Chapter 100: Who Is Helping Whom?
Buzzing!!
Amidst waves of energy tremors, the fierce ghost had already been sealed inside Wang Ba’s body by Ling Qiu!
Liu Donghai and the others witnessed this scene!
Yet…
They were unable to react in any way!
Because…
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet grew icy cold, and an indescribable terror enveloped them!
Almost instinctively, they curled up, clutching their heads. Whether their eyes were open or closed, their minds were flooded with horrifying and nightmarish images!
The reason for this was simple…
The souls Ling Qiu had just sealed were suddenly awakened. Although scattered and dissipated, the ghostly malevolence exuded during the process carried an endless tide of restless, vengeful spirits.
These resentments surged forth like a geyser from beneath Liu Donghai and the others, engulfing them completely!
They had no idea what was happening…
Or rather, their minds had essentially ceased to function at that moment.
Under the overwhelming assault of malice and ghostly energy, they did not even know where they were!
…
At this moment.
Ling Qiu had accomplished what he intended.
Wang Ba slowly “awoke”…
He raised his head sluggishly, his eyes shimmering with an eerie green glow…
Like ghostly flames from the netherworld!
“Roar!!!”
The possessed Wang Ba let out a furious roar at Ling Qiu!
Without hesitation, Ling Qiu flipped the Yama Ring with a buzz, summoning a spectral chain in his palm!
Whip!!
He lashed Wang Ba fiercely with it!
“Roar!”
Wang Ba howled in pain. The savage killing intent in his eyes instantly diminished by half. Hesitant, he recognized the spectral chain and immediately kowtowed repeatedly to Ling Qiu, kneeling before him!
“You… are you a Ghost Official?!!”
Ling Qiu said nothing, expressionless.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The dull sounds echoed as Wang Ba knocked his head relentlessly, soon bleeding from his forehead!
“Ghost Official! Save me! I beg you, please save me!!!”
Save you?
Ling Qiu narrowed his eyes. “Your time is short. This body can only sustain you for a few minutes. Of course, I can perform a rite to liberate you, but if you cannot tell me what I want to hear within these minutes, your soul will be forever lost, never to reincarnate!”
“Yes, yes! I will say everything! Ghost Official, I am not a bad person… No, no, I mean… not a bad ghost! Although I harmed many people, none of it was by my own will!”
Ling Qiu was no longer in a hurry. He casually took out a cigarette and lit it. “Remember, every word you speak consumes both my patience and your chance. Tell me everything you know.”
“Yes, yes!”
Wang Ba kowtowed several more times and then recounted everything in detail.
“I… and the spirit brothers who acted with me today… were all forced by Captain Xing!”
Ling Qiu: ???
Captain Xing?
What kind of nonsense was this?
Was there still such a thing as a ‘captain’ in this modern metropolis?
Such a role was common, even abundant, in the underworld.
In fact, the underworld was strictly hierarchical, each rank with its own duties. After all, countless restless spirits roamed the netherworld; without management, chaos would reign. The legendary figures of folklore — the Black and White Impermanence, the Ox-Head and Horse-Face, the Judges — were essentially positions rather than individuals.
Of course, some underworld officials, known as ‘Impermanence’ in folklore, are more famous in popular tales, such as the well-known White Impermanence Xie Bi’an and Black Impermanence Fan Wujiu. These were more like archetypes or star figures within their profession.
Generally, the ranks within the underworld’s bureaucratic system, from lowest to highest, are:
Ghost Soldier, Ghost Official, Ghost Captain, Impermanence, City God, Soul Capturer, Judge…
The legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face actually hold the title of Soul Capturer, a relatively high-ranking post.
Strictly speaking, all officials in the netherworld are ‘ghost cultivators.’
Ghost Soldiers possess the weakest power, roughly equivalent to fierce ghosts like the one before them, serving as the lowest-level underworld clerks.
Ghost Officials typically wield the power of vengeful spirits.
This explained why the fierce ghost Ling Qiu encountered earlier was not afraid when guessing Ling Qiu might be a Ghost Official, but fled in terror when Ling Qiu displayed the ghost-catching whip symbolizing the rank of Ghost Captain.
Higher still, the Impermanence correspond to the power level of ghostly fiends.
The City God is a local official in the underworld, akin to a county magistrate or mayor in the mortal realm. This rank has cultivated spiritual awareness and can freely manipulate the ghostly energy within their body, corresponding to the power of a spectral spirit.
The Soul Capturer, the rank held by Ox-Head and Horse-Face, corresponds to the power of a ghostly hero.
The Judge holds terrifying ghost king-level strength.
…
Ling Qiu reviewed these memories of the underworld in his mind once more.
He did not quite understand why the fierce ghost in the mortal world spoke of a ‘Ghost Captain.’
“Ghost Official! That Captain Xing abuses his powerful connections to wreak havoc in the mortal realm. He seems to be searching for living people to forge corpse puppets!…”
Wang Ba continued his detailed confession.
Ling Qiu listened carefully…
Within a few minutes, Wang Ba had revealed all he knew.
Ling Qiu’s brow furrowed deeply.
It seemed…
In the mortal world… could there also be underworld officials?
“Now, I will ask you only one question.”
“Ask, Ghost Official!”
“Is this Captain Xing you speak of a living person or a ghost?”
This question stunned Wang Ba.
“Sir… of course he is a living person, just like you!”
A living person?!
Just as suspected!
Ling Qiu’s guess was correct!
Despite overseeing countless spirits in the underworld, he had been unaware that the mortal realm also had officials managing spirits.
He, the illustrious Yama King, had no knowledge of this?
No, he must inquire with King Ksitigarbha later! That fellow still retained two spiritual consciousnesses within the Yama Ring!
This matter demanded clarity!
“You have performed well. I will grant you release.”
Ling Qiu said, turning the Yama Ring slightly before placing his hand on Wang Ba’s forehead.
Hum.
A faint vibration.
The fierce ghost gradually transformed into a drifting wisp of black smoke, dispersing into the air…