CALID Chapter 47

Confession

Yan Ke’s expression stiffened as if he were about to erupt, but then he saw He Simu close the documents and lift her gaze, smiling. “He’s not my lover. Jiang Ai, stop teasing me and Yan,” she said.

This time, her demeanour and the atmosphere were much lighter, no longer as oppressive and dignified as before.

Jiang Ai shook her head disapprovingly, the golden tassels and jade stones on her head emitting a crisp sound. She sighed, “Teasing? If it were just a joke, why does Yan have such an expression? Shouldn’t a thousand-year-old evil spirit have more restraint?”

Seeing Yan Ke’s gaze turn cold again, Jiang Ai put away her playful expression and said, “I won’t tease you anymore. I’ll go see the new kid.”

Jiang Ai was the richest among the twenty-four palace lords. If there were rankings for enjoying spectacles, Jiang Ai would undoubtedly be the first in the ghost world. She bowed, walking leisurely toward the palace gate, the ornaments on her body jingling with expensive sounds, until she stopped under the tall white palace gate. Jiang Ai looked up and struck up a conversation with the young man hanging there.

Yan Ke glanced at this scene from afar, then turned back to He Simu with a serious expression. “Simu, how did you suddenly lose your magic?”

He Simu replied calmly, “I still have magic now.”

Yan Ke fell silent for a moment, sighing. “Forget it, as long as you’re okay. What about the matter with the Xigui Palace Lord? How will you apprehend him?”

“I have arrangements for that.”

Over the years, Simu had become increasingly independent and inscrutable, no longer relying on him as before.

“Alright.”

Yan Ke sighed again and bowed out of the hall. He paused outside the hall, looking at the palace gate for a moment before eventually walking over. Seeing him approach, Jiang Ai chuckled and said, “Speaking of the devil, here comes our Ghost Palace Lord, Lord Yan. I’m afraid the rivals meeting each other will be particularly jealous.”

It seemed that she had repeated what she had just said in the hall in front of the mortal.

The young man’s hands were tied on both sides, hanging high on the palace gate. His expression was hidden under the black veil, but he laughed indifferently. “Nice to meet you, Lord Yan.”

Unlike Jiang Ai, who loved to joke all day long, Yan Ke rarely smiled. If any evil spirit saw Yan Ke smile, they would probably be amazed and talk about it for hundreds of years. This deputy minister always seemed dignified and solemn, as if there was ice running through his veins. Apart from He Simu, other evil spirits and humans could only hear his icy tone, full of arrogance befitting someone who had been in a high position for a long time.

Yan Ke furrowed his brows. Seeing that the young man showed no hint of fear, he asked, “Why did Her Majesty hang you here?”

“Offending Simu naturally warrants her punishment. Being hung here by her is my honour,” the mortal replied calmly.

Yan Ke’s pupils contracted, and he slowly said, “A mere mortal dares to address Her Majesty directly?”

Before the mortal could respond, Jiang Ai interjected, “I saw him call Her Majesty by name to her face, and she didn’t say anything. Deputy Minister doesn’t need to get angry on Her Majesty’s behalf.”

As the money-loving Ghost Palace Lord, Jiang Ai had amassed a fortune through gambling houses and brothels in the mortal realm for thousands of years. Sharp-tongued and shrewd-eyed, there were few in the ghost world who could outwit her. It seemed she was defending the mortal in this situation.

Yan Ke glanced at Jiang Ai. Knowing he wouldn’t gain anything from her and would likely be ridiculed, he said nothing more and left in a huff.

Watching Yan Ke’s retreating figure, Jiang Ai sighed and looked up at the young man with an unseen face and unknown name. Compared to him, she was more familiar with the black sword with a silver edge at his waist.

It was because of this sword that she had spoken a few more words to him.

“Long time no see for this sword. Are you the new owner of the Illusion-Breaking Sword?”

The mortal, named Duan Xu, smiled and replied, “Exactly. Thank you, Lady Jiang. Do you know the previous owner of the Illusion-Breaking Sword?”

“The previous owner? Wasn’t it the creator of this sword, Simu’s uncle, Ji An, the former Star of Fate?”

Seeing Duan Xu’s surprise, Jiang Ai chuckled. “What? Simu didn’t tell you that this sword was crafted by her uncle? It seems that Simu isn’t very intimate with you either.”

Duan Xu seemed thoughtful as he asked, “Lady Jiang, do you know about Simu’s parents and her uncle’s family?”

“I have a good relationship with them. When the former Ghost King was alive, he even called me ‘Aunt Jiang,’ and Simu addressed me like her father.”

“Can you tell me about her childhood?” Duan Xu leaned in, casting a glance at Simu, who was focused on handling affairs in the palace from afar, and spoke softly.

Jiang Ai turned her head slightly and smiled gently. “Why should I tell you? What can you offer me?”

After a pause, she continued, “Child, prying into the Ghost King’s past is not a trivial matter.”

Duan Xu shook his head, laughing. “I’m not doing it for fun.”

Jiang Ai looked at the mortal, who was still hanging leisurely high on the palace gate, and thought to herself that he was indeed a bold and cheerful child.

A lamb among wolves, yet he remained so calm and content. If he wasn’t Simu’s person, she would have wanted to taste his soul fire.

After Jiang Ai left not long after, He Simu nearly finished handling the official affairs. She ordered the ghost servants to clean up the ashes left by Fang Chang’s demise, then walked out of the hall. As she lifted her head, she saw Duan Xu hanging on the palace gate.

He seemed quite at ease, swaying in the air as if basking in the sun rather than being punished.

She squinted slightly, stopped in her tracks, and absentmindedly spun the Ghost King Lamp in her hand.

It was indeed strange. Wasn’t a living person supposed to feel pain? Didn’t he used to scream at the slightest touch, accusing her of being too heavy-handed? Why was he now silent?

This guy had barely lived for less than twenty years, so how could he be so audacious and fearless?

Duan Xu caught a familiar scent and looked up to see He Simu sitting atop the Ghost King Lamp, floating in the air in front of him.

He smiled brightly and said, “Simu.”

“What have you been reflecting on all this time?” He Simu asked lightly, like a teacher checking homework in a school.

Duan Xu seemed to think seriously for a moment. He looked at He Simu through the black veil, blinking his sincere eyes. “I’ve been thinking all this time about why, after I kissed you and killed the assassin, you looked at me in silence for so long. What were you thinking at that time?”

He Simu thought his pondering was rather belated.

“Is that all you’re wondering about? Well, I can tell you, I was thinking that once I regained my powers, I would definitely make you regret your actions.”

Duan Xu nodded and shook his head. There was a hint of amusement in his voice as he slowly spoke, “Besides that, I guess you were also wondering why I kissed you in the first place? Perhaps you thought I acted out of superficial attraction, infatuation, or to provoke you, kissing you on impulse. But you quickly realized it wasn’t like that.”

Duan Xu looked into He Simu’s eyes, speaking with certainty and clarity, “You realized that I seemed sincere. That’s why you didn’t say anything. Even now, you’re just hanging me on the palace gate instead of killing me, isn’t that right?”

If she truly thought he was insulting her, even if he was her once-in-centuries cursed person, she wouldn’t have let him live in the mortal realm.

He Simu raised her chin slightly, saying lightly, “Are these constant speculations amusing to you?”

“Then let me confess my thoughts at that time. Indeed, it was a moment of infatuation. I found you exceptionally cute, thinking I would never meet another girl like you, nor would I ever feel the same about anyone else.”

He Simu’s eyes flashed, but she just listened.

“After these few days pass, I’ll calm down and think carefully.” Duan Xu paused for a moment, then smiled leisurely. “I’ve discovered that the truth is indeed as such.”

He Simu frowned slightly, not showing much surprise. Her fingers twirled around the Ghost King Lamp jade pendant at her waist. With her pale eyelids lowered and then raised again, she said, “It’s common for young people to have a moment of infatuation, and there’s nothing strange about liking me. I’ve met many like you, but you should be the smartest among them. Being as intelligent as you are, you should think carefully before speaking.”

“I’ve thought it through.”

“No, you haven’t. Do you really understand me?”

“I want to understand you.”

“Duan Shunxi, you can’t.” She paused for a moment before adding, “And I don’t need you to understand me.”

He Simu’s tone was indifferent, completely unmoved by Duan Xu’s words, decisively pushing back his intentions. After saying this, she turned around and left on the Ghost King Lamp, leaving Duan Xu with a ruthless silhouette. Duan Xu turned his head to gaze at her back for a long time before sighing softly.

As night fell, the royal city became quieter, though not entirely quiet, as ghosts never slept. Duan Xu knew that being hung on the palace gate of the Ghost King City was like a piece of fat dangling above a group of hungry tigers. If it weren’t for He Simu’s authority keeping them in check, he would have been torn apart and devoured long ago.

After being hung for a day, his arms had gradually become numb from the pain, so Duan Xu didn’t plan on sleeping. He simply stayed in this excellent vantage point, admiring the palace and the ghost city.

Looking around, the rooftops were all snowy white, resembling a place of eternal snow in the extreme cold regions. Even though the weather was gradually warming up, it still felt cold to look at, chilling his eyes and heart. There were various black patterns on the palace walls and the walls of the common houses, which Duan Xu couldn’t quite understand but assumed were related to some kind of sorcery. Most of the residents here were the lords of the ghost halls and their retainers, and they didn’t usually forage here, so it was always solemn and quiet.

There was no smell of smoke or human presence.

The city looked like a giant coffin.

Did He Simu usually live in a place like this? No wonder she always wanted to go outside for some fresh air.

As Duan Xu was thinking, he caught some faint rustling sounds. His thoughts returned, and he lifted his right foot, grabbing the Broken Illusion Sword at his waist with his right hand. He bit down on the sword tassel and drew the sword with his right hand, cutting the rope binding his left hand. With a flip, he narrowly avoided a swooping evil spirit.

The entire action took just an instant; he quickly cut the rope on his right hand as well, tumbling to the ground and rolling a few somersaults before facing the strong and tall evil spirit that had also fallen in front of him. This evil spirit looked like a fierce and evil man in his forties, without saying much, he rushed towards Duan Xu once again.

What a bold fellow, actually daring to try and eat him under the cover of darkness. Wasn’t he afraid of being killed by He Simu?

Duan Xu thought, he couldn’t be that delicious to the point where evil spirits dared to come for a “decapitation meal”.

“I’m not food,” Duan Xu twirled his sword, smiling at the burly figure rushing towards him. “If you want to eat me, don’t be afraid to break your teeth.”

The next day, when He Simu arrived at the gate of the palace, she found Duan Xu still hanging there, but the height seemed off, as if the ropes had shortened, hoisting him even higher.

“What’s going on with you?”

“Last night, an evil spirit wanted to eat me, so I cut the ropes and fought with it. After successfully driving it away, I thought I couldn’t tarnish your reputation, so I tied myself back up again.”

Duan Xu laughed heartily, and He Simu thought, she had never seen someone so self-aware.

He Simu frowned and remained silent for a moment before saying, “Forget it.”

As soon as she said this, the ropes on Duan Xu’s hands turned into smoke and disappeared, and he fell from the gate, rolling a few times before rubbing his shoulders and arms and slowly standing up.

“You’re letting me go just like that?” he asked with a cheerful smile.

He Simu thought to herself, he didn’t seem to be punished at all. Despite their conversation yesterday being crystal clear, he didn’t seem to be affected in the slightest.

He was always too persistent and confident.

“No matter how long I hang you, you’ll be the same. Don’t bother me anymore.”

The author has something to say: The road ahead is long, with many challenges to overcome. (This is a line from the Chinese poem “A Step Farther Away” by Li Bai.)