As Lewis spoke, his face darkened, growing even more somber. His voice was heavy with sorrow as he continued, “Who wouldn’t be terrified to hear about such things? What’s worse, I lived through one myself-a death in a dream. My whole family had the same nightmare, and they even saw the exact same scenes I did. So, I immediately called a few doctors for a check-up. I knew deep down that this dream wasn’t a good sign. But after the tests, the results came back clean, and I breathed a small sigh of relief.”
“I thought that would be the end of it. But the very next day, the very next night, the dream came back, stronger and more vivid. In the vision of my death, there was now a shadowy figure standing beside me. This figure kept urging me to follow her. I resisted, but she grabbed my hand, pulling me, relentlessly coaxing me to come with her. Her face was blurred, but I knew she was a woman-a woman intent on taking my life. I’ve lived long enough to know when I’m being hunted by a vengeful spirit. I could tell she was a malicious soul filled with deep hatred.”
“And then…”
He stammered to a halt, and Kayden seamlessly took over the conversation. “And then, you came to this conman to solve your problem?”
The words struck like a whip, causing Miguel’s face to twist visibly in anger. His eyes turned bloodshot, blazing with flame of fury. But before he could respond, the man known as Mr. Leland stepped in. He said, his tone defensive and challenging, “What do you mean by that, young man? Are you doubting Mr. Remington, or are you doubting me?”
Kayden’s gaze never wavered as he met Mr. Leland’s eyes. “I’ll venture a guess that you’re in on it together, aren’t you?”
“You?” Mr. Leland’s teeth clenched in fury, but as he recalled Lewis’s attitude towards this man just moments before, he realized this young man before him must be someone of considerable standing. He felt the urge to explode with anger, but he forced himself to swallow his rage.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re suspicious of me. But are you questioning Old Mr. Henderson’s judgment?” Mr. Leland’s voice turned razor-sharp. “Do you think Old Mr. Henderson is a child, incapable of thinking for himself? Do you think he’d be so easily fooled?”
Mr. Leland aimed to use Lewis’s revered authority to press this young man into submission with his biting words.
To his astonishment, Lewis remained silent. Lewis slouched in his chair, looking as though he had no intention to speak for them.
Kayden gave Mr. Leland a cool, appraising glance before responding with a mocking smile. “From where I stand, it seems you’re the one treating Lewis and the entire Henderson family like children. You use and fool them like they’re pawns in your little game.”
Without missing a beat, Miguel smoothly entered the conversation. He remained calm and collected as ever. “Young man, it seems you’ve already made up your mind about me,” he said while putting on a look of helplessness, yet with a touch of tolerance.
Seeing the situation spiral into a deadlock, Lewis quickly intervened, eager to clear the air. “Defender, this Mr. Remington is not someone to be dismissed lightly. He’s one of the most renowned exorcists of our time. I’ve consulted numerous people, and he’s been highly recommended by many.”
Kayden let out a low, disdainful chuckle, then shook his head, signaling that he was at a loss for words.
Mr. Leland noticed the skepticism in Kayden’s eyes. “So, you don’t believe in the supernatural, do you? Have you ever heard of the 411 Haunted Building in Inassea?”
The 411 Haunted Building was notorious in Inassea, a place where countless paranormal investigators sought to uncover its chilling secrets.
Ten years ago, the area surrounding 411 had been sealed off and locked down. It’s a forbidden zone that even the authorities cannot not control. The demolition crews were at a loss, and high-ranking officials were left powerless. This was all due to the strange, eerie events that had unfolded near those old buildings. On a fateful night many years ago, every single resident of that building had mysteriously lined up, one after another, and jumped to their deaths. The tragedy was so haunting that the area had been locked away for decades, never to be spoken of again.
In recent years, however, the area has been reopened! Before anyone knew it, people had moved in, and even into that very old building where the eerie events had once unfolded.
“Do you know why everything has changed?” Mr. Leland asked, his face beaming with smug satisfaction.
With great pomp, he gave the answer, “It’s because Mr. Remington performed a grand ritual there, sweeping away the evil spirits that had been haunting the place. Now, it’s safe for people to live there! I purchased the building and rented it out to several tenants! The once haunted house has transformed into a bustling, noisy old apartment complex. Mr. Remington’s power is not something people like you can simply doubt!”
Kayden’s expression remained as indifferent as ever as though the words hadn’t even registered with him. He had no interest in such supernatural matters. After all, he had walked a bloody path through life, relying on the art of killing. More importantly, after experiencing those suffering days in the Scott family’s dark dungeon, all the fear had been drained from him long ago. He wasn’t afraid of anyone, anything-least of all ghosts.
Seeing Kayden’s nonchalant attitude, Miguel sneered. In a voice dripping with condescension, he asked, “So, young man, you don’t believe there are ghosts in this world, do you?”
Kayden cast an indifferent glance at Miguel as if silently hinting that he’d better stop his nonsense. But Miguel was oblivious to the meaning of that look. He continued blithely, “In this vast world, there is no shortage of strange and inexplicable things. If there were no ghosts, how could there be heaven or hell? I know there are many things that people your age refuse to believe, but don’t let your ignorance lead you astray.”
After finishing his speech, Miguel gazed at Kayden with the lofty, patronizing air of a master who had seen it all.
“No, I believe.” Kayden shook his head with a mild sigh and replied, “I believe in ghosts and spirits. I believe in nature, in everything you refuse to believe, in everything you’ve never seen.”
A cold, mocking laugh escaped Miguel’s lips as he flicked his sleeve. “So, you mean you’re one of us? A psychic?”
“One of you?” Kayden shook his head firmly. “No, you haven’t earned the right to be mentioned in the same breath as me.”
Miguel’s face twitched in anger. He glared at Kayden, his eyes widening with fury. “You’re just a brat, yet you talk so big! I’ve been holding back, treating you with courtesy because you’re a guest of Old Mr. Henderson, but now you’re pushing your luck!”
Kayden didn’t flinch. He continued in a dismissive tone, “You’re nothing but trash. That spell you recited was a chaotic mess. You’re utterly pathetic. Don’t even think about comparing me to you-that’s an insult. People like you dare to call yourselves a Demigod? You’re nothing more than a fraud.”
Miguel’s face contorted with rage and humiliation. He stepped forward, finger trembling as he pointed at Kayden. There was a quaver in his voice due to fury. “You’ve gone too far, you little brat! I’ve been lenient because of your youth, but you clearly don’t know your place! Fine, I’ll show you what real power looks like.”
He drew his peach-wood sword, chanting an incantation under his breath. As he waved his hand, the sword flew toward Kayden as if it had come to life!
The crowd was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at the spectacle. “Is this really magic?” they wondered, utterly astonished.
Meanwhile, Kayden stood motionless. His expression was serene as ever. When the peach-wood sword was just inches from him, he calmly extended two fingers, effortlessly pinching the blade between them.
“What!” Miguel gasped in shock, his face frozen in stunned disbelief.
Without a second hesitation, Kayden nonchalantly tossed the sword to the ground as though discarding a worthless scrap.
“You just recited a spell that went like this: ‘God’s gaze observes the world’s changes. Expel evil and restrain demons. Protect our destiny and guard the body. Heaven, earth, and all things; vast, mysterious, and far-reaching, yet stem from the same origin. Countless trials and diligent practice; evidence of expanding my spirits. Within and without the Three Realms, the path I’m walking is reserved supremely. Golden Radiance from within me; covering and shining on my body! This incantation is taken from two different texts. The first three lines are from the Purifying Heart Spirit Incantation, while the rest belong to the Golden Radiance Spirit Incantation. Both of these two incantations are never meant to kill ghosts, especially not during a ritual. Yet, you recited them in the middle of your ritual! And the so-called ghost-killing spell you ended with? It’s a chaotic mess! It sounds utterly unprofessional!”
“How can you claim to have the power to kill ghosts with this? Are you not afraid of provoking their revenge?”
“Absolute nonsense! You’re speaking utter nonsense!” Miguel exclaimed. His shouts betrayed his panic and fear.
But Kayden ignored him. He pressed on, “I see it now. You’re nothing but a charlatan, swindling people with your tricks and deceiving them out of their money!”