Chapter 125: Chapter 125: City Wanderer, Scholar’s Ghost Banquet Sightings_1
"Is that all for the interesting characters and bizarre happenings in this town?" Wang Linchi asked, taking a bite of food before resuming his questioning of the waiter.
After dealing with the Ghost Banyan Tree in the ghost village, he had found a road that seemed like an official path. He followed it for almost three hours and finally reached a town.
The town wasn’t large, but it was bustling.
After gathering information, securing an alias, and obtaining some funds, he found an eatery. He settled in for a meal, subtly trying to gather more information.
He wasn’t directly inquiring about the Longevity Banquet because of its nature. The Rooster Crow Temple was a temple, so inquiring about it wouldn’t pose much of a problem. However, openly probing about something like ’longevity’ was different. If an informed individual identified him, who knew what might happen?
"Sir, that’s all. A small town like ours doesn’t have many intriguing tales," replied the waiter, clearly bewildered. It was the first time he had met someone like this.
"That’s not much," Wang Linchi said, handing over a small tip. "I travel around collecting stories of remarkable characters and peculiar events to compile a record of supernatural tales. I’ll be staying in town for a few days. If you think of any more stories, please come find me."
"Of course, don’t fabricate nonsense. I will verify them later," he emphasized.
The waiter’s face lit up as he accepted the tip. "Rest assured, sir! Our eatery is always bustling. I’ll certainly gather all the tales for you."
Without a tip, it would have been just routine. But feeling the weight of the coins, he was determined to do his best.
After all, this was just the beginning. If the stories he provided were good, this generous patron would surely not be stingy with his gratuities.
"You want to hear about rare people and strange things?"
A big-bearded man at the next table suddenly spoke, startling the waiter. A glance at the man’s attire revealed he was one of the Wanderers, so the waiter held his tongue.
These Wanderers, constantly on the move, had witnessed many ghostly occurrences and were therefore brimming with stories.
"Hmm, do you have any stories?" Wang Linchi asked.
"I do, but I’m a bit strapped for cash lately. If you could offer some support, I wouldn’t mind sharing," the big-bearded man said, his voice loud and unashamed of asking Wang Linchi for money.
Wang Linchi took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table.
"If you don’t mind, come join me for a simple meal, and tell me your story."
"If the story isn’t good, consider this meal my treat to soothe your stomach. If the story is good, this silver ingot is for your trouble."
Wang Linchi glanced at what the man was eating: a bowl of plain noodles.
Plain noodles might sound pleasant, but in reality, they’re just noodles boiled in water. The taste isn’t much, but they have their advantages: they’re filling and cheap.
"Well, then I won’t be polite!" The big-bearded man downed the noodles and soup in his bowl in a few large gulps—more like drinking than eating.
Without hesitation, he sat down opposite Wang Linchi and, with no ceremony, tore off a large piece of chicken and stuffed it into his mouth.
The big-bearded man still had some professional courtesy. Chewing on bone and meat, he began, his words muffled, "Speaking of strange things, it has to be the Longevity Banquet. Think of that..."
Hearing the words "Longevity Banquet," Wang Linchi’s heart tightened. Could this man be here to fish for information? He was looking for the Longevity Banquet, and someone just happened to bring it up.
But Wang Linchi wasn’t the only one listening. The big-bearded man was a skillful narrator, clearly moonlighting as a storyteller when hungry. His storytelling was captivating, and many diners listened quietly.
The gist of the story was about a Scholar who accidentally stumbled into the Longevity Banquet. However, unlike the scholars in the tales from Wang Linchi’s previous life, this one received no good fortune, nor did he bring any fairies home. Instead, he became a dish at the banquet.
Because those at this feast weren’t human, but ghosts. Various Ghost Kings attended, feasting on human flesh and drinking human blood.
In the end, while many Ghost Kings went to the Tree of Immortality to pluck Longevity Fruits, the Scholar managed to sneak away. However, to escape, he had to bribe the Evil Ghosts serving as guards and gatekeepers. By the time he made it out, only half of his body remained.
The Scholar returned to his hometown, plagued by nightmares day and night, and eventually died of fright in his dreams.
"A truly good story," Wang Linchi said, pushing the silver ingot towards the big-bearded man. "So, are you also here looking for the Longevity Banquet?"
"I’m here to kill ghosts," the big-bearded man said after swallowing his food.
Meaning, he wasn’t after the so-called Longevity Fruit, but the ghosts at the Longevity Banquet.
"Can you take me with you? I want to see the Longevity Banquet," Wang Linchi added. "I’ll cover your expenses on the road."
"You wouldn’t make it. You’d just become ghost fodder," the big-bearded man said, accepting Wang Linchi’s silver ingot but shaking his head in refusal.
In his eyes, Wang Linchi, with his fair skin and delicate features, looked like a pampered young master. Listening to stories was one thing, but if he actually joined the journey, no amount of willpower would save him from becoming a ghost’s meal.
He needed money, true, but he had his principles.
"This big-bearded fellow can’t take you, but I can take you to find the Longevity Banquet. However, this..." A skinny Wanderer stepped forward, clearly eyeing Wang Linchi’s wealth.
Before he could finish, Wang Linchi tactfully refused, "Brave warrior, you don’t even know about the Longevity Banquet. I’m afraid it would be a waste of time. Perhaps next time, if I need to find something else, I’ll trouble you then."
The main reason was the vast difference between this Wanderer and the big-bearded man, not just in knowledge, but also in physique. The big-bearded man looked like he could take on two of the other fellow. Furthermore, considering their physical strength, the big-bearded man resembled a battle-hardened regular soldier, while the one who spoke up looked more like a street thug.
Why bother with someone clueless? If he was going to find someone, he’d find a professional.
"Fine, we’ll let it go this time." The Wanderer understood Wang Linchi’s polite refusal and didn’t press further, though his eyes darted about, clearly scheming something.
Wang Linchi paid him no mind and turned back to the big-bearded man.
The big-bearded man completely ignored Wang Linchi’s gaze, continuing to eat. His attitude was clear: Look all you want, just don’t stop me from eating.
After clearing the table of food, the big-bearded man offered this piece of advice, "Be careful. That skinny monkey has his eyes on you. You’d best find an inn and stay put for a few days."
Wang Linchi just smiled. "I have a better idea. I can hire you to protect me. Coincidentally, I’m also looking for the Longevity Banquet, so our goals align. If that fellow tries anything with me, he’ll have to get past you."
"Not interested," the big-bearded man said, rising to leave.
He himself was already risking life and limb; why drag someone else to that ghostly feast?
...
On the ruins of the ghost village, the flames gradually subsided.
A Fierce Ghost in a black cloak stared with grim resentment at the Ghost Banyan Tree, now reduced to ashes.
"Damn it! Who burned the Longevity Catalyst?"
"Without the Longevity Catalyst, how can we hold the Longevity Banquet?"
The Longevity Banquet was held every hundred years. The Ghost Kings eating people beforehand was merely a ritual. The true purpose was to use the Longevity Catalyst to summon the Tree of Immortality. The Ghost Kings would then pick and consume the Longevity Fruits, increasing their spectral lifespans by a hundred years, thus continually delaying their final demise.
Ghosts, naturally, also had lifespans.
"There’s less than a month until the Longevity Banquet. I can only use a blood sacrifice to refine a new Longevity Catalyst. Otherwise, if I delay the Ghost Kings’ lifespan extension, I’m finished!" The Fierce Ghost in the black cloak hadn’t expected such an accident just three days before the Longevity Catalyst was due to mature.
"Don’t let me find out who did this, or I’ll skin you alive!"
The Fierce Ghost in the black cloak cursed bitterly and then drifted away.
The Longevity Catalyst required humans as its raw material. The heartwood of a mature Ghost Banyan Tree, having absorbed the souls of an entire village and fermented over time, would become a special incense. When lit, this incense could lure the Tree of Immortality to extend its branches.
Now that this had failed, there was a remedy: slaughter a large number of humans and combine their various body parts with their souls to create a Longevity Catalyst of inferior quality. The advantage was that it was quick to make.
If the quality wasn’t enough, quantity would have to make up for it. Normally, ghosts wouldn’t massacre humans on such a large scale, as humans had ways to retaliate. This was especially true recently, with rumors of powerful individuals from beyond the domain appearing, some allegedly possessing strength comparable to Ghost Kings. This had become a headache for all Ghost Kings, who were now plotting how to eliminate these outsiders.