“I am afraid so. Otherwise, how else do you explain Chen Ping’s ghost appearing?”
Taoist Master Dingyi’s brow was furrowed, his face a mask of deep concern.
“Chen Ping has been dead for less than a year, yet he is not only lucid but can also manipulate physical objects to lash out and harm people.
For the past century, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been waning, and countless demons and ghosts have dissipated into the world.
Even if Chen Ping’s resentment was deep, logically speaking, he should have scattered into nothingness after being dead for over a year.
Now, his soul’s power is growing stronger instead of weaker. I can think of no other explanation besides a more powerful ghost controlling him.”
The operations room fell silent once again.
The researchers listening in seemed to think of something and hurried to spread out a document, handing it to Qin Yue.
Since the investigation section was established, the police had collected all available information regarding Hongxing Mansion.
This included when the building was constructed, who the contractors were, the number of accidents during construction, the social networks of everyone involved with the building, and statistics on the number of deaths.
Naturally, the focus of the investigation was on supernatural events related to Hongxing Mansion.
The video posted by the building’s security guard was, of course, within the scope of the investigation.
Qin Yue had marked this specific document as a priority.
“Perhaps you should take a look at this. This is the information regarding ‘Target B.’”
Copies of the material were distributed to everyone present, and the video of the Painted Skin Ghost was played once more.
Without exception, everyone reacted the same way as anyone else who had seen the footage.
Taoist Master Dingyi and Master Guangliang’s pupils constricted simultaneously, and they gasped in unison.
“How is this possible! A living vengeful ghost with a physical form!”
“Amitabha, Amitabha.”
The fat monk shook his head repeatedly. The cheerful expression he had worn earlier was now completely gone.
“Goodness, goodness.”
Master Guangliang chanted a prayer, closed his eyes slightly, and sighed.
“Where there is no sin, there can be no vengeful ghost. There must be a hidden story behind this.
This place is thick with ghostly energy and freezing winds. If this energy continues to grow unnaturally, I fear the benefactors living here will sooner or later face a bloody disaster.
Furthermore, if left untreated, the yin energy will gather here over time, and the five elements will become deficient. The entire building will undergo another transformation and turn into a partial ghost domain. When that happens...”,
“The resentment of the entire Qianli City will converge here. This place will become a hell on earth.”
As the old monk finished speaking, the look of compassion on his face grew even heavier.
“So be it. If I do not enter hell, who will? Please wait a moment, everyone. This poor monk will go back now to consult ancient records and seek a way to suppress this ghost!
Within ten days or half a month, there will surely be a way! You guys hold on, this poor monk will be right back.”
After saying this, the old monk turned and left.
He was quick and decisive.
The old monk certainly ran fast.
I am afraid he will never return.
Based on his understanding of Master Guangliang, the man would likely go into “seclusion” the moment he got back and stay there until the Hongxing Mansion incident was resolved.
Taoist Master Dingyi’s face was so grim it looked like it could drip water.
“Comrade Qin, can you reveal a little bit about what this company actually does? Organ trafficking? Human experimentation? Live transplants?
To have provoked such a powerful ghost.
Resentment that has nearly condensed into a physical form and the ability to manifest a body... she must have at least seven or eight lives on her hands.
She used a yellow chicken to clear the path for Chen Ping and used white wax and yellow paper to solidify his soul. No wonder Chen Ping’s strength increased so drastically. No wonder, no wonder...”
The video had been processed, so every detail was clearly visible.
In the eyes of others, she was just a strange woman dressed in ancient clothing.
But in the eyes of people like them, she was a mass of pure malice, tightly wrapped in resentment and killing intent.
The black mist was constantly shifting and coiling, ready to devour anyone.
It was like standing before a seemingly calm pit at the bottom of a deep sea.
One never knew when they would be swallowed whole.
A powerful ghost of this level... forget him, even his master probably could not have handled her back when he was alive.
What kind of heinous, heaven defying things did this game company do!
To attract such a powerful ghost?!
It could not be that the powerful ghost was attracted because the game company violated labor laws and exploited its employees, right?
Taoist Master Dingyi only regretted that he had never learned the art of cursing with straw dolls.
Otherwise, he would definitely curse this boss ten thousand times.
For violating labor laws!
For not being a decent human being!
For being a dog capitalist who oppresses the people!
He should be made to copy Das Kapital ten thousand times!
“We are currently investigating, but so far, aside from tax evasion and labor law violations, this game company has no other illegal activities.
We have also conducted deep background checks on the employees. Aside from those who have already resigned, no one else has a criminal record.”
Qin Yue shook her head, refuting Taoist Master Dingyi’s theory.
“We also used facial recognition systems to analyze the target in the video multiple times, but we found nothing.”
“Judging by her attire, this powerful ghost has been dead for hundreds of years. It would be a miracle if you could find her identity.”
Taoist Master Dingyi sighed.
“A powerful ghost of this level is simply not something the few of us can deal with.
I suggest letting her be. Let her seek her revenge and settle her grievances.
Once the resentment has dissipated, we can break through the roof of the building to let the sunlight in and leave it vacant for a year or two. Maybe it will be useful then.”
“You mean...”
Qin Yue stared at the screenshot of the Painted Skin Ghost in the files. “There is nothing we can do about her?”
“What else do you want to do?”
Taoist Master Dingyi sneered. “How do you expect to catch a greater ghost that has survived until now and maintained the strength of a powerful ghost?
Great sects like Mount Mao or Dragon Tiger Mountain might have a few treasures tucked away that could put up a fight.
Right now, I have nothing but two eyebrows and a mouth. Why should I go up against her? To die?”
“According to our psychological experts’ analysis, Target B is very likely capable of communication, just like Chen Ping.
As you all just said, she has existed for decades, perhaps even a century.
The fact that she knows how to use tools indicates that her intelligence far exceeds that of Chen Ping.”
Qin Yue’s fingers kept tapping the cover of the file, betraying her uneasy heart.
“If we show goodwill and attempt to contact her—”
“That is simply seeking death.”
Taoist Master Dingyi said bluntly.
“Eighty percent of the old ghosts who have survived until now without dissipating did so by constantly devouring their own kind.
After a person dies and becomes a ghost, their negative emotions are constantly amplified.
By feeding on their own kind, she might have had a shred of human consciousness at the beginning.
But slowly, the more of her kind she ate, the more violent and cruel she became, until eventually, she completely lost her humanity and devolved into a monster that only knows how to devour.
An old thing like that is cunning and cruel. Even Chen Ping is very likely just ‘food’ she is raising.
You saw it yourself. One Chen Ping is already this difficult to deal with, let alone an old ghost.
I can only advise you to run as far as you can. Even the government cannot afford to provoke her.
For now, we can only wait. Either wait for her to eat Chen Ping, or wait for her to leave Qianli City on her own. In short, do not provoke her.”
“I understand.”
Qin Yue pursed her lips, her expression incredibly heavy.
“Just like the suspects in some serial murder cases. They look like humans, but in reality, they are just monsters wearing human skin.”
Despite hearing Dingyi’s words, she showed no sign of wanting to retreat.
“I am sorry, but duty calls. I cannot back down.
I am a police officer of Great Xia. It is my mission to protect the lives and property of the people.”
Qin Yue smiled confidently. “Is it not said that this is the Age of Dharma Decline and that the disappearance of ghosts and monsters is a historical necessity?
As the wheels of history roll forward, these old, socially harmful things—whether they are serial killers or ‘monsters’ that eat ghosts—will only be ruthlessly eliminated by us.”
In the operations room, not a single person flinched.
Everyone’s gaze was resolute, showing a determination to face death if necessary.
“I have said all I can say. This is the extent of my help. As for the rest, I am afraid I cannot assist.”
Taoist Master Dingyi sighed, placed his hands behind his back, and walked away quickly under the escort of police officers.
Qin Yue’s gaze naturally fell upon the only “professional” left in the room.
He Xiaoyi, Master He, actually had not run away.
He was slumped in his chair, his mustache trembling as he looked full of regret.
You actually didn’t run.
Qin Yue practically had those words written on her face.
He Xiaoyi’s hand shook as he took out a fast acting heart relief pill and swallowed it. He nearly ground his teeth to dust.
“Don’t look at me. If I could run like those two, I would have left long ago.
That day, I whipped Chen Ping with a willow branch. I expect I have already been marked.
If it were just Chen Ping, I could have taken my granddaughter and hidden for a few years, or even moved to the next city. He cannot leave this building anyway.
Sigh! But who knew there was an even more powerful character... Now, even if I run to the ends of the earth, I will be found sooner or later.”
He Xiaoyi wished he could just faint right then and there.
“Sigh... a single slip leads to eternal regret. If I hadn’t been so greedy for that bit of money back then, I wouldn’t have been dragged into this.
Tell me, I am already at such an age, why couldn’t I just let go of that word ‘money’?
I even dragged my granddaughter into this. Sigh, they really weren’t wrong. This is a calamity, a calamity in my fate!”
In this Age of Dharma Decline, fighting with magic, cultivation, and exorcising demons were things of the past.
Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, and ascending to the Great Dao had long since become stories of legend.
Under such circumstances, the fact that Hongxing Mansion could breed a powerful vengeful ghost was a fantasy in itself.
Not to mention the appearance of an awakened old ghost from the Song Dynasty!
He Xiaoyi’s lips moved, his eyes full of regret.
A partial ghost domain, a greater ghost capable of controlling vengeful ghosts!
He did not even know why he had been so obsessed with money that he took on the ritual for Hongxing Mansion.
If he could do it all over again, he would have run far away.
He wouldn't have gotten involved even if it killed him.
Rate on N.U.
