Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 269 Begging for Food at the Grave
Walking the spirit path sounds complicated, but actually...

"That's quite troublesome. Where are we going to find food that ghosts have eaten and alcohol that they've drunk?"

Jiang Wanli looked melancholy.

"There's a cemetery to the west of the south of the city. You can go and take a look. Once midnight has passed, the offerings there will be consumed. If they taste bland, it means they've been eaten by ghosts."

Hua San Niang kindly instructed everyone, "As for the memorial tablets, that's easy. Just find a piece of wood, write your name and the date you went to the underworld on it. As for incense, you can buy it at the general store for 3 coins a bundle, which should be enough for you."

"Just remember, when you are walking in the underworld, it is best to have someone watch over your physical body and keep the incense burning. If the incense goes out, you will not be able to find your way back. After twelve hours, if the incense is gone, you will become a wandering ghost."

Although Hua San Niang's words were a bit frightening, the three of them didn't have any other options at the moment.

Zhu Ye was just a hair's breadth away from mastering the skill last time, so this time her determination is even stronger than before. Therefore, having finally found out about the "key to success," she is determined not to give up.

Not to mention Shi Yizhi and Jiang Wanli, even if it wasn't for the "key to pass the level," they would risk everything to find a way to get in touch with the City God just to save their lives.

So the three of them discussed it and decided to first go to the graveyard to steal some offerings. After eating what the ghosts had eaten, they would return to the Peach Blossom Goddess Temple, where Jiang Wanli would watch over Zhu Ye and Shi Yizhi's bodies, and then Zhu Ye and Shi Yizhi would go to the underworld.

Firstly, Jiang Wanli's fear of ghosts was a bit exaggerated, and Zhu Ye was worried that he would hold the two of them back.

Secondly, this matter does require a reliable person to ensure the incense does not go out. Even the others who were teleported with them are hard to trust, so it's better to let Jiang Wanli come. At least there won't be any accidents in the Peach Blossom Goddess Temple.

However, before that, we need to buy some incense, candles and offerings in case of emergency.

According to Hua San Niang, even eating offerings that ghosts have already consumed is asking ghosts for help. And asking ghosts for help is no easy task.

If they go empty-handed, it's no different from causing trouble. If they have strong yang energy and heavy evil energy, it's fine. But people like Shi Yizhi are avoided by ordinary ghosts. He comes from a family of military generals and has been on the battlefield. He naturally carries evil energy. He cultivates extremely yang and fierce techniques, which are also the nemesis of ghosts. In addition, he is brave and strong. Ghosts will not be bothered to go against him.

But it's hard to say about someone like Jiang Wanli.

As an adult male, he should have strong yang energy, but he is too timid. Before anything even happened, he was already scared out of his wits. If he really went there, he would be toyed with by ghosts—ghosts are the best at bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

However, just as there are those who bully the weak and fear the strong among ghosts, there are also those who are "highly respected and virtuous."

Of course, this "highly respected" does not mean that the ghost is kind and approachable. Rather, some ghosts have had the opportunity to enter the path of cultivation and become ghost cultivators. Naturally, they need to cultivate their virtue and character, so they will not make things difficult for living people and are better able to restrain their nature from doing evil. Such ghosts are actually easier to deal with.

"Putting aside other things, unless it's a special kind of ghost realm, in a normal graveyard there will always be one or two old ghosts who have become enlightened and can restrain the ghosts. Being able to control a group of ghosts is already a form of cultivation, and becoming a ghost cultivator is not uncommon. This Peach Blossom Village must have one."

Hua San Niang reminded you, "If you really get to that place, there will definitely be someone who takes the lead and bullies the toughest-looking one of the three of you. That's called a show of force. If you can hold on, it's best if you can handle it. If you're strong, then the ghost is weak. At that time, you can beg them politely. With those old ghosts watching over you, they won't make things difficult for you."

Therefore, if "kind words of request" can lead to a successful outcome, they will definitely bring some fruits as tribute and light incense and candles as an offering, as a token of gratitude, in order to be considered "proper."

"You have to be polite to ghosts?" Jiang Wanli was shocked. "But Huang Miaozhu said that the so-called 'ghostly talk' means that you can't believe a single word a ghost says, and you can't be polite to them, because ghosts and humans are completely different!"

Hua San Niang replied, "What the man surnamed Huang said is not wrong, but he was talking about new ghosts, little ghosts, and fierce ghosts. If they are old ghosts who have become ghost cultivators, they can restrain their nature and communicate normally. Of course, whether what they say is credible or not is for you to discern."

"As for showing 'etiquette' to ghosts, it is actually to help them cultivate themselves."

"Although ghosts are transformed from humans, they are indeed no longer related to humans. All those who cultivate, unless they are human, must first cultivate to be 'like' a human before they can advance further and become immortals. Therefore, ghost cultivation is also for the purpose of becoming like a human, and then becoming a ghost immortal."

"Whether it's etiquette or conversation, if you treat them like human beings, it will naturally be of great benefit to them. This means that you acknowledge them, and those old ghosts will no longer make things difficult for you over trivial matters. They might even be able to help you if you encounter them again after you leave the underworld!"

Having received much guidance, the three bid farewell to Hua San Niang and went to the general store.

It's quite strange that the shops in the village stay open even at night.

However, there is no one to watch the shop at night. If you want to buy something, you have to take it and put it away yourself. The amount of money is recorded on the counter. If you owe anything, the shopkeepers will take some time the next day to collect the debt.

There are indeed people who default on their debts or engage in dishonest practices, but...

"With the Peach Blossom Goddess watching over us, who would dare to act recklessly? If anyone dares to steal, whichever hand stole it will be crippled. If they try to renege on their debt, the Peach Blossom Goddess will punish them as well. The simple and honest atmosphere of our Peach Blossom Village is all thanks to the protection of the Peach Blossom Goddess!"

The villagers trusted the Peach Blossom Goddess very much, and even without making a special inquiry, the three of them had heard many similar comments.

Nothing is ever stolen in Peach Blossom Village because it is said that the "Peach Blossom Goddess" is always watching over the village.

Just as Hua San Niang had said, a bundle of incense only cost 3 coins in the general store. Considering that everyone would be going to perform a ritual for the dead later, Zhu Ye decided to buy more, a total of ten bundles. Zhu Ye glanced around the empty store, took a hemp rope hanging at the door, tied the incense together, and then placed the coins on the counter of the general store.

After buying the incense, the three hurriedly headed to the cemetery.

Taoyuan Village itself is very small, and the cemetery is not far from the general store.

Following Hua San Niang's directions, the three walked for only a short while before seeing numerous grave mounds hidden in the bamboo forest in the distance.

The pointer on the Yin-Yang Bagua compass in Zhu Ye's hand kept shaking, but it didn't turn red, which calmed Zhu Ye down.

They were nearing the edge of the village, and it was late at night. A chilling wind blew all around, rustling the bamboo leaves and making Jiang Wanli tremble uncontrollably.

The moonlight was bright, casting large, trembling shadows of bamboo on the grave mounds and numerous stone tablets. The entire cemetery was so quiet that only the sound of the wind and the rustling of bamboo leaves could be heard; there were no birdsong or insect chirps, making it seem exceptionally eerie.

Even the boldest of them all, Shi Yizhi, couldn't help but whisper, "Brother Jiang, you should still keep that thunder talisman..."

Jiang Wanli stammered, "Yes, yes..."

As he spoke, he gripped the lightning talisman even tighter in his chest, looking as if he were about to unleash a powerful attack.

The further they went, the more violently the compass needle trembled. Although this was the coldest time of year in the north, it seemed exceptionally cold at this moment. Jiang Wanli wondered if it was just his imagination, but he even felt as if he saw a large patch of ice flowers condensed on a tombstone.

Although it snowed outside White Stone Mountain, they had never seen snow since they teleported to Peach Blossom Village!

After walking a few more steps, Shi Yizhi, who was walking at the front, suddenly felt his legs were heavy, as if they were being hugged by something.

He simply stopped and began to circulate his internal energy.

Then, with a loud shout, a burst of blue-purple lightning erupted from Shi Yizhi's legs—he released his true energy, forming a protective aura!
"what--"

"Eh-"

Several sharp screechs rang out, like rusty iron rubbing against each other, sharp and piercing, startling Jiang Wanli who was standing to the side, making him shudder again and almost fall over because his legs went weak.

However, it was precisely because of Shi Yizhi's outward release of true energy that the heaviness in his legs disappeared.

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he even felt that the light in the cemetery seemed brighter.

“I have no intention of disturbing you all. I have only come to collect some of the tribute fruits and food that you have used. Please do me this favor,” Zhu Ye said, raising the bundle of incense he was carrying and swaying it in the wind before continuing, “Afterwards, we will definitely light incense for you and offer new tributes as a way of repaying you.”

As Zhu Ye finished speaking, the swaying of the bamboo forest lessened, and then, with a few thuds, several fruits placed in front of the graves rolled down and landed right at the three of them.

Shi Yizhi bent down, picked up the three scattered peaches, and cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you all."

After speaking, he wiped one of the peaches with his sleeve on the spot, and then took a bite.

The peaches are a bit wilted, looking like they've been sitting for two days. The flesh has turned pinkish and has lost some moisture.

More importantly, Shi Yizhi couldn't taste the peach flavor at all!
It's like eating something tasteless; all you can taste is the powdery and chewy texture of the peach flesh, but there's no peach flavor at all!
"Yes, I've eaten it!"

Intrigued, Shi Yizhi shared a peach with Zhu Ye, saying, "It doesn't taste like a peach at all, just like the one Hua San Niang described!"

Zhu Ye frowned, glancing at the peach with some disgust at the dirt on it, but still followed Shi Yizhi's example, wiping it with her sleeve and eating it directly.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wanli, just as the three of them had discussed earlier, was trembling as he distributed incense, then took three meat pies and placed them one by one in front of the two graves where they had rolled over offerings. He then took a tinderbox, lit the incense, and bowed earnestly.

While doing these things, he would glance at Zhu Ye and Shi Yizhi, who were eating peaches, every now and then, as if to make sure that he hadn't been left behind alone.

Meanwhile, not far from where the three were standing, on two exceptionally large tombstones, two "ghosts" sat on either side, watching the scene unfold with glee.

One of them laughed uncontrollably: "Are you that scared? I didn't do anything, hahaha..."

The other one skillfully produced two glasses of wine from somewhere and handed them to the "ghost" next to him, saying, "This can be considered as letting them get a taste of the world after the spiritual energy revival!"

(End of this chapter)