Chapter 6

Another person has died, and it was one of our colleagues again.

The person did not stay in the hospital. After returning from the trip, she took leave to return to her hometown due to an emergency at home. No one expected her to fall ill just a couple of days after returning, and just now, her family called the company to inform them of the incident.

The colleague died yesterday, hanging from the beam in her room. By the time her family discovered her, her tongue was already half a foot long.

Everything seemed fine, and she hadn't been under any pressure. How could she have hanged herself without any warning? How can anyone come to terms with this?

Her parents are simple farmers, only able to weep in sorrow, unable to do anything. However, her second uncle, a wise man, suggested that this might be related to the company, perhaps due to some mistreatment there.

Regardless, he urged them to cause a scene at the company, hoping to get some compensation, even if it was just a small amount.

The news spread to the company, and the police were also informed immediately.

Officer Lin, recalling the incident I had told her about, licked her full lips and cautiously asked me, "Did she spend any money?"

I recalled carefully, my face stiffening, and said, "She was wearing a skirt that day and didn't have a bag, so I don't think she spent any money..."

At that moment, I truly regretted it. If I had had money, or even borrowed some, to spend that money, none of this would have happened. Why should I be waiting for death day by day like this?

However, who could have imagined such a bizarre incident?

Officer Lin seemed to believe my theory about the old temple on Mang Mountain. Although it was strange, it was undoubtedly a plausible motive for the series of deaths. She hurriedly went to report to her superiors, leaving me alone in the hospital bed, filled with regret.

Around noon, Officer Lin returned to the ward, looking disheveled.

I looked at her with hope and asked if she had sent someone to investigate the old temple on Mang Mountain, to see if they were behind it, or to find the damn tour guide and ask him clearly.

Officer Lin glanced at me, hesitated, and then told me that she had reported the matter to her superiors but was severely reprimanded.

Her superiors did not take the situation seriously and criticized her for being immature and believing in such supernatural nonsense.

In short, although Officer Lin believed me, without support from above, she couldn't do much to help.

Hearing this, I fell into despair.

Seemingly sensing my mood, Officer Lin comforted me, saying, "Don't worry, I won't abandon you. I have a friend who understands these things. I've already called him and explained the situation. He said he will come as soon as possible."

I was puzzled and asked what kind of friend he was.

Officer Lin didn't say much, only telling me, "Don't worry, he's very knowledgeable. His master is called Ouyang Zhijian, a famous master in Jiangmen. Many places invite him for rituals."

I had never heard of Master Ouyang and didn't know if Officer Lin's friend was reliable, but seeing her enthusiasm, I felt some gratitude.

Despite no relation, she was so concerned; how could I not be moved?

However, I had to say it upfront— if that person asked for money, I couldn't afford it...

Officer Lin laughed when I said this, saying, "Don't worry, he's not coming for the money."

If not for the money, then for what?

I glanced at Officer Lin, who was still charming in her uniform, and understood.

The person arrived at five in the afternoon. As I had expected, he wasn't there for the money but for the alluring Officer Lin. In front of my hospital bed, the guy had no air of a master, treating us all like air, completely ignoring us.

Looking at this slick, 27- or 28-year-old guy, I didn't think he had any real skills.

Despite my doubts, Officer Lin introduced him to me, saying his name was Luo Ping, a disciple of the famous master Ouyang Zhijian from Jiangmen, currently working at a firm in Dongguan, and he had come to help.

Although I didn't fully trust him, I still extended my hand to shake his.

However, the guy was very arrogant, refusing to shake my hand and even paying little attention when Officer Lin introduced me. Instead, after she finished, he smiled and invited Officer Lin to dinner, saying he had seen a nice Western restaurant on the way.

At that moment, I almost wanted to throw the saline bottle at his face.

Was this human talk?

Fortunately, Officer Lin knew right from wrong and said, somewhat displeased, that she had no other thoughts until the case was resolved.

Hearing this, Luo Ping's eyes narrowed.

He glanced at me and said with absolute confidence, "You're Wang Ming, right? Yes, I've heard everything from Xue'er. It's not a big problem, just a simple ghost-gathering spell. It's not easy to break, but if we find the cause, it can be solved easily..."

A ghost-gathering spell?

I struggled to sit up, and Luo Ping looked at Officer Lin, explaining confidently, "A ghost-gathering spell is actually a type of Vajra, encompassing black magic, witchcraft, and other dark arts. It's simple in some ways and complex in others..."

He rambled on, making my head hurt.

I glanced at Officer Lin and saw that she was also confused.

This guy spoke in a way that seemed professional but was incomprehensible to anyone. I looked at Officer Lin, wondering where she had found such an unreliable person. Officer Lin also looked apologetic, nodding and sighing, "Alright, Luo Ping, you can go back."

Seeing our distrust, Luo Ping's lips curled into a cold smile. He suddenly stood up and pointed at me, saying, "Do you not believe me?"

I shrugged and said, "No..."

Although I said no, it was a reluctant response. Luo Ping then took out a mirror from his pocket and said, "Look at yourself and see what you look like!"

He held a polished copper mirror, its surface smooth and yellowish. I glanced at it instinctively and saw a face that was stiff, blue, and purple, with black lips and dark circles, making me look like a panda, and blood trickling from my eyes...

I screamed in fright, almost falling off the bed. Luo Ping grabbed me and calmly said, "Look again!"

This time, I saw myself in the mirror, and apart from a terrified expression, there was nothing unusual.

The stark contrast dispelled all my doubts. I grabbed Luo Ping's hand and asked nervously, "What's going on, Master Luo?"

Luo Ping said smugly, "What you saw just now was your aura. From this, I can see that your forehead is dark, black mist surrounds you, and your philtrum is filled with negative energy. Death is just a matter of days away. However, this can be resolved. Why? Because everyone has a destiny, and if someone wants to make you die early without causing karma, they must alter your energy and use something else to wear you down. In short, if someone sets up a trap, someone else can dismantle it. Once the trap is dismantled, the problem is solved, and you will be fine."

I was excited and asked hurriedly, "How can we dismantle the trap?"

Luo Ping stopped looking at me and turned to Officer Lin, smiling, "Xue'er, it's not difficult, but after we're done, will you let me treat you to a meal?"

Although Officer Lin was uncomfortable with Luo Ping calling her "Xue'er," she didn't want to delay the work and forced a smile, saying, "If you can solve this, I'll treat you to a meal, no problem."

Luo Ping chuckled and said to Officer Lin, "Then it's a deal!"

Lying in the hospital bed, I saw Luo Ping fawning over Officer Lin and ignoring me, which made me somewhat resentful. However, I knew I had no right to complain and just lowered my head, pretending not to notice.

At that moment, I had no other wish but to have this matter resolved quickly and return to a peaceful life.

Despite his cold attitude, Luo Ping's demonstration earlier gave me a sense of hope, and I eagerly awaited him to do something practical. However, after circling the ward and examining the death spell under the bed, he said he wanted to go to the morgue.

After the forensic examination, the bodies of Xiao Zhang, Ah Gui, and Wang Lei were stored in the hospital morgue, awaiting the arrival of their families.

Luo Ping wanted to see the two bodies and asked me to go with him.

This made me shiver, but since I believed Luo Ping was the only one who could solve this, I wouldn't leave his side when night fell.

After some hesitation, Officer Lin, Luo Ping, and I made our way to the morgue in the basement.

With Officer Lin's credentials, the morgue attendant didn't give us much trouble and let us in. We quickly found Ah Gui in the refrigerated cabinet.

It was the first time I saw Ah Gui's dead body, with half his head missing and his face blue and purple.

I tried to control my extreme nervousness, but before we could find Wang Lei, the lights in the morgue suddenly went out.

All the lights went out in an instant!

Darkness descended immediately.