Chapter 80: Ominous Painting, Ominous Coffin; Reality Returns

When Zhang Hao successfully mastered the Black and White Painting.

Big East City, the Wang Family Ancient Residence has already become the site of a dispute.

The arrival of Yang Jian, the disbanded Survival Association, left only Liu Bai Mu with a few people hiding deep inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

However, not hiding was fine; hiding broke a certain Balance inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The interior of the ancient residence constantly emitted clock chimes, the familiar pendulum clock sound, but this time the clock did not strike on schedule; instead it sounded at the wrong time.

The ancient clock inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence rang every half hour; according to the design of the Wang ancestors, each strike occurred at the hour and the half hour.

Accompanying the clock sound in the ancient residence, a head was thrown out.

It was the head of the Survival Association leader, Liu Bai Mu.

Through a broken window on the third floor of the ancient residence, Yang Jian and others could see a wandering silhouette inside.

However, the Ghost Power inside the ancient residence interfered with his Ghost Eye, preventing him from peering into the interior.

"What is that?" Feng Quan also noticed the shadow.

"Ghost?" someone guessed.

"No, it's a person. A real ghost wouldn't stare at me like that continuously."

Yang Jian said, "But I can sense that it is a very dangerous presence."

The man wandering on the third floor is now peering at Yang Jian on the street outside.

The Ghost Power affecting the ancient residence seems unable to affect him.

"So that's Yang Jian? Indeed a fine junior, quite imaginative—merging a hatchet and Coffin Nail together to forge a supernatural weapon of his own?"

"In this way, the rules governing the two Supernatural Artifacts become complicated; even an ordinary person holding them would find it hard to discern how to use them, and the fact that he obtained these two Supernatural Artifacts truly marks him as a prodigy."

The mysterious man gave a somewhat meaningful smile: "It's just a pity, this youngster looks like someone undesirable, and yet he resembles the person I despise most."

"No rush, the countdown has already begun; I'll soon go find him to inquire about something."

From behind him came crisp tick‑tick sounds, the noise of a clock in motion.

However, this time was clearly sped up by someone, the flow of time moving hastily.

Because of the ancient clock, the time inside the ancient residence diverged from reality, and for a short while the man inside seemed unable to leave.

"Who are you?" Hearing the man's words and confirming the other was alive, Yang Jian asked seriously.

"You may call me Shepherd of Ghosts, or you may call me Chen Qiaoyang; I don't mind, just don't get it wrong," the man's voice echoed from inside the ancient residence.

"Shepherd of Ghosts, Chen Qiaoyang?"

Yang Jian memorized the name and planned to go find Big East City's person in charge, also the third‑generation heir of the Wang Family Ancient Residence, Wang Chaling, who is, of course, also one of today's Twelfth Team Captains, to ask about the situation.

Yang Jian left the Wang Family Ancient Residence, but when he arrived at Wang Chaling's Ning An Building, he was told the person had already left for the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

"Team Yang, do you want to see this? I got something from the Survival Association."

At this moment, Huang Ziya also walked over holding a newspaper.

"February 18, 2018, countless Paper Money fell from the sky over the ancient residence in Big East City, the city lost its colors, and the Red and White Double Evil descended again."

Looking at the newspaper, Yang Jian frowned.

"This is a Supernatural Incident coded Ghost Newspaper Agency; once the newspaper appears, it inevitably comes true, meaning the Red and White Double Evil will reappear here?"

"Looks like I need to go find Wang Chaling to ask about the situation."

Yang Jian had intended to go find Wang Chaling, but at that moment Feng Quan's words interrupted his plan to set off immediately.

Feng Quan pointed at the doorway and said, "That Ghost Stool isn't furniture from here, is it?"

The main door at the entrance was open, and the hallway lights dimmed dramatically for unknown reasons, while distant lights flickered intermittently.

An old red Ghost Stool was placed at the entrance, blocking the passage.

Huh? Yang Jian looked at that old red Ghost Stool.

Obviously, this stool was not furniture of this floor, and its red aura was eerie, seemingly linked to Ghost Power.

"There's one here too." Suddenly, Huang Ziya pointed behind her.

In the passage behind her leading toward the restroom, a not‑so‑wide corridor also had a red Ghost Stool placed horizontally, blocking the way.

"There's one here as well."

On this floor where the group stood, a red Ghost Stool also appeared in the central corridor, also placed horizontally.

And these stools appeared in a most bizarre manner, without omen or any detection.

Meanwhile.

When Wang Chaling and Li Jun sensed the changes at the Wang Family Ancient Residence, they had already arrived here, just missing Yang Jian perfectly.

They crossed the iron gate in front of the ancient residence and entered its area; they did not venture deeper immediately, as that would be too reckless—they needed to observe the situation first.

"Is this your Wang Family Ancient Residence? What's with those Coffins at the entrance, are they holding ghosts? They don't look like it; if they were ghosts, this place would have been uninhabitable long ago."

Li Jun's throat was hoarse, as if burned by fire, sounding harsh and strange, making it a bit hard to endure.

His gaze lingered on the courtyard, where coffins of varying ages were stacked.

"The coffins contain members of my Wang Family."

Wang Chaling said, "Do you think the Wang Family consists of only me? In the past, our Wang Family was a great clan."

"It's just that involvement in Supernatural Incidents for too long gradually wiped us out, and the deceased Wang Family members were placed in coffins, set in the courtyard of the ancient residence."

"Why not cremate them, bury them?" Li Jun asked, frowning.

"Because of certain special reasons." Wang Chaling said little more, sidestepping the topic: "Li Jun, do you intend to just barge in like that?"

"I need to observe first before deciding."

Li Jun shook his head; after the Ghost Painting incident, he has achieved Ghost's Growth and will no longer be so reckless.

"Stay alert around; once I act, I'll startle the snake, and if there are people inside, they'll definitely strike at me."

After observing for a long time, Li Jun said, "You block them; I don't want to set the Wang Family Ancient Residence on fire while also having to prevent a surprise attack."

"No problem, I'm happy to help," Wang Chaling said.

Li Jun stared at Wang Chaling a few times, as if warning, but he soon began to act.

He strode to a window of the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

The old window was rotted, leaving only a hollow opening; through it one could see the Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior.

Dim, old, abandoned, oppressive.

Everywhere exuded a strange aura.

Accompanied by the ticking of a pendulum clock from the Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior, a certain Balance had been broken, and some incomprehensible Spirit Phenomenon were intensifying.

Li Jun placed one hand lightly on the Window ledge.

The next moment.

A gloomy green flame spread outward along his arm.

The window ignited, and the old blue brick wall was also set ablaze by Ghost Fire, the flames spreading at great speed.

The wall burned, the hall inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence burned, the corridor burned, and the deep darkness was being dispelled.

Soon, the entire Wang Family Ancient Residence was covered by Ghost Fire and burned violently.

"Ah!"

Sharp screams and wails rang out inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

It was a bizarre humanoid silhouette, its whole body shrouded in Ghost Fire, painfully running back and forth in the hall of the Wang Family Ancient Residence, leaving charred footprints that carried the stench of burning corpses.

But soon the flaming humanoid Ghost Shadow vanished into thin air, like an illusion, appearing suddenly and disappearing just as quickly.

It must have been a Fierce Ghost.

Under attack by Ghost Fire, it was being suppressed.

Inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

In addition, some members of the Survival Association were also ignited at that moment.

A middle‑aged man with white hair at his temples and a gaunt frame sat on an old rocking chair, eyes closed, seemingly waiting for a certain moment.

Beside him, two men stood nearby, occasionally glancing at the man in the rocking chair.

However, at this moment.

Chen Qiaoyang, who was on the rocking chair, suddenly opened his eyes, became alert, and immediately stood up.

The next moment.

The rocking chair that had just been sat on was suddenly ignited; eerie, gloomy green flames enveloped the entire chair, and fire seeped in through cracks in the Ground and through gaps in the wall.

Soon.

The Ground caught fire.

The wall and the ceiling were both wrapped in flames.

Everything around was strangely ignited by something. "Is this Ghost Fire? Damn it, it's Ghost Fire Li Jun; he's come to set the entire Wang Family Ancient Residence ablaze and burn us all here."

Zhang Qing instantly reacted and shouted in panic.

Chen Qiaoyang calmly tidied his hair and clothes, his expression very serious.

"Ghost Fire Li Jun? Who is he, dozed off and then got knocked on the door, these young people nowadays are really a headache."

"He is a captain at Headquarters, of the same rank as that Yang Jian before; he used to be a big figure in the army, extremely hating evil," Zhang Qing said.

"A big figure in the army?" Chen Qiaoyang narrowed his eyes slightly; he still respects people from the troops.

"It's really difficult; I'd rather face that young man surnamed Yang than this Li Jun."

"After all, such a big figure not falling on the battlefield but instead falling into the hands of a small person like me is truly a sin."

Zhang Qing and the other person, upon hearing this, twitched the corner of their mouths; they didn't expect that Chen Qiaoyang, who looked like a society boss, would have this side.

Chen Qiaoyang crossed his arms and paced, lingering hesitantly.

However, behind him, several footsteps followed eerily.

Those footsteps varied in size, leaving charred footprints on the Ghost Fire on the Ground, and then the Ghost Fire in that area was brutally stamped out, never burning again.

"Li Jun, is he crazy? Using Ghost Fire like this, isn't he afraid of a Fierce Ghost reviving?"

Zhang Qing's heart raced wildly; they lacked Chen Qiaoyang's kind of power and attitude, feeling that this area would soon become unsafe.

"We should go out and fight them; with your methods escaping here is no difficulty, that Li Jun definitely can't stop you."

Chen Qiaoyang faced the all‑igniting Ghost Fire without anxiety.

"No rush; although today's youngsters are all quite good, being youngsters, trying to take me down here is still a bit naive."

As Chen Qiaoyang spoke, a bell rang inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence.

Chen Qiaoyang used the ancient bell of the Wang Family Ancient Residence to imprison the burning Ghost Fire into another time segment.

The Ghost Fire's burning was Restarted by the ancient bell, causing Li Jun to increase the speed of the Ghost Fire's burn.

Soon, dense fog began to drift around the building.

At the same time, under a single command from Headquarters, the entire area entered lockdown; people in this zone were allowed to leave but not to enter, and a large number of personnel were evacuating residents.

As time passed, the bell inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence no longer rang as frequently.

This means the time inside the Wang Family Ancient Residence is synchronizing with reality.

Li Jun, at this moment, stood alone in the empty Wang Family Ancient Residence, his sunglasses slightly lifted as he looked around.

Ghost Fire flickered.

Around, the gloomy green fire reflected.

"Who exactly is causing trouble in Big East City, come out," Li Jun's hoarse voice rang, a sudden shout, righteous and fierce.

The voice echoed within the Wang Family Ancient Residence, forming a reverberation that reached the depths of the darkness.

I thought no one would respond, but I didn't expect someone to reply immediately: "Li Jun, I see that, as a young general with early merit, I'll let you go, leave this place."

"The grudge between the Wang Family and me, Chen, is a private matter; after I settle it, I'll naturally visit the Headquarters when I have time, and perhaps we'll have opportunities to cooperate in the future."

Chen Qiaoyang's voice sounded, though it was unclear where it came from; the voice seemed to have no source.

"Playing tricks with Immortals and Ghosts, the Wang Family Ancient Residence has many hidden dangers; I will seal this place. If you don't want to become enemies of the Headquarters, step out obediently."

Li Jun snorted coldly; his temper was somewhat irritable, and he had no goodwill toward people who disregard rules and love to cause trouble.

"These modern youngsters are all like this; I've already been trying to be kind, why don't they understand?" Chen Qiaoyang's voice sounded.

"You say you can kill me in one bite, as if it's easy. Back then, the second‑generation couple of the Wang Family couldn't eliminate me; they only dared to lure me into a dungeon and trap me. On what grounds can you kill me, Chen Qiaoyang?"

It seemed Li Jun's outright disrespectful words provoked Chen Qiaoyang's temper as well; he snorted coldly, looking quite dissatisfied.

The voice fell.

A crisp Footsteps echoed from the corridor upstairs.

A vague human silhouette gradually became visible.

Chen Qiaoyang appeared on the second floor.

He could have easily handled Li Jun without revealing himself, but out of respect for such a figure, he stepped forward.

Decades ago, a Shepherd of Ghosts would never have shown their face.

The living only see Ghosts; life and death never reveal a Shepherd of Ghosts.

"Make a move."

Li Jun saw Chen Qiaoyang's appearance and identified him as the mastermind behind moving the pendulum clock and Restarting the ancient residence; we must kill this person to directly stop the incident.

Ghost Fire flared instantly.

Again it ignited the whole ancient residence.

The surroundings were shrouded in a blaze.

The firelight distorted the Gaze, blurred the figure, and Li Jun vanished.

His Ghost domain could actually be used inside the ancient residence.

It should be noted that previously Yang Jian could not use it.

"I'll give you, junior, a chance; the time inside Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior is now stable. Whatever techniques you have, go ahead and use them, and see what so‑called Captain Level individuals are truly capable of now."

Chen Qiaoyang even wanted to spar with Li Jun, to test what level Ghost Tamers of this era have reached.

To see whether this Shepherd of Ghosts has been eliminated by the times.

After Li Jun disappeared, he never reappeared.

But Chen Qiaoyang's body strangely ignited.

Green Ghost Fire enveloped him, igniting him from the inside out, as if he would combust to death.

"Ghost's Invasion? That method is outdated, and you don't realize that when you invade others, others can also invade you?"

Chen Qiaoyang smiled, and the Ghost Fire on his body rapidly extinguished.

No.

It wasn't extinguished, but trapped.

Ghost Fire burned inside Chen Qiaoyang's body, the emaciated Human Skin writhed, imprinting Li Jun's facial features.

Li Jun struggled, seeming to roar, but could not break free.

So gradually this struggle grew weaker, some terrifying suppression seemed to target Li Jun.

He was trapped.

Trapped inside Chen Qiaoyang's body.

As Ghost Tamers of the Republic Era's second generation, they did not develop paranormal methods so simply.

Very quickly.

The surrounding commotion vanished, and the Ghost's Zhang Dong's Ghost Residence's Interior returned to calm.

"Ghost Fire Li Jun is finished then?" In an inconspicuous spot on the third floor, the two survivors Zhang Qing and Wan Tong were stunned by the scene.

They knew the old fellow they released, called Chen Qiaoyang, was terrifying, but didn't expect it to be this horrific.

Ghost Fire Li Jun, a Captain Level figure, was suppressed by Chen Qiaoyang the moment he acted.

That was way too fast.

It was like Yang Jian hunting them, completely a different level.

"Ghost Tamers of this era are just like that; it seems my Shepherd of Ghosts hasn't been eliminated yet."

Chen Qiaoyang smiled faintly: "What a pity for this fearless Li Jun."

But then he suddenly sensed something, and his smile instantly froze.

However, his complexion quickly changed.

In the middle of the ancient residence's main hall.

A figure of a woman wearing a Wedding Dress, a Red Cap on her head, embroidered shoes on her feet, and unnaturally pale white hands floated there, like a newlywed bride.

The woman floated in mid‑air, giving an especially eerie impression.

"Why is that ominous painting still there?" Chen Qiaoyang shouted, his voice even altered.

However, before he could think further.

The darkness of the ancient residence seemed to thicken, oddly; looking from above, it was like a black Coffin placed there.

The white figure knelt atop the Coffin.

"It's that Coffin."

Chen Qiaoyang shuddered violently; his previous calm and confidence vanished.

As Li Jun was trapped, the sky began to shower Paper Money||Term, along with burnt paper ash.

The old mansion began to fade slowly, and the previously living Zhang Qing and Wan Tong instantly turned into black‑and‑white tones, their faces retaining terrified expressions, gradually freezing and finally becoming a Photo? A portrait? Some nightmare‑like horror seems to have descended upon the old mansion.

(End of chapter)