The wind stirred around the ancient Shanyin locust tree like breath from something sleeping—something ancient, and no longer content to dream.
Wang Xian stood a hundred meters away from it, eyes narrowed, pulse steady. Behind him, his team checked their gear, their mana, their nerves. They'd spent days preparing for this.
And now, they waited.
He turned to face them.
"Five minutes to midnight. Once the ghost gate opens, they'll swarm. Level 30 and above—Li Gui, not the wandering trash we've been farming. These things hit back, and they don't stop."
His voice was low, but carried like a blade through the humid night air.
Everyone nodded.
Weapons were readied. Buff spells were pre-cast. No one spoke, but tension curled tight in every pair of shoulders.
Wang Xian's eyes flicked toward the darkness.
Something moved.
"Who's there?" he barked, eyes narrowing at a nearby ruined building.
Silence.
Nangong Wu stepped forward, alert. "What is it? Did you see something?"
Wang Xian didn't answer. A fireball condensed in his palm—bright and deadly. He launched it toward the steps just beneath the doorway.
A yelp echoed back.
"Don't, don't! We're coming out!"
Two young women stepped sheepishly into the moonlight.
Wang Xian blinked, then frowned in recognition.
Flower and Snow—the missing two from Cheng Yao's famed four guards: Hua Xiangrong and Xue Fangfei.
"Well... this is getting interesting," he muttered, rubbing his chin.
Feng Luoli and Yue Rushuang immediately stepped forward, their gazes sharp.
"Who are you?" Feng Luoli snapped. "Why are you here?"
"We're just... passing by," Hua Xiangrong said weakly, twiddling her fingers.
Everyone stared.
Xue Fangfei rolled her eyes. "Relax. We're not doing anything wrong. What—do you own the ruins now?"
Her tone was combative, eyes fiery with unwarranted defiance.
Wang Xian sighed.
Typical.
He remembered her from the past life. This one had a mouth like a landmine—always going off, always pissing off the wrong people.
"Planning to kill us now?" Xue Fangfei continued with a dramatic flourish. "Fine. Go ahead. I can be resurrected. Come on! Just don't be surprised if I haunt your dreams."
Even Su Jin couldn't help but blink at that.
Cheng Yao giggled uncontrollably. "Uncle, your fanclub is getting bigger."
Wang Xian deadpanned. "Not helping."
"You're all insane," he muttered, then pointed to the two girls. "You're inside the 100-meter range. The moment midnight hits, every ghost in the district will aggro. If you want to die twice in a row, stay there."
Xue Fangfei scoffed.
He summoned another fireball—launched it just short of her boots.
She paled instantly. "...Let's go, Rongrong."
The two jogged over without further complaint.
As soon as they arrived, Wang Xian reached up and bonked Xue Fangfei on the head with a flick of his knuckles.
"Hey!"
Lightning flickered in his palm.
She backed off, grumbling curses.
"Hand it over," Wang Xian said, holding out his hand.
"What are you talking about?" she snapped, eyes shifting.
He raised a brow.
Nangong Wu stepped in without a word and pulled the Shanyin Locust Tree Branch from her inventory.
Xue Fangfei froze.
"You have one too?" Hua Xiangrong asked, wide-eyed.
"You idiot!" Xue Fangfei hissed. "Don't say anything!"
Too late.
Wang Xian smirked. "Gotcha."
Before he could press them further—
A sudden howl tore through the air like a banshee's wail. A gust of wind followed, bone-chilling and thick with something foul.
Jiejie-jieeeeee——
Dozens—no, hundreds of shadows peeled themselves from the ruins, from alleyways, from beneath the very earth. The ghosts had arrived.
Wang Xian didn't hesitate.
"Accept the invite!" he barked, sending party requests to Hua Xiangrong and Xue Fangfei.
They accepted instantly.
"YAOYAO!"
Cheng Yao raised both hands. A bloom of ethereal petals erupted around them—roses, orchids, chrysanthemums—dancing on invisible wind.
Ding! You have received the Blessing of Hundred Flowers. All attributes +15% for 6000 seconds.
Wang Xian's team felt the surge of power like lightning in their veins.
Su Jin gasped. "She upgraded it again..."
"She'll keep upgrading," Wang Xian said calmly. "She's Cheng Yao."
Even Xue Fangfei looked impressed. "That's... kinda badass."
Then—
"Uncle," Nangong Wu said suddenly, eyes distant.
"I just got a quest."
Wang Xian blinked. "Show me."
She sent it over.
Wang Xian read the text and went still.
A hidden class quest? No—it was deeper than that. The system hadn't marked it with the usual labels. This was... something else.
He didn't speak, just looked toward the ancient tree. The bark was beginning to glow faintly.
"Get ready," he said quietly. "This isn't just a swarm... something big is coming."