So many days have passed, the Ghost King Mausoleum should not be this quiet.
Xu Qing wasn't worried about old neighbors moving away, the Ancient Yin River Dao is different from the mortal world, with well-defined boundaries inside, such as the Eight Banner Marshals, Yin-Erosion King, and Witch Qi, all have clearly demarcated territories.
These ghostly beings are buried in the Ghost King Mausoleum, and even if they genuinely wanted to move coffins and relocate their graves, they would have nowhere to go.
"Could it be that during my absence, a change occurred in the Yin River?"
Xu Qing maneuvered the papermen and paper sedan back to his side, then took out paper crafts again to create a new sedan.
The original eight-member straw spirit team now expanded to sixteen.
The sedan with the Golden Simurgh ended up behind Xu Qing.
Honestly, Xu Qing brought the Golden Simurgh to the Yin River just to add another card to his strategy, although he wasn't sure if this card would come into play.
In the Ghost King's mausoleum, Xu Qing saw the Yin-Erosion King, unified in male and female forms, directing countless Gu insects into a whirlwind, countering Weak Water's borrowed transformation into a wooden ladle.
Those Gu insects followed orders exactly, Xu Qing couldn't guarantee his response if faced with them, but with the Golden Simurgh's involvement, the situation was entirely different.
Whatever its bloodline, the Golden Simurgh inherently possesses a strong restraint against insects; back then, the Gu Master who manipulated Gu insects to harm Master Feng was powerless against its beak.
Even the insect king cultivated by Xu Qing through the Thousand Insect Gu Jar was helpless before the Golden Simurgh.
Even natural enemies shouldn't restrain each other so intensely.
Xu Qing always felt that this lazy, gluttonous chicken hadn't yet unlocked its full potential.
And the Yin-Erosion King, in constant conflict with the Eight Banner Marshals, can serve as a perfect test of the Golden Simurgh's capabilities.
"The Ghost King More Miseries has become like a startled bird, and there aren't many remains left in the Ghost King Mausoleum to bury."
"All that's left are the skull armies under the Eight Banner Marshals and the Yin-Erosion King."
Xu Qing pondered, whether they are the Eight Banner Marshals or the Yin-Erosion King, they are tightly bound to the fortunes of the Dayong and Nan Cuo dynasties; no dynasty lasts a thousand years, the fall of Dayong and Nan Cuo is inevitable, just a matter of time, and the end of these forces in the Yin River is destined to be demise.
Instead of watching the mundane world suffer endless wars, battling for decades, Xu Qing thought it'd be better to add fuel to the fire in the Yin River, speeding up the era's pace, letting the war end sooner.
This would not only benefit the spread of the Life Preservation Manual but also allow him to help the soldiers under the Eight Banner Marshals, letting them escape suffering and move on to another world sooner during this decade.
With this thought, Xu Qing maneuvered the papermen and paper sedan, carrying offerings of drinks and various burnt goods, towards the residence of the Eight Banner Marshals.
The straw spirit papermen moved lightly, their steps like wind-scattered willow catkins, or stepping on lotus leaves; amidst the chilling wind, they had arrived outside the Shadow Soldiers residence with passengers in tow.
Lifting the sedan curtain, Xu Qing surveyed the scene, only to find the once armor-clad and weapon-bearing skeleton corps had turned into worn-out armor, draped in ragged robes, holding blunt, broken swords in a defeated state.
Xu Qing's gaze subtly shifted.
He understood what this sight signified.
These underworld soldiers are closely linked to Dayong's fortunes; when Dayong prospers, Yin soldiers prosper, and when Dayong weakens, Yin soldiers weaken...
Thus, the current state of the Dayong's fortunes is manifested in the army led by the Eight Banner Marshals.
Xu Qing looked at the decaying weapons and ragged armor of the soldiers, clearly reaching the brink of collapse.
One can imagine that Dayong is undoubtedly undergoing the same changes.
Yet, it seemed the Eight Banner Marshals and other generals remained oblivious, ready to confront enemies with prepared troops.
Xu Qing stepped down from the sedan, approaching the military formation.
The patrolling skeleton cavalry gave way upon seeing Xu Qing.
They recognized Xu Qing, who always brought fine wine and meat, offering them whenever visiting.
Moreover, he held honors from Dayong and possessed an Imperial Court's official seal; how could they not respect a person like him?
But the Yin soldiers didn't know his title was genuine, and he was merely a Scholar.
As for the seal...
He buried quite a few officials, and Eunuch Liao's purple seal is still in Xu Qing's possession.
After all, in the world of interactions, identities are self-assigned; since they called him Lord, he was indeed Lord.
Xu Qing approached a grave similar to the central military tent before entering, a strikingly tall skeleton emerged to greet him.
The Eight Banner Marshal's ghost flames flickered in joy, saying, "Lord Xu, what brings you here today?"
Xu Qing was about to respond when the Marshal's expression changed, sternly warning, "Lord Xu, your timing is poor! Rebel and rogue elements have colluded with the Yin-Erosion King, and the Ghost King at the Mausoleum is causing chaos, turning the Yin River into a dangerous battleground; you must return to the mortal world quickly, lest your life be at risk!"
Xu Qing, instead of being alarmed, smiled indifferently, "Since I've come, I'll stay. Let's not speak of these matters today. Are you aware of what day it is in the mortal world?"
The Marshal's ghost flames showed confusion, indicating ignorance.
Xu Qing replied with a smile, "It is the beginning of 元朔 in the mortal world, a time of renewal. These few days mark the New Year celebrations; you've gained another year in the Yin River!"
The Marshal was equally delighted, but not because of the festive season, rejoicing for a different reason:
"Excellent! The Dayong kingdom continues another year, truly worthy of celebration!"
"..."
Xu Qing was momentarily speechless, but he eventually accepted, "Regardless, the festival deserves celebration. I've brought plenty of good wine, some chicken, duck, fish, and even new, burnt armor as tribute, as new clothing, to offer to all the soldiers."
The Eight Banner Marshal was speechless with gratitude; over hundreds of years, only a few from the Dayong Court came to see their troops.
In the past century, only Xu Qing and Zuo Zixiong visited the Yin River.
But Zuo Zixiong came for official duties; only Xu Qing genuinely cared for these dead soldiers.
The Eight Banner Marshal shared wine and joy with Xu Qing, unaware that this young man equally appreciated all corpses.
Meanwhile, Xu Qing's gaze wandered across the camp, asking knowingly, "Where is General Zuo? Could he have forgotten the time, or perhaps left the Yin River for the mortal world to celebrate the New Year?"
The Eight Banner Marshal shook his head, "General Zuo went to pursue rebels from the Celestial Heart Sect, which seems to harbor a grudge against him. Though I wanted to assist, General Zuo declined, citing our troops must face the Yin-Erosion King and withstand the Ghost King's intrusion."
"General Zuo mentioned that the Celestial Heart Sect's rogues are not to be feared, so he should be fine."
Xu Qing frowned slightly; he knew that those visiting the Yin River this time weren't ordinary followers, but the 'Twin Absolutes' and the Celestial Heart Sect's Holy Master Han Ren Shan, and the Cangyi Group leader Ji Lingzhou joining in.
Among them, Han Ren Shan and Ji Lingzhou were both Martial Arts Grandmasters; whether Zuo Zixiong could defeat them was uncertain, let alone the Celestial Heart Sect's Twin Absolutes, he might not easily best them.
Xu Qing pondered this, while the Eight Banner Marshal shifted the topic, suddenly asking, "Who accompanies Lord Xu here?"
The Marshal's gaze fell on the paper sedan holding the Golden Simurgh.
Xu Qing nonchalantly concocted a story:
"It's a household servant, accompanying me and attending to my needs, but it's afraid of the Yin River's scene and won't leave the sedan, so the Marshal needn't mind it."
Inside the paper sedan, the Golden Simurgh tilted its head, peering through the paper blinds at the outside world.
Seeing those skull ghost soldiers, the Golden Chicken fell into deep thought.
These skeletons, it had seen them before.
Xu Qing pondered his matters while the Eight Banner Marshal queried, "Who accompanies Lord Xu here?"
The Marshal's gaze again fell on the paper sedan holding the Golden Simurgh.
Xu Qing concocted a story:
"It's a household servant, accompanying me and attending to my needs, but afraid of the Yin River's sight, it won't leave the sedan, so the Marshal needn't mind it."
Inside the paper sedan, the Golden Simurgh tilted its head, peering through the paper blinds at the outside world.
Seeing those skeletal ghost soldiers, the Golden Chicken fell into deep thought.
These skeletons, it had seen them before.