Chapter 38

The flight to City B had to make an emergency landing at City C airport due to special circumstances. With 356 people on board, including the crew, they narrowly escaped death. Within half an hour of landing, all passengers were secretly transported to the hospital for medical treatment. This major incident was tightly concealed, with no information leaked to the public. The official reason given was bad weather, which necessitated the emergency landing in City C.

All the Daoists and Special Unit personnel in City C rushed to the scene, expecting a tough battle. However, it turned out that their presence was unnecessary as the mysterious plane crash incident dissolved into nothingness.

Zhang Daoist was genuinely surprised. He had originally come to City C on a job to inspect a house for a wealthy businessman whose new villa was haunted. He had no idea that he’d suddenly receive news of several evil ghosts wreaking havoc on a plane, intent on taking all the passengers down with them.

He immediately thought to himself, “This is bad!”

The plane was flying at ten thousand meters; even if they wanted to help, it was practically impossible. The chance of survival was extremely slim, reminiscent of the SAS North Airlines crash two years ago where there were no survivors and even the wreckage was never found.

“We can’t get up there unless there’s a Master who knows how to capture ghosts on the plane. Even if we somehow managed to get on board, it would be too late. Besides, ghosts come and go without a trace. We might stand a chance on the ground, but in the sky, it’s difficult!”

“Right now, we need to make haste to land the plane urgently, or else no one can save those on board!”

They were truly anxious but helpless.

Unexpectedly, there was a high master hidden among the passengers on the plane. She not only saved everyone on board but also captured all thirteen Malevolent Ghosts!

Zhang Daoist and his colleagues looked at the Black Blob occasionally twitching on the ground, then at the stern-faced Master Gu standing before them. It still felt surreal to him. Thirteen Malevolent Ghosts, and she sold them all to him for 140?

Zhang Daoist, though greedy, knew Master Gu was too kind-hearted to charge a high price. However, he couldn’t bring himself to be unethical. He fumbled through his wallet and pulled out the only two red bills and some coins he had, which were the travel expenses his wife had given him. He had used some change to buy a bowl of beef noodles, leaving him with 88.80.

Several other masters scraped together a few bills, each tightly budgeted by their families, and could only afford to bring a couple of hundred yuan when they left home. Eventually, they gathered nine red bills and some change, totaling 988: “Master Gu, I didn’t expect someone as young as you to be so adept at capturing ghosts. You’ve played a crucial role in capturing these thirteen Face Ghosts. We’ll commend you to our superiors. As for these Malevolent Ghosts, 140 is too little. We’re giving you all the money we have for now, and when approval comes from above to transfer more funds, I’ll top it up.”

“Master Gu, you saved hundreds of lives, your merit is immeasurable.”

Gu Feiyin looked at the pile of money, frowning slightly, pointing at the Black Blob on the ground, “Are they worth much? So, I’ve been eating so much money before?”

Everyone: “…?”

Zhang Daoist thought for a moment and replied, “Although these small ghosts were driven by the Face Ghost Leader, they indeed committed numerous acts that harmed people. I suspect they might be linked to the North Airlines crash two years ago where over two hundred people were on board, and to this day, no wreckage has been found… But these are just my speculations. I need to take them back for investigation first. If it’s confirmed that it was the Face Ghosts’ doing, capturing him would indeed be a great achievement.”

It would be akin to capturing a fugitive who had been on the run for years. Gu Feiyin relaxed, relieved that ghosts could not be eaten to extinction. Otherwise, not even half a blob would be left, and she would have lost so much money.

She stared at the Face Ghost Leader lying on the ground, as if looking at a gold mine, and stepped on him: “Tell me, what else have you done wrong?”

The Face Ghost Leader squealed under her foot, begging for mercy, “Nothing, nothing more, really! I just killed a few people, captured their souls to refine Face Ghosts for my command, I’m not capable of killing a whole plane of people!”

Gu Feiyin: “Not just a few people, I’ve captured over a dozen Face Ghosts.”

The Face Ghost Leader hesitated, “I don’t remember… But I really didn’t cause the North Airlines incident!”

Gu Feiyin looked at several Daoists, “He says he didn’t do it.”

Everyone: “…?”

…Was it really that easy? Since when were Malevolent Ghosts so agreeable?

Gu Feiyin didn’t ease her foot, pressing down harder, causing the Face Ghost Leader to scream again, “Stop stepping on me, please don’t step harder… Ah! My soul is scattering!” He had been quietly gathering his soul, hoping to escape, but now his efforts were wasted, and his soul was scattered. “I’ll tell you, I really didn’t do it this time, it’s my first time coming out to try and form a ghost army, but I had no luck running into you. The North Airlines incident wasn’t my doing!”

Zhang Daoist asked, “Do you know who did it then? Have you heard any news about that?”

The Face Ghost Leader thought for a moment, shaking his head, “I heard a Little Ghost talking about being on that plane that day, but he ran away because he encountered a very powerful ghost. He feared being eaten, so he fled quickly. The next day, he saw the news about the North Airlines crash, he said it must have been that powerful ghost causing trouble.”

“Do you know who that powerful ghost is? Where is the Little Ghost now?”

“I definitely don’t know, I don’t manage them, what do I care if they die? I’ve been busy planning how to capture living souls for Cultivation, aiming to become a Ghost Immortal. Wouldn’t that let me roam the heavens and the earth freely?”

“You’ve committed so many sins, yet you still want to become a Ghost Immortal? Be careful of divine punishment that scatters your soul.”

“What does it matter? Which powerful Ghost Cultivator hasn’t committed sins? Why haven’t they been struck down to scatter their souls? The world is so vast, does the Heavenly Emperor have time to care about me?”

Gu Feiyin silently stared at the sky, wondering why the heavens seemed to dislike her instead of striking down the Face Ghost Leader before her, who was clearly more troublesome.

“…Besides, I was just unlucky to fall into your hands this time. If it had been someone else, who knows who would have won or lost?” The Face Ghost Leader was also frustrated, never expecting to be caught by the formidable Long-haired Woman. What could he do? To be eaten by her and not even flinch, he had only ever encountered such an individual.

Zhang Daoist angrily declared, “You beast, you’ve harmed so many innocent people and still speak so nonchalantly here! Do you know how much of a nightmare tonight has been for many families? There were so many children on that plane, they are so young, and you dare to harm them!”

The Face Ghost Leader was disdainful. What was so bad about scaring them? Hadn’t he been scared too? He was almost driven mad by the Long-haired Woman!

Seeing Zhang Daoist angry, Gu Feiyin stepped harder on the Face Ghost Leader until he could only squeak, not daring to speak out, bringing satisfaction to Zhang Daoist, who nearly roared with joy.

Zhang Daoist snorted coldly, handing the money to Master Gu, “Master Gu, hand over the Face Ghost to us for disposal. Rest assured, we won’t let him off easily.”

Gu Feiyin unhesitatingly handed over the Red Ribbon to Zhang Daoist. To her, these thirteen small snacks couldn’t compare to 140, but since Zhang Daoist was willing to give more, she gladly accepted. However, just as she took the money, her stomach began to hurt…

She grimaced, pressing down on a stack of money, hesitantly pulling out a hundred yuan to return to Zhang Daoist.

Zhang Daoist was surprised as he took the hundred yuan handed to him, saying with a smile, “This is what you deserve, and it’s still too little. Take it all…” Before he could finish, he caught the chilling glance from the stern Master Gu. The cold look was quite frightening. He reached out and took the money back, though he still didn’t understand what it meant.

Momentarily, another hundred-yuan bill was handed over.

Zhang Daoist waited: “…???”

The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth…

Finally, a ten-yuan bill was handed over.

He stood there dumbfounded, holding 910 in his hand for a while, then looked at Gu Feiyin, who now had only 78 left in her hand.

Gu Feiyin also stared at the 78 in her hand, scratching her head. What did the heavens mean by this? Was she supposed to go eat noodles with 78?!

Zhang Daoist was deeply moved. Such an honest person was truly rare.

Boom-

From afar, a rumble of thunder could be heard.

Zhang Daoist shivered, looking up at the sky. He thought he heard thunder.

…

It wasn’t just Zhang Daoist who came to see Gu Feiyin; the pilot also arrived in a wheelchair, overwhelmed with gratitude. Tears streamed down his face from the excitement, and he fainted from the emotional overload, causing another commotion as he was quickly taken to the hospital.

The chairman was also immensely grateful, saying excitedly, “We are truly, deeply grateful for your help, Master Gu. This is a token of our gratitude from our airline for what you have done for all the survivors. Thank you so much.”

Gu Feiyin looked at the check handed to her, her eyes widening in shock!

…Two, two, two, two million?!

Was this some kind of divine intervention? She was ready to soar!

With two million, who would remember the pain of 78?

…

Meanwhile, Ma Ao and Shen Yue had finished their statements and also signed a confidentiality agreement, promising not to disclose the events on the plane to anyone, not even their closest relatives. They were only released after signing.

Ma Ao looked up at the dim sky, feeling the cold wind on his face, but he didn’t feel cold, only fortunate to be alive. During the statement, he had instinctively omitted the fact that Gu Feiyin had consumed a Face Ghost right at the beginning, feeling it was better the fewer people knew about it, especially since he didn’t trust outsiders much.

Shen Yue took a deep breath, smiling, “I didn’t expect to actually walk off the plane alive. It feels so good to be alive. Ah, after tonight, I think I might not want to fly again.”

Ma Ao also smiled, shrugging, “It’s not like troubles won’t find you just because you don’t fly. If you’re really scared, you might as well carry a few amulets for peace around your neck. They come in handy in critical moments.”

Shen Yue hummed, “Like you, hanging seven or eight?”

“What’s wrong with hanging seven or eight? I think it’s too few. When I get back, I’m going to ask for seventeen or eighteen amulets for peace, to hang around my neck, wrists, and even ankles. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“…No, I won’t do that, but maybe I’ll hang a few more.”

Thinking about the amulet for peace, Shen Yue took out his phone, signaled to Ma Ao, and turned away to make a call. After surviving such a disaster, all he wanted was to return to his family and be with them.

Ma Ao looked around but couldn’t find Master Gu. He asked a nearby guard, “Where’s Master Gu? I came with her, and we need to leave together later.”

The guard replied, “Master Gu is with Zhang Daoist. They have something to discuss. You’ll need to wait a bit.”

Ma Ao nodded, understanding that such confidential matters were beyond his reach.

He waited patiently, though the relief of surviving made him grateful, he was also worried. They wouldn’t reach City B tonight, and the earliest they could arrive would be tomorrow afternoon. After that, they’d need to take an hour-long ferry to Wawa Island.

Wawa Island was large, and if they arrived too late, it would be dark before they could do anything. Darkness breeds trouble, making it inconvenient to act. He hoped everything would be alright despite encountering the Face Ghost.

Ma Ao had been waiting for about half an hour when he saw Master Gu approaching with a stern expression. He quickly ran over, noticing her empty hands. “Master, where are those Face Ghosts?”

“Oh, sold them,” Gu Feiyin pointed to Zhang Daoist. “Sold them to him.”

Ma Ao was bewildered, “Sold them for how much?”

Gu Feiyin replied, “Seventy-eight.”

Ma Ao immediately glared at the Daoists, feeling indignant. How could they accept such a low price?

Zhang Daoist blushed. They wanted to give more, but Gu Feiyin refused. If they insisted, she’d give them a chilling glare, leaving them too scared to persuade her further.

Before leaving, Gu Feiyin asked Zhang Daoist for his phone number, “If I catch any Little Ghosts in the future, I’ll sell them to you. Will you take them?”

Zhang Daoist’s face twisted slightly, “Yes.”

Ma Ao: “…”

Shen Yue, who had finished his call with his parents and walked over, was equally puzzled, “What…?”

Gu Feiyin said, “Alright, today’s price was a discount. We’ll negotiate for future catches, okay?”

Zhang Daoist wiped his face, “Alright.”

“I’ll keep them for you and call you when the time comes. I’ll flash you a call, save it so you don’t forget.” Gu Feiyin smiled, appreciating the convenience of having a phone.

Zhang Daoist had nothing more to say, saved the number in his phone, and accepted her terms.

Shen Yue and Ma Ao exchanged glances. Despite the eerie content, they couldn’t help but find it amusing.

After saving the number, Zhang Daoist asked, “Master Gu, your skills are impressive. May I ask which school you studied under?”

Gu Feiyin paused, tapping her phone. She had no master. She shook her head, “I don’t have a master.” Though she was initially wary of Taoists, this one seemed a bit naive, not even realizing she was possessed by a ghost. His skills were nothing compared to the Handsome Monk.

Zhang Daoist was puzzled. How could she not have a master? Perhaps she didn’t want to mention her school? He decided not to press further, “Master Gu, if you ever need anything, feel free to contact me.”

He had many matters to attend to and bid farewell to Gu Feiyin and the others, taking the Red Ribbon with him. He had much to prepare for the Transcendence of thirteen Malevolent Ghosts.

…

After bidding farewell to Master Gu and the others, Gu Feiyin and her companions prepared to head to the hotel. Now she was carrying a two million fortune, every step made her anxious, fearing thieves or robbers. Without twenty-seven or twenty-eight bodyguards, she dared not walk the streets.

Fortunately, the chairman who gave her the check was a kind-hearted person, arranging a car to take her to the hotel for rest. Gu Feiyin gladly accepted.

As she boarded the car, she suddenly remembered, “I haven’t paid for the meal on the plane…”

Ma Ao chuckled, “You don’t need to pay for airplane meals.”

Shen Yue added, “Yes, airplane meals are provided.”

Gu Feiyin: “…???” No wonder planes are for immortals; she didn’t expect meals to be included!

She boarded the car with a sense of wonder, grateful for another saved expense.

Ma Ao and Shen Yue followed her into the car. As Ma Ao got in, he glanced at Shen Yue, puzzled, “Hey, big star, aren’t you going to find your agent and assistant or accompany your teammates in the hospital? Why are you following us?”

Shen Yue smiled slightly, “I’m not following you; I’m following Master Gu. Master Gu, may I join you?”

Gu Feiyin nodded, “Sure.” Now she had a driver, a little friend beside the driver, Ma Ao, and Shen Yue as four bodyguards. Although not as secure as having ten bodyguards, four were better than none.

Shen Yue smiled at Ma Ao, raising an eyebrow, “See, Master Gu agreed.”

Ma Ao rolled his eyes, “Typical of your team, always using the same sly tactics. Impressive.”

Shen Yue: “Thank you.”

Shen Yue pushed past Ma Ao to sit in the car, and Ma Ao quickly followed, unwilling to be left behind.

These shameless guys, don’t think you can steal his spot!

…

Zhang Daoist first returned the Red Ribbon to the Daoist Temple for his Shishu¹ to handle, then visited the hospital. Over three hundred people were distributed among five hospitals in City C, with each Daoist responsible for one. Among them, those possessed by the Face Ghost were in the worst condition, suffering from severe oxygen deprivation and still unconscious. Others were merely affected by ghostly energy, fainting with minor injuries and shock but nothing serious.

Zhang Chao was the most severely injured, possessed twice by the Face Ghost-once when it tried to enter his mouth and once when it stole his face. Though still unconscious, he kept muttering in his sleep, calling for help and Master Gu, trembling and sweating profusely.

Zhang Daoist felt sympathy for Zhang Chao, being so unlucky to be chosen twice by ghosts was rare. He burned a Talisman Water to calm Zhang Chao, who finally quieted down.

Xing Yifan was also unconscious, with a darkened forehead and pale complexion. Zhang Daoist didn’t give him Talisman Water but placed a talisman in his clothes, which seemed to help.

Moreover, all hospital patients wore a talisman drawn by Zhang Daoist for protection and peace.

The chairman accompanied Zhang Daoist, looking at the room full of patients. He frowned, “Though they suffered, it’s fortunate no one was seriously harmed. It’s a blessing in disguise.”

Zhang Daoist agreed, “Indeed, if not for Master Gu, there would have been no saving the passengers.”

Those Little Ghosts tied to the Red Ribbon weren’t ordinary; their hands were stained with human lives, especially the Face Ghost Leader. Even with its soul weakened, it remained formidable, but under Gu Feiyin’s prowess, it was insignificant.

The chairman nodded, acknowledging the truth. The Face Ghost was truly evil, intent on sacrificing passengers for its cultivation, devoid of humanity. Expecting it to suddenly have a conscience and spare them was impossible, leaving the passengers doomed…

Zhang Daoist visited several wards, ensuring everyone was fine before leaving. Unexpectedly, he encountered a familiar face: Ge Hong, Master Ge.

Ge Hong, like him, was a cultivator, but he specialized in fortune-telling and divination, favored by celebrities, tycoons, and politicians. Even a simple name change could cost tens of thousands; advising on house purchases or interior design could be hundreds of thousands; borrowing fortune or altering fate for smooth careers or political paths could be millions.

In recent years, Ge Hong had become too busy and distanced from those like Zhang Daoist who caught ghosts. They used to be close, drinking and chatting frequently, but since Ge Hong got involved with the entertainment industry, he changed. He performed numerous fortune-altering rituals, even borrowing others’ Fortune to enhance his own, a morally questionable act. After Zhang Daoist exposed him twice, their relationship soured. He hadn’t expected to see him here today.

What surprised Zhang Daoist more was Ge Hong’s lack of contribution on the plane, even less than the two young men! Truly a disgrace to cultivators.

He scoffed, and Ge Hong awoke, startled by the white ceiling, “I-I-I’m not dead? I’m alive! Haha, I’m alive!”

“Yes, you’re alive, aren’t you happy?” Zhang Daoist chuckled from the side.

Ge Hong turned and saw Zhang Daoist, “What are you doing here?”

Zhang Daoist replied, “Your plane had an incident, and I was sent to handle it. What else?”

Ge Hong: “…”

Zhang Daoist laughed, “Ge Hong, you, a decades-old cultivator, contributed nothing during such a major event, and were saved by a young girl. Aren’t you ashamed? Your Grand Master would rise from his grave to trouble you!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Ge Hong panicked, clasping his hands in prayer, “Grand Master, forgive me, Grand Master, forgive me, it’s all this old Taoist’s nonsense!”

“What nonsense? Can you say you contributed anything on the plane?” Zhang Daoist accused Ge Hong, “When everyone fainted, where were you? When the captain’s face was stolen, where were you? When seven or eight Face Ghosts attacked a Little Girl, where were you? When Master Gu’s face was stolen, where were you? Even when two young men rushed in, where were you? Do you have the nerve to speak?”

Ge Hong was flushed with embarrassment. He knew he wanted to help on the plane, to capture the Face Ghost, but it was too powerful. His Talismans were ineffective, and without spiritual artifacts, he was powerless. Was he supposed to fight barehanded? He explained, “Don’t blame me. If you were there, you wouldn’t have fared better!”

Zhang Daoist retorted, “I don’t know if I’d be better, but I know that even without artifacts, I have myself. Ge Hong, have you been living too comfortably, forgetting that we cultivators are the most powerful spiritual artifacts?”

Ge Hong turned pale, unable to argue further, and asked quietly, “Was it that Little Girl who saved us?”

Zhang Daoist sighed, “Ge Hong, you’ve gone too far with altering fate, violating natural order. You know better than me the dangers of ‘Three Deficiencies and Five Lacks.’ Take care of yourself.”

Zhang Daoist said no more and left the hospital.

In truth, Ge Hong wasn’t lacking in ability; it was just that in recent years, his focus had been entirely on fortune-telling and face-reading. Altering people’s fortunes naturally took a toll on his own, causing his spiritual cultivation to regress significantly. Nonetheless, ordinary Little Ghosts were no match for him, which spoke volumes about the formidable nature of these Face Ghosts.

Zhang Daoist returned to the Daoist Temple, where several Shishu were in the main hall performing rituals. One held Thunder Strike Wood, another wielded the Three Purities Bell, and a third carried a Talisman. As they chanted the Rebirth Mantra, the thirteen Black Blobs tied to the Red Ribbon began to struggle desperately. They had long since shed their previous weakness and were now using their last ounce of strength to try and escape, emitting ear-piercing shrieks. The Face Ghost Leader was particularly vocal, repeatedly shouting, “I will have my revenge,” and “He will definitely avenge me,” though no one took its threats seriously.

A few minutes later, a gate to the Underworld opened, and the thirteen Black Blobs were sucked inside, leaving the Red Ribbon to flutter gently to the ground.

Seeing this, Zhang Daoist stepped forward and picked up the Red Ribbon. He examined it once more, but unfortunately, he still couldn’t discern any Talisman inscribed on it that could bind ghosts.

“Stop looking. This Red Ribbon is just an ordinary ribbon, nothing special about it.”

“Really? If it’s just an ordinary ribbon, there’s no way it could bind these Malevolent Ghosts. What’s going on?”

Shishu pondered for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t know either. It can only be said that Master Gu’s cultivation is deeper than ours. I’ll go back and ask Shifu; perhaps Shifu will know.”

Zhang Daoist nodded and handed the Red Ribbon to Shishu. “By the way, I saw Ge Hong at the hospital earlier. He was on the plane too.”

The Shishu’s faces darkened further at this news. “He was there too? Why didn’t I hear about it?”

“Because he was knocked out by the ghosts.”

“…”

…

Ma Ao booked a flight for early the next morning to City B. When Shen Yue heard about it, he gave a thumbs up. “Impressive.”

Ma Ao didn’t want to fly, but he had no choice. He had calculated that if he took the train, he would arrive in City B late at night, and there would be no ferry to Wawa Island by then. He feared that if he arrived too late, his friends would be beyond saving, so he had to book a flight and leave early.

Gu Feiyin didn’t mind how they traveled; it made no difference to her. The only thing that troubled her was what to do with her two million check. She didn’t know where to put it while she slept last night, feeling that nowhere was safe, so she kept it under her pillow.

At times like this, she missed her coffin immensely. She could just throw all her money in there and not worry. Hopefully, it hadn’t been robbed while she was away, but it should be fine. Before she left, she had told the Red-Dressed Ghost to pass a message to the Neighbor Miss and the Old Lady, asking them to keep an eye on her coffin, promising she’d be back in a few days.

They had breakfast at the hotel, which Ma Ao said was included in the room rate, and the room was paid for by the kindly chairman. He even covered the cost of today’s flight.

That young man was truly a good kid, knowing how to respect his elders.

For breakfast, Gu Feiyin had a bowl of beef noodles and two golden, plump fried eggs. The noodles were chewy, the beef tender, and the bamboo shoots crispy. The broth was rich and spicy, and when she poured a ladleful over the noodles and sprinkled some cilantro on top, the aroma was mouthwatering. The fried eggs were perfect, one with a runny yolk that oozed out when bitten into. Ah, the joy of eating beef noodles!

Ma Ao brought Master Gu a cup of hot milk, topped with cereal and dried fruits, which was crunchy and fragrant with each sip.

Not to be outdone, Shen Yue brought over a plate of fruit, giving Ma Ao a meaningful look, to which Ma Ao responded with a scoff.

The fruit plate had watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, and cherry tomatoes. It was Gu Feiyin’s first time eating grapes. Though they were dark like Black Blobs, they were sweet and juicy. She even considered sneaking a few away, but there was no need; she was now a person with a two million check. Two million could buy an ad on a city center billboard and still leave plenty for delicious food!

But she still had to go to Wawa Island, and no matter where she put the check, it felt unsafe. If it weren’t for the two seemingly sturdy young men with her, she wouldn’t dare venture out.

Seeing Master Gu so troubled over the two million check, Ma Ao hesitantly suggested, “Why not cash it and put it in a bank account?”

Gu Feiyin replied, “I know you have banks here, and people keep their money in them, but I don’t feel safe putting it in a bank. What if it goes bankrupt?”

…Bankrupt? In this day and age, who worries about banks going bankrupt? Ma Ao said blankly, “Banks don’t usually go bankrupt.”

Gu Feiyin thought for a moment and shook her head. “I don’t know, but in my memory, they seem to go bankrupt easily.”

Ma Ao said, “If you don’t want to use a bank, that’s fine, but you’ll need something to keep the check safe. If it gets creased, you might not be able to cash it.”

Gu Feiyin: “…?” Of course, a two million check would be so delicate.

Gu Feiyin: “Let’s go to the bank.”

Indeed, it’s a time of peace, and banks aren’t likely to go bankrupt unless there’s a regime change. Fortunately, she had her ID with her, so opening an account and depositing the money was perfect.

Ma Ao and Gu Feiyin were heading to the bank, but Shen Yue couldn’t join them. They had already attracted quite a few fans at the buffet, and besides, his teammates were still in the hospital, so he had to visit them.

Shen Yue looked at Gu Feiyin, this eerie and intimidating Long-haired Woman, who had saved hundreds of lives. When he first met her, she was expressionless and punched Zhang Chao in the stomach several times. Although she saved Zhang Chao, it was terrifying. Of course, what happened afterward was far scarier than those punches. While he still found her unsettling, he no longer felt the urge to run away…

“Master Gu, thank you for saving me. Can I have your phone number? I’ll contact you once things settle down here.”

“Sure.” Gu Feiyin, oblivious to Shen Yue’s inner turmoil, picked up her phone hanging around her neck and started tapping away. She actually enjoyed making phone calls; it was quite fun. “What’s your number? I’ll call you.”

Shen Yue recited a string of numbers, and sure enough, his phone rang shortly after. He ended the call and saved the number.

He watched as Gu Feiyin and Ma Ao got into a car and left, then hailed a taxi to the hospital.

After a night of rest, most of the unconscious passengers had woken up. When they realized they were in a hospital, back in the normal human world, they were overwhelmed with joy and tears, crying out loud!

Because they never thought they’d survive!

Zhang Chao, for instance, woke up and started crying, really bawling his eyes out. He was usually quite proud, so seeing him cry like this made Xing Yifan, who shared the room with him, feel uncomfortable. “Hey, can you stop crying?”

Zhang Chao replied, “How can I not cry? You’re not the one who had a ghost crawl into your stomach, and you’re not the one whose face was stolen by a Face Ghost. Why shouldn’t I cry?”

“But you’ve been saved; you should be laughing!”

“Laugh my ass! Every time I close my eyes, I see a Face Ghost popping out of the toilet and flying at my face. Damn, don’t ghosts have any hygiene awareness? How dare they go to such filthy places!”

Xing Yifan: “…” He couldn’t argue with that. “Want some water?”

Zhang Chao: “Water? I’m afraid I’ll drink another Face Ghost! Why is my life so miserable? Master Gu, Master Gu, where are you?”

Xing Yifan: “…”

When Shen Yue arrived, Zhang Chao was nearly out of breath from crying. Surprised, Shen Yue asked Xing Yifan, “What’s going on?”

Xing Yifan shrugged. “Nothing, he’s just lamenting his misfortune. By the way, what happened after we passed out last night? How did we end up in the hospital when we woke up?”

Shen Yue replied, “Master Gu saved us…”

Zhang Chao stopped crying and rushed over to Shen Yue. “Where’s Master Gu? I want Master Gu!”

Shen Yue said, “Master Gu had something to do and has already left.”

Zhang Chao’s head drooped, deflated.

Shen Yue recounted the events after Xing Yifan and Zhang Chao passed out. Even now, thinking back, he felt a lingering fear. “Last night was really dangerous. Even the pilot was controlled by a Face Ghost. If it weren’t for Master Gu, we’d all be dead.”

Xing Yifan and Zhang Chao were equally shaken, filled with lingering fear. “How should we thank her?”

Zhang Chao said, “Wait, I’ll call my parents and have them send money!”

Xing Yifan commented, “That’s so cliché.”

Shen Yue, however, thought it might not be a bad idea…

…

With the help of a local, Gu Feiyin and Ma Ao arrived at Wawa Island shortly after 1 PM that day. Wawa Island was an adventurer’s paradise.

Ma Ao anxiously surveyed Wawa Island, knowing that it had been seven days since his friends went missing.

It was then they learned that the number of missing people on Wawa Island wasn’t just six but ten. Two other couples had ventured out at 5 AM to watch the sunrise, only to never return.

As the name suggests, Wawa Island was an island covered in Dolls. The island’s eerie reputation stemmed from a legend. It was said that a sister, grieving the loss of her drowned younger sister, hung countless Dolls on the trees. Over time, the number of Dolls grew, creating a haunting sight that attracted waves of adventurers.

Seeing this, the island’s residents began hanging Dolls on the trees themselves. The number of Dolls continued to grow until the entire island was covered with them.

 

Footnote:

1. Shishu(师叔):“Shishu” is a Chinese term of address typically used to refer to a fellow disciple of one’s master in Taoism, martial arts, or other traditional cultures.