Following behind Zhou Jing, Zhao Yan arrived at the bus stop on Jiang Hong Road, number seven.
A green bus stopped at the platform, its interior already quite crowded.
"Xiao Wan, wait for me here. I need to talk to my cousin for a moment," Zhou Jing said, stepping back a few paces to stand beside Zhao Yan. He lowered his voice and whispered, "Sister Zhao, could you please confirm again, is Xiao Wan really a ghost?"
"Are you still doubting me at this hour?" Zhao Yan replied.
Zhou Jing quickly waved his hands. "No, it's just that everything feels so real. Xiao Wan seems like a living person. She can't be a ghost."
"That must be your delusion, or perhaps you're unwilling to accept reality," Zhao Yan said.
Disappointment flickered across Zhou Jing's face.
"Brother Jing, hurry up and get on! We're about to depart!" Xiao Wan called out from the bus door, waving at Zhou Jing.
Zhou Jing looked back at Zhao Yan. She nodded a few times, and Zhou Jing boarded the bus.
A hint of doubt lingered in Zhao Yan's heart.
Zhou Jing's yang energy was indeed affected by ghosts; there was no mistaking that.
Perhaps the bus held the answers she was looking for.
Zhao Yan had ridden the bus many times, but being on a bus full of ghosts was a rare occurrence.
After Zhou Jing boarded, Zhao Yan followed him onto the bus.
Zhou Jing sat with Xiao Wan by the window on the left side.
Zhao Yan took the single seat next to them.
The temperature inside the bus was very low, likely around freezing point. She could see her breath misting in the air.
As she boarded, she keenly felt the ghosts inside turning their gazes towards her.
When she looked back, their eyes began to dart away.
Except for a few unoccupied seats in the back, all other seats were filled.
With the sound of the bus doors closing, the vehicle slowly began to move.
Zhou Jing had asked her to follow him to see his true feelings.
Zhao Yan had seen them, and based on the situation, Zhou Jing had no intention of leaving.
He truly liked Xiao Wan.
"Cousin, hello. May I come to the back to sit with you?" Xiao Wan stood up and said to Zhao Yan.
Zhao Yan paused for a moment before nodding.
She followed Xiao Wan to an empty seat in the back.
Once seated, Xiao Wan spoke a few soft words to her.
Listening to Xiao Wan's words, Zhao Yan was greatly surprised. It seemed things were not as they appeared on the surface.
"Are you sure?" Zhao Yan asked sternly.
Xiao Wan nodded. "I'm sure."
"It seems you are more clear-headed than him. I understand now."
Zhao Yan returned to her seat, looked out the window, and murmured softly, "This ghost is quite interesting."
Zhao Yan understood the notion that ghosts could alter magnetic fields, rendering the mobile phone in her pocket completely useless.
Listening to Zhou Jing chat with Xiao Wan, Zhou Jing was completely engrossed.
Even if today passed, Zhou Jing's heart would not give up on Xiao Wan.
The more she thought about it, the more Zhao Yan felt a sense of drowsiness. The bus came to a stop.
The interior of the bus, due to the heavy yin energy, was filled with a strong malevolent aura.
Affected by this aura, the bus began to fog up.
The front door slowly opened, and a woman in red appeared in her sight.
A chilling smile flickered across her lips as she slowly walked towards Zhou Jing.
The ghosts inside the bus instantly rose from their seats, their gazes fixed on Zhou Jing.
Compared to Zhao Yan, Zhou Jing's birth chart was very weak. Coupled with the influence of the yin energy, he would be even less able to withstand the rising malevolent aura in the bus.
Zhou Jing's eyelids were starting to droop, his consciousness becoming blurred.
Xiao Wan looked at the reluctant expression on Zhou Jing's face, biting her lip tightly. "Brother Jing, I'm sorry!"
The red-clothed female ghost approached Zhou Jing and began to greedily absorb his yang energy.
Xiao Wan retreated behind her, clenching her fists as she watched Zhou Jing's pained expression.
"Xiao Wan," Zhou Jing said with difficulty, reaching out a hand towards Xiao Wan.
Xiao Wan took a step back, evading Zhou Jing's hand, and shook her head. "Brother Jing, just bear with it a little longer. It will be over soon."
Zhou Jing's body began to float.
As his yang energy was absorbed, he let out a cry of pain.
The talismans in Zhao Yan's pocket grew hot, instantly dispelling the malevolent aura from her and making her much clearer-headed.
She pulled out her peach wood sword, quickly walked to Zhou Jing's side, and slapped a talisman onto his back.
"The bus journey is over, Zhou Jing!" Zhao Yan said calmly.
As Zhou Jing began to fall, Zhao Yan quickly caught him.
"Zhou Jing, look carefully. This is the person you like. She brought you here to be fed upon by other ghosts, to have your yang energy siphoned."
Zhao Yan let out a cold snort, reached into her pocket, and pulled out three ghost-killing talismans.
"The Great Ancestor protects me, the divine being that kills ghosts and banishes evil, what ghost do I fear? By the decree of the Supreme Elder Lord, hasten!"
"Buzz"
The three talismans fell, emitting a golden light.
The chill within the bus was instantly dispelled.
"Why, Xiao Wan?" Zhou Jing cried out in pain.
He truly wanted to be with Xiao Wan. Tonight, he had understood his own feelings.
Even if Xiao Wan was a ghost, he wouldn't care as long as their hearts were together.
But why would she harm him when he had confirmed his feelings?
Why!
Xiao Wan remained silent, her gaze shifting away from Zhou Jing.
Zhao Yan looked at the ghosts in the bus, twisted her wrist, and sneered, "Twenty-three ghosts. Very well. My previous record was challenging fifteen fierce ghosts alone. Let's see if I can break that record this time."
"But you all need to be careful, Sister Zhao's peach wood sword is quite painful when it pokes ghosts!"
The ghosts in the bus surged towards Zhao Yan and Zhou Jing, intent on tearing them to shreds.
Zhao Yan parried a charging ghost with her sword, dealing with one ghost at a time.
"Xiao Wan, how could you let a Taoist priest on the bus? Damn it!"
"I didn't know she was a Taoist priest."
"Quick, deal with her first, then capture Jing... then capture Zhou Jing. His yang energy is almost depleted. One last absorption and he'll die," Xiao Wan urged.
Zhao Yan charged forward, engaging the ghosts in a fierce battle.
Zhou Jing, feeling dizzy, tried to get up but stumbled onto the floor of the bus.
"Zhou Jing, get off the bus quickly! I'll cover you," Zhao Yan said sternly.
Looking at Zhou Jing's state, Zhao Yan took a step back, grabbed his clothes, and said coldly, "Even now, you still can't see her for who she is?"
"Wake up!"
"Slap!"
Zhao Yan slapped Zhou Jing across the face, instantly bringing him back to his senses.
"Go!" Zhao Yan commanded.
Zhou Jing scrambled and rushed towards the front door.
As Zhou Jing fled in panic, Zhao Yan craned her neck to watch, then put away her peach wood sword.
"Alright, everyone stop."
Zhao Yan turned to Xiao Wan and said, "Is this the outcome you wanted?"
"For him, you made me act in this play. However, your performance was quite clumsy."