No one climbed Broken-Soul Peak.
Not hunters.
Not merchants.
Not even thieves desperate enough to rob graves.
At the base of the mountain, villagers whispered that the wind up there screamed in human voices.
That at midnight, candles flickered in empty halls.
That a sect once stood there—a sect so cursed that Heaven erased it from history.
Which was why Lin Feng was climbing it with a ladder, a pot of tea, and a banner that read:
"Grand Re-opening Soon! First Hundred Disciples — Half-Price!"
He stopped halfway up the slope to catch his breath.
"System," he wheezed, "are we sure this is the right mountain?"
[Affirmative. Success probability: 0.002%.]
"Optimistic today, aren't we."
[Host selected 'High-Challenge Start.' This is the highest.]
"Because I mis-clicked!"
[That, too, was part of destiny.]
Lin Feng groaned, dragged himself the last few meters, and stood before the ruined gates of what used to be the Horizon Sect.
The gates were nailed shut with talismans faded to gray.
The wind carried a faint, childlike laugh.
He smiled politely at the empty air.
"Good afternoon! I'm your new landlord."
The laughter stopped.
---
The Sales Pitch to the Dead
Inside, the courtyard was a graveyard of statues.
They watched him with cracked eyes as he set down his teapot.
He cleared his throat.
"Alright, spirits, negotiations begin. I know this place has… sentimental value, but according to divine registry, you've been deceased for at least two centuries. Squatting fees apply."
A ghostly whisper brushed his ear: Leave.
Lin Feng poured tea for himself and for the air beside him.
"Let's discuss terms. I'll rebuild the sect, keep offerings fresh, and in return, you don't scream into my dreams."
The shadows rippled.
A skeletal hand reached from the floorboards.
He slapped a contract talisman on it.
"Excellent! Partnership sealed!"
The System pinged.
[Unexpected diplomacy detected.]
[New Sub-Sect Founded: Department of Ghost Affairs.]
Lin Feng blinked. "…I was joking."
[Too late. Congratulations, Host — you've recruited your first department.]
The hand withdrew, leaving behind a faintly glowing token shaped like a skull.
"Wonderful," he muttered. "My first employee's dead and unionized."
---
The First Visitor
Night fell before he finished sweeping ashes into something resembling order.
A lantern appeared on the path below—rare; no sane traveler came this way after dusk.
Lin Feng adjusted his robe, painted on his most welcoming smile, and waited.
A young exorcist emerged from the mist, charm papers hanging from his belt, expression tight with fear.
"You! Mortal! Step away! This mountain is cursed!"
"Cursed?" Lin Feng looked offended. "It's heritage protected."
The exorcist hesitated. "You live here?"
"I manage it. Grand Re-opening. Tea?"
"Are you… human?"
Lin Feng considered. "Half caffeine, half optimism."
Before the exorcist could reply, a faint whisper rose behind him: the ghostly partners of Lin Feng's new "department," drifting through the fog like curious cats.
The exorcist paled.
Lin Feng sighed. "Gentlemen, don't scare the customer. We need his signature."
"My what?!"
"Enrollment form." Lin Feng flicked a scroll open with a flourish. "Limited-time offer: become our inaugural disciple and receive—"
A spirit groaned; the banner on the gate flapped as if applauding.
The mountain wind moaned join us in perfect unison.
"—unlimited haunting insurance," Lin Feng finished smoothly.
The exorcist stared between him and the ghosts.
Then, trembling, he grabbed the brush and signed.
System chime:
[New Disciple Registered: Zhou Ming — Specialization: Exorcism / Panic.]
Lin Feng smiled brightly. "Welcome to the team!"
Zhou Ming blinked. "Did I just— I think I joined a haunted sect."
"Yes," Lin Feng said. "Congratulations on your poor life choices. Tea?"
---
The Mountain Reacts
As they drank, faint light spread through the ruins.
Talismans repaired themselves; the cracked statue of the old Sect Emblem glowed faint gold.
The System purred.
[Main Quest Activated: Reconstruct the Horizon Sect (Phase 1).]
[Bonus: Spiritual Vein awakening detected.]
The ground shivered, low and hungry.
Somewhere deep below, something answered.
Zhou Ming jumped. "What was that?!"
Lin Feng smiled into his cup.
"That," he said, "is our mountain realizing it has tenants again."
And in the shadows behind him, unseen faces grinned.