Chapter 50

A few days later, on the fiftieth day of the lunar month, I lit the talisman paper as instructed by my master and threw it into the alms bowl. Then, I sat in the cave, waiting for the arrival of the ghost messenger.

Before long, a figure appeared at the cave entrance. Dressed in the garb of an ancient yamen runner, dragging a chain behind him, the figure slowly approached me: "Who's summoning the Divine Lord?"

I looked up at the ghost messenger: "A disciple of the Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage, Li Po..."

Before I could finish, the ghost messenger rudely interrupted me: "So, you're a ghost-handler! Do you know the rules?"

I smiled wryly and said, "I really don't know what rules you're talking about."

"Greenhorn!" the ghost messenger cursed. "You must show respect to your superiors, and share half of any benefits you receive. Where's your tribute?"

I bowed slightly, a smile on my face, and said, "Then I must pay my respects to you, Superior." But my hand gripped the hilt of Ziye's blade.

Just as the ghost messenger revealed a hint of complacency, I suddenly burst into action, raising my hand and slashing down at the ghost messenger with my blade. Before the ghost messenger could react, I had severed one of his arms.

The ghost messenger screamed in agony and turned to flee. I flung Ziye out, and the revolving wheel of blade-light swept across the ghost messenger's thigh, severing his left leg.

Before the ghost messenger could move, I ensnared his neck with the Soul-Chasing Rope. With one hand, I lifted the ghost messenger up by the rope: "Call for help!"

"What?" The ghost messenger cried, "Big brother, don't mess with me, let me go! I promise, I won't cause you any trouble."

I held the Soul-Chasing Rope in one hand: "I'll say it again, call for help, call for Hei Bai Wuchang (Black and White Impermanence). Otherwise, I'll kill you right now."

The ghost messenger gritted his teeth and sent out a signal. Before long, I felt fluctuations coming from the Wuchang Image. I immediately turned and knelt on the ground: "Li Po, a disciple of the Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage, pays respects to the Divine Lords."

The voices of Hei Bai Wuchang came at the same time: "Who dares to kill and injure the ghost messenger of the Underworld?"

Although the ghost messengers and underworld soldiers of the Underworld were not of high rank, they were registered yin souls of the Underworld. Whether it was a sorcerer or a demon, killing or injuring a ghost messenger was equivalent to provoking the authority of the Underworld, and would inevitably be severely punished by the Underworld.

Bai Wuchang said in a deep voice: "I didn't ask who you were, I asked who injured the ghost messenger."

"It was me!" I admitted it outright.

Hei Wuchang only said two words: "Reason!"

I said neither humble nor arrogant: "Divine Lords, you can let him speak first, I have a reason, and I can speak later."

When the ghost messenger saw that Hei Bai Wuchang had arrived, he wanted to complain, but Hei Bai Wuchang didn't speak, so he couldn't speak either. When he heard me tell him to speak first, he immediately cried out, "Divine Lords, he did it! He used a messenger talisman to summon me, and then he attacked me without saying a word! He must be a heretic demon, Divine Lords, please seek justice for me!"

Hei Wuchang said without emotion: "It's your turn!"

I responded loudly: "Divine Lords, my Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage has risked life and limb for the stability of the yin and yang realms. Generation after generation of talented people have passed away one after another. Yet, the descendants of the Coffin Gate have followed in their footsteps for the sake of righteousness. Today, my master has allowed me to leave the mountain. I originally had a sincere heart and wanted to do my best for the yin and yang realms."

"Unexpectedly, this person opened his mouth and demanded tribute from me, and wanted me to give him eighty percent of my rewards. I originally wanted to swallow my anger and settle things peacefully, but I have nothing of value and could not produce the tribute. He then demanded that I hand over the treasure of my sect. As a disciple of the Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage, even if I am crushed to pieces, even if my body and soul are destroyed, I must defend the dignity of my sect."

After I finished speaking, I lowered my head.

Bai Wuchang's voice turned icy as he asked the ghost messenger, "Is what he said true?"

"Utter nonsense!" the ghost messenger hurriedly retorted, "He is a heretic demon, he wants to capture me, please, Divine Lords..."

"Silence!" Bai Wuchang shouted sternly: "You say he is a heretic demon? Do you know who the founder of the Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage is? It's me and Lao Ba (Eighth)! If Li Po is a heretic demon, what are we two brothers?"

The ghost messenger was so frightened that he collapsed on the spot. Without another word, Hei Wuchang raised his hand and, with a Void Grip, pulled the ghost messenger closer. With a clench of his fingers, he crushed the ghost messenger into a sky full of phosphorescent fire.

Bai Wuchang then spoke: "Stop pretending, I doubt that ghost messenger had the guts to demand eighty percent of the benefits from you. Demanding fifty percent is possible."

Bai Wuchang changed the subject: "However, even if he dared to ask for fifty percent, he deserved to die. How can the disciples of our brothers be bullied?"

Bai Wuchang didn't pursue the fact that I had tricked him into coming, but instead said with some interest: "Boy, you called us here because you wanted to meet your ancestors and find a backer, right? If you reveal your identity as a disciple of the Yin-Yang lineage, no ghost messenger will dare to bully you. Why did you have to call us brothers here?"

"If I'm looking for a backer, of course, I want to find the strongest backer." I said bluntly: "I'm afraid the two ancestors haven't paid attention to the Yin-Yang lineage for many years, right?"

"My master told me that I could receive the ancestor's inheritance by meditating in front of the ancestor's statue for three days, but I gained nothing. This can only mean that the Yin-Yang lineage has lost contact with the ancestors."

"Now, my Coffin Gate Yin-Yang lineage has been reduced to the point where even a minor ghost messenger can bully us. How can I not look for a backer?"