Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

"Valentine is right," the old man said slowly, his voice regaining its calmness, but beneath that calmness lay a deeper gravity. "We cannot intervene directly. The waters of that land are too deep; forcibly intervening will only bring trouble upon ourselves. But we cannot stand idly by either."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "But we can... hand it over."

As he spoke, he took out a crystal ball the size of a pigeon's egg from his pocket. The crystal ball was completely transparent, with iridescent light flowing inside, as if it contained a tiny nebula. He gently placed the crystal ball on the smooth obsidian round table.

"This contains all the monitored data, images, and spectral analysis of energy fluctuations," the old man explained. "We transfer this intelligence to their monastic organization through our 'Holy Shield' and the only, extremely weak, secret channel between us and the East. Let them investigate and handle it themselves."

"Will they believe us?" an elderly man from Eastern Europe, dressed in an ancient silk robe, asked in a deep voice with a heavy accent. The supernatural realms of the East and West have a long history of animosity and mutual distrust.

The silver-haired old man smiled slightly, a smile carrying a deeper meaning: "Whether they believe it or not is their business. But the anomaly occurring on their territory threatens their order and contracts. They are more anxious than we are. We only need to pass on the information, and the rest is up to them to react and handle."

His gaze deepened once more, as if piercing through thick layers of rock, looking towards the distant East: "Incidentally, we can also take this opportunity to test how much power those reclusive old men in the East still have after 1949, and how fast they react and how capable they are of coping."

The thirteen people exchanged glances and finally nodded slowly. This was perhaps the only safe option at the moment.

three days later.

China, western region, Kunlun Mountains.

This is the roof of the world, with majestic mountains perpetually covered in snow and ice. The sky is a pure, deep blue, like a giant sapphire, high and sacred. The air is thin and cold; inhaling it feels like ice shards irritating the throat and lungs.

Deep within these remote, mist-shrouded mountains lies an ancient Taoist temple, unknown to the world. It sits on a platform halfway up Jade Void Peak, backed by a steep cliff and facing a valley churning with clouds. The temple's architecture is simple yet grand, with uniform blue bricks and wooden beams, flying eaves and brackets, bearing the marks of time. The temple gate is tightly closed, devoid of any superfluous decoration, except for a massive, weathered stone plaque inscribed with two characters in ancient seal script—"Kunlun." The characters are vigorous and powerful, seemingly containing some profound truth of the universe. Ancient pines tower around, and strangely shaped rocks abound. Occasionally, a few monkeys leap among the trees, their clear calls adding to the tranquility and mystery of the place.

This is the location of "Kunlun Ruins," the core of the Eastern cultivator organization. It is a symbol of the Chinese cultivation world and the central hub that maintains the "Human Emperor Contract" from 1949.

The main council hall of Kunlun Ruins is named the "Hall of Inquiry." The hall is spacious and solemn, devoid of ornate decorations, with only massive wooden pillars, each requiring two people to encircle, supporting the high dome. The floor is made of polished bluestone slabs, cold and hard. The hall is dimly lit, with only a few ever-burning oil lamps casting a faint glow, and the air is filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and an indescribable, serene atmosphere.

Seven elderly men sat cross-legged on futons in the center of the main hall, arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper. They were all figures in the Chinese cultivation world whose every move could cause a tremor, coming from the five most prestigious hidden families in China—the Ma family of the Northeast, the Yan family of Western Hunan, the Lan family of Southern Xinjiang, the Tang family of Western Sichuan, and the Xuanyuan family, who had guarded Kunlun Ruins for generations.

Seated in the main seat, the "Tian Shu" position, was an elderly man with white hair and beard and a gaunt face. He wore a faded gray Taoist robe, and his face was covered with fine wrinkles, like the texture of rocks on Mount Kunlun. He was Xuan Yuan Che, the current head of the Xuan Yuan clan and the guardian of Kunlun Ruins, whose cultivation was unfathomable.

At this moment, he held in his hand a crystal ball that emitted a soft, seven-colored light, the very one that the Council of the Holy Shield had sent through secret channels three days ago.

"It's from the European Council of the Holy Shield," Xuan Yuanche said slowly. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the entire hall, carrying a strange penetrating power, as if it contained some kind of Daoist charm. "It concerns the abnormal energy fluctuations in Hong Kong."

He gently tossed the crystal ball into the air. Instead of falling, the crystal ball hovered in mid-air, radiating brilliant light. Immediately afterwards, clear images and dense lines of data were projected like flowing water into the void at the center of the hall.

Above the Jardine Matheson Building in Central, a faint but clear ripple of energy flashed by, as if lightning crackled in the air. In Kowloon City and the Shing Wo Tong, an energy carrying an aura of blood and violence shot into the sky; several blurry figures could even be seen twisting and dissipating within the energy. On Lockhart Road in Wan Chai, the energy fluctuations were relatively weaker, but even more eerie, like a leech clinging to a bone, elusive and unpredictable.

Finally, the image froze on Victoria Peak. An indescribably terrifying energy surged skyward, seemingly tearing the heavens apart! The energy was a deep black, interspersed with golden lightning, carrying a world-destroying power. Even from a great distance, merely watching the image, the seven elders in the hall felt a chill run down their spines. Data showed: Energy fluctuation intensity, level 9.2!

The video didn't end there. Next, a death list was projected, accompanied by brief descriptions of the scenes. Thirty-seven executives of British-owned companies, twenty-three local gang leaders, nine government officials… all "died unexpectedly" within a week. Some suffered cardiac arrest in their offices, wearing eerie smiles; others mysteriously fell from their mansions; still others were crushed into a pulp in their cars by unseen forces… The manner of death varied, but all exuded an eeriness beyond human control.

"What do you all think?" Xuan Yuanche withdrew his gaze and looked at the other six elders, his voice calm and unwavering.

Seated to his left, in the "Tianxuan" position, was a middle-aged man in a long black robe with a cold and stern face. His skin was dark, his eyes sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay. He was Ma Tianxing, the current head of the Ma family in Northeast China. The Ma family had been engaged in exorcising demons and communicating between the yin and yang realms for generations, and possessed formidable strength.

"Hong Kong is a mortal land, and also a crossroads of East and West, so its situation is inherently complex," Ma Tianxing said in a deep voice, his tone carrying a hint of northern accent, deep and powerful. "According to the Human Emperor's Covenant of 1949, we cultivators are not allowed to easily interfere in mortal affairs, especially in places that are explicitly marked as 'free ports' by the 'covenant.' But Hong Kong's situation is also very special—although it is a British colony, the vast majority of its residents are Chinese, and in terms of bloodline and culture, it still falls within the protection sphere of our Eastern cultivators."

He paused, his sharp gaze landing on the energy fluctuation data of level 9.2, his brows furrowed: "This fluctuation has far exceeded the scope permitted by the contract. Either a powerful being from beyond the realm has invaded our territory; or... someone, or some being, has broken through the limitations of the Human Emperor Contract."

"Breaking the contract?" A hoarse, dry voice rang out, like two stones rubbing together. The speaker was a thin, elderly man sitting in the "Tianji" position. He wore faded homespun clothes, his face was covered in wrinkles, and his eyes were cloudy, though occasionally a glint of malice would flash in them. He was the head of the Yan family from Xiangxi, Old Ghost Yan, a master of corpse-driving and Gu-controlling techniques, and a reclusive man. "The contract between the Ziwei Emperor Star and the Human Emperor is based on the laws of heaven and earth, and locked by the dragon energy of the nation's destiny. How could it be broken so easily? Unless… the Human Emperor's dragon energy has weakened?" His words carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, provocation.

"Old devil Yan, watch your words!" Ma Tianxing shouted sternly, a fierce glint in his eyes. "The Emperor's dragon aura is at its peak; how dare you speak so recklessly?"

Old Man Yan chuckled and said nothing more, but a glint of light flickered in his murky eyes.

"It might not be a breakthrough." Another gentle female voice rang out, coming from the "Tianquan" position. The speaker was a middle-aged woman wearing exquisite silver ornaments and colorful ethnic clothing. She was Lan Yue, the representative of the Lan family of Southern Xinjiang. The Lan family was skilled in the use of poison, insect control, and divination. "Perhaps it was an ancient powerhouse who existed before the contract was established, hiding in some secret realm or special space, and only recently, for some reason, accidentally revealed their aura."

"Hidden?" Ma Tianxing frowned and retorted, "It's been seven years since 1949. If he's always been here, why would he suddenly reappear now? And cause such a commotion, killing so many mortals? This doesn't make sense."

Silence fell over the council chamber once again.

Yes, why now?

This problem is like a boulder weighing on everyone's mind.

Xuan Yuanche slowly stood up. Although he was old, his movements were unusually steady. He walked to the center of the hall, looked up at the image floating in the air, his gaze deep, as if he could see through the mists of time and space.

"Whoever he is, and whatever his reasons for appearing now," Xuan Yuanche's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable determination, "he has killed so many mortals and created such chaos in the mortal realm, severely disrupting the order of the mortal world and violating the original intent of the Human Emperor's Contract—to protect the people of China and maintain world stability. We, Kunlun Ruins, cannot sit idly by. We must send people to investigate thoroughly."

"Who should we send?" Ma Tianxing asked immediately, his gaze fixed intently on Xuan Yuanche. Hong Kong was undoubtedly a dangerous place now; the energy fluctuations of level 9.2 were enough to threaten the safety of these veteran cultivators.

Xuan Yuanche turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present, finally landing on Ma Tianxing.

"Tianxing, I remember you have a daughter named Ma Xiaoling, right?"

Ma Tianxing paused slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but he still answered honestly, "Yes. Xiaoling... three years ago, when she was training in the Taihang Mountains, she met a mysterious young man. After returning, she couldn't forget him, and her cultivation stagnated for a while because of it." When he mentioned his daughter, the coldness on his face softened a little, and a complex fatherly emotion appeared.

"Taihang Mountain?" A barely perceptible glint flashed in Xuan Yuanche's eyes. "Is that the young man for whom she went to great lengths to invoke the power of the Wolf Immortal, which the Ma family had worshipped for generations, yet still returned defeated, unable to even touch the hem of his clothes?"

"Yes." Ma Tianxing's face was somewhat ugly. It was a rare "defeat" for the Ma family in recent years. Although the other party did not kill him, it still made him lose face.

Xuan Yuanche was silent for a moment, then gently stroked his gray beard with his hands behind his back, and slowly nodded: "Then let Xiaoling go."

"What?!" Ma Tianxing's expression changed drastically. He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling. "Patriarch! Absolutely not! Hong Kong is such a dangerous place right now. It has a level 9.2 energy fluctuation! Although Xiaoling has good talent, she is only at the peak of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation. She is still one step away from Foundation Establishment. Sending her there is like sending a lamb to the slaughter. What if..." His words were full of worry and opposition.

"It's precisely because she's met that person that we're sending her," Xuan Yuanche interrupted him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "If the anomalies in Hong Kong are indeed the work of that person, and Xiaoling has had dealings with him, perhaps she can try to communicate with him and avoid unnecessary conflict. If not, with Xiaoling's cleverness and the Ma family's secret techniques, she's more than capable of protecting herself."