The lab fax machine screeched through midnight. Feng clutched the report with bandaged left hand—UV light revealing "No DNA match for corpse oil." Thunder cracked as raindrops formed Nuo mask patterns on window grilles.


    A text blinked: "East of Graves."


    Flashlight wavered on mountain paths. Feng''s boots crushed leaves, sweet rot mingling with decay. Past three lightning-struck trees, he found the kneeling figure—White Wuchang Nuo mask''s tongue drooping to chest, fingers grave-digging like worship.


    "Ashes to..." Feng''s coin ritual halted. The mask rotated 180°. Moonlight exposed maggots swarming eyeholes. The man crawled backward, spine arched like centipede.


    Feng''s talisman-lined jacket rustled. Tar-like ooze from mask cracks birthed black hands clawing his ankles. Blade sliced palm—blood splattered Annals'' cover, pages fluttering to "Yin Performer Chapter."


    "Possessed corpse, dispersed spirit." Feng kicked grave stones, shattering the mask''s "周" (Zhou). The man screeched in female tones—fungal mist coalescing into opera ghost.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Feng pinned the man, nails digging mask edges. Corpse oil soaked fingers as left arm''s black veins squirmed. The revealed face froze him—bloodshot eyes, mercury-laced grave dirt between teeth.


    "Forgive me!" Bloodied hand smeared mask forehead. Moonlit chant: "Yin souls pass, yang blood severs!" The specter wailed into nothingness.


    The man collapsed, rasping: "Zhou Xiaofeng... bones under stage... mirror..." His collar revealed Zhou clan sigil in vermillion.


    Downpour intensified. Feng dragged him to clinic. The doctor recoiled—tree-root veins crawling the neck, half-digested centipede clinging lips.


    "Clear out!" Feng ripped open medkit. Fungal threads erupted from nostrils. The flatline screamed death.


    Torchlights approached. Villagers cursed: "Outsider summoned mountain plague!"


    Feng crashed through windows into vegetable plots, left arm needling pain. White hyphae sprouted from sleeves. The last bus driver raised barrier at his bloody arm.


    ER nurses frowned at "fungal infection?" Feng bolted mid-bandage—convenience store mirrors reflected Judge Nuo mask making throat-slitting gestures.


    Motel shower spewed black-red water. Fungal stench matched grave soil. Annals sprawled open—blank pages bleeding opera notation.