Chapter 167

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 167: The Variety of All Living Beings, Strange and Diverse

Various thoughts appeared in his mind. In response to Lin Mohua’s question, Chu Jiang simply replied, "Although I have been a Ghost Master for a while, I have only recently started wandering outside, so there are many common knowledge things that I am not aware of."

Lin Mohua nodded slightly and stopped asking questions. She continued to help Chu Jiang with his doubts.

The place they were in was still in Luohe, even though the Republic of China had already established a city. People still preferred to call it Luohe county.

As they walked out of the Lin family mansion gate, Lin Mohua’s maid waved her hand, immediately summoning a humble carriage driver.

The carriage driver appeared thin and pale. He kept his head low, respectfully waiting by the side. Only after Lin Mohua and Chu Jiang got on the carriage did he dare to ask about their destination.

"Go to Two-Corner Alley."

"Yes, Miss."

Watching the carriage driver running and occasionally wiping his sweat with the towel hanging around his neck, Chu Jiang found it increasingly strange.

Because the carriage driver bore a strong resemblance to Lin Mohua’s maid, Xiao Yu, at first glance, they seemed to have emotions and intelligence. But they always gave the impression that they were puppets controlled by strings, as if lifeless people were acting like living beings, creating an extremely stiff impression.

Without saying anything else, the carriage driver doesn’t sweat when running, but he habitually wipes his forehead and neck with his dirty towel.

And it’s not just these two people, Chu Jiang looks at the other residents on the street.

It is morning now, there are vendors selling steamed buns; there are people selling sugar sculptures along the street; there are porters carrying loads; there are drunks leaning against the wall, smoking cigarettes.

People in the teahouse are drinking tea; beggars are squatting in the alley begging; children are running around and laughing; the young girls in the tailor shop are sitting properly; occasionally, a few old cars pass by on the street…

It can be said that this diverse scene in the backdrop of the Republic of China is very "lively".

But the more Chu Jiang looks, the more strange it seems. Everyone seems like dead people to him, with pale faces, lifeless and cold eyes, and stiff and mechanical movements.

They are laughing, they are crying, they are playing, they are making noise, they are "alive".

But their laughter doesn’t seem like laughter, their crying doesn’t seem like crying, their playing doesn’t seem like playing, their noise doesn’t seem like noise, their being alive doesn’t seem like being alive…

Comparatively, Lin Mohua next to Chu Jiang is surprisingly the most normal one.

"What’s wrong with you?" Lin Mohua seemed curious, as Chu Jiang showed keen interest in some common people, staring at them nonstop.

Chu Jiang shook his head, "It’s nothing, what kind of gift do you want to choose?"

Lin Mohua thought for a moment, "My grandfather doesn’t have many hobbies, he used to enjoy playing with flowers and birds, but now he has grown indifferent to most things."

"Actually, I’m also troubled, that’s why I wanted to bring someone for reference."

"What’s in Two-Penny Alley?" Chu Jiang asked.

"There’s everything, it’s the liveliest commercial street in our county. I plan to visit a few jade stores."

"Then let’s go to the jade stores."

Chu Jiang didn’t care about gifts, any random item would do.

Since Lin Daosheng is likely no longer alive, why celebrate his birthday? It’s all just a formality.

……

They went to a shop called "Yu Ming Xuan" in a street called Two-penny Lane and Chu Jiang accompanied Lin Mohua in choosing some beautiful jade items.

Of course, Lin Mohua paid the money since Chu Jiang didn’t have the silver coins of this era.

After choosing the jade items, Lin Mohua took Chu Jiang to other shops, including a silk store, a jewelry store, a watch store, and some shops that sold imported goods.

By the way, Lin Mohua also took Chu Jiang to several business establishments owned by her family to look around.

As Chu Jiang wandered around, he felt something was not quite right. It didn’t seem like they were here to pick out a gift, but rather to accompany Miss Lin Mohua on a shopping trip.

When they arrived at a rice and grain shop owned by the Lin family, Chu Jiang made an excuse to go for a walk outside, temporarily getting away from Lin Mohua.

He wanted to go outside and see Luohe County.

Chu Jiang mainly wanted to find out how big this Ghost Domain really was.

It’s impossible for Mr. Lin to create a whole world of the Republic of China, right? That would be too scary, almost like a separate world.

……

Using his ghostly abilities, Chu Jiang silently arrived outside Luohe county. But outside, it was foggy as if there was a thick fog.

Chu Jiang thought for a moment and then decisively rushed in.

However, not long after, Chu Jiang was walking and unexpectedly returned to Luohe county.

Moreover, while he was inside, he had no sense of direction at all. Even if he left a mark, it would disappear after a few steps.

After experimenting for a while, Chu Jiang could be certain that Mr. Lin had only created the scenery and characters within Luohe county.

As for people who left the county, of course, there were some. Chu Jiang personally witnessed a merchant driving a cart and leaving Luohe county.

But soon, the merchant, along with the cart, disappeared into the fog.

The people who came into the city were the same. Chu Jiang observed for a while in the fog near the traffic road, and saw four or five groups of passers-by.

But they seemed to appear out of thin air from the fog, not walking from a faraway place.

All of this was probably arranged by the old gentleman, but Chu Jiang didn’t understand why he would do this. Was he creating a false impression that his family was still alive?

With many doubts in his mind, Chu Jiang walked out of the fog and returned to Luohe county.

But as soon as he stepped out of the fog, his body froze, because Lin Mohua silently appeared in front of him.

She looked especially cold at this moment, "Where are you going?"

Lin Mohua’s voice sounded deep and hoarse, and her tone was completely different from before.

"Nothing, just going for a walk around. Let’s go back." Chu Jiang avoided her and walked straight back into Luohe county.

Lin Mohua drifted along and followed him. It was only after they arrived back in the crowd that her expression softened and she seemed more like a human than a ghost. "You were gone for so long, I thought you got lost."

"If we’re tired of wandering, let’s go back to the Lin Mansion. I’ve already asked Xiao Yu to go back to the mansion earlier and have one of the servants prepare a nice guest room for you."

"Hmm."

This time when they went back, they rode in a black car, and the driver from the mansion came to pick them up personally.

In the car, Chu Jiang was deep in thought. He had to come up with a way to escape Ghost Domain. After returning, he would try to see if he could meet the old master.

Otherwise, Chu Jiang was afraid that if he stayed here for too long, he would also become a "character" in Luohe County, a walking dead, unable to leave forever.

……

Just as they entered the mansion, they bumped into a young man wearing a purple robe. He was holding an extravagant looking woman, who seemed to be ready to go out.

But as soon as the young man saw Lin Mohua and Chu Jiang, he appeared surprised. "Oh, Miss Lin, are you following in my footsteps and keeping a little toy boy in secret?"

But when the young master saw Lin Mohua and Chu Jiang, he looked very surprised and said, "Oh, Miss Lin from the prestigious family, are you also following in my footsteps and privately keeping a gigolo?"