Chapter Sixteen: The Black Ball

The creature had already devoured several slow-moving ghosts; it had gained intelligence, floating above and looking down at Jiang Lan, who was half its height. "If you block my way, I'll eat you too!"

The resentment finally condensed into a monster with nothing but a face, its enormous mouth opening wide enough to swallow four or five water ghosts at once. The sight terrified the water ghosts behind Jiang Lan.

But none dared to flee—for miles around, nowhere was safer than here with the immortal. Comparing the immortal’s stature to that of the monster, every water ghost’s legs trembled.

"This line sounds familiar, doesn’t it?" Jiang Lan turned to the frightened water ghosts behind him, their cold sweat soaking his clothes, darkening his face.

The water ghosts felt as though thunderclouds hovered overhead, struck by lightning.

"Immortal, we were wrong!"

"Immortal, we won't dare again!"

"Immortal, let us wipe it for you."

Being water ghosts themselves, their attempts only made him wetter.

Jiang Lan rolled his eyes and growled, "Go stand aside. Once I deal with this idiot, we'll settle the matter of my clothes!"

The resentment was bewildered, staring at this ordinary-looking man. Aside from his brash temperament, there was nothing divine about him—yet he was so intimidating.

It wanted to examine him further, but suddenly the world spun, and it found itself thrown into a pit, its body feeling as if a cart had run it over.

What had happened?

Sensing footsteps approaching, the massive resentment shrank in terror, becoming a fist-sized black lump. Aside from two dark eyes and a tuft of hair atop its head, it looked nothing like coal.

"Immortal, immortal, I’m willing to be your minion," it pleaded.

Jiang Lan looked down on it with disdain, about to deal with it when a shrill scream came from the female ghost.

"Ming Lang! Ming Lang!"

Jiang Lan turned and saw the previously composed young man now wracked with black energy, his limbs flailing, sometimes choking himself, sometimes banging his head.

"Has evil entered his body?"

Jiang Lan hurried to the young man's side and crouched down. "Bind his limbs."

Yun Xiangxiang hesitated, her heart aching. "Immortal—"

"If you want to save him, do it quickly!"

Stifling her pain, Yun Xiangxiang waved her hand. Instantly, white ribbons bound the man's limbs. Though he struggled, the ribbons seemed elastic and would not break.

"Immortal, what has happened to him?" Tears streamed down Yun Xiangxiang’s face as she watched her beloved suffer.

Jiang Lan’s brows knitted. "Someone cursed him. When the resentment emerged, his body became an empty vessel, now invaded by many evil spirits. If we don’t remove them soon, he’ll surely die."

"Immortal, can this curse be lifted?"

"It can."

"Please, immortal—"

Before Yun Xiangxiang could finish, Jiang Lan interrupted her.

"Don't get your hopes up. I cannot break the curse."

Yun Xiangxiang collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed, gazing painfully at her beloved struggling against the bonds.

"What are you planning to do?" Jiang Lan watched as the female ghost helped the young man up.

"Thank you for your help, immortal. I will seek another Daoist to break his curse." Already injured, Yun Xiangxiang looked even more disheveled, her remaining power barely enough to keep the ribbons tight, relying on sheer strength to support the young man.

"Do you wish to die?"

"If death is the price, I will still save him," she said, wiping away her tears.

Jiang Lan sighed. Such sincerity.

"I truly cannot break the curse, but I can expel the evil spirits from his body, keeping him safe for now."

Yun Xiangxiang turned, her tears halting, a child's hopeful smile lighting her face.

Jiang Lan nodded, then reached out and grabbed the tuft of hair on the black lump’s head. "Trying to escape?"

"Not at all, immortal! I was just wondering if you wanted a midnight snack," it replied.

Jiang Lan held it with his left hand, and slapped it with his right.

"Good." He smiled, pointed at the young man, and said to the black lump, "Go inside and drive those things out."

The black lump looked aggrieved. "I only just got out; can I—"

Seeing Jiang Lan’s face darken, it quickly changed its tone, grinning, "I’ll go, I’ll go…"

Indeed, it devoured all the filth, finally poking its head from the young man's chest. "Immortal, immortal, did I do well?"

Jiang Lan nodded. "Stay put. There’ll be treats for you."

"Thank you, immortal, thank you…"

Yun Xiangxiang and the water ghosts stood dumbfounded.

"Immortal, is Ming Lang alright?" Yun Xiangxiang asked.

Jiang Lan shook his head. "Only the evil spirits are gone; I still cannot break the curse."

Yun Xiangxiang thanked him, "I am already deeply grateful. Please do not blame yourself, immortal."

Jiang Lan was about to offer some advice when his ear twitched, alert.

"Someone's coming."