I Am Not a Master - Chapter 103

Gu Feiyin hurried along, not wanting to waste even a single minute. She was determined to locate the beautiful ghost’s hiding spot this time. She couldn’t afford another mishap-if something went wrong again, she’d probably cry herself to death.

The beautiful ghost sneered coldly, her face tinged with both pride and arrogance. “Relax. The place I found is as safe as it gets. No one knows about it except me.” She no longer bothered pretending to be human. Her alluring black silhouette floated mid-air, her long hair swaying in the wind, making her look like an enchanting demon. Her rotten peach blossom admirer kept staring at her, earning nothing but her rolling eyes in return.

Gu Feiyin chuckled. “Safe is good, of course. After all, that’s my property. If someone steals it, I’d be heartbroken.”

The beautiful ghost: “…” You’re really shameless, aren’t you? 🙂

Naturally, things didn’t go as smoothly as they had hoped. After climbing the mountain for half an hour and finally nearing their destination, they spotted a large group of little ghosts gathered nearby. They were huddled in twos and threes, whispering about something, looking extremely suspicious. A quick estimate put their number at no less than a hundred-a truly formidable sight.

What could so many little ghosts be doing together?

They quickly found a hiding spot and observed from the shadows.

The beautiful ghost was stunned. “Why are there so many little ghosts here? That’s impossible.”

Gu Feiyin was equally shocked. “Could it be that my treasure has been discovered? Are these little ghosts here to steal it?”

The beautiful ghost: “…”

The beautiful ghost was at a loss for words, her expression dark as she rolled her eyes. This long black straight-haired woman was utterly shameless!

The rotten peach blossom admirer chuckled, also puzzled by the gathering of little ghosts. “I don’t think so. They must have another purpose.”

Liao Yuan, the monk, scrutinized the scene carefully before descending from mid-air. “Each of these little ghosts is burdened with karmic debts and radiates malevolent energy. They are clearly not virtuous beings. For them to gather like this-could they be plotting something?”

Jingxing added, “What else could a group of little ghosts do together besides causing harm?”

Zhen Du pondered aloud, “Causing harm?”

Exactly. For malevolent ghosts like these, causing harm was likely their only purpose.

Hearing that the little ghosts weren’t after her treasure, Gu Feiyin let out a sly chuckle. That was a relief-she no longer had to worry about her property being stolen while she was busy catching ghosts.

She deftly pulled a red ball of yarn from her pocket. Her pitch-black eyes glowed red, and her gap-toothed grin radiated sinister glee. Her pale face was filled with anticipation, enough to give anyone goosebumps.

Without hesitation, and with an expression of sheer excitement, she charged forward-

…

The group of little ghosts, numbering at least a hundred or more, had gathered for one reason and one reason only: the long black straight-haired woman had gone too far!

Over the past few years, this long black straight-haired woman had committed countless heinous acts against them, the malevolent ghosts. At best, she would gnaw off their limbs; at worst, she would gnaw off their limbs and sell them for money to curry favor with those ghost-hating dogs in the Special Unit. She was clearly a treacherous and ruthless lackey.

And every time she caught a little ghost to sell, she would only sell them for a few dozen yuan-never a penny more. What was that supposed to mean? Wasn’t it a blatant insult, declaring them to be worthless and weak? It was an unbearable humiliation, worse than being struck down and scattered into oblivion!

Even more terrifyingly, her influence had grown in recent years. Her Ghost House business had expanded nationwide, and many little ghosts had been recruited into the Supernatural Affairs Office. Not only did they gain formal jobs and backing, but their records were also officially documented in the human world. With enough merit, they might even secure minor official positions in the Underworld, benefiting both their chances of reincarnation and their continued existence as ghosts.

More importantly, it had become increasingly difficult to prey on little ghosts. Not only were they harder to catch, but even committing minor misdeeds to enhance their cultivation had become a challenge.

Nowadays, little ghosts had learned to band together, live in groups, and even file complaints. Several times, when malevolent ghosts tried to act, the little ghosts would raise an alarm, summoning countless allies in an instant. Though malevolent ghosts were stronger than ordinary little ghosts, they couldn’t withstand the sheer numbers. Worse, the little ghosts could call in reinforcements from the Special Unit and those detestable Taoists. After such ordeals, the malevolent ghosts’ situation had grown increasingly dire, leaving them to endure hunger daily.

And that was just when dealing with little ghosts. If they wanted to kill a human and feast on a fresh soul, they might succeed if they acted stealthily. But if they made a bigger move… Take, for example, the time their leader led a dozen brothers to target a cruise ship. The ship carried over a hundred people, and if their plan succeeded, they could feast to their hearts’ content, significantly boosting their cultivation. A few more successes like that, and even if they couldn’t become Ghost Immortals, they could still dominate the ghostly realm!

Their plan was meticulous. They intended to strike when the cruise ship was isolated at sea, under the cover of night.

First, they would create waves and manipulate the captain into altering the ship’s course, causing it to crash into the rocks and inciting panic. The terrified and despairing souls of humans were the most delicious delicacies-just one bite would leave them savoring the taste for days, unforgettable. Soon, they would feast to their heart’s content!

The plan was flawless-until an unexpected twist occurred. Just as the ship was about to capsize, a group of little ghosts suddenly appeared out of nowhere. With their green-glowing hair and inexplicable fervor, they charged in. Among them was a water ghost, its green hair dripping wet, its blood-red eyes gleaming, and its sharp claws waving excitedly. Surrounding it were several other water ghosts, equally eager, their eyes shining with excitement as if they were about to accomplish something monumental.

“The heavens have finally opened their eyes! At last, we have a chance to prove ourselves. If we perform well, maybe we can get into the Supernatural Affairs Office, and even be assigned an apartment!”

“Exactly, exactly! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. I can finally make a name for myself, wuwuwu…”

“Then what are you standing around for? Go, hurry up and catch them all! Detain every last one of them!”

“Stop blabbering, go save people! These humans are so fragile-if they swallow even a few more gulps of seawater, they might die!”

The Water Ghosts were well accustomed to water. Now, seeing so many human children struggling in the waves, crying for help-some even too weak to struggle, already limp and sinking to the bottom-the situation was urgent. The Water Ghosts flashed forward, diving headlong, and quickly hauled the people up from the depths.

Even Boss Chen, the initiator of this operation, was stunned by such a sudden change. His plan had been perfectly concealed; apart from a few close confidants, he hadn’t told a single ghost. He couldn’t understand how so many little ghosts had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Not only that, he even heard the roar of airplanes overhead and saw the beams of speedboats sweeping in from nearby…

He froze. No way, has the rescue arrived so quickly???

“Boss Chen, what’s going on? Did you set us up? Why are people from the Special Unit and the Supernatural Affairs Office here?”

“Why would I set you up? I’m even more confused than you are!”

“Damn, could there be a traitor among us?”

“Who’s the mole??!”

But this wasn’t a matter of an informant at all. Boss Chen had been traveling with the little ghosts all along, and there was no way they wouldn’t have discussed things along the way. Plus, the Water Ghosts-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten…-had long been thinking about earning merit, about bringing honor to their Water Ghost clan. Their biggest aspirations were to find a bad guy to use as a substitute, or to save a good person and earn a Benevolent Ghost Certificate.

The boundaries between the yin and yang worlds were strict. Those with a criminal record had trouble even renting a place, let alone getting into the Supernatural Affairs Office. If you wanted to register, there was a multi-year observation period, and you had to do volunteer work first-what a hassle.

So when Boss Chen came along, discussing things left and right, he was overheard by the Water Ghosts lurking quietly under the hull. After all, the Malevolent Ghosts’ aura was overwhelming-how could their own kind not sense it?

The moment they realized these were Malevolent Ghosts out to harm people, how could they let it go? This was the perfect chance to earn merit!

The Water Ghosts-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight-got excited at once. One went to report, a few stayed to keep watch, and others went to notify the Water Ghosts in nearby seas. Their strength alone was too weak to face the Malevolent Ghosts, and with over a hundred people on board, their few pairs of hands alone wouldn’t be enough to help.

All this back-and-forth took some time, so by the time the main rescue force arrived, the ship had already hit the reef and was sinking. Malevolent Ghosts seized the chance to cause chaos, and terrified human children jumped into the sea, desperate to survive.

Although there were lifeboats, there were too many people; many who fell into the water didn’t make it onto the boats and were now struggling and screaming for help. Now, the coastline was pitch black and empty, and there was nowhere to call for rescue. Despair filled their hearts-they thought they were doomed.

Li Fei was one of them. He’d only gone on this trip to relax, never expecting something like this. First, there was a sudden power outage on the ship, then the tourists began fighting over a few words. Faces covered in blood, they were still laughing eerily, as if they couldn’t feel pain at all. It was chilling to witness. Before that mess was even resolved, the ship struck a reef.

Li Fei was completely stunned, thinking his luck couldn’t be worse. He’d just gone out for a trip, yet ended up caught in such a disaster.

The passengers panicked instantly, faces draining of color as they rushed out.

Even stranger, at the brink of life and death, the ones fighting still wouldn’t stop. They couldn’t be pulled apart, as if they weren’t even aware of the gravity of the situation, as if bewitched by something.

Li Fei called out a few times but no one responded. He couldn’t be bothered to care anymore, glanced around, and followed the crowd out-only for the ship to tilt suddenly, knocking him off balance, sending him plunging headfirst into the sea with a splash! He clearly heard others falling into the water beside him.

It’s over. This is the end. With the ship sinking, they could easily be pulled into a whirlpool…

His mind went blank. All he could do was desperately swim forward. Glancing back, he saw many still stranded on the slanting deck, but above the ship, several black shadows floated in the air. Grinning mouths twisted into bizarre smiles and sharp screams-they seemed to be gloating, reveling in the humans’ terror…

Li Fei froze, gulping: “What are those things? What’s floating above the ship?”

A few struggling swimmers around him turned instantly: “Is that a plane? Is someone coming to save us… What the hell is that?!”

Before they could feel any relief, the eerie sight before them sent chills through their bodies. Ghostly figures floated around the ship, circling in the air, their piercing laughter drifting down, mingling with the chaos of cries and screams below. What should have been a scene of terror and disaster now became unsettling and inexplicable.

“What… what is that thing? Why do I see a figure flying in the sky? Is that a ghost?”

“Damn it, could it be a siren?”

“A siren? Do sirens look like that? It doesn’t seem like it. Oh right, our ship hit a reef-could it have been their doing?”

“If it really was them, do we even stand a chance of escaping? Are we going to die here today?”

If someone had truly orchestrated this, even if they tried to escape now, where could they go? The sea surrounded them on all sides. Even if they managed to flee, their stamina would likely give out, and in the end, death would be inevitable.

Li Fei felt a wave of despair wash over him. His entire body went cold, and he began trembling uncontrollably. He silently watched the ship slowly sink beneath the waves and the dark shadow drifting in midair. Suddenly, a wave surged and swept him into the sea. He snapped out of his daze, struggling to swim upward. But after just a few strokes, his strength gave out. Seawater rushed into his mouth, choking him and making it hard to breathe. His vision blurred with stars as he flailed weakly, sinking downward.

He knew he was done for this time. But he didn’t want to die-he didn’t want to die at all. He still wanted to live. His eyes widened in terror, but all he could do was watch as the surface of the water grew farther and farther away…

Suddenly, he felt something wrap around his ankle. It felt like seaweed, but it moved as if it had a will of its own, coiling tightly around his leg. Li Fei was horrified and began thrashing desperately! He didn’t want to be tangled up in seaweed-if he was, there would be no way out!

But the seaweed was incredibly strong. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free. He even felt his body being yanked with a sudden “whoosh,” dragged away through the water.

…What the hell?!

At this point, Li Fei was certain he had encountered something supernatural. His panic intensified as he flailed wildly, only to realize that several others were also being dragged away with him!

In the blink of an eye, he was hauled out of the water and left dangling upside down in midair. His head spun as he coughed violently. Then, with a loud splash, he was thrown onto a wooden plank.

Lying on the plank, he vomited up a mouthful of seawater and coughed furiously. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a blurry ghostly figure crouched on the plank. Its long green hair clung wetly to its scalp, and the strands that drifted in the water looked just like seaweed. Beneath that green hair was a face, bloated and pale from being submerged, with a pair of pitch-black, sinister eyes that stared at him with a venomous intensity. The way it gazed at him made him feel like prey being kept in captivity. He froze in terror on the spot.

What was this thing? A sea-dwelling demon? A ghost?

The only relief was that the green-haired creature didn’t say anything. It turned and dove back into the water. Li Fei had just let out a sigh of relief when, moments later, the green-haired creature resurfaced. This time, its hair was tied around the ankles of several unconscious humans. With a flick of its head, it tossed the limp bodies onto the wooden plank.

The most alarming part? There wasn’t just one green-haired creature!

It seemed they had salvaged the planks from the wrecked ship. Several people were being pulled out of the water and dumped onto the planks. Strangely, it almost seemed like they were rescuing people. But these creatures were clearly not human-why would they save anyone? Especially when even more terrifying ghostly figures hovered near the wrecked ship.

Those ghostly figures seemed to notice the commotion. The one standing at the highest point turned its head and stared directly in their direction-

The Water Ghosts were busy pulling people out of the water, working frantically. “Quick, check if everyone in the sea has been pulled up!”

“I’m pulling, I’m pulling! Be careful-Boss Chen has already noticed us! We’re no match for him. I don’t want to be obliterated!”

“You’re scared of him? The landlord will be here soon. Once the landlord arrives, we’ll eat him alive. Let’s see how arrogant he dares to be then.”

“Yeah, we’ll eat them all. If we’re lucky, we might even get a share of some arms or legs. They must be delicious.”

“I heard last time that the arms and legs hanging from the landlord’s window are incredibly tasty. Regular ghosts don’t even get a chance to eat them-only the landlord’s trusted followers get to enjoy such delicacies.”

“Wow, if we contribute this time, do you think we’ll get a share?”

“…”

The Water Ghosts chattered amongst themselves in eerie, ghostly whispers, their voices filled with longing. Li Fei strained his ears but could only catch fragments like “once the landlord arrives, we’ll eat him,” “share some arms or legs,” and “delicacies.” But the more he listened, the more wrong it sounded. A shiver ran down his spine, and cold sweat poured down his face. What kind of monster was this “landlord”? It actually planned to eat people! Not only eat them but dismember them first. Arms and legs hung from windows to dry, like some kind of grotesque jerky. Did she think she was making preserved meat?!

Li Fei was utterly terrified. He lay trembling on the plank, looking utterly pitiful.

His mind raced with fear. Would it be better to drown in the sea or to be dismembered and eaten? Of course, the best option would be to escape…

Meanwhile, Boss Chen, having discovered that the Water Ghosts were rescuing people, darkened his expression and led his underlings in a charge toward them. But the Water Ghosts, knowing better than to engage directly, immediately dove into the water at the first sign of a fight. Not even a strand of their hair surfaced. The Water Ghosts were in their element, and ordinary ghosts had little chance of catching them. Boss Chen was left fuming with rage.

For a moment, the two groups were at a deadlock-neither could do anything to the other.

Boss Chen had never met such an insensible Water Ghost before. “Let me tell you, all these are my prey. Don’t you even think about snatching them from us. If you know what’s good for you, get out of the way. Don’t mess up my plans, or I’ll eat you all up too!”

The Water Ghost had survived under the oppression of Long Black Straight Hair for so many years-would such a small threat scare him now? He wasn’t even afraid of the sinister and vicious Long Black Straight Hair, so why would he fear Boss Chen? Besides, when it came to eating ghosts, who could compare to Long Black Straight Hair?

The Water Ghost let out a cold laugh, not even bothering to respond. “We’ve taken a liking to these humans as well. We’re going to snatch them. So what?”

“Looks like you want a beating instead of a toast.”

“Oh? You want a fight? How about we set a good date for it?”

Boss Chen was furious at the Water Ghosts’ nonchalant attitude. His Resentment Energy surged, and he wished he could smash them to pieces to vent his anger. Unfortunately, the Water Ghost was particularly fast in the water-traveling a thousand miles a day was no exaggeration. Catching him would take a lot of effort, and right now he was more concerned about getting those fresh new souls into his belly.

Boss Chen let out a cold, sinister laugh. Once he was done with what was in front of him, he’d definitely teach that Water Ghost a lesson.

Li Fei noticed that the ghostly figures and the green-hatted monster were having an internal conflict. So they weren’t all on the same side? That was even better. The more they fought, the longer he and the others could survive-maybe even hold out for rescue. Then they wouldn’t have to die here. Just as he was secretly feeling lucky, he suddenly heard the Water Ghosts calling out in strange, almost excited voices: “Landlord! Landlord, you’re here! We’re over here!”

Li Fei quietly looked up and saw a Long-haired Woman drifting over in midair. She wore a long white dress, her long black hair tossed messily by the sea breeze and covering most of her face, making her look like a faceless monster. At first glance, she looked like she was on the same team as the green-hatted monster.

Behind the Long-haired Woman, more ghosts floated-some missing heads, some with missing arms. Each was grotesque and shrouded in Yin Energy, but all seemed to take her as their leader, crowding around her as if ready for a brawl.

They drifted closer and closer, finally coming to a stop in midair. The Long-haired Woman brushed aside her flying hair, craned her neck and looked left and right. When she saw Boss Chen, her eyes lit up, and she grinned as she looked him over. “Hehe, so it’s you all. Not bad, you probably taste pretty good.”

Boss Chen and his underlings: “……”

Li Fei and the other survivors: “……???!!!”

What the hell did she mean, probably taste pretty good?!

……

The battle lasted only a few minutes. Not just Li Fei-almost everyone saw it: the Long-haired Woman swung her long whip and lashed Boss Chen and his cronies so hard they screamed for their mothers, begging for mercy. They didn’t even get a chance to run before they were snatched back by the whip, then bound up in a tangle of yarn, trailing behind her like a string of prisoners.

That Boss Chen-once so fierce and domineering, destroying a whole ship and even killing the captain and crew-was reduced in an instant to a prisoner, with no chance to fight back.

Li Fei stared dumbly up at the Long-haired Woman as she looked down with a cold face and said, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. The bad guys have all been caught by me.”

Li Fei: “……”

He wanted to say he wasn’t afraid, but it was like something was stuck in his throat-he couldn’t say a word.

Later, every time he remembered this, he deeply regretted it. If only he’d managed to say something-anything, even just “thank you”-how wonderful that would have been…

When the Special Unit and the airborne squad arrived, all the rescued people had already boarded the lifeboats or lay on wooden planks. The once chaotic sea calmed, then grew noisy again.

The survivors seemed to finally wake up from their earlier fright. Covering their faces, they laughed and cried, unable to calm down.

All they could think about was the image of the Long-haired Woman leading a string of little ghosts into the darkness. Even the greenish long hair floating on the surface disappeared into the sea in an instant. They vanished without a trace, leaving not a single sign behind. It was enough to make people think that it had all been just a dream.

“Did we really just see ghosts??! Was I hallucinating?”

“Hallucinating? Just look at your ship and you’ll know if it was a hallucination.”

“Of course it wasn’t. Some ghosts tried to kill us and capsized our ship, but there were Water Ghosts who saved us. And that Long-haired Female Ghost who showed up in the end-she was amazing! She actually bit off Boss Chen’s arm in one go!”

“She really was incredible. I was scared out of my mind, thought I was dead for sure. Who’d have thought ghosts really exist? If we tell anyone, no one will believe us, right?”

Honestly, the bizarre events of that night-if anyone talked about them, not only would no one believe it, they’d think you were crazy.

While the survivors were still trembling from their brush with death, they also felt nothing but gratitude and lingering fear. If not for the Water Ghosts and that Long-haired Woman, they really would have died! But to think they’d been saved by ghosts-were they supposed to feel more grateful or more afraid…?

On the other side, the Water Ghost was absolutely delighted. He’d actually done a good deed for once. Surely the wicked Long Black Straight Hair would praise him, give him something nice to eat, and then let him go, right?

But Long Black Straight Hair said, “Didn’t expect the Water Ghost to be good for more than catching fish and shrimp-he can save people too. Not bad, not bad. We’ll keep him around a while longer.”

Water Ghost: “……” :

……

This was just one of the many malicious deeds committed by Long Black Straight Hair. There were countless others. For instance, a female ghost in the mountains was capturing men to absorb their Yang Energy, but Long Black Straight Hair ruined her plans. Not only did she release the men, but she also captured the female ghost, took over her lair, and seized all her possessions. It could be said that she wiped out the ghost’s entire “family.” This showed just how vicious she was. Or take the incident on the bus: a little ghost that had possessed the driver originally planned to take an entire busload of people to the grave. But unfortunately for them, Long Black Straight Hair happened to be on that bus. Not only did she thwart their plan, but she also captured them all, dismembered their limbs, and said she would take them back to slowly feast on them, saving them as snacks. In the end, she sold them for just fifty yuan.

These excessive incidents were too numerous to count-more than ten fingers could tally. Just thinking about them was infuriating.

Long Black Straight Hair had a long list of prior offenses. Her reputation was already rotten in the Ghost Realm, and everyone wished they could eliminate her. As her influence continued to expand, the ghosts realized they could no longer sit idly by. If they did, they feared they would end up like Face Ghost, Boss Chen, or Wawa Island!

Thus, the ghosts rallied together, gathering on a mountaintop to discuss how to deal with Long Black Straight Hair.

One suggested storming into City A to fight Long Black Straight Hair to the death. Another immediately objected, saying that City A was her stronghold, and going there might result in their own demise without even taking her down. Then someone proposed setting a trap. Since Long Black Straight Hair loved money, they could lure her in with riches and then kill her! This idea seemed promising, but they worried that if they failed to kill her, they would end up handing over all the wealth they had painstakingly gathered.

“Uh…”

This plan didn’t work, nor did that one. So what could they do? The main problem was that Long Black Straight Hair was too cunning, ruthless, and powerful. If they couldn’t kill her in one strike, they would undoubtedly suffer the consequences. Coming up with a foolproof plan wasn’t easy.

What they didn’t expect, however, was that while they were still deliberating, Long Black Straight Hair herself showed up. Her eyes glowed green, and she smiled coldly and maliciously, revealing her jagged teeth. In a chilling voice, she said, “Heh heh, the flavor’s a bit bland, but it’s still acceptable.”

“…?!!”

Oh no, Long Black Straight Hair was here! Run!

But when they turned around, they saw little ghosts swarming in from all directions. And not just little ghosts-there were also stinking monks and stinking Taoists!

“…???!!!”

Help! There’s a traitor among us! They had been betrayed! They were being wiped out in one fell swoop!

Gu Feiyin rubbed her hands together with a cheerful smile. Wow, more money incoming!

Of course, after capturing the little ghosts, the priority was to head to the beautiful ghost’s lair. Gu Feiyin was worried the little ghosts might be tempted by the treasures there, so she gave them a good beating. After pummeling them until they were dizzy and disoriented, she finally felt satisfied.

The beautiful ghost had been around much longer than Long Black Straight Hair, and her lair was filled with treasures. Not only were they older, but they were also more exquisite. Gold Ingots were piled high, one after another. And now, they were all hers. When Gu Feiyin led a long string of little ghosts into the lair, she was so thrilled she could hardly contain herself. With these treasures, she was now a bona fide multi-billionaire.

She laughed uproariously, scaring the birds in the forest into flapping their wings and flying away in a panic.

Liao Yuan, the old monk, looked up at the sky. He recalled what his Shifu had once said: that Gu Feiyin, this little ghost, was favored by the heavens. At the time, he hadn’t understood. After all, if she were truly favored, she wouldn’t have lost her family, lived a life of loneliness, and suffered so much. But now he understood. She was a kind soul who had done great deeds over several lifetimes. This lifetime was supposed to be her reward, where she reaped the fruits of her good karma. Yet, she had died an untimely death, nearly losing her soul entirely.

Even the heavens couldn’t bear to see it and decided to grant her a life of peace and stability.

He chuckled and suddenly glanced at Zhen Du, who was standing nearby with the same cheerful smile. Curiously, he asked, “Why haven’t you been unlucky lately?”

Zhen Du smiled warmly and said, “Amitabha. Ever since I started following Shizhu Gu, my bad luck seems to have disappeared. Perhaps this is the opportunity my Shifu spoke of. Naturally, I must follow where my opportunity leads.”

“Shizhu Gu, let me help you.”

“Sure thing!”

(End of the story)

P.S.: It’s finished! The heroine has struck it rich, achieving her ultimate goal. There will be some extra chapters too. Thank you all for loving Long Black Straight Hair. Mwah~