Dong… The clock struck twelve, and the sound of a majestic gong echoed through the streets of Hanyang. There were many churches around these parts, and it wasn’t odd to hear such sounds coming from the bell towers at all. That said, the chime of the bell tonight came together with the rise of an eerie chill.

At some point, the courtyard right outside was already filled with Yin energy. Qin Ye pulled up the curtain and took a peek, only to see a magnificent carriage pulled by eight skeletal war horses pulling over at the main entrance. The coachman and the attendant stood upright at attention at the side of the carriage.

There’s more.

It was a Cathayan-styled carriage, covered with an exquisite relief of the bright rising moon as well as the majestic Aurogon holding up a lantern. The beautiful palace lanterns shaped like lotuses also hung from the four corners of the carriage. Wisps of teal smoke rose into the air from these lanterns, before quickly dissipating into the surroundings.

There was also a procession of eight Yin spirits dressed in the garbs of eunuchs, nine Yin spirits dressed like palace maids, and then six Yin spirits dressed like children. The ones standing on the left were holding up scarlet flowers, while the ones standing on the right were holding up black willow branches. Finally, six other female Yin spirits stood at the end of the procession, wearing gold-gilded headgears adorned with brilliant feathers of...