Ironmask's eyes were filled with sorrow. He gazed quietly into the distance, at the faintly chilly sky. I spread my wings and floated to his side.
"Dawn is coming soon, Ethan Zhang."
I didn't say anything, just quietly watched Ironmask. His entire being radiated anger—anger directed at the Immortality Society. I had no idea what he had been through.
"Why did things turn out like this?"
I asked.
"Roger Lee was a good man, Ethan Zhang. Go see his wife."
Ironmask said only this, then walked away into the distance. The sky was already growing cold; the clouds were dyed gold and crimson, and thin rays of light pierced the horizon.
Watching Ironmask's retreating figure, I felt an indescribable sadness welling up from deep inside. I didn't know where Ironmask had met Roger Lee. I decided that when I woke up, if I could move, I would go to Roger's house and offer incense for him.
I opened my sore eyes. My whole body felt weak, and I was drenched in sweat.
Just then, knock knock knock, someone rapped on the door. I quickly called out, "Come in."
With a whoosh, the door swung open by itself. I knew it was a ghost. Sure enough, Sandra Yu came in, carrying a steaming bowl.
"Let me do it."
Suddenly, Yuna Ji darted in from the side and snatched the bowl from Sandra Yu's hands. Smiling, she came to me, holding the steaming bowl and a spoon. She scooped up a spoonful of white porridge and brought it to my mouth.
I quickly sat up and reached out my hands.
"Let me do it myself."
"Ethan, after you eat, take a shower and rest for a bit. I made something tasty for you. When it's about time, come downstairs for dinner, okay?"
Sandra Yu said this and left. I nodded gratefully.
Yuna Ji now looked about seventeen or eighteen, wearing a white cropped vest that exposed her bare shoulders, and black fitted capri pants. Her hair was down, and she smiled at me.
"When did you get back?"
"Oh, Ethan, I came straight back from the Nether Syndicate. I was just staying in that room downstairs to recover a bit."
I really hadn't seen Yuna Ji last night. Speaking of that place below, where the baleful energy keeps swirling, I hadn't checked it in a long time. Right now, I could still feel the flow of power inside me—chaotic and abnormal. I wanted to expel the baleful energy, but it felt limp and exhausted.
My stomach growled. The white porridge was a bit bland, but very refreshing, and just the right temperature. I finished it quickly, and felt warm and comfortable, as if bathed in a spring breeze.
Yuna Ji sat on a chair, hands resting on the backrest, head tilted, her big eyes watching me with a smile.
"You didn't add something extra again, did you?"
I realized it immediately. The porridge, while tasting familiar, had a hint of bitterness—just a faint trace. I sniffed it, and sure enough, there was a faintly bitter aroma.
"That's right."
I blinked at Yuna Ji, and she giggled.
"Ethan, I would never hurt you. Think about it—when the zombie bit you, you were fine. Who do you have to thank for that?"
What Yuna Ji said was true. From the very beginning, after coming into contact with Little Black, the zombie, I had become almost completely immune to corpse poison.
"Alright, you can go now. I need to shower."
Yuna Ji stood up, tied her hair back, and walked over with a mischievous smile, pulling me up from the bed.
"Let me help you shower, Ethan."
I smiled, shook my head, and pointed toward the door.
"Out you go. There's nothing interesting about a young guy taking a shower."
After Yuna Ji left, I went into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. Then I came out and made a cup of tea, but my body still felt weak. Just as John Chou had said, I might not feel well for several days.
It was already past 2 o'clock. I was still very hungry, so I had to steady myself against the wall to walk to the door. When I opened it, I nearly fell, but landed on something hard.
It was Little Black. He turned his head, his silver-gray eyes staring at me. He was lying there, floating at the doorway, as if inviting me to sit on his back.
I didn't hesitate and sat on Little Black's back. With a whoosh, he lifted me up and carried me straight into the courtyard.
In the middle of the apartment building, to the right of the small pavilion, Sandra Yu was already setting out bowls and chopsticks. Besides Samantha Simons, I didn't see any other ghosts—not even Swallow, Old Oddball, or Leper. I asked, and learned they'd all gone out, and the other ghosts in the courtyard had gone behind the building.
Helen Chen and Justin Lee had already gone out together to help investigate the Immortality Society.
I sat down and started eating. When I mentioned I was going out later, Samantha Simons nodded and said she'd take me there.
"Where's John Chou?"
"That guy's been in that room the whole time."
Yuna Ji said this, then ran to the pavilion, to where the computer was set up, and continued watching her drama series, giggling nonstop.
"Sister Samantha, I'll leave it to you and Ethan to go together later. I'm heading to Lower City to help out." Sandra Yu said, then left. Only then did I learn that they were going to Lower City to help the ghosts there, planning to move their ashes over using a moving company at a discounted rate.
"Master Ethan, I'll go out first and bring the car around."
"You can drive?" I looked at Samantha Simons in surprise. She pulled out a driver's license. I checked—it really was a license. I was genuinely amazed.
According to Samantha Simons, the Ghost Burial Squad helped her get a fake identity. They paid for her to go to driving school, and she passed the exam in just a week and is now road-ready.
This chapter isn't over yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!
After I finished eating, Little Black waited beside me. He was no longer the same as before—he now had some basic expressions and gestures. Thinking about it, he'd evolved into a Flying Revenant.
I sat on Little Black as he carried me, slowly floating outside the apartment building.
Sure enough, as soon as I went out, I saw a Ghost Burial Squad car parked on the road outside, with Samantha Simons at the wheel.
I got in. Little Black hopped and ducked, then whooshed into the back of the car and stood there obediently.
"Will there be any trouble going out like this?"
I asked, and Samantha Simons smiled.
"Master Ethan, don't worry. I'll use a little magic to cloud their eyes. No one will see us—it's for your safety."
I nodded gratefully and, with some effort, climbed into the passenger seat.
The car drove out of the place I'd instinctively created and onto the road, which was busy with traffic. Roger Lee's house wasn't far from my old cleaning company—just three or four kilometers away.
Samantha Simons drove skillfully, weaving through the traffic. Suddenly, I heard a gurgling sound from the back. I turned to look—Little Black was making the noise, his eyes smiling, looking happy, his head swaying slightly.
Gradually, we arrived at Nanping Road, where my old cleaning company was located. As we passed the company entrance, the car suddenly slowed down. I looked over and saw a few former coworkers, which made me feel a wave of sadness.
I asked Samantha Simons to park the car in front of a bank. I withdrew 3,000 yuan—there was less than 10,000 left in my account, and with a few hundred owed from before, I bought an envelope and had Samantha drive me onward.
Around 4 p.m., we arrived at the entrance to Splendid Estates. There were lots of residents, several newly built elevator buildings, and a few that had just been completed. Roger Lee's family moved here a little over a year ago, and the apartment was quite spacious.
I've stayed here a few times. Back when Lily Wu and I argued, Roger Lee would risk telling his wife to bring me home.
It's the weekend, so Roger Lee's wife, Karen Zhao, should be home, along with his son, Luo Yang. Now that Roger's gone, only his wife and son remain. I should visit more often when I have time.
We came to Building 7. I carried the fruit and snacks I'd just bought, and with Samantha Simons accompanying me, we entered, took the elevator to the 11th floor, and stopped in front of Room 11073. I rang the doorbell.
After a while, the door opened.
With a cry, Karen Zhao burst into tears at the door.
"Ethan, Ethan, why did it take you so long to come? We couldn't reach you—Roger really missed you..."
After we went in, we sat in the living room. Karen Zhao made us tea, and only then did she calm down. She was in her forties, with pale skin, sunken cheeks, and lifeless eyes—she looked utterly exhausted.
I saw a memorial tablet set up in the living room, with a photo of Roger Lee smiling. I walked over, picked up some incense, lit three sticks, and paid my respects. I remembered that this photo was taken when we went on a trip together.
I asked Karen Zhao why Luo Yang wasn't here. She just kept shaking her head.
"Luo Yang stopped going to school and ran off. He keeps saying your Roger was murdered, and he wants to find the killer."
My heart skipped a beat. I stared blankly at Karen Zhao, who gazed at me through tear-filled eyes.
"Where did Luo Yang go? Is there no news at all?"
Karen Zhao shook her head.
"It's been a month. I called the police, asked relatives and your colleagues to help search, but no one has found him."