Chapter 7: The Power of Martial Saint Guan (Revised)

[Task: Long-term task: 1. Assemble your own team (Number of apprentices: 0)]
[Side task: Reinvestigate the Chen Shimei case (Bao Zheng)]

Cold sweat mixed with the howling wind outside the window sent a chill through Yang Xuan’s heart!
That was not a dream!

"Master, it's time to get up and prepare!"
Hearing Uncle Kun’s call, Yang Xuan’s consciousness returned. He had intended to rest briefly in preparation for Guan Er Ye’s opera performance but was unexpectedly dragged into the Lesser Three Realms. Although he hadn’t yet figured out why, the darkness surrounding the house was somewhat visible under the moonlight.
Yang Xuan switched on the bedside lamp and fully came to.
"I’m coming!"
It was barely past the first watch; there was still time to prepare. The room’s brightness revealed no trace of those strange filthy things. Rubbing his eyes to confirm, Yang Xuan rose, his mind full of questions.

By the second watch, the opera troupe’s backstage was already painted and ready.
Dressed as Guan Er Ye, Yang Xuan cut an imposing figure—his long beard fluttered, and his fierce phoenix eyes were filled with killing intent.
“Make sure this shadow play is done well, especially the musicians. Remember! No matter what happens, keep playing perfectly!”
Whether performing a yang or yin play, the momentum was paramount, and that momentum came chiefly from the music.
Yang Xuan was resolute now, intent on cleansing this place of evil spirits.
Even if a ghost king appeared, or a five-star ghost emperor, Yang Xuan dared to fight them.

Meanwhile, Yu Mengjia’s fan group exploded with excitement.
When they learned that the timid Cat was genuinely coming, they demanded Yu Mengjia to start streaming.
Last night’s events left Yu Mengjia trembling with fear, but with Little Fat standing confidently beside her, reassuring her it would be fine, she decided to continue streaming the yin play tonight.

By the third watch, right on schedule, with the musicians playing, Yang Xuan stepped onto the stage, moving with the grace of traditional opera. One hand wielded the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, the other brushed his long beard.
“Who dares to come here?”
A shout rang out, and many ghosts filled the audience below the stage.
Most of these ghosts were from the Yu family from last night, coming tonight merely as an audience.
Before Yang Xuan could begin, cheers erupted from below.
But not far in the forest, a pair of eyes blinked again.
Within the forest, a thick aura of malevolence brewed incessantly.

The surrounding birds and beasts sensed this and fled in terror.
Beside those eyes, two ghostly figures appeared, their aura far more sinister than the ghostly audience supporting the play.
“Go, teach that brat a lesson!”
“Yes, Ghost King!”
A cold gust swept the stage, causing the hairs on Yang Xuan’s body to stand on end, an ominous feeling creeping in.
But he quickly steadied himself and roared fiercely to the crowd below.
“Who dares to challenge me?”
His aura surged wildly, and the ghostly audience vanished instantly.
Yang Xuan was puzzled.
A single shout to boost his momentum scared away the entire ghost crowd?
Could Guan Yu’s spirit really be this powerful even before fully possessing him?

Nearby, Yu Mengjia, livestreaming with her phone mounted on a stand, was brimming with enthusiasm.
Thanks to Little Fat’s presence, she was braver than last night.
Since Yu Mengjia started streaming, the viewers had seen her safe and sound, completely forgetting the previous night’s ordeal.
[Fluffy Fan: I told you, this is just a streaming effect! This kind of livestreaming is trending online now, making money faster than singing!]
[Rich and Handsome Second Generation: As long as Jia Jia is okay, I don’t care about any effects! But did the timid Cat really go there?]
[Ice Tea Lover: That timid Cat really went? Wow, that guy got there first! Big spender, if you showered so many gifts and Jia Jia got snatched away by that timid Cat, you’re in trouble!]

At that moment, in front of the livestream camera, the timid Cat greeted the audience inside.
“Everyone, I’m pretty action-oriented, right? When I say I’ll be there, I mean it! And I’ll let you in on a secret—Jia Jia looks even better in person than on stream!”
As the timid Cat spoke, Qiao Qiao approached, overheard the remark, and was displeased. She immediately grabbed the timid Cat’s ear and scolded him.
“What do you mean only Jia Jia is pretty? Am I not pretty?”
“Oh, you’re pretty too, you’re pretty! Spare me!”
The timid Cat dodged, afraid of further attack from Qiao Qiao.

At that moment, space opened in the livestream, and the camera captured the empty audience seats beneath the stage.
Suddenly, two figures appeared.
The livestream chat exploded again.
[Fluffy Fan: Am I seeing things? There was no one there just now! Are they doing that “alive statue” trick from last night again?]
[Ice Tea Lover: No, look carefully, those two audience members just stood up!]
[Rich and Handsome Second Generation: So what if they stood up? What’s the big deal?]

Before Rich and Handsome finished, the viewers noticed something—these two audience members had no feet; their bodies floated.
A silence fell over the livestream.
Yang Xuan, still on stage performing, noticed as well.
From his vantage point, when those two figures stood, he realized these ghosts were coming straight for him.
“Activate the Yin Play System.”
Yang Xuan silently commanded, and the system instantly activated.
“Please, Guan Yu, the Martial Saint, possess me!”
As he spoke, a powerful energy enveloped Yang Xuan’s body.
Suddenly, beneath him, a magnificent horse appeared.
“Red Hare?”
The Red Hare stamped its hooves restlessly and lifted its head to neigh fiercely.
“Boom!”
A wave of scorching heat surged. Yang Xuan glanced at his mighty Green Dragon Crescent Blade, which now blazed with fierce flames.
[System Reminder: Based on the user’s condition, Guan Yu’s possession lasts three minutes.]
“Only three minutes?”
Yang Xuan panicked.
What could he do in just three minutes?
As he pondered, the two ghostly figures drew near, radiating malevolence.
“Who goes there?”
Yang Xuan roared, and the Red Hare beneath him flared with nameless flames, eyes locked on the approaching ghosts.
Originally, the ghosts had been arrogant, but under the Red Hare’s oppressive aura, much of their malevolent energy dissipated unconsciously.
“We come on orders from the Nanshan Ghost King to claim your head. Be wise—do not resist!”
At that moment, Yu Mengjia and Qiao Qiao, livestreaming nearby, saw the scene unfold and recalled last night’s events. Fear gripped them, and they hid behind Little Fat, dreading being caught in the ghosts’ wrath.