Open-eyed Blind let out a long sigh of relief: “Good!” But she still worriedly asked, “Are you sure you can do it?”
Wang Ya rolled her eyes, face stern: “If you don’t believe me, go catch it yourself!” Thinking of the one million put her in a great mood again, and she smiled. She paused, then said, “Ugly words first: if you stiff me on the payment, I’ll make that place haunted from New Year’s Day to Chinese New Year’s Eve!”
Open-eyed Blind said, “Wang Ya, rest assured. You have real skills. We’d be honored to befriend you—how could we possibly default and offend you?”
Wang Ya nodded in satisfaction with a “mm.” She basked in it for a minute before turning serious: “Have someone take notes on what to prepare. The sooner, the better. Once the items are ready, prepare a quiet room for me. I need three days to prepare, and no one disturbs me during that time. Also, keep everyone away from the Construction Site these days—no one goes near it.”
Open-eyed Blind nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Wang Ya listed what she needed, then closed her eyes and leaned back in the seat as if meditating. After a while, she opened her eyes, checked the time, and said, “Drive to the Construction Site.”
Open-eyed Blind’s mouth fell slightly open: “Now?”
Even the two bodyguards in the front seats couldn’t help turning back to look at Wang Ya.
Wang Ya nodded: “Now!”
The bodyguard in the passenger seat twisted around, mouth opening as if to speak, then closed it. He nervously clenched his fist, rubbed his nose, and shivered.
Wang Ya let out a light scoff: “Look at you all scared like that! We’ll just take a look from afar.”
Open-eyed Blind said, “Then let’s go take a look.”
The driver turned the car toward the suburbs.
The car drove for two hours before arriving. By then, it was dark—8:10 PM.
The car stopped over three hundred meters from the Construction Site. The entire area around it was pitch black. Not just the haunted one—none of the nearby building sites had any lights.
Wang Ya got out and stood by the road, gazing far at the Construction Site. She closed her eyes to sniff the wind blowing from its direction. Suddenly, she felt someone staring at her. The gaze was hostile, sending chills down her spine. She opened her eyes and looked in that direction. Though she saw nothing, she sensed the Old Ghost was at the Construction Site, hovering seven or eight meters off the ground, watching her. She raised her right hand, flipped the bird at the Old Ghost, then made a slapping motion in the air. She turned and got back in the car: “Let’s go. That Old Ghost is watching us from the Construction Site!” As soon as she spoke, the car started up and sped away like they were fleeing for their lives. She sensed something off with Open-eyed Blind beside her. Turning, she saw her face pale, body tense, hands clutching her clothes tightly. Remembering Open-eyed Blind had Heart-Eye Vision, Wang Ya knew she’d seen the Old Ghost too.
Wang Ya was certain Open-eyed Blind had come here during that week, or the Old Ghost wouldn’t fixate on her like this—the Black Qi on her forehead proved it. Wang Ya hadn’t been bluffing about the Blood Light Disaster within three days. The Old Ghost had planted a Brand on Open-eyed Blind. No matter how far she fled, it could find her. Open-eyed Blind knew a thing or two, so she wouldn’t be unaware of her situation. That’s why she was scared. Who wouldn’t fear death or a Ferocious Ghost coming for their life? Wang Ya asked, “How skilled was your Master (Shifu)?”
Open-eyed Blind said, “Average.” She added, “Not as good as you!” At least when Wang Ya faced this Old Ghost, aside from a few broken fingers, she’d come out mostly intact. Her Master (Shifu), on the other hand, died there, Souls even detained.
Wang Ya said seriously, “Tell me the truth—how many people have died in total from start to finish?”
Open-eyed Blind said, “Twenty-six in our building site, plus over twenty in the nearby ones. To avoid impacting sales, we sealed the news. All surrounding sites halted work and hired people, but they all died!”
Wang Ya’s heart chilled. She pointed at Open-eyed Blind, grinding her teeth without speaking for a while before finally cursing, “Are you all pigs? I told you not to send half-assed amateurs! Twenty-six plus twenty more—forty-nine! A bunch of idiots!” Wang Ya spewed profanities in her rage, chills emanating from her. She bellowed, “Add money—another twenty grand, or I’m out!”
Open-eyed Blind didn’t dare breathe, nodding repeatedly: “Okay.”
Wang Ya still fumed, grinding her teeth, feeling deep down this money would be hard-earned! Who made her bad at studies with no degree, forcing her into this line of work? Wang Ya glowered out the window. Outside was pitch black, not even star or moonlight—like driving through ink. Her brows furrowed; she sensed something amiss. Suddenly, the car braked hard and swerved sharply, throwing her forward into the seat ahead. Then came a “bang.”
Wang Ya sat up straight: “What happened?” Right after, a ghastly pale face appeared at the car window, dead eyes staring sinisterly at her. The face was covered in blood, jaw torn and dangling.
Open-eyed Blind screamed shrilly, “Ghost! There’s a ghost outside! We’re surrounded!” All composure gone, she panicked and grabbed Wang Ya’s shoulder: “Wang Ya!”
Wang Ya rolled her eyes at the ghost on the window, then yelled at Open-eyed Blind, “Quit your screaming!” She pulled out the Ghost-Capturing Copper Bell wrapped around her waist and went for the door. But something outside seemed to be shoving hard to keep her in. She flipped her palm to Form Seals and shouted, “Break!” She slapped the car wall. The ghost on the window flew off. Wang Ya shoved the door open and jumped out. She flung the Ghost-Capturing Copper Bell, which arced through the air and looped around the ghost’s neck. The red rope bound it. Wang Ya yanked hard, pulling it over, then stomped on it. She flipped the bell, Formed a seal, and struck it. A golden light descended, turning the ghost into a puff of Black Qi that was sucked into the bell. A New Ghost not even past its seventh day—soul not even solidified—daring to scare people. Courting death!
In the next instant, she saw dozens of shadowy figures faintly drifting out around them, including several in Daoist robes—New Ghosts. They circled, surrounding them. Wang Ya glanced back and felt her hairs stand on end. She cursed, “Fuck!” The car hadn’t gone back the way they’d come but had driven to the highway outside the Construction Site and crashed into a streetlamp pole. Right beside it was the Bus Station she’d wrecked fighting the Old Ghost before—the mangled sign still stood there. To use a popular internet phrase, ten thousand grass-mud horses stampeded through Wang Ya’s heart at that moment!
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