Yinshan Record

Chapter 153 Inside the Five Yin City
"Is there such a thing?"

Su Che put on an aloof, cold-blooded swordsman demeanor, practically snorting out the four words through his nose.

"About half a month ago, Mr. Huang from your sect came to visit my Yin-Yang Realm and stayed at my humble abode. Perhaps something went wrong with the message on the way, which has caused concern among my friends at the Ghost Ancestor Palace."

Half a month ago.

Su Che sneered inwardly. If that were really the case, was he seeing a ghost in the Kulin Temple?
“I see.” Su Che continued, following Linghu Gong’s words, “The Yin-Yang Realm is only open for one hour each day. Since I came south, I have had less contact with my fellow disciples. I’m afraid something might have gone wrong.”

That's exactly what I meant.

Linghu Gong chuckled and said, "Therefore, my other colleagues asked me to invite you to sit down, firstly to clear up any misunderstandings between our two families, and secondly, as a humble old man to do my part as a host."

"The moment I met Senior Linghu, I felt a sense of familiarity with his face. After exchanging a few words with him, it was as if I were bathed in a spring breeze. Brother, if I may be so bold as to ask, you keep referring to your colleagues, do you know anything about the Dharma King...?"

"To be honest, when I saw Young Master Zuo, it was as if I had seen an old friend from many years ago. My master is currently in seclusion to comprehend the Great Dao and rarely inquires about matters within the realm."

Linghu Gong spoke very carefully.

"Brother, you must not know yet, but Huang Tiandao's top henchman, Yu Lizi, broke through in battle and has already attained immortality."

"I heard something."

Su Che gave an impression that he knew it soon enough.

"How many years has Yu Lizi been cultivating?" Linghu Gong reminisced about the past: "When he first showed his talent in the East Sea, his cultivation level was about the same as yours, somewhere between the sixth and seventh rank. I had already mastered the Rejuvenating Elixir back then, but now he has already attained immortality..."

Linghu Gong's implication was that he was still a fifth-rank official.

"It was so shocking to me, and it must have been even more so to His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

I never imagined that when my master was only a sixth or seventh-rank official, he had already gone to the East China Sea to commit all sorts of evil deeds and fight against the strong and help the weak.

"Sigh, why bring this up?"

Linghu Gong waved his hand and said, "My humble abode has prepared a simple meal. Please come and have a seat, Young Master Zuo."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Su Che didn't refuse; he really wanted to see who this Huang Kou from the Linghu Mansion was.

Linghu Gong smiled slightly, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Please."

Then he pulled a small boat out of his sleeve. Linghu Gong was originally only the size of a fist, but the small boat he pulled out of his sleeve was the size of a palm. On the three masts hung a large sail with ghost faces, and on it, you could vaguely see many little people washing the deck and tidying the sail.

“I personally lead this welcoming boat to greet distinguished guests entering the realm. Although you have already reached the Eighteen Bends and entered the Yin-Yang Realm, the proper etiquette cannot be omitted.”

Su Che suddenly remembered that Taigong Chong had mentioned that this Linghu Gong was in a relatively awkward position among the six Ghost Commanders. He was in charge of so-called "diplomatic affairs," which meant welcoming and seeing off guests.

Linghu Gong tossed the small boat down into the air, and it grew as soon as it was exposed to the wind, expanding section by section until it truly resembled a large, five-toothed warship, with many sailors on board, each performing their duties.

"Young Master Zuo, please."

Su Che didn't stand on ceremony with Linghu Gong and lightly leaped onto the flying boat. Taigong Chong and Lu Bai exchanged a glance and followed.

Upon closer inspection, the sailors on the airship, though constantly busy with their work, had blank expressions and no spirit in their eyes; they must be puppets.

"I purchased this Star-Piercing Flying Boat from the Mysterious Hands Sect of the South China Sea at great expense. I usually only use it for leisure and to cultivate my temperament. Today, since I have met distinguished guests, I am showing it off."

"The Miraculous Hands of the South China Sea," Su Che noted down the phrase, then praised it.

"Riding the air and moving swiftly like lightning, a little wealth is nothing compared to the senior's relieved smile."

"Haha, we're a perfect match."

Then, Linghu Gong gently clapped his hands, and the flying boat took off, heading towards the center of the Yin-Yang Boundary. The Yin-Yang Boundary was shaped like a large mountain, and the Eighteen Bends was just the entrance. After passing the Eighteen Bends, Su Che saw layers of green pines and cypresses below the flying boat, which showed some rare signs of life.

Not far past this forest, one can see a magnificent city built along the mountainside, its prosperity and vastness even surpassing the Jiankang City in Su Che's memory.

"Young Master Zuo, what do you think of this Five Yin City?"

"It is not much worse than cities like Luoyang and Jiankang."

Linghu Gong sighed.

"Back then, our lord worked hard and painstakingly to build up this fortune. It is a great achievement for a thousand years in private, and a paradise for all ghost cultivators in the world in public."

The fox spirit, the size of a fist, spoke with such sincerity that Su Che almost believed the reverence in its eyes for the Yin-Yang Dharma King.

As the flying boat soared through the air, the residents and guards of Wuyin City seemed to have long been accustomed to it, knowing that it was Lord Linghu's vehicle, and it did not cause any trouble.

Su Che could see from the flying boat that the Five Yin City was shaped like the Chinese character "成" (chéng, meaning triangular). At the very top, which was also the highest point of the Yin-Yang Realm, stood a magnificent palace with black tiles and white walls. Although it looked simple and plain, it occupied a vast area.

That must be the abode of the Yin-Yang Law Network.

On either side of this palace city are two separate cities, which, despite the ghostly shadows, appear quite prosperous.

Lord Linghu piloted his flying boat and landed in one of the cities, right in a bustling villa.

"Young Master Zuo, please."

Su Che jumped off the flying boat, and Lu Bai and Taigong Chong followed suit.

Immediately, a group of young girls in palace attire with their hair styled in high buns came forward, graceful and charming, and greeted the group in soft, sweet voices.

Su Che and Lu Bai were alright; they knew in their hearts that these maids dressed in palace attire looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old, but in terms of seniority, they might all be grandmothers.

Taigong Chong's eyes were wide open in disbelief.

"Young Master Zuo, is this villa to your liking?"

"Senior Linghu is indeed a celestial being."

A fist-sized figure of Linghu Gong floated in the air, leading the way.

"Young Master Zuo is too kind. How could this old man compare to a true immortal who has attained longevity? I am nothing more than a detestable old ghost."

Even if you were, who would dare to say that?

A strange voice came from outside. Su Che looked up and saw a middle-aged Taoist priest wearing an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, with a wooden hairpin in his hair and a jade ruyi in his hand, waiting for the group outside the main hall.

When Taigong saw the Taoist priest, he quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"I, Taigong Chong, the Black Feather Ghost Messenger, pay my respects to the Young Lord."

This Taoist priest was actually Xue Shaojun, the first among the six Ghost Generals who managed all the general affairs.

Compared to the extraordinary Linghu Gong, who was only the size of a fist, this Xue Shaojun truly deserves the description of having an otherworldly air and extraordinary demeanor.

"You did a good job."

Xue Shaojun gave a sarcastic comment and then shook his Ruyi scepter, pointing it inward.

"Young Master Zuo, a banquet has been prepared in the inner room. Please come in."

"please."

(End of this chapter)