Chapter 16: Defying Heaven, Turning to Spirits!

“Leave now,” Chu Meng’er told Chu Tian and Chen Meng.

“Aren’t you coming with us?” Chen Meng asked as she watched Chu Meng’er turn and prepare to disappear into the hospital.

Four years in the illusion—one year pregnant, three years raising the child—though the shattered mirror had been restored, Chen Meng had yet to fully step out of her role as a mother.

“Where would I go?” Chu Meng’er glanced at Chen Meng, then looked up at the dilapidated hospital ceiling.

Now, she was the Ghost King! She could leave the hospital and roam freely, but the yin energy that clung to her was something ordinary people could not endure.

“Home,” Chu Tian said, looking at Chu Meng’er as a soul-binding chain appeared in his hand.

“You want to capture me?” Chu Meng’er tilted her head and asked.

Chu Tian said nothing.

Chu Meng’er fell silent as well.

They had played the roles of father and daughter for three years, but at this moment, it felt as if blades were drawn against one another.

Yet, Chu Tian’s soul-binding chain slowly wrapped around Chu Meng’er, and she did not resist at all.

“Why don’t you evade?” Chu Tian asked.

“Because you told me not to be afraid. You said that if I turn around, my parents will be there,” Chu Meng’er said seriously, looking at Chu Tian.

A faint smile appeared on Chu Tian’s face. He felt a slight sting in his nose and warmth in his eyes.

In Chu Tian’s mind, from the eighteen-tiered exquisite pagoda, a streak of dark light flowed along the soul-binding chain into Chu Meng’er’s body.

The eighteen tiers of the pagoda each allow for the assignment of a corresponding ghost official. Chu Tian could only assign one permission now.

Chu Meng’er—first-level ghost official! Power—early-stage Ghost King!

In an instant, the ghostly aura on Chu Meng’er’s body seemed drawn in by a black hole, all absorbed into her and transformed into the pure power of a yin official. Her aura became identical to Chu Tian’s—sharing the same root and origin.

“What did you do to Meng’er?” Chen Meng asked, looking at Chu Tian.

“I registered her officially,” Chu Tian said with a smile, glancing at Chu Meng’er.

---

“Registered officially? You’re hiding something from me?” Chen Meng puffed out her cheeks in anger, then turned to Chu Meng’er. “Meng’er, tell me.”

At that moment, the soul-binding chain fell away from Chu Meng’er, who stepped over to stand beside Chu Tian and Chen Meng, shaking her head with a smile. “It’s a secret!”

“Forget it, I don’t care anymore!” Seeing the same smile on both their faces, Chen Meng gave up. After all, they were father and daughter; she was their mom. Though still annoyed, Chu Tian had already picked up Chu Meng’er and placed her in Chen Meng’s arms, gently ruffling her hair. “Let’s go. From now on, we’ll explore this world together! I promise you’ll experience everything you’re meant to, with no regrets. Chen Meng, you take Meng’er home first.”

“What about you?” Chen Meng asked, holding Chu Meng’er.

“I’ll call Old Wang and have him come handle things here,” Chu Tian said, pulling out his phone. They had spent four years in the illusion, but only four hours outside. Dawn was approaching.

“All right,” Chen Meng nodded.

“Ride my little electric scooter home; I’ll have Old Wang give me a ride back,” Chu Tian said.

“Got it,” Chen Meng replied. Chu Tian watched as Chu Meng’er, resting her head on Chen Meng’s shoulder, waved a small hand at him before climbing over the wall with Chen Meng and leaving. His heart was filled with complicated emotions.

They came out to exorcise ghosts, but somehow ended up with a grown daughter?

Chu Tian didn’t know whether he was a ghost official sent to exorcise spirits or to fulfill dreams.

But on second thought, when people face difficulties, they turn to the police; when ghosts have problems, they turn to ghost officials. That made sense.

After all, not all ghosts need to be violently destroyed.

Lost in thought, Chu Tian dialed his phone.

“Old brother, come to the Seventh Hospital.”

“What’s going on? You’re at the Seventh Hospital?”

“Yes, the ghost infants here have become Ghost Kings, but it’s settled now.”

Chu Tian heard a loud thud as the person on the other end fell off a chair, then heard Wang Dali’s shrill voice.

“Holy crap, little brother, you really solved the Seventh Hospital problem! Damn it, do you know how tough that place was? They brought a bunch of masters who chanted scriptures for forty-nine days straight and still couldn’t exorcise them. Hang tight, I’m driving over now.”

After hanging up, Chu Tian stepped outside the hospital and lit a cigarette.

He hadn’t smoked in four years while inside the illusion for the child’s sake.

Before long, a car pulled up at the hospital entrance. Wang Dali and his assistant climbed over the wall. The assistant entered to document the scene while Wang Dali approached Chu Tian and took the cigarette from his hand.

---

“Little brother, a Ghost King was born here? How did you handle it?” Wang Dali asked.

“I’m a ghost official; of course, I drew the souls away,” Chu Tian said, glancing at Wang Dali.

“Fine! If you don’t want to explain, forget it,” Wang Dali said, clearly doubting Chu Tian’s dramatic words.

“She’s my ghost contract,” Chu Tian said after a moment’s thought.

“No way, really?” Wang Dali’s eyes widened. “A Ghost King? How did you manage that?”

“Want to know?” Chu Tian’s mood wasn’t high. He looked toward the sky dimly brightening with dawn. “Old brother, how about I tell you everything that happened here tonight?”

“Sure,” Wang Dali agreed. Any ghost-catching experience was valuable to him.

Chu Tian lit another cigarette, pondered briefly, and recounted the entire night’s events.

After hearing the story, the two men had discarded a pile of cigarette butts before them.

“That story’s a waste of smoke,” Wang Dali sniffed. “No wonder these ghost infants have been around for years without harming anyone. No wonder so many high monks couldn’t exorcise them. Turns out, it’s the attachment.”

“Brother Wang, there’s a legend that the underworld exists. After death, souls go through judgment there. The underworld has eighteen hells. The eleventh hell is the Stone Crushing Hell for those who kill infants; the eighth is the Ice Mountain Hell for parents who maliciously abort or bad people. Those who fear these hells and their gods might prevent the appearance of these ghost infants here,” Chu Tian said.

“Summoning worthy ministers, seeking talent like Jia Sheng, yet pity in the midnight’s empty seat—no concern for living people, only ghosts and gods!” Wang Dali finished his last drag and recited the poem.

Chu Tian knew the poem originally lamented rulers ignoring true talent. But the last line held deeper meaning today:

“Pity the midnight’s empty seat, ignoring living people, questioning ghosts and gods!”

“Brother, if an emperor seeks advice but ignores how to govern the world, instead asking ghosts and gods for help—is that right?” Wang Dali patted Chu Tian’s shoulder. “People must respect the world, heaven, earth, and life. But living in this world, we should focus on teaching people to live better, not handing the future over to ghosts and gods. I think, rather than making them fear a vague, eternal hell, it’s more important to teach respect for life, etiquette, a sense of shame, and rules. And most importantly—believe in science! Well, I’m off to work. I’ll give you a ride home later.”

Watching Wang Dali turn and enter the hospital, Chu Tian raised his middle finger at his retreating back.

Damn it, you’re telling me to believe in science in a place like this?