Chapter Sixty-Five: Making a Move! (Please keep reading, please keep reading)

The one who stretched out his foot to trip him was none other than Wang Kui.

Among all the apprentice herbalists, Wang Kui was the one most likely to seize first place in the year-end assessment. The motive behind his action became clear to him almost instantly.

Last year, during the annual assessment, Wang Kui lost his chance to become a physician’s apprentice because of an upstart named Xu Lihao. Now, with his own arrival and his martial talent surpassing even Xu Lihao’s, he was an even greater threat, likely to make Wang Kui suffer the same fate again.

That naturally made him a thorn in Wang Kui’s side.

He just hadn’t expected that after so many days of hiding it, Wang Kui would suddenly make a move like this at such a crucial moment.

Though anger surged in his heart, he had no time to dwell on it.

By the time he scrambled to his feet, it was already too late—the vengeful ghost was nearly upon him.

His face changed. With a desperate leap, he dove into the herbal decoction room, narrowly dodging the ghost’s lunge.

The ghost had intended to possess someone, seeking to escape the setting sun by hiding within a body. These apprentices, with their weak blood and energy, were easy to control.

But it never expected its sure-thing attack to miss. After a brief pause, it chased after him.

The moment Chen Yushu entered the decoction room, he stood up at once. Seeing the ghost rush in, he hastily drew upon his “Incense Power” and spat forth a fiery breath.

Blazing Sun Sword!

The attack struck the ghost squarely, a sizzling sound erupting from its body.

The ghost let out a guttural roar, astonished that this seemingly frail human could wound it.

Seizing the opportunity, Chen Yushu quickly pulled out a stack of talismans from his robe.

These were the Evil-Repelling Talismans he had just prepared. He had intended them for self-defense, not expecting to use them so soon.

Without the slightest hesitation, he pinched one between his fingers and flung it out.

His throwing technique was already perfected, and his handling of the talisman was masterful. With a flick, it struck the ghost’s body directly.

Sizz—sizz—sizz—

The power within the talisman flared, swiftly burning away the baleful energy clinging to the ghost.

Without pause, Chen Yushu threw a second talisman.

Then a third, a fourth…

The ghost was simply too terrifying a threat. The thought of being possessed at close range sent chills down his spine.

He dared not hesitate—he hurled every talisman he had in his hand.

Then, with a swift motion, he grabbed the three bamboo tubes he always carried and threw them with the same technique.

Sizz—sizz—sizz—

The sounds of baleful energy being consumed rose rapidly.

“Ahh…”

The ghost’s scream was piercing and laced with panic.

Never had it imagined that this seemingly weak human could mount such a ferocious resistance—not only injuring it, but burning away most of its baleful energy, leaving its spirit body greatly weakened.

Sensing this was no ordinary opponent, fear took hold and the ghost tried to flee.

But at that moment, Chen Yushu moved.

He drew upon his Incense Power, formed a series of hand seals, and pushed his palms downward with force.

Shadow Suppression Art!

Instantly, a strange force pressed down, halting the ghost just as it tried to move, forcing it to the ground.

It broke free in a flash, but by then, Chen Yushu was upon it, wielding a straight ruler which he brought down hard on its body.

Thud!

The blow shattered the last vestiges of baleful energy clinging to the ghost.

Again he struck.

And then a third time.

With each strike, Chen Yushu’s face grew paler. By the third blow, he was weak and dizzy, the effort draining him terribly.

Fortunately, with the third strike, he felt the ruler pass through empty air.

The ghost on the ground vanished completely, dissipating into nothingness.

“Is it… dead?”

Catching his breath in great gulps, Chen Yushu finally came back to himself.

Then he noticed a thumb-sized bead lying on the floor.

He reached out instinctively and picked it up.

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded. Shopkeeper Su, Steward Zhou, and the middle-aged Daoist all rushed in.

Seeing the scene, they were momentarily stunned. Steward Zhou was the first to speak, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Chen Yushu replied, regaining his composure and shaking his head.

Only the middle-aged Daoist’s eyes were filled with surprise. Unable to restrain himself, he asked, “That thing—is it dead? Did you kill it?”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the charred remnants of talisman paper on the floor.

Though they hadn’t seen everything due to their angle, the ghost’s anguished screams had been unmistakable.

Given the evidence, even if it seemed unbelievable, they could only draw that conclusion.

“Yes,” Chen Yushu nodded.

“You killed it with talismans? Where did you get them?” Shopkeeper Su immediately pressed.

It was, indeed, too peculiar—a pharmacy apprentice, not only in possession of so many talismans, but also able to use them to defeat a vengeful ghost.

Even having witnessed it, he found it hard to believe.

“These talismans were given to me by an elder in my family,” Chen Yushu replied after a slight pause. “When I saw it charging at me, I didn’t think at all—I just threw all the talismans at it. Then it disappeared. As for whether it’s truly dead, I’m not sure myself.”

He ended somewhat vaguely.

Some things were too complicated to explain, and instinctively, he concealed the fact that he had mastered the arts of a spirit-walker.

After all, his understanding of this world was still incomplete—especially concerning official organizations like the Department of Shadow Suppression. Until he gained a clearer picture, he had no intention of exposing himself.

“An elder?” The middle-aged Daoist was taken aback, then turned to Shopkeeper Su, “Shopkeeper Su, may I ask where your apprentice is from?”

“He’s from Beijiao Village,” Steward Zhou quickly replied, “His surname is Chen. His given name is Yushu.”

“Beijiao Village? Then that explains it.” The Daoist seemed to recall something and asked no further.

Though Shopkeeper Su and Steward Zhou were still curious, they didn’t press him and soon began arranging the aftermath.

The incident had caused a great stir throughout Jianghuan Town, and as the initiator and location of the events, the Liu Family Pharmacy naturally had to help suppress rumors and restore order.

Moreover, the injured within the pharmacy needed treatment—especially those who had been possessed. The fierceness they displayed at the time was matched only by the severity of their injuries afterward.

After all, every blow landed on their real, physical bodies.