I weighed the seal in my hand, my eyes asking a question of the old ghost.
"Who are you, anyway? And why are those people afraid of you?"
Hearing my question, his expression tightened for a moment before returning to its usual demeanor.
"Who else could I be? Just an old ghost who's been dead for many years. You know, ghosts and humans are different; it depends on our cultivation. My cultivation is deep, so they fear me. What's wrong with that?"
Seeing the disbelief on my face, the old ghost pouted. "Who I am is not important. What's important is whether you want to leave here or not. If you don't, just return the seal to me, and stop all this nonsense." As he spoke, the old ghost made a move to snatch the seal back.
I dodged his grab with a flash of my body. Although I didn't know what the seal the old ghost gave me was, I knew it was definitely a treasure. Now that it was in my hands, how could I possibly give it back to the old ghost so easily?
"Fine. If you don't want to say, I won't ask. Why get so agitated?"
What followed was a long wait for the selection of the驸马 to begin.
During the wait, I kept trying to pry information out of the old ghost. But he was as slippery as an eel. No matter how I tried to probe, directly or indirectly, I couldn't get any news about his identity. However, I did learn a little other information.
This place was said to be the Half-Yin Realm, but it was different from the true Half-Yin Realm. In the true Half-Yin Realm, both humans and ghosts could only enter, not exit. But this place was different; both humans and ghosts could enter and exit, but they needed special passes.
If it were just ordinary people coming here, there wouldn't be many restrictions. For example, Wang Jun and the others could come and go as they pleased.
But for a feng shui master like me, it was different. I could enter, but to leave, I needed a pass. If I had just come for a visit, I would only need to help the Yin souls here with one or two good deeds to be allowed to leave.
But I just had to be meddlesome and take that painting, which led to me being "noticed" by Gege. To leave, I had to take a personal item from her as a proof of passage.
When I learned this from the old ghost, I was so angry I almost slapped myself twice. (Su Dan Novel Network)
As I was about to hit myself, I saw the old ghost's lips curve into a sly smile, which made me reconsider.
Although I was not old, I had been in contact with Yin entities for quite some time.
Most Yin entities were more straightforward than living people. They didn't have as many wicked intentions or cunning thoughts.
However, the old ghost before me was clearly an exception. If it weren't for the Yin energy he exuded, I would have believed he was a living person.
"Old ghost, are you trying to trick me here?"
The old ghost's expression immediately turned serious. "How is that possible? If I wanted to harm you, would I have waited until now? Don't be ungrateful, you brat."
"You..."
Time flew by during our bickering.
"Duang duang!" The sound of a gong being struck echoed, and at the same time, the hoarse voice of the prince's mansion steward reached my ears.
"Registration time is over. All young talents who have received a number plate, please line up at the entrance. We will now announce the requirements for becoming a驸马..."
"Duang duang... Everyone..."
"..."
Seeing me standing still, the old ghost nudged me.
"Scared now? You can still back out if you want. If you regret it after entering the prince's mansion, you might get beaten to death inside. You should think carefully."
Looking at the teasing expression on the old ghost's face, I snorted, "Who's afraid of whom, you grandson?" With that, I turned and walked towards the prince's mansion.
Since I had been pushed this far, I had to give it a shot no matter what.
Not for anything else, but to go home and give the money to my master to save my father. I had already taken ninety-nine steps; was I going to falter at the last hurdle?
When I followed the crowd to the entrance of the prince's mansion, I was stunned by the scene before me.
When I registered, I saw only three to five hundred people at most. But looking at the dense crowd before me, I was a bit bewildered.
As far as my eyes could see, there were people everywhere, a dark mass. People were packed shoulder to shoulder, at least ten thousand of them.
I couldn't help but curse inwardly, muttering under my breath, "What the hell is this? It's not a selection for a驸马, this scene is almost like the college entrance exams."
"You're not wrong. It's not easy to become someone superior."
Although my voice was low, I had forgotten that none of the people around me were "normal."
Looking at the man beside me, who was as thin as a stick from smoking too much opium, I slapped my forehead. How could I forget they were all ghosts, and their hearing was much better than mine?
As they say, one should not hit a smiling face. The old ghost had only told me that I could leave after obtaining the jade pendant from Gege, but he hadn't explained the specifics. So, I could only force a smile.
"Brother, I'm from out of town. I just heard about the驸马 selection as soon as I arrived and quickly registered. I'm not too familiar with the rules. If you're not busy, could you tell me about them?"
The opium smoker glanced at me with a sinister look, remaining silent, his expression one of disdain.
"Kid, which village are you from? I've never seen you before."
I blinked in surprise and quickly replied, "I came from the north to join my relatives. As soon as I arrived, I fell ill due to the change in climate and passed away a few days later. So..." I didn't finish the sentence, but looked at the opium smoker with a pitiful expression.
Perhaps seeing my young age and my pitiful appearance, the opium smoker showed a look of sympathy.
"Unlucky child, since you're here, live well. I'd say you're quite lucky to have arrived during Gege's wedding. Whether you become a驸马 or not, you won't lose out."
I looked at the opium smoker blankly. "There are benefits even if I don't become a驸马?"
"Of course. She's a Gege, after all. Everyone who registers to be a驸马 will at least receive a gold ingot. So, aren't you lucky, kid?"
Hearing the opium smoker's words, I couldn't help but frown. It sounded as if this Gege got married often.
"Brother, who is this Gege? From what you're saying, it sounds like she gets married every year?"
The opium smoker's expression changed drastically. He took out his pipe from behind him, and before even lighting it, he hit me on the forehead.
"What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean Gege gets married every year? Are you tired of living?"
I was furious inside. Didn't you just say that? That everyone who registered for Gege's wedding would receive a gold ingot? If Gege didn't get married every year, where would you get the gold ingots from?
However, I remembered that besides myself, everyone else around me was a ghost. If we were to fight, I would be the one at a disadvantage.
I could only look at the opium smoker with a wronged expression. "You just said..."
The opium smoker glared at me. "You still don't believe me? She is the youngest Gege of the Fifth Prince. In the past, when other Gege's got married, anyone who responded to the call for a驸马, whether successful or not, would receive a gold ingot. This is the Fifth Prince's youngest Gege's wedding, and I estimate they'll give at least two gold ingots. If I can succeed, I'll be rich..."
Looking at the opium smoker who had already fallen into a fantasy, I really wanted to kick him. Did he not know what he looked like? With his skinny frame, how blind would a Gege of this prince's mansion have to be to fancy him?
Just then, a commotion broke out in the crowd, followed by the steward's duck-like voice ringing out again.
"The Prince has arrived!"