Humans fear ghosts, and ghosts also fear humans.
The human body has three Yang Lamps—one on each shoulder and one atop the head—which ward off a hundred ghosts. However, that only applies to ordinary wandering spirits.
For a true ghost officer like Niu Meng, or a group of vengeful spirits such as the skinless or headless ones, these Yang Lamps are nothing more than candles in the wind. They have a hundred ways to extinguish them without suffering any harm.
Nevertheless, dealing with a Taoist who possesses some knowledge of spells is a different matter. It's not the Taoist techniques they fear, but the power behind the Taoist.
The law of Fengdu decrees that Yin and Yang shall not interfere with each other. Ghost officers maintain the balance in the underworld, while ghost hunters uphold it in the living world. Any violation of this boundary is met with merciless retribution.
And this is the living world. If you provoke one Taoist, you might stir up a whole nest of them. Things could spiral out of control quickly.
Ah Chou forced a bitter smile. Although she had lost her memory, her appearance—albeit veiled—certainly didn't resemble that of a Qing Dynasty princess.
"Daoist Liu, are you sure you have the right person? I'm not the ghost you're looking for, and I've never harmed anyone since my death…"
Facing a Taoist, Ah Chou couldn't help but feel uneasy. His robe and the aura emanating from him made her very uncomfortable.
Daoist Liu stroked his two small mustaches, scrutinizing her with feigned composure.
If Lin Feng were here, he would immediately recognize him as the same Daoist Liu they had encountered at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital!
What no one knew was that, ever since Daoist Liu fainted in terror at the sight of the ghost infant that day, he finally realized that all the teachings of his sect were not just idle talk. He offered up all the wealth he had accumulated over the years in exchange for a chance to return to the sect.
Daoist Liu had a solid foundation to begin with, and after months of rigorous training under his martial uncle, he had become proficient in Taoist arts. Then, defying the sect's rules, he sneaked down the mountain on a moonless night.
This time, Bitian Real Estate had encountered trouble at the old textile factory site. First, they uncovered an ancient tomb, and then a female ghost appeared. Rumors spread that eight or nine workers had died during the construction. The company's chairman, drenched in cold sweat, sought out ghost hunters from every possible source. Eventually, the infamous Daoist Liu was invited to take on the task.
Now able to see into both the Yin and Yang realms, Daoist Liu examined Ah Chou with his Yin-Yang eyes. He could tell she wasn't a ghost from the Qing Dynasty.
But he still had a job to finish.
Daoist Liu's lips curled into a sinister smile. "No Yin spirit exists without malice. With a body like yours, shrouded in such thick Yin energy, how can I believe you haven't harmed anyone? Evil spirit, surrender your life!"
With a flick of his robe, he drew a peachwood sword and lunged at Ah Chou.
Ah Chou screamed and dodged in a panic, but in her haste, she was struck by Daoist Liu.
Seeing this, Daoist Liu's grin widened. He loved dealing with spirits who only knew how to flee. For him, hunting was a one-sided game—he never expected to be on the receiving end of harm.
But his plan to capture Ah Chou fell apart.
Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of Yin energy appeared behind him. He felt someone standing there.
"Who's there?" Daoist Liu spun around, only to be greeted by a ghost holding a large doll's head. The doll's face grinned at him with a chilling malevolence.
"Decapitation Ritual."
The ghost held its head in both hands. As the words left its lips, Daoist Liu felt a cold sensation on his neck, as though all his strength had been drained. An eerie sensation crept over him, as if his head was being pulled off by an invisible force.
Am I dead?
Daoist Liu's eyes lost focus, and he collapsed to the ground.
…
When Lin Feng woke up yawning, he noticed six missed calls on his phone. After a wild night with Li Xi, he had put his phone on silent, never expecting anyone to call.
"Jiang Wan?"
He was puzzled. Jiang Wan, a female officer from the Paranormal Investigation Unit and his junior from the Fight Sect, rarely contacted him. The last time they exchanged numbers was two months ago at the South Sect Taoist Gathering. He had no idea why she was calling now.
Li Xi also woke up, lazily lying on top of him like a contented cat.
"Oh? Another woman calling you?"
Li Xi's tone carried a hint of jealousy, though it was likely more playful than serious.
Lin Feng mischievously slid his hand into her silky nightgown. "Just a friend from the police force. Don't overthink it."
The Paranormal Investigation Unit was a specialized police division, so he wasn't exactly lying.
Li Xi blushed, letting out soft, coquettish breaths and casting him a sultry glance.
Lin Feng put down the phone and resumed his "siege," quickly conquering strategic positions like "Saint Maiden Peak" and "Peach Blossom Cave." Just as he was about to "subdue" Li Xi completely, her dreamy eyes suddenly snapped back to clarity.
"Don't touch me!"
Lin Feng froze, bewildered.
Seriously? Now she says "don't touch"? After everything?
Her eyes were filled with confusion, surprise, and a hint of sorrow.
Lin Feng stopped, puzzled. "Okay, okay, I won't touch. What's wrong?"
Li Xi quickly dressed and headed for the door. Before leaving, she glanced back at him with an expression of deep reluctance. "Maybe we shouldn't contact each other for a while."
Lin Feng, frustrated, grabbed her arm. "What's going on? Can you explain? What's with this sudden change?"
He could tell something was off. That final look she gave him—like she was looking at a dead man—was chilling.
What the hell…
Was it because I mentioned moving?
Countless questions flooded Lin Feng's mind, but none of them made sense.
Lin Feng couldn't figure it out, and he didn't want to. How could anyone possibly understand a woman's mind? He wasn't a love guru, after all. Frustration bubbled inside him.
Li Xi's sudden departure had cooled the fire of his passionate "comrade." Left with no other choice, Lin Feng shifted his focus to avoid getting too worked up.
He returned Jiang Wan's call.
On the other end of the line, an unfamiliar yet unforgettable male voice answered, "Lin Hei-gou,** quite the big shot now, huh? Ignoring calls from the Paranormal Investigation Unit?"
Damn it!
Lin Feng's mood deflated instantly. That annoying voice belonged to Nie Yuxuan—the bearded troublemaker!
This drunkard had no class, a foul mouth, and a knack for stirring up trouble. Lin Feng despised him. With zero emotional intelligence and a track record of bad behavior, he relied on brute strength to push people around. If he weren't in law enforcement, he'd probably already be enjoying the peace of the morgue.
"Luosai Huzi, if you've got something to say, spit it out. I'd rather do anything else than talk to you," Lin Feng snapped, his frustration turning to outright anger. His tone was anything but friendly.
Little did he know, it was Nie yuxuan who had used Jiang Wan's phone to call him. If Lin Feng had known, he wouldn't have answered in a million years.
The voice on the other end rose by several octaves. "Lin, you've really got an attitude now, huh? Just because the Candle Sect has your back, you think you can act all high and mighty? Don't worry—one of these days, I'll show you a good time!"
"Senior Brother, can't you just talk to him properly?"
The phone was snatched away by Jiang Wan, whose tone was much more polite.
"Lin Feng, could you come to the Paranormal Investigation Unit? A Taoist was found unconscious on the rooftop of your apartment complex early this morning. The hospital couldn't determine the cause, but after our inspection, we confirmed he was injured by a Yin spirit. We've heard you have a knack for keeping ghosts under control. We'd like you to come and explain."
Jiang Wan's tone remained civil, and after hanging up, Lin Feng was left in a state of confusion.
A Taoist got hurt in my apartment complex? And by a Yin spirit?
By now, Lin Feng had learned enough about the rules of the Yin and Yang realms to understand one thing: under no circumstances could he let his ghosts run wild in the human world. Allowing a ghost to harm someone violated a major taboo.
This was a grave offense in the world of life and death.
Last night, during his intense time with Li Xi, he had indeed ordered Niu Meng and his group of ghosts to leave. Could they have been responsible?
Hastily, Lin Feng washed up, grabbed his mountain bike, and headed toward the old city district.