CG - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Wu Gu glanced up at the moon. Thin clouds veiled it, tinting its pure light. Over where Wu Yong was, everyone had been knocked down except for Ma Zhenshan, who had run quite a distance. She shifted her gaze back to Ma Zhenshan. He met her eyes and smiled. "That magical artifact of yours is quite good. I plan on keeping it."

Wu Gu said, "Aren't you going to release your last Ghost King?"

Ma Zhenshan laughed maniacally. When he was done, he boomed, "So young and so arrogant. You should know, the one I used to curse Wei Jinzhi was the weakest Ghost King. You got lucky and beat it, and now you think you can take on a real Ghost King? Don't be naive. Even if the disciples of the Xuanqing Sect were still around, they wouldn't dare claim they could fight a Ghost King. Seeing as you're so young, I'm willing to let you live. Just leave your artifact behind and go, and I won't bother you in the future."

Wu Gu scoffed. "Are you going to release it or not? If not, we're leaving. Who wants to listen to your nonsense?"

Her words left him speechless. Then, he roared in anger, "You truly are a brat who doesn't know her place! Today, I'll send you and Wu Yong on your way together, so you can at least keep each other company."

While Ma Zhenshan was forming hand seals to summon the Ghost King, Wu Gu quickly whispered to Wu Yong, "Brother Xiao Wu, you take Ma Zhenshan. I'll handle the Ghost King." She glanced at Wei Jinzhi in the car and saw her staring back, her face taut with tension. A pang of pain shot through Wu Gu's heart. She looked away, her gaze dropping. "Brother Xiao Wu, if—and I'm just saying if—I can't beat them, I'll do everything I can to hold them off. When that happens, you must get Sister Wei out of here. Without the Ghost King by his side, Ma Zhenshan is no threat."

"Miss Wu, I'm afraid the Eldest Miss won't agree."

"You don't need her agreement. Your only duty is to protect her."

Wu Yong let out a breath and looked at Wu Gu, promising solemnly, "Alright. I will definitely get the Eldest Miss away safely."

A thick, acrid yin wind blasted them, and the midsummer night's temperature plummeted in an instant. Legend said that when a Ghost King appeared, dark clouds would cover the moon. The wilderness, clear just a moment before, was plunged into darkness once more. Wu Gu raised her eyes, staring directly at the two Ghost Kings in front of Ma Zhenshan. The true Ghost Kings were enormous, with bulging eyes, tusks that reached their chins, and massive rings hanging from their earlobes. They were exactly as the books had described.

Although her cultivation had surged recently, she still felt uncertain. She only dared to stand here and fight because she remembered her master saying that you never know if you'll win or lose a fight until you've fought it. Besides, if she couldn't win, couldn't she just run? She took a deep breath and charged toward the Ghost Kings.

Wei Jinzhi had never felt such regret. She shouldn't have dragged Wu Gu into this for her own selfish reasons. The moment the Ghost Kings appeared, her heart began to pound relentlessly. Their yin and baleful qi carried a terrifying power she could feel even from inside the car. She clutched the fabric over her chest, her glistening eyes reflecting nothing but the image of Wu Gu in battle.

Knocked to the ground by a blast of yin qi from a Ghost King, Wu Gu leaped back to her feet, then dove into a roll to dodge the next impact. She'd lost count of how many times she'd been sent flying by the yin qi emanating from them. These Ghost Kings didn't just use brute force; they could also command yin qi for surprise attacks. How could a girl who had just come of age withstand such a beating? Before she even had a moment to pity herself, a massive foot kicked out at her, and she scrambled to leap forward.

The other Ghost King turned its head toward the car, apparently sensing Wei Jinzhi. It stopped tangling with Wu Gu and lifted its foot to head over. Wu Gu threw out the Soul-Piercing Bell, snaring its ankle. She pulled with all her might and roared, "Isn't hitting me enough for you? You dare go after her? If I don't beat you two to death, my name isn't Wu Gu!"

She retracted the Soul-Piercing Bell, directing it with her left hand to wrap around the neck of the closer Ghost King. Then she charged toward the farther one. At the same time, she flicked a sword finger with her right hand, and the Bronze Sword materialized, stabbing forward with the force of a thunderbolt. Though the Ghost Kings were massive, they lacked physical bodies and were thus agile. The tiny figure of Wu Gu weaved between their feet, controlling her artifacts as she leaped and rolled.

Master Wu used to say that if you wanted to win fights, you had to fight often, and against opponents much stronger than yourself. Only real combat could build experience. When he was alive, he had taken Wu Gu to spar with powerful ghosts, calling it a "wilderness survival test." But every time those ghosts and monsters struck even a tiny bit too hard, Lao Wu would see red and charge in with his sword, beating them while fuming, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise a child? I can't even bear to hurt her myself!"

As she fought, Wu Gu began to miss Lao Wu. If he were here, he would have already charged in to help. Lao Wu would have pinned both Ghost Kings to the ground and beaten them senseless, then come over and scolded her for being useless. But for all his scolding, his hands would have been gentle and meticulous as he checked her wounds. A wave of sadness washed over her. She spoke to the Bronze Sword in her mind, "Sword, oh sword, we can't keep dragging this out. Any longer, and my spiritual energy will be completely drained. I'll die."

Losing focus in a fight gets you hit. Wu Gu failed to dodge in time and was blasted far away by a burst of black, baleful qi that split off from one of the Ghost Kings. As luck would have it, she slammed right into the damaged rear of their car. Inside, Wei Jinzhi felt the vehicle lurch and saw Wu Gu tumble down past the rear window. Her breath caught in her chest, and a chaotic jumble of voices screamed in her mind.

It was a strange coincidence. During Wu Gu's two previous major fights—the first against the jiangshi, and the second against the soulless Ghost King—Wei Jinzhi had either been led away beforehand or was unconscious. Afterward, all she could ever get out of Wu Gu were a few understated remarks about "taking a few tumbles." Wei Jinzhi had never imagined that "taking a few tumbles" meant being thrown around like this. She was frantic, desperate to get out of the car, yet reason nailed her to the spot.

The Ghost Kings' target was clearly Wei Jinzhi, so the fight drew ever closer to the car. By the time Wu Gu scrambled to her feet, she realized they were right beside it. Without hesitation, she used the bumper as a foothold and climbed onto the roof, sword in hand.

Gusts of yin wind howled, and baleful qi surged to the heavens. She stood against the wind on the car roof, her slender figure holding the Bronze Sword, perfectly still. She calmly met the gazes of the Ghost Kings as they waited for an opening. Inside, unable to see Wu Gu, Wei Jinzhi stared up at the ceiling of the car, as if her gaze could pierce the metal and rest upon the girl.

Wu Gu took two deep breaths and threw the Bronze Sword into the air. Closing her eyes, she formed a hand seal, attempting to make the sword split in two as the books described. She had failed every time before. This time, she focused completely on communicating with the sword's consciousness. Suddenly, she felt it—it worked. When she opened her eyes, two identical Bronze Swords were attacking the two Ghost Kings. Her movements remained light on the narrow roof as her hands flew through a series of seals.

The more closely she connected with the sword's consciousness, the fiercer its attacks became, and the spiritual energy in her body flowed more smoothly. Seizing an opening, she changed her hand seal and threw out the Soul-Piercing Bell. The bell's ringing could bewitch a soul's consciousness, and it caused the two Ghost Kings to slow. For a moment, the bell rang wildly, and both Ghost Kings were visibly disoriented.

Seeing her chance, she shouted, "Rise!" The two Bronze Swords flew up simultaneously, hovering above each Ghost King's head. She shouted again, "Break!" The swords plunged downward, clashing against the Ghost Kings. Wu Gu felt her back grow damp with sweat. Large beads rolled down her forehead, stopped only by her eyebrows from dripping into her eyes.

But a Ghost King was a Ghost King, after all. The Bronze Swords' attack ultimately returned without success. Wu Gu quickly fumbled for a few pills, swallowed them whole, and formed another seal. "Break again!" she yelled. This time, the Bronze Swords mustered all their strength and drove down into the Ghost Kings' heads.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and the veins on her arms bulged as she rapidly circulated her spiritual energy to control both artifacts. Suddenly, a pressure built in her chest, and she tasted blood. She raised a hand to the corner of her mouth and, using the blood, drew a talisman in the air. Energized by the act, the Bronze Swords suddenly shot through the Ghost Kings' bodies, their tips burying deep into the earth.

With the Ghost Kings vanquished, the dark clouds scattered, and clarity returned to the wilderness. Only then did Wu Gu see how bright and clear the moonlight was. A gentle breeze brushed her face, making her sway as if she might collapse at any moment.

The crisis was over. Wei Jinzhi immediately opened the car door and rushed out. She threw out her arms just in time to catch Wu Gu, who was falling from the roof, her strength completely spent. The force of the fall was too great; Wei Jinzhi caught her but lost her footing, and they both tumbled to the ground with Wei Jinzhi acting as a cushion. She held Wu Gu tightly in her arms, unmoving.

A dull ache spread through her back and chest from the impact, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. Wei Jinzhi's unending tears blurred her vision, hiding the round moon that now hung in the clear night sky above the treetops. Regret, relief, worry—a complex mix of emotions churned within her, indistinguishable from one another, carving at her like a knife.

Wu Gu lay in Wei Jinzhi's arms, dazed, for a long time before she found the strength to lift her head. The first thing she saw was Wei Jinzhi crying silently. Her heart clenched, a pain sharper than any she'd felt while fighting the Ghost Kings. She hastily raised a hand to wipe away the tears, her eyes filled with concern. "Sister Wei, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere?"

Wei Jinzhi shook her head, her voice hoarse. "Just let me hold you for a while." Only by holding Wu Gu tightly, feeling her presence with all her might, could she begin to soothe her lingering fear and anxiety.

Wu Gu obediently buried her face in Wei Jinzhi's shoulder and let herself be held. After a moment, she spoke, her tone like a child showing off a treasure. "Did you see that? I can split the Bronze Sword in two now! The book says the most powerful masters can split it into as many copies as they want." She raised a hand, and the two swords merged back into one, flying into her grasp. She held it out for Wei Jinzhi to see, grinning. "It's all thanks to this. Master said it's our sect's most powerful artifact. It really is amazing."

Listening to her chatter, Wei Jinzhi's frantic heart slowly settled. "As long as you're alright," she said softly.

"I told you I'd be fine. I've been reading a lot of books and cultivating seriously. Besides, the Bronze Sword is so powerful, I trusted it could beat the Ghost Kings."

Wei Jinzhi traced the blade with her fingertips, her tone sincere. "It is very powerful. I should thank it properly."

"It's a sword. How are you going to thank it? You can just give all your thanks to me."

"Of course I'm going to thank you. It's just… this debt is so great, I can't think of how to possibly repay you."

Wu Gu's mood brightened. "Then you'd better think hard. On TV, they always say a life-saving favor must be repaid with gushing gratitude."

Wei Jinzhi's eyes softened into pools of autumn water, reflecting the brightest star in her life. Her tone was light, with an audible smile in her voice. "TV shows also say that when you have no other way to repay a life-saving debt, you can only offer yourself in marriage. So, what do you think? Am I to your satisfaction?"

Wu Gu's heart suddenly began to pound. Her face flushed red, and for a long moment, she couldn't manage a single word. But her shy reaction—burying her face even deeper into Wei Jinzhi's embrace—delighted the other woman. Wei Jinzhi chuckled softly above her head. "You get shy so easily? Weren't you quite the formidable fighter just now?"

Wu Gu argued in a muffled voice, "I am formidable."

Wu Yong felt he might not be able to keep this job for much longer. Why was it always up to him to interrupt these tender moments? As a grown man, it was truly embarrassing. Unfortunately, there was no one else to take the bullet for him. He stood a few meters away, pretending to gaze at the moon, then coughed loudly. When he caught Wu Gu turning her head in his peripheral vision, he cleared his throat and said, "Ma Zhenshan has been caught."

The moment Ma Zhenshan had released the Ghost Kings, he had bolted like a hyena. If Wu Yong hadn't been in peak physical condition, he might not have caught him. Ma Zhenshan hadn't been worried about whether the Ghost Kings could beat Wu Gu—in his eyes, she was, at best, a young brat with decent cultivation. He had been guarding against Wu Yong coming after him. But when he was dragged back, his legs went weak at the sight. Those two thousand-year-old Ghost Kings had actually been killed by Wu Gu.

The moment she heard Ma Zhenshan's name, Wu Gu scrambled out of Wei Jinzhi's arms with an angry huff. Feeling the sudden coolness in her embrace, Wei Jinzhi frowned in dissatisfaction and also got to her feet. Wu Gu charged straight for Ma Zhenshan, Bronze Sword in hand, shouting, "Brother Xiao Wu, get out of the way! I don't want to hit you by mistake!" Wu Yong released his hold on Ma Zhenshan just as she drew near, giving the man no time to defend himself.

"How dare you go after my Sister Wei!" Wu Gu kicked Ma Zhenshan to the ground. Then, treating the Bronze Sword like a piece of scrap metal, she began to rain blows down on his head and face. "I'll teach you to harm my Sister Wei! I'll teach you to curse her! I'm going to beat you to death, you old bastard!" The more she yelled, the more worked up she became, and the more energy she seemed to have. Though she had been on the verge of collapse moments before, she was now a whirlwind of vigor as she thrashed Ma Zhenshan.

Wu Gu's cry of "my Sister Wei" went straight to Wei Jinzhi's heart. She couldn't suppress a smile and happily let Wu Gu vent on her behalf. After a while, when it seemed he'd had enough, she stepped forward and pulled Wu Gu back. "Don't hit him anymore."

"Sister Wei?" Wu Gu looked at her, confused. Why not just beat this villain to death and be done with it?

"You're a Celestial Master. Exorcising ghosts is your duty, but killing people is against the law." Wei Jinzhi's gaze turned cold as she looked down at Ma Zhenshan. Suddenly, her brow furrowed. "What's wrong with him?" she asked Wu Gu. Wu Gu looked down and let out a surprised, "Huh?"

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