TGCFNM -Chapter 258 The Fuzzy Ghost

Wan Sanjin noticed that Chu Ling had suddenly stopped in place and wasn’t moving, so he poked Chu Ling’s shoulder: “Master, it’s time to go.”

Chu Ling snapped out of his daze and hummed in acknowledgment, then glared at the ghost, signaling for him to follow first.

The Ghost Scholar had no choice but to step forward and dragged the Fuzzy Ghost to his side. He then looked at Chu Ling and said, “Master, you can see ghosts, but it’s inconvenient to speak about it outside.”

Bai Su tugged at the Fuzzy Ghost’s fur, curious: “Are you from the Witch Clan?”

The Fuzzy Ghost pressed a hand to his forehead and said reverently, “We are one of the divine tribes of the Snow Mountains. From birth, we are blessed by the gods. The gods teach us how to survive. We, unlike lowly mortals such as you…”

“Smack—”

Bai Su couldn’t resist and slapped the Fuzzy Ghost on the head, knocking his hat crooked.

The Fuzzy Ghost adjusted his hat and looked at Bai Su in shock: “You… how can you hit a tribe of the gods?”

“Because I’m from the Human Emperor lineage!” Bai Su gritted her teeth and said, then grabbed the Fuzzy Ghost by the collar. “If you can’t beat me, you better behave, or I’ll pull every hair out of your clothes.”

The Fuzzy Ghost shrank back and looked at the Ghost Scholar for help: “The Witch God said that a woman blessed by the gods loves all living beings.”

The Ghost Scholar opened his mouth, glanced at Bai Su beside him, and carefully said, “Um… did the god also tell you that a woman blessed by the gods should not be trifled with?”

The Fuzzy Ghost froze: Did… did he?

Meanwhile, Chu Ling and the others finally struggled their way out of the crowded marketplace and onto the wide streets.

The group exhaled deeply, glanced back at the still-crowded main street of the marketplace, shivered, and quickly moved away.

Uncle Wu called out to them: “Let’s head back to the inn to rest first.”

Chu Ling and the others had indeed bought quite a few things and didn’t want to continue shopping, so they followed Uncle Wu back.

Not long after returning, Yun Aoxue came over.

Zhang Zhenfeng had already arrived in Tianjian City and was willing to participate in the afternoon court hearing, even welcoming more observers. But if a divorce couldn’t be arranged, Yun Aoxue would not be allowed to interfere with any of his matters. That was her condition.

Chu Ling, exasperated, asked: “Did you agree?”

Yun Aoxue nodded earnestly: “After seeing you yesterday, I was certain that you could help me get a divorce.”

Chu Ling frowned slightly: “Divorce mainly requires both parties’ consent after a breakdown in feelings. But you can’t just stay silent and let him have everything. You need to tell him that if the divorce succeeds, the family silver vouchers go to me, you voluntarily step down from the elder position, and you cannot pity-play to get back together with me.”

“Pity-play?” Yun Aoxue asked.

Chu Ling nodded seriously: “Meaning he pretends to regret, acts rashly, harms himself, or drinks to make himself look pitiful, feigns deep affection to soften your heart.”

Yun Aoxue’s eyes widened: “Thank you for the reminder. If that’s the case, I’ll have to use my last-resort strategy.”

Chu Ling paused: Last-resort strategy?

Yun Aoxue made a “cut-it-all” gesture, and Chu Ling immediately understood.

“Alright, then use the last-resort strategy,” Chu Ling said.

After sending Yun Aoxue off, Chu Ling and the others had a simple lunch and then returned to their rooms to rest.

Back in her room, Chu Ling sat upright and poured herself a cup of tea.

The Fuzzy Ghost was pressed down to sit by Bai Su, who then sat beside him, while the Ghost Scholar also sat down, curiously watching the Fuzzy Ghost.

Cui Xi, feeling bored, took Wangcai off to play elsewhere.

Chu Ling lifted her tea cup and studied the Fuzzy Ghost, asking: “What’s your name… you’re… from the Witch Clan?”

“I am Ling Da.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Your name… it’s very interesting.”

Ling Da didn’t understand why the Snow Ghost suddenly laughed, her shoulders trembling with each chuckle. But wasn’t a Snow Ghost supposed to be stern, holding a spiritual artifact, burning all sins with celestial fire—a true deity of judgment?

Chu Ling rubbed her stiffened smile, cleared her throat, and asked solemnly, “Are you from the Wu clan? How did you come down the mountain?”

Ling Da nodded. “I came down with my bones.”

“What did you come down the mountain for?” Chu Ling asked.

“To find the Snow Ghost and destroy the temple,” Ling Da replied earnestly. “The temple’s main gate is open, and people will be entering soon. It must be destroyed.”

A flash of insight struck Chu Ling, and she suddenly realized: no wonder the Heavenly Sword Sect said they found the treasure location—it’s the Wu clan’s temple.

“Why destroy the temple?” Chu Ling asked.

Ling Da answered seriously, “When the heavens trembled, the Wu God led us to the temple. The god guided us to leave the shells behind while our souls followed the god’s path to depart. The temple should have been destroyed at the same time. Otherwise, if outsiders’ impure energy taints it, the god will be angered, and the heavens will tremble again.”

Chu Ling understood—it was an avalanche.

And the Wu God, the supreme ruler, thought the god was angry and led them to the temple for refuge, but in the end, everyone died.

Now that the treasure location’s gate—the temple—has been opened again, if too many people enter at once, or if conflicts occur, it could trigger another avalanche.

Chu Ling felt a headache coming on. Destroying the temple would be troublesome for her. However, she held the invitation, so she could enter, observe, and act when the time was right.

“What’s inside the temple?” Chu Ling asked casually.

Ling Da’s expression turned grave. “The temple holds many things—objects coveted by lowly, abandoned races that the god has forsaken.”

Slap!

Chu Ling struck him on the head.

“Speak properly, or I’ll beat you to death,” she scolded.

Ling Da replied with full confidence, “I’m already dead!”

Chu Ling gritted her teeth, glaring at him. “Stop saying those lofty, empty words. What exactly is in there?”

In the end, Ling Da, fearing the Snow Ghost, had no choice but to admit, “Things the Wu God uses to heal and save people, and the records of my clan.”

Bai Su said, “Then there’s nothing to worry about. Who even understands the Wu clan’s writing?”

Chu Ling sensed something was off and asked Ling Da, “The things the Wu God uses to heal… are they the Gu insects?”

“They are divine insects! Extremely precious. They must be fed only the purest fresh blood. It’s the god’s decree,” Ling Da said sternly, staring at Chu Ling.

Chu Ling turned to look at Bai Su.

Bai Su furrowed her brows in thought. After a long moment, she slowly lifted her head to meet Chu Ling’s gaze. “There are two main branches of Gu insects. One is the hidden Miao people, who rarely emerge and are nearly impossible to find. The second is in the Central Plains, but the people there do not favor these insects, so very few raise them.”

Chu Ling speculated, “So, the mothers of both branches of Gu insects came from the Wu clan?”

Bai Su nodded. “Possibly.”

Chu Ling drew a sharp breath. “No wonder it must be destroyed. These Gu insects are terrifying.”

Ling Da shouted from the side, “No! Divine insects are the god’s gift! Only we can use them. If… others use them, they’ll die.”

Chu Ling rolled her eyes. “Your clan probably doesn’t live very long.”

“Leaving early is also to serve the god,” Ling Da said with devotion.

Chu Ling couldn’t resist and slapped him once more.