Chapter 71: The Beast Within

The more you fear something, the more it comes to pass.

A boy and a girl came rushing to me in a panic, nearly in tears. I told them to calm down and explain clearly. The boy, Jia Jie, stammered, "Something's really wrong! That guy Cui Hai—he suddenly went berserk, started yelling and running laps around our campsite, and then he jumped out of your protected area. He smashed his head into a tree so hard his face is unrecognizable! A few of us tried to restrain him, but he suddenly became superhumanly strong. Several of our classmates have broken bones!"

I was furious.

Before I laid down to rest, I had warned everyone repeatedly: Do not leave the protection circle. As long as we stayed inside the formation and waited until dawn, when the yang energy returned, we could all survive.

I cursed loudly as I followed them out of the tent. "Idiots! At a time like this, they still think I'm joking? Are they trying to get us all killed?!"

The two students beside me said nothing, just nodding guiltily. Outside, Jiang Shiyu ran over to me. "Come quickly! Cui Hai's gone completely mad!"

My first thought was: He's been possessed.

Possessed people often display unnatural strength, just like the idiot Ergouzi back in Zuo Heqi. As I looked around, everyone had swollen faces and bruises. Some were even bleeding. The scene was chaotic, as if a street brawl had just happened. Still, no sign of Cui Hai.

Liu Ruoyi pointed to a bundled-up tent. "He started biting people. We had to tie him up inside with the tent."

Judging from the injuries, I could tell Cui Hai had been ruthless. One guy even had a chunk of flesh missing from his arm. It was clear—Cui Hai wasn't just crazy; something had taken over him.

We gathered around his tent. As I peered inside, I saw Cui Hai staring blankly ahead, baring his teeth like a rabid dog. His face was twisted in pain and madness.

"This place is too drenched in yin energy," I muttered. "My spiritual sight isn't working properly."

I knelt down to get a better look. Jiang Shiyu asked, "What's wrong with Cui Hai?"

"I was too careless," I admitted. "This Huang Daxian isn't just using spiritual pressure—she knows dark witchcraft. Cui Hai has been cursed by a spell called Fang Cang."

I pulled off my shoe and stuffed it into Cui Hai's mouth to stop him from biting. "Look at his eyes—dilated pupils, spreading blackness. It's a sign his body's been taken over by an animal soul."

Someone nearby whimpered, "What's Fang Cang? Are we all going to die?"

Fang Cang is an old shamanic curse: the spirit of a freshly killed beast is forcibly implanted into a living human's body, turning them into a puppet for vengeance. In this case, Cui Hai killed all five of the weasels, so their mother targeted him directly.

Cui Hai was still gnashing at my shoe. Thank goodness I wore tough soles. I knew I had to act fast. "We need to find the beast's remains. Burn them and we might be able to call Cui Hai's soul back. Quick—search the nearby area!"

But no one moved.

They were all too scared to leave the protection circle I had drawn earlier. Before I could urge them again, Cui Hai suddenly burst out of the bindings, flinging ropes and fabric everywhere. His strength was terrifying—like a demon out of hell.

Then, screaming like a wild animal, he tore through our campsite and ran into the woods.

"I'll go after him! You all find the corpse!" I shouted as I bolted after him.

The woods were eerily silent—no bugs, no birds, just the rustling of Cui Hai's movement ahead of me. Huang Daxian had vanished. I was certain she was preparing some darker ritual. But I couldn't think about that. I had to save Cui Hai.

I chased the sound to the ruins of an old village. There, under a collapsed house, crouched a shadow.

No flashlight. Damn it.

I advanced cautiously, pulling out a soul-sealing talisman and gripping my Seven-Star Sword in the other hand. Whether it was Cui Hai or the weasel spirit, I had to be ready.

As I got closer, the figure turned.

Under the pale moonlight, I saw Cui Hai—but not quite. His features had twisted, his eyes turned completely black, his cheeks sprouting fine gray-white whiskers. His face had transformed into that of the old crone Huang Daxian!

He stared at me, grinned, and spoke in a woman's voice: "Little brat… You think some lousy talismans can block my curse? I spared you once out of respect for the Three Pure Ones. Since you've chosen to defy me, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

This wasn't just ordinary possession.

She had completely taken over Cui Hai's body using Fang Cang. His soul was gone. She could come and go as she pleased.

I didn't hesitate—I had to attack her soul directly.

I pocketed the talisman, sheathed the sword, bit my finger, and painted a blood spell in the air. "Heaven is round, Earth is square, by the Nine Commandments, I seal this spell—by divine law, begone! Urgent as law!"

The blood sigil shot out like lightning—but Cui Hai dodged with unbelievable agility. With a leap, he landed on the rooftop and sneered down at me.

Then, he picked up a shard of tile, weighed it in his hand, and hissed: "Let's see you save him now."

Before I could react, he smashed it into his own head.

Blood gushed down his face.

His voice was a mother's cry: "Son, I'm sending one down to accompany you first. None of them will survive."

He raised the tile again for a second blow.