A red BMW 320i started up, pulled out from between parking spaces, and headed towards the busy road in the distance. Soon, a silver-gray Lamborghini sports car roared past it.
In front of the Honglong Hotel, Huang Chen and his group, along with several security guards, stood there dumbfounded.
Xia Dan, who was at the very back of the crowd, clung tightly to Yu Xuan's arm, the look of fear still lingering on her pretty face.
Yu Xuan tilted his head, frowned, and after a long while muttered to himself, "What a ghost!"
The streetlights and the neon lights above the main entrance of the Red Dragon Hotel cast colorful rays of light, illuminating the surroundings as if it were daytime. Even the shadows of people on the ground were blurred and difficult to see. Where were there any ghosts or such things?
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 58: Little Diao is very serious.
For Xu Zhengyang, this was the first time he had used his divine powers to show off his power since he ascended to the divine throne!
Moreover, they were very arrogant, very awesome, and very awe-inspiring!
Before raising two ghosts whose lifespans hadn't ended, Xu Zhengyang had considered other ways to resolve the trouble Huang Chen was causing his sister. For example, he could simply hire four or five reliable and honest men who were both capable fighters to live in Beijing and protect his sister. Finding such people in the countryside would cost around 200,000 yuan a year, enough to make them wholeheartedly and happily carry out these tasks. Alternatively, he could simply shower his sister with money, buying her a house and a luxury car, letting her know that Xu Rouyue was also a wealthy girl, not some phoenix rising from the ashes, and making her open her eyes wide…
Xu Zhengyang was really uneasy about the first method, and it was also uncertain. What if something really happened in a place that was thousands of miles away from the capital?
The second method might not be effective, and it's too nouveau riche-style; if it's exposed, it'll be incredibly embarrassing.
So when he learned that he could raise ghosts and use his divine power as a clerk to make ghosts whose lifespans had not yet ended possess bodies outside his jurisdiction, he thought of... This was the most direct, simplest, most intimidating method that would leave him with no worries.
Just like the words he left for Huang Chen: "If you still don't learn your lesson, I don't mind letting you kill your father or mother with a knife... Oh, and you'd better burn incense and pray to the gods every day to bless my sister so that she can study in the capital safely."
Nobody's a fool. Such a bizarre, terrifying, and incomprehensible event would leave anyone shaken. Especially since… Xu Zhengyang can inexplicably control people's minds, making them do things they don't want to do, rendering them powerless. How terrifying is that? What if, in a fit of rage, he actually controls your body to kill your own parents? What a tragedy that would be! Even if you were allowed to kill just anyone, that would be a grave crime!
So right now, the rich young master Huang Chen should be most concerned about not anything else, but how to ensure that Xu Rouyue can live peacefully and safely every day while studying in the capital, without being disturbed or upset by anyone!
Otherwise, who knows if her mysterious and terrifying brother might use his own judgment to pin the blame on Huang Chen?
When Xu Zhengyang finally managed to get back to Ouyang Ying's house, exhausted, he collapsed onto the single bed in the study. He felt incredibly relieved and relaxed...
Although, it was really too tiring!
However, he didn't complain at all about being a clerk. Why did doing such a small task require so much mental and physical exertion? Because... it was totally worth it! Moreover, this drain on his supernatural powers and mental energy was constantly replenished by faith, so there was no need to worry too much. He figured Huang Chen and the others wouldn't dare to take advantage of Xu Zhengyang's exhaustion and inability to control the ghosts to launch a surprise attack; well, they didn't know either.
It's just a pity for those two ghosts who made great contributions to him; they will eventually find it difficult to survive in this world, nor will they be able to enter the underworld and reincarnate.
Xu Zhengyang felt a little guilty. He was a god, the land god who protected nine towns and ten villages, the chief administrator of the entire county. Yet he couldn't even protect the ghosts in his own territory whose lifespans hadn't ended. Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but recall a line from a traditional opera: "If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes."
"I'm not willing to accept this! I'm so reluctant!" Xu Zhengyang sat up, picked up the half-empty beverage bottle to use as an ashtray, and lit a cigarette.
What should he do? Frustrated, he said to the two ghosts in the county register in his mind, "Hey, I still don't know your names?"
"My name is Cheng Jinchang, and this is my wife, Cui Yao," the male ghost replied respectfully, making a prostrate kneeling gesture.
The female ghost seemed a little shy, only prostrating herself in worship without saying a word.
Xu Zhengyang thought to himself that no matter what kind of person you were when you were alive, it seems that once you become a ghost, you can never get rid of the fear of the gods. Although... it seems that I don't know how to punish ghosts right now, it seems that there is no need to punish them. They are still trembling with fear and dare not disobey in the slightest.
"You two did a good job," Xu Zhengyang nodded approvingly.
"I will obey the orders of the immortal."
“Sigh…” Xu Zhengyang sighed, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “I don’t want to hide anything from you. Actually… you are ghosts whose lifespan has not yet ended. You cannot be taken away by the underworld on your own. You can only stay in the world for seven days, just like other ghosts. After seven days, you may be completely destroyed.”
The two ghosts suddenly looked up, terrified. Humans have the greatest fear of death.
Becoming a ghost offers a small measure of comfort, knowing that even without retaining memories of their past life, they won't be completely and permanently annihilated; they can be reincarnated and continue as humans. This is news that brings joy and reassurance to both humans and ghosts! However, the sudden realization that their soul will be scattered and forever vanished is a devastating psychological blow…
Xu Zhengyang said with some guilt, "As the official in charge of the nine towns and ten townships of the county, I should protect the people and animals within my jurisdiction. However, my official rank is low and my divine power is limited. I can only temporarily place you into the county's divine artifact and use my divine power to nourish and protect you, ensuring your survival for forty-nine days..."
"Pah! Damn it, what time is it? Still acting all high and mighty, speaking in such a flowery way, putting on airs and acting all high and mighty," Xu Zhengyang muttered to himself. Then he said to the two ghosts, "Well, now that I've told you the truth, I'm naturally not entirely satisfied. In the remaining forty-nine days, I will definitely report to my superiors and seek a way for you two to enter the underworld and be reincarnated as humans. However... I can only say I will do my best, but I cannot guarantee anything!"
The two ghosts were already crying and sobbing.
After a while, Cheng Jinchang finally stopped crying. After kowtowing repeatedly, he looked up at Xu Zhengyang and said, "Sir, the fact that you can say these words shows that you are truly a just and upright official who protects the people and that you have really cared about us. You have even used up your divine power, but we have no complaints about you. Since this is our fate, we accept it. We are extremely grateful to you for treating us this way. We don't have much time left to live. In the next few dozen days, if there is anything you need us to do, just give the order. We dare to go through fire and water!"
At this moment, Cui Yao also raised her head and said crisply, "That's right, since we won't live much longer anyway, being able to do something for you, sir, is a way of repaying you for letting us live these extra days."
Xu Zhengyang was still thinking of asking these two ghosts what kind of bad luck they had suffered in their past lives, how they died before their lifespan was over? But then he heard a knock on the door and said, "Don't be too pessimistic for now, let me think of another way."
Having said that, Xu Zhengyang withdrew his thoughts from the county register, squinted at the doorway, and said, "Come in."
The door was turned open, and the young Diao Yishi chuckled as he slipped in: "Big brother, still not resting?"
Xu Zhengyang guessed it was this kid knocking on the door, and said with a smile, "Hmm, Xiao Diao, why haven't you gone back yet?"
"No, no, I just wanted to chat with you for a bit, hehe." Diao Yishi chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed, took out a pack of cigarettes with a purplish-red packaging, and surprisingly opened the cigarette box from the side, handing one to Xu Zhengyang and saying, "Brother, come on, have a smoke of this one."
"Hmm?" Xu Zhengyang didn't stand on ceremony. He threw the nearly burnt-out cigarette butt into the beverage bottle, took the cigarette that Diao Yishi offered, and casually asked with a smile, "You rich people smoke good cigarettes, how much is a pack?"
"More than two hundred."
"What?" Xu Zhengyang's hand trembled, almost dropping the cigarette he was holding. He stared at Diao Yishi and asked, "How much is a pack?"
“More than two hundred!” Diao Yishi replied very seriously.
Xu Zhengyang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried his best to remain calm. With a slight tremor, he reached out his hand and said, "Let me see what kind of cigarettes you want?"
"Here, Honghe." Diao Yishi handed it to him and said casually, "Here, take it. I still have some."
"No, no, I'm just looking." Xu Zhengyang quickly shook his head. My goodness, what's going on? Over two hundred yuan for a pack of fireworks? Are they trying to ruin their lives? Xu Zhengyang took it and examined it for a while, then handed it back to Diao Yishi, saying, "Alright, I can't afford this kind of treatment. I'll just try one."
Diao Yishi didn't force him. He lit a cigarette and said, "Brother Zhengyang, how did you manage to do that today? In front of my two older sisters at dinner. I know you wouldn't tell me even if I asked. Well, tell me now."
"Huh? What? How did you do that?" Xu Zhengyang feigned ignorance.
"Exactly, how did you use hypnosis to make those two idiots listen to you and beat up Huang Chen? Oh right, Huang Chen even slapped Yu Xuan twice later, that was so damn satisfying! Big brother, how did you do it? Can you teach me? I'll become your apprentice, um, I'll pay tuition, how much do you want!" Diao Yishi spoke like a machine gun, eager and excited.
Xu Zhengyang patted Diao Yishi on the shoulder with a smile and said, "Little Diao, it's not good to ask too many questions."
"Oh, I know, I know, I won't ask anymore." Diao Yishi nodded vigorously, then said somewhat dejectedly, "Big brother, I used to want to learn hypnosis, but after I learned about it, I found that hypnosis isn't as powerful as the legends say. Sigh... Big brother, tell me, is this a special ability of yours?"
"I guess so," Xu Zhengyang replied helplessly.
“Big brother…” Diao Yishi hesitated for a moment, then said with a mournful face, “Never mind, I won’t ask anymore, sigh.”
Xu Zhengyang was both amused and exasperated. He smoked a cigarette and said, "Xiao Diao, remember this: if you have a clear conscience, you won't be afraid of ghosts knocking at your door in the middle of the night..."
"What do you mean?"
"Huang Chen is in trouble because that bastard did something wrong."
"retribution?"
"Um."
"What does that have to do with special abilities? Does it mean only bad guys can be dealt with by special abilities? In other words, are special abilities only effective against bad guys?"
"Hehe, I guess so."
Diao Yishi was so anxious that he scratched his head and pleaded, "Brother... please stop trying to fool me, what's going on?"
"Alright, stop asking." Xu Zhengyang smiled and patted Diao Yishi on the shoulder, saying, "Anyway, don't be like Huang Chen in the future. Just because your family is rich doesn't mean you can act all high and mighty. You messed with the wrong people, and now you're the one who's going to suffer." After hesitating for a moment, Xu Zhengyang finally said, "There are gods watching over us!"
Diao Yishi trembled, his face full of disbelief, and said, "Big brother, you wouldn't happen to be... the legendary god, would you?"
Xu Zhengyang smiled and shook his head.
"Are you a cultivator?"
What is cultivation?
"You don't even understand this? Tch... You've never read any web novels, have you?"
Xu Zhengyang remained silent.
"Brother, can we be friends?" Diao Yishi asked with a fawning smile.
"We're friends now!"
“From now on, you’ll be my big brother. Let’s become sworn brothers!” Diao Yishi said seriously, “We’ll share the good times and the bad! We’ll chase girls together, spend money together, what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours… well, you decide. If you don’t want to give it to me, I won’t complain at all.”
“Nonsense…” Xu Zhengyang laughed loudly.
Diao Yishi chuckled awkwardly, then suddenly said, "Big brother, I'm going to race some cars later, why don't you come with me?"
"Speeding? Oh, you mean racing?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty good. Ever heard of the Thirteen Masters of the Third Ring Road? Compared to me, he can't even see my taillights!" Diao Yishi said proudly.
"No, no, that's dangerous." Xu Zhengyang quickly shook his head.
"It's so exciting, really..." Diao Yishi urged reluctantly.
Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Ouyang Ying angrily shouted, "Xiao Diao, are you still not going to change? I'm calling your uncle right now! You're still racing cars!"
"Ah? Cousin, my dear sister, please don't!" Diao Yishi hurriedly jumped up and ran to Ouyang Ying. He was over 1.8 meters tall and a head and a half taller than Ouyang Ying, who was wearing slippers, but he bowed and scraped as he spoke kindly.
"Hmph, get home and go to sleep right now, I'm calling your uncle right now!" Ouyang Ying pinched Diao Yishi's ear and threatened him, "If you're even a minute late, your uncle will confiscate your car and bank cards!"
"Uh, okay." Diao Yishi turned to Xu Zhengyang helplessly and said, "Big brother, I'll go first. My cousin keeps tattling on me. Sigh, big brother, I'll come find you tomorrow."
Xu Zhengyang smiled and nodded.
"Goodnight, Zhengyang-gege!" Ouyang Ying walked behind, gently closing the door. Gone was the fierce look she had given her cousin earlier; instead, her face was gentle and charming. She even gave him a kiss on the lips. Seeing Xu Zhengyang's face turn bright red with embarrassment, she giggled mischievously, "Zhengyang-gege, you're really...so mysterious, so cool!"
The door closed.
Xu Zhengyang looked stunned.
Lying in bed, Xu Zhengyang closed his eyes with a smile. He genuinely liked Diao Yishi. Although this young man was also a wealthy playboy, he was straightforward, daring, and didn't seem to have much ill intent. According to some anecdotes Ouyang Ying had told him, this young man seemed to truly admire chivalrous acts, often standing up for the weak and always proclaiming himself a modern-day chivalrous hero!
Sigh, the children of rich families! Xu Zhengyang squinted, feeling sleepy and wanting to fall asleep.
His phone rang at this inopportune moment. Looking at the number, he saw it was an unknown number. Xu Zhengyang answered, "Hello?"
"Hello, I am Yu Xuan."
"Huh?" Xu Zhengyang was taken aback. How did he know his phone number?
"Excuse me, I had Xia Dan get your phone number from Rouyue. You don't mind, do you?" Yu Xuan spoke politely and calmly, making it impossible for anyone to feel any dislike.
"What's up?"
"How about we have lunch together tomorrow at noon?"
Xu Zhengyang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay."
"Okay, let's get in touch again tomorrow."
After exchanging a few more polite words, the call ended.
Xu Zhengyang yawned. "It's just a meal... no big deal. Do you think I'm afraid of any trouble you might cause? You probably just want to befriend me and curry favor, right? But just in case, and to completely eliminate any potential problems, after I leave, to ensure my sister's safety in the capital, I must have a meal with Yu Xuan and see what he's up to."
Volume Two, Gong Cao, Chapter 59: It's better to resolve enmity than to create it.