Chapter 71

The earthquake struck without warning, and in an instant, the entire town was left in ruins.

First Yu and Second Yu never imagined they would face death so soon. When the earthquake hit, the two brothers were in the living room, worried about their old father and discussing what to do next. As the ground began to shake violently, they realized it was an earthquake and tried to run outside. Unfortunately, the second floor collapsed before they could escape, forcing them to retreat and huddle in a corner. It was this triangular space that barely saved their lives.

Though they survived the initial collapse, they were not unscathed. Their legs were trapped under a large stone, rendering them immobile, and their wives and children were still upstairs, their conditions unknown.

Third Yu, anxious about Old Master Yu and unable to face his brothers, had gone outside for a smoke, inadvertently avoiding the disaster.

Second Yu felt the stone pressing on his leg. Though he couldn’t feel pain, he could touch the sticky blood and sense the dust settling on him. He dared not move and whispered, “Big brother, are we going to die here?”

First Yu was in no better shape, weakly responding, “No, someone will come to rescue us soon. Don’t talk like that. Third Yu knows we’re in here; he’ll get help.”

“I don’t know how my wife and daughter are doing. I don’t care if I die, but I don’t want anything to happen to them. My daughter is still so young; I haven’t even taken her to the amusement park yet.”

“That’s why you can’t give up! Your sister-in-law and nephew should be with your wife and daughter. We’ll see them again, don’t lose hope.”

“Big brother…”

At that moment, Second Yu felt utterly hopeless.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the sound of the collapse seemed to vanish, and everything around them fell silent. The world seemed to stand still, with only the faint scent of earth and blood in the air, offering no glimmer of hope.

Time passed, and even First Yu felt he couldn’t hold on much longer. Suddenly, he sensed the stone pressing on him shift slightly. He saw a faint glimmer of light from outside and felt small stones and dirt falling on him. He couldn’t help but open his eyes wide and try to call out, only to swallow a mouthful of dirt. His voice was weak, “Help, help us, we’re here, my brother and I are still alive…”

But no one responded to his cries. He didn’t even hear any voices outside. Was it just an illusion? Or perhaps it was just an aftershock, and no one was coming to save them.

If someone were coming to rescue them, it wouldn’t be this quiet.

First Yu’s hope was dashed, but he refused to give up. He reached out to touch his brother, hearing only faint groans in response. His hand searched the ground until he found a stone. Grasping it, he used all his strength to tap on the ground, hoping the sound would reach the outside world.

“Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud…”

He tapped and tapped, growing more desperate with each strike.

Second Yu still retained a faint consciousness, the sensation of being on the brink of death overwhelming him. Terrified, he widened his eyes, struggling to maintain his self-awareness for fear that he might faint and never wake up again.

However, just when they thought they were doomed, suddenly, the large stone slab pressing down on them began to lift gradually, as if something was hoisting it. First Yu and Second Yu, filled with excitement, watched wide-eyed as several figures, each missing a leg, an arm, or half their body, floated mid-air, carrying the massive stone, which swiftly disappeared from their view…

…Huh??!!

It was normal for someone to lift the stone to rescue them, but why were these figures floating and looking so bizarre? Or was it a hallucination caused by their excessive blood loss?

A drizzle began to fall from the sky, the cold droplets snapping them back to reality as they landed on their faces.

In the next instant, the head of their elderly father appeared above them. His face was pale and stiff, his wrinkled face covered in blood and tears. He slapped his thigh in excitement, “Master, Master Gu, my sons are still alive, still alive, not dead yet!”

First Yu: “…?”

Second Yu: “…?”

Could it be that they were experiencing a dying flash of clarity, hence seeing their old man? Was he there to escort them to hell?

No, as much as they wanted to see their father, they definitely did not want to die!

The next moment, several more heads appeared, men and women, and a child, all chattering, “Hurry up, look at the state of this mess, get the stones moved!”

“Ah, I see they are injured. The hospital here is probably overwhelmed too. Where are they going to get treated? If those wounds aren’t properly dressed, the infections could get worse!”

“The whole place has collapsed, probably the hospital too. Who knows if the doctors and nurses are alright, and all the medications must be crushed under the stones…”

“Damn, we’re in such a remote place, it would take at least an hour for rescue to arrive. What are we going to do? Besides, with such a severe earthquake, the nearby towns must be devastated too!”

First Yu and Second Yu were dumbfounded, barely comprehending what was being said. As they stood lost in confusion, another head appeared above them—the Long-haired Woman, her hair cascading downward, a nylon bag folded atop her head like a white veil.

She stretched her neck to look inside, flicked a woolen rope, and her voice, chilling as if emerging from hell, commanded, “Move the stones quickly, or I’ll eat you right now!”

Following her command, the sound of moving debris became clearer. Fearing a sudden collapse while removing the stones, two little ghosts crouched in front of them, their bodies half-buried in the rubble, ready to prevent any secondary collapses.

The little ghosts kept chattering away, “I told you there were stones here, be careful! If you crush these two humans, Long Black Straight Hair will devour your soul!”

“I also said these stones are tricky. Didn’t you hear me when I asked you to support them from below? If the stones collapse, can’t you hold them up yourselves? If Long Black Straight Hair is going to eat anyone, it’ll be you first!”

“Alright, alright, stop talking and get to work. If you dawdle any longer, Long Black Straight Hair will eat both of you!”

“…”

With no more words exchanged, they all put their heads down and worked with all their might.

Soon enough, the stones pressing down on First Yu and Second Yu were cleared away, and the two were lifted out of the pit by the little ghosts.

They felt as if they were flying, yet the arms supporting them were cold and stiff. They exchanged glances, bewildered, and when they saw the old man with white hair and wrinkles, tears welled up in their eyes.

“Dad…”

Old Master Yu was surprised, “You can see me? How can you see me? Are you about to die too?”

Old Master Yu was startled, not wanting his sons to die. The little ghosts beside him explained that when people are threatened with life, their Yang Fire is low, allowing them to see ghosts.

Old Master Yu was relieved. At least they could see each other again. “Alright, alright, stop crying. We’ll talk after things settle down here. Xiao Hui and Xiao Fang are outside. We’ll send you all together later. Don’t get separated, keep an eye on the kids. We have many more people to save!”

The earthquake affected a wide area, not just their family. There would be time for words later. First Yu and Second Yu were carried out and laid on an open space. It was then they realized many others were there too, including their wives, children, and even Third Yu. He was dazed, having hit his head on a stone during the earthquake. Though not seriously injured, he had a concussion.

Having just survived a life-and-death ordeal, the family was overwhelmed with emotion, hugging each other and crying.

“I thought I was done for…”

“Me too, I was petrified when the earthquake hit!”

“Thank goodness, thank goodness we’re all still alive!”

The adults were naturally emotional after their brush with death, but the two children, too young to understand the difference between humans and ghosts, were curious. Protected on the second floor, they were dirty and slightly injured but not as badly hurt as First Yu and Second Yu. Despite being frightened, their curiosity couldn’t be contained.

“Dad, Grandpa is amazing! He held me and ‘whoosh,’ we flew out of the stones!”

“Dad, Dad, Grandpa didn’t go to heaven or turn into a star. I saw Grandpa! And that awesome lady, and lots of amazing uncles and aunts, they can all fly! Are they immortals?”

“Grandpa can fly too. Did Grandpa become an immortal?”

First Yu and Second Yu exchanged a glance, patted their son’s head, and said, “Yes, Grandpa became an immortal to save us!”

“Grandpa is so cool! Grandpa is a hero!”

…

On the other side, Jingxing, Jingkong, and Zhen Du were also busy. Jingxing and Zhen Du had gathered thirty to forty little ghosts to help around the town. These were allocated from Shizhu Gu, who kept fifty or so on her side, directing them to lift slabs and rescue people. The town was in complete chaos, with the police, fire department, and hospitals likely suffering significant losses. It would take some time for them to organize a rescue effort.

Time was of the essence now, every second counted.

That afternoon, many witnessed a strange phenomenon: either stones flew through the sky, or those trapped in despair under rubble suddenly found themselves rescued, experiencing what it felt like to “soar in place,” leaving them both shocked and delighted.

Initially, they feared they had encountered ghosts and dared not speak. It was only after hiding for a while and realizing these entities were rescuing people that they felt somewhat reassured.

The number of rescued people increased, yet there were no doctors or medicines available for treatment. To make matters worse, a light rain began to fall, necessitating the setup of tents to shelter the injured.

Jingxing pulled a small child from the debris. The child seemed too frightened to cry, appearing dazed, with no adults nearby. Jingxing handed the child to a little ghost, instructing it to take the child to the open area at the town’s entrance, where the injured were being gathered. Women, the elderly, and children with minor injuries were organizing care for the wounded, while able-bodied men helped move stones and rescue others.

Jingxing, gazing at the devastated town, worriedly remarked, “This isn’t sustainable. We need medicine. There’s a pharmacy ahead; I’ll take some ghosts to bring the medicine out. Otherwise, even if we rescue people, they might die without timely treatment.”

This was indeed feasible. Jingxing, accompanied by a few ghosts, headed to the pharmacy, rescuing several people, including the owner and patients, and carried them to the open area at the town’s entrance. They also managed to retrieve a good amount of medicine from the rubble, packing several bags to send to the open area. At this point, they didn’t bother checking what the medicines were for; they would surely be useful.

The pharmacy owner was severely injured by the stones but remained conscious, not completely fainting. He never imagined he would experience such a powerful earthquake in his lifetime. He thought he was doomed, yet he was rescued-and not just rescued, but floated out!

He was almost dumbfounded, realizing that being able to fly was even less likely than experiencing an earthquake!

Floating in the cold wind, he felt surprisingly good. “Young monk Jingxing…”

Jingxing replied, “Shizhu, I’ll have someone take you to the town entrance. Many people are waiting for you to treat them there.”

The pharmacy owner said, “Thank you, young monk, thank you for saving me. I will repay your kindness by working tirelessly for you in the future!”

Jingxing smiled and said, “It was Shizhu Gu who saved you. Without her, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to help. If you want to thank someone, thank her.”

The pharmacy owner was momentarily stunned. Who was Shizhu Gu? Turning his head, he indeed saw a Long-haired Woman floating in mid-air. For a moment, he thought he was seeing a Bodhisattva-especially with that nylon bag atop her head, resembling a divine halo.

She was turned slightly away from him, and due to the distance, her features were indistinct. Yet, she stood atop Malevolent Ghosts, holding a yarn string, while countless spirits beneath her moved back and forth among the collapsed buildings. Some were carrying stones to a nearby empty space, others were preventing debris from causing further harm. Despite the eerie scene, it was profoundly moving.

Then he flew, soaring from the street to the town’s entrance, gaining a clearer view of the collapsed buildings below and the injured people walking on the ground. His heart was heavy yet relieved; at least he was still alive. As he flew, another person appeared beside him, hair swaying in the cold wind, looking familiar despite the dirt. “…Oh, it’s you.”

The other person, equally dazed, stared at him and managed a weak smile, “…What a coincidence.”

Wasn’t it quite the coincidence?

The two of them felt the chill of the wind as they landed, finally realizing that the ones carrying them were ghosts-missing a leg, no less. Were they ghosts? They were tied with yarn, almost forming a bow around themselves, their forms blurry, faces pale and rigid, gray eyes glaring at them menacingly.

The pair, startled by the sight, swallowed hard, “Th-thank you…”

Several ghosts bared their teeth at them viciously before vanishing into shadows.

“Thank you, truly grateful for saving us!”

Though they seemed fierce, at least they saved them.

The airborne ghosts stumbled, nearly falling, feeling insulted by the gratitude. If it weren’t for the Long Black Straight Hair, would they be doing this humiliating task? Blaming her for the emotional and physical torment, they cursed her in their minds several times.

On their way back, they saw some former companions floating towards the town’s entrance, carrying sacks, and couldn’t resist scoffing, “Oh, you guys are reduced to laborers too? I thought helping Long Black Straight Hair catch us would earn you better treatment.”

That ghost also glared, “Don’t laugh at me, we’re in the same boat, as if you’re not doing labor yourself.” “What did you say? Just wait, I’ll show you.”

“I’m going to report to Long Black Straight Hair, saying you’re slacking off and provoking fights!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Watch me!”

“Get moving, stop arguing, or Long Black Straight Hair will take your other leg too.”

“You guys haven’t seen Hao-Ge. He’s been carrying slabs, dozens, even hundreds of them. The whole ghost looks utterly miserable. You’re just carrying a person or a sack, and you’re already snickering.”

“…”

Well, thinking about Hao-Ge and his close associates being the main labor force this time around, there’s a sense of sympathy. It balances things out a bit. Long Black Straight Hair is formidable and vicious, and none of them dare to provoke her. They can only endure being enslaved, as preserving their souls is crucial.

The little ghosts carrying sacks reached the town entrance, not even bothering to glance at the insignificant humans below. With a thud, they dropped the sacks and left, feeling embarrassed to even look at them.

Once, they were so glorious. When did they fall to the point of running errands for these tiny humans? If word got out, they’d never survive in the underworld. It would tarnish their reputation.

Wait, do they even have a future?

The disaster victims on the ground only saw a few blurry figures carrying sacks, dropping them with a clatter, and then disappearing.

“What were those things?”

“No idea…”

“They must be good things. They saved us; they wouldn’t harm us.”

A few people walked over and opened the sacks, and wow, it was medicine?!

Medicine, in these critical times, is a lifesaver!

Seeing the medicine, everyone present was overwhelmed with emotion, tears almost falling. “We’re saved, we’re saved! Come and see, we have medicine!”

“Great, with these medicines, we can hold on for a while.”

“My dad has a fever. See if there’s any fever reducer or anti-inflammatory medicine. Quickly, give him a pill.”

“Don’t rush, don’t rush. Take it slow. Let the severely injured use the medicine first. Those with minor injuries, hang in there. Don’t worry, the rescue team should be arriving soon. Once they get here, we won’t lack medicine!”

The pharmacy owner, now the only one able to handle the medicine, quickly distributed it, providing simple bandages for the severely injured. At least they need to hold on until help arrives from outside!

First Yu and Second Yu watched the scene, smiling with relief, while Old Master Yu was still moving through the collapsed buildings. Being a new soul with insufficient cultivation, he didn’t dare to lift slabs or carry people. Instead, he and a few children searched for any living humans trapped under the rubble, notifying the ghosts to rescue them. This way, the division of labor was clear.

Through this cooperation, they indeed saved quite a few people.

However, there were only about a hundred ghosts here, and even with some self-organized human rescue teams, there were only a few hundred people. This town had at least ten thousand residents. Over the years, it had developed, with new high-rise communities built on the new street. The situation there was probably dire as well.

Their strength was ultimately limited.

…

The drizzle continued to fall relentlessly, and as more survivors were rescued, the tents were running out. Fortunately, Old Master Yu, with his sharp eyes, discovered a stash of Oxford tarpaulin in a general store while searching through the rubble. This material was perfect for setting up makeshift shelters against the wind and rain, commonly used in the village during harvest to prevent grains from scattering. It was quite affordable, costing only about ten yuan per meter.

These tarpaulins were now incredibly useful, ideal for constructing a larger rain shelter. With all the houses collapsed, having a place to shield from the elements was a blessing.

Old Master Yu quickly brought the materials back, urging everyone to set up the shelters. He feared that if the rain intensified, there would be nowhere to hide, leading to further injuries-a truly dire situation.

Meanwhile, Gu Feiyin had reached the hospital entrance. The hospital, once five stories tall, now lay in a precarious heap, with some people having managed to escape, while others remained trapped inside.

Gu Feiyin sent the group of wandering spirits she had brought with her into the ruins. A large number went to lift stones and rescue people, while others searched for medicine amidst the debris, each busy with their tasks, not interfering with one another.

Zhen Du was also assisting in organizing the rescue efforts. As he moved, he accidentally took a tumble, struggling to get back on his feet and brushing the dirt off his clothes. This bad luck couldn’t have chosen a worse time to show up, only adding to his troubles.

He glanced over and saw Shizhu Gu hovering nearby. She stood quietly, holding jars and bottles that the little ghosts had scavenged from the wreckage, her unfocused eyes staring into the distance, seeing a world unknown to him.

Zhen Du looked at her, imagining that what she saw must be beautiful.

Ignoring the pain in his knee, he continued helping with the rescue.

By now, Zhen Du wasn’t the only one who noticed the Long-haired Woman with a nylon bag on her head. Outside the hospital, at least dozens stood, most of them injured, their clothes stained with blood, tears, and dirt. Filthy and desperate, with loved ones still trapped inside, they were frantically trying to save them.

In their despair, this strange woman appeared, accompanied by an even more bizarre procession of ghostly figures. Her unfocused eyes seemed chillingly eerie as they fixed on them, terrifying them to the core. Already filled with fear, their hearts sank further-what kind of demon or ghost had come to claim their lives?

Especially when she, with a cold and sinister expression, asked them, “Are you all right?”

… All right was something they could never be, not in a million years.

They trembled with fear, convinced they were doomed, overwhelmed with sorrow yet too afraid to resist. Then they saw the Long-haired Woman wave her hand, and the ghostly figures rushed into the ruins, lifting stones and searching for medicine with incredible efficiency, leaving them utterly dumbfounded.

… What on earth was happening here?!

The most terrifying part was that the stone slabs, which seemed incredibly heavy to them, became light as feathers once in their hands. They would lift them up and hurl them far into the open space, raising a cloud of dust with each throw. After tossing, they would hurriedly return and you could faintly hear their conversation.

“Damn, be gentle, will you? Don’t you know there are people underneath?”

“I’m already being as gentle as I can. Why don’t you put in some effort? Didn’t you notice the slab coming down?”

“How am I supposed to lift it without hands? I’m using my head to support it; what more do you want from me!”

“Alright, alright, cut the chatter. If you guys end up killing this person, Long Black Straight Hair will think you two are too dumb to be of any use and just hand you over to us for a feast. We’ve been busy for so long; I wouldn’t mind having a bite, hehe.”

“…”

“…”

Alright, better just focus on the work, and when they get a chance, they can beat Long Black Straight Hair until she begs for mercy, haha.

Of course, some schemers are now trying to win over Long Black Straight Hair, hoping she would appreciate their earnest efforts to save people and let them go. Gu Feiyin indeed gave them face; whenever someone timidly approached, she would definitely say, “Well done, keep it up.”

“So, can I go free? I am willing to atone for my sins!”

“Atone for your sins?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, that depends on your performance.”

With that said, how could they not strive to perform well? The specters witnessing this scene were grinding their teeth in frustration, though only internally, as they dared not show it outwardly. They, too, aimed for a performance award to earn their freedom.

The chatter on this side sounded utterly bewildering and astonishing to the nearby humans, especially since these bizarre shadows looked terrifying and formidable. For a moment, they didn’t know whether to feel happy or scared.

“What kind of people are these? Are they some kind of spirits or ghosts? Didn’t they say no spirits were allowed to transform after the founding of the country?”

“Are there really ghosts in this world? I’m so confused. What’s going on? They aren’t here to eat us; they came to save us?”

“It seems so; I heard some time ago that a few monks brought a strange female Shizhu to rescue us, and they said she was powerful enough to command a host of ghosts to work for her. I thought it was just a rumor, but now it seems it might be true.”

“No matter who she is, what are those things flying in the sky? If they’ve come to rescue us, then they’re all good… people!”

“I don’t think she looks human; she might be a demon, or maybe more like a ghost…”

Well, if so, she’s a good ghost then.

…

Meanwhile, the outside world was in turmoil. The earthquake was significant, and many nearby cities felt it, compounded by constant aftershocks. Even phone calls couldn’t reach areas like Baiyu Town and Luoxia City, shocking the entire country.

Not long after the earthquake, rain began to fall from the sky, starting as a light drizzle and gradually turning into a steady shower. It was said that the debris from the quake had blocked the roads, making it impossible for vehicles to enter. Clearing the path was urgent, as the golden 72-hour rescue window was slipping away, and the death toll could rise.

The kind boss was worried too. He had heard from Gu Feiyin that she intended to visit Baiyu Town to find her home, so he had generously granted her an extra day off. He wanted to help her, knowing how tough it was for a young woman to be out there alone; finding her home would surely be a blessing.

But who could have predicted an earthquake? Had he known, he wouldn’t have given her the extra time off, urging her to return to work instead!

Now, he was left in a state of anxiety, unsure whether she was alive or dead. Unable to reach her by phone, he gathered his employees to donate money and send supplies to the disaster area, hoping to offer some support.

Meanwhile, the internet was abuzz with concern and worry over the earthquake.

“I’m in City A. When the quake hit, I was on the twenty-second floor. I was tossed around so much I nearly jumped out the window! If it weren’t for the thought that jumping or staying put would both lead to death, I might have done it!”

“It was terrifying. My neighbor ran out stark naked, in the middle of winter, without any clothes. He had to borrow some from people downstairs. If the quake didn’t kill him, he might have frozen to death. And I heard someone in the next neighborhood jumped from the third floor and broke their leg!”

“I was in a tutoring session during the quake. I didn’t even realize it was an earthquake until the teacher shouted for us to run. I was scared to death!”

“Our company has already given us time off. I hope everyone in the disaster area is okay.”

“Prayers.”

Zhang Daoist received the news too, instructing the Special Unit to head over. The earthquake had claimed many lives, and their mission was twofold: to perform Transcendence and to prevent evil ghosts from causing chaos. If things got out of hand, it would be disastrous.

Zhang Daoist and Minister Li traveled by helicopter, as the roads were blocked by fallen rocks and inaccessible to vehicles. They also airlifted supplies into the area.

They expected to encounter countless restless spirits or Malevolent Ghosts wreaking havoc. Instead, they were stunned to see people, boxes of clothes, bread, instant noodles, and bottled water floating in the air, moving in a rhythmic and orderly fashion from the streets to the town entrance.

The most surprising part was that these items were being carried by ghosts. Since when were ghosts so benevolent? It seemed impossible!

…Were they dreaming?

“What… what’s going on? Are the ghosts looting?”

“I don’t think so. Besides, ghosts wouldn’t need those things. Could it be that some Master has enlisted the help of ghosts?”

“I heard the old abbot at Baiyu Temple is a high monk. Could it be him?”

“Let’s go check it out!”

The Daoists were quite adaptable, having been around Master Gu for a while. This kind of occurrence wasn’t exactly earth-shattering for them. However, the soldiers who came along to assist in the disaster relief were having a hard time processing it. They were all scientifically educated and believed in science, and had never witnessed such supernatural phenomena before. Fortunately, their rigorous training kept them from jumping up and shouting about ghosts, even though they were scared out of their wits, feeling as though their entire worldview had crumbled.

They followed the trail of instant noodles, ham, and bottled water. After a short walk, they spotted Master Gu with a nylon bag on her head, a small spike protruding from it, standing on Zhuang, eating a bowl of instant noodles. Her eerie face showed a level of satisfaction akin to savoring gourmet delicacies, even drinking the noodle soup down to the last drop!

Moreover, she was surrounded by a long string of little ghosts, who were dutifully placing items in front of her, neatly organized rather than haphazardly scattered. Their pale faces showed a mix of anger and reluctance, yet they were clearly trying to please her.

Hao-Ge was desperately trying to curry favor with the Long Black Straight Hair, fearing that once he was no longer useful, he would be sold off, rumored to be handed over to the Special Unit. What good would that do him? Would he still have his empire? Besides, the Long Black Straight Hair was a heartless person, so he had to come up with a plan: “Big sister, are you satisfied with these? We brought everything edible and usable from the supermarket, hehe…”

The Long Black Straight Hair squinted at him: “What are you doing here?”

“I…”

“Are you trying to slack off? No slacking, or I’ll eat you.”

“…?!”

Zhuang covered his mouth, letting out a chirping laugh. This little ghost was naive enough to try playing the emotional card with the Long Black Straight Hair? Did he really hope that the cold and ruthless Long Black Straight Hair would sympathize with him? That would be dreaming.

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

Hao-Ge glared at the chirping monster. Just because you’re the Long Black Straight Hair’s ride doesn’t make you special; you’re just something to be stepped on!

Zhuang chirped with laughter, daring him to try. You couldn’t even become something to be stepped on if you wanted to.

Hao-Ge was furious. This chirping monster and the Long Black Straight Hair were equally detestable!

He had been carrying so much already, hauling stones and people all day. Those people were heavy, draining his cultivation and offering no reward. His body was close to collapsing, but what choice did he have? He turned and went back to carrying stones.

Zhang Daoist, Minister Li, and the soldiers: …???!!!

Were their eyes deceiving them? What on earth were they witnessing?