"Is anyone there? This young master is trapped here."
At first, I approached with the mindset of Liu Grandma entering the Grand View Garden, thinking I could find an exit. However, the deeper I went, the more I felt lost. Moreover, the buildings and pavilions all looked the same, and after seeing too many, I grew bored.
My voice carried far, but no one answered. I felt a surge of anger and impatience, and spoke again, "If no one comes out soon, I'll set fire to the prince's mansion!"
Indeed, as soon as my threatening words were uttered, a maidservant rushed out from a nearby room.
She looked about thirteen or fourteen, her face etched with panic. "Young Master Consort, you..."
I immediately interrupted her, raising my voice by two octaves. "What did you call me? Young Master Consort? When did I become your family's consort?"
Upon hearing this, the maidservant knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. "Young Master, please spare me. This servant knows her mistake. I thought that after coming out of the bamboo building, you had already married my young lady, so..."
I interrupted her again and asked curiously, "What? Is the bamboo building only accessible to your family's consort? Outsiders are not allowed?"
Seeing that I had no intention of harming her, the maidservant looked up and said, "Not exactly. It's just that..."
"Alright, there's no 'just.' I'm lost. Hurry and take me back to the main gate. I want to leave this place."
The maidservant opened her mouth as if to say something, but only managed an "Oh."
Following behind her, we passed through several corridors and two gardens before I saw the main gate of the prince's mansion again. Looking at how far it was, I felt a bit strange. The first time I came here, I had reached the pavilion without walking very far.
The main gate of the prince's mansion had already been opened by the servants. The square in front of the gate was still brightly lit, and the clamor from the distant restaurants continued. I even heard Old Ghost telling the waiter to bring more wine.
"Damn it, Old Ghost, you wait for me. This young master will definitely show you why flowers are so red." With that, I strode towards the restaurant.
There were many pedestrians coming and going. I saw surprise, confusion, schadenfreude, and some strange expressions on their faces. At that moment, I was only thinking about how to deal with Old Ghost and didn't understand why they were looking at me with such complex gazes. But even if I had known, I wouldn't have had the inclination to pay them any mind.
Because my only goal now was to go upstairs and beat up Old Ghost. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Young... Young Master, you're back so soon. Are you going to..."
Before the restaurant owner could finish speaking, I had already rushed up to the second floor, and then in two or three steps, I was on the third floor. I looked towards the window seat.
As expected, Old Ghost was still sitting there drinking, with a pile of empty wine bottles on the table. His face, crisscrossed with wrinkles, was flushed red from drinking, and he was muttering something to himself.
I walked up, grabbed Old Ghost by the neck, and roared, "Old Ghost, you old bastard, I'll beat you to death..."
The Old Ghost in my grasp hiccuped and looked at me with hazy eyes, "Huh? Why are you back so soon..."
"Wuwu..."
Old Ghost couldn't finish his sentence because I punched him in the mouth, driving his intended words down into his stomach.
"For tricking me, you old swindler, I'll beat you to death."
After saying a sentence and throwing a punch, I threw more than ten punches before the restaurant owner, who heard the commotion, and other guests who were drinking nearby pulled me away.
Old Ghost lay on the ground, covering his face with his hands and groaning, "Aiyoh, aiyoh..." However, judging by how he occasionally opened his fingers to peek, I knew he was fine. Although it looked like he was at a disadvantage after I hit him several times, my fists also ached terribly. Hitting his face felt like hitting a steel plate.
"Alright, stop pretending to be dead on the ground. What is your skin made of, why is it so tough?"
Then, I picked up a wine glass from the table and took a big gulp. It was from Fifth Gege that I learned that living people could eat things in the half-yin realm, unlike some novels that claimed food was conjured from all sorts of disgusting things.
As soon as I finished speaking, Old Ghost scrambled up from the ground, dusted off the non-existent dust on his clothes, and then sat opposite me. He looked completely unharmed.
"Old Ghost, are you hiding something from me?"
Old Ghost gestured with his thumb and index finger, saying, "Just this little bit."
"This little bit? Do you know that because of this little bit you hid, I almost died?"
"But you didn't die..."
I roared, "What did you say?"
Old Ghost chuckled, "I know you're blessed with good fortune, how could you possibly die?" Then, Old Ghost changed the subject, "How was it? Did you see Fifth Gege? And did you get the jade pendant?"
It was better not to mention the jade pendant. The moment it was brought up, my anger flared up. I grabbed Old Ghost by the collar, "How dare you mention it? What were you thinking, trying to get Fifth Gege's personal jade pendant? Is that something I can take?"
Old Ghost subtly wriggled out of my grip, poured himself a cup of wine, and took a sip. "What's so impossible about taking it? It's just a jade pendant."
Seeing Old Ghost's nonchalant demeanor, I growled in a low voice, "Don't tell me you don't know the meaning behind Fifth Gege's personal jade pendant."
"Nonsense, of course, I know."
"Then why did you still ask me to go?"
"I didn't really ask you to take the jade pendant." Then, Old Ghost changed the subject and asked, "Is Fifth Gege currently being controlled by her good or evil thoughts?"
"The evil thoughts have dissipated. It's now her good thoughts controlling the soul body."
"That's good, that's good..." Old Ghost coughed and retorted, "After you left the Yin Bamboo Forest, did she make any gesture?"
I was stunned but still replied, "What gesture could she make? She just treated me to four small dishes and a pot of wine."
Upon hearing this, Old Ghost's eyes widened like copper bells, and he looked at me in surprise. "You're saying she treated you to a meal?"
"Yes, what's wrong with that? I helped her with such a big favor, shouldn't I at least get something to eat?"
Old Ghost nodded repeatedly, "Absolutely, absolutely."
Seeing Old Ghost's hesitant expression, I felt something was amiss, but I didn't want to pry further. It was meaningless. Even if I found out, what would it matter? What I cared about most was when I could leave this place.
"Old Ghost, I've fulfilled your promise. Shouldn't you now fulfill yours and take us to Molu Village?"
"Cough, cough... I'm afraid we can't leave yet..." Old Ghost coughed a few times and explained awkwardly.
"What did you say?" I shot up from my chair, feeling blood rush to my head. I reached for the bone-piercing nail in my bag, ready to fight Old Ghost to the death.
You were the one who sent me to deliver the seal to Fifth Gege, and now that the task is done, you're telling me I can't leave? Damn it, are you playing with me?
Old Ghost's claw-like hand rested on me, and I felt a chill emanating from him, instantly suppressing my rising anger. With that one grip, I was forced back into my seat.
"Don't get agitated! Can you listen to me finish talking?"
My entire body was pinned down by his single hand. I couldn't even open my mouth to curse him; I could only sit there and glare at him. If looks could kill, he would have been dismembered countless times by now.
"I know what you're thinking, but if you leave now, she will be in danger." Saying this, Old Ghost released his grip on me.
I rubbed my wrist, which was sore from his grip, and asked with a frown, "Who is she?"
"Fifth Gege."
"How is that possible? Fifth Gege's cultivation is at least at the level of a Ghost General, and I even suspect she might be a Ghost King. And someone could still pose a threat to her? Old swindler, can you tell me something more reliable?"
"Why would I lie to you? Did you encounter anyone blocking your way when you left the prince's mansion?"
I nodded, "Yes! Is there something wrong with that?"
"That is the biggest problem."
I was a bit confused by Old Ghost and looked at him expectantly for him to continue.
"Do you really think Fifth Gege's word would allow you to leave so easily? If Fifth Gege hadn't opened the seal on the Prince's Seal, do you think you could have walked freely in the prince's mansion? Do you really think you are the Fifth Prince?"
Old Ghost's words left me speechless. But then I thought, this doesn't make sense.
Old Ghost pushed me into the prince's mansion, and you were the one who shoved the Tiger Kui Seal into my hand before it was unsealed. How is it now that Fifth Gege is in danger, and it's being blamed on me again?
No, this time, no matter what, I won't be fooled by Old Ghost again.
"My identity is irrelevant. Anyway, I only have one thought now, and that is to leave this place."