Chapter 23: Long Time No See

The faint morning light pierced through the gray mist above the Soul-Devouring Abyss, casting a glow on Lin Chuan’s face. He stretched, his bones popping in the stillness. After a full night of rest, the spirits of all four had greatly improved.

"Brother Zhang, you all stay here and don't move," Lin Chuan said, standing up and brushing the dust from his robes. "I’ll go clear out the surrounding evil spirits first to ensure it's safe before we enter the valley."

Zhang Lin nodded, and Li Yu and Wang Tiezhu both looked relieved. After yesterday's events, they had developed absolute faith in Lin Chuan’s "talismans."

Just as Lin Chuan was about to have Xiao Pang devour the evil spirits within a hundred-foot radius, the voice of his companion rang out in his mind, sounding smug: "Chuan-er, I have good news for you!"

"Out with it, you rascal." Lin Chuan replied mentally, while keeping up his facade of preparation.

"Ever since my soul power recovered to the Earth Martial Realm, I’ve been able to perform the Soul Division Technique!" Xiao Pang’s voice was filled with boastfulness. "Even without my original soul source, the essence of my divided soul is far superior to these mindless spirits. I can fully guarantee their safety."

Lin Chuan froze. "You damn—" he roared in his mind, "Why didn't you say so earlier?" Just a minute ago, he had been swearing to Zhang Lin and the others not to wander off, and now Xiao Pang was telling him it wasn't even necessary?

"Oh, it just slipped my mind," Xiao Pang replied, his tone laced with schadenfreude. "I'm getting old; my memory isn't what it used to be."

Veins bulged on Lin Chuan’s forehead. Memory issues? This fat ghost was clearly doing it on purpose! As best friends and "partners in crime," they had always delighted in seeing each other make a fool of themselves—a habit that hadn't changed even after crossing over to another world.

"Just you wait," Lin Chuan threatened through gritted teeth, though he knew he was helpless against his friend.

Zhang Lin and the others looked at his suddenly rigid back with confusion. "Brother Lin, is something wrong?"

Lin Chuan took a deep breath, turning around with a smile that was awkward but polite. "Oh... I just remembered, I have another semi-finished talisman." He pulled a crumpled piece of yellow paper from his chest—actually toilet paper he had swiped from the Tianyun Building’s restroom before entering the Qingming Secret Realm.

"This talisman only has a tenth of the power of a real one, so it’s useless in the valley, but it’s perfect for keeping you safe here," Lin Chuan lied through his teeth. "I might take at least half a day to return, so just stay here and wait for me."

Zhang Lin accepted the "talisman," his face filled with gratitude. "Brother Lin, how thoughtful of you!"

Lin Chuan let out two hollow laughs and turned to leave quickly, fearing his embarrassment would be exposed. Once he was a dozen steps away, he roared in his mind, "You fat jerk, you did that on purpose!"

"Hahaha!" Xiao Pang’s laughter echoed in his mind. "Chuan-er, your expression just now was priceless! It deserves to go down in history!"

"Just you wait, I’ll get you for this." Lin Chuan threatened viciously, knowing full well he had no way to handle this incorrigible friend.

Arriving at the entrance of the valley, Lin Chuan paused. The Blood Spirit Ring grew slightly warm, and Xiao Pang’s voice turned serious: "Are you ready? This time, we won't be fleeing in such a sorry state."

Lin Chuan nodded, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. "Come out, let me see what you look like now." Previously, Xiao Pang’s soul had been too weak, appearing only as a blurry shadow when he emerged from the ring. Now that his soul power had reached the Earth Martial Realm, he should be able to manifest a complete form.

The Blood Spirit Ring emitted a dazzling blue light, and a figure slowly emerged. As the light dissipated, a handsome youth with flowing blue hair drifted before Lin Chuan. His features were exquisite, almost otherworldly, and he was surrounded by a faint blue halo, looking like a fallen immortal.

Lin Chuan’s eyes widened, his mouth agape.

"Well? Are you stunned by my handsomeness?" Xiao Pang—or rather, the beautiful blue-haired youth—flicked his hair with a flourish so stylish it would have made any young girl shriek.

Lin Chuan’s expression shifted rapidly from shock to gloom, and finally settled into an indescribable, twisted look. "You... you..." He pointed at Xiao Pang, his finger trembling. "You’ve changed! You aren't the Xiao Pang I know!"

Xiao Pang blinked those mesmerizing eyes. "What?"

"To disgust me, you even changed your appearance!" Lin Chuan accused him with deep indignation. "Look at you, then look at me! If we walk together, people will think I’m your servant!"

Xiao Pang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Chuan-er, don't tell me you're jealous?"

"Get lost!" Lin Chuan snapped, burning with embarrassment. "I’m hurt. I don't want to strive for success with you anymore! Go back to Earth yourself!"

Xiao Pang laughed so hard he bent over, his blue hair fluttering in the wind—a scene beautiful enough to drive a painter mad. The more Lin Chuan watched, the angrier he became, itching to punch that infuriatingly handsome face.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Xiao Pang finally stopped laughing. Blue light swirled around him, and his form began to shift. Within seconds, standing before Lin Chuan was no longer the handsome blue-haired youth, but a round, chubby little man—exactly as Xiao Pang had looked on Earth. A round face, small eyes that crinkled into slits when he smiled, and that signature triple chin.

Lin Chuan’s breath hitched for a moment. It had been half a year. Half a year since Xiao Pang passed away from illness on Earth. He still remembered crying uncontrollably at Xiao Pang’s grave, the nights spent drowning his sorrows in alcohol, and the despair of dreaming of him only to find him gone upon waking. And now, that familiar figure stood before him; though only a soul, the smile and the mannerisms were exactly as he remembered.

"Fatty..." Lin Chuan’s voice choked, his eyes brimming with tears. "I missed you so much..."

Xiao Pang’s smile softened, a complex light flickering in his small eyes. He floated toward Lin Chuan and opened his arms. "Chuan-er, long time no see."

The two "embraced"—though Xiao Pang’s soul body couldn't make physical contact, both felt the bond that transcended life and death. Lin Chuan felt as if he were back in the days of skipping class to play games, the hard times of sharing a single bowl of instant noodles, and that final moment in the hospital bed when Xiao Pang held his hand and said, "Don't be sad."

A moment later, they pulled apart and exchanged a smile; all emotions were understood without a word.

"Let's go." Xiao Pang turned toward the valley. "Time to get our Qingming Grass."

Lin Chuan wiped the corner of his eye and grinned. "Let's go, just like when we marched into the internet cafe together back in the day."

"Remember how we stayed up for three nights straight after the postgraduate entrance exams?" Xiao Pang reminisced as he drifted toward the valley.

"How could I forget? You fell asleep like a dead pig, and I had to carry you back to the dorm."

Lin Chuan followed Xiao Pang’s lead, chatting idly as they walked into the valley, as if it weren't the dangerous Soul-Devouring Abyss, but just another game dungeon they needed to conquer together.

As soon as they entered, countless evil spirits surged toward them like a tide. But unlike before, Xiao Pang simply waved a hand, and a blue barrier enveloped Lin Chuan. The spirits slammed against the light, shrieking harshly, but couldn't break through at all.

"The feeling of having a bit of power back is truly great." Xiao Pang stretched his soul body comfortably. Wherever he passed, the evil spirits dissolved like snow meeting a raging fire.

Lin Chuan watched, dumbfounded. When they had entered the valley before, Xiao Pang’s consumption speed couldn't keep up with the gathering spirits, forcing them to flee in a panic. Now, Xiao Pang didn't even need to use his full strength; his mere soul pressure was enough to keep these lowly spirits at bay.

"Don't just stand there, let's go." Xiao Pang urged him to turn around. "Let's grab the Qingming Grass and get out of this hellhole."

Lin Chuan snapped out of his daze and hurried to follow. The two—or rather, one man and one soul—strolled toward the center of the valley. Wherever they went, the evil spirits recoiled, like subjects bowing before a king.

As they delved deeper, the number and intensity of the spirits increased, but they remained no match for Xiao Pang’s Earth Martial Realm soul power. Lin Chuan even had the leisure to observe the surroundings, noticing that the deeper they went, the scarcer the dark purple plants became.

"Strange. Aren't these plants nourished by Yin energy? Why are they fewer in the center where the spirits are densest and the Yin energy is strongest?" Lin Chuan asked, puzzled.

Xiao Pang’s expression turned serious. "When things are abnormal, there must be a demon afoot. Be careful."

When they reached the very center of the valley, the sight before them made Lin Chuan gasp. Within a radius of thirty feet, nothing grew; the soil was a ghostly, pale gray, as if all vitality had been drained from it. In the center of this dead land, a single blue-purple blade of grass grew in solitude, swaying gently in the wind.

The grass was only palm-high, its stem crystal-clear like glass, its leaves a gradient of blue and purple, and a tiny white flower bloomed at the tip. In stark contrast to the deathly silence surrounding it, the plant radiated a rich, vibrant life force.

"Qingming Grass..." Lin Chuan muttered, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "A treasure that can sell for three hundred thousand spirit stones on the black market..."

Xiao Pang frowned. "Something’s not right. Even though Qingming Grass grows by absorbing evil spirits, it shouldn't cause such a vast desolation..."

Before he could finish, every evil spirit in the valley let out a shrill, piercing shriek simultaneously, as if summoned by something, and surged toward the center in a frenzy!