Chapter 63: The Ghost King

In the flickering light of the torches, the scene unfolded like a dark and sinister tableau. As Zhang Xiaofan’s heart skipped a beat upon seeing Biyao, the clamor in the cave suddenly fell silent. The demons, who had been shouting just moments ago, now stood hushed, their eyes fixed on her with a mixture of fear and respect. Even Ye Gou Dao, known for his audacity, seemed to have lost his voice.

For a moment, no one dared to speak. Then, after a brief pause, a soft cough broke the silence, followed by a measured voice: “Miss Biyao, I have a few words. May I speak?”

Zhang Xiaofan looked over and saw that the speaker was the unfamiliar young man standing with Nian Laoda and others. Nian Laoda’s face showed surprise, as if he too was taken aback by this sudden outburst.

Nian Laoda frowned and whispered harshly, “Xiao Zhou, what gives you the right to speak here?”

Biyao glanced at the young man, clearly not recognizing him, and asked Nian Laoda, “Who is he?”

Nian Laoda quickly forced a smile. “He’s a new recruit to our Blood Refining Sect, named Zhou Cai.”

Biyao snorted. “Very well, let him speak.”

The young man, Xiao Zhou, stepped forward without any hint of fear. “Miss Biyao, everyone knows that you are the beloved daughter of the Ghost King. That is why we all hold you in such high regard. The Ghost King has summoned us to find the Qiu Niu, and we are all eager to do so. However…” He paused, his smile fading. “However, the Qiu Niu remains elusive, while the forces of the righteous are growing stronger. Rumors have it that even two of the seven great elders of the Qingyun Sect have arrived. We are no match for them. And yet, the Ghost King continues to keep us here, without any explanation. It makes one wonder, could it be that the Ghost King wishes to use the righteous to eliminate us instead?”

A murmur ran through the crowd. Several people near Biyao stood up abruptly, their faces showing clear affiliation with the Ghost King Sect. But the rest of the demons, after the initial shock, did not rebuke Xiao Zhou. Instead, they looked at Biyao with wary expressions, and whispers began to rise around the cave.

Zhang Xiaofan felt a growing concern for Biyao, while also pondering the motives of this young man. He couldn’t help but think about the internal strife within the Demon Sect and the various factions involved.

Before he could finish his thought, Biyao’s cold voice cut through the air. “Who are you, to dare sow discord here?”

Xiao Zhou smiled, unafraid of the powerful and beautiful woman before him. “I am but a nameless disciple, drawn to the Holy Sect by admiration. I am nothing compared to you, Miss Biyao. But now, with the righteous closing in, and the Ghost King, one of our four major sects, leading us into danger, it seems unreasonable, does it not?”

As Xiao Zhou spoke, Zhang Xiaofan sensed a deeper meaning in his words. Though he remained calm, every word seemed aimed at the Ghost King Sect, and the intent to stir dissent was unmistakable.

The other demons grew increasingly agitated, their voices rising. Faces turned hostile toward the Ghost King’s followers. Biyao’s brow furrowed, and she took a step back, turning to confer briefly with someone behind her.

From a distance, Zhang Xiaofan saw a tall, imposing figure beside Biyao, and beyond him, another shadowy figure whose face was hidden by the darkness.

Biyao returned, her face set in a resolute expression. She surveyed the room, her voice cutting through the tension. “All of us, including the Ghost King Sect, are disciples of the Holy Sect, devoted to the Lady of the Netherworld and the Celestial King. The Ghost King Sect, despite its power, would never commit such a betrayal. Please rest assured.”

Her words brought a collective sigh of relief. Nian Laoda, visibly relieved, grabbed Xiao Zhou and hissed, “Have you said enough?”

Xiao Zhou turned and smiled, then spoke louder. “If so, we are reassured. But, Miss Biyao, can you explain the situation with the Qiu Niu? If we cannot find it, it would be better to leave and avoid being killed by the righteous, whether or not the Ghost King intends us harm!”

Biyao and the other Ghost King Sect members glared at Xiao Zhou, but he remained unfazed. The surrounding demons, numbering in the dozens, erupted in support.

“That’s right!”

“Please, Miss Biyao, give us an answer!”

As the voices died down, Biyao composed herself. “Even if he had not spoken, we were going to explain. This journey to the Eastern Sea and the Flowing Wave Mountain is for…”

A sudden rumble shook the cave, causing Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er to stumble. The demons were shocked, and cries of alarm filled the air.

“What’s happening?”

“Is it an earthquake?”

Soon, they got their answer. A fierce wind howled outside, and a deep, resonant voice boomed through the cave: “Demons, come out and face your doom!”

The demons exchanged fearful glances. Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er, however, shared a look of relief. They recognized the voice of the first elder of the Dragon Head Peak, Taoist Cang Song. Zhang Xiaofan was awed by the power that allowed Cang Song’s voice to resonate through the cave and shake the very walls.

The demons, now panicked, began to mutter among themselves. Xiao Zhou, seizing the moment, shouted, “Miss Biyao, this is a critical time! We came here at the Ghost King Sect’s call, only to face this peril. What should we do?”

The crowd urged, “You’re right, Miss Biyao, say something!”

Biyao took a deep breath. The sound of battle outside grew louder, and her face darkened. She stepped forward. “Fellow disciples, I do not know how the righteous discovered our location. But as the Ghost King’s only daughter, I am in the same peril as you. Can you still doubt the Ghost King Sect?”

Her words silenced most of the crowd. The tall man beside her stepped forward, his voice firm. “Now is the time for unity. Let us fight together against the common enemy. Together, we may yet triumph over the hypocritical righteous!”

The demons nodded in agreement. There was no other choice. The cave was a dead end, and they had to fight their way out. The noise of battle, curses, and screams filled the air as the demons rushed out. Soon, the cave was nearly empty, leaving only Biyao and the shadowy figure.

Zhang Xiaofan, feeling a mix of joy and worry, watched as Biyao prepared to speak to the shadowy figure. Suddenly, she noticed Xiao Zhou, still standing alone, and her face darkened.

“Why are you not fighting with the others? What do you intend?” she asked, her tone icy.

Xiao Zhou, unperturbed, smiled. “I want to see if the Ghost King Sect truly stands with us, or if they see us as mere pawns.”

Biyao’s face hardened, and she was about to retort when the shadowy figure spoke. “You are not of our sect. Who are you?”

Biyao was startled, and Xiao Zhou’s face paled. “Who are you, to question my loyalty? I am a disciple of the Blood Refining Sect. Do you accuse me simply because I speak the truth?”

Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er were also surprised. The situation was more complex than they had anticipated. The shadowy figure’s voice seemed familiar to Zhang Xiaofan, but he couldn’t place it.

The shadowy figure’s voice was calm. “The Blood Refining Sect was once the leader of the Holy Sect, but it has long since declined. With your abilities, Nian Laoda could not have accepted you as a simple disciple. If he had, the Blood Refining Sect would have risen again.”

Xiao Zhou bristled. “How do you know my abilities without seeing me in action?”

The figure chuckled. “To see your abilities, I need not witness your magic. When Elder Cang Song used the ‘Polaris Profound Clear Way’ to vibrate the stone, it affected everyone. Nian Laoda stumbled, but you stood firm. Clearly, your abilities are far greater than you claim.”

Xiao Zhou’s face paled, and he stared at the shadowy figure. “I did not expect the Demon Sect to have such hidden talent. Who are you?”

Biyao, enraged, flew into the air. “Die!”

Suddenly, the cave was filled with white light and a sweet, haunting fragrance. Biyao’s white flowers swirled around her, but the light could not penetrate the shadows where the man stood. Xiao Zhou, not hesitating, pulled out a dazzling, star-embossed sword from thin air.

“Ah, the Seven Star Sword,” the shadowy figure murmured.

Biyao and Xiao Zhou clashed mid-air, their battle filling the cave. Zhang Xiaofan, watching, realized Xiao Zhou was likely a righteous warrior and felt a growing concern for him. His gaze kept returning to Biyao, and he hoped for a swift, non-lethal end.

Tian Ling’er whispered, “That Xiao Zhou might be from the Qingyun Sect.”

Zhang Xiaofan, startled, replied, “You recognize him?”

Tian Ling’er shook her head. “The Seven Star Sword is a famous treasure of the Tongtian Peak lineage. It was used by Elder Dao Xuan and later passed on.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Biyao’s cry. Her flowers exploded, and a wall of blinding white petals rushed toward Xiao Zhou.

Zhang Xiaofan, knowing the power of this spell, worried for Xiao Zhou. To his surprise, Xiao Zhou drew a symbol of the Tai Chi, and the Seven Star Sword, now glowing, shot forward with a blinding flash, surrounded by a rotating Tai Chi light.

Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er knew this was the Qingyun Sect’s ‘Polaris Profound Clear Way.’ The swords clashed, and the cave shook. Rocks fell, and Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er struggled to stay on their feet.

Biyao, slightly pale, but still determined, reached for a small, golden bell at her waist. Xiao Zhou, wary, saw the bell as a serious threat. The shadowy figure, however, was his greatest concern.

The bell’s sweet chime echoed, and Xiao Zhou, momentarily distracted, shook off the enchantment. He attacked, but the bell’s counterattack was strong. The sound reverberated, and Xiao Zhou, shaken, tried to regain control.

Biyao, pale and weakened, raised the bell, and the sound intensified. Xiao Zhou, realizing the bell’s power, attacked with renewed force. The swords clashed, and Xiao Zhou, now bleeding, was thrown back.

Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er rushed to his aid, but he stopped them. “No, Zhang Xiaodi, Tian Xiumei, that man is too powerful. You cannot defeat him.”

Stunned, Zhang Xiaofan and Tian Ling’er looked at each other. Xiao Zhou, struggling, looked toward the shadowy figure. Biyao, supported by a middle-aged man, landed gracefully. The man, calm and elegant, addressed her. “Biyao, the Joyful Bell is a powerful artifact. Your abilities are not sufficient to control it. Do not use it lightly.”

Biyao, her color returning, nodded. “Yes, Father.”

Zhang Xiaofan, Tian Ling’er, and Xiao Zhou were stunned. The man turned, and Zhang Xiaofan, recognizing him, exclaimed, “It’s you!”

The middle-aged man, none other than the Ghost King himself, smiled. “Yes, I am the Ghost King. And you, I believe, are the one I met in the teahouse—Wan Renwai.”