Chapter Thirty: The Arrival of a Master

As we rushed outside and looked ahead, even Master was stunned by the sight before us. The village ahead was shrouded in several clusters of dark clouds, blotting out the already oppressive sky. All the village lights had gone out, and from within came the chilling sounds of wailing and shrieking, like ghosts and wolves crying in the night.

Master frowned and said, “Tonight is clearly not as simple as we hoped. So many fierce spirits have gathered here.”

“Master, what’s happening?” I asked, shocked.

He shook his head. “I don’t know. The situation is urgent. We’ll split up—get the villagers out first.”

I nodded. Dao Gui, almost incredulous, turned to Master and protested, “Hey, since when did you get to order me around, kid?” But before he could finish, Master barked, “Dao Gui, if you won’t help, stay here and stop disgracing Mount Dragon and Tiger.”

“I... I...” Dao Gui stammered.

Mr. Geography, standing beside us, chimed in, “Let me help as well. Maybe I can be of use.”

Master nodded, patted my shoulder, and told me to be careful. He shot Dao Gui a cold glance, snorted, and said, “No time to waste. Let’s go.”

With that, Master led the charge. I turned to Zhang Moyun and said, “Stay here. These ten spirit-banishing talismans are for you. Use them when needed—just focus your mind.”

Mr. Geography gave his own apprentice some quick instructions and then ran with me toward the village, leaving Dao Gui standing alone for a moment. Soon, Dao Gui sighed and followed us into the heart of the village.

As I dashed through the village, fierce spirits surged from all directions. I released the twin fish—black and white—to guard me. The air was filled with wails. I reached the first house, kicked open the door, and threw a spirit-banishing talisman inside. Golden light burst forth, illuminating the room. Looking around, I saw a family of three collapsed and unconscious. I rushed over, checked their breathing—thankfully, they were merely fainted. I dragged them onto the bed, pasted several talismans on the headboard and door, then hurried to the next house.

Repeating the same steps, I kicked down another door and saw several fierce spirits surrounding a man, who lay limp and unconscious. The spirits, hearing the commotion, turned and grinned wickedly as they rushed at me. Reacting swiftly, I slipped three talismans behind them. After three shrill screams, the spirits were vanquished. I pasted talismans on the man and moved on.

I ran from house to house, repeating my actions, and Master was doing much the same—showing no mercy, banishing spirits wherever he found them. Fortunately, the villagers were mostly unharmed. After a while, we gathered in the village square—even Dao Gui had joined us, radiating an imposing aura, clearly having fought as well.

Master stood beside me, frowning at the ever-growing crowd of fierce spirits encircling us. The dark clouds above drifted closer. The four of us stood shoulder to shoulder, ready for battle. I took off the jade pendant from my neck and clutched it, but Master pulled me behind him, saying, “You’ve done well enough. Leave the rest to me. Go hide in the back.”

I hesitated, shaking my head, but Master yelled, “I told you to stay back. Listen!”

Seeing his temper flare, I retreated and crouched behind a haystack. Then Master smiled and shouted at the clouds, “Hey, Ghost General of Mount Mo, stop hiding. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you?”

A moment later, a sinister laugh echoed from the clouds. “Well, well, fancy meeting you here. The road of enemies is always narrow, Tan Boqing!”

At the last moment, the Ghost General of Mount Mo revealed Master’s name—not that Master was the most shocked, but Dao Gui, who stared at him in disbelief. “You... you’re Tan Boqing? Impossible.”

Master turned and gave a cold smile, replying to the Ghost General, “Mount Mo, you couldn’t endure the underworld anymore, so you’ve come to cause trouble in the world of the living?”

“Tsk, tsk, look at you. Still holding onto your vendetta. Pitiful, truly pitiful!” The Ghost General mocked mercilessly.

After his words, Master’s face darkened. Clenching his fists, he growled, “Mount Mo, you’re nothing but a dog at Qingchen’s side. If you want to die, I’ll oblige.”

“You think you have the power? Your strength is sealed—seven or eight tenths gone. You think I fear you?” The Ghost General roared.

Hiding behind the haystack, I was dumbfounded by what he said—sealed power? What did he mean by ‘family massacre’? Was this the burden Master had kept hidden all along?

“Tan Boqing, I admit you were once formidable—so strong it was suffocating. But look at you now, a shadow of your former self. What do you have to fight Lord Qingchen?” The Ghost General’s taunts snapped me back.

Master said nothing. His palm began to radiate a powerful force, gathering into a brilliant stream of light. Even the aura around him grew wild, and the fading winds whipped up again under his power. I shielded my eyes—the wind cut like blades across my skin.

I forced my eyes open and saw Master hovering in the air, facing the Ghost General and an army of ghost soldiers without a hint of fear. The Ghost General sneered, “Quite the spectacle. Minions, go! Whoever takes his head will claim the Fifth Ghost General’s seat.”

The surrounding ghost soldiers, upon hearing the order, surged forward in a frenzy. Master snorted, flipped his palm downward, and an enormous phantom hand appeared in the sky, slapping into the ghost swarm and sending them flying. Those of lesser cultivation perished instantly.

Master’s power was overwhelming. After that strike, the remaining ghost soldiers hesitated, fearfully eyeing him. The Ghost General scowled, shouting, “What are you afraid of? Get him! Don’t you want to earn merit?”

Master snorted, murmuring, “Ha! A pack of dogs obeying another dog—mere cannon fodder. Come, all at once!”

With a final roar, Master’s fury erupted. Dao Gui and Mr. Geography, watching from below, were stunned. Dao Gui muttered, “Is he really Tan Boqing, the Guardian? Incredible—even with most of his power sealed. Good thing I didn’t face him earlier.”

Still feeling lucky, Dao Gui trotted over to my side. I was surprised. “Senior, shouldn’t you help him?”

Dao Gui waved his hand dismissively. “Does he need me? He’s your master, right?”

I nodded. Dao Gui continued, “Then you know him better than I do. He’s unmatched, and it’s best we small fry stay out of his way rather than help.”

He rolled his eyes at me, but I ignored him, focusing on the tense battle ahead. The Ghost General ordered another assault, the ghost soldiers swarming to encircle Master, fighting him in waves. Watching from below, my chest tightened—clearly, they aimed to exhaust Master with a relentless rotation. I wanted to rush out and help, but Dao Gui grabbed me, saying, “Are you mad? With your meager skills, you’d only distract your master. Don’t make him split his attention.”

I shook off his hand, but upon reflection, he was right. I forced myself to stay put, watching closely.

Master fought fiercely in the air, never losing ground. After a prolonged struggle, I noticed the Ghost General quietly edging closer to him. I wanted to warn Master, but it was too late. The Ghost General suddenly slipped behind him and unleashed two powerful waves of ghostly energy. Master, preoccupied fending off the ghost soldiers, was caught off guard. The Ghost General struck him from behind, and I saw Master spit blood and fall from the sky.

At that moment, my mind was filled with buzzing confusion. I stared in terror as Master crashed onto the hard ground. Ignoring Dao Gui’s attempts to restrain me, I dashed forward, kneeling by Master and cradling him. My voice trembled with desperation, “Master, Master, what’s wrong? Please, say something, Master...!”

I shook him frantically, but he didn’t respond. Blood trickled from his lips. The Ghost General, watching from above, sneered, “Tsk, tsk, look at this—a cripple dreaming of revenge. Doesn’t know his limits. Do you still think you’re the person you once were? Pathetic, truly pathetic!”

I wiped my tears and kept calling to Master, but he remained motionless. My jade pendant seemed to sense the crisis—slipping from my pocket, it hovered over Master, radiating a powerful green glow. I saw Master’s breath recover slightly. But as the Sun-Ming Jade appeared, the Ghost General’s eyes lit up in astonishment. “This... this is the Sun-Ming Jade! Ha! It really is the Sun-Ming Jade. Minions, seize the pendant from that human boy!”

At his command, the ghost soldiers rushed at me. Dao Gui and Mr. Geography shouted from behind the haystack, “Boy, get over here! You want to die? Your master won’t survive—come, quickly!”

But I did not move, holding Master tightly as the ghost horde drew nearer. Just as the first ghost soldier lunged at me, a thunderous boom echoed overhead. A lightning bolt, thick as a barrel, struck the ghost horde behind me. In an instant, screams erupted from the ghosts, even the Ghost General scowling and roaring, “Who dares?!”

I looked up, eyes blurred with tears, and saw three figures standing faintly in the sky. Their shapes were indistinct, but as they drew closer, I recognized one: it was Qiyuan Ghost God, whom I’d met before in the mortuary. How did he come here?

I glanced at the other two—they were strangers, one of whom was surrounded by arcs of electricity. Qiyuan Ghost God spoke, “Mount Mo, you’re tired of living, aren’t you? Did you think this kid had no one to protect him?”

“Qiyuan Ghost God? How are you here? Weren’t you injured by Lord Qingchen?” The Ghost General stammered in shock.

Qiyuan sneered, “You think that old bastard Qingchen really hurt me? Ridiculous. Today, you won’t escape. Touch my brother, and you die.”

After Qiyuan spoke, one of the other men said, “Qiyuan, you’re still so full of nonsense. Let's just fight. I’ll go first, you do as you like!”

With a wild laugh, he flashed forward, appearing before the Ghost General, and unleashed a powerful aura that sent Mount Mo flying. The Ghost General spat a mouthful of black energy, then floated up again, clutching his chest and snarling, “Demonic energy? Filthy demon, how dare you hurt me! Ghost soldiers, destroy him!”

The remaining ghosts howled as they attacked. Qiyuan Ghost God paused, then said, “Brother Sikong, you guard our leader. I'll help the old devil.”

The young man beside Qiyuan nodded, dressed in white, and descended. Qiyuan’s ghostly aura erupted as he charged into the central battle. I held Master tightly—the white-clad youth landed beside us, glanced at me, and said nothing. He placed his hand on Master, and a gentle green energy flowed into him. After a moment, Master coughed up blood and began to stir. Finally, I saw Master wake, and my heart settled.

I gently helped Master to his feet and moved him to the haystack, laying him down. Dao Gui and Mr. Geography hurried over, relieved to see Master safe. Master coughed a few times, looked at the white-clad youth, and asked, “Kid, why are you here? Is it just you?”

The youth smiled, “Boss, glad you’re alright. Look behind me—it’s not just me.”

He gestured behind himself.