Chapter 029: Catching the "Ghost"

The sudden scene made every hair on my body stand on end—not out of fear, but from an instinctive alertness. That head slowly rose from the overgrown weeds in the corner of the courtyard. Though it was some distance away, I was certain it was a human head. I stopped in my tracks, fixing my gaze on it. The tall grass concealed everything below the neck, so from afar, the head seemed to float in midair. The eerie laughter had only ceased for a few seconds before that spine-chilling sound started again.

The laughter itself wasn’t particularly frightening, but in this setting, it sent chills down my spine. I was sure the sound came from the mouth of that head. Gritting my teeth, I pressed on, moving closer.

I heard Luo Feng calling me from outside, but I didn’t reply. Just as I was about to approach the head, it suddenly vanished. By the time I reacted, I realized it had ducked back into the tall grass. I rushed over to where I’d seen it, but the spot was now empty.

With a cold sneer, I called out, “Come out right now. I can’t stand people playing tricks like this.”

No sooner had my words left my lips than the grass began to rustle. Whatever was in there moved with astonishing speed. Had I not just seen a human head, I might have thought it was some large snake slithering through the grass, given the way the stalks swayed in waves.

I watched the grass intently, preparing to advance, when a hand suddenly clamped down on my shoulder. Instinctively, I spun around and threw a punch, only for it to be caught. I saw it was Luo Feng; I hadn’t noticed him come in.

Luo Feng didn’t say much. He, too, noticed the commotion in the grass, rolled up his sleeves, and asked what was in there. “A human head,” I answered. He hesitated, asking if I’d made a mistake. I shook my head, insisting that I’d only seen a head, but since the grass was moving, there had to be someone there.

Luo Feng spat on the ground and cursed, “Damn it, it’s a person, but acting like a ghost.” He strode forward, still muttering, but I stopped him. He asked why. Folding my arms across my chest, I fixed my gaze on the rustling grass, suddenly intrigued. I told him I wanted to see what this person was really up to.

The thing in the grass kept moving, showing no sign of stopping, but its pace was slowing. Luo Feng let out a laugh, saying the thing must be getting tired. As we stood watching, more of Luo Feng’s men climbed in. Unlike us, they weren’t so calm.

Some of them jumped in fright when they saw the moving grass. Especially when they discovered the rotting flesh in the den, they were certain this courtyard, once used by Xuan Yi to gather yin energy, was unclean. Luo Feng and I stood at the very front. Suddenly, I noticed the grass had gone still. Without hesitation, I rushed over.

The disturbance had stopped by the wall. I parted the grass and found a small hole there. Judging by its size, it could only fit a child. I looked up and saw that the hole connected to the floors of the brothel. Luo Feng came over and asked if whatever it was had gone inside.

I nodded and told him to have his men block off both stairwell entrances. He did so at once, and, at my request, stood guard in the courtyard himself. He told me to be careful. I nodded and climbed out.

Outside, the madam and the girls were anxiously waiting. The madam, with a superstitious air, asked if I’d seen something unclean inside.

I let out a derisive laugh. “There’s indeed a ghost in your courtyard. Would you like to catch it with me?”

The madam’s face changed instantly; no one dared return with me. I didn’t mind. Grabbing a flashlight, I entered the stairwell. Once again, I found myself on the second floor, shrouded in darkness. I was now certain: the brothel and the seemingly sealed courtyard were actually connected—by that small hole.

I searched for a long time before finally discovering something in the kitchen on the second floor. Below the stove was a cabinet full of pipes. As soon as I opened it, a damp, sewer smell hit me. The cabinet was caked in grime. I stuck my head inside, and, by flashlight, found a hole at the very back—about the same size as the one in the courtyard, barely big enough for a child.

I stood, dragged over a heavy table, and blocked the cabinet, unsure if the thing had already come through. If not, sealing this exit would force it out through the courtyard. After leaving the kitchen, I began to check each room, one by one.

I remembered the rumors: many had claimed to see terrifying eyes staring out from cabinets in this house. So I searched every room with extra care. Sweat poured from me. From the moment I decided to come here, I knew I would uncover something. And now it seemed I’d found yet another bizarre incident.

Room by room, I searched, until I reached the last door. It was the room Xiao Mei had been in earlier. Cautiously, I pushed it open. Just as when Luo Feng had opened it before, I was met by the silhouette of a figure standing at the door.

Instinctively, I stepped back, heart pounding in my throat. But in the flashlight’s beam, I saw it wasn’t a person, but a rolling clothes rack with a long woman’s dress draped over it. I was sure the thing from the courtyard was hiding here. The rack hadn’t been in this position when we left.

Smiling faintly, I addressed the seemingly empty room: “You’re not very clever, are you? Did you really think a clothes rack would scare me off?”

No one answered. I entered and locked the door behind me. Slowly, I circled the room. It was simple—just a bed and a large wardrobe, the only place one could hide. I walked to it and opened the doors.

A wave of feminine fragrance greeted me. Inside, there was nothing but women’s clothing. Turning, I fixed my gaze on the bed, lifted the sheet, and crouched down. The only hiding place left was under the bed.

As I bent down, a dark shape lunged at me from beneath. I stared in shock, seeing a face shrouded in hair. It almost touched mine, but never made contact—my hand had clamped around its throat.

I yanked it out from under the bed and finally confirmed: it was a person—a child, in fact.

I was mildly shocked. When I’d seen the hole, I’d assumed it was an adult with some physical deformity playing ghost, but had never imagined a child. It was a girl, filthy, her hair covering her face, no older than eleven or twelve.

Dragged out by me, she struggled fiercely on the floor. Startled, I quickly let go of her throat. I hadn’t expected a little girl and hadn’t held back. As I released her, she stopped struggling and began to cough violently.

Now, it was I who didn’t know what to do.

She coughed for a long time before slowly getting up, barely reaching my chest. I was about to question her when my wariness returned. This girl was anything but ordinary. After standing, she went completely still, head bowed, making strange noises.

She stank of rot, the stench of decaying flesh. Anyone seeing her would be startled.

I pulled out my phone and told Luo Feng he didn’t need to keep watch—there was someone here I couldn’t handle.

A minute later, Luo Feng burst in with his men. He asked what kind of person could have stumped me, but soon he and the others saw the little girl standing by the bed. Several flashlight beams illuminated her, and we got a clearer look, but the motionless child seemed all the more terrifying.

Shrieks sounded behind us. The madam and the girls, emboldened by Luo Feng’s presence, had followed, but now, seeing the girl, their faces went pale with fright. I rubbed my temples; everything tonight had gone beyond my expectations, and my head ached.

“Shut up!” I barked. They fell silent, though they kept trembling. I told Luo Feng I could handle anyone but children.

Luo Feng eyed the girl, made a joke, and reached to brush aside her hair. But she suddenly moved, grabbing his hand—then, to everyone’s horror, bit down hard.

Luo Feng gasped as blood spurted from his hand when he pulled away. I was stunned. No ordinary little girl could draw that much blood from a bite.

At last, the girl slowly raised her head, her face smeared with blood. In that moment, she looked nothing like a human being…