The Strong Make the Rules

A hundred living people?

To whet my appetite?

Zheng Que froze. He had cultivated the Ghost Controlling Technique, and this Female Hanging Ghost was his Ghost Servant.

But from the way she was speaking right now... anyone who didn't know better would think she was the master!

And she had only just promised never to harm anyone again. Now, in the blink of an eye, she wanted a hundred living people to whet her appetite?

At the thought, Zheng Que's brows furrowed. This Female Hanging Ghost was far from trustworthy!

If he pulled her into the Underworld again now, she might act meek and submissive there, swear oaths, and promise to obey. But once she came back out, she probably still wouldn't accept him as her master.

For a defiant character like this, the simplest way to bring her completely under control was to beat her into submission!

So Zheng Que looked at the imperious Female Hanging Ghost before him and calmly replied, "The strong prey on the weak. Only the strong have the right to make demands."

"If you can beat me, then forget a hundred living people for snacks—even a thousand or ten thousand would be no problem!"

"But if you lose, you won't get a single living person. And from now on, whatever I tell you to do, you'll have to obey without a fuss! How about it?"

The Female Hanging Ghost shot him a sidelong glance and sneered coldly. Without the slightest hesitation, she replied, "The strong prey on the weak? That's an excellent idea! But you, little Human Race brat, had better keep your word!"

Zheng Que answered placidly, "I am a righteous cultivator. I've always conducted myself with integrity and kept my word. Why would I deceive a mere Ghost Servant like you?"

"I came up with the idea, so I'll abide by it."

"However, this is a battle between master and servant. There's no need for us to fight to the death, so keep your attacks measured. Don't try to kill me."

"We'll set a time limit of one quarter of an hour. When time's up, whoever's still standing wins."

As he spoke, he sliced open his palm and smeared spiritual blood over both fists.

The Female Hanging Ghost's most powerful trick was the rope that appeared out of nowhere and hoisted him into the air.

But she was extremely afraid of the Yang Energy in his spiritual blood. That was her weakness.

He had beaten her once before, even without knowing anything about her. Now that he knew her strengths and weaknesses, he could certainly beat her a second time!

At that moment, Yin energy surged around the Female Hanging Ghost, spreading through the room like black smoke and making the temperature plunge. Her long hair fluttered without a breeze, and her pale skirt billowed wildly. She looked poised to strike, her blood-red eyes fixed on Zheng Que as murderous fury welled up in her. Impatiently, she said, "No problem! I agree!"

"Can we start now?"

"Start!" Zheng Que answered at once.

As he spoke, he pressed one fist, smeared with spiritual blood, against the side of his neck to keep the rope from suddenly appearing and hanging him. Then, the very next moment...

Bam!

Zheng Que didn't see a thing before a heavy punch struck him square in the face. His nose went numb and sore, and stars burst across his vision. Dazed by the sudden blow, he stumbled back two steps and fell to the floor, staring blankly ahead. The punch had left his mind reeling.

The Female Hanging Ghost showed no mercy. She didn't use any special tricks; she simply strode forward and kicked Zheng Que twice more.

Crash, bang...

In the blink of an eye, Zheng Que was sprawled on the floor.

Only then did he finally come to his senses.

It was still broad daylight!

How had this Female Hanging Ghost suddenly become so powerful?

Before he could think it through, the Female Hanging Ghost grabbed him by the hair and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks.

Her deathly pale skirt swirled as Yin winds whipped through the room. Her attacks came down like a violent storm, and Zheng Que hurriedly covered his head with both hands and curled into a ball.

Thud, thud, thud... Bam, bam, bam...

For a while, Zheng Que was utterly unable to fight back.

The fact that he didn't cry out was proof of his iron will!

"Little Human Race brat! I want all ten thousand of those living people to be untouched boys and girls!"

"Remember, you'll be the one who fawns over me, flatters me, and offers them up willingly!"

"I don't like killing, so you'll have to do the deed yourself. Wash them clean and bring them right to my mouth!"

"So their deaths will be entirely your doing, little Human Race brat. I won't have the slightest thing to do with it!"

The Female Hanging Ghost spoke triumphantly. She planted her foot hard on Zheng Que's back, and the thought of an endless supply of snacks had her so excited that she pressed down even harder.

Just then, Zheng Que suddenly barked, "Return!"

In the next instant, the Female Hanging Ghost involuntarily turned into a streak of blood-red light and was drawn into Zheng Que's palm by the Ghost Controlling Technique.

The room, which had been so noisy only moments ago, fell silent enough to hear a pin drop.

Zheng Que, who had been knocked to the floor, climbed to his feet, covered in dust. His clothes were disheveled, his hair was a mess, and his face was dotted with bruises and grime. His body was mottled with purple and blue marks, and every inch of him hurt. His nose felt especially awful—sore and painful, with blood trickling from it like a little stream and dripping onto his collar, leaving it stained. He looked thoroughly miserable.

Fortunately, the Female Hanging Ghost had kept her promise, and the Ghost Controlling Technique restrained her from killing him. His injuries were only superficial. They hurt like hell, but they weren't serious.

Then Zheng Que clenched his left hand, the one holding the Female Hanging Ghost, and stood quietly in the room.

Time passed, and a quarter of an hour soon went by. He looked around the inner room, where he was the only one still standing, and smiled with satisfaction.

He had won the battle!

His thoughts racing, Zheng Que finally relaxed his tightly clenched hand. In the next instant, a streak of blood-red light shot out and transformed in midair into a girl in white with long hair.

The moment the Female Hanging Ghost appeared, she moved to attack again without hesitation. But Zheng Que said sternly, "A quarter of an hour is up."

"I was the only one standing just now."

"You lost!"

At that, the Female Hanging Ghost froze. It took her a good while to recover, and then she pointed at Zheng Que and shouted angrily, "That doesn't count! You cheated, you little Human Race brat!"

Zheng Que remained calm and answered matter-of-factly, "Before the battle, we made the rules perfectly clear. I didn't break a single one."

"A win is a win."

"A loss is a loss."

"Everything else is just an excuse."

"According to our agreement, you get no living people. And from now on, whatever I tell you to do, you have to do!"

"Now, the first thing I want you to do is go capture ten thousand Resentful Souls for me. I want them as Ghost Servants!"

The Female Hanging Ghost stared blankly at Zheng Que, unable to process it for a moment.

The esteemed person in the Underworld had just said that this little Human Race brat was kindhearted, noble, pure as jade and upright as a pine...

That was exactly why she had believed him just now. But now... how could he be so deceitful and cunning?

And so shameless!?