Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 21

Han Li was shocked by the series of events that followed. There were still so many things in the world he didn’t know.

As Master Wen shouted, “Seven Ghosts Soul Devouring,” the seven swords piercing his body began to writhe.

Even the ghost heads engraved on the hilts started to shriek, and the sound grew louder and sharper with each passing moment.

They seemed to be alive, struggling as if they wanted to escape from Master Wen’s body.

Master Wen, hearing the sounds from the swords, grumbled as if he was annoyed.

It was too low and fast to understand what he was saying, but it certainly wasn’t anything pleasant.

Master Wen rose and began to spin around the room. Then, finally, he stomped his foot and, with a helpless expression, put one of his fingers into the mouth of a ghost head on a sword hilt.

Even more incredibly, the ghost’s fangs moved, biting Master Wen’s finger and refusing to let go.

With his finger bitten, Master Wen’s body began to tremble again as he was being sucked of something unknown.

After about a quarter of an hour, the ghost head finally opened its mouth with a satisfied expression.

Then, as if he had no choice, Master Wen had each of the ghost heads bite one of his fingers. Only after this entire process was complete did he begin to mutter the incantation as before.

However, this time, they did not writhe or shriek. Instead, as the incantation began, they simultaneously revealed bloodshot eyes and began to suck something from the air through their torn mouths.

Each tentacle thrashed wildly, and seven streams of black energy rose from the ghostly mist, drawing beautiful arcs in the air before falling precisely into the ghost heads.

Then, as if they had been waiting for a long time, the ghost heads gulped down the black energy.

Han Li was dumbfounded and unable to move. Because Master Wen was right in front of him, he could observe every detail.

He could even count each strand of hair on the ghost heads. These strange phenomena unfolding before his eyes shook his mind.

The bizarre silver swords, the ghost heads on the hilts, and the eerie black mist swirling around Master Wen’s face were all things he could not understand. They overturned all of Han Li’s previous notions.

Gradually, the ghostly mist covering Master Wen’s face thinned and faded. Master Wen’s face faintly appeared through the thin black mist.

However, when his face reappeared, Han Li was even more horrified. Everything that had happened so far was nothing compared to what he was seeing now.

The face that emerged from the black mist was surprisingly that of a healthy man in his late twenties or early thirties.

Judging by the familiar shape of his eyes and eyebrows, it was definitely still Master Wen. He had reversed decades of time in an instant.

His composed expression, clear eyes, and sneering lips made him look like a charmingly handsome man. His masculine maturity was so captivating that no woman could refuse him.

The black energy remaining on his face was all being sucked into the ghost heads.

Han Li suddenly recalled Master Wen’s previous claim that he had been exposed to a treacherous energy that damaged his primordial spirit [a person’s life force or soul], causing him to age. It seemed he hadn’t lied about that.

This was his true face. As Master Wen regained his youth, it wasn’t just his face that changed. His jet-black hair and healthy body seemed to be in the best condition of his life.

‘He can return to his original form on his own, so why did he capture me?’

Han Li thought, coming to his senses after being in a daze. While Han Li was racking his brain to figure out how to escape, Master Wen remained still and silent even after the black mist had disappeared.

After a long while, he raised his hand and carefully examined it, his eyes filled with the look of someone seeing a long-lost treasure. He stared at his firm, glossy hand for a long time, then began to feel his face with both hands.

“Elder, it seems you have recovered your original form. Doesn’t that mean this disciple is no longer needed? Please release me now. From now on, I will serve you with all my heart.”

Han Li was still anxious, unsure of how the other party would deal with him. Even though he knew he wouldn’t be let go easily, he pretended to be foolish, trying to figure out what would happen to him and plan his next move.

“Han Li, you really have a talent for flattery. But do you really think I’ll let you go?”

The young Master Wen smiled, his face and voice truly captivating. It was as if he was drawing people in.

It was completely different from his previous dry and rough voice. His voice was as beautiful as his appearance.

“So, what are you going to do with me? Just tell me clearly.”

“What am I going to do? Hahaha!”

Master Wen stretched his slender waist, full of vitality.

He didn’t answer Han Li’s question but instead took out a small bundle wrapped in layers of silk from his chest.

‘What is that wrapped in silk? Surely it’s not another bizarre thing like those swords?’

Master Wen immediately unwrapped the silk. Then, he carefully took out a piece of yellowed paper from inside. Han Li was slightly disappointed to see it, but he remained tense.

Even if what the other party was holding looked like ordinary paper, given the bizarre phenomena that had just occurred, it was highly likely to be an object with a great secret.

Master Wen carefully unfolded the paper, which was only about the size of his palm. The old paper shone with a silver light and was covered in strange symbols. The symbols were unique in shape, and Han Li had never seen anything like them before.

The moment the symbols entered his eyes, Han Li felt a mysterious energy. Even the energy of the Eternal Spring Arts [a cultivation technique] within his body began to stir, as if it had been awakened by these symbols.

Han Li focused his mind and stared at the symbols. He wanted to figure out what they meant.

The characters were just crooked and twisted shapes, but there was clearly some kind of rule in their arrangement and overall form.

There was probably something profound contained within them. But unfortunately, it was impossible to decipher it in such a short time.

Master Wen noticed Han Li staring at the paper in his hand, and a look of pity appeared and disappeared. Then, he lowered his head and slowly whispered into Han Li’s ear.

“Han Li, don’t resent me too much. I have no other choice. End this life a little early and be reborn in a better place! I will make good use of your body.”

“What are you talking about? What does that mean?” Han Li shouted, terrified by Master Wen’s whisper. He had expected the worst, but not this. Han Li desperately struggled.

He still had weapons he hadn’t used. If he could just get them out, he might be able to take advantage of the chaos and escape.

“Iron Slave, hold him down. Don’t let him move.”

Unfortunately, his resistance was futile due to Master Wen’s command. A large hand began to press down on his shoulder again. Master Wen opened his eyes wide and muttered an incomprehensible incantation. As the incantation continued, the yellow paper began to flutter.

The silver symbols written on the paper also began to glow slowly, one by one, emitting a mysterious radiance. Han Li was certain that something would happen to him when all the characters glowed.

When the last character emitted light, Master Wen couldn’t hide his delight. As he performed a special technique, the yellow paper fluttered in the air with his gestures.

The word ‘Bind’ escaped his lips, and the sound was immense. At the same time, the yellow paper flew and stuck to Han Li’s forehead.

The moment the paper touched Han Li’s forehead, he felt like his body had been taken over. He couldn’t even blink his eyelids at will, and he had no sensation in his entire body.

Only his eyes and ears were working, but even they felt unfamiliar, as if someone else was seeing and hearing. Not being able to move his body was like being a living corpse.

The sensation he was feeling now was completely different from being acupunctured. It was similar in that he couldn’t move his body, but back then, at least he had the sensation of his whole body stiffening. Now, he couldn’t even feel that.

Han Li was bewildered. Was this really the end?

“Don’t be impatient. Your body still needs to wait a little longer.”

Master Wen spoke, whether to Han Li or to himself, it was unclear.

“With your deep cunning, if I let you be free, I’ll only be troubled.”

Master Wen reached out and lifted Han Li up. Then, he strode out of the room. The outside was still hot with the midday sun.

It felt like a long time had passed since Han Li had entered Master Wen’s room, but in reality, it had only been a very short time.

Master Wen carried him like an object, passing by the medicinal herb garden next to the room, and arrived at an outer stone chamber. The giant followed behind him, not straying even a step from Master Wen’s shadow.

“Iron Slave, wait outside, and kill anyone who approaches alive.”

Master Wen, fearing that his plans would be ruined by others, gave a bloodthirsty order.

As the door to the stone chamber opened, Master Wen naturally found his way and closed the door.

Since the stone chamber was closed and there were no windows, it was expected to be pitch black.

However, the stone chamber was lit up like broad daylight with various lanterns and candles. Han Li didn’t say a word even after seeing the stone chamber.

But such a problem was no longer important. What was more important were the large and small bizarre barriers drawn inside the stone chamber.

The barrier located in the center of the stone chamber was made by drawing various shapes with an unknown powder. The exact composition of the powder was unknown at this time.

Around the perimeter of the barrier, several pieces of blue jade were embedded. The jade stones emitted a clear light, reflecting the candlelight, and their clarity and transparency were unlike any common gemstones.

While Han Li was distracted by the jade stones, thump! With a sound, his body was thrown into the center of the barrier. He lay flat on his back, his head on the floor, able to see only the ceiling.

‘Not being able to observe the other party’s every move at such a crucial moment is a big problem.’

Han Li, forced to lie down, was extremely uneasy.

‘Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!’

As he heard the continuous sounds, Han Li pricked up his ears, and then the surroundings darkened. Master Wen had turned off the candles.

“If we do as you said, it will really work? I’ve bet everything on this.”

Han Li was puzzled by Master Wen’s voice, which came a moment later. It was too different to be talking to him. But there was no one else in the stone chamber besides the two of them.

“There will be absolutely no problem. The Seven Ghosts Soul Devouring technique and the Spirit Binding Talisman [a magical paper used to control or bind] I taught you were all genuine.”

A strange voice suddenly echoed in the stone chamber. Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a young man, probably only in his early twenties.

The bizarre things he had experienced today were far more significant than anything he had experienced in the past few years. Now, even if one more unfamiliar voice was added, it wouldn’t be surprising.

# 23