After Zhang Kui let out a furious roar, the Ghost General immediately raised its spear, spraying cold mist from its bluish, decaying mouth. A cacophony of rustling sounds appeared in Zhang Kui's mind, vaguely distinguishable as the words "Jia Ding."
"Bah!"
Zhang Kui glared at the Ghost General and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, "Such a grand appearance, yet can't even speak clearly, you're dead!"
With that, he bent his knees and exerted force, his knotted muscles suddenly bursting through his pants.
With a loud bang, a large patch of dirt splashed up, and Zhang Kui appeared above the Ghost General, his blood-lit right fist smashing down fiercely.
But something shocking happened; the Ghost General looked up at him without even dodging and instantly transformed into an afterimage, leaving him hitting nothing but air.
Immediately, a chilling sharpness was felt like needles at his back.
In mid-air, Zhang Kui twisted his waist forcefully, narrowly avoiding the attack with a somersault.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Ghost General, having missed, disappear and then charge from another direction on its horse, spear straight as if piercing through space.
Zhang Kui was momentarily put on the defensive.
Ghostly swift warhorses,
A downpour of spear shadows…
Peril abounded, and several times he was nearly killed.
However, Zhang Kui noticed something amiss; there was something wrong with the Ghost General's horse!
A cruel smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Kui's mouth. As the Ghost General charged again, he slightly sidestepped.
Slash!
His chest clothes tore, blood splattered, adding another wound.
But he didn't care at all. His right hand, using the Demon-slaying Skill, Blood Evil as a gang, pierced into the horse's belly, cutting a deep gash.
The ghostly warhorse wailed and dissipated into Yin Qi, causing the Ghost General to fall unsteadily.
If it were human, no doubt it would have been a heavy fall, but this Ghost General seemed weightless, spinning eerily in the air.
But it was too late. Zhang Kui's domineering figure had already pounced.
Eight Extremes Fist,
Fierce Tiger Climbing the Mountain!
He formed a claw with his palm and shredded the Ghost General's head.
Eight Extremes Collapse!
The remaining body of the Ghost General spun out, disintegrating into Yin Qi mid-air…
Zhang Kui stood gasping heavily on the spot, covered in blood, as his vision started to blur.
He was covered with wounds after continuous battles; even with his physique, he couldn't stand much longer.
Ghost Soldiers surrounding him began to approach slowly, at some point gathering into hundreds, encircling him tightly.
Zhang Kui swayed, his arm glowing red once more, eyes bloodshot, he roared loudly, "Come on!"
Just then, a huge explosion sounded from the direction of the county town, the ground shook, and Zhang Kui nearly lost his balance.
Immediately, an unsettlingly terrifying aura arose. Ghost Soldiers and the black mist receded like a tide swiftly.
The sky appeared, but it was full of swirling, heavy, oppressive clouds, as if ready to crush the earth.
Zhang Kui stiffly turned his head.
He saw a massive shadow from the direction of the county town shooting straight into the sky. Lightning flashed across the heavens, forming a network within the clouds as if chasing something, gradually disappearing into the void…
Zhang Kui watched dumbfounded at all of this.
A chill suddenly came over his forehead, and when he looked up, the rain had already started to pour down.
Zhang Kui closed his eyes, letting the rain wash over his face.
He had survived…
Relief washed over him, bringing a sense of realization.
Since crossing over, life had been pretty great—money, power, brothers, and a system to assist. The protagonist's aura was always with him.
Who would've thought…
Ghost Soldiers besieging were like a nightmare,
everything from his past life turned to smoke.
What was that just now?
He underestimated this world after all…
Blood trickled down his body; his wounds had gone numb.
Zhang Kui looked around in confusion, rain washing over corpses once full of life, now devoid of it. Those straightforward cries of "Big Brother" now drifted away…
"No, I can't let these fools soak in water…"
Zhang Kui muttered, staggering over and kneeling in the mud, he began to dig with his hands…
...
Half a two-hour later, near the outskirts of Yutang County.
The sky was still overcast, and with a clap of thunder, a flash of light streaked across the forest. Two raincoat-clad riders urged their horses onward in the rain.
The swift hooves stamped through the mountain paths and puddles, splattering large amounts of mud. The eyes of a fallen corpse by the road had already turned white…
Upon reaching a hill, the horses suddenly neighed and reared back, the two riders looking down toward the bottom.
Crackle!
Another clap of thunder,
In the lightning, a deathly still county town faintly appeared in the valley below.
"Master…"
A clear female voice emerged from under the rain hat, "Why did you rush to this place?"
"Hahaha…"
The other rider looked up, revealing an old man with white whiskers and one eye, "Of course, to get rich!"
"I heard Yutang County was struck by Evil Spirits. The Astronomical Bureau isn't arriving for a couple of days; we're seizing the chance to gather some silver before they do."
The other rider raised her hat, revealing a pretty young face full of puzzlement.
"Isn't the Astronomical Bureau supposed to be the National Guardian and Exorcism? Why are they so lax?"
The old man's lips curled into a cold smile,
"What nonsense are they spouting? If they could guard the nation, why would they leave all those Demon Evil Forbidden Areas unbothered? It's just fooling the civilians."
"I heard it's the 'General's Tomb' that emerged this time; they've known about it for a while and dare not do anything other than wait to clean up the mess."
"General's Tomb…"
The young girl frowned, "What kind of place is that? And why destroy Yutang County?"
The old man shook his head,
"How would we ordinary folks know about demonics? We wander the Jianghu just to make money. Just remember to steer clear of those places, let's go!"
With that, he turned, urging the horse, leading the young girl down the mountain path.
As they reached the ferry, they continued chatting.
"Master, are we not going to encounter evil spirits?"
"Don't worry, after the intrusion of evil spirits, not even a ghostly shadow would... Oh, my mother!"
The elderly man had just replied to his disciple, then turned his head in fright, face pale, and quickly reined in his horse.
Under a big tree by the roadside, a shadowy figure was kneeling, moving as it dug the earth while surrounded by corpses.
Upon seeing them, the figure slowly turned its head, and between its messy hair matted with mud and blood were a pair of vicious, lifeless eyes.
The girl turned pale with fright,
"Master... what... what is that?"
The old man swallowed, and after a closer look, breathed a slight sigh of relief, "It's nothing, just a person..."
With that, he cupped his fists while still on horseback,
"Greetings, brother. I am Old Liu, I wonder..."
Thud!
The tall figure fell to the ground motionless.
The old man awkwardly put down his fists.
The girl dismounted and checked the person's breath. "Master, he's still alive!"
The old man also dismounted, and upon getting closer couldn't help being shocked, "What a strapping man!"
He then surveyed the surroundings, his pupils slightly contracting, and a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
"Make a move to save him, Dong'Er!"
"Master, we are not knights, why bother saving him?"
"Let me teach you something useful: the ground is messy from a fierce battle, for this man to survive from evil spirits, he must have extraordinary skills. Offering help now is always a good deal."
"But what if this guy turns hostile?"
"Hahaha, even when close to death, he's thinking of burying his companions; he can't be too bad..."
...
Black mist, ghost soldiers, thunder and lightning...
Whoosh!
Zhang Kui suddenly woke up, breathing heavily.
He looked around,
Sunlight filtered through the holes in the roof, illuminating the dusty, cobweb-covered divine statue. The floor was covered haphazardly with blankets as bandages on his body seeped with blood.
He recognized this place as the dilapidated temple on the hill near the county, abandoned and rarely visited.
Zhang Kui suddenly thought of the two shadows he vaguely saw before fainting, realizing he had been saved by someone.
Suddenly, he tensed his body and looked towards the temple door, hearing two sets of footsteps approaching.
"Master, we're going to get rich."
"Hehe, this is what it means to follow the master and have meat to eat. The Astronomical Bureau people will probably arrive soon; we should hurry and leave here..."
Upon seeing the two figures entering, Zhang Kui's expression relaxed slightly; they were the ones who saved him.
"Oh, you're awake..."
The girl was first surprised, then cautiously tightened the package behind her.
Zhang Kui nodded, struggling to stand and cupped his hands,
"Zhang Kui thanks you both for saving me!"
He clearly remembered last night's situation. His mind was a mess, and his body was injured; soaking in rain all night, he might not have survived.
No matter who they were, extending a helping hand was a great favor.
"You're welcome."
The short, skinny one-eyed old man smiled:
"I am Old Liu, and this is my disciple, Li Dong'Er. Brother Zhang, you're a local, right? Escaping from the 'General's Tomb' is really rare."
Zhang Kui was startled, a fierce light flashed in his eyes,
"You know the 'General's Tomb'?"
Old Liu was shocked, then turned his eyes around and smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth.
"Of course I know, but we should settle accounts first?"
Zhang Kui squinted, asking in a deep voice:
"Settle what accounts?"
Ordinary people would be frightened upon seeing him like this, but Old Liu wasn't intimidated at all. Instead, he pulled out an abacus from his pocket.
"Look, I can tell you the news about the 'General's Tomb' for one hundred taels of silver, plus the life-saving fee; let's say 500 taels for you."
"You don't think your life isn't worth that, do you? Besides, I even helped you bury your companions..."
Zhang Kui was taken aback, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes, "It's worth it, even a thousand taels wouldn't be too much. I'll go home and get it for you!"
"Hey, wait..."
Old Liu quickly reached out to stop him,
"I guarantee that going back now would be certain death."
Zhang Kui frowned, "Why do you say that?"
Old Liu smiled slightly and began to explain.
Turns out the Court's Astronomical Bureau is a bully that preys on the weak. They can handle regular evil spirits, but powerful demonic influences, they wouldn't dare to provoke, instead conducting a search and looting the area.
Of course, their rhetoric to the common folk is different. Many Jianghu people are well aware but dare not speak.
Going back now not only won't get the money but will more likely cost your life.
Zhang Kui was silent for a moment, then suddenly shook his head and laughed, "I initially thought it was a peaceful world, but didn't expect a world of bones under the bright sky."
"Ridiculous, ridiculous..."
...
Two days later, Zhang Kui watched from the mountain as the Astronomical Bureau's people completely dispersed and immediately headed towards the county.
Outside the city, tomb mounds were densely packed. The once-bustling small town had now become a ghost realm, a complete mess.
Every wealthy household had been ransacked, including the thousand taels of silver he hid under his bedroom bed were gone.
Zhang Kui didn't care about these, staring thoughtfully at a massive pit hundreds of meters wide in the center of the county.
This used to be where the County Government Office was, and it seemed something buried below was the cause of Yutang County's disaster.
Then, he went to the spot where his subordinates were buried, sat down, and took out an old jug of wine found at the tavern.
He drank a bowl, poured out a bowl, until it was gone.
After a moment of silence, Zhang Kui laughed heartily, and tossed the bowl aside, "In this life, our fate ends here. Brothers, travel well on your way. I'm leaving!"
After getting up, Zhang Kui casually picked up a tree branch, messed his long hair into a chaotic Daoist bun, and strode towards Old Liu and his disciple in the distance.
"Old Liu, you said you want me to work to pay off my debt, but there needs to be a place to go, right?"
"Hahaha, the Jianghu is vast, the world is wide, there's nowhere you can't go..."