Judge of Souls-Chapter 29 - Second Night

Jiang Feng pinched Zhang Yangyang’s arm and asked, “Can you move?”

“I can’t!” Zhang Yangyang said, “My arms and legs are numb. Is this some aftereffect? What should I do? Am I still materialistic or not? What about my worldview? Can I still be a college student of the new era?”

He rambled on endlessly, making his roommate and Jiang Feng look at him with helpless expressions. The guy was probably fine.

Jiang Feng said, “Carry him to the infirmary. Don’t tell anyone about what happened today.”

“Alright, I understand,” the roommate said. “It’s probably just lung heat.”

With Zhang Yangyang on his back, he continued whining, “Lung heat affecting my brain? Who are you trying to fool?”

The roommate replied, “This is just his brain overheating.”

By the time they reached the infirmary, Zhang Yangyang was feeling much better. His numb limbs could move again, and his tongue was working perfectly fine.

The doctor examined them and found no issues.

He said, “Skipping class, huh? College students have the freedom to skip classes, but there’s no need for this in the future.”

The roommate quickly clarified, “No, no, this guy was playing a game when he suddenly collapsed. It scared me to death.”

The doctor nodded understandingly, “Make sure to rest and don’t stay up late. The body works in mysterious ways. Let’s give him an IV drip and let him rest well. If you need examinations, go to the hospital. Our school doesn’t have those facilities.”

Seeing that he was fine, Jiang Feng gave Zhang Yangyang the small talisman packet that Chu Xuanliang had given him earlier, preparing to leave. He still had work to do.

Zhang Yangyang, still remembering his heroic and agile moves, waved his hand from the hospital bed, “Farewell, benefactor. I’ll miss you.”

His benefactor disappeared through the door without a hint of attachment.

The roommate quickly added, “I remember we didn’t close the dorm door, and I didn’t bring my phone or meal card. Wait a bit, let me go pay for your medicine first.”

Zhang Yangyang responded weakly, “Fine, go ahead. Don’t forget about me.”

The roommate followed right out of the infirmary.

There weren’t many people at this time. The doctor was working at the pharmacy outside, and Zhang Yangyang was the only one in the ward. The rough blue cloth partitioned the area into a small space.

Zhang Yangyang lay there for a while but couldn’t fall asleep in broad daylight. His fingers started to fidget, wanting to use his phone.

He raised his hand to cover his face and let out a howl.

What was going on today? Was his brain really not functioning properly?

He had been too frightened earlier to think much, but now the horror was sinking in upon deeper reflection.

He reached out to pinch the talisman packet Jiang Feng had given him, opened it, and held the folded talisman paper in his hand, which calmed him down slightly.

With enough time to let his mind wander, he noticed how eerily quiet the infirmary was.

Just as he thought this, there came a faint, rustling sound from outside, like something being dragged across the floor.

“Chao, is that you, Chao?” Zhang Yangyang called out. “Are you back?”

No response.

Zhang Yangyang lifted the curtain and carefully asked, “Doctor, is that you?”

There was no one outside. The thin window curtains fluttered in the wind, making the entire ward eerily empty and almost terrifying.

But that rustling sound continued, impossible to locate.

Zhang Yangyang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, mustering the courage to walk out. He pushed the IV stand with one hand while moving forward.

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“Doctor? Doctor!”

“You’re stepping on my tongue.”

Zhang Yangyang quickly pulled back his foot, “I’m sorry…”

He froze, his pupils dilating.

What?!

Before he could turn around, someone grabbed his neck and threw him to the ground.

The needle slipped out of the back of his hand.

Zhang Yangyang let out a startled cry and turned to look.

This time he saw clearly.

The person was dragging a red tongue about a meter long, with a deathly pale face. He wore all white clothes and a tall white hat on his head. If it weren’t for his lewd grin, Zhang Yangyang would have thought he was White Impermanence.

He clutched the talisman in his hand and slapped it against himself, shouting, “Evil ghost, begone!”

The ghost tilted his head and cackled eerily.

No reaction.

Zhang Yangyang panicked and continued, “Urgent as the law commands!”

(TL: This phrase is a traditional Taoist incantation often used in spells, talismans, and exorcisms. It signifies the urgency and binding power of the order, similar to saying “So it is decreed!” or “By divine command!”)

Still no reaction.

“Damn it!” Zhang Yangyang cursed, “Jiang Feng didn’t teach me how to use this thing!”

“It’s useless,” the ghost said. “I am an officer from the Netherworld. A mere yellow talisman drawn by a human cultivator can do nothing against me.”

Zhang Yangyang spat back, “Bullsh*t! You look so weak and you claim to be a Netherworld officer? Is the Netherworld running out of ghosts? The Qing Dynasty is long gone! Go get plastic surgery with that ugly face!”

The evil ghost’s expression changed.

He had seen people scared witless, crying and begging, but this was the first time he’d met someone who was terrified yet still cursing him.

“Hehe, you’re interesting,” the ghost’s tongue hung outside, making his speech slurred since he couldn’t close his mouth properly. “Soon you won’t be so interesting anymore.”

He took the talisman paper from Zhang Yangyang’s hand, and it instantly turned to ashes.

Zhang Yangyang was furious.

Shoddy craftsmanship!

He wanted to file a complaint!

“White Impermanence” then reached into Zhang Yangyang’s mouth, gripping his tongue with two fingers and pulling it outward.

Zhang Yangyang felt the pain, tears forming in his eyes. He clenched his jaw to bite down. But the ghost’s hand was like rock, cold as iron. He only managed to hurt his own teeth without even scratching the ghost’s skin.

His mouth was filled with the stench of a putrid sewer.

“Mmm–ahh–!”

Zhang Yangyang was going mad. How many germs was this exposing him to?

He tried to call out, but his voice was stuck, and his limbs couldn’t move.

The tip of his tongue began to go numb as he watched “White Impermanence” take out a rusty, blood-stained pair of scissors from his waist, gradually approaching him.

His life was over!

Zhang Yangyang closed his eyes, but then heard “White Impermanence” exclaim in panic, “Who’s there?”

He suddenly opened his eyes and, looking past the extended tongue, saw Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng appeared like a descended deity, standing beside him with a cold expression, grabbing “White Impermanence” by the hair. “White Impermanence” apparently could feel pain, as his grip loosened slightly, giving Zhang Yangyang a chance to pull his tongue back.

Jiang Feng continued to yank his hair backward, then raised his foot and stomped hard on the ghost’s tongue.

“Ahh–!” The evil ghost let out a miserable cry. He tried to push away Jiang Feng’s foot to free his tongue.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the ghost wailed. “Let go of my tongue!!”

Jiang Feng loosened his grip slightly.

The ghost immediately hugged his long tongue and retreated to the corner of the room, trembling as he watched him.

Zhang Yangyang was in tears, “Daddy Jiang!”

Jiang Feng walked toward him and asked coldly, “What were you trying to do?”

“I have permission from the Judge, I’m maintaining order in the human world!” The little ghost displayed his small golden token. “He spoke vile words, so he deserves to go to the Tongue-Pulling Hell!”

Jiang Feng narrowed his eyes and crushed the fake Judge’s token.

Evil ghost: “Ah…”

Jiang Feng: “Who gave this to you?”

Evil ghost: “The… the Judge.”

Jiang Feng asked, “How many people have you killed?”

“They… they all used foul language!” The evil ghost pointed at Zhang Yangyang. “Even online it’s not allowed. They should have their tongues pulled out, they should be punished!”

“You get your tongue cut out for cursing?” Zhang Yangyang crawled over to hug Jiang Feng’s leg. “F*ck… I’m so scared! Daddy Jiang, save me!”

Jiang Feng raised his foot again, and the ghost was so frightened that his hair stood on end. With a “whoosh,” he flew out the window and escaped.

“What now! What do we do? He ran away!” Zhang Yangyang didn’t dare chase after him and continued clinging to Jiang Feng. “Will he come back?”

Jiang Feng: “I don’t know.”

Zhang Yangyang looked up and asked, “Why did you come back?”

Jiang Feng: “Something felt off, so I came back to check.”

Zhang Yangyang said emotionally, “Thank you. You truly are my benefactor!”

The doctor walked in with his hands in his pockets, saying, “What are you two arguing about in here? Oh, you two…”

Zhang Yangyang ignored him, pointing to the sky and swearing to Jiang Feng, “I know I was wrong. I’ll never play games again! You can’t abandon me!”

Jiang Feng: “Hmm… games are actually quite fun.”

“…” Zhang Yangyang, “Don’t say that! I could literally cry right now!”

The doctor went to sweep up the broken glass bottles, asking irritably, “Are you staying or not?”

Zhang Yangyang: “I’m not staying, I don’t dare!”

Such cowardice…

The doctor shooed them away, “Then get out of here!”

Zhang Yangyang: “My legs are numb.”

Jiang Feng helped him up and after some thought said, “If you’re scared, you can stay with me for a few days.”

Zhang Yangyang nodded vigorously, “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll definitely be good and reform myself!”

Jiang Feng still had two delivery orders to complete. Zhang Yangyang, having recovered, insisted on going with him.

After watching Jiang Feng’s calm demeanor throughout their journey, he was amazed.

A master!

A true master!

After delivering the last two orders, Zhang Yangyang went back to his dorm to pack some clothes, informed his roommate, and then Jiang Feng took him to his rented small apartment.

The apartment was truly small, but Jiang Feng liked cleanliness and had arranged it in an orderly manner.

After a tour, Zhang Yangyang said, “Daddy Jiang, I don’t have much money, but I can pay for utilities and rent, and I’ll clean the place. Just let me sleep on the floor. We’ll stick together from now on, okay?”

Jiang Feng rejected without hesitation. “No. Tomorrow I’ll find a Taoist priest to take you away.”

“No! Taoist priests are useless, I’m still fragile and need protection,” Zhang Yangyang said, clutching his chest. “Today was too traumatic for me. Didn’t you see that the talisman didn’t work at all! And that White Impermanence, if White Impermanence really looked like that, his soul-collecting business would skyrocket, with half dying of fright. My goodness. First time seeing a ghost, and it had to be this hardcore.”

Zhang Yangyang was clearly scared out of his wits, but his unreliable nature still kept him bouncing around.

Jiang Feng said, “Take your toiletries to the bathroom. Get ready and prepare to rest.”

Zhang Yangyang obviously didn’t dare refuse, executing each instruction one by one.

After nine o’clock, they prepared for bed.

Zhang Yangyang was allowed to lie on Jiang Feng’s bed. They lay side by side, covered by two separate blankets.

Having been frightened so badly, Zhang Yangyang slept very uneasily that night. He had a nightmare in the middle of the night and woke up scared. He rubbed his face and once again felt something was wrong.

There were no horn or siren sounds around. How was that possible when the road was so close?

The eerie silence made him extremely fearful. He rolled over and carefully looked out the window.

Outside the glass window, orange lights were floating by, swaying as they drifted into the distance.

Zhang Yangyang reached out to nudge Jiang Feng, calling softly, “Jiang Feng! Jiang Feng, you wake up quickly! Please!”

Fortunately, Jiang Feng actually opened his eyes, giving a light “hmph” that instantly reassured him.

Jiang Feng frowned and asked, “What are you doing?”

Zhang Yangyang pointed to the window.

Outside the glass window, a white object was pressed against it. When the yellow lights passed by, one could vaguely make out that it was a child’s face.

Zhang Yangyang’s voice weakened, “M-m-mom… I can’t handle this.”

The child, seeing that both of them were awake and had spotted him, grinned widely.

Jiang Feng said, “He can’t get in anyway, what are you afraid of?”

Zhang Yangyang: “…You might not be scared, but I am. I need to use the bathroom right now!”