Last Bus of Route 13

By the time we returned to the company, it was already six or seven in the evening. Both of us were utterly exhausted and went our separate ways to rest. Xiao Liu was naturally thrilled to see me back. He initially planned to take me out for drinks to celebrate my return, but seeing my low spirits, he decided against it.

I asked Xiao Liu about any recent incidents with the Route 13 bus, and surprisingly, everything had been normal without the slightest anomaly. It was truly strange. Both Xiao Liu and I were drivers for Route 13, yet all the bizarre occurrences seemed to target me alone. Since Xiao Liu started driving, he hadn’t encountered anything unusual, except for meeting Tang Yao. However, based on what Semi-Immortal Xu and the little girl said, Tang Yao wasn’t a ghost.

Why was I the one tasked with investigating the case from ten years ago and not Xiao Liu? Was it because even ghosts found him too dull?

Lying in bed, I felt a deep sense of frustration, clutching the red paper man in my hand, as if something was blocking my heart. I asked Xiao Liu, “Did Old Liu or Bai Fan come looking for me?”

Xiao Liu was soaking his feet on the bed and replied, “Don’t even mention it. Bai Fan calls me every other day asking about you. Anyone who doesn’t know would think she’s my girlfriend. You’re really stubborn. Last time you left without a word, Bai Fan got into trouble. Haven’t you learned your lesson? At the very least, you should have informed her.”

“Sigh,” I sighed helplessly and said, “I left in a hurry and didn’t have the chance to call her. Besides, where I went had no electricity, let alone mobile phone signal.”

Hearing this, Xiao Liu pursed his lips and continued to nag me about not notifying Bai Fan. Not wanting to listen to his rambling, I asked, “What about Old Liu? Did he come looking for me?”

“He came once. When he saw you weren’t here, he told me to let you know to find him when you got back.”

“Alright,” I replied and fell silent.

The experiences of the past week had left me utterly exhausted. Now, my goal was no longer just self-preservation; I wanted revenge! I stared at the red paper man, lost in thought, and began to reminisce about the little girl. If she wasn’t human, could she still be brought back to life?

With this thought, my eyes suddenly lit up. I remembered seeing Old Liu and Liu Yunbo in a magical confrontation. At that time, Old Liu casually tore a paper man, and it could run everywhere. This red paper man was already made, and maybe Old Liu had a way!

Moreover, after being away for so long, it was time to catch up with Old Liu. Tomorrow, I must ask him thoroughly.

With this thought, I felt a surge of hope. Both the little girl and Old Lady Qiu died because of me. If I could bring the little girl back, it would be wonderful. I would be willing to pay any price.

I happily fantasized about the little girl’s rebirth, imagining taking her around the city and buying her the latest iPhone to play with to her heart’s content!

Thus, the first night back was spent in my beautiful daydreams.

At dawn, I got up early and tidied myself up. Time was of the essence; I had to find Old Liu!

…

No. 2386, Huaiyuan Road.

Passing by the third floor of Liu Yunbo’s house, I noticed the entrance was once again piled with trash and dust. That old rascal was out again!

Fortunately, Old Liu was home. Seeing me, he seemed to be in a great mood, bombarding me with questions.

I wasn’t in the mood for catching up with Old Liu, so I quickly recounted the little girl’s story to him and asked if there was any way to bring the red paper man back to life. Old Liu took the red paper man, leaned on his worn-out stick, and started pacing around the room. After completing a circle, he slowly said, “Paper Cutting Spirit Infusion comes in two forms. One is an illusion, making all changes to the paper man appear as mere tricks to others, used to confuse people like when I sparred with that old geezer downstairs. The other is a blood contract, which allows the paper man to undergo real changes and gain consciousness, just like Old Lady Qiu’s poultry and the little girl she kept in the yard.”

Old Liu’s explanation was straightforward, and I understood it. I nodded and said, “So, what’s the point, Old Liu? Can you make this red paper man come to life?”

Old Liu shot me a glance and replied in a low voice, “Paper men working in the yard, transforming into poultry, and even cutting out a granddaughter for herself-Old Lady Qiu is a master of Paper Cutting Spirit Infusion, far beyond my abilities.”

Although Old Liu didn’t say it outright, his meaning was clear: he couldn’t save the little girl. I sighed and pulled the red paper man back from his hands, disappointed.

Seeing my expression, Old Liu smirked and said, “Just because I can’t do it doesn’t mean no one can.”

His words sparked my curiosity, and I asked eagerly, “So, is there a way? Hurry up and tell me!”

“Do you remember Semi-Immortal Xu mentioning Meng E to you? This person has many identities, one of which is a master of Paper Cutting Spirit Infusion. Although the red paper man requires high skill, I believe Meng E can handle it.”

Meng E, the person Semi-Immortal Xu recommended to help lift the Route 13 curse, seemed like the perfect solution. If this was true, it would be a win-win situation. I had to find Meng E!

I recalled Semi-Immortal Xu saying Meng E was at Xiaobai Mountain in the development district, so I urged Old Liu to set off. Seeing my impatience, Old Liu waved dismissively and said, “I went looking for you a few days ago to tell you that Meng E is no longer at Xiaobai Mountain. I heard from a friend that she went to Red Leaf Valley in Changbai Mountain a few days ago.”

“Changbai Mountain? That’s in the neighboring city, and it’ll take a while to get there by high-speed train.”

Old Liu nodded and said, “This time it’s a long trip. You should go back and make proper arrangements. We’ll set off the day after tomorrow.”

I agreed and went back to the company to request leave. It was more of a formality, really. Old Wu was relieved to hear I was going to Changbai Mountain instead of investigating the bus accident. He cheerfully approved my leave and even suggested I stay as long as I wanted, preferably forever.

I didn’t bother arguing with him and took the leave slip. Having just returned, I was about to embark on another journey. I quickly called Bai Fan. She was initially happy to hear I was back, but then started scolding me for leaving without a word. When I mentioned going to Changbai Mountain the day after tomorrow, she hung up in anger.

Her emotional rollercoaster actually made me feel warm inside. Her little tantrums were normal; indifference would have scared me more.

I went to the Eurasia supermarket and bought a bottle of Clinique perfume as a gift for her, then waited early outside her office building for her to finish work.

Bai Fan was surprised and happy to see me, as if all her complaints over the phone had vanished. We found a restaurant to eat and chat, and she kept asking where I’d been, since she couldn’t reach me by phone. I vaguely told her that I had to leave urgently for a business trip and left my mobile phone in the dormitory.

The ghost with me was either Old Tang or Sixth Uncle, and it was one of them who caused the deaths of Old Lady Qiu and the little girl. Given Sixth Uncle’s connection to Bai Fan, it seemed best not to mention my experiences in Huaihu Village.

Strangely, Bai Fan wasn’t upset when I mentioned going to Changbai Mountain. She just asked when I was leaving and whether I had bought the tickets. After I told her, she seemed unconcerned and quickly changed the subject. I was startled-was she planning to break up with me?

After dinner, we wandered around for a while before heading home. Since Bai Fan’s encounter with the hearse accident, I’d considered breaking up to avoid dragging her into danger. If she wanted to leave, it might be for the best. I had to break the curse, save the little girl, and seek revenge; having her around was too risky.

Back home, I packed my luggage and briefed Xiao Liu before preparing to leave. The next morning at ten, Old Liu and I met at the train station, collected our tickets, and queued for boarding. Suddenly, someone tapped my shoulder from behind-it was Bai Fan!

She was dressed casually, with a backpack, looking ready for a vacation. I asked, surprised, “Bai Fan, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

Feigning coincidence, Bai Fan replied, “What a coincidence! I’m taking annual leave to travel to Changbai Mountain. Want to join?”

I instantly understood why she hadn’t asked much about my trip the night before-she’d planned to come along. Knowing her personality, there was no way to send her back, so I smiled and nodded.

On the train, Bai Fan managed to sit next to Old Liu and me. Everything seemed fine, except the two people sitting to our left caught my attention. One was a burly man with a broad face, and beside him sat an old man in a mountaineering suit.

The old man had been subtly watching Old Liu since boarding. I signaled Old Liu, who casually shook his head, indicating it was nothing to worry about. Old Liu was aloof and rarely chatted with me. While Bai Fan and I were engrossed in conversation, the train reached Yanji, and I noticed the old man still watching Old Liu. Old Liu wasn’t an old lady, so what was he staring at?

Curious, I waited until the old man went to the restroom and followed him. As he entered, I squeezed in too. The old man wasn’t surprised to see me. I asked quietly, “Old man, do you know the old friend sitting next to me?”

Understanding my implication, the old man smiled politely and shook his head, “No, I don’t.”

“Then why are you staring at him?” I pressed.

Instead of answering directly, the old man asked, “You seem close to him. What does he do?”

Thinking to scare him, I leaned in and whispered, “He’s a ghost catcher!”

To my surprise, the old man wasn’t frightened. Instead, he chuckled and said, “A ghost catcher? He’s a ghost himself, what’s he catching?”