NOVEL NEXT Chapter 666 - 666: More than catching ghosts!
Chapter 666: Chapter 666: More than catching ghosts!
“Eh?” Zhou Mi turned around from the passenger seat to look at Huang Xiaolong. “Little Long, do you also know about the ‘Pengfei Driving School’? My biggest fan, he’s not the boss of ‘Pengfei Driving School’, the boss is his brother. By the way, I signed up for ‘Pengfei Driving School’ a few days ago, and I’ve already passed the first subject test. I’m preparing to go to the training field for the second subject.”
“I would advise you against going there.” Xia Ying said solemnly.
“Eh~~~~” Zhou Mi paused. “Is there something wrong with this driving school?”
Pausing for a moment, Zhou Mi laughed. “Master Long, isn’t this hilarious? A few days ago, I was live streaming and we were talking about you. I told the audience in the live room that you can exorcise beings; unexpectedly, my biggest fan ‘Zhong Pengzhang’ also claimed that he can catch ghosts. He even wants to compete with you … He brags about his ancestor being Zhong Kui, and that his method of catching ghosts is unique, unlike ordinary Taoists and monks.”
Huang Xiaolong’s expression shifted slightly, he said softly, “The method Zhong Kui uses to capture ghosts is to eat them. Heh heh, can he eat ghosts?”
“Ye~~ who would dare to eat ghosts? Isn’t this considered a perversion? Just thinking about it makes me feel sick. Thankfully we invited Master Long to come with us today.” Miao Erfang stuck out her tongue and said, “I am most afraid of perverts.”
“The situation seems to be getting a bit interesting now~~” Huang Xiaolong smirked.
“We’re here.” Miao Erfang began to brake.
A dilapidated building emerged ahead, with mottled black and red walls. The flagstones steps were covered in dust, with the roof and tiles overgrown with weeds. There were even some birds nesting on the roof. A black cat stealthily climbed onto the roof, eyeing the birds.
Outside the building, several cars were parked, and a group of people stood there smoking.
“This…” All of a sudden, Huang Xiaolong focused his gaze on the building, looking at it with a strange expression.
“Little Long, what’s wrong?” Xia Ying asked hastily.
“This isn’t a Taoist temple… it’s a City God Temple.” Huang Xiaolong murmured.
“Um… City God Temple?” Xia Ying, Miao Erfang, and Zhou Mi were all puzzled.
Clearly, they didn’t understand the difference between a City God Temple and a Taoist temple.
Huang Xiaolong began to explain. “The City God, literally, is the guardian deity of cities. ‘City’ refers to the city walls, ‘Moat’ refers to the dried-up city moats; both are military establishments meant to protect city security. However, the City God Temple holds a deeper meaning—Let’s just say, for instance, the Underworld is akin to a country. A normal Taoist temple is a civilian organization, which strictly speaking, is not recognized. However, a City God Temple is similar to a government institution, which is recognized by the Underworld. Every City God worshipped in the City God Temple is essentially a civil servant who receives a salary from the Yin Emperor! In ancient times, every city had a City God Temple.”
“In the realm of the living, each city will elect a mayor. Similarly, the City God worshipped in the City God Temple is the mayor elected by the underworld. To put it simply, while the living are governed by the mayor in a city; when they die and become ghosts, they come under the control of the City God, or the mayor of the underworld.”
“Each City God has a powerful backing, any matter that the City God cannot settle he can summon messengers, such as the Black and White Impermanence, the Ox-Head and Horse-Face to help.”
“Little Long, are you implying that the City God maintains the worldly order, the deceased, and the household spirits?” Xia Ying finally understood.
“Ah, the City God enshrined in the City God Temple is a civil servant working under King Yan.” Zhou Mi finally understood Huang Xiaolong’s intention.
“Hmm~ but—” Huang Xiaolong murmured. “Nowadays, it’s the end of the Dharma Age, there are no longer Ox-Head and Horse-Face figures in the underworld, nor Black and White Impermanence, nor Mengpo… All the City Gods have also become nonexistent as if they were mere decorations. This has resulted in the souls retaining themselves in the world of the living, turning into fierce ghosts, causing mischief, and creating various supernatural incidents… and I am the only messenger – the Yin Emperor. Strictly speaking, this City God Temple falls under my jurisdiction! I can enjoy offerings and protect the people in the City God Temple~~~”
Xia Ying, Zhou Mi, and Miao Erfang didn’t know Huang Xiaolong’s real identity, so they didn’t understand what Huang Xiaolong was saying.
After parking the car, the four of them got out.
A group of people standing outside the City God Temple walked towards them.
Leading them was a thin man in his thirties, wearing all brand-name clothes, even sporting a Vacheron Constantin watch on his wrist.
His features were somewhat sinister, especially his eyes which were a deep shade of brown. Staring into his eyes too long, one might feel as if they were being sucked in!
Huang Xiaolong stared at the thin man. Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his calm demeanor.
That man’s gaze greedily swept over Zhou Mi then over Miao Erfang, finally landing on Xia Ying, clearly taken aback by their mesmerizing looks. When his gaze landed on Huang Xiaolong, it was full of hostility!
“Ah~~ Two beautiful hosts, ha ha ha~~, you look younger and more beautiful in person than in the stream!” He declared warmly. “I’m glad to meet you in real life. My name is Zhong Pengzhan!”
Zhou Mi and Miao Erfang courteously smiled.
“And who might you be?” Zhong Pengzhang’s gaze shifted to Huang Xiaolong. Immediately, the corner of his mouth curled up in sarcasm. “Oh, I understand. A few days ago, Mimi and Erfang mentioned in their live stream that they met a young and talented master who can capture and expel ghosts… they must’ve been referring to you, right?”
“Well~~ I guess so.” Huang Xiaolong smirked, implicitly asking, “What, do you have a problem with that?”
“Pfft~~~ Capture ghosts?” Zhong Pengzhang arrogantly laughed. “Speaking of capturing ghosts, that’s my ancestors’ expertise! Mimi, Erfang, I didn’t expect you to be interested in capturing ghosts. Since this is the case, I must tell you I am the descendant of Zhong Kui. I was born with yin-yang eyes, I can see souls, and my family has passed down techniques to capture ghosts that are unlike any other Taoist monk’s methods. But we, the Zhong family, are the best and the strongest at capturing ghosts!”
Miao Erfang and Zhou Mi just chuckled in an overly perfunctory manner.
“You still don’t believe me? How about I demonstrate right here in front of you then.” Zhong Pengzhang said teasingly, challenging Huang Xiaolong with his eyes. “To be honest, I don’t usually catch ghosts, but if I were to exorcise them, I could do a lot better than those deceptive fraudster monks…”
“Oh, come on! Zhong Pengzhang, your words are really unpleasant!” Zhou Mi showed an angry expression. “You’re beating around the bush!”
Both Zhou Mi and Miao Erfang had witnessed Huang Xiaolong’s exorcism skills several times and they indeed thought they were god-like, hence Zhong Pengzhang’s words belittling Huang Xiaolong led to their dissatisfaction and aversion.
“Mimi and Erfang are sheltered girls, it can be said that they have little life experience. If you use mysticism to deceive them, I think you are extremely shameless and disgusting.” Zhong Pengzhang’s face revealed a menacing look, and he suddenly challenged Huang Xiaolong directly. “Are you brave enough to compete with me in capturing ghosts? If you’re not brave enough, get lost. Don’t deceive Mimi and Erfang again!”