In that instant, time seemed to stand still for him. His mind was buzzing, and when he regained his senses, he realised that he was sinking even deeper into the pool.
Yu Xiao casually walked over to the edge of the pool, peering into its depths. The water seemed like it could hide anything or anyone. Thanks to a tip from the Nightgown Ghost, she quickly spotted Ye Lang.
However, all she could make out in the water was a blurry figure. She couldn’t tell who it was, but she assumed it was Xue Rong Rong.
A chuckle escaped from Yu Xiao. She must have startled the poor gal.
“Hey, Xue Rong Rong, stop hiding. It’s just me, Yu Xiao,” she called out, her playful voice echoing.
But the figure in the water remained unresponsive. Ye Lang couldn’t hear her over the pounding of his own heart.
“Tsk.” Yu Xiao frowned. The water was calm. Was Xue Rong Rong in trouble? She turned to the Nightgown Ghost. “Can you fetch her out?”
The Nightgown Ghost acted without hesitation and quickly dove into the pool. As a ghost, she didn’t need to breathe, so swimming was effortless for her. Gracefully, she glided along the bottom of the pool towards the lad.
Ye Lang couldn’t see anything from the outside, but he sensed movement in the water. Holding his breath, he opened his eyes and was met with a horrifying sight.
Emerging from the depths of the pool was a ghostly figure, her hair flowing like dark seaweed in the shadowy water.
Caught off guard, he accidentally swallowed a mouthful of pool water, causing his lungs to protest vehemently.
Yu Xiao stood by the pool, scanning the surface with her gaze. Suddenly, the water stirred and she could barely make out someone struggling below. “What’s all the fuss about?” she wondered, finding the futile struggle quite amusing.
Just as Ye Lang lost consciousness, the Nightgown Ghost glided past and effortlessly pulled him to the surface.
When Ye Lang regained consciousness, he coughed and spluttered, his throat sore from the unexpected swim.
As he blinked his eyes open, he was greeted with a chilling sight—a female ghost with blood streaked across her features on his left, and a male ghost with an icy expression on his right.
Ye Lang tightly shut his eyes, desperately wishing it would all disappear.
“Why are you nodding off again?” a familiar voice asked impatiently. “I only have two hours here, and I didn’t come to watch you sleep!”
His eyes snapped open to the familiar face flanked by the spectral duo.
“You’re…” Ye Lang gasped in recognition. “Yu Rou?” (鱼肉: Fish Meat)
(余笑: Yu Xiao sounds similar to 鱼肉: yú ròu, which means “fish meat.” By replacing “肉” (ròu) with “丸” (wán), which means “ball” or “pellet, He called her “Fish Meat” and she retorted that she isn’t “Fish Balls”)
“My mistake,” muttered Ye Lang. “But why are you here?”
Noticing the ghosts beside her, he blurted out, “Ghosts! You can see them too, right? Or is it just me?”
Yu Xiao pressed a hand to her forehead, letting out a weary sigh. “Of course, I see them. They’re under my command.”
It took a moment, but Ye Lang realised that these ghosts were Yu Xiao’s “summons”. With newfound understanding, he regarded her with a mix of awe and bewilderment.
They exchanged info.
Confirming with a nod, Yu Xiao stated, “So your mission is to find a hundred gold coins in this manor, right? Have you seen anyone else around?’”
Ye Lang shifted nervously. “Just you. I can’t talk much; I need to find those coins quickly. If I don’t have a hundred by the end of tomorrow, the owner of the manor will have my head.”
“Don’t worry,” Yu Xiao reassured, motioning to the Fridge Ghost and the Nightgown Ghost. “You two, help him with the coins.”
After a moment of thought, she added, “I’m sure we’ll cross paths with the others. Want to join me in finding them?”
Ye Lang hesitated at the suggestion. “But the coins…”
“Keep at it,” Yu Xiao cut in, eyeing the clock. Less than an hour to thirteen o’clock. Lingering outside was risky now. “I’ll scout ahead,” she decided, “and circle back when I can.”
As she signalled for the ghosts to follow, Ye Lang made a plea, “Could you leave one of them with me?”
Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. “Sure, I could, but can you guarantee that they won’t turn on you once I’m gone?”
That made Ye Lang pause. He hadn’t considered that.
“I can give you a guarantee.”
“?”
Yu Xiao, with mischief in her eyes, showed her stack of talismans. “These are your key to keeping the ghosts away,” she explained. “And don’t worry about the cost—my talismans are a steal at just three points each.”
Ye Lang suddenly realised and pointed at her. “You’re the one from the talisman shop at the Sixth Hospital, undercutting everyone else’s prices!”
“Guilty as charged,” Yu Xiao admitted with a chuckle, taking out her phone. “Let’s swap numbers. If your mates at the Fifth Hospital need a bargain, I’m their gal.”
Ye Lang’s jaw dropped. “But how do you manage to sell them so cheap? Aren’t you worried about making a profit?”
Yu Xiao dismissed his concerns. “Profit? That’s not the game I’m playing. I’m here to ensure everyone can get talismans to survive these crazy times. I may be new, but I’ve seen enough of life and death to last a lifetime.”
Touched by Yu Xiao’s selflessness, tears filled Ye Lang’s eyes. The Sixth Hospital had its share of sorrow, but his own Fifth Hospital had also been deeply affected. They had recently lost one of their own in the ward.
“Thank you,” Ye Lang said gratefully. “You’re one of the good ones.”
Yu Xiao grinned. “Aw, shucks. So, how many talismans are we talking about here?”
As she left the villa, only the Nightgown Ghost remained. She left the refrigerator ghost to assist Ye Lang in his search for coins.
Pushing forward, Yu Xiao soon came across a group of factories. The sound of machinery filled the air as she approached, hoping to find some signs of life.
Just as she reached the perimeter, she saw Xue Rong Rong boarding a truck that quickly sped away, leaving her unable to catch up and intervene.
Yu Xiao, having just missed Xue Rong Rong, decided to give the factory a quick look in case she found anything interesting.
Stepping inside, she was greeted by the sight of several trucks idling in the yard. Venturing further, she came across massive machines, slicing through frozen meat with precision. The assembly line was a cold display of efficiency, packaging the meat into bags and then into large boxes.
The place was deserted, with no one in sight except for the machines doing their work.
Time was running out, and Yu Xiao wasn’t one to leave empty-handed. She grabbed two boxes of frozen meat, but then stopped, thinking, “Why walk back when I can drive?” With that, she loaded up a truck and hit the road.
Beside her, the Nightgown Ghost was already happily eating the frozen meat. Yu Xiao focused on driving, watching the road unfold before them like a ribbon in the daylight.
**
Meanwhile, Yang Xian found herself at her wit’s end. She had prepared a meal for the father and son duo with great care, but they didn’t even spare a glance, instead knocking the food onto the floor.
The ugly child sat on the ground, wailing loudly, “Waaah… I’m hungry! I want meat! I want meat…”
Steam rose from the overturned dishes, filled with chicken wings and braised pork. Yet, the father and son ignored them, still demanding meat.
Having encountered similar situations before, Yang Xian realised that the meat they desired might not be ordinary. She understood that winning the favour of this pig demon duo wouldn’t be easy.
She looked at her thin arms, hardly enough to feed one person, let alone two. What should she do next? Where could she find meat for those two pigs?
Reason held her back while fear niggled at her. As the television had mentioned earlier, if she didn’t have her family’s cover, she’d be done for. So, she tolerated the irritating father-son duo for her own safety. But she had to win them over by tomorrow, or it would be the end of the line for her.
The pair of pig demons kept shouting at her while Yang Xian was left cleaning up the mess, tears welling up in her eyes. She was worried sick about Xue Rong Rong. If she didn’t make it, she would be all alone in the ward, and that terrified her.
**
【Question Four: What type of music does Xiao Mei from the mortuary listen to?】
Zhao Lan had this one in the bag, thanks to a strategy guide she had read. Even though their last visit to the mortuary was a disaster, the ghost lady’s taste in music hadn’t changed.
“Sad love songs.”
【Spot on. Now, choose a friend to lend a hand.】
The screen displayed six different scenes, updating everyone’s status.
Precious had left the pink room and was now in the living room, venting her anger on an LCD TV with a mahjong set. She was muttering something, but it was difficult to make out.
Smiley wasn’t in her usual spot; she was driving? And there was a ghostly lady sitting next to her, munching on some frozen meat and loving it.
Zhao Lan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her friends handling things on their own. Even though they were separated, each of them was capable of dealing with danger independently. Smiley, in particular, impressed her.
Ye Lang was still at the villa, accompanied this time by a ghostly companion with a frosty appearance. It was clear that he was no ordinary guy; he had the power to command ghosts. Zhao Lan mentally made a note of him – if they happened to meet again, she would ask for his contact information. They might have opportunities to work together in the future.
As Zhao Lan observed Xue Rong Rong driving, she couldn’t help but notice the similarities between her car and Smiley’s, minus the ghost passenger. The connection between the two vehicles intrigued her.
Without thinking, Zhao Lan reached for her phone to share this discovery with Yu Xiao, but then she remembered – she couldn’t make calls from where she was.
Turning her attention back to the room, Zhao Yang was now resting after his meal, seemingly safe from the threat of food poisoning.
On the other side, Yang Xian was on the floor, cleaning up and shedding tears.
**
Just then, Xue Rong Rong received a phone call while driving. The voice on the other end belonged to the boss’s secretary, who was dressed in red. She said, “The boss needs you to deliver a bag of frozen meat to his friend. The address is…”
**
A series of knocks echoed through the room, making Yang Xian, who had just finished cleaning, tense up. The sound sent shivers down her spine. Who could be at the door? Was it a ghost trying to make an unexpected entrance?
Opening the door was out of the question; the rules of the game were clear on that—no harebrained heroics. So, pretending not to hear, she kept her focus on scrubbing the floor.
“Mum~,” whined the child engrossed in cartoons, his voice grating. “Someone’s hammering at the door. It’s messing with my show.”
Yang Xian didn’t flinch, her resolve a fortress of indifference.
“Have your ears stopped working?” The bald man lounging on the sofa launched a kick in her direction, which Yang Xian gracefully avoided. His voice boomed, “Are you ignoring the knocking?”
No more pretending. Yang Xian stood up, reassuring herself that the real danger was still a day away—at least, it should be. She crept to the edge of the door, opening it just enough to peer through.
“What’s with the sneaking?” bellowed the man from his cushioned throne.
Rolling her eyes, Yang Xian daydreamed about a world where tranquillisers and revenge were the norm. A glance through the door’s crack revealed nothing but the familiar worn hallway, deserted and silent. About to dismiss the disturbance, she heard the rustle of plastic.
Crouching low, she saw a bag of frozen meat abandoned at her doorstep.
With swift hands, Yang Xian claimed her chilly prize. The label was cryptic, simply saying “frozen meat,” leaving the contents a mystery.
After closing the door, the man on the sofa noticed the frozen meat in her hand and instantly drooled, “Why didn’t you tell me you bought meat earlier? Hurry up and cook it. Both me and your son are starving!”
Beside him, the ugly child’s face mirrored his hunger, eyes locked on the prize. “Mom, I’m starving.”
Their eagerness was a dead giveaway to the contents of the bag. Disgust churned in Yang Xian’s stomach, yet a twisted part of her couldn’t help but be happy to finally curry favour with the gruesome twosome. Still, the question lingered—who had left this dubious gift at her door?
**
Xue Rong Rong rushed out of the residential building, thinking that the ghost boss in this instance was quite sociable. There were friends needing food in the restaurant, friends in need of fertiliser for their lawn, and friends in need of frozen meat. She had just delivered the meat upstairs and heard terrifying screams from behind the door—adult voices and children’s voices. It seemed like there was a family of ghosts inside.
She recoiled, tucking her neck in just as her phone buzzed—a message beckoning her to the restaurant with more deliveries.
**
【Choose your poison,】 the message taunted. 【A. Live maggot sashimi with no odour. B. Century egg porridge with the smell of rotten eggs.】
“…”
Zhao Yang threw a plate. He was about to collapse. What sin did he commit? Why did he have to eat such things? At this rate, even if he survived and left this instance, he would carry the shadow for a lifetime, wouldn’t he?
Zhao Yang cried, wailing loudly.
**
Xue Rong Rong, sweating profusely, hurriedly pushed the food cart to the restaurant door and heard the howling cries from inside. It was so scary—what on earth was inside?
Xue Rong Rong knocked quickly and slipped into the utility room. She was eager to catch a glimpse of the restaurant’s customers, but the red secretary’s stern warning flashed in her mind: peek and you’d be mincemeat.
Glancing at her to-do list, she had already fertilised the lawn three times, made a delivery, hidden 105 gold coins, and dropped off the frozen meat. However, she still needed to process the food at the factory. Time was running out; could she finish before five?
**
Yu Xiao parked her truck and jumped out, accompanied by the Nightgown Ghost. Despite only a couple of hours passing, the grass had already grown back to an unruly height.
They trudged through, and the ghost’s legs were gnawed down to the bone. She applied a healing talisman, the ghost’s tears of blood mingling with relief.
Upon returning inside, everything remained as she had left it. Yu Xiao checked the time—three minutes past one. She had a feeling that the afternoon would bring more lawn-related drama.
With only the Nightgown Ghost to assist her, fixing the lawn was going to be quite a task. Yu Xiao eyed the kitchen. There was a fire ghost in there who didn’t give a hoot about talismans. Maybe she could convince it to torch the lawn for her?
She couldn’t frighten it with talismans, but what about a bribe? Earlier, she had managed to acquire two large boxes of frozen meat from the factory. Maybe that would do the trick.
“It’s one o’clock in the afternoon~”
As the clock struck one, a beep reminded her that it was time to get to work. “After having lunch and taking a break, you’ll feel refreshed and energised, making it the ideal time to get things done. The hours between one and four in the afternoon are known to be the most productive. Could you please make sure the lawn is fixed before four o’clock? If the task isn’t finished by then, the furious property owner might just have your head~”
Yu Xiao nodded to herself. It was time to take action. She grabbed a couple of packs of frozen meat and headed towards the kitchen.
In the quiet kitchen, Yu Xiao rested her hand on the gas knob, gently coaxing a calm blue flame to life. It danced and flickered, casting an eerie glow before bursting into a vibrant emerald inferno. From the heart of this verdant blaze, two fingers extended outward.
The fiery spirit soon emerged, its head adorned with a crown of green flames, its gaze fixed upon Yu Xiao with a hunger that matched the intensity of the fire’s heat.
“Listen here,” Yu Xiao said, lifting two bags of frozen meat. “If you lend a hand with the lawn, all of this is yours.”
The fire ghost hesitated, torn between the allure of the meat and the desire for freedom. Shaking its head, it dismissed the offer and continued its struggle.
Unfazed, Yu Xiao placed the meat on the counter and retrieved two more bags. “Fix the lawn, and you can feast on all of this.”
Interest flickered in the ghost’s eyes, yet the temptation of escape remained strong. It remained motionless, unaffected by the growing pile of meat.
Undeterred, Yu Xiao returned with an entire box of frozen meat. The ghost’s excitement became palpable, its flames leaping in anticipation.
“Help with the lawn, and it’s all yours,” she repeated.
The ghost wavered, contemplating its options. Freedom seemed within reach, requiring no negotiation. Once it was out, it would claim both the bags and the fresh meat. Once again, it declined.
Yu Xiao let out a sigh, a hint of resignation in her voice. “No other choice, then.” Her hand moved towards the stove’s switch. “I’ll snuff out the fire, find another ghost to help.”
Panic surged through the fire ghost, its hands moving rapidly as it desperately pointed at the meat.
There was a touch of irony in Yu Xiao’s smile as she dimmed the flames. The ghost shrank in size, its fiery bravado diminishing. “What’s to stop you from turning on me once you’re out? You’d gobble up the meat and perhaps even me.”
Confronted with the possibility of fading away, the ghost reached into its chest and extended its hand towards Yu Xiao, silently pleading with its fiery eyes.
Yu Xiao’s eyes widened as she beheld a heart, clear and shimmering like a crystal, held in the ghost’s hand.
“Handing over your heart?” she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and wariness.
The Fire Ghost, shaking its fiery head, scrawled two words on the wall, leaving smoky trails with its movements.
“Guaranteed… custody?” Yu Xiao pieced it together. “So, you mean this is for safekeeping, to ensure you won’t betray me?”
The Fire Ghost nodded, and to Yu Xiao’s surprise, her heart skipped a beat—not out of fear, but out of astonishment. Sёarch* The N??elFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
“Deal,” she declared, reaching for the ghost heart.
The Fire Ghost hesitated, then added a few more smudged words to the wall.
Yu Xiao leaned in, reading the ghostly graffiti. “Remember… to return it.”
With a solemn stare from the Fire Ghost, Yu Xiao felt a pang of conscience—she hadn’t planned on giving it back.
“Sure,” she agreed a little too quickly. “It’ll be returned.”
The heart, cool to the touch and hard as ice, settled in her palm. Curiosity got the better of her, and she gently squeezed it. The Fire Ghost winced, its form flickering.
“Oops,” Yu Xiao winced in sympathy. “My bad.”
Using the heart as leverage, Yu Xiao watched as the Fire Ghost fully emerged, becoming a towering inferno of green flames. No fear touched her, not with its heart in her grasp.
She guided the Fire Ghost to the balcony, pointing towards the overgrown lawn. “I need to step outside. Your task? Fix this mess by four. If not, I’m in trouble—and I’ll take your heart with me.”
Understanding flickered in the Fire Ghost’s fiery eyes.
Yu Xiao motioned to the Nightgown Ghost, cowering in the corner. “Come on, time to roll.”
The Nightgown Ghost trailed behind her, shivering with every step. Yu Xiao cast a final glance back and saw the Fire Ghost already hard at work.
Green flames danced across the lawn, the once proud grass now writhing in a futile struggle. They had no chance, no escape—only the certainty of their fiery end.