I become a god in another world

Chapter 756 A group of ghosts walking at night
Chapter 756

After Magistrate Pang sat down, he reached out and touched the table and chairs.

The wood is warm to the touch but cool to the touch, and the polishing is very fine.

Silver candlesticks were placed on the table, and the bowls and plates were all carefully selected and beautiful.

Magistrate Pang was momentarily dazed:
"My lord, I'm so confused. Are the chair I'm sitting on, the table I'm seeing, and the fruits I'm touching really real?"

He wondered:

"If it's true, Tongshan County existed at least 48 years ago. How could we be here?"

But if all of this is fake, why does it feel so real to him?

If he wasn't sitting in a chair right now, where would he actually be? At the Zhang family's old residence?
Zhao Fusheng glanced at him and said:
"The affairs of the Ghost Realm are complicated. During my trip out of the capital, I met a general from the capital named Yu Lingzhu."

Magistrate Pang was not a master of ghosts and had only a superficial understanding of the laws governing ghosts. He only knew that wherever a vengeful ghost went, it could slaughter the people without leaving a single survivor.

He wouldn't understand if it was explained in too complicated a way, so Zhao Fusheng simply said:

"She mentioned that the laws of vengeful ghosts are divided into several categories, one of which is the law category."

Mentioning Yu Lingzhu inevitably brought to mind the battle of Wuqing County. Her emotions stirred for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and continued:

“The vengeful ghost does not kill for the purpose of killing, but for the purpose of enforcing the law.”

Magistrate Pang looked bewildered, though he seemed to understand.

Zhao Fusheng simply picked up the teapot with one hand, poured a cup of water, dipped his finger into the cup, wet it, and then fixed it on a certain spot on the table:
"It's a ghost!"

She looked at Magistrate Pang, then casually drew a straight line:
"This is the path the ghost takes—you can also interpret it as a law."

Magistrate Pang finally understood:

"The ghost must go in this direction, or must do this thing; this is the law of ghosts."

"Yes." Zhao Fusheng nodded.

"This is an obsession formed during life, and it cannot be changed after death. It will only be prompted by the existence of laws to act."

After saying that, she drew two dots in the middle of this line:

"These are two living people, or you could think of them as two families, or two villages, either way is fine."

Her explanation was clear and easy to understand. Magistrate Pang said:
"Does Your Excellency mean that these two people blocked the path of the vengeful ghost, or that these two beings intersected with the laws of the vengeful ghost, and thus were targeted by the ghost? And subsequently killed by the ghost?"

Zhao Fusheng replied:
“That’s right. What you’re referring to as being ‘seen’ or interacting with a ghost is called ‘ghost marking’ by us in the Demon Suppression Division. Once marked by a ghost, one will be killed,” she said.

"But killing is not the primary purpose of the demon. Its main purpose is to fulfill the law, and the person who is killed happens to be within its domain, triggering its law, and is therefore unfortunately eliminated by it."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Pang immediately understood.

"I see. So, in the midst of ghostly calamities, if one understands the laws of ghosts and tries to avoid being marked by them, can one also escape unscathed?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded:
"That's the theory."

In some cases of ghostly calamities, as long as the Demon Suppression Division handles the situation promptly, the vengeful ghosts cannot fully unleash their killing spree, and those in the ghost realm who are confused and have not yet triggered the laws can survive by chance.

However, the existence of vengeful ghosts at this time is terrifying, and the people of the Demon Suppression Division are even more afraid of ghosts. When they encounter trouble, they will try to avoid it if possible, and if they cannot avoid it, they will try to delay it. Generally, troubles will start small and grow big, eventually leading to the inability of those trapped in the ghost realm to escape, resulting in a great tragedy.

However, these words were irrelevant to the current discussion, so Zhao Fusheng did not say them.

“We are in a ghost realm, and the people existing here are consciousnesses that once truly existed,” Zhao Fusheng said.
"Under normal circumstances, if we can communicate normally with these past consciousnesses in such a law-based ghost realm, it means that we have not yet touched the true laws of vengeful ghosts, and the ghosts have not yet manifested—"

This means that the situation is not at its most dangerous.

The most dangerous time for those trapped in the ghost realm is when they sink deeper and deeper, and the traces of ghosts are about to appear.

But this time the situation is different from the past.

What trapped everyone was not an unconscious ghost, but a paper figure named Zhang whose consciousness was still intact.

That's bad.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng could not predict the future, nor did he know whether the next moment would be auspicious or inauspicious.

But since things have come to this, all we can do is take it one step at a time and force the paper figure Zhang to reveal himself.

As soon as she said that, Magistrate Pang understood.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two men visibly relaxed, and Magistrate Pang then shifted the topic to the case in Tongshan County:

"Have you made any progress on the case in Tongshan County, sir?"

This was his first time participating in the investigation of a ghost case. Perhaps because Zhao Fusheng was by his side, and with the two great ghost controllers, Kuai Manzhou and Xu Yu, protecting him, and seeing how respectful Cao Gu had been to Zhao Fusheng, he didn't feel afraid at all. Instead, he found the process of unraveling the mystery quite interesting.

“There are some clues, but I always feel like something's missing.” Zhao Fusheng frowned.

"After talking with Cao Gu and Zhang Wanquan, I believe the key figures in Tongshan County are: the large landlords, Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu, and the lamp-bearer."

Also involved in the case are people who are no longer in this world: Liang Yu and Wang Puyi, who were ghost tamers in their early years.

"Among these large landowners, there is a further subdivision, but those who are related to the trouble that has engulfed the capital are Hao Dingzhu and the Qin family, who are part of the large landowner group."

The two are in court, ostensibly over a dispute over mineral resources in Yijiang Town.

"The mineral resources also involve Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu." These two brothers are true ghost controllers, far superior to ordinary lantern bearers. They represent absolute authority in Tongshan County.

This indicates one thing—

"The Qin family is bound to lose this lawsuit."

"The Qin family is bound to lose the lawsuit."

Zhao Fusheng and Magistrate Pang said in unison.

"good."

Zhao Fusheng sighed:
"The Qin family's mineral resources were obtained illegitimately." The Qin family's mineral resources came from the Ghost Master, and now they have been lost to the Ghost Master. It can only be said that there is cause and effect.

Hao Dingzhu made a brilliant move, luring Jiang Wen and Jiang Wu with the promise of mineral resources.

The existence of the 'Lamp Bearer' is a matter of life and death for noble families and powerful clans every year, but it is insignificant to the Ghost Master.

Since they had accepted his money, the Jiang brothers would surely grant Hao Dingzhu's request.

"If that's what you're saying, then the Hao family will definitely have two lantern bearers," Magistrate Pang said.

Zhao Fusheng laughed upon hearing this:
"He has all sorts of dreams."

After a moment's thought, Magistrate Pang also smiled wryly:

"I forgot, this is the Ghost Realm."

What future can there be for a county town that was destroyed 48 years ago?
Zhao Fusheng said:
"But all these seemingly disparate clues, when put together, are related to the lamp."

She dipped her finger in water and wrote the character 'lamp' in the center of the table.

Next, a circle was drawn around the character '灯' to enclose it, and a long line was drawn to connect it to a certain point:
“The Lantern Festival was originally created and proposed by Liang Yu, which is one of the clues.”

Then Zhao Fusheng drew a second line centered on the character 'lamp': "Every year, prominent families compete to be the lantern bearers, and the lantern bearers are those who have participated in the lantern festival and the making of ghost lanterns."

This clue is also related to the Lantern Festival.

After she finished speaking, draw the third line:

"The shrines enshrined in the ten halls of the Demon Suppression Division contain 72 gold-lacquered ghost statues. According to Cao Gu, these ghosts are also the lantern bearers who have been associated with the ghost lanterns over the years."

This is also related to Hozuki.

And most importantly:
"Lantern Festival".

Zhao Fusheng stared at the character 'lamp' that he had written and circled:
"Everything is related to the Lantern Festival, and this is a ghost realm created by Paper Doll Zhang, who is skilled at making ghost lanterns—"

Magistrate Pang:

"Then the ghostly calamity in Tongshan County is inextricably linked to the lamp."

The timing of their entry was also quite opportune.

The Lantern Festival is approaching on the 15th of July.

“Liang Yu is most deeply involved with the Lantern Festival. If the Ghost Lantern is the ‘ghost’ that destroyed Tongshan County, and the people of Tongshan County live according to the laws of this ghost, then I suspect that Liang Yu is this ghost.”

After his vengeful spirit was resurrected, he became a 'god' worshipped in Tongshan County.

People do not know how to control ghosts and gods, but the existence of the annual lantern festival is like the whole county making offerings to the gods, thus appeasing the ghosts and gods in a roundabout way.

"That makes sense."

Zhao Fusheng frowned:

"But there are some things that seem unrelated to the case, such as the 72 gold-lacquered ghost sculptures."

These sculptures depict people who were lamp makers, or those involved in lamp making, and who died in the process—Cao Gu was vague about this at the time, but Zhao Fusheng speculated that some of these sculptures might have depicted village slaves.

The village slaves had a low status in Tongshan County. If people were to learn that the vengeful ghost of a village slave had been resurrected after his death and was even being worshipped in the hall of the Demon Suppression Bureau, it might cause the Demon Suppression Bureau to lose all its prestige.

This is also Zhao Fusheng's dark speculation that Cao Gu deliberately spoke unclearly.

Of course, it's also possible that she's overthinking it. Besides that, there's another possibility: Cao Gu didn't know the specific identities of these 72 sculptures, after all, he had only been working here for two years.

"Why is the sculpture covered in gold paint? If it's a ghost, why is it guarding this place?" Zhao Fusheng asked, puzzled.
"Why do these sculptures revive every July and then eventually return? Why do they not harm the people of the Demon Suppression Division at other times?"

Without a powerful demon to suppress them, and without a demon tamer to lead them, Zhao Fusheng couldn't imagine why these demons would obey him.

She thought of the existence of beggars, which had a subtle similarity to this situation.

It's understandable that the beggar ghost was suppressed by the ghost coffin at that time.

If we apply the situation of beggar ghosts to these 72 sculptures, then is there perhaps a powerful ghost guarding this place?

But if there is a great ghost here, it will not be obedient and will not kill people. There must be something to suppress the ghost in order to make it behave. The thing that suppresses the great ghost must also be a great ghost. But what is this ghost?

Seeing that Zhao Fusheng couldn't understand, Magistrate Pang didn't dare to speak.

He was a county magistrate with experience in handling cases, but when discussing this ghost case, he found that Zhao Fusheng had been very thorough. There were many clues that Magistrate Pang had not thought of for a while without his clerk's help.

Just then, a series of knocking sounds, one slow and one fast, came from outside.

It sounded like the beating of a gong or clapper. Judging from the speed of the sound, Magistrate Pang immediately said:

It's past midnight.

As the third watch of the night approaches, midnight is fast approaching—which also means that the golden-lacquered ghost sculpture of the Demon Suppression Division of Tongshan County is about to be revived.

Zhao Fusheng's eyes flickered as he looked at Magistrate Pang and said:
"Walk."

As soon as she stood up, Kuai Manzhou said:

“He sent people to follow him around.”

While Magistrate Pang was still in a daze, Zhao Fusheng realized who the 'he' Kuai Manzhou was referring to was: Cao Gu.

This person actually hired someone to follow him?
However, given Kuai Manzhou's reminder, the person Cao Gu brought might be extraordinary.

A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately realized who these people were: the Lamp Bearers.

The lantern bearer's special ability is to attract ghosts.

Cao Gu was probably worried about the 72 gilded sculptures of ghosts walking at night, so he found some lantern bearers in case anything went wrong.

Whether her guess was true or not, Zhao Fusheng did not take Cao Gu's actions to heart.

She was incredibly powerful, and neither schemes nor Cao Gu's overthinking could faze her.

Zhao Fusheng nodded and opened the door:

"Let's take a look first."

She rushed out the door first, and Magistrate Pang's heart pounded as he followed closely behind. The two children, following Zhao Fusheng's instructions when he entered the ghost realm, stayed behind him, one on each side.

At this moment, the Demon Suppression Division was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, like an empty mansion, completely different from when she was brought in by Zhang Wanquan earlier.

Just as Cao Gu said, after July, ghosts began to roam the Demon Suppression Division, and these servants hid back in their rooms early.

Zhao Fusheng had a good memory. It was her first time in Tongshan County, but thanks to the guidance of Cao Gu and others, she managed to find her way back to the Sage's Hall in this maze-like mansion.

The Demon Suppression Division occupies a considerable area. After walking for about 15 minutes, the Sage's Hall was already filled with eerie atmosphere and shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

The eight palace lanterns depicting beauties still hang outside. The lanterns turn slightly in the night, and the beauty patterns on all sides move with the lanterns, casting shadows of beauties that dance gracefully on the ground.

This scene looked eerie and sinister.

Meanwhile, the doors to the Hall of Saints were locked, but malice emanated from within.

"Sir, it's locked," Magistrate Pang said, glancing at the hall door.

Ordinary locks are no challenge for Zhao Fusheng.

In a flash, she used the power of the door gods to her advantage. Zhao Fusheng strode up to the door, reached the entrance to the Sage's Hall, and pushed the door open.
"open!"

As soon as he touched the door, a strange phenomenon occurred—the lock emitted an eerie golden light, attempting to block Zhao Fusheng's power as a door god.

"The Law of Vengeful Ghosts?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback.

This golden light actually possessed a power to suppress ghosts; the moment it collided with her laws, it felt like a fine needle piercing her palm.

But Zhao Fusheng is not the same as before. If the owner who made the golden lock were here, he could hold her off for a while. But now, he only wants to rely on a somewhat evil item to stop her, which is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

The crimson light in her palm instantly suppressed the faint golden light, causing the light to dim rapidly, and the layer of golden light on it seemed to be corroded by a powerful force in an instant.

The golden lock immediately crumbled into ordinary scrap metal with a clang, and the door on the lock opened with a thud.

With a 'boom,' a chilling wind carrying a putrid stench blew out of the room, and the vengeful spirits in the niches revived, emerging one by one from within.

(End of this chapter)