Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

The smoke of battle in Baoding has not yet completely dissipated, but the three bizarre incidents in Changping, Taiyuan, and Baoding, which spanned nearly three years and followed the same pattern, have already struck the hearts of various forces in North China like an invisible hammer.

It was no longer the understandable charge and strategic maneuvering of the battlefield, but a "force" that was ineffable, inescapable, and even incomprehensible. It caused well-equipped and well-trained armies to self-destruct from within, commanders to inexplicably become mentally unstable or die suddenly, and important warehouses to vanish without a trace. It did not follow any known military logic, left no conventional traces of the enemy, only the horrific aftermath of infighting, and the deep-seated fear and suspicion that permeated the survivors.

Beiping, Tieshizi Hutong, the headquarters of the Japanese North China Area Army.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was even more somber than the night they went missing in Baoding, even tinged with a sense of oppressive panic. The Japanese flag and the banner that read "May your martial prowess last forever" hanging on the wall seemed somewhat jarring at that moment.

General Okamura Yasuji sat in the main seat. This "China expert," known for his composure and shrewdness, had a face so dark it seemed to drip water. Before him lay a thick stack of reports: a detailed record of the Taiyuan Incident, a preliminary investigation into the Baoding Incident, top-secret files on the Changping Incident (which had been rediscovered)... and a vague intelligence summary, recently transferred from the Kwantung Army's intelligence department, concerning certain "unnatural research" by the Soviet Union.

"Gentlemen," Okamura Yasuji's voice was not loud, but it sent a chill down the spines of all the officers present, "that matters have gone beyond the scope of conventional military affairs. In Taiyuan, Shinotsuka-kun (Shinotsuka Yoshio) has been rendered incapacitated, his officers and soldiers have been almost entirely killed or wounded, and supplies have mysteriously vanished. Baoding has almost replicated the tragedy of Taiyuan. And Changping three years ago... now it seems that it was not an isolated case."

His gaze swept over the crowd: "Our enemies may not just be the Eighth Route Army with guns, the Jin-Sui Army, or the Chongqing forces. There may be a force... that we don't understand, that has intervened in this war."

The intelligence chief forced himself to stand up: "Your Excellency, based on intelligence from all sides, there is currently no evidence to suggest that this is a tactic that the Eighth Route Army or any Chinese armed force is capable of implementing. The characteristics it exhibits... are closer to the 'sorcery' or 'ghostly intrigue' of some folk legends, or... the 'mental interference' or 'psychological warfare' mentioned in some secret Western studies."

"Baka! Were the Imperial Army's warriors defeated by demons?!" A radical major general slammed his fist on the table, his face flushed red.

"Calm down," Okamura Neiji raised his hand to stop him. "Whatever it is, it has caused real losses and shaken morale. We can't explain it to Tokyo as 'ghosts,' but we must find a way to deal with it."

He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Pass on my orders: First, immediately establish a 'Special Incident Investigation Section,' directly under headquarters, and personally in charge. Assemble the best scouts, intelligence officers, and cryptography experts. At the same time… secretly recruit Japanese expatriates who understand 'Yin-Yang arts,' 'Buddhism,' or Chinese folk 'magic arts,' and even Chinese collaborators. We need knowledgeable people to identify and counter this unconventional threat."

"Second, strengthen internal review and monitoring of key strongholds, warehouses, and command posts, and implement a double-post, double-sentinel, and cross-supervision system, especially at night. Anyone found to be behaving abnormally should be immediately isolated and investigated."

"Third, classify this matter as top secret, maintain a unified narrative, and claim that it was an infiltration and sabotage operation by elite Eighth Route Army special forces. The claim that 'the Imperial Army was defeated by supernatural forces' must not be allowed to spread!"

He looked out at the gloomy sky and said in a low voice, "I will personally report to Tokyo. But until we figure out what this is and how to defend against it... the offensive in North China may need to be temporarily halted. Let's stabilize the situation first."

Deep in the Taihang Mountains, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army.

Smoke filled the cave, and the cigarette in the commander's hand had burned down to the end. The deputy commander and the chief of staff stared at the two points marked "Taiyuan" and "Baoding" on the map, their brows furrowed.

"Headquarters just received a report from the Taihang Military Region," the chief of staff said gravely. "While assisting with the evacuation of civilians, they found a surviving puppet army platoon leader in a deserted village on the outskirts of Baoding. The guy is mentally unstable, repeatedly muttering things like 'golden ghosts,' 'horses can speak human language,' and 'comrades are fighting each other, like they're possessed'..."

"Golden ghosts?" The deputy commander keenly caught this detail. "Wasn't there a similar vague description in the intelligence from Taiyuan last time? And what about those 'unbelievably intelligent' warhorses that Li Yunlong mentioned?"

The boss stubbed out his cigarette: "It seems it's not a coincidence. This He Damin... is probably more... shrewd than we imagined. The weapons he provided, the modified warhorses, and the events happening in Taiyuan and Baoding... these are probably all his doing, or rather, directly related to him."

"The problem is, who exactly is he? What are his motives?" the chief of staff asked worriedly. "To help us fight the Japanese? But his methods... are too bizarre and ruthless, and completely beyond our control. What if this force turns against us..."

Silence reigned in the cave dwelling. They were not afraid of a powerful enemy, but faced with this incomprehensible and uncontrollable force, a deep-seated anxiety quietly began to grow.

"Regardless of who he is, it seems that he is targeting the Japanese, which is objectively advantageous to us," the commander concluded. "But we must prepare for both possibilities. First, we should continue to try to establish a more stable connection with him through Li Yunlong or other channels, and try to find out his background and intentions as much as possible. We must be sincere, but remain vigilant."

"Secondly," his gaze sharpened, "we cannot remain completely passive. Notify all base areas, especially those near enemy-occupied areas, to keep an eye out for and seek out truly skilled folk experts—traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Taoist priests, monks, boxers, itinerant performers—anyone with special abilities and willing to resist the Japanese can be contacted. We don't engage in feudal superstition, but some folk traditions might help us understand and even cope with these unconventional situations. We can have them set up a special 'advisory' group under the security department."

"Furthermore, we must strengthen the education of our personnel, solidify their revolutionary beliefs, and prevent such superstitious talk from shaking morale. We must make it clear that the fundamental force is still the people's war and the leadership of the Party."

Ji County, Kenanpo.

Yan Xishan locked himself in his study, staring at a map of Shanxi for the entire morning. His staff and generals remained silent, knowing that "Old Yan of Shanxi" was in a very bad mood.

The regiment sent to "grab bargains" near Taiyuan did manage to haul away several truckloads of supplies amidst the chaos, but before they could even enjoy them, news arrived that a similar incident had occurred in Baoding. At this point, any lingering hope and greed in Yan Xishan's heart were replaced by lingering fear.

"This is bizarre...so bizarre..." he muttered to himself. "The Japanese devils are so fierce, how come they keep killing each other? And why do they always choose big cities and heavily guarded places?"

He recalled the many folk tales circulating in Shanxi about haunted ancient battlefields and mountain spirits, and also the performances of some itinerant sorcerers from years past. He used to dismiss them as mere trickery to fool the people, but now…

"Could there truly be... extraordinary individuals in this world who can manipulate minds and move objects from afar?" This thought sent a chill down his spine. If such power could be mastered, its uses would be limitless; but what if it wasn't mastered by anyone, or was in the hands of an enemy...?

"Someone come here!" Yan Xishan suddenly looked up.

"Sir!"

"First, we must strictly block all information we have about the Taiyuan and Baoding incidents, especially the fact that our people took the opportunity to loot supplies. We must not let the Japanese know about it, and we must also try our best to keep it from the Eighth Route Army and the Central Army."

"Second," he lowered his voice, "secretly send people down to every county, town, and even the temples of Mount Wutai to search for truly capable individuals! Whether they are fortune tellers, feng shui masters, martial arts practitioners, medical experts, or... those who know 'unorthodox' methods! As long as they are verified to be truly capable and not frauds, offer them a hefty reward! No, first invite them here for a 'talk'; I want to see them in person!"

His eyes flickered: "We also need to be prepared. What if one day this 'thing' comes after us... Or, can we find a way to 'mobilize' this power..."

Zengjiayan Residence, Chongqing.

The atmosphere was equally oppressive. Urgent reports from the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CIS) regarding the Taiyuan and Baoding incidents had already reached the highest levels of leadership. Compared to the Eighth Route Army and the Jin-Sui Army, their intelligence was more fragmented, but they had also gleaned some strange details.

"In two consecutive important cities, large-scale self-destructive incidents have occurred within the Japanese ranks, with high-ranking officers dying mysteriously or developing dementia... This is definitely not an ordinary military operation." A high-ranking staff officer wearing gold-rimmed glasses asserted, "According to the scattered information our undercover agents risked their lives to transmit, at the time of the incident, witnesses claimed to have seen 'inhuman scenes' and heard 'inhuman wails.' This probably involves... some unconventional areas."

"You mean, supernatural forces?" Another high-ranking official frowned. "That's absurd! The Party-State believes in science and the Three Principles of the People!"

"Just because science can't explain it doesn't mean it doesn't exist," the head of the Military Intelligence Bureau said in a deep voice. "Historically, various countries have records of special abilities and mysterious events. Even if we don't believe it, what if the Japanese or the Communists used it? Or is it some kind of secret weapon from the opposing camp that we don't know about?"

The meeting reached a stalemate. Finally, a secret order was issued: instructing the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to each establish a secret "Special Phenomenon Investigation Group" or "Special Abilities Research Group" to recruit "extraordinary individuals" from the civilian and religious communities to attempt to investigate and decipher such events. At the same time, they were to strengthen "unconventional" security measures for their own important personnel and facilities.

Suddenly, an undercurrent surged across North China and even a wider area.

The Japanese devils, the Eighth Route Army, the Jin-Sui Army, the Nationalist government... these adversaries who once fought openly on the battlefield are now, due to the same indescribable fear, turning their attention to those areas that were once ignored or even suppressed by the mainstream—the extraordinary people and ancient, mysterious traditions of the common people.

The reclusive Taoist priests practicing in seclusion in remote mountain temples, the sorcerers hiding their identities in the streets and alleys, the wandering artists with extraordinary skills, and even the monks in certain temples who are well-versed in scriptures... all began to quietly come into the sights of various forces. Some were hired with high salaries, some were secretly "invited" away, and some took the initiative to join them, hoping to make a future or protect themselves in this chaotic world by relying on their "extraordinary skills".

A clandestine search, recruitment, and power struggle surrounding "unconventional forces" quietly unfolds under the shadow of war. And the mastermind behind it all remains completely unaware—or rather, utterly indifferent.

Located on the northern foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, beside the official road leading to Fengtian.

An old farmer, wearing a tattered felt hat, a patched cotton-padded coat, and with a face weathered and wrinkled, squatted by the roadside, slowly smoking his pipe and squinting at the occasional passing convoy of Japanese and puppet troops. He carried an empty firewood basket on his back, looking no different from countless other farmers fleeing from war or struggling to make a living.

Only in the fleeting moments when fireworks flicker, a barely perceptible, calm, and deep golden glint flashes in the eyes beneath the felt hat's shadow.

He Damin tapped his cigarette ash, stood up, hunched over, and slowly walked towards Fengtian.

He has achieved the Yang God form and possesses the seventy-two transformations. At this moment, he can be anyone.

As for the turbulent waves he stirred up behind the scenes, the fear, suspicion, and covert actions of various forces...

"What does it have to do with me?"

His lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and his figure gradually blended into the dusty official road leading to Fengtian, into the endless stream of numb and bewildered people. He was preparing to go to the Fengtian Armory of the Company to dig up the Japanese weapons production base.