"Spirit of the ancestor, descend upon me swiftly, as commanded by the law!"
After the fraudulent Taoist priest finished his nonsensical chanting, he spun around in place, flipped a few times, and just as he steadied himself, I saw the female ghost raise her hand and slap him squarely on the top of his head.
With a loud smack, the fraudulent Taoist priest fell face-first to the ground, blood streaming from his nose. Master Cao and his family watched in terror from behind, their faces pale and eyes wide with dread. The fraudulent Taoist priest seemed to realize something was terribly wrong.
"You fiendish spirit, how dare you act so brazenly!"
The Taoist immediately got up, brandishing his Peachwood Blade, spinning as he approached Walter Cao.
"Blessed sword, shine forth! Cut down evil and banish demons! Talisman on the crown, disperse the gloom—by the law, act swiftly..."
A series of sharp slaps echoed as I watched the fraudulent Taoist priest whip Walter Cao with a rope, then pull out a yellow talisman and slap it onto Walter Cao's forehead. He raised the Peachwood Blade, preparing to strike Walter Cao's face.
At that critical moment, the Peachwood Blade in the fraudulent Taoist priest's hand was suddenly caught by the female ghost.
In an instant, the fraudulent Taoist priest looked so frightened his hair stood on end, but he had no choice but to keep up the act. Meanwhile, Master Cao and his family stared in shock—the Peachwood Blade, meant to strike, wouldn't budge. When the fraudulent Taoist priest tried to pull it back, his grip slipped and he tumbled to the ground, landing in a heap.
At that moment, Walter Cao, the fraudulent Taoist priest, and Master Cao's family seemed frozen in fear, staring at the Peachwood Blade suspended in midair. The female ghost gripped the sword, rushed to the fraudulent Taoist priest's side, and began thrashing him mercilessly. The fraudulent Taoist priest howled in pain as his cheeks swelled from the beating, while the ghost laughed heartily nearby. The family's faces were pale, their eyes wide and unblinking, horror etched into every line as they watched the supernatural violence unfold.
Master Cao's family had already fled in terror, while the fraudulent Taoist priest crouched on the ground, clutching his head and begging for mercy.
"Don't blame the spirits—I've made countless mistakes. I know I was wrong! Please, brother, show mercy. I'm just trying to make a living."
The female ghost was laughing so hard she bent over, and seeing the fraudulent Taoist priest's bruised and swollen face, I couldn't help but laugh too. At this point, Walter Cao looked utterly bewildered—he had no idea what was happening, and couldn't see the ghost at all.
It seemed the female ghost had no intention of letting the Taoist off. She opened her mouth, revealing a bright red tongue that stretched out and wrapped around the Fake Taoist's neck. He screamed and pleaded for mercy.
Just then, I saw the Fake Taoist suddenly pull out a scripture from his robe—the one given to him by Master Richard Ming. Instantly, a dazzling golden light flashed, accompanied by a crackling sound. The female ghost whimpered, floated upward, and fled desperately. In the glow, both the Fake Taoist and Walter Cao saw the ghost's true form.
For a moment, the Fake Taoist's eyes lit up as he stared at the life-saving scripture, laughing aloud. Despite his swollen cheeks, a greedy glint shone in his eyes.
"Master Cao, you can come out now—it's all over."
The Fake Taoist shouted, and soon Master Cao and the others came out.
"Master Huang, how is my son?"
Walter Cao seemed deeply traumatized, his eyes vacant as he stared ahead.
"Yes, I've managed to suppress the female ghost for now, but she's still inside your son's body and refuses to come out. I can't afford to be careless any longer."
As the Fake Taoist spoke, greed once again flashed in his eyes.
"Master Cao, may I have a word in private?"
The Fake Taoist pulled Master Cao into the living room, where the entire Cao family watched curiously as he paced back and forth.
"Master Huang, is my son safe now?"
"For the time being."
Walter Cao kept shouting, but the Fake Taoist didn't care at all, sipping wine and eating delicacies.
"Yes, Master Huang, please think of something. I've never seen anything this sinister in my life."
The whole family nodded, praising the Fake Taoist.
"There is a way, Master Cao. I've burned away five years of my life, and all I did was fight the ghost to a draw. The celestial master she summoned was wounded, so she retreated into your son's body. There is a solution, but alas, I should just leave—you'd better find someone more capable."
In an instant, Master Cao and his wife clung to the Fake Taoist, begging him to save their son no matter what. The whole family seemed to trust him completely.
"Master Huang, I'll pay you more—name your price."
Walter Cao cursed loudly, eyes wide with anger, but then his stomach growled—he hadn't eaten anything all day.
"Master Cao, you don't understand. Tonight I've suffered a spiritual injury. Next time, in seven days, your son will only have seven days left to live."
At that, Walter Cao's mother fainted, collapsing to the floor, while Master Cao paced frantically, his face twisted in panic.
"Just tell me, Master Huang—what will it take for you to save my son?"
The Fake Taoist pretended to think deeply for a long time before finally holding up five fingers.
"Five thousand taels, Master Cao. This time, I can only try to negotiate with the vengeful ghost. If talks fail, I'll have to risk my life fighting her. So, for these seven days, I'll need to set up wards around your son's courtyard to prevent the ghost from harming anyone if it comes to a fight. If I die, I won't take a single coin. If I survive, this is the price—after all, I'm staking my life on this."
With that, the Fake Taoist sat down, feigning composure, and closed his eyes.
"How can someone be so shameless?" I couldn't bear to watch any longer. To keep Walter Cao alive, the Fake Taoist tossed him some food, and the starving young man had no choice but to eat off the floor.
The next morning, after the courtyard was sealed, the Fake Taoist took the fine wine and food delivered to him and ate it right in front of Walter Cao.
(This chapter is not finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!)
That night, the entire Cao family mobilized to follow the Fake Taoist's instructions. He ordered the servants to mix chicken blood, black earth, and rice grains, then sprinkle the mixture in a circle around the courtyard. He also had countless yellow talismans pasted all around.
The Fake Taoist instructed that no one was to enter except to deliver meals, which had to be meat and alcohol. When asked why, he made up an excuse, claiming it was necessary to negotiate with the ghost and only the best offerings would do.
Walter Cao kept shouting, but the Fake Taoist didn't care at all, sipping wine and eating delicacies.
"You liar, you fraud..."
Cao Wanzhi kept shouting, but the Fake Taoist didn't care at all, sipping wine and eating delicacies.
"Wait till tomorrow or the day after, and I'll have them bring Xiao Hong over—won't that be nice? Haha. Young master, tell me, do you think your parents believe you, or me? Hahahaha..."
The Fake Taoist laughed triumphantly, carefully stashing the scripture from Master Richard Ming within easy reach. He was no longer afraid—he was certain he'd encountered a real ghost, but with the scripture, he felt invincible.
"You... you..."
"Sigh, young master, you brought this misery on yourself. I'm just here to profit from it. Listen, if you do as your father says, everything will be fine. In a few days, I'll tell your father the ghost has been vanquished—you just play along and it'll all be over."
"Liar! You're a liar, a fraud..."
Walter Cao cursed loudly, eyes wide with anger, but then his stomach growled—he hadn't eaten anything all day.
"Hungry, aren't you? Keep shouting, young master. I love your spirit—most give in eventually. Think it over. Hungry? Once you see reason, I'll give you something to eat."
With a chicken leg in hand, the Fake Taoist waved it under Cao Wanzhi's nose, then dragged the weak young man to the woodshed and locked him inside. As daylight broke, the Fake Taoist found a room and went to sleep.
By noon, the Fake Taoist woke up and summoned a servant to bring Master Cao to him.
"What is it, Master Huang? Do you have instructions?"
"Master Cao, it seems the female ghost is looking for a substitute. I spoke with her, and based on my calculations last night, there's a woman in this town whose birth date matches the conditions for the ghost's replacement. As for the method, that's up to you—just bring her here."
The woman he referred to was Xiao Hong, a brothel worker whom the Fake Taoist had been keeping. As soon as he mentioned her, Master Cao understood and immediately sent someone to fetch her.
With a chicken leg in hand, the Fake Taoist waved it under Walter Cao's nose, then dragged the weak young man to the woodshed and locked him inside. As daylight broke, the Fake Taoist found a room and went to sleep.
That evening, Master Cao brought Xiao Hong over. She seemed to know what the Fake Taoist was up to and initially refused, but after being paid several dozen taels, she agreed. As soon as she entered the courtyard, the Fake Taoist closed the door and began getting intimate with her.
"Hey, since you made a killing this time, you should give me a cut."
Xiao Hong pushed the Fake Taoist away, and he held up five fingers.
"Five hundred taels?" Xiao Hong immediately looked delighted.
"Tonight, if you please me, I'll give you two hundred taels—and you have to play your part in the act."
"How can someone be so shameless?" I couldn't bear to watch any longer. To keep Walter Cao alive, the Fake Taoist tossed him some food, and the starving young man, trembling and desperate, had no choice but to eat off the floor.