104. Ghost Soldiers Passing Through the Corridor

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I motioned for Feng Qian to stay silent and cautiously approached the courtyard gate. Peering through the gap in the broken wooden door, I looked outside.

The sky darkened suddenly, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.

A line of soldiers clad in black armor appeared on the street outside the courtyard. They marched in unison, their long spears radiating deadly intent, spreading an invisible aura.

An overwhelming aura of death emanated from the soldiers. I scrutinized their attire—it was from a very ancient era.

Between the two rows of soldiers was a line of civilians dressed in plain clothes, their faces filled with sorrow. Under the soldiers’ escort, they slowly moved forward.

Could this be the legendary ghost soldiers passing through?

I held my ground, waiting patiently for the ghost soldiers to pass. As long as I didn’t provoke them, they should ignore us.

However, among the civilians were two familiar figures. Upon closer look, they were the same boy and girl who had died earlier—those whom Lin Xiayue and Chen Hao were supposed to protect.

At that moment, the boy instinctively lifted his head as if searching for something, his gaze locking onto mine.

He looked conflicted, wanting to break free from the ghost soldiers’ ranks, desperate to escape this eerie procession.

But it was all in vain—the chilling ghostly aura had already separated them from us, sealing the boundary between life and death.

The boy seemed to forget his death and began to resist and struggle. The ghost soldiers blocked his path with their spears, preventing him from breaking away.

The boy seemed to grasp a glimmer of hope, opening and closing his mouth as if trying to say something.

But his actions only gave the ghost soldiers a target, who turned their gaze toward the boy’s struggling direction.

I immediately crouched down, afraid of attracting their attention and causing trouble.

Activating the ancient mirror’s phantom vision, I could sense the deathly aura on the street even without looking through the door’s hole. I faintly heard the boy’s desperate cries.

“Please save me!”

I was not turning a blind eye out of cruelty, but because breaking the law of life and death was impossible. Moreover, I was no match for the ghost soldiers in my current state.

If I were at full strength, perhaps I could have fought them. But now, escape was the only option—especially with Feng Qian, who had just become a contractor and knew nothing of combat, in tow.

The footsteps outside gradually faded. After waiting patiently for several minutes, I lifted my head to look outside again. To prevent any accidents, I had already used the ancient mirror’s phantom vision to observe beforehand—most of the black aura had disappeared.

Unexpectedly, four ghost soldiers remained outside the courtyard along with the boy.

The boy’s face was tear-streaked as he stared at me, clutching at me like a lifeline.

“I beg you, please save me.”

With no other choice, I stepped out from behind the door. Since the ghost soldiers had noticed me, fleeing was futile—I had to explain.

“Surely there are living people here,” one of the ghost soldiers sneered at me. “Take him down.”

The three other ghost soldiers immediately approached me.

I forced a calm expression and said, “Brothers, my time hasn’t come yet. May I ask what your intentions are?”

The lead ghost soldier snarled, “Though your mortal lifespan isn’t over, you have interfered with our duties.”

With that, the three ghost soldiers stood before me.

“Tell me, will you come with us willingly, or shall we bind you and take you by force?”

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“Brother,” I maintained a respectful tone, “I was merely resting here by chance, with no intention of disturbing you.”

The ghost soldier gave a pale smile, revealing his grayish teeth as he grinned.

“You want to save this soul, don’t you?”

“Trying to snatch a dead soul midway is also interfering with our mission.”

His voice rose sharply. At that moment, a thunderclap echoed, and the boy’s spirit trembled on the ground.

“Please save me! Please save me! We’re from the same school!”

The ghost soldier looked at the boy on the ground with a triumphant expression.

“You see? He said you came to save him.”

I cursed that boy a thousand times in my mind—if you’re dead, then be dead! Why drag me into this? We have no ties, so why involve me?

It was also my own fault for being too curious and sneaking out to watch the ghost soldiers pass. But regret was useless now.

I kept evading, “Brothers, I’m just a passerby resting. Please show mercy.”

“I promise, when I go to the underworld, I’ll surely pay you well.”

Since escape was impossible, I hoped to bribe them. Although I had no underworld coins on me now, it would be easy to obtain them once back in the city.

Hearing money, the ghost soldiers’ eyes brightened. They huddled together, deliberating.

I dared not move rashly. I carefully tossed a small stone into the courtyard, hoping to alert Feng Qian and have him leave quickly.

Unexpectedly, Feng Qian thought I was calling him and swaggered out boldly.

“Brother Jian, what’s wrong?”

The ghost soldiers, hearing the voice, bypassed me and approached Feng Qian.

I thought to myself, this is it.

Feng Qian shrieked, “Ghosts!” and stumbled backward in fright. I quickly stood in front of him.

“Brothers, this is my junior brother. He’s inexperienced—please pardon him.”

The ghost soldier smiled. “Fine. You’ll come with us.”

“Have your brother burn us some paper money. Once we receive it, we’ll let you go.”

Their proposal was all gain for them, but it meant being at their mercy—and they might not keep their word.

Feng Qian nervously remained silent.

“Brother Jian,” he muttered softly. I motioned for him to be quiet.

Meanwhile, three ghost soldiers entered the courtyard, leaving one to guard the boy’s spirit.

I sensed a familiar presence, and the space trembled lightly. Within my view, a shadow suddenly appeared.

Among all contractors, the only one with the ability to traverse different spaces was the Six of Hearts, Schrödinger’s Cat—Sun Cheng.

Sun Cheng silently appeared behind the three ghost soldiers without attracting their attention.

An idea formed in my mind—I signaled Sun Cheng to move outside the courtyard.

“Have you decided yet?” the ghost soldier urged impatiently.

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“Well… then…” I deliberately delayed, waiting for Sun Cheng’s move.

Seconds later, a shout came from the ghost soldier guarding the street.

“Someone come quick! That boy’s spirit escaped!”

“What!” The three ghost soldiers were startled.

Seizing their momentary distraction, I grabbed Feng Qian and dashed inside.

Fortunately, the house was dilapidated. I kicked a hole in the wall and escaped through it.

“Damn it!” I heard the ghost soldiers growl angrily inside the courtyard.

“What now, brother? Should we chase him?”

The leader shook his head. “Foolish. First catch the spirit, or we’ll be in trouble.”

“That kid better pay up next time we meet.”

Having dodged the ghost soldiers’ passage, Feng Qian and I headed to a locust tree in the village’s corner.

After we sat, Sun Cheng’s figure slowly materialized.

Schrödinger’s Cat, capable of traversing space right under the naked eye.

As long as someone was watching Sun Cheng, he could vanish from their sight and reappear elsewhere within their view.

An invincible skill, but with a fatal flaw—if you fight Sun Cheng one-on-one with your eyes closed, his power is nullified.

Sun Cheng strolled over and sat beside me.

“Long time no see.”

“Have you forgiven me?” I thought his rescue meant we had reconciled, but I was mistaken.

“No,” Sun Cheng replied slowly.

We shared silence after that.

Feng Qian quietly listened on, unable to interrupt.

“Well, Sun Cheng,” I finally broke the silence, “how have you been lately…”

“Zijian,” Sun Cheng interrupted me.

“Our Six of Hearts contractors have received orders.”

“To kill contractors of the other three suits at all costs.”

Feng Qian and I were stunned. Was this an open declaration of war from the Six of Hearts faction?

Sun Cheng continued, “It seems all suits have received similar orders, only you haven’t gotten them yet.”

Before we could react, Sun Cheng stood again.

“From now on, we are enemies.”

His figure vanished once more.