Chapter Eleven: House Arrest

In the underground conference room of the Mysterious Arts Center at the heart of China, six people sat around an oval table. Each was a central figure of the center. Among them, one man wore a military uniform with the rank of general—Wu Yifeng. He remained silent, watching the other five, who were equally wordless. His index finger tapped the table absentmindedly. After a moment, he spoke: “The problem is right in front of us. I want to hear your opinions regarding Luo Longyu. Elder Ge, you were the direct supervisor and witness for this mission. What are your thoughts?”

Elder Ge furrowed his brow, pondering for a moment before replying, “I know Luo Longyu’s berserk episode has left everyone with some unsettling associations. Not just you all—even the members of our own First Team have concerns about him. But let me say this: Luo Longyu is Xuanyuan Qianqian’s biological son, directly tied by blood to the Ancient Xuanyuan Clan. Moreover, Xuanyuan Qianqian has already prepared for him to inherit the Path of the Corpse, making him a half-corpse to do so. If anyone is to inherit that power, it must be him—”

“Elder Ge, do you truly believe it’s necessary to restart the Path of the Corpse?” Before Ge could finish, a middle-aged man across the table interrupted with a frown. His name was Ju Feng, head of the Mysterious Arts Division Three, himself of the Demon Clan.

Elder Ge’s gaze sharpened, his tone unwavering. “It’s not a matter of necessity—it must be done. When Xuanyuan Yi first proposed to the central government to establish the Mysterious Arts Pavilion, many thought it unnecessary. That was until, in 1962, the unrest at the Tomb of Ten Thousand Corpses grew severe and the Void Clan appeared before us for the first time. Only then was the Pavilion established. Now the Ripper has shown themselves, and you ask if the Path of the Corpse is necessary?”

“Elder Ge, I simply think you underestimate our own strength. The Path of the Corpse is too great a risk. Take Luo Longyu now—we can barely keep him restrained. If he truly inherits that power and loses control, who among us could stop him?” Ju Feng’s frown deepened.

Elder Ge replied gravely, “Even if we don’t open the Path of the Corpse, how could we resist a Void Clan invasion? You said it yourself—if Luo Longyu inherits the Path and goes mad, we might not be able to stop him. But tell me, is the Void Clan any less dangerous? If we don’t open the Path, and the Void Clan invades, we’ll end up like every civilization in previous epochs—total extinction. If we open it, we at least have a fighting chance. Even if we fail, our odds of annihilation won’t exceed fifty percent.”

“You’re gambling with the lives of six billion people,” Ju Feng retorted, his tone steely.

“By your logic, all we can do is wait for death and choose the manner of our demise,” Elder Ge shot back, the tension in the room thick as smoke.

“The nation didn’t establish the Mysterious Arts Pavilion for you to bicker at every crisis!” Wu Yifeng’s stern voice cut in before Ju Feng could respond, silencing him with a deep breath of restraint.

Wu Yifeng’s piercing gaze swept over the group, finally settling on the elderly man beside him in a traditional tunic suit. In a gentler tone, he said, “Elder Xuan, you are the Pavilion’s main leader. What are your thoughts?”

Elder Xuan glanced at the others before speaking. “The Path of the Corpse is the ultimate weapon left by the Ancient Xuanyuan Clan. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, we shouldn’t activate it lightly. Our understanding of it is still woefully inadequate. Yet, this incident has made one thing clear—the Void Clan truly fears the Path, or they wouldn’t be so desperate to kill Luo Longyu. That makes Luo Longyu our ace against them. I suggest we accelerate research on the Tomb of Ten Thousand Corpses. As for Luo Longyu, let him remain under our protection here in the Pavilion. If circumstances change, we can activate the Path immediately. What do you all think?”

“If Elder Xuan says so, I have nothing more to add, though I reserve my opinion,” Ju Feng replied, evidently begrudging.

Elder Ge merely nodded, but cast a furtive glance at Ju Feng, his thoughts unreadable.

After the meeting, Ju Feng left the conference room, only to be called back by Elder Xuan. Approaching, Elder Xuan smiled faintly at the impassive Ju Feng. “Ju Feng, with the Void Clan’s invasion, Earth’s civilization teeters on the brink. You’re of the Demon Clan, but you are still of this world. I understand your views about the Path, but remember—the greater good must prevail. Only united can all our races hope to stand against the Void Clan.”

“I understand,” Ju Feng nodded.

In the center’s basketball court, Long Shaoxian and Fifth Young Master Tong leaned against the fence, deep in conversation. Suddenly, four figures appeared soundlessly before them. Leading the group was a man with green hair, his eyes wicked, his face pale, a cold grin revealing sharp fangs—his presence deeply unsettling.

Both Long Shaoxian and Fifth Young Master Tong frowned, clearly repulsed.

“Well, well, the Dragon Clan’s princess and the Tong family’s fifth son. Fancy meeting you here. Hmm… Left Baixing and Soulchaser—are they alright?” The green-haired man’s smile was sly.

Long Shaoxian, expressionless, didn’t spare him a glance. “Yao Chihai, there’s no need for your concern. Fifth Master and I are having a private conversation. Kindly leave us.”

Yao Chihai laughed but drew closer, leaning on the fence beside her. “Now, isn’t that a little cold? We’re comrades in arms now. Say, has it been a while since you Dragons tasted demon flesh? You look thin. Why not try some of mine? Our Spirit Demons are the finest among the Demon Clan—perhaps just to your taste.”

Long Shaoxian shot him a glance, her eyes sweeping over the others, but said nothing.

Yao Chihai’s smile faded as he watched the soldiers playing basketball. “I’ve heard your team found the zombie?”

“The Path of the Corpse,” Fifth Young Master Tong corrected.

Long Shaoxian spoke blandly, “Yao Chihai, I don’t care what grudges lie between the Spirit Demons and the Corpse Clan. The times have changed. Don’t stir up trouble—just as I, for now, refrain from eating you.”

Yao Chihai eyed her, then burst into laughter, striding away. “True, your Dragon Clan doesn’t eat us anymore. But soon enough, we’ll all be fed to the Corpse Clan.” With that, he and his companions left the court, drawing curious stares from nearby PLA soldiers.

Watching Yao Chihai’s retreating figure, Fifth Young Master Tong muttered, “Sister Long, I understand his hostility towards you—after all, Dragons preyed on Demons. But why does he hate the Corpse Clan so much?”

Long Shaoxian glanced after Yao Chihai. “Because the Spirit Demons have been preyed upon by the Corpse Clan for ages. Back in the Three Kingdoms era, one of their elders was torn apart alive by a Corpse King. Eighty years ago, Yao Chihai himself was nearly devoured by a zombie.”

“No wonder…” Fifth Young Master Tong murmured.

In a corner of the court, Elder Xuan and Elder Ge stood side by side, gazing up at the confrontation on the stands between Long Shaoxian and Yao Chihai. Both sighed quietly.

“Wangshan, as you see, uniting the clans is harder than scaling the heavens. Some grudges are as old as time—they can’t be erased in a year or two,” Elder Xuan said with a deep sigh.

Elder Ge nodded. “I know. That’s why Luo Longyu concerns me.”

“I understand your worry. So listen carefully—send Luo Longyu out of the Center, but tell no one. Keeping him here may not guarantee his safety,” Elder Xuan instructed.

Elder Ge’s heart sank. He protested, “Elder Xuan, if we do that, not only will certain forces hunt him, but we’ll have no way to answer to the central authorities.”

“I’ll handle the central government. That’s General Wu’s intention as well. As for hostile forces, assign covert protection for him, but don’t reveal yourselves unless absolutely necessary. At this critical juncture, we can’t afford any cracks in our alliance—even if it’s only on the surface. I don’t want us fighting the Demon Clan before the Void Clan arrives in force,” Elder Xuan replied.

“Understood,” Elder Ge said, then walked away.

Luo Longyu stood in a glass corridor, gazing through the transparent panels at the labyrinthine center below. In another corridor beneath him, he noticed four figures watching him intently. The leader had green hair and a bluish face, his eyes strange and mocking. Sensing Luo’s attention, the young man slowly made a throat-slashing gesture—full of provocation—before turning to leave.

Luo Longyu narrowed his eyes. He could feel the murderous intent from those four, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall ever meeting them. Since they were strangers, why such hostility?

Puzzling over this, Luo Longyu walked toward the end of the corridor, intending to leave. But at the exit, he was stopped by two armed soldiers in full gear.

“Comrade, without orders, you may not leave the restricted area. Please return,” one said impassively.

Luo Longyu was taken aback, pointing to himself. “I’m being restricted? Why?”

“No comment. Please return. We’re just following orders—don’t make this difficult for us,” the soldier replied, gesturing for him to go back.

Luo Longyu wanted to object, but no words came. Puzzled, he retreated, eyeing the corridor—aside from himself, only the two soldiers and a five-man patrol. It seemed this restricted zone was little different from a prison.

The thought unnerved him. Why was he under house arrest? What had he done? He had no memory of his actions during his outburst, but he could guess that it was likely the cause of his confinement.

As he grappled with confusion, the corridor door opened. Long Shaoxian entered, her expression icy, striding straight toward him…