Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Meanwhile, in the Chaotic Graveyard, Old Li and the others had already fallen into a desperate situation:
Deaf Granny and Eighth Master Chang were trapped inside the Iron Coffin by the female ghost.
Fortunately, the lush green light emitted by the pine needles behind their heads blocked the encroaching ghostly qi, saving them from the female ghost’s harm;
Chief Zhou lay on the snowy ground, his life or death unknown;
Only Old Li remained standing, leaning heavily on his big knife and gasping for breath.
The female ghost let out a cackling laugh as her pale blue claws extended, lunging straight for Old Li’s chest.
Old Li raised his blade to strike, but found he didn’t even have that much strength left.
He gave a helpless, bitter smile:
“This old man spent half his life in the military. To think I didn’t die on the battlefield, but at the hands of a beast like you!”
“It doesn’t matter if I die, but I’ve dragged Comrade Xiao Zhou down with me…”
The greenish-black ghostly claws pierced through Old Li’s coarse cotton coat, grabbing right onto the three medals pinned to his undershirt.
In an instant, the female ghost was hit as if by a bolt of lightning. With a shrill howl of agony, she was sent flying backward.
“Merit Protection! How can an old man like you have Merit Protection!”
When the female ghost hit the ground, her body became even more transparent, looking as if she might vanish completely at any moment.
Old Li stood frozen in place, clearly not understanding what had just happened.
The female ghost howled in pain, desperately crawling to the side of the Iron Coffin.
She threw Deaf Granny out and scrambled inside herself.
The Iron Coffin rose into the air, fleeing straight toward the deep mountains.
It happened to crash head-on into the approaching Ghost Sedan.
The massive Iron Coffin was suddenly swallowed up by the Ghost Sedan with a loud *whoosh*.
The yin winds howled as Hemp-clad Grandmother cackled:
“You little slut, I heard you were quite fierce?!”
“Come, come, let Grandmother show you some love!”
The Ghost Sedan shook violently as the female ghost screamed repeatedly.
After the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, the screams stopped abruptly, and everything returned to silence.
Deaf Granny supported Old Li and Chief Zhou, looking at the Ghost Sedan with a bitter smile.
“Another even fiercer one has arrived. It seems we’re truly dead tonight.”
The weakened Eighth Master Chang put on a fawning expression:
“Hemp-clad Grandmother, why didn’t you tell this junior you were coming for a stroll in the village?”
“I could have made some preparations.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother gave a half-smile, her tone full of mockery:
“Chang Ba, what preparations would you make?”
“Could it be you wanted to bring your other brothers to ambush me?!”
Eighth Master Chang quickly forced a smile:
“Grandmother, look at what you’re saying. How could this junior ever have such thoughts…”
Deaf Granny coughed twice to break the awkwardness:
“This old woman thanks Grandmother on behalf of all the villagers for your help.”
“If that Iron Coffin had escaped, the consequences would have been endless.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother chuckled. The fast-asleep Hua Jiunan floated out of the sedan and landed steadily in Deaf Granny’s arms.
“No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank this little fellow.”
“If it weren’t for his sake, I wouldn’t bother with your messy affairs!”
Old Li and Deaf Granny cried out in surprise simultaneously:
“Xiao Jiu!”
Hemp-clad Grandmother let out a cold snort:
“Keep your voices down! If you wake my grand-nephew, I won’t be happy!”
“Deaf Granny, I’m not trying to nag, but you’re such an adult and you can’t even look after a child.”
“If I hadn’t happened to run into him, he would have been killed by that Ghost Skin!”
Through Hemp-clad Grandmother’s explanation, Old Li and Deaf Granny finally learned what had happened.
Besides being moved, they felt a surge of lingering fear:
If anything had happened to Hua Jiunan, the two elders would have been heartbroken.
Old Li, who had always looked down on ghosts and spirits, took the initiative to bow to Hemp-clad Grandmother this time.
“This old man doesn’t know how to say much.”
“Grandmother, you saved Xiao Jiu’s life. If you ever need me in the future, just say the word.”
The Ghost Sedan drifted half a meter to the side, avoiding Old Li’s bow.
“You old man have great merit upon you; I cannot accept a bow from you.”
“If you think well of me, we can just address each other as siblings from now on.”
Old Li was naturally bold and hearty; hearing this, he laughed loudly:
“Fine! Then I shall call you Elder Sister!”
Hemp-clad Grandmother was clearly very happy as well:
“Old brother, we must visit each other more often in the future.”
“Alright, everything is settled here, so I’ll be going.”
“Dawn is coming; it wouldn’t be good for living people to see my appearance.”
Just then, Hua Jiunan suddenly woke up.
“Grandmother, are you leaving? I wanted you to come stay at my house for a few days.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother was even more delighted, laughing so hard the Ghost Sedan trembled.
“This child is so filial. The more I look at him, the more I like him!”
Seeing this, Deaf Granny’s mind raced, and she thought of a way to satisfy everyone.
“Grandmother, how about this?”
“I’ll set up a tablet for you in my shrine hall. It’ll be more convenient for you to visit the child in the future.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother saw through Deaf Granny’s little scheme but didn’t call her out.
Moreover, she truly liked the well-behaved and resilient Hua Jiunan and did want to see him every day.
“Fine, that’s a good idea.”
“Xiao Jiu calls you Granny, so we should also interact as equals. Just call me Elder Sister.”
“Don’t call me ‘Grandmother’ anymore.”
Deaf Granny was overjoyed and immediately called out:
“Elder Sister!”
“I’ll take care of it as soon as I get back. I promise to make your spot in the shrine hall look beautiful.”
Hemp-clad Grandmother instructed:
“Don’t go to too much trouble. Just burning three sticks of incense as a gesture is enough.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a wisp of black qi flew out of the Ghost Sedan and merged directly into Deaf Granny’s body.
This was Hemp-clad Grandmother’s recognition of her, allowing Deaf Granny to offer her worship.
It was similar to the Mark a spirit medium places within a disciple.
“Little sister, from now on, use my name when you practice as a spirit medium.”
“Chang Ba, you don’t have any objections, do you?!”
How could Eighth Master Chang dare to have any objections!
He immediately nodded repeatedly: “Whatever you say goes!”