Chapter 345: Fate Ghost's Rebirth

Because of my live broadcasts, I frequently visited haunted houses and ghost dens, and my body had been washed by Yin energy many times over. Practicing ghost arts now came as naturally as a fish to water, and my progress was incredibly fast.

After one complete circulation cycle, I opened my eyes in surprise. "Internal Yin energy circulation, endlessly generating... I can't believe I mastered the Second Stage this quickly!"

Sinking my awareness into my body, I found that the Pre-Heaven Yang Qi and the Yin energy I had just absorbed did not interfere with each other. They traveled along different meridians, lighting up completely different acupoints like two flood dragons—one in the light, one in the dark.

With the two dragons running parallel and Yin and Yang interacting, there was no immediate conflict between my Daoist methods and the ghost arts. This might simply be because I had just started and my strength was still too weak.

Having mastered the Second Stage of Yin-Yang Ghost Art, I was now immune to both cold and heat. Its profundity actually surpassed the Profound Truth Dao Method.

Taking off my shirt, I looked down at my abdomen. Golden threads flashed in my eyes; under the gaze of the Judging Eye, no ghosts or gods could hide.

"Found you!" A ghostly infant's face faintly appeared on my belly. While I was practicing the ghost arts just now, the circulation of my mental method had inadvertently extracted Yin energy from the Three-Eyed Infant Spirit, leaving it in a weakened state.

Such an opportunity was rare. Without much hesitation, I decided to try the ghost art recorded in the book.

I mobilized the Yin energy in my body and pressed it toward the Kidney Aperture, which was where the Infant Spirit resided.

Following the records in the book, I formed hand seals, using Yin energy as a pen to carve complex divine markings onto the Infant Spirit's body.

I still didn't know what these patterns specifically meant; I was merely copying them, imitating the diagrams in the book.

Halfway through carving the runes, the Infant Spirit woke up. The third eye on its forehead went completely round as it let out a shrill scream inside my body and struggled with all its might.

Intense pain washed over me. If anyone else had been here, they would have seen a highly bizarre sight: a fist-sized lump bulging out of my belly.

I grimaced in pain. With an infant's cries and screams echoing in my ears, my divine sense wavered, making it completely impossible to concentrate on carving the divine markings.

"The Rakshasa Ghost Infant possesses intelligence. If I don't deal with it now, it will become even more troublesome later." Enduring the ear-piercing screams, I frantically rummaged through the talismans I carried with me, eventually pulling out one I had exchanged for a long time ago—the Infant Night-Crying Talisman.

This talisman had been drawn by an old man in the countryside. It was one of the five talismans I had randomly exchanged for before the Route 14 Spirit Bus broadcast.

To deal with a ghostly entity inside my own body, I naturally couldn't use a talisman with too much power. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I slapped the talisman onto the bulging lump on my abdomen.

Strangely enough, the crying in my ears stopped instantly, and the bulging lump slowly began to shrink.

"The Infant Night-Crying Talisman actually has this kind of effect?" With the Infant Spirit no longer crying, I focused all my attention on drawing the divine markings.

Fortunately, I had prior experience drawing talismans. Before the Yin energy in my body was completely depleted, I finally finished drawing those complex runes.

Looking inward with my divine sense, I saw black and white intertwining over the Infant Spirit. Across its deathly pale skin lay fine Yin energy chains burning with black fire.

The Yin locks were completed, but this was only the first step in enslaving a ghost. To completely control it, I still needed the corresponding incantation.

"Profound and obscure, born with heaven and earth; dispersing into energy, gathering into form."

Halfway through the incantation, the vengeful spirit was trembling with the intent to submit. Suddenly, however, another will erupted from within its body. It was abnormally tyrannical. Almost instantly, the Infant Night-Crying Talisman on my belly was shredded, and the infant's ghostly face morphed into a woman's face.

"Ghost Mother?!" I broke out in a cold sweat in terror, only now remembering that this Infant Spirit was the Ghost Mother's method of keeping me in check. By trying to enslave the Infant Spirit, I was provoking the Ghost Mother; she definitely wouldn't allow it.

The Infant Spirit began to struggle again. The Yin energy chains pulled taut, looking as if they would shatter at any moment.

I was halfway through the incantation. Right now, the arrow was on the bowstring and must be fired. How could I let my life be controlled by a ghost?

Gritting my teeth, my voice actually grew louder. "Ancestor of the Five Elements, Essence of the Six Jia, ghosts arrive at my will, and act upon my command!"

Continuous thumping echoed inside my body. The Ghost Mother tore free from the Yin energy chains, and the lump on my belly grew larger and larger, looking as if it were about to burst my stomach.

I bit down on my wrist, sending blood splattering. Unable to worry about anything else at this point, I dipped my fingers in the blood to draw a talisman. "Yin-Yang Has an Order, let the lingering souls be delivered and ascend to immortality! Defy this order, and be cast into the netherworld, your bones ground to dust!"

Blood flowed as I wrote the character for 'Pardon' directly over the Infant Spirit's head.

This character seemed to contain the rules of both the Yin and Yang realms. Even a terrifying Yin god like the Ghost Mother did not dare to contest it, vanishing after a shrill scream.

"It worked?" Focusing my mind to look inward, I saw the Infant Spirit's three eyes were open, but they contained no trace of malice or resentment. My battle with the Ghost Mother had obliterated its intelligence, leaving behind only the empty shell of a Rakshasa Ghost Infant with immense potential.

"Nourishing this ghost in the Kidney Aperture will allow it to break open one of the Nine Locks for me in the future. Moreover, it can automatically absorb Yin energy to help me practice the ghost arts. If utilized well, it will be a tremendous asset."

Deep in thought, I took out the Embroidered Cloth Bag containing the Fate Ghost Eyeball and used the Judging Eye to look at the single strand of black hair inside.

"You died for me, so I will make you live again because of me."

After recovering my stamina a bit, I borrowed the bloody, baleful Yin energy within the Lacquered Wooden Coffin to continuously stimulate the strand of black hair left behind by the Fate Ghost inside the black pupil. That was the single thread of vitality left to the Fate Ghost by the Upper Vehicle Talisman, the Rebirth Divine Mantra.

As Yin energy poured in, the black hair slid out of the pupil. Following the bite wound on my wrist, it slowly merged into the Rakshasa Ghost Infant's body.

"Infant Spirit, Infant Spirit, of name unknown; bestowing you the Fate Ghost, approach my altar! Prosperity to those who obey me, doom to those who defy me! Assist me in completing the Dao, and aid me in attaining the Truth!"

"Yin-Yang Has an Order, Pardon!"

Once the incantation was finished, a trace of a familiar color appeared in the Rakshasa Ghost Infant's pupils. Then, as if severely injured, all three of its eyes closed and it fell into a deep sleep.

"When you wake up again, perhaps I will be able to see the real you."

That incantation just now had also drained all my energy. Collapsing into the coffin, I felt nothing but aching pain all over my body.

By noon, I gathered my spirits and went downstairs. On the ground floor, the relationship between Wang Yu and Bai Qi was progressing rapidly.

I saw Wang Yu throw a stick-like object toward the door. Bai Qi sprinted over, bit down on it, and brought it back to Wang Yu's hands. Then Wang Yu threw it again. They repeated this over and over, the child and the dog having the time of their lives.

"To think there is such a massive difference in how autistic patients treat humans compared to animals." Just as I was about to ponder some philosophical questions about the mind, my Judging Eye suddenly focused on the stick-like object Wang Yu was throwing.

"Looks a bit familiar? There's a switch on it, and even some writing—Eight-speed vibration, equipped with small massage nodules, voice-controllable. Specially designed for women's lifestyle, bringing true sexual bliss..."

With a dark expression, I snatched the stick-like object from Bai Qi's mouth. Looking at the innocent eyes of Wang Yu and Bai Qi, for the first time, the thought of moving out arose in my mind. 'Wang Yu is still young. He can't stay in the Adult Shop with me.'

I took them out for a big meal. After returning to the shop, I watched Wang Yu playing around with Bai Qi, and my brows slowly furrowed.

My identity was very sensitive, and I had offended quite a few people. As an Underworld Live Show Streamer, I would definitely offend even more people in the future.

If I were all alone, I wouldn't be afraid. But I worried that my enemies might target Wang Yu.

'Following me, he has no future. Should I leave him in the care of a friend?'

I counted my friends on my fingers: a homicide detective who dealt with violent criminals every day, a fortune-teller on the Tianqiao, someone who played with corpses, someone who raised venomous insects, and someone skilled at fighting for turf. There just wasn't a single one with a proper, normal job.

'Forget it, I'd better look after him myself.' Resting on the table, I watched Wang Yu play with Bai Qi. The little guy refused to let anyone into his heart, yet he could play so well with Bai Qi. A rare smile touched my face as I enjoyed this moment of peace.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before this peace was broken by the sudden ringing of my phone.

"Hello?"

"Jian Ge, I'm out of the station! Wanna go drinking? The brothers have already set up a table. This time was truly fucking vindicating! A whole room of armed police politely escorted me out of the station!"

I knew it was Er Gouzi as soon as I heard the voice, and a wave of joy rose in my heart. "It's good that you're out. I'll pass on the drinks, though. Come over here by yourself in a bit. I have something good to give you."

"Alright, I'll be right there!"

Half an hour later, a beat-up minivan parked at the entrance of the Adult Shop. Er Gou still had bruises on his face; it seemed he had suffered quite a bit in the station.

"Jian Ge, what did you call me over for?"

Without wasting any words, I fetched the Eight-Step Crushing Fist manual from the back room and placed it on the table.