Chapter 16: The Ghost Who Gets Off

"Captain Zhao, a Supernatural Incident occurred in Xiaochi City."

"According to the survivors, they saw a man in Funeral Clothes and a woman in a Wedding Dress appear on a street in the outskirts of Xiaochi City, and then everyone suddenly knelt together and died."

"It is speculated that they survived because they were on a vehicle and thus could not kneel."

"In the Headquarters' monitoring room, a logistics staff member reported to Zhao Jianguo."

"What? Over a hundred people? And those two Ghosts? Where are they now?"

"Zhao Jianguo's expression hardened; the recent incident caused over a hundred deaths, and if the killings continue and the impact expands, it could become an A-Class Paranormal Event."

"That Ghost vanished after the killings, but the victims turned into Ghost Slaves; fortunately, the Xiaochi City official has already sealed those Ghost Slaves."

"The logistics man opened the computer, and the avatar of the Xiaochi City official appeared."

"The Xiaochi City official is a refined-looking man wearing glasses, exuding a scholarly aura."

"At the request of Xiaochi City official Han Mo, we attempted to retrieve the surveillance footage."

"Unfortunately, all cameras near the incident area have ceased functioning, and the video cannot be recovered."

"Later we tried to obtain satellite recordings, but only a blurry image was visible."

"Having said that, a very fuzzy image appeared on the computer."

"On a town street that was neither bustling nor desolate, an old bus suddenly appeared at an unknown time."

"The bus moved forward, stopped beside the bus stop on the street, and then a red figure and a white figure emerged from it."

"Perhaps due to supernatural interference, the satellite could not clearly capture the details of those two figures."

"Nevertheless, even from afar, they could sense the strangeness of those two figures in the image."

"Captain Zhao, because these two Ghosts were respectively dressed in Funeral Clothes and a Wedding Dress, this Supernatural Incident was defined by Han Mo as a Red and White Double Evil Event."

"According to Han Mo's speculation, the Killing Rule of this Supernatural Incident should be related to kneeling."

"Moreover, based on the survivors' endurance, sitting in a vehicle should avoid triggering the Killing Rule, though it's unclear whether merely being seated can prevent it."

"Zhao Jianguo stared fixedly at the screen, offering no response."

"Captain Zhao, Captain Zhao?"

"The person sounded puzzled, calling out twice in succession."

"Hearing that, Zhao Jianguo finally reacted."

"Alright, let's proceed as Han Mo suggested."

"By the way, inform Han Mo to pay extra attention to the Red and White Double Evil Event during this period, and try to prevent this Supernatural Incident from affecting ZS City."

"Xiaochi City is not far from ZS."

"If this Supernatural Incident spills into ZS City, the complexity of ZS City's Head Balloon incident will increase significantly."

"By the way, has Yang Jian arrived in ZS City yet?"

"Zhao Jianguo frowned and asked."

"\"Not yet, \" the man shook his head."

"\"But preparations are complete; we should depart in an hour and can start handling ZS City's Supernatural Incident tomorrow. \""

"\"Connect me to Yang Jian's phone. \""

"Zhao Jianguo thought for a moment, then said."

"At this moment, in an old mansion within Guan Jiang Xiao Qu, Dachang City."

"An inconspicuous slip of paper lay in the cabinet, bearing a crooked line of black characters: \"Find within a year. \""

"The slip contained only six characters, and on its reverse was a color photograph that looked as if it had just been printed from a printer."

"The photo showed a person—specifically a woman—whose appearance was indescribable, both alluring and eerie, because her open eyes were hollow, lacking pupils."

"Yet even so, the woman smiled at the camera, appearing very gentle, but a close look revealed the smile was unnaturally stiff, like a wooden puppet exuding dead air, and her pale hands were rigid, already mottled with corpse spots."

"There was no doubt the woman was dead, perhaps even a Ghost."

"Moreover, the woman's attire and the background of the photo made Yang Jian's face darken."

"The woman wore a red long dress, sat on a wooden stool, and the background featured an ancient wooden door with two red lanterns hanging from its corners; the surroundings were dim, as if a thick black fog was encroaching."

"He was unsure about the woman, but he remembered the photo's background clearly."

"Indeed, it was exactly the same as the place where the bus had stopped earlier, waiting for Gan Si Xin Niang to board."

"It was also an old mansion, also adorned with red lanterns."

"Although the view from that ghost bus that day was unclear, he could still see the outline of the wooden mansion and the two red lanterns at the entrance."

"Such a distinctive feature could not be mistaken."

"However, although the woman's clothing resembled that of Gan Si Xin Niang, this woman was a freshly deceased corpse, whereas Gan Si Xin Niang had already become a dry corpse."

"The difference is huge."

"Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that, over time, the woman in the photo has become a dry corpse."

"\"This photo can't be of Gan Si Xin Niang, can it? \""

"\"No, that's not right. Gan Si Xin Niang has a red cloth covering her head, obscuring her appearance; beneath that covering, the dry corpse might not be this woman. \""

"Yang Jian's gaze flickered; though he couldn't be certain, he could assert that the background in the photo was definitely that old mansion where the bus had stopped."

"\"The Ghost Cabinet asked me to find it within a year; this request is extremely odd—just to locate it, not to bring it, nor to meet it. \""

"Looking at the photo in his hand, a vague unease in his heart was being amplified."

"\"The more one deals with these Ghost things, the scarier it gets; one feels like prey, being lured step by step into a terrifying trap. The human‑skin paper is like that, the Ghost Cabinet likewise, and also that newspaper ghost that took Zhao Lei away. \""

"Holding the photo, Yang Jian showed no joy after the successful transaction."

"The reason Yang Jian made a deal with the ghost chef was to locate Zhao Lei."

"Zhao Lei, for unknown reasons, was controlled by the newspaper ghost, and now Yang Jian cannot find him."

"Helpless, to prevent more people around him from being attacked later, he turned to the Ghost Cabinet for a deal."

"Sigh, let's go to ZS City first, sort out Zhao Lei's matter later, and we can't let this Ghost keep attacking the people around me."

Seal off the room where the Ghost chef is, then prepare to set out for ZS City.

However, at that moment.

Ding—ding—ding!

Yang Jian's Walkie-Talkie suddenly emitted a ringing sound.

"Yang Jian, have you set out now? I have something to ask you."

Yang Jian was just about to speak when a hurried voice of Zhao Jianguo came through the Walkie-Talkie.

(End of chapter)