Wu Long jumped over the back wall of the grove and arrived just in time. A shadow darted out of the woods, and soon he was in sight. Holding a strong flashlight in one hand and a copper coin sword in the other, he was dressed in a Taoist priest's outfit that looked straight out of a movie.
Moments ago, I thought this guy was an absolute jerk, but now he seemed more adorable than ever—better than a blood brother. When he reached me, he immediately noticed Feng Lan's presence. He let out a surprised "Huh?" before rushing to my side, seemingly aware that we were standing in a protective Tiger Evade formation against evil spirits.
"It's you? Did a vengeful spirit injure you?" Wu Long exclaimed as he helped me up, placing a hand on my back to massage it. Later, I learned that this was called "pushing blood through the meridians." Despite my earlier gripes about him, I felt genuinely grateful.
I managed a bitter smile and nodded. "It was Feng Lan. Half of my body is paralyzed."
"Don't move. I'll handle Feng Lan, OK?" Wu Long said confidently, giving me a reassuring smile before charging toward Feng Lan with his copper coin sword.
"Since Wu Long is here to stir things up, that other person won't dare come near. Quickly, continue practicing the spirit communication technique!" Yanzi (Little Condensed) urged me.
"But I've already gone into qi deviation…" My body was practically useless at this point. How was I supposed to train?
"No worries. I'll help unblock your meridians and lend you some spiritual energy!" With her words, a chill coursed through my body, calming the chaotic energy within. Soon, the burning and freezing sensations subsided, and my paralyzed limbs regained mobility.
"Argh!" Wu Long let out a cry as he was flung backward, landing near me in a sorry state. His Taoist hat had fallen off, and his robe was torn. Despite his disheveled appearance, he stood up, adjusted his hat with a sheepish smile, and charged forward again.
I wanted to cheer him on, but Yanzi's spiritual energy overwhelmed me, silencing my voice. I knew she was lending me her strength, so I quickly closed my eyes, formed a hand seal, and chanted the incantation. The chill seeped into my limbs and bones, bringing an unexpected comfort that helped me calm my racing thoughts. Soon, I entered a state of profound tranquility, where the world around me faded away.
In this silence, I saw thick, oppressive black mist swirling and gathering before me. My spirit stood alone amidst the gloom, feeling both desolate and cold. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until the black mist grew denser, radiating a suffocating, ominous aura. My heart pounded. I knew the crucial moment had arrived. This mist felt like a curtain about to rise, and behind it lay the truth. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't part it.
"Open!" Yanzi's sudden shout jolted me.
The mist dispersed as if swept away by a gale, revealing a sinister black figure. It slowly raised its head, strands of messy hair covering most of its face. But those terrifying ghostly eyes… I instantly recognized Feng Lan.
A tremor of fear coursed through me, suffocating and paralyzing me. I was on the verge of collapse, unable to suppress the mounting dread.
Luckily, Yanzi severed the spirit-linking channel in time, snapping me back to reality. I fell to the ground like a ragdoll, gasping for air. Cold sweat soaked my clothes, and as I glanced around, Wu Long and Feng Lan were nowhere to be seen.
"You've… reached the third realm of training. You can now communicate with Feng Lan. But I… I can't hold on… Lending you my energy has drained me. My soul might… disperse… We may not meet again…" Yanzi's weak voice trailed off into silence.
Panic set in. Had she just said her soul might scatter? That meant she'd cease to exist. Her words hit me harder than I expected. Over time, I had come to see her as family. Though younger than me, her commanding, queen-like demeanor often made her feel like an older sister, constantly supervising and guiding me. Under her watch, I had matured a lot and felt more like a man.
"Yanzi, don't scare me! Please say something!" I shouted, but she remained silent, and my heart sank. I felt an unfamiliar ache in my chest.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed in the distance, sending a jolt through me. Was it Xiao Xiang? Fear seized me as I pushed Yanzi's silence to the back of my mind and quickly performed the incantation to reconnect to the spirit world.
In the black mist, Feng Lan appeared again, clutching a ghostly figure resembling a fat pig. Her wide, gaping mouth prepared to devour it. I shuddered as I realized the ghost she was holding was Bawangnv (Overlord Girl).
It wasn't Xiao Xiang, and I sighed in relief, only to feel a pang of guilt. No matter who the victim was, I shouldn't be relieved. Rage quickly replaced fear. Though I couldn't save the Overlord Girl, I couldn't allow her soul to be desecrated.
"Stop!" I yelled.
Feng Lan flinched at my command and turned to face me. Her horrifying face twisted into a grin more chilling than ever.
"Didn't think you had the guts to communicate with me. Hah! Don't think spirit-linking makes you superior. I won't bow to your will!" she snarled, glaring at me with venomous hatred before resuming her attack on the Overlord Girl.
"Little Lin! Is that you? Are you dead too? Help me!" Bawangnv squealed, her pig-like face trembling with terror.
Desperate and unsure of what to do, I repeated the incantation. To my surprise, it worked. Feng Lan trembled again, releasing the Overlord Girl and turning her rage-filled eyes on me.
"Think you're tough, huh? Fine, let me show you the true power of a Prosperous Ghost!" Feng Lan snarled.
Her face suddenly grew to a monstrous size, covering my entire field of vision. Her glowing green eyes and gaping red mouth loomed closer until they were practically brushing my eyelashes.
Fear overwhelmed me, and I instinctively broke the spirit-linking connection, snapping myself back to the material world.