"The spring responds, gathering clarity to its peak, chasing clouds like rain, spring surging incantation..."
An aged voice sounded behind me. Suddenly, right before my eyes, there was a gurgling noise as bubbles appeared out of thin air. With a splash, a stream of water surged forth, and with a hiss, the Deathbane Aura Blade in my hand was doused as if extinguished, instantly turning into black mist and vanishing.
Water droplets splashed onto my hand, stinging sharply. I hurriedly let go of the picture frame.
"Hey, young man, this thing is that guy's jar. If you break it, he'll be in big trouble."
A hand reached out and caught the picture frame just before it hit the ground. It was a Taoist priest, dressed in a blue-gray robe, around fifty years old, with high cheekbones, a thin and tall figure, standing half a head taller than me.
My surname is Mao, Taoist name Yiping. You can call me Father Mason. May I ask your name?
"My name is Ethan Zhang."
"Oh, so you're Ethan Zhang?"
Father Mason looked me up and down, then clapped his hands together with a brisk, rhythmic motion.
"It's alright, it's alright. Everyone, go home now."
Father Mason, this guy is really fierce.
A ghost poked its head out from the wall, looking at me in terror.
"Brother Qingyuan, these ghosts are just living here. Why were you so ruthless?"
I let out a sound of surprise, awkwardly looking at the ghosts emerging one by one from the wall.
Yeah, yeah, we're just residents here. You barged in, ready to fight and kill, with so much Deathbane Aura on you, and didn't say a word before attacking us.
"I—I didn't! You were the ones who scared me first."
"Bullshit, brat, look at my eye!"
You've fallen into the Spirit Realm now, not by choice. But as a person, no matter what path you're on, you must remember—the righteous way of the world is full of hardship!
"Priest, please save Xiao Qi. He's badly hurt."
Then I saw several ghosts carrying over the one whose head I'd just chopped off. That ghost kept whimpering and crying in pain, its form fading away. Suddenly, all the ghosts glared at me viciously.
Brother Qingyuan, you were too harsh. They're just ordinary Grey Ghosts, White Shirt Ghosts, at most Yellow Sheet Ghosts.
Father Mason sighed, took out a battered bowl, inscribed with many red talismanic symbols, and dipped a small twig into it. Muttering incantations, he flicked his hand, and I saw tiny purple sparks scatter onto the ghost's body, halting its fading form.
"Alright, everyone. Seven days and seven nights, bring him to my home. After eighty-one days, he'll recover. Now, disperse. This young man clearly didn't mean to cause you trouble."
I lowered my head in shame, and Father Mason laughed, taking my hand.
"Come, let's talk at my place, Brother Qingyuan."
We went to the top floor, apartment 918. Father Mason took out a key and opened the door. The room was lit by a yellow bulb, the old-fashioned kind.
I'm the only human here. The rest are all ghosts. Recently, three powerful ghosts moved into Wisteria Estates, supposedly from the Underworld, seeking revenge. So be careful, Brother Qingyuan. I've lived here a long time, and we keep to ourselves.
It was a standard three-bedroom apartment. The doors to the two bedrooms were closed, each hung with a Bagua mirror.
Are you a Purple Seal Exorcist?
"Sorry, Brother Qingyuan, I don't have much to offer here."
"No need, no need, Priest, I'm really sorry about earlier. I truly apologize."
After the water boiled, Father Mason poured me some. Strangely, though the tea looked poor in quality, once brewed, its aroma was wonderful. I leaned closer and sniffed.
Not at all. Ghosts are unpredictable—sometimes reasonable, sometimes not. So if you fight that ghost and those three step in to help, it'll be trouble. Better bring some backup next time.
Looking at this Mount Mason Taoist, I felt a sense of warmth from him—kind eyes and gentle features, as if he were a neighbor to ghosts.
I told the Taoist in front of me everything about that childhood incident. He shook his head and sighed.
"I didn't expect you to have such a tragic fate. It's not easy, Brother Qingyuan. I have something to say, but I'm not sure if it's appropriate."
"Please, Priest, go ahead."
"You've fallen into the ghostly path now, not by choice. But as a person, no matter what path you're on, you must remember—the righteous way of the world is full of hardship!"
I nodded, half understanding, and Father Mason smiled.
Then I asked why Father Mason was here.
"Brother Qingyuan, you may not know—here, things are black and white. People are people, ghosts are ghosts. It's much better than the world of the living. As for me, I practice swordplay and sing every morning, wander around at noon, meditate and chant scriptures at night, and when I have time, I subdue a few evil ghosts."
"Then, Priest, why didn't you subdue that evil ghost?"
"Brother Qingyuan, you may not know—our Mount Mason Order isn't Naraku. We don't subdue every ghost we meet. If a ghost doesn't harm me, why should I harm it? That evil ghost did commit terrible crimes, but fate has its own rules. Now that you've decided to deal with him, it's all destined."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, nodding, half believing, as I joked with Father Mason.
"Priest, is it because you saw how strong that guy was, so you didn't subdue him?"
"That guy is indeed powerful, but he's much more well-behaved now. Besides, he has some connection to the Night Patrols, so I can't act against him lightly. If I did, it might affect the other residents here."
I looked at Father Mason in confusion, not quite understanding.
"Heh, the so-called Night Patrols are like police in modern times—ghost officers who patrol at night, under the jurisdiction of the Underworld. They might come tonight. You'll see for yourself soon!"
It was just past ten o'clock when my dad called. I could only say I was at a friend's house having fun, and that I'd be home late tonight.
I drank quite a bit of water. Though the tea was bitter, it was actually delicious—the more I drank, the better it tasted.
Around eleven o'clock, things got noisy downstairs. Father Mason stood up and pulled me to the window.
I looked down and saw hundreds of ghosts gathered in the courtyard, lining up. They were holding something, but I couldn't make it out.
Then I saw someone in a black-and-yellow uniform walk in, strutting arrogantly.
"Anyone who hasn't paid this month, hurry up!" the ghost shouted at the top of his lungs.
"What's going on?"
"Most are homeless ghosts, unable to reincarnate, lingering in the living world. They must be regulated—spending money wards off disaster. It's the same in both the ghostly and human realms. If they pay, the ghost officers won't trouble them and allow them to stay here."
I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth as I watched.
"By the way, Priest, where's that ghost now? Tonight I..."
"Brother Qingyuan, you'd better go home for now. The Night Patrols will be collecting money these days. Wait until they've left, then act—otherwise, you won't be a match for them."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and looked down. The ghosts who'd paid dispersed, leaving only a few dozen who hadn't, huddled together in fear.
"Listen up, if you can't pay by the end of the month, you'll be locked up and handed over to the ghost officers. Got it?"
The Night Patrol said this, then started beating a few ghosts with a stick. They screamed and scattered, cowering on the ground. The Night Patrol laughed, checked his heavy bag, and left satisfied.
"It's the same in every world—the strong prey on the weak. It's true for humans, and even more so for ghosts. Let's go, Brother Qingyuan."
Father Mason led me back to the living room.
"I saw quite a few apartments still lit up. Priest, what about those residents?"
Father Mason shook his head.
"I'm the only human here. The rest are all ghosts. Recently, three powerful ghosts moved into Wisteria Estates, supposedly from the Underworld, seeking revenge. So be careful, Brother Qingyuan. I've lived here a long time, and we mind our own business."
I nodded, still a bit puzzled by the priest. But earlier, I saw those purple sparks. I'd heard that in the Mount Mason Order, even blue talismans are rare; above that are purple, silver, and gold.
"Are you a Purple Seal Exorcist?"
Father Mason nodded. My heart skipped a beat. No wonder he could easily dissolve my Deathbane Aura Blade. And from what he'd said, with three powerful ghosts around, I needed to be careful.
"Are those three ghosts connected to the one who killed the children?"
Father Mason smiled.
"Not at all. Ghosts are unpredictable—sometimes reasonable, sometimes not. So if you fight that ghost and those three step in to help, it'll be trouble. Better bring some help next time."
I stood up, smiled, and shook my head.
"This is my own business. I'll handle it myself."
Around eleven, I left Wisteria Estates, wandering aimlessly down the road, thinking about how to solve this on my own.
At a night market, I spotted a familiar figure—Rachel Huangfu. She stood in front of a small stall, looking troubled and deep in thought.