Old Eccentric just burst out laughing, turned around, and said nothing. Watching him, I felt elated, my eyes narrowing to slits with joy.
"Sorry, everyone. Haha, I was groggy from sleep. Hehe, Ethan, it's alright now."
I looked at Old Eccentric in confusion, unable to figure out what he was planning. But then I thought about Ken Wang—this kid, even in the real world, could wield that special power. In that horror story, the only reason I could keep standing and not collapse was thanks to what he wrote.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind. Everyone—human and ghost alike—was left dumbfounded by Old Eccentric's sudden move. He struck without warning, tearing a hole in my stomach.
I glanced at Ken Wang again, then at Old Eccentric. Could Ken Wang actually be Old Eccentric's descendant?
"Ethan, are you alright?"
Ken Wang helped me up. Justin Huang approached, each step deliberate, his gaze fixed ahead. I turned my head and saw Justin staring at Mr. Blackmask, clenching his fists.
"Ethan, that guy is from the Immortality Society. I heard about it from Old Stone. I want to see the limits of this body."
I cried out, and Justin Huang's body suddenly swelled, muscles bulging unnaturally. He stomped the ground and charged toward Mr. Blackmask.
As soon as Justin rushed forward, Mr. Blackmask was still sitting leisurely on the steps of the Garden Pavilion. Justin swung his massive fist at Mr. Blackmask.
In an instant, I saw Justin Huang's fist hit Mr. Blackmask's afterimage, but Mr. Blackmask had already vanished. When he reappeared, he was standing right in front of Justin, gripping his fist.
"Wildly swinging your fists like that won't work."
With a bang, I saw Justin Huang's massive body fly toward us.
"Damn, what are you guys doing?" I shouted, as Justin's body came crashing down on us like Mount Tai itself.
With a loud crash, Vincent Swallow appeared in front of us. With one hand, he caught Justin Huang and slid backward, the ground cracking and stones flying. Vincent held Justin and slid a long way before stopping.
"I told you to go easy on him."
Justin Huang lost consciousness, his eyes wide and mouth agape, completely still. I rushed over and patted his cheek.
"It's alright, Ethan, he just passed out." Old Wei came over, took a small bottle from his pocket, opened it, and held it under Justin Huang's nose. I saw a green vapor, with a strange smell, waft out.
After a bout of coughing, Justin Huang woke up, howling and clutching his stomach. Only then did I notice a large dent in his abdomen, shaped like a fist.
"It hurts..." Justin Huang grimaced, tears, snot, and saliva streaming down as he writhed on the ground.
Justin Huang curled up, clutching his abdomen, and after a long while, finally caught his breath, gasping heavily.
It was only when Justin Huang started talking that I learned it was Hugh Thompson who sent Justin and Ken Wang over. Although he hadn’t explained the reason, Justin was now grinning, as if he’d understood Hugh’s intentions.
That’s right, I understood too—Justin Huang was an incomplete product of the Immortality Society. If he wanted to get stronger, he could only rely on Mr. Blackmask, who used to be with the Immortality Society, to help him.
But what surprised me even more was Ken Wang. Although I wasn’t sure if he was truly Old Eccentric’s offspring, judging by Old Eccentric’s delighted expression, I was probably right.
At this moment, Mr. Blackmask walked over step by step, his eyes serious as he looked at Justin Huang. He reached out his hand, and Justin grasped it.
"How should I address you?"
Justin Huang asked seriously, and Mr. Blackmask shook his head.
"Call me Mr. Tuoba."
Mr. Blackmask said, and I started laughing.
"So your surname is Tuoba."
"Old Eccentric, aren't you going to come over? Isn't this your great..." I was about to say great-grandson, but suddenly found my mouth wouldn't obey—I couldn't speak at all.
I mumbled for a long time. Only after Chief Stone left with Justin Huang and Ken Wang did my mouth finally start working again. Needless to say, it was Old Eccentric's doing. I shot him a resentful glance.
"I mean, you..."
"Alright, Ethan, that's enough. No need to say more—it's embarrassing. Let me observe for a while. That kid really is from our family. After all, that's the power of Wordcraft."
As Old Eccentric spoke, everyone—both people and ghosts—gathered around.
"Oh, Wordcraft? Haha, I haven't seen that in centuries. I didn't expect you to be an heir to such a technique." Old Wei said, seeming to know a bit about Wordcraft.
"What's that?" Rose Harper asked, and the other ghosts started chattering—Old Eccentric's magic was certainly peculiar.
"Miss Sima, why don't you explain? You probably know a thing or two."
With a whoosh, Samantha Simons floated over, bowed slightly with her hands on her knees.
"Master Ethan, in words and writing, it’s said that from their very origin, they carry souls. Long ago, someone sensed the soul within language and drew out its power—this is what’s called Wordcraft. I've only heard of it, so for details, let's let this gentleman explain."
Everyone looked at Old Eccentric, who chuckled and nodded.
"The art of Wordcraft is actually quite similar to the Mourning Robe technique of the Yellow Springs. The so-called living spirit vessel works the same way. Ethan, you've seen the paper animals used by the Yellow Springs practitioners, haven't you?"
I had indeed seen it—I nodded. Rachel Lan had used it many times.
After Old Eccentric nodded, he stretched out his hand and wrote a grand-looking character for 'water' in midair. The character glowed faint blue and looked almost like real water.
Old Eccentric moved his hand, and the water character in the air began to ripple, sending waves through the space around it, clearly visible to all.
It was my first time seeing Old Eccentric's technique—I found it fascinating.
"As Miss Sima just said, Wordcraft means that words and writing carry souls. Through years of practice—writing, speaking—our family gradually sensed this extraordinary power and learned to interact with these spirits of language, unleashing great strength."
"What about the Yellow Springs practitioners?"
As soon as I asked, Samantha Simons immediately explained.
"Yellow Springs practitioners spend their free time endlessly cutting and folding paper. But unlike this gentleman's technique, they use their own blood as the spirit core for their paper creations. This gentleman's magic is different—his Wordcraft spirits are equals, helping each other."
"Impressive, Miss Sima. You must have been a very learned woman in the past."
"You're too kind. I just enjoy reading in my spare time."
"Old Eccentric, why don't you acknowledge your great-grandson?" I asked, and Old Eccentric's cheeks flushed red.
"Ah, it's embarrassing. If I suddenly said I was his great-grandfather, there should be a process. Ethan, when you have time, take us to the Ghost Burial Squad."
After I nodded, laughter rang out all around. I sat comfortably at a stone table, and Samantha Simons brought me tea and pastries. Vincent Swallow came over.
"Ethan, let me apply a seal for you in a bit."
I took a sip of tea and shook my head.
"No need, Vincent. I've come to accept all of this."
"Even so, Ethan, when my apprentice fought you, you felt it, didn't you?"
As Vincent said this, I did feel it—when turning a person into a ghost, the power of being a ghost surged from my chest, accompanied by intense pain, as if my body was about to collapse.
"The seal is meant to help you transform more smoothly—by sealing the core, otherwise, over time, your body won't be able to take it. Humans are yang, ghosts are yin; if each transformation is total, eventually your body could be completely eroded from within."
As Vincent spoke, I nodded. Then I got up and went upstairs with him, straight to my room. The other ghosts wanted to follow, but Vincent stopped them.
Once inside, Vincent looked around, then took something from his pocket. It was black, round, like a prayer bead but different—shiny and translucent, with a strange light inside, grayish-white with a hint of purple.
"To seal your excess ghost power, I have to use our Renegade Sect’s Destiny Pearl. Ethan, sit cross-legged—it’ll only take a moment."
I nodded. After Vincent finished speaking, I took off my shoes and sat on the bed. He watched me excitedly.
"Heh, Ethan, you’ll see—your human-ghost constitution will become a powerful technique, as long as I seal your excess ghost power."
I looked at Vincent in confusion. Suddenly, he extended his right hand, fingers bent, and the Destiny Pearl floated and spun in front of him. I saw his five fingers glow—silver, brown, pale blue, red, and ochre—like flames.
"Heaven and earth, metal, wood, water, fire, earth—Fivefold Elemental Seal!"
Suddenly, Vincent struck my chest with his hand. I screamed as my whole body slammed into the wall—a strange sensation surged inside me. I couldn’t breathe, sizzling noises filled the air, and black smoke rose from my chest.