Chapter Fifteen: The Divine Thunder Talisman (Part Two)

The jade token spun swiftly in the air, its milky-white surface growing ever more luminous and translucent. Suddenly, a bank of storm clouds gathered slowly overhead, looming directly above the token. With a deafening crack, a bolt of lightning flashed down from the clouds. The thunderous roar shook the heavens, and the dazzling light turned night to day. In that instant, the immense power of the thunderbolt was unleashed, striking mercilessly into the vast, sinister mists teeming with ghosts. The monstrous energy blasted the ghostly fog apart; the black, tangible miasma was obliterated, dissolving into nothingness.

The Heavenly Thunder Talisman had summoned the righteous energy of heaven and earth, manifesting as the force of lightning, shattering the forbidding barrier of the Soul-Refining Ghost Array. For the countless spirits trapped within, nothing was more terrifying than this thunderous power. In an instant, they were all annihilated, scattered to dust. By sheer force, the talisman had crushed the formation, shaking its very foundation, and so the array naturally collapsed.

When all was done, nothing remained but the tall, gaunt figure standing alone, head bowed as he coughed lightly, looking utterly exhausted—the talisman had drained much of his vital energy. He lifted his hand and slipped the white jade token into his sleeve. His eyes wandered, gazing uncertainly into the distance. After calculating with deft fingers, he muttered to himself, “You old devil, this time you outplayed me. The next time we meet, you’ll pay double.”

With that, the tall man rose to leave. As he passed Han Shizhong, he halted abruptly, his face still indifferent. In a cold voice, he said, “Not a word of what happened tonight is to be spoken. I trust you know what I’m capable of.”

Han Shizhong, the Tiger of the Frontier, hastily replied, “Rest assured, sir. I know what I must do.”

The tall man turned and gave Han Shizhong a long, meaningful look, as if recalling something, and gave a faint, dismissive snort.

“Go back to where you came from. Even if you find that item, it’ll do you no good.”

With that, he turned and vanished into the boundless night.

At these words, Han Shizhong’s face darkened, as though some secret had been laid bare. Under the tall man’s piercing gaze, he felt exposed and insignificant. It took him a long moment to steady himself and stand upright.

Han Shizhong exchanged a glance with the scar-faced man. After such an extraordinary night, the fact that their heads were still upon their shoulders seemed utterly incredible.

“Master, what do you think we should do now?” the scar-faced man asked in a strained voice.

“There’s no time to lose. We must leave at once. Today’s ordeal has drained us, and most of our brethren are lost. Delay will bring trouble. Let us return, plan anew, and reconsider our next move.” The bitterness in his words was unmistakable, his expression bleak and sorrowful.

With this, the scar-faced man, clearly in agreement, helped Han Shizhong to his feet. Limping, the two quickly disappeared into the forest.

The boisterous night soon gave way to silence. The river ahead could no longer be seen, nor the lake behind recalled. Only the relentless sigh of the pines filled the ears.

Down a narrow forest path, beams of light flickered in the distance, their shadows weaving together. Soon, hurried footsteps echoed through the night.

“Uncle, are you sure they came this way? I feel like we’re just wandering in circles,” Sun Xiaotian said as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Hey, Xiaotian, I’m telling you, this is definitely the way. Look, here’s the sign Old Duan left for me.” Liu Laisheng, his large ears sticking out, panted loudly as he gestured toward a particular tree.

Following his gaze, they saw a hastily carved arrow on the trunk, as if scratched in a rush.

“Xiao Sun, follow the direction—quickly!” called a dark-faced middle-aged man in a police uniform, his voice muffled but commanding. This was Zhao Weiping, captain of the county Criminal Investigation Division. He had solved countless cases, including a major espionage case not long ago. Tonight, he was supposed to be celebrating his mother-in-law’s birthday, but at the news of a new case, he had set down his wine and rushed back to the station to lead the team personally.

“Yes, Captain Zhao.” At his command, the group hurried forward.

Yet, oddly enough, after another mile or so, all further signs vanished. Liu Laisheng wondered if it was simply too dark and their flashlights too dim, causing them to miss some vital clue. He refused to give up, nearly peeling the bark off every tree in his desperation. His anxiety was no less than that of the police; with the prospect of a great achievement so close, he could not bear to let it slip away. Old Duan had really let him down—after all the reminders to stay close to the group, now not a trace of a sign could be found.

“Xiao Shen, Xiao Sun, this isn’t working. Have everyone spread out in a fan around this point and search carefully. If you find anything suspicious, report immediately!” Captain Zhao ordered after a brief pause.

“Yes, sir!” came the replies.

The group fanned out from their position, searching the area. Liu Laisheng, sweating profusely, anxiously combed the surroundings.

About an hour later, a shout came from the northeast—they seemed to have found something. Zhao Weiping and the others perked up and rushed over.

At the bottom of a mountain ravine, they found a man in work clothes unconscious. After a quick check, they determined he was uninjured, though he might have suffered a mild concussion. His flashlight had fallen onto a nearby boulder, its beam extinguished.

When Liu Laisheng reached the scene and looked closely, he realized it was Old Duan, sprawled in the gully, filthy and disheveled. Liu’s heart pounded—his revolutionary mission unfinished, he had yet to report back to the organization. He hadn’t fallen to the enemy’s bullets, yet here he was, nearly lost on the road.

“Old Duan, are you all right?” Liu Laisheng quickly helped him up, his voice full of concern.

Still dizzy and seeing stars, Old Duan shook his head. “I’m fine, I think. I don’t know what happened—I saw them enter the forest, went to take a closer look, and then everything went black.”

Old Duan, still confused, didn’t realize he had slipped and fallen into the ravine.

Zhao Weiping, hearing Old Duan’s account, had a good sense of the direction now. Leaving one officer to care for Old Duan, he led the rest forward into the forest.

Liu Laisheng, ears sticking out, couldn’t hold back his anxiety. He gave Old Duan a few hurried words of reassurance before following Zhao Weiping’s group.

At last, they climbed a small hillock and reached the general’s tomb, where they stood, dumbstruck at the sight before them.

Someone retched, and then another. Soon, several people had turned away, unable to hold back their nausea.