Zhou Tianning came here to build his reputation.

His thinking was clear. In his previous life, no one in the Association had spoken up for the Zhou family. One reason was that the Zhou family’s situation had indeed been difficult to help.

The other reason was that the people in the Association had little contact with the Zhou family, and the Zhou family itself was only nominally part of the Association, rarely taking on missions.

So Zhou Tianning had decided yesterday to come to this old execution ground and deal with the ghosts being kept there.

Yes, the ghosts that had been kept.

This had been told to him by Tang Fang in the previous life after the matter ended. He hadn’t participated back then, but when someone greeted him about it, he had turned a blind eye.

Later, Tang Fang had wondered why they had specifically made a point to greet someone about this old execution ground, so he had asked Zhou Tianning to investigate.

And Zhou Tianning had indeed discovered trouble—several evil cultivators were using a Yin-concentrating formation to raise ghosts in the old execution ground.

Although they could not raise ghosts at the Ghost Emperor level, even raising a Ghost King would have been a huge blow to the Religious Association.

In his previous life, after discovering this, he had immediately told Tang Fang. He had been foolish back then and hadn’t reported it to the Association, so all the credit went to Tang Fang.

But this life, the credit belonged to him, and he would not give it up. Moreover…

Zhou Tianning gripped the Soul-Nurturing Jade around his neck, his gaze firm. He would not allow his ghost husband to be hurt again during intelligence gathering, instead, he would make all the ghosts there his nourishment.

But…

Who could tell him why Ye Wangxing was also here?

Upon arriving at the scene, Zhou Tianning stared in disbelief at the two humans and one ghost present.

Ye Wangxing had only signed the Ghost Emperor’s contract yesterday. How could he suddenly be here? How did the old-fashioned Association members dare to let him out?

And—‘Tang Fang, you said nobody knew about this in the previous life??? What is the task sheet in Ye Wangxing’s hands!!!’

Zhou Tianning widened his eyes as he looked at the task sheet Ye Wangxing placed in front of him, inwardly wishing he could tear Tang Fang apart eight hundred times.

Even Vice President Ding had signed the task sheet Ye Wangxing held. This was far more official than the signatures Zhou Tianning had obtained through connections.

He knew that this was the easiest place to earn reputation with minimal risk of injury!

He remembered all the key mission points in this old execution ground from his previous life. With the help of his ghost husband, he could have staged a heroic rescue in front of the staff he had brought.

But now, looking at Ye Wangxing—who comforted the ordinary person one moment and pushed back the Ghost Emperor the next—Zhou Tianning was momentarily speechless, unsure how to describe it.

Meanwhile, the staff he had brought did not know of his inner anger.

“I didn’t expect Master Zhou to collide with Junior Taoist Ye…”

Xiao Wu whispered to her colleague.

“But judging by the task sheet in Junior Taoist Ye’s hands, it seems the Association had already investigated this place and specifically sent him to carry out the mission.”

Her colleague whispered back. They were clerical staff, here purely to record and survey the scene. They didn’t need to enter.

The armed department colleagues assisting the Taoist Masters behind them breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that going in would have been truly dangerous.

Even if Master Zhou said he would protect them, no one trusted a Zhou family member’s character enough to believe he would genuinely protect them.

They even suspected that Zhou Tianning had brought them here as bait.

“I also think so. Otherwise, why bring two clerical staff along?”

Xiao Wu and her colleague whispered again.

At this point, Junior Taoist Ye put away the task sheet and began speaking to Zhou Tianning.

“…Let the staff go in? That won’t work, Brother Zhou. They have no means to protect themselves, they will get hurt.”

Ye Wangxing exchanged the task sheet with Zhou Tianning, then without displeasure, decided to enter the old execution ground together.

He submitted an application through the administrative app and even called Vice President Ding to get their applications quickly approved.

But when Zhou Tianning suggested bringing the staff along, Ye Wangxing objected.

“According to my task sheet, the Association has already investigated that the number of ghosts inside is unusually high. These staff can restrain or distract ghosts in normal battles, but given the current numbers, we cannot guarantee their safety.”

The staff Zhou Tianning brought: “…”Junior Taoist Ye is a good person!

Xiao Wu felt like singing the annual event song early—gratitude, gratitude for you~

If it weren’t for Junior Taoist Ye, they really wouldn’t have been able to refuse, just like they couldn’t refuse overtime.

But with a monthly salary of 4,000, who would risk their life? If the pay were 100,000, they would gladly go in and lift ghosts in a ballet performance without complaint!

“But this is also a good training for them. Maybe they could earn their Taoist Master certificates through this mission?” Zhou Tianning said reluctantly.

Xiao Wu: “…”Boss, then why did you bring us clerical staff here?

Did she seem like she needed a Taoist Master certificate?

Looking back, the armed department colleagues Zhou Tianning brought all waved off, wishing they could shout at Junior Taoist Ye, proving they didn’t need this to get their certificates.

They hadn’t become Taoist Masters because their aptitude only allowed them to assist.

Even if they could earn certificates later, which would bring a subsidy of at least 10,000, with a current salary of 6,000, they weren’t risking their lives.

They wanted certificates to earn a living, not pursue lofty achievements—just like undergraduates scrambling to graduate, not because they loved the subject.

If emergencies occurred, they wouldn’t ignore them, but being forced against their will was a different matter.

Now, in the eyes of these Association staff, Zhou Tianning had risen to the most hated leader.

Leaders who forced staff to contribute were the worst.

Zhou Tianning didn’t realize that his good intentions were seen as ill-intentioned by the other Taoists. He didn’t notice that staff who had never expressed opinions on the Zhou family were already displeased with him.

He simply wanted witnesses for his extermination of the fierce ghosts and hoped they would say good words about him to the Association.

Regarding danger, once the ghosts were eliminated, the credit gained would fully compensate for the risk.

But now, all his plans had been ruined.

He didn’t know where this Holy Father Ye Wangxing had appeared from.

He had guaranteed the staff wouldn’t be fatally injured. He had even tried to prove with the Ghost Emperor that nothing would go wrong with him present. But listen to what Ye Wangxing said: “…Xie Jiu is not on the mission roster, and he has nothing to do with this mission. Our relationship isn’t strong enough to fully trust him.”

Ye Wangxing said this seriously. Zhou Tianning looked at Ye Wangxing’s serious expression and then at the Ghost Emperor behind him, pretending not to care but almost grinding his teeth.

—You’ve signed the soul contract together and still say you can’t trust him???

Zhou Tianning felt like he was about to explode. Didn’t he see the Ghost Emperor’s eyes light up when he proposed it?

Ye Wangxing could have taken the staff inside with a mere plea. They could have fully documented the ghost extermination, boosting Ye Wangxing’s standing in the Association. Why wouldn’t he do it?

And the Ghost Emperor had been so aggressive when forcing Ye Wangxing to sign the soul contract. Why was he silent now? He clearly wanted this.

Zhou Tianning did not foolishly ask the Ghost Emperor in front of him. He suppressed his anger and said to Ye Wangxing again: “But if His Majesty the Ghost Emperor is willing to help, won’t the staff’s safety be guaranteed?”

“But if they stay outside, their safety is already guaranteed. It’s only reconnaissance. If a battle breaks out, the staff at the entrance can help contact the Association for reinforcements.”

Ye Wangxing’s expression was calm, with occasional hints of curiosity.

For anyone else, this would likely require a full debate with Zhou Tianning.

He could not think of a counterargument, so Ye Wangxing decided the matter.

“Then it’s settled. The staff will wait outside. Every ten minutes, we will send you a message. If you don’t receive it, immediately call the Association for reinforcements.”

Ye Wangxing instructed Zhou Tianning’s staff while distributing the tasks.

The staff took the arrangements calmly but internally rejoiced and quickly set things up.

“All done. We can go in now, Brother Zhou!”

The cheerful voice reached Zhou Tianning. His plans entirely disrupted, he looked blankly at Ye Wangxing’s sunny face.

…So he really hated Ye Wangxing!

But Zhou Tianning still complied.

—What other choice did he have?

Since it was only him, Ye Wangxing, and one ghost, Zhou Tianning did not talk much to Ye Wangxing and took out a compass to check the Yin energy.

As expected, the Yin energy was extremely heavy and filled with strong resentment.

This old execution ground had served as a prison before the founding of the nation and later as a shooting range, leaving the area saturated with Yin energy.

However, there was still a streak of righteous energy suppressing the area.

This was probably why they hadn’t felt the heavy Yin energy from outside the gate.

‘No wonder the cultivators who cooperated with Tang Fang valued this place so much. The Yin energy outside the gate didn’t reveal itself, and inside, it was naturally heavy.’

Zhou Tianning thought this, his expression showing a hint of caution, and then he carefully observed the scene.

The old execution ground had a reception post right inside the gate. Yellow wooden doors and green-painted walls with obvious age were everywhere.

Looking further inside, there were old-style tables with wood-grain surfaces that had been polished to a sheen.

Ye Wangxing did not trouble Zhou Tianning’s mind further. His expression became serious once he entered.

However, in his mind, he spoke casually to System 19.

【Ah, that desk existed when I was in elementary school too. It had pits and bumps, very hard to write on. I always had to put a hard card under my notebook. The teacher even told us to ask our parents to buy hard cards at the stationery store near the school.】

Although he seemed relaxed, only 19 knew that his host’s emotions were on high alert.

【It seems to be a decoration common in your era, Host. Indeed, this place is quite old.】

19 spoke quietly. In reality, the Ghost Emperor had already come to Junior Taoist Ye’s side, letting him clearly see that he was right there, and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder in front of him.

【…19, sometimes I really suspect you installed a monitor on me. How else could you be so thoughtful? 19, you’re really too good!】

Ye Wangxing said emotionally, while mentally adding the database and emotion templates he had previously picked out for 19 to his shopping cart.

Although he had already bought a few for 19 in the last mission, 19 could now even model Zhou Tianning’s personality, but Ye Wangxing just wanted to buy something to thank him.

What Ye Wangxing didn’t notice was that 19 stiffened slightly when placing his hand on him.

‘…The new personality templates the host bought really work. I even feel guilty now,’ 19 thought.

Looking at the host covered in emotion monitors, Yin energy corrosion monitors, and various other sensors, the emotion simulation module assigned him feelings of unease.

【By the way, 19, my body is fine now, right? I don’t feel the Yin energy corrosion reaching dangerous levels, but I worry the heavy Yin energy here might block my senses.】

Ye Wangxing thought nervously: ‘Much better.’

19 thought: 【Rest assured, Host, your judgment is correct.】

Unaware, Ye Wangxing continued: 【Good. By the way is Zhou Tianning planning to go toward the Yin-concentrating formation?】

19 asked: 【Yes, Host. Do you want me to create an opportunity for him?】

Ye Wangxing nodded: 【The world’s fate lines are much stronger than before. Many methods I tried previously were discovered.】

【I set the perfect temperature in his bed, even made it rain lightly outside his room—a perfect time to stay in bed. I even had Vice President Ding give him a day off. How did he have the willpower to get up from bed?】

Ye Wangxing could not understand.

19 calmly said: 【That’s probably the protagonist’s self-control.】

Ye Wangxing nodded, acknowledging the possibility, and turned to create an opportunity for Zhou Tianning.

To Zhou Tianning, it seemed the Ghost Emperor found checking the Yin energy boring and brazenly began to bother Ye Wangxing.

But judging by Ye Wangxing’s expression, he had grown accustomed to it. He simply sighed, ignored the Ghost Emperor, and led him to another area, waving to Zhou Tianning as he left, promising to return later.

Seeing the two leave, Zhou Tianning felt divine assistance. Although he suspected a trap, with his next actions, they could not catch him.

—After all, he had only sent his ghost husband out to scout the surroundings.

“Pei Si, go over there and investigate. Remember, only probe briefly and return immediately. There are many fierce ghosts. Once they riot, retreat at once. Do not let them harm you. After I destroy their formation, all those fierce ghosts will be yours.”

Zhou Tianning spoke gently to the stern-faced fierce ghost in front of him, though his tone still carried a commanding quality.

Pei Si naturally did not resist and quickly flew in the direction his mistress indicated.

After carrying out his orders, merely triggering the malevolent ghosts to focus on them, he turned back toward his master, acting like a servant without his own will.

Zhou Tianning arrived at the back of the execution ground, standing there with a peach-wood sword, compass, and various talismans, ready to face the disfigured fierce ghosts.

These grotesque ghosts were not naturally so, they had been altered by the Yin-concentrating formation.

As the name implied, this formation gathered Yin energy to nourish the fierce ghosts, which became aggressive and fought each other for the energy. Zhou Tianning had little sympathy for them.

After all, this had been a shooting range and execution ground. These seemingly pitiful ghosts had all been heinous criminals in life. They could not escape the righteous energy and were forced to consume each other.

Zhou Tianning’s face lit with excitement as the fierce ghosts flew toward him. He was ready to wipe them out and gain recognition from the Association under Ye Wangxing’s amazed gaze.

But soon, he noticed something was off.

—Wasn’t there too many fierce ghosts?

Zhou Tianning saw dense crowds of ghosts flowing from the execution ground, their upper bodies forming a dark cloud.

This did not match the mission reports he had seen in his previous life.

As Zhou Tianning froze, Ye Wangxing calmly commanded 19 in his mind:【Begin action!】

The next second, a mass resembling black mud appeared abruptly in front of Zhou Tianning. Its chilling darkness made him shiver.

But the black mud did not attack him, it slammed the fierce ghosts back to their original positions, helping Zhou Tianning withstand the first wave of attacks.

Before he could recover, the black mud quickly vanished into the shadows, and hurried footsteps approached from behind.

Ye Wangxing’s voice sounded: “Brother Zhou, what’s wrong? Why did the Yin energy suddenly get so strong here?”

Meanwhile, the monitoring vehicle outside, tracking the entire execution ground’s magnetic field, sounded an alarm.

Guo Sheng and the others jumped up and immediately checked the drones. The data made their faces change drastically.

They picked up radios and contacted Lu Shi.

“Boss Lu, something’s wrong! The energy in the old execution ground surged! There are at least a thousand malevolent ghosts!”

Hearing this, Lu Shi’s expression changed as he looked toward the wall.

Seeing something, he immediately scaled the wall and rushed inside.

Even though Lu Shi carried weapons, his reckless action scared Guo Sheng and the others.

But they could not interfere and only called for reinforcements.

At this critical moment, there was no need to hide identities. Association members at the scene looked dumbfounded as Lu Shi, who had been safely in the formation, suddenly dashed inside.

Soon, official armed personnel emerged from the surrounding forest.

Before they could understand, the official staff had directed them, and they began security duties.

Half an hour later, even Vice President Ding arrived on site.

Tension gripped everyone.

The black energy in the execution ground boiled violently, like scalding water.

Once it subsided and sunlight once again shone into the execution ground, they dared to approach.

Guo Sheng and Xiao Wu walked together toward the back shooting range, weapons raised, expecting to see injuries.

However…

Their pupils shook as they saw Junior Taoist Ye’s peach-wood sword pressed across a young man’s neck. He formed hand seals, confronting his enemy.

Both appeared disheveled and bloodied. The young man’s clothes were tattered, his chest and abs fully exposed. He panted exhaustedly, but Ye Wangxing showed no fatigue, his body was driven by anger.

“Where did you hide the continent’s soul!”

He ignored the others’ arrival, roaring at Lu Shi—or rather, the person occupying Lu Shi’s body.

“The continent wouldn’t risk exposing Aunt in front of the Ghost Emperor, nor would he treat ghosts so casually.”

“He doesn’t have your skills, cannot face ghosts without flinching, and cannot ignore my injuries while focusing on the fierce ghosts.”

The handsome Taoist Master’s eyes exuded intense killing intent for the first time.

“—You imposter, get out of this chaste body!”

But the response was not ridicule or denial.

It was a warm embrace and the sensation of wetness on the shoulder.

Strange, yet familiar.

“Wangxing, I didn’t expect only you to notice.”

“Only you recognized that ‘I’ am not ‘me,’ this…”

The young man embraced the Junior Taoist Master, burying his head in his neck, inhaling deeply.

“—So good.”

The young man said, tears in his eyes reflecting in the Junior Taoist Master’s gaze.

“You’re still alive, you recognized me… really, so good.”

 

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