Chapter 13: The Ghost General and the Strange Dream​​

"Xiaocui, come here. I have a gift for you."

"What is it, Master?" Xiaocui drifted over in response.

"Here, this is for you."

As he spoke, Lin Ye produced the Soul-Lantern.

"Wow, Master... this... this..."

Recognizing the Soul-Lantern, Xiaocui’s jaw dropped in astonishment. It looked wide enough to fit a goose egg.

"What’s wrong?"

"It’s far too precious, Xiaocui cannot accept it."

Last time, she’d merely mentioned it in passing. Yet she never expected Lin Ye would find her token so quickly.

"It’s fine, take it. You’ve earned this. Evolve quickly, don’t let me down." Xiaocui had contributed too much to the territory; she deserved this artifact.

"Master, Xiaocui will not disappoint you!" Xiaocui nodded emphatically, her gaze filled with determination.

Afterwards, she took the Soul-Lantern to a quiet corner and began the process of fusion and refinement.

Once again, Lin Ye was alone.

"Tsk tsk, such kindness, little lord. I certainly never received such treatment," came the resentful voice of the Seductress Ghost from within the jar.

"Simple. Contract with me, and I’ll help you collect bones too." Lin Ye was never stingy with his own people, just like he’d been with Xiaocui.

But for outsiders? Sorry. Humans and ghosts walk different paths. Who do you think you are in front of me?

"That won’t do. You have to add one more condition."

"What?"

"Let me ride you once."

"..."

Go ahead and turn into putrid slime inside that jar then!

Night fell. Lin Ye lay down in his coffin and slipped into a very strange dream.

He dreamed he was lost in a desolate wilderness. After walking for a while longer, an inn appeared ahead. Strange mists coiled everywhere, leaving the inn standing utterly alone in the barren landscape. Lin Ye instinctively wanted to avoid it. But he was exhausted, parched, and lost. He had no choice but to steel himself and approach.

As he drew near, he saw a pair of red lanterns hanging on either side of the inn’s door. Their faint light flickered unsteadily in the darkness, adding an eerie atmosphere to the silent night. The red fabric on the lanterns had faded, with several holes worn through in places. Whenever the wind blew, they made a rustling sound, as if something struggled inside, desperate to escape. Lin Ye couldn’t suppress a shiver before quickly stepping inside.

It was very late. The inn held few guests. Apart from Lin Ye, only one other table was occupied.

These men wore ancient bronze armor; several bronze battle halberds leaned against the wall beside them. Lin Ye guessed they must be soldiers who had seen combat.

After several rounds of drinks, the general leading them was assisted by his attendants to a guest room for rest. Lin Ye couldn’t make out their conversation clearly. He only felt these men were acting strangely, so he quietly followed.

Peering through the gauze window of the guest room, Lin Ye saw the scene inside. Several attendants were helping the general undress. They removed his helmet first, then took off his body armor.

However, when Lin Ye saw the lower half of the general’s legs, he awoke instantly, jolted by terror.

In the real world, seeing this wouldn’t invoke fear in Lin Ye; he would only feel respect, ready to assist someone with a disability. But this general… Lin Ye clearly saw the bones inside the man’s lower leg were snapped. Writhing maggots crawled amidst the rotting flesh covering the stump!

"Urgh!"

Lin Ye woke from his nightmare with a start.

"Master? What’s wrong?" Seeing him like this, Xiaocui hurriedly drifted over with concern.

Outside, dawn had broken. Inside the tomb chamber, only corpse oil lamps provided illumination. In the relatively dim environment, Xiaocui could manifest easily.

"Xiaocui... you... you broke through?" Lin Ye sat up in the coffin, rubbing his eyes. He noticed Xiaocui’s aura felt distinctly different from yesterday, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how, at least not immediately.

"Yes, Master," Xiaocui nodded.

​​Name:​​ Wang Xiaocui

​​Tao Cultivation:​​ Ghost Soldier (Mid Stage)

​​Type:​​ Ghost!

​​Current Form:​​ Ghost Handmaiden (Next Form: Bloodied Envoy)

​​Weapon:​​ Soul-Lantern!

​​Skill:​​ Furtive Whispers

[Furtive Whispers]: Before her death, Wang Xiaocui was merely a housemaid in a landlord’s household, possessing no true skills. Even after escaping the jar, she can still hide in the shadows, whispering unsettling words to frighten away lingering passersby.

Last night, Xiaocui not only refined the Soul-Lantern, but her Tao Cultivation had also advanced to Mid Stage Ghost Soldier. She had discovered Lin Ye still asleep in the morning and, unwilling to disturb him, busied herself tidying the tomb chamber.

"Excellent," Lin Ye praised first. Then, seeming to recall something, he continued, "What’s the token for your next form?"

"I think it’s called something like… the Blood-Drop Jade Pendant?" Xiaocui scratched her little head, seemingly still adjusting to thoughts of her evolved form.

"I see. Understood." Blood-Drop Jade Pendant? Lin Ye hadn’t heard of that either. So, this was something he’d have to pursue slowly.

"Master, please don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Xiaocui doesn’t really care about advancement. Xiaocui only wants Master to be well."

"Hmm, I’m fine."

"But Master, you’re covered in cold sweat…"

"It’s nothing. Just a nightmare last night," Lin Ye said, wiping the cold sweat from his face as the image of the dream general flashed before him again.

"Ah? Master, what kind of nightmare? Is the tomb chamber too oppressive? Xiaocui can warm your bedding tonight."

'Bed warming' meant exactly that – warming his blanket. Though the words could sound provocative, knowing Xiaocui’s nature, Lin Ye entertained no improper thoughts.

"It’s alright, probably just fatigue from yesterday," Lin Ye reassured himself.

"Master, you must rest more. Call for Xiaocui if you need anything."

"Alright. I know."

Lin Ye suspected it was the accumulated negative energy (hui qi) from digging graves these past few days that had likely caused the nightmare.

Thus, on the fourth day, he didn’t dig a single grave. Instead, he spent the entire day moving stones.

However, on the fourth night, Lin Ye had the same bizarre dream.

And the scene was identical. He wandered lost in the wilderness, the inn appeared before him, the same group was inside, he followed them to the guest room, and again saw that half-rotted leg!

Lin Ye jolted upright in the coffin once more. He finally sensed something deeply wrong.

Consequently, early on the fifth morning, Lin Ye recounted the whole incident to Xiaocui.

"Master, you mean every time you fall asleep at night, you always dream of this general drinking at an inn?"

"Exactly!" And that general was missing half a leg.

"That is indeed quite strange..."

"Xiaocui, do you know what’s happening?"

Xiaocui shook her head, her expression confused.

However, just as Lin Ye felt utterly helpless, the Seductress Ghost suddenly spoke up from her jar.