After dinner, I returned to my room, thinking to myself: supernatural phenomena in this world are endless!
Just that little ghost almost took my life. How much stronger could the thousand-year-old female ghost, Daiyu, be? I need to catch up on my studies!
I took out a traditional Chinese dictionary from my bag, and then pulled out the "Cow Gate's Historical Records of Exorcism" and began translating it word by word. Afterward, I reorganized it into simplified characters and wrote it down in a new notebook.
At first, I thought the records in the book were just exaggerated stories—talk of nine-tailed fox spirits, thousand-year-old zombie kings, corpse demons, evil ghosts, and so on. But after what I'd just experienced, I finally believed that everything in this book must be real.
I even decided to add the details of my battle with the little ghost to the "Cow Gate's Historical Records of Exorcism"—this was a thrilling battle!
Of course, I'd have to exaggerate a bit, like saying I bit my finger, drew the Seven Stars Spring Brother Phoenix Sister Exorcism Symbol, and with one strike, sent the little ghost's soul flying!
Who cares if it's true or not? Future generations won't know, so I couldn't help but grin at the thought.
A voice interrupted my daydreaming: "What are you laughing at?"
It was Daiyu's voice.
I quickly wiped the smile off my face and said seriously, "Oh, nothing, just thought the book was interesting. The ancestors could defeat monsters so easily that they made them cry for their mothers, begging on their knees: 'Dad, stop! I'm your long-lost son!"
Daiyu glanced at the traditional Chinese dictionary on the table and my simplified notes, nodding slightly with approval. She then asked, "How did you get involved with ghosts? And where is the Chengying Sword?"
At this point, I couldn't keep quiet, so I told her the whole story.
Daiyu nodded and said, "It was a vengeful infant ghost. Could the girl have had an abortion?"
I felt uneasy hearing this. I liked Xiaohui a lot, and she didn't seem like the type to have had an abortion. After all, how could such a young girl have done that? So I asked, "Why do you say that?"
Daiyu explained, "A ghost's appearance is usually similar to how they looked when alive. Of course, powerful ghosts can change their shape, like I can. Ghosts are divided into regular ghosts and vengeful ghosts. Regular ghosts, once dead for three days, are drawn into the Underworld. But vengeful ghosts are not limited by this, and they can even cultivate. As for vengeful infants, they are the weakest type of ghost. They are formed when a baby is aborted or dies shortly after birth. Vengeful infants tend to haunt their biological mothers because they harbor resentment towards them. So, I suspect your classmate might have had an abortion."
I froze for a moment: "Personally? You mean, you'll handle the vengeful infant ghost for Xiaohui?"
"Mm, although I'm still recovering from injuries and don't want to get involved, dealing with a vengeful infant is no problem. Moreover, if we don't deal with the vengeful infant, you won't be able to focus on your training or retrieve the Chengying Sword."
I breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Daiyu would help. It seemed Xiaohui was saved. But... did Xiaohui have an abortion? I hadn't been in touch with her for so many years, I wasn't sure about her situation.
Never mind, I decided not to dwell on it.
Curiously, I asked Daiyu, "So, what kind of ghost are you?"
Daiyu smiled faintly and said, "Turn to the seventh-to-last page of the Cow Gate's Historical Records of Exorcism. It lists the hundred most difficult-to-deal-with ghosts, and I'm ranked 35th."
The hundred most difficult ghosts to deal with, and Daiyu was ranked 35th? That's incredible!
I flipped to the 35th spot and read the entry carefully:
Xuan Yin Mei Ji: The conditions for becoming this creature are extremely difficult. The deceased must have been
A young woman filled with immense resentment before death, buried in a place heavy with yin energy, with the coffin placed with the head facing east and feet west. Only then is there a chance of transforming into a Xuan Yin Mei Ji. This creature, driven by great resentment, will indiscriminately kill. Once its power surpasses nine lifetimes, its strength increases significantly, ranking within the top 20! It can then fly and disappear, and in the blink of an eye, wipe out an entire village. It must be eliminated before it becomes too powerful.
But the entry had been crossed out with a pen!
It seems it was probably the work of that old fraud.
He didn't want others to know how to deal with the female knight.
One jiazi equals 60 years, and nine jiazi would be 540 years, yet Daiyu has been dead for a thousand years. This means her cultivation level has likely surpassed nine jiazi!
A terrifying existence with a strength ranking in the top 20!
So, what could have injured her?!
I asked Daiyu, "Female knight, what exactly injured you?"
Daiyu softly replied, "You're not qualified to know yet.
Alright, I'm leaving now. I'll wake you up at 4 AM tomorrow."
"Wait, female knight."
I stopped her. "How long do I have to run with sandbags before I can learn Taoist arts?"
Daiyu answered, "Exorcising demons requires agility, a strong body, and unyielding willpower. When you can run as fast as a gazelle while wearing 40 kilograms of sandbags, I'll teach you Taoist arts."
With that, she disappeared into thin air.
I quickly, half-heartedly did my homework and then turned my attention back to "Cow Gate's Historical Records of Exorcism", translating it word by word.
The entries in the book were like ghost stories, but they also detailed the characteristics of certain ghosts and how to subdue them.
This book was thick, and if I wanted to translate it completely, it would probably take a year or more.
I translated two pages, only to realize it was already 9 PM. I turned off the light and got into bed to sleep.
However, before I slept, I set an alarm for 3 AM. Starting tomorrow, I was going to exceed the expectations that Daiyu had set for me!
So, I planned to get up an hour earlier.
At 3 AM the next morning, I was woken by the alarm. Reluctantly, I got out of bed.
After a quick wash, I dressed, tied the sandbags, and went downstairs to begin my slow jog.
Because I had overexerted myself the day before, my leg muscles were sore, but I wasn't planning to rest. Besides, the female knight wouldn't give me that chance.
So, I ran a bit, then walked, panting heavily, exhausted as if I were a dead dog.
Though tired, I didn't stop for a moment. When I got too tired, I walked for a bit.
I don't know how long I ran, but suddenly, Daiyu appeared beside me. Looking at my sweat-drenched face, she said with satisfaction, "Not bad, very good. As long as you're willing to work hard, you'll succeed quickly. It seems the master didn't make a mistake in choosing you as an apprentice.
However, your body can't handle this kind of torture. If you keep this up, you'll break down in a few days."
I stiffened and stopped, panting as I looked at Daiyu but unable to speak because I was too exhausted.
Daiyu comforted me, "Don't worry. As long as you find some good things to replenish your body, it'll be fine. I'll take care of that for you.
Also, at 6 PM tonight, I'll come to your school to meet you and help you deal with the vengeful infant."
With that, she disappeared again, leaving no trace behind. Truly, when would I, as the headmaster, ever be this impressive…
The time quickly passed, and it was soon evening.
This morning, I gritted my teeth and managed to walk 10 kilometers, taking a full four hours.
My mom saw my pale face and drenched in sweat, and she suggested taking me to a mental hospital.
After some convincing, she finally believed me when I told her I was just trying to exercise, not attempting suicide.
At 5:50, we finished school on time.
But as the female knight had said, she would come to find me at 6 PM.
So, I came up with an excuse, telling Xiaohui to wait for me while I packed up my things so I could walk her home.
Xiaohui said, "Xiaolong(Bruce), you don't have to go through the trouble. You've been walking me home these past few days—I feel bad about it. You don't need to; I can walk home by myself."
I replied, "Xiaohui, don't say that! You're a girl, and it's late—it's too dangerous for you to walk alone. I'd be worried about you.
Besides, my house isn't far from yours. It's a good chance for us to catch up."
As I spoke, I pretended to tidy up my things, deliberately stalling for time.
Just then, Xia Chao-ran walked over and said to Xiaohui, "Zhou Huiqing, you haven't left yet?"
"Yes, I'm waiting for Xiaolong(Bruce) so we can walk together," Xiaohui answered casually.
"Hm, be careful on the way home."
Xia Chao-ran smiled and then turned to me. "You too, Xiaolong(Bruce)."
After saying that, he narrowed his eyes slightly before walking out of the classroom.
Xiaohui turned to me and said, "Xia Chao-ran is nice—he's a top student, good-looking, and he cares about his classmates."
That comment instantly annoyed me.
What, am I not good-looking too?
A spark of irritation ignited in my heart.
Xia Chao-ran, if you keep trying to pursue Xiaohui, I won't let you succeed!
And if you dare to threaten me, once I master Taoist magic, I'll have a little ghost haunt you every single night!
Not long after, the female knight suddenly appeared in front of me.
I gave her a small nod, then turned to Xiaohui and said, "Alright, I'm ready. Let's go."
On the way, I casually asked, "Xiaohui, do you ever feel inexplicably cold?"
Xiaohui looked surprised. "How did you know?"
I made up an excuse. "I read it in a book. It said that girls with weaker constitutions tend to experience that kind of thing.
Xiaohui, when did this start happening to you?"
"A long time ago. Ever since I was a child, I've had this feeling. It happens a few times a day—I suddenly feel cold for no reason."
Since childhood?
Has Xiaohui been haunted for years?
The female knight, standing beside me, spoke softly, "Ask her if her parents have experienced the same thing."
Only I could hear her voice. If Xiaohui heard it, she'd probably be scared out of her wits.
Xiaohui said that her parents occasionally had the same symptoms.
Both the female knight and I fell into deep thought.
The conversation between Xiaohui and me came to an awkward pause, so I changed the subject.
"Xiaohui, I've been reading a really interesting book lately. There's this character named Ximen… uh… Chuixue!
Yeah!
Ximen Chuixue!(Invincible Heroic Knight)
A martial arts master!"
I broke into a cold sweat. Since I had been deep in thought just now, I had nearly blurted out Jin Ping Mei instead.
"Xiaolong(Bruce), I didn't know you liked martial arts novels!"
"Ah, haha, yeah, yeah, I love martial arts!"
I quickly agreed, laughing to cover up my near slip-up.