Chapter Twelve: The Trapped Soul

Why? Shouldn’t we go together? Guo Zhengxiang was about to protest when Xiu Ming interjected, “I'll go with you.”

“No need, I'll go alone.” With Xiu Ming’s interruption, Guo Zhengxiang calmed himself, lit the torch and strode out without a backward glance.

Xiu Ming turned to Tao Tao and said, “Don’t worry.” Then he followed after Guo Zhengxiang.

Seeing Xiu Ming catching up, Guo Zhengxiang whispered his thanks. Xiu Ming patted him on the shoulder.

At the door, Guo Zhengxiang took a deep breath, cautiously opened the second door, vigilant.

“Empty,” Guo Zhengxiang announced, relieved.

“Keep going, next one,” Gao Yi ordered.

Xiu Ming sensed Guo Zhengxiang’s urge to confront Gao Yi, so he pulled him back and said, “The two of us together couldn't win against him. At this point, Gao Yi’s composure is nearly shattered. If we provoke his beastly side, things will only get worse. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t antagonize him.”

Guo Zhengxiang swallowed his anger and moved on to the next door.

Empty.

They continued, opening doors one by one, until the eleventh door revealed three figures lying inside the cell. Through their ethereal bodies, the outlines of three skeletons could be seen.

Guo Zhengxiang visibly trembled, apparently frightened by what he saw.

Soon, two of the figures crawled toward the third, still lying prone. They grabbed his arm and bit down fiercely.

That man woke with a scream, “Third Brother, Second Brother, what are you doing!” But he was brutally killed by the other two.

After the killing, the two began to eat voraciously.

Xiu Ming and Guo Zhengxiang were struck silent by the scene. Though there was no smell of blood, this was something that happened long, long ago, right here.

As the two devoured, one suddenly seized the other by the neck. The victim tried to resist, but having lost the initiative, soon stopped moving.

“Heh heh heh, all mine…” The survivor resumed eating.

The shadows of the two slain slowly rose and sat in the corner. The surviving shadow seemed oblivious to them, continuing to make feeding motions over their bones.

His movements quickened, switching rapidly between sleeping, eating, and idling as if sped up.

Finally, the last one stopped eating and lay motionless on the ground.

He must have starved to death.

After a while, his shadow rose as well and finally noticed the two brothers sitting in the corner.

“You—you’re not dead?” the last one exclaimed in surprise.

“Heh, we died long ago. But at first, we felt the call of the underworld and couldn’t leave, so we waited here for you. Now that you’ve starved, it’s time to settle the score!”

The two brothers lunged at him, and the three began to fight. Strangely, their forms fused into a single monstrous shadow with three heads: the left filled with grief, the right sticking out a long tongue, and the center with a mouthful of jagged teeth, greedy and hideous.

“Ugh!” Watching the cannibalism and then this monster, Guo Zhengxiang finally retched.

“Still hungry… so hungry…” All three heads lifted, staring at Guo Zhengxiang.

Both men involuntarily stepped back. “Isn’t this just a vision?” Guo Zhengxiang quivered.

The shadow crept closer, its gait lurching and twisting, six eyes locked on them.

“I think we should run—” Xiu Ming began, but a sudden chill wind swept through, making him shudder.

The three-headed shadow sensed the wind, eyes filled with confusion, glancing toward the hall. Then longing and greed replaced the confusion.

Whoosh! In an instant, the three-headed shadow was swept away by the wind—or perhaps pulled toward the hall.

Sensing danger, the shadow reached out, grabbing Guo Zhengxiang’s neck.

“No!” Guo Zhengxiang’s eyes widened as he slipped and fell.

Unable to hold on, the shadow was sucked away with a shrill, piercing scream.

Then, silence fell—an eerie, oppressive quiet.

Squeal, squeal—the sound of high-pitched, pig-like screams rose and fell.

Gradually, the screams faded, leaving only the squealing echo.

Xiu Ming swallowed, picked up the torch, and nudged Guo Zhengxiang.

Guo Zhengxiang twitched, opened his eyes, and looked at Xiu Ming. “What happened to me?”

“You fainted for a bit. How do you feel now?”

Guo Zhengxiang glanced at him in confusion. “I fainted? What happened just now? I can’t seem to remember.”

Xiu Ming’s gaze hardened.

“Come on, let’s go to Gao Yi.” Xiu Ming glanced at the three skeletons in the cell—a tragic tale of brotherly betrayal.

They returned to the first cell. Tao Tao asked anxiously, “What was that thing that flew past? It looked terrifying.”

“And that bone-crunching sound… it made my skin crawl,” Fei Xin added.

Xiu Ming glanced at the stiff-faced Gao Yi, patted his chest and said, “When we opened the door, that thing flew out and was about to attack us, but something else dragged it away. I think there’s an even stronger ghost here. If we don’t stick together, it’ll be very dangerous.”

“Something even worse…” Tao Tao was petrified.

“So, do we continue or what?” Xiu Ming asked.

“We should rest for now. In two hours, Cui Kaixuan and I will check the second floor. These cells are too strange—if something else comes out…” Gao Yi shook his head.

Cui Kaixuan nodded, “Alright.”

Back in their rooms, Xiu Ming knocked on Fei Xin’s door. “If anyone asks, say I was in your room. I’m going to discuss something with Cui Kaixuan.”

Fei Xin rolled her eyes. “Got it, go ahead.”

Xiu Ming entered Cui Kaixuan’s room.

“You’re here. Sit.” Cui Kaixuan closed the door and latched it.

“You wanted to talk about the team?” Xiu Ming asked, surprised that Cui Kaixuan would initiate such a discussion.

“Heh, not really.” Cui Kaixuan gave a dry laugh. “I just didn’t want anything to overhear us, so I brought you here.”

“?” Xiu Ming was puzzled. “You’re afraid a ghost is eavesdropping?”

“Exactly.” Cui Kaixuan nodded. “But more importantly, our food is running out. What do you think?”

“If we’re desperate, we’ll go to the attic. Usually, there are mice or small animals up there,” Xiu Ming replied.

Cui Kaixuan hesitated.“It’s not the worst yet, but if we get the chance, we’ll check the attic. Still, there are details we’re missing.”

“Don’t you find the doors and windows are unnaturally sturdy? Even under tremendous force, they show no damage at all.”

Xiu Ming had considered this, but could never make sense of it. Judging by the arrangement of the second-floor rooms, these followers were devout and well-organized, unlikely to include violent maniacs.

“And the crest,” Cui Kaixuan pointed to the ceiling.

He stood up, lifted a torch, and held it aloft.

Sure enough, the ceiling bore the same crest as the second-floor doors.

Usually careless, Cui Kaixuan had become meticulous lately.

He produced a book, “This is from the library. This page explains the crest.”

Xiu Ming opened it and read slowly.

“This crest repels evil spirits, keeping them at bay,” Cui Kaixuan said.

The book confirmed it.

“This is an ancient exorcism crest, its origins lost to history, known only to a few. Even the Church of Light never used it.”

“Centuries ago, in the war between humanity and demons, a lord led his knights with this crest painted on their armor and shields.”

“In the end, that lord’s knights defeated the demons and seized their fortress, marking a glorious chapter for mankind.”

This story seemed connected to the one Fei Xin had told him. Perhaps the lord in both tales was the same person.

Xiu Ming asked, “If this crest can repel the female ghost, why are the doors and windows so strong?”

Cui Kaixuan paused, sat down, and looked at Xiu Ming. “The crest alone isn’t enough… The foreigners made this place so sturdy because…”

“To defend against something far more terrifying than the ghost!”