“You are not demon suppressors?”
Ma Guniang’s eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting slightly as her gaze swept over the group.
“This old one’s eyes are quite sharp. You all possess an upright aura, come from a government background, and specifically handle matters involving ghosts and demons in the mortal realm. How could you not be the demon suppressors of this age?
“Ever since the Dragon Empress established the Demon Suppression Division, the title of demon suppressor has been used all the way through our Great Song.
“Although the Tatars entered the pass later and altered much of our Han history while severing many Daoist inheritances, the legacy of the Demon Suppression Division should not have been extinguished.
“Could it be... that the Supervisory General of this generation has not yet reincarnated and awakened? Oh dear!”
She frowned slightly, as if she had said something she shouldn't have. She covered her face with her hand, her eyes darting around.
“Though the titles used by the Demon Suppression Division have varied across generations, what you are doing now is exactly what General Daizi once said: ‘Slay the wicked, suppress the demons, do good deeds, and reap good results,’ is it not?
“Since the Lord Commissioner told me to deliver the order, she must have her reasons. Calling you ‘demon suppressors’ isn't exactly a mistake.”
The amount of information was staggering.
Behind this woman who called herself “Ma Guniang,” there was a Lord Commissioner.
Above the Commissioner, there were Inspectors and even a General.
It even touched upon historical dynastic changes, the conflict between the Manchus and the Han, and even the concepts of soul reincarnation and the awakening of ancient legacies.
This had to be reported.
Qin Yue shot a look at Lyu Qing, who subtly touched her chest.
The red light on the recording device was still on; it was functioning normally.
“Well, that’s enough talk for tonight.”
Ma Guniang glanced at them, seemingly seeing right through their little scheme. She extended a slender, pale finger and pointed toward the rooftop entrance.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Look, hasn't the evil ghost been delivered right to our door?”
As she spoke, the mist began to part. In the direction Ma Guniang pointed, the white fog rolled and churned as if it had a life of its own.
At the end of the mist, a tall figure appeared before everyone.
His face was covered in scars, and his entire body was burned. The parts below his calves were charred and carbonized, and with every step he took, flakes of burnt skin drifted down like soot.
The man seemed unaware of the others on the roof. He simply set down the people on his shoulder and turned back into the mist.
What the black figure had brought up was one human and one ghost.
The human was Zhao Daxian.
The ghost was a burned ghost.
Seeing that Zhao Daxian was unharmed, Qin Yue recalled Ma Guniang’s cryptic words, and a sudden realization struck her.
“Ugh... Blurgh... From now on, I am absolutely not eating roasted meat. Ugh... the smell is too foul...”
The moment Zhao Daxian hit the ground, he grabbed the railing and began to vomit violently. He looked as if he wanted to reach down his throat and pull his stomach out.
“Oh, there’s even a little Taoist here.
“If you had been more respectful earlier, I would have stepped in sooner, and you wouldn't have had to suffer like this.”
Ma Guniang floated down gently, her tone playful. She drew out the end of every sentence in a slow, rhythmic manner, as if she were reciting poetry.
“Little Taoist, let me teach you a lesson today. There are gods three feet above your head; do not speak ill of others behind their backs, or you might find sores growing in your mouth.”
Qin Yue reacted immediately.
Ma Guniang must have been watching them all along. Otherwise, how could she have known about Zhao Daxian’s offhand complaint?
...
“You... you...”
Zhao Daxian looked up, feeling as if the sky were falling.
The effect of the Willow leaves open my eyes technique had not yet worn off.
In his eyes, the smiling Ma Guniang was completely enveloped in swirling, violent black energy. A staggering amount of resentful energy had practically materialized, twisting and struggling behind her like countless tentacles...
She was several times more terrifying than an evil ghost.
How was this a Greater Ghost like He Xiaoyi had said?
This was at least a powerful ghost on the level of a blue faced ghost wraith, wasn't it?!
Weren't they told that spiritual energy had dried up and the world could no longer sustain such powerful ghosts?
Master, you old man lied to me!!
“Yes, Senior, I think you are absolutely right. I’ve always had a big mouth. From now on, I will cultivate my speech and I promise never to do it again.”
Zhao Daxian immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his expression exceptionally pure and his posture as humble as could be.
It wasn't that he was being sycophantic.
It was like going to work every day where everyone used bicycles, buses, subways, or cars. Even if someone was rich enough to take a helicopter, people would be envious but not terrified.
But then one day, someone comes to work riding a prehistoric, extinct dinosaur and leans down from the beast's head to greet you with a smile.
Just ask yourself if you’d be scared.
In any case, Zhao Daxian’s first instinct was definitely not to strike up a conversation.
Zhao Daxian: I’ve learned my lesson, please let me go.
...
Even Qin Yue could tell that Zhao Daxian was not in a right state of mind. She immediately signaled the other team members to stay alert.
The danger level of the person in front of them had to be adjusted upward again.
Ma Guniang ignored him and gestured with her chin toward the burned ghost curled in the corner, asking Qin Yue:
“Little demon suppressor, the arsonist ghost is right here. Will you take him or not?”
?
Everyone was in disbelief.
So, this scrawny, weak male ghost was actually the culprit behind the mansion fire?
Then what was that tall, monstrous figure from before?
“That was a living soul. Three new floors were built on top of this building, and in the eyes of a ghost, it’s like a labyrinth. He has been trapped here, unable to return to his physical body.
“He should also be a man of the public office. Even though his soul is lost, he still remembers to save people.
“If he hadn't been here every night to suppress this evil ghost’s malice, this place would have surely succumbed to another great fire.
“Everyone goes to temples to offer incense and pray to Buddha, yet they forget that true Buddhas exist in the mortal world. Why bother traveling thousands of miles to worship at Spirit Mountain?”
Ma Guniang smiled brightly, seemingly in a good mood.
“Since the little demon suppressor is not moving, I shall dispose of this evil ghost myself, shall I?”
Qin Yue made a gesture of invitation and silently took a step back.
The others immediately spread out, making sure to capture the scene from multiple angles.
“You delivered yourself to me, so I don't have to waste effort hunting you down.”
Ma Guniang stepped forward and stood before the young man’s ghost. She reached out and tapped his forehead lightly with her finger.
“Evil ghost Zheng Tong, in life you committed arson and murder, taking nine innocent lives. In death, you remain unrepentant, causing trouble in this bustling city.
“According to the laws of the Demon Suppression Division, those who take lives, are laden with evil, and show no remorse shall be executed immediately.”
“Heeheehee, I’m sick, you can't kill me! I’m sick! I’m a madman! Heeheehee!”
The ghost tried to play dumb, let out a series of eccentric, cackling cries.
“I’m a ghost, you can't kill me! Hehehe!”
Boom...
Ma Guniang smiled faintly. Without any visible movement, a flash of white light erupted, sounding like a muffled clap of thunder in their midst.
When they looked again, Zheng Tong’s ghost had been reduced to a pile of black mud, his soul completely dissipated.
What had happened in that instant?
Was it... over just like that?
Weren't ghosts supposed to be extremely difficult to deal with?
How did a single tap of a finger turn a ghost into mud?
The group exchanged looks, seeing the same shock in each other’s eyes.
Zhao Daxian was on the verge of fainting.
What had he just seen?
Authentic lightning magic.
No incantations, no altar, and not even a spiritual talisman to start the technique.
Most importantly, it was used by a powerful ghost!
If this news got out, those fellows who prided themselves on being orthodox would go insane.
Has the world finally started to go mad???
“I should be going, little demon suppressor.
“But I see that you have good aptitude and excellent bone structure. Most importantly, you possess an upright aura. You really should practice the Small Twelve Bone Forging Method.
“Otherwise, when the Lord Commissioner issues another order in the future, how will you capture ghosts and subdue demons?”
Ma Guniang looked at Qin Yue, her eyes filled with an irrepressible fondness.
She waved her hand, and an ancient-looking manual fell into Qin Yue’s arms.
“This technique originally belonged to the Demon Suppression Division. Handing it to you now is not considered an overstepping of my bounds.
“Tear down that room and find someone to guide the living soul back; then he can return home early.
“Well then, this matter is concluded, and it is time for this old one to depart. If you demon suppressors ever need anything in the future, simply hang a peach branch before the door of the Demon Suppression Division, and I will know.”
With that, Ma Guniang waved and walked into the mist.
In the next moment, she appeared at the edge of the skyscraper as if she had teleported, and leaned back, falling into the void!
“!!!”
“Holy crap!!”
“!!!”
“?!!”
Everyone rushed forward, only to see the falling Ma Guniang give a dashing smile.
“Cultivate well, little demon suppressor. Do not fail the Lord Commissioner’s trust!”
In the howling wind, her purple robes fluttered. With her dark hair and jade-like face, her posture was breathtakingly beautiful.
A moment later, she vanished against the backdrop of the heavy traffic and the glimmering city lights.
Could she, too, one day ride the wind and roam the world as freely as Ma Guniang?
Qin Yue gripped the book in her hand, feeling her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Something called “ambition” began to grow silently in her heart like wild grass.
Rate on N.U.
