Lanlu County.
Valen Viscount's Mansion.
When Gu Qingshan arrived, he was immediately ushered into the study.
Valen Viscount was a kind-faced, middle-aged man. If not for the robe he wore, which gave off twisted, shadowy silhouettes, he would have looked like an utterly unremarkable passerby.
The moment he saw Gu Qingshan, the Viscount stepped forward and gave him a warm embrace.
"Time really flies. In the blink of an eye, our Lanlu County is about to have another handsome Baron." Valen Viscount said.
"Thank you, sir. I'll do my best." Gu Qingshan said.
"All right, let's take a look at the corpses first. We can talk as we go." Valen Viscount said.
At his command, the corpses of the two Evil Ghosts were brought in.
Their faces were still human, but their swollen bodies, long claws on their limbs, and the shells covering their backs all showed that something had changed them.
"Seal the study. No one is to enter or leave." Valen Viscount ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Everyone withdrew, leaving only the Viscount and Gu Qingshan.
"Rod, what do you think happened to these two people from the Evil Ghost World?" Valen Viscount asked.
"My lord, I suspect they were struck by something—or, rather, infected by it." Gu Qingshan said.
"Is that so? If you don't mind, I'd like to gather their souls and see what happened." Valen Viscount said.
"Of course I don't mind. Please." Gu Qingshan said.
Valen Viscount walked up to the two corpses, opened his palm, and murmured, "Dead Souls, Appear."
Several translucent gray shadows flew from his hand and landed on the corpses.
The two corpses did not move.
"Their souls are gone. It seems they've already returned to the Evil Ghost World, but—"
As Valen Viscount spoke, he extended a finger and beckoned.
As