At the Ancient Palace, the Lou Clan who were doing the ritual of sacrifice suddenly heard the voice of the Ghost King they've been serving for centuries. This was the second time in these years that they've heard his voice. After this time, the existence of the Ghost King had been unknown.
Especially that, now that modern times had taken over the ancient era, supernatural entities were considered unscientific. In short, for rational thinkers, their existence is within the blurred boundary of science and entities that cannot be explained.
Among the people, the Celestial Master who had different views of the world can be said to be the only ones among the humans who still believe in ghosts, demons, and gods. This is because these following entities were in line with their work.
The human whose time never stops would choose to move on, on the way they would get used to their new lives and would sometimes forget about the past. When the Ghost King stops talking to the Lou Clan after the contract is finalized, those who had faced the ghost king had longed to perish due to old age, and only those children who had grown up to adults would be either still remembered or forget about altogether.
Lou Ming and his generation were among the few who had forgotten yet they also wavered thinking that the strongest Ghost King that was feared during the ancient times had long disappeared. They were arrogant to think that their current abilities were something they had been born with; sadly it is only a borrowed power from the Ghost King. Power and ability that the ghost king himself could take back any time.
So when they heard the Ghost King's voice, the hidden fear which they had forgotten due to time had once again resurfaced. They treated the Ghost King as a model God to serve but at the same time, their loyalty towards him had long faded. They were just following the routine their clan had asked them to comply.
So when the Ghost King suddenly appeared once again, instead of admiration and loyalty, only fear and doubt filled their hearts. Once he heard him asking for his bride, their faces all turned bloodless in shock and disbelief. They were all thinking that this Ghost King is trying to destroy their clan by taking away their sole heir.
Within the Lou Clan, among the youngest generations, only Lou Lan possessed spiritual qi which is above the rest. Though he doesn't have Yin-Yang eyes, his abilities as Celestial Master and his main capabilities are more about curses.
Hearing the pleading voices of the elders and Lou Ming telling him to give them time and they would prepare his bride for him, Ye Xiajie took his time to reply which made those humans nervous to the point of death.
Ye Xiajie spoke, "I want my bride to arrive in this palace before nightfall. Failure to do so… Your Lou Clan shall never exist! Clean up all the mess and take back that blood you brought for this king. So dirty!"
A strong wind forcefully pushed the open huge door and only the moonlight helped Lou Ming and his elders to see the way out. Carrying the huge pail of blood and flesh they hurried went down from that desolated Palace. Once everyone was out they heard a bang sound behind them.
When they turned around the huge door closed after them and the candles that were cut off when they were doing the ritual suddenly lit up on their own. They felt a chill climb up on his spine and they could only run away from that place.
—
Somewhere within the city, Xue Hua was about to ride a taxi home together with the paper human Master Shen Ling had made for him as an escort. Suddenly, a chill hit his slender body making him shiver uncontrollably and sneeze once.
ACHOO!
The taxi driver asked worriedly, "Lad, go in already. Uncle will turn on the heater for you. Geez~ It's almost winter and you choose to stay out until nightfall before not getting sick."
Xue Hua smiled gently and entered the car. He flashed a friendly expression towards the kind-hearted uncle and responded.
"I was visiting a friend in the hospital. It was a happy occasion that he woke up today from the coma. It took a while before everyone chose to disperse the crowd. I've left before them because I'm worried my Dage might be looking for me. Uncle here was kind enough to escort me home."
The paper man who was silent all the time gave the taxi driver a nod showing his agreement to the words of the mysterious beautiful lad in his car.
The taxi driver believed his excuse and said, "No wonder. Which way should we go?"
"Just go straight to the third intersection, turn right. Please drop us in the gates of District S. Thank you~" said Xue Hua.
"Hahaha~ no need for thanks. Uncle is just doing his job." said the taxi driver as if he was driving away.
As the outside scenery flashes beyond the clear window, Xue Hua couldn't help but look in the direction where the Ancient Palace is located. Hia friendly smile from before had disappeared and there is only coldness and an aloofness left within those golden orbs. Under the moonlight, those gold irises faded in color turning silver for a moment.
Xue Hua whispered, "A memoryless me might be a bit cruel but my feelings for you are still there. I miss you so much but at the same time, I'm still ang–… Ah~ Too sleepy~"
—
Evening. At the Lou Mansion.
Lou Lan and the others had just returned home. The mansion looks small and simple from the outside but the interior of this mansion is wide. There is a hall where the Clan's men gathered during meetings or meals. Lou Lan headed straight to the hall and saw his father, Lou Ming together with the other elders.
Today is ghost day. The same day when people of the Clan went to the Ancient Palace to do the routine sacrificial ritual for the Ghost King. The other elders knew about this but after not hearing anything about the ghost king, their reverence for him had faded with time.
Lou Lan joyously greeted everyone especially his father, "Dad~ we're back~"
As soon as his voice echoed in the hall everyone in the place all looked at Lou Lan making him flinch in surprise as everyone was suddenly looking at him. The elders that had just returned together with their young master noticed the weirdness of the atmosphere in the hall. Lou Lan was stunned with everyone's eyes on him.
"W-What's wrong? Dad?" asked Lou Lan.
An elder who came back with Lou Lan asked, "Is something wrong? How about the Sacrificial Ritual? Have you guys finished it yet? Clan Leader?" asked the first elder.
Lou Ming held his temple and squeezed to ease his throbbing pain. His headache had worsened ever since coming home from the ancient temple.
"A mess. Everything is a mess! The Ghost King had once again awakened." said Lou Ming as he was peeking in his son's direction.
The elders who come back with Lou Lan had finally understood why everyone is acting this way once the Clan Leader mentioned the Ghost King. He also looked stunned and moved his gaze on the Young Master.
The First Elder asked, "He is asking about the contract?"
The other elders glance at Lou Lan and nod their heads collectively.
"Yes, the Ghost King spoke tonight."
"He was looking for his bride abode on the contract."
"According to the contract, a direct descendant of the Clan Leader must marry the Ghost King."
"He is in a hurry and wants us to bring his bride before night falls tomorrow and so… We are talking about what to do next…"
Their eyes couldn't help but wander towards the direction of Lou Lan. It was too obvious that even Lou Lan immediately understood what was happening and went towards his father. He grabs his clothes saying things.
Lou Lan spoke, "Dad I don't want to. I don't want to marry a ghost! Isn't that the same ghost that loves blood the most!? Dad, you are not going to give me away, aren't you? I'm your only beloved son."
Lou Ming's expression turned grim yet fearful when he recalled that cold and eerie voice in the Ancient Palace. Even though he says that he loves his son, he still loves his own life the most.
Lou Ming tries to calm down his son, "Son, we haven't made a decision yet about this? Isn't this why I and the elders had gathered here to think of another plan? I also don't want Lan'er to marry that Ghost King."
"I know dad loves me the most. Dad, I actually have an idea. Didn't the sacrificial bride only need to have your bloodline? How about using either Xue Hua or Xue Yan as my substitute. Though they are illegitimate, those two still possess your blood." commented Lou Lan as his eyes glinted with mirth that cannot be hidden but those orange eyes.
Once the Xue Brothers were mentioned the tension on the faces of the elders had lightened. How could they have forgotten about the existence of these two illegitimate children?
The first elder spoke, "Xue Yan is impossible. I had sent him out for a suicide mission, not from this city. I do not think he can return alive even with Ou Ya by his side."
"How about Xue Hua? Not only does he have the same build as I do, we somehow look the same… I am just more handsome than him." said Lou Lan while the other glanced at the thickness of his face.
Who wouldn't know that among the Lou descendants Xue Hua possessed a beauty beyond the norm? If not because of the latter's weak physique and being a no-ability user, he would be an extremely useful pawn for their clan. Lou Lan felt a bit stiff with all those strange eyes on him.
Lou Lan spoke, "Don't worry I know where Xue Hua currently lives. We can just grab him and bring him to the Ancient Palace. As long as we covered his face, no one would realize it wasn't me marrying the ghost king. It is not like the Ghost King knew what I look like."
An elder spoke, "But the Xue Brothers are under the protection of the Yuelian Sect and Ou Clan?"
"Then, are you going to give me away? The only one in the current generation who possessed spiritual qi. Even without the sight, I am still the strongest yet youngest Celestial Master of Lou Clan…" said Lou Lan.
It didn't take a while for Lou Ming and Elders to make the decision. With Xue Yan's current situation is unknown, between Xue Hua and Lou Lan there is pretty much no choice. They would pick Lou Lan over the useless Xue Hua no matter what.
Lou Ming said, "Lan'er bring some people with you tomorrow. Get Xue Hua to the Ancient Palace regardless of his will. I will leave this job to you."
"I understand, dad. I will complete this mission without fail," said Lou Lan. He was wearing a smirk as he got Xue Hua to take a fall for him. Now that he found a substitute, he the sole heir of Lou Clan no longer needs to marry a ghost.. Xue Hua will take his place as the sacrificial pawn for the soul contract their Clan had with that Ghost King.
