When Hongxing Mansion was cordoned off, the happiest people were, of course, the office workers.
A week of paid leave while getting to follow the drama in the company group chat in broad daylight—no one could have dreamed of something so outrageous.
The official announcement claimed that Hongxing Mansion had a suspected gas leak and needed to be sealed off for pipeline repairs.
However, the enthusiasm of the gossip-hungry public was boundless.
Throughout the entire morning, people were constantly providing live text updates in the group chat about the status of the lockdown, with messages refreshing at an incredible speed.
Some even tried to use drones to peer inside the building.
Unfortunately, in the bright light of day, they did not capture anything of value.
They only managed to film some official personnel moving around on the twenty-seventh floor.
The group chat messages flashed by, everyone urging for more updates.
“Brother, I remember I didn't close my window before leaving work yesterday. If you have to, just fly in and take a few more shots. Maybe you'll catch a supernatural photo or something. You'd go viral.”
“That’s an unauthorized flight, isn't it? Friendly reminder: if your drone isn't registered, it’s easy to end up at the station.”
“Living on the edge, aren't we? The authorities have sealed the building, and you guys are still finding ways to take pictures.”
“Reported! Don't thank me, I'm just a good citizen.”
The man flying the drone immediately got anxious and hurriedly typed a reply in the group:
“Hey, don't do me like that! Aren't I doing this for everyone’s benefit?
Do you guys really believe there’s a gas leak nearby?
Wait, wait, wait! I think I caught something! Isn't this the master who performed the ritual on the seventeenth floor?”
He posted several screenshots from the drone’s perspective.
The perimeter of Hongxing Mansion was surrounded by a ring of blue sheet metal, and over a dozen identical black business vans blocked the road at the entrance.
Many people in police uniforms were carrying various pieces of equipment in and out, their expressions solemn.
A spirited old man dressed in a Tang suit entered the building along with the main group.
Although his figure was only a fleeting glimpse and the image was somewhat blurry, the sharp-eyed group members recognized him instantly.
“Isn't that the old man who checked the feng shui on the seventeenth floor? Why is he in there too?”
“What does this mean? Are the authorities admitting there’s a ghost in Hongxing Mansion?”
“Holy crap! Wow! It’s official, the supernatural incident is confirmed!”
The old man was indeed Master He, the exorcist from before.
Nan Zhi, who had been quietly lurking and watching the screen, was somewhat surprised.
She hadn't expected the authorities to actually invite him back.
But before she could look closer, the images disappeared, replaced only by the 【404】 icon—the universal sign of censorship.
Clearly, the cyber police were reacting quite quickly.
“Why did that guy go silent? Did he get caught?”
“For real? Was he invited to tea? Don't play dead, come out and keep streaming!”
“Hahaha! I'm right next to him. This guy’s drone was flying illegally and got knocked down by an electromagnetic jammer.
Two police officers just very politely invited him to sit down at the station. Seriously! I’m not joking!”
“He really went to the station?”
“Oh boy, he brought that on himself.”
“Oh my, oh my, I really want to see what’s happening inside the building! [Laughing-crying emoji]”
The gossipers gloated over the drone pilot for over four hundred messages before the topic finally circled back:
“No, am I the only one who wants to know why the authorities invited that old man?”
“To catch a ghost, what else? They wouldn't have a sixty-year-old man fixing pipes, would they? [Smirk emoji]”
“No way. That day he was acting all mystical for half a day, and not only did he fail to drive the ghost away, he even brought back a female ghost from the Song Dynasty. You call that effective?!”
“It was pretty effective, right? That’s why the ghost went to the game company.”
“To be able to summon a real ghost... in a way, that old man really does have some skills. [Dog head emoji]”
...
...
“I really don't know how to summon ghosts. It’s useless to come to me.”
He Xiaoyi didn't know how many times he had repeated this sentence.
“Truly, Officer, I am not lying.
The method passed down by my He family ancestors, Scattering Rice to Question Spirits, merely uses the essence of the five grains to communicate with spirits.
Furthermore, this method has its flaws. If you encounter a ghost that is particularly manic, unreasonable, or has a fragmented soul, the method won't work.”
Standing before him was Qin Yue, dressed in a black police uniform.
With soft features and professional short hair, she wasn't particularly striking in appearance, but she had a comforting presence that easily made people feel at ease.
Qin Yue was just twenty-eight this year, not very old.
However, among her peers, her age made her seem almost too young.
The youngest captain of the criminal investigation detachment in Qianli City—that title carried significant weight.
Qin Yue had joined the force at twenty-two and had worked in narcotics, served as an undercover agent, and was top-tier in grappling, anti-riot operations, and crisis negotiation.
Similarly, she had specially studied various professional skills.
She excelled in forensics, psychology, and criminology, making her a true all-around elite.
It wasn't that no one had questioned the speed of Qin Yue's promotions.
But she had refuted them all with her actions, leaving her critics stunned.
The reason Ma Mingyuan was so comfortable entrusting such an important mission to her was precisely because she was exceptionally capable.
“I believe you wouldn't deceive the police on these matters. Likewise, I sincerely hope you can cooperate with our work to the fullest extent.”
Qin Yue had a faint smile as she extended her hand in a welcoming gesture.
“In fact, we didn't just invite you today, Mr. He. We also invited Master Guangliang from Guangfu Temple and Taoist Master Dingyi from Taisu Monastery.”
As her voice fell, two more people walked in through the door.
One was a stout monk draped in a bright yellow cassock with nine ritual scars on his head.
The other was a thin, withered Taoist with a grey beard, wearing a grey robe.
The two looked at each other, their expressions reflecting the same confusion.
They completely failed to understand why they had been flown in overnight just to...
Look at a dilapidated office?
The police certainly knew how to have a good time.
The police had not disturbed the scene, so the massive game company still looked like a wreck after a "forced demolition."
Using this as a base, Qin Yue and her team had used anti-riot materials to set up a temporary operations room at the reception area.
The operations room wasn't small, but having to fit numerous testing instruments and display screens, as well as experts sent from various departments, made it feel a bit cramped.
In the hundred-square-meter office area, nearly two hundred new cameras had been installed, providing a 360-degree view of every corner of the company.
They were just short of pointing one into the cracks in the floor by the walls.
They were all the latest high-end models.
They were guaranteed to capture even the smallest movement instantly.
The monk and the Taoist looked at each other.
Out of caution, neither said much, instead reciting their respective mantras:
“Namo Amitabha.”
“Compassion, compassion.”
Having already been briefed on the situation during the journey, Taoist Master Dingyi got straight to the point.
“I heard that a terrifyingly fierce vengeful ghost has appeared here. Not only is it overflowing with resentment, but it can even manifest before people?”
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