"What the hell is going on?" I looked at Rachel Lan, coughing violently, tears streaming down my face as I coughed up blood again and again.
"This blood rain is the power of the Blood Fiend. Ordinary people, if touched by it, will have all their blood gush out and die instantly. Even those with some cultivation, if they survive, will be paralyzed for at least ten days or half a month. As for ghosts, a single drop will damage their ghostly souls."
"Oh my god, Lady Ji, please think of something! The blood is about to flood in!"
The long-haired Blue Wraith stomped anxiously. I saw the rain outside growing heavier, and all around us had turned into a lake of blood.
"John Chou..." Mona Ouyang cried out and flew toward John Chou.
"Oh, haven't had enough yet? This time, it won't be as simple as just injuring your ghostly soul."
As he spoke, John Chou gripped a blood-red spear in his hand, hunched over, clearly ready to strike.
"Dream Black."
With a whoosh, Mona Ouyang's whole body gradually turned black, and she transformed into a blue-faced, fanged demon, lunging at John Chou.
"Come on, you damn corpse demon!"
"Meow..." A cat's cry suddenly broke the tense atmosphere.
"Everyone, stop. Both of you, that's enough."
An old, weary voice rang out. I saw two pale blue cats, as big as lions, pounce on John Chou and Mona Ouyang. Instantly, the two cats shrieked and bit down on John Chou and Mona Ouyang.
The rain stopped, and the sound of cats crying echoed in my ears.
"So it was you, little cat."
"Hehehe, Uncle Yin, it's been a long time."
An old man, kindly and wise-looking, with a snow-white beard, hunched over in loose white clothes. In his left hand he held a cane shaped like a cat's head.
"It's been a long time, Madam Ji. And Mr. Ouyang, I'll call you that for now, is that alright, Mr. Ouyang?"
As the old man spoke, he drifted over. The two cats biting John Chou and Mona Ouyang turned into pale blue particles and vanished. John Chou shed his red fur and dissipated into smoke. Then I saw the blood on the ground swirl toward John Chou's feet, forming a huge vortex. Soon, the blood disappeared.
Suddenly, I saw a green glow behind the old man. Yuna Ji appeared within the light, holding a bone dagger, and stabbed at the old man's head.
With a sudden meow, a fiery red kitten appeared on the old man's back, baring its teeth and claws, and bit down hard on Yuna Ji's bone dagger.
"Oh dear, Madam Ji, I'm an old man now, too frail for such jokes. Please, have mercy."
"You have sharp ears, don't you?"
"Of course. I'm a cat by nature."
I blinked, and the others beside me looked just as puzzled. While I wasn't paying attention, I noticed that Rachel Lan's bleeding had stopped, and her coughing had ceased.
"Is there a cat among the Zodiac Twelve?"
I muttered to myself.
"Ah, young man, old as I am, I was born at the wrong time, so I'm a cat by nature."
I responded with an 'oh,' only half understanding, as I looked at the old man, who smiled kindly.
"Everyone, could you do an old man a favor and let this go for today? If you keep fighting, something terrible might happen. Just look—the area around us has already been affected."
Then the old man swung his cat-headed cane a few times.
"Phenomenon Technique."
Gradually, the effects appeared. Many snakes, rats, birds, and insects seemed to be fleeing for their lives, and I saw the crops in the fields and the fruit trees in the orchards wither away.
The old man set down his cane, and the vision vanished.
The sound of sirens echoed, and I saw the gates of the Ghost Burial Squad open as seven or eight black vans drove in.
Hugh Tianshu and the others had returned, bringing a group of monks—over ten of them. I recognized one, Monk Chongzhi, my cousin's senior. As soon as they got out, the monks came over, and Chongzhi glared at me.
"Mr. Hu, you actually joined forces with John Chou?"
"Master Chongsheng, please be patient. Let me first persuade these two Ghost Sovereigns who still want to fight, and then we'll talk."
The old man spoke and walked over. Indeed, I saw John Chou looking displeased, and Mona Ouyang even angrier, glaring at John Chou.
"May I have a word, you two? Now that all seven Ghost Sovereigns have appeared, your powers aren't what they used to be, but at least you serve as a check. The stronger ghosts and wild spirits, the Blue Wraiths, all want to join one of you. Under your rule, we won't have to deal with so many vicious ghosts. Now is the time to restore peace."