"Master, I obtained a Yin Pearl."
I spoke with delight.
These things weren't common.
Many ghosts, upon dying, would detonate their inner cores.
Very few managed to retain anything.
This item could be consumed by other Yin souls to enhance their cultivation.
My master nodded:
"Mmm, keep it safe. When we return, give it to Miss Qingdai."
"Alright, Master!"
I replied, quickly securing it.
And wrapping it with a talisman.
Because this item couldn't bear light; exposed to it, it would dissipate.
Qingdai was a ghost with an injury.
Giving it to Qingdai would be most beneficial.
As for us, we had little need for it.
The four people leaning against the pillars were now watching their surroundings with terror.
Seeing the vanishing specters, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"The ghosts are gone, they've all been driven away!"
"Daoist, Daoist, we... we should leave here quickly!"
"Yes, Daoist, there are too many ghosts here, why don't you send us, send us back first!"
"..."
Human nature is selfish.
These colleagues of Chu Yue, whom we had rescued, were now only concerned with themselves, completely disregarding the safety and whereabouts of Chu Yue and the others.
My master remained silent.
But I shot them a glare:
"If you want to leave, go yourselves. I won't stop you."
Having said that, I couldn't be bothered to look at them further.
"Master, let's continue!"
My master nodded, and then we walked into the dimness of the garage again.
Those four had no other option and dared not utter another word.
Fearing we would abandon them there.
Following this, the Yin煞 (sinister energy) in the surroundings grew heavier.
Specters could be seen from time to time.
But these specters did not approach, and we paid them no mind.
I periodically shouted into the surroundings, calling Chu Yue's name.
Hoping to find her sooner.
But for the next hour, we still found nothing.
Considering the time, we had been inside the Yin Yang Gate for approximately five hours.
I was truly worried that something might happen to Chu Yue.
Just as anxiety welled up in my heart.
I vaguely saw a group of specters squatting not far away.
They were all crouched on the ground, as if eating something.
My master's brow furrowed, and he called out:
"Quick, go take a look!"
With that, my master charged forward.
I also followed swiftly.
The group of specters sensed our approach and turned their heads.
Each with a face covered in blood, they roared at us.
"Roar..."
And I also noticed a person lying on the ground.
Those specters were feeding on the blood on the ground.
"Get lost!"
I shouted, and my master and I charged forward directly.
Those few specters, obviously unaware of my master and my prowess.
All bared their fangs and claws and lunged at us.
But the outcome was the same; they were dispatched with a few sword strikes by my master and me, their souls scattered.
Upon closer inspection, it was a man, barely alive.
The flesh on the man's thighs and hands had been completely eaten.
Leaving only bone.
But he was not yet dead, clinging to life.
"Team Leader Wang!"
"Brother Wang!"
Several of Chu Yue's colleagues exclaimed.
The person called Brother Wang clearly could not be saved.
He had only a thread of life left.
"Where is Chu Yue?"
I quickly inquired, hoping to glean some information from his mouth.
The person had only one breath left.
Hearing my inquiry, he weakly replied:
"Save... save me. Take me... take me back, back..."
Before he could finish speaking, he gasped his last breath.
His eyes wide open, he died on the spot.
"Brother Wang, Brother Wang is dead..."
A female colleague, who had a good relationship with him, said with a shudder.
I looked at the corpse on the ground and used my hand to close his unclosed eyelids.
But who would have thought, as soon as I closed his eyelids.
A phantom figure emerged from the man's body.
It was the man's soul.
As soon as this soul appeared, it drifted towards the depths of the darkness.
It was incredibly fast, I didn't even have time to react.
My master, seeing this, directly took out a red string strung with copper coins.
And threw it forward.
Forming a sword finger:
"Bind!"
The red string "swish swish swish" wrapped around the soul.
It stood stiffly in place.
I hurried forward, wanting to get more information from the soul's mouth.
Upon approaching, the man's soul was like an idiot.
Motionless, his eyes wide open.
"Brother, brother wake up, wake up..."
I shook him several times.
My master walked over and pulled me aside:
"A recently deceased soul cannot be woken by shaking. They will drift away instinctively.
You need to awaken the gate of the spirit."
Saying this, he formed a sword finger in his hand.
And pointed it at the soul's forehead.
The man's soul trembled violently, as if it had come back to its senses.
"Ah! Ah! Don't, don't bite me, don't bite me..."
As soon as he regained his senses, he cried out in fear.
"Don't be afraid, we won't bite you!"
My master spoke.
The few rescued individuals had all opened their heavenly eyes.
Naturally, they could see his soul.
And walked over:
"Wang... Brother Wang, are... are you alright?"
The man with the Guanyin pendant spoke.
"Xiao Li."
The man said somewhat dazedly.
My master also released the red thread that had been around him.
The man called "Brother Wang," his soul, raised his hands somewhat in confusion and looked at his legs.
"I... I'm fine? My hands, my feet, they're okay?"
It was clear he hadn't yet realized he was now a ghost.
That he had died...