I looked at Tammy Blade in surprise. In just two hours, she had already grasped so much. I had only explained the basics, but Tammy picked it up quickly—completely different from that fat guy above, and her attitude was excellent.
Watching Taotie lay out a formation using grains of barley porridge, the more I looked, the less I understood. Its structure was completely different from the one above; the Yin and Yang components were a chaotic mess. It seemed disordered, but in truth, it was a highly complex array. Because the interplay of Yin and Yang kept changing, there were countless possibilities. If you didn't understand the principles behind the formation and simply arranged the points where you sensed Yin and Yang, you would never find the formation's weakest spot.
"Can you understand it?"
I scratched my head. At this moment, Taotie smiled.
"It's alright, Ruoxi, you should go back first so you won't be discovered. When I get out, I'll find a way to help you escape. If those lamas try to stop us, I won't hold back with my knife."
I swallowed, catching the murderous glint in Tammy Blade's eyes. I nodded and slipped away for now.
When I returned to the fifth underground level, I happened to pass by Logan's cell, and he started shouting.
"How is it? What are those people like down there?"
I shook my head.
"There's a ghost locked up down there, lots of white bones, and a woman named Taotie—she's an acquaintance of my husband."
I asked, and Mona Ouyang let out a weary sigh.
I looked at Logan, who was leaning against the window, puzzled. He stretched out his hand.
"Can't your hand reach outside? Can't you do something else with it?"
I asked, and Logan snapped his fingers. Instantly, ghostly energy poured from his outstretched hand, pulling over an oil lamp.
When have I ever lied to you, Roxie? I’m nothing like John Chou, that scheming bastard. He knew you’d get locked up and still made you deliver the message—pretty damn rotten.
"You talk like you're something special."
I shot Logan a sideways glance. He chuckled.
Not much of a big shot. In the Hall of Bloodbane, I probably rank twentieth. My real talent isn’t fighting—it’s surviving beatings. Seriously, when it comes to getting thrashed, I’m number one in the Hall of Bloodbane. Used to help those maniacs practice, got turned into a punching bag more times than I can count.
That ghost has no consciousness, but it hasn't caught the fatal ghost plague. That strikes me as odd. The only people I know who can forge ghosts are from the Ghost Syndicate. Could it be...
I’m not telling you that. Maybe in this dream, a dead lama told me. As for your situation, I’ll go check later. That lama seems to know a lot, but about the ghost downstairs and Tammy Blade—you’d better not let them out yet. If a fight breaks out, it’ll ruin John Chou’s plans.
That ghost really was a failed creation made by Chimei Wangliang when he was active in this region long ago. He discarded it, but then it went on to destroy a tribe, went mad, and started devouring people and ghosts, turning the place into chaos. Eventually, Chimei Wangliang came back and took care of the ghost himself, leaving it here in the Golden Temple.
"It's true. I used to be Old Man Zhuang's punching bag when he practiced boxing—felt great, actually."
I sighed, too tired to keep bantering with Logan. I needed to get some sleep while the ghost downstairs was quiet. But thinking about it, these lamas were really excessive, locking Taotie up for so many years.
"You said you saw Ethan before. Did he say anything?"
There's nothing I can do. Ethan Zhang has lost all his memories of the past, and I can't tell him about his history either. I've met him twice, and I'm still gathering strength to go over there.
Once I entered my room, I lay down and quickly drifted off to sleep.
In a daze, I smelled something fragrant. Then I opened my eyes and found myself in Ouyang Meng's world, beneath a big tree. The table before me was covered with all my favorite foods.
Don't even think about it. You can't do it, and you're human—if anything goes wrong, you're dead. Your consciousness would never return from the rift between dream and illusion. If you want to give your body to another Roxie, I could help with that.
I swallowed and, without thinking much, started eating.
"Where are Yin Choujian and the others?"
I asked, and Ouyang Meng sighed helplessly.
"They're trying to figure something out outside the formation. If they rush in, it would cause a huge commotion."
I responded with an 'oh,' feeling a bit annoyed as I stared at Ouyang Meng.
"Are you sure I really won't get hungry or thirsty?"
"When have I ever lied to you, Lan Ruoxi? I'm not like Yin Choujian, that scheming guy. He knew you'd get locked up and still made you deliver the message. That's pretty rotten."
After thinking it over, I decided to let Tammy Blade out first. At least the lamas wouldn't be able to stop her, and the two of us could fight our way out together. But I didn't want to kill anyone, so I planned to make an agreement with Tammy Blade first.
"Whatever, as long as I'm not hungry or thirsty when I wake up. I really don't want to eat that stuff again. And in there..."
Just thinking about being locked up made me angry, but after a while, I finished eating and felt much better.
"What is Yin Choujian really up to? And Ouyang Meng, how do you know the principles of that formation?"
"I won't tell you that. Or maybe, in this dream, there was a dead lama who told me. As for your situation, I'll ask around later. That lama seems to know a lot, but about the ghost downstairs and Taotie—you'd better not let them out yet. If a fight breaks out, it'll ruin Yin Choujian's plans."
A heart-wrenching roar hit me head-on. I jumped—the ghost had awakened again. I rushed over and peered through the window, eyes wide in shock. Tammy Blade was right next to the ghost.
"So it really is a plan. Can you tell me what the plan is?"
Ouyang Meng looked troubled, so I grabbed him.
"Say it, what exactly is the plan?"
"Fine, I'll tell you. Yin Choujian wants the relics of the Living Buddhas who passed away here."
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I gasped.
"Why would anyone want the bones of the dead?"
"It's probably for war. The Underworld sent people to negotiate before, but they were ignored. Instead, the lamas with real power from all over have gathered here. So the lamas in the earlier temples are mostly ordinary people who don't know much, while the real gathering of powerful lamas is here."
I nodded in understanding.
"What's the point of wanting people's bones, anyway? Ugh, it's such a hassle. I can't stay here any longer."
Ouyang Meng gave a bitter smile.
"Forget it, consider it a favor. Next time you enter a dream, I'll take you to see other places in the dream world."
I agreed, then leisurely went to the riverside, took off my shoes, and dipped my feet in the water. The chill spread through my body, and I felt much better.
"By the way, do you know what's up with the ghost locked in the sixth basement?"
I asked, and Ouyang Meng looked doubtful but nodded anyway.
"I know, but what do you want to do with that information? Planning to let it out?"
I shook my head.
"That ghost has no consciousness, but it hasn't caught the fatal ghost plague. That strikes me as odd. In this world, the only people I know who can forge ghosts are from the Ghost Mound. Could it be..."
Ouyang Meng nodded.
"That ghost really was a failed creation made by Chimei Wangliang when he was active in this region long ago. He discarded it, but then it went on to destroy a tribe, went mad, and started devouring people and ghosts, turning the place into chaos. Eventually, Chimei Wangliang came back and took care of the ghost himself, leaving it here in Golden Temple."
"That guy was truly evil, but he's dead now. Serves him right."
Just then, something occurred to me and I sat up straight.
"You said you saw Qingyuan before. Did he say anything?"
"There's nothing I can do. Zhang Qingyuan has lost all his memories of the past, and I can't tell him about his history either. I've met him twice, and I'm still gathering strength to go over there."
I immediately smiled.
"Can you take me over there?"
"Don't even think about it. You can't do it, and you're human—if anything goes wrong, you're dead. Your consciousness would never return from the rift between dream and illusion. If you want to give your body to another Lan Ruoxi, I could help with that."
I was just asking. Of course I knew it was impossible to enter the illusion, but what puzzled me was why Qingyuan existed there.
Half-awake, I heard a commotion and snapped awake, but immediately felt refreshed. After the corpse that brought food and drink left, I stepped outside.
"Tell me, Miss Ruoxi, did you just enter the Nightmare Ghost Sovereign's dream?"
"How did you know?"
Just as I spoke, Logan pressed his round, plate-like face against the barred window, grinning and sniffing.
"I can smell the scent of dreams. Think about it—do you have any other way to get me out of here?"
"If you won't listen to me, there's nothing I can do. I'll have to leave first."
After thinking it over, I decided to let Taotie out first. At least the lamas wouldn't be able to stop her, and the two of us could fight our way out together. But I didn't want to kill anyone, so I planned to make an agreement with Taotie first.
"I'm heading down. Take care of yourself."
As I spoke, Logan sighed behind me.
"All I know is how to eat—so dumb. Miss Ruoxi, won't you help me think of a way?"
I ignored Logan and went straight down.
A heart-wrenching roar greeted me. I jumped in fright—the ghost had awakened again. I rushed over and looked through the window, eyes wide with shock. Taotie was actually beside the ghost.