At that moment, my stomach started growling again. The house was almost tidied up, and Hong Shi, looking rather embarrassed, helped me clean. Right now, I desperately wanted to call Rachel Lan.
But in reality, whether it was a cell phone or a landline, nothing from the Ghost Burial Squad could get through. I had no idea what the current situation was.
The most urgent issue right now was with Huangfu Ruofei. Plus, the Eastern Emperor had said their target was Lantern. I’d already discussed this with Wei Lao.
"Qingyuan, if they're after Lantern, it's not that simple. Don't let his silly looks fool you. If a fight breaks out, heh, even ten Blue Wraiths at my level wouldn't stand a chance."
Wei Lao had just finished speaking when I was taken aback. Wei Lao was a Blue Wraith over a hundred years old and could already manifest his ghost soul. Compared to Cao Wanzhi, he was far stronger. For him to say something like that, I couldn't help but notice.
Lantern grinned foolishly, his tongue hanging long, squatting in front of the bathtub in the living room, tongue pressed against its side, staring at the goldfish swimming inside.
"Hey, don't go breaking the bathtub."
Lantern turned his head without a word, gave a goofy smile, and nodded.
Just then, there was a thumping at the door. All of us looked over in confusion. I was cooking noodles, so I quickly shifted into ghost form and used the ghost network to sense outside the door, but felt nothing.
"Little girl, go open the door."
Wei Lao spoke and immediately stood up. Lantern was still staring at the red goldfish swimming in the tank, showing no reaction at all.
Outside the door, I could sense the Eastern Emperor's presence, but he didn't knock. Rose Harper ran over and opened the door, and I rushed after her, clenching my fists.
"What's wrong, brother? Not happy to see me at your place?"
It was John Chou, standing at the door with a half-smile. The Eastern Emperor stood beside him, alert, watching John Chou closely.
"Why are you here? I heard from Yuna Ji and the others that you went out shopping."
I said, and Rose Harper stepped aside. John Chou walked in, and the Eastern Emperor tried to follow.
"Stop right there. Who said you could come in?"
With a bang, Rose Harper slammed the door shut.
John Chou made himself at home, casually sitting on the sofa and crossing his legs.
"Brother, come with me somewhere. It's not like we've got anything else to do right now."
John Chou suddenly spoke up, and I let out a surprised sound.
"The Immortality Society people are about to arrive. Where are we going?"
I asked, and John Chou smiled and looked at me.
"Just follow me and you'll see. When the Immortality Society shows up, there are things that need to be done. Trust me, this time it's not going to be easy. Those guys have done plenty during the chaos."
John Chou said, and I stared at him in surprise, quickly asking:
"What exactly are they planning?"
John Chou stood up from the sofa, smiled, walked over to me, and patted my shoulder.
"Brother, let's go. Without you, what I want to do next won't succeed. Come on."
John Chou looked at me seriously, then walked toward the door. I wanted to ask more, but instead, I nodded and looked at Wei Lao.
"Go with peace of mind, Qingyuan. We've got things covered here."
I followed John Chou out the door. The Eastern Emperor looked at me anxiously.
"Ethan Zhang, where are you going?"
"None of your business, heh."
John Chou immediately replied. The Eastern Emperor said nothing more. I followed John Chou, and with a whoosh, he flew straight through the wall. I spread my wings and followed him out.
"Where to?" I asked while floating in the air. John Chou pointed into the distance.
"Just follow me, brother."
With that, John Chou turned into a streak of red light and shot upward. I hurriedly beat my wings and followed. He was fast—I had no idea where he was taking me, but I trusted him and kept up.
I still didn’t know where John Chou was leading me. I just kept following. The sky was starting to lighten, the horizon turning pale. John Chou’s lips always held a sly smile.
Gradually, I realized our destination was Grimhill Cemetery—the one where Mr. Brown resides.
"John Chou, are you going to see Mr. Brown?"
I immediately called out. John Chou turned around and smiled.
"Something like that, brother. After all, the Immortality Society has released a certain someone this time, heh."
With that, John Chou sped up again, and I hurried to catch up.
Soon, after the clouds at the horizon turned red, John Chou and I arrived at Grimhill Cemetery and landed. The place looked the same as always—no fog yet, and the morning air was especially fresh. I looked around while John Chou landed and strolled about leisurely.
"Mr. Brown, what’s this? We came all the way here and you won’t even show yourself?" John Chou shouted, his voice echoing across Grimhill Cemetery.
"Young master, please go back."
Suddenly, a deep, aged voice rang out—it was Mr. Brown. John Chou smiled, plopped down, and a black chair appeared. He sat down, lounging comfortably, chin in hand, grinning at everything around him.
"It's been years, Mr. Brown. Here I am, with you again. And this time, none of this is my fault—I haven’t done a thing."
John Chou kept shouting. I finally understood why he’d come here, but Mr. Brown didn’t respond. A long time passed in silence.
"Brother, do you realize the Immortality Society has taken advantage of the chaos to abduct over a hundred people?"
I stared at John Chou in surprise. Over a hundred people?
"Heh, brother, you should know this. Ironmask destroyed one of the Immortality Society's research bases. Not a single test subject survived. To make up for that huge loss, the Immortality Society has already abducted over a hundred people during this chaos."
My mind buzzed as I looked at John Chou.
"The chaos will last a long time, brother. What will you do? Besides, this time the Immortality Society released someone specifically to hold back the Ghost Sovereigns. The only one who can deal with that guy in the living world is Mr. Brown."
I looked at John Chou in astonishment.
"Even Redmond can't do anything?"
John Chou shook his head.
"Redmond isn’t an attacker. He has his ways, but that would only make things worse. This time, the Immortality Society is determined to get what they want, and everyone else in the supernatural world is just watching. Brother, don’t you want to solve this?"
I nodded. All this chaos had left me at my wit’s end. I still didn’t know what the Immortality Society really wanted.
"So, brother, you’d better ask Mr. Brown for help. If you can persuade him, there’s a way out of this."
John Chou smiled. I glanced around, called out, then lowered my head.
"Mr. Brown, please, help me."
I’d seen Mr. Brown’s power before. Against hundreds from the Ghost Mound and a dozen Blue Wraiths, he settled it all with a single blow. He’s stronger than John Chou is now.
"Did you hear that, Mr. Brown? Are you really going to stand by and do nothing? Look at Ethan Zhang—such a good young man. If this goes on, tragedy will strike. Are you just going to watch it happen?"
John Chou kept talking, but Mr. Brown still didn’t respond.
"Heh, Mr. Brown, I didn’t expect you to be so coldhearted now. Fine, I’ll be the one collecting Ethan Zhang’s body when it’s all over, since you’re so determined."
John Chou said, stood up, walked over, and patted my shoulder.
"Brother, I can’t save you this time. I’m no match for those guys."
John Chou said, and I looked at him in surprise.
"Let’s go, brother. That old man’s set in his ways. No matter what, it’s useless to beg him."
John Chou spoke, his whole body glowing red as he floated up, looking ready to leave. I stood frozen. What he said was true—only Mr. Brown could help now. Everyone else in the supernatural world seemed to be ignoring the chaos, letting the Immortality Society run wild.
"Mr. Brown, do you remember Cao Wanzhi? Back then, you spared his Blue Wraith, didn’t kill it. I met him before, and I remember you said it was because he was a good man. The Immortality Society has done so much wrong—they drag people into darkness. Mr. Brown, please, help me."
I shouted again, but after a long time, Mr. Brown still didn’t respond.
"What exactly did the Immortality Society release?"
I looked at John Chou and asked.
"Heh, it’s something they spent years developing, designed specifically to target ghosts. Brother, it’s far more dangerous than you think. Its only purpose is to kill ghosts."
John Chou said, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Young master..."
With a voice, I saw Mr. Brown appear before us, dressed in a white elder’s shirt and black cloth shoes, looking solemnly at John Chou hovering in the air.
"Young master, when will you stop playing everyone for fools? Others may not know, but I do. Young master, you know exactly who released that thing, don’t you? Wasn’t it you?"