Fortunately, Wang Ya had only been resting with eyes closed, not asleep, or that brake would have sent her crashing into the windshield. Hearing Landlord Sir’s shout and smelling the ghostly aura at the same time, she snapped her eyes open like copper bells and looked ahead. Upon seeing the situation, she broke into a delighted grin! Whoa, what a coincidence this late at night!
The Landlord couple were terrified. Landlord Sir’s hands trembled on the steering wheel, his foot jammed hard on the brake, not daring to move. Landlord Wife clutched Wang Ya’s hand tightly, repeatedly crying, “Master Wang, Master Wang…”
Wang Ya said, “Didn’t you see she has a shadow? It’s not a ghost—it’s a person!”
Landlord Sir and Landlord Wife peered closely. Sure enough, the woman hopping about the roadside—darting onto the road one moment, rolling on the sidewalk the next—did have a shadow. Though the streetlight wasn’t bright, it cast a clear one.
Landlord Sir let out a huge sigh of relief. “It’s a lunatic!”
Wang Ya said with a beaming smile, “Park by the road. I’m going to watch the show.”
Landlord Sir said, “What’s there to see with a crazy woman? Sigh, she wouldn’t have run into something evil, would she?”
Wang Ya said, “You two stay put in the car. Don’t get out—just park by the road. I know that woman; she’s in the same line of work as me, but she’s not one to help out. I was catching a ghost, and she and her buddies squatted in the corner watching me fight it to the death without lifting a finger! Now that she’s tangling with ghosts, I’ve gotta go watch the fun!” With that, she pushed open the door, got out, walked to the roadside, leaned against a lamppost, hugged her knees, and watched with a face full of glee as the woman fought desperately against five Ferocious Ghosts entwining her.
This woman was none other than the one traveling with Zheng Yanxia—surname Zhang, name unknown, from the Yunnan Zhang Family.
The five ghosts entangling her were each a different color, their forms somewhat resembling Rakshasa Ghosts but with distinctive hues. Anyone with a bit of knowledge could tell their colors perfectly matched the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth. Ferocious Ghosts, and precisely Five Elements Ghosts at that, with Talisman Plaques branded on their chests to resist Righteous Path magic artifacts. Even a blind man could see these five ghosts had backing. “Backing” meant they had a master controlling them from behind; these weren’t wild ghosts—they were domesticated.
The five ghosts coordinated with the five elements, flitting about unpredictably, attacking fiercely and relentlessly.
Zhang Beauty, besieged by the five ghosts, was in dire straits—not quite mortal peril, but utterly disheveled as she rolled and crawled in combat with the Five Elements Ghosts.
The people of the Yunnan Zhang Family did have some skill. Whether in footwork or form, they exuded Dao Rhyme. Bare-handed against five ghosts, without using any magic artifacts, she was only slightly disadvantaged and still had the power to counterattack. Wang Ya even noticed Zhang Beauty occasionally plucking roadside flowers and weeds or grabbing a few stones to “randomly toss” around. Connecting the stones and plants she casually threw, Wang Ya discerned traces of flowing Dao Rhyme.
Wang Ya recalled the Yunnan Zhang Family’s profound expertise in Feng Shui and arrays, so she guessed that though Zhang Beauty was temporarily at a disadvantage, she was setting up an array amid the fight. Once completed, she would surely turn the tables. Tsk tsk, can set up arrays and fight ghosts—got some real skill. Wang Ya leaned against the lamppost, watching with great interest. She had subdued plenty of ghosts and knew their tricks inside out; she had no interest in these five ghosts’ moves but was quite curious about the Yunnan Zhang Family’s techniques. She hunkered down on the sidelines, observing closely and occasionally gaining a little insight.
Suddenly, the five Five Elements Ghosts withdrew and fled swiftly— so fast that even Wang Ya hadn’t reacted before they vanished!
Wang Ya was truly stunned: Eh? How come they stopped right when it was getting good? I was just getting into it! But she instantly cheered up again. Zhang Beauty had clearly been caught off guard by their sudden retreat too. Standing by the road, she was so furious her face turned green, fists clenched tight, body trembling.
Wang Ya let out a “pfft” of laughter and said with a grin, “Yo, Zhang Beauty, what a coincidence!” She patted her chest, looking utterly content and intoxicated. “Sure enough, squatting on the sidelines watching the show feels amazing. Worth the trip, totally worth it.”
Zhang Beauty glared at Wang Ya through gritted teeth, her already livid face darkening as if water would drip from it.
Wang Ya’s smile shone even brighter. She raised her right hand and gave Zhang Beauty a light wave. “Good show’s over. See ya.” With a “hehe” chuckle, she headed toward the nearby large truck.
Zhang Beauty shouted, “Wang Ya, stop right there!”
Wang Ya turned back, drawing out her words in a soft, coquettish tone. “What? Stopping me in the dead of night—afraid of ghosts and want me to keep you company?”
Zhang Beauty took a deep breath and said, “Huang Qi’s soul was taken by Ghost Granny. Ghost Granny passed a message through the five ghosts: she wants that dead girl from the Zhongyin Feng Family to come exchange for Huang Qi. Watch out for yourself!”
Wang Ya “tsked” and said, “Wasn’t the Zhongyin Feng Family wiped out? If the Dead Old Lady wants someone from the Feng Family, she’ll have to go to the Underworld Courts. She’s a dead ghost anyway; she belongs there—let her find them herself! And ‘watch out for myself’? What’s that got to do with me?”
Zhang Beauty said, “Don’t play dumb. Ghost Granny fought the Zhongyin Feng Family for a lifetime; how could she mistake you?”
Wang Ya laughed “heh” in amusement. “Me, from the Zhongyin Feng Family? Nonsense!” What utter nonsense!
Zhang Beauty ignored Wang Ya further and turned toward the construction site of Zheng Yanxia’s building nearby.
Wang Ya clapped her hands together and called out, “First time I’ve seen a cultivator ghost-catcher get their soul hooked by a ghost instead. How rare.”
Zhang Beauty didn’t acknowledge Wang Ya, not even turning her head.
Wang Ya had no interest in dealing further with Zheng Yanxia’s group or Zhang Beauty. She returned to the parked large truck, pulled open the door, got in, and said, “Let’s go back.” Sitting in the truck, she still found Zhang Beauty’s words amusing. She wasn’t from the Zhongyin Feng Family! Even if she were, why should she go exchange for Huang Qi? She had no relation to Huang Qi whatsoever! Wang Ya hadn’t expected the Dead Old Lady, after fleeing gravely injured, to not lie low but launch revenge instead! Huang Qi had hired her to deal with the Dead Old Lady, so the Dead Old Lady hated Huang Qi, sure—but she probably hated Wang Ya most, since Wang Ya had crippled her and razed her lair. The grudge between Wang Ya and the Dead Old Lady was far deeper than between Huang Qi and her.
Wang Ya didn’t take it to heart. With her skills, how could a mere ghost bully her? If the Dead Old Lady dared show up, she’d open the Yellow Springs again and send her straight to the Underworld Courts!
