Chapter Fifty-Three: Seven Days After Resurrection

I waved my hand, of course refusing her offer. Even though she was a spirit, she was still a girl, and to make matters worse, her clothes were in disarray. She was pure and innocent, untouched by the world. What if I couldn’t restrain myself? So I refused her outright.

“Brother, since you don’t want me to give you a shoulder massage, let me cook some noodles for you. After you’ve eaten, you can get some rest,” Shangguan Wan’er said, sitting beside me, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she smiled at me.

After a long night’s work, with her suggestion, I suddenly realized I was indeed hungry.

Before long, Shangguan Wan’er came in with a steaming bowl of egg noodles. Just as I lowered my head to eat, she spoke: “Brother, all this running around—are you doing it for the sake of reviving Sister Wang Ying’s soul?”

I nodded, telling her that everything I was doing right now was for Wang Ying, for the resurrection of her soul.

“Brother, I remember when I was alive, there was a renowned sage in Langya who lived on Mount Fulai. He cultivated a kind of elixir called Blood Linglong. It’s said to be as miraculous as the legendary ginseng fruit, able to prolong life and repair souls,” Shangguan Wan’er cradled her chin with both hands and spoke as if reminiscing to herself.

A jolt of excitement ran through me, a flash of light before my eyes. If I couldn’t find Blood Ganoderma, perhaps this Blood Linglong would do! I hurriedly asked, “Sister, can you tell me more about this Blood Linglong?”

“I remember Ziyi once told me that Blood Linglong is made from the blood of a blood swallow, the body of a Linglong, and the fruit of the human-shaped tree—three rare treasures refined by a true master. I’ve seen it before. It’s crimson, almost black, with an exotic fragrance—truly a wonder. Ziyi told me that after King Shaohao of the Ju Kingdom died, he was buried at the foot of Mount Fulai. In his tomb, there are three Blood Linglongs in a jade coffin. If Shaohao’s tomb hasn’t been disturbed, those three Blood Linglongs should still be there.” Shangguan Wan’er tapped her forehead thoughtfully as she spoke.

Hearing this, my spirits soared and my heart grew lighter. Searching for a tomb at the foot of Mount Fulai was far easier than looking for Blood Ganoderma across the whole of China.

“Sister, does the Blood Linglong really have that kind of power?” I was still a bit skeptical about her words—after all, two thousand years had passed.

“It truly does. Ziyi’s uncle died during the chaos of war. He was forced to swallow a Blood Linglong and astonishingly came back to life, living for another seven days. Though he only survived those seven days, his soul remained intact. Also, the Blood Amber was refined by that same master on Mount Fulai—it can preserve a soul, as you’ve seen for yourself.”

“Then why didn’t Ziyi use Blood Ganoderma to save you after you died?” I couldn’t help but question. If the Blood Linglong was so powerful, why hadn’t he saved her?

A bitter look crossed Shangguan Wan’er’s face. “Brother, haven’t I told you before? When I was near death, Ziyi went out searching for a spirit medicine—the one I mentioned was the Blood Ganoderma. But before he could return, I was already gone. Even in death, I didn’t get to see him again. Since I didn’t come back to life, maybe he never made it back either.

If a person dies and their body doesn’t decay, they can be revived, but only for seven days. Yet the restoration of the soul is permanent. If you find Blood Ganoderma, perhaps you could revive Wang Ying for seven days.”

Shangguan Wan’er’s words filled me with a surge of excitement. To revive someone for seven days, to have them just like a living person—that was unimaginable. It was far more powerful than Blood Ganoderma, which could only gather a scattered soul and not actually resurrect the dead. I remembered Wang Ying once telling me that she wanted to take me to visit her family, to see her grandparents together. If she could really come back for seven days, how wonderful would that be!

So, I decided to temporarily give up the search for Blood Ganoderma and instead seek out Blood Linglong.

“Brother, since I’ve given you such valuable information, how do you plan to thank me?” Shangguan Wan’er caught my mood, and the girl grinned at me mischievously.

“How should I thank you? Oh, I’ve got it! Aren’t there three Blood Linglongs? If I find them, I’ll give one to you and one to Wang Ying—then you, too, could come back to life for seven days.” This was truly what I felt. Up until now, I really felt that Shangguan Wan’er was like the sister I never had.

Unexpectedly, Shangguan Wan’er shook her head vigorously. “Brother, I don’t want it. If you get three Blood Linglongs, let Sister Wang have them so she could live a few days longer. If Ziyi doesn’t come for me, what use is revival to me? I know very well that after all these two thousand years, Ziyi could never return for me. After so long, the dragon-shaped birthmark on his wrist must have faded long ago. Who knows what he’s been reborn as. So, I don’t want it.”

There was a hint of sorrow in Shangguan Wan’er’s expression, but also resignation.

Everyone has their own heartache. I miss my mother, my second uncle, and Wang Ying. Shangguan Wan’er, on the other hand, yearns for Ziyi. My longing is for people still within reach—if I fail, I can still find comfort in memories. But for her, nothing remains but fading recollections.

So I decided to treat Shangguan Wan’er well—if she’s willing, I’ll regard her as my own little sister. But having never had a sister, I wasn’t sure how to be a good brother.

We chatted for a while until the eastern sky began to pale. Only then did I lie down on the sofa and doze off. Shangguan Wan’er, not the least bit tired, amused herself quietly.

The next day, I woke up very late. When I got up, Wei Qi had arrived and was sitting in my living room, sipping tea brewed by Shangguan Wan’er. Suddenly I worried that she might not be dressed properly, but when I saw her, I was relieved—she was wrapped up so thoroughly she looked like an Arab woman.

Before I even had a chance to wash up, Wei Qi dragged me off to find Li Danian. The events of last night were still unsettling; Zhao Lao Sao’s army of ghost soldiers was now a serious threat to the villagers nearby.

When we met Li Danian, he looked deeply troubled. He’d heard that many shadow-walkers in Anzhuang Town had been killed, and that rumors were spreading—someone was targeting everyone connected with the spirit world: shadow-walkers, soul-guides, and yin-yang masters alike.

Hearing this, I remembered what Yufang had said, and thought of Zhao Dongsheng’s vacant state. I couldn’t help but worry, too.

Still, worry aside, we recounted the matter of Zhao Lao Sao and his ghost army. Li Danian frowned, saying it was extremely dangerous and that Zhao must be stopped at all costs.

The three of us held a quick meeting. My idea was to call the police and have them arrest Li Danian for corpse theft and desecration.

But both Li Danian and Wei Qi shook their heads. They explained that there were rules in the underworld—this was a matter for those who walk the shadow path, not the police. If the authorities got involved, it would only cause more trouble—so this had to be handled internally, by us.

Since they said so, I could only acquiesce. I asked how we should proceed. Li Danian said Zhao Lao Sao’s ghost army was likely connected to the recent disappearances and deaths of shadow-walkers, but Zhao himself was not the true instigator—someone, or several people, were pulling the strings behind the scenes. The crucial task was to uncover and eliminate those behind him.

I didn’t quite understand, but his reasoning was sound. It was clear Li Danian was no ordinary man in this field.

After more discussion, Li Danian said he would contact shadow-walker experts from across the country, gather them together, and then confront Zhao Lao Sao. Since this would take people from all over the country, it would require at least three days. During that time, Wei Qi and I must not alert Zhao and should take care to stay safe.

Before leaving, I asked Li Danian about the Blood Linglong. He said he’d heard of it, but never seen one himself. To him, Blood Linglong was nothing but a legendary miracle.

But the legend had already been confirmed by Shangguan Wan’er—that was reality. Though a storm was brewing in the world of shadow-walkers, I was overjoyed. As long as I could get the Blood Linglong, I could save Wang Ying, maybe even bring her back for seven days. It was truly miraculous.

On the way back, I told Wei Qi everything. Smacking his lips, Wei Qi said, “Dachuan, I think I must have been your father in a previous life.”

I punched him on the shoulder. “Pig! I ought to just call you Uncle and get it over with. Still trying to take advantage of me?”

“I just can’t figure out why I do so much for you without a single complaint! I’m not even this willing for my real dad. Let’s go, to Mount Fulai! Time to find the tomb of King Shaohao!” Wei Qi returned my punch with one of his own.