Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Amidst cackling, eerie laughter, a footprint stepped directly onto the incense ash.
With a piercing shriek, a plume of black smoke rose from the snow.
Deaf Granny’s expression turned solemn. “Old Li, be careful! They’re here!”
Old Li let out a furious roar. “You filthy things that can’t face the light, if you have the guts, come at me!”
Another wave of unsettling laughter echoed.
A ghastly white mourning robe fluttered in the wind, flying straight toward Old Li.
The old man showed no fear, swinging his blade in a fierce slash!
A long gash was ripped into the mourning robe, and dark blood began to seep from the tear.
The filthy thing seemed severely wounded, shrieking as it fled into the distance. In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the vast snowy wilderness.
Deaf Granny was overjoyed at the sight. “It truly is the Hundred-Slayer Blade!”
Old Li stroked his silver-white beard, saying with pride, “If you count the Western devils, more than a hundred people have died under this blade!”
As they spoke, the sound of whimpering sobs rose again.
Two paper effigies, one red and one white, drifted slowly toward them. Eerie, stiff smiles were plastered onto the paper faces.
As if sensing that Old Li was not to be trifled with, they drifted straight toward Deaf Granny.
Deaf Granny laughed out of sheer anger. “You blind beasts, you actually take this old woman for a soft target!”
The Immortal-Binding Rope lashed out suddenly.
The two paper effigies seemed to drift slowly, yet they were incredibly agile. They twisted their bodies in a bizarre fashion, dodging Deaf Granny’s attack with a speed that defied their sluggish appearance.
Then, holding hands, they floated above the group.
The sounds of their “hee-hee-hee” and “cackle-cackle” laughter made everyone’s skin crawl.
Old Li frowned and asked, “Deaf Granny, what are these things?”
Deaf Granny kept her eyes fixed on the air. “Ghost Skin!”
“They were originally mourning clothes burned for the dead during funerals. By some twist of fate, they consumed living souls and turned into these disgusting things! They believe themselves to be ghosts, so they’re always coming out to snatch substitutes, hoping they can be reincarnated.”
At that moment, the snowy landscape grew even darker. The moon, which had just revealed itself, began to disappear bit by bit. After a short while, only a crescent of a blood moon remained.
This sight terrified the spirit medium Eighth Master Chang. “Heavenly Dog Devours the Moon, Half-Blood Remains!!! What kind of monster is this Doll you’ve saved?!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the wailing and howling of ghosts intensified from all directions. Large clouds of black mist appeared out of thin air, and within the mist, a vast horde of ghostly figures was faintly visible!
Most bizarre of all were eight Red-Dressed Female Ghosts, drifting slowly while carrying a sedan chair. When the other wandering ghosts saw them, they scrambled to clear a path, kneeling on both sides and trembling in fear. Even the two Ghost Skins floating in the air hurried to the ground, not daring to move an inch.
Just then, one of the ‘Four Pillars and Eight Pillars’ enshrined by Deaf Granny-the Beheaded Ghost from Qingfeng Hall-appeared in the courtyard.
The Beheaded Ghost held his own head in his hand, staring intently at the Ghost Sedan.
“Hemp-clad Grandmother, you are nearly at the point of attaining your path. Why come out to do something that damages your hidden merit?”
A sharp, piercing voice drifted from the Ghost Sedan.
“Don’t be so frightened. I, your grandmother, have only come to take a look. I won’t personally take any lives. But if you can’t hold back these little brats, I wouldn’t mind snatching the Extreme Yin Child for myself.”
Just as Deaf Granny was about to speak, Wang San’s Wife suddenly let out a scream of terror. “Mother, help! Something filthy has entered the house!”
This was immediately followed by a series of shrill, agonizing screams. Strangely, these screams clearly belonged to a man.
The Beheaded Ghost turned into a gust of yin wind and flew into the house. “Don’t move! Leave the thing inside to me! I’m not like some people who, after being enshrined for decades, only think of running away at the critical moment! I was a wandering ghost, and it is thanks to Deaf Granny’s care that I have long considered this place my home!”
These words made Eighth Master Chang flush with shame. He muttered under his breath, “Fine, you’re the capable one! Besides, haven’t I stayed put?!”
After the Beheaded Ghost entered the room, he witnessed an unbelievable sight.
A bold Hanged Ghost had tried to crawl in through the window, but it was blocked by Deaf Granny’s Great Seal. Only a foul-smelling, long tongue managed to stretch into the room.
At that moment, the newborn Doll was clutching the tongue in its hands, eating it mouthful by mouthful. Foul, black blood dripped from the corners of the Doll’s mouth.
When the Doll saw Qingfeng enter, it grinned at him, revealing blood-stained teeth.
It had already grown teeth!
Qingfeng admitted that, in that instant, he felt a surge of fear toward this newborn child.