After the Death Ceremony, I was Entangled by My Two Wives - Chapter 25

“You’re the crow! Your whole family are crows!…”

Su Junying quickly convinced herself that Ying Buran was indeed unharmed. After confirming this repeatedly, she moved on to examine the soldiers and their captain.

With Ying Buran safe and Zhao Chao’an still absent, Ying Buran sat to the side, propping her chin in her hand, watching Su Junying dart around, checking this and that. The soldiers who had taken the medicine earlier had completely stopped leaking spiritual energy.

This cultivator has remarkable talent, Ying Buran mused, stroking her chin. To discern the difference in such a short time… Something still felt off.

If she remembered correctly, Zhao Chao’an had mentioned that the Myriad Phenomena Sect consisted entirely of Medical Cultivators, who were supposedly weak in combat. Yet Su Junying’s fighting prowess earlier…

She wielded that greatsword effortlessly, showing no sign of weakness. What an extraordinary woman.

I need to separate from her as soon as possible, Ying Buran thought, feeling increasingly unsafe by her side. The risk of her identity being exposed was ever-present, especially since Su Junying already recognized her.

I hope this team isn’t heading back to Chasing Wind City… Otherwise, things could get really complicated.

Just as she was thinking this, Su Junying finished her tasks. Noticing Ying Buran sitting on the ground in a daze, she sat down beside her, nudged her arm, and whispered, “I forgot to ask earlier—why are you here?”

Ying Buran snapped out of her reverie. “Ah, I’m on my way to Chasing Wind City. I happened to see the commotion here and rushed over.” Please let her destination not be Chasing Wind City…

Her hopes were immediately crushed. “Oh, what a coincidence! I’m going to Chasing Wind City too!” Su Junying exclaimed excitedly, patting Ying Buran’s back before clasping her hand. “Great! We can travel together. It’ll be good to have someone to watch out for each other on the road. I can even help you catch up on the current situation in Chasing Wind City—you don’t seem to know much about it.”

Oh, this is just terrible, Ying Buran thought, forcing a smile. Just then, Zhao Chao’an flew back, interrupting their conversation and allowing Ying Buran to breathe a sigh of relief.

It looks like we really can’t separate now, Ying Buran thought mournfully.

Zhao Chao’an’s feathers looked slightly ruffled. Ignoring the crowd gathered there, she landed directly in front of Ying Buran and declared bluntly, “I’ve taken care of my side too. It was a Dao Transformation God. If it hadn’t been for that, I might have been done for.”

“Thank you for your hard work,” Ying Buran said, reaching out to smooth Zhao Chao’an’s feathers as the crow nestled into her arms. She checked for injuries and only relaxed when she found none.

Su Junying, seeing a talking crow for the first time, exclaimed in amazement, “Is this your Spirit Pet? It can talk! It might even evolve into a Demon! Wait, is she even a crow?”

As she spoke, Su Junying couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke Zhao Chao’an’s head. The crow looked remarkably docile, staying obediently in Ying Buran’s arms.

But the moment Su Junying’s hand approached, Zhao Chao’an pecked her sharply. “You’re the crow! Your whole family are crows!” she shrieked, flying out of Ying Buran’s arms in a fury and pecking at Su Junying relentlessly.

Fortunately, Zhao Chao’an knew her limits and didn’t draw bl00d.

Su Junying clutched her head, momentarily at a loss for what to do, and could only cast a pleading glance at Ying Buran.

Ying Buran couldn’t help but turn her head to hide a smile. Then she extended her hand and called out, “Chao’an?”

Zhao Chao’an immediately calmed down, flew onto Ying Buran’s hand, and stretched out her head for a pat, a complete transformation from the aggressive bird she had been moments before.

A two-faced bird, Su Junying thought, rubbing the spot where she had been pecked.

The Captain had been watching them the whole time. Seeing they had stopped talking, she approached and sat down in front of them. “Do you know why the Ghost Soldiers attacked us?”

Ying Buran glanced at Zhao Chao’an, who ignored the Captain’s question. She lightly flicked the bird’s forehead.

“…They probably mistook you for being afflicted by Heaven’s Wrath,” Zhao Chao’an mumbled, nestling into Ying Buran’s arms and preening her feathers. As if anticipating the Captain’s next question, she added, “Don’t ask me why. I don’t know.”

The Captain swallowed the question that had been on the tip of her tongue. For now, she would have to skip this topic and revisit it later. “Are you heading to Chasing Wind City?” she asked, changing the subject.

Ying Buran nodded, and Su Junying confirmed, “Yes. I originally wanted to test a theory, and now that it’s mostly confirmed, I can’t just abandon those in need. I want to see what’s happening inside.”

“Chasing Wind City is currently under a partial blockade. Without someone to guide you, you won’t be able to enter. I can take you both in,” the Captain stated directly.

Upon hearing this, Ying Buran lowered her gaze to Zhao Chao’an. Only after Zhao Chao’an nodded did she reply, “Alright, thank you.”

It seems we have no choice but to travel together. I’ll keep my distance for the rest of the journey.

After confirming their shared objective and resting briefly, they set off. Along the way, Ying Buran learned that the team’s presence outside the city was to investigate whether similar symptoms had appeared elsewhere.

When Heaven’s Wrath descended, it didn’t confine itself to a single area; its radiation spread far and wide. Yet the surrounding regions remained unscathed. This anomaly had already raised suspicions with the Captain.

The subsequent encounter with Su Junying further confirmed that this wasn’t Heaven’s Wrath.

The Captain led Ying Buran and Su Junying at the front, while the infected soldiers were kept protected in the middle of the formation. Zhao Chao’an, meanwhile, nestled contentedly in Ying Buran’s arms.

Upon reaching the city gate, the Captain instructed the two women to wait while she went inside to report. Moments later, the infected soldiers and the other soldiers were led away separately. Finally, the Captain emerged, approached them, and bowed slightly. “I’ve informed the City Lord. He says you may seek him out to discuss matters. I’ll escort you inside.”

Ying Buran and Su Junying exchanged a glance before following the Captain into the city.

The streets were deserted, every door and window tightly shut. Only occasional patrols of soldiers could be seen.

“The physician initially suspected this was not Heaven’s Wrath but a plague,” the Captain explained. “Since we didn’t know the cause or transmission method, we ordered everyone to quarantine at home. The military delivers food and supplies to their doorsteps and patrols the city to respond to emergencies.”

“We’ve now ruled out airborne and contact transmission, but we still can’t distinguish friend from foe within the city. That’s why we’re maintaining the quarantine, which also simplifies treatment. Although we’ve found a cure, we’re severely understaffed.”

Su Junying’s eyes lit up at this news. “Could you tell me the physician’s name?” she pressed.

The Captain eyed her warily but, detecting no malice, replied, “Qu Lingyou.”

“Senior Qu! As expected of Senior Qu! He found a cure in such a short time! Everyone in the Sect dismissed it as Heaven’s Wrath, even my Master refused to believe me. But I knew I was right! Does Senior Qu need help?” Su Junying asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

The question stumped the Captain. She didn’t know much herself; everything she had said earlier had been instructed by Yun Xiangwan, who was observing their reactions.

The masked girl still revealed nothing. As for the Medical Cultivator… the Captain sensed no malice from her, at least for now.

Yet she hesitated to grant them passage. After all, few healers remained in the city, and even fewer could oversee the situation.

“Of course, you may pass. Chu Qiao, escort Fellow Daoist Su. Fellow Daoist Ying, I’ll take you to the City Lord’s Manor.” A voice came from behind them. They turned to see a white-haired woman holding a fan, smiling warmly.

The Captain immediately nodded and bowed. “Yes. Fellow Daoist Su, please follow me.”

Su Junying nodded, waved goodbye to Ying Buran, and quickly disappeared from sight with the Captain. Ying Buran watched them leave before turning to Yun Xiangwan, who had been observing her intently, and remained silent.

Her intuition told her this woman recognized her.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Yun Xiangwan said with a smile. Though she had known the outcome of that day long ago, she had always doubted the Ghost King’s words.

Can the dead truly return to the living world?

Judging by what I see now, it seems they can.

Ying Buran scratched her head, a little embarrassed. “Excuse me, who are you?”

Yun Xiangwan was momentarily surprised, but her gaze inadvertently met the blackbird nestled in Ying Buran’s arms. In that instant, she understood something and smiled again. “I am Yun Xiangwan, Military Advisor of Chasing Wind City. We’ve met before, though perhaps not formally.”

“Let’s discuss the details at the City Lord’s Manor. What do you say?”

Ying Buran nodded, letting out a barely perceptible sigh of relief—a detail Yun Xiangwan noticed without betraying any sign of awareness.

Ghostly energy… How strange that the aura of the living and ghostly energy should coexist harmoniously within a single person. It seems her return wasn’t without complications. I wonder if the Senluo Art I taught her proved helpful.

The Ghost King is here too, and they seem quite familiar with each other.

Yun Xiangwan suppressed these thoughts. After escorting the woman and ghost to the City Lord’s Manor, she withdrew, secretly observing the situation from the shadows.

Ying Buran looked ahead. The City Lord sat on a chair, also wearing a mask, with stacks of papers and books piled before him.

Seeing her arrive, the City Lord gestured for her to take a seat, then waved his hand to create a barrier enveloping the space. He immediately cut to the chase: “Why have you come to Chasing Wind City?”

“We wish to form an alliance with Chasing Wind City, and we’re also here on behalf of someone,” Zhao Chao’an said, flying over to land on the chair beside Ying Buran and transforming into her human form.

“Is this your personal initiative, or the Underworld’s?” the City Lord asked, seemingly aware of Zhao Chao’an’s identity.

Zhao Chao’an waved dismissively, her face twisting with disdain. “Ugh, how could those old fossils ever agree? They’re always droning in my ear. You know how the Underworld is—aside from me and one other Ghost King, it’s just a bunch of ancient relics.”

The City Lord fell silent, then nodded after a moment. “Indeed. So, this recent attack?”

“Yeah, that guy’s behind it. But I have no idea why,” Zhao Chao’an shrugged, then leaned back lazily. “Can you keep things under control here?”

“If I could, you wouldn’t be here,” the City Lord replied dryly, setting down his documents and rising to approach Ying Buran.

Ying Buran was still pondering the relationship between the two when a sudden shadow fell over her, startling her. “Hello?”