"Thank you for your hard work, Samantha."
Half a month later, Samantha Chen was released from the cell. Kenneth Lane personally came to greet her. The Mortuary House she repaired greatly satisfied the Guo family, and the body of the County Magistrate was also found.
"Hey, Samantha, did you hear anything strange that night?"
Kenneth Lane pulled Samantha Chen into the corner, winking mischievously. Samantha shook her head in confusion.
"Let me tell you, the body of the County Magistrate was burned a few days ago. It had turned into a revenant."
Samantha immediately burst out laughing, shaking her head.
"Mr. Lane, did you have a nightmare last night?"
Insisting, Samantha Chen made Kenneth Lane accompany her to the Mortuary House, as some work was still unfinished.
"Samantha, they're already satisfied. You still..."
As soon as they arrived, Samantha Chen grabbed her tools and got to work, smiling and shaking her head.
"Other people's satisfaction is their business. My work isn't finished yet."
Kenneth Lane left helplessly, saying that a wealthy family in the city was planning to build a new mansion. He promised to introduce her after his work was done in a few days.
Finally, when the work was done, Samantha Chen had some free time. Tomorrow would be her last day. She drank wine and sat in quiet contemplation, feeling something odd about her time in the cell.
I watched quietly from the side. During her time in the cell, Samantha ate meat and drank wine every day. It hardly seemed like imprisonment—more like indulgence.
"Who could it be?"
Samantha Chen grew puzzled, but soon her eyes widened.
"Could it be Father?"
But Samantha quickly shook her head.
"Impossible. Father has been missing for ten years, not a word since. If he's really in the city, that's a headache."
Samantha soon went to sleep. The night passed uneventfully. The nearby wandering spirits were mostly low-level Whitecoat Wraiths and Grayshade Wraiths, posing no threat to her—her tools alone were enough to scare them off.
Early the next morning, Samantha Chen got up and hurried to work. By dusk, she had finished everything and prepared to return to the County Hall. She had earned a little money, and to her surprise, she made a tidy sum just after leaving the village—more than what the village chief had paid her.
Samantha planned to stay in the county, doing everything she could to find news of her father, and save up some travel money.
That evening, just after sunset, Samantha returned to the county and went to the tavern Kenneth Lane had mentioned. Sure enough, she found him there.
"Listen, if you do well this time, you could make a fortune—enough to live comfortably for the next ten years."
While drinking, Kenneth Lane explained that a wealthy merchant from afar had arrived, donated a large sum to the County Hall, and picked a plot to build a mansion. He was searching the whole city for craftsmen, and the recruitment day was in two days.
"Samantha, you know how to draw plans and your skills are solid. I'm just a businessman, but after all these years dealing with artisans, I can spot good work. Want to give it a try?"
Samantha nodded.
After a day's rest, Kenneth Lane took Samantha to the County Hall. The place was packed. I mingled with the crowd, but a strange aura leaked from the County Hall, making me restless. I found someone and possessed them to get inside.
"Alright, craftsmen, form a line."
A steward came out and called to the crowd, who parted. I noticed inside the County Hall, the County Magistrate was chatting and laughing with Tan Tian and Luna Quay. I stared in shock.
The selection began. Tan Tian was the wealthy merchant planning to retire here, while Luna Quay posed as his son—and it was said Luna Quay was also a general in the imperial court.
This truly shocked me, and I sensed trouble. Sure enough, when it was Samantha's turn, Tan Tian asked her about the sketches, and she answered every question. Before the selection was even over, Samantha had already been chosen. Suddenly, I realized that the ones who had arranged things for Samantha in the cell were Tan Tian and his people.
Of course, Kenneth Lane threw a big banquet, inviting many craftsmen. He hadn't expected Samantha to be selected. Tan Tian immediately handed over a large sum for the initial recruitment. Samantha knew such a big job required Kenneth Lane's help, so she gave him most of the money to hire reliable workers.
Early the next morning, Samantha stayed up late to finish a detailed blueprint. She found Tan Tian and Luna Quay on a plot of land in the east of the county, where trees and flowers were already being cleared.
"Young man, you have a keen eye and a quick mind. You fully understand what I mean."
Samantha smiled, but her eyes betrayed a hint of fear. I mingled quietly, observing. Tan Tian's gaze always sent a chill down one's spine, enough to make anyone shudder. Luna Quay, on the other hand, smiled gently while negotiating with Samantha.
I had no idea what the two were planning, but it was likely related to the dark seed they mentioned that night. Their eyes never left Samantha.
In just three days, Kenneth Lane found plenty of workers for Samantha, including carpenters and masons. Seeing such a young person in charge, many looked down on Samantha, but Kenneth Lane made sure to help with coordination every day at the site.
Construction on the mansion began, and Samantha worked diligently. Luna Quay and Tan Tian visited every day.
I possessed a worker's body, only needing to move heavy things. The two never seemed to notice me. Though this was the Artisan's dream, everything felt real—and I was certain of it.
At night, Samantha slept right in the workers' shed alongside the others, without any reservation. She was happy inside—landing such a big job was a thrill, and she loved this kind of work.
Samantha threw herself into the work day and night, enjoying every moment. In just half a month, the construction had made great progress, and many workers came to accept the earnest, humble young woman.
Yet even now, I couldn't tell if this was a good dream or a nightmare—or where the dream would end. I grew restless. Luna Quay and Tan Tian were always present, watching Samantha from afar at night. I had no idea what they were planning.
By rights, this should have been a good dream, but the presence of Tan Tian and Luna Quay changed everything.
Tonight the moon was dim. I lay quietly among the workers, with Tan Tian and Luna Quay still nearby. My shed was only ten meters from Samantha's. Suddenly, I felt a chill as the workers around me slumped over and fell into deep sleep.
Their Yang energy had been drained. That fleeting breeze had scattered the Yang fire from the workers, leaking their energy. Tomorrow, they'd be weak and dizzy for days.
Sure enough, Tan Tian and Luna Quay were after Samantha. Before they could approach, I slipped out of the worker's body, concealed my presence, and hid inside a tree.
"After all this observation, what's really going on?"
Tan Tian shook his head.
"Indeed, the girl comes from darkness—there's no doubt. We witnessed that night as well. The seed that suddenly appeared here sixteen years ago, I didn't expect it to take this form. But acquiring the seed won't be easy."
As Tan Tian spoke, he pressed his hand toward Samantha. Suddenly, a golden light burst forth, but it froze in midair and shattered with a crack, scattering into tiny specks.
"Wait..."
At that moment, Luna Quay suddenly grabbed Tan Tian's hand.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Sympathy?"
Luna Quay shook his head.
"A person only lives a few decades. As a human, this one will experience all sorts of things. If you act now, you'll be cutting short this life. I want to wait and see."
Tan Tian withdrew his hand, then suddenly glared in my direction. I swallowed hard, and in a blink, Luna Quay had vanished.
A chill ran down my spine. With a whoosh, I shot out of the tree and floated into the air.
"You wandering ghost have been watching for days. Are you a scout for the Ghost Lords?"
Tan Tian asked coldly. I was no match for him, so I shook my head.
"I'm just following her. This is a dream, and you are merely things that exist in her dream."
Suddenly, Tan Tian flew right up to me. I dodged his attack with ease, and he stared at me in surprise.
"You are also one from the darkness."
I nodded. Luna Quay stood beside me, looking at me with suspicion.
"Have we met somewhere before?"
"We'll meet again, Luna Quay. I hope you both stop here. This is her dream, and I want it to be a good dream, not a nightmare."
Tan Tian scrutinized me for a long moment, then nodded.
"What exactly is the dark seed?"
Just as I asked, the surroundings shifted rapidly. I saw Tan Tian's mouth moving quickly, but heard nothing—then it was morning.
Samantha was already up, but the sound of sobbing filled the air. The workers lay limp in bed, unable to move. Samantha called for a doctor, but even he had never seen such symptoms. He prescribed some tonics and left.
The construction site was completely paralyzed. Samantha panicked, and Tan Tian and Luna Quay had left.
"Don't worry, Samantha. Maybe they ate something bad. They'll be fine in a few days."
Kenneth Lane comforted Samantha, who looked deeply troubled.
"It's alright. I'll keep working and wait for everyone to come back."