The morning sun pierced through the sky as dawn broke. Waves of bell chimes echoed from Universal Temple—today was the critical day of the Sacred Child’s ordination. From afar, I could see the temple’s outer steps crowded with monks, standing on either side, eyes closed, making Buddhist hand gestures and chanting scripture.
Unconsciously, baleful energy leaked from my body. The sound of chanting felt like a curse to me—my forehead throbbed faintly. To resist this force, which is harmful to ghosts, my baleful energy began to form a defensive barrier.
At that moment, I saw a child at the foot of Universal Temple’s steps. I stared in surprise—last night, I hadn’t noticed him at the base of the mountain. How did he get down there?
The monks gradually descended the steps, each standing on a separate stair. The child sat in meditation at the bottom, silently reciting scripture, while the monks filed down in orderly succession.
Suddenly, a cold, sinister laugh echoed toward me. My baleful energy instantly surged and intertwined around my body. It was the child’s voice—I couldn’t be mistaken. But when I looked again, the child hadn’t moved at all. In my mind, his eerie smile flashed before me.
I couldn’t possibly be mistaken—my baleful energy never deceives me. My instincts had already activated; any disturbance around me, whether in the plants, trees, or air, would alert me. My perception was far sharper than before.
"Ethan Zhang, it’s been a while."
In an instant, my eyes widened, staring at the child in the distance. The voice came from him—I glared at him fiercely.
"Is that you, Brother Owen?"
I shouted, but all I got in response was a burst of gleeful laughter.
"You’d better not make any rash moves. This is no longer a place you can meddle with."
I clenched my fists and quietly watched as the monks gathered. Brother Owen’s reincarnated body stood up and began ascending the mountain, bowing every three steps and kneeling every ten.
Everything suddenly connected. The moment I saw the child, I knew—he was Brother Owen. Yet there was another familiar aura on him: Boss Chang.
Boss Chang was the adoptive father of the girl who joined the Ghost Burial Squad because of me. I’d once gone to the Underworld to investigate the source of it all. He had clearly reincarnated, but now I recalled that dream—Boss Chang once begged me to save him.
With a whoosh, I flew forward. Instantly, three monks in red robes stepped onto golden lotus platforms and appeared before me.
"Amitabha, Benefactor Zhang, what do you intend to do?"
The monk in the center stared at me fiercely, while the other two looked ready to attack at any moment.
"That kid is Brother Owen’s reincarnation—the notorious sinner Master Lucian who once threw Universal Temple into chaos and turmoil in the world of sorcery."
The three monks exchanged glances, but none of them seemed to believe me at all.
"Call out Master Richard Ming."
I roared, my baleful energy wrapping around my entire body, leaving only my fierce golden-red eyes exposed.
I absolutely couldn’t let Brother Owen reach Universal Temple—I had to end him here. All I felt for him was hatred. He’d secretly orchestrated so many things, always involved in the shadows. To me, he was as much an enemy as the Immortality Society.
"Move aside."
I drew my Spectral Shotgun, left hand on the trigger, right hand gripping Belle.
"Benefactor Zhang, our Buddhist order respects you—even as an evil ghost, you’ve committed no evil acts. We’ve always kept our distance. Even if what you say is true, it’s all in the past. The present and future are not for you to decide."
"That body isn’t his—it’s the reincarnated body of the good man Boss Chang, now occupied by Brother Owen. Is that what you call the past? Are you really going to just stand by and watch a villain..."
"Benefactor Zhang, you don’t understand. This child was born frail and died before the high monk’s reincarnation. The high monk only used the body to save all beings. We shouldn’t dwell on the past."
"Bullshit."
My left hand trembled with anger, finger tightening slightly on the trigger.
These monks had known all along that the kid was Brother Owen’s reincarnation, yet they still accepted him. The flames in my heart burned uncontrollably.
I still remembered how, before reincarnating, Boss Chang had asked me to take care of his daughter. I’d done nothing. Even after he sent me dreams post-reincarnation, I was powerless—forced to watch everything unfold.
"Benefactor Zhang, Amitabha."
It was Master Richard Ming. I widened my eyes and lowered my Spectral Shotgun. The three monks stepped aside as Master Richard Ming slowly descended from the mountain. He and Brother Owen exchanged Buddhist salutes in passing.
"Why?"
Master Richard Ming approached me.
"No matter how wicked a person was in life, after death they are but a remnant soul and a pile of bones. If one sincerely wishes to accept the Buddhist world, Buddha will forgive all, treating everyone equally. We accepted him to sever all past karmic ties—he has been reborn. Benefactor Zhang, show compassion and let him go."
I clenched my teeth, staring at Brother Owen standing across from me with a smile—something that never belonged to him.
"Let go of your prejudice, Benefactor Zhang. The past has ended. The monk before you is a new life—everything before is already smoke in the wind."
I couldn’t understand Master Richard Ming’s words. All I knew was that he was Brother Owen, holder of the Dark Banquet invitation—a being born of darkness. Golden Howler had already told me this.
With so many Buddhist masters before me, I couldn’t take them all on alone. But I had to seize an opportunity. Brother Owen’s power was strong, but not beyond my ability—I had to kill in one strike.
Suddenly, Master Richard Ming slowly raised a hand, making a Buddhist gesture. Instantly, a massive swastika symbol appeared behind him.
"Benefactor Zhang, do not come any closer. I only ask that you quietly remain aside. When the time comes, I will personally answer all your doubts, and the death knot between you and him must be resolved."
I couldn’t accept any of this. Master Lucian wouldn’t just change for the better—he’d done too much. Whether with the Renegade Order or as the Green Ghost, what angered me most was his alliance with the Immortality Society. Half the reason Lan Ruoxi died was because of him.
"How do you erase the hatred of a murdered wife?"
I stared blankly at Master Richard Ming, speaking each word slowly. Suddenly, I roared.
"Golden Howler!"
With a roar, a giant beast’s furious cry echoed from Universal Temple. I pulled the trigger—bang! Black baleful energy exploded instantly.
"Sorry, Master Richard Ming."
With a whoosh, I slipped past Master Richard Ming’s outstretched robe. Master Jianyun and three other monks rushed over, scattering prayer beads like a net, completely blocking my path.
Monks all around sat on the ground, chanting scripture. Immense power surged from all directions, threatening to crush my body. But I had only one thought: kill Brother Owen.
Suddenly, I saw a path—Golden Howler had made it for me. He’d leapt down from the mountain, helping to neutralize most of the overwhelming power threatening me. I raised Belle, and the Evil Ghost within me instinctively surged forth.
I had to use my strongest power now to finish Brother Owen in a single blow. Terror appeared on his face as he panicked and ran up the mountain.
"You can’t run, Owen."
Roaring, I closed in on him with Belle in hand. Golden ropes and swirling Sanskrit characters wrapped tightly around me. The chanting of sutras thundered in my ears, as if tearing me apart.
Suddenly, my older cousin appeared in front of Brother Owen, arms outstretched to block Belle.
Boom! I stopped in my tracks as a massive black beam shot skyward. Ferocious baleful energy roared, turning the sky black and even eclipsing the golden light over Universal Temple.
"What are you doing, Howard?"
I roared as golden ropes instantly bound me. With a thud, prayer beads nailed into my body. I spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Looks like Howard Zhang was the smart one—he saved your life. Ethan Zhang, you should thank him."
With a clang, Belle dropped from my hand. Darkness fell before my eyes, and all I heard was Brother Owen’s chilling laughter.
When I opened my eyes again, my whole body felt uncomfortable. But I quickly realized—I was inside Brahma Tower, unable to leave. My cousin leaned against the window, smiling at me.
"Howard..."
I pointed a finger at my cousin, but my hand slowly dropped.
Just as Brother Owen said, it was my cousin who saved my life. If I’d kept going my own way, I’d probably have died beneath Universal Temple.
"So what do you plan to do with me?"
I asked. My cousin shook his head with a troubled look.
"I don’t know. My master and the others are discussing it. But if they don’t release you, Universal Temple might be in trouble. I’ve already secretly notified your friends."
I let out a sound. My cousin smiled mysteriously and glanced around.
"Don’t worry, cousin. That old fox Owen thinks he’s safe, but I won’t let him get away with it. Open attacks are easy to dodge; it’s the hidden ones you should fear."