With a sudden rush, Zachary Fate felt a chill sweep over his entire body. Everything before his eyes blurred, and a fierce wind whipped up dust and sand. He raised his long sleeves to shield his eyes.
The wind grew stronger and stronger. Zachary Fate could barely keep his footing, and everything around him changed. The bright lights turned into an eerie green glow, casting a sinister atmosphere. The people walking nearby transformed as well—their faces rotted, their bodies mangled. These ghosts surrounded him.
Zachary Fate's eyes widened, goosebumps rising on his skin. He swallowed hard as countless eyes turned toward him.
"Someone's here."
As startled cries echoed, ghostly voices rose all around. Zachary Fate stood frozen, stunned by the scene—grotesque faces pressed close, and a hand, cold and iron-like, clamped onto him. The ghosts whimpered, cackled wickedly, and kept muttering that they would tear him apart and cook him.
"Right, the Boundless Sword."
Zachary Fate remembered the sword in his hand.
With a sudden swish, golden light burst forth. In an instant, the ghosts surrounding Zachary Fate turned to ash, their wails fading. The remaining ghosts shrieked in terror, scattering and vanishing into the night. Zachary Fate swallowed hard, staring at the golden glow radiating from his body. The Boundless Sword in his hand shone ever brighter, and a surge of golden energy shot toward the sky, illuminating the entire town's night with its brilliance.
Nothing remained around him. The moment the Boundless Sword was drawn, the ghosts either died or fled.
Cold sweat poured down Zachary Fate's back, but he felt a strange sense of relief. Just then, a mass of black clouds swept over from the distance. With a crack, the clouds dispersed, revealing a ghost shimmering with green light standing before him, followed by a horde of weapon-wielding ghosts.
"How dare you cause trouble on my turf, Taoist. You've got guts."
Zachary Fate swallowed nervously, staring at the ghost before him. Unlike the others, this one was different—he'd never seen it before. The ghosts behind it, shrouded in black mist, watched his sword in terror. But the Blue Wraith, emanating green energy, showed no fear at all. Instead, it glared at Zachary Fate with fury.
"Filthy Taoist, I'm talking to you. We have no quarrel—let's keep to our own business."
Zachary Fate was too shocked to respond. He gripped the Boundless Sword in reverse, holding it behind him in a defensive stance. Though he lacked true cultivation, he had trained in swordsmanship—Brother Natural had taught him a few techniques back on Mount Immeasurable.
Zachary Fate crouched, stepping forward with his left foot and making a quick motion. The Blue Wraith retreated slightly.
"Wh—why are you hurting these people?"
Zachary Fate's heart trembled; it felt as if it might leap out of his throat.
"No reason. We were all sealed here before, providing these people's families with countless benefits. You think their wealth came from nowhere? Hmph, it's thanks to the ghosts who died here. They used us for decades—if I hadn't just become the Blue Wraith, I'd still be forced to provide them with fortune. Now, we're just settling the score, taking a little yang energy each day as interest for all those years. What's wrong with that? Taoist, you'd best keep out of my business, or don't blame me for what happens next."
With a swish, the Blue Wraith suddenly produced a long blade, stepping slowly toward Zachary Fate. Zachary Fate was so terrified that his whole body froze; he had no idea what to do next.
Then, the Blue Wraith beckoned, and a ghost immediately flew out, soon returning with a box.
"Taoist, anyone who sees gets a share. Don't make things hard for me, and I won't make things hard for you. Let's keep the peace—this money is my reward for you."
With a bang, the box landed at Zachary Fate's feet. He stumbled backward, utterly terrified. The Blue Wraith eyed him curiously. It had only come out because it sensed a powerful Daoist aura, forcing it to interrupt its cultivation. But the Taoist before it didn't seem very strong—just scared. Still, the power he carried was real. The Blue Wraith guessed he was a novice, fresh down from the mountain and unaccustomed to the real world.
Gold, silver, and jewels spilled from the box—a fortune Zachary Fate had never seen in his life. For a moment, he was tempted, but quickly regained his composure, shaking his head as his fear slowly faded.
"I only hope you'll spare the people here. If revenge never ends, when will peace come?"
"Hmph, Taoist, refusing a toast only to take a penalty?"
The Blue Wraith stepped forward as it spoke. Zachary Fate immediately gripped the Boundless Sword tighter. The ghost seemed wary of the power Zachary Fate possessed, hesitating to attack.
"Didn't they hold grand Ghost-Human Festivals every year? Wasn't that all to repay you?"
Zachary Fate countered. The Blue Wraith scratched its head.
"That's true enough. Thanks to these people, we never went hungry all year. But times have changed—I've become the Blue Wraith now. Heh, this is a crucial period for my cultivation. Taoist, once this is over, I promise I'll leave."
"How long will that take?"
Zachary Fate asked. The Blue Wraith stroked its chin, thinking.
"Three months at most. And I won't drain any more yang energy from these people."
Zachary Fate nodded, sheathing the Boundless Sword and glancing at the gold and jewels on the ground.
"Return these things to their owners."
"Alright, alright, I understand."
Zachary Fate breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave, feeling a surge of happiness inside. He planned to rest for the night and leave in the morning. He had arranged to meet a member of the Arcane Society in Redhaven—someone who seemed eager to teach him a few things.
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But after Zachary Fate left, the Blue Wraith burst into laughter.
"How could there be such a foolish Taoist, hahaha..."
The journey to Redhaven was nearly a hundred li, taking over ten days. After resolving the matter, Zachary Fate, feeling elated, quickened his pace and arrived in Redhaven in just ten days. Outside the city, in a dilapidated temple, he found the item described by the Arcane Society member and decided to wait there for them.
"Young friend, sorry to keep you waiting."
Five days later, a gentle voice sounded. Zachary Fate rose joyfully and bowed to a plainly dressed man at the door.
He had seen this man use some unusual arcane techniques before—not Buddhist, not Taoist, unlike anything he'd encountered. His name was Eli Moon, and even his temperament was peculiar.
"Elder Moon, could you tell me which sect you belong to? I hope to sincerely learn from you in the future."
"It's not a big sect. Our order is called the Nether Syndicate. This time, I'm out on orders from the grandmaster."
Afterward, Zachary Fate asked Eli Moon many questions, and Eli Moon patiently explained everything.
"By the way, young friend, didn't you say you went to resolve a matter? How did that go?"
Zachary Fate happily recounted what had happened. Eli Moon's expression grew serious.
"What's wrong, Elder Moon? Did I say something wrong?"
"You fool, who in this world would believe a ghost's words?"
Zachary Fate stared in shock, swallowing hard.
"But ghosts are people who have changed. If people understand reason, then ghosts can too..."
"It's true that ghosts are people who have changed, but ghosts eat people. And people? I fear those in that place are beyond saving. Sigh."
Seeing Eli Moon's look of anguish, Zachary Fate stared in astonishment and quickly stood up, but Eli Moon grabbed his hand.
"Don't go. You're no match for the Blue Wraith."
Overcome with shame, Zachary Fate ran off in a panic.
For several days, Zachary Fate rushed day and night toward Treasureville, his anxiety mounting. Eli Moon, helpless, could only follow.
Finally, on the seventh day, Zachary Fate and Eli Moon arrived at Treasureville. The town was deserted, lifeless.
"Is anyone still here?"
Zachary Fate knocked on doors one by one. Eli Moon seemed to understand something and sighed.
"Stop shouting. Everyone in the town is probably already dead."
Zachary Fate's face turned pale, and he burst into tears.
After a while, once Zachary Fate calmed down, Eli Moon opened a room. A foul stench wafted out, and inside, Zachary Fate saw sticky, blackish things everywhere, looking like mud.
"What is this?"
Zachary Fate asked. Eli Moon nodded helplessly.
"It's the leftovers after ghosts eat people."
As soon as Eli Moon finished speaking, Zachary Fate staggered as if struck by lightning, collapsed to the ground, and pounded his chest in despair.
After nightfall, Zachary Fate shouted everywhere.
"Come out, you despicable, shameless creature."
Finally, accompanied by wicked laughter, the Blue Wraith appeared.
"What's wrong, Taoist? You're back again?"
"Where are the people here?"
The Blue Wraith shook its head.
"They're all gone."
"You're lying. You ate them."
Immediately, Zachary Fate drew the Boundless Sword, roaring as he charged at the Blue Wraith. But both strikes missed—the Blue Wraith slipped behind him, toying with him and laughing repeatedly.
"I've never seen anyone believe a ghost's words before."
Suddenly, with a screech, the Blue Wraith was pressed to the ground by a shadow.
"Enough is enough."
Eli Moon raised a hand, glaring angrily at the Blue Wraith.