Chapter 12
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Chapter 12: Title
The sequence of events unfolded as follows…
Five days prior, around 11 PM on October 18th, Hongrun Group’s "big boss" Mr. Hao summoned Zhao Daya and Awei to a villa. Their task was to secure a stone-weighted crate from the living room and dispose of it in Nanpu River, with a promised reward of 50,000 each upon completion.
"We didn’t notice anything unusual while transporting the crate," the delinquent named Awei shuddered, "but when we were securing stones to sink it, the lid suddenly burst open."
"A woman’s torso tumbled out – severed limbs included. Brother Zhao and I froze in terror…"
Staring at the murdered young woman, Zhao Daya and Awei couldn’t risk reporting to police given their criminal involvement.
If authorities got involved, Mr. Hao with his dual underworld/official connections would emerge unscathed, leaving them as perfect scapegoats.
Thus they committed to the dreadful deed, weighing the corpse with stones before submerging it.
"We only connected the dots after seeing news of a missing student who matched the body’s description… Then Mr. Hao met his fate two days later." Zhao Daya’s frame trembled violently.
"Last night we dreamed of that female ghost. She said we’re next. You cops must protect us! We didn’t kill her – why should her vengeance target us?"
Zhang Wutong listened in contemplative silence while Cui Ming and Jiang Fei exchanged meaningful glances.
October 18th – the very date marked as Case 10.18 in Special Bureau’s paranormal archives. The temporal coincidence couldn’t be ignored.
Though unaware of the Bureau’s internal coding system, Zhang’s thoughts paralleled theirs. That fateful October night of his first ghostly encounter would remain etched in memory.
"Your plan, Captain Zhang?"
"I’ll dispatch evidence teams. The student’s case falls under your jurisdiction."
Cui Ming and Jiang Fei nodded – ordinary police shouldn’t meddle in supernatural affairs. This precise division of labor had necessitated the Special Bureau’s creation.
The interrogation room’s occupants maintained vigilant watch through the night, yet dawn arrived without incident. Unbeknownst to them, a pale specter had circled the station’s perimeter before retreating.
Ye Linlang remained oblivious to these events, not that she’d have intervened. She adhered to cosmic justice – let karma’s scales balance through vengeful spirits. Her contribution had been discreetly enabling phantasmal entities to interact with the physical world through allocated Fantasy Points, though the initial 70-point reserve proved insufficient.
Every force had its constraints: as ancient spirits couldn’t penetrate courts of law, modern ghosts found police stations similarly impenetrable. Thus the two delinquents narrowly escaped spectral retribution.
"Partial remains recovered match N University’s missing performing arts student," Zhang Wutong reviewed the report. "Disappeared ten days prior but died October 18th – autopsy reveals extreme physical violation preceding death."
"Victim identified as Tang Weiwei, 21. She’s clearly the torture and murder case perpetrator."
"Her killings appear retaliatory. Our investigation also uncovered Hongrun Group’s ties to underground human trafficking…" The captain’s voice trailed off.
Though a law enforcer shouldn’t condone extrajudicial vengeance, part of him acknowledged poetic justice in the scum’s demise.
"Ghosts can’t breach police stations," Cui Ming remarked with ambiguous tone. "Perhaps fortunate, given her expanding list of targets."
Tang Weiwei’s transformation into a vengeance-driven wraith seemed complete – now threatening to punish even those whose crimes didn’t warrant death.
The Special Bureau, though newly established, had encountered countless spirits and gleaned significant insights from their revelations.
It was discovered that most ghosts harboring lingering obsessions retain rationality during their first seven days. Within this period, they possess multiple means of action without necessarily resorting to murder. Yet those who choose bloody vengeance transcend ordinary harmless spirits – with each life taken, their sanity deteriorates. Through rigorous analysis, the Bureau confirmed fundamental differences between homicidal and non-violent spirits.
"We must establish communication with Miss Tang Weiwei," Jiang Fei interjected. "While Zhao Daya and Awei deserve legal punishment, execution exceeds their crimes."
Tang had already slain her primary tormentor, achieving vengeance. The remaining duo were merely accomplices in body disposal.
"Chief’s thoughts?"
A curt nod from Cui Ming.
"We’ll bring Zhao Daya tonight. Summon Zhan Yuan too – spirits communicate better amongst themselves. Should conflict arise…" His meaningful pause drew raised eyebrows from Zhang Wutong.
Meeting the captain’s gaze, Cui challenged, "Objections, Captain Zhang?"
The police officer shook his head, swallowing unvoiced questions. The Bureau’s arcane knowledge increasingly intrigued him compared to conventional policing.
"Handle Tang’s associates thoroughly," Cui continued. "Though her abusers perished, all abnormality-adjacent crimes demand merciless investigation – arrests, trials, no exceptions. Direct orders from the Ten."
Zhongxia’s supreme decarchy commanded the Bureau exclusively, rendering other authorities irrelevant.
Nightfall witnessed four figures – three living, one spectral – awaiting Tang Weiwei in a Hanzhou rental. Simultaneously across timezones, a production crew arrived at Beers Haunted Castle after their three-day journey.
As Zhongxia’s clocks struck ten, Ye Linlang in Zhejiang Province jolted mid-creation, architectural miniatures hovering around her glasses.
[Master, the castle team arrived.]
"Already? Weren’t they due tomorrow?"
[Time zones.]
"…Forgot that."
Rubbing her temples, the creator vanished into an alternate dimension where phantom constructs materialized.
"Post-Awakening, I’m quitting dual roles," she muttered, conjuring triune holographic displays. The curved screens depicted: British haunted sites; Zhongxia’s transformation marked "6"; and a global map sparkling with chromatic nodes.
White phantoms required constant Fantasy Point sustenance. Bluish hues denoted temporary realities, while rare azure glows indicated permanence. Other colors presaged Spiritual Energy’s future manifestations.
Observing Cui’s team ambushing spirits, Ye’s fingers twitched over Tang Weiwei’s screen. "Constant meddling makes them puppets," she sighed. "Would I want such strings?"
While Tang’s brutal methods troubled her, altering the vengeful spirit’s path violated non-interference principles. "Your choices bear consequences," Ye murmured. "Where’s fairness for your victims?"
Another screen recalled her creation – Ghost in Red’s rooftop rampage reflecting core programming. "Allowed, yes. But Tang’s path… hers to walk."
A chuckle escaped her. "Fictional heroes always defy heavens. Should I meet such rebels…" Her smile lingered like promises unspoken.
