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Chapter Text

Chapter 0.5 

The demon lord spat out in disgust as he regarded his former Shizun with contempt. Now that he had risen to the top, there was nobody that was not at his mercy, including Shen Qingqiu, whose limbs had been ripped off by yours truly. For further humiliation, he had even placed his Shizun into a pot, chains binding him to it. Not that he could escape, anyway. He approached his Shizun with slow, intimidating steps. He then crouched down in front of the pot, his gaze cold.

"How's the view looking all the way down from under my foot, huh?”

"..." His eyes were dead.

Luo Binghe chuckled darkly. 

"Not going to reply, huh? Tch. Your attitude is just as horrible as ever.” 

He got up from his crouching position and kicked the pot over. Water spilled out, soaking Shen Jiu's clothes and hair. As Shen Jiu laid there in the puddle of water, Luo Binghe stepped on his stomach.

"I still can't believe you used to be my Shizun. You're nothing more than a lowly rat, someone that can't be trusted by anyone. Nobody wants you. Not even your family wanted you." Luo Binghe pressed down harder. "Who wanted you?"

Shen Jiu was unable to remain conscious for long and eventually lost consciousness completely.

Luo Binghe removed his foot from his former Shizun's stomach and crouched down again, grabbing his chin. 

"Just what a weakling." 

He observed his Shizun's pale face for a few seconds before he finally let go, the disdain clear in his eyes. 

Shen Jiu had finally woken up, but this time, as a spirit. Completely blindfolded. Except...he wasn't awake. He, himself, was watching everything as a spirit.

Luo Binghe noticed the blank look in Shen Jiu’s eyes. It was as if someone was standing behind those eyes.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? What's the matter?” 

He got up and walked over to Shen Jiu. With an annoyed look, he roughly grabbed the former cultivator's face again. The demon lord's eyes narrowed into slits as he looked at the expression of nothingness on Shen Jiu’s face. 

"Wake up. Look at me." He demanded angrily, his grip on his former Shizun's chin tightening as he tried to get a reaction out of him, but to no avail. He was growing frustrated.

His mood grew darker. "Wake. Up." Luo Binghe's eyes flashed red. He was about to say something else when he realized something. He took a few steps back as he eyed Shen Jiu in realization. He paused for a moment, a smirk slowly making its way onto his lips. 

"So that's the problem, huh?" 

He took a step forward once again, this time with an amused look. 

"You don’t happen to be watching this from somewhere, are you dear Shizun?" He mused. 

"No, you wouldn’t be so lucky.”

Shen Qingqiu watches the scene as Luo Binghe is talking to his now-dead body, preparing to leave in secret. 

Luo Binghe, on the other hand, chuckled to himself. He had guessed correctly. Shen Jiu’s soul wasn't present in the body anymore, which was why it wasn't responding. He stepped forward once again and grabbed Shen Jiu’s body by the hair. He pulled it so that it was facing him, still maintaining the smirk on his face.

Suddenly, his amused look turned to one of contempt again. Luo Binghe's voice became mocking as he spoke. 

"Trying to escape, are you? Think I'd let you?" 

He tilted his head to one side as he tugged on Shen Jiu's hair, getting a closer look.

He was no longer responsive. He was dead. He was watching all of this as a soul. The soul quickly left the water prison. 

Luo Binghe pushed Shen Jiu’s limp body back once again, causing it to land on the floor with a loud thud. Luo Binghe stood there, breathing heavily as the realization slowly dawned on him that Shen Jiu’s soul had escaped.

The soul walked and walked as he finally had been freed. But something felt in his heart. Shen Jiu removed his blindfold as he turned to the ghost realm, where Luo Binghe hadn't captured this realm. 

Chapter Text

Several years had passed, and Luo Binghe was sitting on his throne with a bored look on his face, the usual dark aura surrounding him. He rested his chin on his hand as his gaze swept around the throne room, taking a moment to check if everything was in order. Suddenly, an imp demon appeared before him, bowing low. Luo Binghe cocked an eyebrow as he regarded the imp demon in front of him, his expression still bored. 

"What is it?" he asked coldly.

The imp demon looked up at him from its bow, before straightening itself and speaking. 

"My lord. There is news." 

he stated with a serious voice. A low hum was Luo Binghe’s response, urging the demon to continue.

The imp’s eyes narrowed slightly. It was nervous since delivering news to Luo Binghe was never an easy feat. However, it kept going. 

"We... have discovered a figure in the ghost realm, my lord."

Luo Binghe’s gaze snapped down as his eyes darkened. 

"Oh? A figure in the ghost realm you say?"

he repeated, leaning forward, now somewhat interested. 

"And what is this 'figure' you speak of? Who is it?" he questioned, his voice cold.

The imp took a deep breath before answering. 

"It appears that this figure is... ghost, my lord." It said carefully, awaiting Luo Binghe’s reaction. 

The demon lord’s eyes narrowed in contemplation.

"Ghost?."

he then repeated in a low whisper, before he leaned back once again.

“Did you manage to determine its whereabouts?” Luo Binghe asked, a slight frown on his face.

"His whereabouts were almost non-existent,”

Luo Binghe’s frown deepened. 

“Nonexistent?” he repeated, as if not believing what he just heard, his eyes narrowing. 

“That cannot be. You’re telling me you searched the entire ghost realm and could not find a single trace of this ghost?”

"No, my lord.”

"My lord, we specifically came here to ask for your assistance.”

Luo Binghe’s gaze flickered from one advisor to the other. Investigate the ghost realm, hm? That would require him to go there himself, but that was not something he had originally desired to do. 

However, he couldn’t deny that he was curious about this ghost. So, after a momentary pause, he spoke.

“I will do it," he said in a cold, firm voice.

Luo Binghe was well aware of the difficulty in conquering the ghost realm. It was the land where the souls of the dead resided, and he had tried to claim it in the past, but had thus far failed. 

However, after several years of accumulating power, the demon lord was confident that he could now handle a simple ghost…

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

Luo Binghe’s gaze swept over the view of the ghost realm once he arrived. It was a realm of death, with the wailing and weeping of the dead. However, this did not bother him. Luo Binghe proceeded into the realm, a cold look on his face.

At the corner of his eye, Luo Binghe noticed the figure. He immediately hid among the shadows and watched its every move. The figure appeared to be human, as one of his minions had said. And it was holding a lantern, the flame illuminating the path as it continued on. Luo Binghe was beginning to grow impatient. He couldn't believe he'd wasted all that time following some random ghost. However frustrated he was, he decided to not ruin just yet. He turned and went in a different direction.

Luo Binghe continued to walk through the ghost realm, seeing countless ghosts going about their business. His expression turned even more serious as his frustration grew. 

"Damn it. Is it impossible to find the ghost calamity?" 

he mumbled to himself, his eyes scanning through the crowds of spirits.

"Tsk, are you lost?" 

Luo Binghe heard a voice coming from behind him. He stopped in his tracks and whipped around, only to see a lone ghost. 

"Tch," he muttered under his breath, not expecting a random spirit to speak to him. A smirk appeared on his face as he replied.

"Lost? Why would I be lost?”

The figure happened to have long black hair completely loosened. Its right side was put between the ears as it showed a long earring, wearing black robes. It was wearing a black coat as any normal ghosts do.

"This place has more vengeful ghosts…”

Luo Binghe regarded the figure with a sharp gaze, taking note of its appearance. 

The long, loose black hair and black robes, combined with the long earrings. For some reason, those features sounded familiar to him. Luo Binghe's eyes narrowed slightly as he replied to the figure's comment.

"Vengeful ghosts. I am well aware of that.”

He continued to study the ghost in front of him. While it looked like any normal ghost, something felt off. He couldn't put his finger on what it was. He decided to try to coax some answers out of the ghost.

"And what of it? You seem to know a lot about it, don't you?" 

he asked, keeping his tone casual.

"Ghost Realm, I had been here most of my time. Where are you planning to head?" 

Luo Binghe's eyes narrowed once again at the ghost's question.

It had been in the ghost realm for a long time? And now it was asking where he was planning to head?

 
Luo Binghe weighed his options. Should he be completely honest or should he keep the true motive as a secret.

After a moment, he decided to be partially honest. 

"I am looking for something," he said in a low, cold tone.

"If you're looking for the 4 ghost kings, your luck won't help. They are not in the ghost realm mostly." The ghost rolled his eyes.

Luo Binghe's expression darkened at the mention of the four ghost kings. 

"I know that the ghost kings are rarely in the ghost realm. I'm not here for them anyway." 

he gritted out. He was growing impatient once again, not appreciating the ghostly tone the figure was taking. He narrowed further as the ghost turned to leave. He couldn't afford to let his search end this quickly, especially not when his patience was already wearing thin. 

Without warning, he reached out a grabbed the ghost's arm, not letting it escape.

"..?”

Luo Binghe held the ghost's arm firmly in his grip, keeping it from leaving. His eyes held a dark look as he spoke.

"Not so fast. I still have a few questions for you.”

"Go ahead.”

Luo Binghe scanned the figure up and down again, before proceeding. 

"You've been in the ghost realm for a long time, haven't you? You seem like you know a lot about it." he asked, his voice stern. He still hadn't decided to reveal the reason for his search.

"Every ghost knows their ghost realm longer, you're weird. Are you not a ghost or a soul perhaps?”

His eyes narrowed in irritation at the ghost's comment. He knew very well he was not a ghost nor a soul, but he didn't appreciate the figure's tone. He was growing more and more agitated by the second, and it was showing on his face.

"Tsk. I am no ghost nor a soul. How is that any of your business?" he retorted, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Ah, Demon Realm and Ghost Realm, you might as well be careful. They are not welcoming people from Demon Realm, no matter your position or status, or who you are."  The ghost replied. 

Luo Binghe's expression twisted in a frown at this... He was well aware of the conflict between the demon realm and the ghost realm, and he knew he wasn't exactly welcomed here. 

But he had come here with a damn purpose, and he wasn't about to let a little inconvenience discourage him. He tightened his grip on the ghost figure.

"I can handle whatever they throw at me."

"Now, if you're done with the warnings, I have more questions for you...”

"I don't have much time, you can come with me to the Ghost City, though it will take awhile." 

Luo Binghe's gaze flickered over the figure, contemplating its offer. Ghost City. 

He wasn't familiar with that place, but it didn't seem like he had much choice. He needed answers and the figure did know more about this realm than he did. With a slight frown, he replied.

"I'll accompany you to Ghost City. But don't try to play any tricks with me, understand?”

"Tsk..who even are you.." The ghost walked.

Luo Binghe followed the ghost's lead as it headed towards Ghost City, a scowl still on his face at the figure's casual attitude.

As they walked, he let out a scoff at the ghost's question. 

"Who am I? Why should I give you my name when you haven't even shared yours yet?" he replied, a slight annoyance in his voice.

The ghost thought for a while before it replied. 

"Tsk, I don't even remember my own actual name...”

Luo Binghe raised an eyebrow at the ghost's words.

"You don't remember your own name…? How forgetful can you be...?" he mused with a some hint of mockery in his tone.

The ghost, was obviously annoyed.

"I'm not forgetful, my memories shattered beforehand.”

Luo Binghe's expression remained neutral, but his curiosity couldn't help it. 

"Your memories are shattered? By what exactly?”

"I'm unaware of that”

Luo Binghe let out a fit of frustration. The ghost's lack of information and answers was only adding to his irritation.

"Unaware. Well, you're not being very helpful now, are you?" 

"People called me 'Xiyin' (夕隐), it's my ghost name, but oh well.”

Xiyin... Luo Binghe mulled over the name in his head for a while, committing it to memory.

"Xiyin... a temporary name, huh?”

Luo Binghe went deeper into his thoughts of the name. ‘Xiyin’ could be as "Hidden in the Evening" or "Concealed at Dusk." 

This name gives a sense of mystery or something that is veiled by the coming night, It carries a poetic and somewhat strong meaning…As he continued to follow Xiyin, he found himself deep in his own thoughts of the name.  It definitely did sound fitting for a being like him, wrapped in a veil of mystery and secrecy. Luo Binghe's train of thought was suddenly interrupted as they approached the gates of Ghost City. 

They approached the towering gates of Ghost City.

The structure was impressive by ghost realm standards…it definitely wasn't something that demons typically built. Q He followed Xiyin up the endless stairs leading up to the gates, his gaze flickering around and taking in the strange scenery. He darted around as they entered Ghost City, taking in the surroundings. He had heard of Hua Cheng before, the fearsome Ghost King who ruled this realm. Luo Binghe couldn't help but let out a scoff. 

"So this place was built by one of the four Ghost Kings...."

"He rules the land”

"Yeah, yeah. It's obvious he rules the land. But where is he then?”

"He is usually not in the ghost realm. His whereabouts were hidden.”

"Typical. The one person who can probably answer my questions isn't even in the damn realm.”

“He wouldn't even want you.”

Luo Binghe went silent. 

Luo Binghe's gaze returned to the ghost, studying its appearance. 

Despite the black robes and the somewhat ghostly aura, the ghost still had a strange presence about it. One that caught his attention for some reason he couldn’t quite place. He gave the ghost a brief once-over, taking in its features. He lingered on the ghost's earring for a moment. Long earrings like that were not something he typically saw, especially on a ghost. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in slight surprise.

"Hm... long earrings, eh? That's an interesting accessory choice for a ghost.”

"Not really, some ghosts do wear it.”

Luo Binghe let out a small scoff at the ghost's comment. 

"I see... some ghosts wear them, huh? I suppose ghosts can have their own fashion choices too.”

He considered the ghost realm's style and attire. Simple, elegant, and unassuming. A stark contrast to the over-the-top, flashy style of the Demon Realm. Tsk... so predictable.

"So the ghost realm prefers simplicity, elegance, and subtlety. Whereas the Demon Realm is all about flashiness and extravagance…”

He observed Xiyin, studying his simple yet elegant appearance. 

There was something distinctly different about Xiyin compared to other ghosts.  Despite his ghostly attire, he didn't quite seem like the average ghost. Luo Binghe couldn't help but wonder what his backstory was. He eyed Xiyin for a moment longer before speaking.

"You have an interesting appearance, Xiyin. Why do you dress like that, hm? It's quite different from most ghosts.”

"Ah, I'm a wandering ghost. That's why.”

"A wandering ghost, you say? Fascinating. So that's why your attire is somewhat different from other ghosts. Your lifestyle as a wanderer must have shaped your choices in clothing.” 

His gaze fell upon Xiyin's face again, it was similar somehow. He leaned slightly forward, his eyes studying Xiyin's features intently, trying to recall where he might have seen that face before.

"What are you doing?”

"Ah, nothing, nothing. Just... admiring your unique appearance, that's all.”

The ghost's face reminded him of someone…

Luo Binghe followed Xiyin as they left Ghost City, his thoughts still have questions about the familiar yet mysterious ghost.  He couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity whenever he looked at Xiyin's face. As they walked out of the city, Luo Binghe couldn't help but ask, “So, where are we going now?”

The ghost stayed silent for a moment, replying,

"You should go back to your realm, it will be by morning then.”

"Alright, I suppose I'll be heading back to the demon realm. But before that, there's something I need to ask you…”

"Hm?”

Luo Binghe paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts before speaking. 

"Your face... It's so familiar to me. There's something about it that I can't seem to place. Have we met before?”

The ghost replied in a casual tone.

"Hm, I supposed not, at least for me. My memories are long gone, so there is no familiarity for me.”

How annoying. If even the ghost himself didn't recognize any familiarity, then the chances of figuring out who he resembled were slim.

"Tch...so much for that…”

Luo Binghe watched as Xiyin wandered off, feeling a pang of disappointment and frustration. 

He had hoped to get some answers.

Luo Binghe clenched his fists, his irritation growing.

He turned and made his own way back to the demon realm, his mind still preoccupied with Xiyin's familiar face that surrounded him.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2 

He eventually returned to the demon realm, his mind was filled with thoughts of Xiyin and his frustratingly familiar face.

His frustration with the wandering ghost was further fueled by his recollection of the events. 

Why did he have to be so cryptic and unhelpful?!!?

“Damn it all!” 

Luo Binghe muttered under his breath as he entered his palace. 

“Xiyin... Who the hell are you…”

"My lord…is there any news?”

Luo Binghe looked up as he heard the respectful voice of one of his minions. 

"No news worth mentioning, just some insignificant happenings…Nothing noteworthy."

He let out a huff of frustration, realising that he couldn't shake off the thought of Xiyin. 

Even if the ghost seemed like an irritating, unhelpful being, there was something about him that just wouldn't leave Luo Binghe's mind.

He turned to his minion.

"I'm heading to my chambers," Luo Binghe said abruptly.

“Don't disturb me unless it's something important.”

With that, Luo Binghe turned and walked towards his chambers, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of the annoying yet intriguing ghost. 

He couldn't help but wonder if he would ever encounter Xiyin again. 

The memory of his familiar face and the mystery surrounding him continued to linger in Luo Binghe's mind, refusing to fade away…

Luo Binghe's thoughts were interrupted by the memory of Xiyin's appearance. 

No matter how much he tried to forget, the image of the ghost's face was always in his mind. 

He couldn't help but acknowledge that, regardless of his irritability, there was undeniable beauty in Xiyin's features… especially observing the ghost's face in detail in such a short time

He leaned back in his chair.

"Why does someone so annoying have to be so damn pretty…”

He was used to dealing with beautiful humans and demons, but there was something about this ghost that made him even more frustrated. 

Luo Binghe felt like he was being pulled into a riddle he couldn't solve.

"Enough of this," he said irritably to himself. 

Time passed, and several months had gone by since their last encounter.

He had completely put Xiyin out of his mind now, or so he thought... Until he found himself back in the Ghost City once again.

As Luo Binghe walked through the bustling streets of the Ghost City, his mind was occupied by unrelated matters. 

He was deep in thought, sorting through his internal grievances, when a familiar figure caught his eye in the crowd ahead of him.

There were brothel women's talking to him. They weren't in sexual moments but rather a friendship. One of them gave a gift before they bid farewell.

"It's been several months already, how was ghost city?”

Luo Binghe crossed his arms and tried to maintain a calm demeanour, even though he was secretly thrilled that Xiyin had initiated the conversation.

"Hm…Ghost City was as lively and chaotic as ever. Demons and ghosts, all seeking entertainment and excitement."

He paused and looked at Xiyin, his eyes studying the familiar face in front of him.

"And how about you? Still spending your time here, huh?”

"Picking up some stuff, that's all.”

He watched as Xiyin continued walking, his curiosity piqued. Luo Binghe tried to act casual as he followed the ghost, pretending that he was just admiring the scenery.

"So, what kind of 'stuff' are you picking up?" He asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"I supposed they were giving me gifts, I haven't visited them for a long time, so I guess it's reasonable.”

He continued walking alongside Xiyin, keeping a subtle distance. 

He was curious about Xiyin's relationship with the ghosts in the city, but he didn't want to ask directly. Instead, he decided to probe further.

"So, you've made some good connections here in the Ghost City. I saw you chatting and laughing with the brothel women earlier."

"I helped them for awhile, so it's natural.”

“Help them? In what way?”

"Your always curious aren't you? Unfortunately, I'm lacking words.”

"Of course, I'm curious. You always manage to keep everything cryptic and secretive. It's only natural that I want to know more."

He paused for a moment, then continued, his tone slightly less friendly.

"You say you helped them, but you won't tell me how. Why is that?”

"Some brothel girls were in trouble, I helped them for a while in the meantime while wandering.”

Luo Binghe listened intently to Xiyin's explanation. 

So, he had helped some of the brothel girls when they were in trouble. 

That explained why they had been so affectionate with him earlier.

"I see. You helped them out of the goodness of your heart, huh?"

He spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. 

It still seemed odd to him that a seemingly aimless ghost like Xiyin would bother himself with the affairs of brothel girls.

He continued walking alongside Xiyin, still studying the ghost's face. 

The more he learned about Xiyin, the more puzzled he became. There was something about this ghost that just didn't seem to make sense

“So, you helped them, and now they treat you like a friend. It seems you have a knack for making connections, even as a wandering ghost.”

“I do.”

"You're not going to expand on that, are you?"

He tried to keep his irritation in check. 

It was clear that Xiyin enjoyed being mysterious and not revealing much about himself.

Frustrated, Luo Binghe changed the subject, trying to get some more information about the ghost.

"Alright, forget that for now. I have another question, if you'll at least give me a proper answer for it.”

"Go ahead.”

Luo Binghe paused for a moment, deciding how to phrase his question. 

"Why do I feel like I've seen your face before? You look so familiar to me, but I can't quite pinpoint why. It's been bothering me for a while.”

"I'm not sure, I have no familiarity.”

Luo Binghe huffed in irritation at Xiyin's response, or rather, lack thereof. 

The ghost was as unhelpful as ever. It was maddening.

"Ugh, you're impossible. Can't you give me a straight answer for once? I just want to know why I feel like I've seen your face before!”

"Isn't that supposed to you? I can't answer a question if I don't know myself one too.”

Luo Binghe let out an annoyed sigh. 

"Fair enough, I guess. But it's so irritating that I can't figure it out."

His face, it was...it clicked on him. His eyes widened slightly as the realisation hit him. 

The familiar face he had been trying to place suddenly reminded him of something, or more accurately, someone.

He took a moment to collect his thoughts. Luo Binghe couldn't believe he hadn't noticed the resemblance before. 

Xiyin's face resembled his former master, Shen Qingqiu. But he wasn't going to share that realisation with the ghost…

As he listened to Xiyin speak, he realised something else. 

It wasn't just the ghost's face that resembled Shen Qingqiu, but also his voice. 

Luo Binghe's mind raced with thoughts and suspicions. 

He tried to remain composed on the outside, but internally, he was starting to put the pieces together.

"Alright, I'm heading back. Have you eaten dinner?”

Luo Binghe snapped out of his thoughts at Xiyin's question. 

Damn it… he had been lost in his own musings again and hadn't been paying attention.

"Uh, no, I haven't had dinner yet. Why do you ask?”

"I suppose you can come to my house for dinner,”

Luo Binghe was taken aback by Xiyin's invitation. He hadn't expected the ghost to suddenly invite him to his house for dinner. 

However…his curiosity and desire to get answers overcame his initial surprise.

"Uhm, alright," he said, trying to sound casual. 

"Sure, I'll come to your house for dinner.”

Luo Binghe followed Xiyin to his house near Ghost City. 

As he walked, he couldn't help but take in the size and style of the place. It was larger and more elaborate than he had expected…

He continued to walk beside Xiyin, silently observing his surroundings and wondering what the inside of the ghost's house would be like….

He watched as Xiyin began to cook something. 

He stood nearby, patiently waiting for the food to be prepared. Luo Binghe still had so many questions, but for now, he decided to let Xiyin concentrate on cooking.

"I suppose you eat normally, I barely eat,”

"Yeah, I eat normally," he replied. 

“I rarely cook, so I hope you wouldn't mind.”

Luo Binghe sat down at the table, staring down at the food placed before him. 

He picked up his chopsticks, a bit hesitant to taste the food in front of him. Luo Binghe took a small bite.

"It's normal food, you barely can even handle ghost food, it's just fucking eyeballs if you see in the ghost city.”

Luo Binghe let out a small chuckle at Xiyin's words. 

He had to admit, the ghost had a point. Eyeballs were indeed a common ingredient in ghost food, and he had seen plenty of them during his visit to Ghost City.

"Yeah, I've noticed that ghost food here seems to involve a lot of... questionable ingredients," he said, trying hard to keep a straight face.

Luo Binghe was pleasantly surprised by the taste of the food. 

Despite Xiyin's claim that he rarely cooked, the food was actually quite delicious. It wasn't something he would expect from ghost cuisines.

Luo Binghe couldn't help but took a glance. 

The ghost sitting across from him was different from his former master in many ways. 

Xiyin was more calm and sometimes a little bit more gentle, while Shen Qingqiu was always cold and aloof.

His thoughts continued to deepen as they continued eating in silence. 

As they finished their meal, Luo Binghe decided to ask another question.

"Xiyin, can I ask you something?”

"Go ahead," he nodded

"I’ve been wondering something about you," he began. 

"You look familiar to me, in a way. Do I know you from somewhere before?”

"Up to you, I never met you before in the past.”

"You don't remember anything about your past before becoming a ghost, right?”

"No, I already said my memories shattered.”

He let out a small sigh and leaned back in his chair.

"I see. So, you have no recollection whatsoeverquiteour life before you became a ghost?”

"Unfortunately, no.”

"Alright, I understand," he said, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"So, you truly don't remember anything about your past self at all.”

"No.”

Luo Binghe nodded again, although his disappointment grew each time Xiyin confirmed that he didn't remember anything about his past.

"Are you absolutely certain? There's nothing you can remember at all? Not even a sliver of a memory?”

"No, not at all." 

"Right..." he muttered.

Luo Binghe couldn't help but notice the differences between Xiyin and his former master, Shen Qingqiu. 

The ghost's attire, hairstyle, and earring were all completely different from anything his former master had ever worn. 

But there was still something about it that was eerily similar.

He studied Xiyin's face once again, his eyes focused on the ghost's features. 

Luo Binghe found himself unable to shake the feeling that he had seen this face before.

"There is a guest bedroom upstairs, you can return tomorrow. I doubt you have energy to continue to return Demon realm.”

Luo Binghe snapped out of his thoughts and nodded at Xiyin's suggestion.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," he said, getting up from the table. "It is getting late, and it'd be a pain to travel all the way back to the Demon realm."

Luo Binghe followed Xiyin upstairs to the guest bedroom, which was a simple but cosy room with a comfortable-looking bed and a few pieces of furniture.

He entered the room, glanced around, appreciating the relatively peaceful atmosphere.

"Thanks for letting me stay here for the night, Xiyin," Luo Binghe said.

"No problem," he nodded and left for his own bedroom.

Luo Binghe watched as Xiyin left the room, shutting the door behind him. 

He was alone in the guest room now, the silence engulfing the space.

He let out a sigh and walked over to the bed, sitting down on its edge. 

His mind was still filled with thoughts of Xiyin and the resemblance to his former master…

The next early morning, Luo Binghe groggily opened his eyes, blinking away the remnants of his restless night. 

Luo Binghe sat up in bed, running a hand through his messy hair. 

He sighed, wondering what he was supposed to do now. He didn't exactly have much to do in this strange house in the ghost city.

He got out of bed and made his way out of the guest room, intending to find Xiyin and figure out what they were supposed to do for the day.

Luo Binghe was about to enter Xiyin's room, when he noticed Xiyin sitting outside through a nearby window. He paused for a moment, surprised to see the ghost outside at this early hour.

Luo Binghe saw Xiyin, silently watching Xiyin from a distance. 

He noticed the ghost was casually flicking out his spiritual power in a seemingly aimless manner. 

Luo Binghe couldn't help but wonder what the ghost was doing. It was an odd sight.

"I see you're awake”

Luo Binghe was a bit startled when Xiyin suddenly spoke up, but he quickly composed himself.

"Yeah, I've been up for a while," he admitted, stepping closer. 

"Couldn't sleep well last night.”

"I see...I don't have plans much, do you?”

Luo Binghe shrugged, leaning against a nearby tree.

"Not really. I don't have anything planned for today. I'm just tagging along," he said, looking around the scenery.

"So, what were you doing out here so early? Practising your spiritual power?”

"No, just lighting up some lights, it was quite dark.”

Luo Binghe nodded, watching as Xiyin continued to emit small bursts of spiritual power, illuminating the surrounding area. 

"I see," he said, 

"so you're just providing some light here. That's useful.”

"I never went to Demon Realm before, perhaps you can guide me there?”

Luo Binghe was a bit surprised by Xiyin's request. 

He hadn't expected the ghost to want to visit the Demon Realm.

"Sure, I can guide you to the Demon Realm. It's not difficult. But why do you want to go there, if you don't mind me asking?”

"I have wandered many places, Demon Realm was not one of the places, I never went there.”

Luo Binghe nodded, understanding Xiyin's reasoning. 

The Demon Realm was a vast and fascinating place, even for someone as experienced as Luo Binghe…

"Alright then, let's go to the Demon Realm," he said, pushing himself away from the tree he was leaning on.

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his own spiritual power. 

As he did so, a dark portal began to take shape in front of them.

"We can go through this portal now. It will lead us directly to the Demon Realm.”

"Mn.”

Luo Binghe emerged from the portal, taking a moment to orient himself in the new environment. 

The landscape was very different, an endless expanse of dark, rocky terrain stretching out in every direction. 

As Luo Binghe and Xiyin continued the walk through the city, Luo Binghe grew increasingly aware of the whispers that followed them.

It seemed that the sight of a ghost in the Demon Realm was a rarity, and it had caught the attention of the demons they passed.

He could hear snippets of conversations, the demons speculating about Xiyin's presence and trying to guess why a ghost was casually walking through their domain.

Luo Binghe could hear the whispers and murmurs all around them, filled with curiosity and fascination. 

Some demons whispered about Xiyin's appearance, others speculating about why a ghost would come to the Demon Realm.

He found it somewhat amusing, but also slightly irritating. 

He was used to drawing attention, but having it directed towards Xiyin felt different. 

Maybe it was because the ghost seemed so out of place in this environment.

He silently watched as more and more demons gathered, drawn in by the sight of the mysterious ghost.

"Do they gossip alot...?”

Luo Binghe chuckled softly at Xiyin's question. 

"Yeah, they do. Demons, they like gossip and intrigue. Seeing a ghost strutting around here is definitely gossip-worthy," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"It's just a ghost…why are they surprised seeing me?”

"Just a ghost, huh? You make it sound so simple," 

"But trust me, for most demons here, seeing a ghost in the Demon Realm is not a common occurrence. That's why they're all gossiping like excited little birds.” Luo Binghe explained.

"Well, seeing a heavenly official in the Demon Realm is quite shocking too. But it's a different kind of shock. Heavenly officials are powerful cultivators, and their presence usually means trouble or a potential conflict." He added.

"But seeing a ghost here is just unusual. It's like seeing a rabbit hopping around in a lion's den. Out of place.”

"So ghosts are rarely seen than heavenly officials…”

Luo Binghe nodded, confirming Xiyin's statement.

"Yeah, pretty much. Heavenly officials are powerful and important figures in the cultivation world, so seeing one is often a significant event. Ghosts, on the other hand, are usually confined to the human realm and the spirit world. So seeing one here in the Demon Realm is definitely rarer.”

"What if it's both?”

“...”

He glanced over his shoulder, noticing that the group of demons surrounding them was growing larger. The whispers and murmurs got a decibel louder….

"Looks like we're drawing quite the crowd," he commented to Xiyin, gesturing towards the gathering demons. 

"Maybe we should make our way somewhere quieter, before their curiosity reaches its peak.”

The ghost replied, “everywhere is crowded already.”

Luo Binghe nodded, recognizing the truth in Xiyin's statement. 

The Demon Realm was a busy place, especially the city they were in. 

Everywhere they went, they were bound to draw attention.

"Hm, you're right. But perhaps we can find a slightly more secluded spot where we can have a bit more peace and quiet," he suggested, glancing around for potential options.

Luo Binghe couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance as the demons continued to gossip and speculate about Xiyin. 

Everywhere they went, the whispers and murmurs followed them. 

It was starting to get on his nerves. 

"They are all about looks don't they?”

"Yeah, looks seem to be the primary focus of their attention right now," he replied, his tone dry. 

"Demons are often vain and preoccupied with appearances. So a ghost with an unusual appearance like yours is bound to catch their eye.”

"Tsk, it's quite normal for a ghost realm.”

Except, Xiyin is more a little exceptional. His appearance was indeed quite..

From his perspective, Xiyin's appearance was indeed quite feminine for a male ghost. 

It was a striking and unique combination, one that he had never encountered before. 

He could see why the demons were so fixated on the ghost's looks.

He sighed, Saying "You certainly stand out out of all these demons," he noted, a hint of admiration in his voice. 

"Your appearance is... striking, for a ghost.”

"...how?”

Luo Binghe shrugged slightly, studying Xiyin's features. 

It was rather hard to put into words, but the ghost possessed a certain gracefulness and elegance that many demons lacked. 

"For one, your skin is paler than I'd expect for a ghost. It almost seems translucent, like fine porcelain," Luo Binghe said, his gaze lingering on Xiyin's face. 

"And you've got delicate features. Your face has a sort of...serenity about it, almost like…nevermind. It's just... different, you know?”

As he looked at Xiyin, there was a strange sense of familiarity. 

The ghost's features bore a striking resemblance to the former Qing Jing Peak Lord.

"Uhm, hello?”

"Ah, sorry,"

"I was just... lost in thought for a moment. You really do remind me of someone I knew a long time ago.”

"You repeated that many times in the ghost realm.” The tone became serious.

As Luo Binghe continued to think, an idea popped into his mind. 

What if the ghost in front of him was actually Shen Qingqiu? The resemblance was too uncanny to be just a coincidence. But how was that possible? Shen Qingqiu had died... hadn't he?

He couldn't help but wonder if somehow, someway, that the ghost could be his old shizun.

"Where are we going?” The ghost asked.

"Right," he said with a nod. "I guess I got a little lost in thought."

"There. I have a place in mind that we can go to.” Luo Binghe added.

Luo Binghe began to push his way through the crowd, leading Xiyin towards the towering structure he had pointed out. A

s they walked, they could still hear the whispers and murmurs of the demons around them, speculating about the ghost with such an unusual appearance.

"Damn it...is my appearance that rare?”

Luo Binghe glanced back at Xiyin as he heard the ghost's exasperated comment. He shrugged slightly.

"Among demons, yeah, I'd say it is," he replied. 

"You stand out a lot, and not many are accustomed to seeing a ghost, let alone one with your kind of looks.”

Luo Binghe stole glances at Xiyin as they continued to walk, his mind still preoccupied with the uncanny resemblance to Shen Qingqiu. 

The more he saw Xiyin, the more he couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity. 

The ghost's pale skin, delicate features, and slender build were all so similar.

He knew there was a possibility he was just deluding himself, but the resemblance was just too striking to ignore.

Eventually, they reached the towering structure Luo Binghe had pointed out earlier. It was a grand building.

As Luo Binghe and Xiyin entered the grand building, they were met with a few startled stares from the palace members who were inside. 

The palace members whispered amongst themselves, gossiping about the ghost that the Demon Lord had brought into their midst.

"I feel like I need to bring veil the next time I ever enter here.”

Luo Binghe turned to Xiyin and chuckled at the ghost's comment.

"You do stand out a lot," he agreed. 

"But I doubt a veil would help. People would just whisper about why there was a veiled ghost walking around.”

"...”

Luo Binghe chuckled again.

"Don't worry," he reassured.

"They'll get used to seeing you around eventually. They're just not used to someone as... striking as you.”

As they continued to walk through the halls, Luo Binghe noticed some of the palace members staring at Xiyin with wide-eyed gazes, whispering amongst themselves. 

It seemed like their path was making quite the impression on the demons around them…?

"I regretted to even enter.”

"They're just not used to seeing something so out of the ordinary," he reassured again…

"They'll stop staring eventually. Just... give it some time.”

Luo Binghe watched as the palace members continued to stare, some even whispering and giggling amongst themselves as Xiyin walked by. 

He sighed inwardly, realizing that his attempt to reassure the ghost didn't do much.

"I guess they're a little more persistent than I thought.” he admitted.

"Tsk.”

"Just... try to ignore them," he said, his voice tinged with helplessness.

They went to a room, talked for a while. Honestly, Xiyin doesn't want to describe it as plain boring.

As Xiyin started to get up to leave, Luo Binghe couldn't help but chuckle. 

Normally, beings would be clinging to his presence, but this ghost was about to walk right out the door.

"Off so soon?" he taunted, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You haven't even had the chance to bask in my magnificence for a full hour. Are you already tired of my company?”

“It's obvious.”

Xiyin turned and left.