Chapter 117: I Must Become Stronger!

I grabbed a handful of damp dead leaves and struck at the flying Maolang creatures. They dodged swiftly, their reactions sharp, almost as if they were living beings—more agile than most living creatures. I dodged while grabbing leaves to attack; these things were too quick, leaving me no time to gather more leaves. Desperately, I found a damp, dead branch, seized it, and swung it at the Maolang.

Two of them failed to evade in time and were struck by the branch, immediately losing their power and falling to the ground. Before I could feel any relief, the others quickly swarmed around me, and I had to fight back rapidly.

“Look at you—such a pitiful sight. Just keep playing with those little things,” Zhang Haozi said as he turned, waving his hands while muttering an incantation. Eight Maolang flew out and attached themselves to one of the seven graves, the one that had been dug open.

No! This guy was trying to capture the souls of those eight little girls!

I tried to step forward to stop him, but a few Maolang tightly trapped me. Any slack and I would be hit. I swung the branch defensively while anxiously watching Zhang Haozi’s actions, my heart burning with fury.

Piercing screams echoed from the grave. The eight Maolang trembled as if struggling. Zhang Haozi waved his hands again, chanting under his breath.

Damn it! This guy was right in front of me, yet I was powerless against him! Paper figures that could so easily be controlled through talismans—how could I be so helpless? I cursed the old Ma, who had only taught me how to deal with ghosts, but no other skills!

The Maolang quieted and flew back into his hand. He bit his finger, pressing a fingerprint onto each Maolang, then smiled with satisfaction as he put them away.

I was furious, wanting to stop him, but suddenly a force slammed into my back, a tight binding sensation spreading through me. I froze, and in that moment, the other Maolang descended upon me, binding me tightly. I struggled in vain—these things restrained the soul, not the body!

Zhang Haozi glanced at me with contempt, then approached Li Song’er’s coffin. Grabbing its edges, he overturned it, and the decayed corpse spilled onto the ground.

“You were rifling through the coffin earlier, looking for this, weren’t you?” He brushed away the mud from one corner of the coffin’s base, revealing the character “Gen” etched there.

So this was indeed connected to the last time of bone burial and soul refinement!

He continued, “Since you know this, your master must have some background. I’ll give you some face as a fellow practitioner and won’t harm you.”

He dusted the mud off his hands and approached me, a triumphant smile on his face. “Your master sent you here perhaps to train you, but let me give you a word of advice: with your current skills, you’re not ready to graduate. When trouble arises, be wise and don’t stubbornly resist—many people die because they refuse to yield.”

He reached into my pocket, searching for the little embroidered ball.

I glared coldly at him, my heart full of resentment. I didn’t want to be fish on the chopping block anymore, but in this situation, I had no power to resist! I was too weak—too weak to even protect myself, unable to fight back—forced to watch helplessly as he ran rampant.

Zhang Haozi pulled the little embroidered ball from the inside pocket of my jacket, looking triumphant as if about to declare victory.

Suddenly, his expression changed. “Wait, you don’t have any cigarettes on you!”

He snatched my phone from the pocket I had just checked, his gaze sharp and cold.

I smiled faintly—I hadn’t smoked for a long time, so why would I carry cigarettes? That action earlier was just to call Su Yi. The call had lasted so long; by now, they should have known what was going on here.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded from the forest. Zhang Haozi shot me an annoyed glance, flicked out a few Maolang to hide around, then dashed into the woods, disappearing among the trees.

Old Wei rushed out quickly and looked at me, still bound.

“Be careful! There are Maolang here!” I warned immediately.

Before I finished, several Maolang swooped from all sides, attacking Old Wei. She dodged swiftly, took a few steps, leapt, kicked off a tree trunk, and flipped through the air, landing behind the Maolang.

The creatures immediately changed direction, flying toward her.

Suddenly, a chanting voice sounded from behind. Xiao Qingwan caught up, and the paper figures stopped midair, trembling as if struggling. She gasped for breath, chanting while stepping forward, grabbing the Maolang and tearing them apart with her hands. They ceased moving.

She came to me and repeated the process.

“Zhang Haozi has taken the souls of those eight girls—quick, chase after him!” I urged.

Xiao Qingwan said nothing but frowned and shook her head gently.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

A pained moan came from behind. Gao Sheng supported Su Yi, who returned with her entire left arm stained deep red. She clutched her left shoulder, her face contorted in pain.

Xiao Qingwan said, “We just encountered some unclean spirits. The forest’s yin energy is too heavy; ghosts lurk here. It’s not safe to stay long.”

Damn it! I could only watch as Zhang Haozi carried off the souls of those girls!

This ordeal made me realize: to put it nicely, I was just a novice; in reality, I hadn’t even crossed the threshold! Knowing a few tricks and drawing two or three talismans made me no different from a charlatan.

I stared in the direction Zhang Haozi had fled, clenching my fists. Next time I meet him, I won’t be so powerless! I will snatch back the souls of those eight girls and grant them peace!

When this is over, I will find the old Ma and learn more skills!

“Why isn’t Tu’e here?” Xiao Qingwan asked.

“I heard your shout earlier, and he ran off that way. Didn’t you meet him?” I replied.

Xiao Qingwan shook her head. “No. Maybe something happened to him.”

“Something happened?” I said. “I think he might be lost.”

“Ah?”

I glanced around at everyone and finally decided that I should go look for him. The forest’s yin energy was too heavy; Xiao Qingwan had to protect the others. Though my skills were limited, they were better than knowing nothing at all.

“Wait, take this,” Xiao Qingwan handed me a talisman. “It’s a soul pacifying charm. With it, those Maolang won’t be able to suppress your soul.”

I took the charm, gripping it tightly in my palm, my resolve hardening. I must grow stronger! Since I’ve entered this path, I cannot afford to be weak! I can’t always wait for others to save me or watch helplessly as they act with impunity!

From meeting the old Ma until now, I have realized that this profession is not simply about exorcising ghosts or performing rituals. Behind every strange event lies the reflection of the human heart.