Chapter 143: But there’s always something to write.

Chapter 143: But there's always something to write.

Those in the conference room cast cautious glances towards Zhang Yao, uncertain of her intentions. Given that those in Eastern Mountain Town weren't exactly the chieftains of the major clans and coupled with the enigmatic rumors surrounding Zhang Yao, she inevitably drew their attention.

Due to Zhang Yao's presence, everyone spoke with heightened politeness. They diplomatically discussed the future course for Eastern Mountain Town. Ultimately, they concluded that the situation was irretrievable. Resignedly, they decided to report to higher authorities and leave the rest to the Zhong Family, as Eastern Mountain Town was traditionally under their jurisdiction.

Just as they were about to finalize their decision, there was a knock on the door, followed by the announcement, "Zhong Jingsong has arrived."

Before Zhong Jingsong arrived for the meeting, those in charge of this region from the Zhong family had already started their discussions. Clearly, they intended to finalize matters before consulting with Zhong Jingsong, likely to sidestep the Zhong family's influence.

Zhong Jingsong wasn't in Dongshan town at the time. In the afternoon, he suddenly received news of his father's passing. He rushed back to the Zhong residence and only after his return did he learn that Zhong Yi and Chi Shen had left the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel. After addressing familial matters, he hurried over.

After the incident at the Dongshan Hot Springs, Zhong Jingzhu sustained minor injuries and was sent to a hospital in the city. Zhong Yi was in a coma, also hospitalized in the city. Only Chi Shen was unharmed. Nonetheless, he was also taken to the hospital for a checkup. At this moment, he was conveniently returning with Zhong Jingsong, being the only person from the Hot Springs incident who was fully coherent and able to assist.

As for the others from the Dongshan Hot Springs, the students and surviving staff were all traumatized to varying degrees. Some had fainted, while those still conscious were too shocked to provide a clear account.

"Given the circumstances, it might be best if you wait outside," suggested Zhong Jingsong, his voice carrying a tone of politeness from beyond the door.

"Alright." Another voice responded, a soothing and pleasant male tone, spoken with a relaxed articulation.

Someone lowered their head, and even though there was no breeze, they noticed the candle in front of them slightly flickering. As they were about to speak, the sound of a turning doorknob interrupted them.

Following that, the conference room door was pushed open once more.

They felt a gust of wind, a cold and bloody aura invading from the doorway. All the candles on the conference table simultaneously flickered — and went out.

This wasn't due to the dissipation of their vital energy; rather, the dense yin energy had extinguished the candles that burned in response to yang energy.

Simultaneously with the extinguishing candles, everyone felt a bone-chilling coldness.

"What—" Someone immediately stood up, ready to grab a weapon. It was clear a malevolent spirit was attacking!

"Sit down!"

The elder at the head of the table shouted, casting a glance at the unmoving Zhang Yao before turning his gaze to Zhong Jingsong, demanding, "What is the meaning of this?"

With a weary expression, Zhong Jingsong, having just lost his father and with both his brother and son in dire conditions, had no patience for niceties, "The Dongshan Hot Springs incident will be managed by the Zhong family."

Even though this was their agreed outcome, their attention clearly shifted. All eyes were now on the handsome young man standing outside the door, not entering.

"Who is he?" the elder inquired.

The young man stirred, about to speak, when Zhang Yao, who had been silent and still since her entrance, suddenly turned her head. With her eyes closed, she weakly uttered, "Brother Shen."

At the same time, the tall man standing behind Zhang Yao spoke, his voice tinged with tension and caution, "Shen, the Unknown."

"Shen, the Unknown" was the alias he used in their death game. Once they discovered that revealing one's real name in the death game could bring misfortune, they began using pseudonyms, or even online nicknames, when introducing themselves to newcomers. Chi Shen had used his online handle.

Chi Shen flashed a warm smile, gazing at his old friend.

As he moved, the corridor lights cast his shadow into the conference room. The elder exclaimed in horror, "Your shadow—"

"Sorry, this is my friend. He's had an incident and cannot meet you now," Chi Shen apologized.

"Are you harboring... harboring..." The elder tried to speak, but the emergence of blood-red eyes from the shadow seemed to pierce him, making his scalp tingle. Swallowing his words, he turned to Zhang Yao.

Zhang Yao, however, remained unaffected by those crimson eyes. Instead, her eyelids fluttered, slowly revealing her gaze.

Hers were large, vacant eyes, with irises so pale they approached a silvery hue. Within them, a luminescent silver ring seemed to sprawl, as if a galaxy resided in her eyes.

Such should've been a pair of eerily beautiful eyes, but upon their opening, Chi Shen's expression turned grave, and he looked to the man behind her.

The man raised a hand, shielding Zhang Yao's view.

"Zhong family's ancient texts," Zhang Yao uttered mechanically, only to close her eyes again. Her already pallid face seemed to lose even more color.

"What do you mean?" the elder inquired.

Zhang Yao offered no response. She sank deeper into her plush blanket, seemingly drifting back into sleep. The man behind her broke the silence, "Our business here is concluded. We shall leave now."

And with that, he began to wheel Zhang Yao away.

As the man neared the exit, he paused, casting a nod toward Chi Shen who stood nearby, "See you in the Harbor City."

Chi Shen glanced at the blanket-shrouded, eyes-closed Zhang Yao and replied, "Take care of her. Harbor City, then."

As the man receded into the distance, tendrils of dark mist emerged from Chi Shen's shadow, winding around his wrist. The shadow's crimson eyes then settled on Zhang Yao. Chi Shen's fingers motioned in a clasping gesture, yet grasped nothing. The eyes retracted, concealing themselves once more.

"I am here to provide a healing method," Chi Shen, anticipating their thoughts, stated plainly. "The most efficient way is for him to consume it."

He gestured toward his own shadow.

As others stared in shock, Chi Shen seemed unfazed. Having conveyed his message, he turned to leave, "This was his own wish. You should thank him."

Zhong Jing Song rubbed his temples and stepped forward, halting those eager to pursue. "The severely injured at the city hospital have been treated successfully. You needn't worry about the feasibility of this solution. My presence is merely to inform you that we will proceed with this method of healing."

The spirit within the shadow was not originally like this. Zhong Jing Song witnessed the bespectacled spirit standing before the victims of the East Mountain Hot Spring incident. As it consumed something extracted from them, the patients awoke, yet the specter grew increasingly restless. This tumultuousness, though silent, seemed akin to a flame that would scald only if touched.

He then saw Chi Shen reach out, untouched by the fire. Instead, he enveloped the flame, ensuring neither others nor himself were harmed.

In that moment, Zhong Jing Song felt he had witnessed something truly wondrous. Without uttering a word, he accepted Chi Shen's proposal, allowing the spirit to save people.

He thought again of Zhang Yao's words and the predicament the Zhong family would inevitably face due to the sudden passing of his father—perhaps they might not be involved in the Hong City matters after all.

Zhong Jingsong rubbed the bridge of his nose and phoned his brother, who was still in Hong City, informing him of the current situation.

After leaving the Dongshan Town Police Station, Chi Shen was escorted by people arranged by Zhong Jingsong to the town hospital. Ji Xingchen swept away the residual yin energy, and those who were in a coma gradually awakened.

These individuals were not yet consumed, not yet transformed into monsters. However, they had been influenced by Jiang Haotian's dark aura, leading to certain cognitive distortions. Due to Jiang Haotian's sudden death, these distortions hadn't progressed to a chaotic state, and they slipped into unconsciousness. Their task was to identify and resolve the fine strings of yin energy affecting their cognition.

The solution was Ji Xingchen.

"You don't seem too pleased," whispered the red-clothed female ghost as she crawled out of Chi Shen's backpack, resting on his shoulder, and peering at his face.

"It's nothing," replied Chi Shen. Yet he didn't smile. He quietly gazed at Ji Xingchen, who could no longer maintain a human form and hid within his shadow. After a moment, he added, "I just feel a bit sorry for him."

The red-clothed ghost tilted her head and opened her mouth to ask, "Why do you feel... sorry?"

Ghost Face immediately swooped down, capturing the red-clothed ghost and pulling her back into the backpack, saying, "Don't ask such questions now! If you don't speak, no ghost will mistake you for being mute!"

As the night passed and after ensuring nothing was overlooked, Chi Shen returned to the hotel in the city arranged by Zhong Jingsong.

Upon entering, Chi Shen isolated Ghost Face and the red-clothed ghost outside the room. He entered alone, closing the door behind him.

"Ji Xingchen," Chi Shen reached out towards his shadow.

A pale hand emerged from the shadow, pulling him in.

A chilling presence enveloped him as Chi Shen willingly descended into the darkness.

Silence settled in the room. The two ghosts outside exchanged glances, laying down like door guardians, waiting for Chi Shen's return.

By the time Chi Shen emerged from the room, it was already evening. After taking a refreshing bath, he headed downstairs for dinner. While pondering how much pay he would lose for skipping a day at work, and whether claiming it as 'research' would qualify as a business trip, he also contemplated how to access the Zhong family's ancient records that Zhang Yao mentioned.

Before he could decide, Zhong Jingsong took the initiative to visit.

Without preamble, Zhong Jingsong stated, "The incident at the Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel was a significant blow to our Zhong family. We lost many of our core members. Zhang Yao prophesied a major upheaval in Hong City and hoped the major families could collaborate to address it. Given the Zhong family's current situation, we are powerless. I hope you can represent our family. We'll grant you the authority of a clan leader—of course, with appropriate compensation. You can peruse any of the ancient records our family holds."

Chi Shen grinned, "Agreed."

Zhong Jingsong continued, "The original Zhong family records are kept in the museum. I'll discuss it with the curator..."

"Why make it so complicated?" Chi Shen pulled out his phone, "Just scan and send it to my email."

Zhong Jingsong's expression stiffened for a moment: "Alright."