As Jing Jiujiu opened his eyes, he saw Lin Zhi sitting there, kneading dumplings with a pained expression, as if molding clay. All the big and small dumplings had been mashed together into one lump.
"Jiujiu, look, does this resemble you?" Lin Zhi blinked.
Jing Jiujiu examined it carefully.
The nose wasn't a nose, there were no eyes, one arm was long while the other was short, and even the legs were uneven.
Jing Jiujiu: ?
Jing Jiujiu: "It's ugly."
Lin Zhi clutched his chest, heartbroken: "I spent three hours making it." He leaned on the bed, mumbling softly: "Look at it again..."
"What are you doing?" Yu Ran's voice suddenly rang out from the doorway.
Lin Zhi quickly turned his head.
Upon seeing his appearance, the cold expression on Yu Ran's face softened a bit: "Hmm, I thought something was trying to harm Jiujiu."
Lin Zhi was a bit afraid of him, nodded slightly, and obediently moved to the side.
He was both Mr. Lake and Jiujiu's father. He must be terrifying, better not provoke him.
Yu Ran then approached, but still didn't dare to sit down.
He said in a low voice: "That Mr. Bai wants you to try eating the dumplings first to see what effect it has..."
Jing Jiujiu obediently stretched his neck and bit off the hand that Lin Zhi had molded.
Seeing Jiujiu's compliance, Yu Ran felt a twinge in his heart. He wasn't sure if Jiujiu was listening to him or to that Mr. Bai... His child had truly grown up and no longer relied solely on his father.
Jing Jiujiu finished eating and smacked his lips: "...I don't feel anything."
Eating the dumplings felt like eating air, a completely empty experience.
At this moment, Bai Yuhuai walked in, holding a gold chain in his hand. Hanging from the chain was a long string of unconscious primordial chaos, floating behind him.
If someone who didn't know better saw this, they might be startled, exclaiming, "Wow, this person is so unlucky, their misfortune is blooming like flowers..."
Bai Yuhuai said softly: "Maybe you didn't eat enough."
Jing Jiujiu opened his mouth with an "Ah," and all the primordial chaos was sucked into his stomach.
Yu Ran frowned: "Don't eat too much."
Jing Jiujiu licked his lips, but it still felt like he had eaten nothing. Forget about tasting anything, he didn't even burp once.
Lin Zhi: qaq
So there was no need to knead them!
And he had spent so much time doing that!
Bai Yuhuai walked to the bedside, bent down, and pulled Jing Jiujiu out.
Although Yu Ran already knew that Jing Jiujiu had turned into a ghost, seeing it with his own eyes was far more shocking. As soon as Jing Jiujiu came out, the human-sized paper figure collapsed softly and lightly.
Bai Yuhuai asked Lin Zhi: "Do you know how to use the power of primordial chaos?"
Lin Zhi stammered: "D-don't you just think about it in your mind, and it happens?"
Hearing this, Jing Jiujiu closed his eyes.
What should he think about?
Oh, think, I want to have a body... it should look like this... he slowly outlined in his mind.
A gray mist slowly seeped out from his body, followed by a burst of golden light. The golden light intertwined with the gray mist, gradually rising from Jing Jiujiu's feet upwards. It was like a scene from a movie where magic was being cast.
Wherever the golden light and gray mist passed, Jing Jiujiu's form became more solid. His eyes even emitted a faint glow, as if the last rays of the setting sun had been captured to adorn his face.
Everyone unconsciously held their breath.
It was like witnessing a deity.
Bai Yuhuai was the first to react.
He reached out and gently pinched Jing Jiujiu's cheek.
As expected of primordial chaos, the origin of all things, from which everything in the world is born.
Jing Jiujiu's face felt slightly cool and smooth to the touch, with a faint sensation of blood flowing underneath. It felt incredibly real.
Jing Jiujiu: "Mmm... but I still don't feel thirst or hunger."
The intricacy of the human body isn't something that can be recreated by imagination alone.
Bai Yuhuai: "I'll find you a detailed diagram of human anatomy and organs."
Jing Jiujiu: "Mmm, okay."
Bai Yuhuai sighed in relief: "...This should work, you can continue eating primordial chaos."
Jing Jiujiu turned to look at the silent Yu Ran: "Can I hug dad now?"
Bai Yuhuai paused: "It should be fine."
Only primordial chaos was unaffected by Yu Ran.
Hearing this, Jing Jiujiu's lips curled into a happy smile, and he cautiously reached out his hand.
But Yu Ran suddenly dodged.
Yu Ran frowned and said with pursed lips: "Let's wait a bit longer."
Bai Yuhuai spoke up: "Mr. Yu doesn't need to worry too much. Jiujiu has both the power of primordial chaos and the aura of deities. The Drought Demon can burn everything, but it might not be able to burn the myriad gods and buddhas."
Jing Jiujiu nodded and suddenly plunged into Yu Ran's arms.
Yu Ran, being tall and strong, instinctively caught him with ease.
Yu Ran's voice was husky: "Why is my child still as light as when he was little?"
Lin Zhi ruined the atmosphere from the side: "Maybe it's because your strength has increased."
Yu Ran: "..."
Lin Zhi peeked at his expression, feeling that this Mr. Lake was not to be trifled with, so he quickly added: "Or maybe it's because Jiujiu is a ghost!"
Yu Ran: "..."
Lin Zhi suddenly didn't dare to speak anymore, full of grievances and resentment.
Yu Ran stroked Jing Jiujiu's head: "Do you still want dad to give you a piggyback ride?"
Lin Zhi: ?
Wow.
I didn't expect you to be such a childish Jiujiu!
Jing Jiujiu opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Yu Ran let go of him and bent down in front of him, half-squatting.
His tall figure instantly shrunk by half.
Jing Jiujiu hesitated for a moment, but still climbed onto his back.
Yu Ran stood up with him on his back and said softly: "Dad will take you for a walk around."
Jing Jiujiu responded obediently in a small voice: "Mm." After responding, he didn't forget about his boyfriend, so he turned his head back and said to Bai Yuhuai: "Don't forget to bring the little primordial chaos along."
Lin Zhi happily thought he was referring to himself, thinking it wasn't necessary to lead him, just bringing him along would suffice.
Just as he was about to approach Bai Yuhuai, he saw Bai Yuhuai actually leading a string of small primordial chaos and following them.
Lin Zhi: "..."
Yu Ran and Jing Jiujiu walked in front.
Yu Ran asked: "Does my child want to see how that blood-colored sky curtain is made?"
"And over there, where many ghosts are locked up."
"At the end of the River Styx, there are black flowers..."
Jing Jiujiu swung his legs: "No. Let's go back to Lin Zhi's palace first."
"That's what the primordial chaos stole from the real world, is it the Epang Palace or something? Does my child want to see a museum? You've always liked them since you were little. It's just a pity that sometimes when I got busy, I couldn't spend as much time with you as I wanted..."
Yu Ran said softly.
Lin Zhi, eavesdropping from behind, heard Jiujiu say he wanted to return to the palace, so he quickly brought over his little three-wheeled vehicle and drove them all back with a puttering sound.
As soon as they entered, they heard a voice crying and wailing.
"Save me, please save me..."
"I'm your son!"
Lin Zhi clicked his tongue and said: "How strange, someone actually eager to claim a father."
After turning a corner, they saw Master Zhou and a nearly transparent figure kneeling in front of him.
He was already dead.
Without Yu Ran's abilities, it wasn't surprising that he had died so quickly after being swallowed up.
Master Zhou's face was streaked with tears as he said hoarsely: "I told you long ago, when I really found you, I'd kick your face in! Your head! You have no shame, your brain is filled with straw. Why did you come here? You caused the death of your wife and daughter... you dog!"
Jing Jiujiu sighed softly.
So he had found him after all.
"I'm already dead! I'm dead! I died..." the man mumbled, looking at himself in horror, then raised his head in anger, "Your son has already died in this hellish place! Aren't you here to save me?"
Master Zhou hissed: "Letting you die like this is too easy for you, understand? You should taste the way your wife and daughter died... That was supposed to be your fate..."
"It's not my fault, I regret it, it's all because of... the person who sold me that divine statue..." he said weakly, bowing his head to the ground.
Yu Ran frowned.
Born of noble birth and wielding immense wealth, he hadn't blinked an eye even when facing adversity. Naturally, he looked down on such a person and didn't want Jing Jiujiu to see this.
Yu Ran carried Jing Jiujiu out on his back: "Let's go."
Jing Jiujiu looked back one last time.
Bai Yuhuai met his gaze, staying in place without moving, but took out a handkerchief. His intention was clear - he would keep an eye on Master Zhou.
Yu Ran carried Jing Jiujiu on his back as they strolled around the area, attracting many chaotic spirits. The spirits gazed at them with fear and trepidation.
Soon after, Bai Yuhuai emerged with Master Zhou.
Jing Jiujiu whispered, "Where are the people?"
Master Zhou's complexion was ashen, as if he had just recovered from a severe illness. He stood there, his figure appearing even more hunched. Clutching a handkerchief, he took a breath before mustering a bit of strength.
Yu Ran glanced at him, wondering how his little one managed to attract such a diverse array of characters...
At this moment, Jing Jiujiu swept his gaze across the numerous chaotic spirits and declared boldly, "Bai Yuhuai, give me those little chaotic spirits..."
In front of all the spirits, he slurped up all the ones strung on the chain in one gulp.
The chaotic spirits widened their eyes in shock, trembling and prostrating themselves on the ground.
Lin Zhi also stared in disbelief, exclaiming, "What do you call that?"
Jing Jiujiu replied, "It's called killing the chicken to scare the monkey."
Both Bai Yuhuai and Yu Ran couldn't help but laugh.
...It was indeed an effective tactic.
Jing Jiujiu patted Yu Ran's shoulder, making him turn around while carrying him on his back, just like riding a horse when they were kids.
Jing Jiujiu turned to Bai Yuhuai and asked, "This is the site of the Qishan Palace ruins, right? Isn't Qishan Palace the legendary place where monsters ran amok and immortals ascended during the Zhou Dynasty?"
"Yes. Legend has it that if a high tower were built at Qishan Palace, it could reach the heavens."
"Like the Lu Platform?"
"Correct."
Jing Jiujiu tilted his head slightly, re-examining the dilapidated palace before him.
So... this was part of the divine site!
...
Outside the walls of Bai Yuhuai's villa, several people climbed over under the cover of night.
They brutally tore off the electric netting on the wall and said in low voices, "Search."
An older man wearing Taoist robes strode in, saying, "How strange, the people of the Cloud Return Sect don't use talismans to seal their doors..."
"You don't know, Taoist master, but he keeps a ghost in his home and dotes on this little ghost immensely. How could he set up talismans? It would hurt others while also harming his ghost," a young man beside him explained with a smile.
At that moment, a cry of surprise came from another direction: "Here... there are so many ghosts here!"
The Taoist master walked over and swept his gaze downward.
Countless little ghosts were lying prostrate on the ground, baring their teeth and snarling at them.
The Taoist master sneered disdainfully, "...Keeping so many ghosts?"
The young man grabbed one, laughing, "Look at this one, it's even wearing a dog tag!"
"Oh, it even has a name - Yuanyuan. How curious, giving names to little ghosts!"
The little ghost bared its teeth, showing no fear at all, and squeezed out a rough sound from its throat: "Bad... people."
The young man's face darkened as he leaned in close: "You're a ghost, I'm human. Who's really the bad one?"
The young man flipped over the dog tag, his expression changing slightly: "There's even a Cloud Return Sect engraving on this. ...If we touch this, the Cloud Return Sect will know."
The Taoist master carelessly replied, "Hmm? Who would care about a little ghost?"
He then turned to another person: "Don't you like keeping little ghosts? Why not take all of these?"
That person laughed heartily: "Sounds good!"
Yuanyuan, having interacted with humans for a long time, could understand some of what they were saying. It bared its sharp fangs.
When it saw someone shout, "Found it," and reach out to move the divine statues,
Yuanyuan squeezed out an even rougher sound: "Don't... touch. That's... my mom's. I'll... tell... my mom."
"What did it say?"
"Who knows?"
"It's saying it wants to find its mom. Oh, you have a mom? Aren't little ghosts all abandoned and refined through suffering? You don't have a mom!"
Yuanyuan angrily bit him.
The young man flung it to the ground, stuck a talisman to the sole of his shoe, and then stomped heavily on Yuanyuan: "Huh? You little dog! Let's see you bring your mom here!"