He never had a plan, he just went with the flow

Chapter Nineteen

"How.. how long have you guys been here?" Wei Ying asked, standing in his office. When he walked into the pavilion that was his home, he found the ghosts of the Wen Remnants inside. They were cleaning and organizing his things. It was oddly domestic, but weren't they at the Burial Mounds? And if they were, they would have been swallowed by the vortex.

"Not long after you cleansed the Burial Mounds. We chose to remain because some of us want to see our families again before we move on." Wen-popo explained as she walked over. He was guided to a seat as he tried to wrap his head around everything. "So, you aren't stuck here like the others?"

"We are, but you created a gateway that spirits like us can use to travel between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Though I'm positive that we won't be able to return once we step into the judgment hall." Wei Ying held the cup of tea tightly. "So, I just need to reunite you with your families?" He decided that it was easier to focus on than his accidentally creating a gateway to the underworld.

"Yes, I need to see my daughter again." Fourth Aunt cried as the other ghosts started naming their dead family members. Wei Ying's head ringed slightly as a golden scroll appeared in his hands. Seeing all the names listed here, Wei Ying glanced back up. "Do you know where they died?" That'll make tracking them easier since he'll have a starting point.

The spirits looked at each other, "Qiongqi Path, they died at the camp."

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A-Yuan was sitting in the rabbit field with his friends when an ear-piercing scream rang through the air. They all looked at each other before standing up to run in the direction of the scream. A crowd had already started forming in the residential area for the elders of their Sect. He could hear whispering but couldn't make out what was being said.

They slowly managed to get close enough to see what the commotion was all about. He was worried something serious had occurred, but once he saw what was happening, he had to cover his mouth to keep himself from laughing.

"Don't you see?! Frogs have defiled my sacred home! Frogs!" Elder Qingqi looked as crazed as she sounded. Her hair was fried and messy, and her blank face held more wrinkles than the rabbits on the hill.

"I can see that, but we can't do anything-"

"Can't do anything?! It was obviously those little demons!" She shrieked, waving her hand around wildly. Bobo's eyes hardened as his face became cold at those words. "I'm sorry, Elder Qingqi, but you have no proof other than your unwarranted disdain for those children. So, likewise, no punishments can be issued until we find the true culprit."

"What proof do you need?!" She demanded before stomping towards them. A-Yuan stood protectively in front of his friend as Ao-Ao crouched behind him. Getting closer, she yanked him forward by his hair.

"Ow!" He yelped as he was dragged to the entrance of her home. Inside, he could see at least twenty frogs. They were everywhere: on her bed, on the table, on the floor, and climbing the walls. "Admit your guilt!"

"It wasn't me! I didn't put frogs in your home; I was in the dorms working on my assignment!" He wailed as the other disciples jumped to his defense. "Elder Qingqi, I can confirm his innocence. He and his friends were studying until the evening bell at the dorms."

"They could have stuck out."

"I was on guard duty, and no one left their rooms last night. Please, let him go." His senior tried to detangle her hands out of his hair. His eyes burned with tears as his scalp was yanked further.