It's been several days since we returned to H City. During this time, Agent Seven and I have been accompanying Entity 001 everywhere, indulging in all sorts of entertainment. She seems almost manic—playing outside every day, then coming back to the hotel, eating, and immediately collapsing into sleep, as if trying to expend all the energy she couldn't use during those years spent lying in bed.
Even Agent Seven is starting to get worn out. I, on the other hand, feel fine—the Law of Karma is now sealed within my instincts. But after checking myself these past few days, I discovered something surprising.
The power of the Law of Karma within me is slowly fading, disappearing for reasons unknown. For me, this is certainly a good thing, but I have no idea why it's happening.
"What's going on over there?"
Agent Seven asked, smoking by the window. I walked over. Entity 001 was showering in the bathroom, having just finished lunch and already planning to go out again.
I looked out. From our high-rise hotel, we could see clearly into the distance—a mass of cloud-like darkness covered the southern sky, right near the university district.
Both Agent Seven and Entity 001 were born able to see ghosts and other filth, but lately, their vision has grown sharper. Beneath that dark cloud lies a world where humans and ghosts coexist. It’s also the last legacy left by Zhang Qingyuan in the living world—his Ghost Domain.
Previously, the Earthly Soul tried to claim Zhang Qingyuan’s Ghost Domain, but the domain refused and remained near the university district, at Zhang Qingyuan’s old apartment building. That place hasn’t changed at all.
What puzzles me is why, after coming back this time, the black aura above the apartment is even bigger—like a swirling vortex of grayish light.
Soon, Entity 001 came out, toweling her damp hair, wrapped in a bath towel.
"Today I want to check out Jiulong Plaza. The latest clothes just arrived at the mall over there."
Entity 001 said this, but I shook my head.
"Sorry, 001. Let's go tomorrow. I have to be somewhere today."
Entity 001 immediately ran over, but she saw the area covered by the gray-black clouds across from us. She wanted to say something but stopped, noticing my serious expression.
"It's rare to see you make that kind of face."
I grunted in response. After 001 finished drying her hair, we went out. I drove as usual. The roads were congested because it was the weekend. After nearly two hours, we'd only covered about thirty kilometers—it was a hassle getting to the university district.
"I really didn't expect you to remember not just how to drive, but even the traffic rules."
I smiled, looking out the window. People kept honking impatiently, wanting to move faster, but when someone stalled at an intersection, traffic quickly jammed up.
We finally got onto a slightly less crowded road. I sped up, and within half an hour, we reached the outskirts of the university district. Groups of students came out of the campus gates, making weekend plans together.
I still remembered there was a parking lot nearby. The way there took us through a maze of crowded streets, but it was less than ten kilometers and only half an hour's walk.
After parking the car, the three of us started walking. I knew these streets better than anyone—intimately familiar. In my memory, Zhang Qingyuan’s college years were probably his happiest, carefree days. Every day was joyful.
I glanced at the universities along the street—I'd been inside many of them. Soon, Entity 001 was drawn in by the street food. She was about to buy something at a snack shop when I stopped her.
"That place isn’t very good, and it’s overpriced. I’ll take you to a better snack shop."
Soon, I led them down a small side street to a bustling snack shop. After a long wait, we finally got our food. Both Entity 001 and Agent Seven were delighted and surprised—the shop looked shabby and tiny, but the food was unexpectedly delicious.
"I know everything about this place."
From what I remember, Zhang Qingyuan had worked part-time at many small shops along these streets since his freshman year. Lots of locals knew him.
After they finished eating, I said we’d stay here tonight. There was no rush to head over—I planned to go to the apartment building later. For some reason, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia.
By now, I’d changed my appearance. Only Entity 001 and Agent Seven could see my real face—everyone else on the street couldn’t. Zhang Qingyuan still had many acquaintances in the area.
Many shops near the university district had been open for over ten years with the same owners. As long as the food wasn’t terrible, business was always good.
As dusk approached, I took them to a spicy hotpot restaurant. The broth was excellent, the food fresh and varied, and the prices reasonable. The place was packed.
After watching the two of them enjoy their meal, we got up and left. I only had a little alcohol.
"It was so good—why didn’t you eat?"
Entity 001 asked, puzzled. I smiled and shook my head.
Gradually, the sun set and the streets grew livelier. We kept walking. In the distance, I could already see the road leading to the apartment building. But to ordinary people, that place now appeared as a mountain—the Ghost Domain’s power had twisted everyone’s memories.
To Entity 001 and Agent Seven, the road was clearly there, but it was shrouded in a thin layer of gray mist. Normal people couldn’t enter; all they saw and felt was a mountain.
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To the left was the street of bars where Zhang Qingyuan worked most often, and also Zhang Hao’s favorite spot. The three of us took advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention and walked straight over.
"No road?"
Entity 001 glanced back in confusion—behind us was a mountain. I smiled and nodded. We’d entered Zhang Qingyuan’s Ghost Domain. Sure enough, I saw many people living in the block in front of the apartment building—most could see ghosts, or had someone they missed among the dead. Only those who’d heard of this strange place could come here, and only then could they enter.
In front of the apartment building was the world of the living; behind it, the world of ghosts. The noise from the ghost side kept drifting over.
We kept walking. This street wasn’t exactly desolate in the past—there were fireworks shops and snack stands, frequented by locals. It wasn’t as bustling as the university district, but it wasn’t rundown either.
This Ghost Domain was born from Zhang Qingyuan’s will. It’s incomplete, yet its power is whole. Even now, I still don’t understand how that’s possible.
Ever since the Ghost Domain fully formed, the place began to distort. After a while, we reached a small slope—at the top was the apartment building, surrounded by blooming cherry trees, their trunks standing tall throughout the courtyard.
"It’s beautiful."
Entity 001 called out, then ran ahead with a smile. But she quickly started shivering—the courtyard was filled with an intense, chilling cold.
I raised my hand. Instantly, a thin white layer appeared over Entity 001 and Agent Seven, and they stopped feeling the cold. I led them through the cherry grove to a small pavilion, sat down, and found a kettle and teacups inside. I made myself a cup of tea.
"We should hurry back—there’s no one here, it’s creepy as hell."
Entity 001 said, but I smiled and told them to sit for now. I had somewhere to go. With a whoosh, I appeared at the door of Room 410.
With a creak, I pushed open the door. Everything inside was exactly as Zhang Qingyuan had left it.
"Can you come out and talk?"
I muttered, and gradually, a wisp of black flame appeared on Zhang Qingyuan’s bed. The flame slowly formed into a humanoid shape, growing more and more like Zhang Qingyuan—except it was just a silhouette, the whole body grayish and eerily strange.
"I didn’t expect it to be you. Why did you come back here? Are you here to inherit Zhang Qingyuan’s power?"
I shook my head.
"I just wanted to ask why this place keeps getting colder, to the point it’s affecting everything in the living world."
The Zhang Qingyuan before me shook his head.
"There’s no master here anymore. I can’t control anything, can’t do anything—because I have no name."
I grunted. Most ghost domains belonging to powerful ghosts have their own names, but this one never did. Since it was born inside Zhang Qingyuan, it never had a name. I never asked him, but I knew he didn’t even realize ghost domains needed names—a name signifies the owner’s recognition of the domain itself.
This is a crucial detail. It’s clear this Ghost Domain has developed self-awareness, but knows its master is gone and can’t control anything, only letting things unfold.
"I came here to tell you: Zhang Qingyuan will return. Don’t be sad or angry, because when he comes back, he’ll need your strength."
The figure before me widened its eyes, then nodded slightly, slowly dissolving into a wisp of flame and vanishing.
I don’t know what the Earthly Soul did when he came here, but I suspect he told the Ghost Domain that Zhang Qingyuan was dead and he was taking over. That’s why the domain became sad and angry, and its power grew colder and darker.