Chapter 11

The bustling hospital room finally quieted down.

Tao Lizhi had fallen asleep. Bi Heng glanced curiously at the window, but it was pitch black outside, revealing nothing. He frowned, feeling as though there was something there he couldn’t see.

Earlier in the day, Master Zhang had visited. He confirmed that Tao Lizhi had indeed absorbed some Yin Energy and lost some Yang Energy, but found nothing else amiss. This meant that Tao Lizhi’s life wasn’t in immediate danger. However, if the situation remained unresolved, they would have to visit that haunted house.

Unexpectedly, trouble arose again that night.

During the day, Tao Lizhi seemed fine. Though weak, he was energetic enough to eat three bowls of rice at lunch. But as night fell, his condition inexplicably worsened. He developed a low fever and cold sweats, and suddenly, with a mysterious scream, he fainted, scaring everyone half to death.

Now that things had finally stabilized, Bi Heng escorted the exhausted Tao Dad and Tao Mom home. A nurse came to check on the room, noting that Tao Lizhi was sleeping soundly. She shook her head helplessly, having heard rumors that this room was haunted. The room was covered in Talismans, and the doctor suggested that his worsened condition might be due to drinking Talisman Water. In this scientific age, how could people still be so superstitious? Weren’t they just bringing trouble upon themselves?

Once the nurse left, two ghosts dragged Gu Feiyin upstairs. Gu Feiyin felt a bit guilty. “Is Tao Lizhi asleep? That sudden scream really startled me.”

Neighbor Miss gave Gu Feiyin a look that seemed to say “Are you serious?” while the Old Lady tightened her grip on her broom, fearing it might fly out and hit someone.

Gu Feiyin climbed through the window and was surprised to see Talismans pasted on it. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were completely ineffective, just scribbles with no real power. Even the two little ghosts paid them no mind.

She sat by the bed, gazing down at the frail Tao Lizhi.

At that moment, he was enveloped in a thick cloud of Resentment Energy, almost completely obscuring him. It was as if a dark mass had swallowed him whole, devouring his Yang Energy and leaving him increasingly weak, until he would quietly pass away.

The last time she saw him, he still resembled a person. Now, even his human form was barely discernible.

Despite the hospital’s ample heating, Gu Feiyin, wrapped in a cotton coat, felt no warmth. The room seemed colder than the outside, chilling her to the bone.

She pulled her coat tighter and looked up at Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady, who were sitting on the other side, staring back at her.

One person and two ghosts locked eyes.

Gu Feiyin asked, “Are you two going to eat first, or should I?”

The two ghosts’ faces turned pale, showing a strange expression that seemed to say, “If I eat any more, I’ll be sick.”

Gu Feiyin asked, “You’re not eating? Just me?”

Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady nodded in unison, clearly unable to eat any more.

Gu Feiyin thought this meal would be substantial enough to save her dinner money for the next day. She grinned, “Well, that’s a bit embarrassing. Are you having digestion issues?”

Neighbor Miss: “…”

Old Lady: “…”

Gu Feiyin didn’t bother looking at their pale faces. She turned her attention to Tao Lizhi, who was frowning, as if struggling to wake up.

Tao Lizhi was unconscious, but subconsciously worried about his life and the three ghosts outside the window. He was restless, dreaming of a woman speaking in his ear, saying things like “Are you going to eat first, or should I?” and “Digest it cleanly…”

Eat? Eat what? Eat him?

Tao Lizhi was so frightened he wanted to wake up from this nightmare. He definitely didn’t want to be eaten!

He struggled desperately, crying for help and pleading, “Don’t, don’t eat me… I’m not tasty…”

“Please, don’t eat me!”

“Don’t, don’t eat me, I’m really not tasty, please…”

One person and two ghosts looked down at the tearful Tao Lizhi, who was sweating and muttering nonsense, yet unable to wake up. He looked pitiful.

Gu Feiyin thought this kid was just playful and timid, with no other faults. Who would want him dead? Who would harm him like this, making even his dreams restless?

Gu Feiyin said, “Alright, stop crying. No one’s going to eat you. You two should comfort him too, weren’t you the ones who scared him sick?”

The two ghosts: “…”

Tao Lizhi cried in his sleep, “Don’t eat me… Please, don’t eat me…”

Gu Feiyin nodded, reassuring him, “Alright, alright, no one’s going to eat you.” She turned to Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady, “You can eat a bit if you want. If you can’t, then don’t.”

Tao Lizhi kicked his legs, tears of fear streaming down his face.

Because the Resentment Energy was so thick, Gu Feiyin didn’t just sniff it in. She opened her mouth to consume it, but before she could, the door burst open and Zhao Xing, the legless ghost, crawled in frantically, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

He saw Gu Feiyin’s gaping mouth and froze. How fierce was she to have bitten off her own front teeth? Terrified, he backed away and quickly crawled out of sight.

Gu Feiyin took a big bite!

Not long after Zhao Xing left, the Red-Dressed Ghost, swinging her long whip, walked in gently, calling out, “Zhao Xing, where are you?” and “I see you.” But when she saw Gu Feiyin’s wide-open mouth, her voice caught in her throat.

The room was dimly lit by a bedside lamp. In the shadowy room, the Long-haired Woman was stuffing Resentment Energy into her mouth at an alarming speed, one bite after another. The once terrifying Resentment Energy was now docile in her hands… but the sight was unsettlingly eerie.

The Red-Dressed Ghost’s mouth twitched. She had suspected something was off about this black-haired woman. How could a human dare to consume such things?

Gu Feiyin greeted her warmly, pointing in the direction Zhao Xing had fled. The Red-Dressed Ghost wasn’t in a hurry; Zhao Xing couldn’t escape the hospital, and finding him would be easy. She glanced at the kid on the bed and chuckled, “This child must have really angered someone to be targeted like this. Do you know him?”

Gu Feiyin shook her head, “No, I don’t.”

“I figured. The Tao Family is wealthy and influential. How could they know a poor relative like you?”

“…” Gu Feiyin suddenly lost her appetite. “Would you like to eat?”

The Red-Dressed Ghost put away her whip, “Sure, I’m a bit hungry.”

As she approached, she noticed Tao Lizhi’s legs twitching, as if he was having a final burst of energy. She didn’t pay it much mind and glanced at the old and young ghosts, “You don’t mind, do you?”

The two ghosts shook their heads in unison.

“Thanks, then I won’t hold back.”

Tao Lizhi’s legs twitched again.

The next morning, Gu Feiyin almost didn’t wake up in time. She had eaten so much and slept so well that she feared being late, making her new boss think she wasn’t serious about her job. That would be the end of her!

In a rush, she managed to report to the special department before eight. To show her dedication, she even wore her most prized possession-her fake dental braces.

Without the worry of missing teeth, she felt hopeful.

However, to her surprise, her boss’s eyes widened in shock upon seeing her, exclaiming, “You truly fit the vibe of our department!”

Gu Feiyin grinned, “Thank you for the compliment, boss. I’ll work hard.”

Her boss felt a chill down his spine, thinking this girl looked even more eerie than when she was dressed as a duck mascot. “Let me show you around the work environment.”

An hour later, Gu Feiyin found herself in a white dress, lying in a coffin, with music playing in her ears.

She almost cried. What kind of heavenly job was this? For the first time, she felt the world’s kindness!