I Am Not a Master - Chapter 61

Thanks to the Water Ghost’s generous delivery of fresh and large seafood, Gu Feiyin planned to enjoy a feast that evening. She was going to make Minced Garlic Lobster, spicy crab, and grill some scallops and oysters. Even though she couldn’t watch the Spring Festival Gala¹, she could still listen to it. Eating spicy and fragrant food while listening to the show, with a sip of cold cola, was a true delight.

This cola was particularly delicious, living up to its reputation as the “happy drink” for couch potatoes. Despite its dark, medicinal appearance, it tasted sweet, and even the fizzing sound was delightful. However, drinking too much made her burp, which was quite uncomfortable, and the first time it happened, it brought tears to her eyes. Plus, it was quite expensive at three and a half yuan per bottle! If she hadn’t felt like she was one step closer to becoming a billionaire, she wouldn’t have splurged on it.

Given the success of her recent trip, she decided to indulge a little and bought a bottle of cola, planning to drink it over two days-half today and the other half tomorrow. Since she opened it late, leaving it overnight wouldn’t be a problem.

While listening to the Spring Festival Gala, she recognized some familiar names and voices, like He Kang, Gao Cai, Yuan Gaoming, Sudi, Shen Yue, Shao Yizhou, and Xia Yao. They performed skits and sang songs, which was quite impressive, no wonder they were worth fifty million.

The Headless Ghost and Armless Ghost sat cross-legged on the floor, munching on candles while complaining about the Gala’s lack of novelty over the years. The Neighbor Miss hung from the ceiling, peering around with her grayish eyes. The Old Lady sat on a broom, staring blankly at the TV, only moving when the screen flickered, prompting the ghosts to urge Master Gu to give it a few taps.

“Oh no! It’s the highlight, Sudi’s on, and this ghost TV is acting up again!”

“I say, we should get someone to fix this thing. It’s always acting up, making it hard to watch.”

“Yeah, Master, why don’t you have someone fix it? The TV’s always flickering, and we can’t see clearly.”

“We’ll fix it in a few days. I can’t see anyway, as long as there’s sound, it’s fine. Besides, fixing the TV costs money, so let’s make do.”

Master Gu, holding a crab leg in one hand, tapped the TV a few times with the other.

The ghosts: “…………”

Zhuang, tied like a little puppy to the table leg, rolled his eyes from under the table-his only refuge now. Over the past few days, he realized just how frugal this Long Black Straight Hair was. She was as stingy as she was powerful, always calculating to save money. With all her wealth, it would take several lifetimes to spend it all, yet she didn’t know how to enjoy it.

Just then, the police arrived, startling not only Gu Feiyin but also the entire room of ghosts.

Upon hearing the police’s purpose, Gu Feiyin was stunned, and so were the ghosts.

“Stealing cultural relics???”

“Going to jail???”

“Severe cases could mean ten years or life imprisonment?”

“Spending a lifetime in prison?”

Whoa?! No way!!

Zhuang, after a long pause, burst into uproarious laughter!

“Haha, hahaha, hahahaha!”

“Heaven has eyes, heaven finally has eyes, heaven finally sees!”

“Ahahahahahaha!”

And then he was beaten up by the ghosts, but even while getting thrashed, he was happy. He couldn’t deal with the Long Black Straight Hair, but someone else could. He refused to believe she didn’t have a nemesis in this world.

Now look, no matter how powerful, she still ended up in the slammer, right?

Hehe.

…

Caught red-handed, Gu Feiyin was detained that very night. Her garlic lobster and spicy crab were left unfinished, and half of the cola she had splurged three and a half yuan on was still sitting in the fridge. If she was held up for a day or two, it would go flat and undrinkable. Had she known this would happen, she would have just finished it all! And there were so many sea cucumbers and shellfish too, best eaten fresh. If they sat too long, they’d lose their taste. If worst came to worst, she’d have to trouble the Armless Ghost to deliver them to the Wang Family grandfather and grandson. Otherwise, they’d spoil, and what a waste that would be.

And how could this be considered stealing artifacts? It was clearly a legal inheritance.

“I didn’t steal.”

“Really, these were about to be legally inherited from Zhuang, who was about to kick the bucket.”

“Even though they came from a tomb, it was because Zhuang hid them there.”

“I don’t know Zhuang’s full name. He’s a ghost, tied up with yarn under my dining table. You can go check. Or let me go back and ask him?”

“I’m telling the truth, not lying.”

The officer looked at her with a stern face. “Scoff, still not confessing, huh?”

The Long-haired Woman grinned, looking both eerie and simple, with a touch of naivety, her unfocused eyes adding to the effect. “I am confessing honestly. If you don’t believe me, ask them. They can vouch for me.”

But her eerie demeanor made people uncomfortable, especially when she grinned, revealing a missing tooth. It was quite unsettling, and the officer couldn’t help but shiver, glancing around. The place felt chilly, and besides the Long-haired Woman, there was no one else to ask.

Ha, this Long-haired Woman was caught with the goods and still dared to argue. Truly cunning!

“You think I’m a fool?”

“No, no.”

“Then who would believe such a story? You say there are ghosts? Are you dreaming?”

“…”

To be honest, Gu Feiyin’s story wouldn’t be believed by any ordinary officer. They’d think she was just making excuses. They’ve heard plenty of defenses from criminals, but this legal inheritance from a ghost was a first. Criminals these days were getting more creative.

Since the officer couldn’t see, he didn’t realize the station was surrounded by ghosts.

The Headless Ghost was scratching its head in frustration. “How did this happen? Who’s the heartless one that reported her? If I find out, I’ll scare them to death.”

The Armless Ghost said, “What’s the use of saying that now? We need to think of a solution.”

“Should we bring Zhuang here to testify? As long as he proves those artifacts are indeed his inheritance, Master Gu will be fine!”

“Zhuang hates Master Gu so much. Would he even show up? Besides, these officers are full of righteousness and authority. We can’t get close to them, and they can’t easily see us. Even if they did, they’d probably think we’re trying to trick them.”

“…So what do we do? Is there no way?”

“There are so many artifacts. From what the officer said, she might be sentenced to ten or twenty years! If it’s serious, it could be life imprisonment!”

“How did it get so serious?”

“Of course, this is really bad!”

The police station was buzzing with excitement after capturing a major cultural relic thief. After all, there were a dozen large boxes filled with gold, silver, and jade artifacts, each one exquisitely crafted. Despite their age, which lent them a slightly worn appearance, their value remained unaffected. The station had already reported the case, and they were just waiting for experts to arrive.

“But this Long-haired Woman… Is Gu Feiyin a bit out of her mind? These items clearly have historical value, yet she claims they’re her legally inherited property. Who would believe such a story?”

“It’s strange, indeed. Maybe she’s trying to protect her accomplices by making up excuses to lower our guard.”

“If that’s the case, she’s quite clever. But no matter how smart she is, caught red-handed, she’s definitely going to prison.”

“Right, get a few people to stake out near Gu Feiyin’s house. If she has accomplices, they’re bound to come back for the goods, and we can catch them all!”

“Don’t worry, Captain!”

Jiang Tian returned from his patrol and naturally heard about the big case the station had cracked. On New Year’s Eve, they had apprehended a member of a major tomb-robbing gang! She was already detained and had given her statement, though the content was somewhat baffling.

Jiang Tian listened in on the conversation, and when he heard the name “Gu Feiyin,” his mind jolted: “Gu Feiyin? The one who got caught is Gu Feiyin? From Fumin Road?”

Colleague A replied, “Yes, the one living in the haunted house on Fumin Road. You know her too? I tell you, her name sounds normal, but she’s a bit off. She claims some guy named Zhuang is a ghost and that she inherited his property legally, so it’s not theft. This kind of talk might fool kids, but trying to fool us? She must think we’re idiots.”

Colleague B added, “But I really get a mysterious vibe from Gu Feiyin. And did you know? She has a coffin in her bedroom filled with Ghost Money, and there are nylon bags under her bed stuffed with Paper Money!”

Colleague C chimed in, “Why would she keep so many things related to the dead in her house? It’s terrifying.”

Colleague D remarked, “I don’t know, but she seems a bit eerie to me.”

Jiang Tian was equally shocked. He knew the Long-haired Woman, Gu Feiyin, was somewhat peculiar, but he had never been able to confirm anything, so he chose not to dwell on it. Some things are better left unknown. But he never imagined Gu Feiyin would be caught for stealing cultural relics and now faced the threat of imprisonment.

Jiang Tian couldn’t believe his ears. Was he hallucinating?

Gu Feiyin was genuinely scared. She hadn’t even found her way home yet, and now she might be stuck in the police station for ten or twenty years? What about her job? And all those cured meats and sausages she hadn’t eaten yet? She was planning to cook a pot of braised pork ribs! How could she manage that while being locked up?

Fortunately, Xiao Zhang called her. Xiao Zhang was from the Special Unit, someone from higher up. She hoped he could vouch for her and get her out of this mess.

She never imagined things would turn out like this. It was supposed to be a legally inherited estate, so how did it become stolen artifacts? She didn’t realize the laws of this world were so strict now. Things from tombs were considered national property, and taking them was a crime that could lead to imprisonment!

Back when she was a ghost, it wasn’t like this. She had seen plenty of humans digging up graves on the mountains, taking gold and jewels to sell, and they never ended up in jail. Times had indeed changed.

Now she was locked up in a cage.

There were quite a few others in cages around her, mostly people who tried to make a quick buck during the New Year chaos. Even though they were locked up, they could still watch the Spring Festival Gala together, making it rather lively.

When they saw a new companion, a Long-haired Woman with a gloomy demeanor, chin down and expressionless, she looked quite scary. But after all, she was just another woman locked up like them. Someone asked, “Hey, what did you get caught for?”

Gu Feiyin squinted, unable to see who was asking. She replied weakly, “They said I stole cultural relics.”

“Oh my, you’re impressive! A tomb raider? You’ve got a brighter future than us. I just stole a phone and got locked up on New Year’s Eve. Can’t even celebrate.”

“…” She wasn’t a tomb raider, but indeed, she couldn’t celebrate the New Year. The lobsters and crabs at home were probably cold by now, and her inheritance had been confiscated. Getting it back would be tough.

She hung her head low, her whole demeanor exuding an eerie aura, making her look even more terrifying.

The Headless Ghost beside her tried to comfort her, saying, “Don’t worry, I checked. Your inheritance is well-kept in the warehouse at the back.”

The Armless Ghost added, “Of course it is. Those are antiques, each worth at least seven figures. They wouldn’t dare mishandle them.”

“That’s right. I heard there are officers guarding the door, so even getting a closer look is difficult.”

“If there weren’t so many people, we could sneak in and move the stuff out. But with so many watching, it’s hard to make a move.”

“Better not? If the blame falls on Master Gu, what then?”

“…” That would be awful, maybe even a life sentence.

The Neighbor Miss was embedded in the ceiling, swaying back and forth. The Old Lady was sweeping with a broom, looking quite content. Upon closer inspection, they seemed rather happy.

The ghosts discussed among themselves but couldn’t come up with a solution. They decided to go back and ask other ghosts for ideas, or consult the Red-Dressed Ghost, who was known for her wisdom and education. Surely, she would know what to do.

…

A vague shadow drifted into the police station, so indistinct that one might think they were seeing things.

Xiao Zhao huddled in the corner, shivering uncontrollably.

Even though the cell was heated, making it comfortable enough to sit without a coat, Xiao Zhao felt as if he were freezing. His cellmates were lounging in their thermal shirts, watching the Spring Festival Gala, laughing and joking, creating a lively atmosphere. It was nearly midnight, and the show was about to end. If it weren’t, Xiao Zhao might have been driven mad by their cheerfulness.

He was genuinely freezing, despite wearing a padded coat. Ever since he got caught trying to steal from the Long-haired Woman’s house, his luck had taken a nosedive.

After finally getting out of the station, he took a few days to recover before attempting to work again, hoping to boost his earnings before the New Year. But every attempt since had failed. Either he was caught in the act, or he ended up being chased by vigilant citizens like a dog. His career had hit an unprecedented slump.

Zhao the Thief was caught this time because he was spotted trying to steal a phone on a bus. The driver, without hesitation, drove straight to the nearest police station with a bus full of passengers. Being a frequent visitor to the station, the officers recognized him immediately, catching him red-handed. Now, he was spending the New Year behind bars.

As an orphan with no family, it didn’t matter much where he spent the holiday. But he was unbearably cold, unsure if he was sick or something else was wrong, as he couldn’t shake the chill.

Finally, unable to endure it any longer, he called out from the cell door, claiming he was sick and needed medicine. He insisted that without it, he might just die from illness.

An officer came over, noticing Zhao’s pale face and blue lips. Despite wearing a padded coat, he was shivering. The officer felt his forehead, which was indeed cold, suggesting a fever.

“You’re not faking illness to get out of here, are you?”

“Why would I do that? I’m too poor to afford medicine if I get sick. I’d just be making trouble for myself.”

“Wait here, I’ll talk to the Captain.”

Xiao Zhao quickly agreed, watching as the officer walked away. About ten minutes later, the officer returned, saying they would take him to get some medicine, but warned him sternly not to try any tricks.

Xiao Zhao agreed eagerly. He wouldn’t dare try anything in the police station; that would be suicidal.

But just as the iron door opened, the previously weak and shivering Zhao the Thief suddenly stiffened. He shuddered, his usually sharp eyes turning blank and expressionless. Rising onto his tiptoes, he fixed a bizarre gaze on the officer in front of him. Then, to the officer’s bewilderment, he lunged forward with open arms!

Zhao the Thief, who was supposed to be extremely weak, somehow found the strength to kick the officer in front of him, sending him flying across the room. The officer crashed heavily against the wall, then fell to the ground, clutching his stomach in pain, unable to move for quite some time. He struggled to call for help, but eventually his vision darkened, and he passed out.

Naturally, this commotion caught the attention of the other inmates nearby. They stopped watching the Spring Festival Gala and craned their necks to see what was happening.

“What’s going on? Did someone attack the police? That’s some nerve, isn’t it?”

“Looks like a jailbreak!”

“That’s impressive! This is a police station, and someone dares to attack the police and break out? I’ve got to add him to my list of idols.”

“Look, look, is he coming over?”

After knocking down the officer, Zhao the Thief finally walked out. He tiptoed over to the unconscious officer, grabbed him with one hand, and dragged him along. When he reached the next cell, he paused for a moment, then yanked at the sturdy lock, breaking it with ease, leaving everyone watching in shock, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads.

This guy looks so skinny and small, yet he’s got such strength? Is he even human?

But that wasn’t all. As he passed each cell, he broke another lock. Although this was a temporary holding area inside the police station, there were several cells, holding quite a few people-at least thirty or so! Breaking them one by one would surely cause chaos.

However, for now, they all gathered at the doors to watch, not daring to actually run, knowing that the first one to make a move would be the first one targeted.

The commotion triggered the alarm, and soon, the officers arrived, their faces stern and their demeanor cold, weapons in hand. They looked at Zhao the Thief and then at their colleague he was holding, saying, “You’re surrounded. If you know what’s good for you, drop your weapon and surrender immediately! Otherwise, you’ll face additional charges for jailbreak and assaulting an officer. Don’t even think about getting out!”

Zhao the Thief stared at them, curling his lips into a sinister smile. His pale face was unsettling, completely different from the impression he had given before, leaving everyone puzzled and suspicious. Just then, the bright police station suddenly emitted a few creaks, the lights flickered, and then went out with a pop, plunging the room into darkness, pitch black, where nothing could be seen.

“What happened? Did the power go out?”

“Power outage? How could that happen? Did the circuit break?”

“Should we… escape?”

With the lights out, in the pitch-black darkness, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity to make a run for it?

For a moment, many were itching to move.

…

Zhao the Thief had injured an officer, opened all the cell doors, and now even managed to turn off the lights? Not only were the inmates surprised, but the officers present were also stunned. Such organized and methodical actions couldn’t have been done by him alone unless he had accomplices.

Suddenly, everyone was on high alert, grabbing flashlights and aiming them at “Zhao the Thief” while quietly instructing each other to check for any suspicious figures around the police station, suspecting that there might be accomplices outside.

However, Jiang Tian didn’t see it that way because he felt a sense of déjà vu with “Zhao the Thief’s” current condition. It reminded him of something… Oh, that’s right, he remembered! When he and his colleagues were out looking for information about Sudi, they had encountered Gu Feiyin bringing in two peculiar robbers who had surrendered themselves. Those robbers had been just like Zhao the Thief, pale-faced, stiff, with a strange look in their eyes, and even… tiptoeing.

When possessed by a ghost, the heels don’t touch the ground because the person’s body is stuffed with a spirit controlling their movements, directing them left or right, devoid of any self-awareness.

Could this also be a case of possession?

A chill ran down Jiang Tian’s spine, alarmed at the possibility. If it was possession, what could they do? And what exactly was the ghost’s objective? The large commotion clearly indicated sinister intentions.

As he was grappling with uncertainty, suddenly another tall male prisoner walked up behind “Zhao the Thief” and stood still, his face expressionless and his dull eyes staring at them; then another thin, dark-skinned man about fifty years old came forward, his face just as rigid and his eyes bizarre, with a malicious smirk directed at them.

One became two, and soon there were three, four, five…

Incredibly, there were as many as ten!

Today was New Year’s Eve, and it was late at night. Many had already gone home, and the colleagues who were on duty were mostly out patrolling, so there were few people in the station. The suddenness of the event had indeed caught them off guard.

The Captain, on alert, drew his pistol and shouted, “What are you trying to do now? Break out of jail? China is vast, but all your identities are recorded. Without your passports and ID cards, you can’t even leave the country. Don’t think you’re free just because you escaped. Everyone, get back now! I might overlook this incident, but if you go too far, don’t blame us for being harsh!”

Colleague A said, “Everyone, go back now! Stay in your rooms, we have surveillance here. If anyone tries to escape, forget about it, you won’t get far.”

Colleague B said, “Hurry up, don’t make us take action!”

But no matter how much they threatened or persuaded, led by “Zhao the Thief,” the group remained as if deaf, standing rigidly in place. Meanwhile, quite a few people gathered at the door to watch the spectacle, seizing the opportunity to think about escaping. Who in their right mind wants to be in jail?

During the standoff between the police and “Zhao the Thief,” a large male prisoner suddenly grabbed a man who was craning his neck out the door to look, without a word, threw him to the ground and started pummeling him. The man, bewildered by the unprovoked attack, exploded in anger: “What the hell, why are you hitting me?”

The chaos didn’t stop there. The strong and tall men standing behind Zhao the Thief began attacking everyone around them indiscriminately, not caring who they were or if there was any past grievance-whoever they grabbed, they hit!

“What the hell, are you crazy? How dare you hit me?!”

“You’re still hitting? Watch me beat you to a pulp today!”

“Are you just going to watch me get beaten? Hurry up and help!”

“Beat them to death!”

The scene descended into utter chaos as dozens of people started fighting, and it was a full-blown brawl.

Those locked up here weren’t exactly saints, and none of them were going to sit back and take a beating. Naturally, they fought back with gusto, and soon, inmates from several cells were tangled up in a massive brawl, like a street fight gone wild.

Even the police were momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events. What was going on? It was as if they were being completely ignored.

The Captain and a few others were furious at the sight, pulling out their batons and stepping forward to intervene. “Stop it right now! Anyone who causes trouble won’t be getting out for the New Year!”

Jiang Tian sensed something was off. While others might see this as a simple jailbreak attempt, he felt an underlying strangeness to the situation. He quickly warned, “Captain, don’t go over there! I think there’s more to this!”

He suspected that the ten people who initially stood behind Zhao the Thief might also be possessed, just like Zhao. The fight could be a mere distraction. Regardless, caution was paramount.

“More to it? They’re just trying to escape. What’s so complicated about that? Lock the doors tight. If even one person escapes today, none of you will be celebrating the New Year.”

Jiang Tian knew his warning wouldn’t be heeded, as they didn’t believe in ghosts, dismissing it as nonsense. He could only stay alert, bringing up the rear.

The subsequent events proved his intuition right. As the Captain and his team approached with batons, the thirty-odd people who had been fighting-whether attackers or victims-suddenly looked up, fixing them with eerie smiles. In the next instant, they charged at the Captain and his team with reckless abandon!

Seeing that these people dared to attack the police, the Captain and his team responded with steely determination, swinging their batons with force and speed, not holding back. The batons were painful, capable of incapacitating someone with a single blow. Yet, inexplicably, the blows seemed to have no effect. The prisoners, seemingly numb to pain, merely staggered but showed no other reaction. How was this possible?

The Captain immediately sensed something was wrong. These people were not acting normally.

The situation escalated in an instant!

The thirty-odd individuals, as if possessed, shifted their focus entirely to the Captain and his team, charging at them en masse! Realizing the change in situation, the Captain and his team made a split-second decision to draw their guns. However, outnumbered and overpowered by the possessed, five of them were easily subdued. Their arms and legs were restrained, and even when they managed to fire a few shots into the air, they were quickly pinned to the ground, unable to break free.

Fortunately, Jiang Tian was at the back and on guard, so when the attack came suddenly, he managed to step back just in time to avoid a disaster.

He was extremely shocked and exclaimed internally that his suspicions were correct-something was off with these people; they were being controlled by something.

Zhao the Thief stared coldly at Jiang Tian and said eerily, “There’s one more.”

Despite clearly being a man, his voice was ambiguous, neither distinctly male nor female, and had a sharp edge that made one’s skin crawl.

Jiang Tian swallowed hard and asked, “Who are you really? I know you’re not Zhao Qing.”

Zhao the Thief sneered, “If you say I’m not Zhao Qing, then who am I?”

Jiang Tian replied, “How should I know which wandering spirit you are? You’ve taken over Zhao Qing’s body and made these criminals kill each other. What are you really after?”

Zhao the Thief’s expression changed and he ordered, “Catch him!”

Seeing the Captain and others on the ground, Jiang Tian didn’t think twice; he turned and ran.

Even the Captain couldn’t handle them; naturally, neither could he. His only option was to escape and call for help, or they would all surely die here!

Just as he reached the door, before he could feel relieved, it slammed shut with a loud bang, and no matter how hard he pushed, it wouldn’t budge.

His scalp numbed with fear, and he thought, “It’s over, it’s really over this time!”

Not just Jiang Tian, but even the Captain, pinned down by five or six men, realized that the situation was more complicated than he had imagined. These people seemed immune to pain and shock, and their strength was unnaturally great. Especially up close, he could clearly see the rigid, pale faces of the prisoners, their unblinking eyes pressing down on him like lifeless Puppets.

This wasn’t like any poisoning he knew of. Suddenly, he remembered what Jiang Tian had said-that Zhao Qing wasn’t really Zhao Qing. But if he looked just like him, then who was he?

As the Captain pondered the strange events unfolding before him and looked for a chance to fight back, someone suddenly stepped hard on his knee. With a “crack,” pain shot through him, causing him to scream out loud, his forehead breaking out in cold sweat, his face instantly turning pale.

Based on his experience, he was sure his leg was broken.

“Zhao Qing” stared at him coldly, saying, “You kicked my brother once, now I’m returning the favor.”

The Captain, unable to move, struggled to stay conscious and thought to himself: His brother? Which brother? He had kicked many people, some with siblings, how could he know which one?

No, that’s not right. Zhao Qing was an orphan with no siblings. The “brother” he had kicked must also have lost siblings, significantly narrowing down the possibilities… But who could it be?

“Zhao Qing” scoffed as if still unsatisfied and stepped onto the Captain’s other knee, towering over him and demanded, “Say it, say you’re sorry, admit your mistake, and I might spare you.”

The Captain responded, “Who is your brother? Only if I know can I properly apologize.”

“Don’t sweet-talk me. Just say what I tell you to, or I’ll kill you right now!” He stomped hard on the Captain’s knee, causing such intense pain that the Captain’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat. Nearby, three other policemen, also pinned to the ground, were so furious that veins bulged on their foreheads. They sternly said, “Don’t hurt our Captain. If you have the guts, come at me!”

They weren’t fools; they could sense something was wrong, but couldn’t quite put their finger on it. Now, pinned down and in pain, they were helpless but to watch as the Captain’s leg was crushed. Could they just bear it?

“Zhao Qing” chuckled, “Alright, your wish is my command!”

With that, he stomped on one of the young policemen. The Captain shouted, “Shut your mouth! It’s none of your business, ‘Zhao Qing’. If you have a problem, come at me. Every debt has its debtor; don’t trouble innocent people.”

“You’re quite loyal. Don’t rush; none of you are getting away tonight.”

The flashlight flickered, dimming and brightening, yet it clearly revealed the madness on “Zhao Qing’s” face. He gradually increased the pressure, relishing how the other person trembled in fear, yet was too weak to resist…

The Captain was nearly driven mad with desperation, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn’t break free from the criminals pinning him down. At this moment, he felt both despair and anger!

Jiang Tian, seeing that the door wouldn’t budge and hadn’t thought of another plan, witnessed the Captain’s leg being disabled. Now, this “Zhao Qing” was still tormenting others? Seeing this, he drew his gun from his waist and aimed it at “Zhao Qing”: “Stop, or I will shoot!”

“Zhao Qing” twisted into a sinister smile: “If you’re not afraid of killing the owner of this body, go ahead and shoot.”

Jiang Tian’s expression grew even graver; he knew that this “Zhao Qing” was no longer the Zhao Qing he once knew.

“Zhao Qing” applied more force, ready to snap the leg beneath his foot, but just then, a loud thumping sound came from behind, like something heavy hitting the ground.

A loud “bang” echoed, particularly striking in this eerie and dangerous situation.

“Zhao Qing” frowned, turning his dark, glossy eyes back to see a Long-haired Woman lying on the ground-face down. Her long hair was spread messily over the floor. After lying there for a while, she struggled slowly and stiffly to rise as if she had just crawled out of a grave. She then patted the dust off her knees and, with her eyes vacant and arms extended, began groping forward, sniffing the air. He thought he saw a strange excitement on her face.

What was going on? Who was this woman?

No, that couldn’t be right; he should have possessed the dozens of people here with Little Ghosts. Even if not possessed, they should have been unconscious in their cells by now. How was the Long-haired Woman unaffected?

As he was still puzzled, the Captain was startled by the sight of the figure rising from the ground. The way she moved was unsettling, but as he caught a glimpse of her face, he suddenly remembered-this Long-haired Woman was none other than the notorious artifact thief. He had personally interrogated her; her testimony was a mess, blaming everything on ghosts, claiming she inherited a ghost’s legacy, yet she had an innocent demeanor, making her a particularly troublesome criminal.

What was she doing here? Surely, she was attempting to escape!

Jiang Tian’s face lit up with excitement. How could he forget? The mysterious Gu Feiyin was still locked up here. They might be saved!

Zhao Qing sneered viciously, “Hmph, another one with a death wish! Fine, I’ll grant you all your wish today.”

As Zhao Qing finished speaking, several men stepped forward, heading straight for the Long-haired Woman.

Jiang Tian quickly shouted a warning, “Watch out, they’re coming for you! They’ve been possessed by ghosts! Be careful-”

…

Meanwhile, the Headless Ghost, Armless Ghost, Neighbor Miss, and Old Lady were discussing among themselves. The Headless Ghost decided to seek out the Red-Dressed Ghost first, while the remaining three returned to the Riverside Villa. They gathered the tenants and shared some particularly unfortunate news: “Our landlord has been arrested for stealing artifacts. Does anyone here know the law? Can you help us figure out a way to get the landlord out of jail first?”

“What? The landlord got arrested?! But isn’t that Zhuang’s inheritance?”

“It is Zhuang’s inheritance, but those ignorant mortals don’t know that. They can’t see ghosts, so they think the landlord stole the artifacts. This is unacceptable; the landlord is too pitiful. I want to visit her in jail.”

“Exactly, they not only disbelieve the landlord but also claim she’s mentally unstable and have locked her up.”

“Visit her in jail? Count me in, I want to go too!”

“I’m going too, I’m going too. Without the landlord, where would we have such a nice place to live, and where would we get to eat pig head meat?”

“I’m going too, let’s go, right now!”

In the end, quite a few decided to visit her in jail. Most of the tenants were going, except for a few who were still out grabbing New Year’s Eve dinner and couldn’t make it. All in all, there were about fifty or sixty of them.

The Water Ghost, who had been secretly blowing bubbles in the river, heard that the wicked Long Black Straight Hair had been locked up for stealing artifacts. He was stunned for a long moment, then let out an earth-shattering pig-like squeal.

Haha, finally, that Long Black Straight Hair got her comeuppance!

As for visiting her in jail? He wanted to go too. How could he miss the chance to see the Long Black Straight Hair caged up? Hehehe.

Footnote:

1. Spring Festival Gala(春晚):The Spring Festival Gala is China’s biggest annual TV show, featuring music, dance, and comedy to celebrate Lunar New Year’s Eve with family.