Chapter 290: Ghost Gate Seeking Sister
Before that member of the Ghost Domain bit the dust, they mentioned a Ghost Gate that could possibly lead to an Evil God, located in a half-finished housing project. Bai Yu and Zhao Mingyue spent the last three days scouting the area, but lo and behold, the Evil God had already made its grand exit, leaving behind traces of its chaotic performance.
It seems Nightmare got wind of someone being nabbed and decided to play cabin attendant, whisking the Evil God right out of there.
Now, the Evil God wasn’t the pressing concern for Bai Yu; all she needed was a real Ghost Gate to step through and get to the world behind it.
“Nightmare shouldn’t be making a move anytime soon, but you know what they say: better safe than sorry. She’s got some tricks up her sleeve concerning the Ghost Gate, and she might be collaborating with that guy inside. If you overstay your welcome, she’s bound to notice and take action,” Chen Yunshi chirped from the driver’s seat as they cruised towards the village where the Black Sun Godmother resided.
“What worries me most is if she decides to show up personally.”
After three days of preparation, they settled on the Black Sun Godmother’s place—it was definitely a safer bet than that half-finished housing project. Lots of open space, and in case of an unexpected drama, they could always call up their buddy Spider for backup.
Chen Yunshi contemplated, thinking they might have jumped the g*n by capturing someone from the Ghost Domain.
Caught in the act? That was practically waving a red flag at Nightmare, saying, “Surprise! We know your plan and we’ve got countermeasures!”
Their only saving grace was that Nightmare wasn’t fully aware of Bai Yu’s situation—there was a good chance she didn’t expect Bai Yu to be so bold as to waltz right into the world behind the Ghost Gate.
Honestly, Bai Yu’s motivations were as clear as mud, not just to Nightmare but also to Chen Yunshi herself. Why on earth would anyone want to peek behind that curtain? The risks involved were astronomical!
But concerns and worries about Bai Yu’s shenanigans were beyond her jurisdiction—she wasn’t going to bombard Bai Yu with questions about her “life choices.” She’d just throw out a couple of suggestions and see what sticks.
“Based on my calculations, you’ll only have five hours once you step inside. During that time, you’ll be golden; stretch past it, and you’ll attract all sorts of trouble.”
That was putting it mildly. If it weren’t for Bai Yu, any other poor soul would have had their time drastically slashed to two hours. Exceed that limit, and they could easily get lost, plus attract the unwanted attention of that deity, only to be set upon by the beasts lurking in the Ghost Gate world.
“Got it.” Bai Yu leaned against the window, taking in the scenery. This timing was just as she had predicted; five hours was also her self-imposed limit.
Five hours later, whether she found the Dark Moon God or not, she needed to be back.
At precisely 7 AM, they arrived at a vacant courtyard.
The large gate was slightly ajar, and it was clear that villagers had wandered by over the last few days.
“Isn’t having a Ghost Gate here going to mess with the villagers’ lives?” Zhao Mingyue pushed the gate open, revealing that the Ghost Gate was staring right back at them. All one had to do was step through the door to see it.
“Looks like no ghosties are home.”
Taking a cautious sniff, Zhou inspected the area and was relieved to find no trace of any Evil Ghosts’ grudge, causing Zhao Mingyue to breathe a sigh of relief.
“It’s not exactly ideal for a Ghost Gate to be chilling here; should we call a Gatekeeper? Otherwise, we’ll have a serious problem on our hands if it starts affecting the locals.”
Ghost Gates had a knack for attracting Red-clothed Evil Ghosts, akin to a ticking time bomb that could explode any day, and the villagers would be the ones facing the fallout.
Bai Yu stepped over, placing a hand on Zhao Mingyue’s shoulder. “Leave it to Spider.”
“Spider’s a solid choice; it’s not too far from here,” Zhao Mingyue replied, glancing back at Bai Yu, who this time wasn’t decked out in her usual flamboyant attire but wore a simple gray tracksuit instead.
Considering the danger of this mission, she figured it was best not to let Bai Yu prance around in anything flashy—ordinary was more suited for this occasion.
“Please, just be safe in there.”
“Little vinegar pot has a point; you should take her advice seriously. My ramblings don’t carry much weight, but when the little vinegar pot speaks, you’d better listen, or you’ll break her heart.” The Dragon Lady emerged from the shadows, noticing the group as she slid down from the roof where she had been lounging.
“Seriously, Bai Yu, you’re in a rush to jump in there? Aren’t you worried something’s gonna go sideways? Looking at your carefree attitude, it screams ‘I’m only here for the thrill! As long as there’s a reward, I’ll take my chances—even if it’s a measly 30% success rate!’”
“However, you should at least think about those around you.”
The Dragon Lady shot a glance at Zhao Mingyue, prompting an urgent nod from her. “Yup, yup, I get it!”
Instead of responding immediately, Bai Yu subtly signaled to Chen Yunshi it was time to get the party started.
Chen Yunshi nodded, positioning herself in the courtyard and pulling out various pots and vials from her box, using a mysterious liquid to draw out a formation on the ground. A stench filled the air, and just as they reached the Ghost Gate, it noticeably reacted with a surge of energy.
Today, the Thousand Eyes Godmother was unusually quiet—not a peep out of her. This was out of character. Not even a hint of her popping up; she merely clung to Bai Yu and Zhao Mingyue, ghosting them like an introvert at a party, leaving everyone to feel her lingering presence.
The trio stepped back a few paces to the gate.
“Mingyue.” Bai Yu suddenly spoke.
“Huh?”
“I’ll be back in five hours, no matter what. During this time, you can leave your safety in the hands of the Dragon Lady. If I’m not out by the five-hour mark, you and the Dragon Lady head home and wait for me.”
It sounded almost like she was penning a will. Zha Mingyue was hearing Bai Yu say this for the first time.
“If you don’t return, where are we supposed to hide?” The Dragon Lady shrugged. “Please, no will-writing. Don’t put me in charge of Little Vinegar Pot; I can’t handle that responsibility!”
“No, not a will; I’m confident I can make it out. But there’s a chance that other… things might show up. So, staying here could be dangerous, especially for Mingyue.”
“If you don’t want to leave, then just keep your distance from the Ghost Gate. Spider’s nearby, or you can find somewhere else. Just don’t stick around here.”
Realizing her wording was off, Bai Yu clarified, which put Zhao Mingyue slightly at ease. For a split second, Zhao Mingyue feared Bai Yu might not come back—if she was this uncertain, it surely reeked of danger!
In the courtyard, Chen Yunshi quickly completed her formation—hers was basic practice as a necromancer and summoner. Standing in the center of the black rune formation, she held a bone from an unknown creature, muttering words that nobody could comprehend.
As her words quickened in pace, the atmosphere shifted noticeably, like an immense eye was peering down from the sky, scrutinizing everything taking place in the courtyard.
A fierce wind kicked up, releasing a bizarre aura from the formation.
This vibe was hard to pin down as either blazing light or pitch-black darkness; it felt like a swirling cocktail of countless essences. Yet amidst this eerie energy, there was a strange sense of sanctity.
Unlike the typical Evil God presence that wore a thin guise of holiness— easily discernible as a parody of purity—this was different. This aura emanated from the inside out, making one feel insignificantly small the more they tried to grasp it.
What Chen Yunshi chanted was a summons for the true name of the Dark Moon God. This sudden influx of energy was a direct gift from the Dark Moon God itself. Technically, the deity’s consciousness wasn’t even present; the mere invocation of its true name was sufficient for this powerful effect.
Of course, being right next to the Ghost Gate also played a role. If they weren’t performing the ritual here, they wouldn’t have felt this energy at all.
The Dark Moon God’s presence swept in swiftly, then retreated just as fast, leaving no trace of its existence. Just then, Chen Yunshi purposely disturbed the formation by rubbing her foot against it, interrupting the ritual. The bone in her hand shattered into dust, dissipating into the air.
Chen Yunshi’s face paled, her voice tinged with fatigue. “That guy inside is currently in a deep slumber. Unless provoked, he won’t wake up.”
Packing up her boxes, she took a few strides to Bai Yu and said, “What I owe you, I’ll pay back gradually, but with everything going on lately, this is all I can do for you now.”
Their eyes met, and no words needed to be said; they understood each other completely.
It wasn’t about an unspoken bond but simply piecing together what had occurred recently.
Chen Yunshi had changed; she wasn’t her former self anymore. With the Ghost Gate and Nightmare issues hanging over her head, she chose to bow out. Even if that meant losing out on many opportunities and slowly drifting away from the others’ strength, her priority was preserving her current life.
To put it plainly, in Chen Yunshi’s eyes, the significance of her life with the Thousand Eyes Godmother far outweighed the desire for power.
“Thanks.” Bai Yu said.
“Wish you success.” Chen Yunshi offered that parting blessing and walked away, holding her box.
Bai Yu didn’t have much more to say as she headed towards the Ghost Gate. Behind her, Zhao Mingyue wanted to say something, but the Dragon Lady held her back with a gentle shake of her head, leaving them both watching Bai Yu step through the Ghost Gate, her figure fading from view.
“This world is simply full of wonders,” the Dragon Lady mused, releasing Zhao Mingyue’s hand.
Ranking first, Bai Yu; third, herself; and then that seventh strange necromancer, not to mention a certain someone called Spider—all of them had undergone earth-shattering transformations in this little bubble of time, changes they never dared to dream about before.
“Stop gawking. Sit down, and let’s talk.”
The Dragon Lady trotted into the house, dragging two chairs outside and dusting them off.
“She can’t possibly d*e; just wait for her good news.”
