Chapter 110: The Predicament

The moment the voice from above finished speaking, Yi An could clearly feel a wave of resentment gathering from all directions. He did not need to look to know the source of this chilling aura.

Yi An could not help but offer a bitter smile; they truly meant no harm. However, he had no intention of stepping forward to explain himself. Watching the countless agitated ghosts, he chose to remain silent. He surmised that in the eyes of these spectral citizens, he had already become a source of discord. If he were to reveal himself, he would undoubtedly be besieged by the masses.

On the city ramparts, the fierce ghost continued to describe the features of Yi An and Yan Chixia, along with methods of identification, urging the ghosts below to commit them to memory.

"That's a relief..."

Yi An felt a temporary sense of reprieve. The description of their appearances was not particularly detailed; the most troublesome part was the identification criteria that followed. First, the Ghost City was not large, housing fewer than ten thousand souls. Having coexisted for countless years, most of the residents—even if they were not personally acquainted—had at least caught a glimpse of one another. This was the primary method proposed by the fierce ghost on the ramparts: any ghost encountering a stranger must remain vigilant. Negligence would not be tolerated. Even if a mistake were made, it would be a minor transgression, for everyone was contributing to the harmony and stability of the city. Anyone who ignored the greater good for personal convenience would find no place left for them in the vast Ghost City.

Consequently, the goal of every ghost was remarkably unified: to purge the intruders and restore the city to its proper order.

As for the second point, and the most critical one, it was that the intruders were living beings—the very issue of "Yin energy" that Yi An had previously considered. Although they had avoided that pitfall, the combination of these two measures put them at a severe disadvantage once again.

Yi An pondered for a long time. Short of taking a desperate risk, he could find no better solution. Was he truly to return empty-handed? He was unwilling to accept that.

"Brother Yan, this place is too crowded and full of eyes; we should not linger. Our top priority is to find a secluded spot and deliberate on our next move," Yi An said, his eyes flashing with decision. He tugged at Yan Chixia and whispered into his ear.

Yan Chixia nodded solemnly. He dared not be careless; it was clear they could no longer remain in the Ghost City. If he had known it would come to this, he would have urged Yi An to leave immediately rather than inviting such complications. But it was too late for regrets. As Yi An had said, it was best to depart and reconsider their options.

The fierce ghost on the ramparts finished speaking, and the ghosts on the street began to disperse, returning to their respective duties and lives. Yi An and Yan Chixia slipped into the crowd, quietly disappearing into the bustle of the city. The ghosts on the ramparts could never have imagined that the intruders they were so desperate to catch were currently right under their noses.

Under normal circumstances, Yi An and his companion should have sought a remote place to hide and wait for an opportunity, never daring to walk so openly on the streets. Yet, reality was often unexpected. By doing the opposite, Yi An had managed to overhear their exact plans. While he could not claim to have the upper hand, he at least had the advantage of foresight and could now tailor his actions to avoid disaster.

After leaving the main thoroughfare, they did not head straight for the city gates. Instead, they found an inconspicuous, desolate corner, likely a dwelling for the more marginalized ghosts. Much like cities of the living, the Ghost City was stratified; where there are sentient beings, there is struggle, and social classes naturally emerge.

Yan Chixia looked confused. "Brother Yi, what is the meaning of coming here?"

Was their priority not to leave this place as quickly as possible? The ghosts of the city were watching like tigers stalking their prey, and they were vastly outnumbered. To face them head-on would be a battle they could not win.

Yi An shook his head with a smile, his expression turning serious. "Brother Yan, remain calm. We cannot act rashly. I fear we cannot leave for the time being. If I have judged correctly, they have likely set an ambush outside the Lanruo Temple, waiting for us to walk straight into their trap."

"Furthermore, there is nothing outside the city but that desolate mountain. It is a poor place to hide, and they would search it with ease. Therefore, the only place left to conceal ourselves is this very Ghost City. With so many people and eyes, if we tuck ourselves into a corner, they will not be able to find us in the short term."

"Moreover, we will not simply sit and wait for death. My next plan, while risky, is well worth a try. If executed properly, I am at least seventy percent sure we can succeed."

"What is your brilliant plan, Brother Yi?"

Yan Chixia was stunned. He had not considered all of this, thinking only of fleeing the danger zone. After hearing Yi An's analysis, a cold sweat broke out on his back. As the other had said, leaving now would be no different than delivering themselves into the enemy's hands.

He regretted his curiosity, thinking that if he had made a different choice, they would not be in such a dire situation. But the die was cast; complaining would not solve anything. The priority now was how to escape. Given the current situation, even a fifty or sixty percent chance of success was worth the risk, let alone seventy.

Yi An's eyes glinted as he smiled. "Don't be impatient; you will see soon enough. It is not a clever trick, but it is the most effective one."

"Don't do this to me," Yan Chixia said, his gaze tinged with resentment. Being kept in suspense made him anxious.

Ignoring his companion's look, Yi An added, "Brother Yan, this is complex to explain. In my view, it is better to begin the preparations; you will understand soon enough."

"Very well, I will follow your lead." Yan Chixia realized the situation called for action rather than explanation. He had absolute trust in Yi An; even if Yi An asked him to do something seemingly irrational, his first thought would be to trust in a hidden motive rather than to doubt him.