Ghosts in the Big City

A voice called out from the shadows, and Ao Huli instinctively went into a defensive stance, his hands crackling with celestial energy. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he made out the figure of a young man leaning casually against the wall, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Whoa, whoa- calm." the stranger said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "You are a spirit aren't you? I mean, you don't look like any spirit I've ever seen- but…"

"What are you?" Ao Huli demanded cautiously, his senses on high alert, not dropping his defensive posture. The young man chuckled, pushing away from the wall and stepping towards Ao Huli.

As he drew closer, Ao Huli could see that his eyes held a glint of mischief, a spark of something wild and untamed.

"I could ask you the same thing," the young man replied cryptically. "You've got some serious energy about you. Not something you see every day in these parts."

Ao Huli studied the man before him. His clothes were as strange as everyone else's, but there was something about him that just felt…off.

"I am Ao Huli, a simple cat spirit," he finally replied, deciding to maintain a guarded approach.

The young man raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "A cat spirit, huh? Lots of those around here and I've never seen one with horns."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Ao Huli replied cautiously, eyeing the stranger warily. "And what of you? Who are you to be skulking in the shadows and accosting spirits in broad daylight?"

"What, you've never seen a ghost before?" the man chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Ao Huli tensed at the mention of a ghost, his celestial senses on high alert. The man's casual demeanor contrasted sharply with the gravity of his words, sending a shiver down Ao Huli's spine. Ghosts were beings that could travel between the mortal and ghost realms. But due to their nature, were at constant odds with the heavens.

The young man seemed to notice Ao Huli's reaction, waved a hand in the air dismissively.

"Easy there, cat spirit. I'm not here to cause trouble...at least not today. You heavenly official types are such stiffs."

Ao Huli narrowed his eyes, the stranger's flippant attitude doing little to ease his wariness.

"I have no time for games, I am here on official business," Ao Huli stated firmly, trying to assert his authority even in this strange and unfamiliar setting.

The ghost let out a low whistle, clearly amused by Ao Huli's straightforward manner. He circled around the cat spirit, his movements fluid and graceful.

"Oh yeah? What kind of 'official' business?" the man asked, a hint of curiosity coloring his tone.

Ao Huli hesitated, unsure how much he should reveal to this enigmatic stranger. On one hand, he needed information to navigate the modern mortal realm, but on the other…

Ghost kings became leaders of the ghostly realm, feared and respected. With their birth, an age of prosperity dawned in the ghost realm, leading the ghosts to new heights.

The implication of a lost spirit, destined to become a ghost king was not something he could easily share with a being of the ghost realm, one who could potentially unravel his mission in order to bring about the birth of the next ghost king. The delicate balance between their two realms had never been more fragile, and revealing such a secret could have dire consequences.

Ao Huli chose his words carefully, keeping his tone neutral.

"I'm…looking for someone." he said cryptically, hoping to gauge the ghost's reaction.

The ghost's smirk widened at Ao Huli's vague response, clearly enjoying the air of mystery surrounding the celestial being before him.

"Well, well, well, aren't we all looking for someone in this vast world?" the ghost quipped, his tone teasing. "Care to share a little more about this 'someone' you're searching for?"

"I won't say anymore." Ao Huli stated firmly, tightening his grip on the soul-light hidden within his robes. He couldn't afford to reveal too much, especially to a being as unpredictable as a ghost.

Despite the ghost's seemingly nonchalant demeanor, there was a sharp intelligence gleaming in his eyes, a cunning that made Ao Huli cautious.

The ghost, undeterred by Ao Huli's caution, simply shrugged, the gleam in his eyes never fading.

"Fair enough," he replied casually, taking a step back as if to show he meant no harm. "I respect a being who plays their cards close to their chest."

Before Ao Huli could make a move or say anything more, the ghost suddenly straightened up, his expression slightly exacerbated.

"But-uh…do you plan on walking around like that?" the ghost asked casually.

Ao Huli glanced down at his celestial robes, the intricate patterns and shimmering threads standing out starkly against the backdrop of the mundane city streets.

"Do you younger spirits not know transformation magic or something?" The ghost asked, giving Ao Huli a pointed look.

Ao Huli hesitated, considering the ghost's suggestion. Transforming his appearance could indeed help him blend in better with the modern world, reducing the unwanted attention he seemed to be attracting.

But as much as he hated to admit it, the ghost was also right. He didn't know transformational magic. It had been his crux since childhood.

As he mulled over his options, Ao Huli felt a surge of frustration at his own limitations. The ghost's offhand comment had hit a nerve, reminding him of the one skill he had never quite been able to master.

The ghost seemed to sense Ao Huli's internal struggle and let out a chuckle, seemingly amused by the celestial being's predicament.

"Don't worry, I might be able to lend a hand in that department," the ghost offered casually, "Consider it a goodwill gesture between two beings just trying to navigate this crazy world."

Ao Huli regarded the ghost with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

"Fine. But no tricks," Ao Huli warned, still keeping a cautious distance between them.

The ghost held up his hands in a mock surrender. "Scout's honor," he replied with a grin.

With a flick of his fingers, the ghost muttered a few words under his breath, and a shimmering light enveloped Ao Huli. The celestial cat spirit felt a tingling sensation as his form began to shift and contort, the celestial energy within him rearranging itself into a new shape.

After a moment, the light faded, and Ao Huli looked down at himself in disbelief. He was no longer adorned in his celestial robes but instead stood in the guise of a simple human dressed in modern clothing. It was a seamless transformation, so flawless that even Ao Huli had to admit he was impressed.

The ghost's eyes widened in surprise, a low whistle escaping his lips.

"Not too shabby, if I say so myself," the ghost remarked, regarding Ao Huli with an appraising glance. "You clean up nice, for a cat spirit."

Ao Huli turned this way and that, examining his new form from every angle. He reached up, feeling for his horns- only to find smooth skin where once they had protruded proudly. His nails, normally long and sharp with a hint of red at the tips, were now cut short and a fleshy color throughout. His ears, with which there were normally four of, one set of cat ears, and one set of pointed ears as the sides, were now rounded and small, fitting seamlessly into the shape of a human head.

"Thank you," Ao Huli said, inclining his head in gratitude towards the ghost. "I appreciate your assistance."

The ghost waved off Ao Huli's thanks with a nonchalant flick of his hand, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Eh- don't mention it. Everyone always says ghosts and spirits should be hating on eachother, but I say we should stick together in this crazy world. You never know when you might need a friend or a favor. It does ya' good to know people."

Ao Huli studied the ghost in surprise, his expression softening slightly. "I suppose you're right." Ao Huli conceded, offering a small nod of agreement. "I owe you a debt of gratitude."

"Ugh- enough with us being gross, now." the ghost said warmly. "Just call me Ling."

Ao Huli inclined his head in acknowledgment. "I am Ao Huli."

Ling blinked, a surprised expression crossing his features. "Ao? Ain't that the surname of the heavenly royal family?"

Ao Huli's heart skipped a beat at Ling's words, his true identity now dangerously close to being exposed. He needed to tread carefully and divert Ling's attention away from his celestial lineage.

"I am but a humble spirit, no connection to any royal family," Ao Huli replied quickly, hoping to downplay Ling's suspicions. "My surname was simply a coincidence."

Ling studied Ao Huli intently, a contemplative look on his face. After a moment of silence, he shrugged.

"Well it doesn't matter to me." Ling said lazily. "But now that you're all dolled up as a human, what's your next move, cat spirit?"

"I have to find a person." Ao Huli replied, his gaze determined. "I don't have much time."

"Cool, cool." Ling nodded. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out one of the thin, rectangular boxes that Ao Huli had seen the mortals with earlier. With a swipe of his thumb, it lit up. Ling's fingers danced across the screen of his rectangular device as he tapped out a series of commands. Ao Huli watched with fascination as symbols and images flickered across the screen in a language he couldn't decipher.

"Right, so what's this persons name?" Ling asked.

"I don't know." Ao Huli admitted, a furrow forming on his brow. "But I have an image in my mind. A face.

As soon as he said this, Ling's fingers stopped in their tracks. Ling glanced up from his device, his dark eyes locking with Ao Huli's. "Wait so you're looking for someone and you don't even know their name?"

"That's correct," Ao Huli confirmed, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. "But I have seen their face in a vision. It is imprinted in my memory, and I will recognize them when I see them."

"Riiiight…" Ling drawled, a skeptical look crossing his features. He tapped a few more times on the device in his hand before pocketing it once more. "Well, that kind of complicates things a bit, doesn't it?"

Ao Huli could feel the weight of Ling's skepticism bearing down on him, feeling every bit as unprepared as he truly was.

"I understand the challenge, but I have no other choice," Ao Huli said resolutely, his eyes reflecting his determination. "Do you have any idea of where I can start looking?"

Ling pondered Ao Huli's question for a moment.

"Well," Ling began, rubbing his chin, "Is there anything else you know about this person? Something to narrow down where they are? China's a big place, you know."

Ling's question hung in the air between them, a silent prompt for Ao Huli to dig deeper into his memories. The cat spirit closed his eyes, focusing on the fleeting glimpses he had seen when he first touched the soul-light.

Amidst the whirlwind of images, one stood out with startling clarity. A giant neon billboard, its garish colors cutting through the night sky. And there, emblazoned across its surface, was a logo - a stylized lotus flower with the characters "月光莲" (Yuè Guāng Lián) written beneath it.

Ao Huli's eyes snapped open, the image burning in his mind. "There was a billboard," he said, his voice tinged with excitement. "It had a very distinctive logo - a lotus flower with the characters for 'Moonlit Lotus' beneath it."

Ling's eyebrows shot up, surprise evident on his face. "Can you show me what it looked like?" he asked, leaning forward with anticipation.

Ao Huli nodded, raising his hand. With a flick of his wrist, he began to trace the image in the air, celestial light following the path of his fingertip. The stylized lotus flower took shape, glowing softly in the dimness of the alley. Beneath it, the characters "月光莲" shimmered into existence.

Ling's eyes widened as he took in the ethereal display. "I know that place," he said, his voice a mix of surprise and something else - respect, perhaps, or wariness. "The Moonlit Lotus. It's a tea shop not far from here, but it's more than that. It's often used as a gathering place for ghosts. The woman who owns the shop is a medium of sorts."

Ao Huli let the image fade, the celestial light dissipating into the evening air. "Do you think we might find the person I'm looking for there?" he asked, hope and trepidation warring in his voice.

Ling nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "It's as good a place to start as any," he replied. "The Moonlit Lotus attracts all sorts - spirits, cultivators, those with one foot in each world. If nothing else, someone else might know something."

Ao Huli felt a surge of determination, the soul-light seeming to pulse with renewed urgency against his chest. "Then that's where I need to go," he said, his voice firm with resolve.

Ling grinned, a hint of his earlier mischief returning to his eyes. "Follow me, then," he said, pushing off from the wall. "I'll take you to the Moonlit Lotus. But be warned - it's not a place for the faint of heart and no offense, you look a bit soft around the edges."

Ignoring his comment, Ao Huli squared his shoulders, meeting Ling's gaze with unwavering courage. "I'm ready," he said simply.

With that, the unlikely pair set off into the darkening streets, the neon lights of the city flickering to life around them.

As they walked, Ling filled the silence with idle chatter, pointing out various landmarks and sharing bits of ghostly gossip. Ao Huli listened with half an ear, his mind still turning over the images he had seen in the soul's memories.

"We're almost there," Ling said suddenly, interrupting Ao Huli's thoughts. "Just around this corner."

They turned onto a narrow, dimly lit street, the buildings pressing close on either side. At the end of the road, a single lantern glowed, casting a soft, inviting light. As they drew closer, Ao Huli could make out the sign above the door - a stylized lotus flower, identical to the one he had seen in the soul's memories.

"After you." Ling said in an amused, mock display of chivalry, holding the door for Ao Huli.

Ao Huli nodded and stepped into the tea shop, the lantern light washing over them as they crossed the threshold.

Ao Huli's senses were immediately assaulted as they stepped in. A thick fog of smoke hung heavy in the air, a heady mixture of cigarette and opium that made his eyes water and his head spin. The entire interior of the tea shop was bathed in shades of red - from the plush, velvet-covered seats to the intricate paper lanterns that cast an eerie crimson glow over the room.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim, smoky atmosphere, Ao Huli began to take in the patrons of this unusual establishment. They were a far cry from the mortals he had seen on the streets outside.

Ghosts and demons of all shapes and sizes filled the room, some with horns curling from their foreheads, others with multiple limbs or gaping holes where eyes should have been. Each was more bizarre and unsettling than the last, their forms twisted and warped in ways that defied the laws of nature.

Despite the strangeness of their appearance, the patrons seemed to pay little heed to the new arrivals. They continued their hushed conversations and secretive dealings, the murmur of their voices blending with the soft, eerie music that seemed to emanate from the very walls.

But one figure broke away from the crowd, bounding towards them with an energy that seemed out of place in this den of shadows. It was a woman, her figure voluptuous and her movements almost comically exaggerated. As she approached, her ample bosom bounced with each step, straining against the confines of her tightly fitted dress.

"Ling!" she called out, her voice a silky purr that somehow cut through the haze of smoke. "What a pleasant surprise!"

As she came to a stop before them, Ao Huli found himself staring into eyes of the deepest, most absolute black. They were like portals into a void, endless and consuming. Her hair, equally dark, cascaded down her back in a sleek, straight curtain that seemed to blend into the shadows around her. Her skin, in stark contrast, was pale as moonlight, almost translucent in its pallor.

But it was her lips, pale and bloodless, and her nails, long and sharp like the talons of a bird of prey, that truly unsettled Ao Huli. They spoke of a hunger, a predatory nature that lurked beneath her alluring exterior.

Ling, for his part, seemed unsurprised by the woman's appearance. He greeted her with a nod and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Mèi Hóu," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "It's been a while."

The woman, Mèi Hóu, pouted, her full lips forming a moue of displeasure. "Too long," she agreed, her gaze sliding from Ling to Ao Huli. "And who is this delicious morsel you've brought with you?"

Ao Huli felt a shiver run down his spine as those black, fathomless eyes raked over him, a hunger in them that had nothing to do with food. He fought the urge to take a step back, to put some distance between himself and this unsettling creature.

"This is Ao Huli," Ling introduced, his hand coming to rest on Ao Huli's shoulder in a gesture that was both reassuring and warning. "He's a friend."

Mèi Hóu's smile widened, revealing teeth that were just a little too sharp to be entirely human. "A friend of Ling's is a friend of mine," she purred, extending a hand tipped with those wicked-looking nails. "Welcome to the Moonlit Lotus, Ao Huli."

Ao Huli hesitated for a moment before accepting the proffered hand, suppressing a shudder at the icy touch of her skin. Mèi Hóu's grip was surprisingly strong, her nails digging into his flesh just shy of drawing blood.

"We're actually here on business," Ling interjected, smoothly extracting Ao Huli's hand from Mèi Hóu's grasp. "Perhaps you could help us."

Mèi Hóu's eyes glittered with interest. "Oh?" she said, her voice a silken murmur. "And what sort of business might that be?"

Mèi Hóu's black eyes sparkled with mischief as Ling and Ao Huli explained their search for the young man. Her lips curled into a knowing smile, and she leaned forward, her ample bosom brushing against Ao Huli's arm in a way that seemed entirely deliberate.

"So," she purred, her voice like honey laced with poison, "you need my help to find this mortal. How intriguing."

Ao Huli, seemingly unfazed by her proximity, met her gaze evenly. "We'd be grateful for any assistance you could provide," he said, his tone carefully neutral.

"Well you help us?" Ling asked, "I know you're good with this kind of stuff."

Mèi Hóu laughed, a sound that was at once alluring and unsettling. She drew back slightly, one sharp nail tapping against her pale lips as she regarded the two of them with a calculating look.

"Oh, Ling," she chided playfully, "you know better than anyone that ghosts don't do favors for free. Especially not favors that involve meddling in mortal affairs."

Her gaze slid to Ao Huli, raking over his form in a way that made him feel distinctly uncomfortable. "Though I must admit," she murmured, her voice dropping to a silken whisper, "the company you keep these days is certainly... tempting."

Ao Huli felt his cheeks heat under her scrutiny, a mix of embarrassment and indignation rising in his chest. He opened his mouth to retort, but Ling beat him to it.

"Mèi Hóu," he said, his voice carrying a hint of warning, "we're not here to play games. Can you help us or not?"

The ghost pouted, her full lips forming a moue of displeasure. "You're no fun," she whined like a child, but there was a glint in her eye that suggested she was far from deterred.

She leaned back in her seat, her posture languid and inviting. "I might be persuaded to lend a hand," she said, her tone turning coy. "But you know the rules, Ling."

Her eyes met Ao Huli's once more, a wicked smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "So tell me, handsome," she purred, "what's in it for me?"

Ao Huli swallowed hard, his mind racing. What could he possibly offer this creature, this denizen of the ghostly underworld?

But before he could formulate a response, Ling spoke up once more. "A favor," he said simply, his voice quiet but firm. "A favor from me, to be called in at a time of your choosing."

Mèi Hóu's eyes widened, a look of genuine surprise crossing her features. "A favor from the great Ling himself," she murmured, her tone turning thoughtful. "Now that is an intriguing offer."

She studied Ling for a long moment, her black eyes searching his face as if trying to read the sincerity of his words. Ao Huli held his breath, the tension in the air palpable.

Finally, Mèi Hóu smiled, a slow, wicked curve of her lips that sent a shiver down Ao Huli's spine. "Very well," she said, her voice a silken purr. "I accept your offer, Ling. One favor, to be called in at my discretion."

She rose from her seat, her movements fluid and graceful. "Come," she said, gesturing for them to follow. "Let's go find your lost little mortal."

Mèi Hóu led Ling and Ao Huli through the smoky, dimly lit room, her movements graceful and purposeful. As they neared the exit, she suddenly stopped, turning her head towards a corner of the room where a man sat, clearly enjoying himself with two female ghosts draped over him.

"Yín Shào!" Mèi Hóu called out, her voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the haze of smoke and conversation.

The man looked up, his expression a mix of annoyance and drunken amusement. "What is it, woman?" he slurred, his words slightly muffled by the giggling ghost nuzzling his neck.

Mèi Hóu's black eyes flashed with impatience. "Get over here," she demanded, "We have business to attend to."

Yín Shào groaned, disentangling himself from his companions with obvious reluctance. He stumbled slightly as he stood, the effects of the alcohol and opium evident in his unsteady gait.

Ao Huli watched with a mix of fascination and unease as the man approached. He was used to the divine, ethereal forms of the spirits he interacted with in the celestial realm. But the ghosts here, with their grotesque, twisted appearances, were a jarring contrast.

Yín Shào was no exception. As he drew closer, Ao Huli had to suppress a gasp at the sight of him. Half of the man's head appeared to be missing, a gaping void where flesh and bone should have been. And yet, he seemed completely unbothered by this horrific injury, his remaining eye bleary but alert as he regarded them with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.

Ao Huli's gaze was drawn to the man's arms, where silver scales glinted in the dim light. They looked almost metallic, catching the glow of the lanterns and reflecting it back in eerie patterns.

Mèi Hóu, seemingly unperturbed by her companion's unsettling appearance, grabbed his arm and steered him towards the exit. "Come on," she said, "we need to talk."

She led them up a narrow, winding staircase, the steps creaking ominously under their feet. Ao Huli's heart raced as they climbed, his mind whirling with questions and uncertainties.