Chapter 022: Hello? Officer! This man murdered me!
But reality was harsh, and Chi Shen understood one truth at the cost of his life.
You can't rely on anyone else, not even your blood-related parents. In this world, the only person you can count on is yourself.
While driving, Yuan Yiping suddenly asked, "Do you want to learn some exorcism techniques for self-defense? Given you're a Bai family member, you might encounter such incidents again."
Recalling Bai Ximing's words, Chi Shen replied, "I don't have the talent..."
Even in the death game, there was no exorcism technique, not even the sunlight ghosts fear the most. They could only counter ghosts with ghostly methods. Everything he mastered was based on those methods.
"Talent?" Yuan Yiping chuckled, shaking his head, "I don't have any special talent either, but I manage, don't I?"
Chi Shen pondered for a moment, then smiled, "So, one doesn't need innate talent to learn exorcism?"
Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as if recalling something, Yuan Yiping spoke apologetically, "In our circles, 'talent' usually refers to unique physiques. For a large family like the Bai's to desire an heir with a special physique is not unusual. Don't overthink it."
"Is that so?" Chi Shen slowly lifted his eyes, looking at Yuan Yiping, "How do you determine someone's special physique?"
"Typically, it's through their birth chart or bone reading," Yuan Yiping explained. "Some physiques are visible to the naked eye, like the ability to see spirits. You must have undergone such tests..."
Chi Shen reminisced about his first return to Hong Kong. Fresh off the plane and eagerly heading to the Bai family home, he had accidentally knocked an elderly man down while cycling. By the time he took the man to the hospital and settled the matter, the Bai family doors were firmly shut when he arrived.
Bai Xi Ming's gentle voice on the phone informed him that he lacked the innate gift, and the Bai family did not accept such individuals.
The tests Yuan Yi Ping mentioned, Chi Shen had never undergone any. He had never met Bai Xi Ming before that moment. Since his return to Hong Kong, he had been dismissed without ever seeing the face of his supposed biological father.
“So, one needs to be tested to determine the presence of this innate gift?” Chi Shen inquired again.
“More or less,” Yuan Yi Ping replied, “In our clan, there are elders specifically responsible for this. Regrettably, in the past century, none have been identified with this gift. Seems the Bai family has set quite the high standard…”
“I'm not interested in being the main heir,” Chi Shen murmured, glancing at the approaching Bai mansion. With a barely audible, self-deprecating tone, he continued, “I just wanted a better life, with the normal parents I never had.”
“That was once the thing I envied most.”
A chilly sensation emerged from Chi Shen's shadow, circling his wrist like a gust of cold wind, leaving behind a cold yet tender touch.
The corner of Chi Shen's mouth lifted slightly, comforted by Ji Xing Chen.
“What did you say?” Yuan Yi Ping hadn't caught Chi Shen's whisper. An instinct he had honed over years rang alarm bells in his mind, but the strange sensation quickly vanished, seemingly just a figment of his imagination.
Chi Shen shook his head, “Nothing.”
As the Bai mansion loomed closer, Yuan Yi Ping didn’t probe further into Chi Shen's words. The mansion always gave him an unsettling feeling, perhaps the source of his sudden ominous premonition.
“Officer Yuan, can I ask a favor?” Chi Shen suddenly said.
“Just call me Brother Yuan,” Yuan Yi Ping responded, “Go on.”
“Brother Yuan, on October 13th, the day I arrived in Hong Kong, I hit an old man at the intersection of Xing Gang Road and Xiang Gui Road. I've been thinking about that day. The old man seemed out of control, darting in front of my bike, and the shared bike’s brakes failed just then. However, upon inspection afterward, they were perfectly fine.”
“I understand,” Yuan Yi Ping said, “It does sound peculiar. If it's related to supernatural events, we’ll look into it. Thanks for the tip.”
Chi Shen gave a polite smile. While it would be challenging for him to investigate something from so long ago, it was different for Yuan Yi Ping, who, as a member of the special security department, could access traffic camera footage.
After dropping Chi Shen off at the mansion's entrance, Yuan Yi Ping cast a solemn look at the Bai house, giving Chi Shen some advice. They agreed on a schedule for exorcism lessons, and he drove off.
As Chi Shen watched Yuan Yi Ping's car fade in the distance, he showed no urgency to enter the mansion.
“Want some candy?” Chi Shen suddenly asked.
His shadow shifted, and Ji Xing Chen stood next to him, adjusting his glasses, “No need. Being around him feels uncomfortable, but it doesn’t harm me.”
Chi Shen chuckled softly, drawing a tissue from his pocket. He fashioned it into a paper candy and, after some thought, scribbled two words onto it: "Milk Candy."
Lighting the paper candy on fire, Ji Xing Chen extended his hand, and the candy appeared in his palm.
For Ji Xing Chen, a spirit, this was as real as any candy could be.
He unwrapped it and popped the candy into his mouth.
It tasted sweet.
Watching Ji Xing Chen's surprised expression, Chi Shen also grinned and started heading toward the old mansion. He had barely taken two steps when he abruptly stopped, directing his gaze across the street to a clump of trees.
"Has someone been here?"
With the candy still in his mouth, Ji Xing Chen melted into the shadows. Moments later, he emerged, saying, "Members of the Bai family were here. They wanted to detain you for questioning about last night's incident."
As the milk candy swirled on his tongue, releasing its creamy flavor, Ji Xing Chen spoke with a subtle smile.
Chi Shen nodded, taking another glance at Ji Xing Chen before turning his attention back to the direction of the woods.
Within the tree shadows, a ghostly figure with a bloated upper body stood, looking their way. It appeared hesitant, wanting to move forward yet fearful. Only upon meeting Chi Shen's calm gaze did it muster the courage to approach.
Accompanying its presence was the pungent stench of rotting flesh. Chi Shen watched, his expression unmarred by disgust or fear, even as he took in the ghost's tumor-covered appearance. When the spirit was close enough, Chi Shen opened the grand doors to the Bai family mansion, inviting, "Please, come in."
——
The Bai Residence.
The disciples not of Bai lineage who had fled from the old mansion trembled as they were reprimanded. When asked about the ghost outside the mansion, each one displayed a visage of terror.
"It was the most horrifying ghost I've ever seen."
"Its body was deformed, not resembling any human I know. I've never seen such a creature."
"From what I've learned, ghosts typically retain the appearance they had at death. I can't imagine a person dying looking like that."
"Maybe it wasn't human to begin with!"
As a member of the Bai family, Bai Ran was also present, despite the late hour. Fiddling with two wax beads in his hand, he felt the discussion tedious. To him, these individuals probably lacked exposure, hence their naive beliefs.
"Such useless individuals," he murmured, glancing at the bone sealed within the wax bead, just as worthless as Lu Xiangyang.
"Young Master, how would you suggest we handle them?" the steward inquired of Bai Ran suddenly.
Bai Ran snapped back to reality, his demeanor gentle as always, "It must be the old mansion's haunting nature. We can't blame them entirely."
Everyone immediately turned their gaze to Bai Ran, expressions of profound gratitude evident on their faces.
"In the future, if you're uncertain about something, feel free to ask me," Bai Ran offered with an innocent, pure smile, "It's late now. Everyone should get some rest."
——
Chi Shen sat by the desk in his bedroom, pouring a cup of hot tea for his guest.
The lady ghost in red positioned herself next to the table, resting her chin on her hands and gazing curiously at the other ghost.
The ghost, covered in fleshy tumors, seemed rather uncomfortable. Despite his eerie and more terrifying appearance compared to the lady in red, he accepted the tea with restrained gratitude, distancing himself slightly from her.
As the lady in red tried to move closer, the guest retreated even further. Finally, Ji Xing Chen couldn't stand it any longer and lifted her off the table, ensuring the guest felt a tad more at ease and preventing him from toppling off his stool.
The steam from the hot tea soon dissipated, and the guest stated his purpose for the visit.
However, Chi Shen shook his head: "I'm sorry, I can't assist you."
From amidst the grotesque mass, the eyes of the monstrous entity revealed a desperate plea.
Although its appearance was horrifying, those eyes conveyed human emotions—more touching, in fact, than the eyes of many living beings.
"I'm a law-abiding citizen. I don't kill," Chi Shen said seriously to the creature, "You can seek your revenge independently, or I can assist by calling the police."
Chi Shen took a red paper phone from the lady in red's grasp. With her watching eagerly, he handed it over, saying, "Or you can call the police yourself."
The monster made a few muffled noises from its massive mouth, seemingly wanting to plead further. However, seeing Chi Shen's unwavering demeanor, it refrained. Finally, it nodded, bowed to Chi Shen, and departed.
The lady ghost in red instantly reclaimed her paper phone, gleefully searching the room to find a hiding place for it.
Only after the guest left did Chi Shen rise from his desk.
His tea remained warm, but the monster's had turned cold. The very essence of the tea had been consumed by the creature, leaving behind only a flavorless brew.
Chi Shen poured tea at the doorstep, gazing in the direction where the creature had left, and remained standing for quite some time.
After hiding the paper phone, the woman in the red dress crawled out from under the table, her eyes resting on Chi Shen’s retreating figure, seemingly lost in melancholy.
She hesitated for a moment and then began crawling slowly towards him.
"Is it that I haven't treated you all well enough, failing to offer the warmth of spring, that you are reluctant to stay by my side and protect me?" Chi Shen suddenly turned around, looking at the outstretched hand of the woman in the red dress, pondering on a thought that seemed hard to comprehend. "As friends, should I be doing more for you? Your hair seems a bit too long; should I trim it for you?"
The red-dressed woman's hand, reaching out to Chi Shen, froze in place. The next second, she vanished on the spot, scuttling into the wardrobe at an unprecedented speed and slammed the door shut.
Ji Xingchen adjusted his glasses and walked over, placing his hand on Chi Shen's shoulder.
Chi Shen began to smile joyously.
Chapter 022: Hello? Officer! This man murdered me!
But reality was harsh, and Chi Shen understood one truth at the cost of his life.
You can't rely on anyone else, not even your blood-related parents. In this world, the only person you can count on is yourself.
While driving, Yuan Yiping suddenly asked, "Do you want to learn some exorcism techniques for self-defense? Given you're a Bai family member, you might encounter such incidents again."
Recalling Bai Ximing's words, Chi Shen replied, "I don't have the talent..."
Even in the death game, there was no exorcism technique, not even the sunlight ghosts fear the most. They could only counter ghosts with ghostly methods. Everything he mastered was based on those methods.
"Talent?" Yuan Yiping chuckled, shaking his head, "I don't have any special talent either, but I manage, don't I?"
Chi Shen pondered for a moment, then smiled, "So, one doesn't need innate talent to learn exorcism?"
Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as if recalling something, Yuan Yiping spoke apologetically, "In our circles, 'talent' usually refers to unique physiques. For a large family like the Bai's to desire an heir with a special physique is not unusual. Don't overthink it."
"Is that so?" Chi Shen slowly lifted his eyes, looking at Yuan Yiping, "How do you determine someone's special physique?"
"Typically, it's through their birth chart or bone reading," Yuan Yiping explained. "Some physiques are visible to the naked eye, like the ability to see spirits. You must have undergone such tests..."
Chi Shen reminisced about his first return to Hong Kong. Fresh off the plane and eagerly heading to the Bai family home, he had accidentally knocked an elderly man down while cycling. By the time he took the man to the hospital and settled the matter, the Bai family doors were firmly shut when he arrived.
Bai Xi Ming's gentle voice on the phone informed him that he lacked the innate gift, and the Bai family did not accept such individuals.
The tests Yuan Yi Ping mentioned, Chi Shen had never undergone any. He had never met Bai Xi Ming before that moment. Since his return to Hong Kong, he had been dismissed without ever seeing the face of his supposed biological father.
“So, one needs to be tested to determine the presence of this innate gift?” Chi Shen inquired again.
“More or less,” Yuan Yi Ping replied, “In our clan, there are elders specifically responsible for this. Regrettably, in the past century, none have been identified with this gift. Seems the Bai family has set quite the high standard…”
“I'm not interested in being the main heir,” Chi Shen murmured, glancing at the approaching Bai mansion. With a barely audible, self-deprecating tone, he continued, “I just wanted a better life, with the normal parents I never had.”
“That was once the thing I envied most.”
A chilly sensation emerged from Chi Shen's shadow, circling his wrist like a gust of cold wind, leaving behind a cold yet tender touch.
The corner of Chi Shen's mouth lifted slightly, comforted by Ji Xing Chen.
“What did you say?” Yuan Yi Ping hadn't caught Chi Shen's whisper. An instinct he had honed over years rang alarm bells in his mind, but the strange sensation quickly vanished, seemingly just a figment of his imagination.
Chi Shen shook his head, “Nothing.”
As the Bai mansion loomed closer, Yuan Yi Ping didn’t probe further into Chi Shen's words. The mansion always gave him an unsettling feeling, perhaps the source of his sudden ominous premonition.
“Officer Yuan, can I ask a favor?” Chi Shen suddenly said.
“Just call me Brother Yuan,” Yuan Yi Ping responded, “Go on.”
“Brother Yuan, on October 13th, the day I arrived in Hong Kong, I hit an old man at the intersection of Xing Gang Road and Xiang Gui Road. I've been thinking about that day. The old man seemed out of control, darting in front of my bike, and the shared bike’s brakes failed just then. However, upon inspection afterward, they were perfectly fine.”
“I understand,” Yuan Yi Ping said, “It does sound peculiar. If it's related to supernatural events, we’ll look into it. Thanks for the tip.”
Chi Shen gave a polite smile. While it would be challenging for him to investigate something from so long ago, it was different for Yuan Yi Ping, who, as a member of the special security department, could access traffic camera footage.
After dropping Chi Shen off at the mansion's entrance, Yuan Yi Ping cast a solemn look at the Bai house, giving Chi Shen some advice. They agreed on a schedule for exorcism lessons, and he drove off.
As Chi Shen watched Yuan Yi Ping's car fade in the distance, he showed no urgency to enter the mansion.
“Want some candy?” Chi Shen suddenly asked.
His shadow shifted, and Ji Xing Chen stood next to him, adjusting his glasses, “No need. Being around him feels uncomfortable, but it doesn’t harm me.”
Chi Shen chuckled softly, drawing a tissue from his pocket. He fashioned it into a paper candy and, after some thought, scribbled two words onto it: "Milk Candy."
Lighting the paper candy on fire, Ji Xing Chen extended his hand, and the candy appeared in his palm.
For Ji Xing Chen, a spirit, this was as real as any candy could be.
He unwrapped it and popped the candy into his mouth.
It tasted sweet.
Watching Ji Xing Chen's surprised expression, Chi Shen also grinned and started heading toward the old mansion. He had barely taken two steps when he abruptly stopped, directing his gaze across the street to a clump of trees.
"Has someone been here?"
With the candy still in his mouth, Ji Xing Chen melted into the shadows. Moments later, he emerged, saying, "Members of the Bai family were here. They wanted to detain you for questioning about last night's incident."
As the milk candy swirled on his tongue, releasing its creamy flavor, Ji Xing Chen spoke with a subtle smile.
Chi Shen nodded, taking another glance at Ji Xing Chen before turning his attention back to the direction of the woods.
Within the tree shadows, a ghostly figure with a bloated upper body stood, looking their way. It appeared hesitant, wanting to move forward yet fearful. Only upon meeting Chi Shen's calm gaze did it muster the courage to approach.
Accompanying its presence was the pungent stench of rotting flesh. Chi Shen watched, his expression unmarred by disgust or fear, even as he took in the ghost's tumor-covered appearance. When the spirit was close enough, Chi Shen opened the grand doors to the Bai family mansion, inviting, "Please, come in."
——
The Bai Residence.
The disciples not of Bai lineage who had fled from the old mansion trembled as they were reprimanded. When asked about the ghost outside the mansion, each one displayed a visage of terror.
"It was the most horrifying ghost I've ever seen."
"Its body was deformed, not resembling any human I know. I've never seen such a creature."
"From what I've learned, ghosts typically retain the appearance they had at death. I can't imagine a person dying looking like that."
"Maybe it wasn't human to begin with!"
As a member of the Bai family, Bai Ran was also present, despite the late hour. Fiddling with two wax beads in his hand, he felt the discussion tedious. To him, these individuals probably lacked exposure, hence their naive beliefs.
"Such useless individuals," he murmured, glancing at the bone sealed within the wax bead, just as worthless as Lu Xiangyang.
"Young Master, how would you suggest we handle them?" the steward inquired of Bai Ran suddenly.
Bai Ran snapped back to reality, his demeanor gentle as always, "It must be the old mansion's haunting nature. We can't blame them entirely."
Everyone immediately turned their gaze to Bai Ran, expressions of profound gratitude evident on their faces.
"In the future, if you're uncertain about something, feel free to ask me," Bai Ran offered with an innocent, pure smile, "It's late now. Everyone should get some rest."
——
Chi Shen sat by the desk in his bedroom, pouring a cup of hot tea for his guest.
The lady ghost in red positioned herself next to the table, resting her chin on her hands and gazing curiously at the other ghost.
The ghost, covered in fleshy tumors, seemed rather uncomfortable. Despite his eerie and more terrifying appearance compared to the lady in red, he accepted the tea with restrained gratitude, distancing himself slightly from her.
As the lady in red tried to move closer, the guest retreated even further. Finally, Ji Xing Chen couldn't stand it any longer and lifted her off the table, ensuring the guest felt a tad more at ease and preventing him from toppling off his stool.
The steam from the hot tea soon dissipated, and the guest stated his purpose for the visit.
However, Chi Shen shook his head: "I'm sorry, I can't assist you."
From amidst the grotesque mass, the eyes of the monstrous entity revealed a desperate plea.
Although its appearance was horrifying, those eyes conveyed human emotions—more touching, in fact, than the eyes of many living beings.
"I'm a law-abiding citizen. I don't kill," Chi Shen said seriously to the creature, "You can seek your revenge independently, or I can assist by calling the police."
Chi Shen took a red paper phone from the lady in red's grasp. With her watching eagerly, he handed it over, saying, "Or you can call the police yourself."
The monster made a few muffled noises from its massive mouth, seemingly wanting to plead further. However, seeing Chi Shen's unwavering demeanor, it refrained. Finally, it nodded, bowed to Chi Shen, and departed.
The lady ghost in red instantly reclaimed her paper phone, gleefully searching the room to find a hiding place for it.
Only after the guest left did Chi Shen rise from his desk.
His tea remained warm, but the monster's had turned cold. The very essence of the tea had been consumed by the creature, leaving behind only a flavorless brew.
Chi Shen poured tea at the doorstep, gazing in the direction where the creature had left, and remained standing for quite some time.
After hiding the paper phone, the woman in the red dress crawled out from under the table, her eyes resting on Chi Shen’s retreating figure, seemingly lost in melancholy.
She hesitated for a moment and then began crawling slowly towards him.
"Is it that I haven't treated you all well enough, failing to offer the warmth of spring, that you are reluctant to stay by my side and protect me?" Chi Shen suddenly turned around, looking at the outstretched hand of the woman in the red dress, pondering on a thought that seemed hard to comprehend. "As friends, should I be doing more for you? Your hair seems a bit too long; should I trim it for you?"
The red-dressed woman's hand, reaching out to Chi Shen, froze in place. The next second, she vanished on the spot, scuttling into the wardrobe at an unprecedented speed and slammed the door shut.
Ji Xingchen adjusted his glasses and walked over, placing his hand on Chi Shen's shoulder.
Chi Shen began to smile joyously.
