Roaring Dragon-Chapter 132: The Roadblock Ghost

The light of day gradually faded.

Three shadowy figures hid in the dense woods atop the ridge, silently watching the cavalry ride away from the Iron Lady Inn.

Crouched behind a bush, He Can used his hand to shield the rain and asked,

“Did they spot us?”

Zhang Chu’s eyes were alert, scanning the surroundings like he expected Xie Jinhuan to suddenly materialize out of thin air.

“They didn’t enter the inn. Probably just passing through the ridge to lodge in town. But why go to Hongzhang County?”

Kui Yunya stood beside them, propping up his Soul-Summoning Banner. His body was shrouded in black mist, blending seamlessly with the night.

“Where we go, he goes. That kid moves like a bolt of lightning. Elder Ye just got exposed yesterday, and he’s already here today. He’s even more diligent than we are.”

He Can shrugged slightly.

“He’s always been like that. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Got used to it. Not his fault you lot messed with his dad.”

Zhang Chu frowned.

“If Xie Jinhuan figured out the operation’s in Hongzhang County, then the court surely knows too...”

“He probably only picked up a few clues from the documents and came to verify. If he’d confirmed we were acting in the Hongzhang quarry, he wouldn’t just bring this handful of nobodies.”

Kui Yunya watched the distant silhouettes for a moment, then added calmly,

“Still, the cult has learned from its past mistakes. We've scattered our burrows like a cunning rabbit. If that boy dies here, the court's attention will lock onto Hongzhang County — perfect for a diversion.”

“You mean... you’re going to kill Xie Jinhuan yourself?”

He Can gave him a once-over, clearly doubtful.

“Pardon my bluntness, but that guy’s hella freaky. He brought a decent squad this time. If you screw up and die here on Ironthorn Ridge...”

“A man of the extraordinary must act extraordinarily. I’ll be careful.”

As Kui Yunya spoke, he raised the Soul-Summoning Banner and pointed it toward a sparrow taking shelter under a tree. A wisp of black smoke floated from the banner—

Whoosh

“Chirp-chirp~”

The sparrow was enveloped in the smoke, flailed in its nest for a moment, then stood upright again, red light glimmering in its eyes. It took off into the forest and vanished.

He Can saw the preparations being made and didn’t feel like cracking jokes anymore. He raised his empty hands.

“They’ve got the numbers, and I’m out of gear. Maybe let me borrow the banner, Third Master? I know how to use it.”

“?”

Kui Yunya didn’t even bother responding. His body turned into a cloud of black mist and silently drifted down the ridge.

“Dozens are already embedded in Hongzhang. You two go warn everyone to retreat and leave some ‘breadcrumbs’ behind to mislead the court.”

“At once! Safe travels, Third Master!”

He Can bolted.

Zhang Chu didn’t say a word — he just grabbed his blade and melted into the rain.

—

Clip-clop, clip-clop...

Seven fast horses slogged through the mud. As they entered Ironthorn Ridge, darkness swallowed everything around them. Even the pounding rain lessened under the thick forest canopy — its pitter-patter muffled everything else.

Xie Jinhuan couldn’t see the path clearly and slowed his horse, lifting one hand and drawing a bit of breath.

Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt~

Tiny arcs of lightning crackled in his palm, flickering faintly. It didn’t help much with vision — if anything, it made the atmosphere even eerier.

?

Linghu Qingmo, riding beside him, frowned and raised her left hand. Her palm burst into a brilliant arc of electricity, lighting the area within twenty feet like daylight.

Zzzzap~

Yang Dabiao, the crude warrior, looked on enviously.

“Hidden Immortal Sect counts as part of the Daoist world, right? Jinhuan, your lightning technique is kinda... well...”

Liu Qingzhi added,

“Useful for lighting fires or cigarettes in a pinch. Not exactly worthless.”

In truth, Xie Jinhuan’s technique wasn’t a proper Daoist spell — just a hodgepodge he’d cobbled together. He replied with mock solemnity:

“My master studied all schools. Only taught me martial arts when he saw my talent. Feared I’d dabble too much and learn nothing, so he never taught lightning arts.”

“Ohhh...”

The squad of martial officers all nodded in understanding.

Xie Jinhuan, using his makeshift “Mo Mo-brand stun baton” for light, had planned to gallop through the ridge and get to Hongzhang County before dark — maybe even take some time to study lightning techniques with Mo Mo in private.

But halfway up the ridge, the red-clad ghost bride silently emerged beside him.

“There’s an ambush.”

Xie Jinhuan’s brow furrowed. He immediately raised a hand and reined in his horse. The squad halted in the fallen leaves.

Meiqiu, nestled under the cloak, sensed a fight brewing. Without orders, he took to the skies with a flap of wings.

Linghu Qingmo flared her inner energy, and the arc in her hand exploded into a flashbang-level burst of light — illuminating a hundred feet of forest in every direction.

Zzzzap—!

Xie Jinhuan squinted, scanning the woods, but saw nothing suspicious. Still, just in case, he gestured:

“Fall back.”

Yang Dabiao raised his blade and turned his horse. Two constables detached their shields and crossbows, reconfiguring their formation into a rear-guard front.

Liu Qingzhi and his partner removed their qilin helmets from the saddles, donned them, and took long spears to the flanks.

Xie Jinhuan unsheathed the Tiangang Mace and watched the rear. Linghu Qingmo walked in the center with her spell sword, left hand sparking, incantations ready.

One lightning-wielding Daoist surrounded by six elite fighters — equipped with enchanted crossbows, Immortal-binding rope, and Molin light armor. No typical demonic cultivator would dare touch this setup. Any sane opponent would have backed off.

But the ambusher clearly wasn’t sane.

The seven formed a circle and fell back about ten feet — when suddenly, amidst the drumming rain, came an eerie sound:

“Hahahaha~~~”

“Oooh ooooh...”

Chilling, genderless laughter and sobs echoed in the forest, swirling with the wind. It sounded like a thousand ghosts wailing in unison. Shadows swelled from the trees, and ghostly figures loomed — as if legions of the dead were converging from all directions.

Yang Dabiao’s face paled. I’m screwed, he thought. Despite steadying his mind, a chill of dread clawed at his soul. The two constables trembled slightly, their faces deathly white.

The two martial officers held firm — they were elite guards — but their horses began to fidget restlessly.

Trot-trot...

Linghu Qingmo recognized the ghostly spellwork immediately. She chanted a purifying spell and her sword flashed, but her cultivation wasn’t strong enough — the crying voices didn’t stop.

Just by looking at the scene, Xie Jinhuan could tell this was someone far more powerful than Taishu Dan. He unsheathed the Zhenglun Sword and muttered some fake invocation:

“Five stars align, light pierces the dark. Spirits and saints, protect my soul...”

Zzzzap...

Lightning curled around the Zhenglun Sword. The noise was soft, but the humming blade let out a faint resonance — like a qilin raising its head or a dragon peering from the clouds.

In that instant, the cries of a thousand ghosts ceased. The shadows vanished. Even the eerie vibe of the forest dissipated, replaced by a calm peace.

?!

Linghu Qingmo blinked, glanced at her own sword, then looked at Xie Jinhuan in confusion.

“Wait... that’s really just a replica?”

Xie Jinhuan answered solemnly and shamelessly,

“It’s a ghost-banishing chant taught by my master. Any tool works, really.”

“...Is that so?”

The guards were suspicious, but as long as the ghosts were gone, they didn’t care.

They prepared to resume retreating — but from the depths of the forest, a hoarse, aged voice echoed:

“Impressive foundations... but unfortunately, that’s not all I know.”

The forest stirred. Something massive moved without a sound.

Whoosh~

In the distance, a black cloud surged into view like a wave rolling over the woods. A chilling force slammed into them with it.

Linghu Qingmo went pale.

“That’s a demonic ghost cultivator?!”

Liu Qingzhi looked equally stunned.

“Looks like it.”

Xie Jinhuan was surprised too — this was rare.

Demonic cultivators came in two major types: body refiners and ghost cultivators.

Body refiners, as the name suggested, tempered their flesh through slaughter until their bodies became monstrous. Once the body was destroyed, they died.

Ghost cultivators didn’t raise ghosts — they raised themselves. Strengthening their souls through sacrifice, they could return from death by possessing bodies. Incredibly hard to kill. The Corpse Ancestor was the poster child of this type — rare but elite.

Xie Jinhuan’s Zhenglun Sword could suppress ghost powers, but ghost cultivators’ true threat lay in wielding soul-powered spellcraft. To beat one, you had to either destroy their body directly or force them to flee.

At that moment, Ye Hongshang appeared beside him, red umbrella in hand like a battle advisor.

“He’s already first-rank. Probably a mid-tier leader in the Dark God Cult. No way you’re winning fair. Tell Meiqiu not to resist — I’ll possess her and show you how it’s done.”

Knowing how hard it was to kill a ghost cultivator, Xie Jinhuan turned and ordered:

“Form up and protect Qingmo. I’ll break through and fry him with lightning.”

Liu Qingzhi and the others had already dismounted. The constables held shields in front, the two martial guards took flanks with spears, and Yang Dabiao hovered around Linghu Qingmo with his broadsword, ready to deflect sneak attacks.

Whoosh—

The black mist surged, forming a massive, two-meter-wide human face. Its eyes burned with ghostly green flames.

“You really think this little girl is enough to deal with me?”

Xie Jinhuan, Zhenglun Sword in hand, stared down the grotesque face.

“I’ve killed a lot of your Dark God Cult buddies. What really happened with my father three years ago? Mind telling me?”

Kui Yunya walked through the mist, holding his Soul-Summoning Banner. The enormous ghost face moved with him.

“Your father probably saw something he wasn’t supposed to. We sent someone to silence him — never came back. Actually, I want to ask you what really happened three years ago.”

Xie Jinhuan believed him — somewhat. He frowned, then turned.

“Qingmo, I’m going to use the secret invocation art of Fengling Valley. I’ll need you to assist me. Just... don’t resist.”

“Invocation art?”

On a teammate?!

Wasn’t that the specialty of female shamans in the sacrificial sects?

Linghu Qingmo was a bit lost, but nodded solemnly anyway.

Xie Jinhuan held the Zhenglun Sword vertically and began chanting:

“From primal chaos emerged the yellow void, heaven and earth split, yin and yang took form...”

Kui Yunya froze. Even the massive ghost face looked dazed.

Because this chant — catchy and familiar — sounded exactly like some Northern Zhou shamanistic ritual gibberish... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Wait... was this kid really Empress Dowager Guo’s lover...?