Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

At the end of the midnight hour, golden light shone brightly in the Yin-Yang space.

Lingyun hovered in mid-air, his spiritual body solidified like a real person. His pale golden bones were covered with translucent skin, and his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes revealed the coldness of an assassin from his past life.

The rice-grain-sized soul core between his brows slowly rotated, emitting a gentle yet powerful fluctuation of soul energy. "5220 meters..." He opened his eyes, golden light swirling in his pupils. With a slight thought, his senses expanded like a tidal wave, instantly covering a radius of ten miles.

The lights of Nanluoguxiang, the ice surface of Shichahai, the night watchmen on Gulou Street... even the Japanese garrison headquarters five kilometers away, all appeared clearly in my perception. It was a fortress-like building converted from a former Qing Dynasty prince's mansion.

High walls of blue bricks and four corner watchtowers stand tall, their beams of searchlight crisscrossing the night sky. Three armored vehicles lie in wait inside the compound, two sentries stand guard at the main building entrance, and a radio antenna on the second-floor window rotates faintly.

Deeper inside, Ling Yun "saw" the ammunition depot, officers' quarters, and the basement torture chamber. "This is it." A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, and the Soul Refining Banner trembled excitedly in his soul sea, its seventy-nine blood beads gleaming thirstily—only twenty-one more needed to advance, and in this headquarters, there were at least a hundred "prey" who met the criteria.

But Ling Yun did not act rashly. The first rule of an assassin: intelligence precedes action.

With a thought, ten semi-transparent clones burst forth from his body. Refined by the soul core, these clones could now condense into indistinct facial features and limbs, each carrying forty percent of the soul power, their independent action capabilities greatly enhanced. "Go." The ten clones transformed into pale golden streams of light, silently piercing through the Taiji Jade Tablet's spatial barrier and disappearing into the night.

The first clone drifted towards the pillbox on the east side of the headquarters. There, a Type 92 heavy machine gun was mounted, and three Japanese soldiers were warming themselves around a charcoal brazier.

The clone pressed itself against the shadows of the wall, scanning with its spiritual sense: "Machine gunner Yamada Ichiro, 26 years old, three years of service. Assistant gunner Ono Jiro, 22 years old. Ammunition handler Sato Takeru, 19 years old. Average soul strength, no special energy fluctuations...suitable for possession." The second clone infiltrated the western pillbox.

The third wave drifted towards the south gate sentry post. The fourth... Ten clones, like an invisible net, completely covered the key locations surrounding the headquarters.

The personnel configuration, weaponry, and shift change times at each base were meticulously recorded and transmitted back to the main body. The final clone was the most unique. It seeped into the main building like wisps of smoke, moved along the ventilation ducts, and finally stopped outside an oak door—the command center, with a sign that read "Major Sato."

The clone penetrated the door. Inside, a Japanese officer in his early forties with a mustache was studying a map. A military telephone and codebook were on the table, and a safe in the corner was half-open, revealing classified documents. Behind the officer, a bespectacled clerk was organizing telegrams.

"Major, patrol report." The clerk handed over a folder. Major Sato glanced at it and frowned: "Hasn't the matter of Han Laosan been investigated yet?" "Yes, sir! The military police's interrogation of Jia Gui was unsuccessful."

The clues at the scene pointed to infighting, but… “But what?” “The victims were all accurately shot in the head or vital organs, the method was professional. Weapons and valuables were not stolen—it doesn’t seem like a typical shootout.” Major Sato tapped his fingers on the table, then suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck.

He turned around abruptly, but there was no one there. "What's wrong?" "...Nothing." Sato rubbed his temples. "You can go out now." After the clerk left, the ticking of the clock in the room became exceptionally clear. Major Sato's eyelids grew heavy, and through his blurred vision, he seemed to see a pale golden figure standing in front of the table.

"Who..." He tried to draw his gun, but his hand wouldn't move. The next second, his consciousness sank into darkness.

Within the Taiji Yin-Yang space, Ling Yun simultaneously received feedback from eleven clones.

The east blockhouse, west blockhouse, south gate, north gate, two machine gun positions, three patrol posts, plus Major Sato in the command room—all eleven targets have been confirmed, and their soul strength is within a controllable range.

"That's about it."

He took a deep breath, and his soul core spun rapidly.

Possessing eleven living beings simultaneously is a tremendous test of both the consumption of soul power and the precision of control. But Ling Yun did not hesitate—in his previous life, he had killed twelve armed targets in thirty seconds; this was simply a different method.

At the third quarter of midnight, all was quiet.

Inside the headquarters courtyard, searchlight beams swept across the area rhythmically. From inside the pillbox came the low murmurs of Japanese soldiers conversing, and the charcoal in the braziers crackled. Everything seemed normal.

Until 1:50 a.m.

Eleven pale golden streaks of light shot toward their designated targets from different directions at the same time!

Inside the east blockhouse, machine gunner Yamada Ichiro was yawning. Suddenly, his body stiffened, a golden glint flashed in his eyes, and then he returned to normal. He stretched his neck, a strange smile playing on his lips.

West Blockhouse, South Gate, North Gate...

At ten outposts, ten Japanese soldiers were captured simultaneously. Their movements paused for a moment, but they quickly resumed their work—adding charcoal, cleaning their guns, and standing guard—as if nothing had happened.

Only his eyes changed.

The once numb or fierce gazes became cold, sharp, and precise like a machine. That was the soul trait of the Lingyun assassins, manifesting simultaneously through ten bodies.

The most difficult part is the command center.

Major Sato's soul was far stronger than that of an ordinary soldier, and his resistance was exceptionally fierce. Ling Yun's clone fought him in his sea of ​​consciousness for a full three minutes before finally suppressing him.

At 1:58 a.m., all eleven targets were brought under control.

Ling Yun sat cross-legged in the Yin-Yang space, his soul core operating at overload. Eleven streams of consciousness surged in simultaneously, like watching eleven surveillance screens at once. An ordinary person would have suffered a mental breakdown long ago, but he was the Thousand-Faced Yama—having undergone the most rigorous multi-tasking training in his previous life.

"All units report on their status."

Thoughts are transmitted through the soul connection.

"East blockhouse, one Type 92 heavy machine gun, 400 rounds of ammunition, with a field of view covering the southeast and north directions. Yamada Ichiro is in good physical condition."

"West blockhouse, equipped with the same model machine gun, 350 rounds of ammunition, controlling the northwest direction."

"South Gate guard post, two Type 38 rifles, four hand grenades."

"North Gate..."

"Machine gun position number one, light machine gun with a Type 91..."

"Number Two..."

"Command room, Major Sato's identity confirmed. Two-thirds of the troops in the compound can be mobilized."

The ten clones reported in turn, their voices overlapping and echoing in Ling Yun's consciousness. He was like the most skilled conductor of a symphony orchestra, fully aware of the status of each of the eleven "instruments".

1:59 a.m.

Inside the main headquarters building, Major Sato (Ling Yun's clone) stood up and walked to the window. He pushed the window open, and a cold wind blew into the room, causing the documents on the table to rustle.

This action is a signal.

At ten outer strongholds, the captured Japanese soldiers moved simultaneously.

They silently adjusted the direction of their guns—not pointing them out of the wall, but turning them inwards into the courtyard!

The Type 92 heavy machine gun on the east blockhouse slowly rotated, its dark muzzle aimed at the west blockhouse.

The machine gunners in the west blockhouse aimed at the south gate sentry post.

The sentry at the south gate raised his Type 38 rifle, and the sights were aimed at the back of his colleague's head at the north gate.

The two machine guns at the machine gun position, one pointed at the armored vehicle and the other at the officers' quarters.

Inside the command room, Major Sato took out a Type 14 Nambu pistol from a drawer, checked the magazine, and loaded it.

It was exactly 2:00 AM.

The clock struck its first chime.

"Thump—"

Major Sato pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out in the silent night; the bullet pierced the glass and struck the patrol squad leader in the courtyard precisely between the eyebrows.

It's like pressing the start button.

"Da da da da—!"

The Type 92 rifles in the east blockhouse opened fire first, and 7.7mm bullets rained down on the west blockhouse. The outer wall of the blockhouse was instantly riddled with holes, and the Japanese soldiers inside were turned into sieves before they could even react.

The west blockhouse launched a counterattack almost simultaneously. The machine gunner (Ling Yun's clone) had already calculated the trajectory, and the first volley of fire pierced the observation hole of the east blockhouse, killing the assistant gunner inside instantly.

The South Gate sentry fired a burst of Type 38 rifles, and the three sentries at the North Gate fell to the ground.

The Type 1 light machine gun at the No. 1 position opened fire on the armored vehicle. Bullets struck the armor, sending sparks flying, and more deadly, they pierced the fuel tank—with a deafening roar, the armored vehicle turned into a fireball.

The No. 2 machine gun position blocked the exit of the officers' quarters. A dozen or so Japanese officers, awakened by the gunfire, rushed out, only to be mostly taken down by the crossfire.

Chaos reached its peak within ten seconds.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The uncontrolled Japanese soldiers frantically searched for cover, only to find attacks coming from all directions. They saw the east blockhouse firing at the west blockhouse, the south gate at the north gate, and machine gun emplacements sweeping inwards…

"They've gone mad! They've all gone mad!"

A sergeant attempted to organize a counterattack, but before he could even shout it out, Major Sato shot him in the head through the command room window.

Major Sato (Ling Yun's clone) was frighteningly calm. He stood by the window, firing rapid bursts of pistol, each bullet taking down a Japanese officer attempting to restore order. Simultaneously, he issued chaotic orders via military telephone:

"First squad, reinforce the east blockhouse! Second squad, suppress the west flank! Third squad... What? Enemy numbers unknown? Keep firing!"

The conflicting orders exacerbated the already chaotic situation.

The Japanese soldiers scurried around the courtyard like headless flies, and one after another they died from gunfire from their own side. Even more terrifying was that the machine gunners and sentries who had been possessed had an absurdly high level of accuracy—they specifically targeted officers, communications soldiers, and anyone trying to take control of the situation.

In just five minutes, the headquarters was littered with corpses.

Within the Yin-Yang Space, Ling Yun felt the Soul Refining Banner's thirst. With each dead Japanese soldier, a wisp of soul light rose, which he absorbed remotely through his clone. The number of blood beads increased wildly.

Eighty, eighty-five, ninety...

When the number jumped to ninety-five, a sudden change occurred.

From deep within the officers' quarters, an elderly man dressed in a priest's robe suddenly rushed out. He held prayer beads in his hand, chanting incantations, and a pale white light emanated from his body.

"Onmyoji!"

Ling Yun's eyes sharpened.

The old man clearly noticed something amiss. His eyes swept across the entire area like lightning, finally locking onto the east blockhouse—where the machine gunner (Ling Yun's clone) was changing his ammunition belt, his movements incredibly precise.

"Possessed by a demon!" the old man shouted, throwing out three talismans.

The talisman burned in the air, turning into three fireballs that shot towards the east watchtower.

Inside the pillbox, Ling Yun's clone sneered. He manipulated Yamada Ichiro's body to roll sideways while simultaneously pulling the trigger of a machine gun.

"Da da da—!"

The bullet pierced the fireball, its momentum undiminished as it hurtled towards the old man. The old man hurriedly erected a spiritual energy shield, the bullet striking the shield and creating ripples.

"That's interesting." Ling Yun's true form became interested.

With a slight thought, he simultaneously controlled his three clones to turn their guns around.

The east blockhouse, the west blockhouse, and the No. 1 machine gun position—three machine guns—were simultaneously aimed at the old Onmyoji. Bullets swept through like a metallic storm, causing the spiritual energy shield to tremble violently and cracks to appear quickly.

The old man's expression changed drastically, and he took out a bronze mirror, intending to cast a spell.

But it was too late.

Inside the command room, Major Sato (Ling Yun's clone) raised the Nambu 14th Form, its sights firmly aimed at the old man's brow.

"Bang!"

The bullet pierced the bronze mirror and entered the skull.

The old man's eyes widened, and he collapsed to the ground in disbelief. A beam of soul light, several times brighter than that of an ordinary soldier, rose up, within which the faint phantom of a struggling shikigami could be seen.

The Soul Refining Banner trembled violently, eagerly devouring the high-quality soul light.

Number of blood beads: One hundred!

boom--!

Within the Yin-Yang space, the Soul Refining Banner erupted with blinding crimson light. The cloud patterns on the banner surface writhed and rearranged as if alive, and the three scarlet tassels at the end of the banner intertwined and merged, transforming into a blood-red chain as thick as a thumb. At the end of the chain was a grotesque relief of a ghost's head.

[Soul Refining Banner - Hundred Souls Advancement Completed]

[Unlock Ability: Blood Soul Chains - Can imprison living souls and tear apart spirits]

[Unlock Ability: Soul Banner Domain - Suppresses the strength of all souls within its range after deployment]

[Blood Bead Limit Increased to 500]

As Ling Yun felt the surging power within the banner, his smile grew even colder.

Meanwhile, the massacre inside the headquarters was nearing its end.

Of the 123 Japanese soldiers, 97 died, including 18 officers, one Onmyoji (a Japanese sorcerer), and the rest were soldiers. The remaining 20-odd men hid behind cover, too afraid to show their faces, and were completely incapable of organizing any resistance.

At 2:20 a.m., Lingyun issued the order to retreat.

The ten possessed bodies simultaneously turned their guns towards their own temples.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!..."

Ten gunshots rang out almost simultaneously, and ten bodies fell to the ground.

Inside the command room, Major Sato (Ling Yun's clone) put his pistol back on the table, straightened his uniform, then opened the window and jumped out.

The person landed headfirst from the third floor.

The sound of the skull cracking was clearly audible.

Eleven corpses lay strewn across the headquarters, all clues pointing to a frenzied infighting and suicide attack. The surviving Japanese soldiers emerged trembling, and upon witnessing this hellish scene, many vomited on the spot.

They will never know the truth.

Taiji Yin-Cathode Space.

Lingyun's spirit body hovered in mid-air, surrounded by dense golden soul power. The Soul Refining Banner slowly rotated behind him, with hundreds of blood beads shining like stars, and blood-red chains coiling around the banner pole like pythons.

Having absorbed a hundred souls (including the high-quality souls of Onmyoji), his soul body had solidified to the point of near-substance. The soul core between his eyebrows had grown to the size of a soybean, with a faint Tai Chi pattern visible flowing within.

More importantly, the control distance has increased dramatically again—from 5220 meters to 15220 meters, an increase of a full ten kilometers!

"Now, most of Beiping is within our sensing range."

Ling Yun opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the void, as if he could see the undercurrents surging beneath this ancient city.

With a thought, five new clones materialized. These clones were more solid than the previous ones, almost indistinguishable from his original body.

"Investigate a few things," he ordered. "First, find a suitable body—young, healthy, preferably recently deceased. Second, monitor the other Yin-Yang Masters and cultivators in the city. Third, investigate the prescriptions and doctors used by He Daqing's wife, Lü Bingxin, during her pregnancy. Fourth…"

He paused, his voice turning cold: "Find out the details of all the residents in this courtyard house from 1940 to 1950. In particular... who might have targeted Lü Bingxin."

"Yes." The five clones transformed into streams of light and disappeared.

Lingyun himself then immersed himself in even deeper cultivation.

The blood-soul chains of the Soul Refining Banner danced in the Sea of ​​Souls, tearing through the void with each swing and emitting a shrill, ghostly wail. The Soul Banner's domain slowly expanded, enveloping the entire Yin-Yang Space—here, he was the ruler.

Outside the window, dawn is approaching.

The fire at the headquarters was still burning, and sirens wailed throughout half of Beiping. The Japanese high command was furious, martial law was declared throughout the city, and the military police searched house to house for "saboteurs."

Inside the courtyard house, Xiao Yuzhu was woken up by the noise. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "Dad, what's going on outside?"

He Daqing put on his coat and got up, peeking out through the crack in the door with a grave expression: "Something terrible has happened... Go to sleep, it has nothing to do with us."

He had no idea that the instigator of this "major event" that was shaking up Beiping was floating right next to his son's pillow.

Ling Yun looked at the sleeping Xiao Yuzhu with a complicated expression.

"Soon," he said softly. "Once I find my physical body... it'll be time to get rid of those worms hiding in the shadows."

Within the Yin-Yang Space, the Soul Refining Banner rotated silently.