### Chapter 232: An Que Fainted from Anger
“!”
Bai Yu burst into the room like a whirlwind, startling Zhao Mingyue so much that she nearly jumped out of her skin. Rushing to her feet, she saw that it was Bai Yu, and her face instantly morphed from shock to awkwardly cheerful. She sidled up behind Bai Yu, giving her shoulders a gentle squeeze while pushing her into the metal shed.
“Uh, Bai Yu, hee hee hee, did you hear everything I just discussed with Lu Liangting?”
In response, Bai Yu wore an expression of mild exasperation.
“I caught part of it.”
“Uh-huh, uh-huh, how do you feel about it? Any thoughts?” Zhao Mingyue plopped Bai Yu onto a small bench and squatted behind her. “I think it’s doable! My strength has improved a bit. That way, you won’t have to babysit me like before, right?”
“There’s some logic to that.” Bai Yu turned her head and found herself facing Zhao Mingyue, who was practically resting her chin on her shoulder with a mischievous grin that suggested she was hatching some ridiculous plan.
“Mingyue, the reason I didn’t let you come out with me isn’t just because it’s dangerous out there. I’m also worried you wouldn’t handle seeing all the dead bodies very well—there are over a hundred mangled corpses outside.”
After all, Zhao Mingyue was still a living person, and that kind of sight could easily scar anyone.
The two maintained eye contact for a couple of minutes before Zhao Mingyue nodded, leaning her face onto Bai Yu’s shoulder as she quietly asked, “You’re not hurt, right?”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
Across from them, Lu Liangting’s gaze drifted elsewhere, his thoughts swirling in complexity. Every time he saw their bond, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
But he gave up on trying to imitate Zhao Mingyue; he and Old Yang could never have something like that. If he leaned against Old Yang like that for a stare-down, Old Yang would definitely bolt and say, “What’s wrong with you, kid? You got a problem or what?”
Maybe that was just how relationships were meant to be. In a world filled with so many human-ghost pairs, how many could be as close as Bai Yu and Mingyue?
Most gatekeepers had a ghost companion and practiced ghost control techniques, yet here he was, with Old Yang, sharing a relationship like that?
“Old Yang, do you think those gatekeepers have deeper relationships with their ghosts, kind of like us, or more like Bai Yu and Mingyue?”
“Neither,” Old Yang replied almost instantaneously.
“Neither?”
“Or do you think otherwise?” The undertone of Old Yang’s voice hinted at his intricate feelings, “You really didn’t know, did you? Most gatekeepers mess around with ghosts—female ghosts, I mean! Don’t get it twisted!”
Why Old Yang felt the need to emphasize such an obvious fact, Lu Liangting didn’t ponder too deeply.
“Messing with ghosts… especially female ones…” After a pause, Lu Liangting suddenly sat up straight, his eyes wide in shock.
Wait, is that what they meant by “messing”?
Goodness, do these gatekeepers have screws loose? Why the heck would they toy around with female ghosts?
What’s the deal with that? Just for kicks?
“Old Yang, how did you know?”
“Duh, it’s your fault for not paying attention! I told you to drive, not to become a statue! Those sisters were chatting in the back, and you didn’t eavesdrop even a bit. Zhao Mingyue was actually quite curious about how gatekeepers ‘messed around’ with ghosts. She even wanted to capture one for research or something, and…”
At this point, both Lu Liangting and Old Yang fell silent.
So why would Zhao Mingyue, a little girl, be so interested in this ghostly play?
Lu Liangting glanced over at the pair of sisters, his shadow wobbling as he shifted his gaze.
“Whoa.” Old Yang suddenly gasped. “Zhao Mingyue is up to no good. Does Bai Yu know?”
“I think she probably doesn’t. Bai Yu wouldn’t go along with it… at least, not if it meant something bad happening to herself.”
Lu Liangting placed extra emphasis on the word “bad.”
After saying that, both guy and ghost fell silent again.
A while later, Old Yang spoke again.
“Lu Liangting, you’re not thinking about capturing a gatekeeper too, are you? And then experimenting with your Aunt Su?”
“Get outta here!”
“Just kidding, just kidding.” Old Yang’s tone softened. “Forget about that; it’s way beyond our pay grade. Trust me, don’t ask about it, or you’ll regret it big time.”
“And don’t get too close to either of them. I mean the relationship; you get what I’m saying.”
“I’m not planning on it at all.”
“Well, that’s good. I just don’t want you getting any crazy ideas and dragging me down with you.” Old Yang redirected the conversation, “Anyway, Bai Yu said not to let you guys out for a reason. You probably can’t feel it, but I do. The smell of bl**d is overwhelming. I can’t even imagine how many bodies must have piled up for it to get this intense.”
“Kid, let me put it this way: if you go out now, you’ll be staring into the depths of hell.”
“Don’t go out; let Bai Yu handle it first. Once it’s sorted, you can go out with Zhao Mingyue.”
“This stuff is way too dangerous for us. Forget it; I’m a ghost, and even I’d be scared.”
“Only Bai Yu can pull off staying calm in a situation like this.”
“Although most of the dead people definitely had it coming, they were still people. Actual, living people.”
While he was chatting with Lu Liangting, Bai Yu had taken out the Twin Souls item and briefly explained its purpose to Zhao Mingyue.
“Later, when we get home, I’ll absorb one, and you’ll absorb the other. This thing was extracted from two godmothers, and it’s supposed to strengthen our bond. I’ll fill you in on the details when we get back.”
Zhao Mingyue’s eyes lit up at this. “Really?!”
“Really.”
“Oh, oh, oh, this is amazing! But… this was taken from a godmother’s body; it won’t have any side effects, right?”
“It shouldn’t.” Bai Yu hesitated slightly.
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“Who would have thought we’d meet again like this? Do you remember who I am, An Que?”
Deep within the factory, Chen Yunshi was painting a ritual using An Que’s bl**d as the center, forming a circle that An Que had never seen before. The moment she started, he felt a wave of dread. In sheer panic, he tried to end his own life, but his body was too weak for even that to be an option.
When his consciousness was still somewhat intact, Qian Mu’s face materialized before him.
“Xin’er…” An Que struggled to speak, “I’m sorry, I…”
An Que wanted to try invoking some emotional sympathy, although deep down, he knew invoking “feelings” with Qian Mu was a joke. Still, it was the only card he had to play—who knows?
Qian Mu must care about him; after all, she wouldn’t have come looking for him just days after leaving Eternal Life Village.
Whether it was hatred or love, both were feelings that could be manipulated.
Before he could finish, Qian Mu abruptly turned away to chat with Chen Yunshi.
“Whoa! Didn’t know you had this talent. You never mentioned it before. Seriously, it looks like you haphazardly smeared some paint! At least show a little ceremony for something this important! Other rituals have all sorts of offerings, and here you are with just some ghostly doodles?”
With a handful of hair, Chen Yunshi paused. “What do you know? If you don’t understand, just shut it! Don’t act like a know-it-all; it’s clear you’re just making a fool of yourself.”
“You don’t mention your own ugly drawing, huh? I might not get your little artsy stuff, but I can tell it’s not visually appealing.” Qian Mu calmly countered.
“Hmph! What good is looks? Practicality is what matters. Spending time on prettiness is just a waste.”
“Right, right, so when you go out, you still put on makeup? Isn’t that a waste of time too?”
“That’s different!”
“How is it different? Just making excuses for yourself? Or do you have a crush on Lu Liangting? You can’t resist going for that pure-hearted little boy, can you—at your age, you should be embarrassed!”
“Qian Mu!”
Chen Yunshi suddenly leaped up, but Qian Mu evaded her smoothly, her face made of black mist ooze sarcasm.
“Hey, someone’s in a hurry. I won’t say who.”
“You! Forget that, did you give Bai Yu the Twin Souls?”
“Of course I did! That kind of treasure needs to go to her. We wouldn’t use it anyway.” Qian Mu flitted back in. “Well… since that thing is mostly taken from the Desire Godmother, her curse powers relate to desires of all kinds—you understand, right? So… it might have some minor side effects.”
Qian Mu grinned wickedly. “Just a tiny bit, not much, really. Something two girls could easily handle!”
“Qian Mu, you’re insane!” Chen Yunshi quickly caught on, “You want to get yourself sliced up, don’t you?!”
“Hey, don’t say things you can’t take back! I’m not crazy.” Qian Mu’s body wrapped around Chen Yunshi. “I’m quite alert. You’ve seen their relationship; I’m just giving a little nudge. Don’t worry; I know where to draw the line.”
“If anything goes wrong, I can’t help you!”
“What could go wrong?” Qian Mu wafted dismissively. “Two girls won’t suddenly have babies.”
While they kept blabbing away, An Que, lying at the center of the ritual, was struggling to breathe, anger bubbling up inside him as he imagined all the things Qian Mu might say. His mind was swirling with rage, and he thought he’d devised a plan to confront them.
In the end, Qian Mu ignored him altogether, continuing to bicker with Chen Yunshi.
Not only was Chen Yunshi ignoring him, but Qian Mu didn’t even give him a second thought.
“Qian Mu!” Unable to hold his breath any longer, and already severely injured, An Que’s eyes widened as his stiff body relaxed. He literally fainted from anger.
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Please give me your support, sob sob sob~
