Chapter 55: Soul Ring

Chen Ji fell silent for a moment. Right there in front of Daoist Qingjing, he pulled up the “XX City God Temple Specialty Store” and placed an order for five thousand tin ingots. In the notes, he wrote: Have Daoist Qingjing fold them.

Daoist Qingjing stared at the phone screen Chen Ji shoved in his face. Without a second’s hesitation, he flipped Chen Ji the bird. Chen Ji burst out laughing. He crossed his long legs casually, which made him look all the more punchable.

The Daoist gave him a couple of glances. “I remember you not being like this before.”

Chen Ji replied, “Now that we’re getting familiar, my true colors are showing, huh?”

The food arrived quickly. Steam rose from the Yin-Yang Pot, one side clear broth and the other tomato-based. Chen Ji loved beef, but the Daoist wouldn’t touch a single bite. Even though they shared a table and a pot, the two of them ate as if divided by a clear line.

Chen Ji had brought his own cat bowl. After prepping the beef and meatballs, he poured them into the System Cat’s bowl. The Daoist glanced over but said nothing—most likely, it was some immortal pet that Chen Ji was raising.

He couldn’t even sense its cultivation level.

The Daoist was firmly convinced the System Cat had to be some kind of immortal. No ordinary kitten would be this well-behaved!

After the meal, Chen Ji paid the bill and prepared to leave. Last time he’d come to town, he’d planned to hit the used car market, but something had come up. Now that he was here anyway, he figured he’d check it out.

Daoist Qingjing had no intention of stopping him. He said goodbye and left as well. It wasn’t too late yet, but Chen Ji timed it perfectly—the used car lot was still open. The System Cat had already compared prices across the web for him. Chen Ji ended up buying a Wuling Minivan. The seller needed to offload it quickly, so it went for just a little over ten thousand.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford something pricier. In a place like theirs, this kind of van was the most practical—easiest to drive. Buy anything fancier, and the dirt roads full of mud pits and rocks would scratch it up just the same. Fixing it would be a headache and cost a fortune.

It happened to be Friday, and the Vehicle Management Office was closed over the weekend. He’d have to wait until Monday to transfer the title. For now, Chen Ji could drive it home, with an agreement to handle the paperwork later. Because he now had a car, he made a detour to the supermarket and stocked up on fresh veggies and meat. By this point, it was getting very late. He’d probably reach Shangyang Village around midnight, and heading back up the mountain would push it to the early hours of the morning.

Chen Ji hummed a tune as he drove homeward. The System Cat sat in the passenger seat, chomping away on an apple.

He glanced sideways at it. “Give me a bite.”

The System Cat generously let go of the apple. Chen Ji took it, crunched off a piece, then shoved it back. The System Cat bit down hard, munching on the fruit. As it gazed at the pitch-black mountain road outside, it suddenly said, [I’ve just realized—it’s been a long time since anything’s happened.]

Ever since that night when Chen Ji had been lured out by the Dream Intrusion Technique, nothing much had occurred. Today’s incident with the Little Youth had been pure coincidence—nothing aimed at Chen Ji.

Chen Ji replied thoughtfully, [Yeah, I feel the same.]

He had a nagging sense that things wouldn’t end so easily, but life really had grown peaceful lately. Maybe it was because Chang Xu was by his side, or perhaps…

Chen Ji told the System Cat, [Tell the foreman that there’s been a death on the mountain lately. Ask them to hold off on construction for a week.]

The System Cat hesitated. […? Couldn’t you at least use a bad weather excuse? That’d be more believable.]

[Just say it like that,] Chen Ji insisted. [It’ll work.]

Time ticked by. The System Cat drifted off to sleep. With no moon that night, the headlights carved out the only visible stretch on the dark mountain road. After some unknowable stretch of time, the System Cat jolted awake, mumbling groggily, [Not there yet?]

Chen Ji checked the time—it was eleven o’clock. By rights, he should have reached Shangyang Village by now. He ruffled the System Cat’s head. [It’s too dark. I’m driving slow.]

[Mm, then I’ll nap a bit more.] But as it spoke, the System Cat sounded puzzled. [You’re this happy about the car? Planning to joyride around?]

Chen Ji frowned. [Joyride? What are you talking about?]

The System Cat shared its map with him. Chen Ji took one look and saw that he’d been looping within a three-kilometer radius for five or six circuits. He froze, then checked his phone’s navigation. It still calmly showed he was thirty kilometers from Shangyang Village.

Unless he was remembering wrong, just after ten, he’d been exactly thirty kilometers away. How had an hour passed, and he was still thirty kilometers out?

Chen Ji slammed on the brakes. He fished out a cigarette and tried to light it, but the lighter clicked futilely several times without sparking. The System Cat went quiet. Chen Ji didn’t need it to say anything—he knew they’d run into trouble.

It felt like something was watching them.

A eerie chill crept up his spine, piercing bone and soaking into flesh. Goosebumps erupted uncontrollably on his skin. Chen Ji glanced into the rearview mirror and saw a grayish face staring back.

The thing seemed to realize he’d spotted it. It twisted into a creepy grin.

In the next instant, Chen Ji yanked an Evil-Warding Talisman from his pocket and slapped it over the rearview mirror. Then he called out, “Hey, big bro in the back—this car’s mine now. I paid good money for it. Hitch a ride without asking if you want, but scaring me? That’s no fun.”

A wave of icy coldness pressed in close. Chen Ji didn’t turn to look. He knew without checking that the face was probably right beside him now—just one glance sideways and he’d see it. He dialed Daoist Qingjing’s number. Less than a minute later, the Daoist appeared on screen, eyes red and voice irritated. “What the hell do you want in the middle of the night?!”

Through the camera, Chen Ji caught sight of the thing lurking beside him and the cat. “Bought a car. It’s got something unclean on board, and it’s blocking my way. How do I handle this?”

The Daoist cursed. “Handle it? If the car’s dirty, burn it! You know how, right?! Light it up and stuff it in the gas tank. Whatever it is, it’ll be gone once it’s ash!”

“You’re turning in early, huh…” Chen Ji toyed with the unlit cigarette. “What if I can’t even get a flame going?”

Lighting a fire was one of the basic ways to ward off evil.

The Daoist paused. “Then it’s probably the previous owner.”

Ordinary spirits didn’t have that kind of power—unless they’d died in the vehicle.

Chen Ji paused, then shot the System Cat a glare. It guiltily ducked its head, pretending to be an innocent little kitten. It was the best deal, though! And Chen Ji handled this stuff for a living. If the car had a clinging soul ring, they could always head back to Little Azure Mountain and get Second Master Huang to help out. Who knew the previous owner would stir up trouble so soon?

Chen Ji sighed. The bluish-black ghostly face still hovered in the camera beside him. He reached into the bamboo basket under the passenger seat, pulled out his sickle, slapped an Evil-Warding Talisman on it, and boldly turned to face the ghost head-on. “Buddy, you’ve got two choices: get out of the car, or I’ll help you get out.”

The ghost face grinned weirdly at him, then lunged to bite. Chen Ji thrust the sickle backward, jamming it into the thing’s mouth. The Male Ghost clearly hadn’t expected that. With a hint of terror in its eyes, it stared at Chen Ji. He twisted his wrist, and the ghost let out a howl as it recoiled. Its cheek split open, spraying black blood.

Chen Ji took a deep breath. He suddenly didn’t want the stupid car anymore… Calm down. He was broke right now—couldn’t ditch it over something this minor. It was over ten thousand, after all… Once the title transferred on Monday, he could take it to a shop for a thorough detailing.

With that in mind, Chen Ji opened the door and stepped out. He popped the back door and hauled the Male Ghost outside.

“Chen Ji?! What are you doing?!” Daoist Qingjing’s voice blared from the phone. “Don’t get so violent! Hey? Chen Ji! Chen Ji?!”

A good while later, Chen Ji got back in. He tossed the sickle into the basket, grabbed a bottle of mineral water, and rinsed the black blood from his hands. His expression was utterly calm. “What else was I supposed to do? I tried talking nice, even invited it politely, but it wouldn’t listen.”

The Daoist was wide awake now. “You’d rather stick an Evil-Warding Talisman on the mirror than on it? You had to use the sickle?”

Chen Ji finally lit his cigarette and looked up. “Same result either way. What’s the difference?”

Whether talisman or sickle, the outcome was identical. The Evil-Warding Talismans only worked if drawn on the talisman paper he’d gotten from that other Daoist via Zhang Cheng. Regular paper was useless. But the Profound Penetration Talismans worked on any paper, so Chen Ji wanted to save a bit.

Daoist Qingjing shot him a “you’re ruthless” look and hung up.

Chen Ji restarted the car. The System Cat asked cautiously, [That thing… is it dead?]

[Probably not,] Chen Ji said without looking back. [Is the route right now?]

[Yeah.] The System Cat drooped its head. [My fault. Should’ve warned you sooner… Shouldn’t have gone for the cheap deal.]

[No big deal,] Chen Ji said evenly. [I’m used to it.]

The Male Ghost had fled. Chen Ji didn’t bother chasing it. He felt no sympathy, no guilt—nothing of the sort.

If he hadn’t been driving slow, if he hadn’t had the Profound Penetration Talismans, if he hadn’t been through all this before—what would happen to someone else in his shoes? Best case, they’d be scared half to death and bedridden with illness. Worst case, a crash off a cliff, car and driver totaled.

If it could stop even a lighter from sparking, this was no mere prank.

Seeing the System Cat all wilted, Chen Ji reached over and rubbed its head. [It’s fine. When we get home tonight, I’ll make you some midnight snacks… Got a ton of oden ingredients. Want oden?]

[Mm.] The System Cat nuzzled hard into his palm. [Sounds good.]

By the time Chen Ji parked the car in Shangyang Village and summoned Second Master Huang’s supercar to zip back to the temple, it was past midnight. He hadn’t stayed out this late in ages. Just as he was about to enter the temple, a voice rang out: [Holy crap, where is this?!]

Chen Ji turned and saw the Little Youth standing behind him, looking utterly bewildered. The youth then pointed at something behind Chen Ji in horror: [Holy crap! Holy crap! Mutant beast—!]

Second Master Huang paused, then whipped around with a ferocious glare: [Screw you! What mutant beast? Where’d this punk come from, calling your Second Grandpa a mutant beast?!]

The Little Youth was so startled that he tumbled to the ground. [Holy shit! The mutated beast spoke human words!]

Chen Ji rubbed his brow. With one hand, he scooped up Second Master Huang, who was about to lunge forward, and asked him, “How did you end up following me here?”

The Little Youth answered on instinct. [I don’t know! I was at the police station, and suddenly I was here… Holy shit, you can see me?!]

The Little Youth scrambled to his feet with an awkward somersault. He accused Chen Ji indignantly. [You could see me this whole time and pretended all day that you couldn’t?! You’re an amazing actor! It’s a huge loss to the nation that you’re not in movies!]

Chen Ji said, “…Do you even grasp the situation?”

The Little Youth blinked. […Huh?]

Chen Ji gave him a gentle smile. “Normally, you should be waiting at the police station for the Ghost Messengers to come get you. But instead, you’ve shown up here completely out of your control. Any idea why?”