Thunder rumbled overhead, the rain growing heavier and heavier. I dashed under the eaves, watching the Hell's Registrar.
"Oh, isn't this the one you brought back from Limbo a while ago, sir?"
I stared in shock, while John Chou fell silent.
"Go back and tell your master that all I want now is to guard this little patch of land and live in peace."
I shot John Chou a sidelong glance. Just thinking about that black lake beneath the apartment building told me he was lying. Even someone as clueless as me knew that whatever was down there couldn't be anything good.
"Sir, as for what happened before, Emperor Song has already notified the Sixth Hell Magistrate and Judge Bane. Everything is settled; the vengeful ghosts that escaped have all been handed over to the Hades Circle."
After the Hell's Registrar finished speaking, he seemed to notice the displeasure on John Chou's face, bowed, and retreated, his figure gradually swallowed by the pouring rain.
"So, what's your relationship with the Third Hell Magistrate?"
I asked, but John Chou didn't answer. Instead, he stood up. Strangely, the rain stopped abruptly, leaving only a heavy gloom in the sky.
"Stop asking so many questions. If you have time, go talk to that old couple and get a better understanding. Also, you'd better stay put for now and don't wander off."
John Chou vanished, leaving me standing there, stunned, with a thousand questions swirling in my mind.
Back home, I stripped off my soaked clothes and tossed them in the trash. My phone was gone now, and I barely had any money left.
Thinking it over, I headed to my landlord’s place. I remembered he had a landline. With a gentle push, the door swung open. Nothing seemed odd inside, except for the room where the female ghost was worshipped, glowing red.
I grabbed the phone and called my cousin, Ethan Zhang.
"Who is it?" A soft, alluring female voice answered.
"Could you get Ethan Zhang for me? Please ask him to come to the phone."
After a while, Ethan picked up. I had no choice—I had to ask him for money. He agreed immediately, lending me three thousand yuan and told me to come to his place.
After eating some noodles, I left the house. There was nothing left to cook. John Chou told me not to wander, but I had no choice—I needed to borrow money.
Ethan’s home was at the famous Golden Glade Estates, a villa district nearly a hundred kilometers away. I only had a little over twenty yuan, so I had to take the bus—at least twenty stops.
I’d probably arrive late at night. Even though I was borrowing money, what worried me most was the pair of twins who grabbed Ethan’s clothes last night.
Amid the crowds at the station, I boarded the bus. It was afternoon, packed with people. I had no choice but to stand.
After more than ten transfers, dusk had fallen. I’d been standing all day, my legs were weak. Still, I thought, at least I didn’t have to go home tonight. That apartment building was growing heavier with Yin energy.
Luckily, I’d gotten a bit used to it. People say places heavy with Yin energy make you sick easily. Maybe it was thanks to the old man and his spells that I hadn’t had any problems these past few days.
By eight o’clock, my stomach was growling, and I had no money left. I stood shivering at the cold, windy station, waiting for the last bus—Route 146.
I was so hungry I could barely stand it. I’d have to rely on Ethan for a meal. My parents’ home was closer than Ethan’s, but I was already in my twenties. Asking them for money was humiliating. Besides, I couldn’t explain why I was broke—they wouldn’t believe me anyway.
"Young man, what are you waiting for?" A voice called from behind. I shivered and turned to see an aunt rummaging through the trash bin.
"Waiting for the bus."
As we spoke, I saw headlights approaching in the distance. The bold red letters on the front read: Route 146 Bus, slowly pulling up to the stop.
The trash-picking aunt looked at me strangely, then grabbed my hand.
"Young man, where are you headed?"
I was startled.
"I’m heading to Golden Glade Estates."
"Wait for a while. There’s another bus at ten, Route 173."
"Auntie, I’m in a hurry." I shook off her hand and moved to board the bus.
"Don’t get on."
After standing all day, my legs felt as if I’d stepped into a spring breeze. I leaned back, finally comfortable.
I checked my pocket—just three yuan left. I took out two, planning to drop them into the fare box later.
Inside the bus, only a single dim light glowed. I wondered why everyone—more than ten people—kept their heads down, faces blank.
Maybe they were just tired from work. I was exhausted too, planning to nap for a while. It’d be at least half an hour to the last stop.
"Excuse me, what time is it?"
Half-asleep, someone tapped me awake—a woman. I shook my head.
The woman suddenly grew anxious, her face flustered as if something urgent was happening. At that moment, the previously lifeless passengers started chatting, and even the driver joined in.
I kept quiet.
"What time is it?" The woman behind me asked again.
"I don’t have my phone, not sure of the time. It’s probably no later than nine."
"What time is it?"
The woman behind me asked again. Annoyed, I turned my head, not wanting to answer.
Suddenly, everyone on the bus started asking each other, "What time is it?"
Now I knew something was wrong. Was I running into ghosts again?
Out of nowhere, the bus screeched and shook violently. I was thrown forward by the force, the world spinning in front of my eyes. My forehead slammed into something, and I lost consciousness.
I stood at the station, waiting for Route 146 Bus. I felt restless. Just moments ago, I’d been starving, and the clock at the station read 8:43.
Suddenly, I turned around, feeling like someone was behind me. It had to be my imagination.
The bus arrived. I got on and took a seat. Soon, someone tapped my shoulder.
"Excuse me, what time is it?"
It was a woman. I waved her off. The people in the bus started chatting. After a while, the woman behind me asked again, "What time is it?"
I told her I didn’t have a phone, said it was probably no later than nine. She kept asking, and I grew irritated, not wanting to answer. I stared out the window, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing inside me.
With a screech, the bus shook violently...
"Why isn’t the bus here yet?"
I muttered to myself, "Why isn’t the bus here yet?" When the bus finally arrived, I was puzzled. The dozen or so passengers on board looked lifeless, and I felt like I’d seen them before.
Without thinking, I sat near the door.
"Excuse me, what time is it?"
A woman behind me asked. I shook my head.
After a while, the bus grew noisy, passengers chatting. The woman behind me asked again, "What time is it?"
I said I didn’t have my phone, but a strong sense of unease welled up inside me. The woman kept asking. Suddenly, the bus screeched to a halt.
Someone stood at the front of the bus, and I slammed into the handrail.
Passengers stood up one after another. It was that woman—a member of the Hades Circle, called a lackey of the Underworld. I remembered her; before she left that night, she’d given me a shawl to cover myself.
"Girl, what are you doing standing in the middle of the road? Trying to get yourself killed?" the driver cursed.
The woman strode onto the bus without hesitation.
"You’re all dead, and none of you realize it?"
As she spoke, the woman took out a small purple clay gourd, twisted it open, and a wisp of white vapor drifted out.
She gently pressed her hand against the gourd.
"Below the Hades Circle lies the Nine Netherworlds. Under the rule of the Yan Lord, spirits obey—appear."
In an instant, the bus erupted with howls, flames shooting skyward. Terrified, I jumped to my feet. Only then did I realize this was the third time I’d ridden this bus—the last time, it overturned and I’d blacked out.
Inside, the scene was horrifying. The bus lay overturned, passengers with broken limbs and glass shards in their bodies. Those at the front were engulfed in flames, and the driver’s head was twisted around completely.
"Report to the Hades Circle at once."
The woman spoke, and the screams ceased. Gradually, the bus and the ghosts began to fade, becoming transparent.
I checked my body—no major injuries. Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief. The woman walked over.
"You’re just having an out-of-body experience. Come with me."
I followed her. After a few steps, I saw my own body lying on the ground, a smear of dark red blood nearby.
Before I could react, she grabbed me and kicked me hard in the rear. I stumbled and crashed back into my body.
I opened my eyes—my arm and head throbbed with pain.
I cried out, clutching my injured hand. A big lump had formed on my head.
"Have we met before?"
I grinned and shook my head. I had met her before, but she was with the Hades Circle, and I was working with John Chou. I couldn’t say anything, so I pretended to be scared.
"Listen, have you done anything shameful lately? Your aura is so heavy—no wonder you keep running into ghosts. You just saw one again."
I nodded dumbly, watching her. Today she had her hair tied up, dressed in beige casual clothes—she looked fresh and clean.
She took me to her car, opened a medical kit, and bandaged my wounds. I looked at her—she was quite pretty. I wondered how such a beautiful girl ended up dealing with ghosts.
"Are you a Taoist priest?"
She drove me to my destination, but she seemed annoyed, barely speaking to me.
"If you live right, those dark things won’t bother you. You’re so young, but your aura is heavy. Well, it’s fate we met today. Here’s my number—if you run into this again, call me."
I blinked and took her business card. It read: Dongfeng Gas Company, HR Manager, Rachel Lan.
Rachel Lan looked extremely reluctant to admit she was a Taoist priest, or to talk about why she dealt with ghosts.
I put the card away and didn’t ask more. When we arrived at Golden Glade Estates, the car stopped.
"Remember—do more good deeds, or else..."
I nodded, watching her leave. I was actually grateful—she’d saved me and driven me all the way here.
I took out her card again, feeling a bit pleased, and smiled.
"What are you looking at?"
Suddenly, John Chou appeared in front of me.
"You—you watched me like that and didn’t show yourself?"
"Brother, I can’t keep saving you over and over. Are you still just thinking about getting a job? Marrying a pretty girl like the one just now, and escaping my business? Heh, do you really think your Sevenfold Curse will let you live a peaceful life? You think those old folks opened your spiritual eye so you wouldn’t be harmed by the curse? You’d better drop those little schemes."
My face flushed. I hung my head, thinking that if I could just return to my old life, I’d do whatever John Chou asked.
"Can you help me? My cousin—he’s being haunted."
"Let’s go. You did well tonight—not telling that Hades Circle woman about us."