Volume One: The Soul-Gathering Gourd, The Lamp of Burning Spirits Chapter 26: The Barbecue Stall

A gentle breeze swept by. Xiao Yulou, sitting cross-legged, stared intently at the force grinding his eyes and spoke.

“To be frank, Brother Gu… this technique was secretly imparted to me by my Fifth Uncle Master, Daoist Xuan Kun. And…”

As he spoke, a hint of difficulty appeared on Xiao Yulou’s somewhat handsome face.

“And, this set of cultivation method is exceedingly strange, even bordering on the unorthodox and evil!”

Gu Mo raised his brow in surprise, then asked, “Daoist Xiao, since Five Manor Temple is a reputable sect, how come you know such a heretical cultivation method?”

Xiao Yulou gave a bitter smile, recalling countless past events.

“My Fifth Uncle Master, Daoist Xuan Kun, was a free spirit—utterly idle and nothing like a true Daoist. Years ago, after the calamity at Jade Void Peak, he disappeared from the world…”

His words were tinged with profound helplessness.

Gu Mo could tell from Xiao Yulou’s expression that there was an intricate connection between him and Daoist Xuan Kun.

Gu Mo pulled out a cigarette box, handing Xiao Yulou a stick.

After a cloud of smoke, Gu Mo looked at Xiao Yulou and asked, “Daoist Xiao, how far have you gotten in your cultivation?”

Xiao Yulou gave another bitter smile before replying, “Brother Gu, when I was young, the old master sent me down the mountain to explore the world. Who would have thought, just as I descended, I was ambushed, lost my memory, and part of my cultivation…”

Hearing this, Gu Mo’s expression turned incredulous.

“Daoist Xiao, even after losing part of your cultivation, you’re still this formidable?”

Xiao Yulou quietly lifted his head, gazing at the luminous moon, and sighed.

“My cultivation often fails me, even my memories are in utter chaos… I find it quite curious myself.”

He paused, then continued, “Normally, I should have attained the first stage of Qi refinement. Once I break through the bottleneck, I’ll be able to shape forms with my Qi!”

Gu Mo pursed his lips, his eyes filled with envy.

“Ah… Daoist Xiao, when will I ever be like you?”

Xiao Yulou laughed heartily, looking into Gu Mo’s eyes with certainty, “Brother Gu, give it a month and you’ll fully master ghost energy!”

Gu Mo nodded, half believing, half doubting.

Once they extinguished their cigarettes, they resumed their cultivation…

Time slipped by unnoticed.

Gu Mo, sitting cross-legged with eyes half-closed, was shrouded in flickering green ghost flames.

Xiao Yulou and the silent Lady King Yan looked on with satisfaction.

Then, a voice imbued with the aura of immortality drifted through the air, “Boundless Heaven’s Honor!”

Gu Mo opened his eyes in curiosity, staring at the green ghost flames enveloping him.

“Daoist Xiao, does this mean I’ve begun cultivating ghost energy?”

Xiao Yulou smiled knowingly, “Brother Gu, congratulations! How do you feel now?”

Gu Mo raised his hands, gazing at the eerie green flames, “It feels cool—other than that, nothing much.”

Xiao Yulou glanced at Lady King Yan, who was stifling laughter, and asked, “Your Majesty, what do you think?”

“Ahem~” Lady King Yan smiled wryly, “Though my little follower’s ghost energy is barely worth mentioning, at least there’s some progress.”

Gu Mo’s face darkened, lips pursed, “I am your husband, could you give me some dignity?”

Lady King Yan rolled her eyes at him, retorting, “I’m just telling it as it is. This place may be tranquil, but it’s nothing compared to a corpse-raising ground!”

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yulou adopted a serious expression, looking at Gu Mo and Lady King Yan. “There is a corpse-raising ground. If you wish to go, I can take you there!”

---

Gu Mo’s face turned pale as he looked at Xiao Yulou. “Daoist Xiao, it’s getting late. I’m a bit hungry—can we have a midnight snack first?”

The mention of food made Lady King Yan instantly drool, “Let’s go! I’ve been craving it for ages!”

Gu Mo’s face paled even further, clearly expecting Lady King Yan to possess him again soon.

Xiao Yulou stood up, flicking the sleeve of his Daoist robe, and said, “I know a newly opened barbecue stand. Why not investigate it?”

And so, two men and a ghost set off in high spirits…

The scene shifted.

Flickering lights cast their glow on the newly opened barbecue stand.

There were only four or five tables of guests, with fragrant smoke curling skyward—a hint of a fairyland from afar.

Xiao Yulou led Gu Mo to an empty table and sat down.

“Boss, a barrel of draft beer! Sixty lamb skewers, four grilled chicken legs, and Flower Hair One.”

“One moment!”

Gu Mo was momentarily stunned. Though he could handle his liquor, it was still only March—months before the heat of summer. What was the owner thinking, opening now?

As Gu Mo pondered, the boss, wearing a cute anime-themed apron, came over with a barrel of beer and some cold dishes.

After a brief pause, the boss slapped Gu Mo on the shoulder.

“Mushroom! When did you get back?”

Gu Mo shuddered and looked up playfully at the boss in the anime apron.

A childlike smile bloomed on Gu Mo’s face.

“Radish? How did you end up running a barbecue stand?”

Radish scratched his head, squinting his small eyes, “Forced by life, no other choice!”

Gu Mo laughed and began chatting with his childhood friend Radish.

“I came back the day before yesterday.”

Radish punched Gu Mo’s chest with his little fist, “Why didn’t you contact the brothers?”

Gu Mo smiled bitterly, thinking, ‘If I told Radish what happened these days, he’d think I was making it all up.’

---

Xiao Yulou and Lady King Yan looked up at Gu Mo’s childhood friend.

This young man called Radish was about the same height as Gu Mo, with short black hair and a sturdy build, weighing roughly 160 pounds.

His features were ordinary, thick brows and small eyes befitting a shrewd businessman. Acne scars marked his melon-shaped face.

He wore black casual clothes with a voluptuous cartoon apron—surprisingly, it was Nami from One Piece!

Just then, a table of guests waved at Gu Mo’s group and shouted, “Hey! Boss, come here!”

Radish turned and responded, “Alright, bro!”

He gently patted Gu Mo’s shoulder, “Mushroom, drink up, I’ll be right back.”

Gu Mo smiled, watching Radish stride off.

Xiao Yulou smiled and asked Gu Mo, “Brother Gu, do you sense anything?”

Gu Mo furrowed his brow in confusion, “Daoist Xiao, don’t tell me there are monsters or evil spirits here!”

Xiao Yulou merely smiled cryptically, picking up chopsticks and pouring himself a drink.

Lady King Yan, meanwhile, was absorbed in the aroma of the food, not hearing a word.

Just then, a sharp, frightening sound rang out nearby.

---

Smack!

Gu Mo turned his head in curiosity. His eyes swept the scene.

Radish stood before a table of guests, apologizing repeatedly, but filthy curses soon followed.

“You little bastard, what did you say? Your grandpa can’t count? How do you explain these skewers? You think your grandpa owes you food money? Damn it!”

Radish, face full of forced smiles, was already covered in shards of glass. Scalding blood mixed with foaming beer streamed down his neck.

Gu Mo’s childhood friend Radish was a tough guy—having his head cracked open with a beer bottle, he didn’t even groan.

The nearby guests quietly paid their tabs and slipped away from the trouble.

Seeing this, Gu Mo’s anger blazed. No matter what, he couldn’t let his friend be bullied!

Burning with rage, Gu Mo strode toward the table of guests.

If a fight was inevitable, it had to be justified. Gu Mo considered his options as he walked.

At a white plastic table sat seven rowdy young punks.

The reek of alcohol filled Gu Mo’s nose.

He scanned the table—two barrels of draft beer underneath, the surface a mess.

Peanut shells and edamame husks piled high, stainless steel plates scattered, with several shiny skewers lying across them.

When Gu Mo saw the guests clearly, he couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

The guests were seven punks, each with dyed and permed hair, all ugly and misshapen.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet—their long hair was comically colorful.

They looked no older than twenty, but their arrogance was overwhelming.

Each wore an electronic cigarette around their neck.

‘Damn—it’s like these fools are trying to imitate a rainbow. Idiots are everywhere, and this year’s crop is especially abundant!’

Gu Mo strode up, took out his cigarette box, and politely offered them a smoke.

“Gentlemen, what’s going on here?”

Radish, still apologizing, furtively gestured to Gu Mo, clearly wanting to keep things quiet and avoid trouble.

The red-haired punk sitting across from Gu Mo inhaled sharply.

The electronic cigarette’s blue light flashed.

Whoosh—

A thick cloud of smoke, laced with alcohol, billowed from his mouth and nose.

He pointed at Gu Mo and Radish, sneering, “Whose fly came undone to let you out? This is none of your business—get lost!”

“Ha ha ha!”

The other six punks laughed boisterously, their nasty voices full of contempt.

Gu Mo smirked mischievously, handing each a cigarette.

“This little boss is my brother. If there’s been any lapse in hospitality, I beg your forgiveness.”

The punks pointed at the plates, growling, “This is the third time! Every time we get skewers, a few are missing. You think we’re easy to bully?”

Gu Mo turned to Radish.

Though they hadn’t seen each other in seven or eight years, Gu Mo knew Radish’s character well.

No matter what, Radish’s barbecue stand had just opened—he’d never play tricks with his business.

As Gu Mo pondered, Radish whispered, “Mushroom, I counted the skewers—none missing. The cameras didn’t catch the guests hiding any, either.”

Unexpectedly, a punk overheard the exchange.

Smack!

The blue-haired punk slapped the table, furious and provocative.

“Damn it! Are you accusing us?”

In that instant, the situation spiraled out of control…