Chapter 134
Chapter 134
Qiao Yu ran at incredible speed, leaping and scrambling so wildly that even Shang Yan failed to catch him.
Image no longer mattered. He dashed into the main hall, swept the memorial tablets of the Black and White Impermanence to the floor, lifted his long skirt, and climbed onto the altar.
Before everyone’s stunned eyes, he jumped and caught the roof beam, moving with even more agility than the paper effigies.
The Ghosts below seemed stunned too. They stared blankly up at Qiao Yu hanging from the beam.
Qiao Yu looked instead at the Pen Spirit battling the Bridal Ghost and screamed himself hoarse. “Go, Ren Yan! Rescuing this fallen woman is all up to you!”
The Bridal Ghost, now labeled a fallen woman: ??
The Pen Spirit stumbled and nearly fell. Narrowly avoiding the other ghost’s equally sharp sleeve, she cursed, “Does your mouth exist solely to make trouble?”
Hanging from the beam like a monkey, Qiao Yu thought seriously. “I use it to eat too.”
“Fuck you, Qiao Yu! I’m ending our friendship!”
Qiao Yu blinked. “You’ll have to ask my boyfriend. If he agrees, I don’t mind. But… what kind of sex position is ‘ending our friendship’?”
The Pen Spirit shut down. “…Fuck off!”
Ignored while they traded lines, the Bridal Ghost threw back her head and shrieked furiously. The black threads across her lips pulled taut, forming a jagged black saw between them.
She lightly swept one sleeve. The roof beam cracked.
Qiao Yu’s smug smile froze as the beam collapsed.
Below him… waited the wildly excited Ghosts.
Fortunately, a silver chain wrapped around his waist, changing his fall into a diagonal flight toward Shang Yan.
The instant he landed, Shang Yan hid him behind his back. A teasing question sounded beside Qiao Yu’s ear. “Should I agree?”
Either answer seemed wrong.
Qiao Yu pursed his lips. “I was only teasing the Pen Spirit. Why take it seriously?”
Shang Yan hummed noncommittally.
Then he raised the Soul-Departing Fan. A violent gale tore through the dim courtyard, making the paper effigies sway.
Even the thick clouds overhead loosened. Shards of sunlight pierced the foggy courtyard like sharp swords…
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
An unknown rooster crowed. The scene seemed to tear apart. The Bridal Ghost gradually blurred, cast one sinister look over the streamers, and vanished.
“Come on, everyone! Back to work!”
Luo Yunmeng’s legs gave way. She sat on the ground and immediately raised an arm, shaking her wrist. “I… I’m back to normal?”
Bian Feibai nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling. “We’re back. Finally.”
Everyone either checked their bodies or stared at the sunlit garden, unable to adjust.
-Quick, the Live Stream Room signal is back.
-Oh, there are still this many left?
-Maybe the movie really will be released…
-Sadako: I told you my darling’s movie would be released. Why won’t you believe me? Tch.
-Painted Skin: Baby QY, you’re beautiful enough to stun.
Sitting alone in the empty dressing room, Qiao Yu smiled without humor. “I’m handsome.”
-Painted Skin: Yes, yes, of course.
“…”
Qiao Yu sighed, then noticed a new script.
(Act Four: A Dear Friend Visits, Jealousy Overturns the Seas-improvise.)
Qiao Yu: ??
Had the Scriptwriter Ghost given up entirely?!
-Fuck, this brilliant script is killing me.
-Hahahaha, what the hell is “improvise”?
-Scriptwriter Ghost: Whatever. I can’t write anymore.
Qiao Yu was exhausted too. Did they absolutely have to finish this movie?
Just then, something struck the dressing-room door with deliberate force.
Through the crack, Qiao Yu saw layers of Ghost Shadows outside. They stared blankly at him, swallowing.
As the Ghosts prepared to enter, Qiao Yu quickly locked the door.
Bang bang bang-
“Mr. Lou Yu, filming is starting.”
“Yes. Open the door.”
“Lou Yu, Lou Yu, open up. Don’t hide inside without a sound. I know you’re home.”
Current Charm: 82%
Qiao Yu broke down and shouted back, “Wrong door, motherfucker! You’re looking for Fu Wenpei!”
“Hehehe… It doesn’t matter if you won’t come out. Once the slate claps, we’ll see you anyway.”
The Ghosts outside were no longer satisfied with getting close. They wanted to touch him!
As if proving their threat, a slate sounded the next second.
Clang.
“Imperial City Storm-scene four, take one, action!”
The familiar scenery shift followed.
Qiao Yu appeared beneath a tree, his figure perfectly concealed by layers of leaves. The fresh fragrance of jujubes filled the air.
Luo Yunmeng, dressed as a maid, raced into the bridal chamber and reported from the doorway, “Princess Consort, someone from the Pear Garden has arrived. Will you see him?”
Qiao Yu tilted his head, wondering what script Shang Yan had received.
“Who is it?”
“He says his surname is Qi and he’s your dear friend.”
“Let him in.”
Luo Yunmeng played the part convincingly. She hurried back to the front courtyard and soon returned with a male Ghost whose face was covered in corpse spots.
Something had clearly happened. The Ghost reeked of blood, while Luo Yunmeng’s expression had frozen. She struggled to maintain outward calm.
Qiao Yu secretly opened the Live Stream Room and counted the streamers.
One, two… five, six, seven.
Well, two more had been written out.
Zuo Qingquan and Bian Feibai stood guard at the moon gate between the courtyards. The male Ghost paused there and said to Luo Yunmeng, “Thank you for leading me.”
His sinister gaze slid toward the two guards as if deliberately stalling.
Luo Yunmeng forced a laugh. “It’s my duty. Please come inside. Her Highness must be growing impatient.”
“No hurry.” The male Ghost waved, his voice hoarse and cold. “I’ve never visited this residence. Let me admire the garden first. Don’t worry. Her Highness and I are old friends. She won’t blame you.”
He claimed to admire the scenery but kept circling Zuo Qingquan and Bian Feibai, deliberately building terror. His face grew more horrifying by the moment.
A faint stench seeped from him and steadily thickened. The three humans held their breath until their faces reddened, unable to do anything.
Gradually, their throats began itching with the urge to cough.
And coughing could not be suppressed. Resisting only made it worse.
“Cough, cough…”
Bian Feibai finally covered his mouth and frowned in disgust. The male Ghost beside them curved an eerie smile, excitement spilling from his eyes.
Just before everything collapsed, Zuo Qingquan suddenly asked, “Did you catch a cold?”
“Cough…” Catching his look, Bian Feibai quickly nodded. “Yes, yes.”
The male Ghost’s hostility immediately shifted to Zuo Qingquan. His corpse spots began rotting away, intending to frighten the two into breaking character.
Only then could he slaughter them without restraint!
At that moment, the nearby jujube tree began rustling, swaying eerily despite the still air…