Chapter 35: The Ghost King Temple on Old Street

“Could it be Dong Wutian?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she replied.

I let out a cold laugh and didn’t press her further. Even if she did know, she probably wouldn’t tell me.

“Sir, we found the Ghost King Temple,” Xiaoyuan and Xiaofang returned just then to inform me.

“Where is it?”

“Behind the old town square, there’s an ancient locust tree, and right beside it is the Ghost King Temple. But it’s already in ruins,” Xiaoyuan replied.

“In ruins? Why? Isn’t there anyone looking after it?” I asked.

Tan Xiao rose and answered for them, “These days, almost no one worships the Ghost King anymore. That place will probably be torn down soon.”

So that’s how it is. But she didn’t look like someone who lacked worshippers—what was really going on? With that on my mind, I stood up, ready to head to the old street.

But after taking only a few steps, I noticed Xiaoyuan and Xiaofang following behind. I stopped and told them, “You two don’t need to come with me. I’ll go alone.”

“Sir, it’ll be dangerous for you to go alone!” Xiaofang blocked my way.

“It’s fine. As long as I don’t die, nothing else matters,” I replied.

Xiaofang looked at Xiaoyuan, then said, “Why don’t we go with you? We can wait outside and won’t go in. Even if we can’t do much, at least we’ll be there if you need us!”

Seeing how insistent he was, I thought it over and figured it wouldn’t hurt. I nodded, “Then just wait outside. Don’t get too close, but don’t wander off either. If I’m in danger, I’ll call for you.”

“Alright!” they both agreed.

Tan Xiao simply stood there watching me, saying nothing. I knew she didn’t want me to meet the Ghost King, but I had to go—otherwise, there were too many things I’d never figure out. She didn’t try to stop me again.

We took a cab to the old street. Led by the two little ghosts, I arrived at the square. Night had fallen, and under the shroud of darkness, the place was eerie and frightening.

“Sir, this place will probably be demolished soon. Hardly anyone comes here, so it’s so desolate,” Xiaoyuan explained.

I nodded and looked around. I imagined that in the past, it must have been lively here. The houses, though dilapidated now, were clearly not places ordinary folk could afford.

As I walked deeper in, to be honest, being alone with two ghosts in a place like this was unnerving. When the wind blew, the old doors and windows creaked ominously.

Just as I reached the middle of the square, a sudden vision flashed through my mind, making me stop and shake my head to clear it.

“Sir, why did it suddenly get so scary here? Could there be a vengeful spirit lingering?” Xiaoyuan and Xiaofang asked, both clearly frightened.

They’d only come along to protect me, so their fear was understandable. But why had that image just flashed through my mind?

“Xiaoyuan, has anyone died here before? Can you tell?” I asked, standing in the center of the square.

“S-Sir, if you’re asking, then something must have happened here,” Xiaofang stammered.

“Why?” I didn’t understand and turned around in a circle.

Suddenly, a chilling thought occurred to me—was something being suppressed here? There was the Ghost King Temple behind, a slaughterhouse to the left, a busy road in front, and former residential buildings to the right. The square was right in the middle, like a dead end you couldn’t escape from.

“Sir, what are you thinking about?” Xiaoyuan asked when she saw me lost in thought.

I shook my head and kept my thoughts to myself. “It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

We walked to the back of the square, where I saw the ancient locust tree and the Ghost King Temple beside it. I told Xiaoyuan and Xiaofang, “Wait here for me. I’ll go in alone.”

“Alright, be careful, sir. Call us if you need anything—we can go get help!”

…As I expected, having them along wouldn’t help much, but they insisted.

I gave them a helpless look and walked toward the Ghost King Temple.

Inside, it was pitch dark. Though my eyes could see well in the night, the temple was so rundown and filled with cobwebs that I turned on my phone’s flashlight.

After struggling my way in and reaching the statue of the Ghost King, I realized there was no offering table at all. She’d told me to knock three times on the table, but there was none—how was I supposed to do that?

I shone my phone’s light on the statue. It looked nothing like the real Ghost King.

“Come out. There’s no offering table, so how am I meant to knock?” I said to the clay statue.

There was no response. So I simply knocked a few times on the base of the statue.

Suddenly, a flash of light streaked by, and all the candles in the temple flared to life, casting a ghostly green glow.

I was about to turn around, but then I saw two shadows on the wall. I touched the prayer beads on my wrist—whether ghost or human, if they wanted to harm me, I’d meet them with my fists.

“Zhang Xiaobei, it seems you did listen to me after all,” a voice spoke.

Hearing the Ghost King’s voice, I turned to face her. “So it really is you. I didn’t see an offering table, so I knocked on the statue’s base instead. Turns out it works just as well. Wait, why are you dressed like that?”

As I turned, I saw she was draped only in a sheer veil.

“Isn’t it for you?” she said, moving closer.

I glanced at her, quickly turned away, and asked in alarm, “What do you want with me?”

“What do you think, Judge of the Living?” she replied, her eyes teasing as she drew near.

The scent on her was intoxicating—I felt myself getting lost.

But just as she reached for me, Tan Xiao’s warning flashed through my mind: Do not let her charm you. Do not touch her!

“Wait!” I snapped out of it and pushed her away as her hand brushed mine.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her face full of feigned innocence.

“You’re not a ghost right now, are you?” The sensation from her touch was unmistakably solid. I stared at her in shock.

She laughed, “Why so surprised? In my own temple, this statue is my physical form, so of course I feel just as real as a human,” she said, sidling up to me again.

Understanding dawned on me—that’s why she had a shadow. But this time, I didn’t let her throw herself into my arms. I might be a man, but doing anything with a clay statue was just too perverse. No matter how beautiful she looked, she wasn’t human, and I couldn’t touch her.

But her alluring figure… damn it, damn it, damn it—hold yourself together!

“Zhang Xiaobei, don’t you want to have a little fun with me? Miss this chance and there won’t be another!” she coaxed, her eyes bewitching.

I hurriedly averted my gaze and gulped. “Stay away from me. What do you really want?”

“What do I want? This is what I want! Isn’t it important enough? If you give me this once, I’ll help you with anything you need in the future!” she said, reaching for me again.

I quickly stepped back, suddenly feeling something was off. With her looks, there was no way she lacked willing men. “If it’s just for that, you don’t need me. I’m sure there are plenty of men lining up to conquer you. So tell me—what’s the real reason?”

She gave up the coquettish act and answered, “Fine, since you want to know, I’ll be honest. You’re not like other men.”

“How so?” I pressed.

“Your yang energy is strong—much stronger than ordinary men. I thought you’d be especially… powerful. So I wanted to try for myself,” she said, giving me that look again.

But I understood now. She didn’t just want to try—she wanted to drain me of my life force. I said bluntly, “If that’s all you want, I can’t help you. Find someone else.”

I turned to leave, but she flew into a rage, waved her hand, and slammed the doors shut. A cold wind howled through the temple.

“Since you’re here, don’t think you can just walk away,” she snarled, suddenly appearing before me and grabbing my throat.

She was strong—so strong I could barely breathe. I struggled, trying to pry her hand off, but I was powerless. I could only recite an incantation silently and clench my fist, punching her with all my might.

My weapon shone with golden light—powerful enough to make the Ghost King let go immediately. But she was the Ghost King; she wouldn’t let it end there.

While I was doubled over coughing, she attacked from behind, striking me so hard I flew several meters and crashed onto a broken stool, coughing up blood.

“Zhang Xiaobei, I gave you a chance, but you forced my hand. Did you really think a mere Judge of the Living could defeat me?” she sneered, grabbing my collar and dragging me upright.

“Just look at yourself now. How are you going to face those people and ghosts in the black market?” she taunted, slamming me against the wall, ready to use me as a punching bag.

But as I hit the ground, my hand found the Soul-Killer Gun in my bag. I quietly pulled it out, and as she grabbed me with one hand and readied her fist with the other, I fired at her.

I knew the Soul-Killer Gun wouldn’t do much to her, but it would make her let go.

Sure enough, when the bullet hit, she instantly released me and staggered back, staring down at the blackened hole in her abdomen.

“Remember? This gun—you gave it to me today,” I said, wiping blood from my mouth.

“You dare use my own weapon against me? I’ll kill you!” she roared. Her beautiful form faded, revealing the true, ghastly visage of the Ghost King.