Chapter 6
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Chapter 6: Title
"A hero rescuing the damsel," Ye Linlang remarked, having observed the spectacle from the sidelines while nearly munching imaginary sunflower seeds.
The ancient jade pendant on Bai Ye’s person was naturally her handiwork. While directing the Ghost in Red’s attention toward Jiang Yao, she’d secretly granted this young man a temporary power boost.
This entire scenario was an illusion spun from Fantasy Points – neither the specters nor the glowing pendant held any true existence.
Her design required Bai Ye to vanquish Miss Ghost in Red with the jade pendant, thereby dissolving the fabricated reality.
Ye Linlang hadn’t expected substantial Fantasy Point gains from tonight’s production anyway, having already harvested over a thousand points before the crimson specter and Jumping Ghost even materialized.
With mere ten points invested, the returns proved exceptionally lucrative.
As she prepared to tally her profits and conclude the night’s entertainment, police sirens wailed beyond the school’s perimeter.
Jiang Yao’s emergency call had borne fruit. Ye Linlang stroked her chin with vulpine amusement. "Since they’ve come all this way, it’d be rude not to give them a proper show."
"Fresh spectators have arrived for our midnight performance."
"Audiences should always multiply."
"Tsk. Do try to endure," she murmured, refocusing on the ongoing confrontation between human and ‘apparition’.
"System, switch camera angles."
The silent system complied, projecting crystal-clear imagery surpassing 1080p resolution before her.
"Revise the script too."
"Let the Jumping Ghost harass those fleeing youngsters. With eight specters already… deploy more to welcome our new guests…"
"Police require stronger stimuli – we must intensify efforts." Her lips curved in what she imagined to be benevolent delight.
Outside No. 3 Middle School in Hanzhou City,
Officers in police uniforms emerged from patrol cars, led by a square-jawed man in his thirties radiating authoritative integrity.
"Captain Zhang," a junior officer reported, "The main gate shows no signs of forced entry. Nearby vehicles are unoccupied."
"The distress call indicates youths trespassing in this derelict school encountered trouble during their urban exploration."
None present credited the supernatural claims, attributing the panic to overactive imaginations.
"Secure and extract them," Captain Zhang ordered.
Jiang Yao’s call had mobilized seven officers across two patrol cars.
Ye Linlang’s illusionary shroud enveloped the entire campus, its abnormalities invisible until crossing the school’s threshold.
Upon entering, the officers staggered as glacial cold pierced their bones – a fleeting sensation dismissed as autumn’s bite.
"Chilly tonight," a rookie officer commented, flashlight beam skating across ivy-choked walls.
"Eerie atmosphere here," his partner agreed.
"Modern kids have steel nerves, breaking into this haunted dump at midnight."
Being Hanzhou natives, all knew the whispered legends surrounding No. 3 Middle School.
At that moment, two blood-curdling screams suddenly pierced through the night from the nearby teaching building.
"Someone’s inside! They sound terrified," a voice observed while raising a flashlight. The powerful beam pierced through the darkness, illuminating the teaching building’s facade with stark clarity.
As the light swept across the structure, a shadow plummeted from the rooftop with unnatural speed – an image that immediately screamed "suicide jump" to the horrified witnesses.
"…What was that? Someone jumped?" someone gasped in horror.
Captain Zhang reacted first, sprinting forward while others still processed the shock. His search revealed no body, no debris – only undisturbed pavement. "Nothing here," he growled, his stern expression deepening. One officer might hallucinate, but an entire squad?
"Are we sharing hallucinations now? Xiao Zhou, your light definitely caught something?"
"I swear I saw a shadow drop!" The young officer’s flashlight trembled slightly as he nodded.
An icy gust swept through the group, raising goosebumps. The unspoken question hung heavy: Had they witnessed the supernatural?
"Move in. Let’s expose this charade," Captain Zhang ordered with a derisive snort. His career arresting ruthless criminals left no room for ghost stories. None dared protest despite their unease.
On the rooftop above, Ye Linlang monitored screens showing both the approaching police and the swirling black mist coalescing behind them. The smoke solidified into a mangled specter – the Jumping Ghost – that began stalking the officers.
Another screen displayed Big Black and Xiao Bai’s desperate flight through the corridors below, howling in terror as the phantom pursued. The live stream camera on the fourth-floor landing intermittently captured these chaotic glimpses of the supernatural chase.
Meanwhile, viewers frantically shared recorded clips across social platforms. These viral fragments – blurry shadows and distorted screams – began seeding digital chaos across the internet.
Within Ye Linlang’s system interface, Fantasy Points erupted in relentless torrents.
"Jade symbol?" The Ghost in Red hissed, scarlet sleeves billowing as black mist enveloped her. The burns from Bai Ye’s pendant vanished instantly. "Who claims such power?"
Bai Ye maintained his protective stance before Jiang Yao, though sweat slicked his grip on the dimming pendant. This family heirloom – once considered mere antique – now pulsed faintly against the supernatural.
The female ghost’s wariness intrigued him. Her calculated gaze suggested reason beneath the menace – an opportunity to negotiate.
"An elder’s gift," he deflected, steadying Jiang Yao against a wall. The young woman slumped weakly, her energy drained from the earlier possession.
The Ghost in Red’s eyes narrowed at his evasion. "Elder…?" Her whisper carried centuries of suspicion.
Bai Ye analyzed her carefully. This wasn’t the mindless monster from urban legends, but an intelligent entity. With police en route, dialogue might buy their survival – though the concept strained his modern skepticism.
His logical mind rebelled even as adrenaline surged. Ghosts belonged to campfire tales, not reality. Yet here he stood, clutching an ancient charm against a spectral being. The supernatural exploration he’d enjoyed as fantasy now chilled him to the core.
Now, he gazed at the female ghost before him with a wry inner smile—the evidence before him made it impossible to deny reality.
Ye Linlang stood nearby, impressed enough to applaud the young man’s clever maneuvers against the Ghost in Red.
Not only resourceful, but he’d also swiftly discerned this specter could be reasoned with.
Bai Ye’s composure was a facade; the incessant flicker of Fantasy Points on the system screen, harvested from his turmoil, revealed his true state.
True to their name, these points measured emotional intensity, and Ye Linlang knew full well the storm of astonishment raging within him.
Though the Ghost in Red originated as a system-generated illusion, her richly crafted history and idiosyncrasies rendered her indistinguishable from living souls—complete with passions, mannerisms, and personal codes.
In her memories, only those detestable Taoist rivals could craft jade symbols. Any connection between this man and those priests would complicate matters gravely.
"You arrived together," the Ghost in Red observed as cadaverous markings faded from her skin, crimson robes framing a smile that might’ve been charming were it not for her corpse-pale complexion.
"Save only her? What of the others?"
Bai Ye stiffened. His single-minded focus on Jiang Yao had blinded him to the others’ fates.
"State your demand."
"If we’ve trespassed, we’ll depart immediately," he countered, muscles coiled like springs anticipating violence.
"How delightful," the ghost mused, laughter like windchimes in a forgotten garden. "Years have passed since so many enlivened my halls."
Her painted nails gleamed as she gestured. "My terms are simple."
"Leave the girl. Ten may depart. Refuse, and all remain… permanently."
Ten? Bai Ye’s breath hitched.
"Doubting me?" She hid a giggle behind her sleeve, every movement aristocratic grace. "Ah, but you hear nothing of the commotion below."
Suddenly, sound crashed over Bai Ye—screams, gunfire, chaos.
Ye Linlang monitored the system’s feed. "The police seem properly terrified. Can’t blame them—ghosts don’t feature in their training manuals."
"Now the dilemma," she murmured, watching Bai Ye’s face. "Will he choose pragmatism or principle?"
The standoff stretched. One life against ten—arithmetically simple, morally ruinous.
When the Ghost in Red’s smile began fraying at the edges, Ye Linlang sighed dramatically.
"Must I spell it out? Ask about her unresolved grievance, boy."
The words struck like a temple bell. Bai Ye recalled the lore—spirits linger through obsession.
"Why claim Jiang Yao? If purpose drives this, let me aid you."
"Aid?" The ghost’s laughter sharpened as her eyes locked on his jade pendant. "Shatter that jade symbol first. Then we’ll discuss your… assistance."
Her scarlet lips curved. "Do this, and I might spare your precious lives—the girl’s included."
