Ghosts, too, were divided into greater and lesser kinds.
The ones before Nan Zhi were the weakest sort of lesser ghosts.
Normally, they couldn't even stand the sun; they would dissolve upon exposure, let alone have the ability to harm anyone. They struggled to move even a single leaf.
【Niu Xiaomei】
【Niu Zhu】
【Niu Liu】
【Niu Wang】
As soon as the several souls saw a person, they huddled together like startled birds, glaring at Nan Zhi, the uninvited guest who had barged into their home.
Nan Zhi ignored their stares. She simply pulled out the yellow paper ingots left over from Chen Ping's funeral service, lit them with a fire starter, and placed incense and candles before the spirit tablets.
“Incense...”
“So hungry, so hungry.”
“It smells so good, eat quickly.”
“Hungry...”
As soon as the ghosts saw the offerings, they rushed forward as if they had been starved for an eternity, scrambling to inhale the smoke rising from the incense.
“Forgive me. This junior did not mean to disturb your peace, but there is a matter of life and death involving many people today, so I had to come and trouble you.”
Nan Zhi waited until they had inhaled a few breaths and their souls had solidified slightly, seemingly becoming capable of communication, before she cupped her hands and spoke loudly:
“A white tiger is causing trouble in the mountains, blocking paths and devouring people. In the past decade, countless lives have been lost to its maw.
This white tiger has gained intelligence and refined the transverse bone in its throat, becoming a demon. If it is not eliminated, it will surely become a major threat in the future.
However, this tiger is exceptionally cunning. Not only does it keep chang ghosts, but it has also tempered its flesh to be as tough as iron. Only an arrow stained with the blood of its mother can kill it.
I heard that many years ago, an elder of the Niu family killed a tigress with a bow and arrow, so I have come to ask for the location of that arrow.”
The souls huddled together, seemingly discussing something.
After a moment, the soul that looked like Chunsheng's mother waved at Nan Zhi and pointed to a specific spot on the ground.
“Here?”
Nan Zhi began digging in the direction the spirit pointed. Sure enough, in a pit about half a meter deep, she unearthed a metal arrowhead.
Too much time had passed.
The shaft of the arrow had long since rotted into the earth, leaving only the rust covered, diamond shaped arrowhead intact.
The arrowhead was made of iron. After being buried for years, its surface had completely changed color, making its original appearance unrecognizable.
Nan Zhi felt a twinge of doubt about whether such an old arrowhead would still be useful.
But given the circumstances, she could only pray that a trace of the mother tiger's spiritual blood remained on the metal.
Having obtained the arrowhead, Nan Zhi bowed once more to the spirit tablets before turning to leave.
Before she went, she noticed the ghost of Chunsheng's mother suddenly mouthing words to her.
Nan Zhi recognized them.
She was saying:
【Chunsheng.】
【Come home.】
...
...
【You have entered the Level 40 dungeon, “The Tiger in the Mountains”】
【The Tiger in the Mountains: Wenshan is a place of spirit. A tigress once stumbled upon a stroke of luck, and after consuming spiritual herbs, she gave birth to a white-browed cub...】
【...Hundreds of lost souls, and five chang ghosts who cannot find release through the generations.】
【Recommended Cultivator Realm: Foundation Establishment Level 1 to Foundation Establishment Level 5】
【Dungeon Clear Rewards: ...】
Nan Zhi's second entry into Wenshan was significantly smoother than the first.
She slipped silently into the dense forest, gliding through the underbrush as she headed straight toward Constable Zhang and his men.
The night was high, and only one spot in the forest flickered with firelight.
The injured constables were grumbling in small groups, while Constable Zhang stood before them, loudly berating one of the men:
“...Can you still face your own conscience?”
“I see this place is decent enough; you all start a fire and cook some food here. I'll go scout the woods and see if I can hunt some wild game to bring back...”
She had made it in time.
According to the next sequence of events, Constable Zhang would act alone and encounter the tiger while chasing a rabbit, leading to a struggle.
Then, Chunsheng would jump out and accuse Constable Zhang of being a ghost.
The group, overcome with fear and panic, would then fall directly into the traps of the other chang ghosts.
Nan Zhi glanced at Nan Yi, who was sitting under a tree gnawing on a pancake. She didn't rush to reveal herself but instead quietly slipped into the forest, following behind Constable Zhang.
...
Constable Zhang's real name was Zhang Long. He was originally a wanderer of the jianghu, but when his elderly mother grew old, he washed his hands of that life and returned home to become a bailiff.
But though he had returned, he couldn't wash away the martial aura of the jianghu.
This mission to catch the tiger had come about because Registrar Hu had visited the Zhang house with wine and food, piling on the flattery.
Phrases like “loyal and righteous” and “heroic heart” had made Zhang Long flush with pride. He had accepted the task on the spot.
Secondly, when Zhang Long studied martial arts, he had sworn to his master that he would not use his skills for bullying, but only to punish evil and promote good.
Thus, he had volunteered to come, intending to eliminate the tiger for the sake of the villagers near Wenshan who suffered from its predation.
But who could have known that things would go poorly from the start? Before they even encountered the beast, the hunter leading them into the mountains had been snatched away by the tiger.
That damned beast!
If he caught it, he would skin it, disembowel it, and retrieve the hunter so the man could be properly buried.
At the thought, Zhang Long's anger flared. He drew his bow and let fly an arrow toward a rustling thicket:
“Swoosh—”
The forest was dim, but the arrow struck true, hitting a grey rabbit.
A faint look of joy appeared on his face.
But before Zhang Long could go to retrieve his kill, a shadow leaped down from a tree, snatched his rabbit, and bolted.
Zhang Long's eyes widened in disbelief. He never expected that in this deep, desolate forest, someone would actually steal his prey.
And right in front of him, stealing the rabbit he had just killed!
If word of this got out, his moniker of “Crossing River Dragon” would turn into “Crossing River Worm” by the next morning!
Zhang Long couldn't stand for it. He lunged forward, giving chase at full speed:
“You there, little thief! Stop right there!!”
The person didn't look back, simply sprinting deeper into the woods. Seeing the person's broad shoulders and sturdy build, Zhang Long assumed it was a passing thief and shouted a warning as he pursued:
“Do you want to die?! There's a man-eating tiger on this mountain, don't run! I don't even want the rabbit anymore, just stop—”
He hadn't even finished his sentence when the person in front suddenly spun around. When he looked up, he saw a familiar face.
“Isn't this the Nan family's eldest daughter—why is it you?”
Zhang Long was dumbstruck.
In the middle of the night, in the middle of a desolate forest.
Where had the Nan family's eldest daughter popped out from?
“Constable Zhang, it's me. That place just now wasn't suitable for talking, so I had to use this method to lead you away.”
Nan Zhi looked up, tossed the dead rabbit onto the ground, and whispered to Zhang Long:
“Time is short. Now, I will speak and you will listen. If you have questions, wait until I'm finished.
Listen well. The thing blocking the path and eating people on this mountain isn't some ordinary tiger, but a white-browed tiger that has already become a demon and refined the transverse bone in its throat.
What you saw during the day was merely an illusion it created to deceive you.
This tiger is incredibly cunning. Those it eats turn into chang ghosts, acting as its minions to confuse travelers and lure them into the mountains to be fed to the tiger.
The hunter Chunsheng who led you in is actually surnamed Niu. His home is the third house under the crooked locust tree on the west side of Wenshan Village.
In truth, he was eaten by this tiger over a decade ago and turned into a chang ghost to lure the living.
Right now, Chunsheng has received the Mountain Lord's orders. He is about to transform into human form and rejoin your group to sow discord, hoping to make you all kill each other.”
“A... a monster?”
Zhang Long's mind went numb, and he subconsciously protested:
“Chunsheng is a ghost? But when I saw him today, he was clearly alive...”
“That is an old ghost who has lived for over a decade, using the tiger's demonic power to manifest. Who knows how many lives he has helped take? What is so strange about him pretending to be human during the day?”
Nan Zhi checked the time and said urgently:
“The white tiger has a total of eight chang ghosts under its command. They can manifest gold, silver, treasures, and beautiful women to lure the living.
It is said that ‘humans fear ghosts by thirty percent, but ghosts fear humans by seventy percent.’ You all carry official uniforms and sabers. As long as the inner fire in your hearts does not go out, those chang ghosts can do nothing to you.
So in a moment, Chunsheng will return in human form and say he wants to lead you down the mountain.
You must not expose his identity. Act as if you know nothing and simply follow him.
Furthermore, no matter what Chunsheng says, do not believe him, and above all, do not act on your own.
Wait for me to find an opportunity to kill these chang ghosts one by one. Afterward, you will need to assist me in hunting down this murderous white tiger.”
“So, the Nan family's eldest daughter wants me to not startle the snake?”
Zhang Long understood the gist, but he hesitated, staring at Nan Zhi with doubt:
“But how do I know you aren't a chang ghost yourself, here to trick me?”
He was quite cautious.
“Does Constable Zhang remember the red fox that played a trick on the night watchman that day?”
Nan Zhi flashed a mysterious smile:
“If you don't remember, perhaps I should help you recall what that fox did to you in the outhouse...”
“I believe you! I believe you! You are the Nan family's eldest daughter, I believe you!”
Was it the incident where the fox poked his rear with a sorghum stalk?
Or the time he was splashed in the face with a basin of filth?
Recalling that day's encounter, Zhang Long's face turned green.
He wished he could slap himself.
He shouldn't have asked that question.
Rate on N.U.
