The Exorcist

Book 7: Chapter 41: Midnight Knocking

A clacking of joints rang out in the silent room. A small hand, hard as steel yet as sharp as a claw, grabbed Xiao Xias arm before she could react. The tiny metal clamp squeezed her wrist mercilessly, making her cry out in pain.

Then, as if a switch was flipped, those children all started moving. Their actions were the same as Zhang Jia Lins as these mindless little fellows of flesh and blood grabbed towards Xiao Xia with a vengeance! No matter how she tried to dodge, they constantly grabbed on to her, forcing her tightly into a corner.

The fiend girl started laughing smugly, the infantile yet mature voice echoing in the dark. She was the one channeling the fiendish magic that transformed these innocent angels into droves of demons!

The twisting pain from various nerves in Xiao Xias body made her realize she was about to get pulled to the ground. Several small hands were even tugging at her arms, trying to snatch her amulet!

She knew that the amulet was only effective against wicked presences. Although these children had their souls trapped and were like walking corpses, they were no spiritual entities. The amulet couldnt protect her from physical attacks. The fiend girl was using this loophole to break her final line of defense.

She couldnt let this fiend prevail!

The thought welled up in her mind as she gritted her teeth and jerked her arms back with all her strength. She managed to replace the amulet around her neck right before being dragged down. At the same time, she gripped her phone tightly in both hands. The amulet had been enhanced by Ruan Zhans spirit power. As for the phone, it contained something that could save her life!

Piercing pain erupted around her neck. The red string that held the amulet dug into her flesh. Yet no matter how hard they pulled, it remained firmly in place. Ruan Zhan had replaced the original with this strange string. It wasnt clear what material it was, but it was as thin as a fishing line, and just as sturdy. Unless her head came off, no one could snatch the amulet away!

During the chaos, she had already secreted her phone in her waistband, no longer using the screens faint light. Therefore, she currently lay struggling on the damp ground in pitch-black darkness. Small, stiff hands pressed her down firmly as others continued to jerk at her amulet. The cold hands and the burning pain on her neck told her this darkness wasnt death and this place wasnt her tomb. She still had a chance to resist!

Yet she could still sense that fiend girl watching her maliciously, and also sense her resentment. She probably couldnt accept the fact that her centuries of cultivation wasnt enough to subdue a mortal!

So what if we have to cut off your head? Seemingly reading Xiao Xias thoughts, she quietly gave a terrifying suggestion.

Yet at that moment, Xiao Xias fear vanished instead.

Are you going to ruin your big bros bride and yourhuman outfit? Xiao Xia had trouble breathing. She spoke loudly to cover her phones beeping as she pressed the buttons.

Hopefully the fiend girl wouldnt hear the sound, or it would ruin her only chance at escape! If she got out of this in one piece, she was definitely going to get a phone with silent buttons. As someone who always got in trouble with spirits, she should pick something silent to use!

Hmph, what can he do to me if I cut you into pieces?! The fiend girl yelled angrily. Although it was too dark to see anything, Xiao Xia could still sense that small shade floating in the air and the pair of white eyes looking down at her from above.

He might hit you, or even worse ignore you! Xiao Xia bluffed smoothly. One of her fingers held down a button on her phone while her other hand shakily formed a seal.

Werent kids all the same? Even if the pair of fiend children had centuries of cultivation and had formed mature intelligence with sinister schemes, their minds might very well still be undeveloped. Therefore, Xiao Xia used a childish mindset to provoke her!

After speaking, she had been fully prepared to lose her head. However, her words actually made the fiend girl quiet down. The basement lit up as a green ball of fire appeared near the ceiling. The fiend girl drifted down from the wall again like a shadow, forming into a solid shape upon landing.

The moment the fire appeared, Xiao Xia felt those children suddenly release her!

She didnt know what the fiend girl was up to so she didnt dare get careless. She hurriedly sat up, her hands still at the ready behind her back.

Yet the fiend girl no longer looked at her, instead drifting around the room, carrying the scattered children back into place one by one. She was small but her strength was great and inexhaustible. It was rather easy for her to carry those children, picking them up with one hand while tidying up their clothes with the other. She even placed them into various poses near the wall, humming a simple lullaby as she did so!

Goosey goose, sway and swing.

Fry some beans for my darling.

A bowl for you, a bowl for me.

Eat and choke, Ill leave you be 

Under the sinister green light, in the basement with only Xiao Xia as the living occupant, the fiend girl was like a child playing with her toys. She was like an ordinary little girl. The scene caused goosebumps to erupt all over Xiao Xias body. An inexplicable chill assaulted her heart!

She swallowed nervously and tried edging towards the door as the fiend girl was preoccupied with her dolls. Yet she had just reached the middle of the room when the fiend girl suddenly spoke.

You are right. Big bro will give me the silent treatment. She suddenly whirled around, as if she had been facing this way the whole time, causing Xiao Xia to jump. Her foot froze in midair as she focused on Zhang Jia Lins next move.

But he doesnt know I went out today. If I devoured your soul completely, and then fed your body to the dogs, how would he find out about it? She tilted her head and smiled. Her tone was innocent, as if she was very pleased she thought of this idea. Its been so long since Ive had fresh blood. Its also been so long since Ive eaten a living soul. Look, just talking about it is making me drool!

She giggled, floating over to Xiao Xia as she spoke. Her black hole of a mouth opened wide. It contained a chill air and reeked of blood. Xiao Xia felt she was about to be swallowed whole.

That would be the most horrifying way to die! In this situation, Xiao Xias mind became very clear. Although she had shifted her position due to the fiends overbearing presence, she was still inching towards the door. At the same time, her hands once again made preparations behind her back!

Closer! Just a little closer! As soon as she could see the whites of her eyes, she would act. Then, she would deal with the door. As long as she got the door open, she would have the chance to escape!

Alright, thats close enough, now

Knockknockknock

Right before Xiao Xia was going to act, there was suddenly a knock on the door of enclosed basement that was like a tomb! Because Xiao Xia had already shifted near the door, the noise seemed to be right by her ear, making her jump to the side, her breath catching!

However, the fiend girl also seemed very surprised!

This seemed extremely strange to Xiao Xia. Ghosts were usually the ones knocking on the door at midnight. Then who was it knocking on the ghosts door at midnight?!

Knockknockknock

The knocking sounded again! The black aura around the fiend girl congealed. It seemed she wasnt able to tell who was outside, but knew that whoever it was, wasnt on her side. Therefore, she tensed to attack!

The door opened with a creak. Both Xiao Xia and the fiend girl looked towards the door instinctively!

There was no one outside. There was only a flashlight suspended in the air, as if being held by an invisible person. The strong beam shone into the room, landing upon the fiend girl! Xiao Xia was able to see her clearly for the first time. Her face was dark grey, and covered in small green boils like a toadstool. Her features were already completely decayed, with only a pair of whites for eyes that constantly rolled around. There was a unnatural red lotus on the locket hanging at her chest, covered in blood and moving. It was actually a human heart!

At that moment, there were two possibilities for Xiao Xia. One, the fiend girl and the invisible person were on the same side. In that case, she was screwed. Two, they were not on the same side, which meant she had to rush out. Although she didnt know who was outside and whether or not they were friendly, it was still best to take the gamble!

Seemingly out of instinct, Xiao Xia took advantage of the fiend girls distraction to point both her hands at her! Bao Da Tongs voice came from the phone in her right hand, chanting, Southern Trigram of heavenly flames, form the state of enlightenment, refine! Her fingers on her left hand were about to break as she held the seal tightly and swung it outwards.

There was a screech like the cry of an enormous rat. Xiao Xia watched as a weak ray of fire struck the fiend girl. Although it was deflected by the golden locket, it still sent her stumbling backwards and into the wall.

Go! A mans voice grunted in the darkness outside the door.

Xiao Xia froze because the voice was unfamiliar. Right before she shot out the fire elemental spell, the thought that the invisible person outside was Ruan Zhan had flashed through her mind.

Didnt he always appear at the right moment every time to save her? Wasnt he like a guardian angel, his gaze steely as he wiped out all the enemies every time? But who was this person?

Xiao Xia felt something clammy wrap around her wrist as a strong force pulled her out from the room. Before she could react, she was being dragged running down the dark hallway.

She didnt know what hallway was so long, and the dangerous situation made it hard for her to tell how long she ran for. She only felt as if the oppressive darkness had no end, until she finally saw a faint light up ahead.

Keep running, dont look back! The voice spoke again before suddenly letting go of her wrist.

At that moment, Xiao Xia knew her savior wasnt human. The sprinting had caused her feet and chest to ache and her breathing to become rushed. However, the person next to her was completely silent, floating next to her like the wind.

And after he finished speaking, Xiao Xia clearly felt he had gone. She only had time to see a shadow flash away!

Comeback! The childs voice rang out, the scent of incense mixed with mud wafting over from behind her.

Startled, Xiao Xia realized her negligible spell had only surprised the fiend girl. She only had the chance to hit her and run because the girl hadnt been guarded against her at all! Yet the opportunity was fleeting and she had now caught up.

Without a word, Xiao Xia desperately ran towards the light. The strange smell seemed right by her shoulder but she didnt look back. She merely played the recording of Bao Da Tongs voice on her phone and pointed wildly behind her. Perhaps the fiend girl had become wary due to her previous ambush. Her random attack had actually caused the latter to pause for a moment. She took the opportunity to run out of the long underground passage!

The surface, it really connected to the surface!

Xiao Xia saw the quiet evening street ahead of her and couldnt be more delighted. However, there was some rubble piled up near the entrance which caused her to trip. As she was about to get up, a tiny shadow had already appeared before her.

Get back here for me! A small foot stepped on Xiao Xias lower back, making her fail to get up!

Forget it! Xiao Xia continued to struggle.

The fiend girl laughed happily, like a child who had found something fun. She increased her strength, wanting to make Xiao Xia beg. However, Xiao Xias stubborn spirit rose up. Despite the icy chill and heavy pressure, she refused to make a sound.

Lets see if youll be afraid after I eat your eyeballs!

Xiao Xia didnt have time to respond before she felt sharp fingers around her eyelids. She didnt understand how the fiend girl could reach so far despite standing on her back. She only felt extreme despair.

Let go of me! She screamed, her survival instincts causing her to struggle fiercely. Although she failed to free herself, she was able to raise her head slightly.

Her head had been pressed sideways, and as she raised it, she suddenly saw a shadow rush over from behind the rubble.

There was no sound, but the pressure on her back disappeared. Xiao Xia hurriedly got up and saw two dark shades tangled together. She could vaguely make out the struggle. One of the shades was a weak clump of mist. It was the person who had saved her from the basement!

Xiao Xia could run now, but she didnt. She clumsily formed a seal with her hand, holding her phone with the other, in an attempt to help that black mist. However, she wasnt able to act since it was hard to distinguish between the two. They rolled around on the floor like a black ball of wind, but it was clear the black miasma had suppressed the black mist!

Go, quickly! The black mist let out a weak cry.

No, she couldnt save herself at the expense of someone else! But what should she do? If only Ruan Zhan were here, he could definitely fight the fiend girl off.

Im here! Suddenly, a voice rang out in her mind.

At the same time, a streak of lightning and a splendid cloud of flames struck the rolling black orb one after the other. Then came a beam of red light. In the blink of an eye, along with a scream, the fiend girl fled. The black mist also disappeared. Xiao Xia didnt even see where he had gone!

She knelt on the floor as if exhausted, forcing her eyes open to look at the familiar figure.

But who was the other person that saved her?