Chapter 301: Knocking on Doors to Spread Warmth

Midnight. The moon hung high in the sky.

At the gate of a flower nursery near the outskirts of Hua City, close to the desolate hills and wilderness.

A police officer stood there, holding a notepad and pen, his face showing signs of exhaustion. He looked at the plainly dressed middle-aged man before him.

“Name?”

“Wang Defa,” the man replied, his gaze drifting as though he hadn’t yet fully recovered from the shock.

“Age?”

“Forty-eight.”

“Occupation?”

“Berserker.”

“Wait, what?!” The officer froze, his eyes darting to the rusty shovel in the man’s hand that looked like it could deal a tetanus-infused critical hit. He straightened up, his tone serious. “What did you just say?”

Realizing the officer’s suspicious gaze, Wang Defa quickly corrected himself, “Oh, sorry, I was playing a game earlier and got a bit mixed up.”

“My name is Wang Defa, I’m forty-eight, and my occupation is flower farming.”

A flower farmer with a shovel-reasonable enough. The officer frowned and silently grumbled to himself before continuing, “You mentioned in your emergency call that someone was illegally blasting the mountain nearby? Tell me, what exactly happened?”

“Alright, alright. Here’s the deal,” Wang Defa began. “Tonight, I had plans to raid a dungeon with my buddies, but one of the main DPS players didn’t show up…”

“Focus!”

“Right, right! So, even though it was a 40-man raid, without the main DPS, we couldn’t proceed. We had to wait, and then…”

“The blasting, Wang Defa! What about the blasting?” The officer’s patience was wearing thin. It was late at night, and he’d risked encountering a haunting just to respond to this call. He had every right to feel frustrated.

“Oh, yes, the blasting!” Wang Defa slapped his thigh. “I waited from 5 PM until past 10 PM, and we finally finished the raid. The boss dropped a ton of loot, including an item I’ve dreamed of for years-a legendary artifact worth sacrificing ten years of my lifespan for!”

Great. Not just a gaming addict, but a lifespan gambler too.

The officer silently grumbled, ready to interrupt and steer the conversation back on track. But before he could, Wang Defa continued, “And then, just as I was about to pick up my loot, I heard a massive explosion outside!”

“I swear, the whole house shook. Dust fell from the walls like snow, the lightbulbs flickered, and worst of all, the internet went out!”

At this point, Wang Defa’s emotions surged. “I hadn’t even picked up my loot yet! That gear has a drop rate lower than pulling SSR characters in a mobile game! How could I just let it go? I called the police immediately and grabbed my shovel to head out.”

“So, I went outside and heard booming sounds coming from the back hill. Occasionally, there were flashes of firelight. I thought maybe some criminals were blasting the mountain to dig up ancient graves. That place is rumored to have old tombs, and there were ghost stories about it years ago. Such a despicable act! As a man of justice, how could I ignore it? So, I…”

The officer, jotting down notes, noticed Wang Defa suddenly pause mid-sentence. He looked up and prompted, “And then?”

“Gulp-” Wang Defa swallowed hard, his pupils trembling as he spoke. “Officer, what I’m about to say might sound unbelievable. Please don’t be scared!”

“I won’t be. I’m a professional. No matter how strange or bizarre, I won’t be frightened,” the officer assured him. “Go on.”

“So, I went to the back hill and saw…” Wang Defa hesitated before continuing, “There was a girl there.”

“A girl? What was she doing? Grave robbing?” the officer interjected.

“She was holding a fireball! I swear, it was just like those fire mages in games casting Pyroblast, hurling it straight at the mountain! I distinctly remember there was a small hill there, but when I got closer, it was gone-flattened! She must’ve blown it up.”

“Officer, you have to help me! My artifact was ruined because of her! My heart is bleeding!”

“…”

The officer fell silent, scrutinizing Wang Defa, whose dark circles and unstable demeanor hinted at a possible disconnect from reality. Was he so addicted to gaming that he couldn’t distinguish between the virtual and the real world?

The officer had seen cases like this before. One particularly memorable incident involved a teenager who, after an all-night gaming session, grabbed a steel pipe and jumped into a roadside bush. When a jogger passed by, the teen shouted “Demacia!” and whacked the jogger on the head.

Despite his doubts, the officer remained professional and continued questioning, “Can you describe exactly where you saw this girl and what she looked like?”

“Sure, sure!” Wang Defa gestured with his hands. “The girl was about this tall…”

The officer glanced at the height Wang Defa indicated and jotted down, “Height: 150-160 cm.”

“She looked like she had just graduated middle school and started high school. Pretty, but she didn’t seem like a good person. Her hair was red and white…”

“Age: approximately 15. Hair: white with red streaks,” the officer noted.

“Oh, and she was wearing a large red-and-white jacket!” Wang Defa added.

After finishing his notes, the officer asked, “Can you take me to where you saw her?”

“I can, but…” Wang Defa hesitated, his face showing discomfort. “We shouldn’t get too close. That girl is terrifying!”

“Alright, lead the way,” the officer said.

A few minutes later.

On a hill about two kilometers from the nursery, the officer followed Wang Defa’s directions and looked ahead, his brows furrowing.

Under the night sky, the barren mountain lay still and silent, as if in a deep slumber. Peaceful.

There was no sign of any explosions.

“That’s strange! It was right there…” Wang Defa, noticing the officer’s grim expression, stammered, “Officer, let me explain!”

“Sigh-” The officer sighed heavily, patting Wang Defa’s shoulder. “Alright, sir. Let’s call it a night. If you notice anything else, feel free to contact me.”

With that, the officer returned to the nursery and drove away.

Watching the officer’s departing figure, Wang Defa stood there for a while, scratching his head and muttering to himself, “What happened? I could’ve sworn…”

“Could it be that I’ve been playing too many games?” he pondered aloud before heading down the hill.

Once Wang Defa left, the surrounding forest returned to its quiet state, save for the occasional chirping of birds and insects. After a long silence, a faint rustling came from the treetops above. A petite figure swiftly descended from the branches, landing gracefully on the ground.

It was a girl who appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, her youthful face still carrying traces of innocence.

Her snow-white hair, accented by a few fiery red strands at the front, was tied into a simple ponytail behind her head. The oversized tactical jacket she wore enveloped her frame perfectly but couldn’t hide her long, slender legs.

The girl was none other than Lu Yibei.

After waking up and checking her reflection, she confirmed her suspicions: the Completion Potion she had taken had indeed caused some issues during her haunting transformation.

During the transformation, her body seemed to revert to a younger, more immature state. However, perhaps due to insufficient potion dosage, the process stopped halfway.

Now, she was stuck in an awkward phase-neither fully cute nor fully alluring. It was the kind of age where one tries to appear mature but lacks the life experience to pull it off.

“Whoosh-“

Lu Yibei glanced in the direction where the officer and Wang Defa had left, letting out a long sigh of relief.

“Damn it, Jiang Li’s haunting incident directory isn’t entirely accurate! Didn’t it say this area has been abandoned for ages due to hauntings?”

“But instead of hauntings, there are people living nearby! That was a close call!”

If it weren’t for the illusion techniques she’d learned from Qing Ji, she might’ve been caught.

Although Qing Ji hadn’t taught her advanced consciousness manipulation spells, and she hadn’t studied them seriously, she had picked up enough basics to fool ordinary people.

Grumbling to herself, she turned to look at the area where she had just unleashed her power.

Wait, where exactly was it again?

Looking at the barren mountain, now completely leveled and still flickering with embers, she couldn’t quite recall the exact spot she’d targeted.

Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Whether it was this hill or that one-or maybe both-it’s done now.

Besides, when releasing power, of course, you’d use high-level spell formations! How was I supposed to know a few casts of fiery crimson flame would cause this?

If I’d known, I would’ve used the Four Beasts Bright Sky Cannon instead. That thing only targets hauntings without blowing up the terrain.

Sighing, she shook her head and pulled out a sheet of A4 paper covered in notes from her jacket pocket. Using her phone’s flashlight, she studied it carefully.

As she read, she took out a pen and crossed off “Hua City Suburbs, Wangfa Nursery Back Hill” from the list. She bit the pen cap and continued scanning the paper.

[ Bai Niu Town, Hongqi Reservoir. Note: Great spot, lots of water! ]

[ Floral Sunshine Resort Hotel (crossed out). Note: Too bold, even I want to report myself. ]

[ Zhemu Black Bear Nature Reserve (crossed out). Note: Setting fire to the mountain? Jail time. Leave the bears alone, be decent. ]

[ Hua City Ceramics Factory. Note: No one around, worth considering. ]

[ Sunshine District, Yuelang Street Unfinished Building Complex. Note: Too many hauntings, risky. ]

…

After a while, Lu Yibei finally settled on a relatively safe location and quickly left the “crime scene.”

The night was pitch black, with no stars or moon visible, casting a somber atmosphere.

Towering on both sides of Yin Street were tall buildings, dark as giant tombstones, with only occasional glimmers of light.

The eerie silence around was unsettling, making one suspect that something strange might be lurking in the shadows.

This street, located five kilometers from the University Town towards the city’s outskirts crematorium, was originally named Yuelang Street, an ancient street that had existed for ages.

Over a decade ago, during the wave of University Town renovations, it was re-planned and transformed into a peaceful and harmonious street.

However, a few years ago, a couple who worked in archaeology retired here, and a series of bizarre events led to its decline.

Initially, there were rumors of people hearing horses galloping at night, but few had actually heard it, so it wasn’t taken seriously.

But as time went on, more strange occurrences surfaced, and people began to realize the seriousness of the problem.

Soon, people reported encountering strange figures in ancient attire on the street, discovering odd symbols in their homes, and narrowly escaping being beheaded by a headless ancient warrior…

Eventually, a female university student renting nearby committed suicide by jumping off a building, and several young boys mysteriously disappeared, pushing the haunting incidents to a climax.

As a result, various terrifying encounters spread, causing panic on Yuelang Street.

Before long, those who could move out did, leaving only those living in old houses without relocation benefits to grit their teeth and stay.

Even the second phase of Yuelang Street’s renovation was halted due to these strange occurrences, leaving a large area of unfinished buildings.

All this was brought about by the couple and a high-quality replica of an ancient painting.

Soon, rumors about Yuelang Street spread throughout Hua City, and it became known as Yin Street.

Of course, with such incidents, The Midnight Watchers Society couldn’t ignore it.

Although the number of hauntings on Yin Street was once quite high, they weren’t particularly powerful. After several sweeps by The Midnight Watchers Society, living there posed no life-threatening danger, despite the efforts of the street office to promote safety, which proved largely ineffective.

Once bitten, twice shy; places that have experienced hauntings, no matter how well-promoted, are generally avoided by most people.

In fact, this is a situation that troubles The Midnight Watchers Society across various locations. Even after thoroughly clearing out hauntings from places that had major incidents, few people return to live there.

Over time, idle houses and abandoned construction sites become breeding grounds for new hauntings, forcing The Midnight Watchers Society to deploy resources for another sweep, creating a vicious cycle.

As of today, it has been two or three years since the last sweep by The Midnight Watchers Society. The hauntings that emerged from the replica painting have long been eradicated, and although haunting sightings occasionally occur on Yin Street, there haven’t been any serious incidents of missing persons or deaths for a long time.

“So, Gu Qianqian, there’s a reason I suggested bringing them here for the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts!” the system said confidently.

“Really?” Gu Qianqian mumbled softly, “But your recent predictions seem less reliable. Could something go wrong?”

As she spoke, she glanced at the hairball leading the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts and the little hauntings beating drums beside it, then focused on the humanoid mannequins pulling banners behind them, frowning.

The banner belonging to Lu Yibei was excessively long, and the over a hundred hauntings, mostly small in stature, stretched the large characters across nearly the entire parade.

From afar, Gu Qianqian and the humanoid mannequin hauntings among them looked like a kindergarten teacher taking kids on a field trip.

“Absolutely not! Based on my experience, this place is vast, with many hauntings, but none too strong overall. It’s a strategic location for the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts,” the system assured.

“If they manage to occupy this place through the parade, they’ll eventually clash with those Black Cloak Men causing trouble in secret. Trust me!”

“By the way, where did those two Black Cloak Men go last time? Did you really sell them?” the system inquired.

“Yes!” Gu Qianqian nodded, “They were quite valuable; one deal earned more than a day’s worth of live-stream sales. If only I could encounter a few more.”

“Really? Who did you sell them to?” the system pressed.

“Um…” Gu Qianqian recalled briefly, “Some Black Sun Brotherhood Tech Society or something. I think that’s the name.”

“…”

Of all people, you sold them to them? Gu Qianqian, you’re a real devil! the system thought.

The organization Gu Qianqian mentioned was somewhat familiar to the system; it was a terror research group disguised as a biotech company under the Eclipse Society.

Though various branches under the Eclipse Society conduct anti-social experiments in secret, the one Gu Qianqian mentioned wasn’t the most powerful or technologically advanced, but it was certainly the most disgusting and perverse in terms of research projects.

Those two Black Cloak Men causing trouble in Hua City would have been better off in the hands of The Midnight Watchers Society; at least they’d die quickly.

The Black Sun Brotherhood Tech Society primarily focuses on crossbreeding hauntings with psychics…

While the system pondered, the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts had arrived at Building No. 14 on Yin Street, rumored to be the current haunt of the street’s strongest haunting. Subduing it would likely intimidate the others into submission.

Legend has it that Building No. 14 on Yin Street is haunted by a female university student who died by jumping off the building. Every midnight, she appears on the rooftop, screaming as she leaps, following her death trajectory, crashing into the wall, leaving a terrifying humanoid mark.

Initially, the few remaining tenants in Building No. 14 were terrified, calling the police every night. When officers arrived, they found no body, not even a trace of blood.

Over time, hearing it was this place calling, the police stopped responding, offering only phone reassurance.

However…

As Gu Qianqian followed the parade into the “mouth”-shaped unfinished apartment building, she was stunned by the sight.

What should have been a spooky, grimy apartment building appeared meticulously cleaned, with the rumored bloodstained humanoid marks on the tiled walls gleaming white.

Even the accumulated dust on the ground shimmered like decorative silver powder.

“Damn it, where’s the haunting? Such a big haunting, gone? Wait, is this the residue of the Four Beasts Bright Sky Cannon?”

“Who the hell would randomly use such a high-tier spell formation on a non-lethal Class C+ haunting location? Are they insane?”

The carefully planned strategy was suddenly disrupted, leaving the system frustrated and venting.

Gu Qianqian, hearing the system’s complaints, felt her head buzzing, interrupting, “System, stop talking. Now that the strongest haunting on Yin Street is gone, how are we supposed to intimidate the others?”

“It’s ‘kill the chicken to scare the monkey’!” the system retorted, “The strongest is gone, but there are still others, right?”

“Let’s go! We’ll knock on doors and spread warmth! I refuse to believe it!”

In the early hours, before dawn, during the darkest part of the night.

In the Hua City Ceramics Factory, a loud shout echoed through the dark warehouse.

“What? You hauntings split into three groups, targeting twelve locations, and only succeeded in five? Your efficiency is lower than when you acted in pairs before? I expect a reasonable explanation!”

Looking at the woman seated on the deity statue, furious, the hauntings below remained silent.

After a long pause, one haunting bravely stepped forward, “It’s not our fault. Several places marked as having hauntings turned out empty when we arrived, and some places were even left in ruins, as if, as if…”

“As if what?” the Dusk Maiden asked.

“As if they had just been attacked.”

“Oh?” The Dusk Maiden narrowed her eyes, pondering for a moment, murmuring, “Could it be The Midnight Watchers Society?”

“No, it’s not them; it’s a haunting, I’m sure!” a weak voice answered from the darkness, “I was attacked by that thing, and that’s why I’m injured.”

“Did you see what the haunting looked like?”

“No!” came the reply from the darkness, “I didn’t even get a clear look before being knocked out by a fireball, and that thing threw two spell formations and ran, so how could I see?”

“…”

“Useless!” After a long pause, she spat out the word, then said sternly, “However, based on your description, I can guess which haunting did it.”

She knew well that in Hua City, there were at least more than a handful of hauntings capable of challenging her. The previous success of the Black Cloak Men and their hauntings was due to those hauntings not yet taking action.

But tonight’s events indicated that some among them were already restless.

And the success of this Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts largely depended on whether they could subdue those hauntings.

“Heh, interesting. The real hunt is just beginning!”

In the darkness, the Dusk Maiden let out a cold laugh, filled with a strange excitement.