"I don't know what this guest did to offend you, but if it's something..."
A middle-aged man hurried over. I looked up at him as he approached. Clenching my fist, I decided not to show any mercy to these ghosts, even though there were still ordinary people in the bar.
"Don't make me repeat myself."
Suddenly, I stood up and punched the man in the face without hesitation. Screams erupted as the black shadow possessing him was forced out. The man collapsed, unconscious. I glared at the attacking shadow, smiling faintly.
"I don't know what you're up to, but I've already said I won't be polite."
With a roar, flames shot from my hand, instantly turning the shadow before me to ash. The surrounding ghosts, witnessing this, quickly abandoned the bodies they were possessing. Many shadows fled—most were Yellow Ghosts. The chaos in the bar frightened many people into getting up and leaving.
I chased after them, kicking open the bar's main door. With a wave of my hand, the Phoenix Blade appeared in my grip. The unconscious people had barely any yang energy left, their vitality nearly drained. Furious, I began to strike.
Blasts of flame struck the fleeing ghosts, instantly incinerating them to ash. I had no intention of holding back anymore. Before, even dealing with a single Wraith was troublesome, but now things were different.
"There’s a perfectly peaceful ghost realm, yet you insist on coming out to harm people."
I rushed down the stairs to the underground club. Most of the ghosts had already fled, but three Wraiths sat near the bar drinking. When they saw me descend, they drew their weapons. I glared at them, flames igniting across my skin.
The three Wraiths didn’t rush over. One of the tall ones spoke sharply.
"We’re just absorbing a little yang energy, we’re not hurting anyone. You people from the Hades Circle are way too meddlesome. There’s more to this world than just humans."
With a roar, my flaming wings appeared and I flew at the three Wraiths. They tried to block with their swords, but were sent flying. Brandishing the Phoenix Blade, I struck fiercely.
One Wraith couldn’t escape fast enough and was engulfed in flames, quickly turning to ash. I shouted angrily.
"All of you, get out here!"
The other two Wraiths disappeared into the walls and escaped. I glanced around and noticed stairs leading further down. I decided to go.
"Watch out, you idiot."
A voice echoed in my mind. My eyes widened as my body moved on its own, swinging the Phoenix Blade to my left. With a clang, I felt a surge of ghostly energy and stumbled backward. A flash of green—A Green Wraith, gripping a sword, stood before me. I jumped in surprise, having been so focused on the chase that I nearly got hurt by this guy.
The power inside my body still wasn’t flowing smoothly. I stared at him. Unlike the other Green Wraiths I’d seen, he must have only recently become one.
"Little girl, you’ve already killed several of my men. Let bygones be bygones."
I smiled coldly.
"Those people upstairs are already close to death. Soon, not only will they suffer misfortune, but their lifespans will be shortened. What you’ve done..."
I paused before continuing.
"There’s no need to waste words with you."
A cracking sound echoed as the red surface of the Phoenix Blade began to peel away, releasing purple flames. Instantly, scorching heat radiated in all directions, burning away the surrounding yin energy. The Green Wraith’s eyes filled with fear as he retreated, sword raised.
With a thunderous crash and a violent gust, the walls and furniture were blown apart. The Green Wraith slammed into the wall, his body mostly burned. He knew he was no match for me, but still teleported in front of me. I swung the Phoenix Blade, clashing with him.
The anger inside me was ignited. Scenes from the past flashed through my mind—time and again, I’d witnessed ghosts killing people. All those years with the Ghost Burial Squad, I’d seen so much. I still remember how heartbroken I was every time one of them died.
"That’s right. Anger is the source of your strength."
With a clang and a burst of purple flames, the Green Wraith was sent flying. I severed one of his arms—his sword and arm melted away.
I stared coldly at the Green Wraith. As my wings flared, I shot forward and brought down the Phoenix Blade.
With a clang, a long spear blocked my Phoenix Blade. My eyes widened—the ghostly aura swirling around it was so intense that even my flames couldn’t burn it away. I turned my head, eyes wide.
"Tony Tang."
The man before me was none other than Tony Tang. He looked at me with a puzzled expression. With a crash, I was pushed back by a tremendous force.
"You two go on ahead."
Tony Tang said, then stared coldly at me. I let my flames die down for now. Tony Tang spoke.
"Young lady, we don’t know each other, do we? You came here to make trouble, fine. But why kill my men?"
"They were the ones who possessed others to drain their yang energy."
I glared at Tony Tang, furious that the person I’d struggled so hard to find was now letting his men do these things. Tony Tang looked at me in confusion, then glanced back.
"What have you all been doing these past years while I was gone?"
I looked at Tony Tang, confused. He didn’t answer, instead sizing me up again.
"John Chou sent me to find you. He wants you to return. Are you really unaware of everything happening between the worlds of the living and the dead?"
(Irrelevant system message skipped)
Tony Tang burst out laughing, then shook his head.
"What’s the point of going back now? Just tell John Chou I’m already dead. And why would someone from the Hades Circle be working with John Chou?"
I couldn’t explain everything right now, but since I’d found Tony Tang, I needed to notify John Chou. The problem was, I didn’t have any way to contact him. I was a bit confused.
Tony Tang lowered his spear; after a flash of green light, it vanished. He turned away, but gave me one last cold glance.
"Go home, young lady."
"Wait, Tony Tang—did you visit Wu Xiuhua when she died?"
I asked, and Tony Tang froze for a moment before turning back.
"How do you know?"
I nodded, glancing at the chaos around us. But suddenly, everything changed. My eyes widened—I was standing on an ancient bridge, snow drifting from the sky, a small town behind me. Tony Tang stood at the bridge’s end.
"Shadow Realm?"
Tony Tang nodded. I was surprised—without feeling a thing, I was already inside Tony Tang’s Shadow Realm.
"How did you find out?"
Tony Tang’s eyes widened as he approached. I felt a chill, then began to explain how I’d come with Dean Ding to find him.
After a moment, Tony Tang smiled coldly and sat on the bridge railing, shaking his head.
"Let’s not talk about these things. I don’t like dwelling on the past. Go home, young lady. Nothing like this will happen again. I’ve stayed in the Shadow Realm all these years and haven’t left."
I looked at Tony Tang in surprise. He still had no intention of seeing John Chou.
Just then, a loud crash split the Shadow Realm. Dean Ding appeared before us, holding a chicken nugget, a huge box of fried chicken, and a bag full of booze.
"Did you spend all the money I gave you?"