Ch 146: Beiming Jie’s Last Words

Bei Miaomiao’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes were bloodshot, her expression somewhere between crying and not crying, as she glared at Zhang Buran and demanded:

“My older brother was such a good person, why, why did you have to kill him!”

Bei Mingjie’s death was an insurmountable hurdle in Bei Miaomiao’s heart.

Bei Miaomiao believed that no matter how serious Bei Mingjie’s crime, Zhang Buran should not have killed him.

“In almost every letter my brother wrote to me, he mentioned you, saying how good you were… He truly considered you a brother!”

“My brother, before he died, urged me not to bother you.”

“He was so worried about you… but you!”

“Let me tell you, Zhang Buran, I will never forgive you!”

As she spoke, a few glistening tears rolled down Bei Miaomiao’s cheeks.

“Then don’t forgive me.”

“Consider me your enemy forever.”

“But I want to give you something…”

Zhang Buran took a necklace from his neck and handed it over.

“This is a necklace that Bei Mingjie and I jointly infused with magical power.”

“He said before: I must give it to my younger sister in the future.”

“I’ve been carrying it with me.”

“Now I’m giving it to you.”

Bei Miaomiao took the necklace from Zhang Buran’s hand, feeling the two streams of magical power contained within it, and she froze.

One was Zhang Buran’s, and the other was Bei Mingjie’s magical power, a power Bei Miaomiao knew all too well.

“This is… our Bei Family’s family totem, and runes?”

Bei Miaomiao noticed several runes engraved on the necklace.

Zhang Buran couldn’t understand the meaning of these ancient runes, but Bei Miaomiao understood them perfectly.

Because these were ancient characters that only the direct descendants of their Bei Family could understand.

Bei Miaomiao used the Spirit Snake Manipulation Art, summoning several thumb-sized spirit snakes.

The spirit snakes slowly coiled around the necklace, turning into a green glow that sank into the necklace.

To be precise, the necklace absorbed the spirit snakes.

The next moment, the necklace emitted a bright light, forming a human figure, similar to a three-dimensional projection.

“This is… Image Recording Magic?”

“A’Jie, you really are clever, only by using the Spirit Snake Manipulation Art can you activate the image recording you left behind.”

Zhang Buran looked at the projected man, feeling a myriad of emotions.

Bei Mingjie.

A man 1.8 meters tall, with a strong build, and a large snake tattooed on his arm, with green hair.

Especially those green pupils, full of unrestrained freedom, the corners of his mouth always curving into a faint, elusive smile…

Zhang Buran confirmed without a doubt that this was Bei Mingjie himself, recorded beforehand and then preserved in the necklace using magic.

Bei Miaomiao’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Seeing her longed-for brother again, Bei Miaomiao was so excited she almost lunged forward to hug him.

But Bei Miaomiao knew that this was ultimately just a pre-recorded image.

Bei Mingjie’s image spoke.

“Miaomiao, if you can see this recording, it means that Zhang Buran, that idiot, gave you the necklace.”

“After all, only you and I inherited the Spirit Snake Manipulation Art.”

“And Zhang Buran, you idiot, whether you’re here or not, I have to praise you, you actually kept your promise this time.”

Zhang Buran: “…”

Bei Mingjie’s image crossed his arms and continued:

“Miaomiao, I’ve decided to do something big, leave the Daoist Alliance, and establish my own church.”

“This might be wrong, but for me, it’s the best way.”

“I’m tired of the conflict between humans and ghosts, humans catching ghosts, ghosts killing people, this endless cycle, I’m so tired of it.”

“I’ve been wondering, why do humans and ghosts have to be enemies? Why can’t humans and ghosts coexist peacefully, like rhinoceroses and rhinoceros birds?”

“Humans don’t trust ghosts, believing that ghosts are the source of all evil; ghosts don’t trust humans either, their obsessions run deep, believing that humans are too hypocritical.”

“So, I’m going to create a harmonious world where humans and ghosts coexist!”

“Humans and ghosts can coexist by using each other’s strengths; Daoists don’t have to exterminate ghosts, and ghosts with deep obsessions don’t have to kill people.”

“Ghosts and humans are like Yin and Yang, two extremes, since Yin and Yang can contain each other and achieve balance, why can’t humans and ghosts?”

“Although this sounds a bit like a fantasy, unprecedented, and who knows if there will be followers, but I’m going to break this new ground.”

“Maybe I’ll fail, maybe I’ll be condemned by everyone.”

“More likely… I’ll become enemies with my former best friend.”

“Advise me then.”

Bei Miaomiao, at some point, was already in tears, squatting on the ground and sobbing.

Zhang Buran hesitated for a moment, reached out, and finally patted Bei Miaomiao’s head comfortingly.

Bei Miaomiao didn’t resist.

Bei Mingjie’s image continued to speak.

“Miaomiao, I know you’re watching.”

“No matter what the outcome is, whether I live or die, you must listen to your older brother, this is the only thing I ask of you.”

“I’m establishing a church, aiming for human-ghost coexistence, it’s certainly going to be dangerous, ghosts, Daoists, Wicked Ways will all obstruct me.”

“I’m surrounded by danger.”

“So, Bei Miaomiao, you need to join the Daoist Alliance, go to Zhang Buran, the idiot I often mentioned in my letters.”

“Remember, go to Zhang Buran! He’s the only one who can protect you!”

“Listen to your brother.”

“Zhang Buran, if you’re watching, then protect my younger sister! Otherwise, I’ll tell her about you sneaking peeks at Xia Yun bathing!”

Zhang Buran: “…”

Bei Mingjie’s image stopped abruptly, everything fell silent.

Bei Miaomiao cried uncontrollably, her body convulsing.

Zhang Buran also fell silent, only gently patting Bei Miaomiao’s shoulder to comfort her.

After burying her face in her hands and crying for two full minutes, Bei Miaomiao suddenly spoke.

“Zhang Buran, I’ll go with you.”

“Not running away?”

“My hatred and dislike for you remain unchanged! This is my brother’s last words, I’m just following my brother’s wishes!”

“Don’t think I’ve forgiven you!”

“But I won’t join the Daoist Alliance! That’s my bottom line! The Daoist Alliance is a hypocritical organization!”

Zhang Buran smiled: “Suit yourself.”

At least Bei Miaomiao was willing to follow him, the outcome was good.

After regaining her composure for a few minutes, Bei Miaomiao looked at Bei Mingjie’s grave, her face solemn.

“Is my brother’s body really inside?”

“Of course, I dug this pit myself, and I buried him myself.”

“No, no…” Bei Miaomiao shook her head, saying:

“Once, my brother and I planted Mother-Child Gu on each other.”

“No matter how far apart, one can sense the other’s presence.”

“Even if one dies, the Mother-Child Gu dies with them, the other can still sense the corpse, unless even the corpse is reduced to ashes, then there will be no more sensing…”

“I sensed with my Mother-Child Gu before, and I didn’t sense anything, I thought my brother’s body was reduced to ashes.”

“I might not have sensed it before because you set up a barrier.”

“But now, I still can’t sense it.”

It was because Bei Miaomiao thought Bei Mingjie had been reduced to ashes that she hated Zhang Buran so much.

Now that she saw Bei Mingjie’s grave, Bei Miaomiao’s hatred for Zhang Buran lessened somewhat.

At least, Zhang Buran chose a Fengshui Treasure Land to bury Bei Mingjie.

“How is that possible?” Zhang Buran also looked astonished.

Bei Mingjie was buried by his own hands.

“My brother is definitely not in the grave, I want to dig up the grave and take a look!”

“Damn it, your brother’s spirit will curse you!”

“I’m sure my brother’s body is definitely not inside! Or are you feeling guilty, just bluffing me!”

Zhang Buran couldn’t argue with Bei Miaomiao and let her dig up the grave.

Zhang Buran silently muttered in his heart: Bei Mingjie, don’t blame me, it’s all your sister’s doing…

Soon, Bei Miaomiao dug up the coffin in the grave, lifted the lid, and looked inside.

It was empty.

“What… is going on?” Zhang Buran looked incredulous.

Thinking he had seen things, he rubbed his eyes and looked again.

The coffin was still empty, not even a bone left behind.

What’s going on?

Zhang Buran was completely dumbfounded.

Now, Zhang Buran was truly confused.

Zhang Buran was absolutely certain that he had buried Bei Mingjie’s body in this spot.

He was also sure that Bei Mingjie’s body was in the coffin at the time.

“Zhang Buran, you really tricked me! You wasted my emotions! You big liar!”

Bei Miaomiao turned her head angrily, the 15-year-old girl’s face flushed red, her eyes full of resentment as she glared at Zhang Buran.

Bei Miaomiao felt she had been played, so all the crying she did just now was for a fake grave?

“No… I don’t know either, I’m as confused as you are! It was clearly I who nailed Bei Mingjie into the coffin!”

“But there’s nothing in the coffin! Could my brother have resurrected and forced the coffin open and escaped?”

Bei Miaomiao’s words gave Zhang Buran an idea, he jumped into the coffin and carefully examined it.

Soon, Zhang Buran found a clue.

“Look at the coffin lid, there are obvious signs of scratching and damage.”

“Bei Mingjie… he might not be dead!”

Zhang Buran was startled by his own thought.

But at this point, this was the only explanation.

“You’re lying to me, do I look easy to fool?” Bei Miaomiao glared and said.

Zhang Buran’s expression was serious, he opened his hand, a jade stone flew out from the ground, held in Zhang Buran’s hand: “Bei Miaomiao, I have no reason to lie to you.”

“This jade stone is the Earth-Level Magical Treasure Tiangang Jade, coupled with my barrier, no one would find this place.”

“Even if they stumbled upon it, they wouldn’t be able to enter the barrier.”

“Although the barrier protects the outside, the inside is basically undefended.”

“Only from the inside, can one escape the barrier silently!”

“Judging from the degree of decay of the coffin, it’s been at least four or five years.”

“If I wanted to deceive you? I wouldn’t have been able to predict the future and set up this plan four or five years ago? Four or five years ago, I didn’t even know where you were, let alone waste an Earth-Level Magical Treasure.”

“The coffin was damaged from the inside, so… Bei Mingjie, might really have resurrected!”

“How… brother…”

Bei Miaomiao’s eyes flickered, full of disbelief.

But then, she was overjoyed.

Brother, you’re still alive!

But brother… why didn’t you come find me?

“If my brother is still alive, why is there no news, and I don’t even know?”

“I don’t know, and there is no clue to investigate, I don’t even know when Bei Mingjie escaped.”

Zhang Buran was also filled with mixed emotions.

Bei Mingjie, you’re really something!

This fake death act was really slick!

But Zhang Buran felt inexplicably happy.

Perhaps I’ve been regretful and sorry for the death of this close friend.

Now knowing that Bei Mingjie might still be alive, Zhang Buran couldn’t help but feel excited.

“You really aren’t lying to me?” Bei Miaomiao asked again, half-believing.

“I swear to God! If I dare to lie to you, you can stab me a few times!”

“Okay, I’ll believe you for now…” Bei Miaomiao silently put away her knife.

“Where are we going now? No matter what, I have to find my brother, you have to help me. As long as my brother is still alive, I’ll barely forgive you!”

“Come back with me first.”

“Back where?”

“My home.”