After Ye Wangxing finished speaking, the blush on the Ghost Emperor’s face immediately disappeared. His expression changed, and he spoke with some disdain: “I simply did not expect that when I gave you a chance to please me, you would take it further. How can a human be so bold, so shameless?”

His words matched his disdainful expression perfectly, but Ye Wangxing looked expressionless at the handsome man with a high nose and deep-set eyes beside him.

“Then can you let go of the hand on my shoulder? I am afraid my shamelessness will pollute your eyes.”

Vice President Ding, watching the Ghost Emperor hug Ye Wangxing while talking about shamelessness…

—She truly felt relieved that she had moved the microphone away just now.

Otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how awkward it would have been if the audience had heard those words.

However, the Ghost Emperor did not control his volume, so people sitting in the first row still heard him.

From Vice President Ding’s perspective, just counting those who wanted to rush up, there were three.

Li Guan, Ye Wangxing’s master, needed no mention—since the start, he had looked at the Ghost Emperor Xie Jiu on stage with a ferocious expression, like he was staring at a brat.

Although Lu Shi didn’t form hand seals, the talismans he held showed he intended to charge forward.

Yet, because of what Ye Wangxing had said earlier, he did not dare move forward.

Even the little boy saved by Ye Wangxing nervously gripped the small peachwood sword in his sleeve.

Fortunately, the Ghost Emperor did not act up afterward, letting Vice President Ding relax temporarily, so he didn’t have to worry about Ye Wangxing and restraining the others.

However, after the meeting ended and everyone else left, the trouble started again.

First, Lu Shi—he looked at Ye Wangxing, who appeared calm but sorrowful. This time, Ye Wangxing, for some reason, ignored him and pretended not to notice, turning his head away.

‘Is he trying to protect his friend…?’

Vice President Ding thought. If that was Ye Wangxing’s plan, he was wrong.

—Because even as he turned away, someone else immediately clung to Ye Wangxing’s arm.

Yu Yi rushed over. Though half a head shorter than Ye Wangxing, he appeared delicate and dependent.

He looked up, wearing a “I am so fragile” expression, and asked anxiously: “Brother Ye, are you alright? Is everything completely resolved now? You’re not in danger anymore, right?”

Ye Wangxing looked at Yu Yi and spoke more gently: “Ah, I suppose it’s resolved.”

Yu Yi clearly relaxed and smiled at Ye Wangxing: “That’s wonderful! The earlier situation scared me so much. Brother Ye, someone as good as you absolutely cannot be in danger.”

Ye Wangxing felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head, speaking quietly: “I’m not that good of a person…”

Just then, he saw the little boy puffing up in anger to retort, so he quickly changed the topic: “Right, while Vice President Ding is here, let’s register your identity. That way, your family can be located through the police system.”

“When I rescued you before, I said I would help find your family. Now it’s time to fulfill that promise!”

The handsome young man smiled proudly, looking reliable as he patted the boy’s head.

Gradually, a blush appeared on the boy’s face, and his gaze was completely fixed on Ye Wangxing.

Vice President Ding looked at the little boy’s infatuated expression and sighed silently.

Alas, the most dangerous form of attraction is invisible…

Still, Vice President Ding helped out. Compared with the Ghost Emperor, who could erupt at any moment, and the odd Lu Shi beside Ye Wangxing, this little boy, though capable of self-protection, was still reasonably normal. Helping him counted as doing good deeds.

After Vice President Ding finished registering the information and arranging accommodations for them, he headed to the office.

However…

Ye Wangxing’s psychological state needed attention. Today’s events had truly jeopardized the boy’s future.

Especially for a prodigy with such a bright future, being forced to be bound to the Ghost Emperor—unlike the Zhou family’s people—if Ye Wangxing fully accepted it, that would have been surprising.

Vice President Ding thought of this and called Li Guan. After a long wait, his distant voice came through the phone: “…You want me to provide psychological guidance to my disciple so he can accept this reality?”

Li Guan’s voice sounded incredulous from the other end.

“No, Vice President Ding, I still haven’t accepted it myself. My perfect prodigy, my so-perfect disciple, has been bound to the Ghost Emperor. He even did it in front of me, his master—I feel so wronged!”

Li Guan’s voice over the phone sounded extremely aggrieved.

“You feel wronged, I feel wronged, the entire Association feels wronged. But Li Guan, you must know your disciple feels even more wronged. He bears everything. He is only 22, still young. If he becomes obsessed…”

Vice President Ding knew Li Guan’s weak spot well. A few words were enough to handle him. She also told him about the task to give to Ye Wangxing so Li Guan could explain it to him.

At this moment, it was obvious that any task placed in Ye Wangxing’s hands was going to be problematic.

In the end, Li Guan reluctantly accepted. After all, Vice President Ding had also made a promise that even if the task failed—or even if it did not progress at all—it would not negatively affect Ye Wangxing’s record.

This meant that this time, Ye Wangxing could just stroll around the entrance and come back, yet still receive the task payment.

Vice President Ding finally relaxed, returned the phone to its place, and walked to the window of his office.

There had been far too many things today, so complicated that she could barely keep up. The aftermath of the Ghost Emperor incident still needed handling, and the Association’s workload had started to surge. It was almost May and June, and all sorts of matters had to be arranged…

Thinking about the tasks ahead, Vice President Ding felt like giving up, but in the end, he closed his eyes and sighed.

Alas, this position was not something she could quit at will, the old-timers would never let her go.

However, just as Vice President Ding opened his eyes to return to his desk, he noticed a person suddenly appear in the small garden below.

Wasn’t that Lu Shi, the one by Ye Wangxing’s side? What was he doing standing there?

Vice President Ding wondered, but he realized Lu Shi’s expression was completely different from how he looked in front of Ye Wangxing.

—With his eyes, which had always been refined by spiritual energy and ensured vision of 2.0 or even 3.0, Vice President Ding swore he was not mistaken.

If Lu Shi’s expression in front of Ye Wangxing had been a pitiful, big cat ready to throw a tantrum at any moment, now it looked like a feline predator who had just discovered prey.

Moreover, he was speaking through earphones to someone on the phone. Vice President Ding narrowed his eyes and quickly instructed the network department to pull up the signal tower backend.

This had been the only project in which the Association’s old-timers had agreed to cooperate with the authorities.

The signal tower contained several protective arrays, designed to monitor who used the Association’s signal towers. The arrays perfectly enclosed the entire Association to ensure safety.

But…

Lu Shi’s location did not show as connected to the signal tower.

This indicated that either Lu Shi was no longer making a call, or he was not using the Association’s signal tower.

—Was he using a satellite phone to contact someone?

Vice President Ding furrowed her brows deeply, forcing herself to suppress the urge to seize Lu Shi.

The more urgent the situation, the less they could alert him. They had to determine why Lu Shi was with Ye Wangxing and whether he posed a threat to the Association.

Coincidentally, Li Guan was also asking Ye Wangxing about Lu Shi.

The little, earth-pine-like boy immediately jumped from his seat, crying in protest to his master: “—Master, Lu Shi and I are purely like father and son! Heaven knows why he suddenly jumped in at that moment talking about a childhood engagement!”

When Ye Wangxing jumped up, Li Guan instinctively pressed him back into his seat and put a finger to his lips, shushing him.

“You finally calmed him down, and you really want him to come in and confront you?”

Li Guan said quietly.

Ye Wangxing immediately slumped back into his seat.

Li Guan sighed as she watched.

Earlier, he had wanted to speak with Ye Wangxing, but the Ghost Emperor, completely unconcerned about appearances, had floated over like an ordinary female ghost.

Fortunately, after being shouted at by Ye Wangxing, he stayed obediently outside the door.

Watching the whole scene, Li Guan thought…

Although the Ghost Emperor’s semi-smiling expression and black aura seemed imposing—just a glance could make Li Guan break into a cold sweat—she felt that his presence was somehow suppressed by her disciple.

“Master, I really didn’t toy with anyone’s feelings…”

Ye Wangxing’s words brought Li Guan back to his senses. Hearing his disciple speak reassured him.

It really had been a one-sided assumption by others. As for his disciple…

Regardless of any issues about orientation, his disciple had not understood or acted on anything, so no matter how much effort others exerted, it was entirely wasted.

As long as his disciple did not toy with anyone’s feelings, handling these relationships would be much easier.

Thinking this, Li Guan relaxed considerably. He patted Ye Wangxing’s shoulder reassuringly: “Good disciple. I know you are not that kind of person. I just wanted to confirm—you really have no such relationship with them.”

Ye Wangxing replied aggrievedly: “How could there be any relationship? Before today, Lu Shi was still straight. Who knew he would suddenly jump out talking about childhood engagements, first house, second house, third house? Those who knew he meant to save me would understand, but those who didn’t might think he was accusing me of bigamy.”

Li Guan patiently guided him, finally understanding the full situation from his little disciple’s perspective.

Regarding the Ghost Emperor, his disciple still did not know why he had suddenly signed the “Heart-Bond Oath,” nor why the Ghost Emperor had spoken as he did before.

However, he agreed with the speculation about past and present lives.

Yu Yi was even easier to explain. The boy had merely seen a friend of his benefactor attempt to use a childhood engagement to save the benefactor. In a moment of thoughtlessness, he had blurted out something about a third household.

“Yu Yi, that kid purely wanted to repay a favor. He didn’t really have any feelings toward me. Master, you shouldn’t treat him as an enemy to guard against.”

Ye Wangxing said seriously: “Also, don’t use any spells or techniques to monitor him. He’s just an ordinary person. Later, he will leave our world. Don’t scare the kid and give him a psychological shadow.”

Recalling Yu Yi’s behavior on the scene, Master Li Guan thought: “…”

Disciple, I really couldn’t agree with you on this.

Based on my many years of experience as an old hand, it always felt that kid wasn’t entirely a good one.

However, Master Li didn’t say it out loud, since his own disciple was upright and naturally liked to see the good in people.

—Anyway, even if that kid couldn’t find his family, Master Li thought that if he begged Vice President Ding for funds, he would make sure to get rid of that kid.

“As for Lu Shi…”

Ye Wangxing paused slightly when mentioning Lu Shi, turned his face away, and said: “We grew up together. How could I not know what he wanted? I could guess his next words the moment he opened his mouth.”

“How could I not know that his actions at that time were to save me?”

Looking at Ye Wangxing, Master Li still felt something was off, but let his disciple go.

After all, his disciple never lied. The talisman from just now hadn’t worked, which proved that his disciple spoke the truth and had no guilt.

This also relieved Master Li. After soothing his small disciple, who kept circling him in the room, he began to explain the task that would soon be assigned to him.

“…You want me to go to the old execution ground in Lihua District and deal with the fierce ghosts there?”

Ye Wangxing frowned as he looked at the location, surprised.

“I’m carrying Xie Jiu with me. Does the higher-ups really trust me to act with him?”

This was like carrying a nuclear warhead around.

No, a nuclear warhead could be bulletproof. Without a strict trigger, it wouldn’t explode. That was more like nitroglycerin—any tiny impact could set it off.

Hearing his disciple’s doubt, Master Li complained as well: “Isn’t that true? But you know how rigid the higher-ups’ ideas are—they’re like digging ideas out of coffins. Even at a time like this, they still want to test the Ghost Emperor.”

“Don’t overdo it. Just remember this: your task this time is basically slacking off. Admit weakness when needed. If the Ghost Emperor asks, just say this task is to test him…”

Master Li rambled on, worrying himself sick.

The boy in front of him listened carefully, nodding or shaking his head as appropriate, which made Master Li even more softened.

What a perfect disciple! Nowadays, there were more rebellious disciples, but a well-behaved, obedient, trouble-free disciple like him? Probably only him in the entire Religious Association.

—Too bad, he got noticed by the real Ghost.

Master Li felt uncomfortable thinking this.

He was about to leave the room when Ye Wangxing looked out the window and suddenly asked: “Master, do you think… someone could possess an ordinary person just to get secrets from the Religious Association?”

Ye Wangxing’s voice was unusually calm. Master Li sensed his disciple’s oddness but kept it to himself and said: “It’s possible. The Association really had such a case before. It was apparently done by a Zhou family member expelled from the family. Many ordinary people were harmed. The entire Association underwent major personnel changes, and dozens of tombstones were erected…”

Talking about that incident, Master Li’s voice sank. Then he rubbed his face and asked: “Disciple, why do you ask?”

“Nothing, Master, just curious. I’ve dealt with Zhou Tianning before, so I wanted to ask.”

Master Li clearly saw Ye Wangxing looking at someone outside the window, but he didn’t expose him. He silently added that person to the observation list.

That person… seemed to be the friend his little disciple had just rescued.

Who was he talking to?

“Boss, how long do you plan to accompany your Taoist Master childhood friend? This is almost like taking care of a girlfriend! We’ve been working ourselves to death. Next month is May-June, nationwide cases are rising. You’re taking a vacation now—do you plan to come back and collect our bodies, boss?”

Guo Sheng shouted into the phone like he was wailing.

The man on the other end laughed and said: “If you really think this work is tiring, I’ll get the report from last time and transfer you from the front line.”

“Boss, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have complained, Old Boss Lu.”

Guo Sheng immediately slid to his knees.

Fortunately, Lu Shi on the phone was joking. Then he said: “Alright, don’t wail. I’ll probably be back the day after tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Guo Sheng and his colleagues almost cheered, but Lu Shi immediately stopped them.

“Don’t celebrate yet. Being back the day after tomorrow doesn’t mean I start work then.”

Guo Sheng looked at the tall stack of tasks and trembled: “Old Boss Lu, what do you mean…”

“Tomorrow there will be a task at the old execution ground in Lihua District.”

Guo Sheng searched the computer and only found a solved task.

“Boss, there seems to be only a solved task there.”

“Yes, it’s solved, but who says we can’t stir things up?”

Lu Shi’s voice grew colder.

“Tomorrow Ye Wangxing will also go. The Religious Association has approved the task. The Ghost Emperor with him will go too. Remember to gather intelligence to prevent that Ghost Emperor from causing trouble.”

Guo Sheng immediately understood the importance and focused. They had received the news that Lu Shi’s childhood friend suddenly had a Ghost Emperor by his side.

Even without knowing details, a Ghost Emperor’s appearance was enough to raise alarms.

—And anything that made Lu Shi, the smiling tiger, lower his voice had to be serious.

“If I’m not mistaken, they won’t be the only ones there tomorrow. Prepare security well, the situation may not be as optimistic as we think.”

Lu Shi hung up. Guo Sheng immediately relayed the task and set up surveillance at the old execution ground.

The next day, Guo Sheng personally led the team.

Behind him were all kinds of experimental weapons they had been developing.

The soldiers from the authorities looked very serious, whether they could leverage this event to influence the Religious Association depended on them.

The authorities had long been suppressed by the Religious Association, and due to historical reasons, they owed the Association’s Taoist Masters.

Even though recent years had recognized their status, they still couldn’t fully trust the authorities.

Finally, a promising talent like Lu Shi appeared, so resources were allocated.

Unexpectedly, Lu Shi just returned home to visit family, and in a month, his childhood friend became a Taoist Master—and a disciple of the highly respected Master Li Guan.

His talent was astonishing. The authorities regretted missing someone like Ye Wangxing.

The internal departments also realized that Lu Shi had a gifted childhood friend whom the higher-ups coveted daily.

They were curious about him, especially since they viewed the Religious Association as remnants of feudal power.

While waiting in the car, Guo Sheng’s colleague yawned and asked: “By the way, something happened at the Religious Association yesterday. The entire Association was on lockdown. Minister Lu had to contact us via satellite phone. What exactly happened?”

Guo Sheng was also curious but hadn’t had time to ask, busy setting up the site after the call.

At that moment, Tian Li brought a stack of reports. Her expression was blank, scaring Guo Sheng.

“Wow, Aunt Tian, you’re still here? Weren’t you supposed to rest at home? You’re almost retiring. Why stay up with us night owls?”

Tian Li waved her hand: “I didn’t compete with you young ones. I went home at eight last night, slept, and came in this morning.”

“And early this morning, I received Minister Lu’s report about yesterday. My heart just got rebuilt, and now I got quite a scare.”

She handed the report to them while clutching her chest.

Guo Sheng and colleagues were puzzled at first. Reading the report, their overnight fatigue couldn’t handle it—they clutched their chests and slumped in their chairs.

After a moment’s rest and drinking some ginseng water from Tian Li, they exchanged glances, shocked by the report.

The Ghost Emperor had appeared and signed a Heart Covenant with a human—but why Ye Wangxing?

And why did Lu Shi use “pestered relentlessly” to describe the covenant?

—Why did he proudly write in the report that he blocked the Ghost Emperor from marrying Ye Wangxing through a childhood engagement?

And why did his childhood friend still listen obediently after being scolded?

Reading the report, Guo Sheng thought Lu Shi was joking.

But when they finally observed Ye Wangxing in person, they completely overturned their assumptions.

—Who was that strong, determined little white flower? The one who single-handedly defeated a whole company of ghosts yet obediently stood inside formation!

Even the Ghost Emperor, who had overloaded several of their sensors, couldn’t bear it!

The surveillance van was in shock.

Even the shadows at the old execution ground entrance seemed to shrink in surprise.

Zhou Tianning, standing at the gate with a group behind him, couldn’t believe it either.

He watched Ye Wangxing calming the ordinary person and slowly formed a question in his mind.

—Tang Fang, you bastard, didn’t you say this was supposed to be kept secret?

 

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