Ghost in the palace-Chapter 139: planning the hunt for
The atmosphere in the tent was still heavy from the spiritual awakening, the glowing sigil, and the sudden appearance of swords in everyone’s hands.
The Emperor sat down slowly, his expression darker than the midnight sky.
He looked at every person — Empress, Yao Qing, the twins, the new man, and even the ghosts standing behind her, though only she could see them.
Then he spoke, voice cold but controlled:
"Now that all of you have awakened power, we must move."
Everyone straightened their backs.
Even the ghosts, who were still sulking earlier, raised their chins.
---
The Emperor Explains the Situation
He opened the parchment map he secretly carried.
"Barbaric raids... dead bodies appearing without wounds... people disappearing... all of this finally makes sense."
He tapped his finger sharply on the center of the map.
"These barbaric people are not normal. They are involved in ghost-human breeding. Someone is controlling them."
Everyone exchanged horrified glances.
The Empress thought of the shaman’s warning: Ghost babies cannot be killed unless by a future soul like hers.
Her heart tightened.
---
The Plan Begins
The Emperor looked at each person with sharp eyes:
Empress Lian An, spiritual sword glowing faintly
Yao Qing, still shaking but determined
Twin Lin and Twin Lian, fists clenched
New Man Wei Jie, strangely calm
And invisibly behind them,
Fen Yu,
Li Shen,
Wei Rong
All waiting.
The Emperor said slowly:
"We are capturing the barbaric leader."
Everyone inhaled sharply.
He continued:
"Not to kill him — not yet. First, we force him to reveal the mastermind, the one breeding ghost-humans.
We need names. We need location. We need proof."
He turned to the Empress.
"And we will use your people’s newly awakened spiritual power to break their protection."
---
Assigning Roles
The Emperor’s tone shifted — clearer, commanding.
1. The Emperor & General
"We will infiltrate the main tent where the barbaric leader sits. My power is enough to restrain him."
2. The Empress
"You will use your spiritual sword to bind his soul if he tries to escape in ghost form."
(The Empress stiffened — she didn’t expect him to know that ghost leaders can separate soul from body.)
3. Yao Qing, Twins, Wei Jie
"You four will distract the guards.
Use your new powers but do NOT expose full strength until necessary. We need the leader alive."
The twins saluted dramatically.
"We won’t fail, Your Ma— uh, Brother An!"
Yao Qing nodded with determination that definitely did NOT exist 24 hours earlier.
Wei Jie quietly tightened the grip on his sword.
---
Ghosts Step Forward
Fen Yu finally stopped sulking and floated to the Empress’s shoulder.
"We will protect the Empress."
Li Shen added calmly,
"Our perception has increased. We can detect hidden ghost auras."
Wei Rong cracked his knuckles, voice deep:
"I will slice through their spiritual shields."
The Emperor pretended not to hear them because he couldn’t see them — but the Empress smiled faintly.
---
The Emperor’s Final Warning
He lowered his voice.
"This mission is dangerous.
Barbaric warriors are not human anymore. Their strength is unnatural."
He leaned closer.
"And remember — we still do not know who the TRUE leader is behind the scenes."
A cold shiver ran through the group.
---
Everyone Agrees
Despite the fear, despite the risk, one by one they nodded.
Yao Qing: "We’re with you."
Twin Lin: "I’ll beat them."
Twin Lian: "I’ll burn them."
Wei Jie: "I’ll protect everyone."
The Empress: "I won’t let them harm my people."
The three ghosts: "Let’s hunt."
Finally, the Emperor straightened.
"Good. At dawn, we move."
Everyone felt the weight of his words.
The barbaric camp was unusually loud that night.
Drums thumped, torches blazed, and warriors painted in strange dark symbols moved around sharpening blades.
Their eyes glowed faintly red — proof that they were no longer fully human.
Inside their tent, the undercover group pretended to sleep on their mats.
But nobody slept.
Not even for a breath.
The Emperor’s senses were sharp.
The Empress held her spiritual sword under her blanket.
Yao Qing, the twins, and Wei Jie huddled close with tense shoulders.
And three ghosts hovered above them restlessly.
Fen Yu kept whispering, "Are they sleeping? Are we sleeping? Should we pretend to snore? Should I snore?"
Wei Rong glared. "If you snore, I will exorcise you myself."
Li Shen floated calmly, ignoring both.
---
The Barbaric Plan
Suddenly—
A loud barbaric voice rose outside:
"We march to the eastern village in one hour!
Take everything. Leave no soul!"
Everyone froze.
The Emperor’s jaw tightened.
So they WERE planning another raid.
Before anyone spoke, the Empress whispered, "We attack first."
The Emperor nodded once — the signal.
Ghosts shot upward.
Humans grabbed weapons.
Their eyes glowed faintly from the earlier spiritual awakening.
It was time.
---
Sneaking Out
They slipped out of the tent under the shadows.
The barbaric warriors were gathering in formation, their bodies covered with dark smoke-like spiritual energy. It twisted around them like living vines.
Wei Jie whispered, "They’re... too strong."
The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
"They’re enhanced by ghost energy."
Fen Yu trembled dramatically. "Oh Heavens, they look scarier than my ex-fiancé’s mother."
Wei Rong snapped, "Shut up. Focus."
But Fen Yu clung to the Empress’s shoulder, "If I die again, bury me with jewelry."
"You’re already dead," the Empress sighed.
---
The Ambush Begins
The Emperor lifted his hand — the silent command.
ATTACK.
They burst from the shadows.
The first barbaric warrior turned—
Too late.
Twin Lin slammed into his legs.
Twin Lian threw dirt into another’s face yelling, "This is my special technique: BLINDING FLOUR ATTACK!"
Yao Qing swung her spiritual blade wildly: "Move out of my way! I don’t care WHO I hit!"
The Emperor landed a strike so strong that three barbarics flew backward.
The Empress’s sword glowed bright as she sliced through a shield of black mist.
Ghosts charged:
Wei Rong punched a barbaric so hard he spun twice.
Li Shen used illusion light to confuse three at once.
Fen Yu... panicked and slapped someone with a glowing spiritual fan.
The barbaric stared at Fen Yu confused, like
What just hit me? Wind? A mosquito? A ghost?
Fen Yu snorted proudly, "Yes, fear me!"
The barbaric then punched the air and Fen Yu flew back screaming, "WHY ME ALWAYS?!"
---
Barbarics Show Their True Power
Suddenly, the barbaric leader shouted:
"UNLEASH THE SOUL FIRE!"
The warriors roared, and black flames rose from their bodies.
Everyone paused. The ground trembled.
Wei Jie whispered, "That... that is ghost-fire. It burns spirit too, not just flesh."
A barbaric warrior charged.
The Emperor blocked the strike but the force pushed him three steps back.
The Empress slashed her spiritual sword — sparks exploded.
Yao Qing’s legs shook, "Hey! Why are they suddenly THOR?!!"
Twin Lin shouted, "Because they EVOLVED!"
Twin Lian: "THIS IS NOT POKÉMON!"
Fen Yu screamed, "I REGRET EVERYTHING!"
Wei Rong yelled, "SHUT UP AND FIGHT!"
---
Teamwork Against the Beast-Mode Barbarics
The Emperor roared a command:
"Lian An—left side!
Twins—distract!
Yao Qing—cover Wei Jie!
Ghosts—break their shields!"
Everyone moved instantly.
The Empress jumped into the air — her sword bursting with white light — and cut through the dark flame swirling around three barbarics.
The twins ran in circles yelling nonsense to confuse enemies: "LEFT! NO, RIGHT! WE ARE EVERYWHERE! WE ARE NOW AIR!"
The barbarics stared at them like they were insane.
It was working.
Wei Jie tackled a barbaric from behind while Yao Qing kicked one in the shin yelling, "THIS IS FOR EXISTING!"
Fen Yu flew above a warrior and dropped rocks on him. She puffed her chest proudly, "See? I am useful!"
A rock bounced off and hit her in the face.
She cried again.
---
The Turning Point
Li Shen raised his glowing spiritual book, chanting, "Bind their souls—!"
Chains of light wrapped around several barbarics.
Wei Rong followed with a crushing blow, "STAY DOWN."
The leader of the barbarics tried to run—
But the Emperor appeared before him like lightning.
He placed the tip of his sword under the man’s throat.
"You are not going anywhere."
The barbaric leader snarled, "You... cannot stop the ritual... The master will rise—"
Before he could finish, the Empress pressed her glowing palm to his forehead.
His body froze.
His eyes rolled back.
She blocked his spiritual core.
"Now he’s ours," she said calmly.
The Emperor looked at her with quiet pride — not romantic, but the fierce respect of warriors.
---
Victory... With Chaos
When the final barbaric fell unconscious, everyone collapsed onto the dirt, exhausted.
Yao Qing flopped down, "I almost died twenty-seven times."
Twin Lin groaned, "I think my soul left my body."
Twin Lian nodded, "It waved at me."
Wei Jie sat breathing hard, "My legs... no longer belong to me."
Fen Yu lay on the ground dramatically like a fainted princess. "Tell my future husband I was beautiful."
Wei Rong rolled his eyes. "You were not."
The Empress snorted.
The Emperor sat beside her quietly. For a moment, there was peace.
Then he stood again and said:
"Tie them. We interrogate tomorrow.
Tonight... we survived."
Everyone sighed, relieved.
Even the ghosts floated closer, forming a small protective circle around the Empress.
The battle was only the beginning.
But for now—
They lived.
They won.
And tomorrow... truth would come out.
