Hold On, This Poor Monk Will Be Right Back

“I am afraid that is indeed the case. Otherwise, how else can we explain the manifestation of Chen Ping's ghost?”

Taoist Master Dingyi's brows were tightly knitted, a deeply troubled expression on his face.

“Chen Ping has been dead for less than a year, yet not only is his mind clear, but he can even manipulate physical objects to violently attack people.

Over the past century, heaven and earth's spiritual energy has declined, and countless demons and ghosts have dissipated on their own.

Even if Chen Ping harbored deep resentment, having been dead for over a year, logically speaking, his soul should have scattered long ago.

Yet now, his spiritual strength has grown stronger instead of weaker. Aside from a more powerful ghost controlling him, I cannot think of any other explanation.”

The operations room fell silent once more.

A listening researcher seemed to recall something and hurriedly unfolded a document, handing it to Qin Yue.

—Ever since the investigation team was established, the police had gathered all available information regarding Hongxing Mansion.

This included when the building was constructed, who the contractors were, the number of accidents during construction, the relational network of personnel associated with the building, and statistics on casualties.

Naturally, the primary focus was investigating supernatural events related to Hongxing Mansion.

And the video posted by the building's property security was naturally within the scope of the investigation as well.

Qin Yue had even marked this particular document as a top priority.

“Perhaps you could take a look at this. These are the relevant materials on 'Target B.'”

Photocopies of the dossier were distributed to everyone present, and that video of the Painted Skin Ghost was played once again.

Without exception, just like everyone else who had seen the video,

Taoist Master Dingyi and Master Guangliang experienced total shock, their eyes widening as they blurted out in unison:

“How is this possible?! A living, corporeal vengeful ghost!”

“Amitabha, Amitabha.”

The fat monk shook his head repeatedly, the cheerful smile that had adorned his face just moments ago completely vanished.

“Mercy, mercy.”

Master Guangliang chanted a prayer, closed his eyes slightly, and sighed.

“Without sin, how could there be a resentful ghost? There must be hidden depths to this matter.

This place is thick with ghostly energy and howling yin winds. If the ghostly energy continues to grow abnormally, I fear the benefactors residing here will sooner or later suffer a bloody catastrophe.

Moreover, if left unchecked, yin energy will gather over time, disrupting the Five Elements, and further turmoil will transform the entire building into a semi-ghost domain. When that happens...

The resentment of the entire Qianli City will converge here, turning this place into a living purgatory on earth.”

After saying this, the look of profound compassion between the old monk's brows deepened further.

“Very well, if I do not enter hell, who will? Everyone, please wait a moment. This poor monk shall return immediately to pore through ancient texts and seek a method to suppress this ghost!

Within ten days to half a month, a solution will surely be found! Hold on, everyone. This poor monk will be right back.”

Having finished his piece, the old monk spun on his heel and left.

Crisp and neat.

The old monk sure ran fast.

It was all too likely he wouldn't be coming back.

Based on his understanding of Monk Guangliang, the man would probably enter “seclusion” the moment he returned, remaining there until the Hongxing Mansion incident was resolved.

Taoist Master Dingyi's face darkened so heavily water could practically be wrung from it.

“Comrade Qin, could you divulge just a little—what on earth does this company actually do? Organ trafficking? Human experimentation, or live organ transplantation?

To actually provoke such a terrifying fierce ghost.

With resentment nearly condensed into physical form and capable of manifesting a corporeal body, she has at least seven or eight human lives on her hands.

She used a yellow chicken to clear the path for Chen Ping and used white candles and yellow paper to solidify his soul. No wonder Chen Ping's strength surged so drastically. No wonder... no wonder...”

The video had been processed, allowing every detail to be seen with complete clarity.

In the eyes of others, that was merely a strange woman clad in ancient attire.

But in the eyes of people like them, that was a mass of pure malice, tightly enveloped in resentment and murderous intent.

Black mist constantly shifted and coiled, ready to devour anyone in its path.

It was like standing before a seemingly calm trench in the fathomless depths of the ocean.

One never knew when they might be swallowed whole.

A fierce ghost of this caliber was something not even his master could have handled while still alive, let alone himself.

What sort of atrocious, ungodly deeds did this game company commit?!

To actually attract a fierce ghost like this?!

It couldn't possibly be that the fierce ghost was drawn here simply because the game company violated labor laws and exploited its employees, right?

Taoist Master Dingyi only wished he had learned how to make poppets.

Otherwise, he would definitely prick needles into the boss ten thousand times over.

“We are currently investigating, but so far, aside from tax evasion and labor law violations, this game company has no other illegal activities on record.

That includes the employees in the company; we have conducted in-depth background checks on them as well. Excluding those who have already resigned, none of the others have a criminal record.”

Qin Yue shook her head, refuting Taoist Master Dingyi's conjecture.

“We also utilized the facial recognition system to analyze the target individual in the video multiple times, but yielded nothing.”

“Judging by that attire, this fierce ghost must have died hundreds of years ago. It'd truly be a miracle if you could find her identity.”

Taoist Master Dingyi sighed.

“A fierce ghost of this magnitude is fundamentally beyond what the few of us can handle.

I advise leaving her be, letting her take revenge where revenge is due and settle grievances where grievances lie.

Once the resentment dissipates, breach the top of the building to let sunlight stream in, and leave it vacant for a year or two. Perhaps it might still be salvageable.”

“You mean...”

Qin Yue stared repeatedly at the screenshot of the Painted Skin Ghost in the dossier. “There is nothing we can do about her?”

“What else did you expect?”

Taoist Master Dingyi sneered. “A Greater Ghost capable of surviving to this day while retaining the strength of a fierce ghost—you tell me, how do we catch her?

Major sects like Maoshan or Longhu Mountain might still possess a few treasured trump cards and could perhaps put up a fight.

As for me, I have nothing to my name but two eyebrows and a mouth. What would I be doing by crashing into her? Throwing my life away?”

“According to our psychology experts' analysis, Target B is very likely capable of communication, just like Chen Ping.

Just as you gentlemen mentioned earlier, she has existed for decades, perhaps even centuries.

The fact that she knows how to utilize tools indicates her level of intelligence far surpasses Chen Ping's.”

Qin Yue's fingers tapped ceaselessly against the document cover, betraying the unrest in her heart.

“If we extend goodwill and make contact with her—”

“That is simply courting death.”

Taoist Master Dingyi said unceremoniously:

“An old ghost that has survived to this day without dissipating has most likely done so by constantly devouring its own kind.

When a person dies and becomes a ghost, their negative emotions are endlessly magnified.

Feeding on their own kind, at first, she might still retain a sliver of human consciousness.

But gradually, the more of its own kind it consumes, the more violent and cruel it becomes, until ultimately it completely loses all humanity, degenerating into a monster that knows only how to devour.

An old monster like this is cunning and cruel. Even Chen Ping is exceedingly likely to be nothing more than 'food' she is rearing.

You saw it yourself: a single Chen Ping is already this difficult to handle, let alone an ancient ghost.

I can only give you one piece of advice: run as far away as you can. Even the authorities cannot afford to mess with her.

Right now, all we can do is wait—either wait for her to devour Chen Ping, or wait for her to leave Qianli City on her own accord. In short: do not provoke her.”

“I understand.”

Qin Yue pursed her lips, her expression exceedingly solemn.

“Just like suspects in certain serial murder cases. They look like humans, but in truth, they are merely monsters wearing human skin.”

Having heard Dingyi's words, she did not show the slightest sign of evasion or retreat.

“My apologies, but duty calls; I cannot back down.

I am a police officer of the Great Xia people. Protecting the safety and property of our citizens is my mission.”

Qin Yue smiled with quiet confidence. “Didn't you say that this is the Age of Dharma Decline, and the disappearance of ghosts and monsters is an inevitable course of history?

Then as the wheels of history roll forward, these archaic, harmful scourges—whether they be serial killers or ghost-eating 'monsters'—will only be ruthlessly eradicated by us.”

In the operations room, not a single person backed down.

Everyone's gaze was resolute, displaying an unflinching determination.

“I have said all I can say, and this is as much as I can do. As for the rest, I am powerless to help.”

Taoist Master Dingyi sighed, clasped his hands behind his back, and briskly departed under police escort.

Qin Yue's gaze naturally fell upon the sole remaining “professional” in the room.

He Xiaoyi, Master He, unexpectedly hadn't fled.

He was slumped in his chair, the mustache above his lip trembling uncontrollably, his face full of bitter regret.

Qin Yue practically had those words written all over her face.

He Xiaoyi's hands trembled as he fished out a fast acting heart relief pill and swallowed it down, his teeth nearly grinding to dust.

“Don't look at me like that. If I could run like the two of them, I would have bolted long ago.

That day, I whipped Chen Ping with willow branches, so I've probably already been targeted.

If it were just Chen Ping alone, I could still take my granddaughter and hide away for a few years, or at worst move to the neighboring city, since he can't leave this building anyway.

Alas! Who could have known there was an even more terrifying figure... Now, even if I run to the ends of the earth, I'll be tracked down sooner or later.”

He Xiaoyi wished he could pinch his own philtrum to keep from passing out.

“Sigh... one wrong step causes eternal regret. If I hadn't been greedy for that little bit of money back then, I wouldn't have gotten dragged into this mess.

Tell me, I'm already this old, so why couldn't I see past the single word 'money'?

Now I've even dragged my granddaughter into it. Sigh, it wasn't wrong at all—a calamity, this truly is a fated calamity!”

In today's Age of Dharma Decline, cultivation, magical duels, and subduing demons and ghosts were relics of the past.

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, and grand Dao ascension had long become mere legends.

Under such circumstances, the fact that Hongxing Mansion could nurture a formidable vengeful ghost was already utterly fantastical.

Not to mention, an awakened ancient ghost from the Song Dynasty had even appeared!

He Xiaoyi's lips quivered, his eyes brimmed with remorse.

A half-step ghost domain, and a Greater Ghost capable of controlling vengeful ghosts!

He didn't know what had possessed him back then to accept the ritual at Hongxing Mansion.

If he could do it all over again, he would definitely run as far away as possible.

He wouldn't get involved even if beaten to death.