Chapter 135: Sisters
Caught off guard by this wrinkled ghost face, Qiao Wan instinctively pulled out her sword and swung it upwards!
The sword struck the woman right on the forehead, causing the ghost bride to fall backwards, with a gash across her brow from Qiao Wan's strike.
But even with a gash on her forehead, the ghost bride in front of her didn't die. With a blooming head and sunken eyes, she continued to repeat in a low voice, "Is this your loved one?"
Qiao Wan suddenly snapped back to reality and asked, "Do you have consciousness?"
This time, it was Qiao Wan who was confused.
In front of Qiao Wan, there was a female corpse. Although she looked shriveled and wrinkled, you could still see a bit of her former elegance. She must have been a girl who liked to dress up. When she died, she was probably around sixteen years old. She was wearing a red wedding dress with intricate golden patterns. The light from outside the window shone on the dress, creating a faint golden halo and casting small specks of light.
Her hair was scattered all over the floor, and there was even a golden hairpin stuck in it, but just like her broken head, it was split in half and fell to the ground with a clatter.
The most terrifying thing in the world is the unknown. Suddenly, this female corpse in front of her spoke, and the eerie atmosphere in the room disappeared instantly.
Through the hollow eyes of the ghost bride, Qiao Wan seemed to see a mix of shock and complexity. It was as if she was saying, "This is the person you love?!"
"Is this the person you love?"
The ghost bride looked at Qiao Wan with a complex expression and said, "You seem quite attractive, but somehow less reliable than me."
Qiao Wan thought to herself, "Did she just get criticized by a ghost?!"
"Do you have unconventional preferences?" The ghost bride blinked her wrinkled eyes and made a somewhat cute expression, looking shocked. "Your love interest is a monk!"
The ghost bride glanced at the young man in front of her, her face filled with astonishment. "Not only do you have unconventional preferences, but you're also interested in a monk?!"
"Why does this monk look so peculiar?" The ghost bride turned her gaze to the gory organs held up by the four-armed Buddha statue. She took a step back, shrinking her neck and tiptoeing in her delicate embroidered shoes. "Your love interest looks even scarier than me."
"You have quite unique taste. Honestly, it's a bit scary."
Qiao Wan emotionlessly raised her sword and asked, "Was it you who did this just now?"
The sharp edge of her sword emitted a faint silver light.
The ghost bride suddenly felt a sense of danger, and took two steps back before turning around and running. But before she could even reach the door, Qiao Wan pressed her down to the ground.
Realizing the situation was unfavorable, the female corpse shook her head and her wriggling black hair wrapped around Qiao Wan's wrist, trying to bind her again.
But this time, it didn't work.
Qiao Wan kicked her feet and swiftly used the black hair on her wrist to propel herself up onto the rafters.
The woman was also lifted up and hung high on the rafters.
Ghost Bride: ...
Hanging on the rafters, the ghost bride looked at Qiao Wan in shock and stammered, "It's just an illusion, right? What's the matter? A man should have the courage to own up if he dares to act. Are you getting angry because your illusions have been shattered?"
"If you like men, then like men! If you were really a man, what would you be afraid of?!"
"What? So you're afraid because he's a monk?!"
"Predecessor, you are not the one in my heart," Qiao Wan denied firmly, while taking off the hair tie wrapped around her wrist and tying it around the beam in circles.
You can mess up with food, but you can't mess up with words.
"Are you scared?" The ghost bride asked curiously as she saw Qiao Wan pursing her lips. "It seems like your position in the heart of your beloved is quite high, isn't it?"
"You are afraid that admitting it will affect his reputation."
Even if it's not for the fear of implicating Miaofa, can't you admit it?! Qiao Wan's scalp tingled as she finished tying a bow, imagining what kind of chaotic scene it would be if her predecessor found out.
She actually... she actually had some unclear emotions towards her predecessor.
Thinking about this, Qiao Wan couldn't help but cover her face silently.
She wasn't foolish.
Having lived for over forty years, she couldn't possibly be unaware of her own feelings. It's just that this illusion tore apart the disguise in her heart and exposed it completely.
Qiao Wan wondered when exactly these thoughts had first popped into her mind, but it seemed unknowable. However, it was true that the senior looked good and was kind.
Because of the illusion created by the inner demon, Qiao Wan couldn't help but feel some juvenile emotions towards the monk, who was solemn enough to be compared to her father. It was not just surprising; it was horrifying.
If it was the senior, Qiao Wan could completely imagine being treated coldly and judged as a good person. Perhaps she would even be lectured. Just as she realized her feelings, she was destined to face heartbreak. Although Qiao Wan hadn't interacted with Miaofa much, she knew deep down that a high-ranking Buddhist monk like him wouldn't easily break his vows and develop feelings.
Qiao Wan pressed her lips tightly, muttering to herself before obediently lowering her head.
She would never do something that would hinder someone's cultivation.
Fortunately, this feeling had only just begun to take root.
With an expressionless face, Qiao Wan made a cold decision.
The wisest choice, before it grew into a towering tree, was to decisively strangle it while it was still in the cradle.
Qiao Wan never believed that there could be any love that couldn't be overcome. Although her past relationship with Pei Chunzheng was a bit tragic and embarrassing, it was all in the past.
Gathering her focus, Qiao Wan continued to diligently fight with the tangled mess of hair in front of her.
The hair was tied into a butterfly knot by Qiao Wan and hung on the ceiling beam. The ghost bride kicked her legs and fluttered a few times.
In the midst of the movement, Qiao Wan caught a glimpse and her eyes widened. She let out a scream, exclaiming, "My hairpin!"
Qiao Wan followed her gaze and saw a broken hairpin lying on the ground.
"To my taoist friend, let's make a deal. I promise not to spread this incident around if you give me this hairpin," Qiao Wan said.
Qiao Wan withdrew her hand from tying the butterfly knot and silently contemplated.
The ghost bride had spent a long time in the ghost market, so maybe she would know something about the Wataru flower.
Therefore, Qiao Wan jumped down from the beam, picked up the broken hairpin, and handed it to the female corpse.
The Ghost Bride picked up the golden rattle and shook it, asking herself, "Do I look good?"
Qiao Wan focused her attention on the matter at hand and asked, "Have you been in the ghost market for a long time?"
At the mention of this, the female corpse's eyes dimmed suddenly. "It's been over a hundred years, I suppose. If it weren't for Boss Yan taking me in back then, I wouldn't have been able to stay for so long."
"Not hiding it from you, I want revenge," the female corpse looked up.
Qiao Wan asked, "Since this is the ghost market, why don't you study the ways of ghosts?"
"I don't have the talent for that," the Ghost Bride touched the golden rattle on her head and said sadly, "If I had the ability, why wouldn't I study the ways of ghosts?"
Qiao Wan was taken aback.
There are different social classes in life, but there are also distinction classes even after death?
Thinking of the past the Ghost Bride's gaze flickered with resentment.
The female corpse introduced herself as Wang Ruyi.
"Wang Ruyi is my name," said Wang Ruyi.
Qiao Wan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ru Yi."
Wang Ruyi, a beautiful girl with a wealthy family, sighed as she touched the golden hairpin. She had always been content with her looks and her father's position as an official, even though she wasn't as ambitious as those "immortals." As long as she could marry a man who she truly loved, she would be happy.
Unfortunately, good men were hard to find, and there were plenty of bad ones around. For the first time in her teenage years, she misjudged someone and fell for a worthless man.
Her father strongly objected to this mismatched relationship, but love had blinded Wang Ruyi's mind. She was completely devoted to the bad man. One night, she packed her dowry and wedding clothes, and eloped with him.
According to their plan, she waited for him at an inn. But instead of her lover, she encountered a tragic fate. She waited and waited in her wedding dress, only to be met by the person who had killed her beloved. Her dowry was taken from her, and she was sealed within the walls, ending her life in misery.
Luckily, Yan Shiyuan felt sorry for her and took her in, letting her live in this crack in the wall.
Wang Ruyi also wanted to seek revenge, but unfortunately she did not have the talent for cultivating immortality in her life, nor was she suited for cultivation as a ghost after death. Although she successfully evolved into a fierce ghost, her abilities were limited. She couldn't cultivate the ghost path herself, nor did any ghost cultivators want to subdue her as a magical tool.
There was no other way but to continue like this.
Until Qiao Wan moved in.
After listening to the tragic life of the female corpse, Qiao Wan jumped onto the roof beam.
Hanging there was Wang Ruyi , sitting there was Qiao Wan .
Qiao Wan : "Since you've been in the ghost market for hundreds of years, have you heard of the Wataru flower?"
"Wataru flower?" The woman's wrinkled and skinny hands touched the golden hairpin on her head, deep in thought.
"Why are you looking for this flower alone?"
"This flower is in the ghost market, but not here."
The female corpse pointed in the direction of the window, downwards.
"The Wataru flower is in Denghuo Village."
Qiao Wan : "Denghuo Village?"
Wang Ruyi said, "Denghuo Village is deep in the Ghost Market. Ordinary ghosts and ghost cultivators cannot enter. It is the resting place for Soul Lanterns."
"And, the Wataru flower only blooms from Zi hour to Chou hour."
Qiao Wan felt a thump in her heart.
This means that in order to obtain the Wataru flower, she must be active during the time when "they" appear.
Wang Ruyi said, "Chou hour has already passed, so if you want to pick the Wataru flower, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"It's still early." Wang Ruyi shook herself vigorously, raised her eyes, and blinked in horror. "Do you want to go out with me?"
"My golden rattle was broken by you, and you haven't compensated me yet."
The withered female corpse hanging from the ceiling swayed her body and tried to sell herself by rotating her withered eyes.
Witnessing such a terrifying scene, Qiao Wan's mouth twitched.
Miss, your eyeballs are about to fall out!
With a quick step, Qiao Wan swiftly caught Wang Ruyi's almost falling eyeball and put it back into her eye socket. Qiao Wan sighed resignedly and said, "Alright, I'll go out and explore with you."
The ghost market knows no day or night, and for these three days, it's been all darkness.
Jumping down from the window, they walked through the ghost market. There were figures with missing arms and legs, others holding their own heads, and some completely charred. Along the way, countless dark and mysterious substances fell down.
Though trapped in the cracks of the wall, she had successfully turned into a mummy, but it couldn't stop her strong desire to be beautiful.
"Is this pretty?"
The woman smiled, revealing a row of yellow teeth. Layers of dried skin piled up on her face, giving her a rather horrifying appearance.
Unaware of the situation, Ruyi happily placed the coral hairpin on her head.
Without batting an eyelash, Qiao Wan answered decisively, "It's pretty."
The love for beauty is natural for humans!
Regardless of gender, appearance, or whether they are humans or ghosts, everyone has the right to be beautiful.
Looking at the gold-and-gem-studded rose flower hairpin on the female corpse's head, Qiao Wan felt herself wavering in that moment of time.
It's pretty!
The petals of the flower are lifelike, surrounding a shimmering ruby.
Qiao Wan's eyes lit up.
The row of jewelry displayed on the table, under the reflection of the light, shimmered brightly.
The rose flower hairpin is pretty, the lotus patterned white jade bracelet is pretty, the white jade pearl earrings are pretty, and even the pink jade butterfly bow is pretty!
"This one is pretty." Qiao Wan calmly picked up the pink jade butterfly bow in front of her and placed it on the forehead of the female corpse.
"Really?" Ruyi touched the bow on her head and said, "I can't see it, can you help me take a look?"
Ruyi asked, "Boss, do you have a mirror here?"
So, under the gaze of everyone, a cold and lonely handsome guy holding a sword and a girl wearing a red wedding dress, these strange duo, happily picked up the shiny jewelry in front of them.
And from time to time, conversations like this appeared:
"You look good wearing this..."
"I feel like this suits you better..."
But then, a hesitant male voice broke the harmonious and loving scene in front of them.
"Taoist Friend Lu?"
A young boy with a pink bow on his head turned his head excitedly.
Recognizing a familiar figure in the ghost market, Qiao Wan's heart hesitated for a moment. After struggling internally, she finally asked, not expecting to see this kind of scene with Meng Canglang : ...
...
After accepting Wang Ruyi's invitation to go shopping together, Qiao Wan opened her eyes in Buping College and returned to reality.
Thinking about everything in the ghost market, Qiao Wan still felt a bit dazed in her heart. After snapping out of it, she silently scolded herself.
Venerable One Miaofa felt very ashamed for having such emotions.
However, there was another matter that she needed to solve urgently.
Venerable One Miaofa had promised to guide her in her practice, and this practice included both big and small tasks. The small tasks had already been completed in the Ghost Market, and now it was time to focus on the big tasks.
Getting up from the bed, she looked at herself in the mirror and her expression became complicated.
In the mirror, the young girl had a bow on her head and her lips were pursed tightly.
She needed to decisively eliminate this seedling.
Qiao Wan clenched her fists without any emotion, widened her eyes, and took a deep breath.
Love and emotions would only slow down my practice!
After two failed crushes, Qiao Wan didn't think she had the courage to start a third doomed crush.
She might be truly foolish.
Qiao Wan silently adjusted the bow on her head, thinking with sadness and anger.
Just then, there was a gentle knocking on the door.
A disciple of Buping whispered, "Master, Venerable One has arrived."
Even though Qiao Wan had prepared herself, she still felt a little scared and nervously looked in the mirror.
She couldn't do it completely.
She walked out calmly even though she couldn't do it completely.
Qiao Wan felt ashamed as she tightly pursed her lips. She struggled in her heart for a while and quietly said to herself, "Tell Venerable One... I... I feel a little unwell. Let's forget about practicing today. When I feel better tomorrow, I'll go and apologize to Venerable One."
