Chapter 54: A Hearty Feast!

In the city, the notion that someone could command ghosts and monsters was nothing unusual to Ling Qiu. He had, after all, just given a lesson to an old Taoist priest in the mortuary not long ago. That old priest knew the art of binding souls and, in all likelihood, was adept at controlling spirits as well.

Ling Qiu narrowed his eyes, pondering deeply. The more he reflected, the more he sensed that Sister Gardenia was no ordinary woman.

At that very moment—

A chilling, piercing wail suddenly echoed through the air. Only Ling Qiu and the skeleton could hear it; to ordinary people, it would feel like nothing more than a sudden, inexplicable gust of cold wind.

“It’s here!” Ling Qiu rose to his feet, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile as he glanced at the time. He chuckled softly—this vengeful ghost was certainly diligent! The talisman’s protective effect had only just worn off.

With a thunderous bang, the storeroom door was flung open, blasted apart by a surge of frigid wind. The skeleton, shuddering in terror, cowered behind Ling Qiu, trembling uncontrollably—his powers severely diminished, he was more terrified than ever.

Ling Qiu, however, merely caressed the Yama Ring on his finger, his eyes alight with anticipation as he awaited the ghost’s appearance.

A haze of crimson and black malevolence drifted into the room, and at that instant, the temperature in the storeroom seemed to plummet to freezing. Before Ling Qiu’s eyes, the swirling miasma gradually condensed.

Red—the color unique to a vengeful ghost’s aura.

Encountering such a spirit in the city for the first time, Ling Qiu felt a rush of exhilaration. But what thrilled him most was his own ravenous hunger.

“Kekeke… You’ve brought reinforcements, have you? Kekeke…”

The red aura coalesced into a vague, menacing visage—green-faced, fanged, with claws outstretched, terrifying beyond belief. If an ordinary person saw this, they would surely be scared witless in an instant.

“Don’t you dare get cocky!” the skeleton blustered, forced by Ling Qiu’s presence to put on a brave front. “Our Master Qiu here is on brotherly terms with King Kṣitigarbha himself! You… you’re finished!”

A shrill, furious screech echoed—the ghost’s malevolence quivered in the air. The ghostly face licked its long, scarlet tongue, its expression greedy and covetous. “Kekeke… On brotherly terms with King Kṣitigarbha? Fooling a ghost, are you? Kekeke…”

The vengeful spirit seemed to mock them, scrutinizing Ling Qiu, and upon sensing the extraordinary soul force emanating from him, its appetite was immediately whetted. “Kekeke! Delicious! Exquisite! It’s been so very long since I’ve encountered such a delectable soul!”

Circling Ling Qiu like a hungry predator, the ghost drooled, scrutinizing him as one would a sumptuous feast, inhaling his scent with relish. It seemed just a moment away from snapping a photo to boast to its fellow spirits.

“Yes, you are indeed a delicacy,” Ling Qiu suddenly replied with a smile.

Without giving the ghost a chance to react, Ling Qiu lightly twisted the Yama Ring, gathering a surge of energy in his palm.

With a sharp whistle, a spectral chain whip appeared in his hand.

“What?! The Soul-Binding Chain?!” The vengeful ghost reeled in shock, its green face contorting in horror at the sight of the dark chain glowing with a ghostly azure light in Ling Qiu’s grasp.

“You… you’re an underworld warden?!”

Before Ling Qiu could speak, the skeleton interjected, “Ha! Can’t recognize greatness when you see it!—An underworld warden isn’t even fit to carry our Master Qiu’s shoes!”

How familiar those words were; Ling Qiu had once used them to berate the skeleton. Now, hearing them said on his behalf, he couldn’t have been more pleased.

The ghost drew back, spiraling its malevolent energy as it widened the distance. Clearly, Ling Qiu’s display had unsettled it. But upon further thought, it sneered, “Kekeke… So what if you’re an underworld warden? Possessing a living body is a grave crime in the underworld. I’d wager you’re a disgraced warden who escaped from hell. In that case, devouring you would be a service to the underworld! Kekeke…”

“Service to your grandmother’s Demacia!” Ling Qiu couldn’t help but laugh, retorting with a quip as he lashed out with the chain whip.

The ghost’s laughter was almost comically foolish—he could hardly stand it.

A terrifying crack rent the air—the red-black aura split by a blazing fissure of flame.

The ghost shrieked in agony, dodging desperately but refusing to flee, instead lunging straight at Ling Qiu.

Well, not bad! A real vengeful spirit, indeed—capable of putting up a proper fight.

The ghostly visage lunged repeatedly at Ling Qiu, who stood tall, one hand in his pocket and the other expertly wielding the Soul-Binding Chain. Malevolent and spiritual energies collided, sending forth fiery fissures with each clash.

The skeleton watched from the sidelines, utterly thrilled. A battle between immortals—what a spectacle! Even more exhilarating was the fact that his Master Qiu seemed able to handle the vengeful ghost with just one hand.

Impressive, truly! Even a real underworld warden might not be able to dispatch such a ferocious ghost with such ease.

Just then—

A resounding crack split the air, flames flared, and in the next instant, Ling Qiu’s Soul-Binding Chain abruptly halted. The chain had been seized and clamped tight by the ghost’s razor-sharp fangs.

“Kekeke… The Soul-Binding Chain isn’t all that formidable after all—just a standard weapon for any common underworld warden…”

The ghost was riddled with wounds but remained fearless. With a savage jerk—

A metallic snap rang out—the chain was bitten clean through!

“Kekeke! Your precious chain is broken! A lowly warden without a weapon is weaker than a wild ghost! Prepare to be devoured—become my next delectable meal!”

With that, the ghost lunged again. Ling Qiu dodged with ease, almost leisurely.

After several failed attacks, the ghost screeched in frustration, “Give up your pointless resistance! Let me swallow you whole and you’ll be spared the agony of being torn apart! You’ll never defeat me—even with your chain intact, it would be impossible! Unless… you possess the Ghost-Scourge Whip!”

“Oh, that’s right—the Ghost-Scourge Whip,” Ling Qiu suddenly smiled. “If you hadn’t reminded me, I nearly forgot about that.”

With that, Ling Qiu turned the Yama Ring once more—

A low hum resonated through the room.

In a flash, a blue light burst forth from his hand.

With a sharp whistle, a heavy, vine-like whip appeared, glowing with a verdant azure light.

The vengeful ghost recoiled in terror, its aura spiraling in chaos as it scrambled to retreat.

“That… that’s the Ghost-Scourge Whip?! No… impossible! Only a Ghost Constable holds such a weapon! You… you’re actually a Ghost Constable?!”