Chapter 8: The Olive Branch of the National Special Operations Division (Revised)

Before the spirits could make a move, Yang Xuan’s steed, Red Hare, leapt forward. The heavy hooves crushed one of the ghosts beneath them, and the dark flames that clung to the apparition vanished in an instant, dissolving into smoke and mist.

The other ghost, sensing Yang Xuan’s formidable power, cunningly glanced toward Yu Mengjia’s direction.

“Heh, if you don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for taking action!” Yang Xuan narrowed his eyes, deducing the ghost’s intent. He raised his Green Dragon Crescent Blade high and swung it down toward the specter.

As he wielded the blade, Yang Xuan felt as if the weapon weighed a thousand pounds, and the air around him seemed to disperse beneath the force of his momentum.

This sensation startled him deeply.

What fraction of the spirit of Guan Yu had possessed him?

If it were a full hundred percent, what might that mean?

With a sweeping slash, the ghost instantly dissipated into smoke.

“Come forth, any other challengers! I invite you to present yourselves swiftly!” Yang Xuan bellowed, his gaze piercing the distant woods. He swung the Green Dragon Crescent Blade through the air a few more times and roared with fierce resolve.

“Evil spirits! If you dare to wreak havoc among the people again, I will slay you beneath my horse!”

At that moment, deep within the forest, the King of Ghosts of South Mountain watched the entire scene unfold. He had witnessed clearly the two ghosts being cut down by Yang Xuan.

Coupled with the overwhelming aura Yang Xuan now radiated, even the Ghost King felt a hint of trepidation.

Without waiting for Yang Xuan to continue, the Ghost King snorted coldly and departed from the forest.

Near the stage, Yu Mengjia and Qiao Qiao hid behind Little Fatty. Although he hadn’t tried to hide, his entire body trembled, and a wet patch was visible beneath his trousers.

It was clear he was thoroughly frightened.

To be honest, it wasn’t Little Fatty’s bravery that shielded the two women; rather, he too wanted to hide, but his body refused to obey.

“Scaredy-cat, are you alright?” Yu Mengjia reached out and gently touched his shoulder, asking softly.

This caused Little Fatty to scream sharply before fainting.

Chaos erupted inside the live broadcast chatroom.

[FluffFanatic]: “Wow, what’s the scaredy-cat up to now? The bodyguard’s role turned into a terrified mess? He’s even less brave than the two female streamers!”

[RichestHeir]: “Looks like scaredy-cat won’t make it much longer—this is utterly embarrassing! Some kind of trick, yet he’s scared stiff? Pathetic!”

Meanwhile, a viewer named The Handsomest Agent was watching the scene carefully but remained silent.

He observed the entire event intently.

As for the claims in the chat about trickery, he did not believe a word.

“Captain, what do you make of the troupe leader from this shadow play company?” the man asked, glancing behind at the team leader.

The captain pondered briefly before replying, “If this young man is truly genuine, he’s quite the talent. But even through the screen, it’s hard to tell if it’s an illusion or real strength.”

“I’ve observed closely. I was present at both live broadcasts. If it’s a trick, it would require significant resources. Yet, from his speech, mannerisms, and subconscious movements, he doesn’t strike me as wealthy. So the chance of trickery is slim.”

The Handsomest Agent was a fan of Qiao Qiao and occasionally watched these simple rural outdoor streams. By chance, he had seen two excellent performances.

The captain nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. With numerous cases piling up, if Yang Xuan was truly a prodigy, he’d be a valuable asset to the team. However...

“But how could an ordinary person see ghosts so vividly and broadcast it live for everyone to witness?”

Another team member voiced this doubt, one of the reasons the captain suspected trickery. Most of them possessed peculiar abilities—seeing ghosts, touching spirits, sensing magnetic fields, or practicing certain arts.

“That’s the very reason I’m skeptical,” said The Handsomest Agent, his brows knitting together. After a moment, he turned to the captain and said, “I want to visit the site. The live broadcast location isn’t far. It’s worth checking the facts firsthand.”

The Handsomest Agent had some skills himself and an uncanny ability to judge people. The captain agreed.

“Very well, Agent, you go and handle it as you see fit. Keep us informed of any developments!”

Nodding, The Handsomest Agent set off to pack. The captain sighed to the rest of the team.

“If he really has these abilities, his addition will make some of our cases much easier to handle.”

In a corner near the stage in Baxian Village, the troupe’s owner crouched, having witnessed everything.

Especially after Yang Xuan’s decisive strike with the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his heart pounded fiercely.

“What to do? Offending the Ghost King of South Mountain might doom the entire village!”

“No, I can’t let this go. I must go and apologize to the Ghost King!”

Back at his home, the owner knelt and kowtowed upon entering, only to feel the Ghost King’s statue tremble, then topple and shatter.

Turning, he saw Yang Xuan, whose face still bore half the war paint of Guan Yu, eyes fixed intently on him.

“You worship a ghost king who can barely protect himself, yet you expect blessings? Foolish!” Yang Xuan said, stepping on the broken remnants of the statue.

The owner’s anger flared, but Yang Xuan cut him off.

“Evil spirits run rampant because ignorant people like you offer blind worship!”

“But without such ignorant offerings, how could an evil spirit rise to the rank of a ghost king?”

“This time I’ll forgive your ignorance, but if you stray again, bear the consequences!”

With that, Yang Xuan turned and left. As he lifted the door curtain to exit, he paused and spoke coldly.

“If that fellow dares trouble you again, don’t be afraid—just tell me, and I’ll deal with him.”

After leaving the owner’s place, Yang Xuan returned to the backstage resting area.

Since the possession by Guan Yu had faded, Yang Xuan noticed a significant difference.

Unlike Bao Zheng, Guan Yu’s possession lasted only three minutes but exerted tremendous strain on his body.

Even a single furious slash while mounted left Yang Xuan physically taxed.

Remembering that he had trained in all aspects of traditional performance arts since childhood, maintaining excellent physical condition far superior to ordinary people, yet he still felt this exhausted.

Despite all that, the fatigue was undeniable.