Chapter 23 – Just a Formality

(Can you tell me what you guys like to read? Looking at the backend data, it seems everyone prefers a lighter plot, but your humble author has already stockpiled dozens of chapters, and they’re hard to change. ) (′へ、 )

Du Liang slowly raised his hand and said in a low voice, “I surrender.”

The moment he spoke, the ice wolf seemed to understand his intention and stopped releasing its freezing aura.

Its once ferocious expression now betrayed a hint of helplessness and reluctance.

The ice wolf knew very well that even in its prime, it might not have been able to defeat the powerful Blood Soul Ghost before it.

The opponent’s strength was simply too terrifying; that overwhelming aura left the wolf feeling a profound sense of powerlessness.

Seeing this, Du Liang quickly walked to the ice wolf’s side and concernedly checked its injuries.

He discovered that the ice wolf’s wounds were more severe than yesterday. Clearly, because it hadn’t received sufficient recovery yesterday, forcing it into the match today had caused this.

Du Liang couldn’t help but feel some regret. He had originally wanted to surrender immediately, as he didn’t want his good brother, the ice wolf, to suffer more harm.

However, the pride ingrained in the ice wolf’s bones would not allow it to retreat without a fight. It would rather be injured in battle than be seen as a coward.

Du Liang sighed helplessly. He knew he couldn’t change the ice wolf’s decision, but fortunately, he had a good brother helping him.

The outcome was positive: the ice wolf survived, and its dignity remained intact.

Du Liang said to Su Ming, “I’m taking the ice wolf to heal. Goodbye.”

Subsequently, Du Liang left, and Su Ming advanced to the next round.

Yun Shang happily pulled Su Ming’s arm. “Congratulations!”

Su Ming replied, “Couldn’t you tell? Fatty’s spirit beast had almost no combat power.”

Yun Shang said, “It’s great that you didn’t actually have to make a move.”

Su Ming looked at the other matches that hadn’t finished yet. “Come on, come on, accompany me to do something big.”

Seeing Su Ming and Yun Shang leave together, Su Lin thought that while there was nothing wrong with them acting together, how would their romantic feelings be handled in the future?

Helpless, Su Lin could only wonder if the Ghost Immortal System could solve this problem.

Su Ming arrived near Guo Dong’s room. Since everyone had gone to watch the matches, there were almost no guards—only two sentries at the door and two maids inside.

Su Ming remarked, “Is life really this blissful? He even has maids; I’ve got to have some fun with this.”

Yun Shang: ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!

Su Ming added, “I meant playing games, what were you thinking?”

Yun Shang: (´°Δ°)

Su Ming: “Gaming together, what did you think?”

Yun Shang: “I thought you meant playing cards.”

Su Ming: “Huh?!!”

Yun Shang: “Fight the Landlord, Golden Flower, those kinds of games. Trust me.”

Su Ming looked at Yun Shang. Is this really the saintess? Could she have been repressed for too long?

Su Ming summoned Mo Nian. Mo Nian was wearing the Mystic Ring and was clearly prepared.

Yun Shang felt nothing from the Mystic Ring. It couldn’t be helped; her memories before the age of four weren’t deep, and it was already difficult enough for her to remember the patterns on the token.

Su Ming asked, “Mo Nian, Yun Shang, you should both be from the Mo Family. Do you know each other?”

Both Mo Nian and Yun Shang shook their heads. The two looked so similar, and with one being a ghost and the other a human, it was hard to determine if they were truly clanspeople.

Su Ming said, “Then let’s ignore that for now. I’ll take you to my mom another day. Sister Mo Nian, help me with this first. Good luck!”

Mo Nian began analyzing the formation. She found it was actually somewhat complex, but not impossible to solve.

Su Ming said, “Just go ahead and do it; I’ll protect you.”

Mo Nian nodded and continued her analysis.

Yun Shang also began to observe. As a member of the Mo Family, she was naturally sensitive to formations.

The Black-Robed Man spoke: “Looks like I have to help you out.”

The Black-Robed Man used the descent technique again. After spending a few days here, he had almost figured out the situation: the maids remained the same, and the guards rotated every half-day.

The Black-Robed Man had long since killed one maid and turned her into a puppet.

After two nights of effort, Guo Dong’s body had been “hollowed out,” and he had conveniently found the location and the method to open the VIP Card.

The Black-Robed Man couldn’t help but chuckle. “If he knew the maid who played with him for two days was already a dead person, wouldn’t that be hilarious?”

With that, he directly controlled the maid to go to Guo Dong’s room. Following the information he had previously coaxed out of Guo Dong, he easily obtained the VIP Card.

The Black-Robed Man thought, “So boring. If I did it myself, I’d definitely be faster than her.”

The Black-Robed Man controlled the maid to walk up to Su Ming. Su Ming was genuinely startled; she couldn’t sense any aura at all.

The “maid” spoke, “I’ve already gotten the VIP Card for you. What’s with your speed? You’re too slow.”

Su Ming immediately knew it was the Black-Robed Man and said speechlessly, “Didn’t you tell me to do it this way?”

The “maid” replied, “Alright, it was just a formality. Take the VIP Card. Once you take it out in Half-Ghost City, people there will seek you out. Then, help me get those twin blades back.”

Su Ming asked, “Actually, do you have some kind of relationship with me? You’re helping me so much.”

The Black-Robed Man smiled inwardly, knowing Su Ming had likely guessed something. But it didn’t matter if she did; it was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.

The “maid” said, “You guessed right, but you’ll have to find the answer yourself. By the way, there’s a high probability you’ll fight Guo Dong. When that time comes, we’re going to make a move against him.”

Su Ming asked, “What do you mean ‘we’? You have accomplices?”

The “maid” replied, “You’ll find out when the time comes. Alright, staying too long makes it easy to be exposed. I’ll control this thing back now.”

Then the “maid” left, leaving Su Ming, Yun Shang, and Mo Nian stunned in place.

Su Ming remarked, “A free Mystic Ring?”

Mo Nian asked, “Su Su, are you a member of the Mo Family?”

Su Ming replied, “I don’t know. My mom’s surname is Mo, though.”

Mo Nian speculated that Su Ming’s mother should be the Mo Family clan chief, and that person should be someone of high status within the Mo Family.

Yun Shang suggested, “Since we have it, should we retreat?”

Su Ming said, “Eh, wait, if we take it out this early, what if…”

Before she could finish, a slip of paper appeared out of thin air, reading: A replacement is already in place; it won’t be discovered for now. Also, when the time comes, please hand Mo Nian and Yun Shang over to a certain person. That person will be carrying a token and will take them to see the Mo Family clan chief.

Su Ming said, “Looks like we don’t have to worry. They’ve already thought it all through for us.”

Mo Nian took out red talismans. “Su Su, these are already drawn. Take them and use them.”

Su Ming was shocked. “Didn’t I tell you not to draw them?”

Mo Nian replied, “Don’t worry, I used Lord Vermilion Bird’s blood.”

Su Ming asked worriedly, “Eh? Aren’t you afraid of spirit beasts?”

Mo Nian said, “Lord Vermilion Bird is my kin; why would I be afraid of her? Besides, I’m slowly becoming less afraid of spirit beasts.”

Su Ming asked, “Why?”

Mo Nian took Su Ming’s hand. “Because I have you all. You are all my kin. I believe you can protect me.”

Seeing this, Yun Shang suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy. Although humans and ghosts walk different paths, it wasn’t as if there were no precedents… (｀へ´)

That night, Su Ming consulted the other two. They decided to follow the Black-Robed Man’s instructions and go with that person when the time came.

They felt that the ability to produce the token and the Mystic Ring already proved the other party had a connection to the Mo Family.

Furthermore, from the current perspective, the other party had generously given them the Vermilion Bird and the VIP Card. If they were from the military, they would never have spent such a high price.

Su Ming thought about it. If the Black-Robed Man wanted to take action, he could have simply taken them away. After all, his spatial ghost arts were too heaven-defying; with her own strength, she was completely defenseless.

Therefore, she could only assume that the person was likely fine. However, Su Ming still wanted to see exactly who came to pick them up and see if she could coax some information out of them.