These ghosts are not wild; they are deliberately cultivated nightmare-level spirits, released with the sole intent of causing harm.
"Why did the Deputy Minister die?" Mo Lin inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity. Since his arrival in Beihai, he had overheard more than one conversation regarding the death of the Deputy Minister.
The expressions of Zheng Nan and the others darkened, the atmosphere once again growing heavy. No one spoke for a long while.
Then, a woman broke the silence.
"The Deputy Minister was investigating the matter of the copper coin Taoist Master's estate," she said slowly. "We don't know what he discovered, but he died unexpectedly. That night, many Ghost Controllers perished as well."
Since Mo Lin had arrived in Beihai, it felt as if he had stepped into a quagmire. The sensation was unsettling, to say the least.
"The ghosts are dealt with. Let's go," Mo Lin said, turning toward Zheng Nan and the others.
Zheng Nan reported today's events, and the group soon departed.
Within no time, they returned to the headquarters of the Ghost Control Society, which was eerily quiet. All the Ghost Controllers wore somber expressions, and the moment they entered, it was evident that something was amiss.
The entire hall was filled with the presence of Ghost Controllers, all gathered in a tense silence. At the center of the room stood Cao Minglang.
"I am as helpless as you are regarding Brother Zhong's situation," Cao Minglang spoke gravely. "But right now, the best course of action is to preserve our strength. If we go to rescue him, it would be akin to walking into our graves."
He spoke with conviction, addressing the crowd: "Brother Zhong promoted me to acting Deputy Minister; he is my benefactor, and I am more troubled than anyone here."
"What's going on?" Mo Lin asked a nearby man.
"The Minister of the Ghost Control Society, Zhong Hai, is trapped in Sanxiang Harbor," the man said, his face contorted with worry. "There are many nightmare-level ghosts there, and he's in grave danger."
"Ugh... Brother Zhong is really unlucky, how could he be trapped in Sanxiang Harbor?" The man continued. "That place is full of nightmare-level ghosts. What are we supposed to do?"
"Never mind, let's listen to the Acting Deputy Minister," another man murmured.
"I think we should rescue Brother Zhong Hai," Zheng Nan voiced his opinion.
All eyes turned to Zheng Nan.
"Zheng Nan, I agree with your idea, but Zhong Hai is trapped in Sanxiang Harbor," Cao Minglang feigned a troubled expression. "There are at least three nightmare-level ghosts there. It's a nearly impossible rescue."
"I don't want to abandon him, but I also don't want to sacrifice all of our brothers' lives," he added with an air of finality.
"We have numbers on our side, and aren't you also a Level 5 Ghost Controller?" Zheng Nan countered.
"One Level 5 Ghost Controller alone is useless!" Cao Minglang shot back. "My abilities are limited. I don't want to send everyone to their deaths in Sanxiang Harbor."
"We don't need to fight the nightmare-level ghosts directly; we can just find a way to block them and get Brother Zhong out," Zheng Nan insisted.
This argument found agreement among many present.
"Yes, just rescue him."
"We don't have to engage those nightmare-level ghosts in combat."
"I agree with Zheng Nan," someone chimed in.
"No!" Cao Minglang interjected forcefully. "As the Acting Deputy Minister, my word is final. No one is allowed to go."
"Why? Why not rescue him?" Zheng Nan demanded, visibly frustrated.
"I don't want to deplete the Ghost Control Society's strength. Right now, there are many ghosts in Beihai that need to be dealt with. If we lose more manpower, who will handle them?" Cao Minglang's justification was couched in the guise of pragmatism. "We must think of the greater good."
"How could Zhong Hai be trapped in Sanxiang Harbor?" Mo Lin asked quietly, his mind spinning with questions. If everyone knew of the danger there, why would Zhong Hai go? He wasn't foolish.
"This is my fault," Cao Minglang admitted reluctantly. "I sent a few new recruits to catch ghosts, and they ended up in Sanxiang Harbor. When Brother Zhong Hai heard the news, he rushed there to help, and I couldn't stop him."
"New recruits?" Mo Lin's eyes narrowed. "The ones who came with me?"
"Yes, those. It's all their fault. If they hadn't gone to Sanxiang Harbor on their own, Brother Zhong Hai wouldn't have followed," Cao Minglang said, shaking his head in frustration.
"Did they act on their own, or did you instruct them?" Mo Lin stood up, confronting Cao Minglang.
"What do you mean by that?" Cao Minglang snapped, his voice rising.
"I mean exactly what I said. Don't you understand?" Mo Lin retorted coldly.
"You're all in this together, so of course, you'd think that way. It has nothing to do with me," Cao Minglang shot back, deflecting blame.
Mo Lin didn't buy his excuse. Cao Minglang had originally assigned the mission, yet now he was blaming the recruits. His story didn't add up.
"What do we do now?" a man asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
"What do you think? Of course, we rescue him," Zheng Nan said without hesitation.
"Yes, we must save Brother Zhong Hai."
"Brother Zhong must be saved," several others murmured in agreement.
"No!" Cao Minglang repeated. "I am the Acting Deputy Minister. I command you, no one is to go."
"Why not?" Zheng Nan was livid. "What's the reasoning?"
"I said no! If anyone goes, it's disobedience," Cao Minglang declared, a cold sneer curling on his lips.
The room fell silent as everyone hesitated, clearly divided. They were all Ghost Controllers, and they reported to Cao Minglang. If they openly defied him, the consequences could be grave, especially in Beihai.
"Stay here," Cao Minglang ordered. "No one is to leave."
Finally, Mo Lin spoke, his voice carrying an edge of authority.
"Who do you think you are? Why should we listen to you?"
"Because I am the Acting Deputy Minister of the Ghost Control Society," Cao Minglang shot back, his voice unwavering.
"Used to be," Mo Lin said coolly. "Not anymore."
"Just because you say so?" Cao Minglang sneered. "What are you, anyway?"
"I am the Deputy Minister of the Beihai Ghost Control Society," Mo Lin said, his words clear and firm, though he spoke with a calmness that made his declaration even more striking.
"What? He's the Deputy Minister?"
"Is that true?"
"No way, he must be lying."
"I've never heard anything about this."
Even Zheng Nan looked at Mo Lin in disbelief.
"Brother, you're the Deputy Minister?" Zheng Nan asked, astonished.
"Yes, I am the Deputy Minister," Mo Lin confirmed without hesitation. "A few days ago, Brother Zhong Hai gave me the position and sent me here to serve."
It was a bombshell revelation. Cao Minglang clenched his fists, unwilling to believe it.
"Kid, stop making things up."
"No one will believe you," he spat.
4o