The situation had spiraled out of control. No matter how loudly Detective Stone shouted, the students—terrified—rushed toward the main gate.
With a sudden swish, the gate swung open, and the students bolted outside. Detective Stone chased after them.
“Think of something fast—get the students back inside!” Detective Stone shouted through the megaphone, his expression grave. I found myself puzzled; wasn’t it a good thing if the students managed to escape?
Suddenly, four pillars of light flared up around the students, and Rachel Lan’s face turned deathly pale—she looked as if she could barely endure the strain.
This wasn’t going to be simple. Back at the hardware building, I’d sensed something was wrong—though I couldn’t pinpoint what. It wasn’t until I saw Ironmask just now that I realized: his eyes were different, as if he’d become an entirely new person.
Thanks to the efforts of the Ghost Burial Squad and the teachers, the students were herded together at the gate, huddling in terror as they clustered tightly.
"We’ll act as your guardians," said a member of the Ghost Burial Squad. Four of them each sat inside a pillar of light, and I saw Rachel Lan’s tightly furrowed brow gradually relax.
Detective Stone’s words made everything clear. Someone wants to harm the Ghost Burial Squad, and Ironmask is likely pretending to be captured, waiting for a chance to strike from within.
“You all know we’re surrounded by vengeful ghosts out there?”
I walked up to Detective Stone and asked.
"Tianshu just called. The team members outside were attacked on their way back, and a large number of vengeful ghosts are heading this way."
Suddenly, Rachel Lan began chanting the incantation for the Fourfold Beast Array. She ran to place four wooden sticks, each a different color and representing the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, at the four corners. Then she sat cross-legged in the center of the student group.
"Four Saints descend, ward off evil, balance yin and yang, suppress..."
It was the only option left. Earlier, I’d considered asking John Chou and Yuna Ji for help. I even tried to reach out to John Chou telepathically, but there was only silence.
"The Fourfold Beast Array—Rachel, I didn’t know you could perform it!"
Detective Stone stared in astonishment.
Then, together with three Ghost Burial Squad members, each carrying a few Spirit Lure Orbs—small talismans used to attract and reveal hidden spirits—I headed for the parking lot.
"This is a good method. Now, if we can solve the problem inside, we can get through this crisis."
"Is the array secure? I’m worried Ironmask will try to break it."
Detective Stone shook his head.
"Breaking the array is extremely difficult. Every floor below is protected by a restriction. Ironmask managed to escape, but going back in would be nearly impossible."
The next problem was finding Ironmask. His method of attacking with Deathbane Aura had already been countered by Hu Tianshu, but we still needed to be cautious.
Just moments ago, Ironmask had claimed the lives of several students and Ghost Burial Squad members.
In the distant parking lot, flames were still visible. Every car had been set ablaze, and explosions continued to echo.
"Ethan, come with me," Detective Stone said, then headed toward the main building.
"We have to contact rescue."
After entering the main building, Detective Stone pulled out his phone.
"The signal’s already down."
I checked my own phone. Sure enough, there was no signal at all.
Once we reached the office, Detective Stone walked to the desk, crouched down, and pried up the floor tiles beneath it. There was a landline phone.
Detective Stone dialed a number.
"Detective Stone, is that you?"
A cold voice came from the other end. Detective Stone quickly explained what had happened.
"This whole thing was probably orchestrated by the Ghost Syndicate. I warned you before, but you’re just too stubborn. If you’d handed over the Soulreaver Blade earlier, none of this would’ve happened. But you kept denying you had it."
"How did you know the Soulreaver Blade was with the Ghost Burial Squad?"
"Everyone in the supernatural world knows by now. I’ll try to contact the Nether Syndicate members operating in the city and get them over as soon as possible."
Then the call ended.
But Detective Stone’s face showed no relief—only deep worry.
"They probably won’t come. Even if they do, it’ll be after everything’s over," Detective Stone said with a sigh.
"Why? I thought the Nether Syndicate..."
"The Ghost Syndicate brought so many vengeful ghosts this time. If they want to send help, a few people won’t be enough."
Detective Stone dialed another number.
"Master Stone, I’ve told you before—stagnation isn’t the answer. That Blue Wraith you sealed will bring disaster sooner or later."
Detective Stone explained the situation to the monk on the line.
"Amitabha, Master Stone. Karma has its course; there’s nothing I can do. If what you say is true, the Ghost Syndicate is after the ghost soldiers, and their force is overwhelming. Only the Universal Temple Abbot and his monks could subdue them—but distant water can’t put out a nearby fire."
I muttered to myself: after all that talk, it still means they’re not coming.
Detective Stone looked distraught as he hung up.
"Brother Zhang, it looks like we won’t survive this calamity," he said with a sigh.
We returned to the main gate. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
"Stay strong, everyone. If we can hold out until dawn, we’ll find a way." Detective Stone shouted.
But when I checked, it was just past nine o’clock. Dawn was at least seven or eight hours away. Rachel Lan looked exhausted, clearly struggling to maintain such a powerful Fourfold Beast Array.
"We can’t wait any longer. Detective Stone, get a few people to help me. I’ll find Ironmask and take care of him."
Detective Stone looked at me, his eyes filled with complicated emotions. Then he nodded.
It was the only option left. Earlier, I’d thought about asking John Chou and Yuna Ji for help. I even tried to reach out to John Chou telepathically, but there was no response.
Inside this array, it seemed even John Chou couldn’t sense me. We could destroy the array, but if we did, all those vengeful ghosts outside would rush in—the consequences would be unimaginable.
[Irrelevant passage about continuing to the next page skipped.]
Then, together with three Ghost Burial Squad members, each carrying a few Spirit Lure Orbs, I headed for the parking lot.
That was where I’d seen Ironmask before. When we arrived, the parking lot was a mess—many cars were burned down to their frames, some still on fire.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed. We all looked around warily. The laughter grew louder and clearer, coming from the student dormitory.
A scream rang out—a woman’s voice. We rushed over; the sound was coming from the dorm building right ahead, a five-story structure. It was the girls’ dorm.
"Could there be students who didn’t get out?"
As we wondered, suddenly a terrified girl appeared on the second floor. Behind her was Ironmask, gripping her neck with one hand.
"Help..." I saw Ironmask squeeze her throat; her voice faded away.
"Damn!" I shouted, charging up the stairs. The other three Ghost Burial Squad members followed.
Deathbane Aura condensed in my hand, forming the Butcher’s Blade.
Just as we rushed up the stairs, one of the squad members threw three Spirit Lure Orbs. With a series of pops, the orbs were pierced by Deathbane Aura reaching out from the walls.
Ironmask grinned at us. I charged forward, and he suddenly shoved the hostage at me before vanishing through the wall.
"It’s okay, miss. We’ll get you to safety."
One of the squad members quickly embraced the girl. But as she passed by me, I saw her smile—something was off. She wasn’t human.
"Careful, she’s not human!" I spun around, raising the Butcher’s Blade and slashed at her.
Suddenly, I saw the she-ghost dive into one of the Ghost Burial Squad members, possessing him. He immediately turned and attacked his teammates.
The temperature around us dropped sharply. I quickly threw several Spirit Lure Orbs in all directions.
Suddenly, Ironmask emerged from the wall beside me and grabbed my throat.
Just as I raised the Butcher’s Blade, the possessed squad member blocked Ironmask’s side, reaching for my weapon.
I froze mid-swing, my wrist caught. The Deathbane Aura dissipated. Suddenly, with a hiss, I saw two squad members impaled and collapse. Ironmask laughed wildly.
"Ah..." I yelled, struggling as I was shoved to the edge of the balcony, half my body pushed outside.
A hissing sound echoed. I saw black strands of Deathbane Aura rise behind Ironmask, twisting like ropes and sharpening into spikes.
"Ethan Zhang, do you know why those two just died?"
Sweating profusely, I stared at Ironmask.
"You..." I struggled to spit out a word.
"It was because of your hesitation. If you’d struck, only the possessed one would’ve died—the other two would have lived."
"Ah..." I screamed as Deathbane Aura burst from me. Ironmask leaned in, mouth wide, and sucked the aura from my body.
"It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. Tonight is the Ghost Burial Squad’s doom. No one can save them—not the Nether Syndicate, not the Brahma Sect. Ha!"