Night Mountain!
Located near the Yin-Yang Road leading to Tonglin County, Night Mountain is home to Night King, a formidable ghost king in the Netherworld.
For decades, Night Mountain and Tonglin County’s Yin Division have clashed in over a dozen battles. Though Night Mountain often lost, it prevented the Yin Division from establishing a foothold in the Netherworld.
Thus, when the Yin Division’s army marched into the Netherworld, targeting Night Mountain, it shocked the mountain’s ghosts and the surrounding wandering spirits.
…
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
“Kill!”
No words wasted, the City God’s yin soldiers clashed with Night Mountain’s ghost soldiers, fighting to the death.
Killing intent pierced the clouds, shouts shaking the wilderness.
The yin soldiers swept through, scattering countless ghost soldiers.
“Buzz!”
A tremor shook Night Mountain, and a three-zhang-tall black shadow appeared atop it.
“Xin Zhanting! Don’t push too far!”
Night King’s voice, no longer the clear tone of his avatar, was hoarse as grinding stone.
“Night King, what if I do push too far? Come kill me if you dare!”
Xin Zhanting laughed heartily, brandishing his long blade, charging alone toward Night King.
“Hmph! You dare invade Night Mountain? I’ll make you pay!”
Night King raised both hands, and the entire mountain trembled, mist thickening.
“This old ghost has refined Night Mountain, linking it to the Netherworld’s earth veins, using it to fight. Everyone, be cautious,” a deputy general shouted, leading the troops to continue the battle.
In just half a year, Night Mountain lost four ghost generals, including Yan Jie, leaving only two century-old ghosts. They struggled against the Yin Division’s four deputy generals, barely holding on with the advantage of terrain and numbers, or they’d have been wiped out.
Xin Zhanting turned into a blur, shooting toward the peak, “Take my blade!”
“Roar!”
A white tiger phantom burst from the blade, pouncing at Night King.
“Break!”
A massive fist struck, colliding head-on with the tiger phantom.
“Boom!”
“Chhh!”
Blade qi scattered, black mist dispersed.
Xin Zhanting was startled, “Well, damn! You’ve fused Nether Mountain stone into your ghost body, turning yourself into a Nether Stone Ghost Corpse?”
“Xin Zhanting, retreat now, and I won’t pursue you!”
“Nonsense, you think I’d trust a sly old ghost like you?
Hiding for decades, you were planning a big move. If you hadn’t coveted incense and lost the Nether Heart at Peach Blossom Manor, you could’ve refined yourself with incense qi, merged the Nether Heart into your corpse, and become a ghost immortal!
Then what chance would I have?”
Elsewhere, Lu Zheng slew a ghost soldier with one sword strike, collecting a strand of fortune light, and gazed at the three-zhang giant atop the mountain, tongue clicking.
Damn, he’d just mocked Night King for losing both his prize and his forces, only to realize this guy was a cunning mastermind.
But thinking about it, if not for him, Night King might’ve actually become a ghost immortal.
That thought gave Lu Zheng a small sense of accomplishment.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Xin Zhanting circled Night King, his blade light cutting through the mist, carving deep gashes into Night King’s ghost body.
Night King moved like a mountain, his fist swinging.
“Boom!”
Night King stood firm, while Xin was knocked back three zhang.
“Damn, your ghost body’s tough! Even with half your cultivation lost, you’re this strong? If you’d reclaimed the Nether Heart, would you be leading an army against me?”
“Take my blade! Roar!”
Xin wasn’t to be underestimated, his strength surpassing Night King’s. Though Night King had become a Nether Stone Ghost Corpse, losing half his cultivation kept him within Xin’s reach.
Without the Nether Heart and incense qi to refine his ghost body, the corpse was iron-hard but stiff, and unless pre-planned, he was still outmatched.
So…
Barring surprises, Night King’s decades of scheming would end today at Xin Zhanting’s hands.
“Xin Zhanting! Aren’t you afraid that seizing Night Mountain will draw other ghost kings to surround you?”
“Not afraid. I’ll kill you first, and deal with the rest later!”
“I’ll promise you, Night Mountain and Tonglin County’s Yin Division will keep the peace. Once I become a ghost immortal, the Netherworld has plenty of places for me. No need to harvest mortal yang qi for shortcuts.”
Xin scoffed, “And the Nether Heart and Peach Blossom Shrine’s incense?”
Night King fell silent. The shrine’s thriving incense and the lost Nether Heart were his path to ascension, things he had to reclaim.
“Have Shen Ying return my Nether Heart and offer ten years of incense.”
“Pfft!” Xin chuckled, charging with his blade.
…
Tonglin County’s Yin Division battled Night Mountain. Night King couldn’t defeat Xin Zhanting, and his ghost soldiers couldn’t match the Yin Division’s forces.
In just an hour, Night Mountain was reduced to a single battlefield.
“Ah!”
Night King roared, “Xin Zhanting, when I return as a ghost immortal, I’ll slaughter Tonglin County’s Yin Division and scatter your soul!”
With that, he turned, aiming to flee down the mountain.
But Night King’s escape was opposed by both Xin Zhanting and Lu Zheng.
“Stay right there!”
“Supreme Primordial, Three Pure Ones’ Decree, Freeze!”
“Hm? Little Taoist!”
Lu Zheng had hidden with his breath-concealing technique among the Yin Division soldiers. Night King, not yet able to envelop the battlefield with divine sense, hadn’t noticed him.
However…
With Lu Zheng’s cultivation, against Night King’s current Nether Stone Ghost Corpse, the Binding Spell was less effective than on his avatar, holding him for only a single breath.
But…
Wasn’t one breath enough?
Xin Zhanting roared, his white tiger blade light slashing at the ghost corpse’s neck.
“Ah!”
One strike left a deep gash, but Night King could move again.
“Die!”
Night King bellowed, his massive hand pressing toward Lu Zheng like a millstone.
“Supreme Primordial, Three Pure Ones’ Decree, Freeze!”
Lu Zheng spun, slipping behind Night King.
“I freeze! I freeze! Freeze, freeze, freeze!”
Though the Binding Spell consumed true qi, with Xin Zhanting nearby, Lu Zheng spared no effort.
Each breath Night King was frozen, a critical wound appeared.
In just seven pauses, the defenseless Night King’s head was severed by Xin Zhanting, held in his hands.
“Ah!”
Night King howled, a wisp of black smoke rising from the head, trying to burrow into the ground.
Xin Zhanting, quick-eyed, slashed horizontally, obliterating most of the smoke.
Lu Zheng followed up, dozens of exorcism talismans surging, erupting into a three-foot-wide burst of azure light.
“Chhh! Chhh! Chhh!”
The black smoke dissipated.
“Buzz!”
One hundred thirty-two strands of fortune light were absorbed.
As dawn approached, it was the perfect time to drink atop Night Mountain.
…
“Creak!”
Lu Zheng pushed open his door, stretching under the sun, “Nice sunlight today!”
“Lu Lang.”
The door of the neighboring courtyard opened, and Liu Qingyan stepped out with a bamboo basket.
“Ooh!”
“Pop! Crackle!”
On the street, children played noisily, firecrackers and laughter filling the air.
The two shared a smile.
“Brother Lu!”
“Sister Liu!”
The neighborhood kids spotted Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan, joyfully crowding around.
Lu Zheng laughed, “Happy New Year!”
“Brother Lu, Happy New Year!”
“Sister Liu, Happy New Year!”
“Wishing Brother Lu top honors!”
“Wishing Brother Lu good health!”
“Wishing Sister Liu eternal beauty!”
“Wishing Brother Lu and Sister Liu a loving marriage and a long life together!”
Who knows where they heard such auspicious words, but…
“Well said, have some candy!”
Lu Zheng pulled out a bamboo basket from behind, “Come on, one handful each, everyone gets some. Erniu, take two!”
“Thank you, Brother Lu!”
Liu Qingyan’s cheeks flushed, and she let the kids grab candy and melon seeds from her basket.
“I’ll head to the coach house later to hire a carriage to Peach Blossom Plain.”
“I’ll come along.”
“Good.” Lu Zheng nodded, then saw Old Man Liu step out with his medical box.
“Uncle Liu, opening the clinic today?”
“Can’t stay idle. It’s still chilly, and there’ll be plenty of cold patients. The clinic’s been closed two days, so I’ll check in today.”
Old Man Liu waved and strolled off.
After distributing their candy, Lu Zheng and Liu Qingyan headed to the coach house, which had resumed business, with drivers back at work.
They hired a carriage, drove to Tongyi Lane to pick up Liu Qingquan, and the three, with gifts, left Tonglin County for Peach Blossom Plain.
…
“Sister Shen!”
“Qingyan, my dear!”
Shen Ying emerged from the manor, smiling as she took Liu Qingyan’s arm, giving Lu Zheng a grateful glance.
Before dawn, a scout from Tonglin County’s Yin Division reported that their forces had seized Night Mountain, with Xin Zhanting and Lu Zheng slaying Night King at its peak.
Liu Qingyan explained, “Forgive us, Sister. We kept vigil the night before, and the coach house was closed yesterday, so we came today.”
Shen Ying smiled, nodding, “Qingyan, you’re too polite. I’m just happy you’re here.”
She welcomed them into the courtyard, where Xiao Cui had lit a charcoal brazier in the side room, setting up a chessboard and tea.
Seeing the chessboard, Liu Qingyan recalled Lu Zheng and Liu Qingquan’s gobang game the other night, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, Lu Lang made a new game the other day. We can all play, so Xiao Cui and Qingquan won’t be bored,” Liu Qingyan said.
“Oh? What is it?” Shen Ying asked curiously, glancing at Lu Zheng, thinking, you didn’t mention this.
Lu Zheng shrugged, his eyes helpless, thinking, when I’m with you, how could I think of anything else?
Shen Ying’s heart fluttered, her steps softening, and she pulled Liu Qingyan to sit by the bed, “What’s this new game?”
“It’s called mahjong, named by Lu Lang. The rules aren’t hard. It takes luck and strategy, quite fun.”
Shen Ying nodded, pausing before asking, “How do you play?”
Liu Qingyan picked up a wooden box, “We need a square table.”
Lu Zheng fetched a square table, letting Shen Ying and Xiao Cui sit, while Liu Qingyan and an eager Liu Qingquan took the opposite side. Under Lu Zheng’s guidance, they played two open-hand rounds.
Xiao Cui clapped, laughing, “I get it! So fun!”
Mahjong, a national treasure, loved by the living and ghosts alike. No wonder many in China burn mahjong sets for ancestors during festivals.
The ancients were spot on!
