Third floor, outside the movie theater.
Qingyue Daoist of the Qingyun Sect clutched her abdomen in terror, trembling as she retreated.
Her side had already been pierced by a straw.
It was a common plastic straw from the movie theater, usually used for poking into a cup of cola— soft and pliable, something that should never have been able to penetrate a human body.
But at this moment, that straw had become like a bullet, easily piercing through her flesh.
And not far ahead, a figure shrouded in black mist was manipulating a dense array of straws with ghostly energy.
“Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect?” Even its mouth uttered indistinct human speech, the tone mocking, “Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect?”
Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect was the move Qingyue Daoist used. It was just an ordinary Plucked Feather Wing Blade Slash, but she insisted on calling it Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect.
“Let me show you… what… Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect truly is!”
Countless straws abruptly pointed at Qingyue Daoist in unison.
If these straws truly rained down, Qingyue Daoist would be torn into countless strips of flesh.
Extreme fear welled up in the young Daoist’s heart, but even in the face of death, she gritted her teeth:
“Vile ghost! You’ve killed so many people, I will cast you into the Eighteen Levels of Hell! Let Lady Houtu pull out your tongue and strip your sinews!”
Just at the brief glance upon entering the theater, Qingyue Daoist had already seen at least two corpses.
Both had been killed by being stabbed with straws.
There was no doubt—this was the work of the evil ghost before her.
“…Hell…?” The evil ghost seemed to sneer with disdain.
Since it appeared here, it obviously did not fear being sent to Hell.
What Ghost Messenger? All just legends. Otherwise, how could it roam the human world so freely, doing as it pleased?
“…Let me send you… instead…”
The evil ghost waved its hand.
Countless straws were instantly sharpened at the tips, transforming into arrows released from a bow, shooting toward Qingyue Daoist!
Naturally, Qingyue Daoist would not sit and wait for death. She spread her wings and flung her feathers.
Her “Ten Thousand Swords Return to Sect” was only a physical attack, ineffective against spirits, but it worked on straws.
“Ping ping pang pang——”
Feathers and straws collided fiercely.
However… with such a dense barrage, neither side could block every flying projectile.
“Puff puff——”
Two straws broke through the defense and pierced Qingyue Daoist’s thigh.
Likewise, some feathers broke through and pierced the ghost’s body… but the ghost was immune to physical attacks!
From the very start, this was never a fair fight!
“Supreme Three Heavens, Mysterious Primordial Origin. Jade Clarity, Primal Green, true talisman forms the alliance. Shifting dual qi, merging into the truth.
Five Thunders, Five Thunders, swiftly gather at Yellow Peace. Mist transforms, thunder roars and lightning flashes. Hear the call and arrive, swiftly bring forth the Yang sound!”
I picked up the Iron Sword that Qingyue Daoist had dropped.
All the lightning in my hand clung to the blade.
Sword light shot out arcs of lightning in all directions, forming an impenetrable barrier, shattering every straw.
“Divine Firmament Jade Tome!” This time, everyone around recognized it. As fanatics of Daoist arts, they quickly identified the source of the incantation.
Qingyue Daoist was so excited that she forgot her pain: “Are you a senior from the Shenshao Sect?!”
Shenshao Sect, what a lousy little sect…
But as agreed with Xiaoyue Hermit, I just smiled and said nothing.
“What Immortal Spirit is this? I’ve never seen it before…”
“Could it be a real Immortal Law?!”
This new Thunder Technique once again surpassed their understanding of special effects, making the Daoists even more unable to contain their excited shrieks.
Of course, to outsiders, this Thunder Technique just looked like another Immortal Spirit, only with different special effects. But to ghosts, it was genuine, awe-inspiring heavenly might.
As a ghost, its instincts screamed that if it touched even a bit of this true, vast yang thunder, its form and soul would be utterly annihilated.
This was its absolute nemesis.
Even Little Ah Piao was so scared that it hid away.
I pointed the long sword crackling with thunder forward, recalling the Lin Daoist exorcism movie I’d watched long ago, and imitated the way they spoke, trying to sound scholarly.
So, what I thought was a dignified, but in truth was a childish and soft girl’s voice rang out:
“A life for a life, debts must be repaid. The cycle turns, karma is real.
You kill wantonly, your crime is unforgivable. But considering you became a vengeful spirit out of deep obsession, I will give you a chance—tell us how you died. If you were wronged, someone will seek justice for you.”
“Seek justice?” The evil ghost let out a harsh, mocking laugh. “Your law, my laughter.”
“State your true name. Don’t force me to use the Horse Immortal’s methods, or it’ll get ugly—for both of us.”
I was getting impatient.
Every second this electric sword effect lasted, it was draining my true essence. It was exhausting, okay?
“Ten years ago…” A voice came from the ghost’s black mist, “Tengda Theater kidnapping case…”
A case from ten years ago?
“Anyone able to contact the Sian Office?”
“I’m a special consultant for the Sian Office,” Qingyue Daoist of the Qingyun Sect raised her hand. “I’ll call and ask.”
Ghost disturbances often accompanied criminal cases, so it was normal for these Daoists to have contact with the Sian Office. I wasn’t surprised.
Soon, Qingyue Daoist got a reply.
“Ten years ago, there really was a robber who broke into a movie theater. He took many hostages and confronted the law enforcement officers.
The robber’s name was Lin Long. The officer in charge of the case was named Shi Tian. He’s now a teacher at Kangcheng No. 2 High School.”
Teacher Shi Tian??
“What happened after that?”
“The robber Lin Long was a drug dealer. After his identity was exposed, he went for broke and took the audience in the theater hostage. Officer Shi Tian was carrying out the pursuit at the time.
But Shi Tian ignored his superior’s warnings and led the Elite Squad straight into the theater, killing the criminal on the spot. The price was that one hostage was killed by the robber in retaliation.
The hostage’s name was…”
“Wait!”
I interrupted Qingyue Daoist.
Looking at the ghost, I asked, “What’s your name?”
“……” The ghost said nothing.
“If you don’t say your name in ten seconds, your soul will be destroyed. Ten…”
“I forgot.” The ghost hurriedly said.
“Five.”
“I really forgot!”
“A ghost is made of memory. With your clear mind, you’re definitely not a low-level wronged spirit. How could you forget your own name? Stop playing tricks. Who are you?!”
The evil ghost’s expression suddenly twisted with rage.
It lunged at the nearest Xiaoyue Hermit, roaring, “Get out of the way! Or I’ll kill her!”
Fine, no need to ask for a name anymore.
This method of threatening hostages without a word was exactly the same as the kidnapper Lin Long back then.
What a pity.
“You brought this on yourself.”
Lightning is released in two stages: leader and return stroke. The leader travels at one two-thousandth the speed of light, the return stroke at one-tenth to one-third…
But no matter the stage, both were much faster than this evil ghost.
“Heavenly Five Thunders True Law.”
The girl’s voice was clear and slightly cold. She turned her body sideways, sword pointing forward, aimed at the evil ghost.
A wild wind arose out of nowhere in the mall, and thunder formed within the storm.
The hem of the immortal robe was lifted high by the wind.
“Fall!”