Chapter 34: The Trump Card

"Damn it, she's fighting with everything she's got! I can't hold on much longer."

I was taken aback. I had assumed Huang Liulang had the situation under control, but now I realized the spirit hadn't been resisting because she didn't understand what was happening. I cursed inwardly: You useless weasel, you're nothing but dead weight! Panicked, I began forming hand seals, channeling my meager spiritual power into him.

As my energy flowed into Huang Liulang, his spirit body began to glow, and he resumed suppressing the female ghost. I felt the tiny reserve of power I had just cultivated in my lower abdomen bottoming out. My heart sank; it seemed that with my current level of cultivation, I could execute at most three techniques before becoming completely defenseless. My lower abdomen felt hollowed out, and my body ached as if I were suffering from a severe kidney deficiency. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I cursed Huang Liulang's incompetence.

The woman continued to struggle violently. Old Man Wan and Li Si were stunned; they couldn't see the ghost in the mirror, but the appearance of Huang Liulang’s white spectral form was clear to them, and expressions of horror and amazement crossed their faces. I could feel the ghost’s resistance growing stronger, and even with the boost from my power, Huang Liulang was barely fighting her to a stalemate.

"I don't care who you are! Anyone who blocks my revenge will die!" the ghost shrieked, her face twisted in a hideous grimace.

"You are already a ghost; wreaking havoc on the living is a sin," I replied firmly. "I don't care what Wu Zhuang promised you—if you don't heed my advice today, I will destroy you."

My grandmother once told me that humans fear ghosts three parts, but ghosts fear humans seven parts. As long as you don't fear them, the mere force of your own vitality is enough to make them cower. But I was different; my constitution was that of Yin Wood, my vitality too weak. I couldn't rely on my own essence to subdue her.

"Hmph! You? You're far from it! If you block me again, we’ll both go down in flames."

I understood exactly what she meant by "both go down in flames"—she would unleash everything she had to break my power, which would leave me injured and force her to pay a heavy price as well.

"Humans and ghosts walk different paths. You are using evil arts to harm the living; are you not afraid of sinking into eternal darkness and suffering the endless cycle of reincarnation?"

The ghost paused for a moment. I sensed her fear—she was merely blinded by a deep-seated obsession and had lost her way.

"Hahaha! The afterlife!" The ghost suddenly broke into a crazed laugh. "Wu Zhuang cheated me out of my ghost token! How could I have an afterlife? If you block me again, I’ll fight you to the death, even if it means my soul is scattered to the winds!"

I was stunned. That scoundrel Wu Zhuang had taken her ghost token—which was essentially her identity card in the underworld. Without it, she had no chance of reincarnation. As my thoughts raced, I said, "Big sister, if you can trust me, we can talk about this."

The ghost paused. "Speak."

"Wu Zhuang has already fled after committing his crimes. If you trust me, I will help you recover your ghost token and perform the rites to send you safely on your way to the underworld. How about that?"

The ghost hesitated, then roared, "You're lying! With your level of cultivation, how could you possibly fight him?"

I realized my strength was indeed insufficient compared to Wu Zhuang's, and even the ghost didn't believe me.

"I may be weak, but I have friends. If I fail, you lose nothing. What do you think?"

The ghost’s power wavered again. "What guarantee can you give me?"

My mind raced. I could see she was wavering. "Xiao Lan's soul is in your hands. Are you afraid I won't come back?"

The ghost fell silent again. Time ticked away, and the glow of Huang Liulang's form began to fade. My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Big sister, although I lack strength, I have the heart to help you. Others might be able to defeat Wu Zhuang, but they view you as an abomination. Trusting me is better than having no hope at all."

"Hahaha!" The ghost laughed wildly, and the black mist churned violently. Huang Liulang vanished in an instant. My heart skipped a beat; my power was entirely exhausted, and I would have to wait for it to recover before I could use any more techniques. The moment Huang Liulang disappeared, the resistance against her also vanished.

"You're right. Everyone else who claims they can help me only wants to destroy me." The ghost stopped laughing, and the black mist settled. I knew this was my final chance.

"Big sister, ghosts have their paths, and immortals have theirs. Even if our paths differ, the principles are the same. I hope you return to the right path so you can reach the other shore."

"The other shore?" The ghost sighed. "What other shore is there for someone who died an unnatural death? Enough talk—how do you propose we negotiate?"

I felt a surge of hope. This might actually work.

"Big sister, my grandmother always said: whether you are human or ghost, if you don't walk the right path, someone will eventually intervene. Don't blame others for getting involved."

"Hmm, so that protective aura on you is from your grandmother, is it? What is her level of power? Where does she cultivate?"

Hearing her response, I was shocked. So, that lingering presence of my great-grandmother was a protective aura! The ghost hadn't truly fought me to the death despite all her screaming because of that protection.

"My grandmother is Huang Sangu. You can ask around about her strength. Taking care of ten or eight of you would be effortless."

I didn't reveal more, mostly because I didn't know anything else.

"Sigh. I am just a lonely wandering spirit now. With her strength, she could strike me down a hundred times over without breaking a sweat. I am convinced."

Hearing the ghost’s words, I knew her rage had dissipated. She had been panicked because she thought I was there to destroy her.

She spoke again, "Is what you said true? Are you really willing to help me?"

I nodded. "My cultivation is different from others; I believe you have noticed."

"Pfft. A Yin Wood constitution—don't go showing off in front of me."

My face flushed red, and just as I was about to speak, she added, "With your meager power, I’m afraid I might kill you by accident, and then the elders would come after me for hurting the little one."

My face burned even hotter. That was a cruel way to insult someone. But it was the truth, and I had no comeback. "Fine, let's get to the point. How can I help you? And how can you let Xiao Lan go?"

"Hmph! It wasn't me who wanted to harm her; it was Wu Zhuang. He promised to help me get my revenge."

I knew she wasn't lying. "Tell me your requirements, and I'll see what I can do."

"Pfft! 'See what you can do'? What other trump cards do you have? I could toss you away with a single finger right now."

I gritted my teeth. This ghost had no respect for me at all! I thought to myself: You’ve seen my great-grandmother’s protective aura; you know I have backup. Damn it, for the sake of my connections, you could at least show some respect!

But when she mentioned a "trump card," I remembered—I *did* have one!

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the box I’d bought for a hundred bucks. I took out the God-Slaying Whip and placed it on the vanity, staring hard at the ghost.

The ghost's aura weakened instantly. I saw the black mist in the mirror begin to churn again, but this time, it was from panic.

I had the upper hand. She was just another wandering spirit, and the artifact my grandmother left behind could suppress her.