Chapter 027: How Can a Ghost… Deceive Another Ghost?!

Chapter 027: How Can a Ghost... Deceive Another Ghost?!

Accompanying the ghost bride's sinister tone, a malevolent energy began spreading from the annex. Blood oozed from the peach wood carving of the Door Guardian, its red matching that of the ghost bride's veil. As each drop of blood fell from the veil, another drop fell from the Door Guardian.

One drop, two drops, three drops...

Each drop of blood gathered on the tablecloth, staining its yellow fabric, then trickling towards the two dark spirit tablets.

While the spirit tablets and Door Guardian prevented the ghost bride from leaving the annex, the chilling aura still wreaked havoc within the courtyard, feeling like a biting wind. Several of the assistants started to shiver uncontrollably; one wiped his face to find a layer of frost forming on his eyebrows.

“Who is this?” asked Bai Ran's cousin, his voice trembling.

Bai Ran stared intently at the ghost bride amidst the red candles. Though he tried to remain calm, fear was evident in his eyes, “She's an ancestor from centuries ago. After committing a grave error, she became a malevolent spirit. The then head of our family, her own parents, sealed her here.”

As he spoke, a chilling sensation enveloped his chest, where a knife wound seemed to be icing over. Quickly, he bowed in the bride's direction, the cold abating slightly.

“What error?” someone asked.

“Becoming a malevolent spirit on her wedding day... what else could it be?”

The encroaching cold aura silenced the next speaker, causing several to take steps back. They bowed repeatedly towards the ghost bride, chanting, “We've offended the ancestral spirit, our apologies!”

Bai Hengqing, standing before the altar adorned with a bagua cloth and various ritual items, also displayed great respect. After lighting three incense sticks, he bowed deeply towards the ghost bride and said loudly, “Might I ask why you chose to wreak havoc upon the Bai main residence? Have we unintentionally offended you?”

Bai Hengqing spoke humbly, not daring to raise his head, yet he was consumed with doubt.

The younger generation might be unaware of the intricacies of the old mansion, but as an elder, he knew it all too well. Particularly because Bai Ran's grandfather, Bai Ximing's father, passed away early, he had managed the Bai family affairs for some time. Thus, he was intimately familiar with every detail.

Within the mansion were many spirits, all used to confine this ancestral ghost, ensuring she couldn't leave. Moreover, the then head of the family, Bai Zongshan, held a grand feast for the spirits, inviting a lone ghost, one that once received offerings from the Bai family, to guard against this vengeful spirit from their own lineage.

Had the offerings to that lone ghost been interrupted?

Bai Hengqing wondered incessantly. The ancestral spirit should've been confined within her room. Why had she now not only ventured out but also destroyed the portrait of the family's founding ancestor? Such an act was profoundly disrespectful to the descendants.

What on earth had happened?

With Bai Ximing absent, Bai Hengqing finished speaking and subtly turned to glance at Bai Ran, who was once poised to inherit the Bai family's legacy, signaling him with a brief look.

Before the appearance of Chi Shen, Bai Ran had been assisting Bai Ximing with family matters. Being astute from a young age, he caught Bai Hengqing's subtle cue instantly, knowing what his elder wanted to inquire.

Taking a step forward, Bai Ran quickly said, "The offerings have been consistent. Fresh incense is offered on the first and fifteenth of every month."

"Send someone to check," Bai Hengqing whispered.

"Understood." Bai Ran stepped back and swiftly exited through the main door.

Once outside, the chilling atmosphere seemed to lessen slightly. Exhaling onto his hands, Bai Ran rubbed his arms, then retrieved his phone. As he prepared to dial, memories of a previous call his father received made him pause. After reassuring himself, he proceeded to make the call.

The call was answered swiftly, albeit with a hint of annoyance. "Young Master, what's the matter, calling at this hour?"

Bai Ran, without regard for the impertinence, quickly said, "Go check the old mansion, especially the spirit tablet of that lone ghost. See if anyone has shown disrespect."

"That eerie place? I only go there once every two weeks. Who'd dare to disrespect..." The person on the other end muttered, but considering recent events in the Bai family, he agreed to check.

"Hurry." Bai Ran urged.

Over the phone, footsteps echoed. Recalling the events of that fateful night at the Bai house, Bai Ran's grip tightened around his phone.

He remembered the night when Bai Ximing smashed the decorative phone in the living room. The endless ringtone and the ghostly voice still haunted him. He had been outside the door, watching, too afraid to enter. The cold, eerie atmosphere had been palpable. Thus, even now, he felt a lingering fear of phones and similar devices. The mere sound of footsteps on the other end was enough to break him into a cold sweat.

"Faster." He urged once more.

"What's the rush?" came a reply, followed by the sound of a door opening, but it suddenly halted.

"What's going on?" Bai Ran immediately asked.

"Broken, it's broken!" a frantic voice exclaimed, "The tablet we've always revered, the one without any inscription, it's shattered!"

Bai Ran's gaze darted toward the entrance of the old house, which appeared to be obscured by a thick, inky aura.

In the central courtyard, Bai Hengqing stood atop an altar, holding an incense stick, and bowed thrice towards the direction of the ghost bride.

The white smoke from the incense dissipated in the air. Bai Hengqing’s expression turned grave, indicating that the ghost wasn’t appeased by his offering. Otherwise, the smoke would have drifted towards the annex.

Not being appeased by the incense makes things much more complicated.

"If I wish to make a call, I'll do so. Do I need your permission?" The female ghost's voice emanated coldly from the annex, "You descendants of the Bai family confined me to this annex, hidden from daylight. Now that I've killed that wicked crone, am I not allowed to step out and witness the present-day world?"

A chill ran down Bai Hengqing's spine. Given the circumstances, if the ancestral tablets failed to contain this ancient spirit, he'd surely perish on the spot. This ghost had existed for centuries. Generations of family heads hadn’t managed to vanquish her but instead sealed her within the old house. Clearly, no one could deal with her — and he was no exception.

"Honored Ancestor, please calm your anger," Bai Hengqing bowed repeatedly, "Let us know your desires, and we'll fulfill them. In return, we ask that you spare the Bai family. We will erect a monument in your honor and worship you daily. If you need the energy from the living, we'll provide that as well."

"Heh heh, hahaha," the chilling laughter of Bai Wan echoed in the annex, "Praise and worship, you say? What virtues of mine are you praising?"

Bai Hengqing suddenly hesitated: "This..."

"I died at seventeen, having never even left this mansion. What virtue or merit could I possibly have?" With each word Bai Wan spoke, the flame of the red candle flickered, quickly turning from yellow to green. "And what do they say of me? That I lost my honor before marriage and took my own life on my wedding night out of fear of being discovered? How laughable. Living people say all sorts of things. You all view me this way, even using the living's yang energy to nourish me. Hahaha!"

A chill swept past the side courtyard's entrance. The table set at the doorway trembled, and the peach wood guardian affixed to it cracked with a "snap," with fresh blood pouring from the cracks. It quickly dyed the yellow cloth covering the table, drops of blood dripping onto the ground.

"Grandfather, what do we do?" The young man hiding behind was on the verge of tears. Given the situation, it seemed they would not be able to contain this vengeful spirit much longer. Would they all die here?

Bai Hengqing had not anticipated this. His previous arrangement of talismans, guardians, the portrait of the ancestral master, and the spiritual tablets of Bai Wan's parents outside the side courtyard were all intended to suppress this ancient spirit. His plan was to question the ghost undisturbed, to identify the one who had been making calls to the Bai family. But he hadn't expected the spirit herself to confess. How could he continue questioning now?

And despite all these preparations, this ancestral spirit acted as if they were nonexistent. The ancestral master's portrait was burned on command, talismans disappeared, and even the evil-warding peach wood guardians cracked. It seemed as though these protections were of no use. Only the two spiritual tablets remained standing on the table, barely holding the entrance of the side courtyard.

Why did this happen? Why didn't the ancestral master appear, and why weren't the guardians effective?

"Ancestress, please calm your anger!" With no other options, Bai Hengqing bowed deeply. He was careful with his words to avoid further angering the spirit. There were younger members of the Bai family behind him he needed to protect. "Ancestress, tell us what you desire, and we will do our utmost to fulfill it!"

Saying this, he signaled to the younger ones behind him. They reacted swiftly, with one after another kneeling down, all bowing in the direction of the side courtyard, "Ancestress, please calm your anger!"

"What do I desire?" Bai Wan's chilling voice seemed to echo in everyone's ears. "I desire the death of all Bai family members who slandered my innocence and imprisoned me for centuries!"

A white fog poured out from the side courtyard's entrance, a manifestation of condensed yin energy. The two spiritual tablets by the entrance were soaked in fresh blood, their bases stained crimson. They began to shake, as if invisible hands were holding them up, preventing them from falling. Yet the pouring yin energy seemed to resist, striving to break free from these last chains.

At that moment, Bai Hengqing was not idling either. Seeing that persuasion was futile, he rushed to the altar, grasping the peach wood sword and a nearby talisman. He began to chant hastily, "Guardians of the netherworld, repel the evil and ward off the malevolent spirits..."

A sudden gust surged, blowing fallen leaves and withered grass towards the side courtyard, as several shadowy figures shakily emerged from the ground.

"...Lend me your underworld soldiers to vanquish demons and monsters. Swiftly and firmly, heed my command!"

Bai Hengqing ignited the talisman in his hand, a stream of green smoke spiraled towards the emerging shadows. These shadows, some wielding knives and others axes, moved grotesquely towards the side courtyard, all targeting the ghost bride in her wedding attire without making a sound.

The bride did not flinch, not even the red veil on her head stirred. As the shadows leaped high, aiming their weapons at her, the candles surrounding her suddenly blazed up, flames engulfing the figures in an instant. Moments later, the shadows vanished, leaving only the burning candles behind.

"Merely common specters," a cold chuckle emanated from beneath the bloodstained veil of the bride, "Overestimating yourselves."

Seeing that the summoned ghosts were ineffective, Bai Hengqing clenched his teeth and produced another talisman. Preparing for this ritual, he had anticipated grave dangers and came overly prepared. Just his exorcism talismans alone could cover the entire courtyard.

He drew a talisman bearing the character for 'thunder', chanting aloud, "Mystical powers of Taiyi, essence of fire and lightning, herald of electric sparks..."

Thunder roared abruptly in the skies as Bai Hengqing continued his chant, with dark clouds converging from all directions, obscuring the moon and stars.

Bai Wan chuckled, her tone somewhat nostalgic, "The Thunderbolt Charm? After all these years, it seems your teachings remain stagnant."

"...By the mark, command the element, delay not! Swiftly and firmly, heed my command!" Bai Hengqing pointed his thunder talisman towards the side courtyard, and a bolt of lightning struck straight for Bai Wan.

Bai Wan's silhouette shifted, disappearing in a blink, only to reappear at the entrance of the side courtyard, leaving behind a circle of green-flamed candles. Yet, the lightning, as if guided, sped in her direction.

From the sleeves of her red attire, a pale, blue-tinged hand emerged. Bai Wan didn't dodge but instead gestured at the peach wood door guardian.

Lightning exploded upon Bai Wan; her veil momentarily lifted by the force, revealing blood-red lips that curled into a smile.

The peach wood door guardian shattered, fragments flying everywhere.

The red veil once again settled, concealing the bride's smiling lips. The bride stood poised, as if awaiting her wedding procession, but the door guardian on the table was now gone.

Bai Hengqing staggered back, spewing a mouthful of blood. The younger generation behind him rushed to support him. Wiping the blood on his peach wood sword, he wrested free from them, snatching a handful of talismans from the altar, "Even if I die here today, I'll protect the lineage of the Bai family!"

"Hahaha," Bai Wan's chilling laughter echoed, "Come and try!"

"Heaven descends as earth rises, calling upon the sun and moon..." Bai Hengqing steadied himself in front of the altar, smearing the blood from his mouth onto the sword as he chanted, "...Supreme decree from above, exert dominion over all directions..."

The wind abruptly stilled, an invisible force seemed to converge on the sword.

"Heaven descends as earth rises, calling upon the sun and moon..." A hollow and eerily cold female voice echoed in tandem, "...Commander of the three realms, none shall defy (2)..."

Bai Hengqing's eyes widened in alarm, but he dared not stop. He quickly chanted, but the sword in his hand began to tilt towards him, as if he couldn't maintain his grip.

"Swiftly as a decree!"

"Swiftly as a decree!"

Two voices echoed simultaneously; one of the living and one of the ghostly.

Pale fingers from the wedding gown formed a sword gesture, pointing towards Bai Hengqing. The peach wood sword in his hand exploded abruptly, coating his hand with his own blood.

"Elder Bai!" The younger generation exclaimed in terror. If Bai Hengqing couldn't hold on, they would undoubtedly be next!

"She's also a descendant of the Bai family; regular methods won't work on her," Bai Ran's voice suddenly sounded behind them. He picked up the blood-stained talisman from the ground and smeared the still-warm blood of his elder onto his palm.

After the explosion of the peach wood sword, the spirit tablets on the altar began to shake violently. An unseen hand struggled to keep them upright, and the tablets were already tilting dangerously, appearing as though they might fall at any moment.

Suddenly, a pair of living hands reached out, steadying the two spirit tablets, realigning them to stand upright on the altar.

Bai Ran stood on the opposite side of the altar, holding the spirit tablets in place and casting a glance at the bridal ghost who stood just across the table from him.

The wound on his chest felt as though it had frozen. His breath turned to mist as it left his mouth, the cold threatening to seize his entire body. However, with deliberate calmness, he smeared Bai Hengqing's blood onto the spirit tablets, chanting, "Due to the negligence of Bai's descendants, the seal of Bai Wan, the sinner of the Bai family, has been compromised. The guardian ghost is nowhere to be found. I implore our Bai family ancestors to intervene and save our lineage. I respectfully request the seventh-generation clan leader and his wife to come forth and suppress Bai Wan, the sinner of the Bai family. This plea comes from your descendant, Bai Hengqing."

Bai Wan let out a piercing scream. Whether it was the mention of her as the 'sinner of the Bai family' or the summoning of the seventh-generation clan leader, both enraged her. Her clawed hand lashed out, but the spirit tablets acted like an invisible barrier, blocking her attack.

Bai Ran stood his ground, repeating his plea with increased urgency, "I beseech the seventh-generation clan leader and his wife to come forth immediately and suppress Bai Wan, the sinner of the Bai family!"

A gust of wind billowed under Bai Wan's red bridal veil, as if trying to whisk her away. The candles in the courtyard were snuffed out in an instant, but her hand inched ever closer to the spirit tablets.

She was determined to destroy these tablets and obliterate everything!

"Bai Wan!"

Suddenly, a booming voice descended from the heavens. Two ethereal figures landed atop the spirit tablets. The quaking tablets instantly settled, as steady as rock on the altar. One of the figures swept its sleeve, and Bai Wan, dressed in her wedding attire, collapsed to the ground. The wind lifted her veil, revealing a beautiful yet youthful face. Despite the heavy makeup and the hatred that marred her face, an innate innocence and naivety remained.

She was just an underage girl at the time of her death.

"Father—," Bai Wan cried out with a sharp scream, tears of blood dripping from her eyes, "Mother—, even in death, won't you let me be?"

The two ethereal figures quickly approached, and amidst the young girl's haunting cries, they dragged her back into the room that had imprisoned her for centuries. The talisman was restored, sealing away the dark energy. The two figures returned to the spirit tablets, standing guard at the entrance.

Bai Ran coughed violently, frost formed from the direct confrontation with the yin energy covering his eyebrows and hair. His hands trembled, and his legs gave way, causing him to collapse onto the ground.

It wasn't that he was fearless. He knew that if Bai Wan wasn't contained again, not only would everyone else be in danger, but he would also perish.

He didn't want to die; he had to act, to save these fools.

"Well done," Bai Hengqing managed to stand up from the ground, commending, "It's just a pity you don't possess the Bai family's bloodline. Such a waste..."

Bai Ran, who was still in fear, darkened at the remark. However, when he turned his face, it was filled with humility: "All I wish is to serve the Bai family in gratitude for their upbringing. Elder, are you alright?"

A few of the younger generation supported Bai Hengqing as he approached, "I'm fine. With Bai Wan locked up again, the problem plaguing the Bai family is solved for now. I need to discuss with Xi Ming about how to handle this and investigate why the guardian spirit went missing."

"It wasn't her," Bai Ran interjected suddenly.

Bai Hengqing paused, "What did you say?"

Bai Ran replied, "The ghost who answered the phone, it wasn't her."

Bai Hengqing quickly responded, "You shouldn't make such claims carelessly."

"The ghost who picked up the phone had red nail polish," Bai Ran recalled the scene he witnessed outside the door, "Her oppressive aura wasn't as strong. Breaking through the Bai family's barriers to answer a call seemed more accidental."

Bai Ran looked up at Bai Hengqing, "And the condemned Bai Wan, she doesn't wear nail polish, but golden finger rings. It's easy to distinguish."

Processing this, Bai Hengqing stepped back in shock, "Are you suggesting... there's another ghost?"

Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to the shattered old-fashioned telephone on the altar.

"That's impossible..." one of the younger ones murmured, shaking, "We did perform the summoning spell correctly."

"There were no mistakes in the process; I checked the book," another younger one with glasses asserted, clutching a notebook, "It was exactly as the book described, identical to Elder's method."

"We must have summoned the wrong one," Bai Hengqing said, unfazed, "I too felt it wasn't our ancestor. In her time, she wouldn't even know what a telephone is. It seems we offended her, and she came to trouble us."

None of the younger members dared to refute him. One cautiously inquired, "So... what should we do now?"

"What to do?" Bai Hengqing took a tissue from one of the youngsters to wrap his bleeding hand, "We'll summon again. Bai Ran, you're up."

Bai Ran bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your trust, Elder."

After Bai Wan, dressed in her wedding attire, was dragged into the courtyard, the main hall of the old mansion fell silent, with only the wind rustling the flags of souls.

Bai Ran stood before the altar, brush and cinnabar ink in hand, redrawing talismans.

A few of the younger generation brought a chair for Bai Hengqing to sit on, serving him warm tea as he rested on the side.

Elsewhere in the old mansion, within the depths of a room.

The ghost in red leaned against the door, peering through the crack to observe the outside. When Bai Wan was dragged back into the side courtyard, she became restless, crawling around the room. After making two rounds, she quickly went to a cabinet and knocked, "Sister! Sister!"

The cabinet door creaked open, revealing a pale ghostly face looking back, seemingly not understanding.

The ghost in red made a gesture over her head: "Sister!"

But as she gestured, lacking support, she fell from the cabinet. Undeterred, she clambered back up, muddy and disheveled, and climbed onto the cabinet, "Sister! Bai Wan has been locked up!"

The face inside the cabinet finally grasped the meaning. It extended a hand and tapped the other side of the cabinet. Suddenly, like a set of doors, the back of the cabinet opened, revealing a coffin covered

She felt a surge of fear and wanted to retreat.

The specter in the cabinet reached out one hand, gently nudging her to the side. With its other hand, it produced a mirror from beneath its garment, offering it to the ghost in red. A reassuring expression appeared on its pale face, as if urging, "Go on, young one!"

Holding the mirror in one hand and a paper phone in the other, the ghost in red hesitated, still apprehensive, as she began to crawl forward.

As she emerged from the cabinet, the door snapped shut behind her. She spun around, only to be met with a stark white wall, with no sign of the cabinet door.

"Even ghosts," her face twisted in anger as she gnashed her teeth at the wall, "get deceived by ghosts!"

In frustration, she banged on the wall, but there was no response. Stubbornly, she then rammed her head against it, resulting in a bleeding wound. The cabinet door remained elusive.

After all her attempts proved fruitless, the ghost in red huffed angrily at the wall and turned her attention back to the coffin.

To escape, whether through the door or the window, she'd have to get past the coffin and the paper talismans scattered all around.

These were the things she feared the most.

Consumed by fear, she clung to the wall, carefully inching towards the door. Not wanting to part with the paper phone and the small mirror, she held both with one hand and used the other to guide herself along the wall. Moving with just one free hand was challenging, slowing her progress considerably.

Suddenly, the tinkling of a bell reached her ears. She looked towards the door, her expression distant.

Someone was calling out to her!

"Someone's asking who's on the phone. It's her!"

"The ringing bell made her momentarily dazed. Her grip loosened, and instead of grabbing the wall for support, she fell straight down. The sudden descent jolted her back to reality, and she quickly sprung to her feet."

"The talisman's fallen off!"

"In a panic, she checked her arm to see if it was burned by the talisman. After a thorough look, she found no damage. Poking the talisman, she was puzzled to find it had no effect. Suddenly, it couldn't harm her anymore!"

"The bell rang again outside, but she acted as if she hadn't heard it. With one hand holding a paper phone and a small mirror, the other hand frantically tore at the talisman."

"These are the things she despises. She wants to destroy them all! Destroy them!"

"Bang—"

"The woman in red, holding onto a talisman, wasn't sure which one she'd pulled. The dark coffin lid suddenly sprang open, and a man dressed in Qing Dynasty attire leapt out. With a stiff turn of his neck, he seemed to glance at the woman in red before hopping towards the door."

"The sight of the sudden zombie left the woman in red frozen in place, not moving for a long time. Only when the bell rang outside once more did she groggily get up and follow the sound."

"A few youngsters by the altar whispered among themselves."

"Hasn't arrived yet, has she?"

"This Bai... Young Master, is he not up to it?"

"He must be wrong. How could the Second Elder summon the wrong ghost? He's just trying to show off."

"Bai Ran wasn't worried. He shook the soul bell in his hand again. Whether or not he found the ghost tonight, he had survived and had earned the praise of the Second Elder, Bai Hengqing. He hadn't wanted to come tonight, wishing to hide like Bai Ximing. Coming to the old mansion felt like seeking death."

"Yet, he also saw tonight as an opportunity, a chance to prove himself. At Bai Ximing's insistence, he came."

"He had made his impression in front of the elders. All that remained was to make it out alive."

"Suddenly, there was the sound of something collapsing. In the still of the night, it was particularly noticeable. Everyone turned to look in that direction."

"It was the sound of a door falling, the old wooden door crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. A zombie, dressed as a Qing Dynasty official, hopped out and headed straight for the altar."

"Could it be that ghost?" The youngsters started speculating upon seeing the zombie.

"I thought the one who called was a woman?" The atmosphere had relaxed due to the prolonged absence of a ghost. The youngsters weren't alarmed by the zombie, considering it easier to deal with than an elusive spirit, almost like a beginner's task."

"Upon catching sight of the zombie, however, Bai Hengqing shot up from his seat."

"Bai Ran paused, halting the soul bell in his hand."

"Zombies react to the soul bell, which can direct their actions. Knowing the identity of the zombie in the old mansion, he dared not shake it again."

"I'll handle this!" A younger member stood up, sensing an opportunity to showcase himself. "Wrong ghost summoned, right? Let me send him back."

"Sit down." Bai Hengqing rose from his chair, spitting disdainfully, and the young member fell silent immediately.

"Bai Ran set the soul bell on the table, about to speak, when he spotted a ghost – just a head and two hands – crawling out after the zombie. The ghost's hair trailed on the ground; one hand crawled while the other clutched something precious, obscured by the lengthy hair, making it hard to discern."

"The hand crawling on the ground had withered, pale fingers, protruding blue veins, and incredibly long, sharp nails – nails red as blood!"

"This is the ghost who called!"

"She's here," Bai Ran whispered.

"The others murmured among themselves, "This is a male ghost, not the female ghost we're looking for. You mentioned red nails, where are they..."

"Silence!" Bai Hengqing hushed, "Stay quiet. When that zombie comes closer, hold your breath and focus. One breath and you won't even know how you died."

The youngsters looked defiant but didn't dare to speak against Bai Hengqing.

"As the zombie hopped closer, everyone obeyed, maintaining absolute silence and holding their breaths. Some even pinched their noses and covered their mouths, fearful of making a mistake."

"In folklore, zombies discern the living from the dead by sensing the breath of the living. Everyone had received education on dealing with zombies. They knew how to respond to a zombie's approach. What they didn't understand was why Bai Hengqing was so cautious with a zombie that could be controlled with just talismans and the soul bell."

"Could this zombie be some kind of zombie king?"

"Suddenly, someone exhaled audibly. The zombie halted instantly, rotating its stiff neck to look in that direction."

"That person quickly covered their nose, frantically pointing behind the old zombie."

"The rest followed the gesture to see a female ghost, only visible from the shoulders up, crawling out, curiously observing them."

"Red nails!"

"A female!"

"The young member gestured wildly to the others, indicating, "It's this ghost!"

"The face of the ancient zombie was inches away from his, forcing the youngster to remain immobile. A putrid stench filled his nostrils, making him want to vomit. However, he dared not move, suppressing his urge to retch while the zombie stared intently."

"After a few moments, the old zombie, finding nothing amiss, finally pulled away and continued forward."

"At the entrance of the old mansion."

"Chi Shen finally stepped off the wobbly bus. As for why he didn't take a taxi, he simply didn't have the money."

"In a rush, Ji Xingchen led him through the ghost path from the bus stop to the old mansion."

"The ghost path, as it's called, is the route spirits take. Often, when a ghost plays tricks or always seems to catch up regardless of one's speed, it's not because they move quickly, but because they can navigate unseen pathways from the netherworld to appear right in front of the living."

"By this logic, while Chi Shen could've used the ghost path from his office to the mansion, the distance was too great. Ji Xingchen would need time to navigate the netherworld, and prolonged stays there aren't healthy for the living. Additionally, Chi Shen felt the need to act normally and believed his friends at the mansion were safe, hence he chose the slow bus ride home."

"Knowing that someone was after his friends, he'd naturally left them some protection."

"Emerging from the ghost path, they arrived directly at the mansion's entrance. Contrasting the usual desolation, the gatekeeper's quarters were lit, providing a touch of warmth in the night."

"The light wasn't meant for Chi Shen."

"The Bai family elders were hosting a séance at the mansion tonight. He Lao, the gatekeeper, had to be present. Instead of joining them inside, he stayed in his usual spot by the entrance, waiting patiently with the light on for everything to conclude."

"To his surprise, he encountered an unexpected guest."

"Thinking of his grandson who died within the mansion's walls, his face darkened, and he stepped outside."

"He shared the same view as some of the younger Bai family members. After not seeing Chi Shen for a whole day, he assumed the man had died silently in some corner of the mansion, later becoming a ghost who answered the phone. This is why he'd claimed all the ghosts were his friends. Alternatively, He Lao thought that Chi Shen realized the dangers of the mansion the night He Chao died and fled. Yet, when Bai Ximing called, out of spite, he pretended to be joyfully playing with friends."

"He never imagined that Chi Shen, instead of being dead or having fled, would actually return late at night, linking him undeniably to the call made to the Bai family."

"Of course, He Lao couldn't have guessed that to improve his work environment, Chi Shen chose to work overtime, returning too late to be spotted by the Bai family."

"Oblivious to these assumptions, all Chi Shen wanted was to get some rest. However, as he approached the entrance, an elderly man emerged from a nearby hut, glaring and chastising, "Why are you returning so late? Where were you?"

"Out of respect for his elders, Chi Shen responded with a smile, "Good evening, Mr. He. I just got off work."

"Now, He Lao was genuinely puzzled, "Work?"

"This man lives in a haunted house yet ventured out to work?"

Chi Shen sighed, "I have to earn my keep, you know."

Old He seemed to ponder for a moment before asking, "Where do you work?"

"A gaming company," Chi Shen replied.

Being from an older generation, Old He was not familiar with the gaming industry. He looked at Chi Shen suspiciously, "And you still stay here?"

"I'd prefer a place closer to work, but I'm broke," Chi Shen admitted candidly. "The Bai family let me stay here, so I can't waste the opportunity."

Old He snorted coldly, "So, you want to stay in the mansion. Don't delude yourself with ambitions of becoming the clan head. You might end up dead without even knowing how."

Chi Shen looked at Old He, "You seem to be under some misconception. I've never aspired to be any 'clan head'. In fact, I'm surprised such a position still exists."

"What did I get wrong?" Old He sneered disdainfully. "Tell me, who are these 'friends' you've met in the mansion? Who are you conspiring with to harm the Bai family? Isn't all this for the position of clan head?"

Chi Shen, with eyes half-lidded from fatigue, slowly opened them. His lips curled into a magnificent smile, "I indeed made quite a few friends in the mansion. Would you like to meet one?"

A dark figure emerged from his shadow, gradually taking on a clear form, revealing a refined young man wearing glasses.

"You really—" Old He's angry words were cut off as he got a clear look at the figure. He appeared to see something truly horrifying and stepped back, murmuring, "How... how is this possible?"

Suddenly, he let out a sharp scream and bolted, moving at a pace uncharacteristic of someone his age.

Halfway through his retreat, he looked back, shouting, "You! You'll meet a terrible end!"

Confused, Chi Shen turned to Ji Xingchen, "What just happened?"

The figure in front of him looked completely normal, except for the fact that he appeared too normal for a ghost. What could terrify Old He was perhaps only this face. Maybe Old He knew Ji Xingchen, either when he was alive or after his death.

Ji Xingchen contemplated for a moment, eventually shaking his head, "I don't know him. Or at least, he's not in my memories."

"Never mind," Chi Shen wasn't keen on delving deeper. He had other matters to attend to. His friends were waiting.

Inside the mansion, several people looked ashen-faced. The old zombie was finally about to move away from them. Based on their knowledge of zombie behavior, once it moved ten meters away, they could breathe freely.

They intently watched the old zombie's feet. It was nearing the mansion's door, getting closer to that ten-meter safe distance. Two meters left, one meter... They were about to breathe!

Suddenly, the heavy door of the mansion creaked open. Someone was pushing it from the outside.

A handsome young man appeared, unfazed by the sight of so many people in the courtyard. He greeted them with a smile, "Hi, everyone... Good evening."

Several people immediately looked over, their faces etched with horror.

The ancient zombie, sensing the presence of the living, slowly turned its head.

*

A note from the author:

This chapter is a three-in-one. Thank you all for your support. bows

Spell (1): Quoted from "Orthodox Daoist Scriptures" - Supreme Three Caves Divine Spells: The "Flying Thunder Charm" from the "Thunder Spells Section".

Spell (2): Quoted from "Orthodox Daoist Scriptures" - Supreme Three Caves Divine Spells: The "Spiritual Sword Charm" from the "Thunder Spells Section".

Anything not cited is purely from my imagination!

Shout out to my friend's story!

Story title: "I Never Intended to Create a Hit Game!"

Author: Ghostly Big Veggie

Synopsis:

"Am I really just a cannon fodder?"

Once a top-tier university elite and genius game developer, Pei Shu now finds himself labeled as a worthless character. Stroking his chin, he remarked, "Interesting."

A life once meticulously planned is now in shambles after being chosen by the plot as 'cannon fodder'.

Since the original plan has been disrupted,

Why not rebuild an even brighter future?

As for the so-called '

protagonist'?

Pei Shu, with his peach blossom eyes smiling gently, said, "May the best man win."

Then, a game studio named [Unbeatable] quietly emerged, setting off waves across the entire world.

Mini-Theater 1:

The original protagonist, having been reborn, returns to an era where many genius planners had yet to succeed. Brimming with confidence, he's raring to go:

——Players are fed up with the incessant trashy pay-to-win games. We need to create a truly zero-cost game!

Employee: Boss! That trashy pay-to-win cultivation game from the 'Unbeatable' studio is trending number one!

Protagonist: ?

——Single-player games are a loss? Only fools don't understand players! Let's create an innovative single-player game that'll dominate the sales chart!

Employee: Boss! The vintage single-player game from the 'Unbeatable' studio is sweeping the sales charts!

Protagonist: ?!

Later, on the international award stage, at the 'GAME' gala known as the Oscars of global gaming, amidst the glittering stars,

Pei Shu, holding the 'Game of the Year' award, looked perplexed: I really never intended to create a hit game...

Mini-Theater 2:

After freeing himself from the influence of plot will, Pei Shu went on to rescue many geniuses who had been similarly affected.

However, as he continued his rescues, he noticed the strange glints in these geniuses' eyes.

Genius A: Xiao Shu, our game philosophies are so aligned...

Genius B: Xiao Shu, I want to create games with you forever!

Genius C: Xiao Shu, I...

Studio's main sponsor D: Bro, with all these talents around, I can only tail behind you.

Pei Shu (rubbing his forehead): ... Li Chu Yue, enough, shut up.