Chapter 1 The Beginning

Daozhi, the abbot of Guhan Temple, appeared kind and benevolent, a refined and approachable scholar, but in reality, he was a thoroughly evil person.

He indulged the monks in his temple in their depraved acts, deceived believers, amassed wealth for himself, and was eventually beheaded in the marketplace after his misdeeds were exposed.

When Abbot Daozhi's head fell, the people of the city were jubilant, cheering loudly, wishing they could reattach the bald donkey's head just to chop it off again.

However, according to the female ghost Chai Cuiqiao, Abbot Daozhi was not human, but a demonic ape-like creature called a "Shanxiao."

On the day of his execution, he used a combination of bone shrinking techniques and illusions to fake his beheading, deceiving the executioner and the onlookers, allowing him to escape.

Every year in the seventh month, he would return to Guhan Temple, retrieve the aged wine buried deep in the cellar, and host a banquet for various demons.

Although Chai Cuiqiao had cultivated into a Dibuli (earthbound ghost), and their cultivation levels were similar, the Shanxiao was tall and giant-like, with a human face and long arms, filled with intense malevolence. Ordinary ghosts would melt away like snow in the spring sun upon approaching, let alone seek revenge.

In previous years, when Abbot Daozhi returned to Guhan Temple, Chai Cuiqiao could only hide in the temple's underground, concealing her aura. Even though her resentment and anger surged, threatening to dissolve her soul, she had to remain patient.

Therefore, upon discovering that Li Ang and the others possessed extraordinary skills, Chai Cuiqiao immediately decided that no matter what method she had to use, she would enlist their help in killing her enemy, the Shanxiao.

By coercion, or enticement.

"That Shanxiao possesses several magical artifacts and Buddhist implements. One is a Zijin (purple-gold) Kasaya, impervious to water and fire, invulnerable to swords and spears; another is a Zijin Bolyu (purple-gold alms bowl), which can absorb the moonlight and refine it into spiritual energy droplets; the third is a Vajra (thunderbolt) Subduing Pestle, which is impenetrable when wielded, and can easily split stones and break monuments."

Chai Cuiqiao said in a deep voice, "Among these, the Zijin Bolyu is the most precious. Ordinary cultivators must brave the elements in the mountains for months to accumulate a few strands of spiritual energy, but with the Zijin Bolyu, the speed of cultivation is several times faster.

If it weren't for the rarity of great demons in the world, and the fact that the Shanxiao does possess some martial prowess, he would have likely been robbed and killed long ago for possessing such a treasure.

If you are willing to cooperate with me to eliminate this beast, I don't want any of his three magical artifacts. Afterward, I can also give you a great reward..."

As for the contents of the reward, Chai Cuiqiao did not specify, but a strange smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

Heh, Li Ang grinned, *信你有鬼* (believe you have a ghost).

"This matter is of great importance, and I can't make a decision alone. If Miss Chai doesn't mind, I'll go discuss it with my friends first."

Chai Cuiqiao, holding the *ranshaoping*, smiled and nodded. Li Ang pulled Xing Hechou and the others to the temple's front plaque and discussed in a low voice.

Li Ang frowned and asked, "Yuanfang, what do you guys think?"

"I don't have any opinion." Wanli Fengdao curled his lips and said in a deep voice, "I've always believed that humans and ghosts should stay separate. The ghosts of people eaten by tigers are bound to the tigers' surroundings, helping them lure living people.

We are bound to Guhan Temple by the system, and there's no way for us to gather evidence from the outside world to verify everything this female ghost is saying.

What if she's a subordinate of that Shanxiao?

Deceiving us not to kill her, and waiting obediently in the temple for the Shanxiao to come and kill us?"

As a 90s person who looked like a greasy middle-aged man in his forties, Wanli Fengdao once had a warm heart and passionate blood.

But the many times he had been taken advantage of for his kindness had made him no longer easily trusting, no longer naturally optimistic about human nature.

Since he could not distinguish the truth of others' suffering, he simply hardened his heart and became cold and indifferent.

"From a purely beneficial point of view, I'm more inclined to just eliminate her." Wanli Fengdao glanced at his silent teammates and said directly, "She was thinking about killing us just now. Now that we've discovered her bones and grasped her lifeline, are we still going to listen to her one-sided story?"

Xing Hechou looked hesitant, Liu Wudai still didn't say anything, Wanli Fengdao took a deep breath and looked at

the little monk Huibing, trying to find an ally for himself, "Venerable Huibing, you also heard just now that the female ghost died because of the monks' misdeeds.

What if she develops monk-PTSD after death? What if she tries every means to kill you during these seven days?"

Huibing looked bitter and recited Amitabha, not knowing whether it was because he might die at any time, or because the honor of Buddhism had been ruined.

"Miss Liu? Brother Xing? If you hesitate any longer, who knows what kind of changes will occur. Time is of the essence." Wanli Fengdao urged.

Xing Hechou's eyes narrowed, seemingly making up his mind, "Let's pretend to cooperate with her and get through these few days for now. When the seventh day comes, whether that Shanxiao comes or not, we'll be well prepared to deal with any possible situation. What do you think, Little Li?"

"Me?" Li Ang smiled and licked his lips, and said softly, "I think the same as Brother Xing.

Hypothetical situation one: We didn't find the account book, didn't deduce that Guhan Temple once harbored lecherous monks, didn't discover the secret of Guhan Temple's decline, and didn't unearth Chai Cuiqiao's bones.

Then, the two sides are likely to gradually fight to the death, and we won't communicate with Chai Cuiqiao at all.

In this case, our main task during these seven days is to survive Chai Cuiqiao's continuous attempts on our lives.

Situation two: We found the account book, discovered the mystery of Guhan Temple's decline, and unearthed Chai Cuiqiao's bones, but refused to cooperate with her.

Then, the two sides will still go to war, and we, who occupy the initiative, are likely to eliminate her directly, but we will also have to pay a certain price.

Situation three: We first feign cooperation with Chai Cuiqiao, in exchange for a safe period of up to six or seven days. During these seven days, it will be enough for us to come up with a way to find more clues in Guhan Temple and take countermeasures.

If the Shanxiao really comes on the seventh day, then we can also change our strategy at any time according to its strength, betray Chai Cuiqiao or kill the Shanxiao together with Chai Cuiqiao."

Li Ang smiled and waved to Chai Cuiqiao in the distance, while using a most calm and indifferent way to weigh the pros and cons, and said to his teammates, "Considering most situations, I still suggest temporarily cooperating with Chai Cuiqiao, but her bones are best kept in our hands."

The minority obeyed the majority. After agreeing on a collective action plan, the group returned to the original place to negotiate with Chai Cuiqiao, willing to cooperate with the female ghost, on the condition that the bones must be guarded by the task force.

Unexpectedly, the female ghost did not express strong dissatisfaction with the ownership of the bones, but put forward an additional condition to the task force,

"Seven days later will be the Shanxiao's day to host a banquet for the demons. During these seven days, all kinds of small demons will gather in Guhan Temple. You only need to pretend to have received an invitation to mix in. But there are many ghosts among the guests who can see through me."

Chai Cuiqiao's cheeks were flushed, and she lowered her head shyly, and said to Li Ang, "In order to avoid being discovered, I hope to hide in Young Master Li's body."

I'm afraid, it's both to hide her identity and to control the task force, right? After all, Li Ang is the weakest among this group of people.

Xing Hechou frowned slightly, about to refuse, but heard Li Ang chuckle, step forward, walked to Chai Cuiqiao and squatted down, posing like Zhu Bajie carrying his wife, "Come, no harm."

The female ghost nodded, her feet rooted to the ground, motionless, but her upper body kept stretching, like melted plasticine, slowly covering Li Ang's back.

Finally, that pale, ghastly face merged with his face.

The two faces merged and interfered with each other. Ears grew in Li Ang's eyes, fingers grew in his nostrils, a large clump of hair emerged from his teeth, and a white, shiny thigh protruded from his stomach.

The strangeness of the scene and the horror of the situation made Xing Hechou and the others couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.

After a long time, the one-person, one-ghost combination was successful, and those strange organs finally began to slowly recede.

"How do you feel?" Xing Hechou asked with concern, "Is there anything uncomfortable?"

Li

Ang was silent for a while, reached out and pressed down Chai Cuiqiao's protruding nose on his cheek, grinned, and gave a thumbs up, "This feeling is cool and refreshing."