The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie

Chapter 131: 131: Lord Black Impermanence punishes Luo Qinghe
 

“I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.”

Ming Yanghua rolled his eyes, about to faint.

Lord Black Impermanence coldly ordered, “Don’t you dare faint.”

Ming Yanghua, who was on the verge of fainting from his overwhelming fear of ghosts, yet clinging to his will not to faint, remained silent.

Lord Black Impermanence moved with the speed of the wind, drifting from his left side to his right, a ghostly voice whispering in his ear, “If you faint, I’ll claim your life.”

Oh Mommy!

He pinched his thigh hard, using all his strength, pain keeping him alert, pain filling his eyes with tears, pain making him forget that he was once a pampered rich kid, suddenly becoming— a coward, “I’ll burn you all the money you want, just don’t keep haunting me…” He was about to cry! He had been afraid of ghosts since he was a child, genuinely scared!

Lord Black Impermanence was relentless, like a restless ghost, darting up and down in front of him, “I’m not haunting you. No one else can see me, only you can.”

Damn, I’m really going to cry…

Finally, Lord Black Impermanence landed, a dark mass advancing toward him, “Do you know why?”

He shook in terror, legs trembling, backing away, curse it, he was truly terrified of ghosts!

Lord Black Impermanence said with all seriousness, “It’s because you have a unique bone structure, you are a different kind of person, only someone like you can see a Hell Messenger.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Ɲονǥօ.сᴑ

…

The truth made him shed tears.

Lord Black Impermanence’s ‘raspy’ voice rose again, “So,”

Is there more to it?

Ming Yanghua’s eyes rolled again as he struggled on the verge of fainting, pinching his thigh until it was almost bruised to prevent himself from passing out.

Lord Black Impermanence slowly revealed the intention, “You have been chosen by the Hell Messenger.”

He said he wasn’t haunting him? He had been chosen!

Ming Yanghua shook his head, his face a mixture of ruffian charm and a hint of fierceness, yet marked with the look of fear for ghosts, trembling in the wind like a small sapling about to fall without support, “Lord Black Impermanence, I don’t want to die yet…”

He was only 24, so suave and handsome, not yet married, nor had he inherited the billion-dollar family fortune…

“You don’t have to die.”

Ming Yanghua paused for a moment.

Lord Black Impermanence suddenly turned authoritative, like a big boss in a TV drama, flinging his sleeve and placing a hand behind his back, “You are my mortal messenger chosen by Lord Black Impermanence, no one dares let you die.”

Huh?

Ming Yanghua was stunned.

Lord Black Impermanence looked at him, calling out, “Mortal Messenger.”

He was bewildered.

Lord Black Impermanence called out again, “Mortal Messenger.”

He remained bewildered.

Lord Black Impermanence raised his voice, becoming serious, “I’m calling you.” She got too into it and momentarily forgot to make her voice harsher, “Mortal Messenger.”

The voice was actually quite pleasant.

Ming Yanghua crossed his arms, a gesture of resistance, his voice shivering, “Here…”

Lord Black Impermanence leaped up to the balcony on the second floor, stepped up with one foot on the railing, and stretched out her hand, making a summoning gesture, “Come here, there’s something I need you to do as a mortal messenger for Lord Black Impermanence now.”

This female ghost… damn it, Lord Black Impermanence really could fly.

The mortal messenger, Ming Yanghua, stepped forward with hesitation every three steps, grabbed a pinch of his womanizer-quiff haircut, and despite his reluctance to show weakness, he still succumbed to the formidable power of Lord Ghost, “Please command, my lord.”

Lord Black Impermanence was satisfied, her eyes forming crescents, “Very good.”

Zhou Xufang’s mimicking skills were exceptional, and she recently watched a BL novel called “Why Lord Ghost behaves this way,” which narrated the story of a male student who failed his college entrance exams and attempted to jump off a building in despair. He didn’t die but accidentally killed a flourishing young man, who became an Innocent Ghost and gradually defeated countless other innocent ghosts to become a powerful Lord Ghost in Hell. Six years later, the Lord Ghost started his revenge plan, constantly haunting the male student who cut his life short… and through entanglement, they developed a deep romance.

The act Zhou Xufang just performed was the scene of the initial encounter between the Lord Ghost and the male student, where she played the assertive younger ghostly suitor—Lord Ghost.

Not bad at all, she had a natural talent for playing a female ghost.

At 7:30, as all the guests were seated and the banquet was about to start, Jiang Zhi appeared, gasping every three steps and coughing every five, assisted downstairs from the upper floor.

Ah Gui bent over and whispered to Old Madam Jiang, “Old Madam, the young master has come down.”

Old Madam Jiang immediately sent away her eldest grandson, Jiang Xiaolin, cleared the chair beside her, and laid down a fur blanket, “Brother Zhi, come and sit by Grandma.”

Jiang Xiaolin was used to it; without changing expression, he moved to another table to sit down, but his father, Jiang Weikai, looked a bit displeased.

This Old Madam’s favoritism was too much.

Jiang Zhi dragged his feet, moving exceptionally slowly to the chair. Once seated, he leaned back, gasping for air, then began coughing, “Cough cough cough cough cough…”

His pale face, from the coughing, blushed slightly, and coupled with his delicate features, he looked pitiable. Despite that, his eyes were proud and aristocratic, no trace of femininity. He was both appealing in his delicacy and proud in his arrogance.

Putting aside how the Jiang Family’s young master was too delicate to get along with, his title as the most beautiful person in Imperial City was well-deserved. His presence immediately captured the attention of all the men and women in the room.

“Cough cough cough cough cough…”

Between the gasps and coughs of the beauty, his peach blossom eyes misted over, exuding a romantic allure.

Damn it!

What a Fairy!

Xue Baoyi was at the next table over, feeling a pang in his heart just looking on. Even he, a sturdy, straightforward man, could barely stand it—Jiang Zhi’s appearance was truly enchanting.

“How come the coughing is so severe?” After showing concern, Old Lady Jiang instructed Gui, who was nearby, to fetch a hand warmer, with an overflowing look of heartache written all over her face.

Jiang Zhi was breathless and listless, with half-closed eyelids; his voice was faint. But as soon as he spoke, everyone else went silent to listen to his feeble words, “Probably because I was pushed into the sea a while back, it left me with an ailment, and I cough badly whenever the weather turns damp.”

Why would he suddenly bring up this matter…

“Father-in-law,” Old Lady Jiang’s face went cold as soon as she spoke, her gaze turned to Grandpa Luo, “What is your take on this matter?”

The yard suddenly became silent as the grave.

This grandfather-grandson pair was playing good cop and bad cop, settling scores after autumn.

Luo Huaiyu sat upright, his expression unchanged: “The criminal has been apprehended, and the trial will commence shortly. We’ll definitely see that justice is served for Brother Zhi.”

The Jiang Family and the Luo Family were related by marriage. Old Lady Jiang bringing the issue to light was indeed unexpected—it was no wonder that the Jiang Family’s youngest son was said to be the apple of the Old Lady’s eye and untouchable by others.

“If my memory serves me right,” Old Lady Jiang paused for a moment, her gaze turned towards Luo Qinghe, “the culprit was from Qinghe’s men, right?”

Luo Qinghe set down her teacup and rose to speak, “Yes Grandma Jiang, that was indeed my oversight in supervision.”

Her tone was gentle, showing a gesture of goodwill, therefore giving the Jiang Family a way out—bending her head, she wanted to gloss over the matter.

But Old Lady Jiang did not intend to let it go.

“Of course it’s your fault.” The Old Madam’s face was stern as she took a hard line in front of everyone, accusatory and aggressive, “Not only you but also your father, who not only gave false testimony but also deliberately burned his hand, repeatedly trying to confuse everyone. What exactly is it that your Luo Family doesn’t want to come to light when it comes to catching the criminal?”

The attitude was now clear; the Luo Family must give an explanation for this matter.

Luo Qinghe’s face showed difficulty as she stepped forward to answer. No matter how proud she used to be, she had to keep her henchmen in the Jiang house in check, speaking softly and gently: “Grandma Jiang, you misunderstand, my father had no intention, and did not know who the culprit was.”

Old Madam Jiang snorted, her expression unyielding and inflexible: “I do not care whether you truly don’t know or pretend not to know. Solving the case and finding the criminal is the police’s responsibility. Go tell them your theory of innocence. I’m just an old woman who won’t pass judgment, but I do know that your Luo Family can’t shake off your connection to this matter.”

Gui came in from the house with a blanket.

Old Madam Jiang took it and covered Jiang Zhi, continuing, “Since you can’t shake off your connection, then don’t even try. My Brother Zhi has suffered greatly because of this. You all know how frail he is; he can’t withstand such torment. I’m not asking to make things difficult for you—let’s have the Luo Family make an apology in public and send some medicinal herbs to help his body recover. That’s not asking too much, right?”

“Cough cough cough…”

Jiang Zhi let out intermittent light coughs. He seemed spiritless, almost asleep, as if none of this concerned him at all.

Now that things had come to this point, the Luo Family had to make amends. Aside from Grandpa Luo Huaiyu, Tang Xiang and the two granddaughters were present, so Luo Qinghe took the lead.

“That’s not asking too much at all.” She approached Jiang Zhi, eyes downcast as she made an apology in front of everyone, “I’m sorry, Jiang Zhi, for not supervising my subordinates closely. I am here to apologize to you for my part in this.”

The responsibility was merely not keeping a close watch on her subordinates.

Naturally, she did not admit that the matter had anything to do with the Luo Family.

Jiang Zhi, who had been drooping his eyelids, suddenly lifted them a bit. His tone nonchalant, “Is this how you apologize to someone?”

After finishing speaking, he covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Despite appearing fragile as a reed in the wind, this noncommittal remark held a firm grip on the situation, carrying the air of ‘if you do not satisfy me today, don’t think of leaving this place.’

Luo Qinghe’s forced smile faltered. It turns out this birthday celebration was set up to show her Luo Family their place. Without a thorough apology, this matter would probably not end.

She would have to bend her back even if she didn’t want to.

She gave a deep bow, ninety degrees, and said to Jiang Zhi, “I apologize.”

Jiang Zhi showed the temperament of a spoiled rich kid, not deigning to give her a glance.

This must be the first time the Miss of the Luo Family had to lower her head to someone.

Luo Qinghe stood with her hands hanging by her sides, tightly clenched. Several seconds later, she stood up straight, her face quickly returning to normal.

Everyone thought the matter would end there. But no, the account had not been settled yet. Old Madam Jiang, holding a cup of tea in one hand and the lid in the other, casually flicked away tea leaves on the surface: “Why isn’t Changde here today?”

Luo Qinghe answered, “My father had an accident, he’s still in the hospital.” Being a clever person, she understood what Old Lady Jiang implied, “Let me make the apology on behalf of my father to Brother Zhi.”

Being a junior, the apology would not hugely damage the Luo Family’s face.

However, Old Madam Jiang chuckled, “You cannot represent him, as the failure to teach is the father’s fault.” The Old Madam took a sip from her cup, looking towards Luo Huaiyu, “Father-in-law, what do you think?”

With that one sentence, Luo Huaiyu’s complexion changed.

Today, aside from the Lu Family who were at odds with the Jiang Family and not present, all the distinguished families of the Imperial City were here. Having him, a man in his late seventies, apologize to the Jiang Family’s youngest son was Old Lady Jiang’s way of humiliating the Luo Family.

The guests remained silent, watching the drama unfold.

At that moment, a young girl’s voice came from outside, “I think Old Madam Jiang is right. The apology needs to be made.”

It was a young girl’s voice.

Old Madam Jiang looked up, surprised, “Second Miss Lu, how did you come here?”

Everyone was also curious; why had Second Miss Lu also come?

The Lu Family and the Jiang Family were sworn enemies, and for years, there had been no private interactions between the two families, aside from exchanging courtesy invitations—which both families tacitly understood to accept but not attend.

Lu Sheng smiled like a harmless, well-behaved girl next door: “My grandma’s getting old and isn’t very mobile, so she sent me here in her place.” She walked in, pulled up a chair to sit down, placed her hands on the round table, and rested her chin on them, playfully blinking at Luo Huaiyu, “Mr. Luo, please hurry with the apology, let’s start the meal. I am hungry here.”

Compared to the Jiang Family, Lu Sheng despised the Luo Family even more. This birthday feast was for everyone to witness the Luo Family’s embarrassment, and she wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Lu Sheng urged cutely, “Come on, Mr. Luo, we are all hungry.”

For the first time, the prestigious Four Great Families’ Jiang and Lu Families were on the same side.

Luo Huaiyu’s grip on his teacup tightened almost to the point of shattering it, his face turning ashen as he stood up, facing Jiang Zhi, and bent forward in a bow, “It’s this old man’s fault for not teaching well. My apologies.”

The moment he bowed, from tomorrow onward, the Luo Family would become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City.

Jiang Zhi covered his mouth with a cough, ‘too busy’ to comment, making an elder who was aged seventy or eighty bend his back for over ten seconds.

At the table, a few clueless youngsters couldn’t hold back and whispered jokes among themselves, mocking the three generations of the Luo Family, all turning uncomfortable shades of red.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough…”

Jiang Zhi started coughing again.

Old Lady Jiang quickly helped him catch his breath, “Coughing so vigorously might mean that the seawater has damaged your lungs.” She then looked over at Luo Huaiyu, repeatedly calling him “father-in-law,” “Father-in-law, I’ve heard that you have a Lingzhi mushroom. Since you also wish to compensate our Brother Zhi, why not give the Lingzhi to him to strengthen his body?”

Luo Huaiyu: “…” A surge of internal bleeding stuck in his throat, neither spitting out nor swallowing down, turning his face red with effort.

Those few clueless youngsters laughed even more impudently.

Everyone in Imperial City knew that the Luo Family possessed a precious Lingzhi mushroom—a true treasure that money couldn’t buy. It was acquired by the Luo Family from a tomb raider. The eldest son of the Lu Family was also in poor health, and the Lu Family matriarch had once approached the Luo Family asking for the medicinal mushroom, offering a high price of fifty million, but the Luo Family did not sell. Now Old Lady Jiang was trying to get it for free.

Whether in terms of wealth or social influence, the Luo Family was a few ranks below the Jiang Family. In front of so many people, they had not only lost face but with this ‘compensation,’ even though it hurt, they had to give it.

Luo Huaiyu, his face turning green, said, “I’ll have someone send it over tomorrow.”

Only then did Old Lady Jiang appear satisfied, “Order to start the banquet.”

Just as the accounts settled there, even before the dishes were served, another commotion arose.

“Ah!”

It was a sharp scream.

The crowd turned to look and saw a column of water falling from the sky, drenching the still-unsuspecting Luo Qinghe.

The water column was considerable, and Luo Qinghe was immediately pushed over by the force, knocking over a table and falling to the ground.

Xue Baoyi happened to be sitting at that table.

“Damn! It splashed on me!”

He jumped up to dodge and disgustingly shook the water off his feet.

In the middle of winter, the water was bone-chillingly cold, and the catastrophe happened so suddenly and without warning that people had yet to react when Luo Qinghe was already drenched and unable to stand.

Old Lady Jiang quickly told people to support Jiang Zhi and move back to avoid getting involved, and asked Jiang Chuan beside her, “What’s happening?”

The butler looked up at the water column, which seemed to be spraying down from the rooftop, but it was too dark to see anything clearly. He shook his head, also uncertain of the situation.

The water column continued to spray at Luo Qinghe, who couldn’t even open her eyes and curled up on the ground, rolling around. Her meticulously styled hair and makeup were completely ruined, looking like a bedraggled lunatic. Finally, she couldn’t bear it and started to cry out.

“Stop!”

As soon as she opened her mouth, the water column took the opportunity to pour into it.

“Cough, cough, cough… Stop it!”

“Grandpa, Grandpa!”

The water flow left her face frozen stiff, with water in her nose and mouth, her hair wet and sticking to her face. The buttons of her coat had come undone in her struggles, and underneath was a flashy red dress. Due to the force of the water, her dress was lifted, revealing her large thighs cladded in flesh-colored stockings.

The young Miss of the Luo Family had probably never been so humiliated.

She flailed around, holding her face and shrieking, “Ah—Ah—Ah—”

Nobody came forward. In the biting cold, everyone kept their distance, not wanting to be splashed.

The water jet was forceful and long-reaching.

Zhou Xufang was very pleased, squinting one eye to aim right at Luo Qinghe’s face, and firing—

“Ah—Ah—Ah—”

Ha, that’ll teach you to spill drinks on others!

Squinting again, she aimed at Luo Qinghe’s thighs, and firing—

“Ah—Ah—Ah—”

Your lapdog made Jiang Zhi drink seawater, so I’ll make you become a drenched dog!

Ha!

Zhou Xufang readied her aim and fired again—

“Ah—Ah—Ah—”

Luo Qinghe held her head with one hand and tried to pull down her dress with the other, but it was too late.

Zhou Xufang held the hose with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, letting out laughter like tolling bells.

Downstairs, it was utter chaos.

Luo Qinghe was screaming miserably and awkwardly. The moment the water lifted her skirt, she lost all reason, blinded by the heavy flow and unable to stand, only able to call out desperately for help.

“Grandpa! Grandpa, save me!”

“Stop it, please!”

“Please stop!”

The young Miss of the Luo Family, having lost all her dignity and image, was a sight the crowd had never seen before. Usually so lofty, just one splash of cold water reduced her to nothing but screams.

Tang Xiang approached Luo Huaiyu and said softly, “There’s someone on the roof.”

Luo Huaiyu’s face darkened as he scolded sharply, “Yinghe, go and help your cousin up!”

Luo Yinghe hesitated for a moment but immediately stepped back, “I don’t want to, it’s so cold.”

If his own family wouldn’t step forward, why should they expect others to? Luo Qinghe was usually aloof and arrogant, ruthless and decisive in the business world, and most in the courtyard were there to watch her humiliation or see her make a fool of herself. Who would want to get involved and end up drenched?

At that moment, Old Lady Jiang spoke, “Go and help Miss Luo up.”

It was then that the Jiang Family’s servants went to assist.

But helping her up was useless, as the water jet seemed to have eyes of its own, targeting only Luo Qinghe. It sprayed with precision, hitting her face and thighs.

Just as she was helped up, she was knocked down again by the water’s force.

“There’s someone messing with us from above.” Luo Huaiyu stood up, glared at Old Lady Jiang with fury, and thundered, “Are you Jiang Family going to give me an explanation?”

However, no explanation could be provided at the moment.

Old Lady Jiang first made her apologies, ordered protection for Luo Qinghe, and then instructed the servants, “Some of you go and block the exits of the manor, and the rest of you bring the guests inside.” Once everything was in order, she continued, “Jiang Chuan, go upstairs and see who is causing trouble.”

Jiang Chuan responded and headed upstairs.

Just then, someone burst out saying, “I know who it is.”

It was Ming Family’s Xiao Liu.

“Xiao Liu, come back here!” This troublesome child! Ming Songding quickly pulled back his simple-natured son.

Although Xiao Liu appeared as a rowdy ruffian outside, his nature was pure. He was oblivious to people’s expressions, just like the silly son of a wealthy landowner, and he kept shouting out loud.

When Old Lady Jiang heard this, she asked, “Younger Young Master Ming, who do you think it is?”

Ming Yanghua spoke loudly, “It’s Lord Black Impermanence.”

Everyone: “…”

Ming Songding held his forehead, lamenting his past life’s sins that resulted in birthing such a creature. The Ming Family was not a nouveau riche household but had generations of merchants with a decent fortune. He wondered at which point something went wrong leading to the appearance of such a ‘fool’.

Ming Yanghua, remembering his duty as a mortal messenger, stood out. Amid his wandering demeanor, he spoke with confident vigor: “Don’t disbelieve. I am a mortal messenger and can see ghost messengers. The one spraying water from above is Lord Black Impermanence.” At this moment, he felt incredibly imposing. His tone rose with the arrogance of a street gang leader, brimming with mettle. “Lord Black Impermanence said this woman has committed grave sins, and before claiming her life, he wants to punish her first.”

“…”

Everyone looked at him as if he were mentally challenged.

Ming Songding was so frustrated he wanted to crawl into a hole and bury this embarrassment of a son. His beard nearly stood on end as he snapped, “What nonsense are you spouting? Shut your mouth now!”

But Ming Yanghua didn’t shut up; he wasn’t finished: “Lord Black Impermanence also said, the Luo Family’s sins are known to those below, and they are remembered. It’s not that there won’t be retribution, only that the time has not yet come. The Luo Family should be careful, not to venture out at night, and stop harming others.”

At that moment, Ming Yanghua’s admiration for Lord Black Impermanence surged inexplicably. It was as though he really had seen a ghost.

Of course, he still feared ghosts, a fear deep in his bones, so he dared not forget the instructions of Lord Black Impermanence. Standing tall, he addressed everyone with an earnest tone: “And the same goes for all of you. Lord Black Impermanence said not to do evil, otherwise, she will come to find each of you one by one.”

His father was close to having a breakdown.

“Xiao Liu! Stop talking nonsense!”

It wasn’t nonsense but the commands of Lord Black Impermanence. He affirmed this dutifully, fearing being haunted, and said, “I’m not. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Wait and ask the butler when he comes down if you don’t believe me.” Anyway, he believed it. Such a ‘powerful’ female ghost must surely be an official, Lord Black Impermanence without a doubt!

Everyone thought that something must have possessed the youngster from the Ming Family. Hadn’t he been frightened by a ‘female ghost’ at the beach recently and ended up in the hospital? Since then, he had claimed he could see ghosts and was probably mentally disturbed.

The Ming Family should call for a Taoist priest.

Back to the rooftop.

Jiang Chuan had just reached the top when he saw a dark figure and shouted, “Who’s there?!”

The figure turned around.

Jiang Chuan’s legs weakened, and he fell to the ground, “Gh… ghost…”

It was a pitch-black figure, with only the eyeballs shining with a bloodred, dim light. Dripping from its head was something wet.

Oh, it was Zhou Xufang who had been ‘playing with water’ and got sprayed in the eye.

She discarded the hose, “I’m not a ghost.”

“You—”

Before he could finish, Jiang Chuan’s eyes bulged in shock, paralyzed.

In the blink of an eye, the ‘ghost’ had ‘floated’ next to him, freezing him in place. His pupils dilated with extreme terror.

In a low voice by his ear, she said, “I am Lord Black Impermanence.”

After speaking, she ‘floated’ away just as quickly as she had arrived, disappearing from sight.

Ten seconds later—

“A ghost!”

Jiang Chuan ran down with trembling legs.

When Old Lady Jiang saw him come down, she immediately asked, “Jiang Chuan, what happened?”

His legs gave out, and Jiang Chuan collapsed to the floor, panting heavily with sweat pouring down his forehead and a look of horror in his eyes, “Old… Old Madam.”

“Why are you panicking? Who was up there?”

Jiang Chuan, now in his sixties, was close to fainting from the shock. His lips turned white as he stuttered, “She she she said… she is Lord Black Impermanence.”

Ming Yanghua folded his arms and snorted with a touch of smug pride in his voice: “See, I told you, it was Lord Black Impermanence.” Believe it now?

It was the powerfully magical Lord Black Impermanence!