Chapter 39: Encounter with the Revenge Ghost

(Yu Yan)

Why? Of all places, why did the Revenge Ghost choose such a remote location?

The Western District, a part of the city that wasn't typically the Ghost's operational area, had suddenly become his new ground. This unexpected change, while anticipated, had a very low probability of occurring. From the intelligence we had gathered, the likelihood of the Ghost attacking the Falcon Group was extremely slim.

But more importantly is Yu Hai there!

My dear little brother, he will certainly try to fight or stop the Revenge Ghost. Damn it, just imagining this possibility opens up numerous scenarios, and in seventy percent of these, Yu Hai ends up dead if he confronts the Ghost.

"I won't allow that! Revenge Ghost, if you so much as touch a hair on my brother's head, I'll make you suffer a fate worse than death!"

...

I landed in front of the Falcon Group's headquarters. At first glance, I saw two dried corpses, unmistakably the work of the Revenge Ghost. I paid them no heed and rushed into the building, my heart in my throat from intense anxiety. The thought of Yu Hai's fate brought back many unpleasant memories.

"No, this time it's different, this time I won't lose anyone at all!"

I entered the main hall and saw a mountain of dried corpses. The scene before me was like a painting from the depths of hell. Blood was everywhere, the stench of it permeating the air. Some bodies were crushed by immense force, others were slashed or stabbed multiple times, and many were dried out, a signature mark of the Ghost.

A battlefield!

This was a chaotic battlefield, and at first glance, it was clear a fierce fight had taken place among the occupants. I walked through the scattered bodies, my heart nearly stopping. All I was looking for was my little brother Yu Hai's corpse. I looked to the right, nothing. I looked to the left, nothing.

"Yu Hai!!!"

I screamed with all my might, but there was no response at all. Just silence and dried corpses as far as the eye could see. Despair began to consume my heart, and I no longer felt my body. The only sound echoing in my ears was:

"Yu Yan, you can run, but you can't hide! I will find you someday, and I will make your life a living hell by taking away your most precious possessions. Remember this well!"

That voice... how is it here? How did that monster get here? Could it be that he is the Ghost himself? No, it's impossible. He couldn't have traveled such a vast distance without the Pure Sword Temple knowing about it. No, that's impossible!

"Yu Yan, look around, see your worst nightmares come true before your eyes!"

The light gradually faded, and my vision was engulfed in darkness. In the midst of the darkness, I heard heavy footsteps shaking the ground. Fear and panic surged through my heart, and I finally realized that the Ghost was indeed that monster! I raised my eyes, and hatred, fear, and panic burned within me.

As I expected, I saw a figure resembling a human but not human at all. He had no skin, his flesh was black, and he had white spiky protrusions all over his body. He had no eyes, just a huge mouth with shark-like teeth and a long tongue. He had a long, thick black tail. The most shocking thing was Yu Hai's head in his right hand, looking like a rotten apple.

"Catastrophe of Despair!" 

The moment I saw my brother's severed head, with Catastrophe of Despair playing with it like a ball, I was overwhelmed with utter despair. Again, it happened again!

"Hahaha, how pitiful I am. Another person I care about died because of my mistake. Why? Catastrophe of Despair, explain to me what I did to deserve all this?"

I no longer cared about anything, not even my life. This monster had taken everything beautiful from me, traveled all this distance just to make my life a living hell. And the worst part was, I was powerless to stop him, let alone save my own useless life.

"Do you ask why I want to make your life a living hell? How ridiculous! I am Catastrophe of Despair. I don't need a reason to bring despair!"

Catastrophe of Despair laughed while approaching me slowly, still playing with Yu Hai's head. Despite every part of my body screaming to run, I didn't move because I had simply lost my will to live. Despair filled my heart and soul; I no longer cared about this worthless life.

Catastrophe of Despair came closer until there were only thirty steps between us. I closed my eyes, hoping to reunite with my little brother, my leader, my followers, and Lin Xiao on the other side. The smile of that girl never left my memory, though I didn't know how I would face my master without fulfilling my promise to him.

"I'm sorry, Master, I couldn't protect your only daughter!"

Tap, tap, tap...

Suddenly, I heard soft footsteps behind me. Those steps had a rhythm that instilled immense fear and submission. Such steps could only come from someone who had reached the fifth level.

"Yu Yan, die!" (Catastrophe of Despair)

Catastrophe of Despair attacked with his giant arm, aiming to crush me with one blow. I had no way to defend or evade the attack. I knew the strength of Catastrophe of Despair; he was an incredibly powerful monster, so there was no point in trying to avoid it in the first place!

"It seems you've become too gluttonous, filthy wretch. Are you happy devouring all your comrades? Don't rejoice too much; it's time for you to be devoured too!"

Suddenly, I heard the delicate, beautiful voice of a young girl. Her voice had a magical effect, its tone sarcastic, giving a unique flavor, contrasting with the nature of the surrounding area. I asked myself, where is this voice coming from?

Before I could turn my head, I saw a mysterious figure in a red cloak pass me by. He had the same dominant footsteps. The impression of his voice and footsteps was very contradictory, but it also made anyone feel at ease instantly. The mysterious figure stood between me and Catastrophe of Despair as if he was protecting me. Despite knowing the power of Catastrophe of Despair, I felt safe just looking at his back.

Catastrophe of Despair attacked with all his might, his giant fist aiming to crush everything. I knew this attack was enough to destroy an entire hill, so all I expected to see was this figure being obliterated into nothing.

The mysterious figure raised his small, delicate hand, like a girl's hand, to block the giant arm of the catastrophe. The outcome of this struggle was decided from the very beginning. But contrary to expectations, something unimaginable happened before my eyes:

Boom!

The clash of the mysterious figure's palm and Catastrophe of Despair's fist shattered my perception of reality. The fist of Catastrophe of Despair exploded, blood scattering everywhere. At the same time, the mysterious figure's palm continued its advance, striking the chest of Catastrophe of Despair until it touched him.

At the moment the small palm touched the giant chest of Catastrophe of Despair, it seemed like the figure was simply patting the monster's chest. But contrary to this naive appearance, it was something entirely different. For the first time in my life, I saw expressions of fear and panic on Catastrophe of Despair's face.

Boom!

The entire upper half of Catastrophe of Despair exploded with a single strike. As the catastrophe exploded, I looked at the mysterious figure, trying to engrave his image into my memory. The person who killed the worst enemy of my life!

With red eyes, short stature, slender, and a very lean muscular build like that of a girl, with small, delicate hands like a girl's. This was very strange, but to me, it didn't diminish the grandeur of his immense power. He had something in common with my leader to the point that I saw my leader's shadow standing next to him.

"Who are you?"

The mysterious figure turned to me, stared for a moment, then raised his left hand and touched my forehead. I didn't know the purpose of this action, but in the next moment, I felt something very strange seeping from his finger into my forehead, then flowing throughout my body!

An overwhelming aura of death!!!

Oh my God, what is this? The mysterious figure suddenly turned into a tall, very frightening monster. Those red eyes, which resembled precious gems, transformed into the most terrifying eyes I had ever seen. Blood flowed anew into my mind and body. There was only one overwhelming urge within me:

Run!

Run as far as possible from the monster before me; this is not something you can face. It's the embodiment of death that came from the depths of hell, something no human should confront. My spiritual energy surged through my body at lightning speed, and strength returned to my muscles. At that moment:

Jump!

I leaped back, fleeing from the death Ghost before me. After landing, I drew my sword to defend myself. When the death Ghost saw that I had drawn my sword against him, he paid me no attention and continued walking out easily, as if I didn't exist to him.

"I asked you a question: who are you?"

I screamed in anger. I felt insulted by this behavior. The death Ghost didn't see me as anything at all and continued his way effortlessly. He stopped, looked at me, and then answered in an indifferent voice:

"I am the Revenge Ghost."