Chapter Thirty-Five: Even Headquarters Can’t Protect You

Ghost controllers are a circle, and wherever there is a circle, there is bound to be conflict.

Just as most circles of power eventually rank their members, the community of ghost controllers is no exception, having even established a number of leaderboards.

Topping the Asian rankings is Ye Zhen, the administrator of the Supernatural Forum, whose status is unshakable.

In second place is Fang Shiming, the de facto controller of the "Circle of Friends," the largest organization of independent ghost controllers. It is rumored that he possesses strength capable of rivaling Ye Zhen.

Amidst the circulation of these rankings and rumors, one name has recently become impossible to ignore.

Shen Lin!

Shen Lin, the temporary overseer of Daxia City, codenamed "Ghost Portrait," has two incidents that caused a massive sensation.

First, as a newcomer, he resolved an A-level disaster event that was considered nearly unsolvable at the time, putting him in the limelight.

Second, he earned the recognition of Professor Wang Xiaoming.

Throughout the headquarters, everyone knows of Professor Wang’s capabilities and his penchant for valuing people based on their utility. Anyone who can gain his approval is undeniably talented.

Following a series of events, rumors spread through the grapevine that Shen Lin would be vigorously groomed as a core member of the headquarters’ inner circle, deeply involved in that particular project, and destined to be one of the undisputed leaders.

Coincidentally, whether through someone’s tacit approval or otherwise, the headquarters never formally refuted this, leaving endless room for speculation.

This was the headquarters' golden boy. Xu Fang never imagined that the organization would send a ghost controller of this caliber here.

This made him realize one thing immediately: the incident in Dongchuan City was far more serious than he had anticipated; otherwise, the headquarters would not have dispatched Shen Lin.

"Damn it, you don't know anything, kid. Pack your bags and leave with me immediately," Xu Fang urged, realizing that if he didn't leave now, he would face even more trouble.

"Why, Uncle? Shen Lin is here. If we can hitch a ride on this powerful figure, the rest of our days might actually be worth living," Zhou Bin said.

Few ghost controllers are valued by the headquarters, and Shen Lin is even more special. As someone at the bottom of the ghost controller hierarchy, Zhou Bin had a keen intuition and felt he could find his own opportunity through Shen Lin.

"What do you know? If they send a ghost controller who has solved an A-level incident, what level do you think this incident in Dongchuan City is? B-level would be a conservative estimate. If things go south, we’ll both end up dead. Stop babbling and start packing."

"I think you're just scared out of your wits. If Shen Lin can solve an A-level incident, a B-level should be a piece of cake for him," Zhou Bin retorted stubbornly.

The uncle and nephew were used to bickering, sometimes trading childish insults. Phrases like "the dog is barking again" or "don't be a coward" were just part of their daily routine.

Provoked, Xu Fang intended to teach this brat a lesson. Young people were full of hot blood and hadn't seen the world; if he had seen the monstrosity in Dongchuan City, he would likely be even more cowardly than him.

Just as they were about to clash, a knock on the door interrupted them.

The two bickering men stopped in unison, looking at the hotel door with caution. The atmosphere in the room turned oppressive.

This was a state-run hotel, and they were staying on the top floor; ordinary people couldn't get in. If the authorities were coming, they would have been notified in advance, but they had received no such information.

Under these circumstances, the knocking was quite intriguing.

Xu Fang signaled to Zhou Bin to open the door while he stood to the side, ready to strike. The "Drunken Ghost" ability had strong survival traits; it was much safer for Zhou Bin to open the door than him.

Zhou Bin nodded cautiously. Just as he was about to act, he saw the reinforced door shatter layer by layer. Through the disintegrating door, they saw a cold-faced young man.

"Uncle, we've got trouble!" Zhou Bin said. The opponent didn't look like someone easy to deal with.

Hiding to the side, Xu Fang moved to attack. His hands visibly aged, turning into skin and bone, carrying a twilight sense of decay.

This was one of the few offensive abilities Xu Fang possessed. "Ghost Inquiry" itself enhanced parts of his limbs, granting him the eerie power of a dying old man. Unfortunately, to most ghost controllers or vengeful spirits, this ability was no different from a tickle.

A second later, Xu Fang’s eyes widened.

His hands passed directly through the young man as if they were moving through air. Just as he tried to retract them, the young man gripped his throat. He felt an indescribable, eerie sensation—the ghost within his own body was being suppressed. The guy in front of him was as terrifying as a genuine vengeful spirit.

Xu Fang immediately gave up struggling. He didn't dare make any further moves; he was afraid of death.

Zhou Bin was about to intervene when he saw a strange, dark red light flash within the young man's body. He felt the entire space spin, his brain feeling as if it had been struck by a clash of conflicting worldviews.

Zhou Bin intended to step forward with his right foot, only to find his left foot moving inexplicably. This stunned him, but he figured it didn't matter which foot moved first—left was fine.

At that moment, he realized his right foot... moved!

The situation was impossibly bizarre, like a person who had lived for decades suddenly forgetting how to walk. Zhou Bin tripped and fell to the floor on the spot.

He heard the young man's crisp voice.

"Who is Xu Fang?"

"I... I am..." Xu Fang forced himself to speak, squeezing the words through his teeth.

He felt the grip on his throat loosen, and the man tossed him aside like a bag of trash.

Xu Fang saw the young man turn his gaze back toward him. He coughed violently, his eyes filled with dread.

The struggle between vengeful spirits is often the most direct; the ghost inside him had been suppressed. The guy in front of him was in a completely different dimension—he was stronger than anyone he had ever encountered.

"The headquarters should have informed you. From here on out, you are under my command. My name is Shen, Shen Lin," the young man stated.

He had no intention of asking for favors in a peaceful manner. Ghost controllers were all somewhat mentally unstable, and the Dongchuan City incident was urgent; he didn't have time to waste.

Shen Lin! Speak of the devil!

This name was like a thunderbolt to the uncle and nephew. They had expected him to arrive soon, but not this quickly.

"Mr. Shen, our orders were to provide reinforcements. Of the three-man team led by Xiang Jie, everyone except me is trapped inside. I’ve done my duty to the headquarters. To be honest, I've seen the ghost in there, and I don't think it's something we can handle at this stage. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can be of much help," Xu Fang said, weighing his words carefully, trying to keep his tone flat to avoid provoking the other man.

The gap was too large—large enough to induce despair. They had once thought the rankings of the top ghost controllers were just a joke.

The strongest ghost controllers they had encountered were of Xiang Jie's caliber. They were all ghost controllers, so how much difference could there really be?

Shen Lin’s arrival brought an awareness of a completely different dimension. They couldn't compete, and they didn't dare to try.

Zhou Bin, on the other hand, was very eager. After feeling the strange sensation in his body vanish, he scrambled up, hurriedly pouring water and offering a seat, his eyes practically sparkling.

Shen Lin accepted the cup without ceremony and sat on the hotel sofa as if no one else were there. His casual demeanor made it seem as though the other two were the visitors and he was the host.

"I understand everything you've said, but I'm afraid that doesn't apply here."

"I am only here to inform you, not to consult with you."

These words made Xu Fang feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He forced a smile.

"Mr. Shen, there are plenty of elites at the headquarters. Why do you insist on us?"

"It seems you've guessed something. The Dongchuan City incident is indeed not as simple as it appears. It has some connection to me. I am requisitioning you to track a specific ghost—the source of the incident." Shen Lin paused, staring intently at Xu Fang.

"Don't bother arguing. I don't have time to wait for the headquarters to send someone else. You have no ability to refuse, and no qualification to do so."

The faces of Xu Fang and Zhou Bin changed. They realized there was no turning back. The Shen Lin before them was far more resolute than they had imagined; they had no room or standing to bargain.

"As for rewards, costs, and everything else, go talk to the headquarters. I don't care. You have only one use to me: find that ghost."

"You can try to run, and I will try to go in alone and resolve it. But I guarantee that if I am still alive after the incident, I will hunt you down with everything I have. Even the headquarters won't be able to protect you. I mean what I say."

Shen Lin turned to leave after dropping these words.

"It is 11:00 AM now. I'll give you six hours to prepare. We rendezvous at 6:00 PM. I will have someone send the address to your phones."

After Shen Lin left the hotel, the uncle and nephew wore different expressions. Xu Fang’s face hung low, as if he had lost all hope in life, while Zhou Bin was exceptionally excited, eager to face the upcoming challenge.