Chapter 6: Ferry the Ghosts Across Part 1

Zheng Yanxia stumbled along behind Wang Ya, calling out, “What do we do?” Her pretty face had paled in fright, and her lips trembled nonstop.

Wang Ya ignored Zheng Yanxia. She knew full well that this time, they wouldn’t escape as easily as before. She turned to glance at the off-road vehicle that had crashed into the streetlamp. The front end was caved in, shards of glass littered the ground, and the airbags had deployed. The two bodyguards tumbled out of the car and rushed to her side, their faces filled with panic as they looked at her.

Wang Ya let out a cold snort and said, “You didn’t even realize you’d run into a Ghost Hitting Wall while driving?” As she spoke, her hands didn’t idle. She gritted her teeth and bit down on her recently healed index finger. Fresh blood immediately oozed from the wound.

The driving bodyguard had met Wang Ya before and knew her temper was foul, so he spoke politely, “Please, Master Wang, think of something!” His face had a gash, blood flowing from it, mixed with sweat trailing down his cheeks.

Wang Ya had just bitten her finger when the ghosts gathered around pounced. She smeared her blood across the Ghost-Capturing Copper Bell, which then hovered in midair, shaking and ringing “ding ding dang dang.” As the bell tolled, the ghosts seemed blocked by an invisible force, halting three or four meters away.

Wang Ya knew that with the Ancient Old Ghost around, the bell wouldn’t suppress these ghosts for long. She yanked the moneybags Zheng Yanxia in front of her, focused her energy, and muttered incantations while drawing a Protective Talisman on Zheng Yanxia’s face with her own blood. She quickly did the same for the two bodyguards, then drew a lotus-shaped talisman on her left palm. With a fierce shout, “Yellow Springs in the underworld, golden lotus clears the path, all evils retreat! Open!” She thrust out her left palm. The lotus talisman on it transformed into a faintly glowing golden lotus that drifted slowly forward along the road.

Wang Ya turned to Zheng Yanxia and said, “Take your two bodyguards and follow the lotus. No matter what happens or what you see, ignore it, don’t pay attention, and absolutely don’t look back!”

Zheng Yanxia nodded lightly and said, “Wang Ya, take care of yourself.”

Wang Ya waved her off toward Zheng Yanxia. “Get going!” She found them a hindrance if they stayed. Leaving these three here was dangerous for them and for her—not to mention, if another possession like that Taoist from last time happened, she’d have to waste effort fighting it off. One of her gaming buddies always said: Don’t fear godlike opponents; fear piglike teammates.

Zheng Yanxia followed the lotus along the road without hesitation, not even glancing back as Wang Ya had instructed. Her two bodyguards trailed right behind.

The Square-faced Bodyguard whispered, “Dong Zi, do you see the lotus?”

The bodyguard called Dong Zi replied, “No, do you?”

The Square-faced Bodyguard said, “Me neither.”

The two fell silent, following closely in Zheng Yanxia’s footsteps. Though they were bodyguards, they were helpless against these supernatural matters and had to rely on their employer for escape.

After sending off Zheng Yanxia and the two bodyguards, Wang Ya pocketed the Ghost-Capturing Copper Bell and looked toward the Construction Site. She paid no mind to the New Ghosts surrounding her. Though controlled by the Old Ghost and fiercer than ordinary violently slain Ferocious Ghosts or Fierce Ghosts, she had the Seven Ancient Copper Coins protecting her body. With such treasures, she feared no Little Ghosts.

Yet a newly deceased ghost drew closer. Wang Ya formed seals, preparing to disperse it, but she caught sight of its face and froze, crying out in a low voice, “Cousin Uncle!” The ghost wore ordinary migrant worker clothes, a safety helmet cracked wide open and dented on his head—blood covered his forehead, and white brain matter dripped from under the helmet. That ghastly pale face stared at Wang Ya. Perhaps hearing her call, he fixed his dead eyes on her and wailed, “Ya Ya, I died so miserably—”

Wang Ya recalled Zheng Yanxia mentioning she’d encountered a fellow villager from her hometown that morning when she’d fainted by the Bus Station sign. Now seeing her Cousin Uncle, Wang Ya figured that was who it had been. He was from the same village, just over two hundred meters from her home—a distant relative, fifth or sixth cousin once removed, whom she called Cousin Uncle by seniority. Their families lived close with some ties, but they weren’t close. He worked away year-round, returning only for holidays. Stingy, fond of drink, and talkative, his daughter often badmouthed her behind her back. His wife held a minor village post, handling fees for rural health insurance or issuing proofs—everyone had to go through her. When Wang Ya’s ID was lost, her grandma had gone to Cousin Uncle’s wife to help reissue it. Upon hearing about the lost wallet and ID, Cousin Uncle’s wife told him, and he blabbed it to Zheng Yanxia. Wang Ya didn’t know if Zheng Yanxia had deliberately pried or if Cousin Uncle was just loose-lipped. Seeing this dead ghost who’d leaked her family and identity info filled her with annoyance and complicated emotions. After all, they knew each other; there was some blood tie!