Undead Mage from a Cell

Chapter 290: Chapter 288: Before the Guanyin Statue

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When Gu Xi arrived near the Celestial Dao White-robed Great Guanyin Statue, the crowd watching the spectacle had already dispersed.

Gu Xi looked up at the towering Great Guanyin Statue, which was several hundred meters tall, took a deep breath, and was about to go inside.

Just then, a security guard stopped Gu Xi in his tracks: ”It’s four thirty, we’re closed now. Please come back tomorrow to visit.”

”Closing so early?”

Gu Xi looked speechless, having traveled most of the day to get here. Was he going to be denied the chance to approach the Celestial Dao White-robed Great Guanyin Statue?

”Nothing can be done, we must clear the site before six o’clock, so naturally doors close at four thirty.”

The security guard was an ordinary man, and seeing that Gu Xi wasn’t some kind of strange entity, he explained without hesitation.

Upon hearing this, Gu Xi raised an eyebrow. Clear the site before six?

Could it be that the Celestial Dao White-robed Great Guanyin Statue had another destination after six o’clock?

Looking at the serious expression on the security guard’s face, Gu Xi realized he wouldn’t be able to enter today.

However, Gu Xi didn’t want to rush back either; he couldn’t let this visit be in vain.

So Gu Xi asked, ”Is there a tavern nearby from which I could see the Great Guanyin Statue? I’d like to find a place to have a couple of drinks.”

”Yes, there are street stalls in the alley over there. You definitely need to find a stall with a white lantern cart to sit at.”

Hearing ”white lantern” once more, Gu Xi felt a tinge of curiosity.

Previously, Wudou Minami also mentioned that, if returning late at night, one could hail a carriage, but it must be lit by a white lantern.

Could there be some special significance to these white lanterns?

Though carrying this curiosity in his heart, Gu Xi didn’t ask further; perhaps in this world, ordinary people consider the white lantern a common knowledge joke.

Following the direction indicated by the security guard, Gu Xi turned and walked into the nearby alley.

Sure enough, in this alley, some people had already started setting up their carts.

Gu Xi noticed that after securing their carts, they did not immediately bring out food or anything else, but first hung up lanterns.

Besides the white lanterns mentioned by the security guard, the stalls nearby also displayed green and black lanterns.

Gu Xi glanced at such stalls, hesitated for a moment, and decided against testing fate on his first day, eventually sitting at a stall with a white lantern.

At that moment, the owner was organizing some ingredients; seeing Gu Xi sit down, he promptly approached to inquire.

”Customer, what would you like to eat? Here’s the menu.”

Gu Xi browsed the menu and found that the most expensive item was only 150 yuan, while the cheaper ones were around 30 yuan.

Gu Xi pondered briefly and placed a ten-thousand-yuan note on the table.

”Bring me some food and wine. I plan to sit here until after six; feel free to keep the dishes coming.”

Witnessing Gu Xi’s gesture, the owner thought for a moment before accepting the money.

”Customer, please wait. I will serve your food shortly.”

The owner said this while first serving Gu Xi three small plates of pickles.

He then poured a cup of sake for Gu Xi before proceeding to prepare other ingredients.

Gu Xi smelled the scent of the wine, discovering it was quite mild, almost like drinking plain water, while the food tasted normal and was relatively decent.

Without high expectations, spending an hour or two here while eating shouldn’t be a problem.

However, Gu Xi was more curious about what the other two lantern stall stands sold.

Without getting up, Gu Xi cast a glance from a distance.

At the green lantern stall, the owner was grilling octopus tentacles complete with human eyeballs.

As for the black lantern stall, it was too far away to discern anything clearly; the only thing visible was a watermelon with pinkish brain matter scooped out.

Gu Xi felt these stalls were not catering to ordinary people; but which suited the spectral beings of daylight, and which for the soldiers of the night?

As Gu Xi contemplated this matter, the owner had already delivered the first dish.

This was a plate of saury the length of a finger.

Looking at this grilled saury that could be eaten in one bite, Gu Xi couldn’t help but shake his head.

No wonder this thing cost only 30 yuan; it’s small after all.

Gu Xi sniffed the saury at his nose, prepared to eat it whole, but just then noticed a woman sitting at the green lantern stall beside him.

This woman wore a mask and a long trench coat, one of those types that could scare others if she suddenly opened it on the street.

After sitting down, she pointed to the freshly grilled tentacles, ”Boss, give me a skewer!”

”Here you go.”

The owner placed a skewer of freshly grilled octopus tentacles in front of the woman, and with a tap on the table, a green light descended, rendering Gu Xi unable to see the woman’s actions.

”Boss, what’s going on there?”

Gu Xi pointed at the green light and asked.

The owner grilled while smiling, ”Customer, you don’t usually dine out, do you? The green lantern booth is for spectral beings to eat; some spectral beings trigger taboos when seen, yet eating can’t avoid revealing their faces.

Therefore, every stall has such lanterns; you have one too. If you don’t want to be seen or see the outside spectral beings, you can press the white button on the table in front of you.

But gently, please; my button is old and has been repaired several times over.”

Gu Xi looked down, discovering a white button indeed on the table; he thought for a moment, then looked up at the lanterns on the stall, noting there were five white lanterns corresponding directly to the five seats in front of the stall.

Understanding something, Gu Xi said no more, and he bit into the saury and began eating heartily.

As time ticked away, Gu Xi noticed that after five o’clock, many spectral beings approached the Celestial Dao White-robed Great Guanyin Statue from all directions.

They appeared entirely unbothered by any prohibitions, appearing straight on the streets.

When Gu Xi looked at them, they would glance back, without any intention of attacking, only giving an extra look before entering the public park area of the Celestial Dao White-robed Great Guanyin.

The security guard earlier who stopped Gu Xi now completely ignored these spectral beings, letting them pass.

This situation puzzled Gu Xi; even if these entrants were spectral beings, it wasn’t closing time yet, right? What happened to the authoritative stance that stopped him earlier?

”This is grilled lantern; it’s best eaten hot.”

The owner then placed the freshly grilled item in front of Gu Xi, noticing Gu Xi watching near the White-robed Guanyin Statue, he asked.

”What are you looking at?”