At exactly noon, we arrived at the Ghost Burial Squad Headquarters. After everything that happened, the squad had set up protective formations around the area for several miles, and every night, members took turns standing guard.
Repairs were still underway, with most of the work being handled by squad members, and the students were helping out too. It was just about lunchtime.
"Ethan, hurry up! Everyone's waiting for you."
As soon as we parked the car, Chief Stone called out to us from the side. After getting out, we headed straight to the cafeteria.
"Ethan, you made it!" As soon as I walked in, I saw Justin Huang towering over everyone else, sitting at a table with a few squad members, drinking and eating meat, looking like they were having a great time.
Later, I heard from Chief Stone that the squad didn’t reject Justin Huang at all—they accepted him easily and even gave him a nickname: Pillar. Especially after hearing about Justin’s story, many of the members were genuinely happy. Justin had become very skilled at fighting ghosts, and with his open personality, he even joked that he was the squad’s tank—whenever there was a ghost, he’d be the first to charge in.
After lunch, I took the microphone in the cafeteria and explained to everyone in the Ghost Burial Squad about the Thirteen Tribulations Ritual and the Immortality Society.
After listening, Rachel Lan and Vivian Ouyang headed to the playground to play basketball with some squad members. Vivian looked completely normal today, nothing like the sinister expression I’d seen on her face that other day.
Chief Stone pulled me aside and took me to his office. Just as we got to the door, Hugh Thompson came walking toward us.
"Old Stone, what are you and Ethan Zhang talking about? What’s so secretive? Come on, let me in on it."
"Hugh, it's busy right now! Stop chatting and get down there to help. The students' internship period is about to start!"
Hugh Thompson smiled, then took the elevator and left.
Chief Stone and I entered the office. He brewed a pot of tea and brought it over.
"Qingyuan, the higher-ups are very satisfied with what happened this time. Everyone involved in the operation is getting a big bonus. I've been the chief for years, and I've never seen so much money—everyone gets a hundred thousand."
I gasped. That's a huge sum—altogether, isn't it several million?
Then I heard that all the blame for this incident fell on Chen Miaoqiang and Li Zuodong. Both were officially named as the masterminds behind the Immortality Society, which was wiped out in this operation.
"This is just using money to buy people's loyalty."
I said angrily. Chief Stone just smiled, took a sip of tea, and lit a cigarette.
"Qingyuan, don't get worked up. Everything has a beginning and an end. You took the money too, didn't you?"
Chief Stone said this, and I lowered my head in embarrassment.
"The higher-ups praised everyone. Every member of the Ghost Burial Squad who took part in this operation has been promoted by one rank. Now, almost everyone is at the inspector level, with the authority to call in regular officers for assistance. And our salaries have gone up too."
I sighed.
"Don't worry, Qingyuan..." Chief Stone said, then suddenly his expression changed. He spoke harshly.
"We will never give up investigating the Immortality Society. You can rest assured about that, Qingyuan. But for now, we've accepted the rewards, so we can't take further action for a while. This is up to you and Justin Huang."
I made a sound of surprise.
Although Justin Huang can work with the Ghost Burial Squad, his status is the same as yours—he's not officially part of the squad. Also, we've found out the woman Justin's looking for, Mandy Lou, is working as a teacher in a place called Linland County.
I responded, then quickly asked,
"Is she married?"
Chief Stone smiled and shook his head.
I couldn't help but grin with delight.
"That kid was even happier than you last night. He drank several jin of baijiu. Ha, his drinking capacity is impressive. Looks like I’ll have to give up my title as the squad’s top drinker."
As he said this, Chief Stone’s face grew serious again and he stared at the teacup on the table.
"Someone leaked information this time. As you saw, the Immortality Society mobilized as a result."
Seeing Chief Stone so furious, I clenched my teeth. I had no idea who kept feeding intel to the Immortality Society.
"Chief Stone, you have a suspect in mind, don't you?" Chief Stone nodded.
"So?"
"Qingyuan, don't ask. When things are settled, I'll tell you."
Then I used Chief Stone’s computer to check recent cases, looking for anything similar to the Iron Mask Man’s cannibalism. But I found nothing.
"By the way, Qingyuan, if you have time, you should go with Justin Huang to Linland County. It’s just four or five hours south of the city. It’ll help him resolve a personal matter."
I nodded without hesitation, deciding to set out immediately. Chief Stone said that in a week, when the Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts begins, they’ll be extremely busy—helping with security at the Shuanglong Grand Hotel and evacuating local residents. It’s going to be a huge hassle.
The ghost in the backseat spoke up, and Justin asked.
"What are you going there for?"
"Oh, it's like this. Things in the city have been pretty chaotic lately, so us little ghosts are all planning to move elsewhere. I heard that place is nice—a lot of ghosts have gone there. Seriously, with so many powerful folks showing up in the city lately, Linland County is much more suitable for ghosts to live in."
"Why's that?" I asked.
"You guys aren't here to catch ghosts, are you?"
"Of course not," Justin replied, and the ghost looked visibly relieved.
"There's a kind and generous ghost lord over there. I'm planning to go seek refuge with him."
"What did you say? I can't hear you."
"Alright, I'll go, I'll go. But I'm just going to take a look, that's all. When the time comes, please tell her I've already died."
I stared blankly at Justin, neither nodding nor shaking my head.
Before leaving, Justin put on an oversized gray hooded coat, a large mask, and a pair of sunglasses. With all that on, he just looked like a two-meter-tall giant, nothing out of the ordinary.
We drove a Ghost Burial Squad vehicle toward the south side of the city.
"It's amazing. The world now... I used to hear people who'd been outside talk about what it's like out there. I listened to a lot, saw a lot, but honestly, imagination alone isn't enough."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"When we have time, let's go out and walk around together. It's nothing, you get used to it after a while."
By the time we stopped for lunch, we'd just reached the outskirts of the southern city. We found a fast-food place, went up to the second floor, and picked a quiet corner. Still, curious glances kept coming our way.
I ordered two meals. Then, covering my face, I had no idea where to look. Justin ate who knows how many portions by himself. When I paid the bill, mine came out to exactly 289 yuan. I suddenly remembered last night—the ghost courier had collected exactly 289 spirit coins.
Because of the roads, it's still over three hours' drive from here. It's just past seven now—by ten, we should arrive.
But after eating, I felt drowsy, slumped in the car, looking exhausted.
"How about I drive for a while, Qingyuan?"
I looked over in surprise.
"You know how to drive?"
"It's not that hard. Ever since I was a kid and saw cars, I've wanted to drive one myself. I've asked a lot of people who know how, so I already know all the steps."
I was honestly too tired to care, so I handed Justin the keys, half-believing him.
With a roar, the engine started and the car slowly moved forward. Justin looked nervous, but the car did move—albeit slowly. I had just closed my eyes when, suddenly, the car veered and crashed into the guardrail.
I yelped, reacting quickly to hit the brakes, but the front of the car was still dented.
Instantly, I was wide awake, my sleepiness gone. Rubbing my aching forehead, I glared at Justin, who seemed completely unfazed, even though he'd broken the glass.
"Heh, sorry, Qingyuan. First time driving, you know. Why don't you take over, or maybe get some rest first?"
After that, we got back on the road. But since it was already winter, cold wind kept blowing in through the broken spot, making me shiver uncontrollably.
After driving for an hour, I couldn't stand the cold anymore. I stopped the car, my cheeks completely numb, rubbing them with my hands. Justin was snoring in the back.
Bang bang bang—a sudden knocking on the window startled me. I turned and saw a man outside, pale-faced and white-haired, grinning obsequiously.
I rolled down the window.
"Hey, brother, could you give me a ride for a bit?"
I grunted in response, but then realized—it's pitch black all around, just forests. Where could a person come from?
Immediately, I clenched my fists, my killing aura seeping out.
"You're a ghost, aren't you?"
The ghost's face twisted in a snarl and lunged at me. Without hesitation, I punched him. He yelped, landing on the ground, staring at me in shock.
"Come on, Qingyuan, ghosts used to be people too. Cut him some slack."
Justin said, opening the car door. The ghost climbed in, hurriedly thanking us.
"This is my first time riding in a car driven by a human. Haha. I'm heading to Linland County—are you guys going that way?"
The ghost in the backseat spoke, and Justin asked.
"What for?"
"Oh, it's like this. Things in the city have been pretty chaotic lately, so us little ghosts are all planning to move elsewhere. I heard that place is nice—a lot of ghosts have gone there. Seriously, with so many powerful folks showing up in the city lately, Linland County is much more suitable for ghosts to live in."
"Why's that?" I asked.
"You guys aren't here to catch ghosts, are you?"
"Of course not," Justin replied, and the ghost looked visibly relieved.
"There's a kind and generous ghost lord over there. I'm planning to go seek refuge with him."