Chapter 1249

The two behind him thought about it and both laughed:

Isn't that the truth? Back then, Wang Xuan Lu's head was cut off by his own subordinates. Whether he wanted to escape or fight, his men were no longer willing; they had lost all confidence and only wanted to trade his head for their own safety and merit.

Wang Xuan Lu's frustration was so deep; no wonder he turned into a fierce ghost after death.

Not long after, Fu Liushan officially declared they were lost.

"I really can't be blamed for this; I was being chased by corpse puppets back then and didn't have time to leave a mark." Besides, the plants in the forest grow so fast that even if he had left a mark, they might not find it now.

Fortunately, he always had a backup plan.

Dong Rui glared, but before he could curse, Fu Liushan took out a bellows and shook it: "Don't be impatient, let's find someone who can point the way."

He turned the bellows upside down and poured it out a few times, as if shaking out furnace slag, but what was shaken out was an evil ghost.

He Lingchuan recognized it immediately; this was the black-robed ghost that had gone to Jishi Village to collect souls a few days ago. They usually held whips to supervise small evil ghosts at work.

Now, this black-robed ghost had lost its whip, its body was bound in chains, its form was very faint, and its face was as white as a ghost... well, it was a ghost to begin with, but it looked somewhat listless.

Dong Rui had spent four or five days fooling around at the Red Pavilion, and he had a similar complexion when he returned.

"Lead us to Ghost King Xuan Lu." Dong Rui said to the black-robed ghost, "And I will set you free."

The black-robed ghost scanned the bushes, recognized this as the Howling Forest, and stared at the three of them with a shrill, cackling laugh: "You've come to the gates of Purgatory yourselves! My King will surely hook your three living souls and roast them over true fire for a hundred days and nights!"

Fu Liushan also smiled at it and raised his hand, lashing it twice with his whip.

The whip was dipped in ghost poison paste, which could not only strike it but also inflict double the pain.

The black-robed ghost was locked by chains and couldn't float away, and it couldn't dodge, so it was lashed until it shrieked repeatedly, looking at Fu Liushan with eyes full of venom.

That's right, this guy had been locked in the bellows and didn't know what had happened in the outside world, nor did it know that its master had already declined in just a few days. Dong Rui coughed: "Why are you running your mouth? Just lead us to the Ghost King and let it finish us off, wouldn't that be the end of it?"

When the black-robed ghost heard this, it made sense.

Fu Liushan lashed it again at the right moment, and the black-robed ghost immediately cried out: "Don't hit me, I'll lead you there!"

Yes, these people were rushing to their deaths, which was exactly what it wanted. Why should it stop them?

It had taken a few lashes for nothing.

It floated in front, and Fu Liushan lengthened the chain and followed behind, pointing a finger at his temple.

The two understood his meaning:

This ghost is a bit stupid.

With an old ghost who knew the way leading them, the speed of the three increased by more than double.

It often floated down from high ridges and steep mountains, but the three of them crossed mountains and ridges as if walking on flat ground, not taking the usual paths anyway.

After walking for another half hour, there were suddenly a few "caw-caw" sounds above, and crows flapped their wings and flew past, their calls harsh and unpleasant.

The black-robed ghost suddenly paused, its form flickering.

Fu Liushan asked it: "Why did you stop?"

"Nothing." The black-robed ghost buried its head and walked forward again, as if nothing had happened.

After walking another few dozen yards, Dong Rui suddenly said to He Lingchuan: "We are already deep in the Howling Forest, and it's almost dark; the baleful energy is steaming up, so why would crows fly near here?"

Crows are such intelligent creatures; why would they choose to approach a dangerous place at such a time? He Lingchuan looked at the guide in front: "When things are abnormal, there must be a ghost involved."

Fu Liushan, however, said nothing and raised his hand to lash it with his whip again.

He Lingchuan discovered that he was actually quite ruthless toward ghosts and monsters.

The black-robed ghost was lashed until its whole body trembled, and it yelled: "Why hit me, why hit me again!"

"You led us the wrong way." Fu Liushan smiled sinisterly. "Was it intentional or on purpose?"

"I didn't..."

"Let me tell you the truth: Ghost King Xuan Lu was defeated at Mian Village and fled back here to linger on its last breath; it can't save you, nor can it help you." Fu Liushan pulled the chain hard. "If you don't lead the way properly, I'll strangle you until your soul scatters!"

What? The black-robed ghost was shocked; the Great King was defeated?

"Otherwise, why would it use crows to send you a message, telling you to lead us on a detour and not to get close to its dwelling?"

The black-robed ghost subconsciously denied: "No, that's not the case!"

He Lingchuan suddenly said: "It usually oppresses you and throws its weight around, doesn't it? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; don't you want to take revenge?"

The black-robed ghost shook its head: "What kind of ghost talk... lies! My King treats us with the utmost kindness."

Dong Rui laughed: "You're choking on those words yourself, aren't you?"

The black-robed ghost shook its head like a rattle-drum: "That's not the case!"

Seeing its eyes darting around, Fu Liushan knew it was worried that its words would be heard by Ghost King Xuan Lu and its loyalty denied; after all, this was the Howling Forest, where it was said even the trees were the Ghost King's eyes and ears.

"How did you die?"

The black-robed ghost mumbled.

"Don't tell me it has nothing to do with Ghost King Xuan Lu." Fu Liushan laughed. "Killing people to collect souls and turn them into ghosts for one's own use is a common tactic for Ghost Kings and Ghost Generals. You were killed by it in life, and you still have to work for it in death; it's pathetic and lamentable. Do you have no resentment in your heart?"

The black-robed ghost's form flickered like ripples stirred by a pebble: "No, no, you're talking nonsense! My King is wise and martial; I have nothing but submission and absolutely no second thoughts."

"Then you're useless." Fu Liushan took out a candle; this time it was blood-red, no longer a Heart-Covering Candle. "Come, let's see how stubborn you are."

If soft words don't work, then it's time for the hard way.

Two breaths later, the black-robed ghost's painful screams echoed over this patch of forest.

Dong Rui and the two monkeys covered their ears:

This was too piercing.

"Torture is useless, I can't say!" The black-robed ghost couldn't hold on and cried out loudly, "My soul lamp is with the Great King; if it blows it out, I'm finished!"

The evil ghosts of the Howling Forest all had their lives held in the hands of Ghost King Xuan Lu and could not betray it.

Especially in this forest.

Dong Rui whispered: "It seems Ghost King Xuan Lu has finally mastered a way to ensure its subordinates never dare to betray it again."

"Then you're useless." Fu Liushan sighed. "I will seal you in the flame of the candle and let you suffer ten days of roasting before you die."

It didn't need a hundred days and nights; he was a merciful person.

Seeing he was about to act, the black-robed ghost screamed: "Wait, wait, wait!"

It felt like death was better than life after being roasted for just over ten breaths; if it were roasted for ten days... it couldn't imagine the pain.

Fu Liushan stopped: "Tell the truth."

"I, I..." The black-robed ghost pointed its finger toward the southwest, just about to speak, when it suddenly screamed again.

This scream was like a cat having its tail stepped on—sharp, short, and full of despair:

"Ah, my soul lamp has been extinguished!"

Ghost King Xuan Lu wouldn't let it confess and had taken action against it after all! "Speak quickly!" He Lingchuan shouted, "We will avenge you!"

(End of chapter)