After King Jian'an escorted Feng Rong's departed soul to the Yellow Springs, Jiang Lin left.
On the way back to the Eighteenth Hall, he wondered if King Jian'an might have liked her.
In the beginning, perhaps it was just as King Jian'an said, he only wanted to see her reincarnation.
But later, he accompanied her through one life after another.
He sent her dream after dream.
He even personally went to guide departed souls.
Wasn't that love?
However,
Compared to the passionate love often exclaimed by human viewers.
King Jian'an's affection was more like familial companionship, like a friend's care.
It had long since transcended simple romance.
"In any case, it's good that nothing went wrong," Jiang Lin murmured.
For a moment just now, he felt that King Jian'an had wanted to intervene.
...
Upon returning to the Eighteenth Hall, Jiang Lin suddenly felt something stir in his embrace.
His body stiffened, and he took it out to look.
It was a small, irregularly shaped piece of paper with a golden edge.
Jiang Lin asked uncertainly, "Is this... the natal paper obtained in the Northern Hall?"
When the Day-Roaming God gave it to him, he had instructed him to keep it with him.
Because he hadn't had time to enroll in the advanced class of Paper Effigy Arts, and due to the subsequent events, he had almost forgotten about it.
However, he remembered that the natal paper was originally a small square the size of his palm?
Jiang Lin examined the small piece of paper in his hand. The original square lines had become warped and distorted.
Some parts were stretched, while others were shortened.
It looked like a large, fat fish, or perhaps a flattened omelet...
"Does this thing change shape on its own?"
Jiang Lin found it strange. Could this natal paper be some kind of spiritual item?
Suddenly, a passage appeared in his mind.
It was what the head of the Drama Department had said when he was invited by Zhong Pianpian to participate in an activity in the Northern Hall.
"What we cultivate in the Drama Class is not simple, nor is it complex."
"Good jade is nurtured by people, and good paper is also nurtured by 'qi'."
"If one can infuse 'soul' into a paper effigy, it's estimated they can graduate."
Life is like a play, and what is the world of paper effigies like?
Only when you yourself enter the play can you experience the feelings of the characters within.
...
The existence of the Drama Department,
One was to satisfy hobbies, and the other was for cultivation.
Jiang Lin couldn't be sure about other ghosts, but Zhong Pianpian and the head of the Drama Department were definitely in the advanced class of Paper Effigy Arts.
It had been mentioned before that the cultivation in the advanced class of Paper Effigy Arts was inseparable from the natal paper.
Therefore, what the head of the Drama Department said...
On the surface, he was talking about the cultivation in the Drama Class, but in reality, he was hinting at the method of cultivating the natal paper?
Jiang Lin carefully recalled all the information about the natal paper and extracted keywords from it.
One, it must be carried with you.
Two, good 'paper' is nurtured.
Three, it needs to be infused with 'soul'.
Four, life is like a play, related to performance and entering the play.
"During the first lesson of Paper Effigy Arts, Teacher Huo also seemed to mention that the focus of Paper Effigy Arts in the Northern Hall is the infusion of soul?"
Jiang Lin pondered and analyzed.
He felt like the answer was about to emerge, yet it remained just out of reach.
"How exactly should this natal paper from the Northern Hall be used?"
He recalled Fang Hei One saying that Fang Hei Two and Fang Hei Three shared some of his memories.
"Do I need to put memories into the natal paper?"
Without access to the advanced class of Paper Effigy Arts, Jiang Lin could only guess.
However, there was no need to rush.
"Since it changes, let's see what it becomes later."
He glanced at the natal paper in his hand and put it back into his embrace.
Then he looked towards the entrance of the Eighteenth Hall.
A figure was hurrying towards them.
"Captain, something's wrong!"
Qin Mu flew in with a look of urgency, "Captain, something has happened!"
Jiang Lin: "..."
Qin Mu, he remembered.
A probationary ghost messenger who had just been made permanent, with some background.
Because he was dissatisfied with his low-level mentor, he was assigned to Nie Jiu by Jiang Lin.
"What happened?" Jiang Lin asked.
When Qin Mu started speaking, he didn't know where to begin.
After catching his breath, he said, "Our seniors are trapped in Qingyang City!"
"Qingyang City?"
Jiang Lin frowned slightly.
After recalling the memories of Jiang Lin's past life, he subconsciously thought of the immortal cultivation world, and of that senior Qingyang who invited the heavenly gate with a cup of wine.
But he quickly pulled his thoughts back.
Because he knew that this Qingyang City was not that Qingyang City.
Throughout the Underworld, the Underworld was not the only force, but it was the most official and authoritative.
There were always some ghosts developing wildly outside.
Some ghosts hid quietly and formed small groups.
Others were so reclusive that one day they would suddenly reveal themselves, no longer hiding.
They would start recruiting talented ghosts and form their own forces.
For these kinds of ghosts, the Underworld had specialized diplomatic personnel.
Once discovered, they would be offered annexation.
For powerful ghosts who were unwilling to return to the Underworld, they would have an observation period.
They would assess the leader's conduct and management skills...
If the ghost leader committed many evil deeds and allowed their subordinates to act recklessly.
They would be judged as 'evil' and forcibly brought back to the Underworld.
Conversely,
If the ghost leader was self-disciplined and skilled in management.
The ghost domain had good order and environment, and there was no chaos.
They would be judged as 'good' and given a certain degree of respect and authority.
For example, they could choose not to reside in the Underworld, and they could also shelter ghosts.
But in return, they would have to cooperate with some of the Underworld's arrangements.
For example, registering ghosts entering the city and sending the list to the Underworld regularly.
Or,
If they encountered ghosts who wished to reincarnate or commit evil deeds,
The former would be sent to the Underworld, while the latter, depending on the severity of their misdeeds, would either be mildly punished or sent to the Underworld for judgment by the officials.
And Qingyang City was such a semi-autonomous ghost domain.
...
Every ghost messenger had a mandatory task during their probationary period.
That was to understand the distribution of all known ghost domains in the Underworld:
Both certified and uncertified, all must be known.
So as to avoid any complications during work.
Jiang Lin thought for a moment and said:
"As far as I know, Qingyang City has always had a good reputation. Few ghosts there cause trouble.
Even if something happens, the lord of the ghost domain will resolve it quickly and as fairly and justly as possible."
In the Underworld's assessment, it had also been upgraded from 'good' to 'excellent'.
As he got up and walked out, he asked Qin Mu:
"How long have Nie Jiu and the others been inside, and why are they trapped?"
Qin Mu quickly followed his captain and replied:
"They've been inside for more than half a day. The reason they're trapped is unclear, but Senior Nie didn't want me to go in."
Ever since he started following Senior Nie Jiu, they often got separated due to Nie Jiu's tendency to get lost.
But fortunately, he had a treasure given by his elders – 'Thousand Threads', which perfectly solved this problem.
Once separated, by following the direction of the thread, he was sure to find them!
After becoming proficient, he and Senior Nie even set up some secret signals.
They used the rhythm and number of pulls of the 'Thousand Threads' to communicate.
...
One day, after another separation.
Qin Mu didn't panic and skillfully followed the Thousand Threads to Qingyang City.
Qingyang City had a consistently good reputation, so he wasn't worried.
But just as he was about to enter, the Thousand Threads suddenly moved.
Two signals were received successively:
-- Danger.
-- Do not come.
Qin Mu immediately braked and stopped at the entrance of Qingyang City.
Because his senior was quite capable, he could usually fight his way through any problems.
Therefore, this danger signal might have been specifically for the less powerful Qin Mu.
Thus, after waiting outside for more than half a day without receiving any further signals, Qin Mu realized something was wrong.
He then hurried back to the Eighteenth Hall.
When in doubt, find the captain!
Because the captain was very strong!
...