Chapter 42: The Female Ghost's Invitation

Liuniu Village is located in the suburbs of Nanyun City; it was originally planned to be included in the development zone, but after policy adjustments, the renovation plan was delayed for several years.

Therefore, the village still retains the appearance of an old mountain village—low earthen houses scattered irregularly, bluestone paths winding and twisting, surrounded by lush mountains and forests.

Moonlight showered on the village, plating the walls, full of wind and rain traces, with a layer of pallid light.

Usually at this time, the whole village is dead silent, with not a single light on, as if abandoned.

However.

Tonight, Liuniu Village is no longer quiet.

At the village entrance, three Nanyun Public Security Bureau police cars are parked, red and blue warning lights flashing in the darkness, especially glaring.

At the entrance, Ra pulled up the cordon; a group of police patrolled around, yet no one stepped into the village.

"Captain, why can't we go in?"

The newly arrived detective Zhang Hai paced back and forth anxiously, occasionally tiptoeing to look into the village.

He is young and hot-headed, his face full of anxiety: "In this situation, isn't it better to go in earlier? If the crime scene is destroyed, finding the killer will become difficult!"

Captain Chen Jianguo sat on a rock; hearing this, he shook his head, gesturing for him to sit down: "This case is not simple, the waters run deep."

He lowered his voice: "The bureau chief specially ordered, not letting us go in; wait for the Civil Affairs Bureau colleagues to arrive, then we'll talk."

"You haven't even heard the coroner's appraisal—there isn't a single wound on the whole body........"

"Civil Affairs Bureau?" Zhang Hai frowned: "Captain, you don't really believe in a ghost killing people, do you?"

"What era is this now, still engaging in feudal superstition! Especially us detectives!"

"If there really were gods and spirits, back then we and the little Japanese.........."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden engine roar came from afar.

Everyone turned their heads to look, only seeing a black off-vehicle drive up the mountain road, its headlights cutting through the darkness, finally stopping at the open space ahead.

Tang Hu and company got out of the car; Chen Jianguo hurriedly rose to greet them.

The two were obviously acquainted; Chen Jianguo directly said: "Old Tang, Lin Mei, the place where the corpse was found is the village ancestral hall, just southwest of the central big tree."

He pointed to the interior of the village: "The villagers have all been evacuated; from now on, it's up to you."

Tang Hu nodded, patted Chen Jianguo's shoulder: "Another day, come to my house for drinks."

"By the way, how did your son do on the college entrance exam?"

"Just so-so, barely got into a 211, but he himself applied to a police academy." Chen Jianguo smiled, then turned serious: "Let's not talk about him."

"You guys be careful; I'll lead people to guard the village entrance, and report any movement immediately."

"Okay." Tang Hu said no more, turned and gave a hand signal to his team:

"Depart."

The group walked toward the interior of the village; their silhouettes were quickly swallowed by darkness.

Zhang Hai stood aside, watching them disappear at the village entrance, couldn't help but walk up to Chen Jianguo: "Captain, I want to follow them in to have a look!"

He spoke firmly: "I don't believe in any ghosts!"

Chen Jianguo glared at him: "You brat, don't cause trouble! Just passed the assessment and you want to be disqualified, right?"

"But......"

"No 'but's!" Chen Jianguo interrupted him: "Stay put!"

Having said that, he walked over to a few officers nearby and gave them instructions.

Zhang Hai gritted his teeth, turned and walked back to the police car, took out a telescope from the trunk, then found a relatively high spot and raised the telescope to look into the village.

Letting him sneak in himself, he definitely wouldn't do that.

He didn't have the nerve to disturb others' actions; moreover, Tang Hu appeared to know the captain.

In the viewfinder.

The silhouettes of Tang Hu and company had already reached the big tree at the village center.

In the moonlight, their outlines appeared somewhat blurry, possibly due to the night.

Just as Zhang Hai was about to adjust the telescope settings, suddenly a Black Shadow flashed past, making him involuntarily step back, nearly tripping over a stone:

"Holy shit?!"

He let out a low exclamation, then, as if unwilling to believe it, raised the telescope again to look.

This time.

He saw clearly.

That Black Shadow floated to the big tree at the village center, long hair, red clothing.

Facing away............

In the blink of an eye, that figure turned around!

"Holy shit!!"

This time Zhang Hai was truly frightened and fell sitting on the ground.

Hearing his voice, Chen Jianguo frowned and looked in the direction where he stood:

"Zhang Hai, you brat, what are you yelling about?"

Zhang Hai scrambled to his feet and came before Chen Jianguo.

"Captain, hear me out—I admit I just spoke too loudly."

"Just that?"

"I saw it!"

"What?"

"A ghost! A female ghost! What an ugly female ghost!"

"Keep it down!"

"Oh oh oh, yes, sorry, Captain—whatever you say from now on is law! If you tell me to kill a chicken, I will never kill a pig; if you tell me to stand while defecating, I will never sit!"

"……Stop the nonsense, stay on one side."

Inside the village.

Tang Hu stopped beneath the locust tree in the center of the village.

The locust tree was astonishingly massive; its trunk would need at least four people to encircle.

The bark was dry, cracked and twisted, casting a snarling shadow in the moonlight.

"Something's off......" Tang Hu whispered, his brows knit.

He turned his head toward Yu Lin and signaled, "Step back a few steps."

Yu Lin nodded and, without showing any emotion, retreated to the side.

Tang Hu and three others quickly dispersed, taking positions to the east, south, west and north.

Simultaneously, they drew a small peach wood sword from their sleeves.

Yu Lin recognized it as a Civil Affairs Bureau‑customized Heavenly Bestowed Artifact replica, which suppresses yin‑evil entities and is worth two contribution points.

The moment the four formed their formation, a gust of sinister wind swept by, rustling the locust tree's leaves.

Dragon Lord's voice sounded in Yu Lin's ear: "Yu kid, look to the left!"

Yu Lin snapped his head around—

Three meters away, a figure in red robes with long hair had appeared behind Tang Hu at an unknown moment.

She stood silently, her decayed red skirt unmoving, as if merged with the night.

Seeming to notice Yu Lin's gaze, the female ghost slowly turned her head.

In her pitch‑black eye sockets there were no pupils, only two writhing shadows.

Decayed flesh on her face tore aside, revealing a snarling grin. Her lips moved silently, forming the shape of words:

"Will you be my husband?"

Yu Lin: "............"

Dragon Lord's voice, tinged with a hint of teasing, rang out:

"Then perhaps you should go along with her?"

"Give birth to two ghosts?"

Yu Lin remained silent.

Seeing Yu Lin not reply, Dragon Lord ceased the teasing and spoke seriously:

"It's only an illusion; we must locate where her true form resides."

"I sensed it; it should be beneath the ancestral hall the person just mentioned."

Yu Lin nodded, "Alright."

Huff.

Another gust of wind passed, and the female ghost vanished.

It was at that moment.

Prepared, Tang Hu let out a low shout:

"Slash!"

The small peach wood swords in the four's hands instantly swelled to three feet, their blades shimmering with a faint Golden Light.

Four beams of Golden Light simultaneously slashed toward the locust tree—

"Ah—!!"

A mournful scream tore through the night sky.

On the rough bark of the locust tree, a twisted ghost face emerged, snarling at them, "Get out! Get out!"

"Don't come disturb me!"

The ghost face let out a final scream and then dissipated into the air.

The locust tree, previously shrouded in ominous gloom, instantly returned to calm, as if everything had been an illusion.

The peach wood swords reverted to their original form, though each blade bore a fine crack.

Tang Hu sheathed his peach wood sword and gestured toward the ancestral hall,

"Proceed onward."