All that talk about life gates, Xun Palace, and wind concealment made no sense to me. But since the ghost girl said, "Trust me, and you'll live forever," I didn't dare doubt her.
At this moment, I was crouching in the darkness, my heartbeat racing so fast it felt like it would leap out of my throat. I could hear Xiaoxiang and Zhu Wantao's footsteps ahead, growing fainter and fainter. Panic set in: what if the ghost fetus suddenly attacked and I wasn't able to save them in time?
"You're not seriously planning to wait until they're bitten to death before stepping in, are you?" I whispered to the ghost girl.
She, however, seemed entirely unbothered. "That was the original plan. But since you care so much about Xiaoxiang, I'll intervene earlier."
Relieved, I exhaled, but in my heart, I cursed: This girl has no humanity! What, other people deserve to die?
Just then, a hissing sound came from ahead, like something sharpening its teeth. The air suddenly turned freezing cold, and my heart sank to the pit of my stomach.
"It's here!" the ghost girl said, her voice now much lower and graver than before. "Get ready! They're fifteen meters ahead. Remember, after crossing five steps, sprint immediately—fast, precise, and fierce!"
Hurriedly, I opened the plastic bag and pulled out the bottle of glutinous rice wine, unscrewing the cap and gripping it tightly in my left hand. My right hand reached for the peachwood sword tucked into my belt, while the red rope went into my mouth, and I adjusted the bagua mirror on my chest. That mirror wasn't cheap, but the ghost girl claimed it was as good as dozens of ordinary ones, so I gritted my teeth and bought it.
"Ah—!" A blood-curdling scream suddenly pierced through the silence of the building, echoing so loud it made my eardrums buzz.
"Move!" the ghost girl shouted.
The tension that had coiled in me like a spring snapped, and I darted forward like an arrow. The five steps felt like level ground beneath me as I charged towards the sound, relying only on the noise to guide me through the darkness. At that moment, a bolt of lightning split the night sky, briefly illuminating the entire building.
What I saw in that flash made my hair stand on end.
Xiaoxiang and Zhu Wantao lay side by side on the ground. The little monster was perched on Zhu Wantao's chest, its claws sunk deep into his arms, with blood dripping from the tips. Its face, covered in red fur, was only inches away from his throat, ready to bite down. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiang lay motionless nearby, as if lifeless.
"Throw the wine!" the ghost girl's sharp voice snapped me out of it.
Gritting my teeth, I swung the bottle and splashed the glutinous rice wine at the creature. The little monster froze momentarily, then turned its head to glare at me with its blood-red eyes glowing eerily in the dark.
"Get down!" the ghost girl commanded.
Obediently, I dropped flat to the ground as an icy gust of wind swept past, grazing my face like a knife.
"Take a mouthful of wine and get ready to spray it!" she directed.
I grabbed the bottle and took a swig, holding the fiery liquid in my mouth. The spicy burn jolted my brain into sharp focus. But the next second, a chilling presence pressed down on my shoulder.
"Spray it!" the ghost girl finally yelled. I didn't hesitate and spat the wine straight at it.
"Eeeeeeek—!" The little monster shrieked in pain, stumbling back a few steps.
"Nicely done!" the ghost girl sounded exhilarated. "The odds of killing it just went up by five percent!"
Five percent... That's it?
"Don't just stand there—drench them with wine and burn the talismans to pin it down!" she urged.
Scrambling to my feet, I poured the remaining rice wine over Xiaoxiang and Zhu Wantao. Then I pulled out the yellow talismans, lit one, and hurled it at the creature with all my strength.
"Eeeeeeek—!" Another agonized scream burst from the monster as the flaming talisman forced it to retreat a few more steps. Its face twisted in venomous rage as it glared at me.
"Light the candles and seal the doors! Now!" the ghost girl barked.
I quickly lit a candle and planted it in its designated spot. But before I could take another step, a sudden gust of wind slammed into my back, knocking me to the ground again. Sharp pain seared through my shoulder—those ghostly claws had torn into my flesh.
"Don't stop! Light the next candle!" the ghost girl shouted.
Biting through the pain, I lit the second candle and ran towards the opposite corner. The little monster let out a piercing screech and lunged down from the ceiling. This time, I couldn't dodge in time—its claws raked my right arm, leaving deep, bleeding gashes. Blood dripped steadily from my fingers.