Peerless Bodyguard of a Stunning Beauty

When the three Ghost Catching Taoist Priests, beaten and sprawled on the ground, heard they were going to be thrown to the nearby horde of fierce ghosts, they immediately knelt and begged for mercy.

The Sanyi Taoist Priest knelt, his face a mess of snot and tears. ”Sirs, please spare me! I know I followed Headmaster Zhao Bo and did many terrible things, causing the deaths of so many new students at the Ghost Hunting Academy. But now, I truly know that I was wrong…”

The Zhengyi Taoist Priest slapped his own face as he begged. ”Those who commit great evil bring about their own destruction. People like us who have sinned so much are destined to die at the hands of those we’ve killed… Sir Zhao Rong, Sir Assistant, Madam Lili, Madam Yu Lan, Madam Xuelian, please forgive me! I promise I will strive to be a good person from now on…”

The Quanzhen Taoist Priest, too scared to run yet wanting to escape, stammered, ”Sirs and Madams, if you throw the three of us to these fierce ghosts, we’re surely doomed! If we die, the entire Ghost Hunting Academy will have no Ghost-Hunting Instructors left…”

However, before the three instructors could finish speaking, the horde of fierce ghosts that had just torn apart the Laoshan instructor suddenly rushed forward. They instantly tore the three men to shreds and tossed the pieces into the air.

Seeing the bloody scene, Zhao Rong immediately stepped back three paces, took an umbrella from his bag, and opened it. ”Damn, this is like a rainstorm, a literal storm of blood and gore…” After a moment, he sighed. ”Those who curse others will themselves be cursed. Those who kill will eventually be killed. That’s why you have to be an honest and kind person, someone benevolent who helps others.”

The assistant watched the scene unfold, saying in disbelief, ”It seems these fierce ghosts truly despised the four Ghost-Hunting Instructors. Otherwise, they wouldn’t harbor enough hatred to tear living people to shreds in an instant.”

Meanwhile, Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian ran over to Zhao Rong and took shelter under his umbrella. Looking at the shreds of clothing fluttering in the air, they said in unison, ”Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished. It’s not that retribution doesn’t come; its time just hasn’t arrived yet.”

Just as everyone was reeling in shock from the ghosts’ ferocity, the Vice Dean jumped forward and spoke to them. ”I know you all died unjustly. I know you all died with grievances in your hearts. As the Vice Dean of the Ghost Hunting Academy, I tried to stop Headmaster Zhao Bo and the four Ghost-Hunting Instructors. Unfortunately, I was powerless and failed to stop them. Now that you’ve come for revenge, you might as well kill me too!”

With that, the Vice Dean tore open his shirt, bared his chest, and waited for the fierce ghosts to kill him.

However, just as the Vice Dean was awaiting his death, the ghosts began to vanish one by one. As they faded, their voices echoed in the air. ”We originally came to the Ghost Hunting Academy because of you, but we never expected to find so many evil people hiding here. Now that they’ve been eliminated, we have no regrets. As for you, Vice Dean of the Ghost Hunting Academy, we have no quarrel with you.”

At this, the Vice Dean seemed to desperately seek death. ”Although I didn’t personally harm or kill any of you, I failed to fulfill my duties as Vice Dean! I couldn’t stop Zhao Bo and the four instructors from hurting you! Therefore, I am guilty! Please, kill me!”

The last ghost to fade, a young woman, looked at the Vice Dean and said, ”Dean, you must live. Without you, the Ghost Hunting Academy certainly cannot continue.” With those final words, she followed the other ghosts to their reincarnation.

Seeing the massive swarm of ghosts vanish without a trace, the Vice Dean collapsed to his knees and wept bitterly. ”My wife, my child, and my students… they’re all dead. What meaning is there for me to keep living in this world?”

Zhao Rong stepped forward, helped the kneeling Vice Dean to his feet, and comforted him. ”Vice Dean, you must live on. The greatest wish of all those who have passed is for you to live well and happily, to fulfill the ghost-hunting dream that each of them held in their hearts.”

The three women also stepped forward to console him. Lili embraced the Vice Dean. ”If you want to make your wife and child happy, you should rebuild your family, find your own happiness, and live on with strength.” Yu Lan wiped the tears from the Vice Dean’s face. ”You are the founder of the Ghost Hunting Academy. Even if you don’t want to live for yourself, you must live for the sake of the students.” Xuelian handed him a cup of water. ”As the saying goes, a wretched life is better than a good death. Instead of ending your life, you could contribute more to society and help more people find happiness. Perhaps that would give your life more meaning.”

Listening to their words of comfort, the Vice Dean slowly composed himself. He wiped his tears, stepped forward, and grasped Zhao Rong’s hands. ”Hero Zhao Rong, I must leave this place of sorrow and travel far away. There’s nothing left for me at the Ghost Hunting Academy. Now, I entrust the academy to you and appoint you as its new Dean.” As he spoke, the Vice Dean handed Zhao Rong a seal, legal documents, land deeds, and a series of other materials.

Zhao Rong tried to refuse. ”Vice Dean, the Ghost Hunting Academy can’t go on without you. You should stay and continue as its head. As for us, we plan to leave and continue our journey after studying here for a while.”

The Vice Dean took the dean’s seal from around his neck and the dean’s cap from his head, pressing them into Zhao Rong’s hands. He said earnestly, ”Young man, I am at ease entrusting the Ghost Hunting Academy to you. Only after handing it over to you can I truly roam the world.”

The assistant chimed in, trying to persuade Zhao Rong. ”Brother Zhao Rong, please accept the appointment. If you make him stay here, seeing everything in Wang Family Village will only bring back painful memories. He’ll continue to suffer and might even think of taking his own life.” Xuelian added, ”Brother Zhao Rong, instead of letting him remain here in pain, it would be better to let him go on a happy, spontaneous journey.” Yu Lan looked at the Vice Dean and said, ”All pain and sorrow can only be slowly worn away by time and travel.” Xuelian nodded. ”Vice Dean, you should go see the world, travel the globe!”

Hearing everyone’s words, the Vice Dean gripped Zhao Rong’s hand and spoke with deep meaning. ”Zhao Rong, please run this Ghost Hunting Academy well. I’ve already made up my mind. I’m going to travel to Africa and establish a Desert Ghost Hunting Academy in the Sahara!”

When the group heard that he was going to the Sahara Desert to found an academy, their eyes widened in surprise. The assistant couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up. ”Dean, you’re on another level! I figured you might start an academy somewhere else, but I never imagined you’d go to Africa, let alone build one in the Sahara Desert. That’s incredible!”

Zhao Rong looked at the Vice Dean and nodded. ”Dean, work hard. Maybe one day, the five of us will come find you in the Sahara and study at your academy.”

Lili asked curiously, ”Of all the places you could go, why the Sahara Desert? It seems so hot and difficult to survive there.” Yu Lan offered a suggestion. ”Instead of the African desert, why not establish the academy in the tropical rainforests of South America?” Xuelian had an even more imaginative idea. ”I think it would be better to go to Europe. Eastern Europe, especially places like Ukraine, Russia, or Poland, would be a good place to start a Ghost Hunting Academy.”

Listening to their suggestions, the Vice Dean explained, ”The main reason I chose the Sahara is because I’m a fan of the author San Mao. I’ve read many of his books, and his *Stories of the Sahara* captivated me deeply.” Hearing that the Vice Dean of the Ghost Hunting Academy was a fan of the author San Mao, and that his decision was inspired by one of his books, everyone was stunned. It was the last thing they had expected.

After speaking, the Vice Dean heaved a long sigh, shouldered his backpack, and smiled. ”Alright, I’ve said all I need to say and settled everything I need to settle. Now, it’s time for me to go and wander the world.” With those words, the Vice Dean turned and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Zhao Rong silently wished him well. Vice Dean, may you find happiness and joy in your new life. The assistant also watched him go, muttering to himself, ”Farewell, Dean. We’ll miss you.” Lili offered a blessing, ”Good people are blessed with peace. Take care on your journey.” Yu Lan added, ”No matter how difficult the road ahead, even if it’s lined with thorns, I believe the Dean can blaze his own trail and carve out a world for himself.” Xuelian declared, ”A man must make his mark on the world, or else his life has been in vain.”

After bidding the Vice Dean farewell, Zhao Rong and his companions turned to enter the Ghost Hunting Academy. Suddenly, they saw that every student had come out and gathered at the school gate. Just as Zhao Rong was wondering what they were all doing, the entire student body fell to their knees.

Looking up at Zhao Rong, they pleaded in unison, ”Hero, please save us!”

Hearing so many students begging him to save them, Zhao Rong was utterly baffled. ”The Headmaster of the Ghost Hunting Academy, Zhao Bo, is dead. The four Ghost-Hunting Instructors are dead too. Is there someone else still holding you captive?”