Chapter Thirty-One: Outsmarting the Malignant Spirit

"Brother Da Fei, this time what appeared in Daping Village was a vicious spirit. Thankfully, it was only a vicious spirit and not an evil entity—otherwise, Daping Village would have already been awash in blood."

The difference between a vicious spirit and an evil entity is not merely one of strength. The greatest distinction lies in the fact that a vicious spirit retains some fragments of the memories most deeply etched from its life and possesses a faint trace of humanity. In contrast, an evil entity’s consciousness has been utterly consumed by malevolent energy, stripped of all humanity, knowing only slaughter and destruction—every living creature becomes its target.

"This vicious spirit was a bandit in life. Though ferocious and irascible, as long as you don’t provoke it, it won’t kill indiscriminately."

"It still keeps its habits from life, treating the villagers as fat sheep who supply it with provisions."

"As long as its demands are met, it will leave with the food and supplies for the mountains, refraining from random killing, returning the next night after midnight."

"Except for the first night, when some villagers resisted and were injured, no one else was harmed. This was thanks to the village chief's experience and wise handling."

The village chief had noticed that Tian Dashuang—usually an ordinary man—was acting strangely, walking on his tiptoes. It dawned on him that Tian Dashuang was possessed by a ghost.

He immediately instructed the villagers to stand down, approached to negotiate, and soon discovered that the ghost inhabiting Tian Dashuang had been a bandit. He addressed it as 'hero,' soothed it with kind words, invited it into his home, served it wine and good food, and handed over a supply of provisions, showing utmost deference.

But the bandit-turned-vicious-spirit demanded more than just food—it wanted blood offerings.

The chief surrendered three hens and two ducks. The vicious spirit was quite satisfied with the chief’s compliance and took all the supplies up the mountain.

The village chief promptly contacted Master Chen and his group, instructing the villagers to behave as if nothing had happened, going about their usual routines so as not to alert the vicious spirit.

Yesterday, Master Chen and his disciples were presiding over a funeral in another town and couldn’t come, so the chief had to placate the spirit for the time being.

Last night, the chief paid another tribute of provisions and a sheep, suffering heavy losses, but he cared only for the villagers’ safety.

With its hunger for blood and supplies satisfied, the vicious spirit left the villagers alone.

Master Chen and his group finished the funeral rites this morning and hurried over as soon as the deceased was buried.

"Today marks the third day of the vicious spirit’s appearance. The troublesome part is that it doesn’t manifest as a spectral form, but has possessed a villager."

"The possessed villager has become tremendously strong and even knows some martial arts—ten or even eight robust men can’t subdue him. Brother Da Fei, do you have any confidence?"

Everyone at the table turned to look at Li Yunfei.

Li Yunfei pondered briefly and spoke cautiously, "If it comes to close combat, I should have no trouble—after all, I can handle ten or eight strong men myself."

"But the villager is innocent. We must ensure his safety while exorcising the spirit, so it would be best to force the vicious spirit out of his body."

Master Chen agreed, "Yes, our original plan was to capture him with a net woven from red thread, restricting his movements, and then find a way to force the spirit out."

"As long as the villager is safe, the rest is easy. Dealing with ordinary vicious spirits and resentful ghosts is well within our capabilities."

Li Yunfei considered and said, "No need for such trouble. If I can get close, I can use talismans and ritual implements to drive the spirit out of the villager’s body and destroy it."

Everyone began discussing strategies, and soon they devised a workable plan.

After settling the details, time edged toward midnight, and each began their preparations.

...

At three quarters past midnight, the hour when yin energy is at its peak, a figure appeared on the small road northwest of the village.

The person was tall and burly, moving with remarkable speed, yet walked on his tiptoes, his heels never touching the ground.

His face was stiff and expressionless, his eyes fierce and violent, and his body exuded a bloody aura.

This was Tian Dashuang, the villager possessed by the vicious spirit, heading straight for the chief’s house, where the chief waited on the cement road before the courtyard.

Seeing Tian Dashuang turn the corner, the chief quickly bowed and stepped forward, wearing a sycophantic smile, clasped his hands, and said, "Chief, you’ve arrived!"

Tian Dashuang strode up to the chief, raised his head, and spoke in a heavy voice, "Are the provisions ready?"

The chief nodded and replied obsequiously, "They’re prepared, sir, and can be taken at any time. But today, I have a request to ask of you."

Tian Dashuang’s face remained unmoved. "Speak."

The chief said, "It’s like this: there are a few young men in the village who deeply admire heroes like you. They greatly look up to you and wish to join your ranks."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Tian Dashuang abruptly turned to the chief, a faint red glow flickering in his eyes. The chief’s heart chilled, his back damp with sweat, though his face betrayed nothing, maintaining his ingratiating smile.

A stiff smile crept onto Tian Dashuang’s face. "Only true heroes ascend the mountain, only real men enter the hall. Not just anyone qualifies. Bring them here and let me have a look."

Upon hearing this, the chief quickly sidestepped and gestured invitingly, "Yes, sir, please come inside. They’re waiting within."

"Mm."

Tian Dashuang clasped his hands behind his back, head held high, chest out, and strode into the courtyard.

The chief hurried ahead, calling into the main house, "Boys, come out and pay your respects to the chief! Whether you can follow him and enjoy the good life depends on whether he takes a liking to you!"

The vicious spirit seemed greatly pleased by the chief’s words, the stiff smile on its face growing wider.

"Coming!"

Led by Li Yunfei, Master Chen’s three apprentices followed closely behind, approaching Tian Dashuang together.

Master Chen and Master Yang did not show themselves. They hid behind the door—one holding Li Yunfei’s peachwood sword, the other gripping the red spirit-binding cord.

The peachwood sword was affixed with seven exorcism talismans; the combined power of the talismans and the sword would be greater than the sum of its parts, making it especially deadly to spirits.

Li Yunfei wore a respectful expression as he hurried forward, the Eight Trigrams mirror tucked at his waist.

"At your service, chief," Li Yunfei said, running up to Tian Dashuang, clasping his hands above his head, and bowing deeply.

The three behind him did likewise. The chief edged closer to Li Yunfei, feigning readiness to introduce them.

Only because the bandit spirit chose to possess someone was Li Yunfei able to use this ploy to approach without arousing suspicion.

When a ghost possesses a living person, it gains a layer of protection but loses some of the unique abilities of its spectral form.

If it appeared as a soul, it would see the spiritual glow emanating from Li Yunfei from afar, become wary, or flee.

But being possessed, it saw only through the host’s mortal eyes—naturally blind to the supernatural.

"Stand up straight; let me have a look," Tian Dashuang said.

He was very satisfied with the physique of Li Yunfei and the others, and seeing their respect, he was even less on guard.

Li Yunfei straightened, but kept his hands raised in a clasp, moving them closer to Tian Dashuang’s forehead as he rose.

Just as he was about to stand upright, Li Yunfei struck.