Below, it was pitch-black, exuding a chilling, damp aura along with a moldy smell. It looked like no one had been down here in ages. As we stepped down the staircase, we couldn't see anything ahead. With a click, Justin Huang seemed to have found the light switch and turned on the light, illuminating the basement.
There were piles of miscellaneous items everywhere, but the basement was quite spacious. Leftover renovation materials were stacked about, and the walls were covered with sheets of plastic, giving off a strong scent of cement.
"Auntie Ghost, what's in here?"
I turned my head, only to find that Auntie Ghost had vanished.
"Over here, Ethan Zhang."
We had no idea when Auntie Ghost had appeared in front of us, standing at the doorway of a small room behind several pillars. The door was already open. Justin Huang and I hurried over.
A strange odor hit us as soon as Justin Huang and I approached. Instantly, I covered my mouth. Inside, five or six women lay sprawled in disarray, all looking extremely weak and on the verge of death.
Justin Huang immediately rushed in and checked each of their necks.
"They're still alive, Ethan Zhang."
Then Justin Huang quickly pulled out his phone, dialed 120, and called the Ghost Burial Squad to have them come and handle the situation.
"Ethan Zhang, that girl... she might turn into an evil ghost."
I turned to look at Auntie Ghost. She sighed.
"You two should be careful. Normally, once a ghost starts killing, its resentment grows. And once it kills a person, there may be no turning back."
"Auntie Ghost." I called out, but Auntie Ghost had already vanished.
"Ethan Zhang, go buy some water. These girls look severely dehydrated." I responded, and Justin Huang carried each of the women out. There were six in total, all unconscious and barely breathing.
I ran outside, drove off, found a shop on the street, bought a lot of water, and hurried back.
"Is that enough, miss?" As soon as I entered, I rushed over. Tina Yu looked furious; Justin Huang's clothes were already torn in several places.
"Get out, all of you! Stay out of my business!"
I quietly walked over.
"Ethan Zhang, be careful."
Justin Huang reminded me. I nodded and walked step by step to Tina Yu's side. Her face was twisted, just like Chen Hongyan's used to be. Recently, I've noticed Chen Hongyan's expression has softened a bit, and she's often consulting with Sima Ying, sometimes chatting with Li Ren, even showing a smile now and then.
"Get out. I'll say it again, Ethan Zhang."
I reached out my hand, and suddenly a whip lashed out at me, like a vine. I didn't dodge, and took the blow directly on my hand.
With a ripping sound, my clothes tore open, and blood dripped steadily from my elbow.
"Ethan Zhang, restrain her first," Justin Huang said, swinging his fist and getting ready to rush over.
I raised my hand to stop him.
"How long are you going to keep acting on impulse, Tina Yu? That's enough. Even if you hate that man, you're already dead. I'm not going to tell you not to seek revenge, but don't drag so many people into this."
I roared at Tina Yu. Whip-like vines lashed at me, slapping across my body. Then, a loud commotion erupted outside—the Ghost Burial Squad and the ambulance had arrived.
"You..." Tina Yu glared at me, then burst out laughing and vanished.
"What now, Ethan Zhang?" Justin Huang asked. I smiled.
"Let's see it through to the end."
Justin Huang nodded, then came over and looked at my wound.
"Damn, Ethan Zhang, you're bleeding! Let the doctor take care of it, quick!"
I shook my head. Wisps of flame ignited on my body, and the places where the whip had torn my flesh began to smoke and slowly heal.
It was Miles Mao. As soon as he got the message, he came over. Seeing Justin Huang and me, he greeted us cheerfully, then his face turned worried.
"What's wrong, Miles Mao?" Justin Huang asked.
"Sigh, Justin Huang, you have no idea. Damn, that late-night show crew is planning to go to Old Tree Pool to film these days. That place is seriously haunted, lots of ghosts. We warned them, but they wouldn't listen and insisted on going."
"Fuck them, just ignore those idiots. We already have enough work, now we have to babysit them too?"
"Yeah, exactly. But Old Stone said it's our job. He wants me, Mason Yu, you, and Dalton Fang to go to the site. They're already there, so we have to go today."
I asked, puzzled.
"Is Leah King there too?" I asked. Miles Mao looked exasperated—just mentioning Leah King put him in a bad mood.
"Let me tell you, Ethan Zhang, when we went to that crew, that actress was there too. As soon as she heard we were special police, she cursed us out. The brothers wanted to strangle her. She even asked if we had a crazy woman on the team named Rachel Lan. I really wanted to stand up for you, Ethan Zhang."
My heart skipped a beat. I smiled, remembering that time in N City when Rachel Lan kicked out, and then Leah King ended up in the hospital with a back injury, missing the latest movie promotion in N City.
Justin Huang, you go ahead. I can handle things here alone.
Be careful, Ethan Zhang. That girl too—she's known you for years, yet still treats you like this.
Miles Mao looked at my torn clothes.
"Are you alright, Ethan Zhang?"
"Alright, you guys go ahead. It's work, after all. Not like me, just an unemployed drifter."
After they left, I sat quietly in the Mercedes, waiting for nightfall. I planned to nap for a bit. My uncle said I could drive the car and suggested I get a license, since I've always used a fake police ID to fool traffic cops, and they've never checked me.
After waiting all day, at dusk, I saw Don Howe with his arm around a woman, grinning as they came down the stairs. Through the car window, I watched—Tina Yu, of course, was following right behind Don Howe, her face twisted with hatred.
In the past, I might have tried to persuade her, thinking Tina Yu should let go of her hatred. But now I don't think that way anymore. Tina Yu was the second ghost I ever met, after John Chou. I was the one who turned her remains into ashes. I can't forget that moment.
Seeing Tina Yu's corpse made me feel terrible, and the words John Chou once said still echo in my mind.
"Ghosts have their ways, humans have theirs. When a ghost does evil, the righteous say 'destroy it' and that's that. But humans? If there's no evidence, they face no punishment at all."
I set my alarm, closed my eyes, and quietly waited for nightfall. I feared Tina Yu would act tonight. All I could do was try to stop her from hurting anyone else.
The alarm rang. I woke up, stretched, drank some water, shook my head, and got out of the car. I headed straight for Building 3.
As soon as I entered, I took the elevator straight to the 11th floor. When I reached Don Howe's door, it was open and the lights were on. The woman was sleeping on the sofa, but Don Howe was nowhere to be seen.
I tried to wake the woman, but she didn't respond at all. I closed my eyes and sensed the surrounding yin energy. I could clearly feel its flow—it was heading to the roof.
I hurriedly pressed the elevator button and went up to the 20th floor. The rooftop door was open. As soon as I arrived, I heard screams like a pig being slaughtered.
"Ah! I won't dare anymore, I won't! Xiaoting, forgive me, please forgive me, I really won't dare anymore!"
On the rooftop, Tina Yu revealed her true face—her entire cheek was rotting, crawling with maggots. She pressed her decaying, maggot-infested hand onto Don Howe's shoulder, grinning hideously. Don Howe was completely terrified, sitting on the ground and wetting himself.
"Officer, there's a ghost! Save me, save me!" Dong Hao cried, looking over at me.
Tina Yu turned to look as well.
"You still want to interfere, Ethan Zhang?"
I found a spot, sat down, and smiled.
"Your problem, you solve it yourself. I won't interfere."
Tina Yu let out a cold laugh, then grabbed Don Howe and slowly dragged him toward the edge of the rooftop.
"Xuan jue wu dao, wood creates fire, scatter..."
I saw a small awl shoot out from the stairwell, glowing fiery red, and with a clang, it nailed itself around Tina Yu.
With a burst of fire, flames shot out. Yu Xiaoting screamed, clutching her cheek as the stench of burnt flesh filled the air. She rolled on the ground in agony. I quickly got up as the sound of boots echoed—accompanied by a cold, chilling voice.
"I've already told you, if you ever side with ghosts, I'll kill you—even if you're human. That's my absolute bottom line."
It was Damian Chen. In the moonlight, Damian Chen's thin, handsome face was filled with murderous intent as he stepped out from the doorway, dressed in a black cloak, boots, and black gloves.
Tina Yu screamed again. I turned to see her bound by fiery red ropes, struggling in pain. I recognized it—it was the Ghost-Piercing Awl, the same thing Damian Chen had used against John Chou.
With a swift motion, Damian Chen took off his gloves, revealing pitch-black hands. He crouched in a horse stance, raising both hands high. Instantly, I rushed toward Tina Yu.