Chapter 79 Encountering a Ghost on the Way

Shen Ying cried half the night, and Lu Zheng went out in the middle of the ugly hour, preparing to return to the city overnight.

Due to recent events involving that old Daoist and Lin Wan’s birthday, Lu Zheng hadn’t studied medicine for several days. He planned to work hard in the coming days, thorough studying some common medicinal herbs and medical skills, and then enhancing them with the Light of Fortune.

Since he usually went to Renxin Hall with Liu Qingyan early in the morning, Lu Zheng could only hurry back overnight.

Leaving Taohua Village unhurriedly, Lu Zheng did not use a Divine Movement Talisman, but moved like the wind, swiftly making his way.

But...

Just as he was leaving Taohua Village and was only two or three miles away from the county town, Lu Zheng suddenly felt a cold wind blow by.

Immediately following, Lu Zheng felt his vision blur.

Upon opening his eyes again, the road before him and the trees on both sides were still the same, but he felt a hazy mist-like veil before his eyes.

Something’s wrong!

Lu Zheng paused, stopping instantly.

He carefully sensed around and noticed a faint Yin Qi hovering in the air.

Encountered a ghost!

"Jie jie, as expected of a martial artist, your senses are sharp, you actually noticed."

A shrill voice echoed around, elusive and formless, making it impossible to pinpoint its origin.

"Who are you? Which ghost?" Lu Zheng asked with a firm voice.

"Jie jie, why, didn’t your ghost lover tell you?"

Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed.

"Indeed, that Peach Ghost can only be on par with General Yan because you were getting in the way, which led to General Yan’s downfall in Taohua Village!"

The owner of the chilling voice could obviously see Lu Zheng and was carefully observing him, instantly noticing the slight change in his expression.

"You’re one of Yan Jie’s underlings?"

"I am the Night Travel Camp Commander under the Ye Lan King’s banner, directly under His Majesty, not under General Yan," that ghostly voice sounded disdainful, "A conceited ghost, what right does he have to command me?"

"Then why are you stopping me?"

"Jie jie, considering you are about to become my blood meal, let me kindly inform you."

Lu Zheng’s face remained expressionless, but he coldly laughed inside, sensing that traces of Yin Qi were permeating his body.

This ghost was clearly stalling for time under the pretense, intending to weaken Lu Zheng.

However, as strands of Yin Qi entered his body, he activated his True Qi to grind and mill them to dust, silently channeling them into the earth, unaffected at all.

"Ha ha, then I’m obliged," Lu Zheng said lightly.

"His Majesty has been practicing martial arts recently and noticed General Yan’s absence. Upon investigation, he found out he hadn’t returned for days, so he sent me to Taohua Village to investigate."

The ghost said, "To be honest, I was the unlucky one taking the risk to come out on a mission, only to run into you coming out in the middle of the night. Hee hee hee, this time it’s you who’s unlucky. Once I absorb your Yang Qi, I’ll be able to advance further."

"Isn’t it said that ghosts from the Netherworld can’t enter the mortal world at will?"

"I have His Majesty’s treasure, so naturally, I don’t need to take the Yin-Yang Road. Those from the Underworld can only guard that road. I can freely enter and exit within five miles of the Yin-Yang Road, and they wouldn’t know a thing."

Lu Zheng’s eyes flashed again, continuing to ask, "Now that Yan Jie is dead, how does the Ye Lan King plan to respond?"

"Pfft! How would I know!"

The ghostly voice said sinisterly, "Alright, I’ve been kind, letting you die with clarity. As dawn approaches, it’s also your time to die. If you have insight in the afterlife, seek justice from that Peach Ghost who dragged you down."

The next moment, Lu Zheng felt a vast amount of Yin Qi start to flood into him, attempting to extinguish his life force.

"Release!"

Lu Zheng shouted sternly, his entire body surging with Blood Qi, forcing out the Yin Qi.

"Jie jie, useless, Martial Artist’s Blood Qi doesn’t counter Ghost Qi. Now it’s night, your Blood Qi can’t compare to the Yin Qi generated by my Illusion Ghost Road."

"Give up, obediently surrender your Yang Qi for me to absorb, then I won’t torment your soul afterward."

"Is that so?"

Lu Zheng knew nothing more could be truly learned from this ghost, so he reached into his bosom and pulled out a stack of Exorcism Talismans.

"What!" the ghost suddenly shrieked.

"Supreme Decree, exorcise evil and eliminate demons, hurry!"

A few gleams of green light flashed, dispersing the surrounding Yin Qi swiftly.

Lu Zheng felt his vision clear, the veil-like feeling disappearing.

Lu Zheng immediately saw the ghost standing not far from him.

Clad in gray clothes and black armor, his face pale, his eyes slanted, aquiline nose, and holding a seal technique with his hand, seemingly casting a spell.

However, at this moment, his face showed a trace of bewilderment and extreme disbelief.

Then, as the spell broke, the green light entered his body, he couldn’t help but shudder, his face turning even paler.

"You’re a Daoist!"

The Exorcism Talisman, actively triggered by Lu Zheng’s True Qi, was unmistakable to the ghost’s eyes.

"White Cloud Temple Lay Practitioner, please teach me!"

Lu Zheng nodded, smiling warmly at the Night Travel Camp Commander, then his figure shook, lunging forward.

One hand forming a fist, like mountains collapsing, enveloped in Blood Qi.

The other holding a talisman, True Qi drawn in the hand, the Exorcism Talisman glowing brightly.

"You are a Daoist, actually collaborating with that Peach Ghost!"

The ghost exclaimed fearfully, turning to flee.

Well, ghosts are weightless and can fly off the ground. In terms of speed, ordinary Daoists really can’t catch them.

Unfortunately, Lu Zheng wasn’t just a Daoist.

He fetched a Divine Movement Talisman, applied it on himself, and then Blood Qi surged beneath his feet.

He could carry mountains on his back and still move freely, so his absolute speed was undoubtedly swift. With the combined effects, Lu Zheng caught up with the ghost in two steps.

"What!"

The ghost exclaimed, only to see an Exorcism Talisman transform into green light and shoot into his body.

"Ah!"

This ghost’s strength was far inferior to Yan Jie, and a single talisman severely wounded him.

Lu Zheng shook his head, keeping up his actions, firing two more Exorcism Talismans directly toward him.

The ghost’s eyes filled with terror, hurriedly taking out a Jade Pendant in a desperate moment to shield himself.

"Buzz!"

A dense burst of Nether Qi blocked both rays of green light.

Lu Zheng wasn’t concerned, his figure flying, adeptly maneuvering, his speed not inferior in the slightest to the ghost.

Thus, generally difficult-to-hit Exorcism Talismans were accurate and unavoidable for Lu Zheng, only needing to be physically blocked.

"Buzz!"

Five Exorcism Talismans arrived almost simultaneously.

The ghost blocked three, but the remaining two swiftly penetrated his body.

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Cries echoed, his grip loosened, dropping the Jade Pendant directly to the ground.

Lu Zheng decisively closed in, slapping another Exorcism Talisman onto his chest.

"Poof!"

The ghost’s figure suddenly exploded, immediately dispersing into a black smoke, vanishing.

This ghost was far inferior to Yan Jie; Yan Jie even left behind a Ghost Pearl, but this ghost didn’t drop anything at all.

Well, not exactly, there was still something: a Jade Pendant filled with Nether Qi, presumably the treasure bestowed by the Ye Lan King.

"Buzz!"

Six strands of the Light of Fortune were gained.

Wonderful!

...

Lu Zheng withdrew his hand, approached the Jade Pendant, bent down and picked it up, then looked up to see another figure standing not far from him.

"Hmm?" Lu Zheng’s eyes narrowed, "Another one comes?"