Lushya City, Lu Lianxue's apartment.
At this moment.
Lu Lianxue was watching the new anime season's "Spy x Family," murmuring, "It's so good, maybe... I'll watch one more episode, and then I'll go back to studying."
With those words.
Lu Lianxue moved her mouse and clicked on the next episode.
Jingle jingle.
The phone rang.
"Hmm? Who's calling me this late?"
Lu Lianxue picked up her phone, the caller ID showing Zhang Wei.
She answered the call.
Zhang Wei's voice immediately came through: "Moshi moshi, is the class monitor asleep yet?"
"No, I'm reviewing my subjects, and I'm about to go to bed soon," Lu Lianxue replied, looking at the anime playing on her computer.
"Going to bed? So early?" Zhang Wei remembered that in the Northeast, Lu Lianxue often stayed up late playing Honor of Kings with them.
Lu Lianxue knew what Zhang Wei was thinking and replied with a chuckle, "Yes, I'm back at school now, and I have class tomorrow, so I have to sleep early. No more staying up late, and it's bad for my skin anyway."
To this.
Zhang Wei said directly: "Class monitor, don't sleep. Sleep is for the dead. Get up and have some fun!"
Lu Lianxue was amused by Zhang Wei and playfully retorted, "I can't have fun anymore, I'm old. I'm already twenty-two, and in twenty-eight years, I'll be half dead. I need to start preserving myself before I die so I can be buried beautifully."
After chatting for a while.
Zhang Wei asked Lu Lianxue if she wanted to go out for barbecue.
"Barbecue? Are you treating, Zhang Wei?" Lu Lianxue patted her stomach.
"Yes, I'm treating you to barbecue. After all, it's late at night, and the only thing I can treat you to is barbecue. I can't treat you to seven-yuan spicy hot pot, would you dare to come out then? I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it," Zhang Wei teased with a smile.
Lu Lianxue chuckled.
Like most people, her stomach rumbled at the mention of food at night.
"Alright, I'll head over now."
...
While Lu Lianxue was going to meet Zhang Wei for barbecue.
On the other side.
Lushya City, in front of the Chunhua Road Haunted House.
It was past 10 PM, and there were no people on the road, only a few vehicles passing by.
After a moment.
A Wuling Hongguang minivan sped over and stopped by the roadside.
The car door opened.
Cao Yushan, his son, and four other people got out.
"Director Sheng, the haunted house ahead is where that old willow tree is located," Cao Yushan said to a young man beside him.
As he spoke.
Everyone, including Cao Yu, could see that Cao Yushan's demeanor was respectful, even reverent, towards the young man.
Cao Yushan was one of the heads of the Wei Dao Division in Fujian Province, and a Qilin Guard at that!
He held a high and powerful position.
Yet, his behavior towards a young man seemed strange.
However.
Cao Yu and the other two heads of the Wei Dao Division in Fujian Province, besides Cao Yushan, did not find it strange.
On the contrary.
They felt it was natural, as it should be.
The young man looked young, appearing to be only in his early twenties, but his eyes were ancient, unlike those of a young person, as if he had experienced decades of vicissitudes.
Regarding this.
Cao Yu couldn't help but glance at the young man more, then quickly looked away.
Although it was his first time seeing the young man.
From the way his father addressed the young man, he knew that the person in front of him and his son were in no way comparable.
Director!
In the entire Wei Dao Division, the only one who could be called Director...
Was a True Dragon Guard who guarded the thirty-four provinces of Great Xia, with one guarding each province!
Just as Cao Yushan had told his son Cao Yu, the Wei Dao Division in Fujian Province had invited a True Dragon Guard to expand its personnel and recruit the old willow tree ghost.
However.
Cao Yu was puzzled and looked at the young man again.
Was it my imagination?
Director Sheng... seems to be trembling...
He remembered.
On the way to pick up Director Sheng and bring him to the haunted house, he was a bit shaky and restless the whole time. Even when they were close to the haunted house, he repeatedly asked his father, Cao Yushan, if the old willow tree was really not scary.
Although Director Sheng now looked 'normal' after getting out of the car and calmly walked towards the haunted house.
But recalling everything.
Cao Yu's expression was strange, and an unbelievable thought crossed his mind.
Could it be...
This Director Sheng is afraid of ghosts.
Cao Yu shook his head repeatedly, dismissing the thought.
This idea was too absurd.
Just kidding, he's a True Dragon Guard.
How could a True Dragon Guard be afraid of ghosts? How is that possible... is it possible?
While lost in thought.
Cao Yu felt that Director Sheng and the others walking ahead had stopped, so he looked up, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
At this moment.
They had arrived at the entrance of the haunted house.
Since they were helping the old willow tree ghost escape and wanted to avoid making too much noise and attracting attention, they had specifically chosen to come when the shop was closed and there were few people on the road.
Just as they were about to enter.
A gust of eerie wind blew.
An old man leaning on a cane appeared before them.
Through the Yin energy emanating from him and the description in the file, Cao Yu recognized the old man.
This was the old willow tree.
"Old Willow Sir?" Cao Yushan and the others were also stunned.
The next second.
Cao Yushan and the others widened their eyes in surprise.
It really is Old Willow Sir. How is this possible? How could it appear here? This is outside the haunted house's premises, it shouldn't be able to get out.
There was no time to think.
Old Willow Sir's voice came: "Gentlemen, you have suddenly visited this place. Is there something you need?"
It looked at Cao Yushan and the others, its gaze finally settling on Director Sheng.
Just now.
It was preparing to spend its last night in the haunted house before setting off to travel the next morning. But before it could appreciate the scenery it had gazed upon for three hundred years, it sensed someone approaching, and these people were powerful, especially the young man among them.
Sensing that the other party was clearly heading towards the haunted house, the old willow tree ghost couldn't help but reveal itself.
"Hello, Old Willow Sir. We mean no harm."
Cao Yushan snapped back to his senses and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "We are from the Wei Dao Division. We are here to invite you, Old Willow Sir, and hope you will consider joining our Wei Dao Division."
"Of course."
"I know you are a guardian spirit and cannot leave this place. You don't need to worry about that, Old Willow Sir."
Cao Yushan gestured: "Let me introduce you, Old Willow Sir, this is Director Sheng."
"To help you break free from your restraints, we have specifically invited Director Sheng, a True Dragon Guard."
At this moment.
Director Sheng approached Old Willow Sir and bowed, "Hello, my name is Sheng Xuan. I am a True Dragon Guard of the Wei Dao Division. I am here on behalf of the Wei Dao Division to sincerely invite Old Willow Sir to join the Wei Dao Division."
The old willow tree ghost was shocked. It hadn't expected the Wei Dao Division to come, nor had it expected the young man in front of it to be the legendary True Dragon Guard.
However, after calming down.
The old willow tree ghost cupped its hands towards Director Sheng and the others, apologizing, "Thank you for the Wei Dao Division's kind offer, but I cannot accept."
"Why?" Cao Yushan and the others were surprised. Even with a True Dragon Guard involved, they couldn't get the old willow tree ghost to join?
"Because I have already made a contract with someone today."
The old willow tree ghost said:
"He has already helped me remove my restraints. I feel it is good to follow him, so please accept my refusal of your kind offer."
"Ah???"
Cao Yushan and the others were stunned, and even Director Sheng was taken aback.
Old Willow Sir has already contracted with someone?
We've been beaten to it??
...