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Translator's Note:
The fictional place Shangjing is a creation of the author, but Xiangxi refers to a real region in modern China, specifically the western part of Hunan Province. This is where I was born and raised.
In modern Chinese folklore and popular literature, Xiangxi is widely associated with legends of "corpse herding" and zombies. These stories stem from ancient traditions and cultural beliefs.
According to the tales, "corpse herding" was an ancient practice meant to transport the bodies of those who had died far from home back to their ancestral villages. In traditional Chinese culture, it was believed that for a deceased person's soul to find peace and reincarnation, their remains had to be brought back to their homeland.
The legend claims that people in Xiangxi possessed a secret technique that could turn the dead into hopping zombies, which would bounce their way back to their hometowns without the need for other forms of transportation. This practice, called "corpse herding," remains one of the most famous supernatural legends associated with Xiangxi.
Fang Xiu felt a twinge of confusion—could hand standing really be the way to counter the white ribbons? Since the ribbons killed by hanging their victims, was it possible that keeping one's head upside down could prevent an attack?
As the thought crossed his mind, everyone turned their gaze to Fang Xiu, waiting for his decision.
Of course, none of them were about to blindly follow a stranger's advice. Doing a handstand would make them vulnerable, and being ambushed in such a position could be catastrophic.
Fang Xiu studied the stranger intently for a moment, then gave a subtle nod to the group.
With his silent approval, the group began attempting handstands.
Yang Ming was the first to comply. As he flipped upside down, he couldn't resist sneaking a glance at Luo Qingxin.
Since she often wore cheongsams, the high slits in her dresses meant that doing a handstand would inevitably result in an unforgettable view.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chuxia didn't attract any such attention—she was wearing jeans.
Luo Qingxin didn't hesitate. She gracefully bent over, placed her hands on the ground, and lifted herself into an elegant handstand.
Her supple waist arched with the ease of someone well-trained in movement.
As expected, her cheongsam began sliding down, peeling away like a banana, revealing her long, fair legs.
Her pale, flawless skin seemed to shimmer faintly in the moonlit night.
But just as her cheongsam slid all the way down, Yang Ming let out a defeated sigh. "Ugh, damn safety shorts…"
Luo Qingxin shot him a frosty glare that made him shrink back, his neck retracting like a turtle retreating into its shell.
By this point, everyone had managed to get into a handstand—everyone except Fang Xiu. He remained standing still as the white ribbons swarmed toward him like predators drawn to prey.
Unfazed, Fang Xiu stayed calm, his expression unchanging.
Slowly, he raised his right hand and swept it across his face. In an instant, black flames erupted, blazing high into the air.
The next moment, a pair of black wings unfurled from his back.
With a single, powerful flap, Fang Xiu launched into the sky, soaring above the treetops until he hovered in mid-air.
The white ribbons initially pursued him with ferocity, but as soon as he rose above the tree line, they abruptly retreated, coiling back around the tree trunks as if restrained by some unseen force.
The man in the burial shroud, who had suggested the handstands, looked visibly startled.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face—this outcome was clearly beyond his expectations.
When the white ribbons finally disappeared, the man began walking on his hands toward the group, keeping a cautious distance.
Under the group's wary and watchful gazes, he finally spoke, his voice calm. "New arrivals?"
"Who are you?" Li Xiaoru demanded sharply, her tone cautious. He didn't let her guard down, despite his earlier advice.
The man replied, "I'm the same as you. I came here through the Specter Train. But I've been here for two years now."
"Two years?!" The group was stunned. They couldn't believe anyone could survive in this eerie, nightmarish place for so long.
More astonishingly, it suggested that his Spiritual Energy must be extraordinarily powerful to endure two years of exposure to the gray fog.
"You've been in the gray fog for two whole years?" Li Xiaoru asked, wide-eyed.
The man shook his head. "Not every part of the Land Between is covered in gray fog. This isn't the place to talk. You all should come with me."
With that, he turned to leave.
But the group hesitated, their gazes shifting upward to Fang Xiu, who remained hovering in mid-air.
A flicker of realization crossed the man's face as he glanced at Fang Xiu. 'So, he must be their leader. But… judging by his energy, he's only at the third tier. Yet he's leading a group with several fourth-tier members? Could he be a strategist or mastermind instead?'
"Do you plan to keep talking while standing on your hands?" the man asked with a slight frown.
The group looked utterly ridiculous, all upside down, awkwardly craning their necks to speak and look at one another.
Fang Xiu gave a calm nod, and as if silently commanded, the group finally began following Wei Xin.
In the eerie depths of the forest, the sight of a group of people walking on their hands only made the place eerier.
After about ten minutes of this bizarre procession, they walked out of the area surrounded by white ribbons.
Wei Xin flipped upright in one smooth motion, standing normally once again.
The rest quickly followed, returning to their feet.
Fang Xiu descended slowly from above, his black, flaming wings flapping lightly before vanishing in a burst of fire and embers.
"Wei Xin. That's my name," the man said suddenly, introducing himself.
"You're Wei Xin... the Zombie?" Li Xiaoru asked, her tone filled with astonishment.
"Oh?" Wei Xin replied with faint amusement. "I didn't think that after six years, anyone would still remember my name."
"But wait," Yang Ming interjected, frowning. "Didn't you just say you've only been in the Land Between for two years?"
Wei Xin's smile was stiff, and unnatural, resembling the expression of a corpse. "Time flows differently in the Land Between. One year here is equal to three years in the outside world."
The group was stunned. They hadn't expected the Land Between to be so strange that even the flow of time was distorted.
"What he's saying could be true," Li Xiaoru said, her tone serious. "The records at headquarters show that Wei Xin has indeed been missing for six years."
He went on to recount his story.
"Wei Xin never officially joined the Investigation Bureau. His abilities are similar to those of a zombie—his body is nearly indestructible, impervious to blades or bullets. Six years ago, he was already a fourth-tier Specter Hunter, one of the first to reach that level. He founded a civilian organization called the Zombie Society, which operated in the Xiangxi region. But six years ago, he vanished without a trace, and after his disappearance, the Zombie Society disbanded."
As he spoke, a flicker of nostalgia crossed Wei Xin's face but disappeared just as quickly.
"You mentioned the Investigation Bureau earlier," Wei Xin said lightly. "So, you're Bureau members? Six years have passed, and it seems the headquarters has gained quite a few new faces."
"I never would have guessed that Wei Xin, the Zombie, famous across Xiangxi, disappeared because he boarded the Specter Train…" Li Xiaoru muttered, then stopped abruptly as if struck by a sudden realization. "Wait a second. You vanished in Xiangxi. But the Specter Train operates in Shangjing!"
Wei Xin chuckled dryly. "Who told you there's only one Specter Train?"
"What?!" Li Xiaoru and the others exclaimed, their faces full of shock.
Wei Xin continued, "There's more than one Specter Train. Exactly how many, I can't say. But from others I've met here, at least three have been confirmed. The one you boarded operates in the Shangjing region. Mine was in Xiangxi."
Li Xiaoru's expression sharpened. "Are you saying there are other people in the Land Between?"
Wei Xin nodded. "Yes. In fact, there are even members of your headquarters here. I imagine one of them will be quite happy to see you."
"Members of the headquarters? Who?" the group asked, stunned.
Wei Xin replied calmly, "This isn't the place for that conversation. This forest is dangerous, and we shouldn't overstay our welcome. Follow me to the lake—we'll take a boat from there."
Without waiting for further questions, Wei Xin turned and began leading the way.
The group followed cautiously until they arrived at the edge of a dark, still lake. The water was as black as ink, reflecting the gray fog that hung low over the surface.
The edges of the lake seemed to blur into nothingness, its boundaries swallowed by the ever-present mist.
As they approached, their expressions shifted dramatically.
"What an overwhelming Specter energy!" Li Xiaoru exclaimed, her face pale.
"This lake… there's something in it," Xiao Chuxia said in a trembling voice. "There's a Specter in the water!"
Chilling energy rippled across the lake's surface, transforming into gusts of icy wind that seemed to bypass their Domains entirely, seeping into their very bones.
The oppressive power was so intense that even the most stoic among them felt an involuntary shiver run down their spines.
Wei Xin, however, appeared entirely unbothered. His tone was calm as he spoke. "Yes, there's a terrifying Specter in this lake. When we board the boat, you mustn't touch the water or make any reckless moves. If you fall into the lake, there's no saving you—you'll die for good."
Fang Xiu's voice broke the tense silence, his calm gaze fixed firmly on Wei Xin. "You're at the fourth tier?"
Without hesitation, Wei Xin nodded. "Yes, I am."
Fang Xiu tilted his head slightly, his tone measured but carrying a hint of sharp curiosity. "You've survived in the Land Between for two years. Why hasn't your strength advanced in all that time?"
The question hung heavily in the air. Wei Xin's expression remained impassive, but the group exchanged uneasy glances.
Until now, no one had questioned the stagnation of Wei Xin's strength. Yet Fang Xiu's observation illuminated a troubling inconsistency.
The Land Between was supposed to have no known restrictions preventing someone from advancing to the fifth tier.
In fact, surviving in such a hostile environment should have naturally pushed one's abilities to new heights. Those with sufficient resolve and luck would inevitably grow stronger.
And yet, despite enduring this nightmarish place for two whole years, Wei Xin remained firmly at the fourth tier.
An unsettling thought began creeping into the minds of the group. 'Could it be… that Wei Xin was just a walking dead?'