Peerless Bodyguard of a Stunning Beauty

Seeing Zhao Bo charging toward him, Zhao Rong knew his ”Punching the Cow Beyond the Mountain” technique was useless against this new species of half-human, half-ghost creature.

Just as Zhao Rong was about to summon Ghost King Wang Huazi from within his Daoist robe, the vice-principal—whom everyone thought was incapable of catching ghosts, weak as a chicken, and devoid of any martial arts—suddenly drew a Peach Wood Sword and slashed at Zhao Bo, knocking him to the ground. He then began chanting an urgent decree.

Zhao Bo had barely gotten back to his feet before the incantation struck him down again. Quicker than words could tell, the vice-principal pulled a talisman from his pocket, bit his finger, and used the blood to write the character for ”kill” before fiercely slapping it onto Zhao Bo’s forehead. The once impossibly arrogant Zhao Bo immediately began to convulse violently on the ground.

Seeing the vice-principal subdue the fierce ghost, Zhao Rong stared in disbelief. ”Vice-Principal,” he said, ”didn’t you say you couldn’t catch ghosts? How are you so powerful against this fierce ghost today?”

The assistant, equally puzzled, asked, ”Vice-Principal, doesn’t everyone say that even though you founded the Ghost Hunting Academy, you’re just an honorary principal with no real ghost-hunting skills? How is it that you can wield a Peach Wood Sword, chant spells, and use talismans? You’re a professional ghost hunter!”

Hearing their words, the vice-principal roared with laughter. ”This fierce ghost Zhao Bo thinks he’s well hidden, but I, the vice-principal, have kept my secrets even deeper. The old sayings are true: there is always a greater power, and the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. That’s me.”

After speaking, the vice-principal laughed proudly. Seeing the man they had all treated as an incompetent fool suddenly reveal himself to be like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, the crowd burst into applause.

As they clapped, the vice-principal took out a ghost-trapping bottle from his pocket. ”Once I capture this vicious ghost,” he declared, ”I can finally avenge my daughter and fulfill the wish I’ve held for so many years.”

Zhao Rong gave him a thumbs-up. ”I always thought you couldn’t catch ghosts, but it turns out you’ve got some real skill.”

Lili also praised him, saying, ”Who would have thought? You were the hidden master all along.”

The assistant looked the vice-principal up and down in amazement. ”Vice-Principal, with your unimpressive and ordinary appearance, I always thought I was more capable than you, but I never imagined you were this formidable.”

Basking in the accolades, the vice-principal held his head high, coughed, and said, ”Just a little trick up my sleeve. Nothing to get worked up about.”

With that, he aimed his ghost-trapping bottle at the convulsing Zhao Bo on the ground. However, just as the vice-principal began chanting the spell to seal the ghost in the bottle, Zhao Bo suddenly leaped up in the blink of an eye and slammed heavily into his chest. The vice-principal, caught completely off guard, was sent flying.

After knocking the vice-principal away, the fierce ghost Zhao Bo revealed his true, ferocious nature. He glared at the small group before him. ”You think these petty tricks are enough? Just the few of you? You want to capture me, Zhao Bo? You’re dreaming!”

Hearing this, Zhao Rong immediately summoned the spirit from his Daoist robe, saying, ”Wang Huazi, it’s your turn.”

When the others heard Zhao Rong muttering to himself, they turned to look at him.

”Brother Zhao Rong,” the assistant said, ”have you been scared silly? You’ve started talking to yourself.”

Lili looked from the fierce ghost to Zhao Rong, her expression crestfallen. ”Brother Zhao Rong, coming to the Ghost Hunting Academy was a mistake from the start. Now we’re really going to become ghosts.”

Xuelian looked at Zhao Rong and said, ”Brother Zhao Rong, we may not have been born on the same day, but we can die on the same day. Even if we can’t survive this, I’ll be content if we can die together.”

Yu Lan said in anguish, ”You came to save us, but now you’ve been dragged into this too. If this is how it ends, it would have been better if the assistant and I had just died in the first place.”

Hearing their laments, Zhao Bo laughed wildly. ”You’re at death’s door and you’re still dawdling? Hurry up and die!”

However, just as the arrogant Zhao Bo prepared to kill them and absorb their yang energy, a female ghost flew out from Zhao Rong’s Daoist robe. As she charged toward Zhao Bo, she shouted, ”Zhao Bo, it’s time to settle our five-hundred-year-old grudge!”

Seeing Wang Huazi flying toward him, Zhao Bo was completely unprepared. ”What the hell?” he sputtered. ”So you weren’t empty-handed after all. You were prepared, hiding a fierce ghost in the shadows?”

Before he could finish his sentence, Wang Huazi struck him down. She immediately bound his hands, feet, and head with several lengths of Life-Ending Rope and began to chant, ”Dismemberment by Five Horses Decree!”

When Zhao Bo heard this unfamiliar female ghost about to use such a spell on him, he was stunned. He looked at Wang Huazi with fear and confusion. ”Female ghost, we have no grudge between us. Why would you use such a ruthless move on me?”

The Dismemberment by Five Horses Decree was the most vicious ghost-killing spell in the Ghost World. Any ghost slain by it would be scattered like smoke, never to be reborn for all eternity.

Hearing his plea, Wang Huazi sneered. ”A thousand years ago, you murdered my husband and forced me off a cliff. Now, I will kill you to avenge my husband and myself, to finally quell the hatred in my heart.”

At the mention of a thousand years ago, Zhao Bo was completely baffled. ”Miss,” he said, ”I was born in the 80s. A thousand years ago, not only was I not born, but my great-great-great-grandfather wasn’t born either. How could I possibly have offended you back then?”

After tying the knots, Wang Huazi prepared to start the incantation. ”You may not have been born back then,” she said, ”but the soul within your body was already harming people.”

Hearing that his soul had killed her husband, Zhao Bo felt terribly wronged. ”Then you should blame the soul from a thousand years ago, right? How can you blame me for its mistakes? Besides, vengeance begets vengeance; when will it ever end? You’re a bigger person than that, so why not show some generosity and let me go?”

As he spoke, Zhao Bo watched her warily. This ghost is definitely a super ghost king, not some minor spirit I can handle.

Just then, the ghost Xiaomin, who had been standing aside watching the fight, suddenly rushed at Ghost King Wang Huazi, knocking her to the ground. She then untied the ropes binding Zhao Bo. Seeing he was free, Zhao Bo forcefully pushed Xiaomin away.

”Wife! Why did you save me?” he yelled. ”Run! This ghost is ancient, from a thousand years ago! Her mana is far beyond what spirits like us can withstand.”

When the others heard that the ghost Xiaomin was Zhao Bo’s wife, they were astounded.

Zhao Rong said in disbelief, ”Xiaomin, didn’t you tell us the whole time that you were a gentle ghost? You advised us not to go to the Wang Family’s communal cemetery or try to capture Fierce Ghost East City. So why is Zhao Bo saying you’re his wife?”

The assistant said in shock, ”Xiaomin, you were lying to us all along?”

Lili also looked at her and said, ”So the one who was hiding the deepest wasn’t Principal Zhao Bo or the vice-principal… it was you…”

However, just as Xiaomin took Zhao Bo’s hand to flee, Wang Huazi charged them. With lightning speed, she knocked them both to the ground and laughed. ”So, a pair of ghostly mandarin ducks. That’s perfect. I’ll catch you both in one fell swoop and make sure no fish slip through the net.”

With that, Ghost King Wang Huazi quickly bound Zhao Bo and Xiaomin and prepared to recite the dismemberment spell again.

As she began the incantation, Xiaomin looked at Zhao Bo in anguish. ”My husband, I always urged you to be a good ghost. I secretly stopped the Ghost Hunting Academy students from walking into your trap, all to prevent you from killing. I knew that if you did too many evil deeds, you would eventually pay the price. I tried everything to stop you, but you’re still being punished.”

Hearing his wife’s words, Zhao Bo looked at the chanting Wang Huazi and asked, ”Are you the Judge sent from the heavens to punish us?”

Wang Huazi ignored them, focusing solely on her incantation.

It was only then, hearing the exchange between Zhao Bo and Xiaomin, that the others finally understood. Xiaomin had come from the Wang Family Village morgue to intercept them on the road just to prevent her husband, Zhao Bo, from killing more people. Even though Xiaomin was in league with Zhao Bo, she was, after all, a good ghost.

”Wang Huazi,” Zhao Rong pleaded, ”since Xiaomin is a good ghost, please spare her.”

Wang Huazi was unmoved by his appeal. She said, ”A thousand years ago, Zhao Bo’s soul could kill me and my husband. Why can’t I kill Zhao Bo and his wife now?”

Hearing this, Zhao Rong fell silent. He didn’t know what to say to persuade Wang Huazi to show mercy.

Suddenly, Ghost King Wang Huazi finished her chant. Instantly, the fierce ghost Zhao Bo and the ghost Xiaomin dissolved into wisps of green smoke and vanished into the air.

The moment Zhao Bo, the ghost king of Wang Family Village, and his wife, Xiaomin, were killed by Ghost King Wang Huazi, the once-calm surroundings suddenly teemed with countless ghosts. Throngs of spirits—old and young, large and small, of every variety—emerged and began to encircle Zhao Rong’s group.

Seeing the innumerable ghosts, Zhao Rong took a sharp, cold breath. Damn it. We’ve walked right into a nest of ghosts.

”How did killing two ghosts make so many more appear?” the assistant cried out in horror.

Lili said in disbelief, ”Oh my god, are all these ghosts coming for us?”

Yu Lan’s voice trembled with shock. ”Are we going to be killed by all these ghosts right here, today?”