Chewing Ghosts

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Within the public office, the sounds of metal striking metal echoed endlessly, deafeningly loud.

If there were any other living people here, they would witness a bizarre scene: a magnificent giant in a bright red official robe, with the face paint of Zhong Kui, wielding a ghost-slaying sword over four feet long, roaring like thunder, his swordplay like the wind.

Though the sharp, precious sword was clearly swinging through the air, it produced piercing clanging sounds, sparks flying like rain.

Zhou Sheng's furious eyes, like those of a hungry tiger, reflected the image of the Guardian Soldier.

One sword, another sword, and yet another sword!

He stepped with tiger-like gait, his beard and hair bristling in fury, his muscles and bones crackling, faintly emitting the sound of thunder, truly like a ferocious tiger that had gained sentience.

The Guardian Soldier also possessed martial arts honed through countless trials, but having been injured twice by the Startling Hall Wood and intimidated by Zhong Kui's fearsome power in devouring ghosts, he was forced to retreat repeatedly for the moment.

"Waaahhh--"

Zhou Sheng fought more ferociously, his voice erupting in thunderous opera tones, his eyes shooting out two chilling, fierce glares.

"Don't run! Don't run! Don't run!"

"In the Five Viscera Temple-- a ravenous hunger!"

As soon as he spoke, his stomach rumbled explosively, as if his intestines and stomach were churning violently, roaring like thunder.

The sword in his hand grew faster and faster, its killing intent growing heavier and heavier.

Boom!

With a flash of sword light, it directly severed a thick paulownia pillar, the flying wood chips shooting out in all directions like hidden weapons.

The entire government office shook violently, the eaves trembling and swaying.

Dust rained down, only to be repelled by the soaring killing intent.

Zhou Sheng's eyes were bloodshot from killing, his entire being becoming more immersed in the role, almost blurring who he was. He only remembered the thunderous hunger in his belly and the fierce ghosts before his eyes as worthy of a drink!

"Steamed too lean!"

"Braised too fatty!"

"How to eat? How to eat?"

Clang!!!

Amidst a series of questions, both simultaneously swung their swords down, the piercing clang of metal nearly shaking the very tiles on the roof, the scorching sparks illuminating two fierce, malevolent eyes.

One pair was blood-red, like copper bells.

The other pair blazed with phosphorescent fire, ferocious and cold.

It was clear that the Guardian Soldier had recovered from the lingering power of the Startling Hall Wood and had been ignited with a surge of courage, his fighting spirit astonishing.

In this clash of swords, neither of them retreated an inch, like a contest of strength.

The ancient sword hummed, the Supreme Ghost-Slaying Incantation carved on it glowing brilliantly, while the battle sword in the Guardian Soldier's hand was no ordinary weapon, showing no sign of yielding.

"A mere fake Zhong Kui, and you think you can eat me?"

"An actor is always just an actor!"

The Guardian Soldier spoke for the first time, his voice hoarse and rough, as if sand and stones were grinding in his throat.

However, the response was a blazing inferno.

Zhong Kui spits fire!

In the classic Hebei Bangzi opera Zhong Kui, there is the incredible feat of Zhong Kui spitting fire.

Although Zhong Kui is a ghost, he hates evil and is righteous, with a violent and upright nature. He can slay evil spirits and breathe forth fierce flames, a true Hero of Ghosts!

This fire was no ordinary fire; it was the malevolent fire from the Five Viscera Temple, specifically meant to burn all sorts of wicked spirits and demons!

The Guardian Soldier, caught off guard by this unexpected skill, let out a miserable cry, the flesh on his face melting like candle wax.

Even the phosphorescent fire flickering in his eyes wavered and flickered.

Seizing the advantage, Zhou Sheng pressed his attack, swinging his sword.

"So fragrant! So fragrant!"

"Roasted to a crisp-- perfect with a drink!"

His swordplay was like a raging storm, hacking at the Guardian Soldier's body, carving sword marks into the ancient battle armor, which continuously emanated Yin energy.

This Guardian Soldier was truly worthy of being an elite of the Underworld. Ordinary ghosts would have their souls scattered by one of Zhou Sheng's sword strikes; even a Fierce Ghost like Shen Jinhua could only last three to five strikes at most.

Yet, this Guardian Soldier, after more than a dozen strikes, still had the strength to fight on.

He finally felt danger. This person performing the Ghost Opera was actually embodying the spirit of the Celestial Master Zhong Kui, gradually approaching the state of Unity of Person and Role.

As a soldier of the Underworld, he naturally knew that for a Ghost Opera Performer, the higher their Dao cultivation and the deeper they immersed themselves in the role, the stronger their supernatural powers would be.

He absolutely could not let this kid continue to get further into character, or he might truly be defeated here!

The Guardian Soldier never expected that Magistrate Zhu had provoked such a formidable opponent this time.

Roar!!!

He let out a ferocious roar, like a warrior charging into a deadly trap, unleashing his final fighting spirit under a barrage of ambushes.

The yin energy surged, whistling like the wind.

Immediately after, his already imposing, iron-tower-like physique grew even taller, splitting the armor he wore and revealing muscles and bones like coiled dragons.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a bronze-armored giant, about ten feet tall!

BOOM!

He swung his sword, sending Zhou Sheng flying thirty feet away and smashing him into the desk.

The hand holding the sword trembled slightly, his tiger's mouth splitting open, beads of blood dripping.

At this moment, his body, which had been imposing after donning the Face Paint of Zhong Kui, now seemed small before the opponent.

"The opera performer, you really think you're Zhong Kui?"

The Guardian Soldier's eyes blazed with spectral fire, like two fiercely burning lanterns, each breath like a strong gust of wind.

"Eat me? Today, this general will devour you alive!!"

"To replenish my depleted Dao cultivation!"

He strode forward, each step crushing the bluestone beneath him into fragments, leaving behind a massive black footprint.

Before he even arrived, the whistling yin wind had made Zhou Sheng's beard and hair stand on end, his skin trembling, making it almost impossible to open his eyes.

He raised his sword to block.

CLANG!!!

Zhou Sheng was again forced back, smashing into a pillar and cracking it. Blood gushed from his tiger's mouth, and the sword hummed and vibrated.

"Didn't you want to eat me?"

BOOM!

Another sword strike!

"Come on!!"

One sword after another, sparks flew, each blow carrying immense force.

The situation had completely reversed. Zhou Sheng retreated continuously, even coughing up blood, his hair disheveled. But as he bled, the malevolent aura in his crimson eyes grew stronger.

On the seventh strike, the Ghost-Slaying Sword in Zhou Sheng's hand was knocked away, spinning and embedding itself in a pillar, its hilt vibrating.

He could no longer hold the sword, and his body had retreated to the very back, crashing against the wall.

And at that very moment, the malevolent energy and rage that had been surging within his chest finally boiled over and exploded.

A wisp of green smoke rose from the Laojun Furnace.

RUMBLE!

He felt thunder explode in his mind, and he reached the profound state of Unity of Person and Role he had achieved that day when performing Marquis Huan.

I am Zhong Kui, Zhong Kui is me!

In a daze, he seemed to see that high and mighty Emperor, who had stripped him of his top scholar title simply because of his ugly appearance.

How could a true man endure such humiliation?

His anger surged, and he threw himself against the golden throne, dying on the spot. His loyal heart's blood, like an indelible vermilion ink, stained the gilded bronze pillar.

Zhou Sheng's eyes snapped open, a fierce aura radiating from him. Blood streamed down his forehead, as if he had truly just died by crashing into a pillar.

He stared at the slightly changed expression of the Guardian Soldier, licked his lips, clenched his fists, raised them, his eyes wide with fury, his voice booming like thunder. He struck a theatrical pose, the Tiger Subduing stance.

The next moment, Zhou Sheng vanished, displaying extraordinary agility, like a crimson lightning bolt, dodging the Guardian Soldier's sword strikes repeatedly. He pounced onto the opponent's back like a fierce tiger descending a mountain.

He opened his cavernous mouth and bit fiercely into the flesh of the opponent's neck.

Blood formed from yin energy splashed onto the dragon-like beard.

He threw his head back and laughed, his voice like thunder.

"My intestines are the Yellow Springs Road, my stomach is the Mirror of Sin."

"Today I chew the fierce ghost--"

"So satisfying! So satisfying!"