Chapter 107: Feng Tianlin, Who Hates Garlic.

That night, two arrogant students arrived at the orphanage. The power of rumors was immense, and what they had heard was that all the children and toys in the orphanage were actually strange creatures nurtured in the courtyard, while the courtyard itself was said to be a witch.

These ordinary people knew little about strange creatures or witches, yet they firmly believed the absurd story. However, some doubted it, so these two came to prove them wrong.

Armed with a camera, they were determined to capture some eerie photos.

Since the world had changed, the difference between day and night had lessened; nighttime was only slightly darker than daytime. Still, humans maintained their usual routines.

This celestial anomaly had not yet sparked panic among the people of the Sunset Kingdom because the royal family explained it as the sun god and moon goddess working together to protect them.

This was the official explanation from a nation, even after the truth had been revealed by the Chinese. It showed just how absurd the Sunset Kingdom’s royalty truly was.

After all, a king who came to power by killing his father was hardly expected to be any better.

The two were named Ethan and Roel, both students at the local Divine Sky High School. With the holidays free, they decided to seek out the legendary strange creatures.

Ethan looked at the orphanage and tugged at Roel’s sleeve. “Maybe we should leave. It’s so dark here.”

The orphanage’s inhabitants went to bed very early and lights were turned off long before other buildings nearby, making it seem especially dark.

Roel glanced at Ethan in disappointment. “Can’t you have some guts? Just take one photo and we’ll leave. Besides, don’t we have this?” He pulled out a bulb of garlic.

Seeing the garlic, Ethan clutched the cross hanging around his neck tightly. Both items had cost them a fortune and were said to be blessed with divine power.

These two objects gave them an inexplicable sense of security, spurring them toward the orphanage dormitory.

As they entered the dormitory’s door, they felt a vague sensation of being watched, but when they looked back, there was nothing.

“I feel a chill down my spine,” Ethan said, shrugging.

Roel felt uneasy too but, since he had dragged Ethan here, he dared not show weakness. Instead, he said firmly, “That’s just your cowardice. The great god of courage is on my side.”

Ethan sighed and followed Roel further inside.

As they walked down the dormitory corridor, a strange noise suddenly echoed. Following the sound, they saw a black shadow flash past.

Roel gasped sharply, while Ethan stared blankly at the spot.

Swallowing nervously, Roel lifted the camera, waiting for the shadow to reappear so he could snap a photo.

But after a long wait, the shadow did not come back.

Disappointed, he lowered the camera, only for the shadow to streak past again immediately.

This time, he clearly saw it: a human figure, seemingly a woman’s silhouette. If not a ghost, then what?

“Ethan, Ethan, did you see that?” Roel grabbed Ethan’s arm anxiously.

It was so dark he couldn’t be sure what it was, so he sought confirmation from Ethan.

Strangely, no matter how much he tugged, Ethan didn’t react. Curious, Roel looked at him.

“Ah!!!”

Seeing Ethan’s face twisted into a sinister grin in the darkness scared Roel backward several steps.

Once he realized it was just a prank, Roel was furious and shoved Ethan.

“What the hell? Do you know what I just saw?”

“What did you see?” Ethan replied nonchalantly, a stark contrast to his earlier timidity.

“I saw a female ghost! Just like the one from the stories—could very well be the legendary one!” Roel’s expression was a mix of excitement and fear.

“A female ghost?” Ethan repeated, his tone tinged with doubt.

“Yes, a female ghost. She always appears briefly and then floats away without attacking us. It must be the garlic and the cross protecting us. Come on, let’s take a photo and leave immediately,” Roel said excitedly.

“A female ghost?” Ethan echoed again, then turned his back to Roel. “Like this?”

Suddenly, his body became transparent. In the blink of an eye, he transformed completely—not Ethan anymore, but a ghostly woman, even her clothing color changed.

Roel screamed and took off running, only to have his pant leg grabbed.

The pull sent him crashing to the ground, badly bruised. Pain forgotten, he looked down to see a doll smiling up at him.

“Oh my goddess of the heavens!” he shouted, throwing the garlic at the doll.

The doll barely flinched; the garlic was carelessly thrown and unlikely to hit him.

Even if it did, what harm could a bulb of garlic do to an A-grade strange creature?

Thinking so, the doll crushed the garlic with a swift hand. The garlic burst, juices splattering everywhere.

“Ugh, it stinks!”

The doll seemed to forget one thing—he hated garlic and its smell in his previous life.

Seeing the doll release him, Roel wasted no time and ran, but several dolls gave chase.

Fortunately, their short legs kept them from catching up, and Roel was almost at the dormitory door.

At that moment, a figure suddenly dashed out from the side, colliding with him. Both fell to the ground.

Instinctively fearing a ghost, Roel didn’t look at the figure and prepared to flee.

But then he heard Ethan’s voice: “Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, boohoo.”

Looking down, Roel saw Ethan clutching his head and crying, clearly terrified.

Roel first glanced at the fallen Ethan, then behind him. The dolls hadn’t followed. He quickly helped Ethan up.

“It’s me, Roel. Are you okay?”

Ethan finally lifted his head. He looked worse off—there was a large bump on his head, and his pants were wet. He had actually been so scared he wet himself.

There was no time to dwell on that. Feeling Ethan’s warmth, Roel realized this wasn’t a ghost impersonation and hastened their escape.

They climbed over the orphanage wall and slipped into a nearby bar, the busiest place at night.

The bar’s patrons, seeing their disheveled state, were about to speak when the two collapsed, their legs weak from fear.

People gathered to check on them, noticing their clothes soaked with sweat as if freshly washed.

They kept muttering, “The legends were true.”

Outside the orphanage, Feng Tianlin frowned as he watched the two depart.

“How did the people of the Sunset Kingdom even think to use garlic as a talisman?” He clenched his fist. “If it weren’t useful, I’d freeze it into an ice sculpture and smash it!”

A message to readers: An extra chapter has been added. Please help me boost the following book review. Thank you all.