Chapter 144: Endless Complaints

The silver-armored corpse blinked and began rubbing its eyes with both hands.

Old Man Wang shouted, “Damn eunuch, got you, didn’t I?” Uncle Jianguo praised, “Witnessing the prowess of a senior is truly my great fortune. When will you compete in the Olympics and bring back a gold medal for fun? I think the 10-meter air rifle would suit you perfectly.”

Old Man Wang burst into laughter. “Ah, it’s all fleeting clouds…”

The silver-armored corpse, its eye struck, seized the momentary gap. Xie Xiaoyu leapt back two steps. I rushed forward and pulled her behind me, only to realize her body was as cold as iron, her face covered in bits of leaves, her usual luster gone. “Xiaoyu… I’m sorry. Are you hurt? It’s all my fault. Does your foot hurt? Did he squeeze it? Stay behind me. I’ll protect you.”

Xie Xiaoyu shook her head, signaling she could still hold on. Under the lamplight, her eyes brimmed with tenderness. Even as the cold wind blew, I felt no chill. After all, she was the woman who followed me, and I had to protect her.

I gripped the jade ruler in my hand, igniting its glow. “Silver-armored corpse, I don’t care who you are, but you won’t get near her. I, Xiao Qi, am not to be trifled with. My girl isn’t someone you can bully.”

In *The Compendium*, there were several types of corpse-suppressing talismans, but there was no time to draw them now. However, there was also the “Six Ding Six Jia Talisman,” an intangible spell that didn’t require paper, effective against zombies immune to physical talismans. Now, I had no choice but to resort to desperate measures.

The so-called “Six Ding” referred to Ding-Mao, Ding-Si, Ding-Wei, Ding-You, Ding-Hai, and Ding-Chou. The “Six Jia” were Jia-Zi, Jia-Wu, Jia-Shen, Jia-Wu, Jia-Chen, and Jia-Yin—named after the heavenly stems and earthly branches, derived from the evolution of solar deities. The Six Ding were the Jade Maidens of Yin, while the Six Jia were the Jade Men of Yang.

I had memorized the incantation by heart. Reciting it silently, I confirmed it was correct. The silver-armored corpse didn’t seem provoked, so I had no choice but to bite my finger hard.

Blood dripped down. Xie Xiaoyu’s breath hitched for a moment, but she quickly suppressed the instinct.

The silver-armored corpse, however, reacted far more intensely. Having been hopping around for a while, it was likely hungry. The scent of blood in the air delighted it, and without hesitation, it lunged forward.

I waved the jade ruler in the air while chanting, *”I summon the Six Divine Powers, the Primordial Yang of Jia-Zi, come swiftly to my aid, and lend me your strength. By the decree of Six Ding and Six Jia, let this evil be vanquished!”*

The jade ruler, inherently spiritual, emitted a blue glow—the light of corpse suppression. The Six Ding Six Jia Talisman manifested midair and collided with the charging silver-armored corpse. A loud impact echoed.

The corpse staggered back two steps, a patch of silver skin peeling from its chin, revealing blackened bone. Its head wobbled unsteadily.

But the strike hadn’t hit a fatal spot. Instead, it only enraged the creature further. Before I could react, it leapt again. I couldn’t finish the second incantation before it was upon me. Xie Xiaoyu let out a cry and shoved herself in front of me.

Then, everything happened too fast.

Xie Xiaoyu was sent flying like a kite. Under the lamplight, the silver-armored corpse gleamed brilliantly. After tossing her aside, it lunged at me again.

*Thud!*

Old Man Wang’s iron pellet struck again. This time, however, the silver-armored corpse opened its mouth and swallowed the pellet. Its silver eyes darkened, its jaws parting to reveal a row of silver teeth.

Its fangs extended ten centimeters in an instant, emitting thick, noxious corpse miasma.

Meanwhile, I was now firmly in its grasp. I watched Xie Xiaoyu struggle on the ground, trying to rise.

“Don’t come closer! Xie Xiaoyu, if I die… go find Xie Lingyu. Let her take care of you. Don’t let bad people catch you.” The silver-armored corpse’s grip crushed my bones. The black miasma, carried by the cold wind, seeped into my lungs.

Little Rascal dashed out from Uncle Jianguo’s side, sprinting at full speed.

“Little Rascal… I’m useless. If only I were stronger… I wouldn’t be caught by this naked monster.” Guilt weighed heavily on me. Over the past half-year, I had been saved by Little Rascal, the kitten, and the jade corpse—all because I was too weak to protect myself, let alone them.

Fearless, Little Rascal leapt and bit the silver-armored corpse’s buttocks. But the skin was too slick, and his teeth weren’t strong enough. He slid down its leg.

Oops—Little Rascal accidentally yanked off the corpse’s black underwear.

The miasma likely overwhelmed him, as he collapsed unconscious upon landing. Fortunately, as a natural bane of evil spirits, he wouldn’t suffer lasting harm.

Just then, an even colder northwestern wind blew, threatening to freeze the silver-armored corpse’s… *little bird* into an icicle.

I worried for a moment—what if it got frostbite?

But the corpse didn’t care about pants. It slowly leaned closer, its fangs brushing against my neck.

I was about to become a meal. The jade ruler clattered to the ground, its blue glow flaring brightly. Summoning strength from nowhere, I jerked my right knee upward, striking the exposed *little bird*.

The impact was surprisingly strong. The corpse hesitated, its fangs retracting slightly. I kneed it again.

It still didn’t react. Its blackened eyes stared at me in confusion, as if wondering what I was doing.

Seizing the moment, I chanted the incantation in one breath: *”I summon the Six Divine Powers, the Primordial Yang of Jia-Zi, come swiftly to my aid, and lend me your strength. By the decree of Six Ding and Six Jia, let this evil be vanquished!”*

With the jade ruler’s blue light surging, the talisman struck the silver-armored corpse at point-blank range. The force sent it flying seven or eight meters, a large patch of skin peeling from its chest. Gasping, I picked up the jade ruler, ready for its next attack.

I chanted the incantation repeatedly.

Though the Six Ding Six Jia talismans had limited power, they at least kept the corpse at bay.

“Why hasn’t Jiese’s great-grandfather shown up yet?” I yelled in frustration.

This couldn’t go on—I’d exhaust myself to death. The silver-armored corpse merely stood there, watching. The talismans barely affected it now. Aside from the jade ruler, I had nothing else to rely on.

Uncle Jianguo shouted, “Xiao Qi, you’re gambling with your life! If we can’t win, let’s run! Remember that big oaf who jumped off the train to chase the silver-armored corpse? Where is he now?”

Right—Yimiao had rushed off the train at Xiangyang, seemingly to hunt the corpse. But damn it, he got off at Xiangyang, not Xi’an! Even if he flew, it’d take two hours to get here.

Besides, he might’ve been bluffing. Maybe he was actually hunting a toad spirit and just bragged about chasing a silver-armored corpse to save face.

If he failed, he could always say, *”That damn toad was too sneaky—hid underwater! If it had come ashore, I’d have captured it easily. Wait, no, I meant I was hunting a silver-armored corpse!”*

I shook my head at Uncle Jianguo—Yimiao wasn’t coming.

Uncle Jianguo yelled, “No choice then. Dawn’s still three or four hours away. Try to hold out until sunrise.”

Only Old Man Wang remained beside Uncle Jianguo; everyone else—and the dogs—had fled inside. The gasoline fire in the hall had been extinguished.

Wait—were there any insects around? I silently prayed: *”Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandpas, grandmas… if you can help, please come. There’s a shameless, pantsless villain here.”*

The cold wind howled mockingly. I nearly despaired—it was winter. Most creatures were hibernating underground. Only seven or eight earthworms emerged, along with two snails in the flower bed, bravely advancing to take down the mighty silver-armored corpse.

Gasping for breath, I stopped casting talismans. The corpse seized the opening and lunged, backhanding me so hard my mouth filled with blood. My tongue went numb—I couldn’t chant anymore.

Once again, I was in its grip.

But miracles do happen. First, the thick clouds parted, revealing the moon’s radiant face. Second, from the kitchen, seven roosters—originally destined to become hand-shredded chicken, dry pot chicken, big plate chicken, three-cup chicken, tea tree mushroom braised chicken, potato chicken, and kung pao chicken—broke free and charged over, crowing loudly.

These two events reignited hope. Xie Xiaoyu, reinvigorated by the moonlight, knocked the silver-armored corpse to the ground again.

The roosters’ incessant crowing didn’t harm the corpse directly, but it constantly reminded the creature that dawn approached. Soon, Xie Xiaoyu gained the upper hand.

Thank heavens—the moon goddess had finally intervened.

I shouted, “Rooster brothers, louder! Aim at that naked silver freak! Crow your hearts out!”

The silver-armored corpse probably never imagined that drinking my blood would be so difficult.

Xie Xiaoyu’s strikes grew heavier. She grabbed the corpse’s head and slammed it into the ground repeatedly. *Thud! Thud!* Its silver skull was soon caked in mud. The two earthworms seemed determined to crawl into its nostrils, while the snail generals scaled its feet, targeting its left and right pinky toes.

“Ah, so there’s a show outside? My unfilial descendants didn’t even invite me!”