"Three… two… one… Happy New Year!"
The jubilant crowed of adults cheered in unison, their voices echoing across the rooftop party. Glasses clinked together as they toasted to a fresh start, a year they hoped would bring happiness and prosperity. The air was rich with the exquisite scent of grilled fish and meat mingling with faint, aroma of baijiu.
It had been twelve years since the reincarnation of a fallen king. Zhong Kui, a figure from ancient times, had found himself in this era, beginning his journey from the year 2011. Now, as 2023 unfolded, the world embarked on another chapter in the twenty-first century.
At the entrance of this building, Cheng Hui, the daughter of the now prestigious Cheng family, made her arrival. She was dressed in an elegant, figure-hugging gown that accentuated her curves, going above her knee.
Years ago, Zhong Kui had saved Cheng Hui, granting her the chance to rebuild her life. Grateful for the opportunity, she dedicated herself to repaying the debts, she vowed to herself, working tireless day and night to honor both her family and Zhong Kui for their kindness. Now, in the thirteenth year of her time, Cheng Hui had become a renowned businesswoman, with the illustrious "Cheng Company" standing as a result of the achievements she sought to recieve.
"Ughh… Once again he's late on a time like this?," Hui said annoyingly referring to Zhong Kui, swiping at the screen of her phone while pacing around.
Meanwhile, the man himself who stumbled upon the twenty first century and had saved the only hope of the Cheng Family had his hands full at the moment. His shadow dragged through the stretching hallways of Hong Kong central hospital, his footsteps echoing it frightened the pale lady who dragged herself trying to escape him, the white dress she wore torn to the point it almost showed the private areas of her body, her long black hair dripping with a strange gelatinous liquid that seemed to try and hold her in place.
How can a mere man be so powerful, to bring her to such situation, could he be a ghost hunter? The pale woman thought. Though she tried her best to move, her efforts were of no use, only leading her to Zhong Kui who stood before her, his form fully shown by the moon's gaze. The same purple eye stairing into her soul, his long black hair neatly tied to a ponytail and a full black suit set, untouched by the dirt around the building's interior.
"Would you like to share any last rights again?," Zhong Kui asked the malevolent spirit who laid before him,a proud and mischievous smile gracing his lips.
The spirit glanced up at him, her voice coming out stammered. "What….are you?," it asked. Zhong Kui on the other hand, wasn't to impressed by the spirit's lack of knowledge. It seemed that not only the humans of the twenty first century had forgotten him, but the spirits as well.
He sighed, accepting his fate. "You're also blank too, aye?" he said, casting down a bright swirling energy from his hand, casing the spirit to cry out in pain, till it began to slowly erase from existence, leaving behind a pure white plume of smoke which Zhong Kui breathed in, absorbing it in the process.
He checked the ground, as if he was looking for something but when he saw that there was nothing but dirt on the floor, he heaved a sigh of internal frustration. "Seems I eradicated this spirit for nothing. There isn't any bat of fortune here," he muttered, his main goal being able to find the bats of fortune which he had been trying to do ever since.
In that instant the buzzing sound of his cellphone rang from from his pocket. Still frustrated and angry that he couldn't find what he was looking for, he reached into his pocket, taking out his phone and placing it on his ear.
"Where are you, Kui?!," Cheng Hui, who was the caller questioned from the phone.
Zhong Kui was immediately overwhelmed by such loud noises the woman made, even the drums that were beaten when ever soldiers went out for war during his time weren't as loud as her shouts. "Calm yourself, woman, I am not your humble servant!," Zhong Kui replied back, clearly not appreciative of her tone.
"Can you stop, and please just come here already. Its getting cold out here and the crossover party has already started," said Cheng Hui with a worried look in her eyes, questioning if he Kui would make it to the function.
Zhong Kui exhaled deeply, ending the call before any more arguments commenced, slipping his cellphone back into his pocket. Meanwhile, Cheng Hui sat on a bench near the tower, waiting patiently. The workers at her company often mistook them for a couple, though she had told them that she and Zhong Kui were merely friends. Besides, Zhong Kui wasn't the kind to hover around women, regardless of the interest he had or lacked thereof.
Emerging from the abandoned building with the look of disappointment he had every time he failed to get what he wanted, Zhong Kui headed towards the road, muttering under his breath. "Damn it," he grumbled. "That woman is such a pain." His tone was laced with frustration. The last place he wanted to find himself in, was a world filled with unobservant humans who had unrecognized his godly prowess.
Twelve years had passed since that shady monk, Lin Guangming, had sent him on this wild goose chase. The monk claimed the five bats of fortune were hidden inside ghosts, and Kui's task was to find them. Kui despised taking orders from that bald old man—it always led to nothing but dead ends.
Starting from now, that bald buffoon shall not dictate my fate, Kui resolved silently to himself.
After having to walk for minutes, Kui paused, not happy about trekking. "Walking is quite exhausting. Honestly, how do humans put up with such?" he muttered, casting a glance at the night sky, enhancing the purple glow in his eyes. A sudden smile curved his lips as he scanned his surroundings to ensure no one lurked.
"Let's hope this works properly this time," he whispered, extending his hand toward the empty space before him. "Come forth," he commanded.
A purple radiant light flickered from his palm, and with an effort that felt considerable, he successfully conjured a magical gate in the air. In his time, creating a gate was something a mere heavenly sorcerer could accomplish in two weeks of training, thanks to the abundant spiritual energy and the full extent of his power. But in this era, not only was he half-human, but the spiritual energy was sparse, making the task more challenging.
Kui groaned, his hands trembling as he fought to maintain control over the gate, his body straining with effort. "Finally," he muttered, his voice tinged with relief, a wide grin spreading across his face as the gate opened completely.
But just as he was about to step forward into the unknown, a motorcycle came tearing past him, weaving through the air as it sliced through the rainwater that had gathered in puddles from the night's light drizzle. The motorcycle's tires churned through the water with a sharp hiss, and in an instant, the portal he'd fought so hard to open began to dissolve into nothingness. The sudden rush of water splashed up, soaking Kui entirely. He froze, drenched and seething with rage, watching as the motorcyclist, their face hidden behind a helmet, glanced back at him with a fleeting, dismissive glance.
Zhong Kui's eyes flickered, the once-pure whites now shifting into an unsettling black hue. His chest tightened with fury, and before he could even think, his hand shot out, a beam of searing light erupting from his palm. The blast struck the motorcycle's tire with brutal precision, causing the driver to lose control, sending the rider hurtling to the ground in a painful tumble. It was almost as if Zhong Kui had blacked out in his anger, the burst of power almost instinctual, a reflex driven by overwhelming emotion.
The moment he regained control of his senses, he felt the weight of what he'd just done. His heart sank as he looked down at the fallen motorcyclist, whose body lay unnaturally still. "Oh, what have you done now, Zhong Kui?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief as he rushed to her side, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and guilt.
Kneeling down, he removed the rider's helmet, hoping to find a young man beneath it. But as he did, his breath caught in his throat. The figure before him, though slight in stature and looking capable of enduring several blows, was unmistakably a woman. Her features, hardened yet delicate, told a story of strength, but there she lay, motionless, her body unresponsive.
Zhong Kui recoiled, a wave of frustration and disbelief washing over him. "Agh! It's a lady!" he exclaimed in frustration, his voice laced with regret and anger at himself.
Just ten minutes before this encounter, Bai Lumin, a petite but fiery young woman, had received a call that would shake her to her core. The voice on the other end, strained with concern, had informed her that her mother, suffering from severe arthritis, was in critical condition at the Friendship Hospital. Panic gripped her heart as she quickly donned her jacket, then mounted her motorcycle, revving the engine and speeding towards the hospital.
She pushed the limits of her motorcycle, desperate to reach her mother's side, but in her haste, she lost control of the bike. The tires skidded on the slick road, sending a spray of water flying toward Zhong Kui, who had clearly not taken kindly to the sudden disturbance. In that moment, something in him snapped—an overwhelming surge of anger, as if another part of his soul took over, driving him to react with devastating force.
And now, here they were. The young woman, her body lying in front of him, unknowing of the circumstances that had led to this moment.