With the danger now behind them and Yichen steadily recovering within the healing formation under Bai Jiu's attentive care, the rest of the team gathered around the glowing blue flames to ward off the lingering chill. Meanwhile, Ying Lei busied himself with preparing something light and warm to fill their bellies after the night's ordeal.
Yun Guang felt the weight of unspoken questions from his companions. They were all waiting for an explanation—waiting to hear what had transpired in the town, who their mysterious savior was, why he appeared, and what connections tied him to both Yun Guang and Yichen.
Though Yun Guang could shed light on some of these matters, the precise nature of Zhu Yan's relationship with Yichen remained a mystery even to him. He knew only fragments from what Yichen had shared, and those had offered little clarity.
"I believe it's time for you to share some insights with us," Wen Xiao said, glancing at the flickering blue flames. "Xiao Zhuo rests safely in capable hands, and Bai Jiu can hear everything from where he's tending to him. The area is clearly devoid of any lingering spirits because of the fire color, which raised more questions. While I appreciate the protection this blue fire offers us, I must admit it's weird. This isn't actual hellfire, is it?" Wen Xiao asked, her curiosity outweighing her unease. Yun Gung let out a chuckle, clearly amused, because he had asked the same question.
"I was assured it's not," Yun Guang replied with calm confidence. "Even though it has a supernatural vibe, there's no negative energy coming from it—just warmth. That's all the reassurance I need. And you're right, I owe you all an explanation, so what would you like to know first?" Unsurprisingly, the group spoke in near unison. Their voices overlapped, but one managed to rise above the rest.
"Who was that man?" Bai Jiu called out, his voice ringing loud and clear. He stood the farthest from the fire, which made his words more distinct amid the tangle of simultaneous questions from the others.
"Who was that man?" Bai Jiu's voice rang out the clearest, his distance from the fire amplifying his urgency, while the others questions intertwined, making them harder to pick just one.
"The one who saved us is Zhu Yan, the demon Yichen glimpsed in his vision when Captain Pei summoned him..." This revelation, predictably, set off a chain reaction of questions, each one adding to Yun Guang's growing headache. As if dealing with his cousin's already chaotic team wasn't challenging enough. Leave it to a demon, whether from hell or somewhere else, to further complicate his already stressful life.
"You can't be serious! That was him?!" Bai Jiu gasped, disbelief palpable across his face.
"So, he's truly the tamed type of demon?" Wen Xiao mused, recalling their earlier discussion with Yichen, who had insisted that Zhu Yan posed no threat to him.
"Not necessarily. If he seeks to be freed from his seal, helping us serves his interests. But once he gains his freedom, everything could change," Ying Lei pointed out, his argument holding weight.
"True enough, but here's the problem with that suggestion. If he really is sealed as he claims, how did he manage to save us just in time? Clearly, he isn't as trapped as he wants us to believe," Pei Sijing interjected. Her pointed observation left them in uneasy silence as they exchanged wary glances.
However, Yun Guang was the Zhuo family's guardian for good reason, one of which was his remarkable perception. He had an uncanny ability to spot details others overlooked, and when Zhu Yan appeared unexpectedly, he immediately recognized that wasn't his physical body, but something else. What he sensed felt similar to Yichen's astral projection, though vastly more powerful.
"I suppose you were all too busy trying to stay alive to notice, and I can't blame you. I was caught up in the fight myself. But the truth is, what we witnessed was not Zhu Yan's physical form. It was more like a manifestation of his soul. I've never seen it before. Few possess the skill to manipulate their souls to such a degree, but according to the ancient scrolls, what he performed was nothing short of soul projection," Yun Guang explained. His words resonated with Ying Lei, stirring memories of his monastic training on Mount Kunlun. He realized Yun Guang's deduction was indeed spot on.
"You are absolutely right. I encountered that concept in the temple as well. Soul projection can only be achieved by someone with immense spiritual energy and complete mastery over it. It stands as a more potent variant of astral projection, where a gifted individual can manifest their soul in a physical or near-physical form, enabling it to interact with or strike at both spiritual and non-spiritual entities. That is precisely what he did back then. Yet, just the act of soul projection demands an extraordinary amount of energy, not to mention what he did to that creature he labeled a chaos demon and the spell he used to restore the town." Ying Lei found himself genuinely astonished.
"Yichen mentioned that Zhu Yan was a great demon, a concept that aligns with the overwhelming power he exhibited—like a living legend from ancient times. Tales of such demons often speak of their god-like abilities, powerful enough to challenge the gods themselves in battle. One particular legend tells of a ferocious battle where the barrier dividing the heavens from the mortal realm ruptured, leading to a catastrophic event. However, the exact nature of the disaster remains a mystery since records from that era were lost." Yun Guang recalled, and Wen Xiao assented in validation to the legends she too had read before.
"Yes, some believe it was a massive flood, while others suggest the demons went berserk, slaughtering everything in their path as the gods focused on repairing the sky. Either way, all legends agree that millions of humans perished during that period. Still, there's no solid evidence to confirm any of it actually happened." Wen Xiao clarified, but Yun Guang, deep down, couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had occurred in the distant past, even if he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
"But despite his formidable nature as a demon wielding god-like powers, the lingering question remains: how did Zhu Yan know in the first place? Even if his intention is to use us to free himself from his prison, how did he become aware of our situation? What allows him to track us so closely that he used soul projection to intervene on our behalf?" Pei Sijing pressed once more.
"The simplest explanation points to Xiao Zhuo. Maybe from the very beginning, that demon forged a connection with him during his vision," Ying Lei replied.
"That only clarifies how Zhu Yan learned of him and, by extension, us. It doesn't explain how he monitors our movements in real time," Pei Sijing countered, and Yun Guang knew there was no avoiding it now; he was going to be forced to reveal at least one of his cousin's secrets.
"Actually, that question is easy to answer. We're all aware of how immense Yichen's spiritual power is, enabling him to reach farther than the rest of us. As you know, he has the ability to access the astral plane, a higher realm where no rules or boundaries exist, through astral projection. Interestingly, Zhu Yan shares this ability to enter the astral plane. With his power, it's not difficult for Zhu Yan to locate Yichen within this realm. In fact, they have already encountered each other there twice, both times initiated by Zhu Yan." Yun Gung explained first.
"During these meetings, Yichen learned that something is amiss with this world. It's also through these interactions that Yichen concluded Zhu Yan has no intention of harming him—or any of us, for that matter. Additionally, when Yichen lost consciousness back in that doll town, he drifted into the astral plane again. This likely alerted Zhu Yan to the danger we were facing, causing him to act. And since I serve as Yichen's spiritual anchor, he was able to connect with me as well. Through this connection, he warned me of the grave danger Yichen was in and urged us to summon his soul back immediately. To ensure our safety and aid us in saving him, Zhu Yan provided us with his protective barrier and fire, as I already told you so." Yun Guang finished.
"How fortunate our little Xiao Zhuo is to have discovered a powerful demon willing to go to great lengths for him, regardless of the reason. It would be quite amusing if Zhu Yan developed a crush on him at first sight. After all, with how pure and innocent he is—not to mention his striking looks—any demon would find him irresistible, especially one who's likely never encountered so much charm in a single person." Wen Xiao grinned mischievously as she teased.
"That's absurd!" Bai Jiu snapped from his spot beside Yichen, his voice sharp with protest. Wen Xiao only laughed in response.
"Now, now, don't get so worked up, Xiao Jiu. I was merely joking. My beloved is right here by my side, after all," she said with a playful shrug.
"The mood was getting a bit too serious, and I figured it could use some lightening. Regardless, the facts remain—so long as Zhu Yan is helping us instead of trying to kill us, that's a win. He saved us once and helped us again by warning us to retrieve Xiao Zhuo from the astral plane before it was too late. This also benefits Pei Siheng, which is the reason we are here. If Zhu Yan is indeed keeping him alive, then that boy has truly lucked out with things that could've gone horribly wrong." Sijing listened intently, silently agreeing with Wen Xiao's words. In her heart, she prayed earnestly that they were true.
"Despite everything, what we just experienced felt like a narrow escape, and that alone raises concern. Whatever tragedy befell that town before our arrival really should have raised alarms in the nearest city, because it's inconceivable for an entire town to vanish without drawing any kind of attention. Pei Siheng's group must have passed through there as well, yet they either rushed through, oblivious to their surroundings, or the town appeared more ordinary to them than the situation we encountered." Ying Lei raised another point they could not ignore.
"Just think about it. If their goal was to create content for the Chongwu Agency, that town would have been the ideal setting. There was no reason to venture into the Guilin mountains and seek out an abandoned house where a powerful demon lies sealed. This entire situation seems far too coincidental," Ying Lei mused, piecing together some of the fragments surrounding Siheng's disappearance.
"He's right. There's nothing normal about this, no matter how you look at it," Bai Jiu remarked.
"Exactly. And the way those ghost dolls coordinated their attack against us... that's something we haven't encountered since this plague started. With all the protective talismans scattered around, a haunting of this magnitude shouldn't have even been possible in this town." Pei Sijing added, her tone tinged with unease.
"It's just like they mentioned on the radio a few hours ago. Are they truly gathering to launch attacks on humans?" Wen Xiao frowned, recalling the ominous broadcast from earlier.
"That's not entirely accurate. True, there were a lot of ghost dolls, but they were just tools—puppets controlled by that demon Zhu Yan took down. As we all saw, that creature was incredibly powerful, capable of orchestrating the chaos we experienced all on his own." Yun Guang crossed his arms, speaking with measured seriousness.
"But what became of the people who lived there? There were no signs of a massacre. So, did they flee, or did that creature feed on them?" A heavy silence lingered after Sijing voiced the question. The mere possibility sent shivers down their spines.
"Regarding that, we might have a way to find out the truth." Yun Guang said, and as if struck by lightning, without a word, he sprang to his feet and headed for the van.
Rummaging through its interior with urgency, he searched for the dusty notebook he'd taken from the abandoned house. His heart raced at the thought—could this hold the answers they desperately needed? When he finally found it, he clutched it tightly and returned to the campfire. Settling back into his seat, he could feel the puzzled stares of the others fixed upon him, as though he'd lost his mind.
"Please, don't keep us in suspense and share your secrets with us, because you always seem to have a clever trick hidden away, you sly guardian." Wen Xiao broke the silence first. Yun Guang held up the worn notebook so everyone could see its cover.
"When we went into that abandoned house earlier, I spotted this lying on a dust-covered table. The cover alone caught my attention. See for yourselves..." He turned the notebook outward so they could see the words etched in deep black on its front.
Ying Lei squinted in the dim blue light spilling from the campfire, leaning closer as he attempted to decipher the dusted characters.
"Doll ghosts?" he muttered, straining further to verify what he saw.
"Indeed." He confirmed.
"Then go ahead and read it," Urged on by Wen Xiao's words, he flipped open the notebook, anticipation coursing through him as he prepared to uncover the secrets concealed within its pages.
If someone finds this notebook, I entrust you with the task of continuing the research I began. My name is Luo Ming, a retired teacher who sought the tranquility of this small town after leaving behind the bustling life of the big cities. While city life may be safer in some ways, it's also more expensive and filled with constant noise, neither of which I wanted in my later years.
I longed for a quiet place with cleaner air, where I could devote my remaining time to the research that has consumed me for the past five years. Qinghe Town seemed perfect, with the Qingshui river serpentine in the distance like a dragon protecting the town. But soon after settling here, I started noticing peculiar things.
Given my background as a scholar and perspective as someone from the city, I began to pick up on details that seemed to go unnoticed by the locals—perhaps for generations. Take the town's talismans, for instance. While they bear a striking resemblance to those used in the city, there are subtle differences that set them apart. Of course, even in cities, variations exist because each ghost-hunting agency has its own unique crafting methods. Some talismans prove more potent than others, but without question, the ones etched onto the streets hold unparalleled strength.
Back at my old house, I always relied on talismans from the Zhuo Gui Agency. In my opinion, they were the most reliable since their designs are based on the sacred symbols of the Kunlun Mountain monks. The agency has a close relationship with these monks, and many of their members trained there. Their talismans worked exceptionally well.
In my spare time, I delved into the study of these ancient symbols, exploring their meanings and profound significance. I became captivated by their power, their incantations, and how they could ward off not only ghosts or spirits but also something more important—something beyond what any government agency acknowledges. Their talismans purify spaces, dispelling negative energy and safeguarding one's home. In contrast, talismans from agencies like Chongwu seem less effective. Strangely enough, rather than repelling negativity, those seem to attract it instead.
I meticulously tracked the most violent attacks that have unfolded on the streets of Shanghai in recent years. Driven by curiosity, I ventured to some of these locations—not to seek out morbid scenes, but to uncover the underlying causes of these assaults that seemed improbable in such heavily guarded areas. It was during this exploration that I stumbled upon a disturbing pattern.
The talismans I encountered were unlike any I had seen before; the symbols did not protect these places. Instead, they appeared to invite ghosts and spirits to roam freely, particularly when darkness enveloped the area—not simply due to the setting sun, but when the skies turned dreary, like on a rainy day, allowing spirits to manifest. Strikingly, most of the attacks had occurred on those dark, overcast days.
This unsettling revelation weighed heavily on me, yet I lacked concrete proof that the talismans were responsible for the tragedies, as my understanding of them remained limited. Upon moving to this town, I noticed an abundance of these talismans scattered throughout. Intrigued, I inquired about their origin among the people of Qinghe. Unsurprisingly, they revealed that the Chongwu Agency occasionally distributed them.
When I questioned why they incorporated these talismans into charm dolls, they recounted a haunting tale. A child had once been drawn into the Qingshui River, which flows at the edge of the town. Since that fateful day, the community had been plagued by the spirit of the child, who seemed to resent the townspeople for their failure to save him. Yet, when I pressed for details about this child, no one could provide an answer. A local had heard screamings from the river and rushed toward it, only to find the child had already drowned. Strangely, he was not from the town; if he had come from elsewhere, no one knew where that might be.
After the incident, the haunting began, and the talismans proved far less effective than expected. A traveler passing through town, claiming to be a high-ranking ghost hunter, explained that the problem wasn't the quality of the talismans but rather their inability to ward off the spirit of a vengeful child. He explained that the spirits of children, driven by strong resentment, could be far more volatile than those of adults, as they lack the restraint adults might possess. His advice was to place the protective talismans inside charm dolls to pacify the spirit.
Initially, this approach seemed successful, and soon charm dolls were hung all over town. Even in my house—before I bought it—there were several of these dolls already in place. However, I have always relied on my own trusted methods rather than following the advice of others. So, I took them down and replaced them with my own protective talismans.
Not long after, I noticed something odd happening in the town. The health of the residents began to deteriorate. Elderly people started dying, and many younger individuals fell ill with strange ailments. At first, I wondered if contaminated water might be to blame, but since I drank the same water and remained in good health, I dismissed that theory. Over time, things grew worse, as if a shadow had fallen over the town. Yet curiously, I was the only one unaffected.
As tensions rose, some of the townsfolk began to suspect me, accusing me of bringing a curse upon them and demanding I leave. Determined to understand what was happening, I conducted a secret investigation. That's when I discovered the truth: the charm dolls everyone had so eagerly adopted were saturated with negative energy. Rather than protecting their homes, these dolls were draining life and vitality from those around them. The only reason I had been spared was because my talismans cleansed my living space.
When I tried to warn others to remove the dolls, they refused to listen. Instead, some became hostile, sneaking into my yard to hang the cursed dolls there and tearing down my protective talismans whenever they could. Eventually, I ran out of talismans entirely. That's when the doll-like entities—the ghost dolls—began showing up every night. They caused chaos and destruction, entering homes and even taking lives.
Desperate to survive and protect what remained of the town, I decided to gather my things and set out for the nearest city. My plan was to visit the Zhuo Gui Agency to obtain more powerful talismans—for both my house and those of the other surviving residents.
If you're reading this, it likely means I didn't make it back in time or perished on the way. It's a tragedy because many of these people were kind and decent before the overwhelming negativity consumed them. Should there still be anyone left in this place when you find this account, please do what you can to save them. Burn down the dolls. The Chongwu Agency cannot be trusted.
Yun Guang read the final sentence and glanced at Yichen's team, their expressions filled with anger, astonishment, and pain—emotions that mirrored his own all too well. The silence that follow was heavy in emotions all of them were trying to express but failed.
He shut the notebook with a reverence that made it seem almost sacred and closed his eyes, struggling to rein in his anger and the urge to march straight to the nearest Chongwu Agency—an impulse he knew the others shared as well. The entire situation felt utterly twisted.
Everyone had been wary of the Chongwu Agency's motives before, but that notebook erased any lingering doubt. They were clearly orchestrating something, and it couldn't be anything good. Their actions, whether deliberate or not, were costing lives. And now, just like that teacher who likely sacrificed themselves in a desperate attempt to protect the town's people, they knew they had to push the investigation forward and uncover the agency's secrets completely.
Moreover, Lou Ming had placed his trust in their agency, even entrusting them with his life as he prepared to seek their assistance. For his sake, they owed it to him to get to the truth and ensure his spirit could finally rest in peace. If anyone deserved that closure, it was him.
AN: Alright, now they know who their enemy is, but that dosent mean it's going to be easy and they still need to reacue Siheng and free Zhu Yan. Thanks for reading and until next time, take care.