Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Su Chenyu was a decent singer too. He started a tune, rallying the panicked tourists to stand on the deck and sing the national anthem.

Everyone stood tall, belting out the national anthem with all their might.

Over a hundred people didn’t need a rehearsal or a conductor waving a baton. Everyone looked up as Chen Zhao, who’d somehow found a red flag, raised it under the moonlight, letting it flutter in the sea breeze.

Their voices were loud and in perfect harmony!

Their fear was slowly replaced by a sense of righteousness. The tourists sang with increasing determination, and their pale, fear-stricken faces slowly regained a hint of color.

"It’s working... I don’t feel as nauseous anymore," a female tourist said, rubbing her stomach, which had been in knots moments ago.

This wasn’t food poisoning—it was yin energy wreaking havoc in their bodies, trying to take over.

"Same here—I don’t feel like rushing to the bathroom anymore," a young man said, clutching his rear in surprise.

On the other side, Wu Heng gave a small smile. You don’t always need medicine when you’re sick. Ancient shamans were masters of using incantations to treat evil ailments, and music therapy was part of their arsenal.

Shamans often chanted ancient, secret songs to drive out evil spirits. In modern times, the national anthem, a symbol of national unity, serves the same role. The key is that everyone knows it, amplifying its power.

The old man in the wheelchair shouted, "Don’t be scared—sing red songs!"

The luxury shops on the yacht were completely forgotten. The tourists just gathered on the deck and started belting out songs.

They sang from "The Five-Starred Red Flag Flutters in the Wind" to "The Wind Howls, the Horses Neigh, the Yellow River Roars," and then the well-known "Song of the Seven Sons."

Some tourists were shocked. They thought they only knew the national anthem, but as the melody began, they found themselves singing along, as if it was in their DNA.

In the cool sea breeze, they felt their bodies warming up, their icy hands slowly regaining warmth.

"I thought I was tuning into Su Chenyu’s livestream to drool over the Dream Cruise, but it turned into a red song concert?"

"It’s so moving! I’m usually off-key, but not with these red songs!"

"It’s making me emotional. The people who sang these songs gave us the stable lives we enjoy today, and now these songs still protect us."

"Singing the national anthem really works. I once got stuck in a ghost wall, but I closed my eyes, sang the anthem, and escaped."

Even with a sea graveyard beneath the ship, it can still be a safe haven.

Chen Zhao sighed in relief as the tourists calmed down, surrounded by a sense of righteousness.

Thankfully, Wu Heng brought it up; otherwise, they might’ve seen what a medical meltdown looks like.

Crap, why’s there another yin emissary? No one on this ship has died yet.

In the distance, a small boat floated over. At the front of the boat was a solitary lamp emitting a dark green light. Standing in the boat was a yin emissary in a white robe.

The small boat had no one rowing it, yet it came against the current and gently leaned against the side of the Dream Cruise. Lai Yin Chai flipped onto the deck with ease, excitedly shouting:

"Anti-porn sweep! Everyone, squat down with your hands on your heads! Men to the left...?"

Lai Yin Chai stood on the deck, lamp in hand, his deadpan face a mix of confusion as he stared at a circle of fish-headed monsters passionately belting out red songs.

Except for those tourists who hadn’t eaten the fish head dish, a variety of fish heads turned around, staring at Lai Yin Chai in horror, their mouths still humming the tune of the red songs.

Lai Yin Chai: '...'

Are supernatural beings learning to sing red songs these days?

Damn, with that bunch of weird fish heads, can they even be up to no good? How desperate can one be?

Is Wu Heng's information incorrect?

"Ahhh—Help! Dr. Wu, White Impermanence is here, the yin emissary is here to take us away!" a girl screamed in terror.

Hearing "White Impermanence," Lai Yin Chai couldn't help but smirk.

Yes, yes, mistaking him for Master Xie is fine—that's his promotion goal, after all.

Another catfish-headed young man, squatting with his hands on his head, asked in horror, "Huh? Aren’t the Black and White Impermanences supposed to escort people to the afterlife? Are they also part-time in cracking down on illicit activities now?"

"The job market in the underworld is pretty tough. If we die, can we find jobs down there?"

"?? What’s going on? Did Su Chenyu’s lower-tier counterparts see a yin emissary? What does he look like?"

"Dr. Wu, come out and say something! Isn’t this yin emissary here to take these tourists away? Didn’t we just sing red songs together?"

"Is there only one yin emissary? Oh no, I can’t die—otherwise, it’d be miserable after death, one person escorting two hundred souls. That’s way too much work. Working like cattle before death, and truly becoming cattle after death."

"Should those with weak fate retreat? The recent live broadcasts from Chengde Medical Hall are really scary, seeing ghosts from time to time."

Chen Zhao secretly glanced at the white-robed yin emissary, thinking he should be poorer than the black-robed yin emissary No. 014 from the Beijing North District he encountered at Professor Zhao Qingyun's place.

From the material of the yin emissary's white robe, it looked of lower quality without any hidden patterns, and even the cloth shoes he wore were ordinary ones from the Nan Nuo Village.

Is Dr. Wu going to ask him to detain the yin emissary again? How can he detain a yin emissary?

This yin emissary doesn’t look like he has money...

Chen Zhao stared at the white paper lantern with "I, Yin Emissary, Pay Up" written on it, his thoughts suddenly stuck, and he blurted out, "Damn, you’re loaded?"

The paper lantern looked ordinary on the outside, but inside it was a different world, with many compartments.

Besides being able to trap the most heinous evil spirits, it could also be used as a backpack.

Inside it was filled with spirit money! This is much richer than the No. 014 he robbed before.

Lai Yin Chai glared at Chen Zhao, shook his paper lantern, and his catchphrase came out: 'Hand over the cash.'

Chen Zhao felt his pocket and said, "Your Lordship, you might as well take me too."

No money, just my life.

Lai Yin Chai sneered and cursed: 'You poor ghost.'

Viewers in the live chat were spamming question marks, who is Dr. Wu's apprentice Xiao Chen talking to!

Wu Heng reminded, "Dr. Chen, don’t disturb Your Lordship at work."

Lai Jun’s expressionless face showed a mysterious smile, this was the first time Wu Heng showed respect by calling him Your Lordship.

But those fish-headed monsters don’t look like they could be involved in illicit activities, and they are still alive, yin emissaries don’t deal with the living.

Chen Zhao was disappointed, so not detaining the yin emissary this time? What a pity for all that spirit money in the yin emissary’s lantern, can only look, not touch.

Lai Yin Chai looked directly at Su Chenyu, who stood up straight, a chill running down his spine.

He... he could faintly make out a shadowy figure staring at him!

Lai Yin Chai was looking at Su Chenyu's phone and asked directly, 'I don’t see anything to scan. Is the intel wrong? Is there a mole?'

Lai Yin Chai mocked, 'If those fish-headed freaks could make it big, I’d willingly become the No. 1 yin emissary of Hezipo Town.'

Going to the underworld means becoming a ghost, not a degradation of aesthetics.

'...You’re taking more than you’re giving,' Wu Heng said in the language of the dead, 'Go check below the deck.'

*

Below the deck, the scene was a mix of red lights and green shadows, casting an eerie glow on the men and women in the bar's private rooms.

"What’s that noise outside? It’s so loud," a man holding a wine glass said as he pulled over the quietest beauty beside him, his face full of lewdness. "Sweetie, why are you so cold? Let me warm you up."

"What’s going on outside? Should we go check it out?" the person leaned softly against the man, speaking in a light, airy tone.

The breath that escaped their lips carried a chill that seemed to rise from the depths of the earth.

The man, enticed by the faint fragrance of the youth, chuckled wickedly and tried to pull them into a private room.

The men and women around were already used to such scenes; here, playthings were not divided by gender but by looks.

"Wait, who are you?" a middle-aged man with a thin mustache suddenly stared at the youth and called out.

The middle-aged man was dressed in a light gray Taoist robe, holding some unclear magical tools. The men and women accompanying him quickly lowered their heads.

Yuan Song raised his delicate face, smiling like a little sun, "I’m Tang Xueshan."

Master Liu heard the name and looked at Yuan Song’s feet.

Under the light, he indeed had no shadow—he should be a ghost.

But looking at Yuan Song’s slightly pale face, Master Liu instinctively felt something was off. He immediately began to calculate with his fingers, and his expression changed, "No, Tang Xueshan should be a woman."

"How did you take Tang Xueshan’s name to get in?!"

"So it’s you. I’ve been looking for you for a long time," Yuan Song’s smile gradually faded. He flung the still-confused man beside him away and leaped towards Master Liu, pinning him to the ground.

Yuan Song tightly gripped Master Liu’s neck, raised his fist, and smashed it into Master Liu’s face. Hot tears slid down his cheeks, dripping from the tip of his beauty mark, his eyes filled with resolute hatred.

"The only person in this world who cared about me was killed by you, and you wouldn’t even let her rest in peace."

With a punch that shattered Master Liu’s teeth, Yuan Song, filled with boundless hatred, struck with terrifying force, "The person I cherished so much, you killed her right in front of me, and then made her a prostitute after death? Fine, I wasn’t planning to return alive today."

Master Liu spat out a mouthful of blood.

As Yuan Song’s brutal punches rained down, his chest heaved violently, and the talisman necklace around his neck swayed incessantly.

The men and women around were stunned. One of the bosses wearing a big gold watch tried to step forward to stop it, but Yuan Song spat and cursed, "A bunch of idiots! Before playing with beauties, make sure they’re alive! You don’t even know if you’ve caught a disease!"

The group of men and women invited for fun were shocked by these words. They glanced at the beautiful boys and girls beside them, their hearts skipping a beat.

The entire area below the deck was instantly filled with thick yin energy, chilling everyone to the bone.

You thought you were the hunter, but in reality, you were the prey.

"You’re crazy..." Master Liu, who hadn’t reacted earlier, was now dizzy from the beating and immediately tried to reach for the talismans in his pocket.

Yuan Song, completely losing it, grabbed a fruit knife from the ground and stabbed it hard into Master Liu's wrist. The blade pierced through, blood spraying everywhere!

Master Liu let out a scream of agony, blood splashing onto Yuan Song's face. He laughed like a maniac, tears pouring down his face.

Xueshan always said he was like a ray of sunshine, someone she had never seen so outgoing and cheerful.

She always felt like she was four years his senior, loving to make him call her 'sis'.

Never again—she was gone right before his eyes. Even after death, they couldn’t meet in the afterlife.

How could he possibly accept that?

Tang Xueshan would never know that their so-called random online meeting was actually his carefully planned scheme. Orphaned and raised in his uncle's house, where he was constantly given the cold shoulder, he once thought he’d never even get to take the college entrance exam. It was Tang Xueshan’s support that first got him out of the mountains to see a broader world.

Yet she collapsed right in front of him, a potted plant knocked down by a chilling gust of wind, landing squarely on Tang Xueshan's head.

When Lai Yin Chai and Su Chenyu came down with their phones, they were completely shocked.

"Holy crap, this dude is beating the crap out of someone."

"They’re singing revolutionary songs upstairs, and you guys are not only not participating but also fighting?"

"Hmm, this doesn’t look right—could this be some shady deal?"

"Seems like it, but where are the escorts? Did they bolt already?"

"Help! Someone call the police!" Master Liu lay on the ground gasping for breath, his eyes, covered in blood, couldn’t see clearly, only vaguely reaching out a hand for help towards a figure in white robes not far away.

Lai Yin Chai glanced around, his wide eyes growing even wider with excitement.

His eyes were all lit up with thoughts of a promotion!

Lai Yin Chai whipped out a thorny lash from his lantern and snapped it loudly in the air, shouting sternly: 'Anti-vice raid! Everyone, hands on your heads—male ghosts to the left, female ghosts to the right!'

Even though Lai Jun was just a low-level yin emissary, ghosts and demons naturally feared yin emissaries. All the ghosts and demons quickly obeyed, squatting in their assigned spots.

Only then did Lai Yin Chai take a moment to look at the stabbed Master Liu on the ground, asking: 'Are you dead or alive?'

Yuan Song was extremely arrogant, not stopping even as they entered. Master Liu could only weakly shout: "Alive, alive."

Hearing this, Lai Yin Chai said: 'Oh, then keep getting beaten, I'm a yin emissary, I can't handle the affairs of the living.'

The key point is that both are living beings, one a half-dead man being beaten, the other a pure-blooded living man pretending to be a ghost. He really can't manage that, he doesn't have the authority.

Master Liu: "..."

Tang Xueshan was still monitoring the live stream, watching as Yuan Song was crazily beating a Taoist priest, the female ghost was dumbfounded.

Her sunny, lovely younger boyfriend had such a brutal side?

-

Zhou Yi's mother came again under the guise of bringing supper to visit Zhou Yi, Wu Heng also got a bowl of sweet fermented rice balls with red goji berries floating in it.

As he ate the rice balls, Wu Heng said: "Mr. Wei, go to the police station and turn yourself in. Did you think turning a group of people into sacrifices would bring back your deceased wife? Look, they're spending your money on their own affairs, you're just a sucker."

"Tonight, pick a few dozen handsome male ghosts and beautiful female ghosts who died in the sea disaster to go sit in the bar, your industry chain is really complete, Lu Guoliang even called it professional."

The sheer amount of info in those words was overwhelming, leaving everyone stunned.

Lu Guoliang!

"Don’t freak me out, didn’t Dr. Wu mention that old jerk Lu Guoliang caught a nasty disease, and it was from dabbling in the occult? Could it be this group?"

"Ordinary nasty diseases can actually be treated in top-tier hospitals, but diseases from dabbling in the occult, you’d need to find someone specialized in this field, right? Isn’t this just a total scam?"

"Wow... those who come to the Dream Cruise are mostly wealthy young men and women. They’re the perfect targets."

"Indeed, being broke has its perks; at least we can’t afford such an expensive luxury cruise. Living a glorious life, only to be pushed into sex work after death, how pitiful."

"What the hell is going on with this world? How can it be so evil? I thought death would bring relief, but now I’m told life after death might be even worse. Forget this, I’m too scared to even die now!"

Meanwhile, a group of tourists on the deck, still singing patriotic songs, were also following the live stream from Chengde Medical Hall and Su Chenyu. Hearing Dr. Wu’s words, everyone felt a shiver.

"What the hell, I spent fifty thousand to come here for fun, and not only do you want to kill me, but you also want me to be a gigolo after death?" a tattooed man in his thirties cursed loudly.

Some girls, who were spoiled rotten at home and had never encountered such evil, whimpered, "I want to go home! I want to go home!"

Someone touched the stubble on his chin, shocked, "Wait, with this face, I could be a gigolo? Who’s that desperate?"

Dr. Wu, seeing such comments, took a moment to reply, "If you’re not good-looking, it’s fine; you can be assigned as a pimp. There’s always a job for you."

The stubbled man: "..."

They just wanted to have fun and be law-abiding folks!

Su Chenyu touched his face, thinking if he hadn’t met Dr. Wu, with his looks, he’d probably be the top gigolo.

Tang Xueshan finally realized, was her death also orchestrated like this? Did Yuan Song come here to... avenge her?

Lai Yin Chai was also stunned. He thought it was just a routine bust, but... these male and female ghosts were all forced?

If he could rescue them back to the underworld, he’d skyrocket through the ranks, becoming the top yin emissary of Hezipo Town in no time.

One of the female ghosts hugged her legs, her eyes streaming with blood, sobbing, "Please, save us."

Spirits and demons are different from the living; they don’t need to eat, drink, or sleep. A few incense offerings are enough; they don’t even need salaries. If they’re not in the underworld, they can’t even spend ghost money.

The chance of spirits getting sick is also low, and there are no doctors in the underworld to treat them.

She had a miserable life and hasn’t had a single good day after death.

Dr. Wu immediately recognized her as the female ghost who gave Lu Guoliang the nasty disease, pitiful indeed.

This world is heavily invaded by yin energy, with evil spirits everywhere. It seems someone wants to cash in big from these changes, even becoming superior to others.

Dr. Wu quickly scanned these terrified ghosts, roughly diagnosing their illnesses, let out a sigh, put down his soup bowl, and went to the pharmacy to get medicine.

"Sssss—Wu Heng, I’ll eat the poached egg in your bowl for you," the little white snake said, diving in as Wu Heng got busy.

Xi Xi was confused, "Big Brother White, didn’t you just steal a poached egg from Uncle Zhou Yi?"

The little white snake said righteously, "Zhou Yi is sub-healthy; I’m helping him lose weight by eating it. This poached egg is delicious."

Meanwhile, Lai Yin Chai gave a thumbs up to the half-dead Master Liu on the ground, who was beaten by Yuan Song, praising, "Impressive, forcing souls into this kind of work. You guys are really something."

You can never imagine how low the living can go; capital crimes are like the norm. They look down on people, treating them as playthings, whether in life or after death.

"You all, step into my lantern for safety," Lai Yin Chai smacked his lips.

A group of fallen male and female ghosts looked around but didn’t move.

While preparing the medicine, Dr. Wu Heng said, 'They don’t have travel permits.'

The Yellow Spring Travel Permit is naturally carried by ghosts and demons after death, equivalent to an ID in the underworld, containing information such as birth and death dates, cause of death, and eight characters.

Every ghost or demon on the journey needs to submit their travel permit to the yin emissary (Lai Yin Chai) for inspection to avoid cases of substitute deaths.

Upon hearing this, Lai Yin Chai frowned, 'That’s troublesome. I don’t have the authority for this, and neither does my superior. They probably can’t report to the underworld like this.'

Dr. Wu Heng smiled, 'It’s okay. When you come to help with the medicine, I’ll issue replacement travel permits for them.'

Lai Yin Chai: '?'

Dr. Wu Heng can issue replacement travel permits?

Issuing a replacement travel permit is very complicated; only the underworld officials and urgent matters from the heavens can do it. Nowadays, no deity or spirit has been seen communicating with the heavens.

Lai Yin Chai speculated, 'Is it not about the travel permit but about wanting to see me?'

Dr. Wu Heng: '...'

"SX:?"

Among countless comments, Dr. Wu Heng saw this one.

Dr. Wu Heng checked the time; Shi Xuan and the others should be out of their night study session.

It was not surprising to Dr. Wu Heng that Shi Xuan could see the yin emissary and these ghosts and demons, but what did he mean by the question mark?

'Alright, I’ll issue replacement travel permits for you here, hurry up and get in,' Lai Yin Chai urged the ghosts and demons, seeing Dr. Wu Heng probably looking at him through the phone screen.

With no worries left, the male and female ghosts and demons quickly lined up to jump into the compartments of the lantern.

The lantern’s flame of the yin emissary has many uses; it can replenish yin energy for ghosts and demons with weak yin energy and also let malevolent spirits experience the pain of being burned by yin fire in advance. The heat is similar to a gas burner, all adjusted by the yin emissary.

The ghosts and demons gradually left, leaving only a group of men and women who came for fun, shivering, and Yuan Song, who was still lying on the ground, breathing heavily and laughing.

Chen Zhao looked at the group of men and women wearing big gold watches and expensive jewelry necklaces, squatting and shivering, feeling impressed.

Isn’t this the 2.0 version of Lu Guoliang?

'Do these people belong to the PC? Can the police handle it?'

'They are interacting with spirits; how can the living police handle it? The yin emissaries of the underworld can’t handle it either.'

'Previously, Dr. Wu said Lu Guoliang got a contagious ailment from interacting with spirits; won’t these people also get sick? Serves them right! Please don’t infect other innocent people, thank you.'

'They will definitely seek Dr. Wu Heng; so far, I only know Dr. Wu Heng can treat the contagious ailments from interacting with spirits. Oh no, my dear Baby Heng Heng is so pitiful, having to treat those who lack self-discipline! If not treated, I’m afraid it will spread.'

Dr. Wu Heng stared at the outfits of those men and women inside, the big gold watch nearly blinding him.

Hmm... he’s not that pitiful actually.

Dr. Wu Heng indeed doesn’t plan to treat these people; the living police can’t handle it, and the underworld can’t control the living for now, but it’s okay, they will all be accounted for in the afterlife. Violations and crimes will be eternally documented.

But Dr. Wu Heng really can’t bear to part with the medical fees, so he immediately planned to delegate the treatment to Chen Zhao.

Chen Zhao’s phone in his pocket vibrated; he took it out and glanced at it, and his eyes lit up instantly.

'Baby Heng Heng: I’ll teach you how to cure these people’s contagious ailments from interacting with spirits, I’ll offer you 500,000.'

Hahaha!

Chen Zhao was over the moon, but he was also a good disciple who respected his teacher. His broke master had just been so humble, and he needed to show some gratitude for his master's years of cultivation.

So Chen Zhao took his phone and walked out of the bar basement under the deck, came to the railing, and made a call.

"Master, you always say 'If you become wealthy, do not forget me,' and I have always remembered this saying."

Chen Zhao took a deep breath, planning to throw his master a bone, and said, "Master, Dr. Wu just handed me a job, and I'm passing it on to you—"

"You go and heal a bunch of people who caught nasty diseases from messing with ghosts, and I'll give you fifty thousand dollars. A full fifty thousand dollars!"