Mei Hua knelt beside the dwindling fireplace, carefully adding logs to rekindle the dying flame. As the fire roared back to life, she became aware of the man's gaze on her. His eyes lingered on her exposed back, where an intricate tattoo sprawled across her skin. Despite this scrutiny, Mei Hua maintained a warm smile being her usual jolly self.
Rising from the spot, she joined the man at the desk. Once smooth and polished, the desk was covered with deep scratch marks, as if a wild beast had clawed at it. The man had taken his leather gloves off, revealing hands stained at the fingertips with a vivid red.
Mei Hua glanced at his hands with concern before meeting his eyes. From the expression on her face, it was evident that she knew the man was the culprit responsible for this animalistic act, she slid one of the cards from the pile of five toward him, she asked softly, her smile now replaced by a serious expression, "Are you ready to continue?"
The man's identity still remained a mystery as hr glanced at the four remaining cards, each marked with ominous symbols, before returning his attention to the lone positive card that was currently right before him.
---
The story of Mr. Cheng took a grim turn. The towering mummified figure hurled him across the tunnel like a tool. He landed hard on his back, the force knocking the air out of him. The creature's groans, low and guttural, filled the air, instilling a fear that immensely paralyzed him. Desperately, Mr. Cheng tried to get to his feet, but the sharp pain coursing through his body left him struggling to crawl.
The creature moved sluggishly, its lumbering gait unsteady. The purple energy radiating from the temple entrance seemed to be siphoned into this decayed adversary. Mr. Cheng, still facing this monster, dragged himself backward, clutching at the rocky ground for leverage. In a moment that moment of desperation, he hurled a rock at its head. The stone struck but did nothing to deter the monste—instead, it groaned loudly and charged at him, its massive fist raised for a devastating blow.
Mr. Cheng shielded his face, bracing himself for the impact. But the blow never happened or it never reached him. Peeking through his hands, he saw the monster frozen mid-strike, its hollow gaze fixed on something to its right side. Mr. Cheng turned to see what had drawn the creature's attention.
Levitating inches from the floor beside the monster was another figure. This one was much taller but entire otherworldly—its translucent form glowed with a purple light radiating some energy. Mr. Cheng could barely process such phenomenon and before he knew it, exhaustion overtook him. His vision darkened, and he slipped into unconsciousness.
When he came around, he was now outside the tunnel. The storm had subsided, leaving the bright golden sun shining brightly overhead. Beside him, Mrs. Cheng sat vigilantly, her face lighting up with relief as he stirred.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed, her tone rushed with worry and joy.
Mr. Cheng turned his head, and to his right he saw another figure lying next to him, passed out as well. It was a much younger man, his extremely long black hair cascading over his body like a shroud. Though curled up on the ground, this man appeared to be very tall.
Mr. Cheng studied him closely, being startled by this man's magnificent body. Who was this man? He wondered, then it struck him—the towering creature in the tunnel. Could this young man be connected? Was the monster the decayed body of this man? And that radiant, glowing figure—could it have been his spirit, seeking to return to its original form?
He didn't realize that he was gazing at none other than the reincarnation of Zhong Kui, the legendary Ghost King. After thousand of years, Zhong Kui had returned, his destiny now stuck with the modern world. As Mr. Cheng stared, uncertain of what the future held, Zhong Kui's consciousness stirred. Deep within his soul, he found himself floating in a boundless space, an empty room swirling with enchanting, white light.
The Ghost King had awakened, but even he did not know what awaited him in this new age.
Zhong Kui's vision was hazy, but he managed to open his eyes slightly. "What realm is this?" he murmured, his voice barely audible. He was baffled by his surroundings, unable to comprehend where he found himself. The memory of his death at the hands of the Emperor remained vivid in his mind, like puzzle pieces. Yet here he was, alive, in a realm entirely unknown to him. The mystery gnawed at him.
As he floated in this ethereal space, adorned in a traditional attire, he noticed five glowing orbs before him, each pulsating with radiant purple light. They resembled the legendary Five Bats of Fortune, symbols that signified the true grasp of immortality. Zhong Kui felt an unexplainable pull toward them, his hand reaching out. But before he could grasp them, the light surrounding flared, glowing so intense that it was enough to blind him. His vision faded and he jolted awake.
He found himself in a completely different setting. He was lying on a bed in what appeared to be a normal bedroom. Zhong Kui sat up, his body still tingling. He glanced down at himself and was startled to see clothes—simple modern garments consisting of a plain t-shirt and black pants, possibly belonging to Mr. Cheng. They were unlike the traditional robes he was accustomed to.
The room itself was equally puzzling. The furnishings and objects were foreign to him, vastly different from the necessities he had known in his time. Everything seemed altered, replaced by the designs and innovations of a world he didn't recognize.
"I have been reincarnated," Zhong Kui muttered, his voice heavy with realization. His gaze swept across the unfamiliar room. "But this place... it doesn't look familiar," he said, clearly unimpressed with the modern age's aesthetics.
A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Well, there is no matter," he said, his tone sharp and ambitious. "I can finally reclaim this world once again," he declared, his words meticulous and brimming with confidence.
The door to the room opened, and Mrs. Cheng entered, a tray of food in hand. Her expression was warm and welcoming until her eyes met Zhong Kui's. For the first time, she saw the color of his eyes—a deep, dark purple. His gaze bore into her, exuding an aura that sent chills down her spine.
Mrs. Cheng froze in place, her hands trembling. The tray slipped from her hand, and the food spilled onto the floor with a loud clatter. She stood there, stunned, unable to look away from Zhong Kui's piercing, otherworldly eyes.
Mr. Cheng rushed into the bedroom, alarmed by the loud clatter of the metal tray. He looked between his wife and Zhong Kui. "What happened?" he asked, bit his words fell on deaf ears. He faced Zhong Kui and was immediately intimated by the look on hi eyes.
Zhong Kui sat on the bed, his expression blank. "Where is this place?" he asked coldly, expecting a prompt and decisive answer.
Mr. and Mrs Cheng exchanged uneasy glances at each other, unsure of what to respond with. Mr. Cheng, gathering his composure, spoke up. "Err…. You're awake that's a relief," he pretended. He smiled nervously, hoping ease the tension inn the room. "Oh, you see my wife told me you saved me from that tunnel then you collapsed. You've been here for over five days now."
"Are you going anywhere my child?," Mrs. Cheng asked, her tone soft and filled with concern.
"I need to go," Zhong Kui muttered, taking a step forward. But his body betrayed him. A wave of weakness surged through his body, and his legs buckled, sending him crashing to his knees. He clenched his fists in frustration, his teeth gritted as his pride was wounded by this unfamiliar frailty.
Mr and Mrs. Cheng moved to help him, kneeling beside him despite the intimidating aura he exuded. "Are you alright?" Mrs. Cheng asked softly, her concern genuine.
"Moving shouldn't be your priority right now," Mr. Cheng insisted, his tone cautious but firm. "You've been through a lot. Rest is what you need."
Zhong Kui refused to heed the advice. "No," he said sharply. Using the edge of the bed for support, he forced himself to stand again.
Ignoring the couple's pleas fo him to stay behind and rest, Zhong Kui strode out of the room, his steps unsteady yet resolute. He made his way through the house and out the front door hoping he wasn't dreaming, hoping he would see the world that he had lived in, but he wasn't dreaming. The sight of horses replaced with cars, castles and empires now with skyscrapers in place of them.
Zhong Kui stared in awe as he noticed all theses things. He had initially thought he had been sleeping for just a few days, now it was clear he wasn't.
Zhong Kui was now clocking a thousand years old.