Chapter Two: Damn, I Got Cut Off.

Wang Zixuan was utterly stunned by what she saw. She knew about Zhong Ling Shui; this wandering soul was no ordinary ghost. He was, in fact, the grand-disciple of the ancient demoness Lady Shiji—a formidable lineage indeed. Zhong Ling Shui had originally been a stalactite that gained sentience, boasting considerable spiritual power, already beyond the cycle of reincarnation, neither alive nor dead. Yet, he had brought about his own downfall through reckless deeds.

Lady Shiji possessed a treasured artifact known as the Bagua Cloud Veil, from which she refined thirty-six Stone Spirits. These Stone Spirits were remarkable, functioning both as immortal treasures and spiritual elixirs. Zhong Ling Shui was fortunate enough to acquire one, and he intended to swallow it to boost his powers.

But how could he have known? The Stone Spirit required human blood as a catalyst to be properly absorbed; without it, it would corrode the host from within. After Zhong Ling Shui swallowed the Stone Spirit, it consumed his flesh, reducing him to a mere wandering soul. Unwilling to accept his fate, he became a vengeful ghost, haunting and feeding upon the living. When word reached the Underworld, they decided to dispatch ghost wardens to apprehend him.

This was no easy assignment, so none of the wardens were eager to volunteer. Who would have thought Zhong Ling Shui would venture into my territory? Left with no choice, I had to go after him myself.

It wasn’t without its advantages, though—the Stone Spirit would fall into my hands if I succeeded. With my resources and magical tools, I began my search. The city was vast, teeming with ghosts, but Zixuan was the local boss among them, the undisputed authority of this haunted domain. By midnight the next day, she had tracked down Zhong Ling Shui.

She floored the gas pedal of her beloved luxury car and sped straight toward him.

Some might wonder, wasn’t she driving a race car before? How come it’s a Benz now? Haven’t you ever seen a wealthy, extravagant ferryman before? Corrupt ferrymen do exist, and now you’ve met one.

Back to the story: when Zixuan laid eyes on Zhong Ling Shui for the first time, she almost vomited from disgust. She had seen her fair share of grotesque spirits in her career, but his hideousness was truly something else. Still, she steadied herself, said nothing, and immediately launched into battle. Zhong Ling Shui erupted in billowing black smoke, hurling all manner of dark magic. Zixuan countered with an array of technological and mystical gadgets.

It was as though they were fighting on entirely different wavelengths, each move more flamboyant than the last. The two were evenly matched, their duel turning the world upside down, lasting hundreds of rounds. Zixuan’s hair was a mess, her appearance disheveled, but she was finally about to subdue this shrew—no, this shrewish ghost.

Suddenly, a streak of red shot in from the side, snatched up the half-dead Zhong Ling Shui in a few swift moves, and then, with equal speed, swallowed him whole. The red figure burped contentedly and strode toward Zixuan.

A hearty peal of laughter echoed: “Well, well, Zixuan! How will you thank me this time? I just saved your life, you know!”

Zixuan, whose eyes were already large, was now staring so wide she seemed straight out of an anime.

“Save… Save you, my foot! Zhong Kui, you have some nerve! Trying to steal my prize? I spit on you—take this!” Without another word, she raised her weapon and fired at Zhong Kui.

To be fair, Zhong Kui couldn’t be entirely blamed for this. He had a peculiar habit: while others captured ghosts, he preferred to eat them. This time, however, his appetite got him into trouble—he carelessly swallowed not just the ghost, but the soul and the Stone Spirit as well. That was what set off our young mistress’s temper. As Zhong Kui darted around, trying to explain himself, she wasn’t about to listen—not when her anger was roused.