Free Web NovelChapter 113: Chapter 112: Tai Sui
Mere fists and feet, even when enhanced with Vitality, could not harm a ghost.
It was like trying to beat a wisp of smoke, a cloud of fog, or something that might only exist as an "illusion" to death, no matter how strong you were.
But once his Vitality was "laced" with the aura of a Demon Soul, the Ghost Race immediately "gained" a physical form in Fu Juemin’s hands.
He gripped the little girl’s neck with one hand, watching her small body struggle desperately in his grasp. The ring of purplish-blue bruises on her pale neck looked like a uniquely fashioned pearl necklace.
Her long, scarlet tongue slapped "limply" against Fu Juemin’s arm. Fu Juemin watched quietly for a moment, then squeezed his hand a little harder...
His fingertips sank into the girl’s neck. The sensation was similar to when he’d killed the Painted Ghost in Fuxi Village, but it was even more like forcefully squeezing a water balloon.
With a strange "POP—," before Fu Juemin had even used his full strength, the little girl in his hand "burst" open without warning.
An inexplicable sensation flowed through him, as if something was rapidly boring its way into his body.
A series of chaotic, fragmented, black-and-white images from a child’s perspective flashed before his eyes. Sensing something, Fu Juemin called up his character panel. Sure enough, the Golden Energy in the Skill Energy Slot at the bottom of the panel was now flowing, increasing bit by agonizing bit.
But after growing for only a short while, it stopped completely.
Before Fu Juemin could savor the moment, a mournful, ear-piercing shriek suddenly rang out.
He looked up to see the woman in the white dress, who had been locked in a fierce battle with Big Cat. All her hatred was now focused on Fu Juemin. From beneath her disheveled hair, her eyes wept blood as she glared at him, a monstrous wave of resentment radiating from her body.
At the same time, a pale little boy, about seven or eight years old and dressed in a shirt and suspenders, quietly materialized in a corner of the living room.
He, too, wore a purplish-blue "collar" around his neck, and his eyes were filled with venomous hatred as he stared at Fu Juemin.
"Everyone’s here?"
Fu Juemin stopped Big Cat as it moved to protect its master. He raised a hand to loosen his bow tie, a smile on his face as he leisurely strolled forward.
"Perfect. A family should stick together."
The next second!
The winter sun slanted in from the side. At the boundary between light and shadow, the figures of one man and two ghosts froze into a silent silhouette.
....
Fifteen minutes later, Fu Juemin emerged slowly from the main gate, wiping his hands with a handkerchief, his expression calm. Big Cat followed behind him.
The house was now completely silent. Meanwhile, the Golden Energy in the Skill Energy Slot on Fu Juemin’s character panel had increased by about a third.
’Compared to the likes of the Painted Hide and the Mouse Demon, these ordinary ghosts are like trash mobs in a game. They provide very little ’experience’...’
No new Talents had been added to his Talent Bar, either. This was likely why Fu Juemin hadn’t felt any urge to ’feed’ when he first entered the Lin Family Residence—in the eyes of the Demon Soul Seed within him, they weren’t even worthy of being considered a tasty meal.
"You... you took care of all of them?"
As soon as Fu Juemin emerged, Gu Shouyu, who had been waiting by the main gate, hurried over, stuttering in disbelief.
Fu Juemin was slightly surprised. "You could sense their presence?"
Gu Shouyu nodded. "I... My constitution is a bit special. My Spiritual Sense is higher than an average person’s. In folk terms, I’m the type of person who’s naturally suited for being a spirit medium..."
"No wonder you’re with..."
It dawned on Fu Juemin. He glanced at the Oil Paper Umbrella clutched tightly in Gu Shouyu’s arms, then changed the subject, giving a cool command. "Alright, let’s go to the next location."
....
At the entrance to an old alleyway district of brick and timber construction, plainly dressed pedestrians stared curiously at the four brand-new cars parked by the stinking riverbank, and at the impeccably dressed "high-society figures" standing beside them.
"Are you sure this is the place?"
Fu Juemin pressed a handkerchief tightly to his mouth and nose, his brow furrowed as he stared at the murky sewage flowing at his feet and, a few steps away, the dark maw of a sewer entrance leading into the unknown depths.
This was Eight-Row Alleyway, one of Shenghai’s infamous "slums."
Flanked by the Concession on one side and the factory district on the other, it was mostly inhabited by laborers, street vendors, and artisans. The population was incredibly dense, and the living conditions were abysmal.
And where they now stood was the worst of the worst: the largest sewage outfall for the entire Eight-Row Alleyway.
"This is the only way in. I’ve been here many times."
The filth and foul stench seemed to have no effect on Gu Shouyu. He watched as the Qinglian Gang "Warriors"—who had been paid to go down, clear the refuse, and set up a pontoon bridge—came climbing back up, cursing between bouts of vomiting. Gu Shouyu tightened the strap of his satchel and was about to jump down himself when Fu Juemin’s hand stopped him.
"Are you sure you’re going down just like that?
It’s a Type-Two Demon Species. Shouldn’t we make some preparations first..."
Fu Juemin’s brow furrowed as he stared at the reeking sewer entrance.
’A Demon hiding in a place like this is bound to be trouble,’ he thought. ’The sewer tunnels are narrow, making it difficult for a large team to enter. It’s filled with swamp gas, so we can’t use gunpowder...’
"No need."
But Gu Shouyu shook his head and said hesitantly, "This Demon... it’s very special.
Even though it’s a Type-Two Demon Species, in terms of danger, it would probably only be rated as Grass Level."
"Hm?"
Fu Juemin was taken aback. He asked instinctively, "What exactly is this Demon Fiend?"
Gu Shouyu braced his hands on the edge of the channel, landed lightly beside the stream of sewage below, and looked up to say two words.
"Tai Sui."
...
Ten minutes later, the group stood somewhere in the sewer, holding torches aloft. Nearly everyone, including Fu Juemin, was shocked into silence by the scene before them.
A massive, irregularly shaped, yellowish-black gelatinous substance, like a mountain of setting foam, almost completely blocked the narrow tunnel. Only a row of holes remained at the bottom, through which sewage trickled out.
In the torchlight, the surface of the mountain-like gelatinous mass glittered with specks of phosphorescence. It pulsed rhythmically, rising and falling as if it were breathing.
The air here was surprisingly fresher than outside. It felt less like being in a filthy sewer and more like standing amidst a serene and beautiful deep-sea coral reef.
"This is the Tai Sui?"
Fu Juemin gently touched the strange "Meat Mountain" before him. It felt like caressing a mass of slick, elastic, living jelly.
"This is the junction where the sewer networks of the Public Concession, the factory district, and Eight-Row Alleyway all converge.
The industrial wastewater from the textile mills, dyeing plants, and paper factories upstream, as well as the domestic wastewater and refuse from two residential districts... it all passes through here.
This Tai Sui has grown to its current size by absorbing the nutrients from all this wastewater..."
Gu Shouyu added from the side, "But it poses almost no threat to living things. It just keeps multiplying. It’s an extremely gentle-natured member of the Demon Race—truly one in a million..."
"Where is its core?"
Fu Juemin thought for a moment. "Is there any way to get rid of it?"
"The Tai Sui’s constitution is very unusual. Most forms of damage are essentially useless against it.
If you cut off a piece, it will just grow back..."
"What about fire? Or explosives."
"That won’t work. Fire and explosives only make it multiply faster."
"You’ve tried?"
Fu Juemin was somewhat surprised.
"I’ve seen others try."
Gu Shouyu paused, then said, "Actually, the Westerners in the Concession noticed this Tai Sui a long time ago. They’ve tried many methods, but nothing has worked.
But... I have thought of one method that might work. It would just require a great deal of manpower and resources."
Fu Juemin’s eyes flickered. "Tell me."
