Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Terror Like This
"The previous owner?" Yang Xiao was startled.
Master Yan Zhen didn’t answer but instead asked, "I want to know what happened between the time you received the script for the ghost play and when you were pulled into the Nightmare World."
Yang Xiao, feeling anxious and sensing that something was amiss, recounted the entire sequence of events. He had nothing to hide.
To his surprise, the next second Director Nalan’s expression changed, "What did you say? There’s been a ghost trying to kill you?"
"It’s... it’s something like that," Yang Xiao recalled how the ghost had suddenly appeared, standing on the couch behind him, nearly scaring him to death.
"Hiss—"
Master Yan Zhen looked at Yang Xiao with a strange expression in his eyes and after a long while finally spoke, "Captain Yang, I need to tell you that when normal Angel Envoys enter the Nightmare World, it’s not like this. We encounter some strange phenomena, including ghosts, but they’re all scattered, illogical fragments, almost like inadvertent projections of the Nightmare World onto our own. What you’ve encountered... I’ve only come across one similar case in my life."
Upon hearing there was a case to reference, Yang Xiao immediately perked up, "Please tell me."
"About 10 years ago, I was dispatched by the Bureau to investigate a new recruit’s background. According to the files, he was an outstanding young man with considerable potential. His experiences were similar to yours; he also encountered frequent unknown attacks while waiting to enter the Nightmare World. He survived that nightmare and successfully retrieved the Resentful Eye."
"During the investigation into the Resentful Eye, we discovered records of it in the headquarters’ archives. The records indicated that the Resentful Eye belonged to a long-famed powerhouse who had disappeared many years ago, presumably dying during a nightmare mission. After his death, all the Resentful Eyes that recognized him as their master were reclaimed by the Nightmare World, a process we more professionally term as ’lost’."
"Analyzing the facts, this Resentful Eye became a masterless object and gave rise to a nightmare mission. The young man recalled that the mission was very challenging; out of six participants, only he survived."
"Senior, where is that young man now? Can I meet him?" Desperate for someone with similar experiences, Yang Xiao had questions he wanted to ask in person.
Master Yan Zhen sighed slowly, "I’m afraid you won’t be able to meet him; he died. Not long after I spoke with him, he perished in his next nightmare mission."
"Died..." The glimmer of hope that Yang Xiao had just seen was instantly shattered.
"However, he left behind some information that you can refer to," Master Yan Zhen said gravely, "Before he entered his nightmare mission, he contacted us and said that the ghost pursuing him was a tall man with a strangely shaped broken sword. According to his description, we indeed found this sword in our archive. Interestingly, this broken sword is also a Resentful Eye, likewise owned by the fallen powerhouse."
"So, having obtained one Resentful Eye, I’ll be entangled by the others?" Yang Xiao panicked, the Resentful Eyes of a powerful figure naturally formidable, possibly making the mission difficulty soar.
Master Yan Zhen looked at Yang Xiao, and after a few seconds finally spoke, "Afterward, I asked a senior at headquarters about it. Perhaps due to my insufficient rank, he couldn’t be fully candid with me, but he said this: that man wasn’t entangled by the Resentful Eye, he was haunted by the wraith of that powerhouse."
The more he heard, the more terrifying it became. Yang Xiao couldn’t help but visualize the big red coffin and the hand that had just gripped his heart.
"So... So this Drama Robe I have also belonged to a powerful figure, and the nightmares I’ll face next... will all be... all will be...?"
"It’s highly probable," Mr. Yan Zhen stated bluntly, "But we will support you with all our intelligence resources. The moment you detect any anomaly, or if you discover some characteristic of the ghost that attacked you before your next mission starts, report it immediately. We will help you find clues and do our utmost to help you overcome the challenges. The organization will not abandon you."
"Thank you, the organization. I think I can still save the situation." Overwhelmed with information, Yang Xiao’s mind was in a fog, with fear as the dominant emotion.
"I also have a piece of advice: judging from the current situation, this Resentful Eye you have is truly no ordinary item. You should familiarize yourself with it as soon as possible; you might find some clues within," Master Yan Zhen cautioned.
"I’ll take care of that," Nalan Shuo extinguished his cigarette and nodded.
After confirming a few more questions, Master Yan Zhen got up to leave, "Captain Yang, I’d appreciate if you’d keep the content of our conversation today a secret. Some of the things I wasn’t supposed to say, but Director Nalan is an old friend of mine, and I can’t disrespect him."
"Understood, thank you, senior, for giving me guidance!"
"Also, are you clear about the several ways to obtain a Resentful Eye?" Master Yan Zhen’s gaze was filled with concern, "There are three, in total. The first is like this time, obtained through a nightmare mission. The second is dealing with supernatural incidents in reality. These two are standard methods and the right path."
"But there is also a last one: killing to seize the treasure. Once the holder of a Resentful Eye dies, the Eyes that recognized him as their master become masterless. You should understand the principle that a poor man is not guilty but deserves his punishment for possessing a gem. Moreover, compared to the first two methods, this one is more convenient."
"Understood, I won’t leak this matter." Following Mr. Yan Zhen’s words, Yang Xiao realized the Drama Robe he possessed was a treasure, and if word got out, it could attract unwanted attention.
"Good, as long as you’re aware of the implications. You can rest easy about Director Nalan and I; after all, you’re one of our own."
"Ready to serve the organization with my modest abilities, not shying away from any trial by fire or water!" Yang Xiao’s determination skyrocketed alarmingly.
"The organization understands your feelings, but you ought to take care of yourself first." After bidding farewell to Director Nalan, Mr. Yan Zhen left with his assistant.
Once Mr. Yan Zhen had left, only Director Nalan and Yang Xiao remained in the room. Yang Xiao’s face twisted in anguish, "Director, did you notice Mr. Yan Zhen’s expression when he left? It seemed as if he thought I was a goner, beyond saving."
"Do you smoke?" Director Nalan offered him a cigarette box.
"No, I don’t."
Director Nalan lit a cigarette for himself, took it in his mouth, "Don’t put too much pressure on yourself; humans have the ability to influence their fate."
After taking a few puffs, seeing that Yang Xiao still looked despondent, Director Nalan suddenly laughed and patted him on the shoulder, "Don’t worry, you’re my man, I’ve got your back."
Even though Yang Xiao knew the director was just comforting him, he felt grateful for such reassurance from a superior, "Thank you, Director."
"Yeah, you should head back first. Don’t mention this matter to Beibei and the others for now. I’ll find an opportunity to help you get familiar with the Resentful Eye."
"Apart from you and Zhao Yuanpei, there was another survivor from your last mission, a student from an art academy in Rongcheng named Su Tingting. To my knowledge, the higher-ups have already arranged for someone to keep an eye on her."
Yang Xiao immediately realized, "You mean she might also be in danger, like... like Brother Zhao was?"
"That’s a possibility we can’t rule out. Our people have scanned the area around Fengmen Town Wasteland and have found no trace of the Resentful Eye. The supernatural events Zhao Yuanpei and his team encountered were very strange, happening without rhyme or reason, then ending just as abruptly. It doesn’t add up."
"After listening to Mr. Yan Zhen, I suspect that this incident was aimed at Zhao Yuanpei. Even if he hadn’t gone to Fengmen Town Wasteland, he probably couldn’t have escaped his fate."
"If you think about the recent events, the first supernatural incident after the mission was targeted at you, in the hotel, that nightmare, it’s very peculiar. Then, the next day, something happened to Zhao Yuanpei—six people went missing. It’s uncertain whether Su Tingting will be next."
Brother Zhao’s team of six were completely wiped out; given Yang Xiao’s understanding of Su Tingting, she was bound to die if she encountered a supernatural event.
"Director, could you arrange for me to stick with Su Tingting during this time?"
Noticing the seriousness in Yang Xiao’s eyes, Director Nalan appeared thoughtful, "You want to get to the bottom of this, but you need to understand that the risk is substantial."
"Rather than waiting like a sitting duck for someone to come after me, I’d rather take the initiative. To be honest, if that nightmare happens every night, I won’t last much longer myself." Yang Xiao spoke candidly, "Every time I see that huge coffin, I get this indescribable feeling—as if... as if it’s meant for me, and there’s something inside waiting for me."
"I understand. I’ll talk to the higher-ups right away and get your squad involved."
"No, Director, you’ve misunderstood; not us, but me alone." Yang Xiao turned to glance in the direction of the investigation team’s office, "This is my own issue; I can’t let my brothers take risks with me, especially when a supernatural incident could likely lead to complete annihilation. I owe them too much to repay that kind of debt."
Director Nalan paused in his smoking, and after a few seconds, nodded thoughtfully, "You’re doing well, Yang Xiao. Zhao Yuanpei wasn’t wrong about you."
Within the Patrol Defense Bureau’s underground parking garage, three black sedans lay in wait, a figure dressed in a cyan Drama Robe sat in the back seat of the center car.
The old man’s eyes were closed, as if he were resting with his eyes shut.
"Sir, the main office has confirmed again that the Resentful Eye belongs to none of the registered Angel Envoys."
"What about the United Federation?" The old man opened his eyes slowly.
"The provincial federation has the same records; nothing on file." The young man in the passenger seat adjusted his glasses before shifting his gaze from the computer screen.
"If it’s not in the official records and not in the files of the United Federation, then the previous owner of the Resentful Eye was neither a registered Official Apostle nor an Association Apostle associated with the civilian coalition," Master Yan Zhen mused, his expression growing complex.
"That’s right; the person must be a Loose Cultivator, but given the current situation, we can be certain they are no ordinary individual."
"To cause such extensive damage using only residual vengeful spirits is no mean feat; I’m not worried about Loose Cultivators, it’s those other individuals I’m truly concerned about."
The young man’s face took on a fearful expression, "You mean... Evil Cultivators?"
