Chapter 26: The Appearance of Shen Wan
“Playing this same old trick is truly dreadfully boring.” Ming Ji’s gaze grew even colder as he raised his sword and pressed it against the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s chest.
“Just after Zixi broke the Illusion Array, you set up the Maitreya Array, which is even more insidious and vicious.”
The so-called Maitreya Array was a formation where those trapped within could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. If they failed to break it within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, they would sink into the illusion forever and perish.
“I was merely inviting you into the jar.” The Thousand-Faced Ghost was not angered by being exposed. Instead, he wore a sinister smile. “Naturally, how could I bear to let such a beautiful person as you, Immortal Venerable, fall for no reason?”
“It is just that… after today, the revered Immortal Ming Ji will be heavily injured and subsequently die beyond any cure.”
The Thousand-Faced Ghost’s eyes reflected Ming Ji’s white-jade face; his gaze seemed to practically stick to Ming Ji’s body, causing an inexplicable wave of nausea.
“However, the brothels of Yanjing will gain a top courtesan renowned throughout the world, one whom anyone can enjoy.”
“You dare insult my Master like this!” For some reason, Wei Zixi had been in low spirits ever since breaking the Illusion Array. It wasn’t until he heard the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s frivolous words toward Ming Ji that his eyes finally filled with intense rage.
“Do not act rashly,” Ming Ji instructed softly, raising his hand to stop Wei Zixi’s movement.
“Immortal Venerable is indeed composed.” The Thousand-Faced Ghost maintained his look of assured victory. After sighing with emotion, he transformed his ghostly aura into countless clones, all laughing at Ming Ji in unison.
The ear-piercing, terrifying sound echoed through the empty cave. The wind happened to brush past their robes, bringing a sudden chill, like countless specters coming to claim their lives.
“Immortal Venerable, let the game begin.”
After saying this, the Thousand-Faced Ghost quickly vanished.
Ming Ji recalled the words just spoken and pondered ceaselessly: The Maitreya Array is extremely difficult to break. aside from avoiding the generation of one’s own inner demons and finding the array’s eye, I fear we must also find where the Thousand-Faced Ghost is hiding.
The moment this thought settled, the scene before him lost its gloomy atmosphere and rapidly shifted into an ethereal, misty space.
Ming Ji tried to take a step forward, only to feel as though he were stepping on a cloud—light, airy, and without any sense of solid ground.
“Zixi.” He called Wei Zixi’s name in a low voice. His warm palm subconsciously grasped his disciple’s hand tightly. Fearing this was not enough, he took a red string from his storage ring and bound their little fingers together.
“I have seen the Maitreya Array in ancient books. Its formation is insidious; one moment of inattention leads to death.”
Ming Ji pressed his palm tightly against Wei Zixi’s, patiently instructing him, “This red string is imbued with spiritual power; it will not let the two of us be separated.”
He had always been open and upright, so falling into the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s insidious trap while off guard worried him. When he looked back at Wei Zixi, his eyes were full of concern.
What Ming Ji did not know was that Wei Zixi was at the age where love first blossoms. Seeing his Master actively take his hand, the tips of his ears flushed red.
Realizing his cheeks were burning, Wei Zixi immediately shook his head to cast aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind, silently reciting the Heart-Clearing Mantra to banish distractions.
Ming Ji, who had been keeping an eye on Wei Zixi, became puzzled seeing his little disciple shaking his head and blushing.
However, being like a blank sheet of paper when it came to romance, he assumed Wei Zixi was feeling unwell and even transferred some of his own spiritual power into him.
“Zixi, are you uncomfortable?”
“Master, I… I am fine.”
Wei Zixi held Ming Ji’s hand and looked at that concerned gaze, mentally spurning himself: How can I be distracted in a situation like this?
Afraid Ming Ji would notice, he hurriedly changed the subject. “Master, how do we break this formation?”
Hearing this, Ming Ji’s expression turned serious. “Records of this formation in ancient texts are scarce. What I do know is that it excels at confusing the trapped person’s mind.”
Even if broken, the one entering the array will temporarily lose a significant amount of spiritual energy.
Ming Ji did not speak this sentence aloud; instead, he was contemplating something else.
He had a vague feeling that the Thousand-Faced Ghost before them seemed to have his mind controlled by someone else, acting solely to lure Ming Ji into making a move.
Shen Yi and Zhao Qingshan were decoys, and the Thousand-Faced Ghost likely was one too.
[System Notification: New Mission Published. Unravel the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s conspiracy. Upon completion, Innocence Score +10.]
The System, seemingly sensing a key plot point, appeared elusively. With an electronic ding, it popped up and quickly vanished.
Ming Ji felt somewhat helpless at this. He paused for a moment before returning to his previous train of thought.
As for the person behind this…
He couldn’t help but vaguely guess: It should be related to the malice that controlled me in my past life and… the thing that influenced Yan Shiman and Chu Yunduan before.
As for the rest, he would have to break the array before he could deduce the details.
Ming Ji gathered his focus, observing the white mist before him with vigilance, his gaze not wavering in the slightest.
Soon, the layer of white mist gradually dispersed, revealing the scene within.
It was actually… a group of beautiful women!
Ming Ji scrutinized these women and noticed a significant amount of resentment lingering on them. He came to a conclusion.
Presumably, these are the innocent people harmed by the Thousand-Faced Ghost previously.
As if knowing Ming Ji’s thoughts, the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s voice instantly came from all around him, laughing coldly as Ming Ji looked at the women. “Immortal Venerable, come and look. Where exactly is the eye of the formation?”
“Of course, if Immortal Venerable wishes to kill them all, that is also acceptable.” The Thousand-Faced Ghost seemed to treat this as entertainment, chuckling low. “You only have one chance. If you fail…”
Although the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s expression couldn’t be seen, just listening to his voice, Ming Ji felt he was adopting a cat-and-mouse mentality, sadistically teasing his chosen prey.
“Immortal Venerable, you will become a useless cripple. And the vile beast you saved back then will die along with you.”
After the Thousand-Faced Ghost’s voice faded, Wei Zixi subconsciously gripped Ming Ji’s hand tighter, deeply afraid the man would leave.
He was not afraid of death, but he was afraid of something happening to Ming Ji.
Sensing Wei Zixi’s trembling, Ming Ji gave him a reassuring look before turning his gaze back to the women.
Seeing this, the women became agitated, fighting to speak.
“Immortal Venerable, choose me! I am the real formation!” One woman smiled eerily, her face full of horror.
“Immortal Venerable, choose me, they are all fake!” another woman followed closely.
“Immortal Venerable, I am fake, please do not choose me,” said a woman with a different response.
As Ming Ji looked around, the nearby women quickly copied them in a scattered chorus.
“I am also fake, hee hee.”
“Me too, me too, Immortal Venerable, don’t choose me~”
No matter how noisy the surroundings were, Ming Ji remained largely unaffected.
Gradually, he turned his gaze toward a woman who had not spoken.
Strangely, when Ming Ji walked over, she looked at him with extremely hollow eyes, then quickly lowered her head, ignoring everything around her.
Wei Zixi, following behind Ming Ji, naturally noticed this anomaly. Although the woman quickly lowered her head, he still saw her face.
Wei Zixi was stunned for a moment, then quickly dismissed his thought.
Compared to the woman before him, Shen Yi was much more charming and moving.
Although this woman appeared to have no will to live, Wei Zixi could see that she was gentler and more dignified.
But… the woman before him bore an eighty percent resemblance to Shen Yi.
Wei Zixi recalled quickly and slowly remembered: Shen Yi seemed to have an older sister who suddenly died of a serious illness for some unknown reason.
Combining all the events…
The woman before us must be the eldest miss of the Shen family, Shen Wan.
Wei Zixi was suddenly confused, feeling that everything was heavily complicated. He couldn’t help but speak out, “Master…”
According to Wu You’s previous speculation, Shen Yi had harmed her own sister for Zhao Qingshan’s sake.
But a strange thought persisted in Wei Zixi’s heart…
Things were far from that simple.
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