Chapter Fifteen: The Resurrection of the Phantom Visage (Thanks to the Esteemed “My Father Has Arrived”)

“Create a file!” Zhao Jianguo commanded, and Wu Qiu responded promptly.

In the digital age, computers were never truly secure. For archival records, they relied entirely on handwritten documents, preserving them in the most primitive way to prevent leaks or loss.

“Codename: Ghost Mother. Threat level defined as: Grade A disaster. Provide a detailed account of the memory-killing phenomenon described by Shen Lin—preferably using his exact words. Mark the file with special emphasis. I will inform the archives department personally.”

Wu Qiu was startled but then diligently resumed her work. This was not a matter she should be involved in. Each Grade A incident was enough to cause a sensation. Zhao Jianguo sensed Shen Lin’s name would soon reach certain influential ears, prompting them to take action.

“List Shen Lin as reserve. You will be his direct contact, doing everything possible to meet his demands,” Zhao Jianguo instructed. He had perceived the young man’s potential and was willing to pay any price to win him over.

After hanging up, Shen Lin reclined on the sofa, feeling no warmth around him. As everything grew quiet, he sensed something pulsing above his heartbeat—a presence accompanying the rhythm.

For the first time, without actively provoking the ghostly aspect, Shen Lin distinctly felt its awakening.

His body was no longer that of a normal man; he knew this all too well.

“Lin, I brought some food—had it specially prepared by the family chef. My father was terrified when he heard about the incident in Anhe Community; now he treats me like a precious treasure,” Li Meng said as he entered with several bodyguards, carrying the dishes.

The horror was not yet severe enough to announce to the public—it was simply unrealistic.

First, it would incite widespread panic and social unrest.

Second, even if people knew the danger, most would still be doomed upon encounter.

The official narrative framed the Anhe Community event as a terrifying invasion. The scene was carefully staged, hailed as the largest attack in the city in years, drawing significant attention from relevant departments.

Li Meng’s parents had been doing business out of town but rushed back immediately after hearing the news. They were en route now and catered to every wish of their son.

“Mm.” Shen Lin responded faintly, but the food in his mouth triggered a violent coughing fit.

It tasted bland and lifeless—not because he couldn’t perceive flavor, but because his body seemed to reject the sustenance necessary for life.

Another transformation, then. As a ghost controller, he had gained certain powers but lost far more—his life, livelihood, everything.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, Shen Lin forced the food down his throat. He needed to eat, even if hunger eluded him. It was the only reminder that he was still alive. He had to keep reminding himself of this to resist the ghostly influence.

“How are Sun Yue and Zhou Fang settling in?” Shen Lin asked.

They were comrades who had endured hardship together; past grievances had long since faded. In subsequent operations, Zhou Fang and Li Meng had brought the Golden Coffin, which had been a great help. Shen Lin had no plans to harm him.

“All settled. The three of us live together. My villa has plenty of rooms, so it’s convenient,” Li Meng replied readily.

“You’re really not going to stay with us?” Li Meng asked somewhat reluctantly. Sun Yue and Zhou Fang had brought up the matter repeatedly. Though brief, the fear they’d experienced had deeply rooted itself, and instinctively, they depended on Shen Lin—a unique sense of security only he could provide.

“No. The reasons are complicated and not appropriate to share. Just remember that times have changed. Keeping your distance is for your own protection,” Shen Lin explained.

He was controlling the ghostly aspect, but it was also affecting him. If he lost consciousness at night, the ghost might instinctively snap their necks.

Even Xiao Yang, who controlled two ghosts, could not avoid this risk—let alone him now.

The meal was a struggle. Shen Lin gagged several times, painstakingly adjusting to his new life and planning ahead.

“Keep an eye out for any strange incidents nearby, especially among the wealthy,” Shen Lin instructed.

“Got it,” Li Meng said without question, readily agreeing.

---

Shen Lin was calculating how to control the second ghost. The ghostly aspect had been significantly weakened by the transformation during the Ghost Mother’s gestation, greatly delaying its revival. He estimated his lifespan had been extended to roughly six months.

But only six months. Shen Lin understood he had to plan carefully and act quickly.

He could not replicate the same method twice; further delay required a different approach.

Controlling a second ghost was a long-term project. He currently had no leads.

In the original tales, many ghost controllers employed various methods to delay revival, each unique due to the differences in the spirits involved; there was no universal approach.

The famed Xiao Yang Yang had controlled his second ghost through dealings with the human-skin paper.

Shen Lin had no intention to pursue human-skin paper. It was a vengeful spirit, always laying traps. Gambling with it was not a sustainable plan.

Moreover, it was already in Xiao Yang’s hands. Trying to wrest control from him would only lead to endless conflict.

The Ghost Cabinet was even more terrifying. Its demands were beyond Shen Lin’s ability to meet. Starting conditions involved ghost paintings or Republican-era incidents—taboos far beyond Shen Lin’s reach at this stage. He was fully aware of his limitations.

The urgent issue was gold. Although Li Meng was wealthy, Shen Lin could not rely on him indefinitely. He planned to make something of his own to prepare for the future.

After the meal, Li Meng returned to his villa. He had intended to stay up gaming all night but was firmly stopped by Shen Lin.

As night fell again, Shen Lin felt a strange comfort—a sensation of being at home. Relaxation brought waves of drowsiness, and he drifted into sleep.

In a dim space filled with misty energy, Shen Lin seemed to see the ghost woman attack once more.

The brightly lit villa appeared shrouded by an unseen force. Though the lights shone, no illumination was felt, as if an endless black hole absorbed all light.

The eerie ceiling shimmered with illusory ripples; cracks in the floor moved slowly, eventually forming a massive ghostly face.

A low hum resonated.

Shen Lin’s sleeping cheek turned ghostly, dissolving into simple lines that shifted and reassembled. He lay reclined like a faceless man.

No! Sitting! No! He stood up!

The furniture around him seemed to hear a summons, floating eerily as if freed from gravity.

In the dim villa, with floating furniture, a faceless man wandering aimlessly, and the ghostly face formed by the floor’s cracks—this villa had become a living hell.

“Shen, Shen, help, help me~”

A weak voice, somewhat familiar, jolted Shen Lin awake.

He opened his eyes in confusion, only to find his right arm raised, gripping someone’s neck. The person struggled to speak, nearly suffocating.

Sun, Sun Yue!

It was like lightning cleaving the space. Everything around instantly returned to normal. Blinding sunlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating all.

Sun Yue, gasping for breath after being freed, retched violently. She had nearly foreseen her own death.

The young girl cowered fearfully in a corner of the sofa, unable to meet Shen Lin’s gaze.

Awkwardly raising his hand, Shen Lin was at a loss for words.

---

“Why are you here?”

“I—I came to check on you. You haven’t contacted anyone in two days. Everyone’s been worried,” Sun Yue sobbed, stammering.

Two days? Shen Lin was shocked. His consciousness had disappeared for two whole days.

His first glance was toward the ghostly face on his chest, but it was nowhere to be found.

Damn it—what on earth happened?

Finally, he found the ghostly face—a simple sketch—on his left arm. Its eyes still glowed faintly, but Shen Lin’s face darkened with a weighty realization.

He had been cautious but still underestimated the ghost’s power.

Fortunately, Sun Yue had awakened him; otherwise, who knew what horrors might have unfolded. He might have unknowingly killed everyone in the community.

“All right, I understand. Sorry, my power got out of control,” Shen Lin apologized, gradually regaining his composure.

The girl nodded but continued trembling.

Helpless, Shen Lin called Li Meng and instructed him to pick up Sun Yue, warning her never to come to the villa without his permission. He still could not fully control himself.

Two days of unconsciousness had left many missed calls on his phone.

Most were from Sun Yue and her group—seventy or eighty missed calls. They had certainly worried a lot.

The remaining numbers were unfamiliar. One starred number he guessed was from the Ghost Controllers’ headquarters; the others puzzled him.

Without hesitation, he dialed the headquarters.

There was no delay. The other side seemed to have been waiting for his call.

“Mr. Shen, hello. This is Wu Qiu.”

“What’s the matter?” Shen Lin asked.

He harbored no goodwill toward the Ghost Controllers’ headquarters. Those petty schemers were still entangled in political games, and he wished no part in it.

“Mr. Shen, sorry to disturb you. Please understand, I wouldn’t call if it weren’t urgent,” Wu Qiu spoke sincerely and tactfully, careful not to offend.

Silence hung on Shen Lin’s end. Wu Qiu cautiously continued.

“Mr. Shen, Officer Zhang Ming previously oversaw Daxia City, maintaining a basic balance with the ghosts. Due to certain circumstances, ghost controllers in the area are currently occupied with other events. Headquarters’ personnel transfers will take time, so we request your assistance.”

Shen Lin’s mood was foul; the ghostly revival weighed heavily on his mind.

His voice sounded harsh, even chilling.

“Why should I risk my own revival to cover for headquarters?”