Chapter Seven, Ghost Brother

Wang Xiaobai was frightened for half a day, but the ghost brother did not do anything to him; he merely stared at him with a chilling gaze, devoid of any vitality, resembling a terrifying statue. After experiencing the initial fear, Wang Xiaobai calmed down, realizing that fear was futile. Moreover, he held a yellow talisman in his hand and had Wang Laodao watching over him from the shadows, so he was not in any life-threatening danger

The Ghost Brother is the fiercest, and the one floating is also the fastest. A white shadow rushed over, resembling a martial arts master. At a critical moment, Huang Laoqi appeared again, knocking the Ghost Brother away. He squeaked at Wang Xiaobai, not daring to speak, and extended his front paw to signal him to follow. Wang Xiaobai realized that there was no way to escape; the wild ghosts around were increasing, and there was no time even to perform the Treading the Ridges technique. In a moment of desperation, he could only follow Huang Laoqi and run wildly.

Wang Xiaobai's first genuine encounter with a ghost was with this tragically deceased ghost brother. It was very thrilling and horrifying. Strangely, Wang Xiaobai was not as frightened as he had imagined; at least he did not panic and run away. It was also because his legs felt a bit weak, and the hairs on his body stood on end, feeling a chill creeping up his back.

Under the moonlight, Wang Xiaobai could see clearly that the yellow shadow was actually Huang Laoqi. But how did Huang Laoqi manage to follow him? Why wasn't Wang Laodao intervening? Why did he want to help himself? Wang Xiaobai was filled with confusion, yet after Huang Laoqi bared his teeth at him, he turned and ran ahead.

Wang Xiaobai was somewhat worried that Huang Laoqi intended to harm him, but it didn't seem likely. If he truly wanted to harm him, there would be no need to knock that ghostly figure away. What exactly did Huang Laoqi want to do? Just as Wang Xiaobai thought of this, a chilling aura surrounded him, and suddenly many ghostly shadows appeared around him, each extending their withered, pale hands towards him

Wang Xiaobai also felt that everything was fine; his eyes not only no longer felt uncomfortable, but instead felt somewhat cool and quite comfortable. When he opened his eyes, tears suddenly flowed out. It was not that he wanted to cry, but rather that tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes. At first, everything in front of him was a blur, but gradually it became clearer, clearer, and even clearer.

Wang Xiaobai rubbed his weak legs, not daring to think too much, and took off running, chanting a spell. Strangely, amidst the incantation, those ghostly shadows seemed somewhat wary and did not approach too closely. However, that ghostly figure, who appeared to be the leader, was rather fierce, circling around before drifting towards Wang Xiaobai again, this time extending its hands, seemingly intending to strangle him.

The ghost brother had a blank expression, his demeanor ominous as he extended his hand, making communication impossible. Wang Xiaobai, unwilling to give up, continued: "Brother, I truly did not bring any paper money. You must believe me; as long as you tell me where Zhang Chunhua's tombstone is, I will definitely burn it for you tomorrow. If I fail to do so, you can come find me..."

The steps of the Gangbu could not be taken in time, yet Wang Xiaobai continued to recite the incantation taught by Wang Laodao. Amidst the chanting of the incantation, apart from the fierce Ghost Big Brother, the other wild ghosts merely followed and could not approach. Ghost Big Brother had a relatively strong resistance to the incantation and was hardly affected. However, every time he attempted to capture Wang Xiaobai, Huang Laoqi would suddenly appear and knock Ghost Big Brother away.

Wang Xiaobai's body hair stood on end, terrified to the point of collapse, but he had not yet had the chance! At a critical moment, a yellow shadow suddenly darted out, colliding with the ghost brother, producing a sharp crack and a sound like a burst of cold air. The ghost brother was sent flying by the impact, and after the yellow shadow knocked him away, it rolled on the ground before standing up and grinning at Wang Xiaobai.

Wang Xiaobai mustered his courage and actually set his sights on the ghost brother, asking if he knew about Zhang Chunhua's tombstone. He should have known, after all, they were both ghosts, buried on this hillside. What he did not expect was that the ghost brother completely ignored him, yet did not harm him either; he simply extended his hand.

"What I gave you is not eye drops, but yin-yang water, to help you open your yin eye. Go on, it's already eleven o'clock, the sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back!" Wang Laodao said calmly, handing him a yellow talisman, then squatting down, taking out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one, and leisurely blowing a smoke ring.

However, since you are asking for money, it indicates that Brother Ghost knows where Zhang Chunhua's tombstone is. So, can we find a way to work around this? Wang Xiaobai tentatively asked, "Brother... could you first tell me where Zhang Chunhua's tombstone is? Then you can tell me your name, and tomorrow I will burn paper money for you, starting from 1 billion denomination, I assure you it will not be a joke!"

A hand as pale as death, with bones visible on the ghastly white hand, made Wang Xiaobai break into a cold sweat in shock, unable to help but take a step back. However, the ghost brother merely extended his hand. After pondering for a moment, Wang Xiaobai thought that the ghost brother was asking for money. The problem was, he hadn't brought any money with him. Had he known he would encounter such a situation, he would have bought some ghost money.

From coolness to scorching heat, and then back to coolness, all within less than a minute. Wang Xiaobai, apart from that one exclamation, remained remarkably composed and did not shout in panic. Wang Laodao looked at Wang Xiaobai and nodded appreciatively, saying to him: "It’s all right now, open your eyes, and you will see a different world"

After resuming the Gāng step, the scene transformed back to the hillside. Wang Xiaobai became cautious, concentrating fully on his steps. The frustrating part was that the Gāng step did not follow a straight line; instead, it involved stepping left and right, forward and backward, while also needing to create the shape of the stars in the sky. As a result, the movements slowed down. There were so many graves on the hillside that if he continued stepping like this, he would not be able to find Zhang Chunhua's tombstone by dawn.

Wang Xiaobai was at an age where he was particularly competitive. When Wang Laodao provoked him, his pride was somewhat affected. However, he also felt that if something were truly amiss, Wang Laodao would not neglect it. Gathering his courage, he took a deep breath, and just as he was about to step forward, the old Daoist grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him closer. He then took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and said, "Don't rush, I'll apply something to your eyes, and you won't need a flashlight!"

Even the moonlight has become so gentle, seemingly imbued with warmth, resembling a benevolent gaze. Wang Xiaobai stared in shock at everything before him and could not help but turn back to ask Wang Laodao: "Master, what kind of eye drops did you give me?"

What is even more frustrating is that Wang Laodao did not provide any general direction, and with only the ability to walk in a specific manner, how is one supposed to find it? Half an hour later, Wang Xiaobai was already sweating, yet he had not ventured far. He had also looked at the nearby tombstones, but there was no tombstone for Zhang Chunhua at all. Continuing like this is not a solution; it is essential to find a good method.

It is unclear whether Ghost Brother did not understand Wang Xiaobai's words, or if he suddenly became angry because he had extended his hand for so long without receiving any money. The hand that was once outstretched was no longer open; it transformed into a grasping motion, reaching towards Wang Xiaobai's neck with such speed that Wang Xiaobai had no time to react

Isn't the first level set by Wang Laodao too difficult? The difficulty is simply five stars. Wang Xiaobai feels a bit exhausted and stops to catch his breath. In a daze, the strange village reappears before his eyes. However, just three steps away from him, a man in his twenties suddenly appears. This man is dressed entirely in black, and his face is pale, not to mention the scars on his face, stitched together with thread, as if pieced together. There are no traces of blood, and one of his eyes is missing, which can only be described as horrifying.

Regardless of whether Wang Xiaobai agreed or not, a few drops of the water from the porcelain bottle were pressed into Wang Xiaobai's eyes, which felt very cool, similar to eye drops. This was Wang Xiaobai's first impression, followed by a sharp, stinging pain that made him unable to help but cry out and crouch down on the ground. Wang Laodao paid him no mind, instead muttering a long string of incantations beside him.

Wang Xiaobai could not help but cheer, but as he stumbled, the scene shifted again to that eerie village. In the distance, Wang Xiaobai saw several pale-faced individuals standing at his doorstep, expressionless, dazed, and staring at him blankly. Wang Xiaobai found it difficult to describe these people; they were of various ages, yet their clothing belonged to different eras. Each one of them appeared ominous, their gazes chilling and cold.

As Wang Xiaobai stepped onto the hillside and walked past the first grave, he suddenly found himself in a transformed scene. The graves had vanished, and it was as if he had arrived in a village filled with densely packed small houses, each with peculiar shapes, all featuring domed roofs. The construction was haphazard, lacking any planning; the paths varied greatly in width, some extremely wide and others exceedingly narrow, resembling a maze with its chaotic layout. Wang Xiaobai felt a chill run through him, unsure of what was happening. He intended to turn back and ask Wang Laodao, but when he looked back, Wang Laodao was nowhere to be seen. It was as if he had suddenly crossed into an unfamiliar place.

Wang Xiaobai glanced at Wang Laodao, who was also looking at him with a blank expression, and said: "Go to the chaotic graves on the hillside and find a tombstone belonging to someone named Zhang Chunhua. I have placed something on it; please help me retrieve it!"

Wang Xiaobai was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Upon opening his spiritual eye, he saw that the hillside, filled with tombstones, had transformed into a strange village. Could it be a ghost village? What should he do? Wang Xiaobai did not scream. Since this was a test, it must be challenging. In the game, even the novice village had tasks. Let alone the idea of taking Wang Laodao as his master, he couldn't afford to shout and make a scene right from the start. Not only would Wang Laodao look down on him, but he would also look down on himself. Wang Xiaobai did not scream. Since this was a test, it must be challenging. In the game, even the novice village had tasks. Let alone the idea of taking Wang Laodao as his master, he couldn't afford to shout and make a scene right from the start. Not only would Wang Laodao look down on him, but he would also look down on himself.

After about ten minutes of wandering, Huang Lao Qi turned to the right and disappeared from sight. Wang Xiao Bai followed him, and after turning past a shadow, the scene before him suddenly changed. It was no longer that strange village; it had transformed into a hillside. In front of a grave on the right, there stood a tombstone: the grave of Zhang Chunhua

One person went into the graveyard late at night to find a tombstone, taking back the items placed on it... To say he was not afraid would be a lie; Wang Xiaobai felt a bit of palpitations and looked pitifully at Wang Laodao. Seeing his expression, Wang Laodao fell silent for a moment and said: "If you are afraid, we can go back; I will just consider the matter of apprenticeship as a joke"

Wang Xiaobai clutched the yellow talisman given by Wang Laodao, recalled the Gangbu technique he had taught him, and strode forward.

The moonlight gently illuminates the graves and tombstones on the hillside, cold and desolate, evoking a sense of sorrow and melancholy. There is always some brilliance obscured by the tombstones, creating a play of light and shadow. It is the first time Wang Xiaobai has seen so many graves; to say he is not afraid would be a lie. Yet, having come this far, is there any turning back?

Wang Xiaobai was taken aback; anyone standing next to such a thing would be startled. His right hand, gripping the yellow talisman, was already wet. He forced himself not to run away, and the man did not move either, just staring at him with a sinister gaze, remaining silent. The two stood in a standoff for a while, and Wang Xiaobai finally spoke: "Excuse me, brother, could you please tell me where Zhang Chunhua's tombstone is?"

After some thought, Wang Xiaobai recalled the incantation and the steps of the formation that Wang Laodao had taught him temporarily, and he began to understand what was happening. He calmed his mind and recited the incantation while stepping forward in the formation. Wang Laodao had taught him only nine steps of the formation. After taking three steps, the scene suddenly changed again, returning to normal, still on that hillside.

Wang Xiaobai did not dare to be careless and hurriedly recited the incantation: "Conceal my form and trace, follow my celestial path, I see the person, but they do not know me, move as I wish, with a shout the spirits follow, urgent as water and fire, stirring the winds and thunder, transform marshes into mountains, overturn the earth and sky, my body is solid, calm and silent..."

This clarity was something Wang Xiaobai had never encountered before; it was as if he could see the flow of the wind and the helpless sighs of the autumn grass, as if they were whispering to each other. Even the tombstones seemed to have come to life. The world remained the same, yet it began to feel different, as if the once lifeless objects now possessed a vitality of their own