Chapter Thirteen: Slaying the Ghost Tamer

The two ghost tamers were now on edge, their nerves stretched taut; to claim they weren’t afraid would be nothing short of deceiving the dead. The speed and ferocity Xiao Zi had just displayed were already far beyond what either of them could muster. The only reason they had dared to pursue him all this way was their conviction that, no matter how formidable an E-class anomalous creature might be, it could never take on two ghost tamers at once. If it came to the worst, retreating unscathed should have been a simple matter.

But now, a terrifying realization dawned on them: Xiao Zi was lurking in the shadows. Should he suddenly strike at one of them and inflict serious harm—their fate would be sealed. Their pursuit, to be honest, had been tinged with personal grievance against Sun Shihe; now, with their tempers cooled, regret gnawed at them. At this thought, the two exchanged a glance, then spoke in turn.

“Ah! What a pity—we’ve lost sight of him,” one said.

“Yes, yes, this anomalous creature is simply too fast! Let's head back,” the other replied.

“Alright, we have no choice but to return.”

Both forced relieved smiles, each grateful the other understood, and turned to make their way back. But just then, they sensed a familiar presence hurtling toward them at tremendous speed.

“Damn it!”

Every nerve screamed a single command: Dodge! There was no time to think—the two dived to the side. They hadn’t even scrambled to their feet when that crimson shadow darted back and forth overhead, flickering four or five times in the span of a second. Though they couldn't fully grasp what was happening, the first priority was to get up.

Just as they struggled to stand, a horrifying realization struck them—they could no longer feel their limbs. Staring in disbelief below, they saw blood pooled around them, and amidst it, fragments of their own bodies.

“Ahhhh!”

The two screamed in terror, little knowing this would be their final cry. As their lives ebbed, two plumes of black mist erupted from their bodies, instantly attempting to drift away. But Xiao Zi would not let them escape so easily; he seized the mists and blinked, bewildered.

“Is this the anomalous creature sealed inside a ghost tamer’s body?”

He sensed clearly that these entities could benefit him, though he had no idea how to use them.

Not far off, Sun Shihe’s eyes bulged in disbelief as he stared at Xiao Zi, unable to comprehend what had transpired before him. He had watched Xiao Zi attack the two ghost tamers at a speed beyond imagination, then swiftly slice them to pieces! The effectiveness of Xiao Zi’s assault was due to the ambush; the tamers, lacking special training, hadn’t managed to channel their internal energy to defend themselves. Yet the sheer speed alone was enough to stun Sun Shihe.

This was not the speed an E-class anomalous creature should possess!

Sun Shihe began to simulate in his mind what his chances would be if he fought this creature himself. After careful consideration, he arrived at a single conclusion: it was impossible for him to win. That speed alone outstripped his ability to react, and the attack skill could deal him considerable harm.

If it were a duel, he had no hope of victory!

He couldn’t win head-on, but what about a sneak attack?

Watching Xiao Zi prepare to depart, Sun Shihe’s heart began to race; sweat beaded on his brow. If he returned now, how could he explain to the Quanyou Town Bureau of Anomalous Creature Investigation what had happened to the other two ghost tamers? Was he to say he stood by as two colleagues were slain and did nothing? If so, his reputation would be ruined—how could he ever show his face again?

He looked once more at Xiao Zi in the distance, his gaze burning with fervor.

His right hand summoned a great mass of black mist, gathering energy—his talent. He could accumulate power, then unleash it all at once. Feeling his strength at its peak, he aimed at Xiao Zi and instantly transformed into a cloud of black vapor, charging straight ahead.

Xiao Zi was about to leave when he sensed a powerful presence rapidly approaching.

He had no time to react; the energy struck him full force. The red figure contorted under the assault, flickering unsteadily like a candle battered by the wind. Xiao Zi felt as though he’d suffered ten thousand wounds, his form nearly slipping from his control. Even so, he looked in one direction.

There, Sun Shihe stared in disbelief, arms limp at his sides; his body had reached its limit, and even escaping would be difficult.

“How can this be…? How can you withstand this attack? It’s three times stronger than an E-class strike—even a D-class would be grievously wounded!”

His words barely finished, he saw Xiao Zi slowly release the two black shadows. As soon as they appeared, the shadows dissipated, vanishing without a trace. Sun Shihe knew them well: they were the product of a ghost tamer’s soul fused with the sealed anomalous creature. These entities were useful to both ghost tamers and anomalous beings, and could even be used to nourish forbidden zones. But they had another crucial function—they absorbed surrounding energy. In other words, part of his attack had been absorbed by these two entities.

Though only a fraction had been taken, it was just enough for Xiao Zi to survive.

Xiao Zi realized at last: he had been ambushed.

The attack was truly outrageous—his body now suffered severe dysfunction. If those two shadows hadn’t shared the burden, he might have been obliterated instantly.

This thought stoked his fury; those who tried to kill him would not be allowed to live a moment longer in this world.

“You… must die!”

The words, delivered with the wailing voice of hell, echoed in Sun Shihe’s depleted mind, wreaking havoc on his spirit. His vision blurred; he could barely make out a blood-red figure rushing toward him, bringing with it the crushing weight of death.

“I’m going to die… I’m really going to die.”

The terror of death overwhelmed his every thought. The world seemed to freeze as he watched Xiao Zi race toward him.

“Brother Li, if it were you, what would you do?”