Chapter 115: For World Peace

"How much further? It doesn't look that far!" Wen Jingge was about to turn back to look at her bridal sedan, but Wen Xueshan blocked her.

"Ancestor, there is no turning back on the Festival of Ten Thousand Ghosts."

"Then how do you return every year?"

Wen Xueshan’s face darkened, and he didn't know how to respond.

"Oh, I see. You walk back backwards."

Wen Xueshan: ...

Aside from Wen Xueshan, the rest of the Wen clan members rarely spoke. Most of the time, Wen Jingge could only hear the chirping of insects and birds in this city, without a single sound from a human.

At first, Wen Jingge wondered if many of these people were mutes, and if she should try to accommodate their fragile, wounded hearts, and so on...

Later, she discovered that they preferred using sign language over speaking, as if they were afraid of disturbing someone.

"Have my disciples followed?"

"The First Ancestor intended to follow, but was called back by the Second Ancestor."

"Oh! They are very polite, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"You are very polite, too," Wen Jingge muttered, sounding as if she were praising him. "You invited me here step by step; I am quite pleased."

"Being able to make the Ancestor happy is the blessing of a junior."

She clicked her tongue; this man certainly knew how to talk.

If he weren't currently plotting against her, she would have insisted on bringing him back to the Xuanyun Sect. It was a pity; such a well-behaved and sensible child was about to be lost.

"Is that true?"

"Yes," Wen Xueshan nodded.

For some reason, he felt that Wen Jingge’s state of mind was off; no, rather, her state had been wrong since she returned this time.

But their last meeting had been a millennium ago. The Ancestor had been sharp-tongued back then, and she still carried traces of that demeanor now. So much time had passed that even he couldn't clearly recall what the Wen Jingge of the past was truly like.

Yet, a man’s intuition is often quite accurate.

"If I let you die right now, would you consider it a blessing?"

Wen Xueshan hesitated, his spine curving as if he had suddenly aged. "If the Ancestor wishes it, the junior naturally would not dare to be disrespectful."

"So you wouldn't dare to be disrespectful, rather than wanting to die for me from the bottom of your heart?"

Wen Jingge curled her lip. This was a bit of moral coercion; Wen Xueshan was no match for Wen Jingge in a verbal sparring match.

"The junior naturally respects the Ancestor."

"And that Demon Saint Son?"

"He has been detained."

"I want to see him now."

Wen Xueshan pointed upward. "The cage is in the sky; he cannot escape, so please rest assured, Ancestor."

"It's the Festival of Ten Thousand Ghosts! Demons and ghosts go hand in hand; he is somewhat related. I was just about to light the torch by that tree, wasn't I? The ones made of wood aren't sturdy; they break after a bit of wind and rain. I think he would be perfect as the pole for that torch."

"Will the Ancestor be happy?"

"Yes."

"Then the junior will have it done."

And so, Wen Jingge watched the man beside her step off the red carpet and dash toward the ancient ginkgo tree. Like monkeys, they scrambled up and down and bound someone.

It was none other than the Demon Saint Son, who had escaped disaster earlier.

At this moment, he looked at Wen Jingge, dressed in her luxurious robes, and stammered, "You—are you making a mistake? Why does she get to dress so well while I have to eat prison food?"

"Want to trade?"

"Yes."

"I'll ask you again later." Wen Jingge narrowed her eyes, smiling brightly.

"Does the Ancestor have a grudge against him?"

"He is different from you all. If his limbs are cut off, they can regenerate. The Demon race grew from those filthy impurities in the first place. If he loses his limbs, he can just attach someone else’s!"

[Ding-dong!]

Wen Jingge frowned.

How long had it been?

Could "Non-Existent" actually perform intermittent resurrections? She hadn't even settled the score for the last time it tricked her!

"What is it?"

[I was observing the celestial phenomena!]

"Get to the point!"

[It seems you really are going to die this time.]

"And what if I don't?"

[Should I summon a few more bolts of lightning to liven things up? What if you die of happiness?]

"..." Wen Jingge was speechless. "Non-Existent" was becoming increasingly sharp-tongued, no longer putting on airs as it used to, and had become quite casual. She didn't even know where it learned to be so snide.

"How is this any different from dancing on my grave after I die?"

[Dancing before death is a celebration; dancing after death is a summons for the soul.]

"So you're here to celebrate?"

[You have arrived early at your destined place of death. I’m just here to see if you will actually die. If you do, I’m the type who can’t bring you back to life!]

"Have you ever saved me? Wasn't it your meddling every time I was struck by lightning?"

[I’m logging off. You had better stay alive!]

"Why do I suddenly feel like I don't want to live anymore?"

[I’ll give you Lu Wei’s body!]

"Deal! Deliver the goods first!"

[You, you, you!] "Non-Existent" realized it had only invited abuse upon itself, yet it had no choice but to concede. [The Imperial Mausoleum of the Ancient Kingdom of Qianyan.]

"Ancient Kingdom?"

[The place where the first kingdom was built.]

"..."

[Promise me, stay alive.]

"Got it, you sound like an old nag."

Although she complained, she was secretly delighted. However, Wen Xueshan misunderstood, thinking he hadn't done a good enough job, and knelt down again. "Does the Ancestor feel dissatisfied with him being made into a pole?"

"Wen Jingge! Immortal Master Wen! I thank you!" the Demon Saint Son roared while crying. "Thank you for always, always hating me! Loathing me! Why did you even let me be born?"

"For world peace! For the health of the universe! For the happiness of all mankind!"

The Demon Saint Son: ...

Wen Xueshan shed tears of emotion. The moment the flame was lit, the Demon Saint Son fainted from the pain, and Wen Jingge held his two severed arms.

With a click, as if playing with a Barbie doll, she reattached his severed hands.

The cracks slowly vanished, remaining as smooth as before. The only difference from before was that his attire had changed from a long robe to a long vest.

The Demon Saint Son opened his eyes, looking at Wen Jingge with terror. "Don't, don't! It really hurts! You used to love dismantling my arms for fun."

The corner of Wen Jingge’s mouth twitched. She pointed at the monk above. If one didn't get close, they wouldn't notice the monk was wearing a grass skirt, having long since merged with the ancient tree. "Go save them."

The Saint Son froze, only then noticing that the group who had captured him were frozen like puppets. Their eyes were eerie, all fixed on Wen Jingge as if they wanted to tear her limb from limb.

"This!"

"Go!" Wen Jingge gave him a shove. "Once you're done, get away from this tree!"

Under the tree, chaos erupted.

These people shed their black robes, revealing beast-like forms. Even Wen Xueshan, the one who looked most like a human, had a tail trailing behind him once he removed his robe.

"The Festival of Ten Thousand Ghosts—is it a ritual where you play the ghosts and I, the Ancestor, serve as the sacrifice?"

"Yes, the rules were set by you." Wen Xueshan’s eyes still held a glimmer of human desire. "This scenario was also a trap laid for us by a human Xuan Master."

"Before I die, may I know their names?"

"The Monk Under the Moon."