Chapter 18: The Secrets of Kek Lok Si

The night rain drizzled down as the salty breeze of Penang carried the scent of the sea, gently brushing against the ferry's deck. Lin Han stood by the railing, staring at the slowly emerging silhouette of Penang Island, his heart a mixture of emotions.

From Kuala Lumpur to Penang, it seemed like just another journey. But he knew—this trip had no turning back.

As the ferry docked, the familiar scent of incense filled the air, blending with the humid warmth of the tropical night. In the distance, the pagoda of Kek Lok Si Temple loomed like a sleeping giant, waiting for the moment it would awaken.

Noya nudged Lin Han slightly. "Look ahead."

Following her gaze, Lin Han's brows furrowed slightly.

Standing at the pier was a young woman dressed in a cyan Daoist robe, a string of silver bells hanging from her waist, her eyes calm as still water.

Su Xueqing.

She stood there as if she had already foreseen their arrival.

Su Xueqing's gaze swept over Lin Han and Noya before finally landing on the yellowed photograph in Lin Han's hand.

"You've finally come," she said softly, her voice eerily calm.

Lin Han instinctively tightened his grip on the photo, trying to read something from her expression.

"Did you leave this?"

Su Xueqing didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shook her head lightly and said, "No."

Lin Han felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

Not her? Then who?

Without further explanation, Su Xueqing turned and began walking toward the temple. "The answer lies beneath Kek Lok Si, in the underground chamber."

Kek Lok Si at night was different from the bustling daytime temple filled with incense and prayers. Instead, it was eerily silent.

As they ascended the stone steps, Lin Han couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Do you know what the writing on the back of this photo means?"

Su Xueqing paused briefly before softly reciting the ancient Hokkien inscription:

"When the tide rises, the Ghost Gate opens. Proceed with caution."

Lin Han's heartbeat quickened. "Ghost Gate? You mean…"

"The underground chamber of Kek Lok Si."

Su Xueqing stopped in front of a secluded temple hall. Slowly, she raised her hand and gently rang the silver bells at her waist.

"Ding—"

The lingering chime echoed through the night, as if awakening something long buried in the past.

Behind the temple, a concealed stone door silently creaked open.

The entrance to the underground chamber had finally revealed itself.

Darkness loomed like a slumbering beast, buried beneath the ancient halls of Kek Lok Si Temple.

The moment the stone door creaked open, a wave of stale, damp air rushed out, as if time itself had frozen in this forgotten abyss. Lin Han held his breath, relying on the dim glow of Noa's flashlight to peer into the endless corridor ahead.

"Are you sure… the ancient scroll is really here?" he whispered.

Su Xueqing didn't answer. Instead, she gently shook the silver bell at her waist.

"Ding—"

The crisp chime echoed down the narrow passage, rippling through the silence. A faint, almost imperceptible response resonated back from the darkness. She furrowed her brows and murmured, "We're not the first ones here."

Lin Han exchanged a glance with Noa. Both of them tensed.

Who else was here?

And were they after the same thing?

The trio advanced cautiously down the stone steps, their footsteps reverberating against the damp stone walls. Ancient carvings lined the corridor, depicting an unknown ritual. The inscriptions were weathered, bearing silent witness to a history long forgotten.

"These symbols…" Lin Han frowned. His right eye tingled slightly, the karmic threads flickering faintly as if trying to reveal a hidden truth.

Su Xueqing leaned in, tracing the engravings with her fingers before whispering, "It's in Old Hokkien."

Her voice softened as she carefully read the inscriptions aloud:

"The divine descends, guiding the lost. Sins are sealed, yet reincarnation never ends."

Noa raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like some kind of warding spell."

Su Xueqing nodded slightly. "Not just a ward… This place might be a sealing ground."

Lin Han's heart clenched.

A seal?

Could the temple's secret be more than just the ancient scroll? Could it be suppressing something… something dangerous?

Suddenly, a dull thud echoed from deep within the corridor.

The three of them froze. Noa tightened her grip on her kris, while Lin Han locked his gaze onto the shadows ahead.

"Who's there?"

A chilling chuckle slithered through the air.

"Heh… I knew someone would come."

From the darkness, a silhouette slowly emerged.

As the flashlight beam flickered across the figure, Lin Han's breath hitched.

A man clad in black robes, his face obscured by a mask etched with strange, arcane symbols.

But what sent a cold shiver down his spine was the motionless body at the masked man's feet.

"You're too late."