The woman's face was terrifying — a bloodied hole in her skull, a sunken patch — she lay pressed against the windshield, motionless, staring at us.
Soon, fresh blood began to gush from her mouth and nose, and two streams of bloody tears flowed from her eyes, running down the glass.
I could handle the sight, but Zhang Yunyao, having never encountered anything like this, screamed in terror and buried her head in my chest, her voice trembling with sobs, "Young Master Wu, what is that thing...?"
"Don't be afraid, I'm here," I said, trying to sound calm.
In truth, I was uneasy inside.
Normally, I wouldn't be scared at all, but injured and caught off guard by a ghostly apparition, I wasn't sure I could drive her away.
That's when I realized why those little yellow creatures had suddenly appeared.
They were warning me.
When my master was around, these yellow creatures wouldn't dare show themselves. But now, out here in the wilderness, they were free to reveal themselves.
This female ghost was definitely the one who appeared last night at the Zhang family's old mansion. After I drove her away, I didn't expect her to return tonight.
I had worried she might target Zhang Yucheng or Zhang Yunliang, but this time, her aim was clearly me.
She sure chose the worst timing, showing up when I was at my weakest.
Looking at her fierce, bloodied face, I suddenly thought: could this ghost be the one the enemy used to attack the Zhang family?
Today, I fought that person, who suffered a backlash and couldn't confront me in person — so he sent this ghost to deal with me. If she kills me, he can then easily handle the Zhang family.
While I was thinking this, the bloody face suddenly broke through the windshield and appeared inside the car.
A heavy stench of blood filled the air.
The ghost stared directly at me and gave a chilling smile.
In an instant, the car grew colder and darker.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?" the ghost asked eerily.
She had asked this question twice already.
"You impudent fiend! Aren't you afraid I'll scatter your soul to the winds?!" I shouted angrily.
The ghost laughed, her body slithering like a snake as she slowly closed in on me.
I had already formed an exorcism hand sign, ready to strike.
But I was far too weak now — that exorcism technique wouldn't unleash its full power.
Just as I was about to act, the ghost suddenly transformed into a scarlet evil energy and lunged at Zhang Yunyao.
Seeing this, I panicked.
Suddenly, Zhang Yunyao's body in my arms shuddered violently, and she tightened her grip around my hands.
Her eyes suddenly turned pure white as she glared fiercely at me: "Do you think I'm beautiful?"
Her grip grew stronger and stronger, like iron shackles squeezing my body.
Those possessed by ghosts gain unnatural strength, pushing their physical limits.
I never imagined a girl's strength could nearly crush my bones.
For a moment, I realized being hugged by a beautiful girl wasn't always a pleasant thing.
"There's a cause for every grudge and a debtor for every debt. Find whoever wronged you! Why bother me?" I struggled to say.
"I did look for them, but you stopped me. So now, I want your life!" Zhang Yunyao's voice grew fiercer as her grip tightened. I even heard my bones crack under the pressure.
Her words made me piece things together.
Last night, she possessed Zhang Yucheng's body, and Zhang Yunliang had been plagued by nightmares of jumping off buildings.
This ghost's sunken head looked like someone who died by falling from a height.
Could this woman's death be connected to Zhang Yucheng and Zhang Yunliang?
While I mulled over this, the ghost asked again, "Am I beautiful?"
Forced, I gritted my teeth and answered, "Yes... you're the most beautiful."
"I'm this beautiful, so why did you abandon me? Why?!" The ghost inside Zhang Yunyao suddenly turned hysterical, her strength escalating.
I felt myself nearly strangled to death, my hands trapped, unable to move.
Then I closed my eyes abruptly, bit my tongue hard, pressed my tongue against my upper palate, and traced a talisman to expel ghosts.
Silently chanting a spell, I sank my breath to my dantian, then spat a mouthful of blood straight at Zhang Yunyao's face.
Her pretty face was splattered with blood.
The ghost inside her screamed in agony, loosening her grip on my hands significantly.
Suddenly, outside the car, numerous yellow creatures and white foxes appeared, jumping up and down on the car, squeaking.
They tried to save me but couldn't get inside.
Meanwhile, the faint shadow inside Zhang Yunyao's body emerged halfway, then quickly slipped back in.
Taking advantage of the ghost loosening her grip, I summoned all my strength, pulled one hand free, kept the exorcism hand sign, and stabbed fiercely into Zhang Yunyao's body.
The possessed ghost screamed again and was forced out of Zhang Yunyao's body.
Zhang Yunyao shuddered and collapsed onto the back seat.
I no longer hesitated — I kicked open the car door, rolled out with her, then stood, carrying her as I ran a short distance before collapsing onto the ground.
The ghost didn't give up. It transformed into scarlet evil energy and charged at me again.
Just as the energy was about to hit me, the yellow creatures and foxes suddenly swarmed around, forming a barrier.
The scarlet energy crashed into them, sending them flying sideways like they'd been struck hard.
Then, dizziness hit me suddenly.
Behind me, a massive fox silhouette appeared, its eight enormous tails swaying continuously.
The scarlet energy halted abruptly two or three meters away from me.