Chapter Thirty-Four: The Demon’s Spirit Unleashed

The two of us jogged back into the village, only to find that group of policemen gathered together, talking in low voices.

“What happened?” Wei Qi hurried over. Looking closely, it was a relief to see everyone present and apparently unharmed.

Zhang Qi’s face changed when he saw Wei Qi. He was clutching a pistol, panting heavily. “Just now, a man came at us swinging a wooden stick. We couldn’t fight him off at all—look, he left this behind.” Zhang Qi pointed at the police car.

Only then did we notice that the police car’s window had been smashed, and a wooden stick lay discarded nearby.

“A man? Who was it?” I hadn’t considered it could be the ghost of the village chief’s younger brother. It wasn’t very late yet—he probably wouldn’t dare come out at this hour.

“I don’t know, never seen him before. His face was deathly pale, and he didn’t even move his legs when he walked. It was like he was floating.” Zhang Qi had lost his usual swagger. After all this time, it was the first time he’d spoken to us in such a subdued tone.

“And then?” I pressed.

“He attacked us. He didn’t seem human, so I fired at him. Then he vanished. Could he... could he really have been a ghost?” Zhang Qi’s expression was fearful, and the young officers beside him were visibly shaken, trembling all over. They seemed convinced now.

Wei Qi nodded. “It was definitely a ghost. As long as no one is hurt, we’re fine. The pistol is military-issue, and carries yang energy, which frightens ghosts. But guns can’t actually harm them. To truly destroy a ghost, you need spirit talismans or water infused with talisman ashes to scatter their soul and erase them completely.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qi was terrified. He forced a smile. “Brothers, I’m sorry. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave. When things calm down, let’s sit together and talk.” He wasn’t stupid; seeing the situation, he didn’t dare linger.

I wanted them to stay—after all, more hands meant more strength—but Wei Qi was indifferent. “Let them go if they want. They won’t be of any help anyway.” His goal had been achieved; having seen the ghost themselves, they wouldn’t doubt me anymore.

Zhang Qi gathered his men into the two cars. One window was shattered, but the vehicle could still drive. They’d barely driven off when, with a sudden bang, the car screeched to a halt. In the glare of the headlights, we clearly saw Zhang Qi’s car, speeding away, had struck someone and sent them flying.

A wave of frustration washed over me. Weren’t the villagers told not to come out? Why didn’t anyone listen?

Wei Qi and I rushed over and saw the one lying on the ground was the village chief’s wife. Chasing after her were the chief himself and his daughter. The sudden scene left everyone stunned. Just as we were about to help the chief’s wife, Wei Qi shouted, “Don’t move! Everyone, back away!”

At his command, everyone—including the chief—actually stepped back. Only the chief’s daughter, seeing her mother on the ground, rushed forward to help, but Wei Qi grabbed her. “Xiaoman, that’s not your mother. She’s possessed by a ghost.”

The girl wanted to protest, but her mother suddenly sprang to her feet, eyes glazed, her face twisted with malice. Blood flowed from a gaping wound on her head, soaking her neck, yet her expression betrayed no pain—anyone could tell at a glance she was possessed.

“Mom, are you alright?” Xiaoman finally broke free from Wei Qi and threw herself toward her mother, but before she got close, she was slapped aside.

“Wife, what’s gotten into you?” The chief, seeing his wife bleeding and attacking their daughter, hurried forward in concern, only to be slapped aside as well. “Stay out of the way,” a man’s voice barked from his wife’s mouth.

Everyone froze. Earlier in the day, this woman had been possessed by her brother-in-law, but her speech was still that of a woman. Now, her tone was entirely masculine. Hearing her speak, no one knew what to do next.

The chief was left with a bruised face and blood trickling from his lips. Only now did he begin to grasp the truth—his wife was possessed by a ghost, and that ghost was his own brother. He had recognized the voice.

The chief’s wife, eyes vacant, feet floating above the ground, lunged at Zhang Qi. Wei Qi and I wanted to intervene, but the chief clung to us, pleading, “Please, nephews, do something to save your aunt.”

“Uncle, step aside. We’ll handle this.” Wei Qi pulled the chief away. I was about to step forward when a dark figure barreled into me, knocking me to the ground. The figure didn’t stop, crashing into the car and making the police car’s alarm wail.

It was Zhang Qi. The vengeful spirit must have resented Zhang Qi for shooting at him, and now, possessing his sister-in-law, came seeking revenge. Zhang Qi lay on the ground for a long moment, unable to get up.

“Dachuan, now!” Wei Qi called, stepping up to block the chief’s wife.

The woman, possessed by the malevolent spirit, moved mechanically; her eyes rolled dryly, her face stained crimson with blood, and her pupils a ghastly white. In the car headlights, she looked utterly terrifying.

“Uncle Qi, what do we do?” I had never seen such a frightening sight—the fear made me hesitate to come closer.

“Strike her crown to force the ghost out. If we don’t act quickly, your aunt will bleed to death.” Wei Qi gripped his talisman-soaked whip.

Though I was scared, with Wei Qi there, I found some courage. I was about to join him in subduing the ghost when Zhang Qi charged in.

Despite his injuries—swollen lips, perhaps a couple missing teeth—he was determined. “Damn it, hitting me? I’ll kill you!” He gripped his pistol, furious.

Wei Qi quickly stopped him. “Chief Zhang, you’ll kill your aunt if you shoot. The ghost won’t be harmed, but she will, and she’s already badly hurt.”

Wei Qi pulled Zhang Qi aside, leaving only me to face her. I held the three-foot Longyuan sword, trembling all over. Before I could plan my next move, the possessed woman was at my side.

“What do you want?” I stammered, paralyzed as she approached. I could see the blood streaming down her forehead and smell the heavy scent of blood.

While I hesitated, pain exploded in my abdomen as though I’d been gutted. I was sent flying, crashing into a wall. The force of a possessed person was overwhelming—there was no way to escape unscathed. I collapsed, feeling as if every bone in my body had shattered.

Wei Qi ran over. “Dachuan, are you okay?”

Before I could rise, a wooden stick came flying, striking Wei Qi’s head. He hadn’t seen it coming and collapsed into my arms, unconscious.

Wei Qi was formidable with spirits, but physically weak; he rarely exercised, so when violence broke out, he was defenseless.

Now, the chief’s wife stood before us, stick in hand, blood dripping to the ground, her murderous aura suffocating.

If that vengeful spirit attacked now, both Wei Qi and I would die. The stick was heavy, and the ghost’s strength immense—I had no choice but to avoid the blow.

I struggled to rise as the ghost raised the stick, bringing it down toward me. I was about to dodge when suddenly, two black shadows shot out from Wei Qi’s body, darting toward the chief’s wife.

One left, one right—two little figures, clad in black. They grew in the wind, but remained no taller than small children. They were Wei Qi’s spirit familiars, stunted from malnourishment, not strong or imposing, but they came to their master’s rescue. The two little ghosts flitted around the chief’s wife, slapping and clawing at her.

Alas, they were too small and weak, and the vengeful spirit, now in a strong, male body, was too much for them. Soon the little ghosts were defeated, fluttering down the wall like scraps of paper.

A chill crept over me. Was this how we would die? I forced myself up, gripping Longyuan tightly. “Stay back! If you come closer, I’ll destroy your soul!”

By now, the chief’s wife was unrecognizable, her body and face drenched in blood, clutching a stick as thick as a man’s arm—a sight to chill the bravest soul.

Bang!

At this critical moment, Zhang Qi, having struggled to his feet, fired his gun. The bullet struck the chief’s wife in the arm, punching right through.

“Stop! Don’t shoot again!” I cried, but before I could react, the stick in her hand whistled toward my head.

There was no way to dodge. Like Wei Qi, aside from spirit marriage rituals, I had no special skills or training. Avoiding that blow was impossible.

Just as despair overwhelmed me, a miracle occurred—a white figure streaked in from the side, moving faster than thought, and slapped something onto the chief’s wife’s forehead. Instantly, the possessed woman froze in place, motionless.

The white figure collapsed to the ground.

“You… why did you come out?” Lying on the ground was Wang Ying. She had broken through both a spirit talisman and a blood seal to rush out of the house. Heaven knew what harm she’d suffer! With her last ounce of strength, she’d slapped a spirit talisman onto the ghost’s crown.

“Dachuan, don’t worry about me. The talisman is working—the ghost will be forced out. Use your Longyuan to finish him,” Wang Ying croaked weakly, blood trickling from her lips.

Wang Ying was herself a spirit, and for her to touch a talisman was as dangerous as us grasping fire. She did it solely to save me.