Chapter 798: Chapter 597: "Robbery" _2
Moreover, he was certain that these "Nine Ghosts" like them were by no means good men and women. Their inaction now did not mean they posed no threat, as they had heard the bloodcurdling scream of the Ghost-faced Priest before his death loud and clear.
At this point, the ceremony entered its next stage. The many Ghost-faced Priests faced the central stage, some kneeling, some standing, beginning a dance Yang Xiao had never seen before. Although the drumming had stopped, a few other instruments started playing together, pushing the weird atmosphere of the night to its climax.
He didn’t know what would happen next, but he was sure something big, the kind of event that cost lives, was about to unfold.
The numerous Ghost-faced Priests had mostly stopped, but Yang Xiao and his group kept running because the Lantern Priests leading the way were also running. These guys seemed indefatigable, spinning wildly in circles. Yang Xiao and the others were well-trained or consciously exercised daily, but after such a long run, they were struggling to keep up. Especially Xiang Fengchen, who was panting heavily behind Yang Xiao, after all, he was of advanced age and used to living in luxury, more a strategist than a foot soldier.
With a sharp "crack," Yang Xiao focused his gaze and saw Nalan Shuo stumble. His Golden Mace clashed against another, naturally held by a "Ghost" dressed like Nalan Shuo. The two had clashed for some unknown reason.
Soon, when Yang Xiao reached the position where Nalan Shuo had been, he saw under the cover of the crowd a "Green Ghost" lying on the ground with the green mask on his face shattered. Indeed, beneath the mask was the face of a middle-aged man around 40.
But this man’s face had been tortured horrifically, eyes and mouth sewn shut with thin hemp rope, his nose cut off, a truly unbearable sight. His left arm twisted outward, clearly broken, with dried, filthy blood in his ears.
No wonder he ran about wildly as soon as he was released. His eyes, nose, mouth, and ears had been destroyed, robbing him of the channels to interact with the outside world. This man wasn’t possessed; he had been tortured to this state.
He now seemed to be taking his last breaths, inhaling less and exhaling more. In other words, he was useless to them, and there was nothing more they could ask of him.
Meanwhile, the ceremony reached its climax. The Ghost-faced Priests kneeling down one by one stood up, raising their hands parallel, lifting the weapons they carried, bowing almost at a 90-degree angle, their reverence overflowing.
"He’s useless, kill him!" Xiang Fengchen’s voice suddenly exploded behind him. Yang Xiao instinctively looked back and saw Xiang Fengchen swing his blade at the "Green Ghost" on the ground, but another "Ghost" blocked it with a knife. Not only that, after the block, that "Ghost" brought down another heavy slash. If Xiang Fengchen hadn’t dodged quickly, his arm would have been severed.
"Kill him, kill him now!" Xiang Fengchen was panicked, his voice wrenching, "In the ceremony, this man represents the Evil Spirit being expelled! Those like us are the priests controlled by the Evil Spirit!"
"Nuoyi in the Song Dynasty Palace!" Xiang Fengchen sharply reminded.
This sentence hit the nail on the head. Yang Xiao immediately realized what Nalan Shuo had mentioned before the ceremony began: during a Nuoyi Ceremony in the late Song Dynasty, a significant incident occurred when the Evil Spirit bewitched over a dozen priests. Those corrupted priests lost their sanity, slashing and murdering randomly, causing a mass casualty.
This meant that if things continued as such, once the drums started again, those dressed like them representing priests corrupted by the Evil Spirit would start to go mad and begin their real attack. The attack strength of these guys should not be underestimated, as the Ghost-faced Priest who broke the rules was a bloody example.
But all this hinged on the "Green Ghost," the so-called Evil Spirit, still being alive. If the source of chaos, the Evil Spirit, were dead, then the subsequent riot would not happen. That was why Xiang Fengchen was determined to kill the "Green Ghost."
No wonder... no wonder they not only didn’t harm the "Green Ghost" but also protected him. They were waiting for the next drum signal.
The ceremony was drawing to a close; if they didn’t act now, it would be too late. Without hesitating, as Yang Xiao ran another circle and came to the almost motionless "Green Ghost," he raised his sword and stabbed down without a moment’s indecision.
The sword was not known for hacking; its deadliest force came from thrusting. Yang Xiao’s thrust targeted the "Green Ghost’s" neck. If he struck true, one thrust would be enough to end his life. But at the last moment, his blade was deflected. The individual who had been at his side was much stronger, repelling the attack and then swinging his own blade, which grazed by Yang Xiao’s mask.
Anger flared in Yang Xiao’s heart, and he retaliated immediately. After a few exchanges, Yang Xiao realized the bitter truth: he was no match for this individual. The opponent’s moves were all about driving him back. Had the opponent not been deliberately holding back, Yang Xiao would have been dead by now.
Since Xiang Fengchen had given the order, Yang Xiao had run two laps. This meant everyone had passed by the "Green Ghost" at least twice, but so far, no one had succeeded in killing him, indicating that everyone’s combat strength was less than that of the other "self" shadowing them.
