anwhile, in the taxi, Zhao Rong grew more alert the mont he saw the car entering the area of Wang Family Village. He sat in the front passenger seat, his hand gripping the armrest tightly.
Now that we've entered the oft-haunted Wang Family Village, if a malevolent ghost blocks the way or lunges at the car, I must remind Master Wang to ram it. We absolutely cannot stop.
However, when Zhao Rong looked through the car window, he saw a thriving scene outside. In the square, scores of seniors were dancing to the recent hit song, "Little Apple." Past the square was a basketball court where young n were sweating profusely as they played. Beyond that, on a gateball field, many more elderly people were enjoying a leisurely ga. The nearby supermarket and shopping plaza were also bustling with crowds.
Unconsciously, Zhao Rong began to relax. He turned to the three beautiful won in the back and said, "Isn't this Wang Family Village supposed to be notoriously haunted? I don't feel any ghostly presence here at all..."
Lili, also looking at the lively scene outside, said in utter surprise, "But it's two-thirty in the morning. How can there be so many people playing basketball, dancing, and shopping?"
Sitting between Lili and Xuelian, Yu Lan felt a chill crawl up her spine. "The map says Wang Family Village is an abandoned, dilapidated village with no signs of life... So why are we seeing such a flourishing scene?"
Suddenly, Xuelian, who was by the right-side window, seed to notice sothing. She whirled to face the driver and asked, "Master, are you sure this is Wang Family Village?"
The driver pointed to a large stone not far away. "This is Wang Family Village, all right. See for yourself, it's written clearly on that big stone..."
Following the driver's finger, Zhao Rong did indeed see the large, clear characters spelling out 'Wang Family Village'. But right next to the stone stood a massive tombstone inscribed with countless nas.
Zhao Rong turned back to the driver. "Master, since you're from Wang Family Village, may I ask your na?"
The driver turned his head toward Zhao Rong and smiled, his voice taking on a spectral tone. "My na is Wang Yishui."
The mont he heard the na 'Wang Yishui', Zhao Rong imdiately used his Special Ability—Instant Teleportation—and appeared next to the large tombstone. As he read the inscription, he learned that Wang Family Village had once suffered a catastrophic natural disaster that wiped out the entire population. This tombstone recorded the na of every single villager who had died.
No way... Zhao Rong thought. Don't tell I'm going to find our driver, Master Wang Yishui, on this tombstone?
He scanned the nas one by one. Sure enough, there it was, etched into the stone: Wang Yishui.
When Zhao Rong saw the driver's na, a look of pure horror crossed his face. Damn it! I've been searching all over for a ghost, and it's been right beside the whole ti! Master Wang, our driver... he's already dead! But if he's dead, then who's driving the car right now? Is it a ghost, a demon, or so other kind of spirit?
With that thought, Zhao Rong instantly teleported back to the front passenger seat.
Okay, stay calm, he told himself, forcing his body to relax. Even though the driver is a ghost, I have to act like I don't know anything.
Just then, as they neared the Ghost Hunting Academy, the driver finally revealed his true nature. He looked at Zhao Rong and said cryptically, "Not quite human, not quite ghost. A human is born from a human's mother; a ghost is born from a ghost's mother..."
Listening to the driver's nonsensical words, Zhao Rong was completely baffled. He frowned and asked, "What's that supposed to an?"
The driver suddenly slamd on the accelerator. With a ferocious expression, he snarled, "You three young people would be better off becoming ghosts with ! It's free and easy, so much better than being human..."
When the three won in the back heard the driver admit he was a ghost, they scread in terror.
"I can't believe it," Lili cried out. "I thought we'd only run into ghosts after entering Wang Family Village, but we hailed one right at the gates of Xijing University and got into this ghost taxi..."
Xuelian hugged Yu Lan tightly. "I saw on the news recently that people taking taxis late at night have been mysteriously dying or disappearing... It was him! They must have all gotten into this ghost's taxi!"
Yu Lan, who was already terrified of ghosts, squeezed her eyes shut. "What do we do? We haven't even made it to the Ghost Hunting Academy to learn how to catch ghosts! How could we run into one already? You picked a terrible ti to appear, ghost!"
The ghostly taxi driver roared with laughter. "In all of Xijing City, no one dares go to Wang Family Village, because everyone who goes there is a ghost! No one dares drive a taxi there, because every driver who does is a ghost from the village! Now that you know what I am, prepare to accept your deaths!"
With that, the malevolent spirit aid the car at a nearby concrete barrier, intending to smash it and kill Zhao Rong, Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian instantly.
Just when all seed lost, Wang Huazi, the Ghost King embedded in the Taoist robe Zhao Rong wore, made her move. She appeared in a flash, extending her right hand. The fingernails on it were as sharp as blades. Without hesitation, she plunged her hand directly into the ghost driver's neck.
The driver, who monts before had been so arrogant, suddenly turned to Zhao Rong. "Kid, you're a really good actor, aren't you? You're not a student on your way to learn ghost catching. You're a powerful ghost catcher coming to the Ghost Hunting Academy to apply for an instructor position... I, Wang Yishui, really misjudged the situation tonight. Picked up the wrong fare. Just my bad luck..."
After speaking, the fierce ghost driver vanished into thin air.
Seeing the ghost disappear, Zhao Rong imdiately dove into the driver's seat and stomped on the brake pedal with all his might. The car screeched to a halt just a single centiter from the concrete barrier.
After the car stopped, Zhao Rong found himself drenched in a cold sweat. He panted heavily, "Damn, that was too close. We were a hair's breadth from being killed..."
In the back seat, Lili clutched her seatbelt. "Zhao Rong, thanks to your quick reflexes, you eliminated that vicious ghost! If you hadn't, we'd all be on our way to the Western Heaven by now..."
Xuelian opened the door, her legs trembling as she stepped out. "Car crashes are more dangerous than tigers. That was terrifying. We have to be so much more careful next ti we take a car. I can't imagine what would happen if we got into another ghost taxi..."
Yu Lan stared at the empty driver's seat, then looked at Zhao Rong. "Zhao Rong, you're incredible! You must have captured that ghost. That's how we were all saved..."
Just then, Huazi spoke to Zhao Rong. "Next ti you're in this kind of danger, you have to summon . If you wait until I sense it on my own, it might be too late."
Zhao Rong wiped the sweat from his forehead as he got out of the car. "Huazi, thank you for your tily help. You saved all of us... So, how do I summon you so you can sense it?"
Huazi replied, "Just touch your robe three tis. I'll imdiately sense your danger and co to rescue you from peril. Also, only you can see when I appear. No one else can."
Zhao Rong understood. He nodded and said, "I've got it. Next ti I'm in trouble, I'll touch the robe three tis to summon you to save the day."
As she was getting luggage from the trunk, Lili saw Zhao Rong talking to himself. Confused, she asked, "Zhao Rong, did that ghost driver scare you silly? Why are you talking to yourself?"
Yu Lan, straightening her clothes, chid in, "Zhao Rong, who are you talking to? Don't tell you've seen another ghost, have you?"
Xuelian pulled her suitcase and stared down the terrifying, pitch-black road ahead, their future uncertain. "Zhao Rong, don't scare us. Why are you suddenly talking to yourself? Are you being haunted by a malevolent spirit?"
Hearing their misunderstanding, Zhao Rong quickly explained, "Don't worry, everyone. I was just giving myself a pep talk to better protect you... Now, do you see that gatehouse with the lights on in the distance? That's the Ghost Hunting Academy. Let's walk over and register."
With that, Zhao Rong picked up the three won's bags and led them toward the academy.
When they were about halfway there, they saw a man staggering toward them from the adjacent wasteland. His clothes were torn, his hair was a ss, and he looked like he'd been attacked. The sudden appearance of a mysterious man in the dead of night made Zhao Rong's instincts scream.
Not good, a ghost! he thought. "Everyone, get back!"
Lili, Yu Lan, and Xuelian imdiately hid behind him in terror. But just as Zhao Rong was about to summon Wang Huazi, he realized the man approaching was no stranger. It was his assistant.
But his assistant had been perfectly fine earlier. Why are his clothes torn now? Could he have been... violated by a ravenous female ghost?
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