Chapter Forty: Spiritual Corpse

In the dimly lit private room, tempers flared on both sides, a suffocating sense of frustration hanging heavy in the air, tension ready to snap at any moment. Although Lin Hai had promised to compensate for the damages, Zhang Deshui, a local tyrant unused to such humiliation, bared his two large teeth in fury, nearly ready to leap out of his mouth. The hulking men behind him were itching to pounce, waiting for the slightest signal to tear the two intruders apart.

A strange sound emerged—a grinding "grrrr" from Zhang Deshui's clenched teeth. His eyes burned with uncontrollable hatred, rage surging within him like a volcano ready to erupt. Just as his anger reached its breaking point, two red lights caught his attention. Following them, he felt as though he had plunged into an ice cavern. The blood-red gaze of Lin Fan chilled him to the bone.

In disbelief, Zhang Deshui rubbed his eyes, secretly channeling spiritual energy and activating his eye technique to scrutinize Lin Fan once more.

"No aura of a demon beast. Definitely human. Possessed by a ghost? Impossible—ghosts can’t get past our security checks! Then there’s only one explanation..."

Zhang Deshui quickly gestured to halt his men, who were poised to attack but clueless about the true danger.

Lin Hai seemed unconcerned, as if he had expected Zhang Deshui wouldn’t dare make a move. He continued nonchalantly to destroy whatever hadn’t been thoroughly ruined.

Lin Fan leaned against the wall, head held high, arms folded, his expression mocking—as if saying, “Come on if you dare, I’m itching for a fight!” He exuded an air of dominance, like a monarch surveying his realm.

Seeing their indifference, Zhang Deshui’s suspicions only grew stronger.

“Damn it! That old bastard didn’t deceive me—this is... a spiritual corpse! Rarer than a thousand-year zombie, red-eyed spiritual corpse? How many years has it been since I’ve seen one? What luck—spiritual beasts, spiritual corpses, are they as common as supermarket cabbage now? Dealing with the elder is troublesome enough, and with the younger one… even if I mobilize my entire base, victory isn’t certain. I’d risk everything I’ve built! Damn, what rotten luck! Before the great calamity, I have to survive this minor one. Better to endure…”

The word “endure” was a razor in Zhang Deshui’s heart, but business meant dealing with trouble. When faced with humiliation, he had no choice but to swallow it whole.

Lin Hai noticed Zhang Deshui’s hesitation after recognizing Lin Fan’s anomaly and guessed the truth. “Idiots! Bet you never expected my nephew to have this trick up his sleeve. You must think he’s a spiritual corpse! Honestly, bringing this fool along does have its advantages…”

The so-called spiritual corpse, as Lin Hai and Zhang Deshui referred to it, is a powerful being created when a living person's soul is gradually eroded by a strong spiritual entity, eventually resulting in the complete fusion of soul and body—immortal, ageless, indestructible unless overtaken by an even stronger soul.

Such rebirth through possession is rare. Most humans and ghosts weaken over time, their bodies unable to withstand the spiritual entity’s corrosion, let alone fuse and lose both soul and body. Only a few with extremely resilient bodies might, after a long period of assimilation, unknowingly transform into spiritual corpses. Lin Fan was an ideal host, which explained his popularity among spirits.

Spiritual corpses differ from zombies. A zombie’s soul is dead, leaving only a lingering obsession, making them easy to control. Their bodies rot away over time, unless their obsession is so profound that it preserves them for centuries or millennia. Human lifespans are brief and few experience such enduring passions, so thousand-year zombies are exceedingly rare; the legendary ten-thousand-year zombie king has never appeared in the world.

Thus, misconceptions about spiritual corpses and zombies are common.

It was clear Zhang Deshui had mistaken Lin Fan for a spiritual corpse. It was understandable—Lin Fan’s unique condition was almost unheard of among ordinary ability-users: a soul with extraordinary powers, super-spiritual abilities! He had no idea Tang Hao was even more unusual, able to freely enter and exit Lin Fan’s body without being eroded by his domineering soul.

Lin Fan stepped from the corner, his blood-red eyes strikingly vivid. He spoke coldly, “Go find another room.”

Zhang Deshui immediately changed his demeanor, dismissing his men and forcing a smile. “Gentlemen, this way please!”

A true businessman, capable of enjoying great fortune or swallowing bitter losses. He led the two into a larger, more opulent suite. Soon, dozens of beautiful women entered, draped in floor-length robes, faces blank, figures alluring.

Zhang Deshui stood, smiling obsequiously. “The goods have arrived. Keep whichever ones please you. I won’t disturb your enjoyment, but please, gentlemen, spare them—these girls are my carefully collected stock for Beast Night. Don’t play too rough. I hope you’ll understand my difficulties!”

Lin Hai waved impatiently. “Enough with the nonsense! We’ll be careful. Now get lost!”

Lin Fan sat on the sofa, his eyes still glowing red, staring at Zhang Deshui with a chilling silence.

Zhang Deshui shivered, sighed, and bowed once more, hoping these two ill-omened stars would honor their word. Then he slunk away, tail between his legs.

Lin Hai moved among the women, inspecting each one, occasionally lifting their robes to reveal nothing underneath—every curve left on display.

“Too small, wrong color, this one’s firm, that one’s too big... Ah, this one’s perfect, just the right size and color…” After his round of critiques, Lin Hai sat back on the sofa and turned to Lin Fan. “Hey, can you let my nephew out? I need to discuss something with him.”

Lin Fan’s eyes flashed brighter, his voice hoarse. “Right now, I just want to tear you apart!”

Lin Hai jumped up. “Damn it! Don’t push your luck! It’s not that I can’t beat you—I’m just worried about hurting my nephew. You’ve seen my ultimate move; if you keep pressing me, don’t blame me for showing no mercy. If my nephew’s gone, so be it. I’ll burn more paper offerings in the future, but I’d rather shatter jade than survive as clay!”

His confidence waned as he spoke. He knew Lin Fan’s life was paramount; even if he died, he’d protect Lin Fan. So his threats were mostly bluster to scare Tang Hao—unexpectedly, they worked.

The red glow in Lin Fan’s eyes gradually faded. After a few blinks, his face softened, the darkness replaced by a sunny expression. He exclaimed excitedly, “Uncle! Wasn’t that awesome? When we squared off, I actually had the upper hand! Haha, the mouse not only helps me resist temptation, but merges with me to boost my power. How about our display—impressive, right?”

“Get lost, you idiot! Do you realize you two almost ruined everything?” Lin Hai tossed his phone to Lin Fan. “Get to work! Compare the missing girls from the police records with these ones. See how many match.”

Lin Fan took the phone and went from girl to girl, comparing their faces. The women remained motionless, their eyes vacant, as if their souls had been stolen.

Lin Fan scrutinized every detail, leaving nothing unchecked. When some didn’t quite resemble the photos, he grabbed a cloth, dabbed it with wine, and helped wipe away their makeup.

After a while, nodding and shaking his head, he returned to the sofa, took a drink, and handed the phone back to Lin Hai, admiring, “Uncle, you’re amazing—they’re mostly all here. We can wrap up!”

Lin Hai showed no joy, only frustration. “Look again!”

Lin Fan scratched his head, noticing something amiss. “Heh, seems a few are missing… Maybe that ugly guy hid some, or maybe they left town, or met some other fate?”

Lin Hai mused, “Let’s hope you’re right.”

Lin Fan glanced at the girls, troubled. “But how do we get them out? The guys outside aren’t exactly friendly.”

Lin Hai relaxed a bit. “I said I’d help investigate, not solve the problem. We’ve got the facts; now we just hand them to the police. Let them handle it—I’m not poking this hornet’s nest.”

Lin Fan was shocked. “We can’t handle it ourselves! Aren’t you worried the police will all get trapped here?”

“Humans have their laws, demons their rules! Cross the line, and punishment follows. Don’t worry—nobody dares trample the natural order handed down over millennia!” Lin Hai dismissed the women, keeping only two.

Lin Fan was baffled, but understood the gist, feeling a bit reassured. Yet after a moment, he grew concerned again. “When we leave, will they be safe?”

Lin Hai patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, they’ll be safe for now. Drink up! Don’t waste it—I spent a fortune investigating this case!”

“This wine…” Lin Fan eyed Lin Hai nervously.

“Hmph! He wouldn’t dare mess with us again. Relax, drink up! Didn’t you say you like big-chested girls? Here, take this one!” He pushed a busty girl toward Lin Fan.

Before she could settle, Lin Fan pushed her back to Lin Hai, raised his glass with a grin. “Heh… I’m still young, plenty of time ahead. You keep her! Thanks for your hospitality, Uncle. Wishing you health and eternal youth!”

Lin Hai took no offense, embracing the girls, drinking and playing games with Lin Fan, setting aside his anxiety for the moment. The two indulged in their revelry, living carefree amid the decadent surroundings.

After several rounds of drinks, Lin Fan inadvertently mentioned Lin Qi. The name seemed magical—at its utterance, both men shivered, their drunkenness vanishing instantly. They glanced at the time, cold sweat running down their backs, and in unison sprang up and dashed out of the room!

“Damn it! What’s this supposed to mean? Trying to weasel out? Where are you going?” Zhang Deshui had been waiting outside, and seeing the two rush toward the exit, thought they were skipping out on the bill and quickly gave chase.

Lin Hai had indeed intended to slip away, but was caught in the act. After a fierce round of bargaining, he resigned himself to paying a hefty compensation fee, leaving with tears in his eyes.