Mysterious Awakening

The staccato rhythm of gunfire abruptly ended, and a chilling quiet fell over the room, casting a ghostly pallor upon the gathering.

Miles was perched on a couch, a peculiar nonchalance written in the way he scrutinized the rest of the club members. Ye Jun’s corpse was slumped next to him, from which the putrid scent of death wafted. His head was disfigured, shredded by custom-made bullets from a handgun.

The execution was swift and merciless, a ghastly dance that lasted no longer than ten seconds.

And within those fleeting moments, Ye Jun wasn’t afforded a chance for negotiation.

“Do any of you wish to discuss rules further? Any seniors, perhaps?” Miles inquired, injecting a strange sincerity into his voice, “I’ve always strived to be a good man. I hope you can provide me with a chance to demonstrate that. I regret the recent events and trust you won’t misinterpret my intentions. I’m not inherently evil, and I’m sure you all can relate to moments of impulsivity, right?”

“We’re all young. Who hasn’t made a few mistakes?”

The blatant hypocrisy was startling. Having shot and killed without hesitation, yet aspiring to be good?

Apologies had boundaries, as did absurdity.

Apologizing after taking a life, what manner of atonement was that?

The remaining members grimaced, swallowing their words in anger.

Miles, the newcomer, had shown an unflinching ferocity. His actions were swift and brutal, lacking any semblance of restraint against Ye Jun in light of being a fellow ghost tamer.

In a situation of equal standing, respect and restraint were expected. Yet, he acted with reckless abandon.

Despite their reservations, no one dared to provoke this formidable newcomer named Miles. They weren’t even certain of Ye Jun’s fate.

If he was truly dead, his spirit would be unleashed – an unwelcome development.

Suddenly, Ye Jun’s body convulsed.

“Hmm?” Miles observed keenly.

Was he not entirely dead, or was the vengeful ghost on the brink of resurrection?

The body twitched incessantly, contorting grotesquely on the floor as the stench of decay intensified.

In mere moments, the rate of decay suggested a death that occurred almost two weeks prior. It was a chilling sight, especially considering this same body had been alive and conversing over drinks at the bar only moments ago.

“If Ye Jun really is dead, it’ll cause chaos. How will you all manage the aftermath?” Zhang Han expressed his unease from the sidelines.

An unforeseen death of a ghost tamer and an escaped ghost was an unasked-for calamity.

Sure, plenty of ghost tamers could handle it, but who would willingly employ such skills? Miles stole a glance at Zhang Han, then looked at Ye Jun, whose body was contorting in a grotesque dance. Fear was nowhere to be found on his face.

If he wasn’t scared of the living, why should he fear the dead? Still, it was true that a ghost tamer could be far more dangerous post-mortem.

“Still moving? Let’s see if you can squirm once I’ve broken your limbs.”

Miles’ eyes thinned as he lazily twirled the baton in his hand.

This was the second weapon he confiscated from Writing.

Without any compassion, he struck Ye Jun’s convulsing body with the golden baton.

Exerted with significant force, the blow immediately flattened the corpse onto the ground, with half of an arm broken and the decaying flesh scattered about.

“Keep moving, go on, move,” Miles taunted, landing repeated strikes with the baton.

Whether the body’s spasms were due to his blows or another cause, it continued to writhe on the ground with the stench increasing.

“Restless even in death. I wonder what kind of ghost lurks within your corpse,” Miles gasped, persisting with his merciless beatdown.

His face bore a savage expression that, combined with a chilling indifference, made him appear like a demon emerging from hell.

A terrifying sight indeed.

He was not only ruthless but also seemed unhinged.

The others shared uneasy glances, signaling their relief that they didn’t go provoke this Miles character and allowed Ye Jun to take the lead. Otherwise, the one to be beaten right now would be them.

Meanwhile, a young man frowned at the scene in a box on the second floor, “This newcomer, Miles, is lawless, brutal, and violent. He’s causing havoc shortly after his arrival. He needs to be stopped.”

“We can’t touch him. He’s already proved his worth and attracted the higher-ups’ attention. Any hasty actions could bring about trouble, even for you,” warned another figure beside him, their face hidden in shadows, revealing no hint of their gender.

“Then all the more reason he must be eliminated. If his power continues to grow, where will that leave us? We need to set a precedent with him; otherwise, the newcomers will throw this club into chaos. Can we even continue under these conditions?”

“Currently, it’s him setting the example, and we’re the ones on edge. Maintaining order requires power. As wild as Miles appears, he understands the rules,” the shadowed figure remarked, “Who, do you think, is the most terrifying kind of person?”

“The most terrifying are those who disregard the rules. Without rules, there’s no control. The distinction between ghost tamers and ghosts doesn’t lie in the level of terror they inspire, but in the intangible constraints placed upon the tamers. Even though they control malevolent spirits, their essence remains human. However, he,” the figure glanced at Miles who was lashing the corpse below, “He’s more akin to a ghost. What’s more, we’re completely ignorant of his capabilities.”

The young man retorted, “No matter how problematic, he’s only controlling a single ghost after all.”

At that moment, Miles paused to catch his breath after being exhausted from his relentless attack.

Then as he was about to resume, Ye Jun, supposedly lifeless, seized Miles’s foot with his nearly disfigured hand, pleading, “Please, big brother, stop beating me. Show some respect. I’m a ghost, aren’t you even a little scared?”

“Hmm? You’re still alive?” Miles seemed surprised.

“I’m hanging by a thread,” Ye Jun managed to say.

Miles scrutinized the disfigured body, “You’re tenacious. Your head’s bashed in, your body’s mutilated, yet you’re still conscious. I thought your ghost was about to emerge. I was kind of looking forward to it.”

“Well, since you’re not dead, that’s good news. Let’s get back to discussing the rules of this place.”

Right then, Ye Jun wished he was dead.

Not only had he inappropriately used his ghost power once, but he’d also managed to upset this lunatic.

This guy hadn’t even inquired about his ghost seal, demonstrating zero fear.

There was no intimidating this Miles.

“Can we… can we avoid that topic?” Ye Jun pleaded.

“If you’re not willing to talk, then it’s my turn. I’ll continue outlining my rules to you. Don’t worry, I’m a good guy, I won’t take advantage of you,” Miles said, examining the baton in his hand with stern determination.