Chapter 34: Slaying the Ghost

"I Want to Be an Immortal: What's up, Brother Suifeng?"

"Hidden Moon Following Wind: Do you want to switch to the Hunter class?"

"I Want to Be an Immortal: How? That hunter surnamed Yang won't take on any apprentices. I asked Brother Wang, and he said I need a hundred-year-old ginseng root to apprentice under him. I checked the apothecary, but that item isn't spawning."

"Hidden Moon Following Wind: I have a way to help you switch, but I need to borrow your Ebony Sword. If you want to become a hunter, let’s team up and do this quest together."

"I Want to Be an Immortal: I’m coming right now."

——————

"Nightfall: You looking for me?"

"Hidden Moon Following Wind: I’m about to do the Exorcism quest. Can you help me locate the Ghost Servant?"

"Nightfall: I can do that, but how do you plan on dealing with it? I don't need to remind you that physical attacks are ineffective against it."

"Hidden Moon Following Wind: I have my own methods. Come to the Hunter’s Cabin, and we’ll discuss the details."

——————

The village was small, and before long, both had arrived.

When I Want to Be an Immortal saw Nightfall, he was startled at first, but then became excited and greeted her enthusiastically.

Xiao Jie introduced them to each other and then explained the quest he had accepted.

"Ordinarily, this quest is extremely difficult to complete, but I’ve calculated that with the resources we three possess, we can resolve it perfectly. My Divine Wood Talisman can drive the Ghost Servant out of the hunter's wife. Nightfall can see ghosts. I Want to Be an Immortal’s Ebony Sword can slay spectral beings. The Ghost Servant itself shouldn't have much combat power. If we cooperate, we can definitely take it down. Once the Ghost Servant is dead, Yang Baichuan should be able to accept apprentices as normal."

I Want to Be an Immortal was thrilled upon hearing this.

Nightfall, however, remained calm and asked, "And what’s in it for me? I’m already Yang Baichuan’s apprentice."

"Be a good person? Yang Baichuan is your master; isn't it only right to help his wife? Besides, if he’s happy, maybe he’ll teach you a hidden skill."

"I’ve already turned in three wild ginseng roots and learned everything he had to offer. Besides, this is just a game," Nightfall replied with icy detachment.

Xiao Jie felt a bit helpless. Aren't girls supposed to be more emotional?

"How about money? 200 copper coins."

"I don't lack money," Nightfall said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Then what do you want?"

"I’ll help you kill the Ghost Servant, but the sword goes to me."

Before I Want to Be an Immortal could speak, Xiao Jie objected. "Are you kidding? This thing is a magic tool. You’re asking for way too much."

"Exactly! I had a hard time getting this sword," I Want to Be an Immortal added hurriedly.

Nightfall replied indifferently, "The sword is useless in your hands. You can't see ghosts. Unless you plan to dump a bunch of stat points into Perception, it’s a complete waste. Tell you what—I’ll give you a skill book to make up the difference. Do you use axes?"

"I..." I Want to Be an Immortal wanted to say he used swords, but he hadn't learned any actual sword skills. He had, however, spent two days chopping wood and had leveled up his Axe Proficiency. "I guess so."

"That’s fine. This 'Stone-Splitting Slash' only requires 15 Strength to learn. It’s definitely more valuable to you than the Ebony Sword."

"But I want to be a swordsman..." I Want to Be an Immortal said weakly.

"There’s no swordplay to be learned in Ginkgo Village. You’d need to go to the state capital’s sword hall to learn Sword Mastery before you could learn advanced techniques. You haven't even left the newbie village yet; why are you overthinking it?"

Seeing I Want to Be an Immortal still wavering, Nightfall added, "Fine, whatever the Ghost Servant drops, it’s all yours."

I Want to Be an Immortal was finally swayed. "Brother Suifeng, what do you think?"

Xiao Jie hummed noncommittally. Seeing how desperate Nightfall was to get the sword, he had a vague feeling that its value might be greater than it appeared—that it wasn't just some common, minor treasure.

However, he couldn't be certain. And as Nightfall had said, unless one was going for a Perception build, it was indeed useless.

"The sword is yours; it’s better if you decide," Xiao Jie said.

Hearing this, I Want to Be an Immortal finally agreed. "Alright, it’s a deal. But let’s get this straight: the drops from the Ghost Servant are all mine. Don't you dare ninja my loot."

Nightfall gave a faint huff. "Don't worry."

The three of them had achieved their own goals: Xiao Jie needed to complete the advancement quest to earn his reward; I Want to Be an Immortal got his class change, the loot, and the skill book; and Nightfall obtained the Ebony Sword.

With the plan set, they returned to the cabin.

"Brother Yang, this is the help I’ve recruited. They also wish to apprentice under you. Is that acceptable?"

"As long as you can save my wife, what does it matter if I take on one more student?"

A notification immediately appeared on I Want to Be an Immortal’s screen.

[System Notification: Player Hidden Moon Following Wind is sharing the quest "Exorcism Operation" with you. Do you accept?]

I Want to Be an Immortal naturally accepted. He turned and traded the Ebony Sword to Nightfall, receiving the Stone-Splitting Slash in return.

The three took their positions. Xiao Jie took out the Divine Wood Talisman.

"Get ready. I’m starting. 3—2—1!"

"Evil-Warding Technique!"

"Ebony Blood-Oath!"

The moment Xiao Jie cast the Evil-Warding Technique on the hunter's wife, Nightfall slowly wiped the blade of the Ebony Sword across her palm. A layer of crimson blood-energy instantly manifested on the blade, flickering with an ominous red light in the dim room.

A cold wind whipped up, and the hunter's wife began to convulse. The moment she stopped, Nightfall suddenly slashed into thin air.

"Awoo!" A strange screech rang out; clearly, the strike had hit its mark.

However, Nightfall’s expression changed. "Oh no, it’s trying to run!"

She lunged forward. "Combat Skill—Triple Wave!"

*Swish, swish, swish!* Three consecutive slashes hit the empty air.

A ghostly wail echoed, followed by a shockwave of eerie wind spreading outwards.

*Boom!* Xiao Jie, I Want to Be an Immortal, and the hunter were all forced back two steps. It was an AOE attack, but fortunately, the damage was low, costing them only a few hit points.

Nightfall flickered, executing a movement technique—"Assassin’s Step"—to dodge the shockwave.

She immediately followed up with a flowing sequence of sword strikes.

"Sword Dance: Thirteen Styles of Flowing Clouds!"

*Swish-swish-swish-swish!*

Nightfall spun, her sword dancing like a graceful performance. As the blade cut through the air, strange, ghostly shrieks continued to erupt.

The other two watched in excitement, unable to help, and could only stand by as spectators.

It wasn't until a shrill, piercing scream echoed through the air and something clattered to the ground that they realized the ghost had been dealt with.

A notification appeared on Xiao Jie’s screen.

[System Notification: Participated in the kill of the Ghost Servant. Gained 76 experience points.] Because he had initiated the encounter with the Evil-Warding Technique, he had received a share of the experience.

I Want to Be an Immortal, however, didn't gain a single point of experience, having been a bystander the entire time. But he didn't notice; his eyes were glued to the item on the floor.

It was a yellow paper talisman with a strange human-shaped symbol drawn in cinnabar, and a sword mark cut across it.

This was...

Xiao Jie picked up the talisman, took a look, and handed it to I Want to Be an Immortal.

[Fragmented Ghost-Controlling Talisman (Quest Item)]

[Use: Give it to the hunter Yang Baichuan to trigger a quest.]

[Item Description: Legend has it that Ghost-Spellcasters can use talismans to control ghosts, forcing them to serve their whims and commit evil, unholy deeds. This is a dark art that bridges the living and the dead, and it has always been despised by those on the righteous path.]