Chapter 96: The Witch of the Dawn (1 / 2)

At this point, some readers might wonder, "How can ghosts eat food? Isn't that nonsense?" So, let me explain. Even the Yin soldiers, when they go to war, need supplies. Under the Wan Burial Pass, there are over a hundred thousand Yin soldiers. If they were to break free, they would have to face the White Tiger Star. With the two sides in conflict, how could they march without food? After all, even after a battle, the Yin soldiers need provisions to continue their journey.

There's a saying that spirits and ghosts eat the food that has been burned, but there's an exception: the Five Grains. You've probably heard of the Taoist concept of "casting beans to make soldiers," which refers to how the Five Grains, which are blessed by heaven, can carry celestial energy. These grains, also known as 'Tian Miao,' are food bestowed upon humans by the heavens. And for that reason, they are considered sacred. As the saying goes, "Every grain is hard-earned," and it's not just a saying—it's a reflection of the hardships of life.

Now, let's return to the story of Jiang Shiyu and Master Yicheng. They were hiding in a corner, observing quietly. Suddenly, a fierce wind began to howl. The dim halogen lights above flickered in and out, and then countless paper soldiers—paper horses and oxen—floated into the grain warehouse, each one carrying a soul banner, much like the flags of ancient armies.

After witnessing such eerie happenings, Jiang Shiyu had built up a certain fortitude. She had seen so many bizarre events by now, and with Master Yicheng by her side, she didn't feel much fear.

The horses neighed, and the flags fluttered ominously in the air. These wandering ghosts were part of the Yin soldiers' logistics team—basically, a group of wandering souls and wild spirits assembled as the rear guard. They were the ones responsible for transporting supplies and maintaining the Yin soldiers' provisions.

As Jiang Shiyu and Master Yicheng watched, the wind inside the warehouse intensified, and the grain began to slowly disappear. But it wasn't clear how the paper soldiers were taking the grain. Several of them began to scatter paper money throughout the warehouse, and within moments, it looked like the sky was filled with fluttering paper bills.

It seemed that in the minds of these wandering souls and wild ghosts, they still thought of themselves as a disciplined unit. They knew that when buying goods, one must pay, but the money they offered was useless to the living. In fact, it was harmful to the mortal world.

The rain started falling again, and most of the logistics team was made of paper figures, which feared the water. So, they took shelter in the warehouse, and since they were already there, they ended up "borrowing" some grain.

The rain lasted about an hour, and once it stopped, the numerous paper figures—horses and oxen—left the warehouse in a grand procession. The night was far from peaceful. By the time they had left, Jiang Shiyu and Master Yicheng emerged from their hiding place. The warehouse was half-empty, and the floor was covered with paper money, which made the hair on the back of Jiang Shiyu's neck stand up.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Master Yicheng, how are you feeling? If you're still not well, I can go alone."

Master Yicheng waved his hand. "Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. Let's continue our journey together."

After a brief exchange, they left the warehouse. The thunderstorm had passed, leaving an eerie calm in its wake. Looking at a nearby tricycle that had been parked, Jiang Shiyu quickly ran over and discovered that the key was still in the ignition.

She started the vehicle and began driving. The loud "put-put" sound of the tricycle's engine woke up the night watchman, who immediately came out to stop them. In a flash, Jiang Shiyu tossed a few thousand yuan and her ID at him, shouting, "I'm borrowing it for an urgent matter. I'll return the money tomorrow! If I don't come back, you can find me at this address!"

With that, she put her skills as a driver to the test, skillfully maneuvering around obstacles the guard had set up, managing to slip out of the warehouse just as the gates were about to close. Once on the road, Jiang Shiyu felt like a dragon swimming in the sea, or a tiger entering the mountains—freedom at last.