Zhou Tianning looked at Lu Shi, who was crying beside Ye Wangxing’s neck, and his mind went completely blank. He did not even notice when his Ghost Husband returned.

Lu Shi’s words had been very clear, and Zhou Tianning was not a fool—he naturally understood their meaning.

Lu Shi had been reborn.

He was not the only person in this world who had been reborn.

No—there was also a ghost.

Zhou Tianning slowly turned to look at the Ghost Emperor, whose eyes were already narrowed, and whose expression was dangerous. His previous self-hypnosis no longer worked.

—The Ghost Emperor, Xie Jiu, had also been reborn.

Zhou Tianning’s mind immediately became a chaotic mess. He urgently needed to replay what had just happened.

First, he had brought people to the old execution ground, planning to gain prestige and save the Zhou family in front of everyone. But Ye Wangxing had intercepted his plan at the gate.

When he finally shook off Ye Wangxing and entered the old execution ground, he found that things had gone wrong. The number of malevolent ghosts inside far exceeded his expectations.

Then…

A black, mud-like entity suddenly appeared and saved his life.

But that creature immediately disappeared, as if it had encountered a natural enemy. Then Ye Wangxing arrived.

After Ye Wangxing arrived, the black mud creature that had just saved him never appeared again. They had to rely entirely on the magical instruments and talismans that he and Ye Wangxing had brought.

The Ghost Emperor wanted to immediately eliminate all the ghosts there, but Ye Wangxing seemed to hold him back, never letting him act. The Ghost Emperor actually obeyed, and Zhou Tianning noticed that they kept looking into the shadows, though he had no idea what they were watching.

At that point, Zhou Tianning was already overwhelmed. He thought Ye Wangxing and the Ghost Emperor must be insane—not letting the Ghost Emperor act with such strength. Just as he was about to break out and shout, a figure climbed down from the wall, stopping him from speaking.

When Zhou Tianning saw that the person climbing down was Lu Shi, he was stunned.

Weren’t ordinary college students supposedly struggling just to run 800 meters? How had this one evolved so quickly right after graduating?

But what shocked Zhou Tianning even more came next.

The ordinary person, whom Zhou Tianning had previously despised, climbed down from the wall, pulled out a gun from his waist, and killed one malevolent ghost with each shot. Seeing the overwhelming number of ghosts, he somehow pulled out a heavy rifle.

A single shot eliminated all the ghosts in a straight line.

Zhou Tianning’s mind had only one thought: —Sir, the times have changed.

But before Zhou Tianning could figure out why Lu Shi had official-level psychic weapons, more ghosts filled the path again.

When Lu Shi reached Ye Wangxing’s side, they had already blocked the previous route.

Luckily, with sufficient firepower, the ghosts could not escape their fate of reincarnation.

When they found the Yin-gathering array, Lu Shi somehow pulled out a grenade.

At first, Zhou Tianning did not recognize it, thinking it was a lighter pulled from his pocket at a critical moment—until he saw him remove the pin.

By then, Lu Shi’s jacket was gone, revealing muscular arms with veins and a black sleeveless high-neck undershirt.

With a strong throw, the grenade traced an arc and landed on the array’s focal point, which continuously spawned malevolent ghosts.

This was the most difficult part of Zhou Tianning’s original plan, as they needed to use an anti-evil object to destroy the main node from outside the town.

But now…

Zhou Tianning could only watch helplessly as the grenade exploded and destroyed the focal point, undoing hours of planning.

He had prepared a two-hour plan, and Lu Shi solved it with a single grenade.

By the time Zhou Tianning came to his senses, Lu Shi had instinctively eliminated the ghosts, nearly sending Zhou Tianning’s Ghost Husband to reincarnation with a single talisman.

Pei Si: “…”(innocent.jpg)

Fortunately, he noticed in time and retrieved the talisman. Before he could compose himself to ask Lu Shi what had happened, he saw Ye Wangxing grab Lu Shi by the collar and start scolding him.

…And that led to the situation as it was now.

Zhou Tianning’s heart was full of panic. His reborn advantage had been broken, and he did not know what to do.

What if these two tried to take Ye Wangxing’s opportunities from him? What if they had heard of him in their previous lives and wanted to deal with the Zhou family?

Even if the Zhou family was just a small player in their eyes, what if they casually mentioned the Zhou family’s deeds in front of the Association?

As Zhou Tianning’s breathing became increasingly difficult while thinking about this, he felt Pei Si lightly pat his shoulder. He irritably looked up.

At this point, words or gestures of comfort were useless!

However…

Zhou Tianning stared blankly in Ye Wangxing’s direction, and the voice that had been blocked by anxiety just entered his mind.

The tall youth, without his glasses and with a scar across his nose, appeared far more aggressive.

He had transformed—from a dog into a wolf.

Then he faced Ye Wangxing with that current face and his now unmistakably muscular arms, holding Ye Wangxing by the shoulders—pathetically recounting their married life from their previous lives.

Yes, married life.

“…Actually, I wasn’t lying. The things I said about the first, second, and third houses were indeed jokes, but in our previous life, we really were together,”

Lu Shi looked pitifully at the extremely embarrassed Ye Wangxing and said: “Our married life was really wonderful. We traveled together, played games together, and the house even had a sunroom specially built for you that you always wanted.”

“—Until you died on a mission.”

Lu Shi paused there, not elaborating further, but the fleeting sadness on his face was unmistakably clear.

It made Ye Wangxing, who had clearly wanted to speak, swallow the words at his lips and stop his retreating steps.

However, Lu Shi shifted his tone, sliding the hands holding Ye Wangxing’s shoulders downward and holding the hands that tried to pull away.

“So, Wangxing,” Lu Shi said seriously, his deep eyes locking onto Ye Wangxing’s evasive gaze: “Shall we start over?”

Zhou Tianning, who watched the whole scene: “…”

His previous panic seemed like it had been for nothing.

Zhou Tianning felt that all the fear before had been self-inflicted—he let out a temporary sigh of relief.

The others at the scene stared at Lu Shi and Ye Wangxing, covering their mouths, afraid they would exclaim aloud.

“…My god, so the previous Minister Lu was originally a winner in life, naturally matched with Ye Wangxing, but one mission ruined everything. No wonder when Ye Wangxing was in danger, he just climbed over the wall to get here.”

Xiao Wu, holding a law enforcement recorder, whispered to her colleague.

They had already known Lu Shi’s identity while waiting outside and had initially been shocked, now only sympathy remained.

“Yeah, look at how broken Minister Lu is. I think he might even have PTSD. He needs a psychologist,”

Her colleague lamented.

This also explained why they did not envy the high subsidies of the heavenly messenger. Those people really risked their lives.

Xiao Wu and her colleague whispered, while Guo Sheng gradually came to his senses.

He had been the most shocked at first. After all, if their leader’s body had been taken over by malevolent ghosts, he would have been the first responsible person and hadn’t noticed anything wrong with their leader.

Guo Sheng immediately broke into a cold sweat, imagining himself writing a confession report, reading a self-criticism in front of the entire organization, being reassigned to do menial work at the Qingshui office, and other consequences.

Just as he grabbed his gun, planning to redeem himself, he heard his leader’s heartfelt declaration.

—and also learned that his leader had been reborn.

Guo Sheng: “…”Ah?

However, Ye Wangxing lack of reaction already proved that his leader was still the same person, just with a different core inside. That reassured Guo Sheng.

As long as the person was still the same, it wasn’t his fault he hadn’t noticed before—after all, even Lu’s biological mother hadn’t recognized him.

It was only his wife from the previous life who had noticed something was off, no wonder they had been a pair in their past life.

Guo Sheng thought this and put his gun back in his pocket. Just as he was about to relax, he noticed the Ghost Emperor floating beside their leader, eyes fixed sharply on Lu Shi.

‘No, the words have already been said clearly. They were a pair in their previous life. What is this ghost doing interfering now?’

Guo Sheng immediately assumed the role of a family member, glaring at the “intruder” trying to meddle in their leader’s marriage.

But before he could speak, the Ghost Emperor spoke softly: “Oh? You were married in your previous life?”

Lu Shi was not intimidated. He replied seriously: “Although we couldn’t register it, we were a couple in fact.”

Ye Wangxing expression became even more awkward, and Guo Sheng’s toes curled in embarrassment.

No wonder Ye Wangxing had collapsed before. His same-sex partner from the previous life was now clashing with a suitor from this life, even stating they had been a real couple.

The problem was that Ye Wangxing was still a relatively straight man. This love battlefield was really too much for him.

While Guo Sheng still felt sympathy for Ye Wangxing, he then heard the Ghost Emperor scoff and speak: “A real couple? At least make your lies believable.”

Before Lu Shi could retort, the Ghost Emperor said disdainfully: “I had never heard of you in my previous life, and besides…”

Before anyone could understand what he meant, the Ghost Emperor directly wrapped his arm around Ye Wangxing’s shoulders, pressed his face against Ye Wangxing, and said to Lu Shi: “I spend 24 hours a day by his side, ready to fight him at any time. When did he ever have a real marriage with you?”

Guo Sheng saw Ye Wangxing blush.

“Heh, you don’t know half of it. Wangxing and I were already together before he took your mission, back then in the year after last, it just wasn’t publicly celebrated,”

Lu Shi said, and what had originally been just holding Ye Wangxing’s hand became intertwined fingers.

Guo Sheng saw that Junior Taoist Ye was about to faint.

The Ghost Emperor laughed furiously, revealing his ultimate move.

“He fought me for three years—doesn’t he know whether his Yuan Yang (Mandarin ducks – a pair of beautiful ducks that symbolize love and marriage in Chinese culture ) still exists?”

The Ghost Emperor boasted: “His bite alone could burn ghosts with blisters. And you call him your husband? Ha!”

Guo Sheng saw Junior Taoist Ye’s fists harden.

The next second—

“Bang!”

“Bang!”

“Both of you get lost!”

Accompanied by the sounds of blows landing on one human and one ghost, Junior Taoist Ye’s angry voice soared to the skies.

The entire carriage on the way remained silent.

Vice President Ding looked through the rearview mirror and saw both the human and ghost with injuries, sitting obediently, curled into balls, thinking they deserved it.

He already knew what had happened before. Although the matter of rebirth had stunned him, once he calmed down, he made emergency plans.

This situation was no longer something the Religious Association could handle alone, they had to cooperate with the authorities. Moreover, one of the reborn people was an official, so they could not bypass official procedures. Now, they had to bring everyone to a professional site for questioning.

After confirming the situation, Vice President Ding relaxed a bit and naturally began to care about Ye Wangxing’s past emotional experiences—cough, definitely not because he wanted gossip.

He was a good leader, he only cared about subordinates’ emotional experiences to prevent them from affecting work.

‘However…’

Vice President Ding touched her chin thoughtfully.

It now seemed that Lu Shi’s claim that he and Ye Wangxing had been a pair in the previous life was probably false. He had likely fabricated it to pursue Ye Wangxing in this life.

That was a clever method, since Ye Wangxing could not verify the truth in the future.

—That is, assuming there was no reborn Ghost Emperor around.

Vice President Ding was still somewhat puzzled why Lu Shi had exposed the rebirth information with the Ghost Emperor present.

After thinking carefully, most likely in the previous life, Lu Shi had gradually drifted from Ye Wangxing after he joined the Religious Association, as both were busy with missions.

The Ghost Emperor’s missions, Lu Shi probably only learned from reports or other sources, which was why he recognized him.

Given that they normally did not reveal much to enemies, Lu Shi probably assumed the Ghost Emperor and Ye Wangxing had that kind of relationship, which gave him confidence to fabricate the lie.

…Yet who expected the Ghost Emperor and Ye Wangxing to have a relationship beyond mere enmity?

Vice President Ding glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing Ye Wangxing’s dazed expression, as if frozen, and felt quite curious.

What kind of charismatic figure had Ye Wangxing been in his previous life that both a human and a ghost still clung to him in this life?

The highly charismatic Ye Wangxing was now excitedly shouting to the silver-haired, golden-eyed system beside him.

【So cool, 19! You’re amazing! That shooting stance, flying in midair—so awesome!】

Ye Wangxing had not expected 19 rescue to be so spectacular.

The pure human muscle power and explosiveness made Ye Wangxing feel captivated at first glance.

—He wanted muscles like that too!

【Come on, 19, I want muscles like that and moves like that—so cool my brain is blank!】

Ye Wangxing excitedly held 19 hand.

In reality, he might have only said a few compliments, but with 19 ability, he could actually help make this dream a reality.

Seeing his host so excited, 19 emotion simulation module fed him happiness, and he curved his lips slightly.

【Host, I’m glad you like this. I will customize a tailored plan for you later.】

Though 19 spoke, Ye Wangxing cheerfully hugged him.

However, this time, feeling 19 muscles, Ye Wangxing felt slightly awkward.

‘This is the bridge effect, I’ll drink water later to metabolize it.’

He thought firmly but, before executing the plan, he couldn’t help sneaking a glance at 19.

—Had 19 always been this good-looking?

Eventually, Ye Wangxing took a deep breath and focused on the plan, though a trace of excitement remained.

To Vice President Ding, it appeared that Ye Wangxing was still angry over previous events. He paid no attention and watched the other two follow the staff hurriedly into an interrogation room.

The remaining human and ghost wanted to follow but, suppressed by the few senior officials from the state, reluctantly went to the interrogation room.

It wasn’t that the Ghost Emperor couldn’t handle them, a mutually destructive fight wasn’t worthwhile.

The interrogations began.

Vice President Ding handled the Ghost Emperor, accompanied by another official staff member. Lu Shi was interrogated by official staff, with Religious Association personnel present to prevent conflict. Their questions were similar: basic identity questions and when they had been reborn.

Most crucially: —What had happened before their rebirth?

Or…

Was the world still safe?

Under Vice President Ding and the officials’ watchful eyes, both the Ghost Emperor and Lu Shi were silent for a moment before speaking.

“Safe—after that kid/Wangxing perished with that monster, it was safe.”

“Minister Li, are you done asking?”

Exiting the interrogation room, Vice President Ding saw the equally exhausted Minister Li.

Lu Shi was the deputy head of the armed division, and Minister Li was the head.

Among the vigilante-like armed personnel, only this kindly-looking but decisive Minister Li could keep control.

Lu Shi had been promoted by Minister Li, and the authorities probably sent him to interrogate Lu Shi because Lu Shi had little resistance.

Now, the kindly-looking Minister Li looked exhausted, just like Vice President Ding.

He could understand—what they had just learned was truly shocking.

“Minister Li, we need a short meeting to organize everything, otherwise, the report will be impossible to write.”

Vice President Ding sighed, and Minister Li nodded in agreement.

What the two revealed… was indeed enormous.

They held a small meeting to summarize the situation.

Both described similar past-life experiences.

Both had been reborn two days ago.

In the previous life, spiritual energy had revived worldwide, granting people abilities and evolving them, but the revival also brought negative effects.

For example, the appearance of the Ghost Emperor.

For example, that entity.

No one knew where the black mud-like entity came from, nor its origin—only that it appeared worldwide.

Whenever it appeared, it devoured anything with spiritual or Yin energy. Humans and ghosts had to join forces to combat it.

But it was too powerful, with seemingly endless strength.

Fortunately, the Ghost Emperor and Ye Wangxing had fought for three years, and their human and ghost combat skills were top-tier, allowing some coordination.

Lu Shi, busy handling domestic unrest, did not participate, explaining his ignorance of the Ghost Emperor and Ye Wangxing’s history.

After years of fierce battles, they finally captured its body, but it was too strong, they could only destroy 2/3 of it.

After that, they lacked the power to continue.

The Ghost Emperor was about to dissipate, and Ye Wangxing’s dantian had no more energy.

Finally, Ye Wangxing charged into its core, disappearing with it from the original location.

The entity never appeared again, and Lu Shi, confirming it would not return, died suppressing a fierce ghost uprising to save civilians.

Vice President Ding and Minister Li mourned their past-life experiences, then collected themselves to assess the situation and facts for the report.

Once prepared, they could consider other questions—

—For instance, why did Ye Wangxing suddenly kiss the Ghost Emperor before dying in the previous life?

Vice President Ding was shocked when the Ghost Emperor revealed this—not because anyone would think to kiss a mortal enemy before death.

Though the Ghost Emperor’s words were unpleasant, why would Ye Wangxing kiss him? Could it have another meaning?

This question could only be asked to the deceased Ye Wangxing—or the younger version, Junior Taoist Ye.

“—Definitely to annoy him.”

Junior Taoist Ye said matter-of-factly.

“In my mind, he spoke so rudely, was my mortal enemy, and I had no energy to fight him. I still had to perish with that monster, so I kissed him. He would die thinking, ‘Why did he do that?’”

“This way, he wouldn’t even rest in peace.”

Guo Sheng, handling the interrogation: “…”

Yes, truly, he wouldn’t rest in peace.

Reborn, he immediately came to take the soul-binding oath!

“All right, we understand this question. But they have other statements you may need to respond to.”

Guo Sheng sympathetically handed Ye Wangxing the materials from the interrogation, including both declaring themselves the primary spouse.

Outside, Xiao Wu and the others waiting for their turn heard Junior Taoist Ye shout inside the interrogation room: “This is simply alarmist!”

 

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