Chapter 150

Chapter 150

"Hey, I never thought us ghosts could actually use ghost-fighting weapons," a male ghost remarked, twirling the Demon-Subduing Hammer in his hand. His palm bore the same red mark as Xu Shuhuai's—every ghost here had it, letting them wield these treasures without harm.

This, of course, was also thanks to Liao Ziqi's assistance.

Xu Shuhuai observed these ghosts. After Chen Zui had obtained information about powerful ghosts from him, he had gone and killed their leader. The cemetery mostly housed exploited ghosts, with only a few loyal followers of Wang Zhi, but this other group was a bunch of truly evil ghosts, and nearly all of them had come.

Truthfully, he didn't need to kidnap Le Ziyou or take him hostage to lure Chen Zui here. He could have directly led these ghosts to their residence and launched a surprise attack on Chen Zui—that would have been the smarter move, unlike now, giving Chen Zui time to prepare.

But the humiliation he had suffered at Chen Zui's hands these days made him want to torment Chen Zui! He wanted both of them to endure the danger brought upon each other. He intended to kill Chen Zui in front of Le Ziyou and have his way with Le Ziyou in front of Chen Zui.

He tossed the Celestial Thunder Club in his hand and caught it again. Just the thought alone excited him almost to the point of frenzy.

The humiliation Chen Zui had inflicted on him, he would make him repay tenfold, a hundredfold. His hatred for Chen Zui now outweighed any concern for Le Ziyou's face, which looked exactly like his lover's.

Le Ziyou's brain was practically smoking from overthinking, but in this immobilized state, he could do nothing. Even his mouth was covered, robbing him of any chance to sweet-talk his way out.

A ghost turned its gaze to him: "So what do we do with this human?"

Someone immediately chimed in: "Why not drain his spirit energy? He looks quite appealing, haha—"

Xu Shuhuai: "Once Chen Zui is dealt with, this human will naturally be at everyone's disposal."

This was a lie to these ghosts. Chen Zui must die, but Le Ziyou he would keep for himself. For now, he needed to humor these fools to make them work harder.

He looked at Le Ziyou.

The moment their eyes met, Le Ziyou quickly signaled him with his eyes, appearing terrified and on the verge of tears.

Xu Shuhuai traced the Celestial Thunder Club along Le Ziyou's cheek: "Scared?"

Le Ziyou blinked hard twice, and tears rolled down.

Having hidden under the bed for so long, Xu Shuhuai had gained some understanding of Le Ziyou—a scammer, cowardly, and weak. Probably the bravest thing he'd ever done was accepting Chen Zui, a ghost, and choosing to be with him.

"After dealing with Chen Zui, the ghosts here will take turns sucking out your spirit energy. Surely some won't get a turn—what then?" The Celestial Thunder Club slid down to rest on Le Ziyou's chest. "The remaining ghosts will have to settle for second best, biting off your flesh piece by piece, devouring you."

He saw Le Ziyou break out in goosebumps, his face turning deathly pale, clearly terrified. If not for being restrained, he'd probably be shaking like a leaf.

Seeing Le Ziyou's cowardly appearance, an even more malicious thought surfaced in his mind.

He placed the Celestial Thunder Club into Le Ziyou's hand, the red mark from his palm appearing on Le Ziyou's. "As long as you plunge this into Chen Zui, I'll let you go."

He patted Le Ziyou's head reassuringly: "You've done this before; it's not that hard."

Le Ziyou seemed somewhat resistant.

Xu Shuhuai gave a light laugh: "Oh, and there's one more thing. Do you know why a system approached you last time?"

Le Ziyou looked at him, puzzled.

Xu Shuhuai had also learned from the system that he and Le Ziyou were a pair, but he refused to accept it. He wouldn't betray his lover, especially since Le Ziyou had already been with Chen Zui.

He was tainted.

Thinking this, he deliberately let a trace of sympathy show: "Because you're Chen Zui's mission target. He also has a system. His goal is to win you over—as long as you fall in love with him and let him sleep with you, his mission succeeds."

Xu Shuhuai: "Everything between you two was an act! And you foolishly gave yourself to him. Why do you think he stopped halfway? Because he doesn't love you. He deceived you. It was for the mission. He has no interest in you, no love at all."

Le Ziyou's face instantly lost all expression, his eyes turning hollow, as if his spirit had been drained away.

Xu Shuhuai had said all he needed; the rest was for Le Ziyou to think it over and decide. Besides, he had a backup plan. Today, he would make Le Ziyou personally stab Chen Zui with the Celestial Thunder Club, making Chen Zui suffer beyond physical pain!

Le Ziyou was completely stunned, his mind blank.

What did Xu—Xu Shuhuai say?

For the mission?

Scenes with Chen Zui began flashing through his mind—a ghost who suddenly appeared, pestering him to love him, without any reason. So this was why?

So he wanted me to love him, but he never intended to love me?

——

Chen Zui appeared outside the warehouse, spotting the dense *ghost qi* reaching toward the sky from afar. It seemed Xu Shuhuai was fully prepared this time.

He tightened his grip on the male ghost's neck—the one left behind to monitor him, though his surveillance skills were utterly pathetic.

He lifted the male ghost.

The ghost struggled desperately, trying to pry his hand open, movements revealing the red mark on his palm.

Chen Zui narrowed his eyes slightly, then hurled the male ghost forward toward the warehouse. Instantly, a chain reaction erupted: *Samadhi True Fire* ignited before the warehouse, and celestial thunder struck from the sky.

The pre-set treasures, sensing a ghost, attacked indiscriminately, regardless of whether it was Xu Shuhuai's target or not.

The male ghost Chen Zui threw turned to ash before even reaching the warehouse door.

Hearing the commotion, everyone in the warehouse immediately got ready. Though the ghosts Xu Shuhuai had rallied held ghost-fighting weapons, they couldn't help feeling nervous recalling Chen Zui's fighting skills.

For a moment, no one dared to be the first to strike.

Xu Shuhuai cursed them as useless in his mind. With a wave of his hand, *ghost qi* slammed the warehouse door open. The massive attack outside had already ended. He naturally didn't believe such a small trap could kill Chen Zui, but it should have hurt him some.

He stared at the doorway.

Despite a warehouse full of ghosts, not a single one stepped out to check. Compared to Chen Zui's upright figure hovering mid-air outside, it almost seemed like this nest of ghosts was surrounded by him.

Xu Shuhuai glanced at Le Ziyou, who was looking toward the door.

With a flick of his finger, a mist of *ghost qi* enveloped Le Ziyou completely. Within this mist, Le Ziyou saw Chen Zui walking in through the door.

Chen Zui scanned the surroundings, his gaze landing on him before shifting away to Xu Shuhuai.

Xu Shuhuai: "If you don't want him dead, surrender without a fight."

Le Ziyou stared unblinkingly at Chen Zui, his heart feeling as if crushed by an invisible hand. Xu Shuhuai's words still echoed in his mind.

Then he saw Chen Zui's expressionless, ghostly face curl into a mocking smile, calmly and coldly stating: "I don't care if he lives or dies."

The hand squeezing Le Ziyou's heart vanished.

There was nothing left.

He couldn't even feel pain anymore.

Chen Zui continued speaking: "My task here is done. I came with only one purpose—"

He folded the black umbrella in his hand and pointed it at Xu Shuhuai: "To kill you."

His attention no longer lingered on Le Ziyou as he launched an attack toward Xu Shuhuai. The lesser ghosts were all sent flying by him. Just as he was about to reach Xu Shuhuai, Le Ziyou was pulled by Xu Shuhuai and used as a human shield in front of him.

Le Ziyou stared blankly at the approaching Chen Zui.

Before Chen Zui arrived, the umbrella swung from his hand came first. The chilly, ghostly wind it whipped up stung Le Ziyou’s cheeks. Chen Zui didn't hold back just because Le Ziyou had become Xu Shuhuai’s shield.

A direct hit from that umbrella would probably take his head off.

In the end, he heard Xu Shuhuai curse and throw him aside. Even so, Chen Zui’s swinging umbrella still grazed his cheek. He fell to the ground, his whole body went numb.

That's strange.

It was his face that was hit, so why did his heart hurt?

It hurt so much.

While Le Ziyou was trapped in the illusion deliberately created for him by Xu Shuhuai, the real Chen Zui showed up at the warehouse entrance. His presence alone seemed to block the doorway, preventing even the sunlight from shining in behind him.

The ghosts tightened their grips on their weapons. The memories of being nearly beaten to death came flooding back with Chen Zui’s appearance, and some ghosts instinctively stepped back.

Xu Shuhuai’s expression hardened. His gaze fell on Chen Zui’s hand, which was not holding an umbrella but hanging by his side. In that hand, he was holding…

Chen Zui glanced at the swirling ghost mist not far from Xu Shuhuai, then shifted his gaze back to Xu Shuhuai. Suddenly, he felt as if he were looking at a cockroach—so tenacious.

He held up what he was carrying, revealing Liao Ziqi’s pale, half-dead face.

Earlier, after capturing the male ghost who had been tailing him, Chen Zui noticed the mark on the ghost’s palm and realized that a Taoist priest was likely involved. As for which Taoist priest, there seemed to be only one answer.

So, before coming here, he made a trip to the hospital. The only pity was that Liao Ziqi had given so many treasures to these ghosts but kept few for himself.

He was captured effortlessly.

Liao Ziqi was still conscious. When he lifted his head, his eyes met Xu Shuhuai’s. He really didn’t want things to turn out this way—he didn’t want to appear useless in front of Xu Shuhuai.

The ghosts, seeing that Liao Ziqi had been captured, hesitated about whether to attack. The marks on their hands had all been drawn by Liao Ziqi himself, so they recognized him.

They all looked toward Xu Shuhuai, waiting for his command.

Chen Zui said, "One for one."

Liao Ziqi was stunned, unsure whom Chen Zui intended to exchange him for. Only when he shifted his attention away from Xu Shuhuai did he notice the strange ghost mist. With his innate Yin-Yang eyes, Liao Ziqi immediately saw Le Ziyou trapped inside the mist, tears streaming down his face.

Xu Shuhuai had never mentioned targeting Le Ziyou. Even if Le Ziyou had lied, he'd just been tricked by a ghost. As a Taoist priest, Liao Ziqi didn’t believe Le Ziyou should be dragged into this.

But since Chen Zui had proposed an exchange, Xu Shuhuai should agree—after all, part of this operation was to avenge Liao Ziqi.

That way, Le Ziyou wouldn’t be harmed.

Xu Shuhuai let out a cold, mocking laugh. He pointed at Liao Ziqi from a distance and said, "Whether he lives or dies is none of my concern."

Liao Ziqi froze, staring blankly at Xu Shuhuai like a fool. He even doubted his own ears—how could he have heard such words?

How could Xu Shuhuai not care about his life?

Chen Zui wasn’t particularly surprised. What Xu Shuhuai liked and cared about had never been Liao Ziqi. In fact, aside from gambling on a chance, bringing Liao Ziqi here was also to show him how foolish he had been.

To defeat someone utterly, you have to break their spirit.

Chen Zui said, "He helped you so much, trusted you, gave his treasures to these evil ghosts who oppress others. And this is how you treat him?"

With every word he spoke, Liao Ziqi was cut deeper. His gaze fell on the ghosts—they were… evil ghosts…

Xu Shuhuai tightened his grip on the dragon-shaped Magic Sword. This was Liao Ziqi’s most powerful treasure, passed down through generations. Xu Shuhuai had always felt that the reason he lost to Chen Zui was not only because he was slightly weaker in strength but also because he lacked a suitable weapon.

But now he had one.

He swung the sword in an arc and charged straight at Chen Zui: "Useless trash should be thrown out."

Completely ignoring Liao Ziqi, he issued a command to the ghosts: "Attack! The one in his hand is a Taoist priest who exorcises ghosts."

So why should you evil ghosts have any reason to consider his safety?

True to their nature, the evil ghosts immediately forgot about the weapons Liao Ziqi had given them upon hearing this reminder. With ferocious expressions, they launched an attack on Chen Zui.

Chen Zui shifted his gaze away from Xu Shuhuai.

How heartless.

With his right hand, he swung the umbrella at the ghosts attacking him. With his left hand, he raised Liao Ziqi as a shield. He had no bond with Liao Ziqi, so he showed him no mercy.

Although the weapons Liao Ziqi had given the ghosts were meant for exorcising ghosts, they were still tangible, real weapons that could also harm humans.

The evil ghost wielding the demon-subduing hammer hesitated for only a moment when he saw Liao Ziqi being raised as a shield but did not hold back. The hammer, the size of a paving stone, struck Liao Ziqi’s chest, making him spit blood instantly.

Chen Zui swept his umbrella, sending several charging ghosts flying. At the same time, his ghost qi rapidly dissipated under the attacks of the ghosts’ weapons.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chen Zui noticed Xu Shuhuai charging at him with the sword. After glancing at Liao Ziqi, whose face was half-covered in blood, he exerted force and threw Liao Ziqi toward Xu Shuhuai.

In truth, Xu Shuhuai had a choice—to catch Liao Ziqi and take him to a safe place, away from the battle.

Liao Ziqi, mid-air, looked at Xu Shuhuai. At that moment, Liao Ziqi wasn’t concerned about whether Xu Shuhuai would save him. He simply stared at Xu Shuhuai, trying to see through him, to understand him clearly.

He didn’t want to believe he had misplaced his trust.

He refused to believe Xu Shuhuai was such a person.

Xu Shuhuai only had eyes for Chen Zui. Liao Ziqi was completely invisible to him. When Liao Ziqi blocked his path, Xu Shuhuai thrust the Magic Sword into him without hesitation.

Since they had already turned against each other, Liao Ziqi had no reason to live.

The Magic Sword pierced through Liao Ziqi’s abdomen. The intense pain made Liao Ziqi face reality.

He had been blind to the truth.

He had made mistakes due to his selfish desires… He was unworthy of being a Taoist priest.

Xu Shuhuai flicked the sword, sending Liao Ziqi, impaled on it, flying. Blood gushed from his abdomen as he crashed heavily onto a stack of pallets, toppling several layers. He fell to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Already injured from before, he lay on the ground, unable to move, let alone stand. For a moment, it was unclear whether he was alive or dead.

With Xu Shuhuai joining the battle, Chen Zui, already besieged, was being overwhelmed. Countless demon-sealing weapons were directed at him—it was truly a life-or-death moment.

Chen Zui swung his umbrella, obliterating a ghost into nothingness.

Dodging attacks from three ghosts on his left, he barely avoided two Peachwood Swords thrusting at him from the right. Though the blades hadn’t pierced his form yet, they were already dispersing the spectral energy surrounding him. Ahead, Xu Shuhuai’s Magic Sword radiated divine might, roaring like a dragon as it lunged toward him, while behind, rows of ghosts loomed in wait.

Several airborne ghosts simultaneously hurled their magical implements—black spheres identical to those Le Ziyou had once used against Xu Shuhuai. The instant the spheres struck Chen Zui’s aura, they exploded, unleashing Samadhi True Fire that shot straight up to the ceiling.

The blaze illuminated the ferocious, ecstatic faces of the ghosts, each pair of eyes burning with the same singular desire—to see Chen Zui destroyed.

Chen Zui unfurled his black umbrella and spun it around his body in a sweeping arc. Dozens of artifacts were flung aside; even the Samadhi True Fire flickered under the force. Finally, the umbrella halted before him, blocking Xu Shuhuai’s dragon-embodied sword thrust.

Their eyes locked.

Xu Shuhuai pressed forward relentlessly. Amidst the thunderous dragon roars, Chen Zui staggered, dizzy and retreating step by step. The enchanted weapons of the surrounding ghosts hovered near his body—repelled by his aura from making direct contact—but they continuously siphoned his spiritual energy.

Eventually, when his spectral power could no longer endure, he would fall, pierced one after another by their weapons.

A cold wind howled as a new wave of ghosts suddenly burst through the warehouse entrance, all targeting the towering figure at their center.

Xu Shuhuai could barely contain his elation—this was the moment he had waited for.

He was going to tear Chen Zui apart!

Chen Zui remained expressionless, but his combat style shifted abruptly. He ceased defending and launched into a frenzied offensive.

Even as weapons struck him, he ignored evasion, counterattacking wildly—willing to sustain injury so long as he could take an enemy’s life.

The tide turned sharply.

At first, the ghosts held firm, but as comrades fell one by one beneath Chen Zui’s relentless assault, fear took hold. They grew timid, hesitant, paralyzed.

From that moment on, despite still holding the advantage, they unanimously halted their advance and began to retreat, putting distance between themselves and Chen Zui.

Panic filled their faces as they stared at him. They had never encountered anyone so skilled—and so utterly mad.

For a time, they were cowed by Chen Zui’s suicidal fighting style, encircling him but too afraid to close in.

The spectral energy around Chen Zui had thinned to near invisibility. Even his black umbrella had been torn by Xu Shuhuai’s dragon-shaped blade.

One advantage of being a ghost was immunity to fatigue—even after such intense combat, he didn’t pant or tire, making him appear even more unnervingly composed.

With his free hand, he pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it under the wide-eyed gaze of the ghosts, and took a slow, deliberate drag.

He felt drained.

He wondered: if humans become ghosts when they die, what do ghosts become when they die?

Xu Shuhuai couldn’t tolerate Chen Zui’s calm demeanor. He wanted to humiliate him, to break his pride: "He's on the verge of collapse! Charge! Kill him!"

Shouting, he led the charge himself. As he swung his Magic Sword, a dragon spirit erupted forth, nearly filling the sky.

Though the other ghosts bore Liao Ziqi’s protective mark to prevent harm, they still couldn’t withstand the overwhelming pressure. They froze, trembling, struggling against the crushing aura until they were forced down to their knees.

Xu Shuhuai’s sword arm trembled. Only because he wielded this blade had Liao Ziqi granted him a special mark; otherwise, he too would have collapsed.

Chen Zui glanced at the dragon spirit.

He tilted his cigarette upward, then charged forward, swinging his umbrella.

The umbrella clashed violently with the Magic Sword.

The dragon spirit slammed into Chen Zui.

The cigarette in his mouth nearly went out. The instant the ember died completely, the black umbrella shattered, the dragon spirit knocked Chen Zui to the ground, and the Magic Sword pierced through his shoulder.

—

“Take another step and I’ll kill him!” Xu Shuhuai grabbed Le Ziyou, using him as a human shield. “This time, I mean it!”

His blade pressed against Le Ziyou’s neck—sharp enough to sever it effortlessly.

But Le Ziyou ignored the sword, his eyes fixed solely on Chen Zui, who advanced step by step.

All the ghosts had been slaughtered by him, and he wasn’t seriously wounded.

Hearing Xu Shuhuai’s threat, Chen Zui showed no concern, merely saying, “As you wish.”

His gaze settled on Le Ziyou: “Back when you drove the Celestial Thunder Club into me, if it weren’t for the mission, I would’ve killed you myself long ago.”

Chen Zui’s words cut like knives, tearing open Le Ziyou’s heart, filling him with unbearable agony.

Chen Zui: “Did you know?”

Le Ziyou didn’t want to hear more. He couldn’t bear such deeply wounding words.

No, stop… stop talking!

Chen Zui: “Every time I touched you, it made me sick.”

—

Xu Shuhuai gripped the Magic Sword, lowering his gaze to Chen Zui on the ground. He had finally won!

But it wasn’t over.

Chen Zui didn’t look disheveled; he didn’t even show pain. Ignoring the sword impaled in his shoulder, he lay there as calmly as if sunbathing.

Sensing Le Ziyou’s crumbling psyche, Chen Zui crooked his finger. A wisp of ghostly mist carried Le Ziyou to his side.

The mist dissipated, revealing Le Ziyou’s form, while a thin tendril seeped into his eyes, trapping him once more in illusions—blind to the sight of Chen Zui lying defeated.

What Chen Zui saw was Le Ziyou’s tear-streaked face.

Xu Shuhuai seized Le Ziyou’s hand—the one holding the Celestial Thunder Club—and whispered seductively into his ear.

“After everything he’s done to you, kill him. Your suffering will end.”

“He doesn’t deserve your love.”

“Everything he told you was a lie.”

Le Ziyou raised the Celestial Thunder Club, and Chen Zui was lifted into the air by the dragon spirit.

The weapon aimed straight at his heart.

This time, if it pierced him, it would surely end his existence.

Xu Shuhuai continued to manipulate Le Ziyou while watching Chen Zui, who was controlled by the Magic Sword.

"It's his fault. He's a damn liar who made you so heartbroken and miserable."

Le Ziyou slowly turned to look at him, seemingly completely broken, and choked out a question, "Is it his fault?" he asked.

Xu Shuhuai: "Yes, he deceived you—tricked you into giving him your love and your body. You gave him everything, and yet he still found you disgusting."

Chen Zui frowned and called out Le Ziyou's name but received no response.

Xu Shuhuai released Le Ziyou's hand, placed it on his shoulder instead, and turned to glare sinisterly at Chen Zui. "Come on, kill him. Once he's dead, you won’t suffer anymore."

Le Ziyou also turned to look at Chen Zui, gripping the Celestial Thunder Club tighter.

He struck suddenly!

The Celestial Thunder Club plunged into Xu Shuhuai's body, and instantly, countless bolts of lightning surged through his body, bringing indescribable agony.

A scream echoed, and all the ghosts were stunned, staring in shock as Xu Shuhuai bent over—the Celestial Thunder Club deeply embedded in his abdomen.

Xu Shuhuai, contorted in pain, looked up at Le Ziyou in disbelief. He was absolutely certain Le Ziyou was still trapped in the illusion—how could he have attacked him?

Le Ziyou looked at him and murmured, "I made a vow never to harm Chen Zui again."

Even if he deceived me. Even if he thinks I'm disgusting. Even if he didn’t care whether I lived or died and even wanted to kill me with his own hands.

That would still be the punishment I deserved.

Because that I, too, had told Chen Zui many lies and had almost killed him once before.

He turned to look at the illusory Chen Zui, who had spoken so harshly to him, tears streaming down his face.

"I said I would never hurt you again," he said.

"So..."

"Please give me a little love..." begged.

Chen Zui, who was still restrained, watched Le Ziyou in front of him, and the wall in his heart finally crumbled.

Ao Tian: "I'm here now, Host! Let's take them down! I've already gotten approval from above to take action!"