Feng Rui directed his gaze to the old man. It was his turn to speak.
Feng Rui looked at the old man, waiting for answers that seemed more enigmatic with every passing second.
"I swore to protect the family when I realized what His Royal Highness and the King were doing… but in the end, I also fell into their trap. The matrix was originally created as an attempt to protect the Han mansion, but…" The grandfather clenched his jaw, his eyes fixed on the matrix as if it could answer him. "There was a traitor in the family who turned it into something evil. Not only that, but this courtyard became a dumping ground for all the monsters the king created. The Kraken, for example, was originally the leader of his guard… but look how it ended up."
"What?" Feng Rui asked, incredulous.
Ding!
[You have met the necessary conditions to trigger the following mission]
[Mission: The Secret of the Evil Matrix
Description: The evil matrix corrupting the Han mansion is powered by three energy sources in key areas: the crypts beneath Young Master Feng Rui's courtyard, the underwater caves, and the ancestral hall. These sources are linked to the failed experiments and the trapped souls. To stop the spread of corruption, you must locate each one and decide whether to purify or destroy them.
Objective: Find the three energy sources fueling the evil matrix. Assess whether they should be purified or destroyed.
Rewards:
Exp: +300
Item: Exorcism Crystal (useful for purifying corrupt sources)
Karma Points: +10010% chance to obtain the "Purify" skill.
[Do you wish to accept this mission?]
[Yes] [No]
Feng Rui accepted the quest without hesitation.
The boy, Lin Xian, could hardly contain his excitement and began jumping around. "Yes! Finally! Young Master Feng, you're my lucky star! Now I have a real clue about the locations! Muwhahaha…"
Feng Rui observed him silently. "...Okay."
'He looks way too excited. Has he been stuck on this quest for a long time?' Feng Rui thought.
"If we want to solve the matrix, we need to start with the crypts beneath your courtyard, the underwater caves, and the ancestral hall," Lin Xian explained.
Feng Rui raised an eyebrow, acting surprised. "Crypts beneath my courtyard? That's bad luck!"
The grandfather looked at him with sadness before speaking. "I'm sorry, Feng Rui. I couldn't protect you… The truth is, you're not from this house."
"What?" The revelation left Feng Rui speechless. 'Birth secret revealed so quickly... This should take more time, right? Is it because I'm an NPC? Look at the boy's face, his eyes are shining! He's probably expecting another high-level quest.'
"I'm not sure," the grandfather continued. "But the woman who brought you here is not your mother. I don't know where you're from, but your blood is neither hers nor ours."
"Grandfather… is she really dead? I never saw her body," Feng Rui asked cautiously.
The grandfather avoided his gaze. "I'm not sure either."
"Don't worry, Young Master Feng," Lin Xian intervened with a bright smile. "As long as there's will, the way will be found. I'm sure we'll soon learn more about your birth. For now, does anyone know the entrance to the crypts, or should we start with the underwater cave? The ancestral hall is far from the courtyard, so it would be better to leave it for last."
"If the cave is in the lake, there's a barrier now, and I can't break it," Feng Rui replied.
"And as for the crypts… I think I know where the entrance is," the grandfather added.
The old man led them to some ornamental stones in the garden. With a calculated effort, he moved one, revealing stairs descending into darkness.
"This is…" Feng Rui swallowed as they went down.
The inside of the crypts was cold and gloomy, with walls covered in mold and cobwebs hanging like forgotten curtains. The torches they carried barely lit the way, and every step echoed like an endless reverberation. Along the corridor, they found murals carved into the walls. The images depicted a story familiar to Feng Rui: the great war against the demons that he had played so many times in the game.
'This… it's just like what I experienced before… is this the past? Did I transmigrate into the future?' he thought, observing the scenes of cultivators facing hordes of dark creatures. The inscriptions spoke of sacrifices, betrayals, and a ritual that sealed a malevolent power deep within.
"This shouldn't be here," Feng Rui murmured, feeling a chill run down his spine.
When they reached the end of the hallway, they found an open chamber filled with coffins. Most were empty, with the lids displaced or broken. An oppressive energy filled the place, making even breathing feel like a struggle.
"Grandfather, what does this mean?" Feng Rui asked, cautiously eyeing the coffins.
"When I discovered it, it was already like this… For now, let's investigate," the grandfather responded, though his tone couldn't hide his unease.
As they examined the chamber, the atmosphere seemed to grow heavier. No one dared to stay until nightfall. They decided to return to the surface, but as they exited, a strange scene awaited them.
"Lin Xian! Where have you been?" shouted one of the older servants, rushing toward them. "You left your tasks undone! Do you think this is a place to play?"
Lin Xian stepped back, clearly confused. "But I… I was…"
"No excuses! To finish cleaning the pantry right now. Move!"
The servant bowed when he noticed Feng Rui standing a few steps away. The grandfather had already disappeared.
"Young Master Feng, I'm so sorry if that boy was wrong. Despite coming from the royal family, he is still learning the mansion's customs…"
Feng Rui frowned but merely nodded distractedly.
He wasn't sure if they were threatening him by mentioning the royal family or if the servant was genuinely concerned about the boy or simply looked down on him.
The other servants showed no surprise or confusion by the boy's presence, acting as if he had never disappeared. Feng Rui watched in silence before leaving.
Later, in his room, Feng Rui took the opportunity to check for any changes in his body. He hadn't dared to distract himself too much before, but something strange had happened… he'd never heard he could form a pearl of evil energy, so he tried probing it, and to his surprise, it was very similar to a core.
He tried channeling ghost energy, and to his surprise, it worked. The air grew heavy as Feng Rui focused every particle of energy. It was like taming a wild river that threatened to overflow. The chaotic flow began to respond to his will, spiraling in controlled loops within his core. He could feel the power building up, pushing its way through the dry and closed channels caused by the injuries his brother inflicted on him.
He didn't know if there would be negative repercussions when he healed his damaged core, but for now, it was the best weapon he had.
Sweat dripped from his forehead and only stopped when the first rays of the sun appeared.
He stretched out on the floor and took a deep breath. He felt rested and energized. He was finally growing stronger.
'Lin Xian knows more than he lets on,' Feng Rui thought. 'Not only did he use my body to purify and collect energy, but he also has the ability to handle a high-level quest. What is he really hiding?'
He heard a noise at the door and became alert, assuming an attack posture.
"Young Master Feng, are you awake? It's time for your medicine."
'Damn, not again.'