Fake Cooperation, Who Was Plotting Against Whom

Old Ghost's words carried a threat.

But they also left me confused.

If the "fierce woman" he mentioned was Xiao Yu, why did he say she could barely protect herself?

Could Xiao Yu be in danger too?

I had plenty of questions, but Old Ghost before me kept closing in.

He continued threatening me, and the cold, sinister feeling grew heavier and heavier.

The filthy things around us also raised their heads to look at me, eyeing me like tigers eyeing prey.

I had to deal with the problem in front of me. If I couldn't handle this Old Ghost,

then forget about sending off Zhang Qiang, the Drowned Ghost clinging to me—I would probably be in danger myself.

Without another moment of hesitation, I drew the Dragon-Head Cleaver from my waist with a whoosh.

The moment the cleaver left its sheath, it flashed with a cold gleam.

Old Ghost, who had been approaching me, was startled as well.

Instinctively, he took two steps back.

He stared at the Dragon-Head Cleaver in my hand in surprise.

The filthy things scrambling for food around us were also frightened into retreating again and again.

That showed just how intimidating the Dragon-Head Cleaver was.

Now that I had drawn my blade, I dropped all pretense and snarled,

"Old man, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit.

Eat however many peanuts you can grab.

But don't even think about touching the wine and meat here!"

I looked fierce and calm on the surface.

But inside, I was panicking like crazy.

Still, I understood that the more it came to a moment like this, the calmer I had to be.

My psychology teacher had said that when facing an opponent, if you showed cowardice and fear,

you had often already lost the initiative and would unconsciously be led around by the nose.

The more critical and difficult the situation, the less you could afford to be cowardly or afraid.

Only calmness and courage were the best ways to solve a problem.

Old Ghost stood several meters away from me and did not move for a while.

Instead, he narrowed his eyes at me.

Only after several seconds did he speak.

"A bowl last night, that knife tonight.

Do you think that means I'm afraid of you?"

"If you're not afraid, then come try it. Let's see whether I chop you up or not."

My palms were drenched in cold sweat, but I did not back down in the slightest.

Old Ghost continued squinting at me, but now he began circling around me.

At the same time, he wore a strange expression as he looked me up and down again and again.

The peanuts around us had all been snatched up and eaten.

Yet these filthy things showed no intention of leaving.

There were more than twenty of them surrounding me...

Each stood perfectly straight, staring blankly at me.

I knew that the key to getting rid of these filthy things was Old Ghost.

He was the only one with so much trouble to stir up, and he was leading them.

But I was at a loss over how to drive him away.

Even with the Dragon-Head Cleaver, protecting myself probably would not be a problem.

But rushing in and cutting them down was something I was not very confident about.

I should have joined the fighting club when I had the chance.

After we remained deadlocked for a while, Old Ghost still showed no sign of leaving.

I was truly afraid Zhang Qiang would arrive and that Old Ghost would cause trouble from the side.

After giving it some thought, I decided I had to find an opportunity.

Either drive him away or chop him up.

I absolutely could not let him interfere with what I needed to do.

But right now, I needed an opportunity...

After circling me two or three times, Old Ghost suddenly stopped and gave an eerie smile.

"Kid who dodges disaster, how about we make a deal?"

"A deal?"

I asked cautiously, catching a hint of a possible opportunity.

I wanted to hear what he had to say.

"Kid who dodges disaster, aren't you just being haunted by a Water Monkey?

It's actually very simple.

Take out all the wine and meat and let me have a few bites.

When that Water Monkey comes, I'll pin him right to the ground.

Then you can use that knife to split him open with one blow. Wouldn't that solve everything?

What do you say?

I sincerely want to cooperate with you.

Last night, I even helped you avoid the rain..."

Hearing Old Ghost say that nearly made me laugh.

Nothing but lies. Did he really think I was a three-year-old child?

Although I did not understand this world of sinister spirits,

I had at least watched a few of Uncle Nine's movies.

You were just a lone ghost hiding in a pavilion from the rain, without even offerings to eat.

How could you compare to a fierce ghost that had died in resentment and become an evil spirit? And pin down a fierce ghost at that?

You just wanted to trick me out of my Yin Dish.

But that was fine too.

Since you wanted to eat my food, I could take the chance to deal with you and make sure you could not cause trouble.

Very quickly, a plan formed in my mind.

I put on a doubtful expression.

"Old sir, are you really willing to help me?"

When Old Ghost heard that, the smile on his face widened.

"Of course! I'm the most famously kind-hearted ghost around here!

Those Yin Dishes—you could give them to that Water Monkey.

Why not give them to me instead? I'll help you after I eat.

But if the Water Monkey eats them, he'll still want your life..."

I pretended to struggle with the decision before finally gritting my teeth.

"Fine! Old sir.

Then I'll treat you to some food, but you have to help me later."

"Of course, of course."

Old Ghost chuckled as he started moving closer to me.

But one of his hands was behind his back.

It seemed that he was quite wary of me as well.

Facing him directly, I sheathed the cleaver right in front of him.

But when fastening it, I deliberately did not secure the clasp properly.

I only made the motion of fastening it.

It was to confuse Old Ghost and make him think I had lowered my guard.

Then I reached out and patted the basket holding the Yin Dish.

It made several thumping sounds.

When Old Ghost saw me put away the Dragon-Head Cleaver and fasten its clasp,

then saw me patting the basket like that, his attention was instantly drawn to it.

Without the Dragon-Head Cleaver in hand, I posed very little threat to an Old Ghost like him.

He also brought back the hand he had hidden behind his back.

Unable to wait any longer, he said to me,

"Little brother, hurry up, hurry up and remove the sealing talisman. I'm hungry, hungry..."

Old Ghost kept swallowing, rubbing his hands together in hunger.

The more he acted that way, the slower I moved.

At last, I slowly peeled away the sealing talisman.

Little by little, I lifted the lid of the basket.

Waves of the fragrance of Yin Dish drifted out.

Old Ghost took a deep breath, looking as if he were in heavenly bliss.

I held the lid up, using it to conceal the Dragon-Head Cleaver before me.

But my eyes remained fixed on Old Ghost as I said,

"Old sir, have a taste of this first dish, Chicken Blood Flower Cake!

But remember to help me later!"

My smiling expression looked utterly harmless.

I even deliberately reminded him to help me, dispelling his final doubts.

In truth, my right hand, concealed behind the lid, had already quietly gripped the hilt.

If he dared come closer, I dared bring the blade down on him.

Old Ghost could not take his eyes off the Chicken Blood Flower Cake.

An Old Ghost without offerings like him could go hungry for years, even over a decade.

Suddenly seeing such incredibly delicious food—and Yin food at that—he simply could not resist it.

"Good, good!"

His words did not match his thoughts. As soon as he spoke, he hurried two steps forward.

He stretched out his shriveled old hand to grab the Chicken Blood Flower Cake in the basket.

The moment I saw that, my expression turned cold.

Without the slightest hesitation,

I drew the Dragon-Head Cleaver with a whoosh.

With one slash, I chopped toward Old Ghost's face...