Chapter 36 - Headless Ghosts

                                    

                                          

     "S-Senior Brother... What... what is this?" Tong Tong's voice trembled, and her fingers, which had been clutching Su Yan's sleeve, now loosened as she covered her mouth-whether to stifle a scream that was about to escape or to prevent herself from vomiting at the shocking sight, wasting the delicious custard buns and hot soy milk she had for breakfast.
     -In front of them was a circular, relatively spacious chamber, connected by passages at both ends, but it was occupied by a group of headless monsters blocking their only path forward, as if telling the intruders: to pass through here, you must overcome this obstacle.
     These monsters still retained complete human bodies; some were clad in iron armor, wielding broad-bladed swords, looking robust and strong like battlefield generals; others were draped in silk robes, with graceful figures resembling courtesans; there were even some in coarse cloth, long robes, and various other attire of different styles and sizes, men, women, old, and young, all included, and even one completely naked body-yet, without exception, all were missing their heads.
     On each of their necks was a neatly smooth cut, as if slashed by a sharp blade, leaving a bowl-sized scar with black and red congealed blood. Their agile, hopping movements made the scene even more terrifying.
     -Come on, even the director of Resident Evil wouldn't be this devious to double the speed of zombies! Can you guys at least stick to the script?
     After staring at them for a while, Tong Tong gradually got used to the sight of the lively headless monsters, and her fear subsided slightly, only to be replaced by a sense of helplessness.
     "Headless Ghosts." At this moment, Su Yan's voice, clear like the clinking of jade, sounded in her ear, making her jump in fright.
     "What are those?" As she received a disapproving glance from Cookie, who had almost been thrown off by her overreaction, Tong Tong steadied herself and asked.
     "Ranked seventeenth among the Hundred Ghosts, they are creatures separated from their heads, feeling no pain, never tiring, and driven by the instinct to replace their bodies to renew themselves." Su Yan responded as if reciting from a book.
     "Wait, what? What do you mean by 'renew themselves'?" Tong Tong wondered if she had misheard, or how else could she hear such a familiar term. "Wait, how do you know all this?"
     She turned to glare at the calm Su Yan: When did this guy start moonlighting as an encyclopedia?
     "Renewing themselves, meaning they replace their old body with a new one they've taken to maintain their combat abilities-it's from the Exploration Guide to the Abyssal Secret Realm, which was given as a reward before we set out. You didn't read it?" Su Yan glanced at Tong Tong, whose lips twitched with a look of shame as she stared at the yellow-covered booklet in Su Yan's hand. The open page featured a gruesome yet somewhat comical illustration, unmistakably depicting the very monster before them, confirming her conclusion, "You didn't read it."
     -So the trial came with a beginner's guide? Well, for a newbie like her, it might as well not exist.
     "I... I didn't pay attention..." Who could blame her for being too excited to look at those elixirs and treasures, tossing aside what seemed like just a thin booklet.
     -Oh well, it doesn't matter as long as the Big Ice Mountain is here! Tong Tong shamelessly justified herself inwardly.
     With that settled, she immediately discarded her fleeting embarrassment and looked at Su Yan with a flattering smile: "Senior Brother, you're so amazing; you must have a way to deal with these monsters, right?"