Mesmerizing Ghost Doctor

Editor: Misty Cloud Translations

His face bore not a trace of emotion, even carrying a hint of sternness. This made Yue’er, who had been about to ask a question, awkwardly stop herself. She obediently cleared the bowls from the table and then fetched ink, brush, and paper to practice calligraphy at the desk.

That day, after finishing her calligraphy practice, Yue’er approached her master again. Seeing he held no book, she intended to chat with him for a while. Instead, he retrieved a zither from his cosmos sack, placed it before him, and began plucking its strings lightly.

The tinkling notes rang out, crisp as pearls falling onto a jade plate. His slender fingers danced lightly across the strings, a mesmerizing sight.

She was somewhat surprised, for it was rare to see her master play the zither. And to play it so beautifully.

So she sat quietly beside him, watching him play. As she listened, she found herself closing her eyes. With her eyes shut, she could feel the beauty and depth of her master’s music even more profoundly.

Azure Emperor glanced at her, watching her there with her eyes closed, her head bobbing slightly, a look of pure rapture on her face.

He shifted his gaze to the white clouds ahead, yet his fingers never paused. As his slender fingers plucked the strings, the elegant, melodious notes echoed throughout Yunxiao Mountain...

Perched on a nearby hilltop, the Azure Emperor’s Sacred Beast narrowed its eyes, watching the two below. How familiar this scene felt...

Back in the day, it had witnessed such scenes often. Yet, everything had ceased after Yun Qi’s demise that year. Never did it expect to see it again today.

As the sun sank below the western mountains, the zither’s melody ceased. Yun Qi, who had drifted off unnoticed, seemed to have experienced a fragmented dream. In that dream, there appeared to be a girl named Yun Qi. In that dream, there seemed to be a scene just like this one...

"If you’re tired, go rest." The Azure Emperor stood up, the qin already tucked away.

Yun Qi rubbed her eyes, yawned, and called out, "Master, I had no idea you played the qin so beautifully. I fell asleep listening to you." A smile spread across her face as she added, "It was so lovely I drifted off."

"Master, may I ask you something?" " Yue’er looked at him and asked.

"What is it?" The Azure Emperor inquired.

"Master, why did you name me Yun Qi? Everyone says your first disciple was named Yun Qi, but I also heard Mother say you said I was the reincarnation of your disciple Yun Qi. But I am me, and Yun Qi is Yun Qi. Did you mistake us for the same person?" she asked curiously.

The Azure Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his deep gaze fixed on her face. His low voice was slow and measured as he replied, "You are indeed the same person." With those words, he offered no further explanation and simply turned to leave.

Yue’er stood there, stunned for a moment. She murmured softly, "The same person? " A scene, half-dreamlike, half-real, seemed to replay in her mind. She shook her head, watching her master’s departing figure. In the end, she said nothing and walked back to the cave abode.

That night, she lay down and fell asleep not long after. Perhaps she was truly tired, or perhaps she had simply relaxed. However, after she fell asleep, she dreamt all night long.

"Ah! Master!"

She cried out in alarm, rolling over and leaping to her feet. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her face pale, fear still lingering in her eyes.

"What’s wrong?"

Perhaps drawn by her cry, the Azure Emperor arrived at her cave abode. Seeing her still behind the gauze curtains on the bed, he halted in his tracks.