Yue Renchun wore a broad smile, but inwardly he was already cursing up a storm.
It wasn't that he insisted on lowering himself to wait outside for Hu Jiu like a subordinate. He simply couldn't find where Hu Jiu was!
Back in Yuzhou City, he had discovered that he could only sense Hu Jiu's general location, not pinpoint exactly where he was. It had been the same when he arrived in Linjiang City last night. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had to wait outside Hu Jiu's home for him to show up.
It was like playing hide-and-seek: he knew someone was hiding in a particular area, but couldn't find him no matter how hard he looked. It was as though some mysterious force concealed Hu Jiu's whereabouts, and Yue Renchun could only find him when he went all out.
What angered Yue Renchun even more was that his plan to steal the fierce ghost had failed too. Liu Mingguang, whom he had stuffed into the wardrobe, had vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only faint traces of a supernatural fragrance.
A little thought made it obvious. Hu Jiu wasn't an idiot, so how could he leave such a gaping loophole for someone else to exploit? It had all been a Phantom's act, a carrot dangled before a donkey to make it work!
Yue Renchun grew increasingly wary of Hu Jiu, and even felt a faint killing intent. This kid is terrifying. He absolutely cannot be allowed to live!
"Why are you waiting here for me so early in the morning?"
Hu Jiu actually wasn't very keen on standing beside Yue Renchun, who made him look shabby by comparison.
"You've received the notice about the assault on Beifeng Commune, right?"
Yue Renchun suppressed his various thoughts and smiled like a rose in full bloom.
Hu Jiu nodded.
Yue Renchun headed outside. "Then let's hurry and get in the car. A few others taking part in this operation are meeting us in Zhenyuan City. We can talk on the way."
"All right." Hu Jiu followed him into his car.
As the scenery flashed past on both sides of the road, Yue Renchun casually pulled out a document and tossed it over.
Hu Jiu caught it deftly. It contained detailed information on Beifeng Commune's members, even more comprehensive than what Headquarters had provided. Hu Jiu didn't ask where it had come from, simply lowering his head to read it carefully.
Beifeng Commune had nine Ghost Tamers in all: Wei Xiyuan and Zhou Long, whom Hu Jiu had encountered shortly after his rebirth; Zhou Zhi, who had tried to assassinate Hu Jiu only to be killed instead; and Liu Tiancheng and Wu Xuan, who had been caught up in the supernatural incident in Linjiang City. Of those five, only Wei Xiyuan was still alive. The other four had all been confirmed dead, and their deaths were all directly or indirectly connected to Hu Jiu.
Of the five remaining, only the president, Zhao Lifeng, was relatively mysterious and difficult to deal with.
After they reached Zhenyuan City, Yue Renchun suddenly slammed on the accelerator and drove straight through a red light, immediately attracting the attention of the traffic police. But the officers quickly chose to ignore him, seemingly having received orders from above.
Other drivers saw this and followed his example, running the red light one after another. The traffic officers' eyes lit up at once. Their performance numbers had arrived! Without another word, they tore after them in their police cars and pulled over the vehicles that had violated the traffic rules!
Yue Renchun didn't notice this little episode. He took Hu Jiu straight to the meeting place, where two women and a man were waiting. They had apparently arranged to meet Yue Renchun in advance and greeted one another with great familiarity.
Yue Renchun's impressive social skills left Hu Jiu in the dust. At that moment, Hu Jiu was like an invisible little follower, trailing behind the group.
The two women flanked Yue Renchun, while the other man, Fang Qingjiao, walked ahead with a gleeful smile. "I have some personal scores to settle with Zhao Lifeng. Once we reach Beifeng Commune's hideout, I'll deal with that bastard Zhao first, then take care of the rest. You can help by holding those other guys off and letting me finish them personally, or you can kill them yourselves."
"As for the ordinary people who joined Beifeng Commune, do whatever you feel like with them. Anyone who hangs around with Beifeng Commune can't be any good. It doesn't matter if a few more of them die."
Hearing Fang Qingjiao's words, Hu Jiu glanced at him. The man really was confident in his own strength.
They walked for quite a while, with Yue Renchun chatting about all sorts of things with the two women most of the way.
"Everyone, get ready," Fang Qingjiao suddenly said. "We're about to reach Beifeng Commune's base. We'll attack as soon as we get there. Remember to bring your gold containers."
Hu Jiu remained silent. He wanted to see how the man fought, and just what kind of strength gave him such confidence.
The five of them openly approached the entrance of a club.
"This is it." Ferocity flickered in Fang Qingjiao's eyes as he activated the fierce ghost within him. Light as crimson as blood swept out in an instant, surging wildly toward the club ahead.
A Ghost Domain with a pretty high level of terror. No wonder he's so confident, Hu Jiu thought critically.
Fang Qingjiao vanished from where he stood. At the same time, Zhao Lifeng, who was holding a meeting inside the club, saw the red light suddenly appear, and his face darkened. He wasn't the only one; everyone else at the meeting also paled.
"It's a Ghost Domain. A Ghost Tamer has deployed a Ghost Domain without any restraint! What are they trying to do? Challenge Beifeng Commune?"
The moment Zhao Lifeng finished speaking, a figure unexpectedly teleported into everyone's view.
"Oh, everyone's here. How wonderful!" Seeing that every core member of Beifeng Commune was present, Fang Qingjiao broke into a savage grin.
"I was planning to drag you out and kill you one by one. I didn't expect to be so lucky. Since you're all gathered together, I won't have to waste my time. I can wipe you all out at once!"
Seeing Fang Qingjiao make such outrageous claims, Zhao Lifeng's temper flared. "Who are you? Do you know where you are? You dare run wild in front of me? Believe it or not, I'll send your whole family to the afterlife!"
Fang Qingjiao froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. "You don't recognize me?" He seemed somewhat distraught. "Of course. Why would a big shot like you remember the ordinary people you killed?"
"So you're here for revenge?" Zhao Lifeng lounged sideways in his chair and crossed his legs. "I have too many enemies. Who the hell are you? A little rat in the gutter like you doesn't hide away where he belongs, but dares come to my door instead? I'd say you don't know how to spell 'death'!"
Fang Qingjiao's face abruptly fell, and he stared at Zhao Lifeng expressionlessly. "Cut the fucking act! You killed my mother and my younger sister back then. Now the heavenly dao has come full circle, and it's time for your retribution!"
"You don't know yet, do you? Headquarters ordered me to wipe out the illegal organization Beifeng Commune. Even if you escape from me today, you won't escape punishment from the state in the future!"
Zhao Lifeng's eyes widened instantly. "Impossible, absolutely impossible! Headquarters wants to burn the bridge after crossing it? They'd better not forget how much Beifeng Commune has done for them in the past!"
Only when he saw Zhao Lifeng panic, unable to maintain his arrogant, superior manner any longer, did Fang Qingjiao feel somewhat satisfied. He wasted no more words.
Bang—
A muffled sound came from Zhao Lifeng's body, as though he had been struck hard by a fist. The chair beneath him was smashed beyond use, and several tears appeared in his clothes, exposing the bluish-purple, rotting skin underneath.
"Not bad!"
Seeing Zhao Lifeng's skin squirm and block his attack, Fang Qingjiao smiled crookedly.
"Headquarters has wanted to settle accounts with a conscienceless Ghost Tamer organization like yours for a long time. They just haven't had the energy to deal with you for the time being. You could have lived a while longer, but unfortunately you insisted on courting death, deliberately releasing fierce ghosts to attack cities again and again! Even executing you ten thousand times wouldn't be enough to atone for your crimes!"
Whoosh—
The moment he finished speaking, the red light pouring from Fang Qingjiao erupted like a flood, engulfing the entire club.
Wherever the red light passed, many ordinary people let out agonizing screams and died in an instant, turning into severely decomposed corpses.
That wasn't all. Several Ghost Tamers caught in its path in the meeting room also stared in horror at the rotting wounds that had inexplicably appeared on their bodies, and hurriedly used their supernatural powers to suppress them.
Zhao Lifeng's expression turned grave, and he was both shocked and furious. He had indeed ordered people to deliberately release a fierce ghost in a city, but he had only done that once, in Lizhou City. Everything else was pure slander!
Over this period, some bastard had been dumping blame on him again and again. Headquarters accused Beifeng Commune every few days, and Zhao Lifeng had long since had enough!
He had considered proving his innocence, but proving one's innocence had always been difficult. He had thought that if he stalled a little longer, he could expose the real mastermind. He hadn't expected Headquarters to be so impatient to settle accounts!
Zhao Lifeng wasn't about to surrender without a fight. "Killing me won't be that easy!"
Blood-colored footprints suddenly appeared one after another on the floor, as though an invisible person were wandering aimlessly. The red light sizzled wherever the footprints stepped on it. The footprints seemed corrosive, and an opening was forcibly torn in the Ghost Domain!
Zhao Lifeng turned into a black streak and vanished through the opening.
"He has a Ghost Domain too!" Startled, Fang Qingjiao deployed his Ghost Domain and immediately gave chase.
The other four Beifeng Commune members left behind breathed a sigh of relief. A tall, thin man looked impressed. "The president really came through for us, drawing that guy away on his own. Let's not waste the boss's efforts. Run!"
"Don't waste your energy." Wei Xiyuan smiled bitterly. "Headquarters is making its move this time. Where can we run? Can we escape the state's pursuit?"
Another man retorted sharply, "Don't talk like that! At worst, we can go abroad, assume new identities, and head to some small country. With our abilities, we can still thrive!"
"That's right!" the tall, thin man shouted as he ran outside. "Even if we can't get away, we have to try. Every moment we stay alive counts. We absolutely can't sit here waiting to die!"
Clap, clap, clap—
Thunderous applause rang out.
Yue Renchun clapped as he pushed the door open and entered with a mocking smile. "What a wonderful speech. Guess how much longer you'll live?"
Hu Jiu stood behind Yue Renchun, sweeping his gaze over the Beifeng Commune members present. It was four against four, and he didn't know how good their chances of winning were.
The Beifeng Commune members' faces turned ashen, but then they steeled themselves. To survive, they had no choice but to fight desperately! If all else failed, they would drag these Headquarters dogs down with them!
Only Wei Xiyuan remained calm and tried to negotiate. "Everyone, I don't think there's any need for violence. Zhao Lifeng bears most of the blame for Beifeng Commune's crimes. We were merely acting under his coercion. We're all Ghost Tamers. Once we start fighting, win or lose, it'll accelerate the revival of our fierce ghosts. It isn't worth it. Why not let us atone for our crimes through meritorious service and continue serving the country?"
His words had some merit. At least Yue Renchun was quite tempted; after all, he really didn't have any grudge against Beifeng Commune.
Unfortunately...
Whoosh!
Several tentacles dropped from the ceiling and lashed toward Yue Renchun.
Who had made the first move?
No one could say for sure!
Both sides had already been on the verge of fighting. The slightest disturbance was enough to set off the powder keg!
A chaotic battle broke out. Hu Jiu put on a show of summoning the White Sash and sent it looping toward their necks.
Wei Xiyuan's canine teeth abruptly grew three inches, and he opened his mouth and bit the White Sash to pieces. The others each displayed their own abilities as well. The imposing White Sash seemed to be all for show, easily countered.
Whoosh—
A fierce wind suddenly rose inside the room. It came from the woman standing to Yue Renchun's left. Her ability was probably related to wind, and her first move was an area attack.
"Don't force us to fight to the bitter end!" the tall, thin man roared. "At worst, we'll both go down!"
Bang!
In response, the woman standing to Yue Renchun's right fired a gold bullet, instantly putting a hole in the tall, thin man's forehead.
But even with such a severe injury, the Ghost Tamer didn't die so easily. His movements were merely restricted, his body twitching as supernatural power leaked out of control.
The wind grew stronger and stronger, swirling around to block every exit.
Hu Jiu was slacking off, and when he glanced at Yue Renchun, he saw that he was doing the same.
"None of you are getting away!"
The woman's shout rang out with exceptional force. For a moment, the wind howled, and her body seemed to turn into wind itself. The Beifeng Commune members were blown pale and had difficulty breathing.
But she wasn't doing very well herself. She had only tamed one ghost, and using its abilities took too great a toll on her. Even so, she gritted her teeth and held on.
"The ghost you tamed is really impressive," Hu Jiu praised from the side.
The woman raised her chin slightly but said nothing.
The other woman kept firing her gun. She didn't seem to be a Ghost Tamer. Yue Renchun also made a move. He couldn't just do nothing; at the very least, he had to keep up appearances.
Hu Jiu summoned the White Sash again. Riding the wind, it coiled swiftly like a snake. Wei Xiyuan was the first to be caught. His neck was forcibly strangled until it snapped, and his head fell to the floor.
Yet an incredible scene unfolded. He didn't die immediately. He waved his arms and tore his shirt to shreds. The two sides of his rib cage burst out of his body and opened like doors. His head on the floor promptly jumped into his chest cavity, and the "doors" quickly shut again.
The Zombie's secret technique: hide the head in the belly to avoid the attack!
Hu Jiu's eyes were opened, but he wasn't very surprised. Who didn't have a few trump cards?
Having become a headless corpse, Wei Xiyuan's defenses increased dramatically. The eerie wind couldn't budge him, and the gold bullets couldn't hurt him either. He grabbed one of his companions and threw him forward while retreating rapidly himself, crashing hard into the wall. With a rumble, he went straight through it, leaving a huge hole!