Ghost Catching System

Chu Hao looked at the toad again. The creature’s True Qi was a deeper shade of red. It was at the peak of Intermediate Foundation Building, just like him.

The toad continued to belittle Chu Hao.

Chu Hao sneered contemptuously. ”At the peak of Intermediate Foundation Building, what are you showing off for?”

The toad jumped up, astonished. ”How did you figure that out?”

Zi Jing also looked surprised and asked, ”Big brother, can you tell what mine is?”

”[You’re at] Intermediate Foundation Building, a bit lower than me and the toad,” Chu Hao said indifferently. ”What’s so strange about that? I know how to tell! But I won’t explain it; I don’t want to flaunt my intelligence in front of you.”

”DING... Host has successfully acted pretentiously, receiving 3,000 Pretentiousness Points.”

The toad felt a twinge of annoyance. ”Kid, you’ve got some skill, actually knowing about Foundation Building. You must have really obtained some legacy.”

Zi Jing, too, spoke in amazement. ”Legacy? My grandpa said such things are very mysterious and almost nonexistent. Big brother, what kind of legacy did you get?”

Chu Hao waved his hand dismissively. ”Talking to you would be like playing the lute to a cow.”

The toad said angrily, ”Keep showing off.”

Zi Jing huffed, ”Fine, don’t tell then.”

Chu Hao had a feeling that the toad and the little girl were hiding something from him. Could it be that they wanted to fish out information about him having the System?

He needed to be extra careful, especially with that girl Zi Jing. Despite her innocent and cute appearance, she was actually very shrewd and a cunning little loli.

Time flew by, and by evening, they had reached the countryside.

Lan Zhen mentioned that the last sighting of the Golden-Wood Drought Demon was in these mountains. To find it, they needed to unearth clues here.

After getting out of the car, they found the villagers very hospitable. Lan Zhen had arranged their accommodation; they were to stay at the home of the elderly Village Chief.

The villagers were simple and kind. When guests arrived, they naturally treated them to a feast of good dishes, including some wild game dishes that were deeply satisfying.

They ate wild rabbit and a stew made from wild pig bones, which was incredibly delicious.

Zi Jing, the little girl, was gnawing on a large piece of meat still on the bone, completely disregarding her ladylike image.

Seeing her like that, Chu Hao couldn’t help saying, ”Eat slower. No one’s competing with you for it.”

Zi Jing, not caring in the least, said, ”The meat is really tasty.”

Seeing Zi Jing like this, everyone couldn’t help but want to laugh. The little girl was very pretty, with exceptionally tender cheeks that made one want to pinch them.

Even Wang Junshu smiled, serving the little girl another bowl of soup.

Zhang Chenfeng wanted to tease Zi Jing. ”Little girl, aren’t you afraid of getting fat from eating so much?”

Zi Jing rolled her eyes. ”Getting fat is none of your business.”

Zhang Chenfeng winced; this girl’s words were rather annoying.

Zhang Chenfeng awkwardly added, ”If you get fat, you won’t look as pretty.”

Zi Jing continued, ”I’m not marrying you.”

Zhang Chenfeng was instantly speechless. This kid talked just like Chu Hao, with such infuriatingly clever words. Could she possibly be his daughter?

Just then, Lan Zhen asked, ”Village Chief, I heard that a Drought Fiend appeared here.”

The Village Chief’s expression changed. He closed the doors and windows, his caution making everyone frown.

The Village Chief was almost sixty years old. His skin was dark from frequently working in the fields. Wearing a coat and smoking a dry tobacco pipe, he sat on the kang bed. ”We shouldn’t speak recklessly about that thing,” he said. ”Be careful, it might hear us.”

Everyone was startled. Wang Junshu asked, ”Is the Drought Fiend in the village?”

The Village Chief shook his head. ”I guess that filthy thing is somewhere nearby,” he replied. ”Some hunters went up the mountain a few days ago and saw it—that was just two weeks ago.”

Everyone was elated. The Golden-Wood Drought Demon was indeed here.

The old Village Chief sighed. ”Wang Zhuangshi from our village saw it,” he said. ”He told the other villagers afterward. But the next day, Wang Zhuangshi died horribly, his belly ripped open.”

”Village Chief, could you find someone to guide us?” Lan Zhen asked.

The Village Chief’s expression changed. ”You—you aren’t planning to seek it out, are you?” he asked.

Lan Zhen nodded. ”To tell you the truth, we are all Taoist priests who specialize in slaying demons and exorcising evil.”

The old Village Chief was delighted. ”Really? That’s wonderful news! Ever since that thing appeared, there’s been no peace in the village. In just three months, seven or eight people have died.”

Wang Junshu said, ”We need someone to lead the way.”

The Village Chief thought for a moment. ”There is someone who can lead the way,” he said. ”He’s very familiar with the mountain. He’s also the only person who has seen the Drought Fiend and lived to tell the tale. However, I don’t know if he’ll be willing to take you up the mountain.”

Lan Zhen asked, ”Who?”

”Old Dog Zhang, the best hunter in our village.”

Zheng Gong inquired, ”Why is it uncertain whether he’ll take us up the mountain?”

”One of his legs is disabled; it was grabbed by that filthy thing,” the Village Chief replied.

Everyone was amazed. Old Dog Zhang was still alive after being seized by the Golden-Wood Drought Demon! It spoke volumes about his toughness.

Drought Fiends aren’t like movie zombies, where one bite turns the victim into one. That kind of zombie is usually quite advanced.

Being bitten by a Drought Fiend usually means game over, especially due to the highly potent corpse poison, not to mention when it’s a Golden-Wood Drought Demon.

「The next day, the old Village Chief took Lan Zhen to find Old Dog Zhang.」

The Village Chief originally thought Old Dog Zhang would refuse. To his surprise, Old Dog Zhang asked for 30,000 yuan. He reasoned that if he died, the money could pay for a decent burial plot, saving the villagers the trouble of dealing with his body.

His words moved Lan Zhen. She immediately offered him 100,000 yuan, saying that if anything happened to him, she would take care of his family.

Old Dog Zhang waved his hand. ”I have no family. If I eat, my whole household is fed. What do I need so much money for?”

The next day, Old Dog Zhang arrived.

He was a man of about fifty, his skin dark and lean like that of the local villagers. He carried a dry tobacco pipe on his back and a wood-chopping knife. Though he walked with a limp, he gestured for everyone, and they began to head up the mountain.

For this expedition, besides Chu Hao and his party, Lan Zhen had also brought quite a few people. They were all disciples from Qingcheng Mountain. Their cultivation levels weren’t high, so they were mostly there to carry luggage for the group.

The group headed up the mountain in a large, imposing contingent.

Chu Hao observed Old Dog Zhang. Although his leg was impaired, he was spirited.

His limping leg seemed like a hindrance, but he didn’t slow down at all on the mountain path.

At this time, Wang Junshu walked over. ”Uncle Laogou, is it true your leg was injured by the Golden-Wood Drought Demon?” he asked.

Old Dog Zhang nodded. ”I nearly died. Though I escaped, my leg was ruined.”

Wang Junshu frowned. ”The corpse poison of a Golden-Wood Drought Demon is very strong. An ordinary person would die shortly after being caught.”

”I guess I’m just lucky,” Old Dog Zhang shook his head.

Wang Junshu nodded. ”I am a Maoshan Taoist priest, and I have some knowledge of corpse poison. If it’s possible, I’d like to take a look at Uncle Laogou’s condition.”

Wang Junshu was still warm-hearted.

Old Dog Zhang paused and turned around. ”You’re a Maoshan Taoist priest?”

Wang Junshu nodded. ”Yes.”

A strange light flashed in Old Dog Zhang’s eyes. ”Alright then,” he said.

Along the way, Zi Jing complained she was too tired to walk and wanted to sleep, so Chu Hao had no choice but to carry her. The little girl leaned on his back and soon fell asleep.