“No surname?”

Upon hearing this, the fat judge muttered with a pitying expression: “Ghosts without surnames don’t fare well in the City of Wrongful Death.”

Having said this, he closed his mouth and just looked at Jian Chou.

Jian Chou was startled, vaguely sensing that this judge had more to say, so she tentatively spoke: “This humble one is new to the underworld and doesn’t know what harm comes from having no surname. Could… could the honorable judge please provide some guidance?”

The judge raised his eyebrows, pressing his hand on the “Registry of Wrongful Death Ghosts,” and said authoritatively: “Most ghosts in the City of Wrongful Death consider those with the same surname as family. When trouble arises, they can call upon relatives and friends for help. You’re a new ghost with no surname—I’m afraid you’ll find it difficult to move a single step.”

“…”

She was stunned.

The ghosts in the City of Wrongful Death also played the same game as the imperial examination candidates recognizing fellow townsmen and examination classmates?

Moreover…

Though this judge was fat, he didn’t look the least bit kind. Instead, he had a fierce and intimidating appearance, really not seeming like a good-hearted person.

Why was he pointing this out to her for no reason?

Her mind raced, and before long Jian Chou understood.

The fat judge sitting high above, seeing her remain silent, couldn’t help but darken his expression.

Such an obtuse new ghost was truly rare.

It was really true that since the Reception Department had taken over handling new ghost reception in the City of Wrongful Death, they didn’t even teach these new ghosts what “rules” meant!

He felt inexplicably uncomfortable inside, but couldn’t avoid speaking. The fat judge looked at Jian Chou with increasingly unfriendly eyes and said coldly: “This judge’s registry office manages the names and surnames of all ghosts in the City of Wrongful Death. Changing names and surnames before registration is also possible. Do you want to adopt a surname?”

Jian Chou stood there without moving.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost stood to the side, seeing this and becoming anxious to the point of sweating profusely. They dared not reveal their relationship with Jian Chou, fearing they would be noticed, and could only stand rigidly in place, not daring to move.

This fat judge clearly wanted Jian Chou to pay “surname change money,” but their “Great Lord Jian Chou” had been so wise and intelligent before—why was there no reaction at all now?

It was too puzzling.

In the great hall of the registry office, only dim lamplight could be seen, so quiet that not a sound could be heard.

Jian Chou stood on the ground below the fat judge, looking up at him. After thinking for a moment, she finally bowed very sincerely: “Jian Chou was born without a surname. Taking on a new surname is truly unnecessary. I can only disappoint the judge’s kind intentions.”

“…”

Disappoint?!

The fat judge was simply stunned!

How many years had he been in the City of Wrongful Death?

The fat judge couldn’t even remember clearly.

This place was lucrative, and he had been lucky enough to be assigned to this position two hundred years ago. Since he began collecting various fees, he had never encountered such an ungrateful person!

She refused without even asking the price?

Was this an ignorant foolish woman, or a blockhead?!

Nearly in a rage of humiliation, he glared at Jian Chou below. The fat judge’s body trembled so much he almost couldn’t sit still, his face already covered with dark clouds, his chest rising and falling dramatically, showing how angry he was.

“You, you—what an ungrateful one! Someone come, register her directly!”

“Yes!”

From the thick shadows behind, two stick-thin registry office clerks had been standing for a while, still muttering in their hearts that this new ghost really couldn’t be squeezed for any profit.

Suddenly hearing the judge’s shout, they were immediately startled and trembled, reflexively responding.

When they looked up again, the fat judge was already shaking his mass of flesh and had left with a flick of his sleeves.

The bribe attempt had failed. Jian Chou, who had originally planned to offer a bribe, now couldn’t very well call the judge back, and could only watch helplessly as he left.

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost nearly burst into tears.

Who could have imagined such a thing happening just upon entering the registry office? Hadn’t they agreed with Jian Chou to properly “show respect” to the judge and minor officials?

Now it was over—the judge had left, and they really would be sleeping on the streets tonight.

The two stick-thin registry office clerks came forward. One held a jade token, took the new ghost register from Little Head Ghost’s hands, verified Jian Chou’s basic information, then wrote something on the jade token with one hand. Finally, he stamped it with a handprint and gave the jade token to Jian Chou.

“Your yang lifespan isn’t finished—you still have fifty-three years before you should die. This jade token is proof of your ghost registration in the City of Wrongful Death. Those with this token may not leave the city without permission. After fifty-three years pass, when it’s truly time for you to die, you’ll be sent to reincarnation. Keep this thing safe.”

Knowing that Jian Chou probably couldn’t be squeezed for any profit, the clerk giving the jade token didn’t even bother to look at her properly.

The clerk who came with the ghost register held a brush and touched it to Jian Chou’s forehead, actually pulling out a thin silk thread. With a shake of his hand, he cast it into the ghost register.

The silk thread fell on the paper and automatically coiled like a curved small snake, forming several simple seal characters that completely imprinted on the ghost register like text.

Presumably, this counted as being registered.

Jian Chou thought the process was quite simple, but she still had some other questions she wanted to ask.

But before Jian Chou could find a chance to speak, the clerk who had registered her snorted coldly. Without looking at Jian Chou, he only looked at Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost who were attending nearby.

“You two are new here, aren’t you? Don’t you know to ask what the rules are at our registry office! Next time you bring new ghosts here, if they’re still like this, not understanding any rules, our official will be angry.”

“Yes, yes, yes. We humble ones don’t understand the rules. We’ll definitely change next time, definitely change…”

Little Head Ghost felt bitter inside, thinking he had tried to say something, had tried to suggest it, but he didn’t know what Jian Chou was thinking. They were all ghost clerks—how could he, a minor ghost from the Reception Department, dare to act wildly at the registry office?

He kept apologizing and nodding repeatedly.

Seeing he was fairly sensible, the two clerks then arrogantly closed the ghost register, put it away in the distance, and waved their hands: “The registration is complete. Hurry up and get lost!”

Little Head Ghost immediately felt relieved, grabbed Jian Chou and Big Head Ghost, and directly retreated outside.

They passed between the two stone statues as before, returned by the same route, and were back on the streets of the City of Wrongful Death.

It was already the latter half of the night, but the streets were still quiet.

Jian Chou was pulled out by Little Head Ghost. Upon reaching this place, she stopped and looked back. The registry office of the City of Wrongful Death appeared calm and low under the backdrop of those two sculptures.

“Sigh, this… Great Lord Jian Chou, what were you thinking?” Little Head Ghost also stopped, feeling miserable inside, wearing a mournful expression and feeling extremely wronged. “Didn’t we agree on this?”

Jian Chou knew he was referring to the bribery matter.

Touching the qiankun bag in her sleeve, she also smiled bitterly. But changing surnames was something she had done once before and was unwilling to do a second time.

No matter where she went or what kind of person she became, Jian Chou was Jian Chou and would never change.

But there was no need to explain this to Little Head Ghost. Even if she exhausted her words explaining, these two fellows might not understand why she was so stubborn, so Jian Chou simply didn’t explain.

She stood on the street, paced two steps with her hands behind her back, quite leisurely.

“What’s done is done. What’s the point of dwelling on it? Better to think of countermeasures. I still don’t understand enough about the City of Wrongful Death. I wonder how long you two can stay here?”

“We have to leave at dawn.” Little Head Ghost looked regretful.

Big Head Ghost looked around reluctantly.

Obviously, for two little ghosts living in the wilderness, this prosperous City of Wrongful Death was something they could only dream of reaching before.

Having seen it and now having to leave made them feel too unwilling.

But what could they do?

Little Head Ghost rolled his eyes: “Regarding the City of Wrongful Death, Big Head and I only know the surface. We have nowhere to sleep tonight either. So… Great Lord Jian Chou, aren’t you somewhat acquainted with Old Zhang? How about… we go ask?”

“…I’m afraid we won’t learn much or get any favors.”

After all, Zhang Tang had helped her. Now asking for more help seemed somewhat pushing her luck.

However, it was also a desperate measure.

“We’re sleeping on the streets anyway. Better to sleep at Old Zhang’s doorstep… otherwise if he leaves early tomorrow morning, what will we do…”

Then they’d have no chance at all.

Little Head Ghost was cunning and thought of Zhang Tang’s unusual harshness and responsibility. He’d probably leave the city before dawn.

If they didn’t wait like this, who knew what would happen.

Jian Chou thought about it and indeed saw the logic, so she agreed.

About half an hour later, the three homeless fellows sat wordlessly on the threshold of Zhang Tang’s residence.

The desolate cold wind passed through the spacious street, buildings of various forms stood in the darkness, and the eighteen-story above-ground tower stood clearly in the center.

First meeting Zhang Tang, then entering the City of Wrongful Death together, finding Immortal Wuzhong together, solving the problem of the living person’s physical body, and finally going to the registry office to completely become one of the new ghosts of the City of Wrongful Death…

After this long night of turmoil, dawn was almost breaking.

Jian Chou was originally a cultivator. Even though this ghost soul form seemed quite weak, far inferior to when she was human, she wouldn’t be particularly tired either.

So at this moment, she had no drowsiness at all.

On the contrary, with the cold wind cutting across her face, she became increasingly alert.

Casually sitting below the threshold, she flipped her hand and the stone pearl Immortal Wuzhong had given her appeared in her palm, even rolling twice.

“So it’s better to offend the other nine clans than to offend the Ghost King clan… Generally, ghosts in the City of Wrongful Death are forbidden from killing each other, but this rule doesn’t work very well anymore…”

…

Big Head Ghost and Little Head Ghost racked their brains, telling Jian Chou all the reliable and unreliable rumors they had heard.

Unknowingly, time passed.

Zhang Tang had always been self-disciplined, or rather self-demanding. He was always the earliest to arrive at the Reception Department each day. Even though he was now in the City of Wrongful Death, this shouldn’t be an exception.

So, just as Little Head Ghost had complained, today Zhang Tang had risen before dawn.

This residence couldn’t compare to when he was an official in the world—it was much smaller and simpler.

However, one thing hadn’t changed—

No matter how you looked at it, this residence didn’t seem like a place where people lived.

It was too clean and simple, like an empty courtyard where you could hardly see any furnishings.

Zhang Tang wasn’t addicted to pleasure, so he desired nothing else.

What he had most in his residence were merely crows that came and went, roosting in the courtyard trees.

After briefly washing and changing into clean new official robes, then binding his hair with a crown, Zhang Tang’s face was indifferent, his eyes revealing coldness.

He stepped out the door, passed through the empty central courtyard, his footsteps particularly clear.

The two doors remained tightly closed as when he had shut them yesterday. Zhang Tang pulled the door bolt with both hands and finally opened the door.

“Creak…”

The door hinges rubbed together, immediately producing a harsh sound that pierced through the entire silent darkness.

In that instant, Little Head Ghost, whose head had nearly nodded to the ground, was startled by this sound. His entire tailbone went cold, and he jumped up with a start: “Who?!”

Zhang Tang still held the doors with both hands, his dead face showing no expression, just looking at Little Head Ghost, and also at…

Big Head Ghost who had fallen into a dead sleep on the ground and the unperturbed Jian Chou.

Imagine opening your door early in the morning and finding three poor beggars who had slept at your doorstep all night—what would that feel like?

Zhang Tang showed no expression, so Jian Chou couldn’t glimpse his inner thoughts.

She stood up unhurriedly, patted her hands, and was quite grateful to Zhang Tang: “Thanks to Zhang-daren’s care, I’ve been registered at the registry office. I wonder if Zhang-daren slept well last night?”

Zhang Tang didn’t answer, turning back to close the door.

Little Head Ghost had been startled just now, but now realizing it was Zhang Tang, he became even more cowardly.

He quietly kicked Big Head Ghost, but Big Head Ghost continued sleeping soundly, ignoring him.

At this time, Zhang Tang looked at Big Head Ghost coldly, also glanced at Little Head Ghost, and only then answered Jian Chou’s question: “No need to worry about it.”

“Good that Zhang-daren slept well, ahem…” After coughing, Jian Chou said, “Following your guidance last night, we went to the registry office to register, but the registry office didn’t tell us what to pay attention to in the City of Wrongful Death, and didn’t arrange lodging for us. Zhang-daren has been in the City of Wrongful Death for some time, I wonder…”

The unspoken words were left in the trailing tone.

Jian Chou’s way of speaking was naturally very clever.

Zhang Tang was also a clever person—how could he not understand such a simple meaning?

He walked down the steps, and under Little Head Ghost’s horrified gaze, wearing leather boots, he stepped over the sleeping Big Head Ghost and said to Jian Chou: “Today happens to be when the Mountain-Sea Market opens.”

Mountain-Sea Market?

Jian Chou immediately remembered what Little Head Ghost had mentioned, and suddenly understood.

“Thank you…”

The word “thank” had just left her mouth, before she could finish speaking, Zhang Tang frowned and looked at Jian Chou once. The profound light in his eyes deepened a few degrees. Without saying anything, he turned and walked directly toward the other end of the street.

“This…”

Little Head Ghost was amazed, not daring to speak.

Zhang Tang obviously didn’t like her much.

Jian Chou could see it—probably because of Xie Buchen, he was quite unwelcoming?

Anyway, unable to figure out the reason, she just kept Zhang Tang’s look in mind and didn’t think much about it. Instead, she asked Little Head Ghost: “Little Head, you mentioned the Mountain-Sea Market to me before. Does it appear at dawn?”

“Mountain-Sea Market? That’s the right time… Ah! I understand now too!”

Little Head Ghost slapped his forehead, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Right, you have things, we can go to the Mountain-Sea Market to sell them! Money makes ghosts turn millstones!”

The Mountain-Sea Market took its meaning from mountain mirages and sea mirages.

Every so often, it appeared at dawn, being a huge trading market that cyclically appeared in the major cities of the underworld, extremely mysterious.

All those who did business in the Mountain-Sea Market also had formidable strength!

And Zhang Tang had said that today was when the Mountain-Sea Market would appear!

Jian Chou’s eyes also brightened.

At this time, the sky was gradually showing signs of brightening, and the entire City of Wrongful Death was actually shrouded in mist that covered the whole city in the blink of an eye.

At the moment of dawn, a magnificent pressure suddenly rose from the mist, spreading out like ripples.

“Hum…”

Even the space at the horizon seemed to vibrate faintly!

A hazy golden light actually rose from the thousand-zhang mist, swimming through the mist like a golden snake, outlining a magnificent silhouette…

The blue sky was vast, dust and air boundless, green tiles and flying eaves, human dwellings and markets.

As if ten-thousand-zhang tall buildings rose from the ground, in an instant, in this ethereal space, a massive city appeared, seemingly real yet illusory, floating above the City of Wrongful Death!

“A mirage…”