Wu Qingyun drove the car wordlessly, snaking through the streets like a slippery serpent. I felt like I was about to be jolted sick.
I sat in the back seat, retching continuously.
Then, the car let out a sharp screeching of brakes. Without a second thought, I flung open the door and rushed out.
"Ugh..." I crouched by the roadside and vomited profusely.
Wu Qingyun got out of the car right after. He checked the time, then handed me a bottle of water. In a cold voice, he asked, "Are you done?"
I rinsed my mouth while still squatting on the ground, then wiped the water off the corner of my mouth. I was absolutely furious with him. He was such a toady, even more overbearing than his master.
When Gu Yuan came back, I'd definitely tell on him.
"I've said that I have an appointment today. Take me back right away," I glared at Wu Qingyun with wide - open eyes and scolded him in a commanding tone.
He still had that icy - cold expression, and his voice was devoid of any warmth. "I only take orders from Lord San. Get back in the car quickly after you're done. We're running out of time."
"I'm not getting back in. I've said I'll call him to explain. Why does it have to be today? Give me a reason."
"Lord San tells me what to do. I never ask for reasons."
He was such a stubborn blockhead. I gave him a scornful look. I really loathed him.
I crouched on the ground to catch my breath. Suddenly, I felt a chilling wind blowing, and I couldn't help but shiver.
My eyes casually glanced into the distance and then fixed on the sky between the buildings.
I saw that the dark clouds, as if ink had been spilled across the sky, were rolling in, pressing down on the tall buildings. From time to time, white flashes could be seen darting through them. In this one scene, there were two different worlds. The dark clouds were constantly devouring the evening sunset, and the shadows were gradually covering the entire city.
It looked like a scene straight out of a disaster movie.
I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "What's that?"
Wu Qingyun looked in the direction I was pointing. Suddenly, his face turned ashen.
"Damn it. Get in the car quickly."
Before I could react, he grabbed me by the collar and hoisted me up.
The water bottle in my hand slipped and rolled onto the ground.
Wu Qingyun didn't bother to pick it up. He just threw me into the back seat.
I was panicked too. Something was definitely wrong. Whatever could make the God of Witchcraft this panicked was no good.
By now, the sky was almost as dark as night. Wu Qingyun floored the gas pedal. I was instantly pressed back against the back seat. The car sped away. The brightly - lit city stretched into a long line of light as the sedan raced on, as if we had entered a time tunnel.
Wu Qingyun drove through it. The car was like a running cheetah, quickly and nimbly dodging the oncoming vehicles.
I held onto the car handle tightly, afraid that I'd be thrown out when he made a sharp turn.
"Wu Qingyun, what on earth is going on? Ah..."
"Bang..." The car was suddenly hit hard by something. The tires spun, and the car veered sideways.
Due to inertia, my body was pressed against the car door.
"Can't you tell? It's the Ghost King on his mourning journey. He probably has his eyes on your yin bones," Wu Qingyun tightly gripped the steering wheel. Through the rear - view mirror, it was obvious that his eyes were intently fixed on the objects darting back and forth in front of us.
"Ghost King? Where did the Ghost King come from? Where's Gu Yuan? I'm going to call Gu Yuan over now," I said in a flurry, reaching out to shake the silver bell.
The car jolted again, and I was thrown to the other side.
"Lord San has gone to deal with your friend's matter. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let you get out of the car. I never expected it to be the Ghost King on his mourning journey. Endure it for a while. As long as we can get through this street and reach the new house, we'll be safe," Wu Qingyun said as his hands deftly turned the steering wheel, constantly dodging the oncoming objects.
"My friend? Who? Yan Lin?" I asked hurriedly.
"Can't you tell? Your friend's essence is almost drained," Wu Qingyun's face showed obvious impatience.
Then he added, "I just don't understand. There are thousands of women in the world. Why did Lord San fall for a troublesome woman like you? What kind of sorcery did you use to bewitch him and make him willing to silently sacrifice for you?"
He scolded me while driving, leaving me speechless. In Wu Qingyun's eyes, everything I did was wrong.
The car sped by. It seemed like something was slapping against the left and right car windows, but Wu Qingyun managed to shake them off.
I sat in the car, not daring to relax at all. I took out the incense from my bag and lit it, planning to summon Bai Qi and the others.
All the incense was lit, but for some reason, I just couldn't summon anyone.
As the car raced on the road, my body jolted and swayed. Carelessly, my face was pressed against the car window.
This was a big mistake. After pressing my face against the window, I saw the scene outside, which scared me out of my wits.
Two disheveled women had somehow climbed onto the left and right car windows. Now, our faces were almost touching, separated only by a car window.
One of them was wearing a white mourning dress. Her pale features were bloodless, and even her hair and eyebrows were white. Her face was contorted from crying.
The other was dressed in a bright red wedding dress, wearing a phoenix - shaped hairpin. She was thin - faced, with a charming smile on her lips. Her eyes, lips, and nails were all red. Her nails scratched against the car glass, making a sharp screeching sound.
These two ghostly creatures were lying on the car window, one crying and the other smiling. Their voices pierced through my eardrums, scaring me into screaming.
"Ah..." I let out a scream and quickly sat up straight, trying to calm myself down.
"I really should have checked the almanac before going out. We've encountered an evil omen, and it's a double one at that. We've run into the Red and White Ghostly Omens."
I sat in the middle of the car and mustered up the courage to look through the front and rear windshields.
Sure enough, just as Wu Qingyun had said, a wedding procession appeared in front of our car. The sedan - chair carriers at the front walked lightly, as if they didn't even need to exert much effort to carry the bright red sedan chair forward. On both sides, the bridesmaids were holding baskets, cheerfully throwing red petals as they walked towards us.
Behind us, there was a funeral procession. Six coffin - bearers were carrying a black coffin in front, and the mourners behind were all wearing mourning clothes, holding mourning sticks in their hands. Yellow paper money was scattered all over the ground.
The two processions were each playing their own music. The sound of the suona was everywhere. Two completely different pieces of music were surprisingly blending together at this moment.
It made my head ache so badly that I felt like I was better off dead.
"The Demon King's wedding and the Ghost King's mourning. We've got them all. They're both after you. Who on earth are you?"
I didn't have the time to listen to his rambling. This scene was terrifying enough.
Wu Qingyun shouted at me, "Hold your breath, calm your mind, and keep your eyes tightly shut. Don't open them no matter what. I'd like to see who can outdo who."
I didn't dare to be the least bit slack. I quickly closed my eyes and covered my ears tightly, trying not to listen to the alternating suona sounds that were disturbing my mind.
The car was still moving forward, but it was bumping even more violently. My body swayed from side to side, but I still didn't dare to open my eyes.
As the crazy suona sounds filled my ears, there were also ghostly wails and the panicked screams of women.
"Lan Lan, save me..."
This voice, it was Yan Lin's voice. Her dying plea for help echoed in my ears. It seemed like she was about to die.
"Lan Lan, don't come. Run away..."
The image of Bai Qi with a blood - covered face appeared in my mind. They were all injured.
"Chi Yu... I'm in so much pain. Put me out of my misery..." This was Gu Yuan's voice. In my mind, I saw Gu Yuan standing on the Heavenly Punishment Platform, covered in blood, being struck by the thunder.
The scene was so real that I could feel Gu Yuan's despair as if it were my own.
"Do you want to save them?" Through all the tragic wailing, a melodious voice came into my ears.
"What you see today is not an illusion. As long as you open your eyes, you can save them from the fire and water. All your wishes will come true."
This was definitely a temptation. I wasn't going to fall for it. No matter how much he tried to tempt me, I would never open my eyes.
I just endured it like this until there was absolutely no sound around.
It was really completely silent. The car seemed to have stopped too, and it was no longer bumping. It was deathly quiet all around.
Finally, Wu Qingyun's voice came from the front.
"It's okay. Open your eyes."
I held on for a few more seconds before I dared to slowly open my eyes.
As soon as I opened them, I regretted it.