Chapter 004: I'm one who enjoys helping friends.
Having explored the old Bai mansion, Chi Shen had cordial conversations with each resident, politely asking if they'd be amenable to his residing there. Fortunately, all the accommodating spirits present agreed to his request, settling on a mutual understanding to coexist harmoniously.
However, he remained puzzled as to why the Bai family's old mansion was entirely inhabited by ghosts: were these spirits intentionally nurtured by the Bai family, or was there a deeper reason?
Only one resident remained.
Chi Shen's gaze settled on the main house, situated at the heart of the mansion.
Before Chi Shen could ask, the headless spirit volunteered, "We call that place the 'Death Ground'. I don't know what's inside, but whenever I approach it, an overwhelming sense of being torn apart emanates from within. I dare not venture close."
"Big brother, that place is terrifying. Don't go. It's lethal," the funeral-clad young boy said with a fearful expression. "I once saw a spirit approach it, and before it even reached the door, it... disintegrated into snowflake-like fragments."
Even the despondent ghost in red, who rarely showed any emotion, began murmuring, though no one could discern her words.
Seeing Chi Shen persisting forward, the ghost in red, with her only remaining hand, hastily gripped the railing, attempting to flee.
"This is the last friend I am yet to meet," Chi Shen remarked. "Thank you for guiding me and sharing the hobbies of each resident. You've worked hard. Please, go and rest now."
"It wasn't hard..." The headless ghost began but got stuck mid-sentence.
The three spirits looked at each other; the ghost in red, dragging her own head, was the first to vanish. The headless ghost, realizing he was free, excitedly bolted away.
The slowest to react was the young boy in funeral attire. Just as he turned to leave, Chi Shen grabbed him.
Despair flashed in the boy's eyes. Had he been too slow? Was he doomed?
"There's something on your clothes."
Chi Shen brushed off a talisman from the boy's back, as if dusting off lint, then said, "Go and rest now."
Almost brought to tears by the gesture, the boy darted through a wall at a speed he'd never displayed before, laughing joyfully as he went, and soon he was out of sight.
Watching the lively spirits, Chi Shen felt a contagion of their joy and couldn't help but smile.
He then looked at the talisman in his hand. In the death games, he often explored methods of using ghosts to defeat other ghosts rather than employing talismans to control them, hence his limited research on such charms.
He pocketed the talisman, deciding to consult someone knowledgeable later.
The main house of the old mansion appeared entirely ordinary, especially when compared to rooms with mysterious dripping sounds, rooms plastered with talismans, or those oozing fresh blood.
This particular room didn't even have talismans, just a single seal.
As Chi Shen approached, a faint smell of blood wafted from the main house. He felt as if he was entering the domain of a powerful specter. An oppressive force emanated from the house, arousing dark, violent urges within him, making him yearn to tear and consume. Each step felt resisted by a force from the house.
In the death games, Chi Shen had encountered countless spirits with a myriad of abilities. While he'd met ghosts that could incite violent desires before, this was the first time he'd come across one with such potent influence.
The emotions a ghost can invoke often reflect their own desires or past experiences. Chi Shen pondered what kind of life this ghost must have led to possess such formidable and savage abilities.
Scrawled in a dark red hue on the door seal were the words: "Trespassers will perish!"
With his keen sensitivity to red, Chi Shen instantly recognized it as dried blood.
——
The ancient and dilapidated corridor, adorned with intricate carvings, was permeated with the stench of decay. Two young individuals made their way through it.
He Chao's face displayed evident displeasure. They had just encountered several eerie spirits. Though no substantial harm came their way, the scene was innately fear-inducing.
Lu Xiangyang's complexion turned pale, glancing around cautiously as he walked, his steps wavering slightly.
"Chao, did you hear the sound of dripping water?" Lu Xiangyang murmured, trying to stay closer to He Chao.
"It hasn't rained these past days, so where would the dripping come from?" He Chao snapped, "Hurry up! Once we confirm the kid is alive, I need to report back!"
Lu Xiangyang hastened his steps and whispered again, "I truly hear dripping water..."
He Chao ignored him, took a few steps forward, and suddenly wiped his face. A putrid smell, reminiscent of dead fish, emanated from his hand. "Where did this water come from?"
He raised his eyes, initially spotting a pair of feet in red high heels – swollen, bruised, and turning blue. Above them was a tattered skirt with water weeds clinging to it. Water droplets slid off the skirt's edge. The figure's upper body was hidden in the darkness above, leaving only the lower half visible.
A pale hand reached out from the darkness overhead, seemingly trying to grab He Chao.
He Chao bolted.
Startled, Lu Xiangyang landed on his backside. He quickly got to his feet, seeing He Chao's retreat, and wailed, "Chao, didn't you say ghosts wouldn't harm us?"
"It's instinct! Do you understand instinct?" He Chao shouted back, clearly irritated by the younger man's comment.
"Chao, stop running! Halt!" Lu Xiangyang's eyes widened with sheer terror as he looked ahead.
"If I stop, you want me to chat with the ghost—"
Thud.
Feeling as if he'd collided with something icy cold, He Chao touched his face, finding it wet.
Slowly, He Chao turned around.
Drip, drip.
The dripping sound was right in front of him.
Wet, black hair, reminiscent of water weeds freshly pulled from a river, covered the woman's face. As He Chao turned, the hair parted to reveal an enormous mouth, big enough to swallow a soccer ball, suddenly gaping open to expose sharp fangs, poised to take a bite off He Chao's head.
He Chao was utterly frozen in place. From a young age, he had encountered spirits and knew various methods to subdue vengeful ghosts. But now, there was no time... he was about to meet a gruesome and vile end.
Just as the fangs were about to pierce He Chao's head, a golden light emanated from the talisman behind the female ghost. Five or six translucent hands reached out, seizing her limbs and head.
Eyes bulging from their sockets, legs brutally snapped, and lips torn, the ghost let out a soundless scream—
"Ahhhh!!!"
The hands from the talisman, acting like the most relentless of enforcers, slowly crushed the female ghost before dragging her shattered body deep into the old mansion.
While Lu Xiangyang was still reeling from the shock, He Chao, watching the ghost's departure, flashed a sinister smile. He flung the wetness from his hands onto the ground, remarking, "I told you, the ghosts here can't harm us."
Emboldened by their recent encounter, He Chao strutted forward with newfound confidence.
Lu Xiangyang quivered, "With ghosts this powerful, what could possibly be in the main house? I've heard mentions of it being called—"
"Don't say its name!" He Chao's face changed instantly, interrupting Lu Xiangyang with an undeniable look of fear. "In this place, if you dare to utter a vengeful ghost's name, are you seeking death?"
Lu Xiangyang quickly covered his mouth.
"Don't mention it, don't think about it, and don't approach the main house," He Chao warned.
As they reached a room deep within the mansion, He Chao pulled a sachet from his pocket. Unwrapping its plastic cover, a smoky, musty scent filled the air.
"What's this?" Lu Xiangyang whispered.
"Ash made from burning the hair of a corpse over a hundred years old," He Chao said, throwing the sachet through a window with a malevolent grin. "Ghosts find this scent uncomfortable, yet they're drawn to it. After inhaling it for three days, they'll go mad. Soon, this place will be filled with deranged spirits."
Lu Xiangyang shrank back, speechless.
Suddenly, a little boy's head peeked out from behind a door.
"Big brother, want to play hide and seek?"
Lu Xiangyang cautiously stepped back. Seeing his reaction, He Chao scoffed, "I told you, they can't harm us."
Lu Xiangyang shook his head, signaling his fear.
Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by his previous reaction, He Chao looked at the boy and smirked menacingly, "Alright, I'll play with you."
The little boy instantly grinned, his pale face highlighted by two distinct rosy patches. With stark black and white eyes, he stared at the two, "Remember, the one who gets caught loses something!"
——
Chi Shen pushed open the grand doors to the main hall.
An icy chill met him, sharp as blades. The main hall was shrouded in a ghostly aura so intense it could be compared to a boss level in the death games. Chi Shen's clothes started showing minor tears almost immediately, but he appeared unfazed as he looked inside.
Suspended within, a man hung upside down.
Thick chains, akin to the width of a wrist, crisscrossed the main hall, piercing through the man's body. They bound his legs and hoisted him up to the ceiling. One particularly brutal chain ran straight through his heart. Chi Shen could faintly see the heart still pulsating slowly, with every beat causing blood to drip along the chain.
The chains turned red from the blood, making one wonder just how much blood a human body could hold.
Talismans clung to every chain, fluttering in the breeze that slipped in through the open door.
The metallic scent of blood grew more potent.
It felt like Chi Shen was stepping into a viscous river of blood. The overpowering smell assaulted him while the icy winds from the other side ruffled his clothes. The sky above was painted a ghastly red. On the barren shores on either side, mountains of ghostly corpses were piled. Amidst them, a young man, wielding a cleaver, was locked in combat with hordes of specters. Despite being covered in rancid blood, his face was emotionless, save for his crimson eyes, which spoke volumes of his ruthlessness.
Memories long buried deep within Chi Shen's mind resurfaced — the brutal battles, the heartless betrayals by teammates, and the harrowing near-death situations. These recollections seemed to bubble up from the ocean floor of his memory, tainting the waters with a sanguinary hue.
His eyes began to fill with this bloody color, and a tiny crack appeared at his brow—
Chi Shen blinked.
The bloody haze in his eyes faded, revealing their usual stark contrast of black and white. He brushed over the crack on his face, and it vanished.
This ghost appeared to trap individuals within their most tormenting memories, leading them to lose themselves.
But Chi Shen didn’t resist these memories. He had long accepted them, choosing to live on with these recollections filled with specters and resentment.
Such a greeting was unexpected.
Chi Shen lightly tapped his bottom lip with his index finger and broke into a smile.
Along with his laughter, the overpowering scent of blood receded like a tide, replaced by a chill reminiscent of the coldest hells. The chains rattled in the frigid wind, and frost formed on the talismans, creeping up the chains, threatening to freeze the bleeding heart.
Chi Shen decided to lend this suspended "friend" a hand.
Although he wasn’t sure why the man was hanging in such a manner, he could certainly help get him down, to provide some relief. He could then inquire about the link between the Bai family and this place, and perhaps ask if the man would mind him staying here for a while.
If the man agreed, Chi Shen could offer a small favor in return. If not, he could help free him from this torment, once and for all.
Standing amidst the frost and snow, Chi Shen greeted with a courteous and friendly smile, "It seems you're in a bit of a predicament. Need help?"
From the darkness, a bloodied hand reached out.
Chapter 004: I'm one who enjoys helping friends.
Having explored the old Bai mansion, Chi Shen had cordial conversations with each resident, politely asking if they'd be amenable to his residing there. Fortunately, all the accommodating spirits present agreed to his request, settling on a mutual understanding to coexist harmoniously.
However, he remained puzzled as to why the Bai family's old mansion was entirely inhabited by ghosts: were these spirits intentionally nurtured by the Bai family, or was there a deeper reason?
Only one resident remained.
Chi Shen's gaze settled on the main house, situated at the heart of the mansion.
Before Chi Shen could ask, the headless spirit volunteered, "We call that place the 'Death Ground'. I don't know what's inside, but whenever I approach it, an overwhelming sense of being torn apart emanates from within. I dare not venture close."
"Big brother, that place is terrifying. Don't go. It's lethal," the funeral-clad young boy said with a fearful expression. "I once saw a spirit approach it, and before it even reached the door, it... disintegrated into snowflake-like fragments."
Even the despondent ghost in red, who rarely showed any emotion, began murmuring, though no one could discern her words.
Seeing Chi Shen persisting forward, the ghost in red, with her only remaining hand, hastily gripped the railing, attempting to flee.
"This is the last friend I am yet to meet," Chi Shen remarked. "Thank you for guiding me and sharing the hobbies of each resident. You've worked hard. Please, go and rest now."
"It wasn't hard..." The headless ghost began but got stuck mid-sentence.
The three spirits looked at each other; the ghost in red, dragging her own head, was the first to vanish. The headless ghost, realizing he was free, excitedly bolted away.
The slowest to react was the young boy in funeral attire. Just as he turned to leave, Chi Shen grabbed him.
Despair flashed in the boy's eyes. Had he been too slow? Was he doomed?
"There's something on your clothes."
Chi Shen brushed off a talisman from the boy's back, as if dusting off lint, then said, "Go and rest now."
Almost brought to tears by the gesture, the boy darted through a wall at a speed he'd never displayed before, laughing joyfully as he went, and soon he was out of sight.
Watching the lively spirits, Chi Shen felt a contagion of their joy and couldn't help but smile.
He then looked at the talisman in his hand. In the death games, he often explored methods of using ghosts to defeat other ghosts rather than employing talismans to control them, hence his limited research on such charms.
He pocketed the talisman, deciding to consult someone knowledgeable later.
The main house of the old mansion appeared entirely ordinary, especially when compared to rooms with mysterious dripping sounds, rooms plastered with talismans, or those oozing fresh blood.
This particular room didn't even have talismans, just a single seal.
As Chi Shen approached, a faint smell of blood wafted from the main house. He felt as if he was entering the domain of a powerful specter. An oppressive force emanated from the house, arousing dark, violent urges within him, making him yearn to tear and consume. Each step felt resisted by a force from the house.
In the death games, Chi Shen had encountered countless spirits with a myriad of abilities. While he'd met ghosts that could incite violent desires before, this was the first time he'd come across one with such potent influence.
The emotions a ghost can invoke often reflect their own desires or past experiences. Chi Shen pondered what kind of life this ghost must have led to possess such formidable and savage abilities.
Scrawled in a dark red hue on the door seal were the words: "Trespassers will perish!"
With his keen sensitivity to red, Chi Shen instantly recognized it as dried blood.
——
The ancient and dilapidated corridor, adorned with intricate carvings, was permeated with the stench of decay. Two young individuals made their way through it.
He Chao's face displayed evident displeasure. They had just encountered several eerie spirits. Though no substantial harm came their way, the scene was innately fear-inducing.
Lu Xiangyang's complexion turned pale, glancing around cautiously as he walked, his steps wavering slightly.
"Chao, did you hear the sound of dripping water?" Lu Xiangyang murmured, trying to stay closer to He Chao.
"It hasn't rained these past days, so where would the dripping come from?" He Chao snapped, "Hurry up! Once we confirm the kid is alive, I need to report back!"
Lu Xiangyang hastened his steps and whispered again, "I truly hear dripping water..."
He Chao ignored him, took a few steps forward, and suddenly wiped his face. A putrid smell, reminiscent of dead fish, emanated from his hand. "Where did this water come from?"
He raised his eyes, initially spotting a pair of feet in red high heels – swollen, bruised, and turning blue. Above them was a tattered skirt with water weeds clinging to it. Water droplets slid off the skirt's edge. The figure's upper body was hidden in the darkness above, leaving only the lower half visible.
A pale hand reached out from the darkness overhead, seemingly trying to grab He Chao.
He Chao bolted.
Startled, Lu Xiangyang landed on his backside. He quickly got to his feet, seeing He Chao's retreat, and wailed, "Chao, didn't you say ghosts wouldn't harm us?"
"It's instinct! Do you understand instinct?" He Chao shouted back, clearly irritated by the younger man's comment.
"Chao, stop running! Halt!" Lu Xiangyang's eyes widened with sheer terror as he looked ahead.
"If I stop, you want me to chat with the ghost—"
Thud.
Feeling as if he'd collided with something icy cold, He Chao touched his face, finding it wet.
Slowly, He Chao turned around.
Drip, drip.
The dripping sound was right in front of him.
Wet, black hair, reminiscent of water weeds freshly pulled from a river, covered the woman's face. As He Chao turned, the hair parted to reveal an enormous mouth, big enough to swallow a soccer ball, suddenly gaping open to expose sharp fangs, poised to take a bite off He Chao's head.
He Chao was utterly frozen in place. From a young age, he had encountered spirits and knew various methods to subdue vengeful ghosts. But now, there was no time... he was about to meet a gruesome and vile end.
Just as the fangs were about to pierce He Chao's head, a golden light emanated from the talisman behind the female ghost. Five or six translucent hands reached out, seizing her limbs and head.
Eyes bulging from their sockets, legs brutally snapped, and lips torn, the ghost let out a soundless scream—
"Ahhhh!!!"
The hands from the talisman, acting like the most relentless of enforcers, slowly crushed the female ghost before dragging her shattered body deep into the old mansion.
While Lu Xiangyang was still reeling from the shock, He Chao, watching the ghost's departure, flashed a sinister smile. He flung the wetness from his hands onto the ground, remarking, "I told you, the ghosts here can't harm us."
Emboldened by their recent encounter, He Chao strutted forward with newfound confidence.
Lu Xiangyang quivered, "With ghosts this powerful, what could possibly be in the main house? I've heard mentions of it being called—"
"Don't say its name!" He Chao's face changed instantly, interrupting Lu Xiangyang with an undeniable look of fear. "In this place, if you dare to utter a vengeful ghost's name, are you seeking death?"
Lu Xiangyang quickly covered his mouth.
"Don't mention it, don't think about it, and don't approach the main house," He Chao warned.
As they reached a room deep within the mansion, He Chao pulled a sachet from his pocket. Unwrapping its plastic cover, a smoky, musty scent filled the air.
"What's this?" Lu Xiangyang whispered.
"Ash made from burning the hair of a corpse over a hundred years old," He Chao said, throwing the sachet through a window with a malevolent grin. "Ghosts find this scent uncomfortable, yet they're drawn to it. After inhaling it for three days, they'll go mad. Soon, this place will be filled with deranged spirits."
Lu Xiangyang shrank back, speechless.
Suddenly, a little boy's head peeked out from behind a door.
"Big brother, want to play hide and seek?"
Lu Xiangyang cautiously stepped back. Seeing his reaction, He Chao scoffed, "I told you, they can't harm us."
Lu Xiangyang shook his head, signaling his fear.
Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by his previous reaction, He Chao looked at the boy and smirked menacingly, "Alright, I'll play with you."
The little boy instantly grinned, his pale face highlighted by two distinct rosy patches. With stark black and white eyes, he stared at the two, "Remember, the one who gets caught loses something!"
——
Chi Shen pushed open the grand doors to the main hall.
An icy chill met him, sharp as blades. The main hall was shrouded in a ghostly aura so intense it could be compared to a boss level in the death games. Chi Shen's clothes started showing minor tears almost immediately, but he appeared unfazed as he looked inside.
Suspended within, a man hung upside down.
Thick chains, akin to the width of a wrist, crisscrossed the main hall, piercing through the man's body. They bound his legs and hoisted him up to the ceiling. One particularly brutal chain ran straight through his heart. Chi Shen could faintly see the heart still pulsating slowly, with every beat causing blood to drip along the chain.
The chains turned red from the blood, making one wonder just how much blood a human body could hold.
Talismans clung to every chain, fluttering in the breeze that slipped in through the open door.
The metallic scent of blood grew more potent.
It felt like Chi Shen was stepping into a viscous river of blood. The overpowering smell assaulted him while the icy winds from the other side ruffled his clothes. The sky above was painted a ghastly red. On the barren shores on either side, mountains of ghostly corpses were piled. Amidst them, a young man, wielding a cleaver, was locked in combat with hordes of specters. Despite being covered in rancid blood, his face was emotionless, save for his crimson eyes, which spoke volumes of his ruthlessness.
Memories long buried deep within Chi Shen's mind resurfaced — the brutal battles, the heartless betrayals by teammates, and the harrowing near-death situations. These recollections seemed to bubble up from the ocean floor of his memory, tainting the waters with a sanguinary hue.
His eyes began to fill with this bloody color, and a tiny crack appeared at his brow—
Chi Shen blinked.
The bloody haze in his eyes faded, revealing their usual stark contrast of black and white. He brushed over the crack on his face, and it vanished.
This ghost appeared to trap individuals within their most tormenting memories, leading them to lose themselves.
But Chi Shen didn’t resist these memories. He had long accepted them, choosing to live on with these recollections filled with specters and resentment.
Such a greeting was unexpected.
Chi Shen lightly tapped his bottom lip with his index finger and broke into a smile.
Along with his laughter, the overpowering scent of blood receded like a tide, replaced by a chill reminiscent of the coldest hells. The chains rattled in the frigid wind, and frost formed on the talismans, creeping up the chains, threatening to freeze the bleeding heart.
Chi Shen decided to lend this suspended "friend" a hand.
Although he wasn’t sure why the man was hanging in such a manner, he could certainly help get him down, to provide some relief. He could then inquire about the link between the Bai family and this place, and perhaps ask if the man would mind him staying here for a while.
If the man agreed, Chi Shen could offer a small favor in return. If not, he could help free him from this torment, once and for all.
Standing amidst the frost and snow, Chi Shen greeted with a courteous and friendly smile, "It seems you're in a bit of a predicament. Need help?"
From the darkness, a bloodied hand reached out.
