Chapter 113: Fleeting as Passing Clouds

For ordinary people, death signifies the end—dust to dust, earth to earth—leaving only the survivors to bear the burden of agony. Although Shen Yuqin did not survive in the literal sense, she continued her existence in a different form. Yet, who could truly know the trials and hardships she endured?

This state of affairs persisted for a month. Shen Yuqin witnessed firsthand the despair, remorse, and various negative emotions of her tormentor. She showed no mercy; instead, she felt a profound sense of gratification deep within her heart. However, this did not heal the wounds in her soul. The hatred for the one who had shattered her home and murdered her parents was irreconcilable; even tearing them limb from limb could hardly assuage her bitterness.

After her vengeance was fulfilled, Shen Yuqin chose to leave that place of sorrow. By some twist of fate, she arrived at the Ghost City. It was likely the influence of her temperament in life that shaped her reserved and unsociable nature. Upon learning this, Yi An could not help but sigh; Shen Yuqin was a soul upon whom fate had been cruel. He did not find her method of revenge excessive; on the contrary, he empathized with it. How could the murder of one’s parents be easily forgiven? Even if she had wiped out the culprit’s entire clan, Yi An would have deemed it justifiable. To deal with those who are as venomous as scorpions and devoid of morality, one must employ extraordinary means. Yet, Shen Yuqin had not implicated a single innocent person, maintaining her rationality and killing only those who deserved to die—a trait truly commendable.

Even Yan Chixia, upon hearing this story, fell into a long silence. By conventional standards, demons harming humans are intolerable by natural law, but after hearing Shen Yuqin’s tale, he felt that things were as they should be. This incident caused a subtle shift in Yan Chixia’s Daoist heart. Sometimes, the human heart is more venomous than any demon, and one must never judge by appearances alone. Only by probing the root of a matter can one avoid wronging a good person. He remembered his master telling him that even what one sees with their own eyes may not be the truth; one must look with the heart and feel with the soul. Only by exploring the essence of things can one avoid being deceived by the illusions before them. At first, Yan Chixia had not grasped the deep meaning behind those words, believing firmly that his eyes could not deceive him. Now, he was awakened: sometimes, eyes do indeed deceive, and looking with the heart means investigating the hidden truths behind the facade.

"Yi-lang, it is truly strange. I have just checked myself thoroughly from head to toe, yet I still cannot find anything suspicious. How, then, did I faint?" Shen Yuqin had meticulously examined every part of her being, but the result was that there was nothing wrong. Pondering over it, she found herself at a loss and turned her gaze toward her fiancé, who was known for his vast knowledge.

Indeed, "vast knowledge" was the persona Yi An had specifically crafted when using his "Shadow-Shifting Technique" to ensure his appearance did not seem abrupt. As previously noted, Shen Yuqin rarely went out, so Yi An had to weave himself into the memories she had formed upon her arrival at the Ghost City.

In her original memory, she had arrived at the Ghost City with nothing to her name. Purchasing property here required a great deal of wealth. It is worth noting that the currency in the Ghost City remained that of the outside world, as most of the ghosts in the city had been human in life and thus retained a fondness for human gold and silver. However, having arrived with nothing and transformed into a vengeful spirit, Shen Yuqin no longer had any use for such material possessions. It was only after entering the city that she realized the importance of money. In life, all her needs had been provided by her parents; now, being forced to fend for herself was a daunting challenge.

Since she had chosen to settle in the Ghost City, she could not remain homeless. Her immediate priority was to acquire a house. However, the prosperous districts were far beyond her consideration; the prices were simply prohibitive. For most, the fastest way to acquire wealth was to return to the human realm, either by killing for gold or robbing the rich to supply their own needs. Yet, Shen Yuqin quickly dismissed this notion. It was precisely because she had experienced the pain of a broken home that she refused to inflict such suffering on others. What fault did the wealthy have? Not all were cruel, and how many of those who claimed to "rob the rich to help the poor" were truly motivated by justice and a pure heart? Most merely sought a grandiose excuse to satisfy their own selfish desires.

Thus, Shen Yuqin decided to seek a living within the Ghost City itself. With great effort, she found a role suited to her. Due to her overwhelming resentment, she had leaped to the level of a Vengeful Spirit, her strength comparable to the Guiyuan stage of a cultivator, bordering on that of an Earthly Deity. This level of power placed her in the upper-middle echelon of the Ghost City.

Soon, Shen Yuqin found work as a bodyguard, protecting a wealthy but physically weak young lady. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Two years later, Shen Yuqin successfully purchased her own home. Though it was not luxurious—even a bit dilapidated—her heart was filled with satisfaction. It was a pity, however, that there was no one left to share this joy with. In this world, she was truly alone. No matter how successful she became or how refined her cultivation, it all felt flavorless to her.

When Yi An observed this, he felt a surge of pity and affection for Shen Yuqin, a feeling likely influenced by the memories he had tapped into. It was a subtle sensation. He had used these very memories to seamlessly insert himself into her life. In his narrative, they had met shortly after her arrival in the Ghost City; he had helped her find work, and his presence had become woven into the mundane details of her daily life. While this approach felt slightly unscrupulous, it was the only way Yi An could conceive. In the reality he had fabricated, they had fallen in love over time, made a private vow to each other, and pledged their lives together. It was a cliché, but it was effective. Moreover, with the situation being urgent, he had no time to craft a more intricate romance. After all, everything was fleeting; when the task was complete, perhaps it would all drift away like smoke.