"Ethan Zhang, you’re a total disgrace. Don’t you feel ashamed walking the streets?"
I hung my head. Across from me, Vivian Ouyang held up her phone, displaying a news headline: 'Man Strips in Public—Street Sensation.'
In just a few hours, I’d gone viral. My phone kept ringing—reporters wanted interviews.
"Hey, Vivian, Ethan was just bewitched by a ritual. Cut him some slack—men care about their pride."
"Ethan, why aren’t you eating?" Sophie Su and Tina Yu sat at a makeshift altar table, eating offerings Detective Stone had set up. Samantha Simons sat beside me.
"I’ve lived most of my life, but this is my first time dining with ghosts. And three of them are beauties." Detective Stone raised his glass to Samantha Simons.
Samantha Simons moved gracefully, lifting her hand and sipping wine with delicate poise.
I had no appetite. As soon as I entered the restaurant, diners pointed at me, instantly recognizing who I was.
"Sister Samantha, let me toast you." Rachel Lan said, raising her glass, respect shining in her eyes.
The atmosphere turned lively, but I felt bleak inside. I scrolled through my phone—WeChat was flooded with people discussing my dance video. Some even made it into a meme.
"Brother Zhang, I heard about your dream from Rachel Lan. Maybe you and that criminal are connected in some way. Three people are dead now—two from the Ghost Syndicate and one Taoist. If possible, I hope you can work with the police to find the killer."
I nodded. Just thinking about that iron-masked man made my heart uneasy.
"Actually, this isn’t just two cases anymore..." Detective Stone sighed, helplessness in his voice.
I looked at him seriously, my eyes full of questioning.
"The Eighth Squad of the Ghost Burial Squad—wiped out."
I gasped in shock.
"When did it happen?"
"Two or three months ago, I think. The way they died is very similar to what's happened these past two days—their bodies, many parts were gnawed on." Detective Stone's tone was grim.
Thinking of that dream, I reached out, wanting to hit the iron-masked man, but I couldn’t touch him—while he could reach me.
"Is the culprit human—or ghost?"