Chapter 86: Tricked and Misfired
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
In a dimly lit room, the once persistent knocking on the golden box had ceased. The silence that followed was unlike any other Miles had experienced before; it was an eerie and prolonged quietness that permeated the room.
Miles, trying to make sense of the sudden calm, came up with two potential explanations. One, the entity, or ghost, had simply grown weary and decided to stop knocking. However, deep down, he felt this was highly improbable. The second, and more troubling thought was that the headless ghost trapped inside the box had somehow found its way out.
Even with his imagination, he couldn’t think of a third possibility.
The once noisy room now lay in heavy silence. No knocks, no footfalls. Nothing. This kind of uninterrupted quiet was unfamiliar to Miles, especially when considering the persistent cough-like sounds that had haunted the room previously. Those too, had vanished. This sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere made him wonder if it held some deeper meaning.
He mused aloud, “Why has the ghost ceased its movement? Why haven’t I seen the headless spirit? Why is everything cloaked in such a deep mystery?”
Miles recalled how he had previously come to terms with the idea of potentially meeting his end in this very room. Yet, now he felt a glimmer of hope. The crippling paralysis that had once taken hold of him seemed to be receding. The unnerving sensation of a ghostly presence within him began to fade, allowing him to slowly regain control over his limbs.
As he felt the sensation return, he grew confident about confronting the headless ghost if need be.
Maybe the ghost sensed Miles’s impending recovery, or perhaps some predestined moment had arrived, but footfalls began to echo in the room once more. The ghost seemed to be retreating, moving away from the wardrobe and toward the room’s exit, its steps echoing clearly as it made its way out and descended the stairs.
The instant the ghost’s steps began their descent, Miles found himself free to move again. Without wasting a moment, he sprang up and flicked on the room’s light, driving away the suffocating darkness.
His eyes darted to the wardrobe. Inside, a golden box lay on the surface with a noticeable dent in its center, suggesting something had tried to break it open. Yet, the strength of the gold, combined with the box’s robust design, had kept it intact.
Taking a deep breath, Miles felt a rush of relief. The feared outcome had been averted – the box remained shut, and the headless ghost was still trapped within. The dent, though alarming, was insignificant. Gold was merely the casing, and its form was secondary.
However, something else caught his eye: the box was covered in human skin, eerily similar to the skin paper he’d brought from school. Though puzzled, he knew he couldn’t afford to ponder on it for long.
Gathering his belongings swiftly, he concealed his luggage, armed himself, and rushed out of the room.
“This situation is both a crisis and a golden opportunity,” he mused while running. “Now that the ghost has made its presence known, I need to ascertain its identity, pinpoint its location, and observe its physical manifestation. Even if I don’t face it head-on, I can’t let it remain a mystery. If I allow it to slip away now, I might miss an excellent opportunity to directly confront it in the future.”
A deep-rooted anxiety tugged at the edges of his consciousness, but he was determined to follow the ghost. He had come to Yellow Hill Village with a purpose – to test his mettle and possibly stake his life on the line. If the fear of death had the power to deter him, he wouldn’t have ventured to this village at all.
When he reached the main entrance on the ground floor, he found it securely locked.
From outside, the faint, rhythmic sound of footsteps grew distant, indicating that the ghost had vacated Genrong’s residence and was moving elsewhere.
Without hesitation, Miles cried out, “I have to follow it!”
He unlocked the door and bolted after the receding sounds. As he did, an ethereal eye embedded in his forehead began to unfurl its flesh, revealing a deep, blood-red iris. This eye endowed him with an extraordinary vision, where the surroundings were saturated in a crimson hue, cutting through the pitch-black darkness.
This ghostly sight granted him the capability to see through the shadows and perceive the deceptions of other’s ghost domain. While its full potential couldn’t be tapped without access to the complete powers of his own ghost domain, this was undeniably a rare perk.
“It’s just up ahead,” he thought while attempting to get a comprehensive view of the ghost through his crimson-tinted sight. But, a sudden bend in the path obstructed his line of sight. The soft patter of ghostly footsteps resonated from a nearby alley.
“It’s tempting to use the full force of the ghost domain to get to it instantly,” he contemplated, “But rushing in blindly, with no knowledge about this entity, might be reckless.”
His eagerness to unveil the identity of the ghost surged within him. Yet, he recognized the potential dangers of rashly harnessing the ghost domain’s energy without proper understanding and held himself back. He maintained his pursuit, relying on his instincts and skills.
Soon, the footfalls he was tailing grew louder and more pronounced, giving the impression that he was about to confront the source.
But when he rounded the next corner, the sight that met his eyes left him utterly bewildered.
The figure standing before him was not a ghost. It was Stretch, one of the members of the “Cockroach Club.” Both of them had arrived at Yellow Hill Village earlier that day.
Stretch, equally taken aback, exclaimed, “Miles? Why are you here?” His astonishment was palpable; it seemed the sight of Miles startled him more than the thought of a ghost would.
“I traced the ghostly footsteps here, only to stumble upon you. Tightening his grip on the golden handgun he was holding, Miles responded. The golden firearm wasn’t designed to eliminate ghosts, but it served as a protective measure regardless. “It’s you on the other hand that I’m wary of. Are you human or a ghost in disguise?”
A visibly flustered Stretch responded, “Obviously, I’m Stretch! But you… you’re behaving oddly. I too was tailing those mysterious footsteps, assuming you might be the ghost. You have no idea how much I freaked out when I saw you.”
A cold realization washed over Miles. “Did we get duped? Or is it possible there are multiple ghosts here? The entity you were trailing isn’t the same one I came across.”
Stretch showed an anxious face, aghast at how quickly the situation had escalated. “The footprints did end around here,” he began, trying to defuse the tension. His eyes darted back and forth between themselves, the gravity of the situation evident on his face.
But before he could say more, the unmistakable sound of footsteps emanated from a nearby alley, shattering the silence.
Miles, adrenaline coursing through his veins and with a ghostly eye bulging from his forehead, instinctively raised his gun, firing in the direction of the noise.
The chilling scream that followed revealed the mistake. Through his supernatural vision, Miles witnessed a man collapsing, a dark crimson stain rapidly spreading across his clothing.
“What have you done, Miles? You’ve shot one of our own!” Stretch cried out, his voice filled with disbelief.
Miles, defensively, countered, “Everyone in this village should be in bed by now. The place is eerily quiet, not even the dogs are making a sound. I assumed those steps were from a ghost. It’s always safer to take action first and evaluate later.”
With a touch of irony, Stretch said, “I guess I should consider myself fortunate you recognized me earlier, or you would’ve shot me too.” He cast a discerning eye over Miles’s weapon, “From the looks of it, that’s one of our own members on the ground. I think you know him. But whether or not that shot will be his end remains uncertain.”
Soon after, within a villa temporarily leased by their club, Tian, pale from blood loss, was being attended to by Stretch. The gunshot had rallied other members of their group, each one deeply disturbed by the haunting events unfolding.
Turning his attention to the wounded man, Stretch remarked sympathetically, “Tian, don’t take it personally, but Miles wasn’t intentionally targeting you.”
Rolling his eyes, Miles shot back, “That’s ridiculous! I clearly took aim for his head. How can you possibly say otherwise?” Taking a deep breath, Miles continued, “But mistakes were made, and I’m truly sorry Tian.” Genuine false remorse reflected in his eyes.
Tian’s face twisted in anger. “A mere apology is supposed to make everything alright after you tried to take my life?”
Miles, trying to maintain his composure, replied, “I’ve already apologized. What else do you expect? Should I wait here for you to get the authorities? We’re in a haunted village in the dead of night, and you decide to roam about unannounced. This was an unfortunate accident.”
Tian’s response was chilling. “How about this? Allow me to shoot you in retaliation. Then, we’re squared away.” Without waiting for an answer, he produced a gun, aiming it squarely at Miles’s face.
With a hint of pleading, Miles said, “Surely, you’ve heard the saying ‘an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind’? Besides, I’m just a teenager. Can’t you show some leniency?”
Tian’s reply was ice-cold, “Leniency? Let’s discuss it after this.” Without further ado, he pulled the trigger, aiming directly for Miles’s forehead.
But Miles, demonstrating his keen reflexes, tilted his head just in time, evading the deadly bullet.
Calmly, with the otherworldly eye on his forehead locked onto Tian’s gaze, Miles inquired, “Are we squared away now?”
“You shot me without hesitation,” Tian hissed, pointing an accusing finger at Miles, pain and rage evident in his eyes.
Miles calmly replied, “In the same way, you didn’t think twice before shooting at my head. How are we any different?”
Sensing the mounting tension, Stretch interjected, “We’re in the middle of a haunted village, surrounded by unknown dangers. We can’t afford to turn on each other. Every second we waste here gives the actual threat an upper hand.” He then turned his attention to Tian, his voice softening, “Tian, Miles made a grave mistake, and he’s apologized. Retaliation won’t change the past. We need unity now, more than ever. Let’s focus on the real danger out there.”
Tian took a deep breath, seemingly battling with his own emotions. After a few tense moments, he reluctantly lowered his gun. “This isn’t over,” he muttered darkly, his gaze never leaving Miles.
Miles replied with a nonchalant attitude, “Let’s agree to settle this once we’ve dealt with the ghost. Our priority should be the safety of the group.”
The room was thick with tension, but for now, it seemed the immediate danger of a violent showdown had been averted.