Chapter 238: Face Comparison Result

Chapter 238: Facial Recognition Results

The moment the words left his mouth, the scenery before Zhang Yuanqing rippled like water waves—a sign of entering the Spirit Realm—yet no prompt tone from the Spirit Realm sounded in his ears.

The Transmission Jade Talisman allowed Spirit Realm Walkers to enter the Spirit Realm without accepting a mission; did this count as bypassing the Spirit Realm... Zhang Yuanqing watched the ripples before him settle from violent to stable, the white ceiling replaced by a deep night sky.

Beneath the night sky, deep as black swan velvet, an amusement park shimmering with dreamlike light operated day after day.

Cheerful music, the ding-dong of bells, the roaring whoosh of roller coasters... intertwined into a lively, exquisite scroll.

Zhang Yuanqing waited in place for a few seconds, receiving no Spirit Realm prompt tone, and a speculation formed in his mind.

—It seems the Transmission Jade Talisman does indeed bypass the Spirit Realm; using it to re-enter a Spirit Realm dungeon counts as a no-mission state.

"At this moment, if there are Spirit Realm Walkers inside the Jinshui Amusement Park, what am I? A bug? A dungeon boss? Or nothing at all? Hmph, once my level rises in the future, I can return to the dungeon to show off, scare some low-level Walkers."

Thinking with malicious amusement, he took out the Transmission Jade Box and retrieved a second Transmission Jade Talisman.

He was just about to crush it and take a trip to the Mountain God Temple when he suddenly froze.

Because after using up the Transmission Jade Talisman, he discovered this artifact was a one-way teleportation item.

"Then after I go to the Mountain God Temple and return to reality, all three jade talismans will be used up; what is the meaning of this experiment?"

Zhang Yuanqing's expression turned wooden, frozen in place.

Perhaps due to inertial thinking, he instinctively believed that after entering the Spirit Realm, he would naturally return to reality; it had always been so in the past.

But upon discovering that entering the Spirit Realm was a no-mission state, he immediately sensed the problem.

Additionally, because he had never used a Transmission Jade Talisman before, he was unfamiliar with the item and hadn't considered things thoroughly.

A few seconds later, he bared his teeth and said: "Forget it, since I'm here, I'll go see the Ghost Bride; perfect chance to probe Old Bangzi for intelligence."

His current strength was a far cry from what it once was; combined with his artifacts, suppressing the Ghost Bride was no issue.

Zhang Yuanqing proceeded on foot, following the route in his memory, passing through one amusement facility after another. Before long, a cluster of buildings sleeping in the darkness appeared ahead.

The road here was retro flagstone, flanked by retro buildings with white walls and dark tiles, Jiangnan style.

White paper pasted on the courtyard gates, white lanterns hanging from the eaves, silent and gloomy.

Compared to the Mute Village, the Yin energy here seemed very thin and gentle... Zhang Yuanqing continued forward for a few minutes, stopping outside a large courtyard.

The eaves of this courtyard hung large red lanterns, the gate pasted with festive red paper; the master of the house seemed to be holding a wedding.

"Thud thud!"

Zhang Yuanqing mounted the steps and knocked on the courtyard gate.

Presently, the gate creaked open, a gust of Yin-cold air blowing out from the crack. Through the not-too-wide gap, Zhang Yuanqing saw a lantern drifting out from the thick darkness.

The lantern stopped behind the gate. Then, a ghostly hand, skin greenish-black, nails pitch black, extended from the crack clutching a wedding invitation.

Black energy surged in the depths of Zhang Yuanqing's eyes, his temperament turning sinister and noble. He spoke faintly:

"Scram!"

That greenish-black ghost hand trembled, then silently withdrew.

The lanterns drifted away with frantic speed, as if fleeing for their lives.

This is what they call thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never bully a youth for his poverty. Ghost Bride, I have returned... Zhang Yuanqing pushed open the courtyard gate and strode straight inside.

Upon entering the ancient mansion, he retracted his Spirit Devouring ability, bypassed the outer hall, and arrived at the rear courtyard.

He scanned his surroundings. The night was heavy, the courtyard secluded. Red lanterns hung along the corridors, emitting an eerie crimson glow, yet the Ghost Bride was nowhere to be seen.

"Last time the Ghost Bride appeared, it was after the four betrothal gifts were gathered. That should be the method to summon her."

Detecting no powerful Yin energy, Zhang Yuanqing entered the candlelit room in the rear courtyard with clear purpose.

The furniture inside was all wooden, antique in style, resembling a young lady's boudoir from the Republican era.

Zhang Yuanqing's gaze fell upon the dressing table by the window. That bronze mirror faced the door directly; the door within the mirror was shut tight, while the door at his back stood open.

Atop the dressing table lay a steelyard beam.

He walked to the dressing table, and just as he reached for the beam.

The door in the mirror slowly swung open. A woman with her head bowed appeared in the reflection. She stepped over the threshold, sat before the dressing table, then—she lifted her head off her neck, placed it on the tabletop, and silently began to comb her hair.

The scene was terrifying, the stuff of nightmares, perfectly designed to scare newcomers.

Zhang Yuanqing had been scared out of his wits back then, nearly screaming aloud, but now... darkness surged in his eyes as he raised his hand and slapped a massive backhand across the mirror.

His palm passed through the mirror surface as if piercing an illusion, rippling like water.

*Thud.*

The female ghost's head was knocked flying, rolling away with a *gululu* sound.

Zhang Yuanqing then yanked the ghost's body out from the mirror side, punching and kicking: "Serves you right for scaring me back then, serves you right for scaring me..."

The ghost's head let out whimpering sobs, transmitting thoughts of pleading for mercy.

*Bang.*

Zhang Yuanqing stepped over the threshold, shut the door, and let out a long breath: "Satisfying!"

Zhang Yuanqing then found the large vat storing the medicinal wine. He unfastened the wooden lid, and a pungent, fishy stench assaulted his face. The vat was filled with a shallow black liquid; a tiny resentful spirit, still attached to its umbilical cord, swam circles inside. Eyes like a hatchling's would occasionally lift, glaring fiercely at the human who had opened the vat.

A newborn calf fears no tiger... Zhang Yuanqing used a porcelain bowl found in the room to ladle a spoonful of liquid, then spat a mouthful of Yin energy into the vat.

The Yin energy fell into the water, transforming into a round, adorable, sparsely lanugo-covered little rascal.

"Good son, beat it up!"

Zhang Yuanqing clapped the lid back on and strode away. Behind him, from the great water vat, came the tiny resentful spirit's shrill wailing.

Next, he collected the wedding quilt and the golden hairpin in turn. The moment the betrothal gifts were complete, a fierce Yin wind rose in the courtyard, swaying the grass and trees.

*Woo woo~*

A grand path paved with red carpet unfurled in the hazy night. At the end of the carpet stood a small courtyard.

Inside, candles burned bright; the doors and windows were pasted with "Double Happiness" characters.

Zhang Yuanqing trod the red carpet into the courtyard, pushed open the door, and saw—in the bridal chamber, beside the bed carved with dragons and phoenixes—sat a woman in wedding attire. Her pale, delicate hands were folded, resting upon her lower abdomen.

She sat demure and composed, her face shrouded in a dense, pitch-black haze, her features indiscernible.

This time, she was actually waiting for me right inside the room... Goosebumps rose on the back of Zhang Yuanqing's hand, adrenaline spiked, and he entered a combat state.

Even now, facing the Ghost Bride directly, he still felt a faint numbness creep across his scalp.

The Ghost Bride was formidable.

But unlike that abyss-gazing sensation of their first encounter, this time Zhang Yuanqing could intuitively perceive her power, could see her tier.

The Ghost Bride's aura surpassed the Transcendent realm, which was why she had been able to kill Hengxing Wuji with such ease back then.

But Zhang Yuanqing's previous understanding had been wrong; she had not reached the Sage realm. After all, the gap between Sage and Transcendent wasn't one level, nor two, but an entire major realm—a chasm, a distance of ten thousand eight thousand miles.

For Spirit Realm Walkers, after the Transcendent peak, what awaited them was advancement to Sage; there were no superfluous options.

But Artifacts and Yin Objects had no concept of levels; they could exist in the space between Transcendent and Sage.

"Husband, have you come to marry me!"

Joy laced the Ghost Bride's voice.

The voice of a vengeful spirit—mortals cannot hear it, other professions cannot hear it; only a Night Wanderer can hear it.

This communication was more like an exchange on the spiritual plane.

She actually still remembers me; her impression of me seems different from other Spirit Realm Walkers. Why? Just because I'm handsome... Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a moment, then said:

"Wife, you are too polite!"

As someone skilled in social graces, he certainly wouldn't be like those fake gentlemen, saying "Miss, don't misunderstand" or "Miss, please respect yourself," nor would he be like a dense straight man, opening with: Stop calling me that!

This line had evidently struck the Ghost Bride's heart. She rose gracefully and said:

"Long time no see, Husband. Your cultivation has advanced rapidly; you now possess the caliber of a dragon and phoenix. Congratulations."

So, you're only this amiable because you think I've gotten stronger? Last time you weren't like this at all. Zhang Yuanqing didn't waste words, cutting straight to the chase:

"I know a powerful Lady once came here and had you look for someone. Did such a thing happen."

As he spoke, he quietly slipped his hand into his trouser pocket. The moment the Ghost Bride turned hostile and attacked, or summoned the Lady of the Three Paths Mountain, he would instantly teleport away, returning to reality.

Unexpectedly, the Ghost Bride's attitude was remarkably compliant, like a little woman following her husband after marriage. She replied:

"The one that Lady sought is precisely you, Husband."

Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback: "You recognized me..."

"On the night Husband was ambushed, you once used that Lady's artifact. Though this servant could not descend, I saw everything clearly through the veil." The Ghost Bride answered.

The night of the ambush... Zhang Yuanqing froze first, then recalled she meant the night he encountered the Black Impermanence.

Right, at the time, because of the mysterious person's sudden appearance, she hadn't been able to descend into reality. Wait—she saw me use the Demon-Subduing Pestle. Then did she also see what the mysterious person looked like?

Zhang Yuanqing's spirits lifted:

"Did you see anything unusual at the time? For instance, a mysterious person appearing?"

The Ghost Bride spoke softly:

"Yes, I even caught a clear glimpse of his features. If my lord husband requires it, this concubine can have his likeness drawn for you."

Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed: "Many thanks, my lady. You are truly a virtuous and capable wife!"

The Ghost Bride, hearing this, was delighted beyond measure.

She raised her fair, delicate hand and waved it lightly; upon the round table draped in red cloth, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone appeared. The writing brush lifted of its own accord, dipped into the ink, and swiftly sketched upon the rice paper.

A few minutes later, the visage of a young man took shape.

Zhang Yuanqing fixed his gaze upon it. The man's features were ordinary, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth; he seemed high-spirited, yet in the depths of his brows lay an indescribable world-weariness.

Who is this man? A face is all I need. Once I return to reality, I can run it through the Public Security Bureau's facial recognition... Zhang Yuanqing picked up the rice paper, blew the ink dry, folded it neatly, and tucked it into his pocket.

He was certain this face was not meaningless, for Hei Wuchang, in his final moments, had screamed in terror: "How can it be you? How can it possibly be you!"

This proved Hei Wuchang knew the mysterious man, yet found his appearance utterly inconceivable.

Since it was not a meaningless face, the mysterious man must frequently use "it"; perhaps the official databases or the Public Security Bureau's system could turn up a match.

"My lady, your husband has one more matter to inquire about." Zhang Yuanqing had not forgotten the crux of the matter, and probed: "What attitude does that Empress hold toward me?"

The attitude of the Empress of the Three Paths Mountain was critical, supremely critical. If that old crone harbored fury and killing intent toward the ant who stole her ritual implement, Zhang Yuanqing would sooner die than return his Yang soul.

Simultaneously, it would rule out any possibility of using the Demon-Subduing Pestle within the instance.

But if it was mere annoyance, then Zhang Yuanqing felt he still had a chance to kneel and sing "Conquest."

Meaning there was room for maneuver.

If push truly came to shove in the future, he could simply return the ritual implement.

The Ghost Bride spoke softly: "I once pleaded on my lord husband's behalf. The Empress styles herself a righteous god conferred by the imperial court, not a bloodthirsty one. So long as my lord returns the Demon-Subduing Pestle and offers a sincere apology, the Empress may show clemency and spare my lord's life."

True or false? You wouldn't deceive me, would you... Zhang Yuanqing's heart eased upon hearing this, as if a great boulder had been lifted from his chest, yet he dared not fully believe it.

He nodded without changing expression and said: "I understand. Many thanks for telling me, my lady!

"It is growing late. Ah, my lady, rest early. I shall take my leave first."

Upon hearing this, the Yin energy surrounding the Ghost Bride surged violently, and she cried urgently: "My lord, wait..."

Her voice turned aggrieved and plaintive: "My lord simply leaves like this? Abandoning your concubine here?"

Ah, this... Zhang Yuanqing thought, My lady, we walk different paths, human and ghost. I am no scholar like Ning Caichen, incapable of playing the Undead Knight.

But his mouth said: "Your husband is also loath to part with you, but a true man's ambition lies in the four corners of the earth; how can he bend his knee and stay here? It is truly unavoidable."

The Ghost Bride agreed wholeheartedly, saying: "My lord harbors grand ambition; your concubine understands, and ought not to force you to stay."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, thinking to himself: You're actually quite reasonable.

Who would have thought, the Ghost Bride’s tone shifted abruptly, “Husband, might you take this servant with you when you leave?”

Zhang Yuanqing couldn't hold back, blurting out, “What?!”

The Ghost Bride spoke softly, “This servant knows Husband and the Empress share the same lineage, capable of harboring ghosts. Naturally, you can take this servant away.”

Zhang Yuanqing instantly grew wary, “Why does Madam wish to follow me?”

He suspected the Ghost Bride wanted to lurk by his side as a double agent.

If the Ghost Bride said, “A wife follows her husband,” Zhang Yuanqing would teleport away immediately.

“This servant has been trapped here for years, my movements restricted, my cultivation stagnant. Were it not for the Empress bestowing a mouthful of Yin Qi upon me, I would not have what I have today. Yet the Empress’s act was merely giving a man a fish. To take another step forward is a thousand difficulties, ten thousand hardships—unless one finds a dragon among men like Husband.”

The Ghost Bride looked pitiful and lovely, “I beg Husband to take pity, and take this servant away.”

She wants to be my Spirit Servant? Zhang Yuanqing still didn't agree, instead asking, “Why not follow the Empress?”

The Ghost Bride replied with resentment, “This servant is a bride, not a maid. Furthermore, the Empress has no intention of keeping this servant by her side.”

The meaning was clear: follow me and she’s a bride, follow the old crone and she’s just a maid? Oh right, ‘bride’ is her character setting.

If the Ghost Bride is willing to follow me, I’ll accept her as a Spirit Servant. That way, I’d have a powerful Spirit Servant. If I focus on nurturing her later, she can accompany me as I grow. Hmm, I do lack a combat-capable Spirit Servant. Little Rascal is ultimately child labor, not strong enough yet… Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes lit up, “Good! Then I shall take Madam with me.”

He immediately walked to the table, drew the Bloodthirsty Blade, slit his wrist, and let the crimson blood flow into the inkstone.

Blood mixed with ink, nearly overflowing the stone before he withdrew his wrist. Then he lifted the brush, dipped it in the mixture, and began sketching a Spirit Talisman array on the bridal chamber floor.

Refining a Spirit Servant first requires checking aptitude. A vengeful spirit of the Ghost Bride’s caliber naturally had sufficient aptitude.

Next came using the Spirit Talisman to dissolve the resentment (impurities) on the vengeful spirit. A spirit body overflowing with resentment cannot be directly accepted as a Spirit Servant.

Once impurities were purged, it was the same steps used to accommodate Little Rascal: wrap it in his own Taiyin power, cleanse the spirit body, fuse the spirit with the master’s mind, and brand the imprint.

Soon, Zhang Yuanqing finished inscribing the Spirit Talisman array and signaled the Ghost Bride to enter.

The latter, wearing embroidered shoes, her skirt swaying slightly, stepped into the array.

Instantly, the Yin Qi on her body began to rise in wisps, melting like spring snow. The Ghost Bride let out a shrill, miserable scream.

This process lasted the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The resentment on the Ghost Bride vanished completely as the Yin Qi dissipated. Immediately after, the Night Wanderer God’s essence blood contained within the Spirit Talisman array fed back purer Taiyin power.

It was akin to a total blood transfusion.

When the Spirit Talisman array dried up and lost its spirituality, Zhang Yuanqing exhaled a mouthful of Taiyin power to wrap the Ghost Bride and swallowed her into his abdomen.

He immediately closed his eyes, sensing the Ghost Bride within, his spiritual power sinking down to perfectly fuse with her.

After a long while, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of Taiyin power.

The Ghost Bride manifested once more, clad in a magnificent wedding dress embroidered with golden mandarin ducks, a pair of delicate embroidered shoes beneath her horse-face skirt. Her face, however, remained shrouded in dense Yin Qi, her features indistinguishable.

The Yin Qi remained vigorous, but had become purer.

"Many thanks, Husband." The ghost bride curtsied gracefully, bashfully saying: "I beg of you, Husband, return, return the betrothal gift to your concubine."

Betrothal gift? Zhang Yuanqing froze for a few seconds before realizing she must mean the red bridal veil.

He immediately summoned the item from his inventory.

The vivid red veil bore a golden "Double Happiness" character at its center, flanked by a pair of mandarin ducks, exquisite beyond measure.

It flew up of its own accord, settling upon the ghost bride's head.

In that instant, the ghost bride seemed made whole; her aura surged, her yin energy swelling several degrees. Zhang Yuanqing felt her yin qi pressing close to that of the ghost doll, yet still fell short of the fierce ghost within the rouge box.

Gazing at the ghost bride in her magnificent wedding robes, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but mock himself inwardly:

The child is secured, now the bride is too — does that count as achieving everything in a single step?

He swallowed the ghost bride back into his mouth, returned to the courtyard, scooped up Little Rascal and swallowed him into his belly as well. The originally cheerful Little Rascal, heading home happily, suddenly discovered a great terror in the house and began to squirm uneasily.

Don't be afraid; after enough time together, you'll grow used to this mother... Zhang Yuanqing crushed the teleportation jade talisman, visualizing the villa's single room in his mind.

...

The scenery sharpened from blur to clarity; Zhang Yuanqing saw the modern decor, saw the villa's single room exactly as he had left it — he had returned to reality.

"The teleportation jade talisman experiment, in a sense, counts as a failure, yet I unexpectedly gained a wife — a wife with off-the-charts output... all things considered, a good thing."

Zhang Yuanqing immediately felt his trouser pocket; that sheet of xuan paper was still there.

He wasted no time, spreading the xuan paper on the desk, pulling out his phone, snapping a photo of the portrait, and sending it to Guan Ya.

Yuanshi Tianzun: "Sister Guan Ya, please go to the Public Security Bureau and check if you can match this person. Also, help run a comparison in our Five Elements Alliance database."

A few seconds later, Guan Ya replied:

"Nice brushwork, looks like it was outlined with a writing brush. Give me a few minutes."

Of course, this was drawn by my wife... Zhang Yuanqing roasted himself internally, replying with a thanks.

He scrolled the official forum while waiting for Guan Ya's reply.

Ten-odd minutes later, the phone rang, the screen switching to an incoming call display — it was Guan Ya.

"Any results?" Zhang Yuanqing answered the call.

Guan Ya said in a low voice: "Where did you get this painting?"

"Never mind how I got it, just tell me the result."

"I had my colleagues at the Public Security Bureau run facial recognition; no suitable match turned up. But, but in the Five Elements Alliance database, we found something..." At this point, Guan Ya's tone grew somewhat strange:

"This person is... the Demon Lord!"