Chapter 189 - 188: He Didn’t Dare to Gamble

Chapter 189: Chapter 188: He Didn’t Dare to Gamble

The baby ghost seemed to be dead to the world; it wouldn’t stir no matter what they did. The adults felt it was wrong to use force on the little one, so they had no choice but to find a place to stay for the night.

Besides, the baby ghost could sense Chen Ling, so they weren’t worried about losing her. It was just a matter of time.

After a tour of the town, they found only one hotel with its lights still on. The group went inside and checked in.

Elder Miao and Miao Yan took a standard twin room. Liu Ergou glanced at Gu Qingyin. Just as he hesitantly opened his mouth to speak, he felt a chill run down his spine and quickly corrected himself. "Two rooms with king beds, thank you!"

Once in the elevator, Gu Qingyin said, "You and the child will stay in our room."

A displeased "Tsk" echoed in the air.

Gu Qingyin pretended not to hear. "What’s your name?"

"Kong Xu," the male ghost said with a smile. "My son’s name is Chen Yue."

Gu Qingyin was speechless. She could only give him a thumbs-up in admiration. ’What a true romantic.’

’It’s not that a child can’t take their mother’s surname, but under these circumstances, shouldn’t he really consider changing it? Chen Ling is one cruel piece of work. She carried him for ten months, made him take her surname, and then just stewed him in a pot like it was nothing.’

Gu Qingyin shook her head. ’Is a youthful face really that important?’

Upon entering the room, Huo Yunjing immediately materialized. He trapped Kong Xu and Chen Yue in a corner and said in a cold voice, "Stay put, don’t talk, and don’t look where you shouldn’t."

Kong Xu flinched and immediately turned to face the wall.

Gu Qingyin chuckled and offered a half-hearted plea, "Don’t be so aggressive." She rummaged through her shoulder bag for her pajamas and undergarments. "I’m going to take a shower."

Huo Yunjing nodded. "Are you hungry? Want to get a bite to eat?"

Gu Qingyin paused and rubbed her stomach. She hadn’t eaten anything all evening besides a rice ball; she was, in fact, a little hungry.

"All the shops outside are closed. Where would we get food?"

Huo Yunjing smiled. "I’ll just ’borrow’ the hotel’s kitchen. Leaving some money should be fine."

Gu Qingyin nodded. "Try not to scare anyone." After all, he hadn’t even materialized during check-in.

Huo Yunjing inclined his head. "Don’t worry. Go take your shower. I’ll be back soon."

The room quickly fell silent. In the corner, Kong Xu let out a ghostly sigh. He patted the baby ghost in his arms and whispered, "Do you think... your mommy sensed you?"

The baby ghost didn’t open its eyes, merely smacking its lips before turning over and sleeping even more soundly.

In a bungalow a few hundred meters from the hotel, Chen Ling, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened her eyes. She cast a thoughtful glance in the direction of the hotel.

A few seconds later, Chen Ling pushed her door open and knocked on the one next to it. "They’ve followed us. We have to leave tonight."

The door opened with a CLICK. A woman with a ramrod-straight posture stepped out. "Go where in the middle of the night? You can’t even get a taxi out there."

Had Gu Qingyin been there, she would have been utterly astonished.

This woman was Dongfang Ran, who had been missing for a long time. She had somehow teamed up with Chen Ling.

Chen Ling said, "We can grab one of those shareable yellow bikes. The point is, we can’t stay here. When Gu Qingyin and the others catch up, do you think you can hold them off?"

Dongfang Ran fell silent, but her expression grew even fouler.

Chen Ling turned and went back to her room. "Get your things. We leave in five minutes."

Dongfang Ran couldn’t help but ask, "After what you did to him, why would he lead them to you?"

This "him" she was referring to was, of course, Chen Ling’s son.

Chen Ling let out a soft laugh. "He’s just a child. They instinctively cling to their mothers. Besides, he was unconscious when he died, so he didn’t feel a thing. He’s still foolishly hoping to win my love."

Dongfang Ran’s expression was conflicted. "You’re truly not human."

Chen Ling couldn’t have cared less about her judgment. She walked slowly back to her room, only to hear Dongfang Ran continue, "But your appearance doesn’t seem to have changed at all. Is the effect just slow? Or did you mess it up?"

Chen Ling froze, the faint smile finally vanishing from her face.

She raised a hand to her face, a fierce hatred blazing in her eyes. She had paid such an enormous price, and it had all been for nothing.

Now she was like a cornered rat, with no permanent home, living every day in a state of panic. ’And it was all Gu Qingyin’s fault! She’s the one who gave me the wrong idea, who made me end up like this!’

Chen Ling’s gaze was venomous. She wouldn’t rest, even if her very soul was scattered to the winds, until she killed Gu Qingyin!

In the pitch-black of night, the two women crept furtively from the house. They felt their way to the main street, pulled out their phones, and each scanned a yellow share-bike.

"BEEP BEEP!! HELMET LOCK OPEN!"

"PLEASE WEAR YOUR HELMET TO RIDE!"

Both women froze for a second before hastily putting on the helmets.

’The volume sounds normal during the day,’ they thought, ’so why does it sound like it’s hooked up to a megaphone at night? It’s way too loud!’

The yellow bikes gradually disappeared into the distance, and the street fell silent once more.

Back at the hotel, the group, still unaware that their target had fled, had all finished washing up and were getting ready for bed.

No one knew when the little ghost would wake up, so they had to get what sleep they could. This was especially true for Elder Miao; he was getting old and couldn’t pull all-nighters anymore.

Gu Qingyin took a quick shower, changed into a pajama set with a short-sleeved top and long pants, and walked out of the bathroom while drying her hair with her Spiritual Power.

She had heard a noise from the room next door while showering. Worried that a hair dryer would be too loud, she had no choice but to luxuriously use her Spiritual Power instead.

A moment later, Huo Yunjing returned, carrying a bowl of congee. "They had some plain congee left in the kitchen. I added a few things and reheated it. Come have a taste."

Gu Qingyin tied up her hair, walked over to the table, and sat down. Her eyes immediately spotted the crawfish buried in the congee. "I’ve never had crawfish congee before."

Huo Yunjing smiled. "There wasn’t anything else. We’ll have to make do."

Gu Qingyin took a spoonful, and her eyes lit up. "This is delicious!"

The bowl was small and finished in just a few spoonfuls. Still wanting more, Gu Qingyin asked, "Is there any more?"

Huo Yunjing mercilessly refused. "No more. Go to sleep."

Gu Qingyin pouted. "Fine. Then you have to make it for me again when we get home."

Huo Yunjing agreed.

Gu Qingyin rinsed her mouth again and climbed into bed, thoroughly satisfied.

A little after four in the morning, Huo Yunjing woke Gu Qingyin. Lying in bed, the look on her face was the very definition of a brewing storm.

Huo Yunjing whispered, "The baby ghost is awake. He wants to find his mommy."

After a few seconds, Gu Qingyin blinked, sighed, and sat bolt upright. She then got out of bed to wash her face and change clothes.

Huo Yunjing watched her enter the bathroom, then a sinister smile spread across his face as his form faded away in an instant.

A moment later, terrified shrieks and a CLANGING and BANGING racket erupted from the room next door...

In the corner, Kong Xu flinched. ’So ruthless,’ he thought. ’He doesn’t even spare his own allies.’

Before the sky had even begun to lighten, the group piled into the car, their eyes swollen from lack of sleep.

Miao Yan’s allergic reaction had mostly subsided. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he yawned. "The car’s out of gas. We need to hit a gas station first."

The baby ghost heard this, and its eyes darted around as it prepared to throw a tantrum.

Huo Yunjing appeared soundlessly and warned with a deadpan expression, "Make one sound and I’ll eat you. And even after I’ve eaten you, I can still find Chen Ling."

The baby ghost didn’t believe him, but it didn’t dare call his bluff.