As the gusty wind subsided, the hall settled into calm, the candles burning quietly, their gentle flickers gradually dispersing the thick lingering阴气. Though neither Xie Lingxi nor the others possessed the innate gift of the Night-Wanderer, they could still sense, through instinct, that the hall had become safe. The Fire Demon observed intently, his tone a blend of astonishment and delight. "Are you the Night-Wanderer? You're actually the Night-Wanderer?" Simply by his commanding presence, he had driven away the resentful spirits—what profession could that point to, other than the Night-Wanderer? "It's rather unusual, isn't it? The Jin-Shui Theme Park has always had an element of the supernatural; it's quite natural that someone with the Night-Wanderer's gift would be matched here." Zhang Yuanqing smiled calmly. "Now, while I can't guarantee the safety of all the entertainment venues, I can assure you that the haunted house—until you meet the ghost bride—I'll protect you." The four teammates exchanged glances, each seeing clear delight in one another's eyes. They hadn't expected there to be such a rare profession among their team. In this supernatural-themed dungeon, After all, Zhang Yuanqing is a specialist in night wanderers. Instantly, the four teammates looked at him with a strong sense of reliance. "We only have one hour. Don't waste time—let's check if there are any clues here." Zhang Yuanqing scanned the hall. With his night vision, he quickly locked onto the offering table behind the imperial chair. He stepped over and found a red paper pressed beneath the blue-and-white porcelain dish filled with peanut and lotus seed. Holding the paper, he examined it under the candlelight: "The dowry: a scale rod, a pair of gold hairpins, a medicinal wine, and a wedding quilt." The others gathered around. Xie Lingxi pressed her jaw, her eyes shifting thoughtfully. "These aren't typically dowry items, but since they're listed here, we must find these four things and treat them as the dowry." Finding these four items would mean the new bride would choose one of them as her groom. "What if we can't find them?" asked the Monkey King. "Then what?" asked the Fire Demon. "Well, then we'd surely die. Once we find the dowry, the ghost bride will choose one of us?" Zhang Yuanqing: "Why just one person, instead of everyone going into the bridal chamber together?" Seeing his teammates' blank expressions, Zhang Yuanqing shrugged: "Just a joke to lighten the mood—apparently, you've got no sense of humor." The teammates remained utterly expressionless. Xi Shi rolled her eyes, while Xie Lingxi continued: "Now the task's structure is clearer—the ghost bride will choose her husband one hour from now, and the criterion is that the groom must have a dowry. Therefore, we need to find four dowries within this grand manor. "But whether the selected lucky ones will have a chance at survival—or will inevitably meet their end—remains unknown." The Fire Demon studied the young girl closely: "You really don't remember the game's instructions?" She explained it so thoroughly. Xie Lingxi pouted, adopting a pained expression: "I truly don't know." Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the team size and felt a sudden sense of concern. Proceeding with the current clues, two outcomes are possible. In the first scenario, if all four wedding gifts are found, the entire team will have fulfilled their requirements, and then they will simply await the ghost bride's visit. In the second scenario, the four gifts will only ensure that four individuals meet their requirements, while those who fail to meet theirs will inevitably perish. The first scenario is manageable. But the second? Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself: "If the second scenario unfolds, the team will certainly experience internal conflict by this stage of the quest. The number of survivors may even fall below four. It makes sense then that the items and skills are not sealed—this is designed to drive us to fight among ourselves. The S-tier quest truly unfolds with relentless threats at every step..." How many members of the team will remain by that point? As the team leader, he has a hidden objective: the team must never drop below three members. Moreover, the aspect of choosing a husband carries a subtly persuasive effect—it gives the impression that only those selected by the bride have a chance, and that the fortunate ones consistently receive special treatment. Yet Zhang Yuanqing is certain that anyone chosen by the bride will actually face certain doom. The reason is straightforward: first, the original version always worked this way; second, if only the selected individuals survive, then the hidden mission would lose its purpose. Regardless of how hard anyone tries, by the time they reach this point, only one person will remain—so what difference does it make whether personnel are reduced or not? Of course, if the bride herself is a fickle, romantic type, then that would be a different matter. The Ghost Bride segment might claim only one life, but the Haunted House segment poses far greater dangers—first, internal team conflicts, and then the other vengeful spirits within the mansion itself. As team leader, this encounter truly proves challenging. If the final victory doesn't come with substantial rewards, it would be utterly unreasonable. Fortunately, I have the Divine Exorcising Staff—a true masterpiece—that gives me confidence even when facing the Ghost Bride directly. As this thought crossed Zhang Yuanqing's mind, he instinctively glanced at his teammates, noticing their eyes now deep and distant, already beginning to watch each other with suspicion. No one is foolish. Zhang Yuanqing cleared his throat. "We don't have much time. Let's find the dowry first. Everyone stay close to me—don't scatter. Ordinary spirits find it hard to approach me." In such moments, his words carry the most weight, and the team relies on his professional standing. Immediately, the group moved past the screen behind the main hall and entered the inner courtyard. The corridors wound gently, adorned with red lanterns, and the deep red candlelight cast shadows of trees, flower beds, and artificial hills. In the distance, the arched gate connecting other courtyards could still be faintly seen, and the row of buildings with their straight gables stood neatly against the night sky. How truly a noble lady the Ghost Bride must be... Zhang Yuanqing thought to himself. Even just the size of this estate suggests a three-enclosure layout. He surveyed the arrangement of the buildings and then turned to remind everyone, "The atmosphere here is quite heavy with negative energy—stay close to me." His words cut off abruptly. Behind him, the space was empty—no figures remained. The team had vanished. That was truly unsettling. Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath and pressed on, not stopping. He had to find them quickly. These people weren’t night wanderers, even though their skills and equipment hadn’t been sealed. Their means of dealing with spirits were limited, and if they encountered persistent vengeful spirits, they would fall at any moment. He passed through the garden and spotted a house ahead, where a dim glow of candlelight shone through the latticed windows, casting a soft, pale light. All the other houses, however, remained completely dark. Zhang Yuanqing moved carefully down the corridor, approaching the house and focusing his senses. The air inside was thick with a cold, somber qi, yet there were no restless spirits dwelling within. He stepped quietly, opening the latticework door. The scene inside came into view. It appeared to be a woman's private chamber: to the east stood a bed with curtains drawn low, a round table in the center, and a dressing table by the window, its copper mirror facing the entrance. A golden scale rod lay quietly before the dressing table. Zhang Yuanqing stepped over the threshold, closed the door behind him, and approached the dressing table, picking up the golden scale rod—only about the length of his forearm and as thick as his thumb. This was traditionally used to lift the bride's red veil, symbolizing "a heart in balance, as desired." "Not too difficult—found it right away," he murmured as he prepared to leave. Suddenly, he heard a hum of electricity, and a voice came from the cat king speaker in his pocket: "That day, she arrived at Jinshui Water Park..." How unseasonally it always spoke! He wondered what it had to say. To be honest, it's also part of the amusement park—perhaps it holds some information. Zhang Yuanqing's attention shifted to the King Cat speaker, hoping it would say something. This time, the King Cat speaker didn't disappoint. Its voice continued playing: "The spirits in the haunted house trembled, bowing low to the ground. The great being did not trouble the weak spirits of sorrow; she instructed the bride to find a young man—whose name was Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn!" Zhang Yuanqing's mind buzzed like lightning striking—his entire body went still. Looking for me? Looking for me!! Who is looking for me, and why me? Surprise and confusion surged, then, it suddenly clicked. The Three Mountain Lady! "The official announcement from Taiyimen states that a powerful boss triggered changes in the spiritual realm. The introduction of Jinshui Theme Park says that this being, after a long period of slumber, is surprised by the array of new and ingenious items now found in the world—details that perfectly align with the image of Lady San Dao Shan. 'I awakened Lady San Dao Shan,' I recall. 'She's been searching for me, because half of her yang essence resides within the Vengeance Staff... Damn it! This old stick has been haunting me ever since—can't she just let me be, when I'm still just a child?' Zhang Yuanqing actually has a clear sense of what's coming. As he continues to advance, he'll inevitably face Lady San Dao Shan. But that should happen after he becomes a high-level spiritual realm traveler, when he exchanges the yang essence from the staff with her. Who would have thought that this old stick, with her far-reaching influence, could affect even lower-level travelers? 'For heaven's sake,' I thought the mission couldn't possibly be this simple. Now it seems that retrieving the Vengeance Staff might actually expose my identity. And that's precisely why Lady San Dao Shan has been looking for me." "This spiritual realm, already influenced by the Lady of the Three Mountain Peaks, might have the old sturdy one charging in the moment I just pull out the Subduer of Demons. Then what will become of me? I'm not even sure if the realm's boss still has any sense of morality—after all, wouldn't it be convenient to simply crush me, this little ant, with a single gesture?..." After carefully weighing the options, Zhang Yuanqing decided to keep his identity hidden and continue with the quest, postponing the use of the Subduer of Demons. The consequences of revealing himself could mean facing the formidable deity, the Lady of the Three Mountain Peaks, directly—there were simply too many uncertainties. By continuing with the quest, he could at least ensure a smooth path through the haunted house; should he truly find himself in dire straits, he could always draw upon the Subduer of Demons then. Once he had clearly assessed the pros and cons, he felt reassured and was about to turn and leave when suddenly, in the mirror, he noticed the door had been pushed open. He was startled, quickly turning around, only to find the door now firmly closed, still intact. What on earth? Zhang Yuanqing turned back In the bronze mirror, a woman in a white dress appeared, her hair flowing freely. She stepped over the threshold into the room in an odd, peculiar posture. The room reflected in the mirror seemed different from the one Suan Qing was actually in. The woman in the white dress arrived at the dressing mirror in an odd posture and sat down. At this moment, Suan Qing finally understood why she walked so oddly—she was walking backward. The following scene would send an ordinary person straight into shock: the woman in the mirror lifted her hand and gently removed her head, cradling it in her arms. Her hands had a bluish-black skin tone, with long, black, sharp nails. Her black hair spread out, revealing her face—pale, with startlingly white, eerie eyes, a wan complexion, and lips dark as ink, fixed intently on the mirror, as if gazing upon Suan Qing from another world. This ghost had little in the way of beauty. Suan Qing quickly retreated, intending to leave the room. Yet, the flowing hair in the mirror seemed to come alive, rising like tendrils and suddenly piercing the mirror surface. The bronze mirror rippled, clusters of hair piercing through it, tightening around Zhang Yuanqing’s wrist and body, as if pulling him into the mirror. "Hmph!" The thick black light in Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes surged. He opened his mouth and drew in a strong breath. Spirit-consuming! This skill, which suppresses spirit ghosts, only slows the hair’s entanglement—it cannot fully absorb the ghost within the mirror. This ghost is strong—no ordinary spirit ghost. Zhang Yuanqing took slow, steady steps forward, gradually closing the distance to the bronze mirror. He quickly weighed his options: he could forgo the Fengmo Staff, which was ineffective against spirits; the Blood-Soaked Blade delivered physical attacks, which had no effect on ethereal forms; the Red Dance Shoes also delivered physical strikes, ineffective against spirits. After careful consideration, he decided—on you, little comic! Zhang Yuanqing expelled a stream of dark qi, summoning his little comic. "Ah-ba..." The round, endearing spirit child landed on the dressing table, lazily stretching its limbs, then spotted the ghost in the mirror. In an instant, like a cat with its fur standing on end, the spirit, moving at a speed befitting a creature of its age, rolled and crawled down the dressing table, tucking itself behind Zhang Yuanqing, crying out in terror. Great job! Zhang Yuanqing immediately summoned the little comic back, having him lie flat on his head, then turned and ran. The infant spirit's ability lasted only three seconds, but it was enough to let him escape the house. As he burst through the door and stepped over the threshold, he had just reached the garden when he heard a loud "thud" of the door closing behind him. Turning around, he saw the room now dark—its candlelight extinguished, the space completely black. A steady breeze swept through the inner courtyard, where many restless spirits hovered at a distance, yearning for the presence of the Night Watcher yet afraid of his imposing aura, unwilling to approach. "We've got to find them quickly—don't want them all to vanish..." Zhang Yuanqing swiftly left the garden, passing through the arched gate and arriving at the adjacent courtyard. There, he soon spotted Xie Lingxi. The young girl stood before a water tank in the corner of the courtyard, leaning her upper body into the water, her hands gripping the rim, struggling hard. It seemed as though something inside the tank was pulling her. No matter how hard she fought, she couldn't seem to pull herself free from the tank. Gradually, her struggle grew weaker and weaker… Zhang Yuanqing stepped closer and smelled a hint of wine. Bowing down, he saw the deep liquid swirling in the jar, with a baby spirit drifting within, its umbilical cord tightly wrapped around Xie Lingxi's neck, dragging her down into the water. Zhang Yuanqing lifted the lively little one in both hands, ignoring his frantic struggles, and tossed him into the jar. The baby spirit, seeing a fellow spirit enter, immediately loosened its umbilical cord and opened its mouth, baring sharp teeth at the newcomer. Zhang Yuanqing grasped Xie Lingxi's shoulders and pulled her firmly out of the jar. "Cough! Cough!" Xie Lingxi gasped violently, her face turning red with effort, her damp hair and bangs clinging to her forehead and cheeks. A few seconds later, she calmed her breathing, caught sight of Zhang Yuanqing's face, and burst into tears: "Wang Tai brother, you've come to save me! W-w-w, I no longer want to enter any spiritual realms related to the Night Spirit of the Moon—I'm absolutely terrified!" This was her first time entering a quest with such supernatural elements. "How did you end up here?" Zhang Yuanqing stared intently at the water basin. Two infant spirits were fighting fiercely in the liquid, biting and wrestling each other, creating ripples throughout the dark liquid. Xie Lingxi raised her feet slightly, peered into the basin, and recalled having drunk quite a bit earlier, then retched: "It's so disgusting, so disgusting..." Only after expressing her disgust did she answer Zhang Yuanqing: "Wang Tai brother, I followed you out of the hall, and suddenly a mist surged—when I looked around, you and everyone else were gone. I started searching, and without realizing it, I ended up here. Then I smelled a distinct aroma of wine, and followed the scent to this basin." "Thinking this was one of the dowries, I just lifted the wooden lid and suddenly a rope extended from the jar, pulling me under the water." She looked at the umbilical infant spirit floating in the water jar, recalling the liquid she had choked on, her face pale as paper: "It's so disgusting, so disgusting..." Zhang Yuanqing silently calculated the time and observed the young woman. "You've been holding your breath quite a while." Xie Lingxi shook her head, speaking with a delicate voice. "I have a prop that restores vitality—without it, I would have drowned in the jar long ago." As she said this, she raised her snowy white wrist, where a jade bracelet of jade green color gleamed. A vitality-restoring bracelet... Is this girl a wood spirit? Her demeanor doesn't quite match... Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly, paying only passing attention to the bracelet, and said, "Come with me to find them—I hope we still have time." Xie Lingxi collected some of the liquid, while Zhang Yuanqing summoned his first-time encounter with a peer, the lively and clumsy one, and they walked along the stone path toward the deeper parts of the manor. "Oh, give me that card." "Ah? What card?" "Stop acting silly— the card from the parking lot. I saw you tucked in your hip pocket."