We returned to the Ghost Tower as fast as we could and reported to my superior.
Zhao Feiyu and I sat in Dai Suyang's office, a heavy silence hanging between us. Zhao Feiyu kept trying to initiate conversation, but I had no desire to engage.
When Dai Suyang arrived, Zhao Feiyu launched into a litany of complaints about Huai Shu Village—how dangerous it was, how he'd almost died, and so on. Listening calmly from the side, I interjected, "Seems like I was the one who got my heart dug out each time, wasn't I?"
My comment effectively killed Zhao Feiyu's mood for chatter. Dai Suyang smiled and said to me, "Consider this mission completed."
I merely grunted in acknowledgment and maintained my silence.
"The dragon vein in Huai Shu Village was just one of many under the Ghost Tower's purview. We didn't expect Jiang He to find it so quickly. You couldn't have handled so many people alone; it's not your fault. It's better that you're back. No more having to play nice and smile for those villagers, right?" Dai Suyang's tone carried a hint of implying she had granted me liberation.
I shrugged indifferently, then casually took a small listening device from my pocket and discreetly placed it under the edge of Dai Suyang's desk.
"Huai Shu Village wasn't just a dragon vein site; there was also a tomb. I just hadn't found the way in yet," I stated without any change in expression.
"I know. I'll have someone else take over from here. Coincidentally, there's another task. Xiao Lin, if you're not busy, you can take this one." Dai Suyang offered me a practiced smile and pulled a blue folder from a stack of files, placing it in front of me.
I didn't look at it, didn't reach for it. I just turned my head away, feigning disinterest.
Zhao Feiyu nudged me, signaling me to respond. That only made me more resistant to even glance at the file's contents.
"I assure you, this will interest you," Dai Suyang said earnestly, not forgetting to flash me her signature smile.
With some reluctance, I picked up the file. The moment I opened the first page and saw the man's face, my hand holding the folder trembled slightly. Without another word, I asked, "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow night. Take the file and review it." Dai Suyang gave me another standard smile. I couldn't be bothered with further pleasantries. I took the file and walked out.
Not far down the hall, I took out my earpiece.
"What did he see?" That was Zhao Feiyu's voice.
"Mu Rongxing recently appeared in a village in Shanxi's Gaole County, seemingly searching for something. I'll have a file for you as well. You're to accompany Mu Lin." Dai Suyang's voice was flat.
"Alright."
"How is he to deal with? Compared to before."
"Unpredictable. But his hatred for Mu Rongxing hasn't diminished in the slightest. Xiao Lin is a pitiful soul... If Mu Rongxing hadn't done what he did back then, Xiao Lin's personality wouldn't have warped into this."
"Saving him back then, with the Ghost Tower throwing all its resources into it, seems to have been the right choice in hindsight. Xiao Lin's abilities are formidable, but now, devoid of all emotion, he's more like a machine. His Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart was exceptionally rare. But now, he trusts no one, not even you, right?"
"Correct. He doesn't trust me. He only trusts himself now."
"Keep a close eye on him for me. He's like half a disciple to me. Among Onmyōji, he's a top-tier practitioner. Here's your file. Review it later."
"Okay."
Following that were footsteps and the sound of a door closing. I concluded Zhao Feiyu had left. Having heard enough, I saw no reason to continue listening.
Sitting in my car, I began carefully reading the file.
In Shanxi's Gaole County, spectral soldiers had suddenly appeared. Everyone concluded it was related to the Battle of Changping from two thousand years ago. The combat strength of these spectral soldiers was in a completely different league compared to ordinary ghosts. Many from the paranormal circles had gone there to capture them. However, the Jiang He organization soon got wind of this and began a large-scale 'cleanup' of the area where the spectral soldiers appeared. Their purpose remained unclear.
I had no interest in the specifics of this mission. For me, killing Mu Rongxing was my only true task.
Seeing the image of the three masks in Mu Rongxing's possession, I felt hatred burning in every cell of my body. I would kill him!
I tossed the file aside and drove back to the residence assigned to me by the Ghost Tower.
The next afternoon, Zhao Feiyu appeared punctually at my doorstep. I had little to pack, so I simply followed him.
Two other people were already in the car downstairs: a young woman and a bald man.
As I got closer, I recognized the bald man. It was Kong Yi, a monk from the Southern Temple. Young and quite handsome.
"Xiao Lin, long time no see," Kong Yi greeted me proactively.
He stepped forward, wanting to take my suitcase. I pulled it back, frowned, and said, "I can manage."
Kong Yi smiled awkwardly and went to open the trunk for me instead.
I took the passenger seat. When the girl saw me, she exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! So you're the Heartless One, Mu Lin?!"
"Qingzi!" Zhao Feiyu immediately scolded her name sharply upon hearing her words.
I turned my head and stared at her coldly. Intimidated, she grabbed the arm of Kong Yi, who was sitting beside her.
"Xiao Lin, Qingzi didn't mean it like that," Kong Yi quickly explained.
"Correct. I am that Heartless One. But I'm not human. I'm just a thinking piece of walking meat," I said to her with a cold smirk.
Zhao Feiyu shot Qingzi a warning look, got into the driver's seat, and started the car. I closed my eyes to rest. Perhaps thinking I was asleep, Zhao Feiyu admonished Qingzi, "I told you to watch your mouth!"
"I didn't mean to! Stories about Mu Lin are everywhere in the Ghost Tower. It's my first time seeing him today; can't I get a little excited?" Dong Qingzi sounded defensive.
"Stories about Xiao Lin in the Ghost Tower? What stories?" Kong Yi seemed puzzled by Dong Qingzi's words.
"Isn't Mu Lin's father that Mu Rongxing who betrayed the Ghost Tower? Rumor has it that to join Jiang He, Mu Rongxing wanted to offer his son's heart as a tribute. So Mu Lin's heart was dug out by his own father. The Ghost Tower was the one who saved him." Dong Qingzi's tone held a hint of gossipy amusement.
"What nonsense is that?" Kong Yi's voice was laced with even more exasperation.
"Don't they all say Mu Lin is a seriously powerful figure? Looking at him, I just think he's someone putting on airs," Dong Qingzi's voice piped up again.
"You'll witness his prowess sooner or later," Zhao Feiyu added.
After Zhao Feiyu spoke, the car fell silent again. After a while, tired of pretending, I opened my eyes and gazed out the window.
Kong Yi, noticing I was awake, patted my shoulder. "Wake up?"
"I was never asleep. Just resting my eyes," I replied coldly.
My words instantly plunged the atmosphere in the car to freezing point. They all realized I had heard their entire conversation.
"Brother Mu Lin... I..." Dong Qingzi began to explain.
I cut her off. "Your 'story' is mostly wrong. Only one part is correct. Mu Rongxing personally dug out my Seven-Apertures Exquisite Heart. The reason is simple. The gate of a certain imperial mausoleum can only be opened with such a heart. I don't know why he wanted to join Jiang He. Power, probably."
Having said that, I closed my mouth. Just then, Zhao Feiyu smoothly parked the car at the airport departure gate. I got out and went to get my luggage from the trunk. Zhao Feiyu quickly followed me and said quietly, "Qingzi is young. Don't take it to heart."
"It's fine," I said, utterly devoid of emotion.
Zhao Feiyu seemed at a loss for how to communicate with me further.
From that point on, during the flight, the three of them didn't dare say a word in my presence. If they needed to talk, they pulled out their phones and typed memos to each other.
Upon arriving in Shanxi, we were met by a contact. When we reached the campsite, the person in charge finally appeared.
"We only have tents for four people left. Is that alright?" the contact asked.
我摇摇头.赵飞宇和孔乙也跟了上去.但我发现董清姿一脸犹豫,但最终还是点头同意了.
那天晚上,我一夜没睡.我坐在帐篷外面.我知道董清子害怕我.就这样吧.
我看了看手表;已经快早上八点了.很多人已经在准备早餐了.就在这时,有人拍了拍我的肩膀.我回头一看;是董清子.
"那是什么?"我看着她问道.
"没什么,真的.只是...昨天有点尴尬."她坐在我旁边,但保持着相当大的距离.
"我看得出你很怕我."
"我不是!"她反驳道.
我没有回答,只是平静地看着她.在我的注视下,她松了口气. "好吧,好吧.是的,我有点怕你.现在快乐了吗?"
"哦."我淡淡地应了一声,然后又回到了自己的思绪中.
"当人们称你为无情者时,你会...感到困扰吗?"女孩天真地问道.
一时之间,我实在不知道该如何回答.
我沉默了.董清子以为我生气了,又开始道歉.
"我不生气,我是无情者,所以不管别人怎么说,那都是事实.现在唯一让我坚持下去的就是慕容星还活着,一旦我亲手杀了他,我是生是死又有什么区别呢?"我看着董清子,面无表情.
"好吧,如果你这么想,我也没办法.但是...你不能死,我终于见到你了.如果你死得太快,你的名声就会消失,我又怎么向别人夸耀认识你呢?"
看着她那严肃的表情,我心里闪过一丝无奈.我正要说什么,却发现一团白雾飘向我们的营地.
感觉有些不对劲.我抬头一看;显然这将是一个阳光明媚的日子.怎么会有雾呢?
"好冷啊..."董清子突然揉着手臂说道.
我恍然大悟.我抓起流星铁剑,向着逼近的白雾冲去!
"幽灵入侵!大家警惕!"我用尽全力向营地里的人们咆哮.