Head-Devouring Ghost

Standing in the courtyard, Zhou Yi watched as the sky gradually darkened and a light snow began to fall. He lit two lanterns, just like the other households, and hung them in front of the courtyard gate.

It was a shame that the courtyard was located in a slightly secluded spot, a so-called "dead end." However, as the lanterns cast a warm, yellow glow down the alley, Zhou Yi felt an inexplicable warmth rise in his heart.

Closing the courtyard gate, Zhou Yi returned to his bedroom.

The bedroom wasn't large. A bed for sleeping occupied the left side, while a bookshelf stood on the right. In front of the bookshelf was a long table with a chair beneath it. A screen was placed on the right side of the room to separate the bookshelf from the bed.

Looking at the bedroom before him, Zhou Yi couldn't help but think of the small wooden cabin he had lived in at Green Bamboo Village. He had given that cabin to Ling Liang before he left.

Zhou Yi sighed softly and began to mentally plan out the tasks for the next day.

Suddenly, his stomach rumbled. Zhou Yi remembered he hadn't eaten dinner yet. Shaking his head, he walked outside, thinking, "I can't let my stomach suffer, no matter what."

On the street, a vendor, seeing the sacred aura emanating from above, was about to pack up his stall. Just then, Zhou Yi approached.

"Uncle, are you closing up?"

"Yes! If I don't head back soon, I might run into some Weirdness tonight."

At that moment, Zhou Yi's stomach rumbled again. The old man heard it and chuckled. He then said, "Alright, I'll make you another bowl of noodles."

Zhou Yi smiled sheepishly.

"Uncle, one bowl might not be enough."

"I can see that, you have quite an appetite. Fine, tell me how many bowls you want, and I'll make them." The uncle chatted as he busily worked.

"Ten bowls," Zhou Yi said, holding up two hands.

Clang!

The uncle flicked his spoon and said, "Young man, you're not messing with me, are you? Ten bowls, can you even finish them?"

Zhou Yi calmly replied, "Uncle, I practice martial arts. I can eat a lot."

The uncle behind the stall poked his head out. Upon seeing the clothes Zhou Yi was wearing, he was taken aback. Then, his face broke into a smile. "Ah, it's an official from the Provincial Governor's Office! It's dark now, and my eyesight isn't what it used to be. Please don't blame me, sir."

Zhou Yi blinked at the uncle's words, then looked down at his own clothes. Damn, I forgot to change. I'm still wearing my Provincial Governor's Office uniform.

Seeing Zhou Yi's attire, the uncle's movements became even more brisk. Before long, ten bowls of noodles were placed before Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi took out an ounce of silver and handed it to the uncle, who repeatedly waved his hands, refusing it. Zhou Yi had no choice but to become serious and forced the uncle to accept the money.

Seeing the uncle put the silver in his pocket, Zhou Yi sat down at a small table nearby and began to eat heartily, his head bowed.

Looking at the ten empty bowls before him, Zhou Yi let out a satisfied burp. He then looked up at the sky again. It was completely dark now.

Zhou Yi turned to the uncle, who had been waiting patiently, and said, "Uncle, let me escort you back."

The uncle dared not let someone from the Provincial Governor's Office escort him. But he thought about how late it was. It would be fine if he didn't encounter any Weirdness, but if he did, he'd be done for. It wasn't just himself he was worried about; he had two children at home to support.

With that thought, the uncle gritted his teeth and said to Zhou Yi, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

"No, it's I who have troubled you, for making you stay this late."

The uncle quickly packed up his stall and led the way, with Zhou Yi leisurely following behind him.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew. The uncle instinctively tightened his clothes. Light snow was already falling, and the cold wind made him feel even colder, as if it were drilling into his bones. Zhou Yi, however, felt nothing.

"Hee~ ha ha, hee~ ha ha..."

The sound of children playing drifted over. The uncle beside him was puzzled, wondering why children would be playing on the street so late. Then, he saw a child on the street ahead, seemingly kicking a ball while looking down.

Zhou Yi, seeing this, thought, Ah, here comes some business. He turned to the uncle and said, "Wait here for a moment. I'll go take a look."

The uncle instantly understood and looked at Zhou Yi with a confused expression. Zhou Yi nodded at the uncle. Upon receiving a positive answer, the uncle covered his mouth in fear, ensuring he made no sound.

Zhou Yi walked towards the child ahead. As he got closer, he realized the child wasn't looking down; the child had no head at all. The child then turned around, picked up the head at its feet, and ran towards Zhou Yi.

The uncle standing nearby was so terrified by the sight that he almost fainted.

The child ran up to Zhou Yi, holding the head, and said, "Brother, brother, my head is missing, can you help me find it?"

If Zhou Yi had uttered even a single word of refusal, the Weirdness would have attacked immediately.

But to everyone's surprise, Zhou Yi nodded at the child and said, "Okay, I'll help you find it."

Then, Zhou Yi reached out towards the head the child was holding, snatched it away, and kicked the Weirdness's head far into the distance.

The Weirdness reacted, and a new head rapidly grew from its headless neck. At the same time, a gaping maw appeared on its belly, its sharp teeth sending chills down one's spine.

Zhou Yi had already taken out an Evil Warding Talisman. As soon as he produced it, the talisman quickly burst into flames, clearly indicating this was a Crimson Grade Weirdness.

Zhou Yi didn't panic. He simply channeled his Vital Energy throughout his body, letting it surge.

Zhou Yi's entire body began to emit a red glow. He stomped his foot and threw a punch at the Weirdness. Before his fist even landed, the wind from his punch struck the Weirdness's face.

The Weirdness couldn't dodge in time and was hit in the face by Zhou Yi's punch. A sizzling sound emanated from where the Weirdness's face met the fist, followed by a tremendous force. The Weirdness was sent flying into the wall, which instantly cracked.

The Weirdness shook its head, its senses slowly returning. It then opened the large mouth on its belly and roared at Zhou Yi.

Seeing that his punch hadn't caused significant damage to the Weirdness, Zhou Yi became serious, intending to end the fight quickly. He then activated his Indestructible Golden Body, his muscles rapidly bulging. Fortunately, Zhou Yi had intentionally controlled his power this time and didn't tear his clothes, which now fit him like a second skin over his muscles.

The Weirdness was momentarily stunned by the sudden change in Zhou Yi's physique.

But Zhou Yi wouldn't wait for it to react. He immediately threw another punch at the Weirdness, while simultaneously forming his left hand into a claw, preparing to grab it.

The Weirdness reacted this time, avoiding a direct confrontation. However, it clearly underestimated Zhou Yi's speed. Zhou Yi's left hand suddenly accelerated, reaching the Weirdness even faster than his right fist.

The captured Weirdness gnawed at Zhou Yi's left hand. Its sharp teeth managed to draw trickles of blood from his hand. In pain, Zhou Yi punched the Weirdness's head repeatedly with his right hand.

Seeing that the Weirdness still refused to let go, Zhou Yi bent his legs slightly, stomping two holes into the ground. Then, he leaped into the air.

Using the Weirdness as a cushion beneath him, Zhou Yi began to fall. In an instant, the ground was smashed into a large pit. Looking into the pit, the Weirdness had already been torn into several pieces. The Weirdness's sharp teeth had also left bloody gashes on Zhou Yi's left hand, some wounds so deep they exposed bone.

Blood dripped down his palm.

"Yin Energy +500"

Hearing the notification from the panel, Zhou Yi finally relaxed. The commotion he had caused had also attracted several people from the Provincial Governor's Office, including Uncle Du.

Uncle Du saw Zhou Yi at this moment and quickly asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing, just ran into a Weirdness."

Afterward, Zhou Yi retrieved the Weirdness's head from the pit and leaped back onto the ground.

Du Wei's pupils contracted as he looked at the head in Zhou Yi's hand. He exclaimed, "Head-Devouring Ghost!"

This type of Weirdness was considered difficult to kill even among those in the Vitality Realm. Du Wei couldn't help but start assessing his nephew seriously, not expecting him to be so deeply hidden in his strength.

This Head-Devouring Ghost was worth at least five hundred Weirdness Points.