Chapter 270

If everything goes smoothly, this should be the last supernatural incident I encounter in this world. After completing this delivery mission, I'll be able to endure until the interdimensional gate opens two months from now, and then I can leave this place.

At this moment.

In a certain part of Zhongning City, Li Yi gazed at a building in the distance.

It was a private collection museum built on the city's outskirts; before arriving, some of the messengers assigned to this mission had already investigated it.

The owner of this private collection museum was Fang Hua, a retired local millionaire who enjoyed folk artifacts and old objects, so he personally funded the purchase of land and built this museum. Moreover, Fang Hua was generous—he opened the museum to the public and continually spent money acquiring new items to enrich the exhibits.

This was perfectly normal—until one day the museum suddenly closed and banned all visitors.

The only information we've gathered so far is this.

To obtain more intelligence, we must investigate the site in person.

"Don't rush into action—the delivery deadline is ten days. Spend the first three days investigating the museum's condition." Li Yi sent this message via phone to all participants in the delivery mission.

The messengers on the second floor immediately responded in agreement.

They knew well enough to be on the second floor that information was vital; charging into the museum without understanding anything could mean dying without even knowing why. Understanding the situation might help them avoid many dangers, so since arriving in this city, they hadn't rushed into the delivery mission but instead investigated the museum from every angle.

Their investigation actually uncovered some unusual information.

Someone learned that the museum's owner, Fang Hua, had actually died—even a funeral had been held—but according to the security guards, within a month after Fang Hua's funeral, someone had seen him patrolling near the museum, and even moving inside it.

Others learned that the museum closed because one day twenty-some people died inside, their corpses horrifically mutilated, and some weren't even found.

Someone else learned that every night, sounds of movement echoed from within the museum, and sometimes more than one person was moving.

Linking these pieces together, everyone immediately imagined a terrifying haunted place.

The only puzzling question was: why had the deceased museum owner, Fang Hua, reappeared inside the museum?

Had he become a Ghost Driver?

Surely he hadn't just died and turned into a ghost—after all, in this world, when people die, they truly die; they don't become vengeful spirits. Only Ghost Drivers, upon death, reawaken as vengeful spirits and wander the world.

Three days wasn't long; gathering this much information was already decent.

Over these days, Li Yi had been lying in wait beside the museum. Though security guards occasionally patrolled, evading them was effortless for him. Through his observations, he had indeed seen a man around sixty years old walking inside the dim, dark museum.

That man was the museum's owner, Fang Hua.

But in Li Yi's perception, Fang Hua's condition was bizarre: first, his footsteps were quiet, even light—unusual for his height and weight; second, Fang Hua had never left the museum, and no one brought him food or drink, meaning he hadn't eaten or drunk anything in these days.

This certainly didn't match the traits of an ordinary person.

So was Fang Hua a ghost?

Li Yi felt his judgment might be wrong, because inside the museum he'd also heard other footsteps—not just one, but multiple. He hadn't seen their source, but judging by direction, they came from the basement level.

This situation meant he had to be extremely cautious with the delivery.

Because this letter must be delivered to a ghost. If multiple supernatural entities existed inside the museum, he had to determine who was the true ghost—some might merely be people influenced by supernatural forces.

"There's another method: whether it's a ghost or something else, if any 'person' appears before you, immediately observe them. If you can kill them, they're definitely not a ghost." A more extreme idea flashed through Li Yi's mind.

Though extreme, the method would surely work.

Still, no matter what, they all had to enter the museum tomorrow morning.

"Gather."

Li Yi wouldn't risk entering alone. After sending the message, he swiftly departed under cover of night.

Soon.

In a nearby park beside the museum.

Li Yi, Guo You, Liu Qingqing, and two unfamiliar second-floor messengers gathered together.

"We enter the museum first thing tomorrow. I've observed the interior roughly—first floor and basement are highly anomalous. I've seen Fang Hua, the museum owner—he's definitely inside, and his state is strange, not like a living person. But whether he's a vengeful spirit remains uncertain. Next time I see him, I'll strike immediately. If I kill him, he's not a ghost."

"Also, once inside, head straight to the second floor—it's safer and can serve as a temporary base. If any of you are ordinary people, bring food and drink. We might stay inside for several days. Once we complete the delivery, I'll burn the letter and return directly to the Ghost Post Office."

"That's the current plan. Any objections?"

Li Yi glanced at the others.

"No objections. The information we gathered outside is limited; to complete the delivery, we must risk entering the museum. But confirming that the danger lies on the first floor and basement is already crucial." One of the second-floor messengers spoke up.

"I'd like to add something. Today I collected more photos of items previously displayed in the museum. I suspect some may be supernatural artifacts—try to pay attention to them if possible." At that moment, Guo You pulled out a file folder and opened it, revealing various photographs.

The photos showed former exhibits: intricately carved bed frames, old copper basins, faded benches, smoking pipes, conical hats, straw capes, hand warmers, shoulder poles. There were also some more eerie items.

Like ancient wooden dolls, human-skin drums from old times, rusted iron forks, and even a black miniature coffin less than half a meter long.

One couldn't fathom what Fang Hua's tastes were—he collected everything. No wonder the museum had become haunted.

A few of these sinister objects might be harmless, but with so many gathered together, it was inevitable that one or two genuine supernatural items had been collected.

"Looking at this, there's a real chance supernatural artifacts are here. In some ways, their danger rivals that of vengeful spirits. Using them demands a heavy price—if they go out of control, they can trigger supernatural events. But I think the Ghost Post Office is giving us an opportunity here: a chance to encounter, even acquire, supernatural artifacts, to increase our survival rate on the third and fourth floors." Liu Qingqing said.

"Very likely. Wang Chuan mentioned before that first- and second-floor delivery missions offer more opportunities—chances to acquire supernatural artifacts, even to control vengeful spirits. Only through such trials can messengers truly be trained. If you're just an ordinary person with no self-preservation ability, even reaching the third or fourth floor means certain death. That contradicts the Ghost Post Office's purpose." Guo You said.

Li Yi glanced briefly at the photos and memorized every detail. He then said: "Forget about supernatural artifacts for now. Delivering this letter is the priority. If you have no objections, the plan stands. We'll adapt as we go. Use this final night to rest if you want."

"At this point, who can sleep?" One of the second-floor messengers chuckled bitterly.

But they noticed something.

Li Yi hadn't slept for three days and nights—and still looked fully alert. Similarly strange was Liu Qingqing, who also hadn't slept or eaten.

These two were not human.

"Rest or not—it's up to you."

Li Yi said no more. He left the group, found a quiet corner of the park, closed his eyes, and waited for dawn.

Soon.

The night passed. At first light, the five moved quickly, avoiding the guards as they approached the museum—only to find the main door locked, and all windows and doors sealed from within, as if the museum had no intention of ever reopening.

Everyone turned to look at Li Yi.

"Can't you even get through a door for a delivery mission?" Li Yi looked at them, puzzled.

"Lock-picking isn't our strength," Guo You muttered.

"We can't smash the windows—that'd draw the guards. If things get too loud, it'll ruin our next delivery mission." Another messenger added.

Li Yi said nothing more. He walked to the door, flicked his finger at the lock.

Blood qi and martial energy erupted.

A sharp crack rang out—the lock shattered. The heavy door swung open with a gentle push.

"That destructive power… is terrifying." Everyone's eyelids twitched.

That was a steel door—and he broke it with a finger flick?

Fortunately, Li Yi didn't enjoy killing. Otherwise, how many people would have died by his hands? Even Liu Qingqing, a Ghost Driver, felt wary—afraid that one flick might shatter her skull on the spot.

But these thoughts remained unspoken. None dared voice them.

As the door opened, the group slipped inside quickly and shut it behind them, to avoid detection.