Sze_Hao_Chen

In the year 2024, the cosmic alignment of the Nine Stars breaks the natural order, triggering a resurgence of spiritual energy across Kuala Lumpur. Hidden beneath the serene facade of Kek Lok Si Temple lies an ancient underground chamber, brimming with forbidden knowledge. And at the center of it all stands a man who was never meant to be part of this grand scheme.
Lin Han, a bankrupt real estate agent, is on the run from debt collectors when he accidentally stumbles upon a sinister blood ritual. A mysterious robed figure stands at the heart of it, conducting a ceremony that will change Lin Han’s life forever.
Gifted with the ability to perceive karmic threads through his right eye—an unwanted legacy from a past encounter at Batu Caves—Lin Han begins to unravel truths that defy logic. Along his journey, he crosses paths with an unlikely group: a half-Malay policewoman, a Taoist temple keeper with an ancient chant, an aristocratic Indian dancer, and a rebellious rock singer with secrets of her own.
As the mystical scrolls of Kek Lok Si reveal their deadly secrets, Lin Han finds himself caught in a web of fate far beyond his understanding. Can he harness the combined wisdom of the region’s spiritual traditions—Chinese incense blessings, Malay shamanic rituals, and Indian divine dance—to alter his destiny? Or is he simply another pawn in a celestial game beyond his control?

Mystic Convergence

A chilling black mist surged from beneath the boat, brushing against Lin Han's skin like unseen fingers. A deep sense of unease crept up his spine as he fixed his gaze on the ferryman at the bow.

"Walau eh, this time really die already." He cursed under his breath, his right eye flaring as the karmic threads twisted chaotically—something was interfering with fate itself.

Noa's grip on his wrist tightened slightly. Her breathing was steady, but Lin Han could feel the cold sweat in her palm.

The ferryman stared at them in silence, the eerie blue flames surrounding him flickering like restless spirits. A slow, unsettling smile curled across his lips as he raised a bony finger—

The boat lurched violently as the black mist churned, and shadowy figures began to emerge. Their hollow eyes bore no light, their faces twisted in eternal agony. Lin Han could hear the raspy whispers escaping their throats, a cacophony of despair.

Noa's fingers tensed further as she muttered under her breath, "Jangan takut, we still have time."

Lin Han swallowed hard. "What kind of exchange?"

The ferryman's smile deepened. Slowly, he lifted his left hand. Resting upon his palm was an ancient Wayang Kulit shadow puppet—delicate, intricate, yet undeniably eerie.

"Your shadow, in exchange for safe passage."

Instinctively, he looked down. His shadow wavered slightly on the boat's deck, but then he noticed something disturbing—

It was completely still, as if it had long ceased to be a part of him.

Lin Han bit down hard on his lip, the taste of iron filling his mouth.

A person's shadow was tied to their soul. If he lost it…

He had no idea what would happen, but every fiber of his being screamed that it wouldn't be good.

Noa seemed to come to the same realization. She stepped forward, her Keris dagger glinting coldly under the flickering blue light.

"Tak boleh! You cannot take his shadow!"

The ferryman tilted his head slightly, as if observing an insolent insect.

"Your will is irrelevant," he intoned, voice as deep as a bell tolling from the abyss. "His shadow was chosen long ago."

Lin Han's mind suddenly flashed back—

His chest tightened as the memories flooded in—

The ritualistic carvings on the floor, the old shaman's bluish fingernails, and the searing pain in his right eye.

His shadow… had never truly belonged to him since that night?

"Lin Han." Noa's voice was sharp, commanding. "You are not agreeing to this."

Lin Han took a deep breath, his fingers tightening instinctively, cold sweat dripping down his temples.

His shadow had already been taken.

If that was the case… could he still trade it?

He locked eyes with the ferryman, and then—he smiled.

"If my shadow was never mine to give… then what exactly can you take from me?"

The ferryman's expression faltered, the blue flames flickering wildly.

A ripple tore through the air as Lin Han's shadow twisted violently, as if writhing in agony.

And then—from the depths of the mist, a guttural roar erupted.

"Deceiver! You dare mock the Underworld?!"

Noa's pupils shrank. Without hesitation, she yanked Lin Han back and raised her Keris, her voice sharp—

—The mist exploded. Shadows howled. The Ferryman's Bargain had been shattered.

Chapter 15: The Ferryman’s Bargain