Chapter Seventy-Four: Out of Control

The little ghost pressed in from behind, its two hands reaching out for me. I spun around suddenly and pressed the object in my hand against its forehead! Caught off guard by my abrupt move, it took the hit squarely on the brow, let out a strange shriek, and staggered backward.

I glanced at the sacred seal in my hand—thank goodness I’d kept it with me all along.

The ghost, though struck, showed not a trace of fear. It raised its hands and flew at me once more. I dodged to the side, searching for another opening to attack, but the ghost seemed to have some awareness now, deliberately avoiding the hand holding the seal. Clearly, it wasn’t mindlessly attacking.

Though wary of the seal, it didn’t relent. Skirting out of reach of the sacred object, it quickly circled around, trying to get close. I kept my guard up, clutching the seal tightly.

Suddenly, it struck from the side. I hastily swung at it with the seal, but the ghost dodged my attack. Alarmed, I scrambled out of the way. An intense chill swept over my back, my whole body jolted as if electrocuted, and a tremendous force sent me flying, crashing hard onto the ground. Pain and numbness shot through every limb.

Before I could catch my breath, the ghost rushed at me again. I tried to raise the seal—my hand was empty!

Disaster! I must have lost it when I fell!

The ghost was nearly upon me, its two pale hands reaching out. With nowhere to escape, I could only watch in terror as it closed in, my heart pounding in my throat.

But then, the ghost suddenly stopped. Its long, sharp nails hovered barely a centimeter from my body, almost grazing me. I didn’t understand why, but instinctively scrambled backward on hands and feet.

The ghost slowly lowered its arms, standing motionless in place.

I backed several meters away and got to my feet as a beam of flashlight swept across my face. I raised a hand to shield my eyes. When the light moved away, I looked up.

A woman stood there with a flashlight in one hand, the other hand on her hip, a triumphant smile on her face as she looked at me.

Old Ding stood to the side, his eyes and nose screwed up in fury. Though his anger was palpable, for some reason he only glared at us through gritted teeth, making no move to act.

“To catch the thief, seize the ringleader first! See? I’m pretty impressive,” the woman said smugly.

“Thanks!” I stammered, still shaken, as I walked toward her.

Just moments ago, I thought I was dead for sure. She really had some skills—I’d have to thank her properly later.

A strange feeling crept over me from behind. I turned, puzzled, to see the ghost struggling faintly. A sense of foreboding washed over me. Hadn’t the ghost been subdued? Was Old Ding up to something?

I glanced at Old Ding. I didn’t know how he controlled the ghost, but he wasn’t doing anything at the moment.

The ghost’s struggles grew fiercer, and my unease intensified. I quickened my pace toward the woman. But after only a few steps, a cold wave rushed from behind me, as if something had broken free of its shackles.

I spun around and saw the ghost’s limp arms rising once more, its body turning toward me!

My heart lurched in my chest. Without hesitation, I bolted forward.

The woman gasped and shouted at Old Ding, “Didn’t you say you controlled it? If you’re playing tricks, you’ll rot alive!”

Old Ding waved his hands, muttering incantations, then said anxiously, “Something’s wrong! It broke free of my control!”

I raced toward them in panic, just three meters away when the woman suddenly cried, “Watch out!”

A bone-chilling cold closed in at my back. I didn’t look, just dove forward, crashing hard to the ground.

Three talismans flew overhead, landing on the ghost. It froze for a split second. I scrambled to my feet and ran forward.

The woman was still poised from releasing the talismans. The ghost paused for only a heartbeat, then the talismans on its body suddenly burst into flames. Freed, it charged at us again!

The woman tried to fight back, but I rushed over, grabbed her, and dragged her aside, slamming us both into the wall.

“What are you doing!” she yelled angrily.

I didn’t answer. Glancing back, I saw the ghost, unable to reach us, veer instead toward Old Ding. Old Ding hastily slapped a talisman on the ghost, chanting under his breath. The ghost stood rooted to the spot, its raised hands slowly lowering as if forced down, its body twitching, straining to break free.

So it really had lost control before. I breathed a sigh of relief and asked Old Ding, “How did it break free just now?”

Old Ding glared at me, replying reluctantly, “This thing is ferocious—I can’t fully control it!”

Suddenly, flames flared up—the talisman on the ghost’s body had caught fire! The ghost’s arms rose again, and it darted on tiptoe straight toward Old Ding. Everything happened so fast, no one was prepared. Old Ding barely had time to react before the ghost was upon him, its pale hands striking out!

Old Ding’s whole body convulsed, his face turning ashen as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He forced out a few incantations, pressing his thumb to the ghost’s forehead. The ghost was knocked back a meter. Old Ding staggered, clutching the spot where the ghost had grabbed him, his face contorted with pain.

The ghost spun toward us. The woman flung two talismans at it. It paused, but the talismans quickly caught fire!

“That was my last two! I’m out!” the woman said in a panic.

The ghost raised its hands and rushed at us. I shouted, “Watch out!” and shoved the woman aside, jumping back myself. The ghost shot between us, then wheeled around, its pale hands striking my body! I was suddenly engulfed in icy cold, my body convulsing as a powerful force hurled me two meters away. I crashed hard to the ground, wracked with pain and numbness.

Barely able to move, I struggled to my feet. A metallic taste filled my mouth, and I coughed up blood. This thing was terrifying—far more powerful than the ghost Chen the Elder had faced!

The ghost turned on the woman, who fled in terror.

I ran to Old Ding. “Come up with something! Restrain that thing!”

Old Ding glared at me bitterly. He’d summoned this ghost to silence me, never expecting to fall victim himself.

“Help! Help me!” the woman screamed as she ran toward us, the ghost nearly on her heels. She stumbled with a cry, falling to the ground.

I tried to catch her, but I was too weak. She fell on top of me, knocking me down and using me as a human cushion. Having just been struck by the ghost, the pain was excruciating. Seeing the ghost’s sharp claws reaching for us, I didn’t have time to groan. I grabbed her and rolled us aside just in time.