Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The First Collaboration

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The First Collaboration

“I just want to make it clear upfront that I have no problem cooperating with you,” Yang Jian said as he once again stepped into the shopping mall. “But if we encounter any danger or special circumstances, or if things spiral out of control, I won’t hesitate to run away. And when that happens, don’t curse me for abandoning my team.”

Yan Li responded, “That’s only natural. We’re cooperating to capture the ghost. If it turns out to be unfeasible, it’s only right for each of us to look out for our own survival. Ghosts are unpredictable, and even the most experienced ghost handlers can’t be sure of successfully capturing a restrained-level ghost.”

“Categorizing fierce ghosts into levels can be misleading. I’ve already learned that lesson the hard way.”

“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease,” Yang Jian nodded.

He owned the Spirit Ball, and leaving the mall wouldn’t even take three seconds. Moreover, the Spirit Ball could shield him from other ghosts’ attacks.

Even the Door Knocking Ghost couldn’t detain him, so surely the ghosts in the mall couldn’t be more terrifying than that one.

It was this confidence in his own protection that made him dare to agree to work with Yan Li.

“But if we do manage to capture the ghost, how will we split the benefits afterward?” Yang Jian asked. “Let’s get that clear now to avoid any displeasure over this matter later.”

“Money divided equally, and shared intelligence,” Yan Li said. “You’ve also helped me just now; I won’t take advantage of you.”

Source: novgo.co

“That’s good to hear,” Yang Jian nodded.

“By the way, is the position of a city’s person in charge considered high?” he inquired.

Yan Li looked stunned and asked in surprise, “You don’t know?”

“I’m new here and haven’t had time to learn everything. If you don’t know, never mind, I can ask the operator later,” Yang Jian said.

“It’s a high position,” Yan Li explained. “You can virtually mobilize a city’s resources in every aspect to coordinate with your actions, and it’s unconditional—but only in managing supernatural incidents. Of course, you won’t lack for perks in other respects either. However, there’s only one person in charge per city; the previous one for Dachang City was Zhou Zheng, and I’ve met him.”

“Only one person in charge per city? That seems like too much to ask of anyone,” Yang Jian frowned.

Aside from the Ghost Infant incident, he had encountered at least three supernatural events.

“Due to a shortage of hands,” Yan Li explained, “think about how vast the world is and how many cities there are. It’s already good that we have one ghost handler per city as a person in charge. Plus, engaging with these incidents inevitably involves sacrifices.”

“Not all ghost handlers become the person in charge of a city,” he added.

“Are they choosing self-preservation over actively dealing with supernatural incidents?” Yang Jian asked.

“That’s about the size of it,” Yan Li admitted.

Yang Jian’s gaze shifted subtly as he said, “But that’s based on the premise that we have no hope of survival. If the situation concerning the resurrection of fierce ghosts can change, then the handlers who become in charge will directly benefit. After all, the supernatural incidents within the city will still need their attention, so their survival will be more secure.”

Yan Li was caught off guard, not expecting Yang Jian to have such a long-term perspective.

“You mentioned someone has successfully prevented the resurrection of fierce ghosts. Where do you think their information came from?” Yang Jian asked.

“What are you getting at?” Yan Li inquired.

Yang Jian calmly continued, “I believe many have already begun resolving the enigma of ghost existence… even if breaking the mystery of ghosts is unachievable, they must find a way to control fierce ghosts, and such research must have already achieved some results. However, this method could have significant flaws, be unreliable, and even carry considerable risks.”

“That’s why it hasn’t been disclosed yet.”

“But as supernatural events increase and the situation worsens, even the immature methods have to be revealed. After all, only people like us can deal with ghosts, and from a broader perspective, nobody wants to see us die.”

After a moment of silence, Yan Li said, “Before this, I was just an electrician; I don’t know much about these things. If we succeed this time, I can introduce you to a special club. The information I’ve received all came from there.”

“What kind of club?” Yang Jian asked.

“A club that only ghost handlers are qualified to join. Though not numerous, their influence is significant and their connections are wide. They know more than I do,” Yan Li explained.

“Really? It would indeed be worth a visit,” Yang Jian remarked.

Communicating with others of the same kind definitely has its benefits.

Unnoticed in their conversation, the two had once again reached the shopping mall’s second floor and were continuing toward the third floor.

They were moving slowly.

Being vigilant of their surroundings.

“Those people… seem to have disappeared again,” Yang Jian remarked as he looked up. The ghosts they saw before on the fifth floor had once again vanished.

Not even a single body was left on the ground.

“They’ve hidden themselves again?” Yan Li proposed.

Yang Jian cautioned, “Don’t turn your back to any ghost. The mall’s ghosts attack from behind, switching their own heads with those of others… You should have seen it on the fifth floor. Those who had their heads switched retain their memories and don’t even remember that such a thing has happened to them.”

“`

“But as long as they wish, they can become ghosts anytime, anywhere.”

“You had already discovered this pattern? Why didn’t you warn me earlier, and even made me slide out with them?” Yan Li said in surprise.

Yang Jian replied, “It’s not that I don’t trust your ability, I just don’t trust those people. There’s a saying that goes well: a big tree will have dead branches, and a large group of people will have idiots. Some people’s intelligence is hard to explain with words. You have no idea how ‘excellent’ those who court death with their lives really are, not only harming themselves but also others.”

“I was just preventing any accidents from happening, what’s wrong with them being caterpillars? You saw it, they were sliding on the ground, fast and stable, and they were happy about it.”

“…”

Yan Li fell silent for a moment, “Alright, I admit that your action was the right one.”

“That’s good… Hey, is Big Sister Jiang there? If you’re alive please respond, if you’re dead I’ll collect your body,” Yang Jian suddenly said into the satellite positioning cell phone.

Jiang Yan’s voice rang out, tense and frantic, “I’m not dead yet. I’ve seen you come in, hurry up and pick me up. I just saw Liu Qiang’s corpse move, I feel like something’s not right now…”

“Where’s that ghost? Where did it first appear?” asked Yang Jian.

“I saw on the surveillance before, the ghost first appeared in a clothing store on the fifth floor, it was a blurry shadow, I couldn’t see it clearly. The shadow entered the body of a mannequin. I’ll send you the picture,” Jiang Yan said.

Yang Jian said, “Send it to my other phone, this phone doesn’t have the function to receive images.”

“Okay.”

Shortly after, his smartphone received a picture.

“Is this the true form of that ghost?” Yan Li leaned over to take a look.

Yang Jian asked, “Have you prepared the tools?”

Yan Li took out a pure gold box from his bosom, about the size of a makeup box, but heavy and solid, weighing at least a few kilograms, and sealed tightly without a crack.

“…”

“The ghost is so big and you prepared such a small box? Why didn’t you just get a Spirit Ball,” Yang Jian said with an odd look at him.

Yan Li replied, “Gold has been a bit expensive lately; this custom box cost me over two million. All the money I made earlier went into it.”

“I understand the reasoning, but this size, it’s not even enough for your ashes, how are you going to trap a ghost?” Yang Jian said.

“Though it’s a bit small, if you squeeze in, it can fit. That ghost is just a shadow, right? Maybe it doesn’t have a physical body, so the smaller box doesn’t matter,” Yan Li said.

“No choice, got to try our luck now that we’re here.”

Yang Jian didn’t have many options and could only adopt a trying attitude to see whether or not they could successfully imprison the ghost.

They reached the fifth floor.

He recognized the clothing store.

Behind the glass door were a bunch of mannequins in disorder, some missing arms, others legs.

He had felt something strange about them the first time he patrolled.

It seemed his instinct had been correct.

The ghost that instigated everything from the beginning was in there.

Casting aside any underestimation, Yang Jian and Yan Li’s expressions immediately turned solemn.

The shop ahead was pitch-dark.

The door wasn’t locked; just a pull would open it.

But knowing the real ghost was hiding inside made Yang Jian’s palms sweat coldly.

In the strictest sense, this was his first real confrontation with a ghost.

The incident with the Ghost Infant didn’t count; that was just passive rescue and escape, with no real pressure. But this time was different, this was an active strike.

However, just as Yang Jian and Yan Li were preparing to go in.

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The somewhat heavy glass door of the clothing store, without any wind, began to slowly open on its own…

Yang Jian was startled.

Could this ghost know that they were coming?

“`

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