While Yichen comforted Pei Sijing, assuring her that her brother was still alive, Yun Guang noticed how pale Yichen looked. It was clear his energy had been heavily depleted, not only from the strain of connecting with Siheng's life force but also from his repeated journeys to the astral plane.
"Yichen, you should take a nap. You really need it. Don't push yourself too hard. I've got this covered, so rest easy," Yun Guang said gently. Yichen felt a wave of gratitude wash over him for his cousin's kindness, realizing just how exhausted he truly was.
"Absolutely, Xiao Zhuo! We're a fierce crew of ghost hunters, and even if a whole bunch of them show up, we'll take them down without breaking a sweat," Bai Jiu declared confidently. Yet, Yun Guang felt a strong urge to give the young man a playful smack on the back of his head, just like Ying Lei ended up doing for him, as if he could read his thoughts.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Bai Jiu exclaimed, staring at Ying Lei in disbelief while rubbing the spot where he had been hit.
"Really? You're actually asking that?" Ying Lei shot back, glancing at Bai Jiu with a half-smile. "Are you trying to jinx us or what? We're basically flying down this open road with zero protective talismans other than our own. It's honestly a miracle we haven't bumped into any restless ghosts yet." Bai Jiu's face went red with embarrassment in a second.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. Totally forgot these country roads aren't as safe. My bad," he mumbled, and Wen Xiao tried and failed to hide a laugh, her shoulders shaking.
"Hey, lay off our sweet Xiao Jiu," Wen Xiao teased, grinning. "He's still pure and innocent, after all."
"Hey! I'm not!" He shot back, but Ying Lei's laughter rang out, causing Bai Jiu to turn a deeper shade of crimson. Yichen chuckled, his eyes drifting shut, feeling a mix of relief and amusement. At least someone else was blushing, taking the spotlight off him. Yet, it brought back memories of his own encounter with Zhu Yan, where their conversation had set off a flurry of red flags in his mind.
First, Zhu Yan possessed an uncanny awareness, not just of every action he took, whether within the astral plane or beyond it, but also of the unfolding events in the world, despite being sealed away in a cursed mountain for centuries. How he managed this was beyond comprehension. He simply had no answers.
Second, Zhu Yan seemed to have an intimate understanding of his abilities. It wasn't just an awareness of what those powers were, but a grasp of their significance, their implications, and the potential consequences of wielding them recklessly. He warned him not to overreach, because doing so could prove fatal. It was as though Zhu Yan truly knew him, even though he himself had been entirely unaware of Zhu Yan's existence until Pei Sijing called him.
Third, he realized Yun Guang was his spiritual anchor, a quiet, almost hidden bond no one should notice unless they already knew about it. Yun Guang had never interfered in his journeys out of his body unless he was in serious danger. But then the questions started piling up. How did he even figure this out? When did he learn that Yun Guang was actually his cousin? And Siheng, how did their connection even come to light? None of it seemed obvious for just a few brief encounters.
Since their first encounter, Zhu Yan was certain that Siheng was the one he had been looking for. He assured him of his protection, despite the absence of any previous connection between them. Encouraging Yichen to reach out to him, Zhu Yan was emphasizing that, to some degree, it wasn't just about doing their job, it was about getting back a friend. He understood that without a doubt.
Then there was that undeniable sense of familiarity that Zhu Yan radiated, leading him so effortlessly. First, Zhu Yan reached for his hand, and he was drawn in like a moth to a flame. Before he knew it, he blissfully overlooked the fact that the old demon had his hand resting snugly on his waist, as if it were meant to be there! It felt so natural that his mind didn't even question it until much later. What on earth had he been thinking? He was a demon, for heaven's sake!
"Yichen... I can see you're spiraling." Yun Guang's voice broke through his thoughts, startling him so much that he jolted in his seat. The interruption was unexpected, and Yun Guang wore a smirk that only added to Yichen's irritation.
"Weren't you the one insisting I should rest? Why barge in and startle me like that?" Yichen shot back, giving a pointed look to his cousin, while Bai Jiu simply let out a weary sigh.
"Because they're all so mean..." Bai Jiu muttered while pouting. With a twinge of guilt from reprimanding him earlier, Ying Lei put a gentle hand on the younger man's shoulder and leaned in to try to comfort him after noticing the subtle sulk.
"Hey, I didn't mean to be harsh. We're not mean, I promise," Ying Lei said, trying to smooth things over, but Yichen scoffed.
"Ying Lei might not be, but my cousin definitely is," Yichen declared, glancing at Yun Guang, who merely shrugged, clearly unbothered by the accusation.
"As your guardian, being a little pushy comes with the job. Still, for what it's worth, I care about you more than you seem to care for yourself. You were spinning out of control, weren't you?" Yun Guang probed, and Yichen turned his head away with a trace of embarrassment, an answer enough for his cousin.
"Look, dear cousin, just because we haven't teamed up as often as we used to, doesn't mean I've lost touch with you. I still know you like the palm of my hand." Those words struck Yichen like an arrow to the heart, piercing right through because they were absolutely true not so long ago.
"And he's spot on, Xiao Zhuo, so lighten up with Xiao Guang and actually take a real break, okay?" Hearing Wen Xiao speak made Yichen notice the call was still live, and he realized he hadn't truly 'rested' for more than a few minutes. It felt strange, though, because he could've sworn time had stretched longer.
"I just can't force myself to sleep," Yichen protested, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Why not try meditating? Seriously, Yichen, don't make me resort to using a spell on you," Yun Guang warned, but Yichen, as always, brushed him off.
Sure, he found himself caught in a whirlwind of overthinking after his recent run-in with Zhu Yan, and it made sense. The whole situation buzzed with uncertainties, turning rest into a rare luxury he couldn't afford. That demon might be setting a trap, and who could say for sure? Zhu Yan could have already slipped into his mind, gathering just enough information to draw him in. Then by using the information to make him believe in his story about past lives, compel him to help him get free of his prison. As a team leader, he needed to take that possibility into account.
"Of all the things you could throw my way, putting me to sleep with a spell is not one of them. That would cloud my senses, and out here on an open road, away from the city's safety, that could spell disaster. We're not safe anywhere until we reach the next town, which feels like a lifetime away," Yichen challenged him.
"Just take a moment for yourself and unwind. Is that really too much to ask? Listen closely. You don't need to shoulder the burden of this mission alone. I'm right here, right behind the wheel that will safely steer us to the nearest town while you recharge. Protecting you is my job, so let that stubbornness slide, just breathe for a bit. And hey, if you want to daydream about a hot demon, go for it, I approve." Yun Guang teased, making Yichen blush as he caught the glimmer of laughter in both Bai Jiu's and Ying Lei's eyes. Despite the annoyance of being ribbed by family, he couldn't help but feel the tension ease away.
"What hot demon? More like an ancient relic with a pervert complex," Yichen muttered under his breath. The team erupted into laughter, but somewhere far away, someone sneezed indignantly, deeply offended at being dubbed both old and a pervert once again.
"Xiao Zhuo, you're so heartless in this reincarnation..." Zhu Yan grumbled inside the grand, yet suffocating mansion that served as both his sanctuary and his cage. His seal lay hidden in the basement of the mansion, hastily arranged in a formation he had never realized was being crafted right under his nose.
Zhu Yan could not step into that basement, but he was free to roam within the expanse of the mansion. Though the seal prevented his escape, the mansion itself, constructed atop a powerful dragon vein, allowed him to absorb fragments of energy from his surroundings. He could absorb its vitality, nurturing it within himself, but it remained a bittersweet gift, one he could not wield to break his invisible chains.
The cause of his imprisonment originated from a heartbreakingly tragic story he desperately wished to forget. In the midst of his cursed existence, his sole comfort was the soul bond he shared with Yichen. A bond born in their past life, still flickering with warmth in the cold embrace of his captivity. However, that sacred bond was lost to the very person who needed to remember it the most.
The moment Zhu Yan first realized that his spirit could extend beyond the seal happened with Yichen's birth during his first reincarnation. Their souls, intertwined for eternity, allowed Zhu Yan to connect with Yichen in every way imaginable once born, through dreams, thoughts, sight, feelings, memories, and needs. That's because Zhu Yan's side of their bond remained intact, as it was meant to be. However, Yichen's side was cruelly damaged before his death. The connection with him was still there, but it was not the same. As Yichen began to reawaken his supernatural abilities, Zhu Yan finally found a way to reach him on the astral plane.
Ordinarily, the reincarnation cycle erases all memories of a soul's past. Without the sacred soul bond spell, Yichen would have forgotten everithing, from their first encounter to the years they lived toghether as lovers. The spell was meant to override this memory wipe, allowing Yichen to retain the memories, know about him as he grew up, meet him in dreams, and eventually seek him out. This was Yichen's wish, but ultimately, it failed in the most tragic way.
Although it was heartbreaking that Yichen lost the very thing he wanted to preserve, at the very least he was glad that he lost the memory of the haunting tragedy that had tormented him for so long, unlike him. Every year, as the anniversary of that tragic day arrived, he found himself pulled once more into the abyss of that heart-wrenching pain. As if the very essence of the event had engraved so deeply into the land itself, that the echoes of the evil committed that night lingered, refusing to fade away. Zhu Yan was cursed to relive the pain year after year.
By some twist of fate, that day was destined to replay itself soon. Knowing this, Zhu Yan desperately wanted for Yichen to arrive as soon as posible, before he, too, could bear witness to the tragedy that had claimed his life. But even more astonishing was how Pei Siheng had somehow slipped past the cursed array that had claimed the lives of countless souls before him. Then, as if guided by the very hands of destiny, Siheng stumbled into the mansion just before collapsing onto the floor, barely on the edge of consciousness.
Zhu Yan saw this as a sign that the heavens were finally showing him mercy, and this time, he would reclaim not just his freedom, but also his beloved Yichen who he had observed since he was born all the way to his adulthood. Even if he wasnt aware of his presence, Zhu Yan had been with him all the time and fall for him all over again. He would rather watch hell freeze over, than let go of the chance to fully reignite their bond.
Ever since Yichen was born and the bond healed a bit more, he vowed to protect Yichen at all costs, ready to face whatever dark forces dared to endanger him. He understood the challenges humanity faced, the underlying cause of the world's descent into a supernatural chaos, and the identity of the mastermind orchestrating an even greater threat to humanity's existence. Yet, despite this knowledge, he couldn't share any of it with Yichen, as the constraints of his seal forbade him from doing so.
Until Yichen's team safely arrived at the mansion, his role was to keep a watchful eye on him and provide warnings about the dangers he would encounter upon entering the Guilin Mountains one by one. Yet, if the risks grew overwhelming, he was prepared to push the boundaries of their soulbond.
Seated in the lotus position, he concentrated on drawing energy from the dragon vein, simultaneously channeling a portion of his vitality with Siheng, who was already trapped within the seal. Then he waited calmly for his former lover to arrive and save him, a situation that stung his pride, not to mention deeply embarrassed him, given he was the second most powerful great demon in history before he was caught off guard.
Meanwhile, hours later inside the van, Yun Guang sensed a subtle shift in the energy surrounding them. Despite the unease it brought, he found comfort in knowing that Yichen had managed to catch two hours of rest. Shadows flickered through the forest on either side of the vehicle, suggesting ghostly figures gliding just beyond the edge of visibility.
It was the protective barrier they had carefully made within the van that kept those spectral presences at bay. Yet, one ghost stood out to him, radiating an unsettling energy. Almost as if sensing the tension, Yichen began to stir from his light slumber. He gradually opened his eyes, allowing them to adjust to the enveloping darkness before shifting his focus to the hazy, ghostly flashes outside.
"Xiao Chen..." Yun Guang whispered his name, a sound that carried an unspoken warning Yichen recognized all too well.
"Child spirits are the trickiest to handle. They're unpredictable and mischievous, and if they linger as ghosts for too long, they turn wicked," Yichen murmured, careful not to disturb Bai Jiu and Ying Lei, who were peacefully dozing in the back seat.
"Should we pull over and take care of them now? He's not alone, and we're still about half an hour away from the nearest town in the map," Yun Guang suggested, his brow furrowed with concern.
"The barrier will keep them at bay. They won't come any closer. What I'm sensing is a powerful cluster of dark energy up ahead. Likely the source of the ghosts' strength and the reason they're on our tail. If that source is near the town, we should definitely check it out. The Zhuo Gui Agency isn't just about the money. Those folks might already be at their breaking point, if no one has come to their aid before," Yichen replied. Yun Guang smiled, feeling a warm sense of pride that his cousin still had such a compassionate heart.
"Well said, but this could get messy. We've got quite a crowd on our tail," Yun Guang still thought it necessary to give him a warning. Yichen nodded, maintaining his focus.
"I know, but we've faced worse before. Let's pick up the pace. The faster we reach that town, the quicker we can help them out. I'll let Wen Xiao know." With that, he quietly reached for his phone and engaged in a hushed conversation with the two women following in the van behind them.
The road stretched smoothly ahead, its well-paved surface a testament to the sparse traffic in this remote region. Yet, the absence of streetlights lent an eerie atmosphere, as faintly glowing specters drifted like moonstones, casting a pale greenish hue over the scenery. Bai Jiu jolted awake, sensing the sudden chill that enveloped both the inside and outside of the van as the temperature noticeably plunged. Without hesitation, he leaned over and gently shook Ying Lei's thigh, rousing him from his sleep.
"Do you think we're about to be attacked?" Bai Jiu asked, his gaze nervously fixed on the strange sights beyond the window.
"Not yet." Yichen replied calmly, although his voice carried a weight of inevitability.
"But it's only a matter of time. Ying Lei, have talismans in hand for you and Bai Jiu. As many as you need. Also, keep a close eye on him to make sure he stays safe. As soon as we step out of this van, I'll make a mobile barrier." Yichen paused his explanation, reaching for the backpack that Ying Lei handed him. If there was something they had in abundance, it was talismans.
"Stick together while hunting down the ghosts. This time, we're facing the ghost of a child who has collected a hefty amount of dark energy, maybe for centuries. With all that power, he might try to pull us apart, viewing us as playmates. This means we could be in for some deadly pranks." With that, Ying Lei and Bai Jiu sprang into action, searching for everything they'd need for the task ahead. Vajras, purifying bells, talismans, protective charms, pills that enhanced their spiritual powers, or even spells that could vanish or destroy spirits, everything counted to save lives and protect themselves.
Yun Guang pressed down on the gas pedal, as if he were in a ghostly race down an endless stretch of road. The air inside the van grew frigid, making their breath visible like wisps of mist. Bai Jiu shivered slightly, but Ying Lei wrapped an arm around him, offering warmth with gentle rubs. After ten minutes of this high-speed chase, Yichen noticed the kid's impatience bubbling up, and that wasn't a good omen for them. Suddenly, he felt a surge of darkness approaching, ready to unleash its energy upon them.
"Hold tight! They're coming fast!" Yichen shouted as Yun Guang swerved across the road's dividing line and slammed on the brakes, making space for the second van to stop just in time to avoid a collision. Drawing on a portion of his spiritual energy, Yichen unleashed it in all directions, forming a protective dome around both vehicles.
As the two forces clashed, the vans trembled violently, mimicking the tremors of an intense earthquake, an apt comparison, really. Yet, the barrier stood firm, with the restless ghosts still hurling themselves against it, desperate to break through. Just as Yichen reached for the door, ready to confront the spectral onslaught, Yun Guang caught his arm, pausing him for a brief moment.
"Allow me to take care of this. Those ghosts aren't the real problem. Save your strength for the one controlling them." He gave him a playful wink, and Yichen rolled his eyes. Yet he couldn't help but watch as his cousin grabbed the longsword, gifted by the monks of Mount Kunlun temple, from where it rested beside his seat. He stepped out of the van with an air of someone destined for greatness. His confidence always soared high, but thankfully, it never crossed the line into arrogance.
"Hey you, dead guys! Let's show some respect to the drivers chasing adventures. They don't appreciate rudeness, especially when they're all ghost hunters..." In a flash, so swift that only Yichen managed to catch the movement, Yung Guang drew his sword, which ignited with swirling flames of blue and red, and swung it to release the flames directly into the ghosts striking the barrier.
The flames swiftly banished the ghosts that they struck, as low-level spirits were little more than wispy remnants, barely clinging to their smoky forms. Only the more powerful entities retained a solid shape, wreaking havoc on cities like any other ruthless criminal.
The fight turned out to be a walk in the park for Yun Guang. With a leap over the barrier, he transformed the battlefield into a whirlwind of blue and red flames, dispatching his foes in mere seconds.
"Show off..." Yichen murmured softly, but a smile crept onto his face despite himself.Bai Jiu's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"He's so awesome!" He declared, practically glowing as he watched. Of course, Yun Guang ranked second on his list of powerful ghost hunters, because his loyalty truly belonged to his number one, his legendary Xiao Zhuo Ge.
"Hey, Xiao Zhuo... did that overkill manage to intimidate the other spirit?" Ying Lei asked, while Yichen closed his eyes, tuning into the kid's energy for a moment.
"Nope. I think he's now convinced we're worthy players in his game. He'll be waiting for us in the next town. Let's hit the road..." Yichen rolled down the van's window, feeling the rush of fresh air.
"Come on, you over-the-top blue hero! We need to keep moving!" Yichen shouted, and Yun Guang chuckled as he strolled back.
"I knew you'd whip out a nickname, but blue hero? Really, Yichen, your creativity needs a boost." Bai Jiu laughed, but he turned serious when Yichen shot him a glance. Yichen's phone buzzed to life, and he quickly hit speakerphone, bringing Wen Xiao into the conversation once more.
"Yun Guang Ge, that was absolutely fantastic, just like always!" Wen Xiao cheered, and Yichen felt the urge to roll his eyes again.
"Yeah, he really is something. But we've got some serious challenges coming our way, and with this ghost's nature, it's bound to be something really bad," Yichen cautioned, though he knew Wen Xiao had a soft spot for the spirits of children.
"Maybe I can help him find some peace and so he can move on," she suggested. Normally, Yichen would let her have her way, but this time felt different.
"As much as it hurts to say this, a cleansing won't do any good here. This ghost has lingered for far too long, soaking up too much dark energy. It's no longer just a mischievous kid. It's too tainted to change. I'm sorry, Wen Xiao, but this kind of ghost will seriously try to kill you, and find it fun," A thick silence followed, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.
"Don't worry, Xiao Zhuo. Just do what you feel is right. We have faith in your judgment, it's never let us down. We'll follow your lead, and the folks in the next town definitely need someone to lend them a hand." Sijing spoke up, gently squeezing Wen Xiao's hand, offering a touch of comfort.
"I'm serious, guys. Brace yourselves for something truly eerie." With that, they journeyed the rest of the way in a thick silence, Yichen keeping a close watch on the ghost for any further threats.
As the town emerged on their view, shock washed over them at the sight of its decay. Even in the dead of night, the place felt eerily empty, save for the flickering glow of protective talismans. While night activities were restricted in most cities due to safety concerns, this didn't result in lifeless urban landscapes.
Normally, even with the majority of residents staying indoors, lights from homes, streets, and buildings continued to glow, and the subtle hum of human presence lingered, much like an ambient white noise. However, in that town, it looked as if the very essence of the town had been drained away. Yichen found it hard to discern whether the townsfolk were alive or dead.
"Are the people here all gone?" Bai Jiu wondered as the van rolled closer to the town's entrance.
Shadows clung to most of the houses, their windows dark and their exteriors neglected, giving off an eerie emptiness. To Yichen, the place pulsed with what he called dark energy. It felt like an invisible weight pressing down, a suffocating presence that wrapped around him. The air seemed thick, almost tangible, and a chill crept through him. Not just from the cold, but from an unsettling sense of dread that hung in the atmosphere.
Yun Guan slowed down the speed as they drove onto the empty main street. Not a single car lingered in sight, just a light gray fog that draped itself over the pavement. Looking closely at the houses revealed protective charm dolls hanging in front of most of them. Crafted from simple white cloth, each doll had a string around their neck, supporting a big round head. Some bore faintly painted eyes and mouths, while others displayed nothing at all.
These dolls, infused with protective talismans against wandering spirits, emitted a subtle glow. Yet, to an outsider, they offered no sense of safety. Instead, they appeared downright ominous, swaying gently in the night breeze, transforming the street into a scene straight out of a ghost town.
"Sijing, has there been any report about attacks on this town?" Yichen asked her, as the call was still on speakers and Sijing tried to recall whether they had seen or heard anything related to it. Unfortunately, Tiandu city was often overwhelmed with handling their own chaos. As a result, events occurring beyond their jurisdiction typically went unnoticed, unless they were of significant importance.
"None that I'm aware of, though it's not as if we regularly receive news from beyond the city. That said, if an entire town was wiped out by ghosts, it must be reported and investigated right away," Sijing remarked, with Yichen nodding in agreement. If the situation was indeed escalating, it was crucial for everyone to be informed. With solid evidence to support the claims, rather than tossing around theories just to catch attention, the report could issue warnings to other small towns and contracted ghost hunters could be dispatched to ensure safety.
"Alright, let's take a look." Yun Guang stooped the van in the middle of the street and reached for the door, ready to investigate further, but Yichen's hand shot out and gripped his arm firmly.
"Something serious is happening here," Yichen said, his voice low and heavy with caution. "I can feel it. Promise me you won't try to be the hero this time. This isn't just a reckless kid playing with dangerous games." Yun Guang felt a surge of gratitude for Yichen's concern, but as a guardian, he knew he had to face every threat head-on, and he was prepared to give it his all. Yun Guang gently rested his hand on Yichen's, a warm smile lighting up his face.
"I can't make any promises, but you know I'm tough to take down. Just be careful too, Xiao Chen. I mean it." Yichen felt the weight of that determination and let out a resigned sigh as he began to rise.
"Okay then. Everyone, stay alert. This unsettling calm might just be the prelude to some nightmares." With those words, Yichen swung the door open and stepped into the mist that blanketed the ground and the rest of the team followed.
The moment Yichen's feet hit the ground, a wave of nausea crashed over him. It wasn't the foul odor of the place that triggered it, but rather the dark energy that invaded his senses, almost like a living entity trying to probe at his very being. Yet, just as swiftly as it descended upon him, that haunting presence recoiled, blocked by something he could not yet explain but was grateful for, giving him such strong resistance to it.
"Xiao Chen, are you alright?" As expected, Yun Guang noticed right away.
"I'm fine. Let's start by checking out one of the houses," Yichen replied.
Pei Siging stepped forward, holding a special ghost-hunting dagger capable of banishing ordinary spirits, along with her old-fashioned flashlight inscribed with protective talismans to ensure it wouldn't give out at critical moments. While the others used modern flashlights integrated into their gadgets on their wrists, she preferred the familiarity of something that offered a deeper reach.
Her years as a police officer handling supernatural cases had heightened her instincts. She moved forward with purpose, crossing the street and entering one of the houses, with an open door leading to a small front yard, followed closely by Yung Guang, then Yichen.
Wen Xiao, Bai Jiu, and Ying Lei trailed behind them, each holding a similar dagger and their pockets full of talismans. Yichen, however, carried no weapon, as his psychokinesis was a weapon on itself, allowing him to transform virtually any object into a lethal tool.
"Hello? Is anyone home? We're here to help," Pei Sijing called as she edged closer to the front door. A protective doll dangled from a beam, its presence ghostly against the backdrop of darkness. Through the glass windows, the darkness inside revealed no signs of life.
With a careful flicker of his power, Yichen nudged the door open when silence lingered too long. He wanted to keep his team safe, not wanting to push their luck. The door swung wide, revealing nothing but shadows beneath Sijing's flashlight.
"It seems like no one has lived here for a while. The dust is everywhere..." Wen Xiao remarked and Yichen stepped closer.
"There's no sign of life force either. Just this heavy, pulsing darkness." Suddenly, laughter, light and airy like a child's, echoed from all directions.
They instinctively formed a circle, their wrist flashlights casting beams of light in all directions across the yard as they searched for the source of the giggles. But there was none to be found. The laughter seemed to rise from the very chilling air around them, echoing faintly at first, then drawing nearer.
"Is it that ghost?" Bai Jiu wondered aloud, scanning the dim corners filled with cobwebs, forgotten possessions, and the unpleasant mist that seemed to cling everywhere.
"I'll just take a quick look to see if there's something on the floor. Bodies tell stories too." Sijing stepped forward, but Wen Xiao gently grasped her shoulder.
"Sijing, there's a dangerous ghost lurking around. We should head back to the cars..." She urged. Yet, like Yun Guang, Sijing's responsibilities were not only to the team, but also to those she was chosen to protect when enlisting in the police force.
"Both of you stay back. I'll check it out myself," Yun Guang declared, dashing into the house before Sijing could voice a protest or Yichen could intervene. His sword came to life in his grip, with flames , pushing back the shadows and granting Yun Guang a moment to peer inside.
A wave of relief swept through him as he took in the scene. Dust coated everything, with no bodies or bones to be found, no signs of dried blood, and certainly no hints of violence or struggle. It felt as if the people who once inhabited that house had simply vanished or walked away, leaving the chaos in their wake. Just as Yichen's voice pulled him back from his thoughts, Yun Guang's eyes caught something intriguing resting on a table.
An old notebook lay forgotten, buried under layers of dust. The characters on its cover had faded, yet he could still read "doll ghosts" with surprising clarity. Intrigued, he snatched up the notebook just as the giggles around him grew louder. He joined the others and they all moved toward the open door toward the street, eager to escape. But just as they reached the front yard door, it slammed shut with a thunderous bang. Startled, they all fall back a few steps with their hearts racing like crazy.
As Yichen readied himself to blast the door, the mist slithered across the floor, thickening and rising until it morphed into an ominous fog that enveloped the area, resisting even the fierce gusts of wind. Before them, a spooky doll dangled from the beam, suddenly radiating a ghastly dark gray glow. Swaying in the breeze, its hollow eyes ignited into piercing red crescents, while a jagged smile carved itself across its face like a warped mask of possession, blood-red and sinister.
"Let's play! Let's play!" the doll shrieked, its voice a chilling blend of glee and malice. Clearly possessed by an evil spirit, it broke free from its hanging perch and plunged into the thickening fog, vanishing into the swirling abyss.
Yun Guang swung his flaming sword, desperate to cleave through the fog, but instead, the mist thickened further around the spot where the doll had fallen. In an instant, the fog twisted and morphed into a towering, colossal version of the doll, towering ominously over the house. Its jagged smile stretched wider, and arms began to take shape at its sides, ready to strike.
"What on earth is that?!" Ying Lei shouted, his voice laced with horror as he beheld the horrifying transformation. Meanwhile, Yichen had no intention of wasting time debating the kid's bizarre choice in toys. With a swift motion, he obliterated the front yard door into splinters.
"Everyone out! Run!" Yichen commanded sharply, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. Without a second thought, they bolted into the street, only to confront a nightmarish sight. More grotesque dolls, both 'male and female', lay scattered along the long road, encircling their vans in a terrifying formation of horror.
The dolls didn't just wait for them. They unleashed a wave of dark energy that filled the street. The vans escaped unscathed, only because they were shielded by the barriers inside, but even from a short distance, everyone sensed that facing those evil dolls could bring more than just physical harm.
"This is absolutely insane!" Wen Xiao exclaimed, her disbelief echoing in the chilling air as she stared at the handiwork of a tainted child ghost. Sure, she had encountered horrors before, but the sheer malevolence radiating from those dolls surpassed anything she had ever seen.
"I warned you that innocence can morph into something far more sinister than anything else." Yichen remained her, harnessing a powerful surge of spiritual energy, tapping into his connection with the astral plane for more strength. With this immense force, he released a massive wave that swept across the whole area, destroying every fog-doll in its path and clearing the way to the vans. He then used his ability to open all the doors of the two vans, allowing them to quickly get inside once they arrived. They have no time to waste and every second counted.
"Go!" Yichen shouted, and everyone sprinted toward the safety of the vans. Everyone except Yichen himself, who stumbled and nearly collapsed in the street from pushing his powers too hard. Thankfully, Yung Guang swooped in, lifting him just in time. He dashed to the open van door and gently settled Yichen into the back seat, ensuring he was as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.
Because Yichen was prone to fainting during high-risk situations like this, their van had been customized with an extra seat. It typically held equipment during routine cases, but doubled as a makeshift bed whenever Yichen passed out. Inside, Bai Jiu, ever the attentive healer, was already waiting for him. Yun Guang, however, closed the side door firmly without stepping in, unlike the others.
"Hey! What are you doing? Get inside!" Ying Lei shouted, but with Yichen knocked out cold, the weight of responsibility rested squarely on his shoulders.
With his flaming sword in hand, he summoned more spiritual power and stood tall against the towering dolls that started to form again more fierce than before. Sure, they were three to five times his size, but size didn't scare him one bit. What mattered was getting rid of the dark energy that sustained those creepy things.
Amidst all that swirling dark energy, he struggled to locate the spirit controlling the dolls. Only Yichen had the skill to do that effortlessly in such concentration of dark energy. That was what made him the strongest in the Zhuo family. Yet, he managed to cut through just enough of the doll swarm to make a break for it. After all, those vans were protected by strong repelling barriers, but the dolls themselves possessed enough destructive force on their own to wreak havoc on the town itself, effectively blocking them from escaping by blocking the streets.
Yun Guang pushed everything else aside and charged into battle, unleashing his fury on the dolls that swarmed him. Meanwhile, Ying Lei, Wen Xiao, and Sijing joined the fray, wielding their most powerful talismans and tools to banish the dolls like leaves in a storm.
Back inside the van, Bai Jiu focused intently on channeling his energy into the unconscious Yichen, hoping to stabilize him. What he didn't realize, however, was that Yichen's consciousness had become ensnared within the astral plane. In that otherworldly realm, Zhu Yan was accomplishing far more for Yichen than Bai Jiu could ever dream of.
On the astral plane, Yichen's unconscious body sprawled across Zhu Yan's lap, a sight that would make anyone raise an eyebrow. Just when Yichen pulled off a rare astral manipulation stunt, an act so extraordinary that only a handful of humans in history could pull it off, Zhu Yan felt the weight of the moment crash down on him.
Without a second thought, he abandoned his cultivation and dived into the astral plane, only to find Yichen lying there, like a rag doll on the frigid obsidian ground. He picked him up in an instant, channeling his own energy to mend the damaged remnants of his spirit.
"My handsome Baobei, how on earth am I supposed to keep you safe when you're so hell-bent on self-destruction? I warned you about being so reckless. Just take a good look at your sorry self..." Zhu Yan murmured, gently starting to revitalize his lost energy.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of relief that the demon who trapped him in that mansion had completely missed three crucial details, one of which was his soul bond with Yichen, which was perhaps the key to his freedom.
While Zhu Yan fought to keep Yichen alive, the latter began to mumble in his unconscious state. Even in the depths of his slumber, Yichen's determination to save his people shone through. His unwavering spirit only deepened Zhu Yan's affection for him. How could he not admire a man so noble, even when he was out cold?
"Xiao Zhuo, you sure know how to ask for the moon, but hey, for you, I will do anything willingly. Don't stress about your team. Sure, your former sword's spirit is hanging around, ready to destroy anything for you, but a request for help is still a request." He gently caressed his pale face.
"I'll handle that nasty little soul for you. Just so you know, that thing? Not a kid at all, it's a little demon born from chaos... and definitely not something you want to tangle with just yet." Zhu Yan whispered to the sleeping beauty cradled in his arms. Just when he thought about setting him down, Yichen stirred and murmured his name back in another unconscious plea.
"Protect them..." Zhu Yan's ears caught the faintest whisper, barely audible yet unmistakable, even from thousands of miles away.
A gentle smile played on his lips as he responded softly, "Don't worry, Baobei. Your people are now mine to protect. I will make sure no harm befalls them. Will that earn me a little bit of your affection when I save them?"
"Please..." Another murmured word escaped Yichen's lips, fragile yet desperate. With a resigned sigh, Zhu Yan brushed his lips against Yichen's, letting the moment linger for only a second before pulling away.
"I'll take that stolen kiss as my payment," he mused, a hint of playful melancholy in his tone.
"Lucky for me, I still have access to my cultivation here. Too bad you won't get to witness the spectacle." Resolved now, he let go of Yichen with tender care, his teasing demeanor banishing into controled rage.
Zhu Yan rose to his feet, summoning a surge of demonic energy into his fingertip. With a dramatic hand seal, he unleashed a spectacular explosion of dark red energy that spiraled across the astral plane like tendrils of chaos, poised to strike.
"Soul projection!" With the invocation of his spell, a portion of his soul instantly detached, transcending the boundaries of the astral plane and manifesting amidst the chaotic battle raging between the ghost hunters and the puppet dolls.
The houses lay in ruins, turning the street into a chaotic mess of debris. Zhu Yan spotted Wen Xiao, a streak of crimson blood coloring the white fabric on her shoulder. Ying Lei had a fresh cut on his cheek and neck, while Pei Sijing's face bore a nasty splash of blood on her left side.
And then there was Yun Guang, good luck trying to get near that overbearing sword spirit, Zhu Yan thought. He stood there, a fierce guardian ready to defend Yichen and the young healer nestled safely within the van. If only the one guarding Mount Kunlun could see Yun Gaung now, he would be more than pleased. He was too imposing even as a human.
"Ah, the man still commands my utmost respect," Zhu Yan murmured to himself, striding ahead and finally catching the eye of the one he was internally praising.
In his soul projection mode, he looked mostly solid, though not quite in a natural way. Yun Guang, taken aback by the sudden unnatural presence, let himself be distracted and soon found himself flung like a ragdoll, hurtling toward a nearby house. Just as he was about to crash into the crumbling wooden wall, Zhu Yan swooped in, catching him effortlessly in his arms.
"Whoops, my bad! I shouldn't have distracted you like that," Zhu Yan teased his old friend, who, predictably, had no clue who he was. But thanks to Yichen, he at least had a hunch.
"Are you Zhu Yan?" Indeed. His instincts were razor-sharp. Zhu Yan grinned as he released him, letting him regain his balance and dignity.
"Yes, I am. My apologies for barging in like this. I understand that you don't know me and have no reason to trust me at this moment, but I promise you, Yichen's well-being is my utmost priority..." Just then, as yet another 'female' doll lunged at them, Zhu Yan unleashed a wave of demonic energy that blasted not just that little menace, but pretty much every single doll in the whole town. It goes without saying that Yun Guang, along with the rest of the team, were stunned.
"That's..." The word 'impossible' hung in Yun Guang's throat, caught like a fish on a hook, as Zhu Yan raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
"I'll handle these pesky troublemakers. Get in the cars. Yichen needs to heal, and this chaos energy? It's no good for him. You're his guardian, always have been, so keep that up and drive him away from this place. I'll do my best to heal his spirit, still wandering in the astral plane. Once he's strong enough, I'll send him back to you." For reasons beyond his understanding, Yun Guang found himself trusting him.
"I'll believe you this time, but we're still stuck here," Yun Guang said, gesturing to the piles of debris blocking the road.
"Oh, that? Don't worry. I'll handle it. Just get back in the vans," Zhu Yan confidently replied. Yun Guang didn't need any further convincing. He quickly urged everyone to get into the vans, telling them to trust him. There would be time for questions and answers later, but their priority was clear, they had to get Yichen out of there immediately.
Once everyone was safely secured away behind closed doors, they watched in awe as Zhu Yan summoned a surge of demonic energy. From the depths of the thick fog, the decayed ghost of a child, no older than ten, was dragged forth, forced to kneel before Zhu Yan.
"You've lingered in this world far too long, demon," Zhu Yan's voice rumbled like thunder, sending shivers through the ghost, who immediately began to plead for mercy. But Zhu Yan whispered a one-word spell that stripped away the ghost's facade, revealing its true nature. A foul creature that reeked of rotten eggs and was nothing like a real spirit at all. It was a thing taken from nightmares they have never seen in their lives. Dark and animal-like, oozing such dark bile energy it was sofocating even with the protections of the talismans.
Wen Xiao nearly choked on the foul smell, and Bai Jiu wasn't far behind, but they both managed to swallow their disgust and kept their eyes glued to the scene. In a heartbeat, a single word from Zhu Yan destroyed the demon into thousands of colorful particles.
As the demon vanished in dust, the fog lifted, and with a final, one-word spell, Zhu Yan restored the ghost town, clearing the way for the cars. Yun Guang shot Zhu Yan a glance before flooring the gas pedal, eager to escape that nightmarish place. But when he glanced in the side mirror one last time, Zhu Yan had vanished into thin air.
AN: This was such an intense chapter that I couldn't cut it, even if it turned out to be 7.6k words long! So I hope you guys don't mind it. Thanks for reading, and until next time, take care.