I stared in shock. Behind the Taoist priest stood Mr. Howell, his face wrapped up, a strange, sinister smile hanging at the corners of his mouth.
"Where is Rachel Lan?"
"Bah! You brat, do you know how long I waited to get that zombie? If it hadn't been for you causing it to go berserk that day, and the Ghost Burial Squad showing up, we would've never left. Who would've thought you two would end up destroying it afterward?"
The Taoist priest's face turned blue with anger as he glared at me.
Although the zombie was still alive, both Rachel Lan and Vivian Ouyang had lied to the outside world, claiming it had already been destroyed. Clearly, the Taoist priest was unaware of this.
"You really made me work for it, Ethan Zhang." A rough voice came from above. I looked up and instantly saw the infamous ghost known as The Dragon, his ruined face drifting down toward me.
"You..." I ground my teeth in anger. At that moment, I saw another person—Leon Wang, trembling as he stood in the lobby.
"Damn you, old bastard, you tricked me..."
"Kid, it's the first time I've seen someone fall for such a lousy trick."
"Ha! Old priest, I told you, this kid would definitely get fooled by that old man."
"What exactly do you people want?"
I clenched my fists and shouted.
"Ethan, it's not my fault! I was forced into it—I only lied to you because that ghost woman threatened to curse my family line. I had no other choice. This master said he could help me, so..."
"You..."
I pointed at Leon Wang, who was clinging to the doorway, glaring at him fiercely.
"Ethan Zhang, today you won't escape."
Suddenly, The Dragon pulled out a butcher's knife and flew straight at me, swinging it down with a vicious chop.
"The Dragon, put the knife away. This kid is prime corpse-refining material—don't damage him. With some luck, we might be able to turn him into a Flying Revenant."
The Dragon chuckled, put away the butcher's knife, and raised his hand, reaching out to grab me. I clenched my fist, Deathbane Aura swirling, and punched him right in the face.
With a miserable cry, The Dragon clutched his head and howled in pain.
"Where is Rachel Lan? Damn it!"
I shouted, charging toward Thomas Tang, the Taoist priest.
"Subdue evil, banish malice, let Kui Gang protect my body and manifest its power! Call once, answer once; call a thousand times, answer a thousand times; call none, yet the power remains! Reveal—Golden Barrier!"
I had barely taken a few steps when a Nine-Palace grid appeared on the ground. Two faint lights flashed, and suddenly I felt unable to move, as if invisible walls surrounded me.
"Just as I thought. Heh, today is truly an eye-opener for me, Thomas Tang. It's the first time I've seen Taoist magic work on the living."
I was instantly trapped. The Dragon, furious, his face caving in, strode toward me.
"Old priest, undo the formation right now! I'm going to tear this brat apart! Damn it!"
"The Dragon, didn't we agree? Leave this kid to me. You just stand aside and enjoy the show."
"Heh, kid, did you know? The more intense someone's emotions are in life, the heavier their Deathbane Aura after death. You, already filled with Deathbane Aura, are the perfect candidate. I'll make sure you get really worked up."
Thomas Tang gestured with his hands. Then I saw Mr. Howell step into the lobby, and Thomas Tang suddenly jumped to my side, making ritual signs.