Chapter 60 The Second Ghost
The first thing Lin Qiushi saw the ghost standing outside the window do was to pick up a top hat that had fallen from the treetops. It seemed that for this ghost, a top hat wasn't essential. In fact, Lin Qiushi only saw him holding the hat, not wearing it.
This is probably the biggest difference between the two ghosts, but no one knows what the difference is between the two ghosts.
Another question was the conditions under which the ghosts exchanged their hats. Lin Qiushi felt that exchanging hats wasn't particularly easy. There must be some hidden restrictions, otherwise they would have been wiped out long ago. Based on the current clues, this condition was likely related to the missing children in town.
Ruan Nanzhu clearly shared Lin Qiushi's thoughts, though his thinking was more comprehensive. "Whenever a child goes missing in town, our team will be missing a member. According to the missing person notice you brought back earlier, the order in which the children disappeared is consistent with the order in which the team members disappeared, so we can make a bold assumption..."
Lin Qiushi added what he hadn't said, "Suppose the condition for Slender Shadow's inheritance is that we must first find a child in town and take him away?"
Ruan Nanzhu nodded.
Lin Qiushi propped his chin up in thought. In reality, they had previously speculated that there were no children in this town, but now that speculation had been misjudged. There should be children in this town, but these children might no longer be human... Children who were not human... could they still be considered children?
This is indeed a difficult question to answer.
Moreover, a new missing person notice has appeared in the square. If Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu's reasoning is correct, the next victim will appear soon.
"Just wait," Ruan Nanzhu said, "You'll know after tonight."
Lin Qiushi nodded.
As they left the restaurant, they spotted Dong Tianwei, who had previously delivered the message to Lin Qiushi. After a moment's hesitation, he stepped forward, typed the message on his phone, and handed it to Dong Tianwei.
Ruan Nanzhu stood next to Lin Qiushi and did not stop him.
After they returned to their residence, he asked, "What's the matter?"
Lin Qiushi whispered, "She did help me a little, after all. I'll let her go to bed early tonight."
Ruan Nanzhu didn't say yes or no. He glanced at Lin Qiushi and turned to take a shower.
Lin Qiushi lay in bed, staring at his phone in a daze, wondering who the unlucky person would be tonight...
…
The night is slightly cool.
The hotel fell into silence. Everyone who stayed here went to bed early, hoping to fall into a sweet dream before darkness fell. Wang Tianxin was no exception.
But I don’t know if it was because he slept all day or what, but he, who usually fell asleep very easily, now had insomnia and couldn’t fall asleep even though he tossed and turned in bed.
Wang Tianxin leaned sideways, staring at the empty bed to his right, feeling strangely frightened. His female companion, Liu Ya, had been lying on this bed, chatting and laughing with him the day before. But then, in a matter of moments, Liu Ya had vanished. She had been missing for two days now, and it looked as if she was in grave danger.
Although Wang Tianxin wanted to ignore this matter, the empty bed kept reminding him.
Wang Tianxin was feeling a little irritated and turned over involuntarily, facing the window and no longer looking at the bed.
The night enveloped the view outside the window. Wang Tianxin saw the dim moonlight and desolate bushes through the glass. He felt a little uneasy and his body was a little cold. After thinking about it, he sat up from the bed and wanted to take a bath in the bathroom to relax his body and fall asleep as soon as possible.
Turning on the water heater, Wang Tianxin bathed in the warm water.
He adjusted the water temperature slightly higher to dispel the chill from his body. This was supposed to be a very enjoyable thing, but Wang Tianxin suddenly found that the water outlet under his feet was suddenly blocked... What's going on? Uranus muttered in his heart, bent down to check the water outlet, and saw a ball of black hair stuck in the water outlet.
"Disgusting! It must be Liu Ya's..." Wang Tianxin muttered, trying to dig the hair out with his hands. But as he did so, he realized something was wrong... The hair was too long, seemingly endless. Wang Tianxin pulled at a long section, but couldn't completely pull it out of the drain. He realized something was wrong, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. Liu Ya... didn't have hair that long.
After noticing this unusual situation, Wang Tianxin put down his hair and hurriedly tried to leave the bathroom. However, when he grabbed the bathroom door and tried to go out, he found that the bathroom was locked from the outside.
Wang Tianxin's face showed fear and he began to shout for help. However, it was midnight and everyone was fast asleep. Who would hear his cry for help?
Wang Tianxin became more and more frightened and began to bang on the door. He looked back at the water outlet and found that water was bubbling out of it... as if something was about to come out from inside.
"Help! Help! Help! Help!" Wang Tianxin's voice was hoarse. The water from the outlet was getting more and more, and finally accumulated a thin layer at his feet. Wang Tianxin was shaking with fear, but in such a world, there would be no savior.
Several fingers stretched out from the water outlet.
The water outlet was originally very small, but those slender fingers squeezed out from it. Behind the fingers, there was an entire palm and a slender arm...
The arm was extremely long. After it stretched out, it began to grope in the house, trying to find the person in the house. Wang Tianxin was frightened by this scene and burst into tears, and his whole body was shaking like a sieve.
Wang Tianxin hid in the corner, praying in his heart that this thing could not find him.
But the bathroom was so small, you could hide for a while, but not forever. Soon, the arm grabbed Wang Tianxin's feet.
Wang Tianxin wanted to break free, but he felt that the arm was like an iron pillar and he could not resist at all.
He was dragged across the slippery bathroom floor toward the drain.
No matter how you think about it, it is impossible for a living person to be dragged into a water outlet that is only the size of a fist, but this absurd scene is happening.
First the feet, then the calves, then the thighs and lower abdomen, bit by bit, inch by inch, like a spider devouring its prey. Wang Tianxin's screams stopped, his eyes became dull, as if he had fallen into a strange mental state. He didn't struggle, nor did he refuse, his body just stiffened, and was finally dragged into the dark sewer.
Soon, everything returned to calm, and no one knew what had happened here.
…
Lin Qiushi seemed to hear some noise while he was sleeping, but he had a sleeping pill next to him, so he didn't wake up, but just turned over a little uneasily.
Ruan Nanzhu held him tightly from behind, as if he was holding a child. The scorching heat passed through his strong chest to Lin Qiushi's back, which was slightly hot, but more of it was a sense of security.
This uneasiness lasted only a moment. Lin Qiushi changed to a position he liked and fell asleep again.
The next morning, everyone quickly discovered the missing person while having breakfast. Wang Tianxin, who always showed up early, was nowhere to be seen.
Was Wang Tianxin also taken away? Lin Qiushi showed Ruan Nanzhu the words he had typed. Should he go check on him?
Ruan Nanzhu: "Okay, let's go and take a look."
Lin Qiushi nodded.
The others were also wondering where Wang Tianxin had gone. Seeing that they were planning to go to Wang Tianxin's residence, several people followed, including Dong Tianwei and her male companion.
Lin Qiushi suspected that Dong Tianwei and her male companion must have known each other outside the sect, otherwise they wouldn't have been so tacitly connected. However, everyone inside the sect had their own secrets, so there was no need to reveal each other's secrets.
Arriving at Wang Tianxin's residence, Ruan Nanzhu easily pushed open his door and saw an empty room.
"No one," Ruan Nanzhu said. "He didn't leave the hotel all day yesterday. He must have come back in the evening."
Lin Qiushi walked to the bathroom door, grasped the door handle and gently turned it. As the door opened, a strange smell emanated from the bathroom. The smell was a bit like that of a sewer, which made people feel nauseous.
There was nothing special about the bathroom, and there were no signs of anyone having been there, but Lin Qiushi found Wang Tianxin's clothes inside... He seemed to have taken a shower in the bathroom.
"Then he disappeared." Ruan Nanzhu stood behind Lin Qiushi and helped him say what he wanted to say. "The bathroom door was locked from the outside. Oh, maybe it wasn't a person."
Lin Qiushi: “…”
"He must have been showering in the bathroom when something happened." Ruan Nanzhu checked around. His observation skills were always amazing, and this time was no exception. He quickly noticed something unusual. "The water outlet has been tampered with."
"Has the water outlet been tampered with?" Dong Tianwei thought this was ridiculous. "How could such a big person get out of the water outlet?"
Ruan Nanzhu turned his head and glanced at her, his tone indifferent: "Do you still think this is the real world?"
Dong Tianwei was speechless.
Indeed, this was impossible in the real world, but they were inside the gate, an iron gate where anything could happen. It was a place filled with strange things, and so, seeing a living person being forcibly pulled out of the water outlet, it didn't seem so incomprehensible.
Lin Qiushi thought of the missing person notice that had appeared in the square yesterday. It seemed that the blank paper behind the missing person notice would be replaced with Wang Tianxin's photo...
Ruan Nanzhu stood up: "I have something I want to tell you."
"What's the matter?" Dong Tianwei asked.
Ruan Nanzhu glanced at her and said, "Call everyone over."
A moment later, the remaining people gathered in the hotel restaurant.
Only nine people were left out of the original fourteen, and there were two newcomers among them. Everyone had different expressions, some were indifferent, some were afraid, and some were curious.
Lin Qiushi continued to pretend to be his little mute girl and handed the explanation work to Ruan Nanzhu.
Ruan Nanzhu directly told everyone their conclusion and revealed the location of the key.
Now a new victim has appeared. According to their deduction, as long as one more missing child is found, the inheritance will continue.
Just as Lin Qiushi was wondering where the next missing child was, Dong Tianwei whispered, "I've seen the child's body."
"What?" Lin Qiushi was stunned.
"It's right outside." Dong Tianwei said, "When I got up, I saw the body hanging outside... So, does this mean that the inheritance is about to begin?"
They must take this opportunity to get the metal key from the ghost's body, otherwise the cycle will continue over and over again, and who knows if they will be the next to die.
"You mean we have to kill that ghost?" Someone immediately disagreed after hearing this. "Do you think we can compete with that thing?"
"You have to be able to do it even if you can't." Ruan Nanzhu said, "Or you can choose to wait for death here."
The man said, "Why am I the one who died? What if I'm the last one..."
"No need to worry." Ruan Nanzhu raised his chin, his tone cold and arrogant, "I can guarantee that my companions and I will be the last to die, so my bet is 1/2, not 1/9."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.
In fact, if it was anyone else who spoke, everyone might have suspected that he was just talking nonsense. But Ruan Nanzhu's aura and his behavior inside the gate told everyone that he was not just talking nonsense, and he must have some hidden cards in his hand.
"I agree with his proposal," Dong Tianwei said. She didn't seem to be the type to be aggressive, and her voice was very gentle. "Of course, everyone has the right to refuse, but there's also a price to pay for refusing. I've already found the door. If we manage to get the key, the monster will surely be enraged... You can also choose to wait inside." She smiled, her eyes bearing a resemblance to Ruan Nanzhu's at first glance, full of contempt for those who backed down. "See if you have the guts to pass through this door, bypassing the monster guarding it."
Lin Qiushi looked at her and for a moment felt that the more powerful people in this sect seemed to have something in common, such as Li Dongyuan, and the hidden Dong Tianwei in front of him... He didn't know when she found the door to leave.
Whispers spread among the crowd, and soon everyone gave their own answers.
Some chose not to go, while others chose to go. What surprised Lin Qiushi was that the two newcomers who had just entered the room were quite brave and decided to go with him to get the key.
"Can you determine the specific time of their inheritance?" Dong Tianwei asked Ruan Nanzhu.
Ruan Nanzhu: "I don't know the exact time, but according to the last calculation, it should be tomorrow. However, to prevent any accidents, it's best to go there early and guard it."
"That's right." Dong Tianwei said, "Let's go to the kitchen first and see if there are any weapons we can use."
The group went to the kitchen and found some handy tools.
Lin Qiushi had obtained a sharp bone-piercing knife and was studying it with his head lowered when Dong Tianwei walked up behind him, gently touched his shoulder, and said with a low laugh, "Little mute girl, this thing doesn't suit you."
Lin Qiushi's eyes showed doubt.
Dong Tianwei said: "You are suitable to wear a beautiful dress and watch quietly from the side. Although it can't be called regrettable, it is enough."
These words sounded strange, and as she spoke, Dong Tianwei's hand gently caressed Lin Qiushi's shoulder. The ambiguous gesture made Lin Qiushi think too much. He was about to retreat, but Ruan Nanzhu walked up to him with a protective attitude and said coldly, "Don't touch my people."
Dong Tianwei didn't insist. She looked regretful, said "what a pity", and turned away.
Lin Qiushi looked at Ruan Nanzhu and was about to ask what Dong Tianwei meant when Ruan Nanzhu pinched his chin and whispered a warning, "Don't flirt with anyone else. You're mine."
Lin Qiushi: ...Boss, are you so happy just acting?
Ruan Nanzhu: "Did you hear that?"
What else could Lin Qiushi say? He could only nod, although his expression showed that he really couldn't do anything to him.
Ruan Nanzhu's eyes were actually smiling, but he still feigned seriousness and professionalism as he finished his lines. Lin Qiushi secretly thought that Ruan Nanzhu must really like Dong Tianwei. After all, there weren't many strangers who could give him a role these days.
Everyone was pretty much armed. To prevent any accidents, Lin Qiushi even found some tape to tie his weapons to his hands. After all, he'd seen so many movies, and he'd seen plenty of scenes where someone went to kill someone but failed, only to have their weapons knocked away and then counterattack.
Of the nine people, two chose to wait for death in the hotel.
When they left, the two of them had complicated expressions. One of them wanted to say something, but everyone treated them very coldly and ignored them completely.
It was just dawn and the fog around was at its thickest.
Relying on his excellent memory, Ruan Nanzhu led everyone to find the path they walked yesterday and headed towards the ruins.
Fortunately, there is only one road here, so there is no chance of getting lost.
Lin Qiushi walked beside Ruan Nanzhu, carefully observing his surroundings. He was most worried about the hatless ghost. He wondered what kind of existence that ghost had in the town, and what it meant.
After walking for a while, the ruins that Ruan Nanzhu mentioned appeared in front of everyone.
Everyone looked relieved, knowing that Ruan Nanzhu was probably not lying.
Ruan Nanzhu checked the time and said, "Just wait. I don't know when he'll come."
So everyone waited quietly.
It is really not a pleasant thing to wait for people in such a ruined environment. The only thing to be thankful for is that there are enough of them and there is no need to be too scared.
Lin Qiushi sat next to Ruan Nanzhu, looking down at his phone. Ruan Nanzhu was also looking at the fog in front of him, wondering what he was thinking.
Time passed by and everything was immersed in silence.
After waiting from morning to afternoon, dusk appeared on the horizon. Just when some people were about to give up, a figure appeared in the fog... It was Wang Tianxin who disappeared last night.
He seemed to have just walked out of the town, his face expressionless, and he looked very different from his usual self. He walked to the ruins, stopped, and began to wait for something.
When everyone saw this scene, they held their breath and continued to observe.
Soon, the slender ghost that Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu had seen before also appeared. He was still wearing a suit and a top hat. His slender hands and feet moved slowly on the ground and finally stopped in front of Wang Tianxin.
"Get ready." Ruan Nanzhu said softly.
Everyone perked up, and Lin Qiushi gripped the sharp weapon in his hand tightly.
The ghost raised his hand, and as Ruan Nanzhu expected, he raised his hand to hold the gentleman's hat on his head, and then began to use force to try to take the hat off his head.
Although this scene was extremely terrifying, Ruan Nanzhu had prepared everyone for it in advance, so everyone just turned pale and did not overreact.
The ghost used more and more force, and finally tore the top hat off his scalp. Just when he was about to hand the top hat to Wang Tianxin, Ruan Nanzhu gave an order: "Go!" and pounced towards the ghost.
The ghost seemed to be frightened by the sudden appearance of the crowd. He took a few steps back, let out an angry roar, and grabbed two people with his slender hands and threw them heavily to the side.
Lin Qiushi dodged the ghost's hand and set his sights on the top hat. Wang Tianxin seemed completely unconcerned with the surrounding situation, his eyes fixed on the top hat. Seeing this, Lin Qiushi pounced and grabbed the top hat in his hand.
"Give it to me!!" Wang Tianxin shouted angrily.
Lin Qiushi grabbed his hat and ran away, with Wang Tianxin following closely behind, looking as if he wanted to tear Lin Qiushi to pieces.
Meanwhile, the others had already begun fighting the ghost. The ghost was extremely powerful, and normal people were no match for him. But fortunately, after losing his top hat, his strength began to decline rapidly.
His body began to shrivel, as if his flesh and blood were evaporating, leaving only a layer of wrinkled skin.
Ruan Nanzhu stopped the people who were still trying to rush forward and said, "That's enough. Stay away from him—Qiuqiu, come to me!"
Lin Qiushi, holding his top hat, had been walking Wang Tianxin like a dog. He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard Ruan Nanzhu's call and hurried over to Ruan Nanzhu. It was a good thing he exercised regularly; otherwise, he would have died countless times over if he had encountered something like this.
Wang Tianxin completely ignored the people around him, his only target was the top hat in Lin Qiushi's hand.
This time, Ruan Nanzhu showed no mercy and stabbed him directly in the foot.
Wang Tianxin screamed in pain, but Lin Qiushi noticed that no blood was flowing from his wound - Wang Tianxin must not be human.
Ruan Nanzhu also saw Wang Tianxin's wound and made a judgment in his mind. Wang Tianxin's speed did not slow down after being injured. Instead, he seemed to be enraged and tried to pounce on Lin Qiushi.
Ruan Nanzhu sneered, swung the sharp blade in his hand, and actually chopped off Wang Tianxin's head.
After Wang Tianxin's head fell to the ground, his body continued to move on its own, and he stared at Ruan Nanzhu with hatred as if he would die with his eyes wide open.
"We found the key!" Dong Tianwei's voice came, "Come on, let's go back to town!"
Ruan Nanzhu asked, "Where is the door?"
Dong Tianwei said: "Under the signboard in the square!"
After getting the keys, the group cheered and ran towards the town. Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu no longer cared about Wang Tianxin and ran quickly behind the crowd.
Everyone was out of breath when they ran into the town, but when they arrived at the town square, they were stunned by the scene before them.
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in front of the town's sign. He was dressed in black, with slender arms and legs. The only difference was that he wasn't wearing a black hat. He grinned, revealing rows of fine teeth, and gave them a strange smile...
Dong Tianwei saw this thing and said in a lost voice: "How could there be another one——"
Just as she was speaking, the ghost stretched out its hand and grabbed one of them, then threw the person high into the air.
There was a thud, the sound of a human body falling. The person who was thrown high into the air was very unlucky. He died immediately after the back of his head hit the ground.
"Give it back to me..." The ghost said these three words and fixed his gaze on Lin Qiushi.
Lin Qiushi looked down and found that the black top hat he had just thrown away had appeared in his hand again without him noticing.
Ruan Nanzhu grabbed the hat and said to Dong Tianwei, "Go open the door, I'll lead him away!"
Dong Tianwei gritted her teeth and nodded heavily.
The author has something to say: Ghost: Raise it high, raise it high.
Everyone: ...Other people act cute for money, but you act cute for your life.
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