I couldn't possibly believe Qingdai when she said she was ugly.
So I shook my head,
"I don't believe you. Take off your mask and let me see."
Qingdai seemed to be smiling, her eyes looked gentle and captivating.
Moreover, Qingdai's eyes were unlike those of ordinary ghosts; they were indistinguishable from those of the living.
Not gray, nor black, nor white…
Though Qingdai appeared somewhat pleased, she still waved her hand.
And explained why she always wore a mask:
"Truly, I cannot.
It's not that I deliberately wear a mask.
It's because I carry a 'Death Hex' on me."
"Death Hex?"
I didn't quite understand, looking at Qingdai with suspicion.
Qingdai, however, became serious and nodded:
"A Death Hex.
The hex foretells that in this life, I can fulfill my lifelong wish.
However, I will also bring disaster to those around me.
Especially the first man who sees my true face.
He will die because of me.
Unless, that person has opened their Soul Palace and possesses the Heavenly Mandate."
I listened, completely taken aback.
I didn't know who had calculated this for Qingdai.
Perhaps it was that unfortunate soul from my past life.
But after getting involved in this line of work, things that once seemed mysterious and ethereal now felt real.
And when Master introduced the cultivation realms to me, he did indeed mention it.
However, opening the Soul Palace meant having the possibility of vying for the 'Heavenly Mandate.'
This Heavenly Mandate did not refer to an 'emperor,' but rather one's own 'Dao.'
Reaching the Soul Palace realm was considered, in the true sense, to have embarked on the 'Dao,' and to begin the understanding and perception of the 'Dao.'
Therefore, it was also called the 'Heavenly Mandate' in our profession.
Opening the Soul Palace realm signified the commencement of the 'Heavenly Mandate,' granting one the qualification to comprehend and study the 'Dao.'
It could also mitigate some karmic debts and the like…
But this 'Dao' was profoundly mysterious; a hundred people had a hundred different understandings.
Master, having been in this profession for decades, couldn't explain it clearly either.
He simply told me in the old way:
The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao.
It is a thing of chaos, born before heaven and earth.
Unheard and unseen, yet it ceaselessly continues, eternally existing.
The root of all things in heaven and earth…
From then until now, I hadn't understood a single word.
However, Qingdai stated it with such certainty.
That she could bring death to the first man who saw her face without reaching the Soul Palace realm, so I didn't dwell on it further.
Since Qingdai had said it all, I didn't want to court death.
I could only hope that my cultivation would grow faster, and I would reach the Soul Palace realm soon.
I nodded and didn't inquire further about the matter.
Instead, I became curious about the person Qingdai was waiting for.
So I continued to ask,
"Qingdai, can you tell me about the person you are waiting for?"
Hearing my words, Qingdai's body visibly trembled.
It was clear that this person was very important to her.
Seeing Qingdai's prolonged silence and the trace of sadness in her eyes,
I continued,
"Qingdai, if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I won't ask."
But Qingdai, as if alive, actually took a breath.
Then she said,
"It's nothing.
He is a man worth waiting for.
He loved me for one life, and I will wait for him for ten lives.
This life is his tenth life.
Even if he is a tree in this life, I am willing to guard him for a lifetime, until he withers."
As Qingdai spoke these words, she appeared very calm.
Her tone was also light.
But when I heard these words, each one pierced directly into my heart.
What kind of woman was she?
"He loved me for one life, and I will wait for him for ten lives?"
Qingdai had actually waited for two thousand years for a man who loved her in a past life.
Though her words were light, I saw endless sorrow in her eyes.
It was hard to imagine how she had endured those two thousand years…
For a moment, my heart filled with curiosity about the man who could make Qingdai wait for two thousand years.
What kind of man could he be?
However, seeing the sorrow on Qingdai's face, I didn't press further.
For a ghost to be like this, I wondered how many people nowadays could achieve what Qingdai had.
Disregarding the laws of the underworld, waiting in solitude in this mortal world…
In my heart, I felt both pity and admiration for Qingdai.
"Don't worry, Qingdai. Since that unfortunate soul said…
Oh no.
My past self said I could help you in this life, I will definitely be able to help you.
Don't worry!
I'll just go around and check people's chests, maybe I'll find him…"
Qingdai looked at me, gratitude in her eyes.
She nodded slightly, remaining silent.
I smiled and chatted with Qingdai about other things.
And casually asked why she hadn't appeared earlier to meet me, choosing instead to silently protect me for twenty years.
Qingdai also gave her answer.
She said the time was not yet right, and she couldn't meet me.
She didn't elaborate further.
But judging by her expression, it was likely related to the hex her 'unfortunate soul' from my past life had cast upon her…
Afterward, Qingdai sat in my room for about another twenty minutes.
Finally, seeing that it was getting late, she said to me,
"Qin Ze, it's very late today.
You should get some sleep.
I should leave now."
"Qingdai, where are you going?
Do you have a place to stay outside?
Why not just make do with staying in my room? It can shelter you from the wind and rain."
I spoke, wanting to keep Qingdai with me.
It wasn't just because I had a good impression of Qingdai, but also because she was very powerful.
If she stayed by my side, wouldn't any demons or monsters around be easily handled?
Qingdai shook her head.
"No.
I have a yin residence in Old Huang Mountain.
If the time is right, I can invite you to visit."
"Yin residence?"
My eyes widened. Wasn't that just a ghost house?
Qingdai nodded.
"Thank you for the zombie inner elixir.
I'll be going now, see you later."
With that, Qingdai no longer hesitated.
She flicked her sleeve.
In an instant, she transformed into a wisp of white mist.
In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from my sight and left my room…