IMMFBCG Chapter 49

Chapter 49: The Deadly Duo in Red and White

On her way back, Ye Xue made a point to stop by Deng Fei’s house to explain everything to his family. She suggested that they take Deng Fei to clean up the grave he had accidentally defiled.

This was not something others could handle on his behalf; Deng Fei had to go himself. Only immediate family members could accompany him—otherwise, he might face a streak of bad luck.

When Aunt Ling heard her son had dared to relieve himself in the graveyard, she grabbed a broom, ready to storm into the house and teach him a lesson.

Ye Xue glanced into the room and saw Deng Fei still asleep, a large lump under the covers. She couldn’t help but think he seemed remarkably relaxed for someone who’d fallen into such trouble.

Aunt Ling yanked the covers off, revealing Deng Fei completely, but he didn’t wake up. He only mumbled a few sleepy sounds, eyes still shut.

Aunt Ling’s husband quickly pulled on her sleeve. “Ah Xue is still here.”

Realizing this, Aunt Ling took a deep breath, forcing a smile. “This lazy boy does nothing but sleep all day!”

As a guest, Ye Xue felt it wasn’t her place to interfere, so she simply smiled.

Afterward, Aunt Ling didn’t bring up her son’s behavior again. She turned to Ye Xue and said, “Thank you, Ah Xue. I’ll take this stinky boy over to clean up the grave later. By the way, have you eaten breakfast yet? Why don’t you stay and eat with us?”

Ye Xue politely declined with a smile. “No need, we just ate.”

If it were any other day, Aunt Ling would have insisted, but with errands waiting, she handed them a few apples instead.

As Ye Xue walked out with the apples, she noticed Yu Qi had empty hands, so she offered him half. “These were grown here in the village—they’re sweeter than what you get outside. Try one.”

Yu Qi took one, and Ye Xue watched him expectantly, smiling.

He paused and obediently lifted the apple to his mouth as if to take a bite.

Startled, Ye Xue quickly stopped him. “Wait, wait! It’s not washed yet!”

Yu Qi blinked, realizing what he’d been about to do, and dropped his gaze sheepishly. “…Forgot.”

Ye Xue had never seen this side of him and couldn’t hold back a laugh. She walked over to a nearby well, washed an apple, and handed it to him. “Here, now it’s good to eat.”

Yu Qi took it from her and, under her watchful gaze, took a small bite. He nodded earnestly. “Very sweet.”

Ye Xue beamed. “See? I told you!”

After leaving Deng Fei’s house, they caught the bus and went to a nearby town to buy spirit money and other daily supplies.

By the time they returned home, it was exactly nine o’clock. The sun was shining brightly in the sky.

Seeing the time was right, Ye Xue grabbed their tools and set off with Yu Qi to the western hills.

They had barely taken a few steps when a voice called from behind. “Master Ye! Mr. Yu! Wait for me!”

Turning around, they saw Bao Wenxuan hurrying toward them.

“What’s up? Need something?” Ye Xue asked, puzzled.

Bao Wenxuan waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, nothing much. It’s just that the signal here in the village is terrible. I don’t have much else to do…”

“So?” Ye Xue raised an eyebrow.

Bao Wenxuan chuckled. “So, where are you guys going? Can I tag along?”

Ye Xue grinned. “We’re headed to the graveyard. You want to come too?”

She expected this would make him back down. After all, he’d bathed in pomelo leaf water for three days straight after being possessed by the blue ghost. Someone that eager to ward off evil probably wouldn’t want to visit a haunted graveyard.

But surprisingly, Bao Wenxuan showed no hesitation and nodded. “Sure! As long as you’re there, I know nothing bad will happen!”

Ye Xue chuckled. “You sure have a lot of faith in me.”

Bao Wenxuan replied, “If I can’t trust someone who took down that ghost, who else could I trust?”

Yu Qi glanced at him briefly, his gaze lingering before he looked away.

“Alright,” Ye Xue said. “If you’re not scared, then come along.”

The three of them began the hike up the mountain. The graveyard was eerily quiet, with nothing but the rustling of leaves to break the silence.

A ghost was already waiting for them there. As soon as he spotted Ye Xue, he waved excitedly. “Master! You’re here!”

The male ghost had cleaned himself up and no longer looked as disheveled as before. Aside from his pale, ghostly face, he seemed almost like a regular person.

Bao Wenxuan, without his Yin-Yang vision, couldn’t see the ghost but felt a distinct chill in the air.

Ye Xue smiled. “Looks like your tombstone has been tidied up as well.”

The ghost nodded enthusiastically. “That kid was just here with his family, cleaning it for me. They even pulled the weeds around my grave.”

Bao Wenxuan, watching her talk to empty air, edged closer to Yu Qi and whispered, “Mr. Yu, is there a ghost here?”

Yu Qi gave him a cool glance but said nothing.

Feeling awkward, Bao Wenxuan chuckled to himself and shuffled back to Ye Xue, muttering, “Mr. Yu is so cold.”

Ye Xue asked the ghost, “You mentioned a group of fierce ghosts came here recently and took out a lot of your kind. Do you remember what they looked like?”

The ghost shook his head. “I was hiding in my tomb and didn’t dare come out, so I didn’t see them. But I remember their aura—it was terrifying. I was scared stiff.”

Ye Xue frowned slightly, then took a small bottle from her bag. “Was it this?”

The ghost sniffed and nodded vigorously. “Yes! That’s the smell! Did you capture them, Master?”

“Ran into them on the way here,” Ye Xue replied, sealing the bottle and putting it back. “Turns out it was them.”

It explained the lingering hostility—a result of devouring their own kind’s spirit energy.

Ye Xue continued to ask the ghost about a spirit-attracting talisman, but he genuinely didn’t know anything about it, only that it had a strangely enticing aura.

She scanned the area, found nothing unusual, and then turned to the ghost. “Lead us around. Let’s see if we can find any clues.”

She looked back at Yu Qi and Bao Wenxuan. “We’re going to check up ahead.”

The trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving the forest dim. The trail was barren, with nothing in sight except graves and scattered bones.

Bao Wenxuan felt a shiver at the eerie scene before him, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms. Seeing Ye Xue and Yu Qi both remaining calm and collected, he couldn’t help but feel he might be overreacting. Taking a deep breath, he continued to follow close behind them.

As they walked deeper into the forest, the male ghost suddenly paled, his face blank as he stared ahead. In an instant, his spirit grew translucent and then disappeared.

Ye Xue’s expression turned serious as she instinctively looked forward.

In the distance, where white mist floated, a bridal procession appeared, moving towards them. As festive music played, people near the red sedan chair raised their hands, scattering countless red paper flowers. Those standing beside the sedan were dressed in vivid red, their faces pale and expressionless, eyes hollow and unsettling. When a slight breeze lifted the sedan’s front curtain, Ye Xue caught a glimpse of razor-sharp nails beneath the bride’s red gown.

Even Bao Wenxuan could see the ominous scene now, stammering, “W-What… is that? A ghost bride?”

Yu Qi’s brows knitted, and he turned to look behind them. As mournful funeral music began to play, another group carrying a black coffin was advancing in their direction. They wore mourning clothes, their long hair bound with white cloth, faces just as pale and bloodless. Seated atop the coffin was a young man in mourning attire with closed eyes, scattered paper money landing on his hair and falling to the ground.

One red procession, one white, approaching each other from opposite sides.

Yu Qi’s face darkened. “The Red-White Twin Shroud.”

Even though Bao Wenxuan had never encountered them before, he’d heard of their infamous reputation—these were objects of extreme yin and malevolence.

Ye Xue bit her finger to draw blood and began drawing a talisman. “Close your eyes. Don’t look at them. Wait for the Red-White Shroud to pass!”

Forming a hand seal, she held a protective talisman from Xuanzhen Temple in her palm, creating a shield around them that concealed their presence so the Red-White Twin Shroud wouldn’t pick up on their aura.

As the music grew louder, red paper flowers and white funeral paper mingled in the air. Ye Xue could even feel the paper flowers brushing against her face.

Bao Wenxuan clenched his eyes shut, not daring to open them.

When the music finally stopped, a deep silence fell over everything, not a sound to be heard around them.

Bao Wenxuan’s eyelids trembled as he mentally counted the seconds.

After a while, he cautiously opened one eye.

Instantly, terror struck him.

The ghostly women beside the red sedan chair were staring at him, blank and expressionless.

Ye Xue, hearing his scream, sensed something wrong and opened her eyes just in time to see Bao Wenxuan being dragged into the sedan. She and Yu Qi were shoved aside, falling into a cramped, dark space.

Pressed close together, Ye Xue and Yu Qi’s breaths mingled in the near pitch-black. She couldn’t see his face, but she could feel his breathing quicken slightly.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

As she spoke, her warm breath brushed against Yu Qi’s face, causing him to flush in the darkness.

“I’m fine,” he replied in a low voice.

Feeling something unusual under her back, Ye Xue reached out and touched beneath her, discovering a body. Initially cold, it seemed to warm slightly after a moment.

“There seems to be someone… underneath us,” Ye Xue noted.

Yu Qi responded quickly, “We’re inside a coffin.”

Refusing to sit idly, Ye Xue felt around, searching for her talismans. But before she could grasp them, Yu Qi’s hand reached out and held her wrist.

“Yu Qi?” she asked, surprised.

His breath steadied. “Tell me what you need. I’ll help you.”

“I need a few talismans for light and to break out of this coffin.”

Yu Qi’s warm hand held hers, and he placed a few talismans in her palm. “These are the ones I prepared earlier.”

Ye Xue took them, carefully retrieving her hand as she bit down on her finger, trying to draw blood.

But before she could, Yu Qi pressed his fingertip to the talisman, a smear of his blood marking it. “Use mine.”

Surprised, Ye Xue agreed softly, “Alright.”

As she spoke, her lips brushed lightly against his fingers, making Yu Qi tense, his hand frozen in place.

Realizing what she’d done, Ye Xue blushed. She took a steadying breath, formed another seal, and chanted, “Foulness disperse, Dao Qi prevail, hasten by decree!”

Golden light illuminated the inside of the coffin, revealing the figure beneath her.

Yu Qi’s eyes widened.

Noticing his reaction, Ye Xue asked, “Yu Qi, do you recognize this person?”

Yu Qi nodded, his voice grim. “… It’s Deng Fei.”