I am the Ruler of the Kingdom of Mysterious-Chapter 96 - 77: The Storyteller

Sang Que sensed her mother’s strong desire and looked at the bronze token on the table.

"The storyteller is a member of Nine Songs, and so was my biological mother. The storyteller has appeared in Dongyang County, which is a day’s drive from the inn where I am staying. With this bronze token, I should be able to make contact with him."

Sang Wan picked up the bronze token, "If your theory is correct, and the Mountain Ghost from the Deceit Dynasty is connected to the modern Mountain Ghost, then Nine Songs must have some connection to the present as well. What comes to my mind is the Nine Songs Chapter from the ’Chu Ci’ — a total of eleven sacrificial hymns depicting nine deities."

"Our current understanding of the Deceit Dynasty is limited, so let’s not speculate too much for now. I’ll make a rubbing of the token later and search for related information when I have time. If you find the task of searching for the storyteller too difficult or dangerous, make sure to retreat in time. Nine Songs is a cult wanted by the Evil Suppression Bureau, so be careful not to get their attention."

Sang Que sighed, "I was planning to join the Evil Suppression Bureau when I got to Wangshan City, to gather information and improve myself before heading to Shengjing. Now it seems I’m becoming a cult member first."

Sang Wan spoke softly, "Perhaps this is one of the reasons your biological mother didn’t tell you everything. She wanted you to be a blank slate, allowing you to slowly understand the Deceit Dynasty from your perspective and then choose which faction you want to join. Instead of instilling everything about Nine Songs in you, which could give you preconceived notions and affect your judgment." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Sang Que’s heart trembled; she never imagined her biological mother intentionally being cryptic could have such a reason.

Prejudice is a mountain that blocks one’s view, hiding the vast openness beyond it, making one naturally assume that it’s all swamps and ravines there.

Sang Que nodded seriously, "I understand, mom. Since Dongyang County is close, I’ll go find the storyteller first and learn about Nine Songs. Then I’ll head to Wangshan City to understand the Evil Suppression Bureau, and I’ll have to wait until the Yin Child advances before I plan the trip to Shengjing. I need to reach the Ninth Floor of Nine Netherworld and become a Ghost Level expert first."

Sang Que started to worry about the Yin Child’s advancement ceremony again, cursing the troublesome children countless times in her heart!

Sang Wan said, "It’s getting late, try to sleep for a while. You’ll sleep more peacefully at home, and I’ll sort through these things again."

Sang Que went to sleep, and Sang Wan reread Yan Daozi’s letters, especially the attached page containing an unfinished story manuscript by the storyteller that they somehow found.

It was headless, tailless, and nameless, with just a few opening lines.

[Ladies and gentlemen, sit quietly with your tea, and listen as I tell you a tale of old grudges in an ancient house. It involves someone returning to their hometown, destined by fate, unable to evade an eerie experience. That day, the weather suddenly changed, with a torrential downpour... ]

Besides these few sentences, there were large blank sections, making it impossible to deduce what the story was about.

Sang Wan truly yearned for the storyteller’s abilities, feeling that it could help her do more for Sang Que.

For now, it’s all just ideas, and the specifics will have to wait until Sang Que finds the storyteller.

Putting the letters aside, Sang Wan spread out some white paper to make a rubbing of the bronze token.

*

The night passed without incident.

In her sleep, Sang Que briefly entered the Nine Netherworld Hell. Her level didn’t change much, stuck at the Third Layer, 230th rank.

Her Heart Lamp had stabilized significantly, reaching the Third Layer, 9th rank.

Once she gathers the incense fire wishing power of 221 more people, she will be fully in sync with her current Nine Nether Level, allowing her to stabilize her spirit and choose whether to advance further down the Nine Nether or stay put.

At four thirty, the alarm clock woke Sang Que. Around five, dawn would break in the Deceit Dynasty, so she had to return early.

Her mother was also up early, and had prepared food for the next three days as well as dried ancient costumes, all placed in the living room.

"Oh yeah, Little Que, I forgot to tell you yesterday, the demolition work at Xujiawan Village has restarted, and I hear the first thing they’ll be tearing down is the Skywell Building."

Sang Wan commented while packing the wrapped rations into Sang Que’s bag.

Sang Que adjusted her clothes in the mirror at the entrance, "Did Grandma Xu contact me?"

"Not yet."

Sang Que took the bag from Sang Wan and remembered something, "Has that story relay group shown up recently?"

Sang Wan shook her head, "Your old phone is on my computer desk, very quiet. I’ve even searched online for related content, but found nothing. Take your time; are you going for three days again this time?"

"Yes, once I’m settled in Dongyang County, I’ll come back and let you know I’m safe. I’ll search for the storyteller there during the day and come back to do my homework at night. It really is time to write. Mom, I want to bring Xia Chan something tasty. Do we have anything at home?"

"I’ll see what I can find, just finish your hair and eat breakfast quickly."

Meow~~

At the mention of food, Xuan Yu also woke up, stretching, licking its fur, and washing its face.

After breakfast, Sang Wan checked the wound on Sang Que’s neck, disinfected it again, and wrapped it with a black cloth for concealment. When she comes back in three days, they can remove the stitches.

"Little Que," Sang Wan considered for a moment and decided to remind Sang Que before leaving, "The storyteller’s unfinished story mentions rain. If you encounter rain on your way to Dongyang County, it’s best not to go out."

"Speaking of which, you are someone returning to their hometown. We still don’t know how much influence the storyteller’s story has or whether it ties to his location, so it’s better to be cautious."

"Okay, I’ll be careful."

At five o’clock, Sang Que tried to draw a door on the ground in the garden but failed.

Finally, after trying around, she managed to open a door from a large box at home with a liftable lid and went to the Deceit Dynasty.

After Sang Que left, Sang Wan felt the house become cold and lonely again. Fortunately, there was still the Little General, shouting in his cage.

Sang Wan let out the Little General, who ran to the red maple tree in the yard to dig in the dirt, before turning around to urinate after a long while.

"You’re not a cat; how come you’re acting like Xuan Yu?"

Sang Wan chuckled, shaking her head, as she slowly returned to the bedroom, ready to take a nap before going to the medical institution to continue her rehabilitation.

*

At the inn’s guest room, Sang Que pushed open the door, and Xia Chan, without opening her eyes, was already on her nose, sitting up.

"Smells so good..."

Sang Que quickly closed the windows and doors and brought the instant chicken wings made by her mother with the air fryer to the bed.

"Little Chan, eat while it’s hot."

Swallowing her saliva, Xia Chan picked up the crispy and oily chicken wings. She was about to shove them into her mouth but refrained and held them out to Sang Que.

"Sister, have some."

"I’ve already eaten. There’s also some bread, um... steamed buns, and freshly squeezed watermelon juice." Sang Que shook the bamboo tube used to hold the juice.

Xia Chan gobbled up the chicken wings, even biting down and swallowing the bones.

"Little Chan has never tasted something so delicious, it’s too delicious, wah—"

Xia Chan was moved to tears while eating, appreciating the deliciousness. Besides her mother and Kou Yushan, no one had ever been so kind to her.

"Eat slowly, here, take a sip." Sang Que opened the bamboo tube and fed Xia Chan a sip of watermelon juice, smiling as she watched her.

"It’s so sweet, so good, sob sob... Sister, after this meal, am I going to die?"

Xia Chan wiped her tears with her sleeve, sniffing.

"Don’t say that, you’re going to live to be a hundred. If you like it, I’ll bring you more next time. But this is a secret between you and me, don’t tell anyone, or you won’t get to eat it again, understand?"

Xia Chan’s mouth was stuffed with bread as she nodded vigorously, looking at Sang Que with intense seriousness and putting a finger to her lips to signal silence.

Meow~

Xuan Yu continued licking its paws and washing its face on the table, having already eaten its fill in the morning at home.

Sang Que took out a small porcelain bottle of Corpse Mud from her bag. She had left the whole jar at home, only bringing a small amount; it was enough for use without having to lug around a big jar everywhere.

She used the stench of Corpse Mud to mask the smell of food, burned the kraft paper bag with chicken wings, and instructed Xuan Yu and Xia Chan to stay in the room without wandering. Then she went to find Kou Yushan alone.

In the inn courtyard, Kou Yushan was talking under a tree with the old village chief Du Enfu, Liu Tianyou, Skinny, He Baosheng, and an elderly man from Shihe Village.

From a distance, Sang Que nodded to Kou Yushan, who signaled her to come over.

Sang Que joined the group. Except for the elderly man from Shihe Village, the others, including Du Enfu, showed respect for Sang Que, nodding in acknowledgment.

The people of Black Mountain Village all knew that if it weren’t for Sang Que, He Buning wouldn’t have left the bonfire last night. That fire was to help Sang Que through the Ghost Festival night, not for them.

Moreover, Sang Que had received a direct invitation from He Buning, a Night Travel Captain, to join the Evil Suppression Bureau, promising her an unlimited future.