Mysterious Revival

What was thought to be a routine visit turned out to be a premeditated scheme with preparations.

Wang Xiaoming came specifically for the spiritual talisman in Guo Fan's possession, and yet, that talisman was critical to maintaining Guo Fan's balance. Without it, he would have died long ago. This matter of life and death was something no sane person would consider lending to another, especially given Wang Xiaoming's excessive demand.

He actually wanted Guo Fan to enter the spiritual talisman again.

What is this?

Presenting oneself as a gift, all nicely packaged and ready to be given away.

That's why, no matter how courteous Guo Fan had been to Wang Xiaoming before, it was time to turn hostile.

"If I don't give you the item, are you planning to take it by force? If you really intend to make a move, I can take you down right here and now. We can just go down together—after all, it's merely a matter of dying."

Guo Fan's face, which resembled that of a corpse, showed a trace of a sinister and fierce nature.

When it really came down to making a choice, he would truly not hesitate to kill Wang Xiaoming.

"Guo Fan, stay calm," Zong Shan quickly urged, fearing that he might suddenly strike at this critical moment.

In this tense moment, any slight action could have irreversible and severe consequences.

"How do you expect me to stay calm when Wang Xiaoming is after my life? You can't see that? If I'm about to die anyway, what's the use of staying calm?"

Guo Fan was not receptive to Zong Shan's persuasion, his numb gaze fixed on Wang Xiaoming standing before him.

Despite being unremarkable within the headquarters' circles, where people like Yang Jian, Li Jun, Cao Yang, Leuk San… or even Feng Quan and Su Fan were more important, it was only within that context. In the city under his jurisdiction, he was the big boss, and taking out a regular person was just a matter of saying the word.

"Wang Xiaoming, I don't want to fall out with you, but if you insist on this, then don't blame me."

Wang Xiaoming remained calm, similarly gazing at Guo Fan: "If you kill me, you will definitely die, and you will also drag down many people behind you. If you agree to my proposal, you may not necessarily die; at least there is a small chance of survival. Besides, you can also make some demands of your own. If possible, I will try to satisfy them."

"Moreover, your current condition is very bad. Even if I don't come to you today, how much longer can you survive? As harsh as it may sound, I only hope that you can do something more valuable with your last moments."

"In fact, I could have deceived you by pretending to help you resolve the problem of the specters' resurgence, enticing you to willingly hand over the spiritual talisman, but I don't wish to do that, I'm just offering you a reasonable choice."

"If we step back and consider it, even if you really die, the reputation, status, and power you'll have gained, along with the compensation that follows, are far greater than what you have now."

Guo Fan's complexion shifted uneasily. Although there was some truth to Wang Xiaoming's words, how could he willingly put his life in someone else's hands?

"You think you can convince me with just a few words?"

Wang Xiaoming shook his head: "No, I'm not trying to persuade you. As I said before, I'm just presenting you with a choice."

With that, he added: "You don't believe that becoming a ghost controller would allow you to live forever, do you? Everyone has their day to die. Some die due to specter resurgences, others in supernatural incidents, and some are killed by others. These deaths don't carry much value. Since you're about to die, why not choose the way of death that has the greatest value? Besides, you might not even die."

"The chance of living is admittedly very slim, but it exists nonetheless."

His words were straightforward, yet they were exceedingly cruel.

Really, from the moment Wang Xiaoming stepped through the door, there was only one path laid out before Guo Fan—to agree.

He was left with no choice in the matter.

If this ended in mutual destruction, not to mention whether he could successfully take down Wang Xiaoming, even if he succeeded, Guo Fan would die too. Not to mention, the surroundings had been infiltrated by a strange darkness, which clearly indicated the presence of a ghost controller secretly protecting Wang Xiaoming, who had not yet made a move only because they hadn't yet come to blows.

"Let's wait on this. I need to call the Deputy Minister to ask about the situation and see what the Deputy Minister has to say."

At this point, Zong Shan decided to delay further and at the same time confirm what Professor Wang's true purpose was in acting today.

"I'll give you at most ten minutes,"

Wang Xiaoming checked his watch: "I'm in a hurry to get back to the lab."

Even though there was a problem with the last laboratory studying the Ghost Coffin, he didn't have just one laboratory. Moreover, after taking over some assets from his circle of friends, some things had become more convenient for him.

"Zong Shan, then you hurry and ask the Deputy Minister for me, I'll keep an eye on Wang Xiaoming."

Guo Fan also temporarily calmed down and agreed to Zong Shan's phone call.

Quickly, Zong Shan got through to his own operator and then transferred the call to Deputy Minister Cao Yanhua, roughly explaining what had just happened.

"The situation is like this for now, Professor Wang has come to take away the spirit slab in Guo Fan's hands. You've seen Guo Fan's file, he is alive solely because of that spirit slab. Once it's taken away, it'll break the balance of his two ghosts immediately, and he'll die soon. Not to mention that Professor Wang also wants Guo Fan to enter the spirit slab one more time, then leave his own body."

"What does this mean? This is equivalent to indirectly taking Guo Fan's life,"

"The current situation is extremely delicate. Guo Fan was so angry he almost killed Professor Wang on the spot, but luckily I managed to persuade him. However, Professor Wang doesn't seem to have any intention of giving up, so Deputy Minister, you'd better make a decision, otherwise, there really could be trouble."

Cao Yanhua, who was driving back to headquarters, suddenly received this call, and his face changed immediately upon listening to Zong Shan.

But immediately after, Cao Yanhua quickly realized why Professor Wang wanted to take something from Guo Fan's hands.

It was for Yang Jian.

To solve the curse of the Eight-Tone Music Box for Yang Jian, it was likely that the spirit slab in Guo Fan's hands was needed.

This made him hesitate, uncertain how to handle the situation.

Yang Jian can't die, and most certainly cannot. If within two days Wang Xiaoming cannot help to solve the curse of the Eight-Tone Music Box, then heaven knows what Yang Jian would do.

The last issue with his circle of friends had already been very unpleasant. If this time the agreement is violated, the headquarters might very well become the second 'circle of friends.'

Even though he is now close to death, before dying he is still a vigorous young man.

Capable of any deed.

"Pass the phone to Guo Fan, I want to speak with him personally," Cao Yanhua mused.

At this moment, on the other side, Zong Shan, hearing this, handed over the phone: "Guo Fan, the Deputy Minister wants to talk to you."

Guo Fan's expression showed a hint of suspicion, but he still took the phone: "Hello, Deputy Minister? It's me, Guo Fan. What do you think should be done about Wang Xiaoming's matter?"

"Guo Fan, rest assured, I can guarantee you, Professor Wang will absolutely not harm you, you can be at ease. However, the current situation is pressing, and indeed, we need that item in your hands. His approach was a bit excessive, but it's all for the greater good. I hope you can understand," Cao Yanhua said earnestly.

Guo Fan said, "Doesn't the Deputy Minister realize Wang Xiaoming might be after my life?"

"The situation is not as serious as all that. There must be some misunderstanding. Here's what we'll do, pass the phone to Professor Wang, and I will personally order him to ensure your safety, to absolutely not act recklessly," Cao Yanhua's voice came through.

"Since it's your guarantee, Deputy Minister, I will trust you this time," said Guo Fan and then handed the phone to Wang Xiaoming.

Wang Xiaoming spoke into the phone, "It's me, Wang Xiaoming."

"Professor Wang, I understand your actions today, but you can't harm another ghost master because of this. Guo Fan is also a capable leader. If he has a problem, we should think of a solution, not exacerbate the issue. Find a way to keep Guo Fan safe," said Cao Yanhua.

"Alright, I will do my best to keep him safe."

Wang Xiaoming replied calmly, then hung up the phone directly, but then said, "Do you have any further questions? If not, hand over the spirit slab immediately."

"Wang Xiaoming, the Deputy Minister just now did not agree to what you're doing," Guo Fan immediately said.

"You may regard this as my personal action, unrelated to headquarters," Wang Xiaoming replied.

Seeing Wang Xiaoming hang up the phone, Zong Shan on the side sensed something was wrong. Not only that, he could see the darkness creeping into the house getting thicker and thicker, the lights dimming suddenly, the surroundings filled with a chilling aura.

And in that deep darkness, he didn't know if it was an illusion, but he faintly felt as if a pair of empty, cold eyes was watching them, like a true fierce ghost lurking all around.

"Guo Fan, there's something in the dark watching you, be careful," Zong Shan shouted a warning to him.

Of course, Guo Fan had also noticed the darkness drawing nearer, with no escape route from all directions. By now, besides the light within three meters around the tea table, everywhere else had become completely invisible.

"Since you don't intend to stop, then don't blame me. After I catch you, I'll burst out of here and then escape abroad," he had thought for a long time and finally made up his mind.

Guo Fan dared not kill Wang Xiaoming, but he did not want to be caught without a fight either, so the only way out was to capture Wang Xiaoming as a hostage, leave here alive, and then use Wang Xiaoming as a bargaining chip to seek a chance to survive at the headquarters of the ghost masters abroad.

But the moment he reached out his hand—

From the darkness behind him, an old, darkened straw rope suddenly appeared, giving off an inexplicably eerie sensation, like the hanging rope of a dead person. The rope looped around Guo Fan's neck and instantly tightened.

An incredible amount of strength emerged, causing Guo Fan's tongue to almost spit out as he felt his neck was about to be snapped at that very moment.

His hand, stretching towards Wang Xiaoming, was stopped mid-air, missing by about twenty centimeters but ultimately failing to grasp the slightly emaciated ordinary man before him.

His body kept moving backward.

Going into the darkness where the old straw rope extended, it seemed as if fierce ghosts were pulling on the rope, dragging him alive into it.

"Zong Shan, help, this is Yang Jian's Ghost Rope, cough, cough... This thing can even bind ghosts."

Guo Fan's originally pale face became even uglier, turning a shade of blue as if he was about to die any moment, desperately calling for Zong Shan's help.

Zong Shan was just about to act but was stopped by Wang Xiaoming's words, "This has nothing to do with you; if you get involved, the meaning changes."

"Professor Wang, you can't do this," Zong Shan didn't dare to act rashly and cried out.

"To deal with supernatural events, many people have to make sacrifices; now it's just his turn," Wang Xiaoming's attitude was still very firm.

Guo Fan struggled while cursing uncontrollably, "Bullshit, Wang Xiaoming, why don't you go make the sacrifice..."

But his voice was shrill and hoarse, speaking seemed very strenuous.

Wang Xiaoming turned and said to him seriously, "If the time is right, I will."

Behind him, the Ghost Rope pulled tighter and tighter, pulling Guo Fan further into the darkness behind him. He was powerless to resist, because at this moment, he realized the rope was not just tightening around his neck; it was also suppressing the ghost within his body.

Because the ghost in the spirit tablet showed no reaction at all.

This sensation, and the phenomenon of being shrouded in darkness, was just like... facing a Ghost Envoy.

"Who could it be?"

Guo Fan was filled with shock and fury, certain that the Ghost Rope might belong to Yang Jian, but the person appearing today was definitely not Yang Jian.

His neck was so tight that he could hear the sound of his neck bones breaking, suffering immense pain, but still desperately twisting his neck trying to see who was hiding in the darkness behind him.

And who was so terrifying that it left him utterly powerless to resist.

At the moment when he was to be completely engulfed by the darkness, he saw it.

He saw a person standing at the other end of the Ghost Rope, a person who was cold, rigid, and corpse-like.

The person's complexion was dark, his body exuded death, his gaze empty and dull, devoid of any luster.

What shocked Guo Fan the most was this person's face, which was eerily identical to that of a Ghost Envoy.

This was the Ghost Envoy... Wei Jing.

No.

This was impossible; Ghost Envoys wouldn't obey Wang Xiaoming's orders, no, that couldn't be right.

This was not a Ghost Envoy; this was Wei Jing.

Had Wei Jing come back to life?

In a flash, many thoughts ran through Guo Fan's mind, a sense of horror overwhelming him.

A person who had already died and had been replaced by a Ghost Envoy after a fierce ghost revival had actually come back to life.

Could it be that Wang Xiaoming was now able to bring people back to life after a fierce ghost revival?

"Wait, wait a moment, I agree to your demand..."

At that moment, Guo Fan chose to back down; he did not dare to fight anymore with his own ghost suppressed and the apparition of Wei Jing, who supposedly was a Ghost Envoy.

This was a fight with no chance of winning.

"You have ten seconds," Wang Xiaoming's voice arrived.

Immediately after, Guo Fan felt the Ghost Rope around his neck suddenly loosen a fraction, not as tight as before, and the strange suppression had also lifted.

This was Guo Fan's last chance.

If he did not agree, Wei Jing would take it by force.

With no other options, Guo Fan clenched his teeth and hurriedly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing an empty stomach with no internal organs, emanating a rotten stench. He reached inside and took out an old wooden spirit tablet.

On the spirit tablet was a photo of a corpse, the person in the photo closely resembling Guo Fan.

That was a real ghost.

But the next moment—

The person in the photo changed; a terrified Guo Fan suddenly appeared in the photo on the spirit tablet, and the ghost from the photo disappeared.

At that moment, there was a crack from Guo Fan's neck, and it twisted. The marks from the rope swelled up quickly and began to heal.

There was no longer any sign of life in his body, and the coldness of the ghost spread out.

Now, Guo Fan had turned into an actual ghost.

The moment this ghost appeared, the only remaining light above went out, and the ghost started to move.

It turned towards Wei Jing hidden in the darkness behind it.

But the next moment—

The Ghost Rope tightened once again, wrapping around the ghost's neck as it had Guo Fan before, only this time even more viciously.

Guo Fan's body, now taken over by the ghost, was lifted off the ground, forcefully suspended in midair.

It seemed there was a suppression formed.

In the ghost's hand was still the wooden spirit tablet, which suddenly released from its rigid grasp and fell from midair.

In the spirit tablet, Guo Fan still wore an expression of terror, seemingly realizing he had left his body and become a consciousness residing within the tablet.

"Pack up; it's time for us to go," Wang Xiaoming said as he finally stood up.

Zong Shan watched silently.

He could not prevent such things from happening.

The ghost master hidden in the darkness was too terrifying; Guo Fan didn't even have a chance to retaliate, otherwise, he would not have begged for mercy so quickly.

"Is he definitely going to die?" Zong Shan looked at Wang Xiaoming.

Wang Xiaoming said, "He'll most likely die; that would be the best outcome."