Lin Han's mind was still reeling from the brink of death, his fingertips trembling slightly. Noya knelt on one knee, her breath uneven, sweat mixing with rainwater as it dripped from her chin.
The surroundings were eerily silent, only the howling sea wind whispering unfinished stories.
He licked his chapped lips, his throat feeling like sandpaper—bitter and burning. The stench of blood still lingered in the damp night air.
"Walau eh..." Lin Han finally let out a breath, looking up at the empty deck. "That was really a close call."
Noya glanced at him without speaking, slowly sheathing her kris, her fingers running along the blade to ensure the lingering dark energy had completely dissipated.
They had managed to repel the Ferryman, but the ominous aura still clung to the air like a shadow.
The night was far from over, and their story had only just begun.
The salty sea breeze carried a faint hint of engine oil as the old ship swayed gently with the waves. Bloodstains and burnt ritual markings were still visible on the deck, remnants of their recent battle.
Noya's fingers were slightly pale as she pulled out a damp envelope from her pocket. Taking a deep breath, she handed it to Lin Han.
"Lin Han," she said, her voice hoarse but steady.
Lin Han took the envelope, frowning. "What's this?"
Noya didn't answer immediately. Instead, she carefully unfolded the envelope and pulled out an old photograph, passing it to him.
The photo was yellowed with age, its edges frayed, as if it had weathered countless years.
As he looked at it, his pupils shrank—
It was a familiar temple.
Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang.
In the rainy night, the photograph seemed to carry an eerie premonition, glowing faintly under the dim light.
"Why are you giving me this?" Lin Han asked, his voice low.
Without a word, Noya flipped the photo over, revealing a line of ancient Hokkien script scrawled across the back:
"When the tide rises, the Ghost Gate opens. Proceed with caution."
Lin Han's breath hitched, his fingers tightening around the photo, nearly crumpling it.
"Penang… Kek Lok Si…" he muttered.
This wasn't just a photograph. It was an invitation—no, more like a… summoning.
The dim lights on the deck flickered as waves crashed against the shore in a steady, rhythmic pulse.
Lin Han stared at the words, a chill creeping up his spine.
Kek Lok Si, the Nine-Star Alignment, the Ghost Gate… It all seemed to form a larger picture, pieces falling into place.
"Are you saying…" He spoke slowly, "... that everything is connected to Penang?"
Noya nodded, her gaze unreadable. "Someone left this envelope specifically for you."
Lin Han's heartbeat quickened. "Who?"
Noya hesitated for a moment before finally saying a name—
"Su Xueqing."
Lin Han's head snapped up, shock flickering across his face.
Su Xueqing… The daughter of the temple keeper at Kek Lok Si… The one who once gave him a prophecy.
Leaning against the railing, Lin Han gripped the photograph, his mind racing.
He had never been to Kek Lok Si, yet its name felt like a curse, resurfacing in his life over and over again.
The Nine-Star Alignment had triggered the resurgence of spiritual energy—could the ancient scrolls beneath Kek Lok Si be linked to it?
He recalled his dream.
Dark waters, a blurred Buddha statue, distant chanting echoing through time, and the toll of a temple bell reverberating through the void.
Everything pointed toward one place—
Penang.
"We need to go to Penang," Lin Han said firmly.
Noya didn't object. Instead, she asked a single question: "Are you ready for this?"
Lin Han gazed at the distant horizon, his expression unreadable.
"There's no choice," he replied.
Penang, Kek Lok Si, and the Ghost Gate—fate was calling.