Before we left, Susan Li spoke to me once more, urging me to keep an eye on Howard Zhang. I nodded and promised her I would.
Nearly an hour later, we arrived at a bustling street surrounded by towering buildings. Sure enough, there was an elevated bridge being constructed, passing by the side of one of the skyscrapers.
Walter Wu said that today, some people's time is up, so the Hades Circle members have already arrived, waiting to collect souls.
Looking into the distance, the roar of machinery was constant. A long stretch of green safety netting revealed the silhouettes of busy workers moving about inside.
I couldn't help but feel uneasy. Knowing full well that an accident was bound to happen here, I walked over in that direction.
"So this is where someone's going to die, huh? Sigh, I wonder if there are any girls involved."
I turned my head and gave my cousin a resentful look.
"Just kidding, Ethan," he said.
After walking for more than ten minutes, we arrived at the construction site beneath two tall buildings. The entire road was cordoned off. Inside, cranes, steel, and cement were piled high, and many workers were busy at their tasks.
"Go and notify them," I said, ready to head over. But suddenly, my cousin grabbed me and stopped me.
"You can't do that, cousin. You might save someone once, but you can't save them forever."
I let out a sound of surprise and looked at my cousin.
"Life and the length of one's days—monks have told me about this. Even if you save them now, you'll be sacrificing your own lifespan. And those whose time is up, even if they're saved, will meet misfortune and die soon after."
I was stunned, looking at the situation inside. I couldn't bear it, but I still went in.
Suddenly, just as I stepped into the construction site, there was a loud crash. A section of the half-built elevated bridge collapsed, sending up clouds of dust. Pebbles flew everywhere. Without a word, my cousin grabbed me and pulled me toward the site exit.
"Hurry, save them, cousin!"
But my cousin held me down firmly, shaking his head repeatedly.
"Don't go, Ethan. Snap out of it. You only get one chance. We have to quickly find out where the Soulbound Inn is. Have you forgotten?"
I was hesitating when, suddenly, someone ran toward us—crew cut, cold eyes, round face.
"You're Ethan Zhang, right? Here. Soon, we'll have people stationed at different locations. You two go to the place with the strongest Yin energy. If the Inn appears, we'll notify you immediately."
As he spoke, the man handed me a folded blueprint.
I stared at him in a daze as he ran into the construction site. He was with the Hades Circle. I was just about to follow when my cousin slapped me twice across the face.
I turned my head and stared blankly at my cousin.
"Damn, I don't know what's going on, but cousin, that woman—she's important to you, isn't she?"
I stared at my cousin and nodded.
"Cousin, you're just like that—can't hide anything. I saw it. The way you look at her, you'd give your life for her. If you're worried, then hurry up and find out where that Ghost Sovereign is."
I lowered my head and glanced once more at the accident site. Now I could somewhat understand how the Hades Circle members made their way here. I felt it firsthand.
I unfolded the blueprint. It was a map of the nearby area, with a dozen locations circled. Among them, Long Creek Square, five streets away from the construction site, was marked with a large red circle.
My cousin and I drove the van over. In no time, we arrived. The place was deserted, and here and there, bouquets were laid out. I wondered how such a big square could be so empty.
"What's going on? Cousin, why is there no one here?"
"Ethan, tell me, how long has it been since you watched the news?"
I let out a sound of surprise.
"Yeah, it was that super popular idol—came here for a concert. Then tragedy struck—a stampede. Over a hundred people died. It was just a few weeks ago."
I let out a sound of surprise. Sure enough, I saw a small group of young people with somber faces carrying bouquets. They came to the edge of the square, laid the flowers down, and prayed continuously.
By noon, my cousin and I had eaten and returned to the square. More people were arriving, laying down bouquets, and then leaving.
"Even if there was a stampede, isn't this a bit much?"
I asked, but my cousin just shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
But right now, nothing was happening. We could only sit in the van and quietly wait for dinner.
"Cousin, want to go for a walk downtown?"
Just as I spoke, the round-faced, short-haired Hades Circle guy who gave us the blueprint ran over from afar, looking anxious.
"It's finally over," he said.
The man came closer and spoke. I didn't ask, nor did I dare to ask how many people had died this time.
"Hey man, why is there nobody here in broad daylight?"
"There have been rumors around here lately. They say that at night, the ghosts of those who died here come out, as if they're waiting for the concert to begin again. Some have seen it, and our Hades Circle people have checked it out too. But it seems those souls are trapped here."
"So what do we do?" I asked.
"Who should I ask? All we can do is bring in more monks and Taoist priests to hold a hundred-day memorial. Maybe that'll help."
We finally understood why this area was so deserted.
At last, after dinner, my cousin and I waited several more hours. By 11 p.m., every location heavy with Yin energy was guarded by Hades Circle members.
My cousin and I had both napped earlier, so we were feeling pretty good. As soon as we woke up, my cousin said we should eat something first, because once we're inside, there won't be a chance.
My cousin drove off to buy food while I stayed in the square, waiting and yawning repeatedly.
The square was lit, but completely empty. The cold wind howled. Luckily, I was dressed warmly. I sat by a platform, resting my chin in my hand, watching.
Lost in thought, I suddenly heard a soft female voice beside me.
"Where's Howard Zhang?"
I yelped, startled, and jumped up. My death aura surged out. I spun around and, without thinking, swung my fist.
With a cry, I saw a female ghost—pale, exactly like the blood-stained photo my cousin carried. I quickly withdrew my aura, and she looked at me in terror.
"Sorry, sorry."
"I didn't mean to scare you." The female ghost drifted closer. I wondered why my cousin hadn't returned—it was nearly midnight.
After chatting with the ghost for a while, I learned that tonight at midnight, the Soulbound Inn would appear here, but only for an hour before vanishing.
I tried calling my cousin several times, but the calls wouldn't go through. I grew anxious. Finally, midnight arrived.
Suddenly, a red bolt of lightning split the distant sky, followed by thunder. In a daze, I saw a fluttering flag inscribed with 'Soulbound Inn'—the same small inn with two floors we'd seen before.
A mournful wailing rose as the inn's doors opened, and a horde of ghosts poured out. I was startled. Many of them bled from their orifices, some had bulging eyes, twisted necks and hands, and limped as they walked.
A vast crowd of ghosts gathered in the center of the square, wailing excitedly, as if waiting for something to begin.
"Those people still don't know they're dead. Every seven days, they come here to wait for the concert."
The female ghost beside me spoke. I responded with an 'oh' and shivered at the sight of so many ghosts. Especially thinking about the Soulbound Inn—last time, we nearly lost our lives. But my cousin and I are different now.
Thinking of this, my fear faded. But then I remembered—the Ghost Sovereign lives here, and last time, that old ghost woman said the inn has 21 floors. If we meet a resident above the 15th floor, we won't get out.
Time ticked by—almost 1 a.m.—but my cousin still hadn't returned. I was so angry my teeth hurt, clenching my fists as sweat soaked my palms.
Unable to wait any longer, I headed straight for the Soulbound Inn. I asked the female ghost why my cousin had come to save her, but she refused to answer, saying she'd only tell me when my cousin arrived.
I reached the inn's door. The ghosts who'd come for the concert were returning inside. I kept my back to them—their appearances were too gruesome.
"Cousin, I'm late. Sorry." My cousin finally arrived, looking drunk and carrying barbecue. The smell reached me from afar, and I swallowed hard.
"Wow, miss, you're here! Heh, so tell me, what's going on?" My cousin stared at the female ghost, eyes roaming up and down.
"Let's talk inside," said the female ghost.
She spoke, and we walked in together.
The ghosts who'd just entered were gone. The Soulbound Inn was just as before—a simple lobby, with a staircase visible from the hallway.
"So, miss, what's going on?" my cousin asked again.
Before my cousin could finish, there was a bang—the door behind us slammed shut. The female ghost suddenly floated up the stairs. My cousin tried to chase after her, but I grabbed him.
"Don't be impulsive, cousin."
My cousin stared blankly at the spot where the ghost disappeared, muttering to himself.
"I saw her crying. Just now, in that instant, she cried. She must have a deep secret she can't share with us."
I gave the girl a resentful look, then turned to the reception desk. The door that was locked before was where the old ghost woman had gone last time.