I Am Not a Master - Chapter 55

Zhuang’s face twisted with fury the moment he heard that chilling voice. Fear gripped him, too. He had seen the Long-haired Woman’s methods before-ruthless, brutal, and coldly greedy. She was a terrifying force to reckon with.

His heart raced, and for a moment, he considered fleeing. But then his gaze fell on Shao Yizhou, who was staring at him intently. If he ran now, he’d not only lose face in front of Yizhou but also risk Yizhou thinking he wasn’t sincere about his feelings. That would be a disaster-Yizhou might reject him outright.

Caught in indecision, Zhuang hesitated. Luckily, they were still in the elevator, and the Long-haired Woman couldn’t get in. Otherwise, he might already be in her grasp, making a fool of himself in front of Yizhou.

Despite his inner turmoil, Zhuang refused to show weakness. He grabbed the resentment-energy whip that bound him and sneered at the Red-Dressed Ghost. “You think you can compete with me for Yizhou? Know your place!”

The whip, formed from pure resentment energy, crackled in his grip. With a sharp tug, Zhuang pulled the Red-Dressed Ghost toward him. She gasped, alarmed, and as she was about to collide with him, she leapt into the air, performing a graceful backflip. Her foot shot out in a sharp kick aimed at Zhuang’s head. He dodged swiftly, and her kick missed its mark. Seizing the moment, Zhuang countered by snapping the whip toward her.

Just then, the fangirl ghost couldn’t hold back anymore. She lunged forward, positioning herself in front of the Red-Dressed Ghost. “Let me deal with you, you disgusting man!”

Zhuang snorted. “You two wretched women are no better than each other.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost smirked. “At least I’m not as vile as you. When it comes to beauties, I admire them-I don’t force them.” Her gaze softened as she looked at Shao Yizhou, offering him a friendly smile that seemed to say she was a rational fan of his looks.

Shao Yizhou: … Uh, thanks, I guess?

Shao Yizhou’s manager, standing beside him, was utterly dumbfounded. What kind of supernatural celebrity had he signed? Was this what people meant by “appealing to both humans and ghosts”?

The Red-Dressed Ghost continued, “Unlike you, who kidnaps people to marry them. Haven’t you noticed he’s been rejecting you? Are you deaf, blind, or just plain stupid? Do you need me to knock some sense into you?”

The fangirl ghost chimed in, “Exactly! This idiot’s been a ghost for so long, he doesn’t even understand human language anymore!”

Zhuang: “…”

Meanwhile, Shao Yizhou was nodding furiously. “Exactly! That’s it!” As terrifying as these two female ghosts were, their words hit the nail on the head. He had lost count of how many times he’d rejected Zhuang, yet Zhuang refused to listen. Instead, he’d stare at him with a creepy, faux-passionate gaze and talk about retreating to the mountains together. Retreat to the mountains? He hadn’t even lived his life fully yet! Why would he want to spend eternity with a male ghost he didn’t even like?

Zhuang looked at Shao Yizhou, his tone softening. “They say love grows with time. Stay with me long enough, and you’ll see my good side. You’ll fall for me eventually.”

The fangirl ghost burst into laughter. “Oh, please! You’re nothing but a two-timing scoundrel. You’ve had so many wives over the years, I’ve lost count. Your so-called ‘true love’ could line up from here to the Yellow River. And now you want Shao Yizhou to be your next wife? Do you even have a shred of shame left?”

… Wife? Shao Yizhou was stunned. He had thought Zhuang only had one ex-wife. Turns out, Zhuang had a whole parade of them. Disgusted, Shao Yizhou shot Zhuang a contemptuous look. A womanizer ghost? This was beyond shameless.

Zhuang hastily exclaimed, “My dear, let me explain! You know, I’ve been a ghost for so many years, of course I’ve encountered other ‘true loves.’ But that was all in the past! Now, you are my one and only true love!”

Shao Yizhou replied with a deadpan expression, “If your ‘true love’ has such a short shelf life and can be swapped out so easily, why not spare me and go find your next ‘true love’?”

Zhuang: “…”

Seeing that Shao Yizhou wasn’t buying his words, Zhuang’s face darkened, and his anger flared. He turned to glare at the Red-Dressed Ghost and the female fan. “You two are ruining my plans! I’ll make sure your souls scatter into oblivion!”

“Who dies here is still up for debate!” the Red-Dressed Ghost snapped.

“Today, you’re going to regret this!” the female fan chimed in.

With those words, the three ghosts clashed again, their fight escalating into utter chaos.

Zhuang held nothing back, while the Red-Dressed Ghost and the female fan teamed up against him. The three ghosts fought fiercely, their movements a blur of motion.

Shao Yizhou and his manager could only watch helplessly as the three supernatural beings darted up, down, left, and right, their battle spilling into the stairwell. The elevator they were in shook violently from the impact. With the way things were going, if the elevator suddenly gave out, would they even survive?

Shao Yizhou clung to the elevator door and cried out, “Master! Master, save me!”

The manager wanted to pull Shao Yizhou back-after all, there was still a ghost outside the door. Going closer was practically asking to be caught. But at this point, the manager himself was too panicked to do anything but watch as Shao Yizhou leaned against the door, shouting for help.

Finally, the elevator door cracked open just a sliver. A pitch-black eye appeared in the gap, staring at them with a chilling gaze. A sinister voice drifted through the crack. “I finally got the door open. I can see you now. Heh heh.”

The manager pressed himself against the elevator wall, every hair on his body standing on end. He frantically grabbed at Shao Yizhou, his voice trembling. “Oh my God, this ghost is terrifying! She’s coming in! She’s coming in!”

“What-what do we do? What do we do now?” The situation was dire-caught between a rock and a hard place, was there any way out?

Even Shao Yizhou, usually calm under pressure, felt his legs turn to jelly at the sight of that eerie eye. Unable to hold himself up, he collapsed onto the floor, clearly shaken to his core.

“Ma-Master…” he stammered, his voice trembling. It took him a moment to gather himself. Then, with a sudden burst of desperation, he threw himself at the door and wailed, “Master, please save me! They’re fighting over me! Is it my fault for being good-looking? Can’t they at least consider my feelings before starting a fight?”

The manager: “…??!”

…

The reason the elevator couldn’t be controlled from the outside or respond to the buttons was because it had been completely taken over by Zhuang’s ghostly aura. Now that Gu Feiyin had managed to pry open a small gap in the door, Zhuang immediately sensed it. Alarmed, he muttered under his breath, “This is bad,” and in the blink of an eye, he flung the Red-Dressed Ghost and the female fan aside and rushed back toward the elevator.

Having learned from his earlier mistakes, Zhuang was no longer as reckless as before. He was well aware of the unique abilities of the Long Black Straight Hair ghost and knew better than to confront her head-on. At the very least, he wouldn’t let her get close enough to touch him. If she managed to close the distance, his fate would be far worse than anything he’d faced so far.

Zhuang rushed back into the elevator, his eyes locking onto the crack in the door. Through the narrow gap, the Long-haired Woman’s single eye peered inside, her hands clawing at the edges as if she intended to force the door open with sheer strength.

Is this woman insane? Zhuang’s face darkened as he condensed his Resentment Energy into three sharp knives, hurling them viciously toward the crack in the door.

The knives, brimming with Yin Energy, shot straight toward Gu Feiyin’s face. Though she was now human and far weaker than before, her instincts for danger remained razor-sharp. Despite her blurred vision, she could sense something hurtling toward her with deadly intent.

She steadied herself, focusing her energy to react. Fragile as she was now, any injury would be a major setback. But then-she sniffed the air. Wait, was that… fragrant?

Her curiosity piqued, she tilted her head back and opened her mouth wide, catching all three knives in one swift motion. The blades ricocheted wildly inside her mouth, forcing her to chew them quickly. She winced as she bit down, the sharp edges scraping her tongue painfully. It reminded her of the feeling she got when she accidentally crunched through crawfish shells-delicious but excruciating.

Zhuang’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. What kind of monster was this Long-haired Woman, casually eating his knives like they were snacks?

Shao Yizhou: …

Manager: …

Both men stared at Gu Feiyin in stunned silence, their brains struggling to process what they had just witnessed.

Zhuang’s expression turned grim as he conjured four more knives, each one sharper and deadlier than the last. This time, he aimed directly at the Long-haired Woman’s hands, which were gripping the elevator door. He didn’t have full confidence that he could defeat her, but if he couldn’t overpower her, he could at least drive her away from his territory.

Gu Feiyin wasn’t about to risk catching these knives with her mouth again-her tongue still stung from the last batch. Instead, she extended her hand, catching the blades effortlessly as they flew toward her.

Shao Yizhou and the manager gasped in alarm when they saw her release her grip on the door. Their worst fear was that the elevator would close again, trapping them inside. Zhuang’s attack on her hands had made his intentions crystal clear. But just as panic set in, they noticed something: the elevator door remained open.

Looking down, they saw that Gu Feiyin had wedged her foot firmly into the gap, keeping the door from sliding shut.

Shao Yizhou exhaled in relief, while the manager wiped the sweat from his brow. That had been far too close for comfort.

Meanwhile, Gu Feiyin examined the knives in her hand. Only now did she realize why the “snacks” had hurt her tongue-they were thin, sharp-edged blades, not exactly ideal for eating. With a casual flick of her wrist, she rolled the knives into a smooth, round ball, transforming them into something resembling a giant candy. She popped the ball into her mouth, chewing contentedly. The taste wasn’t bad at all.

Zhuang: …

His plan had backfired spectacularly, and now he’d essentially handed over his weapons as snacks. The sheer humiliation made his blood boil.

At that moment, the Red-Dressed Ghost and the female fan caught up to him. Seeing Zhuang’s furious, defeated expression, they couldn’t help but cover their mouths, laughing quietly at his misfortune.

Zhuang’s anger reached its peak. He roared, “Who the hell are you, Long-haired Woman? Why do you keep interfering with me? What did I ever do to you?”

Gu Feiyin, still munching on her candy-like creation, pressed her cheek against the crack in the door, her blurry eyes trying to make out the scene inside. Unfortunately, her vision only offered her a vague, indistinct haze. She tilted her head in confusion and replied, “Weren’t you the one who started this mess?”

Shao Yizhou quickly chimed in, “Exactly, exactly! You were the one who came looking for trouble with me first. If you hadn’t forced me into marrying you, would I have had to fight back and call Master Gu to stand up for me?”

The female fan chuckled coldly, “Zhuang, you really are shameless. You think it’s fine for you to bully others, but the moment someone fights back and wins, you accuse them of being against you? So, what, we’re only not ‘against you’ if we let you walk all over us?”

The Red-Dressed Ghost crossed her arms, her tone dripping with disdain. “Exactly. Do you even know your own worth? Do you think we’d go out of our way to pick a fight with you? The only reason we’re dealing with you is because you started it.”

Zhuang was left utterly speechless, his face turning red with frustration. He was fuming, but also deeply troubled. Even his true love didn’t understand him. Strangers misunderstanding him was one thing, but why did Shao Yizhou have to see him this way too?

“My dear, I truly love you,” Zhuang said, his voice filled with sincerity.

“Ugh-” ×4

“…”

Zhuang felt as though his heart had shattered into a million pieces.

…

Meanwhile, the hotel manager was on the verge of tears. Seeing that the elevator had been stuck on the 32nd floor for ages, he rushed over with the maintenance team, barking orders in a panic. “Hurry up! If this keeps up, someone’s going to get seriously hurt!”

If something went wrong, not only would he be in deep trouble, but the hotel’s reputation would also be ruined.

No one could figure out what was going on with the elevator. To an outsider, it might even seem like it had become possessed-how else could it be acting so erratically?

But just as they were taking another elevator to the 32nd floor, all the lights in the hotel began to flicker ominously. The elevator they were in let out two sharp clanks, swayed violently, and then came to a halt mid-air.

Panic set in instantly.

“What the hell is going on? Why did the power suddenly go out? Everything was fine just a moment ago! We didn’t even get a notice about a power outage. Damn it, is tonight not chaotic enough already?”

“Even if there was a power outage, it wouldn’t be like this. We have backup generators and emergency power supplies. A blackout shouldn’t affect us at all… Something’s definitely off here.”

“Exactly! The elevator’s been acting up all night, and now this massive power outage? What’s happening?”

“Quick, call someone and find out what’s going on outside!”

And outside? It was utter chaos.

A large crowd of fans had gathered outside the hotel. Initially, the building had been brightly lit, with security maintaining order, so things hadn’t spiraled out of control. But now, the sudden blackout in the 35-story hotel plunged the entire structure into darkness. Surrounded by the glow of city lights, the hotel’s pitch-black silhouette stood out like a sore thumb, eerie and foreboding.

Inside the hotel, an icy chill seemed to seep up from the ground, piercing straight to the crown of everyone’s head. The oppressive atmosphere sent shivers down spines, filling people with an inexplicable sense of dread. Looking back at the hotel, it seemed shrouded in a sinister aura, as though it existed in a world separate from the bustling city around it.

Those with weaker nerves couldn’t hold back their tears. Outside, the fans were growing increasingly anxious. Shao Yizhou hadn’t been rescued yet, and now this bizarre incident? Could it mean… Shao Yizhou was beyond saving?

Although someone soon stepped forward to try and calm the crowd, the fear and unease were palpable. Inside the hotel, guests began fleeing down the stairwells in droves, adding to the chaos and panic. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and no one could shake the feeling that something truly terrible was unfolding.

“What’s going on? What’s happening in this hotel? Could it be… terrorists?”

“This is so scary! Our darling is still stuck in the elevator, and now this? I’m terrified something might happen to Yizhou…”

“Me too, I’m so scared. This hotel feels so creepy, like something’s seriously wrong. All the other buildings still have power, but this one’s completely out. How does that even make sense?”

“From what I know, this hotel has top-notch contingency measures. They’ve never had a power outage before because they have their own backup generators. For it to suddenly go dark like this… something’s definitely off.”

“Stop it, you’re freaking me out…”

While the chaos inside the hotel was reaching a fever pitch, the internet was no less lively. Speculation ran wild, with some even suggesting that Shao Yizhou might be cursed or haunted, which could explain all the bizarre incidents happening around him lately. Of course, such claims were quickly dismissed by those who prided themselves on being rational and scientific, who accused the rumor-mongers of fear-mongering and spreading baseless nonsense.

“Haunted? Seriously? If you’re going to make stuff up, at least try to make it believable. First sentence, and it’s already pure fiction. If you ask me, the hotel’s at fault here. The elevator’s malfunctioning, the whole building’s acting up-don’t try to shift the blame.”

“My sister works at that hotel, and she said they’ve been working around the clock to fix this. But for some reason, every time they manage to pry the elevator doors open, the elevator itself isn’t even there. They’ve spent the whole night chasing after it… So you can’t really say the hotel’s not doing anything. It’s the elevator that’s acting up.”

“Are you trying to say the elevator’s… alive? Even if the elevator’s faulty, isn’t it still the hotel’s responsibility? If they’d caught the issue earlier and fixed it, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Exactly! Right now, I’m just worried about Yizhou’s safety. This isn’t the time to point fingers; we need to get him out of there!”

“I heard that when the hotel’s maintenance team tried to take another elevator up to rescue Shao Yizhou, they got stuck too!”

“…What?! Are you kidding me?!”

What the hell?! Is this hotel cursed or something? Who would dare stay here after this?

Meanwhile, the hotel manager and maintenance staff, now trapped in their own elevator, were on the verge of tears. They had set out to rescue others, only to find themselves in need of rescuing. And this elevator wasn’t just malfunctioning-it was downright sinister. It creaked and groaned ominously, swaying unpredictably between floors. At one point, they could’ve sworn they heard voices… whispering?

What the hell was going on?!

…

Zhuang’s furious roar reverberated through the entire hotel, as if the building itself was on the verge of collapse. The elevator groaned in protest, its doors screeching as they struggled to close, seemingly desperate to shake off the Long-haired Woman.

But she wasn’t about to let that happen. One foot already wedged inside, she held her ground. Zhuang, in a panic, tried to force the elevator to ascend, but her trapped foot prevented it from moving upward. His mind raced, and in a split-second decision, he sent the elevator plummeting downward!

The sudden freefall sent Shao Yizhou and his manager into a frenzy of screams. “Help! Somebody help us-ahhh!”

The assistant, who had just regained consciousness, was so startled by the chaos that their eyes rolled back, and they fainted again.

The elevator suddenly dropped with a loud creak, catching Gu Feiyin’s foot as it descended. At the same time, she pried the elevator doors open completely. Standing at the edge of the dark abyss, she knew that one step forward would mean certain death.

Zhuang, who had been falling with the elevator, suddenly appeared behind the Long-haired Woman. Without hesitation, he shoved her forward.

Startled, she let out a shocked and frightened “Ah!” Her body wavered for a moment before plunging into the elevator shaft.

Zhuang watched as the Long-haired Woman fell into the abyss, then let out a sinister laugh. “A mere human dares to challenge me? No matter how skilled she is, she can’t defy gravity. This is a thirty-story building-surviving that fall is impossible.”

He was so pleased with himself that he nearly broke into a dance. With the Long-haired Woman gone, no one could interfere with his romantic pursuits anymore.

But just as he was reveling in his triumph, the impossible happened. The Long-haired Woman, who had fallen into the elevator shaft, began to rise slowly, like a ghost. He saw the top of her dark hair, her eerie, piercing eyes, and her pale, bluish face. Her long, straight black hair swayed in the cold wind as she stared at him with an expressionless face. The sight sent chills down his spine, forcing him to take a few steps back.

For a moment, he thought she had died and immediately turned into a ghost to seek revenge. But then he realized she wasn’t dead at all. Not only was she alive, but she was floating in mid-air. How was that even possible? It defied all logic!

As he stood there, bewildered, the Long-haired Woman continued to ascend. Beneath her feet was a Red-Dressed Ghost, grumbling in frustration, “Do you have any idea how heavy you are?”

The Long-haired Woman cracked a sheepish smile and replied sincerely, “Sorry about that. Thanks for the help.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost snorted in annoyance.

“I’ll treat you to a candle when we get back.”

“…A single candle? Are you kidding me?!”

Zhuang was utterly dumbfounded. “What the…?!”

Was this even allowed? Since when did ghosts have no shame?

Of course, Zhuang conveniently forgot that he himself was a ghost who had once wrestled wild boars.

…

The situation escalated quickly after that. Zhuang, unwilling to face the Long-haired Woman head-on, grabbed a long blade from a humanoid statue in the hallway and swung it at Gu Feiyin. The Red-Dressed Ghost materialized a whip formed from Resentment Energy, but instead of using it herself, she handed it to the Long-haired Woman. With the whip in hand, the Long-haired Woman lashed it toward Zhuang with a powerful flick.

That strike was no joke.

The chilling aura emanating from the whip was hundreds of times stronger than that of the Red-Dressed Ghost. Zhuang dared not block it with his bare hands as he had done before. He dodged to the side, using the long blade to parry. The whip coiled around the blade several times, and with a sharp tug, the Long-haired Woman disarmed him. Zhuang, unwilling to risk injury, let go of the blade, which clattered to the ground. The whip struck the wall, leaving a deep indentation that emitted a faint, ominous black energy.

Zhuang was shaken to his core. He began to question the Long-haired Woman’s origins. Eating ghosts was one thing, but wielding weapons forged from Resentment Energy? That was unheard of. Yet she clearly wasn’t a ghost herself. Could she be a spirit beast that had cultivated into a human form? No, that couldn’t be right-she had no trace of demonic energy about her.

Zhuang barely had time to think. He knew he was no match for the Long-haired Woman. With a swift turn, he darted into the elevator, aiming to drag Shao Yizhou away with him. The Red-Dressed Ghost followed closely, carrying the Long Black Straight Hair on her back.

“Nine o’clock direction! Zhuang’s dragging Shao Yizhou away!”

Shao Yizhou was terrified out of his wits, clawing desperately at the elevator walls, kicking and flailing. He shouted repeatedly, “Get away from me!” “I won’t go with you!” “Stay away!” He pulled out the amulet for peace from his pocket and hurled them at Zhuang with all his might.

His manager tried to help but was too scared to touch the ghost directly. Instead, he cautiously held onto Shao Yizhou, preventing him from being dragged away. Zhuang, already weakened, found himself hindered by the faint power of the amulets. Frustrated, he gritted his teeth, grabbed Shao Yizhou, and bolted.

“Master, help me!” Shao Yizhou screamed.

Gu Feiyin couldn’t see what was happening, but her nose worked well enough. The scent was close now, and she could smell it clearly. Trusting her instincts, she lashed out with the Resentment Energy whip. Though she couldn’t pass through walls, the whip could. Zhuang felt a chill run down his spine as the whip cracked near him. Meanwhile, a female fan lunged at him, forcing him to release Shao Yizhou. He stumbled backward, narrowly dodging the whip, and crashed into another elevator.

Shao Yizhou, now free, was trembling and on the verge of tears. For the first time, he regretted being so handsome-it seemed to attract all the wrong kinds of attention.

Meanwhile, the people inside the elevator Zhuang had collided with were equally terrified. One of them nervously asked, “Is this elevator going to fall?”

“No, it won’t.”

“I think I heard someone talking. Did you hear it?”

“No, there’s no one talking. Stop scaring us!”

“I’m serious.” The person glanced upward. “It sounded like a man… cursing?”

At this, everyone in the elevator felt a chill. The dim beam of a flashlight barely illuminated the space, making the atmosphere even more unsettling.

“Alright, enough! Just stay still and don’t move. We don’t want to overload the elevator.”

Zhuang, now perched on the elevator roof, stomped angrily a few times, causing the elevator to creak ominously. “I’m warning you! Don’t push a ghost too far! If you make me mad, none of you will get out of here alive!”

Gu Feiyin wasn’t interested in his threats. She followed the sound of his voice and lashed her whip again. Zhuang dodged, retreating further until he fell through the elevator roof, landing inside with the frightened occupants. They caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure, indistinct and hazy, like a wisp of mist.

“Can we talk this out? Do you always have to start swinging at ghosts?”

“No. I’m going to eat you.”

“…”

“You can’t escape. You’re so fragrant-this time, I’m definitely going to devour you. Heh heh.”

“…………”

Zhuang felt the Long-haired Woman’s dark, hungry gaze bore into him. He was instantly reminded of the horrific moment when she had pinned him down and gnawed on his arm and forehead. Fear and dread consumed him as he realized there was no escape.

The men trapped inside the elevator were now pale-faced, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads. A chilling, eerie voice, full of malice and gloom, drifted down from above, sending shivers down their spines.

“…Eat you? Smells so good?”

Why was the voice coming from above? This wasn’t the first or second floor where sound might carry through thin walls. They were stuck inside an elevator, with nothing but empty space above. Could an ordinary person even be up there, let alone say something like that?

The only explanation was that whoever-or whatever-was speaking wasn’t ordinary. But who was she talking to?

Frozen in place, they held their breath, staring upward, too terrified to even twitch.

The silence stretched on. No more strange sounds came. Finally, one of them, trembling, broke the quiet: “Did you guys hear that?”

“…Y-yeah, I heard it. You did too?”

“I did…” They exchanged uneasy glances, their throats dry, faces etched with panic. “What’s going on? Did we imagine it? Was it just a hallucination?”

“M-maybe?”

“Yeah… sure…”

But deep down, they knew they were lying to themselves. That voice had been crystal clear, as loud as thunder. How could it have been a mistake?

Thinking back to all the inexplicable events of the night-the elevator’s erratic movements, the sudden blackout across the hotel-they couldn’t help but wonder: Could this really be the work of some supernatural entity?

Were demons or ghosts actually fighting inside their elevator? It was too absurd to believe, yet the evidence was right in front of them.

As they wrestled with their disbelief, a new sound reached their ears-a faint crunching noise from below. It sounded like… chewing? Wait, chewing?! They exchanged bewildered looks, just as the eerie voice returned, this time from below:

“Smells amazing. I didn’t expect your arms to grow back so quickly after I ate them last time.”

The men inside the elevator: “…………”

They swallowed hard, their teeth chattering audibly. The more faint-hearted among them rolled their eyes and passed out cold. Even the braver ones were trembling uncontrollably, teetering on the edge of collapse.

…

Zhuang was cornered, unable to escape the relentless pursuit of the Long-haired Woman, the Red-Dressed Ghost, and the obsessive female fan. A misstep left him ensnared by the Long-haired Woman’s whip, which coiled tightly around his arm. Unlike before, he couldn’t shatter the whip or wrest it from her grasp. This time, it was different. He could only watch helplessly as she began pulling him closer, inch by inch.

Desperate, Zhuang clung to the elevator frame to anchor himself. She pulled with all her might; he resisted with equal force. The tug-of-war was brutal, and the poor men inside the elevator were caught in the middle, suffering for it.

No, Zhuang thought. He couldn’t let himself be dragged over to her. If he did, there’d be no coming back. She’d promised to eat him, and he knew firsthand that she wasn’t bluffing. He’d been her prey before-he knew she meant every word. If she succeeded this time, there’d be nothing left of him, not even his soul.

The female fan, meanwhile, was adding fuel to the fire with her sarcastic commentary: “You’re being so unreasonable. She’s genuinely trying to eat you, and you’re resisting like this? Isn’t it a bit rude to reject her so harshly?”

Zhuang’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Then why don’t you let her eat you? If you’re so fearless, go ahead-I’ll watch and see if you run away.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost sneered, “Oh, so you do know how to run, huh? Funny, when you were forcing Shao Yizhou with your so-called ‘sincerity,’ you didn’t seem to think you were being unreasonable. And now that someone wants to eat you, suddenly you’re all about running away?”

Zhuang: “…”

He was on the verge of tears. One woman was already like a tigress, but here? There were three of them. He was doomed.

He knew there was no way they’d let him off the hook. Left with no other choice, he severed one of his own arms in a desperate bid for survival. He could only watch helplessly as the Long-haired Woman coiled her whip around his severed arm, pulled it toward her, and began gnawing on it with relish. “Mmm, delicious! I can’t believe it’s grown back so quickly after I ate both your arms last time.”

Zhuang: “…”

He had hoped that after a few bites, the Long-haired Woman might show him some mercy. But no-she was enjoying herself far too much. The taste only strengthened her resolve to devour him entirely. With one hand brandishing her whip and the other waving his severed arm, she charged at him with an unstoppable, chilling momentum.

This was bad. Already down an arm, Zhuang didn’t dare take her head-on. He turned and bolted.

The fangirl immediately leapt forward to block his path, while the Red-Dressed Ghost, with Gu Feiyin in tow, closed in from the other side. Gu Feiyin, catching a whiff of his scent, lashed out with her whip. Zhuang dodged and weaved, but his injuries had taken their toll. Eventually, he was ensnared again, this time with no way to sever himself free.

Once Zhuang was securely bound, Gu Feiyin moved in close. She raised his severed arm and began pummeling him mercilessly, leaving him seeing stars and utterly disoriented. Only when he was thoroughly beaten did she finally stop.

Barely clinging to consciousness, Zhuang sobbed and begged for mercy. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry, okay? I was wrong! I didn’t mean to disturb Shao Yizhou. I just wanted to see him, that’s all. I wasn’t planning to show myself. If it weren’t for…” He glanced at the fangirl. “If it weren’t for her constantly fawning over him, I wouldn’t have tried to teach her a lesson. I wouldn’t have forced Shao Yizhou to come back to the mountain with me.”

The fangirl retorted, “I was just watching from the sidelines, okay? I wasn’t doing anything. I was going to leave after a while. Unlike you, trying to force him into marriage.”

Zhuang: “…I just like him too much, okay?”

The fangirl: “Ugh-gross!”

Zhuang: “…”

Gu Feiyin dragged Zhuang back to the hallway on the thirty-second floor. From her pocket, she pulled out a length of yarn she had brought specifically for tying up ghosts. She had forgotten to bring it during her last trip to Dalong Mountain, which was a shame-she could’ve captured a few more Ghost Slaves to sell for some extra cash.

After securing Zhuang tightly, she handed the Resentment Energy whip back to the Red-Dressed Ghost. The Red-Dressed Ghost, thoroughly exhausted, didn’t even have the energy to speak. Ever since becoming a ghost, she’d never been this worn out. How on earth was this Long Black Straight Hair woman so heavy? She didn’t look like she had much meat on her at all!

At that moment, she found herself missing Jumping Sister. If Jumping Sister were here, this kind of physical labor would’ve been her job.

…

Once Zhuang was captured, the strange occurrences he had caused in the hotel finally ceased. The elevators resumed normal operation, the power came back on, and the once pitch-black hotel was once again brightly lit.

Shao Yizhou finally stepped out of the elevator, accompanied by his agent. Three unconscious assistants were carried out as well and sent to the medical room for examination.

Similarly, the hotel manager and several staff members from the maintenance department emerged, practically crawling out of the elevator. Their faces were pale as sheets, drained of all color, as if they had just endured some unspeakable trauma. Despite the winter chill, they were drenched in sweat, their clothes soaked through, startling the onlookers outside.

“Was it really that terrifying inside? It’s all over now. Don’t be scared-go get checked at the medical room.”

“Yes, yes, hurry up. And change your clothes while you’re at it, or you’ll catch a cold.”

“Don’t worry, it’s all fine now.”

The hotel manager and the maintenance staff were at a loss for words. It wasn’t the elevator that had frightened them-it was the inexplicable horrors they had encountered inside. But this wasn’t the time to explain; they could only force a bitter smile and head to the medical room. Today’s experience was so bizarre that they doubted anyone would believe them if they tried to recount it.

“Do you think monsters and ghosts really exist?”

“Well… before today, I would’ve said no. But now? I think they do.”

“They’re terrifying! They even eat each other! We should keep quiet about this. If that monster finds out we overheard her secret, she might come back for revenge!”

“Exactly. Safety first. Let’s not talk about it.”

“…”

Shao Yizhou’s legs were trembling as he walked out, especially when he saw Zhuang, now subdued and limp, being dragged along by Master Gu. His anger flared, and he glared at Zhuang, shouting, “Serves you right! Let’s see if you dare threaten me again!”

Zhuang: “…”

Shao Yizhou’s agent, hiding behind him, glanced nervously at the eerie Long-haired Woman, then at Zhuang, who was trailing behind her, followed by the Red-Dressed Ghost and the female fan. He wiped his face, visibly shaken. Tonight had completely overturned his worldview. He doubted he’d ever want to step outside after dark again-home was definitely safer.

Now that Zhuang had been captured, the situation seemed to be wrapping up. The female fan, sticking close to Shao Yizhou, asked eagerly if she could get his autograph. Among the celebrities in the entertainment industry, Shao Yizhou was her absolute favorite. If she could get his autograph, she’d be over the moon-well, as much as a ghost could be.

Shao Yizhou, grateful for her help in blocking Zhuang, readily agreed. But he couldn’t help his curiosity and asked Master Gu what they planned to do with Zhuang. Should they hand him over to Zhang Daoist?

Zhuang’s head hung low, but his eyes lit up with hope. If they handed him over to Zhang Daoist, he might still have a chance to escape and make a comeback!

Gu Feiyin smirked and said, “He’s still useful for now.”

The Red-Dressed Ghost asked, “Useful for what?”

Everyone turned to look at Master Gu. Her eerie face lit up with an unsettling anticipation as she explained, “Well, Zhuang’s going to be my next meal anyway. I figured his stash of hidden wealth might as well go to me too.”

Zhuang: “…???”

What the hell?! Is she even human? She’s a devil!