Mysterious Resurrection: What If

Chapter 139 The Museum of Souls (Part Six)
She continued, "Perhaps something malfunctioned in the museum's operation, or perhaps... someone deliberately sabotaged it. This caused time to no longer simply reverse, but instead created chaotic conflicts. Yang Jian's appearance is the best proof of this; the flow of time in his time is completely opposite to ours."

"So you showed up." Wen Zhong stared at her. "To resolve this time conflict?"

“You two are quite clever,” Tian Xiaoyue glanced at them. “Current indications suggest that it was more likely sabotage. You need to help me get this place back to normal.”

Zhou Deng gently shook his head: "I still can't completely trust you, including this museum itself. This kind of supernatural method of reversing time is indeed terrifying, but no one can guarantee that the result of letting it operate normally will be correct. Once it gets out of control, the resulting disaster might not even be classified as S-level."

Wen Zhong nodded and added, "In the infinite reversal of time, if an equally terrifying vengeful ghost were to be brought in, it would exist simultaneously in the past and present. At that time, let alone imprisoning it, we wouldn't even be able to touch it."

After listening, Tian Xiaoyue shrugged helplessly, the bronze mask reflecting a cold luster as she moved.

"The problems you can think of were already considered and solved when this museum was first built. Otherwise, do you really think that Zhou Lian, with his limited abilities, could single-handedly clear up all the paranormal events in Dayang City?"

A look of surprise flashed across Zhou Deng's face, then he suddenly realized: "It was you?! You've been the one clearing out vengeful spirits in Dayang City all along?!"

"Otherwise what?" Tian Xiaoyue asked in a flat tone.

“The museum is right here, and I need to make sure headquarters’ attention is off Dayang City. Using the properties of this mask on my face, it shouldn’t be difficult to lure the wandering ghosts here.”

Zhou Deng suddenly realized. He had always thought that the rarity of paranormal events in Dayang City was due to luck, which was why Zhou Lian had chosen this place as his retirement home. He never expected that it was actually a long and secretive exile behind the scenes.

Tian Xiaoyue continued, "I lured the ghosts here and used the characteristics of the museum to banish them into history, which is why Dayang City is in its current state. My actions have already proven the value and necessity of this museum's existence."

"I think that so-called headquarters you mentioned should also ask you to help me restore this place."

Zhou Deng and Wen Zhong remained silent, their faces grave. They had no way to refute it.

If a place truly existed capable of systematically and on a large scale imprisoning and even "disposing of" vengeful spirits, headquarters would absolutely spare no effort to protect it. It's only Zhou Lian's concealment and the eerie properties of that mask that have kept this secret buried until now, preventing headquarters from discovering its existence.

Wen Zhong's ghost eye on his forehead shifted slightly as he stared at Tian Xiaoyue: "You just said you would banish vengeful ghosts into history. Didn't you consider the consequences for people in the past when they faced those vengeful ghosts?"

"We had no choice! Even that so-called headquarters you're talking about had no choice!"

From beneath the mask came Tian Xiaoyue's voice, which suddenly rose, carrying a hint of suppressed anger: "In the face of the supernatural, any action will pay a terrible price!"

"Don't you understand? With the increasing number of paranormal events, we can't hold out for long! Sixty years?! Six hundred years?! Rather than lingering on and watching the world fall, we should... place our hopes on the more distant future!"

She raised her hand and gently touched the bronze mask on her face; the innermost layer of human skin was almost completely fused with her face.

Seemingly realizing her earlier lapse in composure, her tone softened: "However, you're not wrong about one thing. People in the past weren't entirely oblivious. We've suffered attacks from history, but fortunately, the time span was too vast, and most of these retaliations were weak and sporadic." "And this time, the museum's anomaly... I suspect it was the work of people from the Republic of China era. Besides those people from that period, I can't think of anyone else with the ability to influence the entire museum's timeline to this extent."

Zhou Deng glanced at her.

That's utter nonsense. They're leading all the ghosts back to the past so they can enjoy peace while ignoring the lives of the ancients. If he were someone from the Republican era, he would have done everything in his power, even across time, to destroy this source of trouble.

Wen Zhong stood to the side, his gaze passing over Tian Xiaoyue, his eerie pupil fixed on the female corpse at the bottom of the pit. The scene before him was completely different; the seemingly intact thousand-year-old female corpse was now a mass of charred, twisted, rotting flesh, exuding a sinister and eerie aura.

Zhou Deng asked, "You seem to know a lot about the Republic of China. Logically speaking, even if you have been staying here, you should still abide by the rules here. It is impossible for you to be able to go to the Republic of China at the same time. How do you know so much information?"

Tian Xiaoyue was clearly taken aback, seemingly surprised by Zhou Deng's question, and her gaze behind the mask re-examined him and Wen Zhong.

“You two are really smart. Are all the ghost tamers of this era like you? I’ve met many people who often show extreme panic after entering the museum, and in the end, they can only be trapped and die here.”

“Stop with this nonsense,” Wen Zhong interrupted her. “We’re not interested in how other people end up. Answer his question.”

“Help me restore the flow of time here,” Tian Xiaoyue met his gaze, “and I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Wen Zhong and Zhou Deng exchanged a glance, instantly understanding each other's thoughts. This museum absolutely could not be left unattended, otherwise, who knows what kind of big trouble might arise. For now, they could only follow this woman and find a solution.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhou Deng said, "We can help you, but you have to lead us to Yang Jian first. Since there is a captain here, Zhou Deng and I should follow Yang Jian's orders according to the rules. Besides, with a captain-level figure backing us up, even if we fail, we can still get away unscathed."

Wen Zhong nodded: "You said before that Yang Jian caused the anomaly here, but he came to find the Soul Bottle. Now that the bottle is broken, he should try to get out. The anomaly here has little to do with him."

After listening, Tian Xiaoyue didn't say anything more, clearly weighing her options. She had just been killed by Yang Jian and was still feeling lingering fear.

Yang Jian was putting immense pressure on her, no less than when facing a terrifying ghost.

After a moment, she made a decision: "No problem, but first help me get the thing under the female corpse. The mask won't be of much use to him, and I need to ensure my own safety."

She raised her hand, pointing to the deep tomb beneath her feet. At the bottom of the pit, beneath the thousand-year-old female corpse, lay an exquisitely crafted cotton quilt. In the dim light, the intricate patterns embroidered with gold thread on the quilt surface faintly shimmered with a golden glow.

"quilt?"

Zhou Deng frowned: "A paranormal object?"

(End of this chapter)