With the disappearance of Jiangnan's premier photographer, Walter Cao, many found it strange. After all, overnight, the entire photo studio vanished, becoming the city's main topic of discussion.
It was as if the studio had never existed—everything was gone. Yet with Walter Cao's disappearance, another issue surfaced: those who had once taken photos at his studio began to fall ill, and then die of old age one after another.
At first, no one paid much attention, but as the number of such cases grew, people started talking. However, on May 28, 1900, during the 26th year of Emperor Guangxu, the Eight-Nation Alliance's war diverted everyone's focus, and the matter faded away.
Walter Cao never left. He simply absorbed the entire studio into his Shadow Realm, spending his days inside, waiting for certain events. Most importantly, he took photos daily within the Shadow Realm, determined to keep battling the Red Mask Agent and imprison him in a photograph forever.
Afterward, members of the Immortality Society came to investigate, but each group was dealt with by Walter Cao. Since then, no one from the Immortality Society dared to set foot here again.
Growing weary of life in the provincial capital, Walter Cao headed north to the war-torn regions, hoping to observe and take photographs as a record.
On his journey, corpses littered the land—refugees fleeing, soldiers falling. Walter Cao kept taking pictures, but after several years, exhaustion overcame him, so he returned to his Shadow Realm, withdrawing from the world for decades.
"That should be enough, huh? Heh, maybe it's time to talk to that guy for a bit."
At last, Walter Cao stopped taking pictures in the Shadow Realm. A few days later, the floating photograph shattered with a bang—the Red Mask Agent appeared.
Decades had passed. The Red Mask Agent's clothes were now completely tattered, the once-bright white turned black. He had shrunk considerably, his body continuing to wither.
He looked like a dried corpse. The red mask he once wore had fallen off—his shrunken face no longer fit its size, curled in on itself.
His pitch-black body appeared stiff, bones clearly visible beneath the skin. Only his heart remained, quietly beating.
"Well, old friend, are you finally willing to talk to me?"
The Red Mask Agent spoke in a low voice and sat heavily on the ground. I stared at him in astonishment, and so did Walter Cao.
"I didn't expect you to spend decades shattering photographs. Heh, looks like you're about to run out of strength."
"Not yet, old friend. My heart can keep going for at least another thirty years, heh."
As he spoke, I watched in amazement at the bizarre scene before me—Walter Cao reached out his hand, and the Red Mask Agent took it.
"Cooperation is possible. But remember, this is just a partnership. I, Walter Cao, am not one of your Immortality Society lackeys."
"Of course, old friend."
Suddenly, the scene shifted. I saw a small island, and on it sat a figure with vacant eyes—no, it was a ghost. Walter Cao and the now fully restored Red Mask Agent walked toward the ghost.
The ghost's clothes were ragged, its expression vacant, as if its mind had completely broken.
"This is our test subject. Useless, really—not at all like you. His name is Julian Chu, and it seems his mind is completely gone. Is there any chance of recovery?"
I stared in disbelief—it really was Julian Chu. He looked aged now, and he wasn't a Blue Wraith.
Walter Cao walked over and waved his hand in front of Julian Chu. Suddenly, Julian Chu bared his pitch-black teeth and lunged at Walter Cao.
With a snap, Walter Cao held a photograph in his hand.
"As a sample, let's take him back for now. If he regains his senses someday, that'll do—as long as he becomes a Blue Wraith."
The Red Mask Agent put away the photo and smiled with satisfaction.
"Your powers really are convenient, old friend."
"You don't need to say it. All right, let's move on to the next place. But let's take it slow."
"Whatever you say, old friend."
Then I saw the Red Mask Agent and Walter Cao leap over the lake and enter a bustling city district. The two stuck together, looking for all the world like close friends.
Inside, I was deeply shaken. These two should never have been so close—they were supposed to be enemies. If not for the Red Mask Agent, Walter Cao would never have suffered so much.
Yet, year after year, I watched Walter Cao and the Red Mask Agent gather many so-called experimental samples for the Immortality Society. Each time, the Red Mask Agent left with the sample alone, only to return days later.
"What, you don't even trust me? Always going back alone."
"It's not that, old friend. If anyone other than an Immortality Society member approaches our headquarters, they'll be killed instantly—even you wouldn't be spared."
"As you wish, Red Mask. Where to next?"
The two sat in a teahouse. The Red Mask Agent sighed, looking worried.
"Recently, a Blue Wraith named Derek White joined the Immortality Society. He used to serve under John Chou. Many in the organization feel uneasy—it's been ages since anyone mentioned John Chou's name."
"Oh, you mean the Bloodbane Ghost Sovereign? I heard he was already dead."
I stared in surprise—I never expected them to bring up John Chou's name.
"Impossible. That guy's a lunatic—worse than even our Immortality Society."
Damn, hearing two maniacs call John Chou a lunatic—what a world this is.
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I cursed under my breath. To me, John Chou was a thousand times better than those two.
"You just don't know how dangerous he is. He's the one most likely to disrupt our grand plan for eternity. That's why we keep tabs on him constantly."
Walter Cao smiled.
"He must be a real headache, huh? Heh, I'd never want to mess with someone like him."
After that, Walter Cao faithfully continued collecting research subjects with the Red Mask Agent. But one night, in a small town, the Red Mask Agent waited with Walter Cao for someone to show up.
"Who are we waiting for?"
"A big shot from the Ghost Syndicate. We arranged to meet here—he has something important to tell us."
Walter Cao smirked with disdain.
"Ghost Syndicate members have fancy names, but they're basically useless. I've already dealt with several of them."
"Young man, before you call others useless, you should weigh your own worth."
Suddenly, a man wearing a bamboo hat entered the room. When he took it off, I was stunned—it was Old One-Eye. He smiled and walked over, while Walter Cao looked defiant, ready to fight.
"Sigh, old friend, this is Old One-Eye. If he wanted, he could finish both of us in an instant."
Walter Cao still looked defiant, but Old One-Eye said nothing more.
"Old One-Eye, let me introduce you—this is Walter Cao, my friend of over a hundred years. I'm sure you've heard of him."
Old One-Eye snorted coldly, clearly unimpressed.
"Kid, you've killed quite a few of our Ghost Syndicate people, haven't you?"
For a moment, Walter Cao glared angrily at Old One-Eye, but held himself back.
"But I'm not here to accuse you today. I want to tell you we've found John Chou's location—he's been sealed away. I hope we can unite the Ghost Syndicate, the Immortality Society, and some Blue Wraiths to destroy him, or at least strengthen the seal. For our shared, eternal goal."
Walter Cao looked annoyed, clearly reluctant, while the Red Mask Agent seemed excited, his eyes shining.
"Heh, since he's sealed, of course we should go together. All right, old friend, come help out."
The three began discussing their plan. I learned that John Chou was sealed in a mass grave. After agreeing on everything, Walter Cao and the Red Mask Agent headed there, while Old One-Eye returned to gather Ghost Syndicate members.
I followed them all the way to the mass grave where I first met John Chou. Crowds of people and ghosts were already converging there.
"Heh, looks like we arrived first, old friend. Let's go check out John Chou's seal."
At that moment, Walter Cao sighed and reluctantly followed the Red Mask Agent up the slope to the mass grave.
"Please stop here. This is my young master's resting place—do not go any further."
An old voice rang out. I looked over, and sure enough, it was Mr. Brown. Bent over, dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and cloth shoes, he stood quietly in the mist, watching Walter Cao and the Red Mask Agent approach.
In an instant, Walter Cao released his Specter Web, while the Red Mask Agent's eyes bulged, the capillaries standing out.
"Nothing we can't handle—just an ordinary Gray Wraith."
Walter Cao said this, and the Red Mask Agent nodded in agreement.
"Old ghost, if you don't want to die, you'd better leave."
But at that moment, Mr. Brown burst out laughing.
"Kids, I warned you—one more step and you'll die."
Suddenly, Mr. Brown's voice grew commanding, and the whiskers at the corner of his mouth fluttered.