Chapter 174: Chapter 158, Long Time No See (5000 words, First Update)._1


    The rocking chair came to a standstill.


    A figure in a gown, wearing ady’s hat, appeared out of thin air.


    Mature and dignified, she seemed like a noblewoman who had stepped out of a high-ss family.


    “Glenda!” The woman gently uttered, snapping her fingers.


    The scenery of the basement began to change.


    The mottled walls were once again covered in brightly colored wallpaper, while the moss-and-dirt-covered floor became shiny and smooth.


    Furniture and well-kept potted nts sprung up all around.


    The ce was no longer a basement, but resembled a wealthy manor.


    An illusion!


    The changes started to take ce right before Wu Heng’s eyes and he immediately sensed something was wrong.<div>


    Simultaneously, a strong resistance surged deep in his consciousness.


    The illusion shattered, all the imaginative scenes disappeared, and the basement returned to its shabby, mottled state.


    The woman slowly rose, making a gesture of pouring tea.


    Wu Heng nced at her. She seemed unaware that the ambiance she’d conjured had already faded.


    She was still going through the motions as if the illusion was still in effect.


    “Has my child disturbed thedy?” Wu Heng asked in a soft voice.


    The woman sat back down in the reclining chair, snapping her fingers again. Xiao Xiao, who had been suspended in mid-air, regained its ability to move and quickly flew to Wu Heng’s side, crouching behind him.


    Peeking out from behind his shoulder, it said, “Uncle, she doesn’t seem like a good person.”


    Wu Heng nodded without responding.


    The woman across from him cast him a nce and exined, “I haven’t had contact with outsiders for a long time. Seeing her, I wanted to ask about the situation outside but it seemed we speak differentnguages.”


    Even though they were both in spectral form, thenguages they had learned in their previous lives differed.


    Xiao Xiao spoke Chinese, while she spoke the local tongue.


    The two could hardly have any conversation at all.


    Yet, it was different for Wu Heng since he had the aid of anguage trantion system, so he couldmunicate with both parties.


    “Children from my hometown are yet to learn the localnguage,” Wu Heng exined, before asking, “Has thedy always lived here?”


    The woman nodded, answering softly, “Yes, for many years. In the past, different factions or mercenaries woulde here for trade. Now, visitors to this ce are bing fewer and fewer.”


    It’s incredibly rare for specters to form.


    It required special conditions and a formidable spiritual power prior to death.


    Not every one who dies bes a spirit.<div>


    In a way, specters are immortal.


    If they were easy to form, the affluent individuals nearing the end of their lives would have long since created their own spectral family.


    Earlier, in the ‘Mining Vige’ of ck Stone Town, infant specters, which were equally hard to form, showed signs of life. With a bleak environment and prolonged exposure to necromantic magic, they became violent and uncontroble evil spirits.


    The fact that Xiao Xiao and thedy in front of him had managed to form specters was quite remarkable.<div>


    “Did you see those people conducting their transactions here before? And you simply let them carry out illegal transactions here?” Wu Heng continued to ask.


    “Appearing in front of outsiders would only create trouble for me. There’s no such thing as legality here, as long as they don’t disturb me,” the woman answered.


    Wu Heng agreed.


    For meddling in others’ affairs, he might soon find amission to cleanse the specter posted on the association’s mission board.


    The woman before him was smart; she knew better than to expose herself to outsiders.


    Pat, pat, pat–!


    At this moment, footsteps sounded from upstairs.


    Then, it was Duke’s coarse voice ringing out, “Captain, are you downstairs?”


    The footsteps were getting closer.


    Duke came straight downstairs.


    The two specters vanished instantly, leaving Duke to see only Wu Heng sitting on an old chair.


    Duke scratched his head, “Captain, what are you doing sitting there?”


    “How is it? Did the identificatione through?” Wu Heng asked.<div>


    “It did. There are two fugitives. One has a level 3 merit, the other offers a high-level tool as a reward,” Duke revealed with a wide grin.


    This was quite a haul!


    Not only were there bounties, but merits to collect as well.


    “And the merchandise?”


    “Loads of fabric and potions. Mata said they were hallucinogens. There’s also quite a few silver coins,” Duke reported.


    Wu Heng nodded and continued, “Search around the vicinity. Both parties should have prepared carriages. Count all the goods and coins and wait for me outside.”


    “Oh, alright!” Duke scratched his head again and went back upstairs.


    As Duke left, the two specters reappeared.


    “It seems your crew listens well to you,” the woman said, ncing towards the staircase.


    “Trust is mutual.”


    “Hmm, that makes sense!” the woman nodded, continuing her questioning, “Are you a necromancer? OR do you practise some other profession?”


    “Necromancer,” Wu Heng confirmed.


    “How did you end up here? Mages seldome to such chaotic ces.”<div>


    “I was assigned here by the association. For me, it doesn’t matter where I go,” Wu Heng answered, and then asked his own counter question, “Did thedy live here in her past life?”


    “Yes, this ce was my home!”


    “Time has changed so fast. Don’t you have ns to go out and check it out?” Wu Heng looked up at her.


    The woman turned her gaze on him, staring unblinkingly.


    Wu Heng continued to smile, nning to elerate the pace of their conversation.


    She might be willing to chat endlessly, but he needed to be back before the city gate closes.


    Both of them have been sussing each other out through their conversations, trying to uncover underlying details.


    It’s hard to believe the other party would intentionally hold Xiao Xiao hostage after learning he was a necromancer, without having any ulterior motive.


    Based on his observation, the woman did not seem like a vengeful spirit.


    At most, she could be considered a homebody spirit – indifferent to others’ affairs as long as she was left in peace.


    Futhermore, her abilities seemed significantly stronger than Xiao Xiao’s.