost by a sleight of hand.”

Although the electric shock method can be used to check, it can easily cause panic among the troops, making everyone distrust each other and resorting to shocking each other upon meeting, which could lead to chaos.

So he planned to find out the situation before making any further plans.

Yun Nongyu savored the information Chu Mingkong had given her, lost in thought as her delicate fingers slid across the surface of the tea, creating ripples.

"It's highly unlikely that something like this, which has been happening for a whole period of time, is possible. Such a thing is unheard of."

The creation of a ghost requires the deceased's deep resentment during their lifetime, along with their destiny, the right timing, or the assistance of some external factors.

If we consider resentment and malevolent energy as resources, there is no place in the world where the resentment and malevolent energy can turn an entire town into a haunted place. If it were completely drained, it would only be the haunting of one household at most.