Chapter 126: The Black Waist Token

Chen Chen and I chose a rather muddy path. None of the graves had stone tablets, but each was topped with a sheet of spirit money held down by a brick. I couldn’t help but feel as if a ghostly presence hovered above every grave mound, though I knew it was only my own imagination spooking me.

“Lin Yao, what do you think the Ghost King wants from us here?” Chen Chen suddenly asked.

I found it an easy question to answer. “Well, why do you think the Ghost King first set us against each other? What was his goal then?” My counter-question left Chen Chen momentarily stunned, and he gave a self-deprecating laugh.

The other classmates had already wandered farther off, leaving just the two of us lingering nearby. We didn’t want to miss any detail, so we scrutinized each little grave mound carefully.

Just then, the sky turned gray and threatening, as if a heavy rain might fall at any moment. But the prospect of rain didn’t bother me, since my clothes were water-repellent.

I noticed that the small mounds were nearly identical in size, as if copied and pasted—nothing else stood out.

Suddenly, a voice called out from the east, “Someone, help!”

My heart skipped a beat, and I dashed toward the sound, Chen Chen close behind. The distance wasn’t far; in less than a minute, we reached the area.

There, a spectral figure hovered above a grave. One glance told me it was a ghost, dressed in funeral garb and garish, unsettling makeup, gripping a bone in its hand—likely its weapon.

Another student stood before it, presumably the one who had cried out. Other classmates arrived one after another, but we were all seasoned enough not to be frightened by a mere ghost.

“What happened?” I stepped forward and asked.

The student finally caught his breath, though he still looked shaken. “I was just examining this grave. When I looked up, it was suddenly right on top of it—it scared me half to death.”

So it was a false alarm. But just as I was about to leave, the ghost raised its bone and charged at me.

Instinctively, I conjured a Bagua formation to block the attack, then struck its chest with a single punch. I hadn’t expected it to be so fragile—one blow was enough to dissipate its spirit.

As its form scattered in the wind, the group dispersed as well. I glanced around, and, finding no other ghosts, Chen Chen and I turned to leave.

That ghost must have been the original inhabitant of the grave, but as for why it chose to appear and frighten people, that remained a mystery.

The weather shifted quickly; in moments, raindrops began to fall, and a chilly wind swept through. It was only afternoon, which should have been the warmest part of the day, yet it felt unseasonably cold—a bad omen.

Chen Chen and I continued our search among the mounds, but found nothing. My gaze drifted to the largest grave at the rear; instinct told me something was there. Still, I didn’t want to overlook the small mounds—if I was wrong, we’d regret it.

We weren’t foolish enough to dig up the graves; instead, we bowed respectfully before each one. Chen Chen, well-mannered as ever, was especially reverent toward the dead. If he’d brought incense, he would have offered it at every mound.

The rain grew heavier, turning the already slippery earth into a treacherous path. I rummaged through my ring and handed Chen Chen a waterproof garment, which he accepted gratefully.

The area was vast—we searched for two hours without finding a clue, nor did any more ghosts appear.

Just as frustration and uncertainty set in, Chen Chen called to me, “Lin Yao, come quickly!”

I hurried over, and he pointed to the side of a small mound. “Look, there’s something here.”

Following his gesture, I saw something half-buried in the muddy water. I pulled a small spade from my ring and started digging.

Soon, I uncovered a small wooden box. It was plain save for a lock, which I easily pried open. Inside was a black waist token—unmarked, but exquisitely crafted.

I slipped both box and token into my ring and resumed searching with renewed vigor. Encouraged by this find, we worked even harder, our speed increasing despite the downpour. Except for my soaked head, the rest of me stayed dry; Chen Chen was drenched, but shrugged it off—after all, cultivators have no fear of a cold.

By evening, the rain had not let up but only intensified. Still, we found another waist token, again inside a small wooden box.

As darkness approached, I gathered everyone with a shout of spiritual energy, “Everyone, gather here!”

My voice carried far; soon, Li Zijian and Chu Yao, who had gone off in another direction, arrived, followed by the others.

Once everyone was present, I took a headcount—ten of us, none missing.

“I found two waist tokens. How about you?” I asked, showing mine. Unsurprisingly, others produced similar tokens from their rings.

I counted—nine tokens in all. We didn’t know their purpose, but it couldn’t hurt to keep them.

“I think we should check out the big grave. We can’t just stand around in the rain all night,” I suggested.

Everyone agreed, and we headed toward the large grave together.

By now, night had fallen, and the graveyard felt even more eerie and oppressive. At any moment, it seemed, another ghost might leap out.

Still, we reached the big grave without incident. It stood about two meters high, triangular—like a shrunken pyramid.

I circled it, searching for clues, but found nothing. Determined to trust my instincts, I persisted.

“Brother Yao, there’s nothing here,” Li Zijian remarked, implying we might have to spend the night in the wind and rain.

But fate never closes all doors. In one corner of the grave, I noticed a depression—a possible mechanism.

The black waist token!

I took it out and checked the fit—it matched perfectly. As soon as I placed the token into the slot, I felt the grave tremble slightly.

“Come, everyone, quickly!” I called, sharing my discovery.

Morale, which had been low, surged with excitement; even Chen Chen exclaimed, “Looks like we won’t have to sleep in the rain after all.”