Chapter 97: Battle of the Witchcraft (1 / 2)

Just when I thought I was done for, the dagger suddenly couldn't pierce into me. It was pressed against my hospital gown, but it wasn't going anywhere. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. If I died by this dagger, I would truly be trapped forever with no chance of reincarnation.

The death I had been waiting for did not come. Instead, I heard Kunji's startled voice, "Oh?" He then reached down and grabbed at my hospital gown, pulling something out. I saw that it was the Celestial Master Token. Kunji sneered, "What luck you have. So this piece of wood saved your life." He tossed the token aside and added, "Let's see who can save you now!"

When the dagger came down, I was sure this was it for me. But something unexpected happened—right next to me, the heart monitor suddenly fell. It smashed right onto Kunji's foot. He let out an agonized cry, falling to the floor. The monitor wasn't light, weighing at least a dozen pounds, and the corners must have felt like sharp daggers hitting his foot. He crouched on the floor, rubbing his aching foot, muttering about how cursed the situation was.

Kunji was a witch, skilled in the dark arts. His intent with the dagger was to trap my soul. When a person dies, their soul leaves their body, but after the "seven days" of mourning, it's guarded. The dagger he wielded was meant to prevent the soul from dispersing, trapping it in the blade.

"I don't believe I can't kill you!" he growled again, moving to stab me. But just then, a large piece of plastic board from the ceiling fell, striking him hard on the head.

Kunji, being a stubborn man, was undeterred. He rubbed his head and stood up, his face twisted in anger. He started walking toward me again. But this time, his feet slipped, and his head collided with the edge of my bed, swelling up in a huge lump.

It was as if the universe was mocking him. I felt a sense of gratitude, knowing someone was helping me from the shadows. Using my keen eyes, I looked around and saw a tall, imposing figure in the dimness. A name appeared in my mind—"Night Walker."

The Night Walker was a divine being who didn't interfere with mortal affairs, but he could provide small amounts of help when needed. As Kunji stood up again, I felt a deep sigh in my mind, as if the Night Walker had already done all he could for me.

Kunji's resentful voice broke through the air, "Even if ghosts help you, so what? I want you dead, and you will die!"

"Bullshit!" Wang Yi's voice boomed from the door. As Kunji turned to face him, Wang Yi threw his takeout box straight at Kunji's face. Kunji barely managed to dodge, but Wang Yi was fast, launching a kick that barely missed.

Kunji dodged back, and Wang Yi shouted, "Why harm others?"

"He killed my son-in-law. Shouldn't I take revenge?" Kunji laughed coldly. "Originally, I planned to make him never reincarnate, but it seems that wish is broken. I'll let you both die together."

"Arrogant!" Wang Yi roared, grabbing a thermos and readying himself to strike.

At that moment, I heard Kunji chanting some incomprehensible language. Suddenly, he stuck out his tongue, and his pupils turned yellow. The tattoos on his tongue spread across, turning his entire tongue pitch black.

He spoke faster, muttering in a language I didn't understand. When he closed his mouth, a dark shadow shot out, flying straight at Wang Yi.

"Swallowing ghosts?" Wang Yi frowned and quickly tossed the thermos aside, drawing his Seven Stars Sword.

The shadow surrounded Wang Yi but didn't strike him directly. From my perspective, it seemed the shadow feared the sword in his hand.

"Driving away ghosts in front of a Taoist? You really don't know how to die!" Wang Yi sneered. He twirled his sword and took a step back, his face turning serious as he pointed at his forehead. "By the will of heaven, ascend to the nine palaces, place the hundred gods in their positions, the spirits in training, nourish the organs, seal the spirits, exchange the firebells, extinguish the ghosts, and remove evil. I call upon the immortals, who are boundless, to unleash the tiger's fury! Command!"

He pointed, and I swore I saw a blue tiger emerge from his hand, roaring and pouncing on the shadow. The shadow screamed as it was torn apart in mid-air, scattering before my eyes.

Kunji stumbled back, spitting out black blood, his grin twisted. "You're a Taoist?"

"Damn it! You come to my territory and cause trouble? You're asking for death. I'm giving you one last chance: break the insect curse on my disciple, or I'll take your life and kill your ghost king!" Wang Yi yelled.

Kunji sneered, "Kill my ghost king? You'd better worry about yourself." Before I even understood what was happening, Wang Yi suddenly froze. His face turned green, and his lips turned purple. Black mist flew out from Kunji's crown, and I could hear the wailing of countless vengeful spirits inside the black fog.

Kunji took out a gray skull from his robes. At the top of the skull, I noticed a dark red butterfly-shaped stain. He rubbed it with one hand, muttering incantations. His voice sped up, and Wang Yi began writhing in pain.

I didn't have time to process what was happening. Wang Yi had been in the upper hand, and now, in an instant, he was suffering immensely.

Wang Yi's skin began to ooze blood, and my heart nearly broke. I had known him for so long, and he had saved me multiple times. But now, I was helpless to do anything. The suppressed fury inside me felt like it might tear me apart.

I recognized that skull. According to what I knew about dark arts, this was a "Soul Eater Skull." It was a cursed object created by sacrificing the souls of the living. This was connected to Kunji's dagger that could trap souls. The souls of the dead were absorbed into the skull and could be used for sinister rituals. The skull's butterfly-like stain was a sign that it was being used to absorb souls, and it was said that once the skull turned completely red, it could grant immortality by constantly absorbing souls. In ancient times, executioners were the ones who practiced such dark arts.