Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One: Return to the Past

I was dressed in all black, with a pattern emblazoned on the front of my shirt. I examined my body; my height and muscular build were gone. It was as if I had become a completely different person. I reached for my phone, but my pockets were empty. There was nothing there except for a slip of paper. I unfolded it and saw six characters written on it: "Do not get trapped, I am coming."

I stared at the note in confusion, unable to utter a word. Suddenly, someone shoved my arm. I frowned and looked up, puzzled. Tie Zhu was watching me with a confused expression. "Lin Xuan, what’s wrong with you? What are you looking at?"

When I heard this, a thunderous roar erupted in my mind. I looked at him, my face pale with shock. "Can’t you see it?"

I waved my hand, but Tie Zhu only looked at me in bewilderment and shook his head. Then, Pang Dun chimed in, "King of Liars, stop with these tricks. Do you really think you can fool us?"

I turned to look at Pang Dun in shock. He stared back at me with disdain. "What are you staring at?"

I raised my hand again, pointing at the note. "You can’t see this note?"

"Note? I think you’ve lost your mind. There’s no note. King of Liars, if you’re too scared to go, then go home. Don't embarrass yourself here, you idiot," Pang Dun said impatiently.

I looked at the note in my hand, stunned. After a while, I asked, "Where are we going?"

As soon as the words left my lips, everyone in the group looked at me with confusion. Tie Zhu reached out to feel my forehead. "Lin Xuan, are you alright? We agreed this morning to go check out the righteous manor outside the village. What’s gotten into you?"

"The righteous manor? What the hell? I was just at the Haoting Hotel attending a gala, why would I go to an righteous manor?" I suddenly panicked and shouted.

Gou Wa saw this and patted me. I whipped my head around so violently that he jumped back, clutching his chest. "Lin Xuan, don't scare us like that! You were fine just a moment ago; why have you suddenly changed? Are you feeling unwell?"

I wheezed and shook my head forcefully. Everyone around me was startled by my outburst. San Bao looked troubled and suggested, "Maybe we shouldn't go today. Let’s go another time."

Tie Zhu and Gou Wa nodded in agreement with San Bao. However, Pang Dun was displeased. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "What do you mean? If he doesn't want to go, he can stay behind, but why should we follow his lead?"

San Bao frowned. "Pang Dun, that’s not what I meant. Look at Lin Xuan. If something happens to him, can you take responsibility? Grandpa Lin would skin you alive."

"That’s right, Pang Dun," Tie Zhu and Gou Wa agreed.

I kept my head down, my thoughts in complete chaos. I had been at the hotel just a moment ago—how did I end up here? And why had my entire appearance changed? As the argument between Pang Dun and the others grew more heated, I stood there, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shooting through my head. I shook my head until the pain subsided. Gasping for air, I looked up and roared, "Stop arguing! Dammit, we're going, alright? Who’s afraid of who?"

The bickering stopped instantly. They all stared at me in shock. I looked back at them and said, "Pang Dun, I suggest you watch your mouth. Don't call me 'King of Liars' again. I’ve had enough of you over these past few years. It’s just an righteous manor, right? Let’s go! Whoever chickens out is a coward."

I didn't know why I had suddenly lashed out. Pang Dun smiled dismissively. "Tch, with your cowardly nature? Fine, let's go. Whoever chickens out is a coward."

I ignored him and walked straight ahead. Tie Zhu and the others wanted to say something but held back. Seeing me like this, they had no choice but to follow, though they kept trying to persuade me otherwise. I shook my head and said, "I'm fine, you don't need to say anything else."

Tie Zhu and the others scratched their heads and gave up. Our group of seven or eight children walked through the small woods. Soon, we passed the mass grave outside the village. It was exactly as I remembered. We repeated the actions from my memory, walking forward until a weathered old mansion appeared before us. My memories of the hotel slowly faded away; I felt as if I had truly returned to the past. We stood before the righteous manor, and before long, we marched inside. The interior was as terrifying as ever, with a dozen coffins arranged in the room. We were trapped. The zombies within the coffins emerged in a swarm, standing in the courtyard to worship the moon. The others were nearly scared to death, but I remained relatively calm. I thought of a plan and finally decided to lead everyone out.

But in the end, we were discovered by the zombies. In an instant, we were all screaming as we ran in every direction, pursued by the undead. Eventually, I was grabbed by a zombie. I struggled desperately, trying to manifest the Black and White Twin Fish, but I couldn't summon anything—even my Heavenly Chant Break was gone. The zombie flung me aside. I lay there weakly, watching it approach, yet I wasn't afraid, knowing I would be saved. Just as its claws were about to strike, I saw a golden light flare up. I snapped my eyes open to see a yellow talisman hovering before me. I turned to look and saw a familiar face: it wasn't my master, but my grandfather!

I watched as Grandfather walked in through the main gate with his hands behind his back. He flung several talismans, striking down all the zombies on the spot. Then, he walked over to me and said, "You brat, not sleeping at night and running around? Just wait until we get home; I’m going to teach you a lesson. And you lot, stop wailing! Get over here. Are you all gluttons for punishment, running around at night for no reason?"

I looked at Grandfather’s angry face and asked, "Grandpa, where is Master?"

"Master? What master? Have you been scared stupid? Get up, are you alright?"

Grandfather pulled me up. I shook my head to indicate I was fine. Tie Zhu and the others ran over, feeling saved. They cried out in excitement, "Grandpa Lin! Thank goodness, it's Grandpa Lin! We were terrified just now, waaaah..."

"Crying? Shut it! Get home, your mothers are worried sick! Move!"

After being scolded by Grandfather, Tie Zhu wiped his tears. Grandfather looked at us sternly and sighed. Just as he turned to leave, I suddenly saw a figure appear behind him. I subconsciously cried out. Grandfather froze and looked at me. Suddenly, the figure behind him struck out, landing a palm on Grandfather’s back. I screamed again. Grandfather, caught off guard, was sent flying several meters away, spitting out a mouthful of blood. My head roared again. The figure vanished from where they stood. I scrambled over, clutching Grandfather and shouting, "Grandpa, what’s wrong? Say something!"

Grandfather looked pained. He waved his hand and stared toward the gate of the righteous manor. I looked as well and saw a person standing there, holding a long spear crackling with silver electricity, slowly walking inside. When the figure stepped into the light, my brain exploded with shock. I couldn't even use the word "familiar" to describe them—the person walking in was me!!!

I stared at the figure in disbelief. Grandfather looked shocked too, gazing at the person who looked exactly like me. "Little Xuan, what are you doing?"

I froze, looking at Grandfather in shock. "Grandpa, I didn't do anything! What’s wrong with you?"

But Grandfather didn't seem to hear me, nor did he look at me. He kept staring at the second "me" across from us. I crouched beside Grandfather, watching everything in horror. I called out to the others, but they didn't seem to hear me either; they were all staring blankly at the other me.

At that moment, I couldn't sit still any longer. Just as I was about to stand up, the "me" across from us said in a dark, cold voice, "Don't waste your energy. They can't see you. To think you’d dare hurt Grandfather—you’re courting death."

I looked at him in shock and shook my head. "I didn't! I didn't hurt Grandfather! Who are you? Why do you look like me? Who are you?!"

I clutched my head and shook it violently. The words "I hurt Grandfather, I hurt Grandfather" echoed repeatedly in my mind. Gasping for air, I began to panic and looked around...