As we walked through the lively street, Edward Ouyang kept explaining the local scene to me. I barely listened—my mind was consumed by worries about the Immortality Society.
"Ethan, just relax."
Rachel Lan smiled, grabbed my hand, and darted into a shop selling trinkets. I felt a bit awkward as she led me to a shelf. She kept smiling, but her eyes were fixed on something outside. I followed her gaze—it was directed behind Edward Ouyang.
Amid the endless stream of people, I sensed it too—someone was lurking, secretly following us.
"Probably the police," Rachel Lan whispered.
I let out a surprised noise. Edward Ouyang waited for us, beaming. I forced a smile and nodded. We were definitely being watched.
Then Rachel Lan picked out a colorful bracelet, had it wrapped up, and we left the shop, heading toward the lake at the end of the street.
Several small yachts were docked at the pier. We boarded Edward Ouyang's yacht, and his butler ferried us across the lake.
Sure enough, two people hurried onto a yacht and followed us, clearly flustered.
We’d barely reached Fifth Avenue and already someone was tailing us," Rachel Lan said. I turned to look.
Rachel, your instincts are as keen as ever," Edward Ouyang chuckled.
Edward Ouyang began telling us how, in the past, someone tried to kidnap Vivian Ouyang, but Rachel Lan stopped them.
In no time, we arrived at the other side—a villa district where the lots were similar in size but the buildings were all styled differently.
Edward Ouyang led us to a villa in minimalist black and white. The door opened slowly, and inside we saw several staff members busy at work.
Just inside the main entrance was a three-story house, with paths leading off both sides—the left to a garden, the right to a swimming pool.
Inside was a spacious living room with a white carpet and decorations on the walls. A spiral staircase led upward, and we sat down on the sofa.
"Rachel, go check on Vivian," Edward Ouyang said, and Rachel Lan headed straight upstairs.
I looked at Edward Ouyang intently.
"Mr. Ouyang, can you tell us about the Immortality Society?"
"Well, Ethan, I don’t know all the specifics. What I do know is that they’re all powerful, influential people, and many have close ties to ghosts."
I looked at Edward Ouyang in surprise. He seemed to know everything about his daughter and didn't try to stop her. He also had a clear understanding of ghosts.
Suddenly, I felt something was off. Especially when I thought about the Ghost Burial Squad—a job so dangerous, yet Vivian Ouyang was an only child. Why was Edward Ouyang so relaxed about his daughter working there?
"Mr. Ouyang, aren't you worried about your daughter?"
"Of course I worry. My girl doesn't even let me lecture her—only Rachel can talk to her. She doesn't listen to anyone, but as parents, we're naturally concerned. Still, after all these years, nothing major has happened. The Ghost Burial Squad takes good care of her, and I'm especially reassured when Rachel is with her."
I made a sound of acknowledgment. Maybe I was overthinking it.
"Mingxin Pharmaceutical Company."
Edward Ouyang's expression changed. I looked at him in confusion.
"The person you're looking for might be known by the chairman of that pharmaceutical company," Edward Ouyang said, pulling out his phone. After fiddling with it for a while, he handed it over. Suddenly, my eyes widened.
I recognized the woman in the photo—about thirty, quite pretty. Susan Li. That night, when I was hospitalized, a vengeful ghost attacked, and the target was Susan Li.
"Susan Li?" I asked in confusion.
"Oh, Ethan, do you know her?"
I nodded, and Edward Ouyang continued.
Her pharmaceutical company used to have several major collaborations with us, but two years ago, we ended the partnership. Their drugs had some issues—not deadly, but there were definite quality problems.
I remembered that night—the person with the vengeful ghost trying to kill Susan Li said she was a black-hearted woman.
"On a side note, Ethan."
"Go ahead, Mr. Ouyang."
"What exactly is your relationship with Rachel?"
I let out a surprised sound and blinked.
"Nothing special. We're just friends. Why?"
Edward Ouyang smiled and shook his head.
Just then, there was a noise upstairs—something had broken. Edward Ouyang and I hurried to the third floor.
"Get out, Rachel!" Vivian Ouyang's shout came from a room. We walked over. Rachel Lan stood at the door. The room was a mess—Vivian's hair was disheveled, she wore a white nightgown, her face pale, food scattered everywhere, sitting at her computer playing games.
"Vivian, what's wrong? Aren't you happy to see us?"
Vivian Ouyang looked like she didn't want to talk, staring at her computer screen.
Suddenly, I saw Rachel Lan's expression change. She walked over and grabbed Vivian's hand.
"Come on, go take a shower. Look at yourself—you're filthy."
"I don't need you to take care of me! Get out!" Vivian kept shouting. Then Rachel forcefully lifted Vivian up, holding her tight. Vivian screamed and struggled. I was about to step in, but Edward Ouyang stopped me.
"Let go! Let go of me! Rachel, let go—let go..."
At the doorway, Vivian kept yelling. Rachel Lan stopped.
"No one's blaming you. If you're bored, just go back to work."
Vivian Ouyang stopped struggling and burst into tears, crying heartbreakingly.
"It's my fault. So many people died—it's my fault..."
"That's enough." I walked up to Vivian and looked at her.
"You are you, and he is him. Did you forget? In the dream, I promised you something, and I kept my word. But look at you now, giving up on yourself—what is this? I, Ethan Zhang, didn't risk my life to save someone who just wants to give up. Remember, you're Rachel's friend, and I'm your friend too. No matter how many times that guy comes back, I'll find a way."
After crying for a while, Vivian finally calmed down. Rachel took her to shower, and I went to the room Edward Ouyang had arranged for me.
"Thank you, Ethan."
"No need, Mr. Ouyang. Vivian has helped us plenty of times too—she's actually a very warm-hearted person."
Suddenly, a scream rang out—a cry of agony. I looked toward the window. Across the lawn, in a low building, the sound came from there. All the windows were fitted with security bars.
"That's my brother. Years ago, he lost his mind after a failed relationship. His condition comes and goes. A few times, he escaped and hurt people."
Edward Ouyang explained as another loud shout came. I saw a shadow moving in the light inside.
"Just close the window later and you won't hear it anymore."
It was already 10 PM. After Edward Ouyang left the room, I felt a little uneasy but still closed the window.
By 10:50, I had showered and gone to bed. At least now I had solid intel—tomorrow, I just needed to investigate Mingxin Pharmaceutical Company.
Half-asleep, I felt my cheek itch, as if something was pressing on me. I opened my eyes and suddenly cried out in shock.
"Who?"
A pair of strong hands grabbed my throat. I was about to use my ghost energy, but then I realized—the one choking me was human. I kicked hard, and with a bang, the person pressing on me was knocked to the floor.
I reached for the light. With a click, the room lit up. In front of me was a disheveled man in a white hospital gown, hair and beard long. I immediately realized—Edward Ouyang's brother.
"Enemy of the Ouyang family—die, die..." the man muttered. Suddenly, his seemingly thin body swelled, muscles tearing through his clothes with a rip. Startled, I saw him lunge at me.
I had no choice but to channel my ghost energy, wrapping it around my fist and aiming at his arm. I punched, but all I saw was his fist—bam! I was sent flying, crashing into the wall, dizzy and dazed.
But after all I've been through, I know you can't stop in a fight, or you'll be at a disadvantage. Gritting my teeth, I got up and rolled to the side. With a loud bang, I looked over in shock.
He kicked the wall—a cement and wood structure—and instantly made a huge hole. His eyes were bloodshot, glaring at me viciously as he lunged again.
I'm no fool. I rolled onto the bed, grabbed a cup, and threw it at him. With ghost energy forming a small stick in my hand, I struck at his shoulder just as he lifted the blanket.
What happened next shocked me. He grabbed my stick and crushed it—ghost energy dissolved instantly.
Then he swung his fist at my chest. With a bang, the door flew open, and suddenly a white scarf whipped over, wrapping around his hand—his fist stopped at my chest.
With a rip, the scarf tore, and his fist slammed into my chest. A huge force sent me flying, crashing hard into the wall—my organs burning, I coughed violently.
"Ethan!" Rachel screamed. Just as I looked up, the man leaped, raising his foot to kick me.