Chapter 186 - 185: Found Them

Chapter 186: Chapter 185: Found Them

The area on the west side of the city was originally a cemetery where many people were buried. Later, a new cemetery with better views was developed up north. Coupled with rumors that this land was going to be cleared for a new railway, people gradually stopped coming here for burials. Even the remains of those already interred were slowly relocated.

The few graves that remained belonged to those who either had no family or had been forsaken by them.

With no one to tend to them, the once auspiciously-sited cemetery became overgrown with weeds, resembling a potter’s field. Over time, it became a gathering place for wandering ghost souls.

It was completely dark by the time they arrived.

Miao Yan parked outside the cemetery. After the group got out, Huo Yunjing materialized again, his gaze somber as he looked inside. "They’re in there."

Gu Qingyin glanced at the rickety cemetery gate, then at the desolate, pitch-black surroundings, and muttered, "This place is perfect for shooting a horror movie."

Liu Ergou took out two flashlights and handed one to Miao Yan.

Miao Yan was surprised. He took it, turned, and immediately offered it to Gu Qingyin. "Idol, here’s a flashlight for you."

Gu Qingyin shook her head. "I don’t need it. You keep it." Then she started walking into the cemetery.

Miao Yan let out a disappointed "Oh."

Elder Miao gave a loud huff and strode ahead.

Liu Ergou scoffed as well. "Qing Yin doesn’t need that sort of thing. Let’s get a move on."

Miao Yan froze for a second, then it hit him: Gu Qingyin was born with the Yin Yang Eye. She could see even more clearly at night than during the day.

Slapping his head in frustration, Miao Yan hurried to catch up with the group.

As they walked, Gu Qingyin asked, "Weren’t they killed in Lincheng City? How did they end up in a cemetery in Yun City?"

Huo Yunjing shook his head, speculating, "They probably followed someone here."

It dawned on Gu Qingyin. "Chen Ling is in Yun City, too?"

Huo Yunjing nodded. "It’s highly likely."

Gu Qingyin looked at Elder Miao. "Please notify Tuoba Yan and tell him to take precautions. Chen Ling has obviously gone mad. She might attack ordinary people."

Elder Miao agreed wholeheartedly. He quickly pulled out his phone to call Tuoba Yan, but when the call wouldn’t connect, he tried sending a text. He fumbled with it for a good five or six minutes, but not a single message sent.

"The signal’s bad. I’ll have to try again once we’re out of here."

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow in confusion. ’This isn’t some remote mountain forest, how could there be no signal?’ She pulled out her own phone and glanced at it. The signal bar was just an "X."

Huo Yunjing saw it too. He said in a low voice, "There’s a powerful ghost here. Its Ghost Realm has completely fused with reality."

Gu Qingyin frowned, scanning her surroundings. She’d noticed as soon as she entered that the mix of ghost energy and Yin Qi here was incredibly dense.

’It’s a cemetery, after all,’ so she hadn’t thought much of it. But now that Huo Yunjing had mentioned it, she realized something was wrong.

"How big is this cemetery?"

Huo Yunjing replied, "About fifty acres."

Gu Qingyin’s jaw dropped. She swept her hand in an arc. "The entire area is enveloped by the Ghost Realm?"

Huo Yunjing nodded. "That’s right. The moment we stepped into the cemetery, we entered the Ghost Realm."

"Can’t you just take it over?" Gu Qingyin whispered, egging him on. "You’re the Ghost King! How embarrassing would it be if word got out that you were trapped in another ghost’s Ghost Realm!"

Huo Yunjing said with a sigh, "I’ll try."

Gu Qingyin chuckled, patting his shoulder. "I have faith in you!"

"Um... Idol!" Miao Yan seized the opportunity to approach her. He scratched his head sheepishly and hinted, "I’m a little hungry."

Gu Qingyin got the hint instantly and quickly pulled out the rice ball and juice she had saved for him. "Here! It’s still warm. Hurry and eat. We won’t have time later."

Miao Yan nodded emphatically. He excitedly tore the plastic wrap off the rice ball and took a huge bite, devouring half of it at once and stuffing his cheeks.

The flavor was so complex that it felt like every single one of his taste buds was being bombarded with something new. For a moment, Miao Yan couldn’t distinguish any particular taste at all.

All he knew was that it was incredibly fragrant—the kind of aroma that seemed to go straight to his head.

He took a sip of juice to wash it down, then took another, smaller bite to savor it properly. And then he froze.

"Idol... Are there onions in this rice ball?"

Gu Qingyin turned to look at him. "You don’t eat onions? Just pick them out. There shouldn’t be too many pieces."

Miao Yan looked like he was about to cry. "It’s not that. I’m allergic to onions."

Gu Qingyin started to panic. ’A severe allergy can be fatal!’

"Do you have any medicine? Why didn’t you say you were allergic to onions sooner!" Gu Qingyin said urgently. "We were eating in the car just now, didn’t you smell them?"

Miao Yan’s neck and face were already starting to feel hot and itchy. He scratched at his skin and said miserably, "I have a cold. My nose is all stuffed up."

"Elder Miao!" Gu Qingyin yelled. "Your grandson is having an allergic reaction! Do you have any medicine?"

Elder Miao, who had been trailing behind and cautiously scanning the area, rushed forward. "Miao Yan?"

"Grandpa..." Miao Yan’s voice was strained. His throat was beginning to swell.

"What do we do, what do we do..." Gu Qingyin’s mind started racing with wild ideas. "Should I just freeze you for now? I can thaw you out once we get you to a hospital! Or maybe I should pull out your soul and seal your body first?"

Just then, Liu Ergou, who had been silently and frantically rummaging through his backpack, looked up excitedly. "Found it!"

He rushed over, shoved the medicine in his hand into Miao Yan’s mouth, and tilted his chin back. Then, he pressed a finger against his throat.

Miao Yan swallowed involuntarily, getting the medicine down.

Seeing this, Gu Qingyin breathed a sigh of relief. "He took the medicine. He should be fine now, right?"

Elder Miao also looked relieved, grabbing Liu Ergou’s hand and thanking him profusely.

Miao Yan wasn’t as panicked as before, though his face had already swollen up like a pig’s...

Liu Ergou said, "He won’t die. But it’s medicine you take by mouth, so it’s slow-acting. He’s probably going to be pretty uncomfortable for a while."

He sighed. "I was keeping that medicine for myself. Didn’t expect you to be the one to use it."

Gu Qingyin frowned at him. "What are you allergic to?"

Liu Ergou shook his head. "Nothing, for now. But I read online that as people get older, their immune systems weaken, and they can suddenly develop allergies to things. Ai, better safe than sorry, you know?"

It wasn’t just Gu Qingyin; Elder Miao and Miao Yan were also left speechless.

With the crisis averted, Miao Yan could only reluctantly throw away the rest of the rice ball.

Gu Qingyin felt a little guilty. "I’ll invite you to my place for dinner next time. What do you like to eat? I’ll have our chef prepare it in advance."

Miao Yan’s eyes instantly lit up, and he nodded eagerly.

’This allergic reaction was totally worth it!’

With that interlude over, the group continued deeper into the cemetery.

Throughout all this, Huo Yunjing had remained silent. As he quietly led the way, a ceaseless stream of ghost energy seeped from his body, silently sinking into the ground to prepare for his bid to seize control of the Ghost Realm.

After another ten minutes or so of walking, Huo Yunjing stopped and looked ahead. "Found them."

Gu Qingyin’s spirits lifted, and she looked up.

A male ghost in a long robe and a tiny baby ghost were kneeling side by side on the ground, heads bowed as they feasted on a ghost soul.

The ghost soul was dazed and listless, completely unaware that it should flee, and simply watched, helpless, as it was devoured bite by bite.