Chapter 182: Nothing is as unpredictable as a plan.

Chapter 182: Nothing is as unpredictable as a plan.

"It's raining, hurry home!"

Gui Lian hovered above the scenic river, where three children, around four or five years old, were playing by the banks. Parents were beckoning their children home. He floated above the water, gazing at the sky with a sigh.

"Home? Ghosts don't have homes. The depths of the water is where I belong. Everyone else has been sent to the afterlife. Even the clueless female ghost who knew nothing has moved on. What about me? Why can't I, despite my constant efforts watching videos day and night?"

The current brought Gui Lian closer to the shore, and his gaze fell upon the children, one of whom had already run to the water's edge.

"Is it because I've always been watching videos? Or inducing dreams? Is it the falsehood of it all that leaves me unfulfilled? What if someone were to drown right in front of me..."

The child by the water wailed, "My excavator fell into the water! Oh no—my excavator, my excavator!"

He watched as the child chased after the toy and tumbled into the water.

It was a scenic river, without any strong currents. The water near the bank wasn’t deep, and adults were close by to help the child. Likely, the child would be fine, but if he dragged the child deeper into the water, there's a high chance the child could drown.

He floated beneath the child.

What would happen if Chí Shēn found out about this? Would he be forever changed? This sudden thought crossed the ghost's mind.

The floating plastic excavator toy drifted back. The ghost spread himself out, lifting the child to the surface.

The child, seemingly dazed, didn't cry even when pulled to safety by an approaching adult. He turned back to the water, reaching for his toy excavator. Once he grabbed it, he extended his hand into the water, "Mister, grab my hand! I’ll pull you out!"

The nearby adult, puzzled, asked, "Which man are you talking about?"

"There's a man in the water! He saved me! But he's still down there. I want to help him too!" The child's innocent voice held firm, "Mister, grab my hand quickly!"

The ghost settled at the bottom of the river, eyeing the chubby little hand reaching towards him. His typically somber face broke into a slight smile. Then, genuinely, he laughed and reached out to the child.

Wait, how does he have a hand?

"Were you playing with a man here earlier?" The adult lifted the child out of the water, questioning the other kids.

Both of them shook their heads.

The adult glanced back into the water. Its dark depths appeared intimidating in the moonlight. His expression changed to one of gratitude as he bowed towards the river, "Thank you, River God, for saving my child. Thank you."

He then nudged the child, "Quickly thank the River God."

The little one waved, "Thank you, River God Uncle!"

But the child’s gaze was fixed on the sky above.

The ghost floated above the water, watching the man carry the child away. He waved them off, a gesture of farewell. Unbeknownst to them, the falling rain didn't touch them even without an umbrella shielding them.

The ghost now appeared different. Beneath his pallid face, he wore a robe resembling flowing water. He remembered; he wasn't a drowned ghost. In fact, he wasn't a ghost at all!

He was merely the amalgamation of resentment from those who had drowned in the city. That's why he had no physical body, no memories, just a face etched in the agony of drowning. He had never lived; he was never a person!

Every individual who formed resentment during their drowning wished to be rescued in their final moments, hoping for a hand to pull them from the water. All they yearned for was that life-saving grasp.

Thus, his desire was not to witness the anguished expressions of those drowning, but to yearn for someone to save him from the river.

Today, that wish came true.

Specter evolved limbs, although slender and hidden beneath his robes, giving him a human-like appearance. The moment he achieved his own redemption, the resentment that enveloped him dispersed, transforming him into a spirit of the river.

"Whew — Hahaha!"

Stars hang low, with an expansive horizon where sea meets sky.

The newly-formed river spirit felt an unparalleled exhilaration, laughing heartily as he spiraled over the river's surface, then soared up into the vast sky.

A sudden rain began in the bustling harbor city.

Amidst towering buildings, pedestrians were drenched by the unexpected downpour. They sought shelter but were inexplicably overcome by a wave of sadness.

Someone suddenly burst into tears.

Their companion looked at them, puzzled, "Wasn’t my joke funny? Why are you crying?"

"I don’t know. I just… I felt like crying, so desolate, and I don’t even know why."

"Now that you mention it, I too feel a tinge of sadness. This rain... it’s as if it’s weeping..."

Suddenly, a gust carrying the scent of the river blew past, but this wind was laced with joy, instantly dispelling the somber mood.

"Stop being so dramatic! Isn’t it just a regular rain? Have you been reading too many romance novels? ‘The rain is crying,’ ha!"

In a realm unseen by humans, the white river spirit spiraled upward into the sky, ecstatically embracing a world that once caused pain but now seemed ineffably beautiful.

As a spirit of water, the tearful faces from the rain had no effect on him. As the rain passed through the path he flew, the saddened faces were transformed by his joy — the elation of countless souls being redeemed. The tears dissolved into ordinary raindrops upon touching the ground, their sorrow unintentionally purified by the river spirit.

After several spirals in the sky, the river spirit wanted to share his newfound joy — with the clouds, the rain, and... the friend who once sheltered him.

He began searching for Pond Deep, thinking Pond Deep might not seek him out. But right now, he just wanted to tell Pond Deep that he was redeemed, transformed from a vengeful entity to a spirit of the river.

He returned to the place where the building had collapsed, but Pond Deep was nowhere to be found.

As the heavy rain poured, Pond Deep gazed at a door slowly materializing in the sky, revealing a dark expression he'd never worn before.

Before seeking out the Te An Bureau members in Chi Shen, he had discussed with Ji Xingchen about Wen Qin's true intentions.

The conclusion came swiftly. After Chi Shen reviewed the Zhong family's documents, Ji Xingchen recalled a fragment of his memory. With Zhang Yao's extraordinary insights available for consultation, they quickly inferred that Wen Qin aimed to unlock the gateway to the Death Game.

Though Chi Shen and his team faced life-threatening challenges within, barely making it out, the desire of others to enter wasn't surprising. After all, they acquired powers beyond ordinary humans inside, albeit at a grave cost.

Moreover, Chi Shen deduced that the world of the Death Game might not be as straightforward as they thought. The game's purpose might not genuinely be to kill them but to select one, or perhaps a few, from among them.

What remains uncertain is an unforeseen twist, as the game didn’t reveal its true objective, leaving them in the dark when they departed.

However, Chi Shen didn’t delve deep into this with Ji Xingchen. Their primary concern was deciphering Wen Qin's motive and devising a counterstrategy.

They also surmised the conditions under which the door to the Death Game would open.

During rituals to exorcise powerful ghosts, the gateway to the Death Game would appear. Yet, this door doesn't fully open; typically, only the exorcised ghost can pass through before it shuts. Clearly, Wen Qin didn't want to transform into a malevolent spirit to access this door. Instead, he aimed to find a formidable ghost, hoping to open the door wide enough, for a long enough duration, to let him pass through.

The one who fits these conditions, and is also controllable by Wen Qin, is naturally Ji Xingchen.

Therefore, Chi Shen had taken precautions with both Ji Xingchen and Ji Xingchen 2.0, ensuring that even if Ji Xingchen regained his memories, he wouldn't lose control too quickly and could hold on until Chi Shen's return.

But at this moment, the door manifested.

Chi Shen's first thought was that something had gone wrong with Ji Xingchen, so he needed to find him.

The surroundings dimmed, and sounds faded. With one step forward, the scenery around him shifted, and he found himself at home.

There was no one in the house, no signs of a struggle. Only a cabinet made a noise. A ghostly figure emerged, pointing upwards.

Indicating the location where the white door had opened.