The countryside was deathly quiet; the pale moonlight filtered through the clouds, casting a glow on the trees lining the road. Tian Shenglai watched the scenery rushing past on either side of the road, his heart pounding with panic.
They were getting closer and closer to Liushu Village; there was no turning back now.
Suddenly, the driver slowed down.
“Driver, why have you slowed down?” Tian Shenglai asked, puzzled.
“That’s the reservoir where the incident at Liushu Village happened, just up ahead.” The driver said no more after that, a complete contrast to his chatty self just moments before.
Tian Shenglai’s heart leapt into his throat. He was terrified, but having never personally experienced the events in Liushu Village, he would much rather face this than the fear of encountering a female ghost.
Tian Shenglai stared nervously at the road ahead, only to suddenly spot a police car approaching head-on.
“Why is there a police car?”
The driver glanced at the vehicle and remarked casually, “Probably just a routine patrol. You know how remote this area is; the police do the rounds here from time to time at night.”
“I see,” Tian Shenglai replied, lowering his gaze. A few seconds later, he suddenly looked up again. Perhaps he could go and wait at the police station; it felt safer than whatever this Liushu Village was.
Tian Shenglai hurriedly rolled down the window, hoping the police would give him a ride, but the car had already driven off; all he could see were the tail lights.
It was all because he’d been too slow to react. Tian Shenglai closed the window in frustration.
The car drove smoothly past the reservoir and came to a halt at the entrance to Willow Village.
“We’re here.” The driver’s voice snapped Tian Shenglai out of his thoughts.
Tian Shenglai got out of the car. Opposite the village entrance was a bus stop, where streetlights illuminated the entire road.
A tall willow tree stood at the village entrance. It was early summer, and the willow’s branches were a fresh green, their tips drooping downwards.
Tian Shenglai switched on his torch and walked cautiously towards the village.
Just ahead, a group of people were arguing loudly about something. Tian Shenglai moved closer to listen.
“What a nuisance. I thought they were here to fill the pond. I’d even slaughtered the chicken. Uncle San, you really are something—you didn’t even tell us.”
“How was I to know it would turn out like this? I was just doing business as usual. I even told that boy to wait at the village entrance.”
“That fellow’s got a screw loose. I invited him over for a meal and he actually turned up. It’s a good thing we managed to brush him off.”
The conversation seemed rather odd. Tian Shenglai felt a pang of unease and wanted to turn and leave, but the commotion had alerted the villagers.
“Who’s there?”
Tian Shenglai spun round and ran towards the bus stop.
Something’s wrong in Liushu Village. Run—I can’t stay here. Tian Shenglai barely dared to look back, simply keeping his head down and running forward.
The villagers immediately gave chase.
Amidst the chaos, Tian Shenglai recalled the text message on his phone: “Don’t trust anyone.”
…………
Having finished her morning routine, Lu Mian sat on her bed scrolling through her phone, still waiting for news that Fang Qinian had been rescued.
After all, they were classmates, and she’d been the one to call the police; she had to wait until her classmate was safe.
Just after eight o’clock, Lu Mian received a message from Fang Qinian saying he was safe, and only then did she continue her search for a part-time job.
[Recruiting Kindergarten Care Assistant
Address: Golden Sun Kindergarten, West University Road, Huaiyang District, Ningjiang City.
Requirements: Secondary school education or above; must be patient and caring.
Pay: Two-month probationary period; 3,000 yuan in the first month, 5,000 yuan in the second month; 6,500 yuan per month after confirmation.
Flexible working hours; shifts can be arranged to suit the employee, provided that the total working hours per month are no fewer than 15 days, with a minimum of 4 hours per day.]
Lu Mian’s eyes lit up. She could do this; she didn’t have many classes this term and fully met the employment requirements.
And the location was perfect too; it was only a half-hour bus ride from the school gates, far more convenient than that haunted house.
Lu Mian got in touch with the recruiter straight away, and to her surprise, they were very accommodating, telling her to come for an interview the very next day.
With half the job sorted, Lu Mian drifted off to sleep with high hopes; she hadn’t slept well the night before, so she needed to catch up on her rest tonight.
…………
Once it was certain Lu Mian was asleep, the white dress stirred slightly. The next moment, it appeared within the curtains of Lu Mian’s bed.
The pure, soft hem brushed gently against Lu Mian’s nose and mouth, stirring a breeze that made her cheeks itch.
In her sleep, Lu Mian brushed her face, only to suddenly grasp a piece of fabric. Half-asleep, she grabbed it and flung it aside, then rolled over to continue sleeping.
The white dress, tossed onto the floor, swayed slightly before standing upright once more. A pair of venomous eyes materialised out of thin air, staring intently at Lu Mian’s bed.
Why won’t she just die!
A crimson tongue shot out from behind the white dress at breakneck speed, carrying a sticky, foul stench as it lunged at Lu Mian’s neck.
Unfortunately, the tongue seemed insubstantial, gliding harmlessly past her neck.
The crimson tongue grew even more enraged, writhing about on Lu Mian’s bed.
Why can’t I kill her!!!
The malevolent eyes on the white dress shot a glance at the red tongue, looked at Lu Mian once more, and then vanished from the dormitory.
Seeing this, the red tongue lashed out in frustration a few times before also disappearing from the dormitory.
…………
“Lu Mian? This is Huaiyang Police Station. We have a missing persons case and require your assistance. Would it be convenient for you to come in?”
Lu Mian, who was just about to head to class, was taken aback. How had she become involved in a case? She was a law-abiding citizen; she hadn’t done anything wrong.
Lu Mian hesitated for a moment before replying cautiously, “Would it be alright if I came at lunchtime? I’ve got a lecture to attend shortly.”
“Can you take time off? We’d like you to come in as soon as possible to assist us.”
She’d only just taken time off yesterday; if she did so again today, her comprehensive assessment marks would be in jeopardy.
“Could you contact my academic supervisor and ask her to approve the leave? I’m worried my comprehensive assessment marks will be docked if I ask for it myself,” Lu Mian cautiously put forward her request.
There was a few seconds’ silence on the other end, before a quick reply came: “That’s fine. We hope you can come in as soon as possible.”
“No problem,” Lu Mian agreed readily. After hanging up, she turned away from the classroom and headed towards the school gates.
Convinced she hadn’t done anything wrong, Lu Mian walked with great confidence.
Lu Mian took a bus there, only to unexpectedly spot someone who looked very familiar.
Lu Mian took a closer look at the person and the child standing beside them. A few minutes later, she was certain: it was the pair of traffickers who had tried to abduct her!
Just as Lu Mian recognised them, they were also observing her. Their gaze lingered on her for a long time, and they began to whisper to each other.
Lu Mian glared right back at them. What was the matter? On a bus, with so many people around, she didn’t believe they’d dare to kidnap her. She was going to the police station later anyway, so she might as well report this unscrupulous pair.
Lu Mian quietly took out her mobile and snapped a photo of the pair; one must always keep a record of one’s actions.
Master Xu Qinghe and his apprentice sat at the back of the bus, whilst Lu Mian sat at the front. Xu Yangyang kept staring at Lu Mian, all the while whispering to his master, “Master, that’s the woman with the strong fate who was handing out leaflets. Should we go and say hello to her?”
Xu Qinghe glanced at Lu Mian and dismissed his apprentice’s suggestion. “She isn’t part of the Taoist community; there’s no need to get involved with her. We checked out that haunted house last time—there wasn’t anything major wrong with it, so there’s no reason to strike up a conversation.”
“Master, there’s definitely something wrong with that haunted house. What proper haunted house hands out leaflets with curses on them? It’s just that the bad guys are hiding too deep,” Xu Yangyang muttered under his breath.
“You and your senior brother handle the investigation from here on. You should be able to manage it. I’ve got some business to attend to back at the monastery,” Xu Qinghe instructed.
“Understood, Master.”
They soon arrived at the Huaiyang District Police Station. Lu Mian stood up from the front seat, preparing to head for the door, only to notice that the pair of human traffickers had also risen.
Good heavens, have criminals become this brazen? To walk straight into a cage!
Could it be that they’ve realised their mistake and are turning themselves in? At this thought, Lu Mian’s expression softened slightly; those who recognise their errors and make amends are still somewhat better than hardened criminals.
The three of them entered the police station, keeping a distance between them.