I have grown up eating rice, not by being intimidated.
Since kind words didn't work, I grabbed Huang Jiu by the scruff of his neck, lifted him, and hurled him at the red-dressed girl.
If she wanted to extort me, she had to prove her worth.
The moment I acted, the girl's once-delicate face cracked like a porcelain doll. Blood seeped from the fissures, and as she opened her mouth, sharp fangs gleamed. With a screech, she slapped Huang Jiu away.
Huang Jiu was caught off guard. Only after being struck did he let out a miserable wail, his fur emitting a pungent smoke. He tumbled across the ground a few times, twitched his legs, and lay motionless.
Was he really that fragile?
Before I could ponder further, the red-dressed girl floated toward me. Her fingers spread wide, revealing sharp black claws that lunged straight for my face.
She was even faster than I was.
I quickly stepped back, took a bow stance, and swung my willow whip with force.
Instead of dodging, she caught the whip mid-air, twisted it around her arm twice, and yanked it, pulling me forward until we were face-to-face.
Seeing that the whip was ineffective, I immediately let go, drew the coin sword from my waist, and slashed at her arm.
However, her skin was as hard as iron. The red threads holding the coins together snapped, scattering them to the ground. But the strike did leave a sizzling black burn on her arm, making her shriek and stagger back.
Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed my peachwood sword and scooped up Huang Jiu.
"Quit playing dead, or I'll throw you straight at her!"
Huang Jiu had survived worse; that hit shouldn't have fazed him.
Hearing my threat, he rolled his white eyes downward, revealing a pair of cunning pupils.
Before I could scold him further, the red-dressed girl lunged again. With no time to waste, I gripped my peachwood sword tightly.
Huang Jiu landed on the ground, clung to my pants, and leaped onto my shoulder. "Brother Li, that's a fierce ghost from the mountains! Use your best weapon—these twigs and leaves won't work!"
The only thing left was the seven yellow talismans in my pocket.
But getting close enough to stick one on her forehead wouldn't be easy.
Hesitating, I saw her charge again.
I reached out to grab Huang Jiu—anything tougher than me was a weapon.
But Huang Jiu was prepared. With a swoosh, he slipped behind me, then jumped onto my other shoulder.
The red-dressed girl was upon me. She grinned, baring her fangs, and slammed her clawed palm into my chest.
I felt like I had been hit by a wall, sent flying backward.
She followed immediately, her mouth wide open, aiming for my throat.
What the hell? Wasn't she a ghost? Why was she biting like a vampire?
But as she lunged, I thrust my peachwood sword forward, slapping a talisman onto her forehead.
Boom!
A loud explosion erupted with a flash of fire. The talisman detonated, sending her flying.
Seeing that it worked, I grabbed my sword and rushed after her, preparing to slap on another one.
But as I lifted my weapon, I noticed the peachwood sword had burned black, leaving only half of it intact.
With no other options, I stopped in my tracks.
Huang Jiu shrieked in my ear, "Use the talismans! Quickly!"
Before I could react, the red-dressed girl blurred into motion.
A crimson tongue shot from between her fangs like a venomous snake, coiling around my neck.
A chill ran down my spine—it was too late.
Huang Jiu, still on my shoulder, wasn't spared either. The tongue wrapped around him, pinning him against my face as he let out frantic squeals.
Panicked, I reached for my talismans, but before I could grab one, the red-dressed girl yanked me closer.
Damn it.
I fumbled, my fingers stiff with fear, unable to retrieve a talisman in time.
Luckily, Huang Jiu had enraged her earlier with his demon breath. She turned her cold, hateful eyes to him and plucked him from my shoulder, gripping his throat.
Silence.
For the first time, I felt a sense of peace.
She squeezed.
Huang Jiu's body stretched unnaturally, blood dribbling from his mouth.
About to be crushed, he suddenly arched his back. I thought he was about to fart and quickly turned my head away.
Instead, he clawed at his own backside, digging out a white, thumb-sized object.
Even as I struggled for breath, I was stunned.
His tiny floral shorts had a hidden pocket?!
Without hesitation, Huang Jiu hurled the object at her.
A golden light erupted, filling the room with a massive "卍" symbol.
The red-dressed girl shrieked, flung backward like a rag doll, landing at the doorway with a dull thud.
The tongue around my neck released.
I collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
Huang Jiu, still trembling, crawled over, retrieved the white stone, and stuffed it back into his secret pocket.
I knew it—this little rascal had something up his sleeve. Otherwise, given how much he valued his own life, he wouldn't have stuck around just for a favor.
A favor wasn't worth dying for.
But whatever he pulled out had terrifying power.
I had no time to ask. The red-dressed girl hadn't vanished but lay motionless on the floor.
Something wasn't right.
I took out a talisman and pressed it against her forehead.
Nothing happened.
Confused, I reached out to touch her and froze.
The body was solid.
It was a corpse.
I turned to Huang Jiu. "Shouldn't a ghost be a spirit?"
Huang Jiu, just as bewildered, crawled over and prodded her with his paw.
His expression turned fearful.