“So you are not demon suppressors?”
Surprise flickered in Ma Guniang’s eyes. Her cherry lips parted slightly as her gaze swept over the group.
“My eyes are sharp indeed. You carry upright righteousness in your hearts, hail from the government, and deal specifically with ghosts, demons, and evil spirits of the mortal world. How could you not be the demon suppressors of this generation?
“Ever since Empress Shenlong established the Demon Suppression Division, the title of demon suppressor has been used all the way through our Great Song dynasty.
“Though the Tartars later breached the pass, rewriting much of our Han history and severing many Daoist legacies, the legacy of the Demon Suppression Division shouldn’t have been broken.
“Could it be... that the contemporary Supervisory General of the Demon Suppression Division has not yet reincarnated and awakened? Ah, dear me!”
She knitted her brows slightly, as if having let slip something she shouldn’t have. Covering her face with a hand, her eyes darted about.
“Though the titles within the Demon Suppression Division have changed through the ages, isn’t what you do today precisely what General Daizi spoke of back then? ‘Slay evil, suppress demons, do good deeds, and reap good fruits.’
“Since Lord Commissioner asked me to deliver this order, she must have her reasons. Calling you ‘demon suppressors’ isn’t really mistaking your identity.”
The sheer volume of information was staggering.
Behind this woman who called herself “Ma Guniang” stood a Lord Commissioner.
Above the Commissioner were Supervisory Officers and Generals.
It even touched upon the fall of historical dynasties, conflicts between the Han and Manchus, and theories of soul reincarnation and awakening legacies.
This had to be reported.
Qin Yue cast a glance at Lyu Qing beside her, who subtly touched her chest.
The body camera’s red light was on, operating normally.
“Very well, I’ve said enough tonight.”
Ma Guniang cast a glance over, seemingly seeing right through their subtle maneuvers. She extended a slender, scallion-white finger, pointing toward the rooftop entrance.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Look, hasn’t that evil ghost just been delivered to our doorstep?”
With those words, layers of mist parted. In the direction Ma Guniang pointed, the white fog churned and rolled as if alive.
At the far end of the mist, a tall figure emerged before everyone’s eyes.
Covered in scars and burns all over, his legs below the calves were heavily charred and carbonized. With every step he took, flakes of dead skin fell rustling to the ground.
The figure seemed oblivious to anyone else on the rooftop, setting down the burden on his shoulder before turning back into the fog.
The dark silhouette had delivered 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 the cryptic words Ma Guniang had spoken earlier, and a thought suddenly struck her heart.
“Blegh... blegh... I am never eating roasted meat again... blegh... it smells awful...”
The moment Zhao Daxian touched the ground, he clutched the railing and began retching violently, looking as if he wanted to tear his throat inside out.
“My, there’s a little Daoist here too.
“If your tongue had been a bit more respectful earlier, I would have intervened sooner, and you wouldn’t have suffered like this.”
Ma Guniang floated down softly, her tone light and playful. She drew out the tail end of every sentence in a slow, languid cadence, as if reciting poetry.
“Little Daoist, let me teach you a lesson today: deities dwell three feet above your head. Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs, lest you grow sores in your mouth.”
Qin Yue reacted instantly.
Ma Guniang must have been monitoring them all along; otherwise, how could she have known about Zhao Daxian’s offhand complaint?
...
“Y-You...”
When Zhao Daxian raised his head, he felt as though the sky had collapsed.
The effect of the willow leaf spell on his eyes had not worn off yet.
Thus, in his sight, Ma Guniang, who was smiling so sweetly, was completely enveloped in surging, tumultuous black energy. Her overwhelming resentment had almost materialized, writhing and twisting behind her like countless tentacles...
She was several times more terrifying than an evil ghost.
How was this just a Greater Ghost as He Xiaoyi had claimed?
This was at least a fierce ghost on the level of a blue-faced ghost wraith!
Weren’t they told that spiritual energy was exhausted, and heaven and earth could no longer nurture such Greater Ghosts?
Master, you lied to me!
“Yes, Senior! I think you are absolutely right! I’m just someone who can’t keep his mouth shut. From now on, I will cultivate verbal virtue and guarantee I’ll never do it again!”
Zhao Daxian immediately threw himself prostrate on the floor, looking exceptionally innocent and adopting the humblest posture possible.
It really wasn’t that he was being obsequious.
It was like how people usually went to work: rich or poor, their options were limited to bicycles, buses, subways, or cars.
Someone slightly cooler might ride a helicopter, and while everyone would be envious, nobody would be terrified.
Then one day, someone showed up to work riding a prehistoric extinct dinosaur, leaned over its head, and cheerfully waved hello to you.
Just ask yourself if you’d be scared or not.
Either way, Zhao Daxian’s first instinct was definitely not to step forward, say hello, and try to make small talk.
Zhao Daxian: I’m behaving now, please spare me.
Even Qin Yue could see that something was wrong with Zhao Daxian, immediately signaling the other team members to be on high alert.
The danger level of the person in front of them had to be raised yet again.
Ma Guniang paid him no mind. She gestured with her chin toward the burned ghost curled up in the corner and asked Qin Yue, “Little demon suppressor, the arsonist evil ghost is right here. Will you capture him or not?”
?
Everyone found it hard to believe.
So this frail, thin male ghost was actually the culprit who set the building on fire?
Then what was that tall, strange figure from earlier?
“That is a living soul. Three new floors were constructed above, which in the eyes of a ghost resembles a maze. He has been trapped here all this time, unable to return to his physical body.
“He must also be a public servant. Even after losing his soul, he still remembered to save people.
“Had he not been suppressing this evil ghost’s wicked deeds every night, this place would have surely succumbed to a massive blaze.
“Everyone goes to temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, yet they forget that true Buddhas exist in this mortal world. Why travel thousands of miles to worship Ling Mountain?”
Ma Guniang beamed with a smile, appearing to be in a very good mood. “Since little demon suppressor is not taking action, how about letting me handle this evil ghost?”
Qin Yue made a “please” gesture to her and silently stepped back.
The others nearby immediately spread out, striving to film from multiple angles.
“Since you delivered yourself to my door, I don’t have to waste effort bringing you up.”
Ma Guniang stepped forward, stood in front of the young male ghost, and lightly tapped his forehead 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 the bustling city.
“According to the decrees of the Demon Suppression Division, those who take human lives and are filled with heinous sins without repentance shall be executed immediately.”
“Hee-hee-hee! I’m sick, you can’t kill me! I’m sick! I’m a madman! Hee-hee-hee!”
The ghost tried to play dumb, cackling and shrieking weirdly, “I’m a ghost, you can’t kill me! Heh-heh-heh!”
Rumble...
Ma Guniang smiled faintly. Without any visible movement from her, a flash of white light erupted, like muffled thunder exploding right among them—
Looking back at Zheng Tong’s ghost, it had already turned into a puddle of black mud, its soul completely dissipated.
What had happened in that instant?
It was over just like that?
Weren’t ghosts supposed to be extremely difficult to deal with?
How did a single tap of a finger reduce the ghost to mud?
Everyone exchanged glances, seeing shock and terror in each other’s eyes.
Zhao Daxian nearly fainted.
What had he just witnessed?
Orthodox lightning magic!
No incantations chanted, no altar set up, and no spirit talismans used to channel it.
Most importantly, it was cast by a Greater Ghost!
If word of this got out, those folks who considered themselves orthodox would go crazy.
Was this world finally going mad???
“It is time for me to depart, little demon suppressor.
“However, I see that you have good natural aptitude, remarkable innate talent, and most importantly, an abundance of righteousness. You really ought to practice the Small Twelve Bone Forging Method.
“Otherwise, if Lord Commissioner issues another order in the future, how will you capture ghosts and subdue demons?”
Ma Guniang looked at Qin Yue, genuine fondness beaming from her eyes.
She waved her hand, and an antique manual landed in Qin Yue’s arms.
“This cultivation technique originally belonged to the Demon Suppression Division, so passing it to you now is hardly overstepping my bounds.
“Demolish that room and find someone to guide the living soul, so he can return home soon.
“Well then, now that matters here are concluded, I shall take my leave. If you ever need anything in the future, little demon suppressor, simply hang a peach branch before the door of the Demon Suppression Division, and I will know.”
Saying that, Ma Guniang waved her hand and walked into the mist.
The next moment, as if teleporting, she appeared at the edge of the high-rise building and leaned back, stepping off into thin air!
“!!!”
“Holy crap!!”
“!!!”
“?!!”
Everyone present rushed forward, only to see Ma Guniang smiling gracefully as she plummeted:
“Cultivate well, little demon suppressor! Do not fail Lord Commissioner’s trust!”
In the howling wind, her purple robes fluttered, her black hair framed a jade-like face, and her posture was breathtakingly beautiful.
The next moment, against the backdrop of bustling traffic and dimming city lights, she vanished.
Could she too, in the future, ride the wind and roam freely between heaven and earth like Ma Guniang?
Qin Yue gripped the manual tightly in her hands, feeling her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.
Something called ambition grew like wild weeds, silently proliferating deep within her heart.
Rate on N.U.
