第97章 "Silken Lies Entwined"

**97. The Web of Deceit Unravels Further**

Old Ghost's eyes seemed to plead for mercy, but Lin Chao's gaze remained unyielding. "Tell me, what are you hiding?" he repeated, his voice a low growl.

Old Ghost's lips trembled, and he cleared his throat before speaking. "I... I didn't mean to deceive you, Lin Chao. I was just trying to protect something important."

Lin Chao's eyes narrowed further. "Protect what? What's so important that it's worth betraying my trust?"

Old Ghost's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. "I didn't mean to deceive you, Lin Chao. I was just trying to... Ah, I think I'll just start from the beginning."

Lin Chao raised an eyebrow. "The beginning?"

Old Ghost took a deep breath and began to speak. "When I first joined the guild, I was approached by a mysterious figure. They offered me a deal: they would give me the power to surpass even the strongest players in the game, but in exchange, I would have to... Ah, but I didn't think it was real, so I didn't care. I just took the power and didn't think twice about it."

Lin Chao's eyes snapped with suspicion. "What kind of power?"

Old Ghost hesitated, his eyes darting around the room again. "I... I don't know if I should say. It's not something I'm proud of, Lin Chao. I'm ashamed of what I've done."

Lin Chao's voice turned cold. "You're going to have to tell me more, Old Ghost. The truth, this time."

Old Ghost took another deep breath and began to speak. "The power... It's... It's not from the game, Lin Chao. It's from... Ah, I don't know how to explain it. It's like... It's like a curse, but it's also... Ah, it's hard to describe."

Lin Chao's eyes flashed with anger. "You're saying that you've made a deal with some kind of dark force?"

Old Ghost nodded, his eyes filled with regret. "I know it sounds crazy, Lin Chao. But I swear, I didn't mean to deceive you. I just wanted to be stronger, to be better than everyone else."

Lin Chao's voice turned icy. "You're done, Old Ghost. You're out of the guild. You're out of my sight."

Old Ghost's eyes filled with tears. "Please, Lin Chao. Don't do this. I'll do anything to make it right."

Lin Chao's eyes snapped with determination. "You'll do anything to make it right? Then tell me more about this curse. Tell me everything."

Old Ghost nodded, his eyes filled with fear. "I'll tell you everything, Lin Chao. I'll tell you everything I know."

As Old Ghost began to speak, Lin Chao's eyes never left his face, his mind racing with the implications of what he was hearing. He knew that he had to get to the bottom of this, no matter what it took. And as he listened to Old Ghost's words, he knew that his journey was far from over.

But just as Lin Chao was about to get the answers he was seeking, a sudden commotion erupted outside the room. The sound of shattering glass, followed by the sound of screams and chaos filled the air.

Lin Chao's eyes snapped towards the door, a cold sense of dread creeping up his spine. "What's going on?" he demanded, his voice low and urgent.

Old Ghost's eyes widened in fear. "I don't know, Lin Chao. But I think it's not good. I think it's very bad indeed."