Evil Possession

"Hah, hah, hah—"

Wu Tao jolted awake from a nightmare, bracing himself against the hard wooden bed with both hands. His mouth hung wide open as he gulped for air like a drowning man who had just been pulled from the water. Great beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead and struck the wooden bed, making low, muffled sounds in the dark, cramped room.

In that nightmare, he had seemed to stand within boundless darkness, drowned beneath panic and terror. Then, all at once, an indescribable horror had come from the darkness... swallowing everything, including him.

"Cough, cough..."

After gradually recovering, he began coughing violently again, his whole body trembling as though he were about to cough out his heart and lungs.

Before long, Wu Tao calmed down.

At that moment, the voices of miners sounded outside.

"It's Yin Hour."

Wu Tao muttered to himself. He pulled back the blanket and climbed out of bed. With a sharp hiss, he sucked in a breath of cold air, only then realizing that his thin clothes had already been soaked through with sweat. Once he left the warmth of the blanket, the bone-piercing air drenched him like cold water.

He hurriedly wrapped himself back in the blanket, then shakily fumbled for the oil lamp and fire striker. With one blow, the glow of the fire striker brought him a faint sense of safety.

The lamp flame was as small as a bean, dispelling the darkness in this miner's single room.

He tucked the blanket tightly around himself and sat hunched on the bed. He casually picked up a bronze mirror from the table. Within it appeared a thin, gaunt face. The black mark on his forehead seemed to have spread farther than it had yesterday. Setting down the bronze mirror, Wu Tao stared blankly at the dancing bean-sized flame. Before he knew it, two warm streams had slid down his cheeks.

"Damn it, why did I transmigrate?"

Wu Tao wiped away his tears at random, despair seeping through his heart.

One day ago, he had still been one of Blue Star's countless 996 corporate slaves. Born in the countryside, he had come alone to the big city and worked diligently. At thirty-two, he had finally endured his way to a monthly salary of thirteen thousand. He had bought a house outright in his hometown county, scraped together one hundred eighty-eight thousand in betrothal money, and earned the qualifications to marry his "well-matched" older blind-date girlfriend, who worked at a convenience store for three thousand a month.

Victory in life had been within sight. The game was about to be cleared; he had only been one kick away from the goal. So why had he transmigrated?

"Fuck, you thieving heavens, what did I do wrong to deserve this punishment?"

Wu Tao was utterly unwilling to accept it.

After absorbing the original owner's memories, Wu Tao already knew the predicament of this body that shared his name. It could be described in eight words: a complete disaster, hanging by a thread. Though he was a cultivator, he was still one of the lowest-level Rogue Cultivators in the Cultivation World, with merely the Second Level of Qi Refining.

Rogue Cultivators had no backing and low cultivation. In this Cultivation World filled with demons, devils, and Evil Spirits, they could barely even control their own lives.

Not to mention cultivation resources.

All territories with Spiritual Power and resources had been seized by Major Cultivation Sects.

Thus, Rogue Cultivators like him mostly worked for Major Cultivation Sects, earning meager Spirit Stones to survive and cultivate.

The original owner had mined at a Spirit Stone Mine Mountain under the Azure Spirit Sect. Every day, he got up at Yin Hour and entered the mine tunnels, then finished work at the hour of Hai. Only after a full month of this, and only if he completed that month's quota, could he receive three Low-Grade Spirit Stones. If he failed to meet the quota, his Spirit Stones would be deducted.

One Spirit Stone went to rent, one to food and daily necessities, leaving only one Spirit Stone for cultivation.

If he wanted to buy Magic Tools, purchase good Cultivation Techniques, or find a Dao Companion... he could forget it. Better go to sleep early every day and dream about it.

The original owner was twenty-five this year. He had worked in the mines for ten years before barely reaching the Second Level of Qi Refining. At this pace, he might not reach Late-Stage Qi Refining even by the time he died.

When the poor were pressed to the end, they thought of change. Many years ago, in order to escape this predicament, the original owner had planned to learn a trade.

Thus, for over a year, he had lived frugally, cultivating only by absorbing the meager Spiritual Power drifting through heaven and earth. At last, he had saved up twelve Low-Grade Spirit Stones and gritted his teeth to buy a basic book on artifact refining, hoping to become an Artifact Refiner supported by an Immortal Sect.

Even if he failed to become one, learning a few superficial skills would be enough to make a living and keep him from growing old atop this Mine Mountain.

Dreams were voluptuous; reality was skeletal.

After all these years, the original owner could not even inscribe a First-Rank beginner Restriction. It was clear that he had no talent for artifact refining. His dream of becoming an Artifact Refiner seemed even farther away than immortality.

But an even closer disaster had occurred.

Three days ago, the original owner had gone down into the mine tunnels and encountered an Evil Spirit, suffering Evil Possession. Yin Evil Qi had been spreading through his body every moment. At this rate, if he did not receive treatment, he would certainly die within about three months.

As for why the original owner had died so early and allowed Wu Tao to transmigrate here, that was impossible to know.

In truth, Evil Possession at this level could be cleared with just one first-rank intermediate Evil-Breaking Talisman. But because the original owner had been studying artifact refining, he had never had Spirit Stones to spare. How could he possibly afford an Evil-Breaking Talisman?

A first-rank intermediate Evil-Breaking Talisman cost Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

He was still fifteen short.

"How can I change this situation?" Wu Tao sighed inwardly. It was even worse than his previous life. At least in his previous life, his life had not been in danger.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

"According to the Miner Regulations signed by the mine, suffering Evil Possession while working underground counted as a workplace injury. If I report it, I can absolutely receive enough Spirit Stones to buy an Evil-Breaking Talisman." Wu Tao recalled from the original owner's memories that he had already reported the matter to the mine's steward. Three days had passed, so the approval process should have been completed by now.

With that thought, Wu Tao got dressed and opened the door. No miners could be seen outside; they had all gone down into the mine tunnels. He tightened his collar and headed toward the steward's residence beneath the licking flames of the fire basins lining the mountain road.

Before long, he arrived at the steward's residence.

Manager Wang's courtyard lay beneath faint moonlight. Looking inside, Wu Tao saw no lamps lit in the house. Only then did he realize that Manager Wang was different from miners like them. He did not rise until the hour of Chen.

Sure enough, no matter the world, people were divided into high and low.

Wu Tao stood outside Manager Wang's courtyard and waited.

Time slowly slipped away. At first there was only A Thread of Sky, then that thread gradually widened, like the eyelids of a sleeping man opening. And then dawn came.

Sunlight poured down over Wu Tao's face. The black mark on his forehead seemed to twist beneath the light. At that moment, his ears twitched. He quickly straightened up and listened carefully to the faint voices coming from the courtyard.

The man's voice belonged to Manager Wang. There were also two women's voices, coy and sweet, seemingly reproaching Manager Wang for still refusing to settle down in broad daylight.

Everyone knew that Manager Wang kept two sixteen-year-old mortal girls at the mine, specifically to tend to his daily needs.

Wu Tao could not help being stirred by the scene, and his mood instantly sank. In his previous life, he had struggled to save for a down payment and betrothal money, yet he had not even entered through the door. Meanwhile, several of her ex-boyfriends had only needed a few cheap sweet words to come and go as they pleased.

The original owner was twenty-five and a virgin too.

Two lifetimes of misery!

Who else could compare?

"From today onward, Master Ji's diary will be my life's motto." Wu Tao silently swore in his heart. In this life, he would absolutely not do it himself.

After waiting roughly another three quarters of an hour, the door opened. Manager Wang emerged, and when he saw Wu Tao, he was startled. He barked, "Which area's miner are you? Why aren't you down in the mine early in the morning? What are you doing here? If you fail to complete your quota, your Spirit Stones will be deducted."

"Steward, I'm Wu Tao, a miner from Area Three. Three days ago, I encountered an Evil Spirit in the mine tunnel. I already reported it to you then. I came today to ask whether the result of the report has come through." Wu Tao hurriedly bowed and scraped, forcing a fawning smile as he explained in detail.

Manager Wang wore luxurious brocade robes and had a fat body. Upon hearing the explanation, he finally withdrew his stern expression and gave Wu Tao a sidelong glance. "So it's you. Come with me."

Wu Tao immediately followed Manager Wang to the place where he usually handled affairs. Manager Wang handed him a sheet of paper. Wu Tao accepted it, and after reading it, rage flared in his heart. It was actually a voluntary agreement to leave the mine normally.

Wu Tao suppressed the anger in his heart and smiled at Manager Wang like a grandson, forcing himself to say, "Steward, did you take the wrong document? I suffered Evil Possession while mining. My workplace injury report..."

Manager Wang expressionlessly interrupted him. "Wu Tao, I did not take the wrong one. You have Evil Possession now and can no longer work in the mine. Leaving the mine is your best choice. Sign this voluntary agreement, and you can still receive the Spirit Stones for this half month."

"As for your workplace injury report, the Azure Spirit Sect's General Affairs Hall did not approve it. This is the best choice I have made for you, from your standpoint."

"Impossible!" With his life at stake, Wu Tao still wanted to fight for it. "According to the Miner Regulations, the Azure Spirit Sect's General Affairs Hall could not possibly refuse to approve it."

Manager Wang snorted coldly. "What? Are you planning to appeal to the General Affairs Hall?"

That cold snort completely calmed Wu Tao down. He stared blankly at Manager Wang. From the threat contained in the other man's expression, he understood.

Manager Wang had swallowed his workplace injury compensation into his own belly.

Since he dared to do this, he must have connections with the General Affairs Hall and did not fear Wu Tao appealing. Even if the appeal truly went through, the General Affairs Hall would not exert itself for a mere miner. They would surely stall and delay, dragging matters out until they had no choice but to act. Then Manager Wang would claim that he had no Spirit Stones, and the General Affairs Hall would demand that Wu Tao provide proof that Manager Wang possessed Spirit Stones.

Manager Wang was the mine's steward. He was merely a lowly miner. How could he possibly have the ability to provide evidence of Manager Wang's Spirit Stones?

Wu Tao had experienced this whole routine several times in his previous life.

Seeing Wu Tao fall silent, Manager Wang chuckled and said unhurriedly, "Wu Tao, sign it."

Wu Tao knew that he had to sign, whether he wanted to or not. Facing Manager Wang, who was at Late-Stage Qi Refining, he had no ability to resist.

No matter how unwilling he was, what could he do?

With that thought, he picked up the brush, signed his name, and pressed down his fingerprint.

"Steward, I've signed it. Can you give me the Spirit Stones for that half month now?" In his current situation, one and a half Spirit Stones were better than none.

Manager Wang looked with satisfaction at the name and fingerprint on the voluntary agreement. Then, hearing Wu Tao's words, he immediately snorted coldly. "Wu Tao, you have not gone down into the mine tunnels for three days, causing enormous losses to the mine. It is already merciful of me not to hold you accountable for those losses, and you still want Spirit Stones?"

"You..." Wu Tao clenched his fists, wishing he could smash one punch into that disgusting pig face. Yet the mature rationality tempered through hardship kept him from acting in the end.

"Get lost!"

Manager Wang flicked his sleeve.

Wu Tao gritted his teeth. There was neither sorrow nor joy on his face as he gave Manager Wang one final look. He said nothing and turned to leave.

"Rogue Cultivators, things no better than dogs." Watching Wu Tao's bedraggled back, Manager Wang sneered.