Chapter Fifty: Escape

Lin Ran had a vague sense that the figures lurking deep within the Ghost City were far beyond what he could handle at present, so he could only watch helplessly as the Black Warden strode away into the distance.

“Hey! You black-faced brute, don’t you run! Take a punch from your grandpa!” Just as Lin Ran was on edge, the Fool suddenly burst out from amid the horde of vengeful spirits, bellowing at the top of his coarse voice as he charged after the Black Warden.

“Damn, you idiot!” Lin Ran was startled by the Fool’s outburst and hastily reached out to grab him, but his hand closed on empty air. Stunned for a moment, Lin Ran saw a gust of wind whirl past him.

In the distance came a wretched howl. Somehow, the Fool had managed to knock the Black Warden flat. Eyes wide, Lin Ran watched as the Fool, as if possessed by divine might, rained punch after punch and kick after kick on the fallen Black Warden, who now looked to be barely clinging to life.

From the direction of the Ghost City, the oppressive aura that had been weighing on Lin Ran suddenly faltered. His heart sank and, without another thought, he dashed to the Fool’s side, grabbed him as he continued beating the Black Warden, and hurriedly dragged him away.

“What are you doing!” The Fool suddenly shoved Lin Ran aside with all his might, thinking it was a vengeful ghost come to catch him. When he realized it was Lin Ran, he grumbled in annoyance.

“Let’s go!” Lin Ran had no time for arguments. The prickling sense of danger sent his nerves into a frenzy.

“I’m not leaving!” The Fool dug in his heels like a stubborn ox, his thick neck jutting out, refusing to budge.

Furious, Lin Ran swung his fist and struck the Fool hard on the back of his head. The Fool slowly turned his head, about to say something, but his eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud. Lin Ran had intended to knock him out and drag him away, but the fool’s head proved stubbornly tough.

Glancing at the Black Warden lying on the ground, Lin Ran saw that his face, already dark as pitch, had been beaten out of all shape by the Fool. The Black Warden was barely breathing—he’d be lucky to survive. Lin Ran spared him no further thought; if there’d been any chance of survival, he would have finished the job. He understood the principle of cutting weeds at the root.

Suddenly, the mass of ghosts in the distance seemed to receive some command, and they charged at Lin Ran in a frenzy. Not daring to linger for an instant, Lin Ran dragged the unconscious Fool and ran as fast as he could.

He hadn’t gone far before he felt a tremendous force slam into his back, sending him flying. Lin Ran hit the ground and struggled to his feet, his body racked with pain as if he’d been torn apart.

Turning, he saw a vengeful spirit bathed in ghostly green, holding a massive coffin lid. Clearly, it was this lid that had sent him flying a moment ago.

Wait—Lin Ran recognized the coffin lid. Wasn’t this the very one from the Five Ghosts Carrying the Coffin that had been lost in the chaos? A surge of joy rose in his heart. He’d just been fretting that without the coffin, he wouldn’t get far. Now that he’d found the lid, the Five Ghosts Carrying the Coffin could be used again.

Lin Ran saw the horde of ghosts was still some distance away—enough time to deal with this greenish imp. Gripping his bell, Lin Ran advanced step by step. The ghost stared in surprise, clearly not expecting Lin Ran to approach. Lin Ran’s lips curled in a strange smile. He could only blame the spirit’s own foolishness, rushing ahead so eagerly to its death.

Seeing Lin Ran draw near, the green ghost panicked and glanced around, finding no other spirits nearby—they’d all been left far behind. With Lin Ran closing in, the imp dropped the coffin lid and turned to flee.

“Trying to run? Too late!” Lin Ran shook the bell in his hand three times. The green ghost froze mid-step, then vanished before his eyes, dissipating at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Lin Ran was momentarily stunned by the spirit’s abrupt disappearance. Three shakes, two pauses—he hadn’t expected the result to be so devastating, scattering the ghost’s soul in an instant.

Wasting no time, Lin Ran summoned the Five Ghosts. When they saw the coffin lid, they danced with joy, their former listlessness gone. Lin Ran hurried to set the lid in place. With the coffin restored, the Five Ghosts’ condition improved markedly—they could at least carry Lin Ran away at speed once more.