Chapter 279: Escape Plan

"Since you've agreed to the deal, give me your account number—I'll have accounting transfer the money right away." This new courier, Yang Wang Jian, acted with swift decisiveness; as soon as Li Yi agreed to the transaction, he immediately prepared to send the payment, leaving no room for further negotiation.

Li Yi smiled at this: "I'm a practical man—I take payment first, then do the job."

"Friend, do you think any normal person walks around carrying several million in cash every day? There's no signal inside the Ghost Post Office—we can only transfer money to you after the fact," another man spoke up. His name was Li Yang, also a newcomer, but his aura of the supernatural was heavy—he was clearly a Spirit Controller.

"That makes sense."

Li Yi rubbed his chin, wondering whether he could handle these two Spirit Controllers if they teamed up.

Though they possessed supernatural power, their reactions were terrible. At this close range, how many punches could he land in an instant? Could he crush them both into pulp?

Probably.

They were just Spirit Controllers—he'd killed plenty before.

But he continued: "Earth Prisoners are inherently evil and utterly untrustworthy—your words are as worthless as flatulence. A deal worth millions, based solely on your word? Frankly, I find it hard to believe. There's no law here, no contracts to sign—you could simply default and walk away, and I can't exactly sue you."

"Here's what I'll do—I'll take a loss and give you one sheet of letter paper for free. When you leave, transfer the money, then come back and ask for more sheets."

The man named Yang Wang Jian seemed to grow impatient. He pulled a golden pistol from his body and tossed it over: "You're too talkative. Take this—it's your payment."

Li Yi had handled guns before—he'd undergone shooting training when he joined the Investigation Bureau—but this gun felt unnaturally heavy, pressing heavily in his grip. He expertly spun it, ejected the magazine, and found it was equally golden—this thing was entirely forged from gold.

"Each bullet is worth one hundred thousand on the market. Just the magazine alone is worth two million. I'll take a loss and give you the extra as a gift," Yang Wang Jian said calmly.

Li Yi traced the smooth, cold barrel, his eyes flickering: "Gold prices have surged sharply lately. Some say supernatural forces can influence all matter—but not gold. If you built a safehouse entirely of gold, it could block supernatural intrusion. Too bad I'm poor—I can't afford enough gold to build one."

"Making guns out of gold? I never thought of that. If gold can block supernatural power, does that mean this weapon can actually hit ghosts?"

He instantly understood the significance of gold weapons.

Clearly, Spirit Controllers were different—they'd dealt with ghosts long enough to develop tools uniquely their own.

"Theoretically, that's correct," Yang Wang Jian said.

Theoretically?

Li Yi suddenly smiled: "True—even if you hit a ghost, it probably won't kill it, just slow it down a bit. This weapon's real use is against people. Ghosts can't be killed by it, but humans can. So you're a professional Spirit Controller."

"But giving me a weapon like this—aren't you worried I'll turn it on you?"

"Try it. The moment you point that gun at me, you're already dead," Yang Wang Jian said.

Li Yi's gaze flickered. This man was no ordinary figure—Spirit Controllers clearly had tiers. This one had likely reached a level where he was immune to gunfire.

So normal physical means couldn't harm this Spirit Controller.

If he truly had to fight, he'd need to pull out his cracked short staff and land a surprise blow to have any chance of winning—his fist aura alone might backfire.

But he had no conflict with these people—no reason to fight.

Since they, like Liu Liu Qingqing, were eager to deliver mail, let them join forces—he'd use the chaos to slip away.

Besides, with these Spirit Controllers as teammates, Liu Liu Qingqing would likely complete her delivery mission and escape the Ghost Post Office. If luck held, Guo You might even survive. He had few acquaintances left in this world; as someone who'd traveled this path with them, he hoped they could break free from the curse after he left.

"Here's your letter paper," Li Yi said, handing over a stack of black sheets. "When you use it, roll it into a stick—otherwise it burns too fast, and the Ghost Post Office path won't appear before it's gone. You'll waste a second sheet. This method is my own discovery—I'm giving it to you as a free tip."

He demonstrated, rolling one sheet into a long, thin stick like an incense stick for the dead.

Then Li Yi explained other Post Office details to the newcomers. Since they'd paid, he had no reason to withhold information. This delivery was a group letter—if they succeeded, they could bring Liu Liu Qingqing and Guo You to the fourth floor for free.

As for what came after—he wouldn't concern himself.

At that moment, Liu Liu Qingqing and Guo You in Room 34 heard the commotion outside and stepped out.

But Liu Liu Qingqing's appearance immediately drew the attention of the two Spirit Controllers. Li Yi even caught the flicker of hostility on their faces.

Is this how Spirit Controllers always react to strangers?

Li Yi didn't want Liu Liu Qingqing to fight them. He quickly said: "Don't worry—they're my teammates. Guo You, Liu Liu Qingqing."

Their hostility lessened somewhat, but they remained wary, their eyes constantly scanning Liu Liu Qingqing.

Liu Liu Qingqing frowned. She disliked their gaze intensely. These were mere newcomers—no manners at all. What kind of look was that? As if she were some rare animal? And why were they fixated on her high heels? They were Spirit Controllers—surely they didn't have such odd tastes.

At that moment, Yang Wang Jian looked at Li Yi: "You just said this was a group letter. This must be your Room 34 group letter, right? It can't be ours—we just came up from the second floor. It's too coincidental to have another delivery task immediately."

"You want to go upstairs? Good—my companion wants to go upstairs too. This is our third letter. Deliver it, and we go straight to the fourth floor. It's a win-win for you. Whose task it is doesn't matter. I can decide: I'll hand this letter to you. You lead the delivery. How?" Li Yi said.

Before leaving, he needed to find new partners for Liu Liu Qingqing and Guo You.

These two seemed viable.

"Li Yi, I don't think giving away our third letter is wise. If we hand it to them, we might have to deliver three more letters on this floor before reaching the fourth. If we take this task now and succeed, we become fourth-floor couriers—just one step from the fifth floor," Guo You objected.

He trusted Li Yi's ability far more than this stranger Yang Wang Jian.

Li Yi said nothing. He had his reasons—he just couldn't explain them.

After all, he was about to cross over—he couldn't expect them to understand his actions now.

Liu Liu Qingqing said: "Let's see how things unfold first. No one knows what the third letter looks like."

"Liu Liu Qingqing, I think the three of us are capable of reaching the fourth floor—we shouldn't give up this chance," Guo You urged.

Li Yi stepped forward and whispered: "If you want to survive, you must find new teammates. My abilities have reached their limit on this floor. These people share your goal—they're heading to the fifth floor of the Ghost Post Office. Use their strength to achieve your aim."

"Also, my time is up. I must leave. In fact, over this time together, you've probably guessed—I'm not from this world."

"No one in this world moves like you," Liu Liu Qingqing said, studying him deeply. She'd suspected it all along—she just hadn't wanted to say it.

Li Yi continued: "Back at the museum, I acquired a wooden doll. If I carve my name onto it, it becomes a new version of me—like Fang Hua, the curator. I won't participate in this delivery. I'll use the doll to represent me for a while."

"We've been teammates. Liu Liu Qingqing—find a chance during this delivery to kill my stand-in and erase all traces of me from this world."

Liu Liu Qingqing was stunned. Li Yi had devised such a clever escape plan.

"If you just want to leave, why use the doll?" she asked.

"I'm being cautious. What if the Ghost Post Office's curse targets me because I didn't participate in this delivery? I won't gamble. Besides, this thing's useless to me now—if not now, when?" Li Yi said.

The doll, though mystical, couldn't inherit the user's power—it was merely a puppet that inherited memories.

He used it now only to ensure his safe crossing over—no room for accidents.

"I understand," Liu Liu Qingqing nodded. "If this lets you break free from the curse, it may well be a good thing."

She admired Li Yi. They'd partnered multiple times, helping each other survive.

She didn't want him to die. So the fact that he'd found a way to escape the curse brought her genuine relief.

"When will you act?" Liu Liu Qingqing asked.

"Now," Li Yi said, his gaze shifting slightly as he glanced at the others.

While they were still discussing other matters, he quietly slipped away and returned to his room.