“When ghosts, monsters, and spirits appear, people like us come into existence as well.”

Evan Wade said, “That early?”

Irene Shaw nodded. “After all, our history can be traced back to the very first person who dared to draw a blade against demons and ghosts. But to be honest, when it comes to a real organized, official, and most powerful force for catching demons and slaying ghosts, that probably started in the Han dynasty.”

“Han?”

“Yes, the Commandant of the Capital, formerly known as the ‘Crouching Tiger.’ From Emperor Wu of Han to the Sui and Tang dynasties, they suppressed all the demons and monsters in the land.”

Before she finished speaking, Isaac Hill looked up, his tone rising slightly, and said, “Found it, Captain. It’s the old theater in Jiangnan Circuit, a place for opera performances. Apparently, a few famous actors came from there, but something happened in the past, so it was sealed off.”

A glimmer appeared in Irene Shaw’s eyes. She stood up and said,

“Let’s go, to Jiangnan.”

Evan Wade lifted his head slightly. Over there, Isaac Hill patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile,

“You can go back and rest now.”

“What comes next isn’t a world that ordinary people like you should be involved in.”

Ethan Grant glanced at him, nodded, and took out a talisman.

“This can protect you.”

“Take care of yourself, and forget about this kind of thing. While following us is helpful for finding ghosts, we also have to split our attention to protect you. To be blunt, you’re a burden and will slow us down. I hope you understand.”

Isaac Hill’s face twitched. He nudged Ethan Grant with his elbow and lowered his voice:

“Can’t you be more tactful?! Saying that right to his face? Apologize.”

“……”

Ethan Grant thought for a moment, then took out another talisman and handed it to Evan Wade.

Evan Wade couldn’t help but smile, but still accepted the second talisman and said,

“It’s fine.”

Ethan Grant nodded and fell silent again.

……

Evan Wade signed a confidentiality agreement, promising not to talk about it, and watched those people leave before returning home. Having someone else handle this was naturally a good thing; the official force was definitely much stronger than he was.

He’d spent the whole day reporting the case, and after getting home, he busied himself tidying up the house.

When it was time to rest at night, Evan Wade stuck one of the talismans at the head of his bed and another at the door.

He held his sword in his arms.

Only then did he fall asleep at ease.

Chapter 0010: If a man has no will to slay ghosts, ghosts will have the will to harm men

Step by step, his footsteps made no sound.

Evan Wade walked forward quietly.

This time, the wooden building seemed more vivid than ever before.

It was no longer a misty, foggy day, but a deep night. What drifted over was no longer the clear, melodious singing of a female opera singer, but the loud, coarse laughter of men, the crisp clinking of cups, and the gentle, winding laughter of women.

Joy, merriment, and an unending sense of sorrow.

Evan Wade paused, turning his head to the left.

In the gray night mist, a row of people knelt in unison—there was a child with a black mole at the corner of his eye, men, women, all with their heads bowed.

The men had no courage, the women no compassion.

Like rows and rows of tombstones.

He withdrew his gaze, stepped numbly into the courtyard, and just before entering, opened his eyes and regained his senses. In that instant, shock and anger flashed in his eyes: “Another dream?!”

He saw the stone well beneath the old locust tree, saw the woman with her head hanging low.

This time, she wore a bright red dress, festive and vivid.

The tune by his ear changed—it was the suona, jubilant and high-pitched.

A wedding.

Yet there was an unspeakable, bone-chilling feeling, an overwhelming sorrow that made his scalp tingle. Evan Wade’s expression changed drastically as he sensed something was wrong. He rolled backward, reaching out to grab the sword in his arms, but caught nothing.

He jerked his head up.

The silk ribbons on the locust tree fluttered, but there was nothing beneath them.

He looked to the side.

The woman silently raised her head and looked at him.

Her palm instantly pierced through Evan Wade’s chest.

……

“Ah!!!”

Evan Wade was jolted awake by the nightmare.

He opened his eyes wide, shock and anger in his gaze. Only when he saw the mold-spotted, greenish ceiling did he calm down.

A few minutes later, he got up and drank most of a glass of water. The cold water soothed his intense emotions, and his expression settled, though mostly into anger. Turning his head, he saw that the talismans at the door and the head of the bed had silently burned to ashes.

The other side was enraged.

But it wasn’t the only one who was angry.

Evan Wade had never intended to get involved in the world of demons and ghosts, but the other side clearly had no intention of letting him live. After seeing the talismans at his bedside, it invaded his dreams even more fiercely. Even a clay figurine has some fire in it, let alone a young man in his prime.

A nameless fire burned in Evan Wade’s heart.

If not for the Crouching Tiger badge, he might already be dead.

There was no way to avoid this; it had to be dealt with.

His thoughts gradually became clear.

In the end, he decided to go to Jiangnan himself.

Rather than sit and wait for death, it was better to take the initiative and seize the advantage. Since staying put wouldn’t help, he might as well give it a try.

Evan Wade went to the bathroom to wash his face, tucked the Crouching Tiger badge into his chest, then banged on the door where the water ghosts resided. A water ghost floated halfway out of the closed door, yawning, but was startled when it saw Evan Wade, and said, “Mr. Wade... what’s up with you?”