Yin Shou Shu

Chapter 397 Ghosts and Gods
"...Wandering spirits of the Three Mountains, heed my command! Evil spirits of the Five Directions, descend upon my body!"

In the cold, dark ruins of the city, the eerie whispers of the spirit mediums echoed like thunder in the night sky.

The pale, waterfall-like incense ash fell rapidly, and yellow talismans shot out like raindrops.

Each of these talismans that pierced through the air wall had a small red string figure attached to it.

The tiny, ugly red rope figures clung tightly to the talisman paper, like human figures hanging on a kite, using the talisman paper to pass through the air wall and fly towards the darkness outside.

The sheer number of them formed a long river of red and yellow in the dark underworld.

The two enormous phantoms standing outside the city gate remained motionless, coldly watching the boy on the city wall.

However, when the dense yellow talismans fell like the Milky Way, they immediately dropped the cold chains they held.

Writhing souls wailed on the chains, struggling and writhing as the chains fell to the ground.

The ghost messengers, now free of their hands, almost simultaneously reached behind them, groping in the darkness and each dragging out a cold, enormous chain.

Two towering ghostly figures, each as tall as a small mountain, coldly swung their chains, smashing them down towards the river of yellow talismans that was falling from the front.

But when the huge chains whipped up a cold, damp wind, the little figures clinging to the red ropes on the yellow talismans trembled violently.

They actually dragged the yellow talismans as they tumbled and dodged in the air, almost perfectly avoiding the blows of the huge chain.

Boom——

A dull tremor came from the ground as two chains crashed to the ground, shattering only a few yellow talismans.

Numerous yellow talismans floated and spun in the darkness, revolving around two mountain-like ghost messengers, driven by red rope figures.

From a distance, it seemed as if a yellow whirlwind was rising around the two ghost messengers.

The cold, thunderous incantations of the spirit medium still echoed in the darkness.

The two ghostly messengers brandished their mourning staffs, stirring up an even more ferocious gust of yin wind.

However, the howling wind only repelled the yellow talismans swirling around it for a few seconds.

When the mourning sticks missed their mark, the yellow talismans gathered together again under the pull of the red rope figures, like a group of piranhas that had smelled fish in the water, hunting down the two enormous ghost messengers.

The ghostly figures standing in the darkness were cold and silent, but they were clearly enraged.

The two ghostly messengers looked up again, staring intently at the boy's phantom figure on the ruins of the city gate.

They uttered eerie murmurs, their strange tones unlike anything uttered by any living creature, utterly incomprehensible and unintelligible.

The echoing, terrifying murmurs possessed a terrifying magic, causing the sea of ​​souls in the city ruins to howl in terror.

These dazed and confused souls, as if terrified, screamed in terror and retreated and fled. The transparent ocean that had been crowding toward the city gate immediately surged back and fled like waves.

In this chaotic sea of ​​chaos, only Ran Qing, standing atop the city ruins, remained unmoved.

When the eerie, chilling murmurs reached his ears, the evil lords behind the Nuo opera masks screamed shrilly.

The roars and cries of the evil lords diluted the unsettling, eerie power, and even helped Ran Qing vaguely understand the babbling of the two ghost messengers.

They seemed to be questioning...

—A spirit medium!

The two ghost messengers recognized Ran Qing's inheritance at a glance.

On the Nuo opera mask, blood-red eyes coldly stared at the two ghost messengers, offering a calm response.

"...I only wanted to save my friend, I had no intention of provoking the two Yin gods."

Ran Qing's goal was simple: he just wanted to save the poor, innocent teacher, Ms. Li.

He thought the two ghost messengers outside the city gate were the path to reincarnation, but he never expected that Teacher Li, a vengeful ghost, would be killed by the ghost messengers.

Since reincarnation was out of the question, Ran Qing could only resort to the method of a spirit medium to resolve Teacher Li's resentment and help him find peace and tranquility after death.

His long, thin, black fingers pointed to the ghost of Teacher Li, curled up on the dark earth.

The Nuo opera mask had three talismans pasted on it, which greatly enhanced the power of the evil master.

Furthermore, Ran Qing recited the [Summoning Evil Incantation], at this moment he had borrowed almost all the evil power that the spirit medium's magical artifacts could utilize.

His body underwent abnormal changes that were visible to the naked eye.

It had long, thin, black fingers, sharp, ghost-like nails, a hunched, forward-leaning body, and huge, thick, scaly feet like a ferocious beast.

Ran Qing, standing on the city wall, no longer looked like a living person.

It's more like a terrifying evil lord wandering deep within the ghost realm of the Wujiang River.

However, his attempts to negotiate did not elicit the same goodwill in return.

The two enormous ghostly guards stared coldly at him, while a chilling wind blew outside the city gate.

The two ghostly messengers once again uttered eerie and terrifying murmurs. The strange tones, which were unbearable for ordinary people and could even drive them insane, spread, causing the dead souls on the ground to wail in agony.

Even Teacher Li, who was a vengeful ghost, covered his ears in anguish, desperately trying to shut out the eerie murmurs.

Ran Qing, standing on the ruins of the city gate, was the first to be affected. The three incense sticks he lit and stuck in the ruins trembled violently, and the pale incense ash that fell from them flew into the sky like boiling water.

The makeshift altar for spirit mediums was almost destroyed!
Ran Qing, who witnessed all of this, turned cold in her blood-red eyes.

He grabbed a handful of yellow talismans from his canvas bag with one hand and scattered them out.

"...I'm only calling you Yin spirits out of respect for you."

Those who follow the path of the spirits have never been afraid of such ghostly messengers or inanimate objects.

The underworld beyond Zangke is indeed dangerous.

But the dangers involved do not include the so-called ghost messengers.

Even though these two ghost messengers in front of me are far more than ordinary inanimate objects!

Ran Qing shouted, and the dozen or so yellow talismans that were scattered again flew out of the city wall like sharp swords.

The yellow talismans in this canvas bag were all prepared by him for Li Hongye.

The three hundred most numerous ghost-suppressing talismans were the first to be scattered, and were pulled by the little red rope figures, swirling around the ghost messengers.

The Ghost-Suppressing Incantation is one of the most basic of the six talismans used by those who travel to the underworld. It is not very powerful, and Ran Qing initially held back, not wanting to fight to the death right away.

But clearly, these so-called ghost gods and messengers are just like the evil lord in the Wujiang ghost realm.

If you treat them nicely, they'll think you're weak and easy to bully!

Ran Qing shouted, and the cold incantation accompanied the power of the Yin altar of the Yin walker, causing the yellow talisman whirlwind hovering around the two ghost messengers to suddenly surge violently.

Almost simultaneously, more than three hundred ghost-suppressing talismans rushed towards the two ghost messengers.

The enormous ghost messenger brandished his mourning staff and coiled up huge chains, attempting to knock the yellow talismans away.

However, the little red rope figures, dragging on the yellow talismans, endowed these talismans with a precise and ingenious vitality.

The bodies of the two ghost messengers were covered with densely packed yellow talismans, like pockmarks.

Even though it's just the most basic six-talisman spell used by those who practice Yin-Yang magic, its power is weak.

However, when their numbers are large enough, they can also cause enormous damage.

The bodies of the two ghost messengers emitted strange sizzling sounds, as if their skin were burning on a scalding fire.

Black smoke kept billowing from their bodies.

The two ghost messengers, who had always been aloof and indifferent since their appearance, could no longer remain so.

Their enormous bodies trembled and tore wildly, emitting painful and angry howls.

However, the talismans covering their entire bodies were just the beginning.

The dozen or so yellow talismans that Ran Qing scattered afterwards flew to the front of the two ghost messengers.

These dozen or so yellow talismans were few in number and inconspicuous in the darkness.

But the little red figure on the yellow talisman kept jumping in fear, as if it were stepping on a scorching fire pit instead of a talisman.

When the little red rope figures, dragging the yellow talismans, flew to the ghost messengers, they immediately jumped away in panic and fled, not daring to stay on the talisman for even a second longer.

These dozen or so unassuming yellow talismans were densely covered with blood-red incantations for wandering spirits and ghosts. Each talisman contained nine strange characters.

The more ghost characters in the talisman used by spirit mediums, the greater its power.

A dozen or so talismans drifted down onto the ghost messenger, but did not cause any harm.

But as soon as the talisman was affixed to the ghost messenger's body, Ran Qing sat down cross-legged.

On the ruins of the city gate in front of him, yellow mud was wriggling and rising from the originally dry and mottled bricks.

Finally, the two clumps of wriggling, rising yellow mud transformed into two strange little mud figures.

Ran Qing pulled a cow bone knife from her canvas bag, gripped it with both hands, and coldly thrust it in. The slender cow bone knife viciously pierced the chest cavity of the yellow clay figure on the left.

At the same time, the white ghost messengers outside the city gate in the distance let out a miserable howl.

A bizarre wound appeared out of nowhere on its chest. Ghastly green blood, accompanied by a foul-smelling black fumes, continuously gushed from the wound.

The suddenly injured ghost howled, threw away the cold chains in his hands, and viciously clawed at his own chest.

Its chest was clearly empty, yet it seemed to have grabbed onto something and was tearing at it angrily.

At the same time, Ran Qing, who was sitting cross-legged in the Yin altar, felt the force coming from her hand.

The clay figure, its chest pierced by a cow bone knife, gripped the slender knife tightly with one hand, seemingly trying to snatch it away.

Feeling the force of the struggle emanating from the ox bone knife in his hand, and hearing the angry, piercing howls of the ghost messengers in the distance.

Ran Qing's eyes were cold and indifferent.

Only the evil lords behind the Nuo opera masks let out gloating, restless laughter, and regretful roars...

"...A ghost messenger..."

"The Yin Spirit!"

"It's a pity I can't eat it..."

"Hahaha……"

"...Bullshit Yin Gods!"

"Fake! Fake!"

"Genuine! Genuine!"

The evil lords argued fiercely, their strange cries and laughter continuing unabated.

Meanwhile, another pitch-black ghost, covered in talismans, roared as it charged toward Teacher Li.

That invisible wall blocked Ran Qing from leaving, and at the same time prevented them from entering.

At this moment, the only target for the ghost messengers to retaliate and vent their anger is the spirit of Teacher Li!
Noticing this, Ran Qing suddenly exerted force with the ox bone knife she was holding with both hands.

He forcibly pulled the ox bone knife from the struggling and tearing motion of the clay figure on the left.

The next second, the slender ox bone knife viciously stabbed towards the clay figure on the right.

The clay figure, which was standing still and making a running and falling motion with its back to Ran Qing, had its right leg pierced by a cow bone knife that fell from the sky.

In an instant, the enormous ghost guard outside the city wall also staggered, howling in pain as he knelt on one knee.

Its right leg ruptured, and a ghastly green blood and foul-smelling black fumes gushed out continuously.

Outside the city walls, two enormous ghostly guards were completely enraged.

They roared angrily, their piercing babbling echoing in the darkness.

The ground beneath Ran Qing's feet trembled violently, and countless incense ash flew through the air.

They struggled and tore at each other angrily, the two clay figures in the yin altar constantly tearing at Ran Qing's ox bone knife.

Unfortunately, Ran Qing, who was using this technique, had to grip the blade with both hands and was unable to break free.

He coldly swung the ox bone knife, each strike leaving terrible wounds on the clay figure.

But these two clay figures seemed not to die; their wounds healed visibly.

On the contrary, Ran Qing, who wielded the ox bone knife, could clearly feel a large amount of Yin energy being consumed with each swing.

A faint feeling of weakness and dizziness appeared.

The two ghostly spirits had already struggled to reach Teacher Li's departed soul.

They were slashed and stabbed by an invisible giant blade in the darkness, leaving them covered in blood and looking miserable and grotesque.

But they stubbornly endured the damage, refusing to retreat even a step.

Even as they noticed Ran Qing growing weaker, the two ghost messengers let out a sinister, eerie, and grating laugh.

They were mocking Ran Qing.

The spirit of Teacher Li on the ground also saw the situation clearly.

It cried out in pain.

"leave me alone!"

"Ran Qing..."

"Let's go..."

Teacher Li closed her eyes in despair, having accepted the fact that she could not be reincarnated.

They even accepted the fact that they would be exterminated by the ghost messengers.

Ran Qing, who witnessed this scene, simply shook her head coldly.

"I will save you, Teacher Li."

Ran Qing abruptly threw away the ox bone knife in his hand, voluntarily giving up the killing of the two ghost messengers.

He expressionlessly reached into his canvas bag and pulled out a red talisman.

This talisman was incredibly strange; it was entirely blood red, making it impossible to discern any incantations written on it.

But the moment the blood-red talisman was pulled out, the evil lords behind the Nuo opera masks suddenly fell silent.

Ran Qing found a brief moment of peace.

He stared expressionlessly at the two ghost messengers outside the city wall, and at Teacher Li in front of them, and said, "If the underworld won't save you, I will."

The moment the voice fell, Ran Qing raised the blood-red talisman.

He did not throw the talisman, but instead held it respectfully in his hand and raised it above his head.

That respectful posture made it seem as if they were preparing for some kind of ceremony.

The bizarre scene startled the two ghost messengers.

They, which should have rushed towards Teacher Li's departed soul, instinctively stopped at this moment.

The next second, a strange sound rang out in the dark sky, like a famous actor taking the stage, with noisy drumbeats echoing across the heavens.

This unusual commotion instantly shattered the atmosphere in the room.

Ran Qing frowned and looked up, seeing a huge head appearing in the dark sky with a radiant smile.

It wore a huge official hat, had only one head, a pale face, and its eyes were narrowed into dark slits as it smiled, staring at Ran Qing with a grin.

A huge, chubby, pale head with eyes that were so big you couldn't see them was floating in the sky—a scene that was terrifying no matter how you looked at it.

But Ran Qing remained calm, showing no surprise.

He simply tilted his head back coldly, staring directly at the enormous human face that emerged from the darkness, and said, "...Finally out."

If it weren't for something secretly helping those two ghost messengers, they would have been killed by Ran Qing long ago.

The thing that had been keeping Ran Qing in a tug-of-war was not the two ghost messengers, but the thing in front of him!
I never expected that what was behind this ghost messenger would look so malevolent.

Is this thing a ghost or spirit from the underworld?

(End of this chapter)