A Living Spirit’s Request and a Troublesome Exit

Zhao Yunzhong carefully took a sip of warm water from the cup, then gently placed it on the coffee table.

He sat upright, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Miss Doll seemed pleased with Zhao Yunzhong’s formal demeanor. She smiled and nodded, then spoke in a calm, gentle voice: “I know who you are, sir.”

Zhao Yunzhong’s expression subtly shifted. Such a simple sentence already contained a wealth of information.

Miss Doll had either dealt with the Department of Anomalies before or at least knew of its existence.

In that case, there was no need for veiled words. This was likely Miss Doll’s intention in directly revealing his identity.

“Madam Chen is truly well-informed!”

Yet, Zhao Yunzhong shamelessly offered a compliment. He possessed a certain knack for speaking to people in their own language and to ghosts in theirs.

He then formally introduced himself. “I am Zhao Yunzhong, an Anomaly Investigator.”

After speaking, Zhao Yunzhong smiled, looking at Miss Doll. According to her emphasis on etiquette, it was now her turn to introduce herself.

Zhao Yunzhong eagerly anticipated how Miss Doll would present herself.

Miss Doll sat gracefully and elegantly beside Chen Jinquan, her hands clasped over her thighs. She lowered her head slightly and said: “Lin Luoyin. I am a living spirit.”

“A living spirit?”

Zhao Yunzhong was momentarily stunned. Was this how supernatural entities referred to themselves? He had never encountered a sentient supernatural entity before and was unaware of such a term.

“The soul of a living being.”

Miss Doll, sensing Zhao Yunzhong’s confusion, offered this explanation.

This only deepened Zhao Yunzhong’s bewilderment.

However, before he could ask, Miss Doll was already stroking Chen Jinquan’s forehead, pleading: “I implore you, Mr. Zhao, please help him.”

Zhao Yunzhong suppressed his questions and turned his gaze to Chen Jinquan, who lay on the sofa.

Earlier, when he had caught Chen Jinquan in the elevator, Zhao Yunzhong had already seen ghost energy emanating from his entire body while activating his own abilities.

Now, he confirmed it once more. Chen Jinquan’s body no longer emitted ghost energy, but a large amount remained within his brain and body.

A peculiar detail, however, was that the ghost energy in Chen Jinquan’s brain and body seemed disparate, clashing against each other.

This man is practically ruined…

Zhao Yunzhong kept this thought to himself. With such a massive amount of ghost energy, even if the Soul-devouring worm extracted it all, Chen Jinquan wouldn’t have many days left to live and would be confined to his bed.

“I know, Mr. Zhao, you have that worm, don’t you?”

Miss Doll spoke, then suddenly offered a solemn apology. “I am truly very sorry, Mr. Zhao. Due to my special ability, the ‘seed’ I left on you allows me to perceive some of your thoughts.”

Miss Doll earnestly added: “No offense intended.”

As she finished speaking, Miss Doll waved her hand at Zhao Yunzhong. A wisp of black mist emerged from Zhao Yunzhong’s forehead, floated into Miss Doll’s hand, and vanished.

“Uh…”

Zhao Yunzhong’s expression transitioned from astonishment to alarm, and finally to embarrassment, displaying a spectacular array of emotions.

All this time, his little schemes had been exposed. It was fortunate he hadn’t harbored any dangerous or strange thoughts, or things would have been dire.

Moreover, it was no wonder Miss Doll knew his identity.

“Mr. Zhao, you only need to remove the ghost energy from his brain.”

Seeing Zhao Yunzhong still startled, Miss Doll added.

Zhao Yunzhong then regained his serious demeanor, pulling a small transparent glass vial from his pocket.

Inside the vial, the chubby Soul-devouring worm was curled into a ball, seemingly asleep.

Miss Doll rose to make way for Zhao Yunzhong.

Zhao Yunzhong walked over and sat beside Chen Jinquan. He opened the vial’s lid and placed it beneath Chen Jinquan’s nostrils.

Soon after, the Soul-devouring worm finished absorbing the ghost energy from Chen Jinquan’s brain. However, it still yearned for more, wanting to absorb the ghost energy from Chen Jinquan’s body, but Zhao Yunzhong took the vial away and capped it.

The chubby Soul-devouring worm tumbled incessantly within the small bottle, clearly throwing a tantrum. Yet, Zhao Yunzhong ignored it, returning the vial to his pocket.

Retreating to his previous seat, Zhao Yunzhong glanced at Miss Doll, then at the still unconscious Chen Jinquan, and asked: “Is this truly enough?”

Given that Miss Doll could previously read his thoughts, she must have known the perilous state Chen Jinquan was in.

Still, Zhao Yunzhong kindly warned: “If the ghost energy remains in Mr. Chen’s body, he likely won’t survive another two hours.”

Miss Doll sat down again beside Chen Jinquan, looking down at him and gently stroking his cheek. She softly said: “That might not be the case.”

As she spoke, she suddenly looked up at Zhao Yunzhong, smiling: “Mr. Zhao, aren’t you still perfectly fine?”

Zhao Yunzhong frowned. “My situation is rather unique,” he replied.

He didn’t elaborate, knowing Miss Doll surely understood his circumstances.

Then, something suddenly struck him, and he exclaimed in surprise: “You’re not planning to make him a spirit medium, are you?”

‘Spirit medium’ was the term used for individuals before they officially became Anomaly Investigators.

Miss Doll offered an elegant smile, a tacit acknowledgment.

Zhao Yunzhong looked at Chen Jinquan and instantly understood why the two masses of ghost energy within Chen Jinquan had been clashing earlier.

They originated from different supernatural entities, making harmonious coexistence impossible.

The ghost energy in Chen Jinquan’s brain must have been contracted on the eighth floor. The supernatural entity on the eighth floor was more powerful than Miss Doll. She knew she couldn’t completely remove that ghost energy, but she happened to have left a “seed” on Zhao Yunzhong, knowing he possessed the Soul-devouring worm that specialized in consuming ghost energy. Thus, she extended the invitation to him.

Having pieced together the reasons, Zhao Yunzhong knew Chen Jinquan was likely no longer in mortal danger. Since Miss Doll dared to do this, she naturally had her own methods.

Nevertheless, Zhao Yunzhong grew serious, asking: “Madam Chen, have you communicated with Mr. Chen about this?”

Miss Doll shook her head.

Just as I thought, Zhao Yunzhong mused. If they had truly communicated well, Chen Jinquan wouldn’t have been reporting to the police every other day…

Chen Jinquan’s frantic ramblings at the police station were partly real and partly hallucinations induced by the ghost energy.

Zhao Yunzhong felt a headache coming on, unsure what to say. How was a middle-aged bachelor supposed to resolve such “family conflicts”?

Zhao Yunzhong could only tentatively suggest: “I believe Madam Chen should genuinely communicate with Mr. Chen. After all, he’s just an ordinary person. Some things, when they happen suddenly, might be hard for him to accept at first. If he understands the situation better, it might make it easier for him to cope.”

Miss Doll, however, smiled and said: “We talk a lot every day, you know. He knows everything.”

Zhao Yunzhong’s brow furrowed deeply. Didn’t you just shake your head? Isn’t that a contradiction?

Zhao Yunzhong was about to speak further when Miss Doll stood up and bowed, saying: “It was truly a bother for you today, Mr. Zhao.”

“It’s nothing,” Zhao Yunzhong replied, understanding that Miss Doll was dismissing him. He stood up and voluntarily walked towards the door.

At the doorway, he turned and slightly bowed to Miss Doll, who was following him, saying: “Thank you for your hospitality.”

Miss Doll smiled. “Please take care, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Yunzhong nodded, opened the door, and stepped out.

“Mr. Zhao, wait a moment,” Miss Doll suddenly called out.

Zhao Yunzhong turned, seeing Miss Doll standing at the doorway without speaking. Yet, her voice resonated in his mind: [Luoyunshan Hospital.]

Zhao Yunzhong froze for a moment.

Miss Doll nodded at him, then closed the door.

The voice, however, continued to echo in Zhao Yunzhong’s mind: [This information is in gratitude for your help today, Mr. Zhao. Also, you needn’t worry; I haven’t planted any seeds on you.]

Zhao Yunzhong stood blankly at the door for a while.

Then, thoughtfully, he slowly departed.

As he descended the stairs, Zhao Yunzhong passed several men dressed in the estate’s property management uniforms.

Luoyunshan Hospital… it seems to be a rather well-known private hospital in Jiangzhou City. Why would Miss Doll suddenly mention it? Is there something strange about that place?

It’s probably more than just strange. For Miss Doll, a supernatural entity herself, to specifically bring up this place, there must be an unspeakable secret there!

It seems I’ll have to report this information to my superiors.

“Sir, please wait a moment!”

A sudden voice from behind interrupted Zhao Yunzhong’s thoughts.

Zhao Yunzhong turned around to see the men he had just passed rushing down the stairs energetically.

One man, who had reached Zhao Yunzhong first, meticulously scrutinized his face before bellowing behind him: “Brothers! It’s him!”

Zhao Yunzhong frowned. “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked.

“What can you do for us? Ha!”

Among the men who had gradually gathered around Zhao Yunzhong, a middle-aged man, who appeared to be their leader, spoke: “Are you still playing dumb, you bastard? What’s with the huge hole in the elevator ceiling?”

Zhao Yunzhong realized with a start. It turned out he was taking the blame for Miss Doll.

He chuckled, then turned to leave. “It has nothing to do with me.”

The middle-aged man grabbed Zhao Yunzhong’s arm, yelling: “Nothing to do with you?! We have surveillance! Even if you destroyed the camera inside the elevator, the one at the entrance clearly saw you go in. The elevator broke down right after you came out!”

He sneered: “If it wasn’t you, could it have been a ghost?”

The other men, at a subtle nod from the middle-aged man, slowly surrounded Zhao Yunzhong.

Zhao Yunzhong looked at them, narrowing his eyes. “What do you want?” he asked.

“Heh heh! Nothing much, but since you broke the elevator and the camera, you’ll have to pay compensation, won’t you?”

The middle-aged man chuckled. “We’re not unreasonable. As long as you compensate us, we won’t call the police.”

“Hmm, that makes sense.”

Zhao Yunzhong also smiled. “How much?” he inquired.

The middle-aged man grinned. This bastard was sensible enough. He extended an open palm. “Not much, fifty thousand should be enough.”

A sharp intake of breath hissed from someone, who was immediately glared into silence by the others.

Zhao Yunzhong raised an eyebrow. “Alright, but you’ve really got the wrong person.”

“Oh ho!”

The middle-aged man’s eyes widened, and he roared: “Then who the hell should we look for?!”

Zhao Yunzhong glanced up the stairs, lifting his chin. “Look, she’s here.”

“Buddy, that little trick of yours is old news,” the middle-aged man scoffed at Zhao Yunzhong, refusing to fall for it.

Yet, some of the men followed Zhao Yunzhong’s gaze. One by one, they froze in place.

The middle-aged man also sensed something amiss. He turned his head, instantly stiffening.

“I apologize for troubling you, Mr. Zhao.”

Miss Doll bowed in apology. Zhao Yunzhong shook his head without a word, easily slipped free from the middle-aged man’s grasp, and walked down the stairs to leave.

Miss Doll also turned and ascended the stairs.

The property managers, however, remained rooted to the spot, utterly stunned.

After a long while, they finally snapped back to reality, then hastily departed, their faces filled with panic.

They remembered that they had broken the elevator. How it was broken no longer mattered; what was crucial was to fix it quickly.

Consequently, they paid out of their own pockets for a repairman and spent even more money to have the elevator technician inspect and maintain all the elevators in the estate.