Chapter 28

Old Man Wang was on the balcony collecting clothes, sneaking glances towards the unfinished building. Their building was quite far from the unfinished one, but back when it was being constructed, it was touted as a riverside apartment complex. Although the “river” was more of a stream, the view was still quite pleasant.

Unfortunately, a few years ago, there was a fatal accident there. Rumor had it that the owner gambled away his entire fortune and ended up in debt. The contractor used substandard materials, and after the accident, the owner fled. Naturally, the construction halted, and no one wanted to take over the project.

Because of the fatality, there were rumors of hauntings, and the unfinished building became a well-known haunted house.

Old Man Wang usually avoided the place, only passing by when he went fishing.

A few days ago, while fishing, he had a strange encounter. He had been fishing all afternoon and caught two big carps. He wanted to catch a few more to make carp soup for his family. His wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, with another grandchild on the way, would all enjoy the soup. The fish, fried until golden and simmered slowly, would make a rich, fragrant broth, perfect with some ginger and scallions.

So, he stayed a bit longer, and by the time he was heading home, the sun was setting.

As he passed the unfinished building, he couldn’t help but glance inside. What he saw made his heart race-clothes were flying in the air!

They were really flying, moving up, down, left, and right, zipping around! He thought his old eyes were playing tricks on him, so he rubbed them and looked again. The clothes were still flying! He knew he had encountered something supernatural and hurried home with his fish.

He was still shaken when he got home. “There’s a ghost in that unfinished building! I saw clothes flying!”

“Are you sure? Maybe it was just the wind. It’s been pretty windy lately.”

“No, I didn’t see wrong!”

“Alright, I’ll go clean the fish.”

The story about the haunted unfinished building spread from there. From then on, Old Man Wang took a longer route to avoid the place when he went fishing. Even though his home was far from the unfinished building, he could still see it from his balcony, standing eerily in the desolate landscape.

Despite his fear, he couldn’t help but look at it from time to time.

That evening, as he was collecting clothes, he glanced at the unfinished building again. He was sure he hadn’t seen wrong before. There had to be ghosts! But his family didn’t believe him, saying he was old and his eyes were failing. They told him to wake up to the modern, scientific world.

Old Man Wang might be old, and his eyesight might be failing, but his mind was still sharp. He knew what he saw.

He stared at the unfinished building, wondering how he could prove he was right.

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he froze in place.

…Why was there a coffin flying in the sky?

He rushed into the living room. “There’s a… a… a coffin flying in the sky!”

His wife: “…”

His son: “…”

His daughter-in-law: “…”

His grandson: “…”

The little grandson looked at his grandmother, father, and mother and said, “Grandpa, come have some fish soup with us. Let’s all nourish our brains.”

His wife: “Yes, let’s get you a new pair of glasses tomorrow.”

His son and daughter-in-law nodded in agreement.

Old Man Wang: “…”

…

Having a coffin was great. Gu Feiyin had been struggling to find a safe place to hide her money. She had considered hiding it under a big rock, covered with some straw and rubble, but she was worried about rats. Hiding it in her bedding was even less secure, as thieves might steal her bedding and the money with it.

But now, she could hide the money in the coffin, under layers of Ghost Money and a thick quilt. The coffin was narrow, so the quilt could be folded multiple times, making it incredibly soft.

The coffin was heavy and large, not easy to steal.

After setting up the quilt and bedding, she eagerly lay down inside. It was indeed very soft, and she could even turn over. Though it was a bit cramped, it was warm. At night, with the coffin board closed, no wind could get in.

The coffin was truly comfortable.

Song Na: “…”

Neighbor Miss: “…”

Old Lady: “…”

Song Na watched her benefactor lying in the coffin with a satisfied expression, her face twitching. She never imagined that Gu Feiyin wanted the coffin for herself. She thought it was for the two ghosts with her or for some other purpose. Why would a living person want to sleep in a coffin? And why look so content, as if it were paradise?

She was already shocked to learn that Gu Feiyin lived in an unfinished building. This was even more surprising.

Could this be the demeanor of a true master? Different tastes, hobbies, and aspirations?

“Thank you,” Gu Feiyin said, genuinely grateful. She hadn’t expected to receive a coffin along with the small gifts today, solving her storage problem.

Song Na took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. I should be the one thanking you for helping me get my revenge. By the way, what happened to your leg? Did you fall?”

“It’s nothing. The heavens are just messing with me. It’ll be fine in a few days.”

Song Na glanced at the sky and shivered.

Since becoming a ghost, she knew the world wasn’t as simple as it seemed when she was alive. There were higher powers and mysteries beyond her understanding.

Gu Feiyin happily circled the coffin several times, like a child with a new toy. “This coffin is really nice. Did you make it yourself? You’re amazing.”

Song Na shook her head and smiled. “As long as you like it.”

Gu Feiyin was indeed very pleased.

…

The coffin wasn’t made by Song Na herself. She had asked Deuce’s family to provide it as part of a ritual offering.

She couldn’t make a coffin herself. When she was alive, she was just an ordinary office worker, and before that, a student. No one in her family was a carpenter. How could she know woodworking? Besides, she was a ghost now and couldn’t just go buy a coffin. She had considered asking her parents in a dream, but she didn’t want to scare them.

She couldn’t let go of her resentment. Deuce might be dead, but her hatred hadn’t dissipated. Deuce’s family still had his parents, older brother, and younger brother.

Parents are responsible for their children’s actions. Deuce turned out to be a heartless, ruthless person. Didn’t his family have some responsibility? If they had disciplined him a bit, he wouldn’t have become such a monster. Parents should guide their children, not just give birth to them. Otherwise, they become a menace.

Song Na had visited Deuce’s family. She knew his father was a drunkard, lazy and idle. His older brother, though married, was always getting into trouble. His younger brother, despite being a college graduate, was a phoenix man¹, married to a city girl but still entangled with his village sweetheart.

The whole family was rotten, except for Deuce’s mother, who silently worked in the fields, supporting the family.

Song Na couldn’t let go of her resentment. Her parents had worked hard to raise her, sending her to school. They had hoped she would have a better life after college. But she died tragically, leaving her parents to grieve.

She had so many dreams yet to fulfill. She wanted to take care of her parents, buy a house, and have them live with her. She wanted to fall in love, travel, and see the world, and attend her idol’s concert.

Her dreams were shattered by a scumbag.

How could she rest in peace?

So, she went to Deuce’s family.

…

Deuce was dead, and his family was shamed by his crimes. His body was brought back, and they hastily bought a coffin to bury him. The coffin was placed in a side room, waiting for the ground to thaw.

Strange things started happening the day Deuce’s body was brought home.

Every morning, Deuce’s father found the coffin overturned, with Deuce’s body on the floor. The sight of the stiff, shrunken corpse was terrifying.

Deuce’s father, trembling with fear, put the body back, muttering prayers for his soul to move on.

But it wasn’t just the overturned coffin. Deuce’s father felt like someone was following him at night. He heard footsteps but saw nothing. Occasionally, he glimpsed a woman’s shadow in the mirror.

He knew Deuce had killed a young woman. The shadow looked just like her.

Terrified, Deuce’s father finally called a Taoist to exorcise the spirit.

Meanwhile, Deuce’s older brother wasn’t faring any better. Every time he tried to steal something, he was caught. One night, he sneaked into a neighbor’s chicken coop, but the dog got loose and chased him. The whole village was alerted, and he had to hide by the river, freezing all night.

He caught a severe cold, bedridden with a high fever, suffering greatly.

Deuce’s younger brother had it even worse. While having an affair with his first love from the village, her husband unexpectedly returned. He was supposed to be on a month-long business trip, with tickets already booked. The sudden return caught them off guard. They had just undressed and gotten into bed when they heard the door open, scaring them half to death. Deuce’s younger brother, in a panic, tried to escape through the window.

In the freezing cold, without a stitch of clothing, he didn’t freeze to death but ended up slipping and falling from the third floor, losing a leg in the process. Their affair became the talk of the town!

…

On the day Deuce’s father invited the Taoist, Deuce’s feverish older brother and his crippled younger brother were both present. The recent events were too eerie, as if someone was deliberately targeting them, making them feel deeply unsettled.

The older brother said, “When I went to steal chickens, I threw a piece of meat to the dog. I watched it eat it. The drug was potent and fast-acting. I had tested it several times before, and it always worked. The dog should have died, but it didn’t. It chased me across two fields!”

The younger brother said, “I think something’s off too. The balcony I hid on was wide enough. They say I slipped, but I distinctly remember feeling like someone pushed me from behind when I fell…”

Deuce’s father said, “Lately, I’ve also felt like a woman is watching me…”

“Could it be the girl Deuce killed coming back for revenge?”

“She should go after the one who killed her, not us. Why seek revenge on us?”

“Yeah, Deuce is dead. Even if she had a deep grudge, it should be over. What more does she want?”

“Is she going to kill us now?”

…

The three men huddled together, trembling, feeling more and more terrified as they talked. The only hope now was the Taoist.

The Taoist was tall and imposing, dressed in a yellow robe, holding a peachwood sword. He looked mysterious and formidable. Deuce’s family had high hopes for him, having spent a considerable amount to hire him. He was well-known in the village for his prowess.

The Taoist entered the house, looked around, and said, “The Yin Energy here is indeed heavy. Something unclean has been here. Don’t be afraid. I will perform a ritual to rid you of this evil.”

He threw some rice in the four cardinal directions, killed a rooster, and then lit incense and candles, chanting incantations to summon the ancestral spirits to drive away the ghost.

Unfortunately, the ancestral spirits didn’t appear; the candles went out first.

The Taoist: “…”

The Taoist waved his hand, “It’s just that the wind is too strong today.” He relit the candles, but a gust of wind blew them out again.

The Taoist: “…”

Deuce’s family: “…”

This was definitely not normal.

The Taoist swallowed hard and tried again. This time, not only did the candles go out instantly, but the three incense sticks also snapped in half!

The Taoist was shocked!

“Master, what does this mean?”

“I… I’ve never encountered this before…”

“What do we do now? Master, please save us. We’ll pay whatever it takes!”

“Yes, Master, please save us!”

“Bang!”

Suddenly, a loud noise came from behind. Everyone turned around in shock to see Deuce’s coffin had overturned, and his corpse had fallen out. His pale, stiff face stared at them with wide, lifeless eyes!

The howling wind sounded like the wails of ghosts, chilling them to the bone.

Help!

…

Sleeping in the coffin was indeed comfortable. It was well-made, airtight, and windproof. She would leave a small gap in the coffin board for ventilation, ensuring no wind could disturb her sleep.

Since her leg was injured, making it difficult to move, Gu Feiyin had Neighbor Miss and Song Na help her move a large stone from the rubble downstairs. Placing it beside the coffin made it easier for her to get in. The planks she previously slept on were now used to hold her toiletries.

“Do you know what these are?” Gu Feiyin took out a bag of bottles and jars. She couldn’t read the English labels. She had opened them and found white, toothpaste-like substances inside, but they smelled much better than toothpaste.

Neighbor Miss: “…”

Old Lady: “…”

Song Na: “These are skincare products, for your face.”

Gu Feiyin: “For the face, huh?” She marveled at the thought of rich people needing so many bottles just for their face. Using them all would take forever. She couldn’t help but sigh. This must be the epitome of luxury.

Song Na said, “These are very expensive. They’re from an international brand called La Mer. This set costs around thirty to forty thousand.”

Gu Feiyin: “…???!!!”

What kind of divine treasure was this, more valuable than her own teeth!

Neighbor Miss and Old Lady both looked at Gu Feiyin with expressions that seemed to say: Look at that… look at that…

…

With money and a new bed, Gu Feiyin didn’t skimp on herself. She went to the nearby bathhouse, using her new shower gel and shampoo. After washing, she smelled delightful. Of course, she didn’t forget to apply some of the face cream, which was more precious than her teeth. Her face felt smooth and moisturized. She figured if she used it sparingly, it could last her seventeen or eighteen years.

That night, she slept in the coffin, lying on her money, with a stable job and no fear of unemployment. Thinking about having a tea egg for breakfast the next day made her feel incredibly happy. It was probably the best sleep she had ever had.

Her two neighbors seemed particularly excited, one sweeping all night, the other hopping around. Sometimes, they would sit on her coffin board, gnawing on candles. But as long as they didn’t break the floor, she didn’t mind.

The next morning, she got up, wrote some small advertisements on the coffin board, planning to post them after work.

Around 7:30, Gu Feiyin prepared to go to work but encountered a problem. Her right leg felt even stiffer, almost immovable. She looked down at her leg for a long time, scratching her head, “Okay, I get it. I’ll make a donation today.”

“…”

The empty room was silent, with no response. After a while, she climbed out of the coffin. Although her right leg was still a bit stiff, at least it could move.

That pesky heaven had sharp eyes. It was so hard to evade taxes.

Since she had to donate money, Gu Feiyin only bought one beef bun and one tea egg at the bun shop after washing up. The tea egg was too delicious, smelling fragrant. She had to give up one beef bun.

The Boss Lady at the bun shop watched the girl with long black straight hair sniffing the tea egg. She came every day to buy buns. Over time, they became familiar. Although she seemed scary at first, she was just a quiet girl.

The Boss Lady lowered her voice, “You should be careful. That unfinished building is really haunted. First, it was flying clothes, now it’s flying coffins… People have drowned in that river over the years. They might be looking for a substitute…”

Gu Feiyin looked up, her dark eyes making the Boss Lady shiver.

“Okay, I’ll be careful. Thank you.”

“…Mm.” The Boss Lady continued making buns after the girl with long black straight hair left. She started telling the next customer about the flying coffin. The haunted reputation of the unfinished building grew, making even daytime passersby feel uneasy.

…

The Red-Dressed Ghost was stunned when Gu Feiyin asked about making a donation, “You want to donate money?”

This girl, who was so frugal, had four bodyguards for a bit of money, and counted a thousand yuan multiple times in the bathroom, was willing to donate money???

Gu Feiyin lay in the coffin, hands crossed over her chest, looking more like a corpse, “Yes, even though heaven keeps bothering me, it’s part of the industry rules.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost was puzzled. What industry rules? She didn’t know.

Gu Feiyin explained, “You should know that some monks and Taoists help people change their fate, borrowing luck and altering destiny, for a fee. This actually goes against the natural order set by heaven. So, when they receive payment, they have to donate part of it to accumulate virtue and offset the karmic consequences. I saved Sudi, which also changed his fate. It’s similar.”

Accumulating too much karmic power would lead to retribution, fulfilling the saying “Five Defects and Three Shortages.”

So, monks and Taoists would donate money after performing rituals, asking those they helped to do good deeds and accumulate virtue. She had met a handsome monk before, who had changed someone’s fate and suffered retribution, becoming sickly and dying young.

The Red-Dressed Ghost had heard of monks and Taoists donating money and encouraging good deeds but didn’t know the reasons behind it.

“Why didn’t you mention this yesterday?”

“…”

Gu Feiyin blushed. So much money, and she couldn’t help but want to keep it all, thinking about evading taxes. She was greedy, never having seen so much money, wanting to pocket it all!

But heaven was sharp, catching her the next day. It was so hard to take a shortcut.

The Red-Dressed Ghost couldn’t understand the greed on Gu Feiyin’s pale face. Her face was so white, her aura so gloomy, lying in the coffin with black energy, looking like a dangerous corpse.

She introduced Gu Feiyin to a few trustworthy charities she had known before.

That night after work, Gu Feiyin went to donate the money, giving away thirty thousand yuan. Though it pained her, she still had ten thousand left. After deducting the two hundred she spent the previous day and adding her previous savings of over a thousand and the thousand advance from her kind boss, she had over ten thousand yuan. Overall, her savings had increased, which was nice.

After all, it was unexpected money.

Despite having over ten thousand yuan, she still couldn’t bring herself to fix her teeth. Her denture was working well, and her boss didn’t even know she had one. It cost three hundred yuan and had only been used for a few days. It could still last. But her plan to eat three tea eggs and drink two cups of milk tea a month might not work out.

She needed to work harder, putting all her effort into the upcoming recording. She couldn’t mess it up and had to make their haunted house famous!

Thinking about it made her a bit nervous.

…

The day of the “Winner Takes All” recording finally arrived. The Old Lady, after days of drying her cotton-padded coat, found it perfectly warm to wear. She even put on her newly bought Cotton Shoes and carefully fitted her Denture, ensuring everything was in place.

The Red-Dressed Ghost was equally thrilled. When she was alive, she had been a big fan of “Winner Takes All,” though she had never attended a live recording. Who would have thought that after her death, she’d get the chance to experience the show in person?

Last time, she missed out on all the juicy gossip. This time, she was determined not to let the opportunity slip away.

The news that the “Winner Takes All” crew would be filming at the Amusement Park in City A had spread far and wide. Most of the ghosts in the area had heard about it. Even the Middle-aged Female Ghost, who usually stayed by her son’s side, had come out to join the fun. She was visibly excited. “My son loves this show. He’s a huge fan of the hosts and never misses an episode on Saturdays. If I could get an autograph for him, he’d be over the moon.”

The Headless Man chimed in, “I’ve never seen a celebrity before. I’d like to check it out.”

The Armless Ghost added, “Let’s go and see what all the fuss is about.”

Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady exchanged glances and floated out of the unfinished building.

Early in the morning, Gu Feiyin noticed a crowd of ghosts gathering at the amusement park. They were everywhere-hovering around the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, and even hiding in the haunted house. A few familiar faces came over to greet her, offering words of encouragement for her performance later that evening. She was surprised. “Why are you all here?”

The Red-Dressed Ghost flipped her carefully styled hair. “We’re here for the excitement, of course. Gotta come early to grab the best spots.”

Gu Feiyin could understand that. Who doesn’t love a good show? She liked watching lively events too. “Oh, well, as long as people can’t see you, it shouldn’t be a problem. Just don’t scare anyone, okay?”

The Red-Dressed Ghost, Neighbor Miss, and the Old Lady all tilted their heads in unison, giving her a silent, pointed look: ………

…

If Sudi hadn’t been kidnapped, he would have been part of the “Winner Takes All” recording. However, his body was still recovering, so while he could manage talk shows, competitive programs were out of the question. The production team had to find a last-minute replacement. Sudi recommended his friend, He Kang.

He Kang was a fairly popular male artist, though not quite on Sudi’s level. The production team hesitated; they had been hoping to invite a more prominent star.

Sudi reassured them, “He Kang has great comedic timing, a solid fan base, and a strong track record with his recent projects. He’s a perfect fit for ‘Winner Takes All.’ I can also record a special video message to cheer on the show. At least until this episode airs, I won’t make any public appearances.”

An exclusive offer like that was too good to pass up!

The production team immediately agreed. Sudi was a hot topic, especially after the kidnapping incident. Since he had been out of the public eye, any media outlet that could secure his first post-incident appearance would dominate the headlines. The production team wasn’t about to miss such a golden opportunity.

…

Night fell quickly. With only two hours left before the “Winner Takes All” recording began, the amusement park had already closed to the public. Around a hundred pre-selected fans were stationed in designated areas as NPCs for the show.

The production crew had arrived and was working with the park’s management to set up the venue and assign tasks.

Gu Feiyin received her first task: she wouldn’t be able to stay in her coffin the whole time. She’d need to come out and walk around to scare people before returning to the coffin. The key to completing the challenge would be placed in her coffin, and her job was to guard it.

Initially, she was just a little nervous. After all, this was a significant milestone in her career. But after hearing the kind boss explain the task, her nerves turned into full-blown anxiety. She’d never stepped out of her coffin before, and with her leg still not fully functional, walking around would be a real challenge. What if she messed up?

Her strength lay in lying in the coffin and flashing a creepy smile. Now she had to walk around?

“I’m afraid I might mess it up…”

“Don’t worry, Xiao Gu. No one else can do this better than you! Have faith in yourself.”

With a solemn expression, Gu Feiyin accepted the daunting task, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. But it was okay. She believed in her ability to figure things out. She couldn’t let her boss down.

Her leg, however, was being uncooperative, breaking down at the worst possible time.

She considered seeking advice from the Red-Dressed Ghost and Neighbor Miss, but ever since they heard the hosts and guests had arrived, they had vanished. The haunted house was eerily empty now; they must have gone to join the crowd.

Wait. She could borrow the Old Lady’s broom. Humans shouldn’t be able to see it. If she held onto the broom while walking outside, she could discreetly use it for support and make her movements look more natural.

The thought brought her some relief. With the broom, she wouldn’t have to worry about falling.

Still, the pressure was immense.

…

Ma Ao was visiting the Amusement Park in City A for the third time. His memories of the first two visits were less than pleasant. As for this third visit…

He stared at the amusement park looming closer. It stood amidst the darkness, its lights twinkling and voices buzzing with excitement. Yet, he couldn’t shake the chill running down his spine. A sense of foreboding crept over him, and the park seemed even more eerie at night.

The show hadn’t even started, and he was already contemplating backing out. Who could blame him? He was, after all, a man who had once seen six eyes staring at him. It had taken a trip to the temple and an amulet for peace to reduce his nightmares.

He Kang turned to him. “I heard you’ve been here twice before. You must know the park well. Where do you think the key might be hidden?”

A coffin!

The word popped into Ma Ao’s mind immediately, but he hesitated. “I’m not sure. Maybe the Ferris wheel or the carousel?”

He Kang chuckled knowingly. “Oh, really?”

Ma Ao rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Or, you know, you could check the haunted house. It’s the perfect place to hide something-it’s dark and tricky to search.”

He Kang replied, “If we get the chance, let’s go together.”

Ma Ao: … Can I say no?

One by one, the celebrities stepped out of their vehicles. The fans waiting outside the park erupted into cheers, screaming names and shouting, “I love you!” The noise was deafening, and the crowd surged forward, their enthusiasm palpable.

The Red-Dressed Ghost floated cross-legged in midair, observing the street packed with people. Her blood-red eyes gleamed even brighter. She leaned toward Neighbor Miss. “Who’s your favorite? I really like He Kang. He’s handsome and talented. I’ve watched his drama ‘Love in the Flames of War’ several times.”

Neighbor Miss glanced at her but remained silent. The Red-Dressed Ghost didn’t mind and turned to the Old Lady. “Grandma, you’re still chasing stars at your age? Who’s your favorite?”

The Old Lady hugged her broom and stared at her: “…”

The Red-Dressed Ghost: “…”

The Old Lady: “…”

Defeated, the Red-Dressed Ghost averted her gaze. She couldn’t understand how Gu Feiyin managed to get along with them so well. Then again, Gu Feiyin had never lost a staring contest with the Old Lady.

Suddenly, she spotted someone familiar among the celebrities. “Hey, isn’t that Ma Ao? The livestreamer who came to the haunted house before and got scared off by your eyes? Remember him? I didn’t hear he’d be here.”

Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady shifted their ghostly gazes toward Ma Ao.

A chill ran down Ma Ao’s spine. He shivered and hugged himself against the cold.

For some reason, the ominous feeling grew stronger. He glanced around nervously, as if those six eyes were watching him again…

 

Footnote:

1. Phoenix Man(凤凰男): A “Phoenix Man” is a man from a poor background who works hard to move to a big city but then tries to rely on others, especially women, for financial and social support to succeed quickly.