《I Became a Ghostbuster [Horror, Cultivation]》


 1. Strange noise from above

    Lionel loved three people the most in his life: his mother, his grandfather, and himself. Now, among them, two were gone and he was the only one remaining.


    Cancer was a bitch. It had claimed his mother first and now, he had lost his grandfather as well. At least, his old man had lived until he turned an adult. Although Lionel was displeased, he pacified himself with this truth.


    Lionel stood outside his manor, the manor his grandfather had left for him. He still couldn''t comprehend how his old man was so loaded. The man''s bank balance was more than he could comprehend. And now, everything belonged to him.


    ''Did Grandpa stumble upon a gold mine in the past? How did he earn so much money?'' Lionel wondered for the nth time as he entered the place that looked more depressing than it ever had been. Now that it was nighttime, it felt even more eerie and dismal.


    Although it had been his home for years, Lionel felt strangely unsettled. A strong feeling of uneasiness haunted him and he couldn''t brush it off even though he was in a familiar setting.


    Frowning lightly, he strode past the kitchen after locking the doors, ditching his dinner for the night. He wasn''t hungry even if he hadn''t eaten much in the day.


    The automatic lights lit up sensing his presence. Lionel wasn''t worried about burglars or intruders. The manor was equipped with antiburglar alarms and it wasn''t that easy to enter the place.


    Moreover, the place was haunted, or that was what the town''s people said. Nobody dared to linger around the manor premises, let alone think of breaking into it.


    ''Haunted?'' Lionel scoffed at the mere thought. He hadn''t seen any ghosts even once and it had been more than a decade since he started staying there. What a good joke!


    ''If this place is haunted, then I''ll pluck my eyeballs out,'' he thought, once again finding the notion ridiculous. ''Who even started this rumor? They must have lost their minds.''


    Lionel pulled out his phone and scrolled through the messages, the ones he had ignored for the past few hours. The group chat consisting of his classmates had become active sometime at noon. Everybody was speaking about the town festival.


    His university, the only one in the town was recruiting volunteers to help at the festival and Lionel didn''t hesitate even for a moment before filling up the form.


    ''It might serve me as a distraction,'' Lionel thought, trying hard not to focus on his grief.


    Lionel sighed softly and looked at his splendid yet lonely place. The place was huge and could possibly fit more than a hundred people at a time.


    With he being the sole owner and occupant, Lionel felt the loneliness creeping in on him even more. However, he didn''t have the heart leave the place and live elsewhere. It was his house, the place where he had lived all his life.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Running a hand through his hair, he glanced at the time on his phone.


    12.17 a.m.


    ''Was I out for such a long time?'' he wondered, not expecting it to be past midnight.


    To stop himself from thinking about his grandfather, he had spent the entire day at his university''s library. He only returned home when the kind librarian reminded him that it was night already.


    "I need to sort my life out. Otherwise, I''ll be hopeless," he mumbled as he made his way towards the stairs.


    However, before he could take a step ahead, he heard a strange noise from above. It was as if something was being moved. In the absolute silent place, the sound was like a blaring horn, impossible to miss.


    Frowning lightly, Lionel narrowed his eyes and focused again, pondering if he was imagining things.


    But when he heard the strange sound again, this time louder than before, his heart skipped a beat as fear engulfed him and he broke into a cold sweat. The sound was coming from within the manor. To be precise, it was coming from somewhere above him.


    Lionel''s body turned cold while he stood paralyzed in fear. ''What is that sound? Don''t tell me...'' He stopped, the mere thought of the possibility making his head spin.


    The manor was brightly lit. But he did not attempt to climb the stairs and seek the noise. It was as if the moment he climbed the stairs, he''d be plunged into darkness.


    Lionel knew he couldn''t stand at the foot of the staircase forever. Mustering all his courage, he climbed the stairs slowly, keeping his eyes and ears open.


    Once again, the townspeople''s words flashed in his mind. Haunted. Haunted. Haunted.


    Lionel didn''t want to believe it. But was the place actually haunted? The notion kept popping in his mind every few seconds.


    Once he was at the top of the stairs, Lionel realized he had broken out into a cold sweat, his shirt clinging to him like a second skin.


    Licking his lips nervously, he followed the sound which seemed to be coming from his grandfather''s room. With every step he took, the noise grew louder and the air turned colder.


    His body trembled. But he remained strong as he stood outside his grandfather''s room.


    Lionel was damn certain that he heard someone take his name as if summoning him in. As if in a trance, he opened the door and entered the room and everything went silent at once. Even the chill around him vanished.


    Lionel broke out of his stupor and looked around him in a daze. Everything felt weird, he felt weird. But he ignored the feeling and scanned his grandfather''s room, the very room he hadn''t stepped into since his grandfather had passed.


    Letting out a sigh of defeat, he took a casual look around, holding himself from reminiscing the good times when he still had a family. Just when he was about to move past the table beside the bed, he saw a strange book, one he had never seen before.


    The book, which looked more like a dairy was maroon and had golden borders. At the center was a symbol that looked more like a star, but not quite at the same time.


    Intrigued, he opened the book, and the wording on the first page scared the shit out of him.


    To the next Valkorin in line,


    Since you are reading this diary, it means you are the next one to embrace the power. Prepare yourself for your life will change from now onward. The ones you might have assumed to be myths will start visiting you soon.


    But worry not. Your power will aid you in dealing with them. Study the book well, and you will be good to go.


    Important: Do not fear the unknown. They may be powerful. But you are more than capable of overpowering them.


    ~ Eryndor Valkorin.

 2. First mysterious guest

    Lionel had been apprehensive since the moment he had found the diary. He hadn''t turned to the next page. The first page itself had given him nightmares for two nights. His nerves only relaxed on the third day when nothing outworldly had happened to him.


    Biting his lower lip, he stared at the diary which now lay on his table. After he found it, all the strange noises stopped and the manor became silent again.


    Though Lionel wanted to stay far away, his curiosity was piqued again and he couldn''t help but want to find out what exactly the dairy contained.


    Lionel didn''t know who Eryndor Valkorin was. But since they shared the same surname due to him taking his maternal grandfather''s, he assumed him to be his ancestor.


    Straightening his body, he swallowed a gulp before he opened the dairy. This time, the words on the first page didn''t affect him as much as when he stumbled upon it. Instead, it seemed like he was reading a fantasy book.


    However, the next few pages perplexed him, terrified him even. There were strange markings and detailed descriptions for chanting a spell, drawing a talisman, and even catching ghosts.


    Lionel couldn''t make a head or tail of it. But surprisingly, he remembered all that he had read, including the minute details and those that didn''t hold much significance.


    Though confused, he didn''t stop turning the pages and reading the content and as time passed, he became invested in it. Lionel was intrigued by the different methods used to catch ghosts and for a moment, he wondered if it was written by someone with a creative mind.


    ''Maybe he wrote it to pass his time,'' he thought and turned to the next page.


    By the time he reached the last page, Lionel remembered every word he had read. It was as if the diary was imprinted in his mind and he could recite everything he had read in it even in his sleep.


    ''What is happening? Why do I suddenly have a photographic memory? Am I blessed?'' he pondered, his eyes staring blankly at the wall before him.


    Brushing aside his peculiarity, he returned to the last page of the diary that was yet to be read.


    Now that you have reached the last page, it means you have accepted who you will become in the future. Once you close the diary, your powers will be activated and you will start seeing things you have thought to be imaginary.


    But there is nothing to fret about. You know how to handle those things. Be brave, be confident.


    Remember, evil can never prevail over good.


    ~ Eryndon Valkorin.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Lionel''s puzzlement only increased and he scrunched his face in wonder.


    "What is he trying to say? Why did he write such bizarre words?" he muttered and read the words again.


    Finding nothing significant, he closed the diary, and the moment he did so, the diary vanished. Startled, Lionel widened his eyes and stared at the spot where the diary had been previously.


    ''What the heck just happened? How...''


    He almost screamed in fright when he felt a strange kind of warmth pass through him. His body started heating up and he felt as if his chest was about to explode. Even the air around him felt different.


    A bolt of lightning flashed in the room. But Lionel had his eyes closed. So, he didn''t witness the terrifying scene. He was in intense misery to notice anything else.


    The pain was something he had never experienced before and Lionel gritted his teeth as he took deep breaths. However, the burning sensation only increased as time passed. It was as if someone was trying to pull his soul out of his body.


    Just when he was about to pass out in pain, the peculiar feeling vanished. Everything turned normal at once as if his agony had all been a dream. If not for his drenched shirt and a faint warmth in his chest, Lionel would have brushed it off as his illusion.


    "What the hell just happened? What was that?"


    Lionel was utterly lost and he looked at the table, which was empty. An unbelievable notion sprang in his mind. But he shushed it off as quickly as it had come.


    "I must have lost my mind. I must be imagining things."


    Although Lionel tried to appease himself, he couldn''t disregard that the diary had vanished before him. It was the undeniable truth.


    Also, even if the burning sensation in his body had lessened greatly and he wasn''t in agony anymore, he still felt a strange warmth course through his body.


    Lionel couldn''t decipher what was happening. Everything seemed out of place and there wasn''t anyone he could look for to seek answers.


    Surrendering in defeat, he left his room, pushing aside his thoughts for the time being.


    It was already 8 p.m. and he was famished. He had survived on just a sandwich since morning. His stomach was grumbling and Lionel quicked his footsteps and reheated the leftover pizza from his lunch.


    To pass his time, he switched on the television and settled for a comedy movie. Although the story was lacking, the comedy was good. At least, a good time pass.


    There wasn''t much to clean. After disposing of the trash, he returned to the living room. His grandfather never liked to have servants or guards. So, there weren''t any in the manor.


    They only had a cleaning lady who would clean the house every Saturday and stock the refrigerator.


    Lionel too had become accustomed to it over time and had learned to do all his tasks. Munching on an apple, he slung one of his legs over the sofa arms, his pose utterly uncouth.


    He didn''t care about his indolent sitting posture. But that didn''t mean, someone else who was watching him for some time didn''t.


    "Tch, tch, tch, child, sit properly. Be dignified."


    As soon as Lionel heard a sound from behind him, he screamed at the top of his lungs while the half-eaten apple dropped to the ground. His vision turned black and he broke out into a cold sweat while his heart pounded in fear.


    "You...you...you..." His voice trembled and his throat was blocked, making him unable to speak coherently.


    Lionel was mortified to see a man who seemed to have walked out of a fantasy movie looking at him in annoyance.


    "Did you have to shriek like a banshee? I thought my eardrums would shatter," he chastised, ignoring the poor man''s obvious fright.


    "Who..who.." Lionel''s voice cracked and he stuttered with great difficulty. "Who are you?"


    The man, who seemed to have aged gracefully and held the aura of a scholar, pushed his robes behind his back.


    "Let me introduce myself, Lionel. I am Eryndor Valkorin. You are my descendant. The diary you read today was written by me."

 3. Legacy

    "You..you...you... you are Eryndor Valkorin?" Lionel was too stunned to speak properly. He kept gaping at the man as if he was a ghost.


    Eryndor smiled in acknowledgment. His eyes twinkled with kindness as he looked at his descendant gently. His soft gaze held emotions that Lionel couldn''t decipher. Yet, surprisingly, he felt a sense of familiarity with him as if he had known him for a long time.


    "I am, although I would prefer you call me Elder," Eryndor remarked, stroking his beard. "After all, I am more than a few centuries old."


    Now, Lionel was scared. His expression morphed into terror and he moved a few steps away, prepared to run for his life. His face lost all its color and he was close to having a heart attack.


    "Your efforts will be in vain, Lionel. You may try to run, but you cannot. I will always find you," Eryndor informed as if reading his mind.


    "How is it possible?" Lionel was shocked out of his mind. He thought of ways to leave the place without alerting the man, but he couldn''t find a way. The man would catch him in a blink. He was after all a.. ghost.


    "You may want to sit down. Let us have a good conversation, shall we? I have something to tell you." Eryndor pointed towards the couch and Lionel subconsciously nodded.


    Did he even have a choice?


    Lionel took one of the couches and sat still, his body tense and straight. He kept his legs close as if he was facing someone formidable. He didn''t dare relax even for a moment.


    Eryndor sighed and sat far away from one of the other couches. He understood Lionel''s fear. He had seen the same expression every time he made his presence known, only that the people had been different.


    "You may have some questions. Before you start, shall I speak first? It might answer some of them." Eryndor allowed Lionel to choose, showing him that he meant no harm.


    Lionel nodded again, his tongue paralyzed to speak. His body was slowly turning cold and he felt suffocated. But he didn''t show it.


    "You have already read the diary. So, you more or less must have an inkling as to what our conversation might be related to." Eryndor started without beating around the bush.


    "Wait a minute!" Lionel intervened, ignoring the old man''s obvious expression of annoyance.


    "Don''t tell me." The young man''s eyes widened when a notion hit his mind. "The power you mentioned in the diary - has it got to do with ghosts?"


    Eryndor dismissed Lionel''s impudence and his lack of respect for him. His smile widened and he nodded. "You are wise."


    "Will I start seeing ghosts from now onwards?"


    Lionel hoped for the man to deny it, to give him a negative answer. He was already spooked with one ghost, he couldn''t handle more.


    Alas, his prayers fell on deaf ears.


    "Yes. You will carry on my legacy from today."


    Can he deny this legacy? Lionel didn''t want such a scary legacy.


    "You know the techniques to deal with the ghosts. Why are you still frightened?"


    Eryndor could not grasp why the young man seemed as if he was close to death. His crying face didn''t evoke any pity. Instead, he only found it amusing.


    "I am a normal person. It would be strange of me if I weren''t scared," Lionel sassed, not caring that the man before him was his ancestor.


    "I would be pleased if you respected me, son. I am your elder," Eryndor warned, not entertaining his impertinence anymore.


    Lionel wanted to complain. But he bit his tongue and remained silent when he saw the old man''s no-nonsense demeanor.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Why did I get this power all of a sudden..." Lionel was about to stop. But when he noticed the old man''s stern face, he added, "Elder?"


    Satisfied, Eryndor smiled to himself. "Because your grandfather is no more."


    Lionel didn''t understand for a moment. But the truth soon dawned upon him and he jumped to his feet as if his butt was on fire.


    "Holy shit! Is that what it is?"


    "Language, son," Eryndor admonished, his expression turning dark instantly. "Where did you learn such foul words from?"


    "Sorry." Lionel snuck out his tongue but didn''t stray away from the conversation. "Grandpa had these powers too, didn''t he? Is that why he''d behave mysteriously sometimes?"


    "More or less."


    "Do only the people from the Valkorin family have this power?" Lionel recalled what he had read on the first page of the diary.


    "I presume so," Eryndor agreed.


    "Why didn''t Grandpa tell me? At least I could have prepared myself for it."


    "He just didn''t want to scare. This matter is not normal, after all, and you were still young."


    "True that." Lionel didn''t deny it this time.


    "Can I forsake this power?" Lionel didn''t want to have such power at all. Who in their sane minds would want to deal with ghosts on a day-to-day basis?


    Wait, were ghosts real? Lionel''s question vanished as quickly as it had sprung in his mind. They had to be. Otherwise, how could the man who had died years ago be sitting before him?


    "You can..."


    Lionel''s eyes lit up.


    "After you die. Until then, no one can separate this power from you."


    Lionel''s shoulder sagged and he felt terrible. ''Could someone kill me right now? I don''t want to live anymore?''


    "Child, the power is not as bad as you think." Eryndor tried to persuade him.


    "Elder, it''s easy for you to say. I don''t want to be greeted by ghosts as soon as I wake up in the morning."


    A scene immediately played in his mind and Lionel saw himself waking up and staring at a creepy-looking ghost whose face was peeling off and blood was dripping. The scene was so terrifying that he closed his eyes and shook his head as he screamed at the top of his lungs.


    "Child, I have experienced all that you are imagining. But it is not that terrible."


    Eryndor felt bad for him. Given a chance, he did not want to put his descendants through the misery. But he was helpless. They had to bear the power their family was destined to have.


    "Elder..." Lionel sighed, not having any words of argument.


    "Lionel, I understand your troubles. But the world needs you, child. They need your power, to save them."


    "But..."


    "And trust me when I say you can overpower the evil spirits. Please."


    Lionel''s heart softened at the old man''s desperate pleas. He saw how helpless he looked and couldn''t help but feel terrible for him.


    "I understand, Elder," he relented finally.


    "Good, child. Good."


    Lionel suddenly felt as if he had been tricked. The old man, who had a sad expression a second ago, was beaming with joy as if he had conquered the world.


    ''Can I take back my words?'' he wondered.


    "Now that you have accepted who you have become, I have a few words of advice."


    ''Can I not listen to them?'' Lionel didn''t want to listen to him. But he had no choice.


    "You must be feeling a strange kind of warmth in you," Eryndor started and Lionel nodded, his eyes widening in surprise.


    "That is your qi. It was dormant all these years. It is active now. You must start cultivating from today, child. The more you cultivate the more powerful you will become."


    "How will my qi help me deal with the ghosts?"


    "More than ghosts, I would prefer to call them spirits. As for your question, positive qi which is called yang will suppress negative qi or yin."


    Although the old man didn''t explain it explicitly, Lionel understood what he was saying.


    "You will have positive qi until you follow a righteous path. Anything that has your spiritual energy like the talisman you draw or the spells you chant will eliminate the evil."


    Everything fell into place instantly and Lionel''s confusions were cleared all at once. All the questions he had in mind were answered as well.


    "You have read the diary. You know what to do. Do you have any questions?"


    "Yes, Elder." Lionel nodded when a question popped into his mind suddenly.


    Eryndor waited patiently. Not once did he show any frustration towards him, and this alone was enough for Lionel to revere him.


    "Will you be with me from now on?"


    Even though it was the first time they were meeting, Lionel felt a strange kind of relief in his presence. He wouldn''t be alone when he dealt with the malicious spirits.


    "No, child. My time here is about to end. Once I am done here, I will not appear before you again."


    "Elder..." Lionel''s heart dropped and he looked at the man pleadingly. "It is our fate, child. We cannot do anything about it."


    "Elder, I...I..."


    "Lionel, I understand your thoughts and apprehensions. But you have nothing to worry about. You are meant to do good deeds. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have been granted this power," Eryndor explained, his body slowly turning transparent and Lionel almost teared up.


    "My time to leave is nearing. Do you have any other questions?"


    "Yes, Elder. Should I keep my powers hidden from others?"


    "That is up to you, Lionel. It will not hinder you in any way. But I suggest you remain low as much as possible."


    "Yes, Elder."


    Eryndor''s body was almost invisible. He had a few more seconds at most.


    "My time is up, Lionel. Be brave and protect the innocent. The world needs you."


    With that, Eryndor disappeared completely and the room turned warm for a moment before returning to normal.


    Lionel stared blankly at the spot Eryndor had been a moment ago. It took a few seconds to return to normal and once his brain started working again, he smacked his forehead in dismay.


    "I forgot to ask the most important question," he gritted his teeth, annoyed at himself for being stupid. "What am I going to do if none of the techniques mentioned in the diary will eliminate the evil spirit?"

 4. Marrow cleansing

    Lionel didn''t react for a long time as he digested everything he had learned that day. The television continued to play in the background, but he paid no attention. His thoughts were filled with all that he had heard from Elder Valkorin and the contents of his diary.


    As time passed, he eventually accepted that he had the power to see ghosts. The sooner he started cultivating his power, the better.


    From the diary, Lionel knew that he was a Novice Spirit Seer and only possessed the Ghost Sense. He could see the ghosts, but couldn''t exorcise them yet. Heck, the only way to escape from the ghosts, even the weakest, was to run for his life.


    "Elder Valkorin was right," Lionel muttered, his brows contorting into a thoughtful frown. "I need to start cultivating. Otherwise, I will end up dead before I can even use my powers."


    Lionel didn''t have to force his brain to remember. He knew what exactly he had to do.


    Switching off the television, he donned a lotus pose on the ground and closed his eyes. Taking his deep breaths, he concentrated on his Qi.


    At first, he didn''t feel anything; it was just akin to meditating. But soon, he felt the spiritual energy gush through him, the warmth coursing through his body slowly.


    But barely a few minutes later, he halted when he sensed an obstruction. His spiritual energy had stopped moving as if something was repelling it.


    Lionel, however, didn''t lose heart and started from the beginning, only to meet the same result again. Soon, sweat drops adorned his forehead and his face lost all its color.


    Yet, Lionel didn''t give up and tried repeatedly, and eventually, his attempts bore fruit. The spiritual energy that had remained stagnant started moving again.


    Lionel didn''t stop even once. Every time he sensed an obstruction, he would try again and again until he overcame it.


    He didn''t know how long it had been since he started cultivating. He didn''t stop until the spiritual energy had reached his entire body.


    Satisfied, he peeked at his Qi and was stupefied to find that he was still stuck at the Ghost Sense. After all the hard work, he hadn''t ascended to the next level of Novice Spirit Seer, let alone to Spirit Handler. What a bummer!


    Downcast, he let out a sigh and opened his eyes. ''Cultivating my powers is more tedious and time-consuming than I thought.''


    Shaking his head, he stood up, only for his eyes to widen when he realized how light his body felt. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ''I am not dreaming, am I?'' he wondered. Yet, the truth was undeniable. The proof lay within him. His body had become lighter and all the discomfort and pain he had previously felt, especially at his joints had vanished.


    "What magic is this? Amazing!" Lionel''s previous dispirited self vanished and he cheered at his achievement. Jumping in joy, he looked around him, only to be dumbstruck when he noticed the sun shining brightly outside the window. From the angle and the intensity of the rays, it seemed sometime after noon.


    "How long was I cultivating? Don''t tell me..." Lionel pulled out his phone, but couldn''t power it up. Confused, he plugged it to the charger and waited for it to charge before powering it up.


    Lionel lost his mind completely when he noticed the time.


    3.17 p.m.


    However, it was the date that shocked him to the core. He had spent an entire day and a half, almost thirty-eight hours cultivating.


    "Don''t tell me..." Lionel couldn''t believe the truth and checked the time on the Internet.


    When all searches yielded the same result, Lionel''s head spun and he lost his ability to speak. He just kept gaping at his phone like a fish. He was so overwhelmed that all he could do was cuss under his breath.


    "Fucking hell!"


    Lionel wanted to cuss more. But his stomach rumbled all of a sudden, pointing it out to him that he hadn''t eaten anything for a day and a half. It was only then he realized that he was famished.


    Not in the mood to cook, Lionel ordered some lamb chops and fried rice and returned to his bedroom to freshen up first. The moment he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, he let out a scream of terror.


    "What garbage is this?" He looked at himself, covered in filth. It looked as if he had rolled around in the mud for a few hours. "Is this me?"


    Lionel almost threw up due to the filth and the stench and he got into the shower immediately, unable to bear it anymore. He took a long shower that lasted more than an hour, scrubbing all the dirt off him. He only left his bathroom when he felt clean.


    When he looked at his reflection in the mirror again, Lionel nodded and even felt that he had become more refined. But he didn''t dwell more upon it. Instead, he dressed quickly and returned to the living room.


    During the entire time, his stomach hadn''t stopped protesting even once. Lionel didn''t even look at his phone. He knew the food was already delivered.


    So, without wasting time, he ran towards the gate. The delivery boy had left his food package by the gate. His instructions. After all, no one dared to enter the manor premises.


    Lionel didn''t attend to anything else until he had his fill and his stomach was satisfied. Sighing in relief, he leaned back on the chair and licked his lips.


    Now that his stomach was full, his thoughts returned to himself. He recalled his dark reflection and tried to uncover what might have happened.


    Biting his lower lip, he went through the contents of the diary, precisely looking for the information related to cultivation and the steps involved in it.


    "Ahhh!" Lionel drawled when he recollected what he had read. "Elder Valkorin had mentioned that the first step would involve marrow cleansing. Is that what I did?"


    Lionel was utterly perplexed. He had no idea what had transpired for there wasn''t much detail related to the marrow cleansing. He could only stare blankly while he tried to put two and two together.


    But when his mind still remained confused, he gave up and returned to his bedroom. Even though he wasn''t that exhausted, he still felt sleepy. He pushed away all his thoughts and jumped on his bed.


    Sleep first, everything else later.


    With that belief, he went to sleep with a content smile on his lips.

 5. At the ancient market - Part 1

    Lionel entered the ancient market, his eyes taking in everything around him curiously. It was his first time there and everything intrigued him.


    There were antiques, paintings that seemed to have transcended ages, gemstones that were hard to find anywhere, hard-to-obtain herbs and much more. It was as if he had opened a treasure trove.


    Surprisingly, the market wasn''t as empty as he thought it to be. Instead, people were walking around and the business was in full swing.


    Even though he wanted to explore more, he was on a mission. So, Lionel first looked for a shop that sold talismans and cinnabar pens. Although he was stuck at the Ghost Sense, he had spiritual energy in him. He could start practicing drawing the talisman.


    But before he could find the shop, he was attracted by shouts from somewhere nearby. His feet automatically took him in the direction from where the sound was coming, his penchant for drama making him forget about his mission for the time being.


    Once he approached the shop, he heard an argument between the shopkeeper and another man.


    "This is an authentic painting. How can you say this is fake?" the shopkeeper argued while the old man didn''t believe him even once.


    "This painting is fake. You cannot convince me otherwise. I am not going to buy it."


    Lionel glanced at the old man who seemed to be in his late fifties or early sixties. The man had a clean and straightforward temperament. The aura around him was filled with righteousness and Lionel''s impression of the man rose significantly.


    However, when he looked at the shopkeeper, his deductions were completely different. The man''s eyes were gleaming cunningly. No matter how much he looked at him, he seemed like a swindler. Nothing about him seemed right. Lionel even felt that all the objects in the man''s shop were fake. There wasn''t even one authentic item.


    The public wasn''t helping the old man. They were just interested in the drama. Even when the shopkeeper almost forced the man to buy the painting, nobody stepped forward to intervene.


    Unable to tolerate such ruffian behavior, Lionel stepped forward and pushed the painting back. He even shielded the old man behind him.


    "I have never seen a hooligan behave so audaciously in the presence of a crowd," he remarked, compelling the shopkeeper to back off.


    "Neither have I seen a crowd so inhuman that they are willing to watch the thug have his way but not interfere and uphold justice. My eyes have opened today."


    The crowd was stunned speechless. They were just mere spectators. Yet, they had been called inhuman. They didn''t know if they should bash the young man or feel guilty about their behavior.


    Lionel ignored all of them and turned towards the old man who was staring at him gratefully. "Are you alright, Sir?"


    The man nodded, smiling at him faintly.


    "Good." Returning his gaze to the shopkeeper, he gave him a displeased stare. "When did it become alright to force a customer to buy things? Shouldn''t it be the customer''s choice whether they want to buy anything or not?"Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    The shopkeeper had no words of retort. His mind went blank when facing such an aggressive man.


    "Moreover, you are even passing off a fake as an authentic item. I should commend your courage."


    The shopkeeper was agitated this time and he glared at Lionel. "Who are you calling a ruffian? You are the ruffian here. And who told you that this painting is fake? This is authentic and if you action it, it''ll go for millions."


    Lionel scoffed and rolled his eyes in disgust. "Then, keep your painting to yourself. We cannot afford it. Sir, shall we leave?" He turned towards the man who hadn''t spoken a word since he had intervened.


    The man nodded at him and Lionel led him away, ignoring the shopkeeper''s curses. He didn''t even react when the man threatened to sue him for tarnishing his shop''s reputation.


    "Thank you, young man. Thank you so much. If not for you, I''d still be arguing with him," the man thanked him sincerely and beamed at him strangely and Lionel frowned on seeing his odd expression.


    "No worries. Be careful, Sir. There are more fake items here than authentic."


    "You seem to know a lot. Would you mind helping me?"


    Now, it was Lionel''s turn to be speechless. He was just helping the man evade the swindler. How did the situation turn into this?


    Lionel didn''t have the heart to reject him on seeing his hopeful gaze. Eventually, he relented and agreed to help him.


    "What are you looking for, Sir?"


    "Before we begin, would you mind telling me your name?"


    Lionel hesitated. But on seeing his righteousness, he didn''t dither anymore. "Lionel."


    "Good, good. I am Walter Higgins. It''s a pleasure to meet sure."


    "The feeling is mutual, Mr. Higgins. Now, would you mind telling me what you are looking for?"


    Lionel wanted to finish helping the man soon and return to his mission. The more he dawdled, the more he''d delay his cultivation and improvement.


    "I am looking for an authentic painting, Lionel. It''s a gift for my father."


    "I see. Let''s take a look around first, shall we?"


    The man agreed instantly, having no qualms with his suggestions and the duo started walking in the ancient. While Lionel kept a look around for any authentic paintings, he didn''t forget to note down all the shops selling talismans and cinnabar pens.


    Lionel and Walther walked around a few lanes, but couldn''t find anything authentic, that is until he found a shop that barely seemed to hold anything worthwhile from outside.


    But in Lionel''s eyes, the place was a goldmine. He found quite a few items that could be sold for a few hundred thousand dollars if not millions. Without hesitation, he entered the shop, forcing Walter to follow suit.


    Lionel ignored the man behind him. Instead, he focused on the painting hanging behind the counter.


    "You should buy this painting, Mr. Higgins," Lionel suggested. His eyes were filled with admiration as he stared at the powerful strokes.


    It was the painting of a king who was ascending the throne. Even though only his back was visible in the painting, it was stunningly beautiful. His royal red robe fluttered lightly behind him while the throne and the crown shone brightly. The entire council was bowing before him in respect.


    At first glance, Lionel knew that it was an authentic painting and if they auctioned it, it would go for millions.


    "This one?" Walter frowned and studied the painting. However, he couldn''t find anything astonishing in it. It seemed like a normal painting.


    "Yes. It''s my suggestion. It''s up to you to follow it." Lionel hadn''t missed Walter''s skeptical look. He just led him to an authentic painting. The decision to buy lay in his hands.


    "You should listen to him." The shop assistant''s eyes flashed with greed when he saw the customers. They were the first customers in a long time and he couldn''t help but be giddy with excitement.


    "This is one of the most valuable pieces in our shop. Since you found it, I''m going to sell it to you for three hundred dollars."


    Lionel was speechless at his words. Did he even know how valuable the painting was? Three hundred? It was a marvelous deal. He had thought it''d cost at least a few thousand.


    Walter wasn''t convinced. He didn''t find the painting that attractive and he pursed his lips thoughtfully. Although he wasn''t willing to buy it, he didn''t have the heart to disappoint the young man who had helped him before.


    "I will only pay two hundred and fifty," he haggled and the assistant cursed under his breath. But he still agreed to sell it. Even though it wasn''t the price he had stated, he would still make a profit of fifty dollars. He rolled the painting and placed it in a scroll case before handing it to his first customer in a long time.

 6. At the ancient market - Part 2

    Once Walter was done paying for the painting, he looked for Lionel and found him standing in front of a showcase. "What are you staring at, Lionel?"


    Although he wasn''t in favor of the painting he had bought, he was still polite. The young man had helped him avoid paying thousands to a swindler. For that reason alone, he was thankful to him.


    "Could you show this rock to me?" Lionel glanced at the assistant who was staring at them excitedly. Even though the man''s eyes were filled with greed, he didn''t mind it.


    The shop assistant wasn''t a bad person. He was merely greedy. He had never harmed anyone and his background was clean. So, Lionel didn''t mind doing more business in his shop.


    The assistant''s eyes lit up when he noticed more business. So, he didn''t hesitate and came over to help his customer look at the item he was interested in. However, his expression faltered when he noticed what the man was interested in.


    A rock?


    Why?


    What''s so interesting about the rock?


    However, he didn''t comment about it and removed it for him to take a look.


    Lionel nodded subtly to himself. The shop assistant wasn''t forceful like the one he had reprimanded some time. He was accommodating and courteous.


    While Walter and the assistant didn''t find anything noteworthy about the rock, Lionel became excited as soon as it was taken out.


    At first glance itself, his heart had settled on the rock. He didn''t know but he was oddly attracted to it. His heart was asking him to buy it. Else, he''d definitely regret it.


    And Lionel didn''t hesitate even for a moment. He wanted the rock and he''d buy it at all cost.


    The moment the rock was out of the showcase, Lionel sensed a strong spiritual energy from it. Even though it was as only big as his palm, the energy in it was unbelievable.


    Lionel''s eyes twinkled in joy and he almost snatched the rock from the shop assistant.


    "I want to buy this. How much is it?"


    The assistant frowned on seeing his oddly thrilled expression. Doubtful, he examined the rock a few times. But he couldn''t discern anything special about it. Not knowing why the young man was this enthusiastic, he stated a price that was within an acceptable range.


    Fifty dollars.


    Lionel was surprised once again. But he didn''t hesitate to buy it. He had struck a bargain.


    While the assistant looked at him as if he was a rich fool, Walter started worrying about him. But he didn''t know how to prevent him from squandering.


    "I have other things I wish to buy as well," Lionel stated and the assistant cheered at his luck.


    In no time, he had sold a painting, a rock, more than a hundred talismans, and ten cinnabar pens. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Please visit us again, customers." He handed the packed things to them and even beamed at them, hoping for them to visit daily.


    "Have a good day!" Walter said with a gentle smile.


    Lionel had a good impression of him. Even though he had charged them more for the painting and maybe even the rock, the talismans, and the pens were priced decently. His impression of him rose significantly and he even nodded at him before leaving.


    The shopkeeper watched with glee and waited until they were gone before running towards the inner room.


    "Master, Master, Master," he shouted, happiness radiating on his face.


    "Why are you shouting? Can''t you let this old man sleep in peace?"


    "Master, we had two customers today." The assistant didn''t mind his scoldings and relayed the information.


    "Oh, what did they buy?" The man didn''t budge from his makeshift bed and kept his eyes closed.


    "The king''s painting by the counter, the useless rock in the showcase, and some talismans and cinnabar pens."


    The old man''s eyes snapped open and he stared at the assistant in surprise. "What did you just say?"


    The assistant didn''t dare meet the man''s wise eyes. It was as if he could see right through him. He was scared. Yet, he didn''t delay and repeated whatever he had said previously.


    "Wise choice indeed."


    "Master, I wonder why he bought that useless rock. Does he have some strange hobby?"


    "A fool will never understand a wise man''s actions." That was all the man said before he closed his eyes again.


    The assistant was stunned and speechless by his snarky remark. But he didn''t take it to heart and returned to the counter, humming a song in content. It was a wonderful day indeed.


    Meanwhile, Lionel and Walter left the shop and entered the lane that led to the exit of the ancient market.


    "Mr. Higgins, I am done with my shopping. If there''s nothing..."


    "Sure, sure, go ahead. Thank you for today." Walter didn''t hold him back anymore. It was already kind of the young man to help him evade the swindler, let alone help buy a painting. Even though he wasn''t that impressed with what he had bought, he was still grateful.


    Lionel knew what exactly was running in the man''s mind. But he didn''t take it to heart. Instead, he nodded at him and left the market.


    Meanwhile, Walter decided to explore more and look for another painting. However, before he could even start, his phone rang and Walter didn''t dilly-dally on seeing who was calling him.


    "Dad..."


    "Son, where are you?" The old man sounded cheerful and Walter scratched his head in wonder.


    "I was buying something, Dad. What''s wrong?"


    "An important guest is visiting us today. Come home soon."


    "Yes, Dad." Walter didn''t dare waste any time. His plan to buy another painting had to be postponed for the time being.


    When Walter reached home, the guest had already arrived and his family was attending to him.


    "Son, you are here." His father beckoned him inside and Walter rushed in, only to halt for a moment when he noticed who the guest was.


    Rufus Abernathy.


    Walter was surprised and jubilant to see such a revered man at his house.


    "Hello, Mr. Abernathy." Walter was polite and greeted him happily.


    "Hello, hello." Rufus was cordial and greeted him back.


    "Dad, I didn''t know you knew Mr. Abernathy."


    "It''s a long story." His father brushed it off with a smile. But he didn''t miss the scroll case his son was carrying and his eyes narrowed curiously.


    "Son, what are you holding?"


    Walter was embarrassed and he hid it behind him. "It''s nothing, Dad. Nothing at all."


    His awkward expression and unconvincing words only served to heighten the old Higgins'' interest and he looked at his son sternly.


    Under his scrutiny, Walter had no choice but to surrender.


    "It''s a painting. I chanced upon it and thought it looked nice." Walter glanced at Rufus discreetly and his heart dropped when he noticed that the man''s gaze too was fixed on him.


    "Would you mind if I take a look?" Rufus asked, much to his worry.


    ''Would I mind? Yes, I would mind. Who doesn''t know you, Sir? You are the famous antique appraiser, Rufus Abernathy. I don''t want to show this fake painting to you and embarrass my father.''


    Walter was cornered and he didn''t know what to do. He darted a pleading look at his father.


    Instead, it only backfired.


    "Son, show him the painting."


    Now, Walter had no choice but to show the painting to everyone. With a heavy heart, he opened the scroll case and unrolled the painting before placing it on the table for everyone to see.


    Something surprising happened the next instant that made Walter go into utter shock.


    Rufus, who was watching calmly, jumped to his feet and picked up the painting as if his life depended on it.

 7. Million dollar painting

    Walter was shocked to see the revered man''s actions and gaped at him in wonder. Not just him, but his entire family was baffled and they looked at each other questioningly.


    "Where did you get this painting? How did you find it?" Rufus ignored their expressions and asked excitedly, admiring the painting to his heart''s content.


    "Rufus, what''s wrong? Why are you this agitated?" Walter''s father, Jack asked in concern and took a good look at the painting.


    The painting looked good. The artist had done a great job of capturing the power the king held while he ascended the throne. The colors were vibrant, and the strokes were deep. However, the blemish on the edges, which had turned yellow, showed that it wasn''t new.


    The painting was brilliant and even he, who had taken just a mere glance, felt an aura he couldn''t fathom. But he couldn''t decipher who the artist was. It didn''t seem familiar.


    "Jack, this is... this is..." Rufus'' lips trembled as he tried to remain calm. "This is King Salathiel''s last painting. It was said to have been painted by him personally. You have no idea how priceless this is."


    King Salathiel? The man in the painting was King Salathiel?


    Walter''s eyes almost popped out of their sockets and he examined the painting again. His heart picked up speed while he held his breath.


    Who didn''t know King Salathiel? He was the man who had fought hard for his kingdom in the seventeenth century. He was the man who had protected and ruled over their ancestors. He was the man they worshipped.


    It was said that only one painting of him was ever drawn when he was alive and...


    ''Is this the one?''


    "Elder Abernathy, is this that painting?" Walter didn''t ask explicitly, but Rufus understood, and he nodded.


    "Yes. Where did you find it, son?" Rufus stared at him as if he was a divine being. "Will you sell it to me? I''ll buy it for a hundred thousand dollars."


    "A hundred thousand dollars?" Walter''s head spun and his legs turned jelly instantly.


    "Is it not enough? How about two hundred thousand?"


    Walter''s heart almost leaped out of his chest at the offer. He was tempted. He had paid merely two hundred and fifty for it and was now being offered a hundred and fifty thousand. He didn''t know how to react for a long time.


    "Old Rufus, who are you trying to fool here?" Jack stood up and glared at his friend before looking at the painting with star-struck eyes.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "My son might not know the value of this painting, but I do. And I know its worth isn''t anything less than a million dollars. Don''t try to trick us?"


    "A million dollars?" Walter felt as if he wasn''t even on this planet. It was like a dream.


    "Yes, son. Where did you buy it?" Jack nodded, breaking into a toothy grin. Although he wanted to hold the painting and cherish it until his last breath, he didn''t dare snatch it from Rufus. What if he ended up tearing it?


    Jack broke into a cold sweat and shook his head. He waited impatiently, silently urging Rufus through his gaze to hand over the painting.


    "Dad..." Walter hesitated, embarrassed to even think about how he had stumbled on the painting. It wasn''t even he who had found it in the first place.


    Walter''s eyes shone and his gratitude towards Lionel increased. He now held the young man on a high pedestal.


    "I bought it at the ancient market." Walter stopped at that. He didn''t reveal anything else, while he waited to take a good look at the painting.


    "Rufus, I think it''s time you returned the painting to me," Jack said sternly, his patience running thin.


    "But..."


    "And we would not be selling it." Jack remained adamant and didn''t succumb to Rufus'' pleas, leaving him no choice.


    Rufus stared at the painting as if it were his child as he returned to Jack. He was close to crying and his dispirited expression made Walter praise Lionel once more.


    The young man had not just saved him from being looted, he had even helped him obtain a treasure worth millions. A deep sense of regret filled when he realized how he had behaved after buying the painting. He hadn''t been that enthusiastic and even doubted Lionel for a moment.


    Walter felt like smacking his head for his foolishness. ''If only I hadn''t been stupid...''


    Jack admired the painting for a few seconds before he placed it back into the scroll case. He then secured it inside his study while all Rufus could do was stare at him in envy.


    It was only when Rufus departed after an hour or so that Jack raised the topic, holding his son captive beside him. "Son, how did you find the painting? Be honest with me."


    Jack hadn''t missed the strange expression on his son''s face previously and he more or less had an inkling that Walter hadn''t chanced upon it himself. He wasn''t that knowledgeable about paintings, nor was he lucky.


    Walter knew he couldn''t hide the truth from his father. So, he revealed all that had transpired at the ancient market while his family listened to him. Even his son who was usually indifferent to such things was intrigued.


    "I knew it!" Jack smacked his thigh loudly and Walter jumped in shock. "Someone must have helped you. Do you know who he is? What does he do?"


    "Dad, all I know is his name. Lionel."


    Jack''s blood boiled at his son''s foolishness and he looked at him as if he was dead meat. "Don''t you have other information about him? What does he do? Where does he live?"


    "Dad, it''s my first time meeting him." Walter didn''t know if he should laugh or cry. As far as he remembered, his father had never lost his cool. But now...


    Well, he was electrified too. So, he didn''t blame his old man.


    "You are hopeless. I am going back to my painting."


    "Umm...Dad, I bought it," Walter pointed.


    "Wasn''t it a gift for me?" Jack deadpanned and returned to his study, leaving his son helpless.


    "Grandpa, wait for me." Walter''s son, Kalvin ran behind him leaving the couple in the living room.


    "Why were you so careless?" His wife, Martha slapped his hand lightly and sighed deeply.


    Walter just raised his hand helplessly.


    "If you find him next time, thank him sincerely. He did us a huge favor."


    "Definitely. We owe him. I will not be careless and stupid next time." Walter said in resolve, making up his mind to visit the ancient market a few times, hoping to meet him soon.