I ignored him and instead frowned in thought.
The female ghost we just saw didn't seem to be a particularly fierce or malevolent spirit. She just stared at us from a distance and didn't attack us.
That thing couldn't help but remind me of a bear.
Some bears may covet human cornfields or similar places, but they also know that humans possess the truth, so they don't dare to actually come over; they can only watch from afar and drool.
It was a feast for the eyes.
That's the feeling I got from that female ghost earlier.
I reckon one yellow talisman from me will be enough to send her to the Western Paradise.
She could sense the threat emanating from me, so she didn't dare to approach me at all.
That makes sense; there aren't that many ghosts in this city.
Even if there are many, it's unlikely that you'd run into one while having barbecue.
If you could run into a ghost while casually eating barbecue, this city would probably have become a ghost town long ago, with hardly any living people left.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel relieved, and I cheered up a bit.
"Li Huai, why are you such a coward? That ghost wasn't that scary, it's the kind you see every day, why are you so frightened?"
Li Huai then realized what was happening and tried to salvage the situation, saying:
"I thought this ghost was some kind of monster appearing in the bustling food street, but it turns out it's just a little rascal. If I run into her again, I'll slap her to death!"
"Damn, you're just bragging." Luo Tianhe exposed him without any politeness, and breathed a sigh of relief, lighting a cigarette. "But Chen Yan is right. That female ghost looked scary, but she didn't follow us at all, and she didn't dare to make a move."
I nodded, keeping an eye on my surroundings as I walked. The cold gaze that had been fixed on me gradually faded after I had run two blocks.
"It should be a ghost that has recently died, or one whose obsession was not particularly deep."
I analyzed, while simultaneously trying to shift the blame.
"It's all because of Li Huai's ghostly fate. We were eating barbecue and singing when we were interrupted. But ghosts are afraid of people, especially the yang energy of the three of us living people. Moreover, Luo Tianhe's reckless evil energy is also effective against ghosts."
Upon hearing this, Luo Tianhe spat and said arrogantly:
"No problem, when I'm chopping people up, even ghosts would give way!"
They'd both had a few drinks and were a bit tipsy, each boasting with increasing enthusiasm. Hearing us say this, Li Huai puffed out his chest:
"Exactly, it's just that I happened to be in a good mood. If I were in a bad mood, I wouldn't even need Brother Yan to lift a finger; I could just use a peach wood sword to send this brat to the afterlife!"
"Alright, alright, stop bragging. You'll be upset when he actually comes." I interrupted him, feeling much more relaxed.
It seems that the curse from that ghostly thing was troublesome, like it had installed a signal transmitter on me to attract evil spirits.
But the signal strength is so-so, and so far it's only attracting ordinary ghosts that linger in the shadows of the city.
They seemed more like onlookers or test the waters.
"By the way, Luo Tianhe, where's your car?"
I suddenly asked Luo Tianhe, who immediately gave an awkward smile.
I was in such a hurry when I ran away that I didn't have time to look after the car, which is still at the barbecue stand.
It's not far from my home, and I'm too lazy to walk back to catch a bus, so I said to Luo Tianhe and Li Huai:
"You two go back and drive. I'm not going; I'm going straight home."
After saying that, I waved my hand and walked home alone.
My actions were exactly what Li Huai and Luo Tianhe wanted.
After all, they were thinking of going to a bar to have some fun, and since I wasn't going anyway, and might even criticize them, they thought it was good that I left.
After walking for a while, my legs started to ache. I checked the navigation and saw that I was still two or three kilometers away from home.
Honestly, I'm too lazy to take a taxi, and I feel like even if I did, the driver who picks me up would probably be a jerk.
I simply grabbed a shared bike on the roadside and rode it home.
These shared bikes are quite advanced; they're electric, so you don't need to pedal. You can just twist the handlebars to move forward, but pedaling will make them go faster.
As I was riding, I suddenly felt the bike sink, and a chill ran down my spine.
Damn it, something's sitting on it. They've got some nerve!
But I couldn't be bothered with him if he just wanted a ride with me since he was going the same way.
Just then, I caught a glimpse of a hideous ghost face in the rearview mirror.
"It's not your fault for being ugly, but it's your fault for being ugly and still going out to scare people."
I muttered something to myself and silently rolled down the rearview mirror, not wanting to see his face.
Ghosts are even more opportunistic than humans; they know how to treat people differently based on their status.
If you're terrified of ghosts like a grandson, he'll become even more interested. But seeing my calm and collected demeanor, he doesn't dare to make a move.
As soon as I finished speaking, the ghost seemed to understand my muttering and made a "ho ho" sound from the back seat, like a broken bellows leaking air.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his hand resting on my side, on my clothes. It was thin and withered, with long, sharp nails that were bluish-black.
He tightened his grip slightly, as if he wanted to pinch, but hesitated and didn't actually use force.
Driving alone is boring, so I pretended not to know and continued pedaling slowly.
The hum of the electric motor filled the quiet street. A night jogger ran towards me and greeted me when he saw me riding a shared bike late at night.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man carrying a bottle of liquor and reeking of alcohol appeared in front of them.
This place is a bit remote; it's impossible to sweep up cars here.
He didn't know if it was for a social engagement or what, maybe he had a car but didn't dare to drink and drive, and felt that hiring a designated driver would be a waste of money, so he simply walked home.
Seeing that this guy wasn't a ghost, I couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention, but he took the initiative to greet me and said:
"Hey bro, where are you going?"
"Hehe, going home," I replied casually, and continued pedaling.
"Hey bro, where do you live?"
But the middle-aged man persisted, asking questions relentlessly. I immediately stopped the car, braced myself on one leg, and asked:
"What's wrong, bro? Are you checking my household registration?"
"No, no, I just wanted to see if it was on my way and if I could get a ride. My house is just up ahead!"
The middle-aged man gave an explanation, but I had a strange expression on my face. This guy was a bit too familiar with everyone; we didn't know each other.
I ignored him and continued pedaling slowly. Seeing this, the middle-aged man suddenly ran a few steps and blocked my way, his face showing some impatience.
“I said your car is electric, and you don’t have to do any physical work, so what’s wrong with giving me a ride?”
That was said with such confidence that it made me laugh.
What's wrong? I have an obligation to give you a ride.
Judging from his appearance, he's not a good person either; he's probably harassed others before.
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