I Am Your Natural Enemy

The decrepit sunken ship on the ocean floor was still speeding ahead. The Ghost standing on the high deck, brandishing a long knife, laughed eerily in the water.

”Brothers, put your backs into it! I see a dozen or so Flames of Life burning. We were barely granted permission to come out this one time. Let’s go by the old rules, the fairest of all: those who died earliest go first, taking turns. Catch these humans as substitutes, one for each of us, taking turns to liberate ourselves!”

A group of Ghosts, weapons in hand, cheered in unison.

Just then, a cautious Ghost spoke up.

”But Boss, didn’t the Awakened One want us to catch some thief this time?”

”What’s there to catch? How would we catch them? They might have already reached shore long ago. But you’ve reminded me. Remember, when the time comes, leave one alive to carry a message back. Tell them that anyone who dares to steal a Nether Soul from Him had better come and meet their end quickly. If they don’t, then any ship that sets sail in the future, we’ll go and scuttle it. Hey, this way, we’ll have another reason to come out again. We’ll try to drag it out for a few more days then.”

The Ghost waving the long knife was ecstatic, and all the Ghosts began to look forward to it.

But some still hadn’t figured out this angle.

”So, what if we never manage to get the job done?”

As soon as this was said, someone burst into laughter.

”If we’re liberated, what happens next is none of our business, is it?”

”Yeah! Right now, all I want is to quickly find someone to take my place. I’ve had enough, completely had enough! For one hundred and thirty years, every day, I have to endure the pain of drowning all over again. I just want to be liberated.”

”I’ve been here for one hundred and eighty years, and I’m fed up too! I feel like I’m going insane.”

”One hundred and twenty years for me. I now regret not taking the chance over sixty years ago to let the Sun evaporate me.”

A bunch of Water Ghosts, each more ferocious than the last.

The Water Ghosts who died in these waters, especially those who drowned, had to relive the agony of drowning at a fixed time every day. Moreover, the experience was clearer and more painful than when they were alive. Day after day, year after year, it grew stronger and stronger. All the remaining Water Ghosts here had been dead for less than two hundred years. Because many of those who’d been dead for more than two hundred years often couldn’t endure it, they would seek all sorts of ways to truly die. For instance, venturing into the Deep Sea, willingly offering themselves as food, thereby scattering their souls in exchange for liberation. They had long been tormented to the point of forgetting their original nature, their Spiritual Intelligence, and their memories, yet they still single-mindedly pursued the path to liberation. This was the most common state for the vast majority of Water Ghosts.

It was for this reason that when Wang Xueqi, one of the Different Races, appeared, even the Old Celestial Master showed her respect.

This group of fierce Water Ghosts, commanding the worn-out sunken ship, rapidly approached the yacht from beneath the waves.

Meanwhile, aboard the yacht, Zhang Qihui had already notified the captain to go full speed ahead. He told him to ignore safety concerns or the possibility of damaging the yacht. If they were overtaken by such a group of brazen, fierce, and ruthless Water Ghosts, the dozen or so crew members on board would likely be the first to perish.

I can’t guarantee I can protect this crew in this vast sea, Zhang Qihui thought to himself.

He went to his cabin and changed into a practical, combat-ready outfit. Then, he took out his suitcase, headed to the stern, opened it, and retrieved a variety of equipment. From Wooden Swords to Butcher Knives, Talismans, and a Miniature Altar, he had quite the collection.

”Ladies, come get your gear! We have some uninvited guests, and we need to fight them. You’re always complaining your bones are getting rusty, right? Well, now’s your chance! It’s an away game. I came out here to fish. If someone dies because of this, I probably won’t have a single peaceful day for the next ten years.”

As a member of the Zhang Family Main House, one could say he was born at a destination many people couldn’t reach in their entire lifetime. But by the same token, if his willfulness led to the death of innocent people, the punishment he would receive would make the next ten years a living hell for him.

Zhang Qihui took out the Miniature Altar. CLICK! The magnetic component beneath it latched onto the ship’s hull.

Since it’s not on solid ground and lacks a connection to the earth—floating unstably like this—the Miniature Altar’s power will be greatly reduced. Still, it’s better than nothing, he mused.

Zhang Qihui held a black Wooden Sword. Behind him stood eight young, beautiful women of varying heights, all with long, straight black hair and wearing bikinis. These women were armed differently: some with Butcher Knives, some with swords, others with arm shields, and still others with Emei Thorns. Each had a unique weapon.

Just as a large amount of bubbles began to surge from beneath the sea behind them, and the waves started to roll to both sides, a section of the decrepit sunken ship began to surface.

One of the women raised a Butcher Knife and gave a sharp cry, ”Protect the Boss!”

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! With the sound of objects cutting through the air, a woman wielding an arm shield and a short sword instantly appeared before Zhang Qihui. She maneuvered her shield and sword to block the incoming tetanus-infected arrows.

Zhang Qihui remained unfazed. He flicked a Yellow Talisman, and flames instantly appeared. He used the Talisman Fire to light an Incense Stick, held the stick with the Big Dipper Seal, and inserted it into the Incense Burner. Then, holding the sword—now his Magic Sword—in one hand before him, he wiped blood from his middle finger across the blade.

”Sixty-fourth generation Disciple of the Zhang Family, Qihui, respectfully petitions the Ancestor! I have recently encountered fierce Water Ghosts at sea and wish to consecrate this Magic Sword to uphold righteousness and dispel evil. I respectfully request the Ancestor’s decree to protect my Dharma Body!”

As Zhang Qihui’s words fell, a glint of Gold flashed across the pitch-black Magic Sword. He wielded the Magic Sword, tapping it several times. With each tap, specks of golden light flew out and entered the bodies of the eight women.