Justin Huang's whole body creaked as he clenched his fists, ready to charge forward. I kept forcing my yang energy out, turning it into a blaze of flame. Deep down, I couldn't bear to hand my cousin over to them.
Hugh Thompson suddenly shoved both me and Justin Huang, telling us to stop. The lawn ahead was already scorched black, and that burly monk was striding over, glaring at us viciously.
"Master, what is it? Why are members of the Renegade Monks here?"
Hugh Thompson spoke with a hidden meaning. The burly monk stopped in place and rubbed his forehead.
"Hmph, enough talk. Hand it over."
"Master, what, even monks want that Golden Buddha inside?"
As Hugh Thompson spoke, he shot Justin Huang a look. Instantly, Justin lowered his fists.
"It's not about the Golden Buddha. That belongs to our Renegade Monks. We have to get it back. Besides, last time my disciple Zhou Yun made an agreement with your Ethan Zhang, right? Now I'm here to reclaim it. That's only fair."
The burly monk pressed closer, his aura menacing.
"Hmph, 'only fair,' huh? Master, the last time you came to the banquet, wasn't it thanks to Ethan Zhang? So, what happened in the Ghostrealm back then—that favor should be settled by now, right?"
"Watch your mouth. Hmph, hand it over." The burly monk barked, closing in step by step.
"Screw you!" Justin Huang finally lost it, stomping the ground and charging forward with a boom, throwing a punch straight at the monk.
"Brat, you want to die?"
A deep, resonant Buddhist chant swept in. I heard a ringing sound as Justin Huang reached the monk; his fist seemed to sink into the surface of the sea, soft and unmoving, stopping right in front of the monk.
"Formless, selfless..."
The monk shouted, and with a tearing sound, gashes split open all over Justin Huang's shoulder and body. Black blood spattered everywhere.
"Justin Huang!" I shouted, rushing over with fists aflame. Justin flew past me with a bang, and I swung my fist at the monk.
With a muffled thud, it felt like my fist hit solid steel. The flames in my hands instantly went out.
"Still half-asleep, Ethan Zhang? Using this Yang Fire against me?"
"Big or small, ever-changing..."
With a ringing sound, I saw a flash of light in the burly monk's hand. Suddenly, a jet-black staff appeared, topped with a human skull and strung with little octagonal bells. With a bang, the staff struck me square in the chest.
Pain shot through my chest as I was sent flying. Eyes wide, I realized in that instant—I couldn't hurt anyone anymore.
"The price is steep, you know."
A sinister, slightly evil voice echoed in my mind—the same one that gave me power in the horror story.
A strong arm caught me—it was Justin Huang. He'd taken off his sunglasses, his face twisted in anger as he glared at the monk.
I heard a sizzling sound. My hand was on Justin Huang's skin, which seemed to be steaming. I quickly dropped to the ground from his grasp.
I looked at Justin Huang—his clothes were shredded, and his body was covered in countless gashes, as if he'd been sliced by tiny knives.
"Damn bald freak, you set me up!"
"A puppet of the Immortality Society, huh? Heh, brat—if you’re not satisfied, come at me."
With another ringing sound, the monk charged with his staff raised. Justin Huang's body suddenly swelled up, bulging outward.
Justin Huang charged again. The monk swung his staff at him. I panicked—I couldn't hurt anyone now, but I still clenched my fists and rushed forward. Hugh Thompson grabbed me.
"Ethan, wait."
I turned. Justin Huang aimed for the monk's staff, smashing his fist down. With a bang, ripples shimmered in the air—waves of transparent distortion—but the monk didn't budge.
"Hmph, Ethan, I'm afraid they're not the only ones coming. Before long, the Brahma Order might show up too."
"Why?" I asked. Hugh Thompson pulled me away. Justin Huang, wild with rage, kept swinging his fists, but the monk just stood there, grinning, unmoved by the assault.
"Last time, at the Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts, you weren't there. The Renegade Monks already warned Red Hair not to mess with you. I was there—Red Hair told me not to tell you."
I let out a cry, staring at Hugh Thompson.
"I'm afraid that when we left the Ghostrealm, the Renegade Monks started watching us. They knew we brought your cousin back to the Ghost Burial Squad headquarters. They could have snatched him openly, but since we're a police unit, they hesitated—planning to act only after we brought your cousin out. And if you took him to your apartment, they probably wouldn't dare, since you've got some powerful Blue Wraiths and two Ghost Sovereigns there."
I nodded.
"And the Brahma Order?"
With a tremendous bang, I saw Justin Huang land a punch square on the monk's face, sending him flying.
The monk got up from the ground and, with a swift motion, removed the prayer beads from his neck.
"Immovable King..."
The black prayer beads grew larger and flew toward Justin Huang. I felt a wave of chilling energy as the beads snapped around him, tightening until he screamed in pain. Lines of black Sanskrit letters crawled over his body.
Sensing something was wrong, I rushed over and grabbed the beads. As expected, a surge of icy energy passed through me. I focused, letting out a rush of yang energy—instantly, the entire string of beads burst into flames. Sure enough, the chill was overwhelming.
"Disperse—!" The monk rushed over, raising his hand. The burning prayer beads scattered, and the flames went out.
"Ethan, be careful."
Justin Huang shielded me, thrusting out his arm. With a bang, the monk's staff struck his forearm. Justin roared and punched at the monk's chest.
"Buddha Body..."
With a boom, the monk's whole body blazed with golden light. Suddenly, Justin Huang was knocked back, and I was sent flying too.
Justin Huang and I crashed to the ground. The monk raised his staff and swung at us—sure enough, it was yin energy. I noticed his staff was radiating a heavy chill.
"Burn..."
I braced myself, pressing one hand to the ground. Instantly, my yang energy erupted, transforming into a wall of fire. With a boom and a crackling burst, I saw the monk flung back in the blaze. When the flames faded, he climbed up and immediately sat cross-legged, exposing his arm.
I watched as the monk bit his finger and wrote something on his exposed arm.
"Amitabha, stop now, Master of the Wrath Mantra from the Three Poisons. Well done, well done."
A robe billowed, radiating golden light. I saw something black emerge from the monk's shoulder, then the golden robe wrapped tightly around him.
It was Master Jianyun from Universal Temple. He led a dozen monks, approaching calmly from afar. I recognized a few—they were my cousin's senior brothers.
With a boom, the robe wrapped around the Renegade Monk bulged as if something inside exploded.
With a whoosh, the robe lifted. Inside, the monk called Wrath Mantra looked pained, clutching his shoulder. He seemed fine, but sweat poured down his face.
"Master Wrath Mantra, it's been years. You're tougher now, but your poison has seeped into your bones. Well done, well done."
Wrath Mantra slowly stood up, glaring fiercely at Master Jianyun.
"Hmph, Master Jianyun, you Brahma Order monks just want to take advantage and steal our Buddha Statue of Visions from the Renegade Monks, don't you?"
"Alas, Master Wrath Mantra, you've got it wrong. I came only on someone else's behalf. After all, the one inside is my disciple Chong Sheng. He's a bit unruly, but he's destined for the Buddha. This is an act of public virtue. I'm just here to take my disciple back to Universal Temple for healing."
"Bullshit, Jianyun!" Wrath Mantra roared, his beard quivering with rage.
"You just want to take advantage! Come on, Jianyun—your Brahma Order and our Renegade Monks are natural enemies. There must be a fight. Today, I'll use your disciples for a blood sacrifice! Hahaha..."
Wrath Mantra suddenly burst out laughing. I saw the disciples behind Master Jianyun clutching their heads in agony at the sound.
"Clear your minds, disciples. Don't let these external sounds disturb your spirit."
With a wave, Master Jianyun scattered golden light. I saw a halo above his head; the monks who'd been clutching their heads sat down and began chanting scriptures.
Justin Huang and I didn't seem affected at all.
"Master Wrath Mantra, don't get angry. I told you, your poison has seeped into your bones. If you don't treat it soon, I'm afraid..."
Before Master Jianyun could finish, Wrath Mantra suddenly leapt up, landing on his floating staff and flying toward us.
"Not good..." As I spoke, Wrath Mantra swept past us with a whoosh.