The evil spirits began to panic. Though their bodies burned with searing agony, they tried to resist.
But it was all in vain.
With each swing of the Mourner's Staff, these man-eating fiends were reduced to smoke and ash.
Obeying Lucian Graves' command, the Black and White Reapers swept through Hua City in a night patrol, eliminating countless specters in their path.
And yet…
At this very moment, Black Reaper stood at the entrance of an alley, strangely hesitant.
Deep within the alley, several shadows huddled around a corpse, seemingly unaware of his presence.
The body's internal organs had been gouged out. Blood drenched the ground, its iron stench thick in the air.
The shadows devoured the flesh with grotesque delight, digging into the brain like connoisseurs savoring fine wine.
Under normal circumstances, Black Reaper's soul-chaining whip would've lashed out in an instant.
But this time, he merely stood still—watching.
Because…
Those things surrounding the corpse weren't ghosts at all.
They were humans.
Or at least… what used to be human.
But Black Reaper could see clearly—inside their bodies slithered ghostly entities. These were the so-called Ghostbinders, just as the Lord had foretold.
Lucian had once told them: if encountered, Ghostbinders were not to be interfered with.
But this—this scene—
This was beyond hesitation.
With no other option, Black Reaper reported the incident to Lucian.
Back at the City God Temple, Lucian's eyes flew open, reincarnation energy churning in his gaze.
"Speak," he said coldly, as Black Reaper's voice echoed in his ears.
Black Reaper recounted what he had seen. And through their spiritual link, the events began to unfold before Lucian's golden eyes like a projected vision.
Rage flickered in his stare. His lips thinned.
"Human wickedness… surpasses even the vilest of ghosts."
His voice was frigid, like blades of ice wrapped in thunder.
"Let their souls be shattered!"
"As you command!" Black Reaper's tone was resolute, unquestioning.
—
Back in the alley.
One of the figures stopped feasting, a shiver creeping down his spine.
"What's wrong, Lao Si? You getting cold feet already? You need to eat more if you wanna grow stronger," sneered a blond-haired youth, wiping brain matter from the corner of his mouth and sucking it off his fingers with a twisted smile.
"I don't know, Xiaolong… I've got a bad feeling. You think the Ghostbinder Bureau might be onto us?"
"Ha!" scoffed Xiaolong, full of disdain. "Those guys are barely keeping themselves afloat. You think they've got time to deal with us?"
He cracked his neck and grinned.
"Besides, if they want to come after me, they better think twice—my father's name still means something."
His name was Jack Long, a C-rank Ghostbinder. The men around him were Ghostbinders too, but rogue ones—those who let the ghost within fester and feed.
Official Ghostbinders suppressed their inner demons.
These guys? They indulged them.
Fed them. Strengthened them. Became them.
The Bureau had long known of their depravity, but the group left no evidence. And worse—
Jack's father, Andrew Long, was an A-rank Ghostbinder, deeply tied to underground factions and rogue networks.
No one dared touch his son. Not in this political climate.
Not without risking war.
China was still doing relatively well. The state kept a lid on these freaks—forcing them to operate in the shadows, only daring to crawl out at night.
But abroad? Ghostbinders ruled cities like warlords.
"That's right! With Jack around, who the hell's gonna touch us?" laughed a pudgy youth, sucking up to his leader.
"Ghosts? Humans? Who cares? All I know is, power wins. If they touch me, my dad comes running, and this whole damn city burns!"
Then Jack turned his gaze toward a young girl bound and gagged behind them.
Her name was Mandy Yu, a small-time streamer.
She trembled violently, the blood-soaked scene before her more terrifying than any horror movie.
But she had spoken out before—called monsters like Jack "scum" in her livestreams.
And for that… she was marked.
Now, on the verge of death, she mustered her final ounce of courage and shouted:
"The gods are watching! You wield ghosts and power, yet you feast on flesh—karma will come for you!"
The men burst into laughter.
"Did you hear that?! She said gods!"
"Where?! Someone smite me, quick! I've eaten over fifty people already!"
"Pfft, rookie. I've eaten over a hundred!"
Jack wiped tears of laughter from his eyes as he stepped forward.
He grabbed Mandy's chin, a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Gods?" he sneered. "I am your god."
He opened his mouth wide, unhinging like a serpent, twin green lights glowing deep in his throat.
And just as he lunged—
CLINK—CLANK—CLINK—CLANK—
Chains dragged across stone.
Every head turned to the alley's mouth.
A man stood there, obsidian skin and expressionless eyes.
In his hand—black iron chains.
Upon his hat, four ancient words glimmered:
Peace Under Heaven.