Since the decision was made to return before the Ghost Festival, all matters in the North Hall had to be brought to a close.
Xu Youzhi, with Yu Baixing, hurried to complete the final sealing work.
They couldn't let the ghost messengers of the North Hall detect anything unusual.
When asked, they simply said they had finished early so they could properly celebrate the Ghost Festival.
The Ghost Festival, in any underworld, was considered a significant holiday.
Therefore, the ghost messengers didn't bother them further with invitations for tea, chats, or opera.
Meanwhile, Jiang Lin was also seizing the opportunity to learn the key aspects of the Paper Crafting Technique – Intermediate Class.
As for the graduation exam, it was no longer important at this moment.
Acquiring the skills was the priority.
Perhaps because he always appeared so diligent, the students and teachers at the campus didn't harbor any suspicions.
The Ghost Festival was approaching.
During the break, the Ox-Head ghost messenger enthusiastically recommended and introduced the fun of the North Hall's Ghost Festival to Jiang Lin.
No matter the time, the peculiar tastes of ghosts always seemed to be so similar.
When the Ghost Festival arrived, the gates of the underworld would be wide open.
The ghosts of the underworld would pre-purchase a large quantity of paper effigies, paper figures, and paper monsters.
Once released into the human world, they would indulge freely.
Those who were allowed to be released were generally not the extremely wicked or evil spirits.
The role of the ghost messengers was to prevent them from getting too excited and overdoing it.
As it turned out, there were always ghosts that let loose every year.
Especially those newly arrived in the underworld, they were the most prone to showing off.
Therefore,
Even the usually leisurely North Hall required overtime patrols during the Ghost Festival.
"We students will also be going out for practical experience then," the Ox-Head ghost messenger said cheerfully. "There's no danger, and we get free practice. The campus arranges it this way every year."
The paper figures lined up could only scare humans.
For them, the underworld officials, they held no deterrence whatsoever.
They were like toys.
"The most common ones are paper figures that cackle eerily, and paper effigies as tall as humans. Those fellows also manage to create some paper cars and the like."
Even if the ghost messengers forbade them from taking them to the human world, they would find ways to sneak them away and hide them.
Where there was a policy, there was a counter-measure; they applied this to the fullest extent.
Hearing this, Jiang Lin looked at the Ox-Head ghost messenger.
He earnestly invited, "If you have the chance, come visit the East Hall. Our Ghost Festival is quite interesting too."
"Hahaha, I saw it last year!" The Ox-Head ghost messenger slapped his thigh. "It was simply a performance of speed and passion."
Playing ball, putting sacks on people…
Oh, I can't think about it anymore.
The East Hall was too simple and direct.
It looked so exhilarating!
"I'll definitely come if I get the chance!"
Jiang Lin: "Mm."
Due to the arrangements of the Day-Roaming God, the news of their departure couldn't be released yet.
They could only find an opportunity to bid farewell after they had left.
Thinking about it, Jiang Lin took out new paper and began making paper effigies.
…
Besides the matters at the campus,
Jiang Lin also planned to buy more paper needed for the paper crafting technique in the North Hall, stocking up to use slowly back in the East Hall.
As far as he knew, this type of paper was unique to the North Hall.
However,
Just as he had this idea and before he could go buy it, the Day-Roaming God sent ghost messengers to deliver two large sacks.
The sacks had a large capacity, enough to last for half a year or more.
The ghost messenger who delivered the paper conveyed the message: "If you need more in the future, we can bring some more later."
As long as the East Hall remained stationed in the North Hall, there would be no shortage of this paper.
"Alright, thank you."
Jiang Lin understood this, so he didn't say any more unnecessary words.
He threw the two sacks of paper into his storage bag.
"Ah, what’s there to thank? We're all family," the ghost messenger who delivered the items waved his hand. "I'm leaving. See you in the East Hall next time."
"See you in the East Hall," Jiang Lin replied.
…
All preparations were complete.
Finally, the day before the Ghost Festival arrived.
The team led by Xu Youzhi gathered together: Jiang Lin, Yu Baixing, A Si, Liu Buwei, and Qin Zhouzhou.
Not a single one was missing.
Xu Youzhi looked at his team, and thinking that they would be returning to the East Hall soon, he couldn't hide his joy.
The number of ghost messengers who went out was the same number returning.
The task assigned to him by the King of Hell was about to be completed.
"Depart, return to the East Hall!"
Xu Youzhi waved his hand grandly.
He released the ghost artifact ship, activated the defensive shield.
Following the route arranged by the Day-Roaming God, they set sail!
Going home!
…
The flight of the ghost artifact ship tried its best to avoid the patrols of the North Hall ghost messengers along the way.
However, it was impossible to avoid them completely, especially when approaching the border of the northern territory.
They unavoidably encountered ghost messengers from the North Hall.
Seeing Jiang Lin on the ghost artifact ship, the ghost messenger riding a paper crane immediately stood up.
"You are leaving now?"
As he asked, he placed one hand behind his back.
A paper butterfly the size of a fingernail appeared in his palm.
As soon as he released it, the message would be sent out.
Xu Youzhi thought, "This is bad. We cannot be discovered before the Ghost Festival."
Otherwise, it would affect the Day-Roaming God's arrangements.
Just as he was about to make a move, a black figure appeared above the ghost artifact ship at some unknown time.
His face was covered with a mask of green fangs and tusks.
On his black robe, there was a crescent moon pattern.
The Night-Roaming God reached out and drew the weapon wrapped in black satin from behind him.
With a single move, he conjured a small black barrier, directly trapping the North Hall ghost messenger in front of them.
"Leave this to me."
"Do not stop until you reach the Eastern territory."
Xu Youzhi responded, "Yes!"
With that, the entire ghost artifact ship shot forward with a swish.
It flew straight out of the northern territory.
Behind them,
The small black barrier shattered.
The North Hall ghost messenger had just broken free and before he could react, the Night-Roaming God appeared behind him.
*Bang!*
The weapon wrapped in black satin was used as a club and directly struck the back of the other's head.
"Go to sleep for a while. I'll guard here for you."
No one would be allowed to leave except the ghosts of the East Hall.
The Night-Roaming God rummaged through the unconscious North Hall ghost messenger and took out a paper effigy the size of a palm.
Having been in the North Hall for so long, they had figured out the patrol routine at the border.
Reporting information every half hour, it would be fine to hold out for a day without being exposed.
…
The ghost artifact ship continued to fly at full speed.
Only after moving far away from the northern territory did it gradually resume a steady pace.
Xu Youzhi retracted his gaze and looked in the direction of the East Hall.
The team members on the ship also looked in the same direction.
The East Hall…