Chapter 10: The Slaying of the Demon King (Revised)

The next moment, Yang Xuan felt the world spinning, and his consciousness plunged into chaos.

"Am I... back?"

He rubbed his eyes, barely able to believe it. Looking around, the Small Three Realms were nowhere to be seen. Instead, all he could see were the familiar street scenes of Baxian Village.

He instinctively shouted, "Open the Yin Opera Master System!"

[Ding! Host has completed the side quest: Retrying the Case of Chen Shimei.]
[Quest Reward: Lord Bao’s possession ability increased by 3%, currently at 5%. Duration of Lord Bao’s possession extended by 5 minutes, currently at 20 minutes.]
[Obtained 2,000 merit points. Total merit points now: 5,000.]

Seeing the sequence of system prompts, Yang Xuan’s eyes welled with tears.

"Right, the Ghost King of Nanshan!" Yang Xuan slapped his forehead, suddenly recalling the unresolved threat. "Oh no, I’ve been gone for so long—who knows what has happened in the village!"

Alarmed, he rushed toward the opera troupe’s quarters. The village was not its usual bustling self; it was deathly silent.

"Uncle Kun! Where is everyone?" Yang Xuan called out desperately, but no one answered. He ran through several houses, only to find them all empty.

"What is going on? Has something terrible happened?" A sense of foreboding gripped his heart.

Just as Yang Xuan was frantic with worry, a wail erupted from the direction of the village head’s house.

"Village Head!" Yang Xuan bolted toward the sound without a second thought.

The scene before him left him speechless. The village head was kneeling in the courtyard, sobbing bitterly. Beside him lay the body of his son, A-Fa. A gaping hole had been torn through A-Fa’s chest, his internal organs scattered across the ground in a bloody mess.

"What... what happened here?" Yang Xuan asked, his voice trembling.

"What could have happened! It’s all that monster’s fault! That Ghost King of Nanshan!" The village head was choked with grief and rage, his words incoherent. "After you disappeared last night, he came here and said he wanted to punish us... A-Fa tried to protect me and had his heart ripped out by the beast’s claws! Even little Fu from our troupe had his heart and liver carved out..."

The village head’s eyes were filled with utter despair. "It’s over. This is our fate. We shouldn't have provoked something we couldn't handle..."

"No!" Yang Xuan looked up sharply, his gaze resolute. "I, Yang Xuan, swear that I will avenge everyone!"

"Troupe leader, how can one man alone fight that monster?" The village head shook his head with a bitter smile.

"No, I have a plan." Yang Xuan stood up, his voice ringing with conviction. "I will build another stage and let the Ghost King of Nanshan know what it means for the net of heaven to be cast wide, missing nothing!"

"But, troupe leader, this..."

"Rest assured. This time I have the possession of Lord Guan, and with the guidance of Lord Bao, I am confident I can subdue that monstrosity!" Yang Xuan spoke with ironclad resolve. "Village Head, I need your full support. Help me prepare the props and arrange food and lodging. Within three days, I will perform 'The Execution of the Ghost King' right in front of the Ghost King’s lair!"

Seeing his determination, the village head could only nod heavily.

"This is a grave matter. Do not speak of it, or that monster will find out and ruin everything."

Uncle Kun stood by, deep in worry. He pulled Yang Xuan aside and whispered, "Troupe leader, can Lord Guan truly subdue such a demon? If something goes wrong, we are all finished."

Yang Xuan looked at him, his eyes steady. "Don't worry, Uncle Kun. With me here, I won't let anything happen to you all. Besides, this is an act of righteousness. If the worst comes to the worst, I’ll give my life! Once we become ghosts, who knows who will be afraid of whom?"

Uncle Kun was stirred by these words, his courage reignited. "The troupe leader is right! Let’s gamble it all. What does it matter if we perish together? A man should live and die for justice; even if we end up soaked in blood, we shall not regret it!"

Yang Xuan nodded with satisfaction and patted his shoulder. "Good! With those words, I have even more confidence. It’s settled. Starting tomorrow, we begin building the stage."

"Keep it simple, but make it effective. In three to five days at most, we must start the performance!"

Uncle Kun agreed and set off to carry out his orders.

Hidden in the shadows, the Ghost King of Nanshan seemed to sense something. He gave a sinister laugh, a cruel glint in his eyes. "Yang Xuan, you are indeed a difficult one. Since you want to fight me, I will grant your wish! But the stage you are building is not just for an opera—it is a gateway to the afterlife! Hahaha!"

"Yes! Let us gamble it all! Even if we die, we must eradicate evil and uphold justice!"

Thus, a earth-shattering drama began once more in Baxian Village. Hundreds of villagers worked day and night in full cooperation. In just two days, a magnificent stage rose from the ground. Yang Xuan, meanwhile, forgot to eat or sleep, locked away in deep rehearsal.

"Uncle Kun, this time we must use the real deal," Yang Xuan said while reviewing the script. "The Green Dragon Crescent Blade must be razor-sharp, and the armor must be sturdy for protection. And that 'Soul-Summoning Banner' must be painted realistically—it would be best if it emanated a bit of ghostly aura."

"Leave it to me, troupe leader. I’ll see to it immediately."

Uncle Kun nodded repeatedly and hurried off. Yang Xuan set down his pen and contemplated the script on his desk, a flicker of anxiety in his eyes. The pivotal scene would depend on Lord Guan. He only wondered how much divine power this revered deity would bestow upon him. If it weren't enough, it would be a disastrous humiliation.

At the thought of this, Yang Xuan felt a pang of nervousness. He prayed silently, swearing an oath in his heart.

*Lord Guan above, Yang Xuan below. With a heart of pure sincerity, I offer my courage and blood to drive away evil and restore peace to this village! If I fail in this mission, I am willing to sacrifice my life, without a single regret!*

The third morning arrived. Yang Xuan stood fully armored, radiating an aura of awe-inspiring power.

"Drums and music wail in the third month, the hero departs, never to return."

He stood before the stage, chanting aloud. It was like a timeless song, echoing through the heavens!

Just then, black mist suddenly surged from the forest ahead, engulfing the world. A cry of alarm erupted from the crowd.

"It’s the Ghost King of Nanshan! He’s here!"

Sure enough, as the mist dissipated, a burly figure clad in black armor strode forward. It was none other than the murderous Ghost King of Nanshan!

"Yang Xuan, do you really think you can subdue me with these petty tricks?" The Ghost King roared at the sky, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Today, I will take your life and your heart to appease my hatred! To satisfy my rage! Hahaha!"

Before his voice had even faded, dozens of black shadows darted out from all directions. They were a legion of evil ghosts, the scourge of the land!

"How bold!" Yang Xuan’s expression darkened as he shouted, "Where are the celestial soldiers and generals? Protect me!"

The moment he finished, a dragon’s roar echoed, and the Red Hare horse descended from the heavens! Following closely behind were Zhan Zhao and the Five Tiger Generals, every one of them fierce, majestic, and awe-inspiring!

"Ghost King, cease your arrogance! We have been commanded by the Jade Emperor to capture you and bring you to divine justice!" Zhan Zhao cracked his whip and shouted.