Chapter Forty-Seven: The Fool’s Fury

Although Lin Ran's mood was grim, he did not lose his composure this time. With the experience from before, he dared not imagine what might happen if the little ghost Yan'er had not spoken up. Perhaps she would have become a mindless walking corpse, or perhaps a ruthless killer with no regard for life.

Just as Lin Ran was lost in restless thoughts, a furious roar echoed nearby. Lin Ran looked toward the sound and saw Fool Number Two glaring at the Black and White Twins, anger simmering in his eyes as if he might explode at any moment. The Twins, drawn here by the scent of corpse oil, had inadvertently knocked the roe deer meat from Fool Number Two’s hands. The fool seemed deeply wronged, clutching his head and squatting on the ground, sobbing in anguish.

The Black and White Twins, devoid of consciousness and guided only by the simplest instincts, did not spare Fool Number Two a glance. The female zombie, White Corpse, was clearly impatient. With a leap, she tried to jump toward the aromatic flesh. But as she rose, two enormous hands seized her ankles—the hands belonged to Fool Number Two!

No one knew when Fool Number Two had stood up. He tilted his head back, gazing at White Corpse with a face full of hatred, as though she had stolen his beloved. White Corpse, suddenly grabbed by the feet, looked confused, her shriveled eyes wide. Before she could react, Fool Number Two yanked her down, swung her by the arms in a wide arc, and slammed her fiercely into the stunned Black Corpse beside her.

A thunderous crash echoed, like two massive rocks colliding. Before Lin Ran could react, Black Corpse was sent flying. Fool Number Two, relentless, grabbed White Corpse and continued to swing her, slamming her again and again onto the rocky ground, making Lin Ran’s eyelids twitch uncontrollably. Fool Number Two was no fool; he knew to target the stoniest spots.

Lin Ran was filled with a thousand emotions. Was this not the legendary “blessing in disguise”? Watching Fool Number Two unleash his fury, Lin Ran felt a bittersweet joy, his heart swirling with conflicting feelings. He had thought death inevitable, but unexpectedly, Fool Number Two had shown him a glimmer of hope.

Murmuring to himself that there were still good people in the world, Lin Ran strode toward the horde of ghosts, slowly curling his right hand around the Soul Summoning Bell. With Fool Number Two holding the Twins at bay, Lin Ran knew he could not lag behind; striking first was the only way.

The Soul Summoning Bell: shake it once to guide the way, twice to capture souls, thrice to separate worlds.

The Five Ghosts, seeing Lin Ran approaching without fear, rushed toward him together. Though Lin Ran relied on the bell in his hand, the sight of so many fierce ghosts charging at him made his palms sweat.

He focused on one ghost, gently shaking the bell. With a clear ring, the ghost vanished instantly. Lin Ran's heart leapt—this was working. He targeted another, shook the bell again, and that ghost too disappeared.

His face blossomed with joy. Given enough time, he could assemble a fierce ghost legion identical to theirs. If danger ever threatened him again, he could summon them to his side.

Discovering this wonderful use, Lin Ran wasted not a moment, collecting ghost after ghost into the bell. For a while, even the hundred ghosts could do nothing against him. Following the same method, he captured more than a dozen fierce ghosts, until the others realized how formidable he was and dared not approach.

Lin Ran noticed this and tried to seize another ghost, but when he gently shook the bell, nothing happened. He suspected he had failed to lock onto his target, so he tried again, but a wave of dizziness swept over him.

Startled, Lin Ran stopped shaking the bell. It seemed he could not collect any more—how could this be? Did the Soul Summoning Bell have limits? He resolved to ask Yan’er when he had the chance; perhaps she knew something.

He glanced at the horde, surprised to see them motionless, apparently frightened by his methods. Their companions had vanished silently, leaving them stunned. Only now did Lin Ran have time to look at Fool Number Two—and the sight nearly made him collapse in shock.

The Black and White Twins stood quietly to one side, their limbs twisted from the beating but still striving to hold themselves upright. Gone was their former menace; now they looked like children recently chastised by adults.

And Fool Number Two? He sat atop a pile of stones, munching on a small wild beast he’d obtained from who-knows-where, eating with relish. Lin Ran recalled that there hadn’t been a stone pile there before; it looked newly built.

Lin Ran’s heart trembled with surprise. He had truly underestimated this fool. Fortunately, Fool Number Two bore him no malice—otherwise, Lin Ran would surely have been the one to fall.