The city streets buzzed with life at night—crowds moving, car horns blaring, every corner filled with noise. I sat atop a high-rise, gazing down at the dazzling world below.
I desperately wanted to find Ray Lin. He was indispensable to Blackfang.
I’d spent so long in that frozen moment of time. Now, I understood—two years ago, Ray Lin used his power to defeat several Bluefaces. It was time itself. His Tenfold Path encompassed the past and future; that was his mastery over time.
My Ghost Soul had already left my body, searching the city for Ray Lin’s shadow. It had been so long since I’d seen him; I found myself missing him.
Amid the city’s chaos, my mood was eerily calm. I’d changed completely—my aura no longer resembled who I used to be. Anyone who knew me before wouldn’t recognize me now.
Ever since I unleashed the Evil Ghost within me—the one lurking in my instincts—my presence had grown darker, steeped in a bottomless, bone-chilling blackness.
"Hey, you—what are you doing here? Don’t you—"
A fierce ghost appeared beside me, but now, he couldn’t utter a sound.
"Don’t disturb me. Or else."
All around, a surge of deadly energy instantly enveloped the fierce ghost. When the aura faded, he bolted away in terror.
I smiled, then closed my eyes. Word had come from the ghostly side—on Dongming Road, a taxi had been spotted, carrying only ghosts as passengers.
With a whoosh, I turned into a swirl of black mist, drifting swiftly above the city. In an instant, I arrived at Dongming Road. Dazzling headlights flashed from afar.
Raising a hand, I signaled, and with a whoosh, the taxi stopped right in front of me.
"Where to, passenger?"
Ray Lin was the same as ever—gentle smile, eyes squinting.
"Where do you think I want to go?"
I smiled and said, and Ray Lin burst out laughing.
"Hop in."
I nodded. Among all the Blue Wraiths in the yard, Ray Lin was the only one I wanted to recruit. The others would draw too much attention and could easily arouse suspicion from the Immortality Society.
Ray Lin might be a Blue Wraith, but all he did was drive passengers around—nothing more, just taking ghosts from place to place each day.
The taxi cruised smoothly down the road.
"How about we just drive around for a while, passenger?"
I nodded. In the rearview mirror, I could see Ray Lin’s smile at the corner of his mouth. The car sped up, and everything outside blurred past my eyes.
We weaved through bustling streets, past pedestrians and traffic, slipping into deserted alleys and drifting among wandering souls and wild ghosts.
No destination—just drifting through the city like this.
"No destination, passenger? Want me to pick one for you?"
Ray Lin asked. I grunted in response, and the car headed out of the city, driving on and on until we reached a wooded area. My eyes widened at the sight of distant hills. This used to be a chicken farm, but it’s long abandoned—and it’s where I first met Rachel Lan.
The car slowed to a stop. With a click, the door opened.
"This is your stop, passenger. Time to get out."
I drifted down, quietly circling the area before letting out a laugh.
"Looks like you're pretty satisfied, passenger."
I nodded, sitting quietly on the ground and watching Ray Lin.
"Need some manpower, don’t you?"
Ray Lin asked, and I laughed. He walked over slowly and squatted down in front of me.
"Brother Ethan."
I reached out and gripped Ray Lin’s hand tightly.
The car started up again, and Ray Lin pulled me quickly back toward the city.
"You’re too formal, Brother Ethan. I suspected it earlier, but I couldn’t be sure."
"So you brought me here, didn’t you?"
I said, and Ray Lin laughed.
I started telling Ray Lin about the plans I’d been plotting in my heart. He burst out laughing.
"Honestly, if this Blackfang group suddenly gets mentioned to the Immortality Society, they might reach out to you directly. Hahaha, good idea, Brother Ethan—no, from now on, I should call you Fang."
I nodded. The plan was still in its early stages. I still needed a few more people to help, but for now, our team was enough.
I asked about a few things—Rufina Howard still hadn’t woken up. The Nine Dao Gate Elders were working on solutions in the Hall of Malice. The coffin the Immortality Society gave John Chou and his people was a fake; John Chou hadn’t told me what was really inside.
Now, rumors in the living world say I’m dead—killed at the Ghost Gate by Night Wanderer, my soul scattered.
That’s exactly why I want to carry out this plan—to bring down the Immortality Society.
"Brother Ethan, everyone in the apartment block is worried about you."
I nodded.
"Let’s leave it at that for now. Victor Duan should have found us a safe place to stay."
As I spoke, Ray Lin’s taxi was already in the city. After weaving through the streets and alleys for a while, it stopped atop a high-rise.
I was waiting for someone. Just now, my Specter Web stirred faintly—the thread Felix Zhou took sent me here, to the top floor of the tallest commercial building downtown, to wait.
"Here he comes."
I spoke, and Ray Lin felt it too. The rooftop door creaked open, and Felix Zhou, panting, climbed up.
"Just one day, and you already have an answer?"
Felix Zhou flashed an OK sign.
"That guy said he’ll join you—but you have to reveal all the secrets of Outcast Village."
A beeping sound rang out. I picked up the phone—a strange number. It was Victor Duan.
"I found the place. You’ll be pleased."
After hanging up, I learned the location—a gathering spot for us, in an old, half-demolished maternity factory on the east side of town.
Ray Lin and I arrived in just over ten minutes. The meeting was set for midnight tomorrow. When I reached the place, I could sense the ley lines flowing westward. The yin energy here was heavy, converging and then streaming away to the west.
But there were no more wandering spirits nearby. Looking at the dilapidated factory, I recalled that, due to a major safety accident, production had been halted here. Many people died, and to this day, the issue remains unresolved. The building still hasn't been demolished.
Staring at the scorched remains of the factory, I slowly drifted forward, scanning my surroundings.
"Not bad. Just wait for tomorrow night's gathering."
The day passed quickly. By midnight, the first to arrive was Felix Zhou, accompanied by a burly figure whose eyes alone were visible, the rest of him shrouded in intense black aura—Curse Power. As soon as he appeared, I felt it, yet Felix Zhou beside him seemed unaffected.
Next came Ghostbook Sage, floating in on a massive tome bathed in green light. We gathered in one of the factory buildings—I sat atop a platform, with Victor Duan, Ray Lin, and Isabelle Frost present as well.
But the main instigator behind all this, Blackmoon, still hadn't shown up.
"Who else hasn't arrived yet?"
Ray Lin asked. I closed my eyes, sensing the space, when suddenly—ding!—a sound rang out. Someone had arrived. The air in front of us split open, forming a wide rift.
"Good evening, colleagues."
Blackmoon appeared as cheerful as ever, his crescent eyes twitching, letting out a sharp laugh.
"Thank you all for coming. I am the BOSS of Blackfang—Fang."
As I spoke, a gust of wind rose, and my Ghost Souls swirled around me.
"Quite something, Brother Fang," Ghostbook Sage muttered. The figure Felix Zhou brought, cloaked head to toe in Curse Killing power, widened his eyes at me.
"Blackfang has no strict requirements. Do as you wish—whatever you want to do, go ahead. But when I need everyone, I hope you'll show up."
"Tell me about the Outcast Village—according to the conditions."
The figure wrapped in Curse Killing spoke, his voice rough and hard.
"There are too many secrets in there. The only thing I can tell you is: inside, time is always January 1st. Nothing else—I won't say."
As soon as I finished speaking, that figure floated right up to me, glaring fiercely.
"I haven't asked your name yet."
I smirked coldly at him. He grinned back, revealing a pale mouth—a twisted, eerie smile.
"Fine. Just call me Deathcurse."
I nodded and extended a hand.
"Welcome to Blackfang, Deathcurse."
A large, pale hand reached out from the shroud of Curse Killing. I grasped it.
"Everyone, thank you for coming tonight. Now, as the BOSS of Blackfang, I want to give you your first task."
As I spoke, Blackmoon burst out laughing, clearly delighted.
"Etch the name of Blackfang into every corner of this city. Use any means necessary. Within one month, I want everyone in the ghost world and the art world to know Blackfang exists."
—