Vengeful spirits generally carry intense resentment from their lifetime.
Those who die unjustly, in gravesites heavy with yin energy, are most likely to give birth to murderous vengeful spirits.
But someone like Mary Shaw could actually become a vengeful spirit.
It only proved one thing—how twisted a person's mind could become.
Lucien's words struck straight at her core.
Mary Shaw abandoned all caution. No traps, no hesitation—she revealed herself directly.
Possessing the clown doll on the rocking chair, she shot forward, charging at Lucien—only to be blown apart by a single punch.
That kind of trick might work on ordinary people.
Against Lucien?
Completely useless.
While Lucien was already fighting, Jamie and the detective still couldn't see what was truly happening.
They only felt it.
The unnatural silence.
The suffocating tension.
Then—
Gunfire.
The detective raised his shotgun and fired, shattering a doll in the display. By pure chance, it struck the exact puppet Mary Shaw was about to possess.
Encouraged, he fired again. And again.
Seeing him waste bullets, Lucien stepped in, grabbed the gun, and reloaded it smoothly.
Four seconds.
That was all it took.
Jamie stared in disbelief.
He hadn't even seen Lucien aim—yet every shot landed perfectly, destroying the exact puppet Mary Shaw tried to control.
What should've been a terrifying supernatural encounter…
Turned into target practice.
"I've had some shooting experience," Lucien said casually.
Jamie could only stare.
A master.
That was the only word that fit.
But Lucien himself wasn't satisfied.
His techniques were there—but not complete.
If he had true Daoist power… would he even need a gun?
As Lucien continued firing, Mary Shaw realized the truth.
This opponent—
Was different.
If she continued like before, she would be destroyed.
Suddenly—
Crash!
All the glass cabinets burst open.
Dozens of puppets rushed forward at once.
At the same time—
Silence fell again.
Absolute silence.
Lucien's eyes sharpened.
Dead Silence Domain.
A single scream—and your tongue would be torn out instantly.
"Whatever happens—don't scream."
Lucien didn't wait for a reply.
He kicked Jamie and the detective backward, forcing them out of danger.
Then—
A voice.
Soft. Familiar.
"Jamie… don't leave me… save me…"
Jamie froze.
"Lisa…?"
He turned instinctively—
And the doll was already in front of him.
His heart nearly stopped. His mouth opened—
But the detective reacted instantly, covering it.
Too late.
A long, grotesque tongue shot out from the puppet's mouth, wrapping around Jamie's neck.
He was lifted into the air instantly.
Struggling. Choking.
The room filled with laughter.
Distorted. Layered. Inhuman.
Every doll was laughing.
Every voice belonged to someone Mary Shaw had killed.
Just as Jamie began to lose consciousness—
Slash!
Lucien moved.
A shard of glass cut through the air, severing the tongue instantly.
Jamie dropped to the ground, gasping violently.
"Go."
Lucien's voice cut through everything.
Clear. Calm. Absolute.
"But—Lucien—"
"GO."
No hesitation this time.
Jamie grabbed the detective and ran.
Lucien remained behind.
Alone.
Surrounded by dozens of floating puppets.
Watching.
Waiting.
"Now you're alone…"
Mary Shaw's voice echoed from everywhere.
Mocking. Tempting.
"Look at them. Running away without even turning back."
"Are they really worth it?"
Lucien didn't respond.
Didn't move.
"Work with me," she continued softly.
"I can give you a perfect body… eternal life…"
She wasn't confident.
Not anymore.
Lucien finally spoke.
"You're not just insane…"
He looked around at the puppets.
"You're stupid too."
A pause.
Then—
"Didn't you notice?"
"I told them to leave."
Something snapped.
"I'LL TEAR YOU APART!!!"
"Shut up."
The pressure exploded.
An invisible force slammed into Lucien.
But he stood firm.
Like a mountain.
Unmoving.
Gunfire erupted again.
One shot.
Two shots.
Puppets shattered.
They attacked from every direction now.
Tongues lashed out from blind spots, piercing through wood and debris.
Fast.
Deadly.
Unpredictable.
Lucien moved.
No wasted motion.
Every step precise.
Every dodge perfect.
And every counter—
Lethal.
Within seconds, more than twenty puppets were destroyed.
"LUCIEN!! YOU WILL DIE!!"
Mary Shaw screamed in fury.
Trying to shake him.
Break his focus.
It didn't work.
Not even slightly.
Because Lucien could see it.
Every movement.
Every intention.
Every puppet she was about to possess—
He destroyed it first.
Mary Shaw couldn't understand it.
But it didn't matter.
Inside Lucien's mind—
Something was changing.
[Firearms proficiency increased.]
[Shooting accuracy +3.]
[Reload speed +3.]
[Qi control improved.]
[Combat comprehension increased.]
[You have entered a deeper state…]
Everything slowed.
The world sharpened.
The air itself—
Began to move.
[Huang Ting Jing: 60%]
A new understanding formed.
Clear.
Natural.
Absolute.
[New Ability Acquired: Wind Control]
The battlefield shifted.
Completely.