Chapter 156: Zhong Xi’s Descent into Darkness

Chapter 156: Zhong Xi's Descent into Darkness

Chi Shen is putting makeup on the paper figure.

In order to make the ghost in the red dress presentable for her outing, Chi Shen practiced his makeup skills diligently. However, everyone's feedback wasn't too flattering.

"It's good, but... doesn't it look a bit too much like a corpse?" was the ghostly face's comment.

"You might consider a part-time job at the crematorium on Anning Road, number 28. They might be hiring," Ji Xingchen remarked sharply.

Chi Shen stared at the paper figure, deep in thought. He had merely wanted to beautify the ghost in the red dress a little, to make the paper figure appear more refined. How did it turn out like this?

As the night passed, the ghost in the red dress remained silent. Chi Shen finally admitted defeat, "I give up! It stays as is!"

After Chi Shen's declaration, Ji Xingchen put down his phone and said, "Zhong Yi mentioned that he'll bring Bai Wan back at two o'clock tonight."

Laying down his brush, Chi Shen turned to Ji Xingchen and inquired, "Why is she coming back? Is the job done?"

Adjusting his glasses, Ji Xingchen responded, "To do your makeup."

Chi Shen glanced at the eerily transformed paper figure and fell silent.

"Well... alright then!" If he couldn't manage, then compromise it was. Sometimes, surrendering is a virtue!

At midnight, precisely at two, Zhong Yi arrived as promised. Dressed in a black coat, he resembled a statue, sitting on the living room couch without uttering a word, his expression one of deep melancholy.

Bai Wan swiftly finished the paper figure's makeup. This was a skill she had acquired during her confinement. Under her touch, the paper figure's skin looked supple, its eyes lively. From a distance, if it were to move, it would indeed resemble a living being.

Once she was done, Zhong Yi nodded at Chi Shen as a brief acknowledgment, and left with Bai Wan.

The living room door closed automatically. Instead of examining Bai Wan's recent work, Chi Shen found himself staring in the direction of the door for quite some time.

"A heavy aura of death," Chi Shen remarked.

"Given that his spirit is already unstable, and being with a fierce ghost like Bai Wan," the ghostly face began, comparing the face of the ghost in the red dress with that of the paper figure, "he's probably very close to death, isn't he?"

Chi Shen sneezed and slapped a handful of bills on the coffee table. "Right, we'll deal with that when it happens. Off to bed."

The night was dense.

Lanterns hung along the streets of Harbor City, casting rows of red lights against the pitch-dark night. Everywhere was enveloped in silence, yet some places could never find peace.

The Harbor City's Special Security Bureau was particularly bustling during the night. After all, it was designated to address matters occurring post-sunset, so its nighttime activity was expected by all.

However, since Halloween, there's been an increasing number of paranormal cases in the city. Most of the reinforcements brought in for Halloween hadn't been sent back. Instead, some were replaced by others, and a special task force was even set up to address issues related to the Bai family.

So, even though the number of cases rose, the Special Security Bureau managed to address them systematically and efficiently.

But tonight, members of the Bai family special task force suddenly convened, entering the conference room with grave expressions.

"I believe you all received the message," began the elder at the helm, Li Shuan, as he drew out a couriered letter and threw it on the table.

Before anyone could take a closer look, the pungent scent of blood reached their nostrils. In their line of sight, the envelope was shrouded in a black mist, emanating an ominous aura.

The letter seemed ordinary, a typical courier envelope, but the sender's line was blank.

Or rather, not exactly blank; there were indications that there had been writing, but it had been smudged by a bloodstain seeping from inside the envelope, making it unreadable.

The entire letter appeared as if it had been soaked in fresh blood. All its corners were stained, indicating that blood had once dripped from within. Yet, the dried blood hadn't turned black, suggesting its freshness.

The group exchanged glances. One individual threw out a similar envelope, another displayed a blood-soaked sheet of paper, and yet another held up their phone, saying, "I received a death threat. The sender demanded that Chi Shen be brought to a designated location, or the nine malicious spirits they've sealed in Harbor City would be released in the most populated areas."

"Our letters were similar, all exuding a ghostly aura," another hesitated, "Could it be Bai Ximing?"

"According to Chi Shen, it probably is," said Uncle Zhang. Both he and Li Shuan were in charge of the Bai family affairs, which is why they were at the seashore that evening.

"The one releasing minor spirits in Harbor City recently was him," someone added, "It's stated in the letter."

"What is he trying to accomplish?" Uncle Zhang turned to Li Shuan, choosing his words carefully, "Extend his life?"

Li Shuan nodded, pausing briefly before saying, "Let's first investigate where he's hiding these spirits. Given they're in densely populated areas, we should prioritize inspecting major commercial districts."

One individual proposed, "We could also let Chi Shen handle this."

"No," Li Shuan shook his head, "We need to ensure his safety. He's a civilian, not obligated to risk his life due to our inefficiencies."

"But he has been involved in investigating many cases before..."

Li Shu'an sighed, "We could ensure his safety then, but we can't now."

——

Chi Shen remained oblivious to the looming events in the port city, continuing his routine of going to work and returning.

Due to painting the face of the woman in red the previous night, he woke up a tad late the next morning. After a rushed grooming, he headed out, clutching a breakfast sandwich Ji Xingchen bought for him early that day.

His apartment felt eerily empty; neither Gui Lian nor the woman in red were around. Having not been jolted awake by the woman in red pulling his blanket off and freezing him, Chi Shen felt slightly disoriented. But the urgency of being late soon overshadowed that feeling.

He had scheduled a meeting with his fellow artists to discuss designs that morning. He might permit himself to be tardy occasionally, but he would never keep others waiting.

"Why's it so chilly in the elevator?" As Chi Shen entered the elevator, he overheard someone grumbling. Despite it being the morning rush hour with a crowded lift, the temperature inside was a couple of degrees colder than outside, making it feel especially brisk in the winter.

A bloodstain lingered in a corner, unseen by the others.

Chi Shen, sandwich in mouth, glanced at his phone while pretending to make space for others. He casually stepped on the blotch of blood, which instantly faded into a black mist and vanished. The lingering coldness in the elevator started dissipating.

A familiar ghostly aura – someone had returned.

Chi Shen stared at the ground for a moment, then calmly resumed checking his phone – 26 minutes till work.

The morning was chilly and overcast. Even though it was past eight, it still looked quite dim. As Chi Shen exited the elevator, he noticed a fleeting shadow of a ghost. But he didn't concern himself with it, not even bothering to look.

"Hey!" As Chi Shen approached the complex's entrance, he spotted Huang Lingling perched on a pillar, looking down on him. "You saved that idiot? And you gave her mom's dress!"

Her tone was full of displeasure. Chi Shen chose to ignore her, striding ahead. After all, talking to thin air on the street is bizarre, right?

"That's mom's dress!" Seeing him walk by without a glance, Huang Lingling's frustration grew. She leapt off the pillar, chasing after him, leaving a trail of blood droplets. "You've forgotten about mom, haven't you? Why won't you talk? Why won't you explain? Isn't mom's stuff special? You... you're heartless!"

It took Chi Shen just over ten minutes to reach his office. Along the way, he noticed a peculiar ambiance. The pedestrians seemed uneasy, and the sky darkened, hinting at impending rain.

Opposite their office was another tower. As Chi Shen passed by, the advertisement screen on it suddenly went dark. He looked up.

As he approached the entrance of his building, Huang Lingling was still berating him. However, seeing him enter, she halted.

"I want to go to the amusement park," Huang Lingling suddenly uttered.

Chi Shen stopped in his tracks.

"Your father wants you dead. He's set loose malevolent spirits in nine places, trying to force the Special Security Agency to hand you over." Instead of continuing the previous conversation, Huang Lingling brought up something else.

"I want to go to the amusement park!" Huang Lingling exclaimed again.

Without turning his head, Chi Shen gave a faint smile and replied, "I'll take you during the New Year."

"You better not go back on your word!" Huang Lingling shouted even louder.

Chi Shen added with a grin, "That is, if you're still alive."

Those entering and leaving the building cast curious glances at Chi Shen. Without lingering, he joined the crowd and walked in.