Chapter 87: The Demise of the Ghost Tamer
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Miles and Tian had tense moments but never actually exchanged physical blows.
Tian wouldn’t easily bow down or let go of his pride. However, if the two were to truly engage in a battle, it was evident that neither would emerge unscathed or find any advantage in it.
Meanwhile, Miles was still getting the hang of things, being relatively new to their world. Given the current dynamics, he wasn’t yet equipped to challenge a seasoned individual like Tian directly. Giving in to rage would not only be a tactical mistake but also might spell the end for him.
Trying to defuse the situation, Miles, who wore an intense expression just moments before, said, “If we’re not going to take this confrontation any further, let’s call a truce right here.” To everyone’s surprise, he then started laughing.
Tian’s face darkened, clearly not finding humor in the situation. He shot back, “Laugh once more, and you might regret it.”
Miles raised his hands, placating, “My apologies. I wasn’t laughing at you. Something from the past just popped into my mind, and it was funny. Besides, not only did I apologize to you earlier, but I also gave you an opening to take a shot at me.”
Miles’s amusement faded, replaced by a hint of seriousness. “When I fired at you out there, I could’ve taken you out by the head. Considering there are so many dangerous evil spirits lurking about, it’s only normal for me to react instinctively under those circumstances. Or maybe, just maybe, you weren’t careful enough to keep your guard up. That’s why I managed to get a shot in. How else could a beginner like me get a shot at you?”
Stretch, who was observing the exchange, chimed in, “I have to agree with Miles. The atmosphere was high and risky back then. I was on that ghost’s trail too. But as I approached the alleyway’s bend, the sound of the ghost’s footsteps disappeared. And as we were about to face off, your footsteps echoed, Tian. In such high-pressure scenarios, it’s instinctual to react rather than wait for a potential attack.”
Stretch further explained his deduction, “The three of us were all on the trail of that formidable ghost. It was too coincidental that we met at the same intersection, nearly resulting in a skirmish. It almost felt like the ghost was trying to pit us against each other, don’t you think?”
Page, who was silently observing until then, voiced his thoughts. Despite his known resentment towards Miles, he realized that now wasn’t the time for personal grievances. They were all vulnerable to the ghost’s machinations.
Stretch pondered over the idea and said, “It’s a plausible theory.”
However, Miles had another viewpoint. “I’m not entirely convinced. I suspect that the ghost’s ultimate goal isn’t to annihilate us. Well, not all of us anyway. I think its actual intent is to free the spirits that reside within us. Being ghost tamers who’ve fused with these spirits, there’s only one drastic method to release the ghost within. It would require our death. That’s probably what the ghost haunting Yellow Hill Village aims for.”
Page, always the skeptic, pressed, “Do you have any concrete evidence backing this theory?”
“No, it’s merely a hunch,” Miles confessed.
He had solid reasoning behind his assertions. Miles vividly remembered that eerie episode when he was immobilized in his bed for hours. As he lay there, unable to move, a ghost drifted into his room. But rather than targeting him, the entity made a beeline for the ornate golden box where he had trapped a headless spirit. To him, this incident was clear evidence that the ghosts had another, perhaps larger, agenda.
“This isn’t a matter to be taken lightly,” Tian remarked, his expression gravely serious. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on scant evidence. Even a slight misjudgment in our line of work can result in dire consequences.”
While the gunshot Miles had landed on Tian wasn’t severely harmful in a physical sense, it had struck a blow to Tian’s pride and reputation.
“If anyone has more informed theories or suggestions, please step forward,” Miles challenged, adding, “Before that, I have a question: exactly how many ghost tamers from the ‘Cockroach Club’ arrived in this village?”
Stretch responded, “There were six of us initially. Out of those, five were qualified ghost tamers. Why do you want to know?”
Miles glanced around, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I was just observing. I only see three of you here now. What about the other two? Didn’t they hear the gunshot? Or maybe they heard it but were delayed in reaching here?”
Stretch, Page, and Tian visibly stiffened at this mention.
Stretch’s eyes widened in alarm. “Sheng and Yiming!” he cried, springing to his feet. “We need to find them immediately.”
Without any further discussion, the group sprinted out, their destination being the last known location of Sheng and Yiming.
Originally, in their quest to unravel the mysteries of the supernatural occurrences in Yellow Hill Village, they had strategized to split up, believing that working in pairs would maximize their efficiency. They hadn’t reckoned on the ghost’s boldness and aggression.
“Over here.”
Before long, they were at the doorstep of a modest rental property. Inside, the illumination was stark, almost glaring, and heart-wrenching sobbing could be heard.
Miles was puzzled. “Who’s the woman? I don’t recall there being any female members.”
Stretch responded with a hint of disdain in his voice, “That’s Sheng’s favored mistress. He’s known to have many, but she’s the one he’s most fond of. He even shelled out a staggering five million dollars to get her out of her previous marriage. Sheng was so complacent about this mission that he thought it would be a good idea to bring her along.”
Miles shook his head in disbelief. “He really saw this as some leisure trip to bring along a romantic partner?”
Yet, the real concern was Sheng’s recklessness and cold-heartedness. Exposing an untrained, ordinary person to such a treacherous environment demonstrated a complete lack of concern for her safety. To Sheng, she seemed nothing more than a replaceable ornament.
As the team ascended the staircase, a grisly scene awaited them in the living area: a faint shadow of what once was a human body.
The body on the floor looked eerily exquisite, reminiscent of an ancient mummy, but with a gleaming modern twist. It seemed as though it had been meticulously wrapped in shimmering gold foil, giving it an almost cocoon-like appearance. Beside this disturbing sight stood a man, probably in his early thirties, looking contemplative. The smoke from his cigarette wove a fine tapestry around him as he inhaled deeply, lost in his thoughts.
“Yiming,” Page began, cautiously approaching the man, “Where’s Sheng?”
Without lifting his gaze, Yiming’s voice was a soft murmur, “That’s Sheng, or at least what’s left of him.”
A thick pall of disbelief and shock hung heavily in the air.
Dead? Just like that?
The group struggled to grasp the reality of it. How could a seasoned ghost tamer just perish? It was akin to imagining a frog simply giving in without the instinctual fight for survival.
Was Sheng truly less tenacious than a frog?
And all this on their very first day in the village? Without any resistance?
Page pressed on, his voice shaky but demanding, “How did this happen?”
Pausing to take a prolonged drag from his cigarette, Yiming began, “When I came back, he was already in this state. I immediately covered his body in gold foil, hoping it would contain the ghost inside. From my perspective, though, it seems the ghost within him has already departed.”
He extended his hand, offering a cellphone. “I photographed his state immediately after the discovery. I didn’t want any ambiguity about the situation.”
The screen showcased a series of chilling photographs. They captured Sheng’s lifeless form, sprawled grotesquely with his mouth stretched in a silent scream, almost to the point of tearing. Most disturbingly, his torso appeared viciously ripped open, soaked in crimson. The grim tableau sent shivers down their spines.
“Sheng was upstairs with his woman when I left for my night patrol. At some point, I heard footsteps in the vicinity. Thinking it might be significant, I followed. Soon, it became apparent that the sound was merely a diversion. No sooner had this realization struck than a blood-curdling scream echoed from this house. It was her.”
He gestured to a corner where a woman sat, her once beautiful features now marred by terror. Whatever she had seen had clearly traumatized her, rendering her almost unresponsive.
Stretch, ever the investigator, asked, “Did she mention anything? Anything at all?”
Yiming sighed, “It’s futile. The shock seems to have fractured her mind. She’s been unresponsive since I found her.” Taking another puff, he continued, “It’s evident that the malevolent entity in Yellow Hill Village isn’t after regular villagers. It’s targeting us ghost tamers. Specifically, the spirits bonded within us. This isn’t some run-of-the-mill haunting. This mission is far more sinister. I strongly recommend we reconsider our involvement. It’s time to leave Yellow Hill Village.”