Lu Zheng was well-versed with ghosts by now, and the figure standing nearby was clearly another.
“Who are you? Why didn’t you act earlier?” Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed.
The newcomer wore brown armour, more solid than the previous ghost commander, with a pale face but a hint of mortal vitality.
“Duan Zhong, City Patrol Envoy of Tonglin County’s Yin Division, greets the Taoist!”
The Yin Division?
Lu Zheng’s heart stirred; he’d finally met an official ghost deity.
“Lu Zheng, lay practitioner of White Cloud Temple, greets Envoy Duan,” Lu Zheng replied with a cheerful bow.
“No, no, you’re too kind, Taoist! I’m just a patrol envoy, far from a general. Please, call me Envoy!” Duan Zhong waved his hands, though his smile showed he appreciated the flattery.
“I was patrolling the city and sensed ghostly qi and Taoist light south of the city, so I came to see if I could assist. I didn’t expect you to master both Taoist and martial arts, overpowering that Night Patrol Camp commander so easily. I’m truly impressed!”
“You flatter me, Envoy Duan. Just some self-defence skills,” Lu Zheng replied.
Sensing carefully, he noticed Duan Zhong carried a trace of mortal vitality, likely from the incense path’s unique properties.
After some mutual compliments, Lu Zheng prepared to leave, but Duan Zhong stopped him.
“Anything else, Envoy Duan?” Lu Zheng asked, surprised.
He preferred avoiding dealings with Jing Dynasty’s official cultivators or ghosts. As an unregistered wanderer, any deep inquiry into his “personal history” could be tricky to explain.
“Indeed, I must trouble you to come with me to the Yin Division to report,” Duan Zhong said apologetically. “Since this involves the Netherworld, we must inform the City God.”
“I have to go too?”
Duan Zhong blinked, puzzled. “You seized a treasure from King Yelan. As a Taoist practitioner, why not have the City God extract its nether qi, allowing you to refine it into a Taoist artefact?”
Lu Zheng paused, realising Duan Zhong’s invitation was well-intentioned.
He thought it over. Though he was new to this, asking questions as a novice wasn’t a problem.
“Forgive me, Envoy Duan. I’ve only recently joined White Cloud Temple and lack much common knowledge,” Lu Zheng said, clasping his hands. “Is it convenient for the City God to extract the nether qi?”
“Very convenient!” Duan Zhong smiled. “Though we’re gods through incense, we’re still ghostly. The dense nether qi in that artefact aids our cultivation too.”
“Oh? You can use a ghost’s artefact?” Lu Zheng asked.
“Naturally,” Duan Zhong nodded.
“I see,” Lu Zheng nodded thoughtfully. “In that case, please lead the way, Envoy Duan.”
“This way, Taoist!”
Duan Zhong gestured, floating toward the county.
Lu Zheng slapped another divine travel talisman on himself, leaping a zhang with a light step, keeping pace with Duan Zhong.
…
At the city wall, Duan Zhong passed through, while Lu Zheng vaulted over, not falling behind.
Duan Zhong glanced at him admiringly. “So young, yet skilled in both Taoist and martial arts. Your future is boundless.”
“You’re too kind, Envoy. Just some luck in refining qi. I’ll take it step by step.”
“White Cloud Temple is renowned, and its Innate Cloud Qi is legendary. With your talent, your future is bright.”
Lu Zheng wondered what Innate Cloud Qi was but laughed it off. “I’ll take your kind words.”
…
Soon, they reached a spot northwest of the county.
The City God Temple!
Lu Zheng had visited it by day, finding it an ordinary official temple, just large.
At night, though dark and unlit, it felt alive with subtle movements.
Under Duan Zhong’s guidance, the moment Lu Zheng stepped into the temple, his vision flashed.
The scene transformed.
Bright lanterns, rows of armoured figures, and orderly comings and goings.
“Holy—!”
Lu Zheng’s jaw dropped, barely believing his eyes.
The place was dozens of times larger than the daytime temple, with over a hundred yin soldiers patrolling and training.
He also saw robed officials moving about, handling unknown tasks.
If not for their ghostly forms, he’d have thought he’d entered the county yamen by day.
“This way, Taoist! Let’s report to Judge Li first,” Duan Zhong said.
“Right, right,” Lu Zheng nodded, still reeling.
Misled by films showing tiny operations, he’d thought the City God Temple was just a City God with a few judges and ghost officers. The temple wasn’t even that big, right?
Turns out, it was a full-fledged “division”!
Duan Zhong led him through the training grounds to a hall.
The hall’s doors were open, revealing a green-robed, blue-faced deity scribbling at a desk.
“Lord Li.”
“Hm?” Judge Li looked up, spotting Lu Zheng and Duan Zhong.
A flash of azure light passed through his eyes, and he stood. “What brings this gentleman to the Yin Division tonight?”
Lu Zheng felt a probing sensation from that glance, suggesting Judge Li had glimpsed some of his background.
Was it his skill or the temple’s power?
“Lu Zheng, lay practitioner of White Cloud Temple, greets Lord Li!” Lu Zheng bowed, impeccably polite.
Duan Zhong stepped forward. “My lord, Taoist Lu was returning from outside the city when he encountered a Night Patrol Camp commander under King Yelan. He dispatched it effortlessly and seized a ghostly artefact. I met him during my patrol and invited him to report.”
Judge Li was startled. “A Night Patrol Camp commander with a ghostly artefact? Is King Yelan scheming again?”
Frowning, he continued, “This must be reported to the City God for a decision. Please, Master Lu, follow me.”
Seeing Judge Li’s assumptions, Lu Zheng considered clarifying that King Yelan wasn’t plotting, but hearing they’d meet the City God, he decided to explain once and build goodwill.
He nodded, stepped aside, and followed Judge Li toward the City God’s main hall.
