Han Li felt a growing sense of unease as Mo Dafu, now looking younger and more vital than ever, casually picked him up as if he were nothing more than a sack of potatoes. Despite being unable to move, Han Li was keenly aware of his surroundings. The intense heat of the sun still blazed outside as they moved through the medicinal garden, but the passage of time felt distorted. It seemed as if he had been inside for a long while, though in reality, it had only been a short moment.
Mo Dafu's steps were leisurely, his calm demeanor betraying no rush, as he carried Han Li to a remote part of the compound. A giant man, the "Iron Slave," followed closely behind like a shadow, unwavering in his duty to his master.
They stopped in front of an unfamiliar stone building—one that Han Li had never seen before. It looked like the stone chambers where he practiced meditation, but this one was different. The walls were freshly constructed, though crude, and had been hastily coated with lime wash. Han Li could faintly smell the sharp scent of fresh lime, indicating the building had been completed only recently.
"Stay outside, Iron Slave. If anyone approaches, kill them without hesitation," Mo Dafu ordered coldly. Han Li's heart sank at the bloodthirsty tone in his voice, realizing the gravity of his situation.
The stone door swung open with ease, and Mo Dafu walked inside without a second thought, closing it behind him. The room was dimly lit by numerous oil lamps and candles of varying sizes, casting flickering shadows on the walls. It was surprisingly bright, almost like daylight, despite the lack of windows. The lights created a strange, almost oppressive atmosphere that made Han Li feel like a trapped animal.
As Mo Dafu set Han Li down in the center of the room, the young man could see the floor beneath him was marked with a strange, complex pattern. It seemed to be drawn with some kind of powder, and though Han Li couldn't make out the details due to his restricted vision, the layout was unsettling. Around the pattern, several large pieces of jade were embedded into the floor, each one glowing faintly in the candlelight. Han Li recognized the value of the jade immediately—it was rare and precious, making the scene all the more bizarre.
His thoughts were interrupted as he was unceremoniously dropped onto his back in the center of the pattern. Staring up at the ceiling, he couldn't help but feel a wave of helplessness. He was trapped, unable to move, unable to speak, and all he could do was watch.
The light around him flickered as Mo Dafu began extinguishing some of the candles. The atmosphere grew darker, and Han Li could sense something was coming, though he couldn't quite place it. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of everything, when Mo Dafu's voice broke the silence.
"Do you think this will work? I'm betting everything on it," Mo Dafu said, his voice cold and laced with uncertainty.
Han Li's heart skipped a beat. Is he speaking to me? But the tone didn't seem directed at him—there was something off about it. He couldn't understand why, but it didn't feel like Mo Dafu was speaking to him directly. As Han Li wondered, he heard another voice—one that was strange, youthful, and completely unexpected.
The voice, seemingly from nowhere, replied with a confidence that didn't match the situation: "There is no problem. The 'Seven Ghosts Soul Devouring Method' and the 'Binding Spirit Talisman' you learned from me have never failed."
Han Li's mind nearly short-circuited. A second person? The voice sounded young, no older than twenty or so. And it was coming from nowhere, yet it filled the room. His confusion only deepened when he realized that Mo Dafu seemed to know this person well, as if this was an expected exchange.
Mo Dafu's response was a sharp, bitter chuckle. "The last time it worked, but what's the point now?" His words were laced with frustration. Han Li couldn't believe his ears. The person on the other side of the conversation seemed to be someone Mo Dafu had worked with before—perhaps even relied upon. But it was clear from the tone of their exchange that the situation wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.
"Don't you dare try to play me at the last moment, or I'll find someone else to deal with this," Mo Dafu spat. "You were dead already, remember? And I was the one who killed you. Don't tell me you have no resentment. You wouldn't try to deceive me, would you?"
Han Li's heart clenched as he processed the implications of these words. The stranger, who had been dead and killed by Mo Dafu, was now somehow involved in the ritual or technique that was taking place. A dead man? Could this be a ghost?
There was a long silence before the young man's voice responded, filled with bitterness. "What do you want me to do? I've sworn on my ancestors, my parents, my entire family. Does that not prove my sincerity?"
The words hit Han Li like a cold wave. The man had made a horrifying oath—he had invoked the names of his entire family to prove his loyalty. Han Li shuddered at the cold-hearted nature of the exchange. No matter how he tried to reason, the man's actions were clear: he was willing to sacrifice everything, even his own family, to gain Mo Dafu's trust. Han Li felt disgusted.
"Very well," Mo Dafu said, his tone turning more resigned. "I cannot do anything to you now. Your physical form is destroyed, and you no longer exist. Your soul is trapped here, unable to see the light of day. In the end, it's not much different from being obliterated."
The air in the room seemed to grow colder, and Han Li's heart grew heavy with dread. It was clear now that Mo Dafu was involved in something far darker than he had first realized. His companion, this young man who had been killed by Mo Dafu, was now just a spirit—his very essence bound to Mo Dafu's dark rituals.
Han Li's thoughts raced, desperate to find a way out of this nightmare, but he was trapped in his own body, helpless to act. The ritual was closing in on him, and he had no idea how to stop it. The third party in this grim equation—this mysterious young man—seemed to be the key, but how would Han Li ever break free of this fate?