Three-Faced Ghost

Evil energy surged from the ruined temple behind them like a tide, like towering waves born of ocean currents colliding with wind-whipped seas.

As deep as an abyss, as imposing as a mountain.

It seemed some being was about to breach the boundary between the unreal and the real and enter this world.

An inexplicable feeling arose in Chen Ying.

Whatever wanted to manifest was so evil, so ancient, that it surpassed every sinister entity hiding on Rongyi Street.

No, Rongyi Street becoming what it was now was merely one of its myriad effects on this world.

"Go."

Chen Ying grabbed Hua Shanrong and immediately retreated out of the little temple without the slightest hesitation.

This evil energy was so powerful that no human strength could stand against it.

To linger even a moment longer would be to gamble irresponsibly with his own life.

"Brother Ying, why are we leaving..."

Hua Shanrong seemed entirely oblivious. It was as if the raging evil energy did not exist for him as he looked around.

"Your arm's healed. What are you still hanging around for?"

Chen Ying exerted all his strength, never slowing his steps. Hua Shanrong swayed from side to side like a ragged sack as Chen Ying dragged him along.

Rongyi Street was not long, and Chen Ying soon ran past it. But he did not stop. He kept going, onward and onward.

A black shadow emerged from the ruined temple.

Rather than emerging, a more accurate description might have been that it was like a seed that had long lain dormant, now beginning to stretch upward and grow from the ruined temple.

Darkness churned and expanded, finally forming an immense shadow like a small mountain.

Its body resembled a mountain, countless arms extending from its back in all directions like withered coral branches. It rode some kind of monstrous beast.

The only clear part was his enormous head. The uppermost face gazed at the sky; the face on the left was wound in layers of burial shrouds, leaving only a vague outline. Only the face on the right observed the world. Three enormous scars occupied the places where its eyes should have been, the vast hollows surveying and searching below.

The countless sinister entities hidden on Rongyi Street wailed. That single glance was already burning the essence of their existence into spirit fire that allowed the shadow to manifest, turning them into beacons to guide his arrival.

"What's going on?"

Wen Ruzhi, who had been drinking and eating meat in Dragon City, looked into the distance. He stared in astonishment at the enormous shadow rising there.

It was like a black sun. Its very existence was enough to tear at the boundary between reality and nothingness, as if it would reveal its true immensity in the mortal world in the next instant.

"That thing is still in the netherworld, and a mere glance is enough to cause such an effect?"

Dragon City's Grand Duke, who had been drinking with Wen Ruzhi, looked that way.

"Fuck, that's Rongyi Street. That boy had better be all right. Lu, let's call it a day..."

"You're going over there? If that thing comes through, even you won't be able to hold it off."

"That boy's still on Rongyi Street. I have to get him out, at least."

"I'll come with you. If that thing really comes through... all of Hong Kong and Kowloon will be lost."

"Let's go."

The two stood. Both were grandmasters at the pinnacle of martial arts, swift as the wind and quick as lightning. They immediately raced toward Rongyi Street.

Beneath an office building somewhere, a group of white-skinned researchers watched the instruments around them flash red and issue warnings.

"Psionic concentration has exceeded the critical threshold, exceeded the critical threshold. The ley lines are restructuring..."

"Spatial fluctuations detected. Their level is rising. Something is coming through from the other side."

"Lens reaction level is rising sharply. Class C... Class B... Class A... a Spirit Disaster of at least Class A."

A researcher in a white lab coat ran out of the underground research center. He raced upstairs, through corridor after corridor, and finally pushed open an office door.

Mak Ho-lai was staring blankly at a game of Go. Black and white stones crisscrossed the board; clearly, the fierce contest had reached its endgame.

"Signs of a Class A Spirit Disaster. Class A..."

"Class A?"

Mak Ho-lai stood, a flicker of panic crossing his face.

"Impossible. The Naval Intelligence Bureau surveyed the ley lines throughout Hong Kong and Kowloon. This place lacks any of the basic conditions necessary for a Class A Spirit Disaster."

"That's what the data says. You must report to the governor at once. We must evacuate immediately. If a Class A Spirit Disaster occurs, never mind Hong Kong and Kowloon-even all of Lingnan will be lost. The ley lines are weakening. That thing is coming through from the Void Realm."

"Understood."

Mak Ho-lai stood up and straightened his clothes.

"You should report directly to the deputy director on duty."

"That idiot isn't in his office. Who knows which woman he's enjoying himself with?"

"Then I'll go find the deputy director first."

"You need to tell the governor directly and evacuate immediately, or we're all finished."

"That thing hasn't come through yet."

Mak Ho-lai looked at him.

"I must follow procedure."

"Procedure?"

"If I report to the governor and that thing doesn't come through, my career is over. Even if it does come through, my superiors will still end my career."

"Fucking bureaucrats."

The researcher groaned. "You're going to get us all killed."

To ordinary people, everything happening on Rongyi Street was imperceptible and indescribable. As long as the three-faced being did not truly breach the boundary, it would have no effect on their lives.

Those who had studied and understood the other world, however, were all watching the immense shadow above Rongyi Street without exception. Some were excited, some puzzled, some devout...

But that magnificent darkness seemed to quickly lose interest in coming here. After the towering waves of darkness rose to a certain limit, they stopped rising.

Perhaps, to it, entering the present world over a tiny signal was not a particularly good idea. Or perhaps it had merely stretched its body briefly.

Whatever the case, after reaching an extreme, the darkness began to weaken.

With the ruined temple as its focal point once again, everything was receding.

"Fuck..."

Chen Ying ran madly. He had a feeling that thing had come for him.

What exactly had awakened it?

Was it when he had delivered that kick, or when his baleful energy had devoured the cold energy in Hua Shanrong's arm?

Perhaps the real answer was simple: it had merely happened to glance this way.

Chen Ying kept running. Rongyi Street was already far behind him, and he did not know where he should go next.

Wen Ruzhi's clinic, or Granny Chen's little building.

"Boy."

Wen Ruzhi's voice sounded beside his ear. Chen Ying turned and saw Wen Ruzhi floating down from a rooftop with a middle-aged man.

"Mr. Wen."

"Who's this lad?"

Wen Ruzhi stared at Hua Shanrong beside him. Chen Ying had dragged him into a daze, and he was rolling his eyes and dry-heaving from time to time.

"A classmate of mine. I found him in that ruined temple."

"Never mind him for now."

Wen Ruzhi looked ahead at the receding darkness.

"What was that thing about?"

"I don't know either."

Chen Ying recounted his experience in the ruined temple, also explaining why Hua Shanrong had been there.

"Someone from Wo On Sing?"

The middle-aged man accompanying Wen Ruzhi rubbed his chin.

"Brother Wen, I don't think this has much to do with young Chen."

"Oh?"

"Temple Street has all sorts. Perhaps it has something to do with that spirit medium."

The middle-aged man considered it. "I've long heard that someone is using Rongyi Street to raise ghosts. Perhaps this lad was an offering they sent."

"How could raising a few little ghosts stir up something that enormous?"

Wen Ruzhi shook his head. "Even on the other side, beings like that are few."

"Then leave the investigation to me."

The middle-aged man smiled.

"Let me take this lad to Dragon City for some questioning, too."

"Very well."

Wen Ruzhi's gaze shifted. There was no telling what he was thinking.

"Chen, this is Lu Zhengxing, chairman of the Dragon City Management Committee, holding the official rank of major general adviser in the Lingnan Jiedu Office. People call him Dragon City Zhong Kui. From now on, address him as your martial uncle."

"My respects, Martial Uncle Lu."

Lu Zhengxing smiled.

"So you're the Chen family's young man? Not bad. I know a little Baguazhang myself. Come find me in Dragon City if you're interested."

"I misjudged things today. I never expected to put you in such peril."

Wen Ruzhi looked at Chen Ying. "With Brother Lu here as witness, I will accept you as my disciple. You will enter my tutelage, but not my religious order."

"By the rules of the martial world, initiation requires three masters. You and I already share considerable ties, so we can dispense with an introducing master. Brother Lu will serve as witnessing master, and the ceremony will be considered complete today."

"Chen Ying, I have no rules or restrictions for my disciples. Whether you do good or evil is your own choice. There is only one prohibition: you must not betray your country and people," Wen Ruzhi said. "If you dare forsake your ancestors and heritage, even if heaven won't take you, I will."

"Your disciple will remember."

"Wen Ruzhi, just take your disciple. No need for all this blood and thunder."

Lu Zhengxing frowned as he spoke.

"This has caused such a stir that the foreigners' lackeys will be here soon. Let's leave."

Somewhere far from there.

A row of geomantic compasses sat before a middle-aged man in a long gown, their needles spinning wildly. Holding a fan painted with a beautiful woman, he watched the compasses, his brow alternately relaxing and tightening.

Not far behind him knelt an old woman, her face full of terror.

"I painstakingly set up a Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Formation, but instead of drawing the phoenix, I had it ruined by your meddling."

Mr. Xu turned to look at the old woman.

"I... I..."

The old woman panted heavily. She still had much to say, but no matter what, she could no longer get the words out.

Because her bones were crawling out of her body, tearing away the flesh and skin as though taking off clothes.

"You ruined my great undertaking. Death is too good for you."

Mr. Xu watched her coldly.

The boneless flesh and skin rolled about on the floor, finally forming a shriveled old woman. Her face closely resembled the old woman's former appearance, and she now wore a black burial robe.

The old woman curled up and slowly crawled outside.

Mr. Xu ignored her.

He left and entered another room. It was empty except for a rosewood dressing table standing in the very center. A white candle burned in the southeast corner, giving off an eerie green light.

Mr. Xu sat before the dressing table, every movement like that of a gentle woman. With a sweep of his hand, he wiped away all his facial features, then picked up an eyebrow pencil from the dressing table.

He drew brows and eyes and reshaped his features, soon fashioning a youthful face for himself.

He frowned at the mirror.

Not enough. I still don't look enough like that idiot from the Zou family.