Arriving at the scene just after 6 a.m., police lights flashed across the chaos—a lakeside path strewn with debris, and several weeping willows had already fallen.
It was blood. As soon as I stepped closer, a thick stench of blood hit me. I covered my nose and moved forward a bit, and in that instant, I was stunned. The ground before me was torn open by a massive crater; the entire path was full of pits and cracks, stone slabs jutting out as if a fierce battle had taken place.
"Sigh, it's a brutal scene."
Just as I reached the edge of the police line, Detective Stone, smoking a cigarette, spoke up.
"Want to go in and take a look, Zhang? The Nether Syndicate's people are truly tenacious."
I stepped over the police line and entered. Instantly, my eyes widened. In the pit lay a corpse, mangled and charred, its left hand missing, a large chunk of flesh gone from its neck, but its right hand was raised high, eyes wide open, staring straight ahead.
Hugh Thompson and his team were clearing the area. Rachel Lan and Vivian Ouyang were also present.
"The Nether Syndicate—truly formidable. They'd rather die than surrender, even in death making such a spectacle."
Hugh Thompson spoke as he stepped into the pit, trying to move the corpse. But after quite a while, it seemed stiff as stone, impossible to lay flat.
"It's the Nether Syndicate's self-destruction technique," Rachel Lan explained as she came over, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Members of the Nether Syndicate, if they can't subdue a Wraith, would never wait for the ghost to strike. They'd rather go down together than let a ghost kill them."
Vivian Ouyang said as she came over to help. After seven or eight people struggled together, they finally managed to lay the Nether Syndicate member's body flat and bag it.
"We've already contacted the Nether Syndicate. I heard this guy was out on a mission."
Hugh Thompson spoke, sitting on the edge of the pit and lighting a cigarette.
"Zhang, did you dream this time?" Detective Stone came over and asked. I shook my head.
The last two times, I dreamed of the crime scene, but this time, I didn't dream at all.
"Just like before, there's not even a trace of ghostly presence here."
Hugh Thompson said, and Vivian Ouyang nodded.
"That's right. There have been several cases of Wraith attacks here. There should be a Wraith around, but I haven't sensed anything."
"Zhang, if you learn anything, please let us know right away. The incidents these past few months have been highly unusual. To this day, we still can't tell if it's people or ghosts behind them."
Rachel Lan and I sat in the car, planning to grab something to eat. It was already seven o'clock.
Suddenly, the sound of leather boots rang out. I saw Damian Chen, expressionless, walking toward us. As he passed our car, he shot me a sharp look, then headed for the scene.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, the scene became noisy. Rachel Lan and I walked back over.
Members of the Ghost Burial Squad surrounded Damian Chen.
"Move aside, trash."
Damian Chen said coldly.
"This case is now under the Ghost Burial Squad's jurisdiction. What do you want? The body needs to be taken back for examination."
"No need. Move."
As Damian Chen spoke, he suddenly reached out, putting a hand to Hugh Thompson's chest.
Suddenly, the situation was about to spiral out of control. Members of the Ghost Burial Squad crowded around, ready to fight.
"Everyone, stand down!" Detective Stone shouted, walking over.
"Damian Chen, the victim this time is one of your Nether Syndicate people. Since it's happened, we, the Ghost Burial Squad, just want to take the body back for proper examination."
Just as I was about to step forward, Rachel Lan grabbed me.
"Don't go, Ethan. Look closely—the Nether Syndicate member has already cast a spell."
I focused my gaze, and sure enough, something seemed to be flowing in the pit. I was just about to shout.
"Qi, Ji, all things rise under pressure and can be recorded if they have form. Fire gives birth to earth, flows..." Suddenly, I saw Damian Chen's fingers splay open. A buzz rang in my head, and Rachel Lan yanked me back, running for cover.
In an instant, the Ghost Burial Squad members collapsed to the ground, as if drained of strength.
"You punk, what did you do?"
"Later, just rub some leaves on your body and you'll recover."
Damian Chen turned to look at Rachel Lan and me. Vivian Ouyang stood nearby, smiling with idle amusement.
"You lot, let him do whatever he wants. You know how arrogant the Nether Syndicate people are. Now you've suffered for it. If you can't handle them, don't pick a fight."
"It's earth energy. He used a spell so that everyone in the pit was exposed to earth qi, throwing their bodies' Five Elements out of balance. That's why their limbs are weak. Wood overcomes earth, so using leaves can restore the balance."
I stared at Rachel Lan in surprise—she explained it so clearly. At that moment, even Damian Chen looked over, equally surprised.
Damian Chen then walked to the body bag, opened it, and lifted out the corpse. For a moment, sorrow flickered across his face. He took off his gloves, revealing pitch-black hands, and laid them flat on the corpse.
"Dust to dust, earth to earth. Wood gives birth to fire, flame kills, rage ends, molten fire..." Suddenly, purple flames erupted from Damian Chen's hands.
"It's the Heavenfire Incantation..." Rachel Lan exclaimed.
Damian Chen raised his hands over the corpse, and the body was enveloped in purple flames.
"Dust transforms, fallen leaves converge, unity and separation..."
With a thunderous roar, the corpse wrapped in purple flames slowly vanished, black smoke swirling away. Suddenly, Damian Chen reached out and snapped off a small piece of black bone, pulled a red ribbon from his pocket, tied it into a bow around the bone, and gripped it tightly in his hand.
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The entire corpse had vanished.
Damian Chen put on his gloves, closed his eyes in devotion, and knelt down.
"May you find peace in the afterlife, and in your next life, be free from the torment of ghosts and gods. Farewell, my comrade..."
Damian Chen stood up, his black coat billowing in the wind. Step by step, he walked away, eyes full of resolve.
"Whether man or ghost, I will find them."
Before leaving, Damian Chen spoke, his voice tinged with sorrow. On this willow-lined street, his figure slowly faded into the distance.
After helping the Ghost Burial Squad recover, we drove to a noodle shop. Rachel Lan's face looked troubled.
"Everyone in the Nether Syndicate has a tragic past," Rachel Lan said.
I nodded. Mrs. Blake and the others had said that the Nether Syndicate people are special, all driven by hatred for ghosts. The deeper their hatred, the stronger their arts become.
I also remembered that night, when Damian Chen and Quentin Yin fought to a standstill. Damian tried to use the Dragonshift Ritual, but Yuna Ji stopped him, asking if he didn't want to avenge his sister and brother.
"Everyone who joins the Nether Syndicate carries deep hatred for ghosts and undergoes harsh training. That's why they're so formidable."
Rachel Lan spoke as the noodles arrived. I took a bite.
"Although I really dislike the Nether Syndicate, I doubt anyone chooses to be born this way."
In my mind, I recalled that night at the hospital, when Susan Li was nearly killed by a Wraith. Damian Chen showed up and, without hesitation, took down the Ghost Syndicate members and then destroyed the Wraith without mercy.
Damian Chen is one of the Zodiac Twelve in the Nether Syndicate—he must be this generation's inheritor.
Rachel Lan suddenly said this, and I looked at her in surprise.
The so-called Zodiac Twelve are the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Damian Chen is the Dragon Zodiac. Every generation, the Nether Syndicate selects twelve inheritors, all fierce and ruthless toward ghosts. Their code is absolute: any ghost they encounter must be destroyed, no exceptions. It's a harsh doctrine!
I nodded.
"Especially now that a Nether Syndicate member has been killed, I fear there will be major action soon."
Rachel Lan spoke gravely. I made a sound of acknowledgment, and after finishing my bowl of noodles, she suggested we return to my apartment building.
Without thinking much, I returned the car to Vivian Ouyang and rode back to my place in her car.
"No, you few—since you're ghosts, if you don't keep training, those Taoist priests and monks will deal with you easily. You must keep honing your ghostly essence. If you get caught this easily, try again."
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Sima Ying floating in the air, while the other three female ghosts stood below in a row, looking helpless.
"What are you all doing?"
"Brother Qingyuan, this sister wants us to learn a few things—like how to fight back against those Taoist priests and monks."
After returning to the room, Rachel Lan took out a small packet of something that looked like tea and began brewing it.
"Qingyuan, drink it."
I made a surprised sound and took the cup filled with bright red tea.
"What is this?"
"It's for calming the mind. Drink it and you'll fall asleep quickly. Maybe you'll see Ironmask again."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, raised the cup, and took a small sip. It tasted pretty good.
"Stop drinking, Qingyuan." Suddenly, Yuna Ji emerged from the wall, glaring at Rachel Lan.
"Young lady, you gave Qingyuan this drink, but I suspect you put sleeping pills in it."
I spat out my tea, blinking at Rachel Lan.
Rachel Lan smiled awkwardly.
"Even though Qingyuan isn't human anymore, you want him to sleep and dream? That won't work. Go find those two old couples in the Nether Syndicate. I remember they have a Dreamcalling Rite that's very effective."
We then left the apartment building. I looked at Rachel Lan with resentment—she actually gave me sleeping meds.
"Qingyuan, I'm sorry. I just want to find the culprit quickly. It's not sleeping pills, it's a calming medicine—it won't..."
"Let's go. We'll find a way."