Dawn broke, yet a hundred ghosts walked in the daylight.
Dense, shadowy spectral figures stood on the high platform, forming a semicircle around Ren Ye. Their hollow, venomous eyes fixed on the assembled officials.
These wronged spirits retained the horrifying visages of their deaths—some mangled and bloody, others missing half their bodies. Even in the air, countless hanged ghosts floated, tongues lolling, limbs stiff, shrouded in black mist that blotted out the sun. A single glance was enough to make one's hair stand on end.
On the platform, Ren Ye, having forced open the gates of the underworld using the Yin-Yang arts, was now severely, backlash from the Yin energy. His whole body radiated the aura of a corpse, his eyes bloodshot, his face a purplish-blue.
"Will someone tell me where those blades meant to kill me are?!" Surrounded by the host of ghosts, Ren Ye shouted his demand at the officials and soldiers once more.
His cry echoed. Not a single person below dared to respond.
The echoes faded into a lasting silence. The officials hung their heads, each lost in their own calculations.
Anyone who spoke up now would be a complete idiot, a blatant traitor. The useless Prince on the platform was clearly prepared to go down fighting.
The arts of Yin and Yang were heavily governed by karma. A mortal forcing open the ghost gate and summoning the dead to the world of the living would never be tolerated by the "Heavenly Dao." The Prince's challenge meant he was thinking, Since I'm doomed to suffer the backlash anyway, I might as well see who's dead set on saving Liu Ling'er and take them all down with me…
Who wasn't terrified seeing Xu Laodao's Iron Body lying on the ground like a crumpled piece of paper, its features blurred, its bones shattered? If even the Emperor's own advisor couldn't handle the useless Prince, could they? Furthermore, if they stepped forward, others might not necessarily back them up. The power struggles here were too complex. Until the very last moment, no one could be sure who their true allies were.
Lying low was the best strategy…
The officials all had their calculations. The soldiers, without leaders, naturally wouldn't act rashly.
Silence. Stillness.
Ren Ye waited on the platform for a moment. Seeing no reaction, he walked to the hall entrance, grabbed Liu Ling'er by the hair, and shouted again: "If there are no blades meant for me, then this Prince will execute her!"
Below, Chief Administrator Li Yan's eyes flickered, but he ultimately chose silence.
The Prefect of Qingliang, Wu A Si of the Raptor Guards, and the other high officials now hung their heads even lower, refusing to even look at Liu Ling'er.
"So the female thief has no accomplices. You, my lords, were truly just concerned for my safety." Ren Ye looked down at them with a cold laugh. He waved a dismissive hand at the servants holding Liu Ling'er. "Heh. I'm so pleased…!"
The maidservants retreated. Ren Ye faced Liu Ling'er and crooked a finger. "Souls, rise."
Swish! Swish!
Two wronged spirits restraining Liu Ling'er shot out from her body and landed ethereally in the courtyard.
Freed from the spirits, Liu Lingeer stirred awake. Her eyes first showed shock, but they quickly took in the scene around her, including Xu Laodao's corpse.
It's over. Even he's dead. Impossible. How did that useless Prince manage this?
Her heart turned to ashes. She slumped to the ground, too weak to rise—a consequence of her recent exposure to unclean things, like a severe illness.
Ren Ye slowly bent down, his gaze stubbornly fixed on Liu Ling'er's pretty face. He pointed at the officials below the steps. "Take a good look. Do you recognize anyone there? If you do, you can tell me… I might spare your life. Let you keep Liu Jishan company in the dungeons."
The high officials below heard Ren Ye's words, their faces masks of indifference.
Kneeling on the ground, Liu Ling'er desperately wanted to name a few "accomplices" to save her own skin, but her circumstances didn't allow it. She'd only communicated with the player "Little Warwolf" via the Dispatch Token, but who he was, she had no idea.
There were two teammates from the real world in this Star Gate, but she couldn't reveal them. Never. Even if she died!
Their eyes met. A vicious glint flashed in Liu Ling'er's eyes. Her voice was very low. "I belong to an organization in the real world. You've probably heard of it—the Bell Society. Those who cross them never have it easy. Wouldn't you agree?"
Bell Society? What crap organization is that? Never heard of it…
I was literally operating a sewing machine in prison before I got here! What, you want to take this offline?
Seeing Ren Ye hesitate, Liu Ling'er thought he was afraid. "This Star Gate is bizarre. Many organizations are watching. Your real-world identity won't stay hidden. If you make a mortal enemy, not only are you in danger, but your family won't be spared either!"
Hearing the word "family," the emptiness in Ren Ye's pupils vanished, replaced by a sharp contraction.
He bent down even closer, tilting his ear. "What did you say? Say it again."
"I said your family won't be—!"
"You know, before I came in here, I was a convict serving time," Ren Ye interrupted, his face expressionless, his voice a mere whisper in her ear. "I went to prison because two dumbasses, just like you, tried to threaten me and my friend using our families. In the end, I put seven bullets into their heads and blew their brains out."
Liu Ling'er froze, stunned by his words.
"Enough questions. I'll have your head too!!!"
Ren Ye stood up abruptly. Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his arm and brought the Guardian Sword down towards Liu Ling'er's neck.
Swish!
The blade gleamed. Liu Ling'er watched its edge approach, her expression blank, sound fading from her ears as time seemed to stand still…
I am Liu Ling'er.
I am the whore in most people's eyes.
For some reason, as the blade falls, the face that flashes into my mind is that little brat's, that little ingrate's.
I've lost. I'm about to die…
Little brat, your 'unclean' mother is leaving. In the future… may the world be kind to you.
BZZZT…!
The sword's wind whistled. The blade grew closer, not slowing for an instant.
Thump!
Liu Ling'er's head flew from her shoulders, landing on the ground. Her eyes held a trace of reluctance as it bounced down the steps.
The headless body sprayed blood before collapsing with a thud.
Ren Ye looked at her without a shred of pity. He had never been a soft man. Besides, on the border and in prison, he'd seen too much of humanity's darkness. The only way to protect yourself was to leave no loose ends.
[Congratulations, Prince Huai. You have successfully killed a player. You have obtained the Courtesan's token: the Spring Breeze Illusion Painting. With this token, you may bring one player into this Star Gate.]
A cold, prompt voice sounded in his ears as he stood on the high platform.
Simultaneously, players hidden within the estate, under the great hall, and far away in the capital and other regions all received notifications from the Star Gate.
[Special Notice: The Imperial faction's scheme has failed, and a player has been killed. Act I, "The Sleeper Agent," concludes early. This Star Gate will enter dormancy in ten minutes. Please prepare to leave.]
Capital, an inn. A woman who looked very calm by nature suddenly felt a palpitation. Her eyes snapped open. "Someone died?" she thought.
On the official road to the Southern Frontier. A man on horseback murmured in disbelief, "A kill in Act I? So soon?"
Under the great hall. A player hidden among the crowd also thought, "That woman was probably from the Imperial faction. No panic, no panic...!"
Ren Ye didn't know what the other players were thinking, but he understood the rules. He had ten minutes before leaving the Star Gate.
Thinking this, he slowly descended the high platform, walking alone towards the officials and soldiers.
I've already gone this far, paid the price... so why the hell not root out the problem completely?!
This was Ren Ye's most genuine thought. He planned to kill a few more would-be challengers.
Thump. Thump...!
In the silent courtyard, the hundred ghosts stood like statues, watching the officials motionlessly.
Chief Administrator Li Yan frowned as he saw Ren Ye walking directly towards him.
Thump. Thump...!
The courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the sound of Ren Ye's footsteps, like drumbeats, echoed, pounding in everyone's hearts.
The officials, half-bent at the waist, felt their hearts hammering wildly as they glanced at the disheveled Ren Ye from the corners of their eyes.
They could keenly feel that Ren Ye still wanted to kill.
Just then, the previously silent Li Yan clasped his fists and spoke: "Your Highness, we are ministers of the court, and thus naturally Your Highness's ministers as well. The sun has risen on this new day. In our busy lives, the Emperor needs us, and Your Highness will also still have need of us, correct?"
However, Li Yan received no response.
Ren Ye continued walking slowly towards him, dragging the heavy Guardian Sword along the ground, creating a clink-clank sound.
The other officials, seeing this, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But players hidden among them secretly prepared to fight for their lives.
A moment later, Ren Ye stopped a single pace from Li Yan. The Guardian Sword in his hand gleamed with an eerie light, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
Li Yan slowly straightened his posture but immediately lowered his head. "The Xu Heavenly Master lost an Iron Body today. The female thief was slain by Your Highness's own sword. The matter of the Hall of Tranquil Mind is concluded. Isn't this a fine outcome?"
"Heh!"
A look of intense, feverish excitement—the kind born of utter exhaustion—crossed Ren Ye's face. He simply smiled at Li Yan and slowly raised the Guardian Sword.
Swish!
At the same time, he raised his other hand and called softly, "Ghosts within a hundred zhàng, heed my command!"
Above the hall, the towering female Daoist specter suddenly opened her eyes.
WOOOOSH!
A Yin gale howled. The lonely souls and wild ghosts stationed around the platform collectively rose into the air, converging in an instant.
A hundred ghosts advanced under the daylight, floating in the sky as if emerging from the Yellow Springs, pressing down upon the officials and soldiers.
Sinister energy permeated the air. The officials broke out in goosebumps. Not daring to look up at the drifting specters overhead, they watched the maddened Ren Ye from the corners of their eyes, every muscle tense.
Li Yan gritted his teeth, his calm facade gone. He spoke rapidly: "Your Highness! Although Wang Jingzhong is dead, the Emperor decreed his family be taken to the capital for trial. However, just before coming here, this humble official already had Wang Jingzhong's family brought to the estate gates. If Your Highness agrees, these people can naturally be dealt with by you personally. As for the court… I can handle it!"
As his words fell, the Guardian Sword halted mid-air. Ren Ye wore a smile. After a long silence, he spoke, his voice slightly hoarse: "Administrator Li. Truly a master of advancing and retreating with grace."
"This humble official must obey the Emperor's command yet also remain loyal to Your Highness. It is a difficult position…!" Seeing Ren Ye's reaction, Li Yan felt instantly reassured and relaxed his posture somewhat.
Swish!
Abruptly, the smile vanished from Ren Ye's face. His eyes turned icy and sinister.
He tapped the tip of the sword against Li Yan's official robe, lightly tracing a line over his chest. "However, I greatly dislike your tone when speaking to this Prince."
The officials nearby, who had begun to relax, suddenly grew tense again.
The courtyard fell utterly silent.
The two men stared at each other for a long moment. Looking at Ren Ye's expression, Li Yan's forehead suddenly bulged with veins. With great stubbornness, he raised his arm.
Slap!
A crisp sound echoed as Li Yan slapped the blade of the Guardian Sword aside.
The officials broke out in a cold sweat. Was the Chief Administrator out of options, preparing to make a stand?
Thump!
Before they could finish the thought, Li Yan dropped to his knees with a thud. He stretched his arms out to their fullest extent and kowtowed.
"Long live Prince Huai! Long live, long, long live!!!"
Li Yan pressed his forehead to the ground, his kowtow form impeccable.
"Ha ha ha!"
Ren Ye paused for a moment, then laughed. He held the Guardian Sword aloft and turned his gaze to the other officials and soldiers.
They glanced at each other, then looked at the kneeling Li Yan…
Rustle—Whoosh!
Like a receding tide, over two hundred officials and armored soldiers all dropped to their knees.
"Long live Prince Huai! Long live, long, long live!"
"Long live Prince Huai! May your achievements span a thousand autumns!"
The cries swept through the Hall of Tranquil Mind like a wave. The hundred ghosts hovering above the crowd finally began to slowly disperse.
"Ha, you truly are a model court minister. You know when to bend and when to stand tall." Ren Ye withdrew his gaze and turned to walk back to the high platform. "Wang Jingzhong died for me. This Prince has a duty to protect his family. Now, get out!"
With that, he reached the hall entrance and helped Er Leng to his feet. "I'll have Lian'er attend to you personally from now on."
"Y-Your Highness, truly?" Er Leng, though critically weak, hadn't forgotten his obsession.
Later, Ren Ye returned alone to his bedchambers and collapsed, utterly exhausted, onto the bed to wait.
He didn't know how much time passed before a light flickered. He saw a single point of starlight appear on the ceiling above, slowly spreading to form a door of dazzling brilliance.
Swoosh!
The surroundings, distorted. Ren Ye's body vanished from the bed in an instant, returning to the real world.
...
Prince Huai's Estate, Dungeons.
Liu Jishan, who had been brutally beaten by Ren Ye right at the start, now stared despairingly at the ceiling, breathing weakly…