Chapter 1 Ye Yang

Ye Yang, clad in white, was like a ghostly guide leading countless vengeful spirits under the moonlight.

The spirits trailing behind Ye Yang grew increasingly malevolent. By the time they approached the mine entrance, their baleful aura was raging like a fire, threatening to spiral out of control at any moment.

I couldn't help but frown slightly, "Leng Gou has gathered too much baleful aura. At this rate, the spirits might become demonized."

Wang Xiaohuan said, "Ye Yang is going for the kill. He's been provoked."

"Look closely," I said, "where exactly is the baleful aura on those spirits coming from?"

Following the direction Wang Xiaohuan pointed, I noticed swirling vortexes under the spirits' feet. It turned out that Ye Yang's grand formation was drawing on the earth's yin energy to strengthen the spirits.

Wang Xiaohuan said, "Ye Yang is trying to avenge you. These spirits will become extremely unstable after being forcibly enhanced. Once their emotions run wild, it will be easy for them to…"

Wang Xiaohuan made an exploding gesture with his hand. "Ye Yang is going to destroy the secret burial. But killing so many spirits at once is against the natural order!"

As I frowned slightly, Ye Yang had already entered the mine, lantern in hand.

Moonlight was cut off by the mine, and the white lantern in Ye Yang's hand flared up violently. Ghastly shadows became increasingly grotesque under the light, and the spirits let out bestial roars under its suppression.

Yet Ye Yang continued to slow his pace, guiding the spirits forward step by step.

As I gripped the hilt of my saber, a large stone gate came into view in the distance, its pillars etched with clear witch-script.

Was that the "Ten Steps Fall"?

Was this truly just a probe hole drilled by someone, as Hua Lianqing had described?

I didn't think so.

But I didn't recognize the witch-script on the stone pillars. Perhaps Ye Yang did?

Just as I was about to tell Ye Yang to stop, he thrust the white lantern into the Ten Steps Fall.

The white lantern floated eerily into the depths of the mine. The spirits behind Ye Yang swarmed after the light.

I watched as the white lantern floated a hundred meters away, hovering in the depths of the tunnel. The next moment, the white lantern suddenly exploded. Instead of flames, several snarling, roaring wronged souls flew out from within.

Piercing wails instantly echoed through the mine. The wronged souls flying in the air scattered in different directions. The fierce spirits from Mat蹄 Village also split into several groups, chasing after the wronged souls and disappearing into the depths of the tunnels.

Ye Yang turned around. "The rest is up to you."

I glanced at the empty mine tunnels. "Can those wronged souls destroy the secret burial?"

"They're more powerful than you think!" Ye Yang said, cradling his sword. "I'll leave the outside to you. I have something else to do."

"Take it easy! Xiao Ying, stay and watch him. Shijie, Badger, let's go!" I turned and walked out.

Wang Xiaohuan chased after me all the way. "How did you know I was called Badger?"

"Badger is a good name. You might be small, but you're fierce, cunning, and you like to be a little mischievous."

"You being called Badger was told to me by Jiang Junci." I turned back and smiled at Wang Xiaohuan, who was grinding his teeth.

It wasn't Jiang Junci who told me that at all. I accidentally overheard Wang the Butcher calling him that.

But well!

People of Liangjie Tang must adhere to one principle: don't make candy too sweet, but make vinegar sour. In other words, you have to trip people up even when there's nothing to trip them up about.

I wanted to see if Wang Xiaohuan would beat up Jiang Junci the next time he saw him.

I was very curious!

I walked out of the mine, lit a cigarette, and sat on a rock, leisurely smoking.

Wang the Butcher walked up to me. "Are you planning to destroy this secret burial from the inside?"

"No, I plan to make it so that no one can open it."

I said coldly, "Wu Sheng, Hua Lianqing, Hua Wuxin, didn't they all want me to open Tian Lao?" (Heavenly Prison)

"Why should I listen to them?"

"Since they all want to see what's inside Tian Lao, then I'll make sure they see nothing at all."

I said softly, "Lao Liu told me some time ago that killing people is never the most vicious method. The cruelest way to take revenge on someone is to strike at their heart."

"The more someone cares about something, the more you need to attack that thing. Only then can you make them hurt so much that they can't even cry."

My gaze grew increasingly grim as I said, "My goal was never the secret burial in the first place. Destroying the secret burial won't cause me any loss. The ones who will truly feel agonizing pain are Wu Sheng and Hua Wuxin."

Wang the Butcher said, "I can understand the purpose of your move. But how will Hua Wuxin and the others know that you've already made your move?"

I smiled. "If I'm not mistaken, the mechanism in Beishui Town is only missing one step."

"And that's the location where the core chamber is placed. Unless Hua Wuxin shows his face, Wu Sheng will never be able to accurately place that chamber."

"Wu Sheng is waiting for Hua Wuxin to show up, and Hua Wuxin is also waiting for Wu Sheng to compromise."

"They're testing each other's patience while also closely monitoring everything inside the secret burial. They're bound to notice any disturbance here."

Even as I was speaking, the sound of Ye Yang chanting witch-script surged wildly out of the mine tunnel.

When I first heard Ye Yang chanting the witch-script, I didn't think much of it. But after a while, I realized something was wrong.