Before the waterfall, Chen Xu speculated in his heart.

Cai Lao Zhuang, however, tilted his head with his back bent, full of admiration and longing, said: "How can there be anyone like the King in this world? All us ghosts rely on the King's protection, wishing only for the King to live forever."

He was a ghost, and the King he spoke of was also a ghost, yet he repeatedly referred to the other as a person.

Having said this, Cai Lao Zhuang crossed his hands over his chest, bent his waist, and performed a deep bow towards the waterfall.

Upon seeing this, Chen Xu quickly pretended to clumsily follow suit, making a ridiculous bow.

Cai Lao Zhuang chuckled, beckoned to Chen Xu and then stepped toward the waterfall.

The waterfall surged with the momentum of thunder, and Cai Lao Zhuang charged forward without any protection.

Boom—

Chen Xu followed closely behind, also without any protection.

Yet his heart and spirit spread around him, merged with the energy of the heavens and earth, silently and unobtrusively observing all the wondrous changes within several feet around him at that moment.

The moment he charged into the waterfall, Chen Xu didn't feel the obvious impact of the powerful water flow.

Instead, there was a thick, almost tangible sadness, like a torrent of water enveloping him completely.

At this moment, Chen Xu kept his heart steady and spirit calm, actually not affected too noticeably.

But beside him, Cai Lao Zhuang suddenly began to cry: "My King, we are suffering so much. My King, little Cai Lao Zhuang requests an audience! My King, here is another miserable little ghost wanting to see you…"

He cried out, taking stumbling steps forward.

Chen Xu only felt like he had passed through a strange membrane. When he looked up again, he found himself not in a dark forest or the deep cave of a waterfall, but in a vast sky.

There was no cold sun from the locust tree forest in the sky, only clear, pure light.

Under the light, a large bamboo forest tightly surrounded the area, with a clear stream flowing diagonally through its center.

Across the stream, there were three bamboo houses, with a few patches of thatched roof.

The bamboo house had no door, only an old, faded curtain, as if it had been used for many years.

And Chen Xu and Cai Lao Zhuang stood on this side of the stream, separated by a stream no more than three feet wide. Cai Lao Zhuang cried miserably, shedding tears and mucus.

This… is the residence of the Ghost King of Pufeng Mountain?

Since coming to Pufeng Mountain, everything on the mountain had actually been somewhat unexpected.

Suppressing his astonishment, Chen Xu said nothing, only silently sensing the energy around him.

He dared not let his divine thought extend too far, only scanning closely around himself.

The first point he could confirm was that they were still in the Mortal World here.

But compared to the world outside the waterfall, this place seemed like a small bubble wrapped by the waterfall, existing in the Mortal World but with a slight membrane separating it from it.

It was somewhat similar to Master Jiu's shrine market, but clearly, this membrane was much weaker.

Chen Xu felt that if he exerted his full strength, perhaps the Firewood Splitting Knife Technique could split open this membrane.

Most importantly, this membrane did not hinder his connection to the Netherworld.

In fact, compared to outside the membrane, this small bamboo forest space seemed closer to the Netherworld.

Although the clear sky shone brightly, it was actually cold everywhere.

For example, Cai Lao Zhuang, his tears and snot froze on his face.

Cai Lao Zhuang shivered uncontrollably, and Chen Xu also felt somewhat cold, quickly mimicking Cai Lao Zhuang in shrinking his body.

"My King! My King!" Cai Lao Zhuang cried, recounting Chen Xu's "experiences before death."

Chen Xu listened silently, hearing Cai Lao Zhuang say: "This fool, he had a secret recipe in his hands and didn't sell it, that would have been fine, but he actually believed those people bore him no ill will.

Even in death, he thought he accidentally fell into the water.

Boo hoo… How could there be such a fool in the world?

Isn't it obvious? He must have been secretly harmed to fall into the water!

He said he had excellent skills and even brought Ghost Ganoderma Soup and Netherworld Essence, wanting to present them to the King.

I thought the King hadn't eaten for days, so I took the liberty of bringing him here for an audience.

Boo hoo, blame me, my King.

I just didn't want to see you, my King, toiling endlessly for us little ghosts, yet unable to eat or sleep well.

If his skills are truly good, perhaps he could stay on Pufeng Mountain as a cook…"

Cai Lao Zhuang cried and spoke, finally, a slightly rigid voice came from within the bamboo house:

"Why so noisy? Keep crying, and I'll take your Profound Soul."

This voice came as familiar to Chen Xu, it turned out to be the evil ghost who had previously possessed Fang Ji, infiltrating the city to capture him!

Cai Lao Zhuang shivered, wiped the frosty tears from his face, and immediately chuckled: "Reporting to the Patrol Envoy, I, I am just heartfelt…"

The evil ghost that possessed Fang Ji was referred to as patrol envoy on Pufeng Mountain.

The Patrol Envoy said: "You leave, let this little ghost come over, I want to see him."

Cai Lao Zhuang was overjoyed, hurriedly pushed Chen Xu, urging him: "Hurry, cross this stream!"

Chen Xu steadied his heart and spirit, pretended to be panicked, and took a step forward.

Upon hearing the splash of water, he immediately felt as if he had stepped from one time and space into another.

A strange sense of disparity arose instantly, as if he had stepped into a void.

Chen Xu couldn't help but stumble forward a few steps.

He shouted "ah" in surprise, turned his head to see Cai Lao Zhuang happily waving at him: "Little brother, you go quickly, I'm leaving now."

Cai Lao Zhuang turned and darted away, his entire ghost disappearing in an instant.

When Chen Xu turned back to look, there stood by the door of the bamboo house a tall, scholarly-looking ghost with a bluish-white face.

This bluish-white-faced ghost had a complete appearance, even bearing some resemblance to Fang Ji at first glance.

If not for the unusual complexion, unlike that of the living, one might not immediately identify him as a ghost at first sight.

The Patrol Envoy stared at Chen Xu, coldly saying: "Are you a cook?"

Chen Xu had already placed this ghost on his must-kill list, but outwardly he pretended to be fearful and cautious, quickly saying:

"I-I greet your highness, I, I am a cook, my skills are excellent."

"You brought Netherworld Essence?" The Patrol Envoy frowned, "Where would a meandering little ghost like you get Netherworld Essence?"

"Ah." Chen Xu trembled, cluelessly said, "I don't know either, I died, and when I woke up, I had Netherworld Essence in my hand."

Netherworld Essence was actually captured by the Food Cauldron Celestial Book in the Cangyuan Ghost Market whenever Chen Xu wrote a poem that moved a Ghost Heart.

Of course, he couldn't say the truth, but making up a lie only risked creating more holes.

He simply played clueless, sometimes knowing nothing seemed less suspicious.

After all, in this world, events beyond imagination are plentiful, maybe some "ghost" had some encounter, right?

The Patrol Envoy frowned again: "You brought Ghost Ganoderma Soup as well? When did you make it? Let me take a look."

Chen Xu hastily opened the bundle he carried, taking out a bamboo tube from it.

The Patrol Envoy made a gesture with his hand, and the bamboo tube flew to him instantly.

He rubbed the lid of the bamboo tube with his hand, seemingly about to open it.

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