After I hung up the phone, I slowly picked up Mona Ouyang. Her body was extremely weak, and her life was in constant danger. At that moment, the door to the room opened.
"Mr. Ouyang, your daughter is already in this condition. Why haven't you taken her to see a doctor?"
I had just used my ghost network to examine Vivian Ouyang's body. Her heartbeat and breathing were both very weak, and after crying out for a while, she fainted.
"She won't die. After all, Vivian is the vessel for Mona Ouyang in this world. Mona won't let Vivian die."
"Is that so? Is she really your biological daughter?"
"Absolutely. I won't interrupt your conversation any further." With that, Edward Ouyang closed the door and left. His eyes showed indifference toward Vivian Ouyang.
At that moment, a burst of purple light appeared. Mona Ouyang emerged. I gently laid Vivian Ouyang down on the bed.
"You finally made it, Ethan Zhang."
I nodded and looked at Mona Ouyang as she straightened up.
"Go ahead, tell me what's going on."
"This girl found out about her family's connection to the Immortality Society. In the last incident, the Ouyang family gave those people from the Immortality Society far too much help. Edward Ouyang made this clear to Vivian Ouyang."
On one side is her closest friend, on the other are her parents. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. All of this is unbearably cruel for Vivian Ouyang.
"I only discovered this after two years of investigating bit by bit."
As Mona Ouyang spoke, I found a chair and sat down.
It all started more than three hundred years ago, right after the great war between the Seven Ghost Sovereigns. From that moment, Mona Ouyang lost her vessel and was completely trapped in the dream world.
Mona Ouyang's vessel had to be provided by a blood relative of the Ouyang family. But for some reason, the connection between the Ouyang family and Mona Ouyang was severed. No matter how Mona tried to reach the Ouyang family through dreams and bring them into the dream world, she failed every time.
"What exactly happened?"
"Back then, I realized they could resist my dream powers. On top of that, my strength was fading. Vivian chose me herself, though she may not know it yet."
I let out a sound of surprise. Mona Ouyang smiled kindly.
"Let me show you, Ethan Zhang. Maybe it will make you feel a bit better. Your heart is constantly crying, like a rainy day without sunlight. I can see it—even though you have no more tears, the sadness is branded deep in your heart."
As Mona Ouyang spoke, she raised a finger and touched my left cheek, gently stroking the raised red tear mark.
My consciousness began to fade along with a burst of purple light. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a bustling city.
Vivian Ouyang stood angrily on the street, dressed in a light summer outfit, clearly upset. After a while, I saw a woman in a red and blue tracksuit run out from the crowd, looking very young and innocent.
"Rachel Lan..."
I immediately rushed over, reaching out to touch her. But Rachel Lan passed right through my body. I clenched my fist.
"This is nothing but an image."
"Why are you so late? Hmph, I've been waiting for half an hour."
"Sorry, Vivian Ouyang. Something came up."
Vivian Ouyang pouted, and Rachel Lan stuck out her tongue. Then Rachel grabbed Vivian's hand and they ran off together. They had just met a few months ago, but their relationship was already very close, and they were going to see a movie together.
"Alright, I forgive you."
When they arrived at the cinema, the tickets were already sold out because they were late. Vivian Ouyang was furious and lost her temper.
"Hmph, this is all your fault, Rachel Lan. Why did you come so late?"
"Alright, Vivian Ouyang, it's my fault. Let's try another cinema."
They drove to several places and wandered around until evening, but tickets for all the latest movies were sold out. They would have to wait until tomorrow.
After dinner, they strolled along the street for a while. Vivian Ouyang didn't want to go home yet. As they walked, Vivian suddenly started to tremble. She sensed something.
"What's wrong, Vivian Ouyang? Did you sense something?"
Rachel Lan asked as Vivian Ouyang tried to pull her away. Rachel looked over and saw an old, underground cinema.
"Oh, it's in there, Vivian Ouyang. Come on, didn't you want to see a movie?"
"Let's not go, Rachel Lan. The atmosphere in there feels off."
"Aren't you about to start your internship? With the Ghost Burial Squad?"
After Rachel Lan said this, Vivian Ouyang nodded. The two entered the cinema, bought two tickets at the entrance, and walked into a theater with only a few hundred seats.
Besides Rachel Lan and Vivian Ouyang, there was no one else in the seats.
But I could sense a large number of ghosts in the cinema. Rachel Lan took out the Soul-Calling Gourd.
"There seem to be quite a few dead souls here who don't realize they're already dead. Don't worry, Vivian Ouyang, I'll guide their spirits to the underworld soon."
Vivian Ouyang nodded. The movie hadn't started yet, so Rachel Lan took out her phone and searched for the cinema's name. After searching, a news article popped up.
More than two months ago, this old cinema had been ordered to close by the authorities due to outdated facilities and unsafe underground structure. But the owner ignored the order and kept it open, making good profits from midnight showings. He played popular old movies, attracting couples looking to kill time and bored people who just wanted to watch a film.
However, that night, a fire broke out in the cinema. More than two hundred people, including the owner, died here.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate, Rachel Lan? This area isn't supposed to be your responsibility."
"Well, since we're here, might as well do it."
The movie was about to start, and suddenly, a flood of ghosts rushed in. Vivian Ouyang's eyes widened and she almost screamed. Rachel Lan also looked pale. Most of the ghosts still had the appearance they died with—burned, bloody, some charred like coal—but they didn't realize they were dead.
At that moment, the memory scene froze. Mona Ouyang walked over to me and spoke.
"Ever since she was born, this girl has been extremely sensitive to these things. In the past three hundred years, she's the only one in the Ouyang family I can communicate with. So, she chose me, and I chose her."
The scene resumed. The movie started playing. Vivian Ouyang trembled uncontrollably, while Rachel Lan's face was pale—it seemed this was her first time seeing so many ghosts.
"Rachel Lan, maybe we should..."
"Don't be afraid, Vivian Ouyang. These poor souls have been ignored for months. Since I've seen them, I'll take care of it."
Rachel Lan stood up, but the ghosts didn't notice her at all. As she stepped onto the stage and took out the Soul-Calling Gourd, suddenly, the floorboard beneath her cracked and she fell through.
Vivian Ouyang stood up and ran over in worry, but there was no sign of any broken floorboard. She called out softly, and at that moment, the ghosts under the stage suddenly turned their gaze toward Vivian and began sniffing at her.
Suddenly, all the ghosts stood up, whimpering, and moved toward Vivian Ouyang. She finally couldn't contain her emotions and screamed.
"You two little brats dare to cause trouble in my place? Looking for death, are you?"
At that moment, an angry voice rang out. I looked over and saw a figure holding a video camera, his head blown open with only one eye showing—it was the owner of the cinema. He glared menacingly at Vivian Ouyang.
"No, we were just..."
Overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, Vivian Ouyang fainted. The cinema owner walked over, apparently intending to devour her. Meanwhile, Rachel Lan was still trapped downstairs, unable to return.
"Rachel Lan really loves getting into trouble. This was the most dangerous thing the two of them have ever faced. If I hadn't sensed it and kept calling out to Vivian, she would have been eaten by the ghost."
I nodded. Just then, with a bang, Rachel Lan kicked open the door and rushed out. A strip of white silk flew over and wrapped around Vivian Ouyang. Rachel immediately pulled out the Soul-Calling Gourd, but suddenly, the ghosts lunged at her. Rachel quickly dragged Vivian into a room downstairs, slammed the door shut, and covered the walls with the white silk. After finishing, Rachel was nearly exhausted. She took out her phone and dialed Hugh Thompson's number.
Vivian Ouyang was muttering something, her face showing intense fear. At that moment, I saw a burst of purple light shoot out the door.
It was Mona Ouyang. She appeared and subdued all the ghosts in an instant.
Afterwards, the Ghost Burial Squad arrived, along with Old Eccentric, but there wasn't a single ghost left. Both girls got a severe scolding from Old Eccentric.
The memory ended here, but I felt much better. Rachel Lan had always been like this—never ignoring what she saw, even if it meant getting into serious trouble.
"It was this time that I truly emerged, using Vivian Ouyang as my vessel."
I nodded. We returned to Vivian Ouyang's room. I regained consciousness and looked at Mona Ouyang, who appeared rather sentimental.
"It seems that since Chris Dawn's generation, my ties with the Ouyang family have been completely severed."