The car was still speeding down the road. This stretch was tough to drive on—uneven, riddled with potholes, and almost deserted. Occasionally, a few motorcycles appeared, all ridden by local villagers.
"Qingyuan, stop thinking about it," Rachel Lan said. She seemed to notice me in the rearview mirror, her expression complicated. Yuna Ji sat beside me, her quiet laughter echoing in the car.
Now that my cousin was like this, I didn’t know how to face Uncle and Aunt. My own parents had vanished without a trace, all linked to that terrifying storybook, but right now, the clues were faint. John Chou sat beside me, restless.
I nodded, pushing those thoughts aside for now. Beside me, John Chou looked restless, while Yuna Ji giggled. The evil flame in Redmond’s eyes had faded—he was just here to tease John Chou, like a child.
"Qingyuan, you’ve met Mr. Brown before, right? He’s a gentle old man, isn’t he?" John Chou said.
I nodded. Mr. Brown was indeed a kindly old man, but John Chou said he had a fiery temper, which I couldn’t quite understand.
"He’s not as gentle as you think. When Mr. Brown gets angry, he doesn’t care who you are. His temper is infamous—even the Blue Wraiths in the underworld who know him are wary. Back in the day, John Chou..."
"Enough, you wretch. Let’s not bring up the past," John Chou replied.
John Chou spoke gently, his bound face breaking into a smile again.
By now, it was nearly 5 PM, dusk approaching. We arrived at the mass grave, now buried by a landslide and piled into a tall mound. This time, a new road had appeared. Rachel Lan floored the gas, driving up, and with a screech, the car came to a halt.
Mr. Brown stood in front of the small hut, his face stern. As we got out of the car, he walked over.
"Young Master, Lady Ji," Mr. Brown greeted respectfully, bowing deeply. The air was thick with tension, his form rigid, eyes never leaving John Chou.
"What’s that?" John Chou asked in return.
"That winter, you were eleven. Late at night, you insisted on fishing by the river and threatened me about sneaking a few coins from the grocery money. I had no choice but to take you out. You climbed onto my shoulders to get up there, but slipped and fell. If I hadn’t caught you, you’d have been hurt. I broke my arm that night, but told the old master I’d just fallen by accident."
"Oh, right, I sort of remember that. Come on, Mr. Brown, let’s not bring up the past, haha," John Chou said.
"Just try one, they’re fresh," John Chou said, unexpectedly pulling out a small knife and starting to peel a peach. Rachel Lan and I blinked in surprise. I was sure I wasn’t seeing things—John Chou, who always acted like a lord, was actually peeling a peach.
"Try it, Mr. Brown. It’s really good." My voice trembled a little, uncertain whether the offering would soothe his notorious temper.
Mr. Brown shook his head helplessly and took the peach. Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically—anger flashed across his face as he glared fiercely at John Chou.
"Young Master, do you think I can’t see through your little tricks? Still so mischievous..."
In an instant, I was stunned. Mr. Brown suddenly grabbed John Chou by the neck and forced his head down into the dirt.
With a boom, a cloud of dust shot up. I cried out in shock—this was probably the biggest jolt I’d had since I fell into the ghost realm. My mouth hung open, unable to close.
With a boom, a cloud of dust shot up. I cried out in shock—this was probably the biggest jolt I’d had since I fell into the ghost realm. My mouth hung open, unable to close.
"Serves you right, Yin Choujian! Haha, I warned you before we came—don’t play tricks, Mr. Brown’s temper is no joke."
My heart skipped a beat. Behind Yin Choujian, Mr. Brown let him go. He was covered in dust, his face smeared with grime, and missing a few teeth. I couldn’t help but snicker.
"Mr. Brown, that hurt! Why’d you do that to me?"
"Young Master..." Suddenly, Mr. Brown roared again, and the scenery around us changed. In a flash, I saw the grand Chou Manor with two red lanterns hanging at the entrance. The plaque above the door read 'Chou Manor' in bold red characters.
With a creak, the door opened. But I noticed that one of the two bronze lion statues at the entrance had toppled over.
"Young Master, do you remember? When you were eight, this lion was your handiwork. The old master ordered us to move it to North Town. Dozens of us spent a day hauling it, and you laughed yourself silly. Later, the old master got angry—we servants lost a month’s wages, and in the end, I took the blame for you alone."
"No, Mr. Brown, I just thought you all looked bored, so I gave you something to do."
Mr. Brown shot John Chou a fierce glare, then led us into the Chou Manor.
Inside was a spacious courtyard, with weapon racks and plenty of chairs scattered around.
"Young Master, do you remember over there?" Mr. Brown pointed to a spot on the courtyard wall where several roof tiles were missing.
"What’s that?" Yin Choujian asked in return.
"That winter, you were eleven. Late at night, you insisted on fishing by the river and threatened me about sneaking a few coins from the grocery money. I had no choice but to take you out. You climbed onto my shoulders to get up there, but slipped and fell. If I hadn’t caught you, you’d have been hurt. I broke my arm that night, but told the old master I’d just fallen by accident."
"Oh, right, I sort of remember that. Come on, Mr. Brown, let’s not bring up the past, haha."
Mr. Brown spat, suddenly glowing with green light, his beard bristling with anger.
"Young Master, stop looking for trouble! Think about it—how many messes have you made for me since you were a child? Even after becoming a ghost, you were never peaceful. Hundreds of years ago, you stirred up chaos in both the human and ghost realms. I thought the River Styx would keep you in line, but now there’s Zhang Qingyuan. We’re not your toys, you know."
"Young Master, stop looking for trouble! Think about it—how many messes have you made for me since you were a child? Even after becoming a ghost, you were never peaceful. Hundreds of years ago, you stirred up chaos in both the human and ghost realms. I thought the Sanzu Force would keep you in line, but now there’s Zhang Qingyuan. We’re not your toys, you know."
"Alright, alright, Mr. Brown, I’m here to ask you to come back with me, okay? I know I was wrong. I did you all wrong back then. Please, come back with me."
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"Go back? Ha, Young Master, after all the trouble you’ve caused, I always took the blame. And now you want me to go back with you?" Mr. Brown’s laughter was cold, echoing through the ruined manor.
Suddenly, I remembered—and realized that my reputation in both the human and ghost worlds was terrible. Aside from the ghosts in our courtyard and the Ghost Burial Squad, everyone else looked at me with contempt and anger, as if I’d brought all this on John Chou bit by bit. Of course, I was partly to blame, but I was sure most of it was John Chou’s doing.
"Don’t be like that, Mr. Brown. You’re my steward—you have to come back with me, no matter what..."
With a thunderous crash, I saw Mr. Brown pressing one hand against Yin Choujian’s face, smashing him through the wall. Then, on Mr. Brown’s back, six glowing green arms sprouted, fists pounding like a storm. Yin Choujian’s feet left the ground as a barrage of blows rained down on him.
"What’s wrong, Young Master? Fight back..."
Suddenly, I remembered—and realized that my reputation in both the human and ghost worlds was terrible. Aside from the ghosts in our courtyard and the Ghost Burial Squad, everyone else looked at me with contempt and anger, as if I’d brought all this on John Chou bit by bit. Of course, I was partly to blame, but I was sure most of it was John Chou’s doing.
Rachel Lan and I rushed over. Wild currents whipped through the air with booming sounds. Suddenly, a mass of white bones appeared before us. With a crash, the bones shattered, and Rachel Lan and I were caught by two bone tails. Yuna Ji spread her bone wings and carried us into the sky.
On the ground, dozens of fist-sized craters dotted the earth. Mr. Brown’s shadow had risen into the air, while Yin Choujian curled up, arms protecting his head, his body battered and bruised. But unlike usual, he didn’t dissolve into smoke or get torn apart—he seemed unable to escape Mr. Brown’s fists.
"Things are getting dangerous. Mr. Brown’s temper is flaring up," Ji Yuner muttered behind us.
Streaks of crimson appeared around Yin Choujian. Suddenly, a beam of red light shot toward the ground.
"Trying to run? Not that easy." In a flash, Mr. Brown’s blurred figure circled in front of the red light. The six fists on his back slammed into Yin Choujian’s chest with a thud.
With a sickening splatter, Yin Choujian coughed up blood and crashed heavily to the ground.
A creaking sound echoed. Suddenly, Rachel Lan and I were wrapped tightly in thick bone plates. Roaring noises sounded outside as the bones began to crack, bit by bit.
As the bone plates shattered and fell away, I stared in shock. The landscape was unrecognizable; the Chou Manor was in ruins, some parts swallowed by the earth.
Yin Choujian lay on a chunk of stone, battered and gasping for breath. His body was covered in wounds, with no sign of recovery.
"Mr. Brown, you really went too far this time. It hurts—my whole body hurts."
Yuna Ji spread her bone wings, her face pale and determined, carrying Rachel Lan and me into the sky as chaos erupted below.
As he spoke, Mr. Brown floated in front of Yin Choujian. Suddenly, Yin Choujian looked toward us, raising a hand in my direction.
"Brother, help..."
Before he could finish, Mr. Brown grabbed Yin Choujian by the cheeks and lifted him off the ground.
"Young Master, aren’t you a little too mischievous? Tell me, what exactly did you discuss with the people from the Underworld Court? I may not have been with you, but through Zhang Qingyuan’s memories, I saw it all. Emperor Song sent his men to meet you twice, right? I know all about the schemes in your belly—after all, I’m the one who raised you in the palm of my hand!"
"I’m sorry, Mr. Brown, I was wrong. I’ll tell you everything I know, just please let me go—it hurts. You just hurt my ghost soul."