In the dimly lit street, a small cluster of candlelight exuding a sinister aura floated towards him, held above soone’s head from afar, moving steadily closer.
The candlelight swayed uncertainly under the cool night breeze, as if it would extinguish at any mont, yet for so reason, each ti it seed about to go out, the fla stubbornly reignited.
Zong Shan was walking alone at the mont, with the road in front of him seeming to stretch endlessly into the dark depths ahead.
And with the Ghost Candle held above his head, he was rapidly distancing himself from the massive and bustling city behind him.
But his mood right now was far from good.
After walking just a short while, Zong Shan’s entire body was drenched in cold sweat; because of excessive tension, his body had started to disobey him and seed sowhat stiff.
This situation arose because he was bearing an unimaginable pressure.
The source of the pressure wasn’t from the flickering, vulnerable candle above his head but from a succession of heavy, rigid footsteps coming from behind him.
Ghosts had always been following Zong Shan from start to finish.
He didn’t dare to turn his head, nor even dare to make unnecessary noise, let alone any redundant body movents, which he tried to avoid as much as possible.
Nobody knew the killing pattern of the ghost behind him.
Once truly targeted, Zong Shan was well aware he could not withstand an attack from the ghost; even though he was a ghost controller, it would only take a few seconds to be killed on the spot.
"Zong Shan, hold on, soone will replace you the instant the Ghost Candle burns out. Now just continue straight along this road," ca a voice.
"Soone has already paved a way for you through the Ghost Domain; you don’t need to take a detour."
"The plan is very successful. The ghost has been following you the entire ti; Chen Yi’s thod is very effective. Using Guo Fan as a dium indeed reduces the risk of being killed instantly when using the Ghost Candle."
From the satellite phone ca a succession of unfamiliar voices.
The headquarters were already aware of the success of the plan.
Even though there was not a single soul around, various preparations had been made. As long as Zong Shan kept walking like this, the plan would be successfully completed.
Even if there were an interruption now, most of the plan would still be successful.
Because the danger was already moving away from the city.
"It seems that there won’t be any more unexpected mishaps this ti. Just draw that thing away, and for now, don’t think about containnt," said Cao Yanhua in the conference room, looking at the images transmitted from the scene and listening to Chen Yi’s report, finally heaving a sigh of relief.
After speaking, he turned to Wang Xiaoming, "We owe a lot to Professor Wang’s proposal this ti. It was risky, but fortunately, it turned out to be all right without mishap."
"It’s unlikely that Guo Fan will survive this incident," Wang Xiaoming didn’t respond, instead choosing to say.
Cao Yanhua’s eyes flickered slightly, "Although nobody wishes for it, so things are inevitably accompanied by sacrifices."
"No, that’s not what I an," Wang Xiaoming said, his expression unusually calm. In his view, the death of a ghost controller was of no significance, especially one like Guo Fan who couldn’t affect the overall situation.
"Professor Wang is interested in the object on Guo Fan, right?" spoke team leader Shen Liang with a light smile, "That special spirit tablet... Even though it has a ghost attached to it, it is still a rather special item, usually possessing a certain controllability, worthwhile for research."
Wang Xiaoming didn’t deny it and directly said, "I’ve always been very interested in the spirit tablet Guo Fan had; its material is quite special."
"Special?"
The consultant Zhao Jianguo, who had set aside his newspaper, comnted with a curious glance, "It should be quite ordinary, after all, the special aspect of such objects is not in the material. I have reviewed the data on the spirit tablet; it’s made of quite common wood."
"Indeed," Wang Xiaoming acknowledged, "but after the appearance of the Ghost Coffin, the spirit tablet in Guo Fan’s hands beca unusual. Yang Jian had visited Huanggang Village; he saw the original Ghost Coffin, and at that ti, there was also a spirit tablet in front of the coffin, with a photo on it. The portrait on the photo had been reported, and the operator Liu Xiaoyu had also searched for the person in the portrait..."
"Of course, it’s impossible to find the person in the portrait in reality, because that could be what the ghost looked like, and the spirit tablet from Huanggang Village was just sothing within the Ghost Domain, not real. However, the appearance of the Ghost Domain must refer to sothing real, so we cannot deny that at one ti, during a certain period, such a spirit tablet was placed in front of a Ghost Coffin."
"Coffins, spirit tablets, portraits of ghosts, materials nearly identical, products of one era—I don’t believe in such coincidences, especially concerning supernatural events," he continued.
This reminder caused the faces of several people present to change drastically.
At the sa ti, a previously discussed topic surfaced in their minds.
Ghost puzzle!
At the beginning of supernatural occurrences, the origins of ghosts always involved fragnted objects, such as incomplete shadows, incomplete heads, broken limbs... these events were of limited danger and relatively easy to resolve.
But now, as the horror escalated, the incomplete ghosts were becoming more and more whole.
So had suggested that the real ghost might have been scattered, appearing in this world in a fragnted form.
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Of course, this hypothesis lacked solid evidence for proof, as the events involved were too complex and often incomprehensible, impossible to validate through speculation and superficial evidence alone.
"If there is a connection between the two, then involving Guo Fan in the operation might have been a mistake," Shen Liang said, frowning.
In the face of such a high-level event, it was crucial to avoid any accidents as much as possible.
"No, it’s because of this that I suggested Guo Fan take part in this operation," Wang Xiaoming said, his expression still calm, a glint in his eye indicating a different notion forming in his mind.
"I was hoping to witness sothing special happen."
Cao Yanhua spoke gravely, "So do you think Guo Fan’s loss of control is related to this?"
Under normal circumstances, it seed improbable for Guo Fan to lose control during the operation, but this ti, an exception occurred.
Was it a deliberate calculation by Wang Xiaoming?
Or was it a carefully planned experint of his?
Or perhaps the successful retrieval of the Ghost Coffin, coupled with the spirit tablet in Guo Fan’s hands, had sparked a new research interest in Professor Wang, prompting him to willingly let Guo Fan be sacrificed in this operation.
Although the likelihood was small.
But if Wang Xiaoming deed Guo Fan’s worth inadequate during his assessnt of value, such an outco still had a chance of occurring.
Just like the ti when Yang Jian and his peers nearly t their end in Huanggang Village.
Wang Xiaoming did not answer; he simply remained silent.
"Now might not be the best ti to discuss this. Since the operation is going smoothly, it’s ti to bring them out... I hope they’re all still alive."
Cao Yanhua’s expression shifted slightly as he imdiately stood up, "Let’s pause the eting. Professor Wang and I will step out for a mont."
Having said that, he and Wang Xiaoming rose and left the conference room.
The old man known as Old Qin also departed with them.
"Indeed, they had prepared so contingency plans for rescuing people. Professor Wang must have anticipated the risks involved in this operation," Shen Liang said with a shake of his head and a smile upon seeing them leave.
"Nobody can afford the cost of wiping out an elite team of ghost controllers. Isn’t that why the Ghost Painting incident was classified as an S-level event? Professor Wang’s planning of this operation must have been well-considered," Zhao Jianguo stated.
Shen Liang thought of Guo Fan, and his gaze darkened slightly, "But he has considered too much. Who knows what he’s up to. The recent talk about the Ghost Coffin and spirit tablets might have been just for our ears, the real purpose may be known to no one, after all, we’re not on equal footing with him either in terms of information or intellect."
"It’s not nice to speak ill of Professor Wang behind his back," soone remarked.
"It’s worse to be targeted by him. I think the only person who dares to deal with him might be Yang Jian, after all..." Shen Liang stopped mid-sentence.
It was better not to bring up the past animosity between Yang Jian and Wang Xiaoming.
At this very mont.
A special place deep underground.
This was where so paranormal objects were stored, a location Yang Jian had visited before.
Cao Yanhua, Wang Xiaoming, and Old Qin reached a small room in this place.
Through the dark yellow glass window, one could see an old wooden door placed inside.
The door was thoroughly restrained with chains wrapped around it.
However, the door standing on the floor occasionally trembled slightly, as if sothing behind it was trying to force its way out.
"Thanks for your effort, Old Qin," said Cao Yanhua, who spent so ti unlocking the door before speaking gravely.
"Hehe, no need to thank , it’s just a trivial matter," chuckled Old Qin as he walked into the small room.
As soon as he entered, Cao Yanhua imdiately closed the door behind him.
The wooden door inside was codenad Ghost Gate, and it was an extrely dangerous object.
But dangerous objects can also represent enormous value, depending on how you use them.
In the small room, Old Qin now leisurely began to remove the chains wrapped around the wooden door, using his walking stick.
As the restraints lessened, the vibrations from the other side of the door increased in intensity.
It was as if the door was eager to be opened at any mont.
"This is the first ti we’re using such a dangerous item, I hope nothing unexpected happens," said Cao Yanhua with so concern.
"There’s always a chance of accidents in anything, nobody can guarantee 100% safety," Wang Xiaoming stated calmly. "Dealing with these ghostly things inherently involves risk. Prepare to ti it, we’ll start the first door opening in sixteen minutes."
Cao Yanhua checked his watch and noted the ti promptly.
The countdown of sixteen minutes imdiately began, and in the room, Old Qin was nearly done unwrapping the chains from the door...
Although there were still more than ten minutes to go, Cao Yanhua didn’t dare to let his guard down, his gaze constantly on his watch.
"By the way, while no one’s around, there’s sothing you need to be aware of," Wang Xiaoming suddenly spoke.
"What’s that needs to be discussed at this ti?"
Wang Xiaoming said, "I wanted to bring it up at the conference table, but I thought that would be too dangerous. There are too many uncertainties, and I don’t completely trust even you. I have to take a risk and let only you know; it’s relatively safer that way."
"If it’s that serious, then tell ," said Cao Yanhua as he slightly lifted his head.
Wang Xiaoming glanced at the wooden door in the small room and slowly said, "There’s an issue with Zhao Jianguo."
"What does that an?" Cao Yanhua asked, sowhat puzzled.
Wang Xiaoming replied, "What it sounds like. He has a problem with himself, I suspect he has been invaded by a ghost, not in his body but here." He pointed to his own head as he spoke.
"Are you joking? Is there any evidence?" Cao Yanhua’s eyes narrowed instantly.
"He was reassigned to be a receptionist at the training base after a work mistake... and soon after that, my lab ran into trouble. I didn’t think too much about it at the ti due to the ergency, but in retrospect, what if the Ghost Coffin malfunction wasn’t an accident?"
"In other words, who knew I had left the lab at that ti, and who had the ability to infiltrate it directly?"
"The only people who have had contact with were Li Jun, Yang Jian, Zhao Jianguo, and a few security guards at the training base. But the security guards died in the Ghost Coffin incident, so they can’t be suspects. The only possible suspects are those three, as they not only had contact with but were also participants in the Ghost Coffin incident," Wang Xiaoming explained.
"You have no suspicions about Yang Jian?" asked Cao Yanhua, his expression extra grave.
"If I said he was suspected, you, as the deputy minister, might think I’m trying to settle scores through others, especially since we’ve had so unpleasant history," Wang Xiaoming spoke calmly. "Unfortunately, he’s the least likely suspect, even less so than the possibility of being compromised."
"So you’re suggesting that our headquarters has been infiltrated by... a ghost?" gritted Cao Yanhua.
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"It’s inconclusive for now, it’s just a theory," Wang Xiaoming responded. "I’m not very good at dealing with this sort of thing, so it’s up to you, the deputy minister, to decide and address the situation. After all, if this is mishandled, it could lead to a disaster. My research must continue, and I cannot get involved in this ss."
"Besides, now is not the ti to think about this; watch the ti, the mont to open the door for the first ti is upon us."
Caught in contemplation, Cao Yanhua suddenly snapped back to reality.
He quickly turned his attention back to his watch, ready for Old Qin to open the Ghost Gate for the first ti.
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