Chapter 53: The Ghost-Whipping Cane!

Night Market Street.

Neon lights shimmered, music and laughter spilled into the night as crowds surged back and forth. Ever since the Skeleton, following Ling Qiu’s instructions, had claimed the East, West, and North streets, this place had grown far more lively.

It had always been bustling, yes—but beneath the excitement lurked a sense of chaos and desolation. The reason was simple: too many wrongdoers and evildoers roamed these streets.

But now, things had changed. The Skeleton maintained order in the darkness; anyone daring to cause trouble would find themselves caught on camera, then hauled away by a band of henchmen straight to the precinct.

To be fair, when the street’s denizens first heard about these developments, they were stunned by the Skeleton’s audacious methods. Who would have thought the notorious underworld boss would reform and enforce such discipline?

Ling Qiu arrived at the Glorious Years Bar, pausing at the entrance. He sensed a palpable aura of sinister energy—the air tinged with a biting chill. Narrowing his eyes, he gently turned the Yanluo Ring on his finger.

A gust of cold wind swept past. In his vision, streams of dark red aura wound around the bar, forming an ominous barrier.

“This vengeful spirit is no ordinary specter… It’s using its aura to encircle the bar,” Ling Qiu murmured, scanning his surroundings but finding no trace of the ghost itself. The aura felt like a shroud, laid down as a trap; if the Skeleton left the bar or the warding talisman lost its power, Ling Qiu was certain the spirit would sweep in immediately to claim its “food.”

Yes—ghosts could devour one another to increase their strength. There were ranks among them: wandering ghosts, wild ghosts, fierce ghosts, and vengeful spirits. Vengeful spirits were the fourth stage—the first level to possess true combat prowess.

At his current strength, Ling Qiu knew he’d have to contend carefully if he encountered such a spirit. As for the Skeleton, despite being a so-called “Ox-Nosed Ghost,” his actual strength was merely that of a wild ghost. “Ox-Nosed Ghost” was a type, not a rank.

The Skeleton had survived the vengeful spirit’s attack thanks solely to the warding talisman Ling Qiu had given him.

“There are just over ten minutes left before the talisman’s effects wear off.”

Ling Qiu smiled faintly. He intended to wait until the talisman expired, forcing the vengeful spirit to reveal itself.

He strode into the bar, opened the door to the storeroom.

Inside, dim light barely illuminated the space. The Skeleton was curled in a corner, drenched in cold sweat, trembling with fear and weakness, his face ghostly pale.

“Master Qiu…” he stammered, trying to rise.

Ling Qiu waved him down. “No need to get up. You’ve barely a sliver of soul energy left. If it fails, even I can’t save you.”

He crouched beside the Skeleton, channeling energy into the spot between his brows, then swiftly inscribed a talismanic mark on his forehead.

A low, buzzing vibration filled the air, as if jump-starting the Skeleton’s heart. His body shuddered, and after a few minutes, color returned to his face.

“Whew…” The Skeleton took a few deep breaths, then blinked in surprise. “Huh? My power…”

Ling Qiu replied coolly, “Don’t even think about your strength. You’ve only ten percent of your soul force left. The talisman stabilizes you, but it can’t restore your power.”

The Skeleton’s expression dimmed. After years of cultivation, he’d finally reached the fierce ghost stage, and now—he’d have to start all over again.

“Tell me, what’s the story with this vengeful spirit?” Ling Qiu settled cross-legged, relaxed.

The Skeleton responded, “I’m not really sure where it came from! I know Night Market Street inside and out—if there was a vengeful spirit here, I’d have noticed. But I never sensed it before.”

“It came looking for you?” Ling Qiu asked.

The Skeleton nodded, then paused as realization dawned. “Wait… It might have followed me from South Street!”

“South Street?” Ling Qiu’s eyes narrowed. “The place you said you never dared step foot in?”

“Yes!” The Skeleton nodded emphatically.

South Street was the one area the other street bosses avoided at all costs. Several self-styled big shots had boasted about claiming it, but without exception, each met misfortune soon after.

Everyone knew this was the work of Wang Bao.

No—more accurately, it was the doing of the mysterious Lady Gardenia above Wang Bao.

Over time, no one dared provoke South Street again.

The Skeleton recounted these stories to Ling Qiu, who narrowed his eyes, recalling the enchanting, seductive Lady Gardenia he’d met at the Sky Garden—a woman whose every gesture could stir the deepest desires of any man.

It seemed Lady Gardenia was indeed an extraordinary figure.

“So, you planned to cause trouble on South Street?” Ling Qiu asked.

“No, no…” The Skeleton shook his head. “Master Qiu, you told me to claim as much of Night Market Street as possible, maintain order, do some good, and accumulate virtue. So I took East, West, and North Street. South Street, though, has always been orderly… Even if I had the guts to challenge Lady Gardenia, I wouldn’t disturb its peace for no reason.”

He forced a bitter smile. “Today, I only heard a new noodle shop had opened on South Street. I went for a bowl of noodles… After I returned, the vengeful spirit came for me. I suspect it’s been lurking on South Street all along, but since I’d never been there, I didn’t know of its existence.”

Ling Qiu nodded slightly.

The birth of a vengeful spirit was never a simple matter. Even at the fourth stage, they remained earthbound entities—restricted to specific locations.

That’s why ghost stories often feature haunted houses with vengeful spirits inside. People wonder why such powerful spirits don’t leave to harm others, but the truth is, they haven’t escaped their earthbound nature.

Only those who surpass the vengeful spirit rank and become a “Ghost Fiend” can break free, expanding their range.

Therefore, this vengeful spirit must be a product of South Street.

Ling Qiu stroked his chin thoughtfully, intrigued.

Vengeful spirits were usually malignant, saturated with fierce energy, but South Street had thrived, attracting the wealthy and influential, and had never been rumored to be haunted.

So Ling Qiu suspected this vengeful spirit possessed self-awareness, purpose—even discipline.

Discipline?

His brow arched.

Could it be someone was controlling this vengeful spirit?

Suddenly, Ling Qiu remembered the tattoo of the “Evil Ghost Seal” he’d seen on the man surnamed Zhou, and the mysterious Lady Gardenia. Could there be a connection between the vengeful spirit and Lady Gardenia?