Felix Zhou's exposed upper body was covered in more than half black spots—distinct, cloud-like clusters. After stripping off his coat, I could see everything clearly.
"This must be the work of Curse Killing. What exactly did the ghost that raised you do to you?"
Felix Zhou's bare torso radiated waves of Curse Killing power from those black spots. If he were an ordinary person, this curse would have killed him countless times over already.
"It's nothing. That guy raised me—he's my adoptive father."
"Tell me, what exactly is the Outcast Village, and what's inside it?"
I asked again, but Felix Zhou just laughed.
"I've told you, Ethan Zhang. Since you have your reasons, I have mine. I won't let anyone disturb the peace of the Outcast Village."
Suddenly, the black curse marks on Felix Zhou's body began to shift and gather, slowly emerging from his flesh. Bit by bit, they coalesced into the form of a lion, which roared and lunged at me.
"It's a curse technique—don't get close."
In my mind, the Curse Ghost's voice rang out immediately. Curse Killing is far more complex than any other ghostly power. Its forms are varied, and if you're hit, it's a real problem. Even though I possess Curse Killing power myself, if I get caught, the energy in my body will only fuel the curse, making things much worse.
I shouted and floated into the air, immediately raising Belle and slashing several times. Only by unleashing even stronger Curse Killing power could I offset it.
But at that moment, I saw Felix Zhou smile. He raised his hand, and suddenly clenched it into a fist.
With a snap, my two streams of Curse Killing power hit nothing. The charging lion dissolved into mist-like fragments, bypassing my defenses and enveloping me. Instantly, I felt an unknown force forcibly invading my body.
With a thud, I crashed to the ground, my limbs refusing to obey. My ghostly energy, like a flood, poured uncontrollably from my back. Flames ignited on one of my hands.
What form of Curse Killing is this? I began to ponder. My power had become wildly chaotic, the spirits within me surging like the sea, all kinds of forces spilling out uncontrollably.
“Don’t waste your energy, Ethan Zhang. The form of this Curse Killing is impossible for you to discern in such a short time.”
Suddenly, with a rush, the Curse Ghost flew out of my body. One hand landed on Felix Zhou’s shoulder.
“Curse Killing Countermeasure...”
With a bang, Felix Zhou’s eyes widened, staring at the Curse Ghost.
“What is this...”
Felix Zhou was thrown back, lying on the ground. The chaotic energy within me began to repair itself.
“Thank you, Curse Ghost.”
I said, fully aware that it was the Curse Ghost who had helped me.
How could a human perform Curse Killing of this magnitude?
The Curse Ghost stared intently at Felix Zhou, blood constantly seeping from his mouth. I had recovered a little and stood up.
“Is it over?”
At that moment, a voice sounded—Cecilia Yi and Duan Wentian floated over together.
“You’re here, Miss Yi.”
Felix Zhou got up, clutching his shoulder, which was marked by a large red stain.
“Heh, looks like I’ve lost. There’s nothing I can do—do what you will. Just the same, don’t disturb the peace of the Outcast Village again, or things will escalate.”
Isabelle Frost walked over slowly and waved her hand. With a clear ring, the red mark on Felix Zhou’s shoulder vanished instantly. He stared at Isabelle in astonishment.
“No matter how things escalate, I’ll handle it. Tell us—where is the entrance to the Outcast Village?”
Isabelle Frost spoke coldly.
“Heh, Miss, you’re so powerful—even without showing your strength, I know you far surpass those two by thousands of times. Still, no matter how strong you are, it won’t help. The Man-Eating Outcast Village has been dormant for 14 years. As long as no one from Harmony Village goes there, tragedy won’t strike again.”
“By ‘tragedy,’ you mean people vanish?”
Felix Zhou nodded.
“So what does that have to do with us? Even if everyone here disappears, it means nothing to us ghosts, does it?”
I walked over.
“Miss Yi, this...”
“Isn’t that so, Ethan Zhang? Don’t forget, you’re already dead. The affairs of the living, the concerns of others—what do they matter to you? Are you trying to save your friend, or a stranger?”
I lowered my head and looked at Isabelle Frost in silence.
“Isn’t this a contradiction? Heh, Ethan Zhang, you’re interesting. Still, if you don’t listen, you’ll end up like the 31 people thirteen years ago—never to return.”
“Weren’t there 32? Wasn’t there a Nether Syndicate operative too?”
I immediately replied, but Felix Zhou shook his head.
“There weren’t 32, only 31. I remember clearly—they entered the Outcast Village. As for the extra person, I don’t know.”
My heart skipped a beat. There was definitely a Nether Syndicate operative among them. But then, I realized—if that person went in, why did he come out, and how did he bring back the missing report?
“Do as you wish.”
Finally, Felix Zhou stood up and led us into the village.
After bypassing Nameless Lake, Felix Zhou led us down a central path. We followed him, walking slowly.
We arrived at a mountain wall. Felix Zhou stopped, walked over, and took out a small vial of dark red liquid—blood, glistening in the night.
This chapter isn’t finished yet~.~ Please click ‘Next Page’ to continue reading the exciting content!
“To find the entrance, you need blood from the Zhou Clan of Harmony Village.”
Felix Zhou twisted open the vial and dripped blood onto the mountain wall. Gradually, the wall vanished, revealing an open space identical to the one we’d seen before, with two totems standing in the clearing.
We walked over and looked at the clearing. At that moment, I noticed something—a rusty flashlight, belonging to the Harmony Village chief from fourteen years ago. I picked it up and examined it for a while.
“Next, wait until midnight on December 31st. Then, you’ll see the entrance. I’ll keep watch so no one wanders in—once you enter, you’ll never come out.”
“Mr. Zhou, please tell us—what’s inside?”
I immediately asked, but Felix Zhou just smiled.
“I don’t know what’s inside. The ghost who raised me witnessed the Man-Eating Outcast Village centuries ago. Out of curiosity, he comes every thirteen years to watch. No one who enters ever returns, and he tried to find a way to break the curse, but failed. What’s in that village is a mystery. The only thing certain is that anyone—human or ghost—who goes in, never comes out. Think carefully.”
“What happened fourteen years ago? Was it you who gave the Missing Persons Register to the Ghost Burial Squad?”
Felix Zhou shook his head.
“No, I didn’t. The register was stolen on my way back—probably by someone from the Immortality Society. As for the rest, I don’t know. My adoptive father might, but he won’t come here while you’re around.”
With that, Felix Zhou turned to leave.
“Doesn’t matter.”
Isabelle Frost replied coldly, staring at the two totems.
“No matter what’s inside, as long as the matter with John Chou is resolved, that’s enough.”
A faint smile appeared on Isabelle Frost’s lips. I didn’t know what promise she had with her brother, but her eagerness to resolve this made it clear things were bad for John Chou.
We decided to wait here until the night of January 1st.
Finally, it was 11:50 PM on the 31st—ten minutes to go. The entrance to the Outcast Village should open soon. Over these days, I’d asked Felix Zhou about the details. His conversations with the chief were odd, as if he knew everything but claimed ignorance.
Isabelle Frost didn’t plan to ask. She intended to enter the Outcast Village and solve everything inside.
With questions lingering, I stared at the two totems and kept checking my phone. Time crept toward 11:59—just seconds until New Year’s Day.
The village was already bustling—fireworks erupted and lively voices echoed in waves.
“Almost time, Miss Yi.”
I spoke, still watching the time on my phone. At midnight, Victor Duan shot off toward the distance.
“I won’t be joining you, you two. Good luck.”
I responded, and he flew away. Just then, the airflow I’d seen in the mirror’s reflection appeared—a giant, man-eating mouth emerged, and inside, a dilapidated village was visible. Isabelle Frost and I rushed forward, but strangely, the airflow couldn’t affect us. Everything before our eyes felt like an illusion.
At that moment, Isabelle Frost suddenly pulled out a small vial, opened it—it was blood. She drank a little, then handed it to me. Her figure blurred before me, as if she’d been sucked into the airflow.
I drank it too, and suddenly felt an overwhelming pull. My consciousness began to blur.