Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen
Shi Kongzang naturally wouldn’t allow the students to continue in chaos.
He sat down cross-legged on the spot, palms together, and smoothly recited a series of purification mantras.
As the recited scriptures formed golden characters hovering above everyone’s heads, at the same time, a dark and heavy sky seemed to be forcibly torn open, showering down strands of golden light.
This was known as the radiance of Buddha.
Ai Xi and the others felt a shock in their ears, instantly becoming clear-headed.
Upon regaining their senses and recalling their previous actions, everyone’s faces turned slightly embarrassed.
Especially those who were in the middle of confessing—
“xxx, I noticed you from the first day of school, the grace with which you solved problems on the blackboard deeply impressed me, since then, I have…”
Just then, with a clatter, the purification mantra poured down, clearing their minds.
Looking at their blushing crush in front of them and remembering the words they hadn’t finished, they immediately felt ashamed and embarrassed, mumbling, “…I just wanted to ask you about the problem-solving approach for geometric shapes.”
That was how awkward it turned out to be!
Ai Xi watched the classmates blushing with embarrassment and pursed her lips, saying, “Master, you’re quite skilled.”
With this statement, the students finally realized who had saved them, transforming into curious babies, surrounding Shi Kongzang, bombarding him with questions—
“Wow, you really know magic?”
“What were you reciting just now? I couldn’t understand a word of it.”
“Wait a minute, you shaved your head, could you actually be a monk?”
Shi Kongzang basked in the adoring or envious gazes of the crowd, smiling without saying a word, quietly hiding his talents and fame.
Ai Xi’s eyes sparkled as she suddenly taunted, “Since the master could break the spell earlier, why wait until now, after everyone has embarrassed themselves, to take action?”
The students’ gazes instantly changed.
Shi Kongzang, exposed: …
Forgive the gossipy heart of a perennially single old monk—it’s just too strong.
He delayed for so long just to figure out who everyone’s crushes were and to witness the unfolding drama of multiple love interests. After all, he needed to see it through to the end!
“Aiya, you young people, don’t be so timid, there’s nothing wrong with speaking your mind.” Shi Kongzang waved his hand dismissively, “Besides, things happened suddenly, and I didn’t react in time… Oh, Boss.”
Shi Kongzang skipped over to find Su Ling, eager to leave the scene of controversy.
Su Ling coldly watched him, saying, “Did you have fun playing?”
“No,” Shi Kongzang quickly pretended to be aggrieved, “Reciting those mantras was too exhausting. It was only three seconds, and I already felt like my body was drained.”
Su Ling: ???
Wait, why does that sound so strange?
“Alright, there are still students here, let’s talk outside first.” Su Ling called out, and the group walked out in a grand procession.
However, after a few steps, Su Ling suddenly paused and obediently moved behind Sheng Ze.
Sheng Ze: “…Lost your way?”
Su Ling remained unfazed, “Yes.”
Sheng Ze sighed, watching the sky darken, hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the illuminating lamp… no, the exorcism lamp.
It was the one he had confiscated from the young Taoist priest from the Sanqing Temple.
The lamp’s body ignited a small flame, a cold wind blew by, causing the flame to flicker, changing from a warm orange to a faint blue cold flame.
Sheng Ze raised an eyebrow, chuckling, “Quite intriguing.”
Unable to resist, Su Ling poked the lamp body and asked, puzzled, “Why did it suddenly change color?”
Sheng Ze smiled but remained silent. He let go, allowing the exorcism lamp to float on its own.
The lamp affectionately rubbed against Sheng Ze’s side, then obediently flew ahead, leading the way for everyone.
“Wow—so well-behaved!”
The students exclaimed softly in amazement.
As the surroundings grew darker and the malevolent wind blew stronger, the flame of the exorcism lamp seemed very weak, yet it continued to burn faintly, illuminating a small corner of the world.
“Release Tuanzi.” Sheng Ze turned back and beckoned to Meng Xiaoman.
Meng Xiaoman didn’t ask further questions but released Tuanzi from the bag.
Once released, Tuanzi rolled around Sheng Ze and Su Ling’s legs as a customary greeting, then glided over to the area below the exorcism lamp, staring unblinkingly at the little lamp.
The exorcism lamp bobbed up and down, seemingly discussing something with Tuanzi.
After a moment, Tuanzi let out a soft “gu” sound and then returned to the ground.
Su Ling smirked, glancing back at the yawning Shi Kongzang, the snacking Meng Xiaoman, the absent-minded Wu Pan, and the casually chatting Chang brothers…
Then he looked at the formidable-looking Tuanzi and the solemn little lamp ahead…
The contrast was stark.
Su Ling disdainfully muttered to himself, “Why do I feel like this whole group is less reliable than those two?”
Sheng Ze glanced down at his empty hands, equally unproductive, and nodded in agreement, “Yeah, utterly useless.”
After walking for over half an hour, the group felt like the path beneath their feet was never-ending, as they still hadn’t reached the exit of the amusement park.
Feeling the increasing darkness around them, Ai Xi couldn’t help but feel a bit scared and quietly approached Su Ling, asking, “When will we get out of here?”
Earlier, the students had been awed by the cool little lamp and the sturdy Tuanzi, but now, as their fear slowly crept in, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.
“Su Ling, is that a ghostly flame? Are we encountering ghosts?” A familiar-faced girl asked tearfully.
Su Ling knew they were scared and didn’t want to add to their mental burden, so he tried to reassure them, “Don’t be afraid, we’re here, even if we encounter something, it’ll be fine.”
The girl wiped away a tear, then continued, “Not even afraid of ghosts… Who are you guys, really?”
Su Ling didn’t dare to say they were ghosts. After a moment’s thought, he hesitated and said, “Taoist priest?”
Now the students were back to being confused.
After spending several months together, going through who knows how many pairs of box lunches, suddenly turning around to find that their classmates had become Taoist priests as in a novel?
Having all come from a nine-year compulsory education system, how could they be so outstanding?
At this point, Su Ling felt there was no need to hide anymore. He immediately vanished and his bones began to grow, transforming from a youthful figure into an adult in an instant.
“We are actually a family company, specializing in exorcism and ghost-catching, but we also have other businesses.” Su Ling briefly introduced his identity.
Then, after some thought, considering that the shadow ghost in the library had already reincarnated and there was no need to say anything more to this group of minors, he opted for a more ambiguous explanation.
“I apologize for deceiving you all. I was actually invited by Ai Xi… to oversee everyone’s studies.” Su Ling said sincerely.
The students looked at Ai Xi with incredulous eyes: ???
What kind of unbelievable classmate situation was this?
Even managing students’ grades?
Ai Xi: …
Speechless, with only a smile in response 🙂
“Later on, I found that studying together with you all was so joyful that I didn’t want to leave.” Su Ling expressed his regret about this, “It would have been even more fun if we could have taken the college entrance exam together.”
Shi Kongzang, Sheng Ze, Meng Xiaoman, Chang Wu, Chang Bai: … ?!
No, no, no, that wouldn’t be fun at all!
Boss, your idea is too risky!
The students, however, got excited upon hearing this, encouraging with enthusiasm, “Yes, yes, employee training is the most important thing for a company.”
“A Taoist priest who doesn’t understand science subjects is not a good one. Boss, I suggest you set a target for your employees, like scoring above 600 on the college entrance exam to return to work. Otherwise, they should continue their studies.”
“Even if the silkworm baby is compassionate, they shouldn’t be exempt. Hmm, there’s no need for exams, but auditing classes would still be very necessary.”
Tuanzi: Gu gu gu?
Even the pet wasn’t spared, are you all devils?
With this banter and jokes, the inner fears of the students gradually dissipated without them realizing.
—Although the darkness was quite scary, nothing bad happened after walking for so long, right?
The students’ current mindset was quite optimistic.
However, as if to contradict their optimism, just as they thought that, the flame of the exorcism lamp suddenly flickered and changed back to orange.
The flame flickered and changed back to light blue.
Then it changed to orange.
Then back to light blue.
…
It was indeed a very temperamental lamp.
Ai Xi weakly nudged Sheng Ze and asked, “Is this little lamp broken?”
The exorcism lamp shook up and down indignantly. Although it had a plain lamp body, Ai Xi could sense the sulky undertone.
Sheng Ze smirked, too lazy to explain, but Wu Pan chuckled and interjected, “You’re underestimating it. Do you know who made this lamp?”
Ai Xi paused, curious, “Who?”
Su Ling also perked up to listen.
Ignoring Sheng Ze’s warning gaze, Wu Pan chuckled and said, “The Ghost King, my lord.”
“Judging from the craftsmanship, the Ghost King probably didn’t intend it as a mere prop; it was likely made for illumination. However, such a person, anything they create would definitely not be something ordinary; the color of the flame is actually a signal,” Wu Pan explained.
“What kind of signal?” Su Ling, with a deep love for props, listened intently.
Sheng Ze cast a cold glance at Wu Pan, silently warning him that if he dared to expose him, he’d be dunked in the River of the Netherworld several times.
Wu Pan shrugged, raising his hands, “It’s just a signal of the division between yin and yang.”
“The Ghost King uses a special flame, with this orange flame being earthly yang fire, and the cold blue flame as the underworld’s dark fire. When it changes color, it signifies the transition between both realms,” Wu Pan elaborated.
Su Ling was taken aback, pointing at the currently blue flame, his face turning pale, “Are we in the underworld now?”
Sheng Ze looked at him, finding it quite amusing, “After walking for so long without getting out, did you really think I got lost too?”
Su Ling awkwardly scratched his nose.
—He did think that, actually.
After all, ‘the one who walks with the wise grows wise’, and spending so much time with Sheng Ze, he1Sheng Ze could also become a bit directionally challenged. Was there an issue with this logic?
It seems there’s no issue with the logic.
“So, that’s why I said it’s quite intriguing. Currently, most of the passages between the two realms are closed. The little ghosts from the underworld present in the human realm are either hiding from the inevitable soul catching ritual during the first seven days after death, or they occasionally escape through the cracks that appear during the Ghost Festival.”
Sheng Ze smiled faintly, “But someone set up a Five Elements Array here, re-establishing communication between yin and yang. Isn’t that interesting?”
Su Ling: …
As I hear this, it definitely sounds like the prelude to some disturbance in the underworld!
Regardless of whether it’s fun or not, if King Yama, who is already buried in paperwork and has no personal life, finds out about this, he’d probably end up hanging himself.
Sheng Ze watched as the flame of the exorcism lamp flickered and finally settled on a deep blue color, nodding in satisfaction, then smiling…
The students inexplicably felt a sense of foreboding.
“An opportunity like this is rare, so I’ll take everyone on a tour of the underworld, visiting classic sights like the Mountains of Blades and Flames, and the Eighteen Levels of Hell. How about it, are you surprised? Happy?” Sheng Ze was as enthusiastic as an experienced tour guide.
The students: …
Mountains of Blades and Flames!
Eighteen Levels of Hell!
Absolutely don’t want to go!!!
Author’s Note: So here’s the question, now that everyone’s off to the underworld, how will you protect your alter egos?
[Let’s think about it a bit in the Mini Theater]
Students passing by the Naihe Bridge: I heard that the lady at the Naihe Bridge in the underworld is as beautiful as a flower, and her soup is especially delicious.
Tour Guide Sheng Ze: Sorry, Meng Po is currently on a business trip.
Students passing by the Temple of the Monks: I heard that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the underworld is compassionate, and he vowed not to become a Buddha until all hells are empty.
Tour Guide Sheng Ze: Sorry, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is also on a business trip.
Students passing by the Hall of the Judge: I heard that the judge can pass judgment with any pen, and that the Book of Life and Death can decide everything…
Tour Guide Sheng Ze (interrupting): Sorry, the judge is not here either.
Students: … Just tell us, who in the underworld isn’t on a business trip?
Commander without an army, King Yama: Oh, welcome, welcome~ All scholars, please help me with some paperwork before you leave, hehehe~
Students: Scammer travel group, exploiting child labor, reporting to the consumer hotline!
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