Chapter 63.2 Deserted Village 05
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While most people never encounter ghosts in their lifetime, it was often easier to believe in their existence rather than dismiss them entirely. The lingering doubt stemmed from the lack of firsthand experience. If ghosts were to be undeniably revealed to the world, skepticism would undoubtedly fade.
Du Shuo: “In order to restore the Ghost Kingdom, what do you think Wu Lingjiu needs the most? What is he lacking now?”
After a brief silence, Chen Yang responded, “Citizens.” Without the populace, the so-called kingdom was a joke. “Wu Lingjiu is absorbing followers and recruiting citizens. He lured the old professor into investigating the truth in the deserted village. After leaving, he will publish articles. With the reputation of the old professor, these articles will cause a social uproar, especially when it comes to the eerie themes of funerals. This is the first step, to pique people’s interest. The second step is to convince people that ghosts exist. So, there must be more to it, like video footage with irrefutable evidence.”
The old professor and his two students walked toward the depths of the forest, spotting another ghost cocoon. The ghost cocoon looked fresh, as if the person inside was recently deceased. However, the deserted village had been uninhabited for several years, so why would there be a newly deceased person in the surrounding woods? The old professor instructed his two students to quickly make a record.
Chen Yang and Du Shuo followed behind, watching the entire process. Chen Yang remarked, “The old professor and his students are ordinary people. Since he has been deceived into the deserted village, with the intention of using him, ensuring his safety is crucial.”
On the other side, the old professor cautiously opened the carefully wrapped ghost cocoon, reaching out to touch the dried-up corpse. Suddenly, the dried-up corpse grabbed the old professor’s hand and pulled him into the ghost cocoon. Reacting swiftly, Zhao Yao grabbed the old professor. The dried-up corpse, incredibly strong, caused Zhao Yao’s face to flush as she shouted, “Zhao Gang, come help me!”
Zhao Gang tore off the talisman from the wound on Zhao Yao’s wrist, sticking it onto the forehead of the dried-up corpse. The dried-up corpse froze for a moment. Together, they pulled the old professor out. In the next moment, the dried-up corpse tore off the talisman from its forehead and angrily crawled out of the ghost cocoon. With limbs resembling a crawling insect, it descended from the tree trunk. Seeing this, Zhao Gang adeptly lifted the old professor and ran. From a distance, Zhao Yao saw Chen Yang and called out, “Celestial Master! Help us!”
Chen Yang strode forward and kicked the dried-up corpse away. He violently untangled a red string, wrapping it around its neck, and forcefully dragged it away, breaking its limbs before pulling it back into the ghost cocoon and sealing it again. He also stick two talismans on the outside of the ghost cocoon. The corpse inside the ghost cocoon struggled to get out, but was unable to break the ghost cocoon.
Zhao Yao, panting heavily, exclaimed, “Oh my god, that was too dangerous! Celestial Master Chen, didn’t you say not to offend the corpses?”
Chen Yang replied, “Dried-up corpses don’t count as corpses.” How could something that became a spirit be considered a corpse? However, there were too many of them in the forest, which was abnormal.
Du Shuo: “It’s getting dark. Let’s head back.”
Chen Yang nodded and signaled the old professor and his two students to join them on their way back. The old professor had wanted to take more notes, but seeing the late hour, he agreed to return. After all, it was already dangerous enough in broad daylight. Evening would only invite chaos.
The group of five ran through the forest for a long time, but the exit was nowhere in sight. Du Shuo grabbed Chen Yang and said, “We’ve been here before.” He pointed to a gnarled tree they had passed by earlier. “We’ve been going in circles.”
Chen Yang took out a compass, only to find the needle spinning erratically, indicating it was broken. The old professor asked, “Did we hit a ghost wall? According to folklore, when encountering ghost wall, you should stand still and not move.”
Chen Yang: “Only if whatever trapped you here isn’t trying to harm you.” Both the forest and the deserted village were dangerous, filled with ghost larvae and starving ghosts. If they were attacked by a horde, they were in trouble, especially with three ordinary people in tow.
Du Shuo tightened his grip on Chen Yang’s wrist. “I’ll lead the way. Just follow me.”
Darkness descended rapidly, as if a black cloth had been swooped over the lights and dark clouds had swallowed the sun’s rays. The old professor and his students, prepared for such an eventuality, retrieved two flashlights from their backpacks and handed one to Chen Yang.
Chen Yang illuminated for Du Shuo, who was leading the way. The forest grew increasingly quiet, with only the hurried footsteps and breaths of their journey breaking the silence. Suddenly, clear ‘crackling’ sounds came from behind them. Zhao Yao, trembling with fear, asked, “Wha-what’s that sound?”
Chen Yang: “Don’t look back. Keep moving.”
The crackling sounds grew louder and more frequent. The sounds of stiff limbs twisting became clearer, denser, and closer, the eerie and chilling feeling close at hand. Zhao Yao couldn’t help but look back, her pupils dilating with fear. She quickly covered her mouth to suppress the scream that threatened to burst from her throat, and quickly turned back to continue walking, her face pale, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.
Zhao Gang glanced to the side and asked, “What did you see?”
Zhao Yao quickly grabbed him. “Don’t look back!” It was too late. Zhao Gang turned back to look, stiffened his neck, and shivered. “What the hell is that!”
Zhao Gang’s terrified shriek echoed through the forest, attracting a horde of ghost larvae behind them. Du Shuo’s displeased gaze fell on Zhao Gang, who trembled and hid behind Zhao Yao. Zhao Yao, too, felt a surge of exasperation. “You’re usually not this unreliable.”
Holding his red string in both hands, Chen Yang turned his back to Du Shuo and said, “Brother Du, you lead them away first.”
Before he could finish speaking, Du Shuo swiftly snatched the red string from Chen Yang’s grasp. “With me around, do you still want to fight alone?” Then, he hooked the red string hanging around Chen Yang’s neck, adorned with half of the Emperor of Fengdu’s seal. “The power of the seal is formidable. In the face of a siege, you need to learn to use its power.”
In front of the Emperor of Fengdu’s seal, no ghosts dared to disobey, and Yin soldiers and ghost generals came to assist. Chen Yang imprinted the seal on the talisman, but feeling it was incomplete, he turned back and looked at Du Shuo expectantly, “Brother Du, can I borrow the other half?”
Du Shuo playfully flicked Chen Yang’s forehead. “Don’t act cute. Use your Heart Seal. If I’m not around and you encounter such a situation, where will you find the other half?”
Pouting, Chen Yang concentrated on forming his Heart Seal. The so-called Heart Seal was an imprint formed with the mind, not with words or actions. Each celestial master could form their own Heart Seal, and each one was unique. There were two types of Heart Seal involved in the process: the practitioner’s own Heart Seal and the Heart Seal of the Yin soldier or Ghost General whose power they were borrowing. Chen Yang needed to form both his own Heart Seal and the Emperor of Fengdu’s Heart Seal, communicating between the two to harness their combined power.
The Heart Seal of the Emperor of Fengdu was for slaying ghosts, exorcising evil, and subduing demons, not for benevolence, salvation, or redemption. Its purpose was to kill and suppress. Pure evil could not be redeemed or saved. It could only be suppressed and eradicated. Although it may seem indifferent, cruel, and detached, the Heart Seal aimed to save the world and deliver the innocent through suppression and eradication. It was fair and just: sinners were punished, the virtuous entered the cycle of reincarnation, and the wicked faced unforgiving retribution. The order of the world was maintained, good and evil were met with their just recompense, and the cycle of cause and effect remained unbroken.
Chen Yang’s eyes snapped open, a faint golden light flickering across his pupils. He clasped his hands together, his fingertips meeting, mirroring the pose of the Great Emperor of Fengdu holding his jade scepter. He opened his mouth slightly and uttered, “Heed!”
The invisible Heart Seal of the Emperor of Fengdu was imprinted on the talisman, perfectly merging with the other half of the Emperor of Fengdu’s Seal. The talisman ascended into the sky above the forest, its brilliant golden light enveloping the surrounding ten meters. The dried-up corpses under the trees were illuminated by the golden light, instantly turning into black ashes and merging into the ground. Sensing the danger, the ghost cocoons that had just opened halfway swiftly closed shut, falling silent once more.
The Heart Seal on the talisman and the golden light were invisible to those without the Third Eye, but Zhao Yao saw it. She gaped, shocked by the scene. The old professor squinted at Zhao Yao and asked, “What do you see?”
Zhao Yao: “Gold, gold light. It dazzled my dog eyes.”
The old professor winced and advised her to stay silent not to embarrass herself. Zhao Gang had been watching Du Shuo and Chen Yang all along. Hearing this, he said, “You could see it? I didn’t see anything. I just heard Celestial Master Chen talking about something like seals, and then the dried-up corpses turned into ashes.”
Zhao Yao grinned triumphantly. “Hehehe, does this mean I have some hidden ability?”
No one answered her. When the forest regained tranquility, the group continued their journey. This time, there were no ghostly obstacles, but they still couldn’t find their way out because they were unfamiliar with the path. Du Shuo took the lead again. After walking for more than ten minutes, they left the forest and returned to the deserted village. The village, shrouded in darkness, was terrifying. Behind the layered greenery, it seemed like many dirty things were lurking, observing them all the way. The old objects at the entrance of the alley stood still, occasionally making sounds that could startle anyone when the wind blew.
In front of each house, there was a row of water jars half the height of a person. According to the old professor’s explanation, they were filled with the bones from the second burial. When it came to this, the old professor was very excited and wanted to open the water jars to observe and take notes. His two students were not so bold and strongly opposed the professor’s idea.
Left with no alternative, the old professor sought Chen Yang’s support. Chen Yang, with a slight smile, informed him, “Those houses are filled with starving ghosts. Do you know what starving ghosts are? They are insatiable spirits imprisoned in hell, their hunger never satiated.”
So, the old professor abandoned the idea of studying the bones in the water jars. The group maneuvered through narrow alleys, feeling countless eyes on them. At this point, the old professor finally realized that Chen Yang hadn’t exaggerated—they were indeed being watched by numerous starving ghosts hidden in every household of the deserted village. These ghosts were eagerly waiting, intending to pounce and consume their flesh and blood.
However, these starving ghosts seemed to be wary or even fearful of something, only waiting for them to be alone. The two students also noticed this and stuck close to Chen Yang and Du Shuo. Zhao Gang’s gaze focused on Du Shuo, and he whispered, “We’ve encountered a boss. Nothing will go wrong.”
It wasn’t until they entered the ancestral hall that the terrifying and devouring gazes were blocked. The three of them, soaked in sweat, breathed a sigh of relief and continued to follow. Upon seeing the others, Chen Yang briefly introduced both sides, then Chief Witch Yi helped apply herbal medicine to Zhao Yao’s wound.
Just after dealing with the injury, Chonky, who had disappeared into the woods, returned. He immediately crouched, bared his teeth, and snarled ferociously at Zhao Yao.
Faced with others’ confusion, Zhao Yao smiled helplessly. “I’ve never been liked by cats since I was a child. I don’t know why.”
Hearing this, Chonky became more agitated. He emitted a threatening low growl from his throat, pacing back and forth, occasionally snarling at Zhao Yao. Perplexed, Zhao Yao touched her own nose and remarked, “Even if I’m not liked by cats, there’s no need to… hate me so much, right?”
Chonky bristled, and in extreme anger, he emitted a hoarse and melancholic roar from his throat, “Xu A’ni!”
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