Chapter 21: 1.20 First Small Star [Extra 2] – Horror Tale VIII

The horror had gotten intense as the remaining survivors tried their best to survive in the predicament they are undergoing in that south yard abandoned building. Supernatural phenomenon continues to hunt them and they were unable to leave the premises of the said haunted land. No one is able to contact the world outside the terrifying land. Well~ except from that single strand of hope that lonely king had provided them.

Fu Lian and Ye Lou took the two sides while keeping Xue Luli and little brother Xue Jing in between them. This is the safest place they can provide for these siblings who are the weakest in their group. The two male students tried their best to keep awake the whole night keeping vigil but the temptation of sleep still falls onto them. They were too tired to even keep their eyes open.

With the silence space only the uniform breathing of someone alive can be heard. As if something is protecting the whole floor, no other ghost had appeared ever since Fu Lian and Ye Lou as well as Xue Luli had fallen asleep. The one with the smallest figure opened his eyes but unlike his innocent gaze, there's only slyness within those eyes which now had the shade of moon unlike its normal darkness. He slowly sat up and looked at the three adults surrounding him.

His argent eyes squinted as if entertained and the corner of his lips curled a bit. Within those silvery orbs was indifference to living. The lights in the floor suddenly started blinking. Some of the people in the area woke up and witnessed the scene of countless ghosts standing before that beautiful child whose eyes turned into inhuman shade of color. Before they could even scream a shadowy figure covered their mouths. Once they've met the eyes of the owner that possesses those silvery orbs, they see him smile at them with hints of cunningness. Those cerise lips slightly upturned as he motioned his index finger to cover the top of his lips vertically. Only the sound of him shushing can be heard.

Shush~~

Despite his beautiful appearance, the scene of ghosts and spirits surrounding him made completely inhuman. What they didn't know was that this scene was recorded live streamed and sent to the Exorcist Association from Ye Lou's tablet before it's battery had been used up.

---

Meanwhile in land outside the forbidden land.

In a Traditional Chinese building hidden from ordinary people's eyes is the main headquarters where most exorcists of this time reside. Though they call themselves exorcists it is better to call them Celestial Masters instead. They are people who practice Taoism to keep the order of the world. Separating the yin and the yang.

In a detached pavilion surrounded by rivers and lotus flowers, a man sat inside alone drinking tea. The pavilion is an old style structure which is only found in the old dynasty but the man staying inside wore modern casual clothes. comfortable black pants and baggy long white sleeves. But despite this man wearing normal clothes the elegance in his every gesture shows his noble bloodline.

This man's features are overall cold. There are hints of asceticism on him. Emotionless face and eyes and overlooks the world with indifference and aloofness as if nothing in this world could move him. An unknown energy controlled the teapot and serve the man some tea. In the presence of this supernatural event this cold looking man remains unfazed. He held the tea cup in unconcerned manner as we watches the reflection of the full moon on the lake.

"August? So today is the ghost festival. Jing'er, where are you?" murmured this man with yearning and longing in his voice but always no one could hear him or could give him an answer.

This is a man who had been looking for his missing other half's soul for a hundred years but until now he still hasn't found who he had been looking for. All of the sudden the sky turned darker as if filled with clouds and the bright glowing moon slowly turned red as if dyed in blood. The beginning of the ghost festival had arrived. Just for one night all ghosts, spirits and evil creatures are free to roam on the surface where the humans live. Despite the changes in his surrounding this handsome ascetic man's face remains unmoved.

Countless people appeared from the land not far from the pavilion some of them specially those of age were wearing Hanfu or robes worn in olden times. Specifically celestial robes only worn by full pledge Celestial Masters. They've stood in line as they bow their head in the direction of the pavilion as if paying their respect to the man inside.

A Fortune teller who had hints of blood on his robes had stepped forward with intention to speak to the man inside the pavilion. The God like figure resting inside the pavilion is the master of all Celestial practitioners in this world. He is a being outside the control of fate and only the heaven's will could somewhat hold him back. This man is called Lin Xia.

"Master I have found the traces of that forbidden land. It must be because today is the ghost festival that it resurfaced in the land of the living." said the fortune teller.

Lin Xia responded, "I know. This is not the first ghost festival in hundred years but only to this day that I could finally feel its deadly and ominous presence. The seals that keep it hidden must be broken. Only humans who couldn't understand formation would sometimes accidentally break seals. Look for the exact location and inform me. I would check it personally." he said the tone of his voice is icy and detached.

Music playing~

Suddenly something rang in the midst of stillness. It's a modern ringtone that could be heard in handphones in this era. It seems one of the apprentices had forgotten to put their phone into silent. They've looked at the young man with a distorted expression on his face as he bow his head down with pure embarrassment and fear imprinted on his face.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Masters. Esteemed Lord!!!" the young apprentice said while bowing as if he wanted to kowtow at this moment.

The older Celestial Masters were about to scold the young apprentice harshly, only Lin Xia to gesture to them to stop. As someone reborn in modern times Lin Xia knew the use of handphones. His current parents provided him one and told him to use it to take some photos with his future lover. But until now aside from using it to call and message it is nothing more than a piece of scrap in his hand.

"Don't scold. He is young and prone to mistakes. It's normal." said Lin Xia.

Celestial Masters which are his disciples, "Yes, Master!"

"Child. It's been ringing for a long time now. You should check on it and put it in silent." said a kind young disciple of the elder masters.

"Y-Yes. Thank you Senior brother Wen." The young man said as he instantly brought out his phone and turned his phone into silent.

But when he checked the message he had gotten, it seems to be an SOS message passed to him by his cousin who knew that he is an apprentice Celestial master. Seeing this the young apprentice couldn't help but frown. The kind looking senior brother of his, saw his sudden change of expression.

Senior Brother Wen asked, "Little brother, is there something wrong?"

"Senior brother, you told us before that forbidden land called abyss has been missing for centuries. Since everyone had lost sight of it no one else knew. But the possibilities of haunted lands in this era might have a connection to it, that's what you said right?" said the young apprentice.

"Yes, I did say that. Don't tell me!?" responded Senior brother Wen in shock.

The young apprentice showed a live streamed recorded video link he head received from his cousin. It's a live streaming room under the ID user who called himself I_Am_an_Old_Man.

The first scenes were normal. This is a group of students playing ghost hunting events in some old building. But that is not what surprised the viewers of the video. The appearances of Fu Lian, Xue Luli were normal. Their beauty is indeed above normal average but what caught his eyes is the young boy with black hair and eyes and had similar features of the beautiful young lady. He watched the recording until they'd reached the part where they were about to enter a room which is emitting a red murderous aura. Obviously there is an evil being living inside that room.

Just when this disciple who calls himself Wen predicted the death of this young student, that beautiful young boy averted his brother's attention to him. Telling him he is hungry, Senior brother Wen sighed in relief seeing these students escape death thanks to the playful stomach of that young boy. The next scene made him feel chill all over his body. The camera angle is slightly crowded as the one holding the camera seems to be walking ahead. The angle of the camera was pointed in the direction of the couple and the young boy from before.

Then he saw that young boy whose face used to be full of innocence turning to sudden unemotionality that he felt something was wrong. In the video the ominous door from before slightly opened and a tall shadowy figure covered in blood comes out. He could even hear what it said as if it had spoken directly near the camera.

It says: 'I'm hungry~ Give me more blood~'

"M-Master, please watch this. It feels like there is something evil surfacing in the land of mortals." said Senior brother Wen.

Senior Brother Wen jolted as if he was electrified. There's a serious expression on his face as he finishes watching the first video. An inhuman creature asking for blood is most likely an evil being. It can be a fierce ghost or a demon. Knowing this he instantly borrowed the young apprentice's phone and let his master watch the entire video. His master and the rest of the elders had ugly expression on their faces. Obviously they had the same thoughts as he has.

"T-This is..."

"It's an evil creature."

historical

"Most likely a general class Jiangshi."

There's suddenly commotion within the upper class Celestial Masters. Lin Xia despite that chaos remained impassive as he drank his tea. He ignores most things within his surroundings.

Lin Xia hates noise. "You guys should go ahead. Just report to me once you've done your duties." he said clearly asking them to take their leave.

"Yes, Master (Esteemed Lord)!"

Only then that they've all dispersed from the land near the pavilion. Leaving Lin Xia the quietness that was normal for him.

On the other hand this Celestial Master had returned to the main building's office to check the SOS box that their site had put online. The staff were told to look for the same live stream links from the ID user of? I_Am_an_Old_Man.

The continuation videos were watched by them. The next scene is the situation when they've summoned Pen Fairy. Once the Celestial Masters had watched this part of recording some of them couldn't hold back a curse.

"Pen Fairy? They've dared to summon a famed evil being like Pen Fairy!?"

"Do these people not want their lives!?"

"Moreover it's a ghost festival today that only means!"

"Shit! Someone sent a few disciples to check on Maple University's abandoned building in the south yard this instant!!!"

Senior Brother Wen responded, "I would personally go there, Master."

"Be careful. Keep a protective talisman with you at all times. Remain a stable contact in the main office. Do not venture deeply until we, the seniors, have completed the investigation. Remember you are only there to scout!"

"Yes, Master. Disciple understand!" replied Senior Brother Wen.

Once the apprentices had left to do some scouting in the designated location, the rest of the elders watched the remaining video. Their frown continues to get deeper as they watch the rest of the recording. They've watched the scene Ye Lou had captured in his streams about someone in the group suddenly disappearing before them then instantly appearing on the top of the building only to fall on their deaths.

Then the scene inside the building where those shadowy figures pulled some humans to be devoured in darkness. They've also watched the scene of Xue Jing saving his siblings from the shadowy figure.

"Fuck! Is that a Yaoguai?!"

"There's even a Yaoguai in that place!?"

"Since when is that evil thing could be sent away with just salt!? Are you sure this is not nonsense!!?"

"A Jiangshi. Then a Yaoguai moreover those countless crimson eyes from the forest. Obviously that place is a den for demons and evil beings. Is this like the one in the legend?!"

"You mean that missing forbidden land, Abyss!!?"

"Yes! This place might be that one. Wouldn't that means the Lord Consort soul might be there as well?!"

Then suddenly a panicked voice of their brother was heard.

"L-Look... Look at the screen. Fucking look back at the screen. Watch that beautiful boy! I've been observing this boy the whole time. His actions were all random but most of it was done to get these three students away from death."

"The first scene inside that dormitory building. His stomach suddenly growls averting his brother's attention to the door back to him. When that Jiangshi went out of the room he didn't go after the group of children. I thought it was weird."

The first video recording was played once more.

"Look here. Didn't the boy look back and stare directly at the Jiangshi without fear!?"

He then played the second video after the scene of two people falling from the rooftop of the building. The scene before the rain had gotten stronger. They watched as the two male students talked to each other, not noticing a young boy staring at the dark forest behind him muttering few inaudible sounds.

"Hah! Is he warning those things in the forest!!?"

"Is that young boy not human?!"

"Someone check the background of these three students right away?"

But before the disciple could leave to do his task another elder spoke stopping him from his tracks.

"There is no need to check. This boy... no this supreme one is someone we know."

Then this elder enlarges the latest video they've received which he had watched through. It was the scene where the most survivors in the building had gone asleep. They watched as the beautiful young boy woke up and stood up from his sleep. The yaoguai from before and some spirits wearing ancient robes appeared before the boy. They've all bowed their heads in his presence. They watched as the young boy's appearance slowly changed from a child to an extremely enthralling man in red robes. His gold hair reaching the land under him flowing like silky, phoenix shaped eyes with hints of aloofness and elegance of someone with royal blood. Within those eyes were argent orbs with the same color as the moon. Silvery and almost transparent like a diamond. This person despite his ghostly figure still looks like a fallen immortal that could topple over countless cities. His beauty is exquisite and unparalleled.

All the celestial masters in the room, even the ordinary apprentices and disciples, couldn't help but feel tempted by this person's appearance. He is so majestic and unattainable like a God that had fallen on earth.

"Lord Consort Xue Jing!"

The disciples of Lin Xia recognized him instantly. They were reincarnators with a bit of memories from their past lives. This is the man whom they would never forget even if they reincarnate multiple times. After this man is their master's only obsession.