Chapter 76: The Terrifying Thing Is Not the Evil Spirits

In the video, there was not the slightest hint of death about Qin Ruo. Her movements, expressions, and even her breathing—after spending so much time with her, I hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

I brought Wang Zihao to Qin Ruo’s house. Standing at the door, I saw it wasn’t locked. I was just about to push it open when Wang Zihao pulled me back and shook his head. Taking a deep breath, he drew a pistol from the back of his waist, gripping it tightly with both hands. Only then did he nod, signaling me to go ahead.

I pushed the door open forcefully, its creak making the atmosphere even eerier. As soon as the door opened, a strange, mixed odor wafted out, meeting our noses. Without hesitation, Wang Zihao rushed inside, gun raised, sweeping every corner of the house.

“Who’s there? Hands up!”

He had just reached the innermost bedroom when he tensed up, alert and ready. I hurried to his side, wanting to turn on the light, but there was no power. By the moonlight outside, I could clearly see a woman with disheveled hair standing sideways at the window. The night breeze stirred her long hair, and a single dark red bead of blood clung to the corner of her eye.

By the clothes she wore, I was sure it was Qin Ruo. She slowly turned, lifting her gaze to meet ours. Only then did I see two streams of bloody tears running down her face, and in her arms, she cradled Linlin’s lifeless body.

Her eyes were filled with grief. She parted her lips slightly, as if to speak, but not a sound came from her throat. Suddenly, her eyes changed—the black of her pupils spread to fill her entire eyes. She flung her arms open, letting the child’s body fall to the floor, and began to twist and contort her body in unnatural ways.

Her head and limbs seemed to move with a will of their own, like a marionette.

“Hehehehe…”

Qin Ruo grinned wide, letting out a sinister laugh, her gaze toward us turning vicious and cruel.

“Gentlemen… what a pleasure to meet you…”

Wang Zihao shouted, “Who are you? What do you want?”

The voice from Qin Ruo’s mouth was like that of an old woman in her eighties. At once, Wang Zihao leveled his gun at her. I pulled him aside and stepped forward. “You’re with those two on the bus, aren’t you?”

“Jiang Huai… hehehe…” Qin Ruo didn’t answer my question. Instead, after repeating my name, she muttered, “Wild Maoshan? If my memory serves, there’s only one Jiang family in Wild Maoshan.”

She paused, then asked, “What is Jiang Shan to you?”

Before my grandfather left, he told me never to mention his name to anyone. Did that also mean I should never acknowledge any connection if someone brought him up? I narrowed my eyes, stretching my limbs. “You sure talk a lot for a rat lurking in the dark. Why so curious?”

“Let me see just how capable a descendant of Jiang Shan is!”

Qin Ruo opened her mouth wide and lunged at us with a bizarre screech. Instinctively, I shoved Wang Zihao aside and dodged her claws. Then, with a swift kick, I sent her stumbling back several steps.

She regained her balance and was about to charge again, but I had already seized her hair with one hand and pressed my left arm against her neck, pinning her to the wall, unable to move.

I spat, my eyes sharp with a killing intent. “Whoever you are, if you want to test my skills, stop hiding. Stand before me, and I’ll show you what real satisfaction feels like.”

I paused, then continued, “You must be the leader of those two on the bus. Don’t worry—while I’m here, you won’t stay hidden for long. Wash your neck and wait for me.”

Taking a deep breath, I struck the crown of Qin Ruo’s head with my palm. The blow was so forceful that the back of her head left a dent in the wall.

I bit my finger, drawing blood, and painted a breaking curse on her face. Then, slapping the bloody rune, I commanded, “Disperse!”

I saw a wisp of black energy drift out from Qin Ruo’s eyes. As it left, her body crumpled to the ground, her gaze dull and lifeless—she was dead.

Staring at the bodies of mother and child, my heart was heavy.

I did not linger after dealing with the aftermath. I stayed with Wang Zihao until his colleagues arrived, then left for home.

Wang Zihao asked me to find him after dawn. As I was leaving, he gave a bitter smile. “Jiang Huai, looks like I’ll have to trouble you once again.”

I grinned and pointed at Qin Ruo’s corpse. “I’ve already taken her case. I’ll see to everything for her child, in life and in death. I’ll give her the truth she deserves.”

“So, I’m not helping you—I’m just doing business.”

Wang Zihao smiled knowingly. He’d heard a little about my code from Captain Cui.

Before leaving, I asked Wang Zihao to help transfer Linlin and Qin Ruo’s bodies to the hospital morgue for now. Once all this was over, I’d handle their funeral arrangements myself.

Wang Zihao readily agreed.

Back home, I didn’t go straight to bed. Instead, I stood before the altar in my shop dedicated to the Three True Lords of Maoshan. I lit three sticks of incense and took a cigarette from the red box beneath the altar.

I’ve never been a smoker, nor do I like smoking, but tonight, I wanted one.

People always say ghosts and monsters are terrifying. But so far, whether it was Li Xuan or Huang Baiyue, none were as frightening as the living people I’ve encountered lately.

When the cigarette burned out, I bowed three times to the altar and returned to my room.

When I awoke, the sky was already bright. I glanced at my phone—several missed calls from Wang Zihao. As soon as I called back, he anxiously told me something big.

An hour ago, while he was interrogating the two traffickers from the bus, the woman suddenly went mad and bit off her own tongue, killing herself. At the same time, the man did the same, but his eyes were full of terror, as if it wasn’t his own will.

Fortunately, Wang Zihao and his colleagues managed to intervene. The man, using all his strength, begged them to cut open his own brow.

Wang Zihao complied. A stream of black blood oozed from the man’s forehead, after which he slumped against the wall, gasping like a pile of mud.

He said he’d confess everything, but only if I was there.

I have already taken on her case; I will handle everything for her child, both before and after death. I will bring her the truth she deserves.

So, I am not helping you. I am merely doing business.

Wang Zihao smiled, understanding my code of conduct, as he had gleaned from Captain Cui.

Before leaving, I had Wang Zihao arrange for Linlin and Qin Ruo’s bodies to be kept in the hospital morgue for the time being. Once this matter is settled, I will personally take care of their funerals.

Wang Zihao agreed without hesitation.

When I got home, I didn’t sleep right away. I stood before the altar in my shop, dedicated to the Three True Lords of Maoshan. I lit three sticks of incense, and from the red box beneath the altar, I took out a cigarette and lit it.

I am neither a smoker nor fond of smoking, but tonight, I wanted one.

Everyone says ghosts are terrifying, monsters are frightening. But so far, whether it was Li Xuan or Huang Baiyue, none have been as frightening as the living people I have encountered recently.

When the cigarette burned down, I bowed three times to the altar and went to my room.

By the time I woke up, daylight had flooded the room. I checked my phone—several missed calls from Wang Zihao. When I called back, he anxiously relayed some big news.

An hour ago, while he was interrogating the two traffickers from the bus, the woman suddenly went insane and bit off her own tongue, dying on the spot. At the same moment, the man did the same, but his eyes were filled with horror, as if it wasn’t his own choice.

Fortunately, Wang Zihao and his colleagues managed to stop him in time. The man used all his strength to beg them to cut open his brow.

Wang Zihao complied. A stream of black blood trickled from the man’s forehead, after which he slumped against the wall, gasping like a pile of mud.

He declared he would confess everything, but only if I was present.