Chapter 800: The Rules of “Living Enter Not”
“An inn for the dead?” Cang Qingmei and Leng Tianjue exclaimed at the same time.
Ye Qing continued, “There are all sorts of entrances and paths under this heaven. Some of them are exclusive to the living, and some of them the dead. This inn is one such example. It is specifically open for the likes of wandering ghosts and spirits, which is why it is named, ‘Living Enter Not’.”
“‘Living Enter Not’ can only be found in rural areas or the wilderness during nighttime. Any ghost or spirit who finds it only needs to pay a single yin coin to enjoy a delicious meal under its roof and shelter from the terrible elements outside.”
“As you already know, wandering ghosts and spirits are usually people who died in the wilderness for one reason or another. As they receive no offering, they gradually weaken day by day, and since they don’t have a grave, they have no place to shelter from the elements. To them, basking under the sun feels like being boiled inside a pot of oil, and enduring the night wind feels like being cut by a thousand blades. It is an ‘unlife’ full of hardships and pain.”
“This is why we humans value shelters so much. When you are alive, you live in a house and subsist on nature. When you are dead, you live in a grave and subsist on offerings. You understand this, right?”
Cang Qingmei and Leng Tianjue instinctively nodded their heads.
Satisfied with their response, Ye Qing continued, “Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is lucky enough to have someone to care for them when they are old, and offer them offerings after they are dead. In fact, the number of people who die a tragic death in foreign land or the wilderness everyday can only be described as innumerable. Barring exceptional circumstances, all these victims will eventually turn into wandering ghosts with no shelter to cling to, nothing to rely on, and no one to provide support.”
“This is why ‘Living Enter Not’ exists. It is a place that offers food and shelter to the wandering ghosts who could neither feed nor shelter themselves, and all it costs is a single yin coin. Yes, they are the guests you’re seeing right now.”
Cang Qingmei and Leng Tianjue nodded again. It would seem that they had stumbled upon a ghost den after all. Then, another question occurred to them. “We came here because we didn’t know better, but why are you here, seniors?”