Chapter 72: Ghost

". . .I am the leader of the Moonshade cult."

Shou pointed up. "That's a cool name. Just like that giant ball above, huh?" He laughed. "Wait. I suppose that explains your martial art. It's pretty interesting how you used my own shadow to hide yourself in. Just like how the moon's true size is hidden behind the shade, I see." The wind grazed his hair, bringing it afloat. "If there's an opportunity, I'd love to learn it."

The leader of the Moonshade cult balled a fist. He wanted to shout, but his lung still felt a stabbing sensation. "How can you say that after effortlessly destroying the technique we cultivated for generations?" The man looked around. He saw his companions laying on the ground, unconscious. Though they appeared only asleep one could tell they had been wounded heavily by their breathing.

"Well, you attacked me first. Anyways, I didn't know the Waning Principle Sect had disappeared long ago, so I can only busy myself with guys like you." "Don't worry. I understand we all have our own way of living, I won't be so cruel as to kill you. Actually, I can heal you if you want, even."

"Do you think you are some kind of God?"

Shou chortled. "I am human just like you. And I like it that way. Being a deity is overrated, I swear." He patted the man's head. "But enough small talk. I've got to go now, thanks for entertaining me for a few minutes."

The youth disappeared as if the wind had carried him away.

...

"It is basic manners to introduce yourself first before asking the name of others," a woman in her 40s' said in disdain. She wore a black robe, and had long blue hair, just like her eyes. "Who are you?"

"I told you. I am Shou."

The woman spat on the ground. "I am not asking about your name. What is your purpose?"

Shou tilted his head. "Hic." He walked a little crookedly. "That's a deep question. What is my purpose indeed? Do you know yours?" The youth thought seriously about it. He took a seat on the stone floor. Currently, he was inside an isolated pavilion, with several people surrounding him, though he appeared not to care. "Truly. Who am I?"

"You're a dumbass." The woman hid her mouth with her black sleeve. She couldn't believe an idiot like that youth in front of her existed. Originally, she thought it was just a guy who drunkenly wandered into the wrong part of the outskirts, and planned on being merciful. However, seeing his actions, that boy was truly making fun of her. As the senior elder of the Five Elements Clan, she would not accept such blatant disrespect. "That drunkard is an eyesore. Get rid of him for me."

The underlings around Shou smirked with a cruel expression. They looked at the youth and realized he was still arrogantly thinking about the elders' question. Did he not understand his situation. They took out their respective weapons and attacked him together. As the boy did not move, no one missed their shot, and they cleanly executed the man. Blood spurted in all directions, dyeing everything a scarlet red.

The woman clicked her tongue. "How vulgar," she spoke while closing her eyes. "Someone, get rid of the corpse."

She wanted to stand up, but a sudden voice interrupted her. "—My purpose is to live. Though I'd hate to admit it, I think I have been born in this world to survive. Ah, I'd rather not, though, don't get me wrong. Actually, my wish is to find eternal rest."

The woman violently snapped her head to stare at Shou, and her eyes almost left her sockets from what she saw. The youth had several weapons, blades, spears, daggers, poison needles, stuck inside of him, and every orifice leaked blood. Not even corpses would look this dead. Yet, he remained seated, as if he were at the prime of his life. "How are you still breathing," the elder shouted, her face pale.

Shou continued talking. "I don't think you can grant my wish though." He sighed. "You weren't even able to properly kill me."

The woman dropped off her chair, scraped her knees, and clawed herself away. "A ghost! It's a fucking ghost! Clan Leader, save me, save me!"

...

"You are in the headquarters of the Swallowtail sect. Are you courting death?"

"Yes," Shou replied, "How did you know?" Every time he moved, the dried blood on his clothes would crack. thankfully, the darkness was steep enough for no one to notice his appearance.

"Insolent bastard. Do you know who I am?" The patriarch of the Swallowtail sect, a round-bellied middle-aged man with a mustache, snorted. "Know your place. I have long surpassed the fifth stage. Even the emperor himself has to stay humble when meeting me. If you don't explain yourself, you better bow down properly."

"I don't like bowing though," Shou scratched his head. "No, I don't like things such as ranks or status in general. Given my age, it gets complicated, you see. Am I a senior or a junior? Should I be the elder, even when I am only a novice? Don't get me started on the heavenly Dao. If you call me that, I'll sock your face."

"Are you insane," the patriarch asked. "You must be, right? It's actually funny, by now." He could not hold his laughter anymore. "I'll be merciful. Leave, and don't even glance back, or I will kill you, you hear that?"

Shou moved his head around, like a little child that was curious yet impatient at the same time. He spoke, "It is too bad. You have no right to grant me mercy."

The middle-aged man's face darkened immediately. "How regretful. Another life is lost to the swallowtail." He drew his sword and stood up. "I shall give you one last chance." He threw his weapon at Shou. "Take it. And we duel. If you survive for a minute, I will let you live."

Shou glanced at the sword at the ground. He picked it up, then inspected it, as if the thing was a new toy. "Nice."

Though the patriarch had readied himself, the youth in front of him showed no intentions of attacking. "What are you waiting for?"

"It's been so long since I touched a sword, I am unsure of what technique to use on you." Shou swung the blade around. "Making you a guinea pig seems a bit rude, you see."

"You arrogant fool." The patriarch of the Swallowtail clan felt a vein pop on his forehead. "What pathetic last words." He moved first, with a beautiful kick aiming at Shou's neck. If everything went right, the youth's head would fly off, rolling away with the night.

"Oh, how about this?" Shou threw the sword away. He didn't block the patriarch attack, and as it hit him head-on, he felt a wave of internal damage shift his organs and spine. Once more, blood spurted out his mouth, and any normal person would have perished from damage like this. Of course, for Shou, this was a non-issue. "If you are talking about sword arts, this is a must-have." He moved his hand, and a bright glow washed away the shadows in the room.

"Sword Ki!"

These were the last words of the patriarch before he was flung away.

...

"Do you know this is the second branch of the Bloodhound Assassin clan?" The man that spoke held his hands up, surrendering. "The union head will not forgive you."

"You dark factions always have the same excuses," Shou joked. He lightly hit the head of that man. "There really are all kinds of factions outside of the Extended Delight huh? You should come to visit my shop, it will help you train."

'This fucker is really advertising during such a crisis. Is money the only thing that matters to him,' the man thought angrily. "If you let us go, they may forgive you, you know?"

"Hey, who gave you the right to negotiate?" Shou frowned. "Hic. I will give you an offer. Choose to die alone in a valiant fight, or flee like a coward, and let all your subordinates be slaughtered by me."

The man broke out into cold sweat. "S-Sir. . ."

"I am just joking, I don't wanna kill anyone today. Did I sound like you guys for a second?" Shou joked, though no one laughed. He waved his hand. "You haven't been able to relieve my boredom either, I guess." Suddenly, Shous' brows knitted. "Conspiracies are truly boring. It is always the same with you guys. I'd rather watch the cheerful Li Yinyi survive against the witch."

...

"Who is there? I am the 4th head of the Flying Dragon Sect!"

Shou tapped the woman's head, and she fell asleep. "Good for you."

...

"I am the ancestor of the Cult within Stars, who do you—ack, wait, wait, stop hitting me!"

...

"This is the Wind Pa—"

...

One night was all that Shou needed to raze through the outskirts of the city. Some even had to wake up due to his unruly actions. Within the entire history of the empire, the sects and cults had never been this close to extinction. They could only thank the gods that the ghost of the underworld had never killed anyone—for some, he even used dark arts to heal them. But at the same time, it spoke of his unimaginable might, to subdue anyone without shedding blood.

The only thing they did not understand, why did that mystical being keep mentioning some kind of store?

Shou stretched his legs. "That was fun. It's nice to interact with people that did not necessarily live in my head."

Si spoke. "You told me not to cause trouble, but all my lifetime achievements could not compare with the mischief you have done today." The girl shook her head. "You should stop drinking from now on."

"Oh, almost forgot." The youth rummaged in his pocket. He took out the ornamental knife from his first system reward and stabbed his throat. He twisted the blade until he managed to decapitate himself in the end. "If I don't kill myself now, I am gonna have a splitting headache tomorrow."