Chapter 191: Seven Eastern Corpses

Meng Liuchuan was already crippled, being pushed in by someone, and he laughed cruelly, “Xiao Qi. How’s that Ji Qianqian now? Has she turned to ashes yet?”

I untied the axe I had strapped to me, letting it fall to the ground with a loud clang.

Meng Liuchuan sneered and continued, “Xiao Qi. Watching you suffer brings me nothing but joy. Even though I’m crippled, you’ve lost someone you love. When I think about it, I still came out ahead.”

Gripping the axe, I nearly lunged at him, “Where is Liu Jun?”

Meng Liuchuan went on, “I’m not done talking yet. I could have made sure you suffered endlessly. But I ran into an idiot.”

A cripple had so much to say.

Anbeichun walked over, “Uncle, you’re finally here.”

Meng Liuchuan scolded, “You’re that idiot. You had a golden opportunity, but you wasted it, letting that brat turn things around. In Tokyo, you were always chasing after decent women. And even after coming to China, you haven’t changed. Got tricked and didn’t even realize it.”

Anbeichun lowered his head, not daring to utter a word. That seductive noblewoman, fiery and passionate like Granny Blaze—how could Anbeichun resist? The next morning, he woke up tied up tight, his belongings stolen.

The one who tricked Anbeichun was none other than the legendary swindler, Xiao Buquan.

Meng Liuchuan glanced at Zuo Shan, “This old fool doesn’t know what he’s swapped for, but ever since coming to Jiangcheng, he’s stopped thinking or doing anything useful. All he cares about is chasing women. He’s dragged our collective IQ down several notches.”

Zuo Shan feigned humility, “I follow whatever arrangements Elder Anbei makes.”

Meng Liuchuan sighed, “It’s not the wolves you should fear, but the pigs you call teammates.” Anbeichun said, “Uncle, enough scolding. Let’s focus on the task at hand. Today, we’ll turn things around. We can even take that cat back with us.”

Anbeichun snapped his fingers, and several ninja underlings got to work, setting up cameras, preparing a basin to burn *The Collection*, and even bringing out a fine hammer to smash the jade ruler into pieces.

Zuo Shan, unable to hold the jade ruler, clapped in approval.

I asked sternly, “Where is Liu Jun?”

Meng Liuchuan said, “Last time, I underestimated you. You weren’t convinced. This time, I’ll make you admit defeat.” After spouting a few more threats, Meng Liuchuan boasted that he had recently devised a Seven-Corpse Formation. If I could break it, he’d admit my skill. I laughed, “Bring it on.” Meng Liuchuan took out a flute, blew a few notes, and from behind the white cloth covering the warehouse, seven Japanese corpses leaped out—no one knew where they came from.

I drew my jade ruler, strapped on some corpse-suppressing talismans, and readied the mud clods I had prepared. The close combat techniques I’d learned would come in handy now. Meng Liuchuan spurred the seven corpses forward, arranging them in a Big Dipper formation to trap me inside.

The Japanese corpses were withered and gaunt.

I’d seen zombies one by one, but never in a horde like this. Seven at once was overwhelming.

Meng Liuchuan gloated, “Our family has thirty-six ghosts and thirteen divine corpses. And yet, we still can’t deal with you?” Anbeichun corrected, “Uncle, last time you brought a lot over. Now we only have sixteen ghosts left. The zombies are still thirteen, though.”

Trapped in the middle, I saw the little cat watching Xiao Jian, its gem-like eyes fixed on me, as if deep in thought.

Gripping the jade ruler, I shouted, “Activate!” But the ruler remained inert, no blue glow, no familiar resonance. It was as if all its spiritual power had vanished.

My heart sank—the jade ruler had been swapped. This was a fake, devoid of the ancestral power it once held.

Furious, I threw the fake ruler like a dagger at Anbeichun Meng Liuchuan.

Meng Liuchuan stood up from his wheelchair, revealing a pair of ghostly black legs, and caught the ruler effortlessly. Zuo Shan shouted, “No!” But Meng Liuchuan didn’t listen. He snapped the ruler in two, the pieces clattering to the ground.

Zuo Shan collapsed, “Ye Guyu! Ye Guyu! What kind of successor did you choose? The sect’s treasured jade ruler is now broken! What’s the point of the Ghost School’s existence anymore?”

Meng Liuchuan laughed, “Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, now you’re a bird without wings. Let’s see how you handle seven Japanese corpses.”

Without the jade ruler, I felt like a bird stripped of flight. Rolling on the ground, I grabbed the fire axe. The seven corpses closed in. I swung down hard, striking one on the shoulder. The arm remained intact, and the corpse seized the axe, flinging it aside. My hands went numb, skin torn, blood seeping out.

The axe slipped from my grasp.

The corpses smelled blood like wolves scenting prey, hopping left and right, shrinking my space. I used two corpse-suppressing talismans to hold off two in front, but the other five pressed in.

My only advantage was agility. I ducked under one, nailed a spike into its back, and stuffed mud into its mouth and ears. Just as I finished with one, another’s nails raked my back. I yelped and leaped away.

Drenched in sweat, my talismans dwindling, I tore off the corpses’ clothes and gouged out two eyes, but they kept coming.

Meng Liuchuan sneered, “Now admit you’re useless.”

I pocketed the last two talismans and cracked my neck.

Only one option left—fight. I formed two hand seals—*Six Ding Six Jia* talismans. Even without a magical tool, I’d make my body the weapon. If I housed five insect treasures, then my body itself was spiritual.

The *Six Ding Six Jia* talismans had worked against the Silver Armored Corpse, a zombie king. Though they hadn’t done much then, this time, the results stunned me.

Two corpses struck by the talismans spewed black smoke from gaping chest wounds, the stench of decay filling the air. Anbeichun twitched, tempted to inhale the corpse energy.

The remaining five corpses hesitated. Meng Liuchuan barked, “Baka! Charge! Are you afraid of a bare-handed Chinese pig?”

I smirked, unleashing more *Six Ding Six Jia* talismans.

Meanwhile, He Qingling, having comforted Xiao Jian, stepped forward, fur bristling. Her screech pierced the air, making the corpses cower.

Two more fell to my talismans.

Anbeichun cursed, “Damn cat!” and lunged for her. I swung the axe, “No one calls our dog ‘mutt’ or touches our cat!”

He dodged, sneering, “You dare kill me? Not afraid of prison? Of execution?”

I stood firm, axe on my shoulder, “If I don’t kill you, who will?”

Meng Liuchuan clapped, “I underestimated you, Xiao-san. If seven corpses fear you and your cat, they don’t deserve to live.” He incinerated them with seven talismans, reducing them to ash.

Anbeichun stomped, “What a waste! That corpse energy would’ve made me happier than a god!”

I demanded again, “Where’s Liu Jun?”

Meng Liuchuan shook his head, “Did you think destroying the corpses would make me release him? Too easy.”

“What else do you have?” I asked.

He snapped his fingers, and two men dragged Liu Jun forward. Still recovering from his injuries, he limped badly. Meng Liuchuan said, “Yin energy has invaded his spirit. In half an hour, he’ll be a living corpse. How will you save him?”

This was the same method used on Ji Qianqian, forcing her soul out, only preserved by the Ghost Tear Pearl.

Liu Jun’s hood was removed, “Xiao Qi. Don’t worry, I’m tough. If you can’t save me, I won’t blame you. A real man faces death head-on, no whimpering.”

His face was already darkening, his energy fading.

“I’m here.”

“So am I.”

Yu Yuwei, cheeks flushed from the snow, strode in wearing a white coat, an ancient sword at her hip. She eyed Meng Liuchuan coldly.

He frowned—how had she bypassed his ninja guards?

Yu Yuwei clasped her hands, “I am of the Three Families.”

With her was a young man holding a hammer, looking like a construction worker. He spat, “Old man, your corpses are gone, your feng shui array broken by a Ghost School disciple. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to show my face.”

Turning to me, he bowed, “I’m Huang Xiaochui. Usually hauling bricks at construction sites, but I got paid today, so here I am. Also of the Three Families.”

I looked at Yu Yuwei and Huang Xiaochui, “You both came.” His hammer was small but well-balanced; her sword was long but perfectly suited.

I nodded, “Thank you.”

Yu Yuwei stood poised, sword ready. Huang Xiaochui, though unassuming, wielded a hammer that could crush skulls.

Meng Liuchuan spat, “Baka! Reinforcements?”

I laid Liu Jun down, recalling my study of Ji Qianqian’s soul damage. The seven souls aligned along the spine. I struck his neck hard, then down his back. A jade ruler would’ve helped, but I made do.

After half an hour, I expelled the black energy from his spine.

Meng Liuchuan laughed, “Xiao Qi, you think I’m the same as before? Keep recording—if my old age is lonely, I’ll watch this and never feel alone.”

“Taoist Master, come out.”