Chapter 11 – I have a dream

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

Sheng Ze cleared the way and caught ghosts as he went along. Seeing this, the drowned ghost couldn’t sit still any longer.

A faint bloody aura enveloped Sheng Ze and the others from behind, attempting a surprise attack.

Sheng Ze paused, and a massive weapon materialized in his hand, about to strike.

Fortunately, Wu Pan intervened just in time, secretly excited, “I think this drowned ghost can unearth deep desires in one’s heart. I’m quite curious to try it.”

Sheng Ze raised an eyebrow slightly, retracted his weapon, giving the judge some face.

Wu Pan chuckled, rubbed his hands together, and then actively seized the bloody aura.

The drowned ghost, not holding back, enveloped Wu Pan entirely in a blood mist, claws outstretched.

One moment later…

Half an hour later…

Chang Bai leaned against the wall, yawning wearily, speechless, “How long has it been? Is it over yet?”

Wu Pan closed his eyes, meditated on the spot, and replied, “Almost there, just a bit longer.”

After circling around Wu Pan several times, the drowned ghost had to admit that there was no desire in the ghost’s heart at all! Frustrated, he withdrew his hand, wanting to leave, but…

Sheng Ze stood in front, holding a large sword, its tip aimed at the ghost, coldly saying, “Go back.”

Drowned ghost: “*Whimper*”

“Don’t rush, keep looking carefully,” Wu Pan patiently reassured.

The drowned ghost, feeling frustrated, tried again. This time, he meticulously searched through Wu Pan’s inner world and finally found a “tiny” regret from his past.

—At least, in the drowned ghost’s eyes, this wasn’t much of a regret.

It was an old, rundown thatched cottage. Inside, several rows of wooden bookshelves were neatly arranged with ancient texts.

In the illusory scene, Wu Pan wore a long gown, tall and slender, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

After seeing the scene clearly, Wu Pan’s eyes lit up involuntarily. He walked over, carefully took out a book from the shelf, trembling as he held it in his hands.

“Brother Wu, want to go out and play cuju?”

A young voice called from outside the window.

“I’m not going!” Wu Pan firmly declared.

The wooden window creaked open as the young man pushed it, poking his head inside and disdainfully saying, “Why do you stay indoors every day, like a bookworm?”

Clutching the book like a treasure, Wu Pan remained resolute, “I’m not going.”

“Nerd!” The young man seemed a bit annoyed from being rejected so many times, made a face, and then ran off.

Wu Pan breathed a sigh of relief, looking like he was about to cry just by staring at the book cover.

“Lord Judge, is this your unfulfilled wish?”

Startled by the voice, Wu Pan looked up and was speechless, “This is my dream; why did you guys follow me in?”

Chang Wu, Chang Bai, and Sheng Ze stood side by side in front of the bookshelf, looking curious.

“I remember, in your era, there was a sage known to possess all the books in the world. Is this his former residence?” Sheng Ze asked casually, taking a book from the shelf.

Instinctively, Wu Pan pounced forward, afraid Sheng Ze might damage it, “It’s a rare edition, the exclusive notes of the old sage, one of a kind in the world!”

Sheng Ze shook the book in his hand and asked, “You’ve never seen it?”

This question only added to Wu Pan’s frustration, “I didn’t have the chance. Did you all see that young man earlier? He was the one who tempted me to go out to play. I initially refused, but then he goaded me…”

“Cough, cough, anyway, after I went out, the neighbor’s house suddenly caught fire, and all these rare books went up in flames.” Wu Pan’s words were still filled with regret and remorse.

“No wonder you insist on dreaming with the drowned ghost,” Chang Bai mocked.

“I never expected to see them again.” Wu Pan took a deep breath, opened the ancient text solemnly.

However, before he could read anything clearly, he felt the world spin around him—suddenly he was back in the haunted house, and the ancient text in his hand had vanished without a trace.

Wu Pan: Heartbroken beyond words!

Su Ling happened to be standing right in front of them, holding a shrunken version of the struggling drowned ghost, with a skittish skeleton person hiding behind him.

“I take my eyes off you for a moment, and you get into trouble,” Su Ling looked genuinely worried, “How can I trust you on future business trips?”

Wu Pan choked back a sob, unable to contain his sadness, and went to crouch in a corner.

Su Ling paused, then asked with concern, “What happened to him?”

Chang Wu and Chang Bai fell silent, casting sympathetic glances at Wu Pan.

Sheng Ze spoke up, “It’s nothing much, perhaps he felt like he was holding you back too much and needed some time alone to reflect.”

Su Ling suddenly became very touched, “Little bookworm, although I have my strengths, you also have your weaknesses, don’t be too upset.”

Chang Wu and Chang Bai: …

Boss, your shamelessness is truly increasing by the day!

Wu Pan’s eyes reddened with heartache, unable to glare at Su Ling, so he just glared sullenly at the drowned ghost.

The drowned ghost inexplicably shivered, hastily explaining, “Actually, entering the illusion won’t help, I can only alter your existing memories, not fabricate… rare books.”

Wu Pan pursed his lips, still unhappy.

“Rare books? What rare books?” Su Ling was full of confusion.

Chang Bai sighed softly, omitting the part where they forced the drowned ghost, and explained in detail Wu Pan’s experience in the dream world.

“The sage’s notes?” Su Ling’s expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

“It seems I am destined to be out of reach of it.” Wu Pan sullenly drew circles in the corner.

Su Ling fell silent for a moment, walked over, and kicked Wu Pan’s heel, “Get up, pretending to be pitiful at your age.”

Wu Pan turned tearfully.

Su Ling sighed helplessly, patted Wu Pan’s head gently, and softened his tone, “Stop crying, I’ve read that book, I’ll tell it to you, okay?”

Wu Pan nodded tearfully.

After a while, Wu Pan said, “… You’ve read it?!”

Chang Bai couldn’t believe it, “Not only read it, but can also recite it?”

Su Ling was speechless, “The sage’s notes in my era weren’t that rare. Is it strange that I’ve read books and studied texts? Why do you all have those expressions?”

Chang Bai, puzzled, asked, “What expressions?”

Su Ling: … It’s like a “You’re illiterate, why are you reading?” kind of expression.

Sheng Ze turned his head away, couldn’t help it, and chuckled softly.

Chang Wu furrowed his brows, pondering as he looked at Su Ling, asking, “How old are you?”

“I don’t remember,” Su Ling tried to recall, “Much younger than King Yama, a bit older than the little bookworm.”

In the Underworld, King Yama, Judge, and others actually refer to positions and not necessarily specific ghosts. Like Wu Pan, he only took on the role of Judge after the old judge retired.

“Speaking of which, I once had a drink with the previous judge,” Su Ling said to Wu Pan.

Wu Pan, confused, asked, “My master?”

“What? The old judge is your master?” Su Ling was amazed, “So, you and the current judge are like brothers?”

Wu Pan choked a bit, explaining, “I meant to say that my master often drank with the old judge.”

Su Ling looked at him suspiciously, then relaxed and laughed, “True, the current judge is said to be quite old and boring, unlike you, so adorable.”

Wu Pan: …

Should I be happy or sad about this?

“The old judge is quite fun. One time, after getting drunk, he accidentally fell into the Meng Po soup and had to reincarnate, haha…” Su Ling laughed so hard he couldn’t stand straight.

Black and White Impermanence were clueless about this. Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Chang brothers towards Wu Pan suddenly became subtle.

Wu Pan blushed silently, trying to save some face for his master, so he changed the subject, “Boss, how did you bring the coffin ghost out?”

“Oh, he reminded me just now that you were being bothered by the drowned ghost, so I rushed over to save you guys,” Su Ling said, “He’s been locked in the coffin for thousands of years, quite pitiful. I thought of sending him to the Underworld.”

Wu Pan remained noncommittal, his gaze shifting past Su Ling to the coffin ghost.

“The Soul-Sealing Coffin, a dangerous object. While there may be accidental detentions, it can’t hold innocent ghosts for long. What do you think?” Sheng Ze asked with a smile, looking at the coffin ghost.

The coffin ghost took several steps back, then proceeded to perform a bone-crushing act on the spot.

About a hundred pieces of bones crawled over densely, rubbed against Su Ling’s heel, then crawled away in a dense cluster.

Su Ling was so startled by this scene that it triggered his trypophobia. Shivering with goosebumps, he continued, “So, isn’t he a good ghost now?”

“After so many years, one’s character is bound to change somewhat. It’s normal to have improvements,” Sheng Ze gently smiled at Su Ling, “It’s just that the Soul-Sealing Coffin has a time limit. In another hundred or eighty years, he’ll be able to come out on his own.”

Su Ling nodded, “I see.”

“Well, he’s not as innocent as you think,” Sheng Ze chuckled.

“Oh…” Su Ling was stunned for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, “Wait! I even gave him a sugar pill, and he tricked me!”

“Sugar pill?” Sheng Ze was slightly curious.

“It’s a health pill I bought from the Alchemy Sect. Ghosts can strengthen their soul and body by taking it. One pill after an injury, and the ailment is cured,” Su Ling explained.

Sheng Ze raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming somewhat peculiar.

After resolving the drowned ghost, Su Ling swaggered out of the haunted house. Meanwhile, Sheng Ze started a group chat.

【Newbie Baby Cutie Ghost Seeking Guidance】:The sugar pill that Boss Su mentioned sounds a lot like the Great Compassion Mantra, doesn’t it?

Chang Wu and Chang Bai now knew Sheng Ze’s identity. After seeing this group message, they couldn’t help but fall into a special kind of trance…

【Amitabha】: Ghost King really has foresight. This is what I secretly swapped in for the boss~

The Great Compassion Mantra may sound like a scripture, but it’s actually a medicine refined by King Yama from the three impurities of ghostly, malevolent, and violent energies in the Underworld.

【Newbie Baby Cutie Ghost Seeking Guidance】:No wonder. I always wondered why Su Ling kept getting fooled by those Taoists so many times without learning his lesson.

【Meng Xiaoman, the Most Beautiful in the Universe】: I’ve always said, none of you should intervene. Let the boss really suffer once, and he won’t be so extravagant in the future.

【Chang Family’s Younger Brother】: Kids have to grow up and let go eventually. The boss has to face reality as he matures.

【Amitabha】: I agree with all of you, but who secretly swapped the boss’s broken flute for a flute that plays eerie tunes? @Chang Bai

【Chang Family’s Younger Brother】: And who added their own magical power to the Thunder Talisman? @Meng Xiaoman

【Meng Xiaoman, the Most Beautiful in the Universe】: I just added a tiny bit, nothing compared to whoever lent the Judge’s pen disguised as a piece of rotten wood. @Wu Pan

【I’m Definitely Not a Bookworm】: Don’t blame me, who added the Ghost King’s command to the boss’s demon-slaying sword? @Sheng Ze

‘I’m Definitely Not a Bookworm retracted a message.’

【I’m Definitely Not a Bookworm】: Boss, I was wrong, I truly apologize QAQ…

Author’s note: 【Short Skit】

Sheng Ze: Kids shouldn’t be pampered.

Meng Xiaoman: Indulging them too much can lead to trouble.

Wu Pan: Yes, from now on, no one should help each other!

After a while, Su Ling tearfully said, “Can someone please help me figure out why this sword isn’t working?”

All the ghosts (in unison): We’re not helping!

However, that night, Sheng Ze silently added a Ghost King’s command to the sword.

Shi Kongzang secretly layered three Buddhist spells on top.

Meng Xiaoman drew dozens of protective shields.

…

The next day, Su Ling exclaimed, “Huh? Was this sword really this nice to use?”

Wu Pan: ???

No reuploading anywhere else.

Support the author 此山有鬼 by buying chapters on jjwxc!!

Your ko-fi donations would be greatly appreciated.

Ko-fi goals? Extra chapter release once we reach our goal!!