Chapter 542: with translation of chapter title

Translation: "Holding five gold medals, I, Chen Zheng, Fan Wuchang and his subordinates, seven of us in total, arrived before this haunted house."

Holding five gold medals, I, Chen Zheng, Fan Wuchang and his subordinates, seven of us in total, arrived in front of this haunted house.

"The timing was unfavorable for us; Wu Fei chose a time after the hai hour, when lunar spiritual energy was at its peak. We did not choose to open the door and go in, but instead walked to the side wall of the house."

Timing was unfavorable for us; Wu Fei picked a time after the hai hour, when lunar spiritual energy was strongest. We did not choose to open the door and enter, but instead went to the side wall of the house.

""Enter……" Fan Wuchang moved his fingers, ordering the four armed subordinates holding guns."

""Enter……" Fan Wuchang twitched his fingers, commanding the four gun-wielding subordinates.

"These four individuals had stern appearances, top-notch experts. Fan Wuchang slightly moved his fingers, and they understood the meaning; they adopted the standard military climbing posture, person stepping on person, and climbed up the left wall."

The four were grim-faced, first-rate experts. Fan Wuchang slightly twitched his fingers, and they grasped the meaning; they assumed the standard military climbing posture—person stepping on person—and climbed up the left wall.

"Fan Wuchang used his shoulder to boost me up, then he followed Chen Zheng up. But at the moment we reached the top of the wall, what met our eyes made the three of us shudder, our hairs standing on end."

Fan Wuchang boosted me up with his shoulder, then he followed Chen Zheng up. But the instant we reached the walltop, the sight before us made the three of us shudder, our hairs standing on end.

"Not long after those four bodyguards landed, before they even reached the door of the haunted house, the ground suddenly gushed out a large swarm of worms that crawled all over them. The bodyguards couldn't even struggle a few times before they clutched their eyes and collapsed, white worms crawling over them. In the end, they all turned into a puddle of blood that seeped into the ground."

Not long after the four bodyguards had landed, before they even reached the haunted house's door, the ground suddenly erupted with a large swarm of worms that crawled all over them. The bodyguards didn't even have time to struggle a few times before they clutched their eyes and collapsed, white worms crawling over them. In the end, they all turned into a puddle of blood that seeped into the ground.

"Chen Zheng was the first to act; he lowered his horse stance, let out a furious shout, leapt down from the wall, clenched his fist, and punched straight into the center of that blood puddle."

Chen Zheng was the first to act; he lowered his horse stance, let out a furious shout, leapt down from the wall, clenched his fist, and punched straight into the center of that blood puddle.

"With a booming ''Boom'' that shook the heavens, a wave-like ripple spread across the ground, and it seemed as if a ring of gas surrounded Chen Zheng, shaking loose the white worms hidden beneath the earth. After his injuries healed, his martial arts seemed to have taken another step forward. Having let go of everything, he appeared to have faintly stepped from the acquired into the innate."

With a booming ''Boom'' that shook the heavens, a wave-like ripple spread across the ground, and it seemed as if a ring of gas surrounded Chen Zheng, shaking loose the white worms hidden beneath the earth. After his injuries healed, his martial arts seemed to have taken another step forward. Having let go of everything, he appeared to have faintly stepped from the acquired into the innate.

"I and Fan Wuchang had no hesitation whatsoever, following Chen Zheng inside."

I and Fan Wuchang had no hesitation whatsoever, following Chen Zheng inside.

"As soon as we entered, an ice corpse emanating cold air lunged at us. Fan Wuchang's eyes turned cold, and his military sword flashed a chilling light in the air."

As soon as we entered, an ice corpse emanating cold air lunged at us. Fan Wuchang's eyes turned cold, and his military sword flashed a chilling light in the air.

"However, the ice corpse was no ordinary corpse; Fan Wuchang's attack only wounded its skin, failing to penetrate its bone marrow."

However, the ice corpse was no ordinary corpse; Fan Wuchang's attack only wounded its skin, failing to penetrate its bone marrow.

""Bind him……" I shouted at Fan Wuchang, moved to the corpse's rear, and affixed the fire talisman I had prepared earlier to its neck, then triggered the fire technique, slowly drawing out the Zhang Jue talisman."

""Bind him……" I shouted at Fan Wuchang, moved to the ice corpse's rear, and affixed the fire talisman I had prepared earlier to its neck, then triggered the fire technique, slowly drawing out the Zhang Jue talisman.

"This was something I had painstakingly devised the previous night; I filtered Yang Qiye's process of subduing the ice corpse and, from that, worked out a method to deal with this ice corpse."

This was something I had painstakingly devised the previous night; I filtered Yang Qiye's process of subduing the ice corpse and, from that, worked out a method to deal with this ice corpse.

"To deal with this ice corpse, one must use the fire technique of Splendid Light Yin Mountain, whose arts are fundamentally incompatible like water and fire. To master this fire technique, I have already accumulated hidden injuries in my body."

To deal with this ice corpse, one must use the fire technique of Splendid Light Yin Mountain, whose arts are fundamentally incompatible like water and fire. To master this fire technique, I have already accumulated hidden injuries in my body.

"But…… I have no choice."

But…… I have no choice.

"After finding the ice corpse's weakness, I and Fan Wuchang used the same method to dispose of two more in succession, and at that moment Wu Fei slowly descended from the second floor."

After finding the ice corpse's weakness, I and Fan Wuchang used the same method to dispose of two more in succession, and at that moment Wu Fei slowly descended from the second floor.

"I, Chen Zheng, and Fan Wuchang formed a triangular formation, surrounding him."

I, Chen Zheng, and Fan Wuchang formed a triangular formation, surrounding him.

"Wu Fei calmly glanced at me, extended a hand, and hoarsely said: ''Hand over all the gold medals.''"

Wu Fei calmly glanced at me, extended a hand, and hoarsely said: ''Hand over all the gold medals.''

"\"Do you still think you have any advantage left……? \" Fan Wuchang stared at him; although his expression showed a hint of contempt, his hands gripped the hilt of his military sword. None of us three dared to underestimate the Wu Fei standing before us."

"Do you still think you have any advantage left……?" Fan Wuchang stared at him; although his expression showed a hint of contempt, his hands gripped the hilt of his military sword. None of us three dared to underestimate the Wu Fei standing before us.

"One a fellow disciple of Yin Mountain, one an internal martial arts master, one a killer wielding a lethal weapon. I believe Wu Fei could discern our backgrounds from our skills alone. Yet, despite this disadvantage, he showed no trace of panic, his gaze icy, still as calm as ever."

One a fellow disciple of Yin Mountain, one an internal martial arts master, one a killer wielding a lethal weapon. I believe Wu Fei could discern our backgrounds from our skills alone. Yet, despite this disadvantage, he showed no trace of panic, his gaze icy, still as calm as ever.

"\"Give me the gold medals, then take them away……\" Wu Fei repeated his words."

"Give me the gold medals, then take them away……" Wu Fei repeated his words.

"He seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty; I couldn't help but step forward, locking eyes with him: ''Wu Fei, can you tell me why you've become like this? We're all fellow disciples; maybe I can help you. Of course, the precondition is that you must confess everything to me and release Han Duo and Pangzi.''"

He seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty; I couldn't help but step forward, locking eyes with him: "Wu Fei, can you tell me why you've become like this? We're all fellow disciples; maybe I can help you. Of course, the precondition is that you must confess everything to me and release Han Duo and Pangzi."

"\"Useless…… you can't help me\"—something I hadn't expected was that Wu Fei's expression wasn't as hard as before; he shook his head and said in a dejected tone: ''No one can help me; I am now merely a puppet, worse than death.''"

"Useless…… you can't help me"—something I hadn't expected was that Wu Fei's expression wasn't as hard as before; he shook his head and said in a dejected tone: "No one can help me; I am now merely a puppet, worse than death."

"\"No one is born liking to be a puppet; if it were me, I'd rather die than be controlled by someone. \" Chen Zheng spoke coldly, his words implying that Wu Fei was clinging to a base existence."

"No one is born liking to be a puppet; if it were me, I'd rather die than be controlled by someone." Chen Zheng spoke coldly, his words implying that Wu Fei was clinging to a base existence.

"\"Is that so? \" Wu Fei gave a self-mocking laugh. Before we could react, a knife had already appeared in his hand, and under our stunned gaze he resolutely stabbed it into his heart."

"Is that so?" Wu Fei gave a self-mocking laugh. Before we could react, a knife had already appeared in his hand, and under our stunned gaze he resolutely stabbed it into his heart.

"All the more shocking, the dagger that had pierced Wu Fei's heart turned into an ice sculpture within a second, while Wu Fei himself remained unharmed, showing not a trace of pain on his face."

All the more shocking, the dagger that had pierced Wu Fei's heart turned into an ice sculpture within a second, while Wu Fei himself remained unharmed, showing not a trace of pain on his face.

"\"This……\" came a sound of astonishment, along with a gasp of cold air; the three of us stared wide-eyed, utterly unable to believe this was real."

"This……" came a sound of astonishment, along with a gasp of cold air; the three of us stared wide-eyed, utterly unable to believe this was real.

"\"Have you heard of the ice armor worm? \" Wu Fei said calmly, with a hint of sorrow: ''It's a silkworm cocoon that grows on the Tian Mountains, feeding on ice, and the silk it produces is also ice corpse.'' He touched his neck, hoarsely saying: ''Now I am an ice armor corpse, neither resembling a person nor a ghost.''"

"Have you heard of the ice armor worm?" Wu Fei said calmly, with a hint of sorrow: "It's a silkworm cocoon that grows on the Tian Mountains, feeding on ice, and the silk it produces is also ice corpse." He touched his neck, hoarsely saying: "Now I am an ice armor corpse, neither resembling a person nor a ghost."

"\"You may go; the farther you go, the better. I don't want to fight, I don't want you to turn into ice blocks. My mission is merely to obtain these five gold medals. \" Wu Fei waved his hand, signaling us to leave."

"You may go; the farther you go, the better. I don't want to fight, I don't want you to turn into ice blocks. My mission is merely to obtain these five gold medals." Wu Fei waved his hand, signaling us to leave.

"\"Why let me go? \" I was puzzled, because our strengths are not on the same level; Wu Fei could easily freeze Pangzi and Han Duo, and naturally could just as easily kill me."

"Why let me go?" I was puzzled, because our strengths are not on the same level; Wu Fei could easily freeze Pangzi and Han Duo, and naturally could just as easily kill me.

"\"No particular reason; perhaps because we are both disciples of Yin Mountain. The inheritors of the Yin Mountain law are few now, and I do not wish to see another fellow disciple die at my hands. \""

"No particular reason; perhaps because we are both disciples of Yin Mountain. The inheritors of the Yin Mountain law are few now, and I do not wish to see another fellow disciple die at my hands."

"It appears Wu Fei has no intention of stopping me from taking Pangzi and Han Duo away. The gold medals mean little to me; even endless wealth would be fine—I am merely an ordinary person who cannot be more ordinary."

It appears Wu Fei has no intention of stopping me from taking Pangzi and Han Duo away. The gold medals mean little to me; even endless wealth would be fine—I am merely an ordinary person who cannot be more ordinary.

"I placed the gold medals on the table, then I, Fan Wuchang, and Chen Zheng walked toward the corner of the house, preparing to take away the two ice sculptures of Pangzi and Han Duo."

I placed the gold medals on the table, then I, Fan Wuchang, and Chen Zheng walked toward the corner of the house, preparing to take away the two ice sculptures of Pangzi and Han Duo.

"However, just then, an anomaly suddenly arose……"

However, just then, an anomaly suddenly arose……

"A painful howl echoed through the air; I turned my head in surprise to see Wu Fei writhing in agony on the ground, and on his neck emanated a strange cold light."

A painful howl echoed through the air; I turned my head in surprise to see Wu Fei writhing in agony on the ground, and on his neck emanated a strange cold light.

"\"Go, quickly go; he has planted a rune on me. My spirit cannot resist him; if we don't leave now, I will attack you. \" Wu Fei clutched his neck and shouted in pain."

"Go, quickly go; he has planted a rune on me. My spirit cannot resist him; if we don't leave now, I will attack you." Wu Fei clutched his neck and shouted in pain.

"I, Fan Wuchang, and Chen Zheng showed no hesitation whatsoever, hoisted Han Duo and Pangzi onto our backs, and immediately ran toward the house's exit."

I, Fan Wuchang, and Chen Zheng showed no hesitation whatsoever, hoisted Han Duo and Pangzi onto our backs, and immediately ran toward the house's exit.

"However, just as we were about to dash out the door, a strange screech like a dying mouse rang out, a chill wind swept over our skin, and upon looking up we saw Wu Fei already standing at the doorway."

However, just as we were about to dash out the door, a strange screech like a dying mouse rang out, a chill wind swept over our skin, and upon looking up we saw Wu Fei already standing at the doorway.

"Those were eyes like frost, emitting a cold light that made our whole body shiver; Wu Fei's black robe had been removed, and a thin layer of ice now covered his body."

Those were eyes like frost, emitting a cold light that made our whole body shiver; Wu Fei's black robe had been removed, and a thin layer of ice now covered his body.

"\"Hah……\" Chen Zheng hesitated not, decisively raised his fist and struck at Wu Fei's face. Wu Fei merely raised a hand to block, and Chen Zheng was actually sent flying backward."

"Hah……" Chen Zheng hesitated not, decisively raised his fist and struck at Wu Fei's face. Wu Fei merely raised a hand to block, and Chen Zheng was actually sent flying backward.

"Even more strangely, after Chen Zheng steadied his feet, a layer of white frost appeared on both his hands; even this internal martial arts master couldn't help but tremble and shake twice."

Even more strangely, after Chen Zheng steadied his feet, a layer of white frost appeared on both his hands; even this internal martial arts master couldn't help but tremble and shake twice.

"As Chen Zheng retreated, Fan Wuchang circled behind Wu Fei, raised his military sword, and viciously stabbed at Wu Fei's neck. However…… the next second, when the sword made contact with Wu Fei's neck, Fan Wuchang quickly turned into an ice sculpture and collapsed to the ground."

As Chen Zheng retreated, Fan Wuchang circled behind Wu Fei, raised his military sword, and viciously stabbed at Wu Fei's neck. However…… the next second, when the sword made contact with Wu Fei's neck, Fan Wuchang quickly turned into an ice sculpture and collapsed to the ground.

"How to describe this strange sensation? The ice sculpture's spread was visible to the naked eye; in the blink of an eye, frost had spread from the sword to cover Fan Wuchang's entire body."

How to describe this strange sensation? The ice sculpture's spread was visible to the naked eye; in the blink of an eye, frost had spread from the sword to cover Fan Wuchang's entire body.

"\"I'll hold him off; you take Pangzi and Han Duo and leave. \" Seeing the situation turn sour, I could only choose to stay behind to buy time; although I know some spells, in terms of agility I am still no match for Chen Zheng."

"I'll hold him off; you take Pangzi and Han Duo and leave." Seeing the situation turn sour, I could only choose to stay behind to buy time; although I know some spells, in terms of agility I am still no match for Chen Zheng.

"I pulled a fire talisman from my waist, held it in my palm, and thrust it toward Wu Fei. Perhaps sensing the opposing force, Wu Fei did not dodge this time but raised both hands to meet me."

I pulled a fire talisman from my waist, held it in my palm, and thrust it toward Wu Fei. Perhaps sensing the opposing force, Wu Fei did not dodge this time but raised both hands to meet me.

"Chen Zheng is no ordinary man; he knows one should not prolong a battle. Even as I shouted at him to retreat earlier, he had already lifted the ice-encased Han Duo and Pangzi. When his palms struck, Chen Zheng had already seized the moment to run out the door."

Chen Zheng is no ordinary man; he knows one should not prolong a battle. Even as I shouted at him to retreat earlier, he had already lifted the ice-encased Han Duo and Pangzi. When his palms struck, Chen Zheng had already seized the moment to run out the door.

"A cold sensation flowed from my palm, permeating my five viscera and six bowels; at the instant our palms collided, the fire talisman burst into brilliant sparks, but these sparks were feeble and fleeting, utterly incapable of harming Wu Fei."

A cold sensation flowed from my palm, permeating my five viscera and six bowels; at the instant our palms collided, the fire talisman burst into brilliant sparks, but these sparks were feeble and fleeting, utterly incapable of harming Wu Fei.

"Fortunately, the power of the talisman blocked the encroaching frost, giving me a chance to catch my breath."

Fortunately, the power of the talisman blocked the encroaching frost, giving me a chance to catch my breath.

"I retreated several steps, shivering with cold, cautiously staring at Wu Fei, and produced a stack of fire talismans from my person. Wu Fei's hand had already been raised, appearing ready to launch an attack at me."

I retreated several steps, shivering with cold, cautiously staring at Wu Fei, and produced a stack of fire talismans from my person. Wu Fei's hand had already been raised, appearing ready to launch an attack at me.

"Just then, a muffled groan came from outside the door; shortly after, Chen Zheng, who had left the house, clutched his chest and turned back."

Just then, a muffled groan came from outside the door; shortly after, Chen Zheng, who had left the house, clutched his chest and turned back.

"\"Someone is outside the courtyard……\" Chen Zheng re-entered the house, leaned against the doorframe, coughed, and squatted down. At that very moment, Wu Fei attacked me with lightning speed; distracted, I could only passively meet his assault."

"Someone is outside the courtyard……" Chen Zheng re-entered the house, leaned against the doorframe, coughed, and squatted down. At that very moment, Wu Fei attacked me with lightning speed; distracted, I could only passively meet his assault.

"Another ''Boom''—I felt like a kite with its string cut, flying backward. Not long after I fell, a crackling sound rose from my body; a thin layer of frost rapidly spread from my arms upward."

Another "Boom"—I felt like a kite with its string cut, flying backward. Not long after I fell, a crackling sound rose from my body; a thin layer of frost rapidly spread from my arms upward.

"Seeing Wu Fei approach me, Chen Zheng clenched his fist and struck at the back of Wu Fei's head, but his fierce attack only produced the same result as before—a powerful rebound that slammed him into the wall, causing him to collapse."

Seeing Wu Fei approach me, Chen Zheng clenched his fist and struck at the back of Wu Fei's head, but his fierce attack only produced the same result as before—a powerful rebound that slammed him into the wall, causing him to collapse.

"Must we truly perish here today? Inside the house lurks the strange Wu Fei; outside, someone has thwarted Chen Zheng. We, like spent crossbows, how can we escape today's peril?"

Must we truly perish here today? Inside the house lurks the strange Wu Fei; outside, someone has thwarted Chen Zheng. We, like spent crossbows, how can we escape today's peril?

"I had already given up hope, merely allowing the frost to slowly cover my body as I watched the now-puppet Wu Fei slowly approach me, his hand poised to strike my crown."

I had already given up hope, merely allowing the frost to slowly cover my body as I watched the now-puppet Wu Fei slowly approach me, his hand poised to strike my crown.

"The frost spread quickly; before long it reached my neck, and Wu Fei had already arrived at my side, that hand appearing ready to strike my head."

The frost spread quickly; before long it reached my neck, and Wu Fei had already arrived at my side, that hand appearing ready to strike my head.

"\"Hah, stop……\" Just then, a roar burst from the sky, making me involuntarily shiver, and a gleam of joy flashed in my eyes."

"Hah, stop…" Just then, a fierce shout burst from the sky, making me shudder involuntarily, and a gleam of joy shone in my eyes.