"This time, it looks like we're in real trouble." Four-Eyes muttered softly. I, along with Huang Jun, watched our surroundings warily. The Ghost Syndicate members stood around The Gallows, thirty meters away from us. The ground was nothing but yellow earth, the landscape barren, and beyond that lay a pitch-black void—emptiness stretching as far as the eye could see.
Old One-Eye, clearly the leader, shuffled forward with a crooked smile. His mouth, left with only two front teeth, gaped into a black abyss. The skin on his face was a maze of deep, twisted furrows, barely human. Slung across his back was an elongated urn, its surface carved with grotesque, writhing patterns.
"Starbane, return to your post." Old One-Eye barked, his gaze still predatory on our Nightmare Wraith. Bowing with rigid respect, Starbane stepped back to stand beside The Gallows.
I clutched the Phoenix Blade in my hand, knuckles white. Facing so many Ghost Syndicate operatives, we had no hope of victory. Our only option was to fight for our lives, find a way to take out this old monster. I shot Huang Jun a look; he instantly shifted his weight, ready for anything.
He drew closer, step by deliberate step. Old One-Eye was utterly unfazed, as if the three of us were nothing but shadows to him.
"Old man, what exactly are you planning to do here?" Four-Eyes suddenly asked, arms outstretched to hold Huang Jun and me back, taking a cautious step forward.
"Don't be reckless. We can't win this. Wait for a chance to fall back." Four-Eyes whispered, just as Old One-Eye halted.
"Kid, you've earned quite a reputation among the Ghost Syndicate. That Eight-Directional Shifting Array out there was set by Starbane—the space inside too. I didn’t expect you to pinpoint the spot so easily, and even locate both his ghosts. Not bad."
Four-Eyes grinned, clearly pleased with the compliment—even if it came from an enemy.
"Old man, you still haven't answered our question!"
"Ah! Heh heh, you know, when you get old, you get forgetful. Today, I’ll do your Ghost Burial Squad a favor. After all, making it this far is a special reward for you... but—"
Old One-Eye glanced at me, his withered hand pointing in my direction as he continued speaking.
"Ethan Zhang, you have to stay. After all, you’ve crossed paths with our Ghost Syndicate more than once, and with a Ghost Sovereign helping you, you never put us in your eyes. Now, in the Vengeance Chamber, you’ve been handed over to Crying Grandpa. Today, this is your burial ground."
With a thunderous roar and a burst of blinding firelight, I charged forward, raising the Phoenix Blade high and slashing down at Old One-Eye.
"If you’re here to make trouble for me, just say so."
I shouted angrily, swinging the Phoenix Blade at Old One-Eye. Flames burst forth, but in that instant, I was stunned—a shadow, black and formless, erupted from his spine. A hand clamped down on my sword, its mouth gaping wide, and in a flash, the fire on my blade was devoured.
"Qingyuan, let go!" Huang Jun’s voice came from behind me. I instantly released my grip, and the Phoenix Blade turned to ash, vanishing into the air. In that split second, I caught a glimpse of Huang Jun’s massive fist swinging at Old One-Eye—but I also saw something blue in his left hand, like a talisman.
A resounding crash—Huang Jun’s fist was intercepted by the ghost that had erupted from behind Old One-Eye. It gripped his hand tightly, its lips curled in a wicked ninety-degree smile.
"Seal..." Suddenly, Huang Jun whipped out the blue talisman and slapped it onto the ghost’s forehead, shouting. He swung his fist again at Old One-Eye, landing a solid blow to his chest. Old One-Eye stared at us with a strange look as he was sent flying. I raised the Phoenix Blade, which had reformed in my hand, its flames now swirling into the shape of a fiery phoenix.
A deafening screech rang out as the flaming phoenix shot toward Old One-Eye, striking him midair. In that instant, I saw him suddenly raise his right hand and pull off his eye patch.
"Ghost Lair, devour him..."
A stream of black vapor suddenly appeared, swirling out from Old One-Eye’s right eye. I watched in shock as the flaming phoenix was instantly sucked away. The black vapor retreated back into his eye, and he pulled the patch over it again.
Old One-Eye steadied himself, rage burning in his gaze as he looked at us. Then, he burst into loud laughter.
"Not bad, Hu Tianshuo, is it? You managed to seal my ghost in an instant, and then the two of you attacked me together. I almost lost control and opened the Ghost Lair. Tsk, it’s a bad habit—I always want to open the Ghost Lair when I get angry... Heh heh, it’s true..."
"Old One-Eye, let me handle this. I won’t hold back this time." Starbane said, stepping forward.
"It’s been a long time since I’ve had this much fun. Heh heh, let me play with these kids for a while."
I clenched the Phoenix Blade, my palm slick with sweat. Just as Hu Tianshuo said, we didn’t stand a chance. That blue talisman was a Ghost-Sealing Talisman; though it only worked for a moment, it sealed the ghost on Old One-Eye, letting us slip through—but the gap in strength was just too great.
"Qingyuan, think of a way—run!" Hu Tianshuo shouted. I turned and bolted, igniting the flames once more and slashing at empty space. A massive burst of fire erupted, splitting the air, and I saw the withered trees outside.
The three of us dashed toward the opening.
"Where do you think you’re going?"
Suddenly, Old One-Eye appeared before us. I raised the Phoenix Blade, Huang Jun swung his fist at him.
A dull thud—Huang Jun cried out in surprise. I saw his fist, his forearm twisted by Old One-Eye’s ghost.
"Want to test your strength? My Nightmare Wraith won’t lose to you."
I raised the Phoenix Blade and attacked, but a black shadow flashed before my eyes. Dizziness overwhelmed me, my mouth filled with a salty taste, and I was thrown aside.
With a crash, I hit the ground. Clutching my mouth, I realized the Phoenix Blade had slipped from my grasp. When I looked up, I saw Huang Jun hoisting something in the air, his neck tightly gripped by the Nightmare Wraith. Hu Tianshuo lay beside me, his shirt torn at the chest.
After getting up, Hu Tianshuo adjusted his glasses with a faint smile, his face unchanged. We had fallen not far from The Gallows. Huang Jun was still struggling, while Old One-Eye smiled, savoring the moment.
I scrambled to my feet, shaking off the dizziness, ready to charge again, but Hu Tianshuo stopped me.
"Qingyuan, what do you think is most important to the people of the Ghost Syndicate right now?"
I didn’t understand—at a time like this, Hu Tianshuo was still analyzing calmly. Suddenly, he turned and charged at the rear, and I stared in disbelief at his actions.
"Qingyuan, go get the woman up there."
Hu Tianshuo shouted, and I followed. Huang Jun roared, and all around us, the Ghost Syndicate members seemed to realize something. I drew the Phoenix Blade—it was probably my last bit of strength—and summoned a massive flaming phoenix, sending it flying toward The Gallows. The blaze lit up the sky.
With a thunderous crash, the flaming phoenix struck Jing Le, and in an instant, the chains binding her shattered.
The Ghost Syndicate members rushed over, and in the chaos, all the ghosts were released.
"Don’t move, or you’ll never get what you want!"
Hu Tianshuo barked the order, and instantly, everyone in the Ghost Syndicate froze. The released ghosts also stopped, hovering in midair.
As the firelight faded, I saw Hu Tianshuo had pulled Jing Le in front of him, a pistol pressed to her forehead.
"What are you doing?" I shouted in shock. But then I remembered Hu Tianshuo’s earlier shout and realized I had just attacked Jing Le. On any other day, I’d never dare, but Jing Le is human—my Yang-flame can’t hurt her.
A muffled thud—Huang Jun was tossed aside, landing next to us. He coughed violently, tears streaming down his face, and a clear black handprint stood out on his slightly green skin.
"Kid, what do you think you’re doing?" One of the Ghost Syndicate members bellowed, pulling back his hood.
"Not planning anything. Qingyuan, Huang Jun, get over here." Hu Tianshuo said, and Huang Jun and I stumbled to his side as he looked left and right.
"You two, block for me. If you try anything fancy, I’ll kill this woman in an instant. Then, the Wooden Contract Stone you want will never be yours."
Old One-Eye burst out laughing, his voice booming. He strode toward us, waving his hand, and the Ghost Syndicate members returned to their original positions.
"Not bad, Hu Tianshuo. When did you come up with this plan?"
Old One-Eye asked, stopping about ten meters away from us. Hu Tianshuo smiled faintly as he replied.
"Since you captured Jing Le, you must want something from her. If you could just take it, you wouldn’t have waited a whole day. So, you’re forced to wait, and Jing Le has to be alive for you to get it. That’s why, for the Ghost Syndicate, she’s the most important thing right now."