CG - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

With anticipation came a sense of urgency. After a bitter ten-day wait, the day of the assessment exam finally arrived. The Tianshi Association required everyone to gather at headquarters at eight o'clock sharp for a unified departure. Since Wei Jinzhi was a late riser, Wu Gu didn't ask her for a ride. Overly excited, Wu Gu arrived at the meeting point a little after seven, only to find the area outside the vast Tianshi Association building sparsely occupied by just three people.

Bored, Wu Gu connected a power bank to her phone and started playing a game. As eight o'clock approached, the sky had brightened considerably, and about seventy or eighty people now stood at the gathering point—these were just the Celestial Masters from North City participating in the assessment. She lifted her head and glanced around a few times but didn't spot anyone she knew, so she went back to her game.

Han Tianyang and Han Yeshuang arrived more than forty minutes after Wu Gu. The moment they got out of the car, Han Yeshuang scanned the area, searching for Wu Gu. Mrs. Han had instructed the siblings to stick close to Wu Gu this time, so they would have someone to protect them if they ran into danger. At the time, Han Tianyang had mumbled a half-hearted agreement, but Han Yeshuang had taken the advice to heart.

"Brother, quick, which one is Wu Gu? I've never met her."

Being tall, Han Tianyang had spotted Wu Gu with her backpack right away. But he didn't move, attempting to persuade Han Yeshuang, "It's not your first assessment exam. Isn't having me to look out for you enough?"

Han Yeshuang paid no mind to his masculine pride. She took her phone out of her bag and made a show of calling Mrs. Han. "I'll just have Mom send me a picture myself."

Han Tianyang grabbed his sister's hand. "Found her, found her," he said quickly. "You're a grown woman. Why do you always have to run to Mom for everything?"

Han Yeshuang put her phone away and followed Han Tianyang over to Wu Gu, who was in the middle of unleashing a special move in her game. Sensing a shadow fall over her, she instinctively looked up. Seeing familiar faces, she broke into a smile and greeted them, "Brother Han." Then she added, "Miss Han."

Han Yeshuang laughed. "Why 'Miss Han'? That sounds so strange. You're the one who saved my life, and I haven't even had a chance to thank you properly." Her gaze couldn't help but linger on Wu Gu's face; she hadn't expected her to be so beautiful. "You call my brother 'Brother Han,' shouldn't you call me 'Sister Han'?"

Wu Gu replied obediently, "Sister Han."

Han Tianyang said, "My mom told us to team up with you this time, so the three of us can look out for one another."

"I'm fine with whatever. You can make the arrangements, Brother Han."

Just then, Hu Chen spotted Han Tianyang and walked over. "Wanna team up?" he asked, but then his gaze shifted to Wu Gu at their side. He frowned in disgust. "How do you know her?"

Han Yeshuang raised an eyebrow, annoyed by Hu Chen's attitude. Without giving Han Tianyang time to come up with an excuse, she said directly, "We've already formed our team. You'll have to find other teammates."

Hu Chen didn't respond, glancing at Han Tianyang and waiting for him to provide a way out. But Han Tianyang knew he was no match for his mother, so all Hu Chen got was a silent nod. He immediately shot Wu Gu a nasty look, convinced she had little real skill and was just a sweet-talker planning to leech off the Han siblings to cheat her way through the assessment.

Wu Gu sensed Hu Chen's contempt but paid it no mind. Lao Wu's teachings were full of lessons on how to face disdain with a calm heart. Her thoughts had already drifted at daybreak to whether Wei Jinzhi was awake yet and her desire to message her.

At eight o'clock sharp, the bus departed. Wu Gu sent a message to Wei Jinzhi telling her she was on her way. Wei Jinzhi replied ten minutes later, telling her to be careful. Wu Gu pouted, slightly regretting not having let Wei Jinzhi see her off that morning.

The content of the Celestial Master assessment exam was arranged at a national level. The primary objective was to evaluate their professional capabilities, preventing any individual Celestial Masters from regressing in skill, passing themselves off as competent, and lowering the overall standard of the profession. Many had heard that this year's exam was the most dangerous in history, which was why they had scouted out teammates in advance. This was also the reason Mrs. Han had insisted her children stick with Wu Gu.

Several buses entered the ring road, heading for the airport. The lead bus carried the proctors assigned by the Tianshi Association, as well as the younger generation from the major families. People like Hu Chen and the Han siblings were all on the lead bus. The bus Wu Gu was on carried disciples from smaller, lesser-known sects. It wasn't an intentional arrangement by the Tianshi Association; rather, it was as if an invisible boundary existed between the different groups, a seemingly natural selection.

Wu Gu gazed out the window, thinking of Wei Jinzhi. She remembered one afternoon before she left, she had been looking up rumors about desert monsters online. On the forums, many people claimed to have seen zombies in the desert, the kind from movies. They told their stories with convincing detail, some even posting blurry photos. At the time, Wei Jinzhi had asked her curiously if desert zombies were real.

She had explained to Wei Jinzhi, "If you classify them by the type of spirit they become after death, they're more or less the same thing." Wei Jinzhi always had a strong curiosity about the supernatural and was listening intently, so Wu Gu continued, "The bodies of people who die in the desert are desiccated by the wind and don't decompose. After a Sand Ghost takes form, it yearns for its original body and will forcibly stuff itself back inside. It's like trying to fit something into an unsuitable container—it's bound to be clumsy and awkward. When people see these moving Sand Ghosts, they mistake them for the zombies they see in movies."

Wei Jinzhi then asked, "So the ones that die in the desert are called Sand Ghosts?"

Wu Gu nodded. "I think the name is a bit arbitrary, too. The ones that die in water are called water ghosts, so the ones that die in the desert are called Sand Ghosts." Hearing the disdain in her tone, Wei Jinzhi had laughed, looking especially beautiful. Wu Gu was so annoyed with herself now for not pulling her in for a few kisses then. The mere thought of spending the night in a strange city thousands of miles away made her miss Wei Jinzhi even more.

But there was more to Sand Ghosts than what Wu Gu had mentioned. When a person dies in the desert, their body is often swallowed by the shifting sands and carried thousands of miles by the wind, making it nearly impossible to find. Normally, the souls of the dead who do not receive a proper burial and rites will accumulate resentment and turn into Vengeful Ghosts. But nowhere else was it like the desert, where Vengeful Ghosts appeared in swarms.

Logically, the desert—with its harsh sun, wind, and unforgiving environment—was not a good place for either the living or the dead. It was extremely difficult for a soul to coalesce into a ghost after death there. Those that did manage it could only increase their power by devouring their own kind. Therefore, the Tianshi Association's previous approach had been to let the big fish eat the small fish, then come in periodically to clean up the rest.

The problem arose in recent years. With increased efforts to manage the desert and the development of more popular tourist routes, human activity in the area had grown. As a result, the vital essence of the desert region had also flourished. The Sand Ghosts found other sources of nourishment, their power surged, and they gradually began to harass nearby residents and devour living souls. This was why this year's exam was set in the desert.

The group of Celestial Masters took a charter flight to Sha City, arriving at three in the afternoon. From there, they took another bus to Huangshi Town, located on the edge of the desert. Huangshi Town served as the starting point for entering the desert, which had been divided into several examination areas. The Tianshi Association required them to form teams of four, accompanied by one proctor and one guide. The assessment would last for four days. Participants could choose to rest at the sand control stations within the desert or make the trek back and forth to town.

The conditions in town were relatively better—relative to the sand control stations, that is. At least there was water for bathing. Han Yeshuang's preference was to make the trip back and forth, and Wu Gu had no objection. The biggest problem at the moment was that no one was willing to team up with them. It was unclear what Hu Chen had been saying behind their backs, but even the few acquaintances Han Tianyang approached refused to join their group.

"A bunch of idiots," Han Yeshuang said.

"Can I join you guys?"

The voice came from behind Wu Gu. She turned to see a young boy, around thirteen or fourteen years old. Most of the Celestial Masters considered him a burden and were unwilling to take him. Wu Gu, however, didn't mind. She turned back to the Han siblings to ask their opinion. "I'm fine with it. What about you two?"

The Han siblings recognized the young boy. He was from the Shan family, a master of prospecting and feng shui but hopelessly bad at exorcising ghosts and catching demons. Even his own brothers and sisters had made excuses to avoid teaming up with him. But since they were all from prominent families and their parents were acquainted, the words of refusal died on their lips. Neither of them could bring themselves to say no. Han Tianyang resignedly made the introduction. "Wu Gu, this is Shan Hong from the Shan family. Shan Hong, this is Wu Gu."

Seeing that he had been accepted, Shan Hong thanked them profusely. "Thank you, Brother Tianyang, Sister Yeshuang, and you too, Sister Wu Gu."

With the team formed, Wu Gu had more time to think about her Wei Jinzhi. The cell signal in Huangshi Town was poor. She tried calling Wei Jinzhi several times, but the connection was choppy and she couldn't hear clearly, so she had to give up. That night, unable to sleep, she sat staring blankly at a stone table outside their inn. A brilliant river of stars stretched across the sky overhead. All was quiet, so much so that she could even hear the faint sound of fine sand grains colliding in the desert wind.

The unfamiliar, silent scenery made her longing all the more vivid. She realized that, without her even noticing, her initial sense of novelty and anticipation had been completely devoured by the name "Wei Jinzhi." It was said that those who became lost in the yellow sands would see a mirage just before they died, passing away peacefully in pursuit of the illusion. She thought that if that happened to her, she would surely see the most beautiful vision of Wei Jinzhi.

Early the next morning, the teams of Celestial Masters set out into the desert. The sky over Huangshi Town had not yet fully brightened; streaks of black still lingered in the blue expanse, and the distant horizon was just a thin golden line. Wispy, graceful clouds stretched across the entire sky. For convenience, Wu Gu had left her backpack behind and instead wore the belt Wei Jinzhi had given her.

The Han siblings were out earlier than Wu Gu. When Han Yeshuang turned around, she saw Wu Gu approaching. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a wide-brimmed denim hat. The hem of her light-blue plaid shirt was meticulously tucked into her jeans. Due to the heat, her sleeves were rolled up to her forearms. The wide leather belt at her waist had no discernible brand, but its buckle, made of three single-row bronze studs, was very handsome. Han Yeshuang then looked closer at the sword hilt protruding from its sheath—it was made of bronze, an extremely rare material.

Wu Gu was tall and slender, with a straight, upright posture. As she walked closer in her mid-calf, sand-proof boots, Han Yeshuang couldn't help but murmur, "So handsome."

Han Tianyang, standing beside her, thought she was talking about him and was about to puff up with pride when he noticed the direction of her gaze. Realizing she was complimenting Wu Gu, he chuckled and said, "Don't even think about it. She belongs to Eldest Miss Wei."

Han Yeshuang's first reaction was, "Who's thinking about it? What nonsense are you talking about?" Her second reaction was, "How did she become Jinzhi's?"

"Here, let me prove it with facts." Han Tianyang waved to Wu Gu. "Come on over, Wu Gu! That outfit looks great on you. I'll take a picture and send it to Jinzhi later."

The moment Wu Gu heard Wei Jinzhi's name, her pace quickened. Her previous listlessness vanished, and her voice was full of energy as she said to Han Tianyang, "In that case, make sure you take a good picture."

As Han Tianyang took out his phone to take the picture, he didn't forget to shoot Han Yeshuang a smug, raised eyebrow. Han Yeshuang rolled her eyes and muttered an insult at him, but Wu Gu really was good-looking. She couldn't resist secretly snapping a picture of her own and saving it.

The exam officially began. Including the proctor and the local guide, there were six people in their group. The guide drove them to the designated examination area, where the four Celestial Masters had to disembark. The proctor and guide would remain in the vehicle, which would not move from its position. If the examining Celestial Masters ran into trouble, they could call on the proctor for help.

The desert examination areas were vast; even teams in adjacent areas couldn't see one another. Wu Gu was young and had only ever seen a desert on television. She took a few steps out of curiosity. The sand was fine and soft, a thin layer covering the tops of her feet with every step. She didn't see any of the wind-eroded mushroom rocks or cacti from the pictures, only rolling sand dunes and the sun overhead.

Shan Hong, holding his Peach Wood Sword, asked Han Tianyang with a hint of worry, "Where are these Sand Ghosts?"

Han Tianyang frowned. He didn't know either. He had tried using his luopan compass, but the magnetic field here was strange. The needle was consistently unstable, making it difficult to pinpoint the Sand Ghosts' location. "Let's just walk for a bit and see," he said.

The desert surface was uneven and covered in soft sand dunes, which made walking extremely strenuous. Only now did Han Tianyang truly grasp the rumored difficulty of the exam. He continued to search for Sand Ghosts with his compass, but by noon, he had found nothing. Han Tianyang glanced at the sun overhead and decided they should return to the vehicle to replenish their energy and resume the search after midday. The others had no objections, so the four of them turned and headed back.

Retracing one's steps in the desert is difficult. About half an hour later, Wu Gu suddenly stopped and said to the other three, "I think there's something here."

Han Tianyang was surprised. "What is there?"

Wu Gu scanned their surroundings. "Sand Ghosts. And quite a few of them."

Shan Hong swallowed hard. "H-how do you know?"

Wu Gu patted her waist. "My bell told me."

Han Yeshuang said seriously, "We should set up a formation first, then force them out."

Wu Gu shook her head. "That would be difficult. The area is too large, and we can't pinpoint their exact locations."

Having believed Hu Chen's rumors, Shan Hong didn't trust Wu Gu's words and looked to Han Tianyang for confirmation. But Han Tianyang did believe her. He was also tired from walking, so he plopped down on the sand to rest. "Then let's rest while we think of a plan." Wu Gu and Han Yeshuang followed his lead and sat down. Shan Hong had no choice but to go along with the group. The four of them sat in a row, idly playing with the sand.

Shan Hong was still a kid, after all. He was happily digging in the sand with his Peach Wood Sword when he suddenly let out a cry of surprise. The other three looked over at him in unison. He was holding up an oddly shaped stone. "A Desert Rose Stone!" he said. "I'm so lucky!"

Wu Gu didn't know what it was, but hearing the word "rose" in its name and the excitement in Shan Hong's voice, she decided she wanted to dig one up to give to Wei Jinzhi. She had no tools, so she started digging with her bare hands. Within a few minutes, she had actually unearthed one. She carefully examined the stone in her hands, which was about half the size of a backpack. Its surface was indeed covered in shapes resembling rose petals. Her mood instantly lifted at the thought of giving Wei Jinzhi such a beautiful and special gift.

Just as they were happily digging, the fine grains of sand on the surface began to float slowly into the air, as if a sandstorm was about to form. A sense of dread washed over them simultaneously, and they all got to their feet, on guard.

In just a short while, the four of them had dug up more than a dozen rose stones. They had overlooked the fact that Desert Rose Stones are extremely rare in the country. The reason they had found so many so easily was that this was the place where the Sand Ghosts buried their treasures. Now that their treasures had been disturbed, the owners were naturally coming out to settle the score.

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