"Hmm?" 

A soft voice came from outside. 

"There's another person here?" 

The voice suddenly turned harsh. 

"Why haven't you left yet?" 

With the voice, there was a sound of wind. 

"Bang!" 

A piece of green tile flew in and struck the wall just three feet away from Lucas, shattering into pieces. 

Some of the fragments even hit Lucas's face. 

Lucas couldn't help but turn his head, looking at the spot where the tile had hit the wall and measuring the distance from himself. He touched his stinging face, his eyes flickering, but he still didn't move. 

In the village elder's stories, the fox spirits and ghosts that occupied human homes often used flying tiles and bricks to scare people away. Sometimes they even injured people or argued with them. 

This one seemed to have its reasons, or perhaps fears, that prevented it from casually taking human lives. 

Based on what he had learned, although the Wang family's ancestral hall had been occupied, they hadn't reported it to the county, and no one had heard of any deaths there. This made Lucas even more certain—the entity wanted to scare him away. 

But that didn’t matter. 

"Why haven't you left?" 

The voice outside called out again. 

"Bang!" 

Another tile flew in, shattering in the same spot. 

"I can see you're young, filled with righteous energy, and you haven't offended me, so I'm kindly advising you to leave. If you stay any longer, you'll lose your life here!" 

The voice continued to threaten. 

Lucas’s eyes flickered. Finally, he stood up slowly, still staring outside as he said, "I don't know if you're a demon or a ghost, but if you want me to leave, just throwing a tile isn't going to work." 

"Is that so?" 

Immediately, there were several cracking sounds as more tiles flew in, smashing closer to Lucas with even more force. The impact knocked some of the white plaster off the wall, scattering dust and debris everywhere. 

Lucas took a deep breath and spoke without even glancing at the wall beside him. 

"Why don't you show yourself?" 

"I'm afraid I'll scare you to death!" 

"Why not try?" 

"Are you looking to die?" 

"Is that the best you can do?" 

"What's that? You're testing my patience!" 

"Boom!" 

A dull thud resounded. 

This time, it wasn't a tile that flew in but a green brick, smashing into the wall just a foot away from Lucas. 

Lucas even felt the gust of wind from it. 

If that brick had hit him, he might not have survived or, at the very least, would have been seriously injured. 

But Lucas still didn't turn his head. He was afraid that looking would make him lose his nerve, so he kept his eyes fixed outside, focusing on his inner resolve. He even spoke more firmly, "Surely you have more than just that?" 

"You brat! You're getting on my nerves!" 

There was a slight pause, followed by what sounded like teeth grinding in anger. 

A massive gust of wind roared, and the next moment, there was a loud crash! 

It seemed that the entity, to show its power, had somehow managed to hurl a huge slab of green stone, like those used for paving roads or making steps, over the eaves and into the skylight, where it crashed down. 

The stone slab rolled and slid a bit before coming to a stop right at Lucas’s feet. 

This time, he had no choice but to look. 

The slab was nearly the size of a person, a foot wide, and almost a foot thick. It lay there, dark and heavy, probably weighing much more than a person. 

If it had hit him, he would have been crushed to pulp. 

Lucas took a deep breath but said nothing. 

"Why haven't you left yet?" 

The voice outside continued its threats, now mixed with impatience. 

Lucas remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head. 

"I'm not leaving..." 

"Hmm?" 

"I'm not leaving." 

This time, his voice was clear and resolute. 

"Hmm?" 

The voice outside sounded surprised. 

At the same time, it seemed that mist was rising outside. Under the bright moonlight, it took on a distinct form and, driven by the wind, began to drift into the hall. 

Lucas immediately felt a strange sensation. 

Before he could figure it out, his head suddenly grew dizzy, the scene before him wavered, and the ground seemed to undulate as if he were standing on the ocean. His thoughts became muddled, and he was filled with doubt, fear, and the urge to flee. 

Lucas leaned against the wall, trying hard to stand firm. 

There really was a demon causing trouble here! 

This demon seemed quite strong; he probably couldn't defeat it today. 

Maybe he should leave for now and think of another way at home? 

How could a human fight a demon? 

His uncle had treated him so well, saving his life and raising him... 

A life-saving grace... raising him... 

No! He couldn't leave! 

Lucas struggled internally, battling the fear and the urge to flee. 

"No, that's not right!" 

This was the demon's magic. 

Once he realized this, the battle turned from a struggle within himself to a fight against the demon's magic. Lucas gritted his teeth, pushing away the chaotic thoughts and letting his rational mind and original purpose take control again. 

"I'm not leaving!" 

Lucas declared once more. 

As his words fell, it seemed the magic had weakened, and the demon's influence had faded. He felt his mind gradually calm down, though his heart still raced from the shock of experiencing magic for the first time. 

"Why? Aren't you afraid?" 

"I'm not afraid!" 

"Not even afraid of death?" 

"You might have the power to easily take my life, but you should know that such power is not unique to demons or ghosts like yourself. There are many strong men in this world, and even that man who was with me could have killed me with his fists." Lucas's voice, though youthful, was firm as he looked down at the stone slab at his feet. "Does that mean I should fear all of them?" 

"Hah! Interesting! How much did the Wang family offer you to make you so determined?" 

"Not much, just enough to save a life." 

A simple statement, yet it carried immense weight, even silencing the demon that had thrown the stone slab over the wall. 

"A life-saving sum?" 

Lucas, breathing heavily, his hand trembling slightly, began to light the nearby oil lamp as he explained, "My uncle once saved my life. Last year by the river, I accidentally fell in, and it was thanks to him risking his life to save me that I'm still alive today. After that, he took on my father's responsibilities, providing for me and my studies." Lucas seemed to be explaining to the demon outside, but also to himself, giving himself reasons and courage. 

Thinking of his bedridden uncle, suffering and on the brink of death, waiting for this money to save his life, Lucas felt his heart grow calmer. 

"Now he's gravely ill, his life hanging by a thread, waiting for this money to save him. The Wang patriarch is a well-known good man and respected elder; I believe he wouldn’t withhold this money from me. If I die, there might even be additional compensation. So, even if I have to die, I’ll die in this ancestral hall tonight. I’ll trade my life for my uncle’s." 

With each word, Lucas's voice grew steadier and more confident, until he was completely unafraid. 

Not speaking of family bonds, but of duty and gratitude, this was how it should be. 

And so, his hands no longer trembled. 

He gripped the machete tightly, keeping a close eye on the outside, ready for any tiles or stones that might fly in. 

"If you truly want me to leave, why not come in and fight me face to face?" 

Outside, there was nothing but silence. 

Who knew what the demon was doing? 

After a long time, there was a sound. 

"Pfft..." 

And then, nothing more. 

Time passed. 

Lucas still leaned against the wall, constantly replaying the strange events and magic he had just experienced while quietly observing and waiting. No matter how tired he was, he refused to fall asleep easily, knowing it wasn't safe to do so. 

But tonight, the exhaustion was overwhelming. 

In this world, most people fell asleep not long after dark and woke before dawn. Judging by the time, it was almost morning. 

Having stayed up all night and spent so much mental energy resisting the magic, his eyelids began to droop, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. 

Falling asleep happened without him even realizing it. 

Once asleep, a dream came. 

In the dream, there seemed to be nothing at all, just a blank whiteness. In the white void, there was an abstract figure, sometimes visible, sometimes not. He knew it was there, and it was speaking to him, though the voice was hard to describe. 

Dreams often felt this way. 

"The Wang family is clever. I’ve disturbed them, and now they’ve sent people to disturb me, trying to drive me away." 

The figure spoke as soon as it appeared. 

"Who are you?" 

Lucas asked. 

"You’ve been dealing with me all night, haven't you?" The figure seemed to chuckle. 

"So, it’s you..." 

In the dream, everything felt strange. Lucas didn’t question whether this was a dream or reality, nor did he wonder who the figure was or why he was there. He simply conversed naturally. 

"Why are you here?" 

"It’s a long story... 

A long time ago, I lived here. Back then, this village didn’t exist. Later, I had to leave for a while, and the Wang family built their homes here. But all things in heaven and earth belong to no one in particular, and since I hadn’t marked the place as mine, I didn’t try to reclaim it or drive them away. But as I grew older, I wanted to return." 

The figure paused. 

"Besides, the ancestors of this Wang family were quite virtuous, so I felt comfortable staying in their ancestral hall. But now, the Wang family has sent many people, some of whom are brave, and they’ve made my life here uncomfortable. Plus, there’s you—making three in total—who won’t leave after a whole night. It’s really frustrating. I don’t think I’ll be able to live out my days here after all." The figure paused again. "I see that your energy isn’t as pure as a sage’s, but it’s not tainted either. You’re young and brave, with a calm heart and a sense of filial duty, which is rare. So, I’ve come to tell you in a dream that I’ll be leaving tomorrow. You can tell the Wang family, and they might even reward you, giving you the money to save your uncle’s life." 

"Thank you!" 

In the dream, Lucas sincerely expressed his gratitude. 

"It’s your merit, not my effort." 

"But I still must thank you." 

"You really know your manners!" 

"I’ve studied a bit." 

"Studying is a good thing." 

"You mentioned there were three of us, but who are the others? I’ve only heard of one." Lucas’s curiosity led him to ask. 

"You’re one. The other is a butcher, and then there’s the old teacher in Shu Village." The figure answered him. "The butcher had such strong energy that my breath had no effect on him. He came here drunk and slept like the dead. I didn’t want to kill or injure him, so I had to let him be." 

"The old teacher from Shu Village?" 

Lucas was intrigued—wasn't that his own teacher? 

"Yes, that old teacher doesn’t know much, but he’s righteous by nature and has never done a bad deed in his life, which is extremely rare! Even many gods would retreat in his presence, let alone a minor demon like myself." 

Lucas was taken aback by this answer—it was quite unexpected. 

Only then did he realize that the figure was not a ghost but a demon. 

"But isn’t the Wang patriarch also a well-known good man who’s done many good deeds?" 

"He’s done some good deeds, but the true kindness lies with his ancestors. He’s just continuing the family tradition, using charity to build his reputation and gain benefits." The figure paused. "That’s not wrong, and it’s not a bad thing—in fact, it’s still a good thing. But don’t expect me to hold him in high regard or avoid him just because of that." 

"So that’s how it is..." 

Before he could ponder the deeper meaning of this conversation, the dream began to fade away like mist under the sun, quickly dissipating. 

Only a final, faint word remained: 

"You have good manners and have shown me respect, so let me give you some advice: I see that your soul is strong but unstable. You should take care of your health and find a way to calm your soul." 

In a daze, Lucas awoke. 

It was nearly dawn. 

He was still in the ancestral hall, leaning against the wall, surrounded by bricks and tiles, with white plaster scattered on the ground. His feet were still pressed against the large stone slab, and the marks on the floor where the slab had rolled and slid were faintly visible in the dim light. But he was unharmed. 

Lucas stared blankly for a moment before suddenly getting up and walking outside. 

Indeed, it was almost morning. 

Outside, the roosters were crowing. 

He saw a shadow about knee-high at the base of the wall. In the dim light, it was hard to tell if it was yellow or gray, but it seemed to stand and walk like a person, carrying a small bundle on its back. It disappeared in a flash. 

Lucas stared, stunned. 

Then, coming to his senses, he bowed deeply in the direction the shadow had gone. 

But his brow furrowed, and his heart was filled with doubt— 

What kind of world was this?

 

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