Chapter 1: The Haunted Yōlin (Part 1)

  Ding Lingxiu picked up the half cigarette that had fallen on the ground and continued smoking.

  He turned the pages and stumbled towards the ghoul, his body already trembling involuntarily.

  The Corpse Eater completely lost consciousness, and Ding Lingyu used his slender fingers to dip into the remaining drop of azalea blood on the porcelain piece, pointing it at the Corpse Eater's brow. The Corpse Eater let out a heart-wrenching scream, its demonic energy rapidly swirling around its body, gradually gathering at its brow. The Corpse Eater's horns stopped trembling, and its eyes slowly became calm, while its scattered primordial spirit recondensed onto the top of its head.

  Ding Lingxiu clasped his hands together and muttered an incantation:

  "Humanity is lost, ghosts disrupt the norms. The Holy Spirit saves all, and good fortune appears in times of difficulty."

  A faint, soft light illuminated the serene face of the Corpse Eater, whose shattered teeth chattered and trembled as it mumbled something incoherently. Ding Lingyu smiled warmly as he grasped the hand of this malevolent spirit that had almost killed him just moments before, saying:

  "I pity you, a wretched spirit. Now that I've cleansed your evil thoughts, rest in peace and return to the sacred realm."

  The ghoul's eyes were clear and bright, and he nodded slightly, his entire body enveloped in a faint halo of light.

  A hundred ghosts floated in mid-air, Ding Lingxiu began to recite this page of the Corpse-Eating Ghost's Soul-Calling Incantation:

  "Racing across the battlefield, achieving great fame over thousands of miles. Unyielding heroes, eating bitterness and swallowing humiliation."

  As soon as he finished speaking, the Corpse-Eating Ghost transformed into a beam of black light and shot into the Hundred Ghosts Painting.

  Zhang Shanyi supported Ding Lingxiu, who was exhausted, and walked towards the door. However, Ding Lingxiu pointed at Luo Huaiyu and said:

  "You go with her, I can manage on my own."

  Zhang Shanyi yearned for Luo Huaiyu and slowly walked out of the door.

  Three people walked out of the ward, Ding Lingxiu finally couldn't hold on, and sat down on the ground with a thud, fainting.

  When I woke up again, it was already noon on the second day.

  "He's awake, he's awake." Ding Lingxu vaguely heard Luo Huaiyu's voice.

  "Lin Xiu little brother, you've finally woken up." Dean Luo also rushed over and grasped Zhao Lin Xiu's hand.

  "Director Luo..." Ding Lingxiu was still a bit drowsy. "Where's Zhang Zhenren? Is he okay?"

  "It's alright, it's alright, you two are just superficially injured. I've already heard the whole story from Director Zhang. I'm truly grateful that Xiaonu is safe and sound this time." Dean Luo said gratefully.

  "Haha, Dean, you're really being polite. If you marry off your daughter Luo Huaiyu to me, we'll be even." Ding Lingxiu said with a smile.

  Just as Director Luo was about to speak, Luo Huaiyu's face suddenly turned red, as if she had really done it.

  "You're annoying, don't you want to continue staying in the hospital?" Luo Huaiyu clenched her fist.

  "Oh, really? You actually want me to stay here?" Ding Lingyu said with a mischievous tone.

  "Hehe, if Little Girl can really be with Lin Xiu's little brother, that would be a good thing." Luo Institute Director said.

  "Thanks to the Dean's appreciation, if I wasn't destined to wander, I would really consider it seriously."

  "By the way, little brother, this time you took my place to catch the ghost, it can be said that it was a narrow escape from death. Moreover, your physical injuries have not healed yet, why not stay for a few more days before setting off again?"

  "No, I still have something on hand, and I'll be leaving today." Ding Lingxiu said as he jumped off the bed.

  "Hey......where are you going? You still owe me a meal." Lu Huaiyu blocked his way.

  "Hey, Xiaoyu, stop being naughty," said Director Luo.

  "Alright... then I'll treat you to dinner, I'm also hungry anyway, let's eat and go afterwards." Ding Lingxiu said with a smile.

  "Where's the need for that, Brother Lin has worked hard and deserves a good rest. I'll be the host tonight, you and Zhang Zhenren mustn't decline." Luo Yuanzhang said with a wave of his hand.

  "That won't disappoint Director Luo's good intentions." Ding Lingxiu smiled and replied.

  Dinner was at Director Luo's home, where Ding Lingxiu personally cooked and made dinner with Director Luo's wife. The dinner was very rich, and Ding Lingxiu also made a secret recipe for five-flower meat sauce roasted octopus.

  Ding Lingxiu had just brought up the plate of his secret five-flower meat sauce roasted octopus, and the overflowing fragrance made Luo Huaiyu drool with desire.

  "Hehe, now I, a foodie, have good fortune." Lu Huaiyu hastily picked up a piece.

  "How is it?" asked Ding Ling with great satisfaction.

  Luo Huaiyu first picked up a piece of five-flower pork, and as soon as the meat entered her mouth, it was instantly filled with fragrance. The rich sauce had penetrated deeply, giving a wonderful feeling. Looking at the bowl again, she saw that the white and plump eight-treasure fish had been cut into small pieces, looking fresh and enticing. Luo Huaiyu couldn't help but pick one up to try, dipping it in the sauce. The seafood flavor wrapped in the sauce was subtly heart-warming, with a great mouthfeel.

  "Mmm, it's so delicious." Lu Huaiyu's eyes sparkled and soon her mouth was stuffed full.

  "Hmm, that's for sure, but Auntie's taro beef roll is even better." Ding Lingxiu said as he picked up a golden-colored meat roll and put it in his mouth. "This dish has a soft and smooth texture, and the aftertaste is endless. Auntie combined the fragrant and slightly sweet flavor of the taro with the tender and fresh flavor of the beef, creating a unique taste that's not only uniquely textured but also rich in nutrition."

  Mrs. Luo laughed happily: "I didn't expect Lin Xiu, a young brother who can subdue demons and evil spirits, to also be so knowledgeable about food."

  "Elegant enjoyment is also at a loss, can only study the most vulgar food." Ding Lingxiu replied.

  "Come on, let's be happy today, have a few more cups, to see off Zhao the younger brother." Luo Dean invited Ding Lingxiu and Zhang Shanyi to take their seats, raising his wine cup.

  "Alright, let's get drunk today." Zhang Shanyi became bold and raised his cup to drink it all in one gulp.

  Ding Lingxiu looked at him and took a light sip of wine.

  Because at Luo's house, Ding Lingxiu was also not too restrained, the cups and plates were exchanged on the table, and the three of them drank happily.

  It was around 8 o'clock in the evening when Mrs. Luo and Luo Huaiyu returned to their room, while the three of them were still chatting.

  Especially Zhang Shanyi, this big ear Taoist priest, usually looks elegant and refined, but as soon as he drinks wine, he becomes a different person, immediately becoming vigorous and energetic, and starts talking freely, saying a lot about his experiences of subduing demons and getting rid of evil spirits.

  Ding Lingxiu smiled and listened attentively, looking at Zhang Shanyi's nature. Not only did Ding Lingxiu not feel annoyed, but he also thought that Zhang was a very lovely person.

  "Ah, Brother Ding, this Hundred Ghosts Painting has each of its demons having their own extraordinary experiences. Then how did this Corpse-Eating Ghost fall into the demonic path?" Zhang Shanyi's drunken eyes were blurry, and he suddenly thought of this topic, asking Ding Lingxiu.

  "Brother Ding?" Dean Luo suddenly felt a sense of surprise at this title for Zhang Shanyi.

  "Oh... He's drunk, slurring his words, it's Lin Xiujun." Ding Lingxiu couldn't help but explain with a flushed face, and what made him even more speechless was that this drunkard had actually brought up the matter of the Hundred Ghosts Painting, fortunately he had refused the Dean's invitation to dinner at the restaurant, otherwise he might have gotten into trouble.

  "Ah ah, so that's the case. Then Lin Xiu, you can tell us the story of this Corpse Eater." Luo Yuan also became interested and completely forgot about the Hundred Ghosts Painting.

  "Alright, I also only know roughly, maybe the real situation is even more complicated and strange." Ding Lingxiu thought for a moment, then continued to say:

  "In fact, this ghoul was originally a mortal man named Wu Xiang. In his lifetime, he was also a notable figure. To talk about his story, we need to go back to the Southern Song Dynasty period. At that time, the Jin State invaded the border, and the Jingkang Incident broke out. Yue Fei, the leader of the Yue Family Army, led his troops against the Jin army. Wu Xiang was then a general who guarded the border and had made great contributions in resisting the Western Xia. When he saw the country in trouble, he stood up again and joined the team fighting against the Jin army. In the Battle of Heishan, he cleverly deployed his troops and defeated the Jin army, breaking through more than 10 Jin camps. The leader of the Jin army, Wuzhu, was shot by an arrow and almost lost his life. According to historical records, at that time, Wuzhu's situation was 'he barely escaped with his life, hastily cutting off his beard and hair to flee back home.'"

  Dean Luo was shocked: "I really didn't expect that the food corpse's previous life was actually Wu Tong, a famous general of Southern Song Dynasty. Then how did he fall into the devil's path and become such an evil ghost?"

  Ding Lingxiu lit a cigarette and continued:

  "Wu Xiang was intelligent and brave, with numerous military achievements, his name shook the provinces of Lian and Shu. He was appointed by the imperial court as the Inspector of the Junior Preceptor and Deputy Envoy of the Pacification Commission of Sichuan and Shaanxi. Later, when the Jin army invaded with a force of 100,000, Wu Xiang ordered his brother Wu Lin to abandon He Shuangyuan and retreat to Xianren Pass together, where they set up camp and defended the strategic points, forming a pincer movement. The Jin army tried to break through the pass by digging tunnels and opening roads along the mountain ridges, but Wu Xiang's troops refused to yield, and the Jin army was unable to break through after a day of fierce fighting. On the second day, Wu Xiang took advantage of the Jin army's fatigue and launched a counterattack, directly attacking the enemy camp, killing countless Jin soldiers. However, due to the treachery of some officials who were jealous of Wu Xiang's achievements, the pre-arranged reinforcements did not arrive, and Wu Xiang was captured by the Jin army while fighting alone behind enemy lines. Wu Xiang refused to surrender and was beheaded, his body cut into pieces and fed to the soldiers. The vengeful spirit of Wu Xiang was unable to rest, but fortunately, a wolf demon with 100 years of cultivation near Xianren Pass discovered his spirit and tempted him to give up his soul to take revenge. Wu Xiang agreed, and the wolf demon combined with his soul, transforming into a fierce ghost that devoured the invading Jin army, temporarily preserving the peace in Shu. However, after this, the wolf demon became pregnant with evil intentions and took advantage of Wu Xiang's unpreparedness to devour his soul, causing chaos everywhere until it was later subdued by a certain heavenly master and sealed under the Zhonglou Mountain."

  Ding Lingxiu told the story of the jiangshi, and both Luo Yuanzhang and Zhang Shanyi felt a tinge of sadness at its experiences. Everyone held their wine cups in silence.

  Hatred has never been able to resolve hatred, from ancient times to the present, it has always been so.