Nightmare Apostle

Chapter 737: Chapter 563: Disaster of the Ghost Sect_2

Shocked, he gently pushed against the heavy bronze door, and it opened, but to Yang Xiao’s surprise, the Mirror Ghost that was originally lying on the ground had vanished without a trace.

"Ran away?" freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Yang Xiao was startled. After searching the room and finding no one, he quickly exited the room. But just as soon as Yang Xiao had left, a tiny figure crawled out from behind a high stack of books, its dull eyes fixed on the door.

The next second, Yang Xiao was back—indeed, he had pulled a feint—and this time, he caught the hidden Mirror Ghost red-handed.

Seeing Yang Xiao return, the Mirror Ghost, about the size of a six-month-old child, panicked and hurriedly ran back to hide behind the books. Peering through the gap between two stacks, the Mirror Ghost stared at Yang Xiao, its eyes filled with wariness, unease, and malice.

Indeed, it’s a ghost... Yang Xiao sighed inwardly. He had already seen that the child was about half a year old, with delicate features that strongly resembled his own. There was no doubt about it; the child was the New Mirror Ghost reborn with his own image as a template. However, compared to a normal child, this New Mirror Ghost exuded a heavy malevolence that would require him, as a father, to guide patiently.

Moving closer and crouching down, Yang Xiao maintained a distance that he hoped would make the Mirror Ghost boy feel safe. Looking at the boy through the gap between the books, Yang Xiao offered a smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible, "Hello, nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Yang Xiao, and I’m your real dad."

It seemed the current intellectual level of the Mirror Ghost boy did not comprehend the word; he just stared coldly at Yang Xiao without saying anything.

"Uh... don’t be nervous. We’ll spend a lot of time together in the future. I’m your dad, and I’ll be responsible for you," Yang Xiao said as he took out a box of half-eaten chocolate bars from his backpack, gently placed them on the ground, and pushed them forward. "Look, kid, I traveled dozens of miles to buy this just for you."

The Mirror Ghost boy glanced at the chocolate bars on the ground, then back at Yang Xiao. The wariness in his eyes eased slightly, but he still refused to come out.

Yang Xiao knew that forceful measures never produce sweet outcomes. As this was their first contact, leaving a good impression would suffice. Saying too much or doing too much would only have the opposite effect. Standing up and smiling warmly, he said, "Take a rest for now. After a while, I’ll come visit you again, and I’ll bring new toys and clothes. We’re father and son. My enemies will be your enemies in the future, and you should hand over the good things you find to me first, right?"

After saying what needed to be said, Yang Xiao left. The growth rate of the New Mirror Ghost was faster than he expected. In just a few days, it had grown from a newborn infant to a half-year-old child. If this pace continued, in less than half a year, the child would be an adult just like him, an absolutely reliable ally.

However, the prerequisite was gaining the acknowledgment of the New Mirror Ghost. Yang Xiao planned to look for some parenting books to read, hoping to develop a bond with the Mirror Ghost as quickly as possible.

After leaving the Mirror World, Yang Xiao heard some noise coming from outside the window. He walked over, pulled the curtain open slightly, and the next moment, he was dazzled by the sunlight streaming in; it was already daylight and seemed to be midday. Outside, he could see students from the Academy walking by.

Picking up his phone, Yang Xiao saw it was two in the afternoon. Now he understood where the problem lay—it was that special room. The flow of time inside the room was not synchronized with the outside world; it was much faster. That also explained why the Old Clan Leader said he’d been lingering in the Ghost Tomb for two days.

Additionally, the rapid growth of the New Mirror Ghost was unquestionably related.

In the evening, after eating instant noodles, Yang Xiao received an unexpected phone call from Qu Muzhi, who spoke succinctly over the phone. He was leaving to return to Rongcheng on a flight that night and wanted to see Yang Xiao before departing.

Yang Xiao was curious about Qu Muzhi’s injuries, so he gladly agreed to meet. Half an hour later, he was in an apartment, facing Qu Muzhi.

"Captain Qu, how are you?" Qu Muzhi’s room was tidy, with minimal luggage already packed and placed behind the door. Yang Xiao respected Qu Muzhi; he was dependable in critical moments.

Qu Muzhi looked at him and nodded, his expression inscrutable, "Should I call you Captain Yang or Emperor Ye Xiao?"

At these words, Yang Xiao froze. He had not expected Qu Muzhi to have retained his memories. It seemed that he had not left the mission world by ordinary means—it must have been the Old Clan Leader who took him out as well!

Seeing that Yang Xiao had fallen silent, Qu Muzhi slowly shook his head and gestured for him to sit, "You saved me, and I’ll repay that debt to you. Whether you are Yang Xiao or Emperor Ming’s Midnight Snack, you are my friend."

"Thanks," Yang Xiao said with a bow and folded hands, "I too consider you a friend, Captain Qu. If there was any offense before, I ask for your forgiveness."

"I will no longer pursue the matter of that female evil cultivator, and I ask you not to cause any more trouble at our City Center Official Residence. Our Chief Huang does not take kindly to sand in his eyes; do not make things difficult for me," Qu Muzhi turned his head away from the window and looked toward Yang Xiao, his expression as calm as ever.

"Certainly," Yang Xiao nodded in agreement.

"Captain Yang, what brings you here?" Qu Muzhi asked.

"I am here to find information on a magic artifact, for I have been subjected to its backlash," Yang Xiao did not hide anything, saying it outright.

"Did you find it?"

"I did."

"That’s good," Qu Muzhi nodded, a hint of melancholy flashing in his eyes as if recalling something, "I wish I had your luck."

Yang Xiao remembered that Qu Muzhi had once mentioned he was here for a personal matter, but apparently, it wasn’t going well, "Captain Qu, is there anything I can do to help you?"

Qu Muzhi shook his head, "Thanks for the offer, but I came here to find someone, and now... I already know the outcome."

Everyone has secrets they wish to keep to themselves, and Yang Xiao did not, therefore, inquire further. After briefly saying farewell, he left; the two would have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future as they both worked in Rongcheng.

Returning to the apartment, and leaning back on the sofa, Yang Xiao closed his eyes and began to reflect on his gains during this period. Firstly, and most importantly, he had neutralized the threat of the Mirror Ghost, which ultimately saved his life.

Secondly, he had helped his dear sister capture the Daoist robe old ghost, whose power had been a thorny issue even for the Old Clan Leader, implying formidable strength.

Thirdly, he had slain the Yu Yuan Sect Xiu Sect Master and its number one Venerable One; their deaths meant the ruin of the Xiu Sect, one of the Eight Gates, at least as far as being a threat to him was concerned. He was ready to dispatch any remaining Venerable Level powers daring to confront him.

Fourthly, he had inadvertently smoothed over his relationship with Qu Muzhi through a secret competition, an unexpected boon.

Fifthly, he had now become acquainted with the upper echelons of the Ru Lin Academy, an achievement in its own right. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

The remaining gains, particularly in intelligence, were more abundant; considerably broadening Yang Xiao’s horizons which would greatly benefit his future undertakings.

However, every advantage comes with its downside; unintentionally, his actions had interfered with Yiling Academy’s plans. If the wind got out about this affair, he could expect trouble.

Dealing with the Yu Yuan Sect was headache enough, but adding one of the Upper Three Bookshops, Yiling Academy, to the mix would only make his life more difficult.

It must be noted that the Yu Yuan Sect, being an unrecognized Cult, was a target for any upstanding cultivator, but Yiling Academy was different; it wielded considerable influence with the backing of officialdom. The Patrol Defense Office, the Apostles Union, and the Chamber of Commerce—all respectable old-school powers—had good relations with them, even some evil Cults had secret dealings with them.

Offending such an entity is not just about danger; it could also bode ill for his future career prospects. He was on the verge of becoming a Deputy Director Level Captain, an emerging superstar under the command of the Patrol Defense Office.

He had lingered at the Ru Lin Academy for far too long, feeling increasingly tense under the watch of the Old Clan Leader, who favored him and owed him a debt. Yet, if the Old Clan Leader ever found out what he was seeking was actually in his possession, Yang Xiao had an inkling of what might transpire next.

Affection belongs to affection, but interests belong with interests; the fact that the Ru Lin Yang Family faction was so sizeable implied they were no saints or bodhisattvas.