Chapter 005: Catch me and you’ll lose something – and I don’t mean the wig!

Chapter 005: Catch me and you'll lose something - and I don't mean the wig!

The bloodied hand floated in the air, slowly inscribing a few words:

— No need, thank you. Please leave.

As the bloody fingers traced the letters, the dripping blood floated in the air, reminiscent of words written on glass. The droplets, like teardrops of blood, fell to the ground, only to be frozen by the chilly aura.

Chi Shen was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected such politeness from a ghost, especially the use of "please."

Encountering such a well-mannered specter, Chi Shen even reflected on himself: had he been polite and kind today? The answer was an unequivocal yes. Whether dealing with strangers or ghosts, his words were always courteous.

Initially, he was concerned that after leaving the death game, he might struggle to adapt to normal life. Now, it seemed he had transitioned seamlessly.

After inscribing the previous words, the bloodied hand paused for a moment before moving again.

— Goodnight, sweet dreams.

The frost clinging to the chains began to melt away as the pierced heart resumed its beat, and the frozen blood droplets thawed, falling once more to the ground.

Chi Shen always believed that relationships were reciprocal; hence, he would reciprocate the ghost's politeness.

"My apologies for intruding."

With a rueful smile, Chi Shen exited the main house, thoughtfully shutting the door behind him and sealing it once more.

Chi Shen was by no means stingy with his goodwill. However, the entity inside had declined his offer.

He didn't particularly want to confront the being inside the house. His experience of vanquishing countless spirits told him that this entity had suffered greatly, perhaps even more so than Bai Wan.

That being must have experienced agonies multiple times worse than Bai Wan ever did.

If they were to confront each other, due to his abilities, he'd undoubtedly sense the entity's emotions and past. That would be too painful to bear. Since the being didn't want help, Chi Shen chose to turn a blind eye, assuring himself the entity was bound to the main house and returned to get some rest.

Having left the death game and witnessed the myriad intricacies of human nature, all he now yearned for was to relax. His milk tea had to be doubly sweet; he wished for leisure at work, and when it came to stories, he only indulged in happy endings, strictly avoiding tragic ones!

——

"Got you."

Lu Xiangyang stood behind the door, clasping his mouth tightly, not daring to breathe.

There were blood stains on his clothes, not his, but He Chao's.

Initially, when the shrouded boy invited them to play a game, though He Chao claimed the ghosts here couldn't harm them, Lu Xiangyang was still scared. He dared not enter the room and hid in a gap behind a water tank.

He Chao mocked him and didn’t hide at all, standing there waiting for the shrouded boy to finish counting.

Shortly after, Lu Xiangyang heard a scream from outside. Peeking through the gap between the water tank and the wall, he saw He Chao clutching a bleeding eye in pain, collapsing to the ground.

"Remember, if you're caught, you'll lose something," the shrouded boy said cheerfully. "This time I wanted an eye; next... next time I'll take a hand!"

It took a long time for He Chao to painfully get up. Lu Xiangyang wasn't sure what went through his mind, but by then, the look of fear and pain had vanished from He Chao’s face. He glared sinisterly at the shrouded boy, his voice hoarse and slow, "Now it's my turn to be the ghost."

"Only I get to be the ghost in this game," the shrouded boy grinned, a rigid smile slowly forming on his pallid face. "Because I am the only ghost."

This time, He Chao turned and ran. Lu Xiangyang followed suit, but before they could reach the main door, they were overtaken by the shrouded boy.

"I've already lost an eye; now it's your turn!" He Chao grasped Lu Xiangyang's arm.

"It’s your own fault for not hiding!" In his panic, Lu Xiangyang shoved He Chao away.

He saw He Chao’s hand get torn off by the shrouded boy, and the blood that splashed onto him was from that moment.

Soon after, He Chao's scream echoed from outside, followed shortly by the shrouded boy's counting.

“10——”

Lu Xiangyang quickly glanced through the door crack to gauge the shrouded boy's position and then swiftly moved towards the main door.

“5——”

He had to hide!

In his haste, Lu Xiangyang surveyed his surroundings. He noticed a room with a light on, and the door ajar. Although he wondered why there was light in this place, the illumination gave him a fleeting sense of relief. He slipped inside to find a large wardrobe, a bed, and a shattered mirror. Without hesitation, he chose the wardrobe as his hiding place.

“1——”

The countdown is over.

The ghost can now catch people.

Lu Xiangyang stifled his breath; the cabinet's enclosure was impeccable. He couldn't see the outside, and no light seeped in. His only way to discern events outside was by sound.

Outside, all was silent.

Soon, the soft footsteps of a child drew closer, lingering nearby.

Lu Xiangyang hardly dared to breathe, forcing his breaths to be calm and shallow. Enveloped in utter darkness, his senses became exceptionally keen.

The cabinet's craftsmanship seemed subpar, as a chilling breeze drifted in through the gaps, sending a cold shiver down his neck.

But wait... a breeze?

How could there be airflow in a cabinet that doesn't even let light through?

A terrifying realization dawned on Lu Xiangyang. Trembling, he tried to grasp his phone, but his shaking hand betrayed him. As he touched the screen, the phone clattered within the confines of the cabinet.

In the faint glow, a pale face plastered against the inner cabinet looked straight at him. Its bluish-white lips slowly curled into a grotesque smile.

From outside the cabinet, a child's voice—both innocent and cruel—whispered, "Found you."

Cold sweat poured down Lu Xiangyang's face. Trapped between the shrouded boy outside and the spectral face inside, he felt an impending doom and, in despair, shut his eyes, bracing himself for the end.

The phone's light died, casting the wardrobe back into darkness. The footsteps outside faded. Lu Xiangyang wasn't sure if the shrouded boy was waiting for him. Clenching his teeth, he tried not to make a sound, reaching for the protective talisman in his pocket.

The cabinet began to shake. Feeling the door being opened, Lu Xiangyang, in a desperate move, threw the talisman out. Even though He Chao had proven the talisman ineffective against the shrouded boy, it was the only protective measure he had left.

"What are you doing?"

A clear male voice accompanied by light filled the space.

A new ghost?

Trembling, Lu Xiangyang opened his eyes.

Standing outside the cabinet was a handsome young man, who looked at him with a puzzled expression.

He recognized the man; it was the true young master of the Bai family who had been striving to return to his ancestral home after years in exile.

Chi Shen found the man before him quite odd. Not only had he inexplicably entered his cabinet, but he had also thrown things at him. If this were one of those death games, Chi Shen would have instantly assumed ill intent, incapacitating the stranger with a few swift blows.

However, this was a peaceful world, and Chi Shen reminded himself to be courteous to others.

Slowing down his speech, Chi Shen patiently asked again, "What are you doing in my cabinet? And how did you get in?"

He recalled locking the front door when he had left to visit other residents.

Lu Xiangyang's face was ashen with terror. With a sudden jerk of his eyes, he burst out of the cabinet, exclaiming, "Face! The boy! The face!"

He gestured frantically towards the cabinet and then his own face, repeating, "The boy!"

Chi Shen pondered for a moment, then picked up the shrouded boy who was clinging to his leg, asking, "Do you mean this one?"

With a horrified scream, Lu Xiangyang fled.

Outside the door, a headless corpse held up the head of a female ghost, both specters curiously peeking inside.

"He's been captured. What should we do?"

"Should we rescue him?"

The voices seemed to come from all directions. Lu Xiangyang tried to cover his ears, but the sound seemed to penetrate his palms, echoing directly inside his head.

"Don't scare him anymore," Chi Shen instructed. "Help me bring him back inside."

"Right!" The headless ghost acted swiftly, swinging an ax in front of Lu Xiangyang.

The red-dressed female ghost, with her red-nailed hands, grabbed Lu Xiangyang by the shoulders.

"Ah!"

At last, the strain became too much for Lu Xiangyang, and he collapsed.

Chi Shen looked over.

The female ghost in red immediately withdrew her hand, and the headless ghost promptly retracted his ax, both pretending as if they had done nothing.

"Help me bring him inside," Chi Shen directed, turning his gaze to the shrouded boy.

The little boy in burial clothes looked at him with innocent eyes.

"You've added to your sins," Chi Shen's voice was soft, like a patient older neighbor, "Where is he?"

*

Author's note:

I'm a working individual, so chapters are pre-written and auto-published. Sorry for any delay in thanking you for your tokens!