Chapter 187: Chapter 155: What Ghost Dares to Steal Her Ladyship’s Husband?

’Where did this alluring ghost come from?’

’Are Grandpa and I really having a run of romantic luck?’

Jiang Yi’s thoughts raced, but his expression remained calm.

A faint smile suddenly appeared on his delicate face, as fair as a blank sheet of paper:

"My name is Jiang, a humble Ghost Cultivator from Dongxiang of Wanshou Country. And what might I call you, miss?"

The female ghost, holding her own head, answered with a beaming smile:

"You may call me Cui Ying. Is this your first time in Cumulus Cloud Grotto, young master? I’ve never seen the likes of you before."

Jiang Yi didn’t answer directly. Instead, he picked up the wine vessel from the low table, the heart’s blood within it sloshing gently.

He toyed with it for a moment, then said slowly:

"Surely, Lady Cui, you can’t remember every ghost who has ever visited Cumulus Cloud Grotto?"

Hearing this, Cui Ying gently brought the head in her hand back up, reattaching it to her slender neck.

Her originally terrifying appearance instantly transformed into one of stunning beauty, her face as lovely as a shelled water caltrop, her skin like powdered, solidified cream.

Her almond-shaped eyes were especially captivating. The slight upward tilt at the corners held a hint of playful resentment, and combined with their bright, shimmering gaze, they could ignite a fire in the heart of even a ghost, making one want to throw her down and ravish her.

"You jest, young master."

She raised a hand to tuck a strand of dark hair behind her ear, her tone soft and alluring:

"How could those filthy things ever catch my eye? Only a handsome gentleman like you, young master, is worthy of being remembered by me."

As if he had expected this, Jiang Yi said nonchalantly:

"Then I must be more sentimental than Lady Cui. Of all the female ghosts in this hall, my eyes have room for you alone. There is no space for any other."

Cui Ying froze for a moment, then looked up at Jiang Yi.

The young gentleman had calm eyes and profound pupils. Although the yin energy around him was dense, it wasn’t murky; instead, it exuded a certain cold clarity.

’Among all the ghosts of the Bottomless Abyss, he’s truly a rare treasure!’

While Cui Ying was lost in thought, she heard Jiang Yi ask:

"What? Don’t you believe me, Lady Cui?"

Sitting at the table, Jiang Yi suddenly leaned forward and placed a hand on Cui Ying’s pale wrist. It was a forward gesture, but he performed it with natural ease.

"But I truly feel as if I’ve known you forever, Lady Cui, a special kind of closeness."

’This young gentleman is so brazen!’

Cui Ying instinctively wanted to snap at him, but looking at that clean face, as fair as a blank sheet of paper, she couldn’t muster any anger. The furious words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

She felt an inexplicable heat rise in her cheeks. Some of her usual seductive charm faded, replaced by the bashfulness of a young maiden.

"Young master, please don’t act like this in public."

Cui Ying turned her face slightly, avoiding Jiang Yi’s gaze.

Jiang Yi immediately withdrew his hand, his expression turning serious:

"I am by no means a frivolous person; I have always been composed and proper. It is only upon meeting a peerless beauty like you today, Lady Cui, that I found myself unable to control my emotions and lost my composure."

After this speech, Cui Ying found it hard to resist. Looking at his handsome face, any words from him sounded pleasant and soothing.

’When did Xiao Jiang learn these tricks?’

’I, this True Master, haven’t even started teaching him yet!’

Curled up in Jiang Yi’s arms, True Master Xuanmiao’s eyes went wide.

"Young master, you have such a sweet tongue. You’re quite used to teasing me."

Cui Ying gently pushed away Jiang Yi’s hand, trying her best to dispel the romantic thoughts.

’Right now, business is more important.’

She deliberately tried to get closer, making small talk:

"Are you also here for Ghost Grandma’s wedding feast, young master?"

Jiang Yi nodded.

"I usually stay in my Cave Mansion for Cultivation, absorbing turbid yin and cleansing myself of heavy baleful qi, so I rarely go out. I heard that Ghost Grandma’s search for a groom in Cumulus Cloud Grotto was quite the event, so I rushed over to see it for myself."

’So he’s a fledgling ghost.’

Cui Ying’s doubts were dispelled. She covered her mouth and chuckled softly:

"I am a frequent guest at Cumulus Cloud Grotto. If there’s anything you don’t understand, young master, feel free to ask."

"May I ask, Lady Cui, why does Ghost Grandma want to find someone from the Mortal World to marry? Doesn’t that go against the natural order of things?"

Jiang Yi didn’t hold back. To handle an alluring ghost, one had to take the initiative; being too reserved would only make one seem naive.

This was a lesson Jiang Yi had learned from his long, unattached journey through the world of romance: men and women love to test their skills against a master.

Only when they get older do they turn around and start to prefer pure innocence.

Cui Ying was happy to talk more with this handsome young gentleman and answered patiently:

"This involves the ’Yang-marrying-Yin’ practice that was prevalent long ago in the [Ghost Dao]..."

After hearing Cui Ying’s words, Jiang Yi’s mind stirred. ’Could the ’stirring of a marriage fate’ shown by the Celestial Book be fulfilled here?’

’Marry a female ghost?’

’Lend her my destiny so she can deceive the Celestial Lord of the Mortal World?’

Heh.

Jiang Yi sneered inwardly. He would rather starve or freeze to death than sell his body to compromise!

Just as the two were chatting animatedly, the drowned ghost who had previously occupied the seat returned. Seeing Cui Ying and Jiang Yi hitting it off, he flew into a rage:

"You little bitch!"

A fiendish aura erupted from between Cui Ying’s brows. She had no pleasantries for such an ugly ghost.

Her slender, jade-like hand swept out, as if strumming a pipa!

With a THWACK, the drowned ghost was sent spinning like a top, then exploded into a cloud of black mist!

Wisps of yin energy scattered in all directions, causing the crowd of ghosts outside the hall to look up, their eyes crimson. They simultaneously dropped the dismembered limbs in their hands and scrambled madly for the drowned ghost’s fragmented soul.

"I didn’t frighten you, did I, young master?"

Having finished her business, Cui Ying turned around, once again assuming her bonelessly delicate and seductively charming appearance.

"Lady Cui’s heroic bearing just makes me all the more willing to fall at your feet."

The words were extremely flirtatious, but coming from Jiang Yi, they didn’t sound cloying at all.

"Oh, young master, were you born knowing how to sweet-talk women?"

The corners of Cui Ying’s eyes crinkled. She wanted to say a few more intimate words and arrange to meet again in the future, but a loud GONG from a striking gong interrupted her.

Immediately after, drums and music erupted in unison, and a festive atmosphere filled the hall.

Jiang Yi looked over and finally saw Yang Xun, who was tightly bound and being shoved forward.

He was dressed in wedding clothes, wearing a black cap and black boots—the very image of a bridegroom.

"Xiao Jiang, when you see that old grandma later, won’t you have to call her ’Grandma’?"

True Master Xuanmiao poked his cat head out and couldn’t help but lick his fur. ’If I could swallow all these ghosts and Fierce Fiends,’ he thought, ’I could undo a bit of my seal and recover some of my Merit.’

Jiang Yi shook his head with a smile, communicating with the Cat Master using his Divine Sense:

"That Ghost Grandma is at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer. If she were to treat Grandpa sincerely, I would be willing to let this marriage happen."

"Unfortunately, the old ghost only covets Grandpa’s destiny as a living being from the Mortal World."

True Master Xuanmiao meowed twice, full of curiosity:

"But Xiao Jiang, how can you possibly fight someone at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer! Even if she’s a Ghost Cultivator and restrained by your Bing Ding Fire, the gap in Cultivation is still there..."

Jiang Yi’s eyelids lowered slightly as he gazed at the heart’s blood gradually congealing in the wine vessel.

"Since I dared to come, I’m naturally confident I can rescue Grandpa. A Ghost Grandma at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer is powerful, but I might not have to be the one to make a move."

Seeing Jiang Yi remain silent for a long time, Cui Ying took the initiative to lean closer:

"Young master, do you know the origins of this Ghost Grandma?"

Seeing Cui Ying being so tactful, Jiang Yi didn’t hesitate to flash a brilliant smile that dazzled the alluring ghost.

"I must ask Lady Cui to enlighten me."

Cui Ying lowered her head to compose her Heart Spirit before speaking:

"This Ghost Grandma has a complicated and extraordinary background. In her early years, she was a Demon Cultivator—a thousand-year-old pagoda tree that gained sentience after being nourished by yin energy. Later, after she cultivated to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer and took human form, she was captured and ’converted’ by a monk from the Ximizhou Continent."

"For some reason, that monk went to [Fengdu], where he happened to run into the Eight Sceneries Palace launching an attack and unfortunately perished."

"This not only allowed the Grandma to regain her freedom but also left her with several Magical Artifacts, and even a sarira relic."

Whoa!

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow. ’So this ’Godmother’ is so wealthy. No wonder she can afford to keep a horde of ghosts to guard her home.’

’I wonder if she gives a dowry?’

"Lady Cui, you certainly know a lot of details."

Cui Ying giggled, her tone full of meaning:

"But of course! Because I visit so often, the Grandma even said she wanted to adopt me as her goddaughter!"

Jiang Yi said, "Oh?" and studied Cui Ying closely, thinking that this marriage was likely to have some complications.

In the blink of an eye, Yang Xun had been escorted to the front of the main hall. A long-tongued old crone shouted:

"Let us welcome the Grandma!"

A sinister wind gusted, and dark clouds blotted out the light in the hall as a figure slowly materialized.

The old crone had a full head of silver hair, her skin was shriveled, and her eye sockets were deep-set. She was wrapped in auspicious red wedding clothes, her entire being exuding a ghastly ghost-like aura, as if she had just been lifted from a coffin.

Yang Xun looked back and saw this sight, his face turning deathly pale with horror.

’What am I going to do?!’

Even though he prided himself on his iron will, if he really had to go through with the ceremony and enter the bridal chamber, he feared he wouldn’t be able to swallow the humiliation and... rise to the occasion.

"Misery!"

When the Ghost Grandma stepped into the front hall, the long-tongued old crone shouted again:

"The auspicious time has arrived! The bride and groom will now pay their respects!"

The Ghost Grandma looked at Yang Xun, her voice hoarse, her laugh like a night owl’s hoot:

"He’s a bit old, but his destiny is strong. A fine husband."

Yang Xun wanted to cry but had no tears left. He silently prayed to all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens, hoping someone would come to his rescue and save him from this calamity.

"Young master, don’t run off later."

Cui Ying leaned in close, her breath as fragrant as an orchid, her slender fingers tracing the back of Jiang Yi’s hand.

"Otherwise, I won’t be able to protect you."

A glint appeared in Jiang Yi’s eyes. ’It seems the ’variable’ mentioned in the Celestial Book is this alluring ghost, Cui Ying.’

’But she’s only at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. How could she dare to disrupt the Ghost Grandma’s wedding?’

"Grandma! You’d rather marry this old fossil than give me the time of day!"

Just as the ceremony was about to begin, a thunderous roar crashed into the front hall. A massive figure, as imposing as a mountain with flame-like red brows, bulldozed its way into the mansion.

The continuous feast outside was sent flying, and all the ghosts blocking the way exploded into pieces.

"The Ghost King of Shangcao Prefecture!"

"Why is he here?"

"Rumor has it the Ghost King is infatuated with the Grandma, and has pursued her for years..."

The noisy discussions from the tables filled his ears, bringing a strange expression to Jiang Yi’s face.

He had thought there would be some intricate scheming and deep-seated grudges, with a few Fierce Fiends showing up to wreak havoc in Ghost Grandma’s Cumulus Cloud Grotto. Turns out, after all this time, it was just this kind of trashy soap opera plot.

"Red-Brow, get out!"

The Ghost Grandma’s eyes blazed with fury:

"If you dare ruin my wedding, I will make you pay!"

But the Red-Browed Ghost King, who ruled Shangcao Prefecture, was a lovesick fool. He said mournfully:

"I know! Grandma, you look down on me for being a naturally born ghost, unworthy of a Ghost Cultivator like you!"

"But how can a ’Yang-marrying-Yin’ be accomplished so easily! And how can the Celestial Lord be so easily deceived!"

"Turn back before it’s too late, won’t you? We can just stay in [Fengdu] and be a ghost couple..."

The Ghost Grandma was unmoved, her face turning harsh:

"Red-Brow, if you keep spouting nonsense, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

As she spoke, a foul, thick smoke surged from her body, like layers of black clouds blanketing the sky, and smashed a huge hole in the roof.

Within such dense, baleful yin qi, there was a dazzlingly bright, round object that shot out golden light.

"Grandma, I know I can’t defeat your Relic Buddha Light! But today, I’ve invited the Great-Grandmother to step in!"

The Red-Browed Ghost King knelt, prostrating himself as he pleaded:

"The Ghost Grandma of Cumulus Cloud Grotto wishes to perform a Yang-marrying-Yin with her ghost body, violating the Profound Laws of the Eighteen Surges! I implore the Great-Grandmother to administer punishment!"

Outside the front hall, the courtyard walls collapsed.

Suddenly, dozens of large, burly servant ghosts with green faces and long fangs came rushing over. They carried a luxurious palanquin inlaid with pearls and jade, with ghost soldiers and generals clearing the path before it and gusts of sinister wind following behind.

"What a grand entrance."

Jiang Yi muttered to himself, ’And whose entourage is this?’

A large, fat girl lay in the palanquin, not paying much attention, just flipping through a storybook as if she had reached an exciting part:

"’Relying on a few of that bald donkey’s Magical Artifacts, and she thinks she can imitate Her Ladyship? What a piece of trash. Is she even worthy?’"

The fat girl muttered to herself, then barked:

"You’re the Ghost Grandma, right? Surrender at once!

Dare to resist again? I’ll flatten Cumulus Cloud Grotto!"

The Ghost Grandma was filled with rage, her eyes practically shooting fire. ’That damned Red-Brow! To think he’d hook up with a big shot from the Eighteen-Layer Palace!’

"Hmm? You won’t give up until you’re at death’s door?"

The fat girl put down her storybook and was about to display a bit of her power when her expression suddenly changed. She stared intently at the thousand-year-old peach wood box!

’The red thread moved!’

The fat girl shot out of the palanquin and scanned her surroundings. The only living person from the Mortal World in the entire mansion was Yang Xun.

"’Huh? Isn’t he a little too old... Whatever, I’ll just grab him first!’"

With a shift in thought, the fat girl looked at the Ghost Grandma, who was in an impossible situation. Nine vicious heads swayed as they appeared.

’Where did this old ghost hag come from, daring to snatch a husband from Her Ladyship!’