Ch 191: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

The entire family was tied up by the Hanging Ghost and hung at the entrance of their residence. Of course, Shen Yunxuan had cast an illusion at the gate—no matter how many people came and went, they wouldn’t be able to see or touch them. Only after half a day, when the illusion faded, would they be discovered.

Among them, the villain had been stripped completely naked by the Hanging Ghost, his limbs all broken, and he was left hanging in the middle of his family.

The Hanging Ghost clapped her hands and stood before the gate, admiring her masterpiece with great satisfaction. Her dangling tongue moved up and down with her motions. The villain’s entire family looked at her with both terror and hatred.

The villain roared, “When I become a ghost, I will never let you go! I will devour you piece by piece!”

The Hanging Ghost mimicked Shen Yunxuan’s tone and said, “Let’s see if you can find me first.”

She was going to the underworld tonight. A wicked soul like this villain, laden with sins, was certainly not destined for the same path of reincarnation as hers. She had nothing to fear.

She then revealed her most terrifying form once again, frightening them thoroughly before floating back to Shen Yunxuan. The lingering resentment around her had completely dissipated.

The Hanging Ghost hesitated and asked, “Master, may I go see my husband? I want to persuade him to move on and live his life well. I normally don’t dare visit him often, fearing that our paths—one of the living, one of the dead—would interfere with his fate. But I really worry about him.”

“Of course,” Shen Yunxuan agreed without hesitation.

The Hanging Ghost was pleasantly surprised. “Really?”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Why not? It’s just a conversation, not like you’re going to harm him.”

The Hanging Ghost’s expression turned fearful as she recalled something. “Other celestial masters don’t think like you. When I first died, I had a sister ghost with me. She wanted to visit her beloved one last time, but unfortunately, she ran into a Taoist master. That master immediately tried to exorcise her.”

She swallowed hard and continued, “She pleaded with him, saying she only wanted to see her beloved once. But the Taoist master said that ghosts had no business visiting the living and must have malicious intentions. When she tried to flee… he destroyed her completely.”

“Had Sister Wang not avenged herself today and told us that you were a kind person, I wouldn’t have dared to seek your help.”

Shen Yunxuan now understood—this world’s Taoist masters were at complete odds with ghosts, treating them as irredeemable enemies. That was why there were so many souls unable to seek justice, their grievances binding them to this world instead of allowing them to enter the underworld.

It was a fortunate opportunity for her.

Shen Yunxuan assured her, “Just one meeting won’t cause harm. It’s only prolonged presence that affects the living. Let’s go, I’ll accompany you.”

“Thank you, Master!” The Hanging Ghost eagerly rushed toward her home.

Her husband sat in their home, absentmindedly holding the hairpin she used to love, his face filled with boundless sorrow. For the first time, the Hanging Ghost concealed her terrifying appearance, controlling her form to transform into the most beautiful version of herself from when she was alive. She slowly approached and softly called, “Husband…”

The man stiffened, slowly lifting his head. The moment he saw her, his eyes turned red with tears. “Wife, you’ve appeared in my dream again.”

He didn’t move, treating what he saw as merely an illusion, murmuring, “It’s my fault. I couldn’t avenge you. Wait for me… once I have fulfilled my duty to my parents and seen them pass peacefully, I will go and kill him to avenge you. Just wait for me…”

The Hanging Ghost’s heart ached as she stepped closer. Considering her ghostly presence carried a chill, she dared not touch him and choked out, “Husband, this isn’t a dream—it’s me, I’ve returned. I came back to see you.”

Perhaps because she had never responded in his dreams before, the man was momentarily stunned. Then, he abruptly grabbed her wrist, realizing that though her skin was ice-cold, he could truly feel her. She was real.

The man was instantly overwhelmed with emotion. He stood up and pulled her into his arms.

“Wife? It’s really you? You came back to see me? This is wonderful! I’ve finally waited long enough! Wife, I searched everywhere for you, but I couldn’t find your body.”

“That scum… where did he throw you? I’m sorry, wife. It’s my fault. I failed to protect you. It should have been me who died instead. Wife…” Tears streamed down his face as he rambled incoherently, overwhelmed with grief.

Even though he had finally seen her again, he knew the cruel reality—she was dead. They were separated forever, one in life, the other in death. They could never be together again.

They had grown up as childhood sweethearts. How could he bear to let her cross the Bridge of Forgetfulness alone?

The Hanging Ghost wept as well. But knowing that ghosts shed tears of blood, she hurriedly wiped them away, fearing she might frighten him.

She understood his feelings, which was precisely why she had to come—she needed to persuade him to move on. Otherwise, he would become nothing but an empty shell, and she couldn’t bear to see that happen.

She put on a gentle smile, wiped away his tears, and comforted him, “Husband, I died unjustly, but once I passed, I no longer felt pain. See? I’m doing well now. And I was fortunate enough to receive help from a noble person. Today, I finally avenged myself.”

“Look at me—there isn’t a trace of resentment left in my soul anymore. That’s because my grievance has been resolved. You should be happy for me.”

The man anxiously looked her over. “You took revenge yourself? How did you do it? Were you hurt?”

The Hanging Ghost quickly shook her head. “I’m fine, not a scratch. The noble person helped me. That scum and his entire family were completely powerless against me.”

She smiled and recounted how she had dealt with the villain, holding her husband’s hand as she continued, “So, you see, I’ve already vented my anger and gotten my revenge. Once the illusion fades, you’ll see them hanging at their gates, being mocked by everyone who passes by.”

The man was astonished; he had never imagined that something like this was possible. A Taoist helping a ghost seek revenge? Would a Taoist really assist a ghost?

Frowning in doubt, he said, “I have begged several Taoists to help me find your soul, but they all refused, telling me that humans and ghosts walk separate paths and urging me not to be obsessed. Seeing their attitudes, I dared not insist—if they truly found you, they would probably exorcise you, and that would only harm you.

“You say a Taoist helped you take revenge. Why would she help you?”

His expression changed dramatically. “Did she demand your soul in sacrifice?”

The Hanging Ghost found this amusing. “Do I look that foolish? No, Master is a truly kind person. She is also a woman, perhaps that’s why she sympathizes with the suffering of women and is willing to help us. Of course, there was an exchange—I was thrown into a mass grave after my death and was lucky enough to find a magical robe there. Master is collecting such items, so I traded the robe for this chance.”

Hearing that it was a transaction reassured the man. He said, “If she is a benefactor, I should meet her and express my gratitude. Master is our savior—I should offer her all the wealth in my home as thanks…”

The Hanging Ghost led him to the courtyard, where he finally noticed several people and ghosts who had just revealed themselves. Without hesitation, he knelt before Shen Yunxuan. “Master, I am deeply grateful for your immense kindness…”

Shen Yunxuan helped him up with a smile. “You should know that this was a fair trade. There’s no need to carry it as a lifelong debt. This was your own fate, which is why you have today’s outcome.

Since there is nothing left to handle here, I must leave to attend to other matters. Take this time to talk—before nightfall, I will send all the ghosts to the underworld for reincarnation.”

She addressed them both, “The separation of humans and ghosts is cruel, but what’s done is done, and you must accept reality. This world is not as safe as you think—if you remain too long and one day a Taoist or a malevolent spirit targets you, you will have no power to resist and will meet a terrible fate. It’s better to embrace reincarnation while you can.

I observed the red thread between you two—it is tightly bound. You are fated to be together. Be at ease, you will meet again.”

Both the man and the Hanging Ghost froze for a moment before exchanging glances, and then their expressions lit up with joy.

For the first time, the man truly felt that his wife was at peace. Though she had become a ghost and could not return to life, at least she was no longer in pain, and that eased the sorrow in his heart.

The Hanging Ghost smiled at him. “Master is incredibly powerful. If she says we are fated to be together, then we will definitely meet again. Husband, we must move forward now.”

The Hanging Ghost handed the magical robe to Shen Yunxuan. Leaving them to their time together, Shen Yunxuan then led the Mother Ghost to the cemetery to retrieve the artifacts.

As Shen Yunxuan and her team walked toward the cemetery, Dong Yue sighed, “We’ve met so many people today, and that was the only couple who were truly in love.”

Gao Lang also sighed. “After dealing with so many scumbags, I was beginning to wonder if all men in this world were the same—heartless and vile.”

Shen Yunxuan chuckled. “Good and evil exist among all people, regardless of gender or age. The stronger your abilities, the more you must avoid preconceived judgments—otherwise, a single miscalculation can bring disaster upon someone undeserving. Every time you encounter a situation, you must carefully investigate and deliberate before acting.”

Dong Yue and the others responded in unison, “Yes, Captain Shen!”

Qin Wenshu floated beside them, rising and falling curiously as she asked, “Why do they call you ‘Captain Shen’? What kind of title is that? I’ve never heard it before.”

Madam Li squinted in suspicion. “Master, you wouldn’t happen to be from another country, would you? You seem… quite different from us.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled at them. “Forgive me, but I cannot reveal my origins. However, since I bear no ill will, does it really matter? This is simply a fleeting encounter for one day.”

Qin Wenshu seemed reluctant at that thought. “Master, are you really leaving after today? Can’t you stay a little longer?”

Shen Yunxuan shook her head. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have urgent matters to attend to.”

“Then… you’ll return when you have time, right?” Qin Wenshu’s voice lowered, sounding disappointed. “But we will be going to the underworld for reincarnation tonight. Even if you stayed a few more days or returned in the future, I wouldn’t be able to see you again. Sigh…”

“The cycle of life and death moves according to fate. Separation is only a preparation for a better reunion—there’s no need to be too sad. In the vast sea of people, the fact that we could meet at all is already a rare fate,” Shen Yunxuan said with an open heart, her perspective sharpened by her second life. If someone was still alive, she would do everything in her power to save them. But if they had already become ghosts and their reincarnation was at hand, she believed in parting peacefully—clinging too tightly would only cause suffering.

Just like the Hanging Ghost and her husband—after saying a proper farewell today, they would have a chance to meet again in the future. If they clung too desperately to what was lost, insisting on a love between the living and the dead, it would only lead to a tragic ending. The choice was theirs to make. Sometimes, letting go and moving forward was a form of release, a way to bestow blessings upon both parties.

Shen Yunxuan and her team arrived at the cemetery. Before they even started digging for treasure, they saw a fierce ghost grabbing a smaller ghost, about to devour it.

It was the first time Qin Wenshu and the others had witnessed a malicious spirit consuming another ghost. They froze in shock, their eyes wide with horror. Shen Yunxuan quickly shot out a burst of spiritual energy to block the fierce ghost.

The ghost turned around and sneered at her. “You want to die?”

This fierce ghost was quite powerful. Upon seeing that Shen Yunxuan was a Taoist master, he didn’t try to flee or evade but instead abandoned the little ghost and charged straight at her. Qin Wenshu and the other ghosts were terrified, but they still instinctively moved in front of Shen Yunxuan to block the fierce ghost. Gao Lang and his team immediately surrounded her.

“Captain Shen, retreat first!”

Shen Yunxuan felt warmth in her heart. She used her spiritual power to fly into the air and threw a handful of spirit talismans at the fierce ghost, saying, “Don’t worry, I can handle him. You all, stay back.”

The fierce ghost barely dodged the spirit talismans and, upon hearing her words, flew into a rage. “You dare look down on me? You deserve to die!”

He unleashed his full power, raising both hands, causing the surroundings to darken as sand and stones flew wildly through the air. Madam Li noticed the little ghost standing dumbfounded, seemingly unaware of what was happening, so she quickly pulled it aside while anxiously looking at Shen Yunxuan.

Shen Yunxuan drew out her Peach Wood Sword, pointed it at the fierce ghost, and engaged in battle, blocking all his attacks. Then, in a sudden move, she threw the string of prayer beads she had taken from Wang Shi’s house.

The prayer beads indeed had the power to harm ghosts. They had once prevented Wang Shi from materializing, and now, upon striking the fierce ghost, he let out a miserable scream and was sent flying. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Yunxuan hurled a stack of Thunder Explosion Talismans.

A series of deafening explosions erupted, mixed with the fierce ghost’s agonized screams. When the dust settled, the ghost re-emerged, but his black robes had turned into fiery red. His face was now distorted and grotesque, his hair and nails had grown wildly, and with a furious snarl, he dived straight at Shen Yunxuan.

Gao Lang and his team went pale, their hearts pounding. They hated that their state-of-the-art weapons were useless against this ghost. Holding onto their Thunder Explosion Talismans, they feared disrupting Shen Yunxuan’s rhythm and making things worse, leaving them unsure of what to do.

Shen Yunxuan remained composed, gazing directly at the oncoming fierce ghost. She traced talismanic symbols midair and struck them onto her Money Sword. Then, she ran her fingertip along the blade, and a streak of blood merged into the sword and disappeared.

The Peach Wood Sword suddenly vibrated with a resonant hum as if it had come to life. It flew from her hands and shot toward the fierce ghost.

Sensing the danger, the fierce ghost desperately tried to block the attack, but the Peach Wood Sword relentlessly struck from different angles, ceaselessly aiming for his weak spots.

Shen Yunxuan crossed her legs midair and began to spin slowly in place. Closing her eyes, she started chanting. As the battle between the Peach Wood Sword and the fierce ghost reached its peak, she suddenly opened her eyes, brought her fingers together, and pointed at the Peach Wood Sword.

Everyone watched as a faint glow shot from her fingertips and infused into the Peach Wood Sword. The sword’s power surged instantly, shattering the fierce ghost’s defensive aura and piercing straight through his forehead.

At that very moment, Shen Yunxuan flew forward, grasped the hilt of the Peach Wood Sword, and drove it completely through the ghost’s head.

The fierce ghost disintegrated into ashes.

Shen Yunxuan gracefully landed and retrieved her sword. Dong Yue and Gao Lang immediately rushed over in concern.

“Captain Shen, are you okay?”

Shen Yunxuan smiled. “I’m fine, just a bit tired. This was my first battle with a fierce ghost—I wasn’t very skilled. I should do better next time.”

The others didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. If this was her being ‘unskilled,’ how terrifying would she be when she mastered it?

Seeing that she was unharmed, Qin Wenshu and the other ghosts finally relaxed. Qin Wenshu then noticed a small pouch that had fallen where the fierce ghost had disappeared. Curious, she picked it up.

“What’s this?”

The Mother Ghost, carrying her child, floated over to take a look. Suddenly, she became extremely excited. “It’s a Qiankun Pouch! Though it’s a small one, it’s really a Qiankun Pouch! Those two old ghosts had them—I’ve seen them before! Master, this is a treasure!”

Shen Yunxuan’s eyes lit up instantly!

A Qiankun Pouch? Last time, she had spent a fortune just to enhance her intelligence. If this pouch was usable, wouldn’t that solve all her storage problems?!

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆