In Chenghuang Temple Street, the fog gradually thickens.
The nearby houses and the lights in the distance are getting blurry.
It was as if there was a thick layer of gauze in front of my eyes, twisted into a long and strange shape.
On the bluestone road, there are two figures, one long and one short.
Like a wandering soul, walking quietly.
It seems that the atmosphere is too silent and a bit depressing.
Luo Yuzhen's throat rolled twice and she whispered:
"Brother Ji, can you make a sound?
Don’t you think it’s strange? It’s just Haishi, why is it like a curfew? Every household in the outer city goes to bed so early?”
Ji Yuan didn't answer, he just said "squeak" and then fell silent again.
Woohoo! Woohoo!
The cold wind is shrill, like weeping and complaining.
Luo Yuzhen shrank his neck. He also had martial arts skills and should not be so timid.
But as the fog gets deeper and the chill gets thicker, the body that has been fully trained on the muscles, bones, skin and membranes also feels cold little by little.
It's like walking in the snow wearing single clothes.
Even the mind is affected, and is constantly fiddled with by thoughts such as fear, fear, fear, and worry.
"Brother Ji, please say something!"
Luo Yuzhen finally couldn't restrain her inner annoyance and suddenly shouted.
The high-pitched voice echoed in the empty long street, which seemed so abrupt that it even startled him.
"You'd better be quiet, Brother Luo.
If there is too much movement, it is likely to attract... bad things."
Ji Yuan paused, with a stern look on his brows.
Holding the waist knife with his right hand, he has a sharp and murderous aura.
"What are you talking about? Do you really believe the lies told by the shopkeeper of Huaiyinzhai and think there are evil spirits wandering around Tianjing City after nightfall?"
Luo Yuzhen snorted heavily, feeling inexplicably irritated without even realizing it.
Ji Yuan didn't care and sighed softly:
"Brother Luo, haven't you noticed something weird yet?
We have been walking for a quarter of an hour, but we still have not left the Street of the City God Temple.
Look at the Yongan Pawnshop on the left. This is the twelfth shop when you come in from the street.
And Huaiyinzhai is the 19th one. Logically speaking, it has passed by a long time ago, so why does it appear again?"
Luo Yuzhen was slightly startled and turned to look at the plaque of "Yong'an Pawnshop".
The four big characters on it are so bright red that they look like drops of blood.
It was like being poured a basin of cold water from beginning to end, and the coolness penetrated my whole body.
He woke up instantly and said with a slightly trembling voice:
"Is this a ghost hitting a wall? It's a ghost!
We were trapped in this Chenghuang Temple Street, wandering around and never getting out!"
Luo Yuzhen's handsome face was full of horror, and she turned pale with fright.
Looking around, I saw that there seemed to be ghosts of different lengths floating in the long and silent street, shooting indifferent glances full of malice.
The surrounding haze-like thick fog seemed to have transformed into a flesh-eating cannibal!
"I haven't figured out the reason yet. I walked about a hundred steps out of Huaiyin Zhai and I noticed something was wrong."
Ji Yuan's face was calm, a little too calm, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
He kept counting his heartbeats, and every time it reached three hundred and sixty, which lasted about four minutes, he and Luo Yuzhen would turn back inexplicably.
"Brother Ji, you are not afraid at all?"
Seeing Ji Yuan's calm and composed face, Luo Yuzhen's panic immediately subsided a bit.
"As the old saying goes, ghosts are afraid of evil people. Why are you afraid of these monsters?
Once the courage is withdrawn, the blood energy becomes weak.
Those invisible and intangible evil spirits and strange things swarmed around us without any explanation."
Ji Yuan's eyes flickered, and he noticed that the fog was getting bigger and bigger.
If the midnight curfew is really reached, I'm afraid we will encounter the terrifying scene of hundreds of ghosts walking at night.
"I understand the truth, but... it's too cold. The fog is so wet and cold that it sticks to my body like ice cubes!"
White clouds of air came out between Luo Yuzhen's breath, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"Brother Ji, let's go back along the original road and go to Huaiyin Zhai to hide for a while!"
Ji Yuan has the blessings of [Dragon Spirit, Tiger Fierce] and [Steel Iron Bone], and the Qi and blood of the external refinement of Dzogchen are strong, so he can withstand it.
He shook his head and said:
"I heard from the older generation that you should not look back late at night, as you may easily be haunted by evil spirits.
The shopkeeper told me that entering the City God’s Temple can ensure safety… Let’s go to the City God’s Temple!”
The two of them had already walked around this long street several times, and it seemed like there was a strange force blocking their way, pulling them back and preventing them from leaving.
Ji Yuan's steps were like the wind, and Luo Yuzhen did not dare to fall behind.
The two of them turned into the alley together and ran towards the Chenghuang Temple.
Suddenly!
The mist rolled in like waves.
Tap tap tap!
Like countless gray shadows stepping on the bluestone, there was a rush of footsteps, chasing the two people.
The wet, sticky cold air was even more pervasive, like slippery tentacles stretching out quickly.
"How evil!"
Ji Yuan did not look back, but felt the chill behind him getting heavier and heavier, as if he would be caught by the gray shadow hidden in the mist at any time.
Unconsciously, he mobilized his inner energy to move around his limbs and bones between breaths.
The masculine blood erupts like a burning torch.
Tsk tsk tsk!
The greasy tentacles seemed to be pressed against a red-hot iron plate, making an illusory sound of burning and roasting.
"Hoo! Brother Ji, we're at the City God's Temple!"
After a while, Luo Yuzhen exhaled a breath of turbid air and stopped suddenly.
The moment we stepped into the open space of the Chenghuang Temple, the fog dispersed and the chill disappeared.
"They can't get close to... this glazed archway?"
Ji Yuan stood below and looked up.
There are couplets on the pillars.
On the left is "Prosperous and illustrious, protecting the country and supporting the country";
On the right is "The holy way and its wisdom send nectar to save the people."
He wrote a letter with four characters: "Pastoralize the common people".
Like flying dragons and phoenixes, the writing is powerful.
It has a majestic atmosphere!
"It was so dangerous! I almost froze to death on that street... my blood was frozen!"
Luo and Zhenxin have lingering fears.
"The shopkeeper didn't lie. Entering the City God's Temple will ensure your safety."
Ji Yuan frowned slightly and remained silent. The Huangtian Dao Diagram actually reflected the glazed archway.
I saw the brilliant light shaking, manifesting the handwriting——
"Let's go to the Chenghuang Temple and leave Liulichang directly. Let's go back to our homes before the curfew."
Ji Yuan didn't think about hiding for a night, let alone late at night, whether more evil spirits would appear.
Just violating the curfew is a serious crime. If you are caught, you will be detained and put in jail, or you will be punished on the spot.
Although the outer city is said to be more relaxed, I'm afraid it would be unbearable to sleep in the City God's Temple for just one night.
"Thanks to Brother Ji, I survived this time. If I can be useful in the future, feel free to do it!"
Luo Yuzhen clasped his fists in thanks, and then changed the subject:
"As for the martial arts competition about stepping on Yang Xiu, Brother Ji, please think about it again. I can add some money, thirty-five thousand taels. It can't be more. The landlord's family doesn't have any food left..."
Ji Yuan was too lazy to answer and just pretended not to hear.
The two of them left Liulichang without any obstruction, and they encountered no strange things along the way.
After parting ways with Luo Yuzhen, Ji Yuan went to Tai'anfang alone.
Red lanterns are hung high, and pedestrians and vendors are walking around.
Compared to the thick fog and bone-chilling fog just now, this feels like the real world.
"My lord, please have a bowl of wontons! They are so fragrant and delicious!"
Suddenly, an old man with gray hair and a coarse linen robe shouted enthusiastically.
Ji Yuan was originally on his way, but for some reason he stopped and turned around to glance.
It was a temporary stall with a charcoal stove, an iron pot, and a few tables and chairs.
"Are there any vegetarian ones?"
Ji Yuan's eyelids twitched and he came to the empty seat of the stall.
As soon as I sat down, wisps of heat and fragrance penetrated straight into my nose.
"Your Majesty, are you joking? Aren't wontons filled with meat?
I’ll give you the next bowl, and I’ll make sure you feel full and comfortable!”
The old man had a strong local accent, and his rough face showed the weather and weather of the years.
"Then have a bowl. If you drink a little more, if it's not enough, I'll destroy your stall."
Ji Yuan's eyelids drooped and his tone was ferocious.
"Okay, okay."
The old man opened the lid of the pot, and the boiling water bubbled out the steam.
I saw him skillfully sink a dozen wontons and fish them out in a short time.
Pour in bright soup, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and quickly bring it to Ji Yuan.
"Sir, your wontons!"
Ji Yuan picked up the chopsticks, picked through the dough, and poked the meat filling inside, his voice cold:
"Your meat...isn't fresh!"
The old man bent over and said with a smile:
"My lord, don't bother me. This is fine meat! Chop it into fine pieces! It tastes great!"
Ji Yuan picked one up, loosened his chopsticks, and the alluring aroma of wontons fell to the ground.
He raised his leg and stepped on the ground, crushed it hard, and said:
"It's not cooked yet, how can I eat it?"
The old man raised his lowered head, his pale face showed a look of death, and he opened his mouth and said:
"Sir, why are you wasting these good wontons... I can't make many by myself, they are all carefully selected good meat!"
At the same time, the noisy streets suddenly became silent.
The hawkers and pedestrians returning home all looked at Ji Yuan.
The latter glanced expressionlessly, and the bright soup in the bowl turned dark red, as thick as blood.
The wontons had their skin ripped open, and the meat stuffing inside was actually a piece of finger.