040 The Whole Story

I never expected Lin Wan and Lu Ling to come to my rescue, nor did I foresee that Zhou Zitong would have reinforcements. Three against three, we didn't have any advantage, and I was hardly a fighting force at this point.

Having been tricked by Zhou Zitong, I had almost no strength or energy left to use my abilities. The relentless attacks from Black and White Impermanence had confined Lin Wan and Lu Ling within a tight circle; both were barely managing to defend themselves. Now, I could only rely on myself.

I tried to activate my light shield again, hoping to defend myself, but nothing happened. Zhou Zitong smiled, “Give it up, Lin Zijian. Your abilities aren’t advanced enough to be used infinitely.”

“Just accept your fate.”

I had no intention of waiting to die. Since I couldn’t win, I turned and ran. Zhou Zitong sneered, unleashing a barrage of weapons at me. The whistling wind behind me spelled trouble.

Clang.

A white bone spear suddenly blocked the incoming weapon for me.

“Black and White Impermanence, withdraw!”

The mist faded as Zhou Zitong and the two ghost contract holders retreated. Sunlight began to filter through the forest, scattering slivers of warmth across my face—a long-missed comfort. Drowsiness crept over me, and I found myself lying on the ground.

“You fool, are you trying to die?”

A slap landed across my face.

“Damn, who hit me?” I tried to leap up, but failed—and nearly strained my back. When I finally saw the familiar face, dark as Lord Bao’s, I nearly cried with joy.

“Carbon Head, you’re finally back!” I threw my arms around him in a bear hug.

“You idiot, almost got ambushed, didn’t you? Only you would wander out here alone with such a carefree heart,” Carbon Head scolded me nonstop.

Smack! I slapped Carbon Head’s face soundly. “Thanks for saving me, but you dared hit me? Got guts, huh?”

I swung a fist at him.

“Wait!” Carbon Head caught my punch in his palm.

“As long as you’re alive, friend.” He turned and patted my shoulder.

“You too.”

Before long, we returned to the dormitory on the fourth floor. It was as cold and gloomy as ever, but neither of us felt any fear now.

Carbon Head had grown much stronger since returning; in his own words, he was now “even more badass.” He briefly recounted his experiences in Phoenix Ancient Town.

The corpse-driving sect of Western Hunan wasn’t a myth—it truly existed. However, corpse-drivers only appeared at night, and their methods weren’t as depicted in TV dramas, with corpses bouncing along. Under the control techniques of Western Hunan, corpses behaved almost like ordinary people; though mute, their actions could mimic those of the living.

Much like the deaf and mute, yet able to obey corpse-drivers’ commands and perform extraordinary feats.

Aside from the secret techniques of Western Hunan corpse-driving, even the Miao tribe’s Five Venoms relic had been included among the Square Thirteen Cards.

“So…,” I said, delighted.

“The Square Cards are a fusion of Western Hunan and Miao powers, allowing the wielder to harness the strengths of both tribes.”

“My current Square Seven comes from the corpse-driving sect—it’s the Bone Control technique, White Bones, which allows me to control my own bones.”

“Carbon Head, did you learn anything else when you went back?” I asked urgently, sensing that he had brought back many secrets. Even if he couldn’t explain the entire story, at least he could tell me why an ordinary person like me was dragged into this game.

After days of terrifying games, I was on the verge of collapse. Now that I might finally understand a little of the truth, I couldn’t let the opportunity slip away.

Carbon Head took a deep breath, looked at me, and began to explain how the game began.

“October first, known as ‘October Morning,’ also called ‘Ancestor Worship Festival’ or ‘Cold Clothes Festival.’ Since ancient times, it’s been customary in our country to honor ancestors during the harvest, as a sign of filial piety and remembrance. Both North and South observe this day, which is the last of the four major Ghost Festivals.”

On that very day, I returned drunk to the dormitory.

“The Plum Ghost Card is the final step in the sealing ritual—a great array using thirteen fierce ghosts as the guide to seal all evil into the underworld.”

“D University is the center of the array, and our dormitory is where the Ace of Plum is sealed.”

“The ritual isn’t affected by ordinary people, unless they hold a key item.”

“You mean the contract holders’ poker cards?” I asked tentatively.

“Exactly,” Carbon Head replied. “I don’t know who placed a card on you, but it definitely disrupted the final step of the seal—the array wasn’t fully activated.”

“Originally, the fifty-four cards and their corresponding spirits should have gone dormant with the completion of the array.”

“But because of this issue, the spirits were reactivated, which led to the game starting ahead of schedule.”

“The game was supposed to take place ten years from now, but it started a full decade early.”

“Damn… I don’t understand,” I admitted, feeling my mind overwhelmed by all the supernatural talk.

Carbon Head cast a disdainful glance at me. “To put it simply, someone interfered with you, causing the event to happen early, and by accident, you became a contract holder. If it weren’t for you, we’d have had ten years to prepare.”

“You’re different from me,” Carbon Head continued. “Grandma told me—we’re the orthodox heirs of the Western Hunan line. No matter what, we would have participated in this game ten years later.”

“We use this game to strengthen ourselves, becoming powerful fighters for the future.”

“It’s not just our line; other sects have sent people to activate contract holders’ powers.”

“But because the start was brought forward, many ordinary people became contract holders, while those who should have become contract holders died.”

“Is this my fault?” I asked, confused. “All I did was return late to the dormitory once! You can’t blame everything on me.”

Carbon Head sighed, “I’m not blaming you, brother. What’s done is done—we just have to take things one step at a time.”

“It’s just that you happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, manipulated by someone.”

“As for the Ghost Cards…”

“Hey, Zhou Zhenyu!” Lin Wan suddenly pushed open the door, interrupting him. “Careful how much you say. Are you really sure Lin Zijian won’t spill these secrets?”

“Lin Wan, do you think you can keep hiding this?” Carbon Head said sternly. “They’ve already joined the game—they have the right to know the truth.”

“Zhou Zhenyu, I’ll only say this once: that’s enough.” Lin Wan activated her speed ability and left.

Carbon Head sighed and continued, “Brother, that’s all I can tell you. Besides me and Lin Wan, you need to pay close attention to two others: Chu Yuyan and Zhou Zitong. The four of us are contract holders sent by the Four Great Sacred Grounds.”

“Each of us carries different sect missions.”

“My task is to ensure as many contract holders survive as possible, so that in the battles to come, we’ll have greater strength.”

“So, brother, get stronger. Only by becoming stronger will you have a chance to discover the truth behind this world.”

Carbon Head hoisted me onto his back and carried me to the dormitory.

“This Zhou Zhenyu guy just spilled everything,” Lin Wan muttered in the shadows. “Looks like I need to make a trip back to Tianshan as well.”