Chapter 049: Everything about me is beautiful.

Chapter 049: Everything about me is beautiful.

As a ghost, Ji Xingchen didn't require sleep. Thus, he spent the night locating several potential rental properties. By the time Chi Shen woke up, Ji Xingchen had already categorized them.

Chi Shen reviewed the options Ji Xingchen had selected, ranging from studio apartments to three-bedroom units. They were all located close to Le Dao Culture, with rents varying from a thousand to several thousand.

After a brief glance, Chi Shen commented, "Seems a bit expensive, doesn't it?"

Ji Xingchen adjusted his glasses. The mobile screen on the table flickered, revealing another property. In a cool, business-like tone, he stated, "Prime location, facing north to south, a 30-square-meter terrace, and the rent is only five hundred. I believe this is what you're looking for."

Chi Shen clicked on the listing and found it was a three-bedroom apartment, just over a kilometer from the Tengfei Building where Le Dao Culture was situated. Impressively, it wasn't in an old neighborhood or urban village, but in a newly built community from the past few years.

"Is the landlord being charitable?" Gui Lian, who had briefly joined Ji Xingchen the previous evening in searching for properties before getting bored and retiring, was now fairly familiar with the typical rents. Seeing this particular listing, his eyes gleamed with suspicion. "Or is there some hidden catch?"

Without expressing much, Chi Shen immediately dialed the landlord, intending to set up a viewing.

The call was answered promptly. Upon hearing Chi Shen's intent, the voice on the other end sounded genuinely astonished. "You really wish to rent the place?"

Casting a glance at the stoic Ji Xingchen, Chi Shen inquired, "Is there something wrong with the apartment?"

"No! Not at all! The place is in excellent condition!" The landlord replied hastily, almost too eagerly. After a moment, he seemed to catch his over-enthusiasm, cleared his throat, and continued in a more measured tone, "It's just that we no longer live there and would like to rent it out. When are you available to view it?"

Unfazed by the odd undertone in the landlord's voice, Chi Shen calmly proposed, "How about this afternoon? I'm free."

"Oh, um, this afternoon? I won't be in the city until tomorrow. Can it wait until then?" The landlord seemed almost desperate to reassure, "Rest assured, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the apartment! It's fully furnished, ready to move in. All appliances are included, no leaks in the bathroom, there's underfloor heating for the winter, quiet neighbors without kids, and a supermarket right below. A subway station is just a ten-minute walk, and there's a mall twenty minutes away!"

Chi Shen remained silent.

The landlord's behavior screamed that something was amiss with the property. Nevertheless, Chi Shen pretended not to notice and cheerfully agreed, "Alright, let's do tomorrow evening then. I finish work at five and can be there by five-thirty."

The landlord's voice brightened, sounding relieved. "Great!"

After settling on a time, Chi Shen ended the call, only to find the red-clothed female ghost beside him gesturing animatedly. "A house! A big house!"

Chuckling, Chi Shen teased her, "Planning to move as well?"

The dancing hands of the red-clothed female ghost halted. She turned and stared blankly at Chi Shen for a moment before lamenting, "Moving... without me?"

Tears of blood suddenly welled in her eyes as she burst into sobs, "Why won't you take me?"

Chi Shen hurriedly reassured her, "Of course we'll take you."

The lady ghost in red perked up, her tears quickly drying as she cheerfully murmured, "A big house!"

Chi Shen observed her silently, thinking, "Her happiness is so simple."

However, it also reminded him that some of his friends might not prefer staying at the old house. He could help them move out.

He would discuss it with his friends that night, see who would like to relocate, and evaluate if the new place could accommodate them all.

With the house-viewing scheduled, Chi Shen tidied up and stepped out to meet Yuan Yi Ping. They had arranged to discuss the basics of exorcism.

They met at a park near the Special Security Bureau, settling at a stone table for their discussion.

Yuan Yi Ping introduced Chi Shen to some basic concepts of Yin and Yang and handed him an introductory text – "Tao Te Ching."

"In times of danger, reciting from this scripture can repel spirits. As long as you keep reciting, ordinary ghosts won't approach you," Yuan Yi Ping advised.

Chi Shen nodded in understanding and carefully stored the "Tao Te Ching."

"If a spirit chases you, head to crowded places. Places filled with living people emit strong Yang energy, which deters most spirits," Yuan Yi Ping continued.

Chi Shen acknowledged the advice once more.

Almost concluding their discussion, Yuan Yi Ping looked at Chi Shen with concern, "How much do you know about the Bai family?"

Chi Shen replied honestly, "Very little. I just returned to Harbor City and wasn't familiar with the Bai family before."

Rubbing his forehead, Yuan Yi Ping cautioned, "Keep your distance from them. It's also advisable to move out of the old mansion. The Bai family... They're not to be trusted."

"Thanks for the heads up. I'm currently house-hunting," Chi Shen said.

Yuan Yi Ping offered, "Need help with that?"

Expressing gratitude, Chi Shen responded, "No need. I've likely found something suitable."

Yuan Yi Ping nodded, still appearing somewhat uneasy. "You saw what transpired last night. The Bai family acts solely for their interests, indifferent to commoners' fate. Only Bai Ran testified against them, but we lack conclusive evidence to act against the Bai family."

It dawned on Chi Shen that Bai Ran, with his own motives, had betrayed many of the Bai family's secrets but hadn't disclosed everything.

"I once believed the Bai family could be allies. They seemed conservative but approachable in time," Yuan Yi Ping sighed, shaking his head, "I've always respected these old families for maintaining peace. But it appears I was mistaken. Not all families hold such noble values."

Chi Shen was slightly taken aback.

Yuan Yi Ping noticed his surprise and remarked, "Are you astonished that a millennium-old family would engage in such unsavory deeds?"

Chi Shen shook his head, "Not really."

What did surprise him was that Yuan Yi Ping had once harbored hopes for the Bai family, hopes that were now dashed.

As noon approached, Yuan Yi Ping prepared to leave. Chi Shen felt a subtle movement in his shadow and, with a faint smile, asked one final question: "Brother Yuan, how does one guide spirits to the afterlife? I'd like to do something for my ghostly friends."

Chi Shen was genuinely curious about this. All the ghosts in the old mansion seemed unguided, trapped in the torment of their dying moments. He wished to alleviate some of their anguish.

Yuan Yi Ping replied, "There are several methods. Jot them down."

Chi Shen took out his phone and began recording all the methods mentioned.

According to Yuan Yi Ping, the primary objective in guiding spirits is to cleanse them of their lingering resentments, soothe their pain, free them from obsessions, and make them accept their own demise, enabling their souls to return to the cosmos.

There are mainly two approaches to cleanse resentment: one is a forceful purification, and the other is a gentler method of resolving their emotional knots.

Forceful purification involves rituals or reciting scriptures to forcefully guide the spirits.

The gentler approach requires understanding the spirits' desires, addressing their obsessions so they might willingly depart. However, Yuan Yi Ping didn't recommend this. Many spirits harbor violent obsessions, typically involving harming someone or watching someone perish in a particular way.

Chi Shen proposed a third method: since the ultimate goal is the spirit's dissolution, wouldn't physically destroying them simplify the process, achieving the same outcome?

Upon sharing his thoughts, he looked up to find all the ghosts standing three meters away. The lady ghost in red was poised to jump out the window to escape!

Only Ji Xing Chen remained beside him, calmly suggesting, "You could start with the ghost that's just a face, easing some of its pain."

Ghost Face... was trying to hide beneath a glass, pretending he didn't exist.

"So, what's his obsession?" Chi Shen dismissed the first two methods, feeling that, as Ghost Face was a friend, the gentlest approach should be tried first.

Reflecting on it, Ghost Face's ability was to make people experience drowning in their dreams. Being a spirit of one who drowned and having lingered for so long that he forgot even his body, only a tortured face remained, perpetually trapped in the pain of his watery death.

With that realization, Chi Shen inquired, "Do you relish watching others drown?"

Bubbles emerged from beneath the water glass as Ghost Face replied in a sharp voice, "Seeing others drown fills me with joy. I want them to experience the torment I once endured."

Chi Shen asked, "So, you wish for them to die?"

Ghost Face hesitated, feeling cornered by the question. After a long pause, he cautiously replied, "I kind of do... But, you know, killing isn't exactly a good thing, right? Hahaha."

Ji Xing Chen cut straight to the point, "He's too weak. He can't even kill. At most, he can induce nightmares for up to three days."

Ghost Face lamented with a pitiable look, "Enough, enough, let's not go on about that."

"I've got an idea!" Chi Shen said, tapping on his phone.

Ghost Face shrunk back apprehensively, always suspecting the worst from Chi Shen. He protested, "I'm not really that eager to be guided to the afterlife! The specter with the glasses needs it more. Start with him! His wandering spirit is of a much lower difficulty than mine!"

Ji Xing Chen calmly stated, "I have no traumatic memories, no lingering attachments. We should begin with you."

Ghost Face exclaimed loudly, "Impossible! Every ghost has some lingering attachment! You're lying! Or rather, you're deceiving a ghost!"

*

Author's note:

You might not believe this...

When writing about Ghost Face, I imagined him as Thomas the Tank Engine.

It truly is a childhood trauma of mine.