Mysterious Awakening

Inside the elevator.

Zhang Lei looked at Yang Jian with a stiff expression.

Although he didn't know why Yang Jian had suddenly agreed to come along with him, having such a person by his side gave him some confidence.

At the very least, the mission wouldn't fail, and if an accident really did occur, Yang Jian's intervention would make things much easier for him.

"After the gunshots stopped, the building's security and service personnel also withdrew. It seems that the situation has escalated, so we must be prepared to face ghosts rather than people later on," he said.

Yang Jian paid no attention to Zhang Lei's gaze and spoke to himself.

Since he had agreed to this journey, he had to be on high alert.

"You're so certain even before we've reached Lin Shan's room?" Zhang Lei asked with a hint of confusion.

"Just a judgment based on some intelligence information," Yang Jian replied calmly.

Shen Liang's personal phone call, as well as the reward of three Ghost Candles, and Zhang Lei also being part of the operation. Anyone with a brain could tell that headquarters wanted to resolve the issue caused by Lin Shan quickly.

And the order from headquarters was simple.

To completely resolve the incident and not let its influence spread further.

As for whether Lin Shan was alive or dead, not a word was mentioned.

In other words, if Lin Shan was alive, that would be preferable, but if he happened to be killed, that wouldn't matter either. Within the scope of tacit approval, resolving the issue took precedence.

"You don't need to go to such extremes," Yang Jian suddenly said.

"What?" Zhang Lei responded, somewhat taken aback.

Yang Jian continued, "If the cost of dealing with Lin Shan is too high, then choose to give up. Don't be desperate. This is City J, and headquarters won't ignore the situation. I've heard there are as many as three international exorcists stationed here, not to mention some special personnel. So, we need to measure our actions carefully."

"Work is important, but your own life is more important. Surviving is what counts as impressive. If you die, it amounts to nothing."

"..." Zhang Lei was somewhat surprised, as he hadn't expected Yang Jian to think this way.

But on second thought, he realized it made sense.

If he were to forcefully handle the situation while not in good condition, not only could he die, but the situation could also become even more complicated. РÅ₦ỘβËS

With so many exorcists in City J, it would be best to collaborate when facing supernatural events. This way, risks could be shared, and the issue could be handled easily without putting all the responsibility on one or two individuals.

Ding!

The elevator's chime sounded, and the doors opened.

"We're here." Zhang Lei's stiff face took on a grave hue.

The troubled exorcist was on this floor.

"Why aren't you moving?" He stepped out only to realize that Yang Jian was still inside the elevator, seemingly with no intention to act just yet.

Yang Jian spoke, "What's the rush? Going out a few seconds earlier won't solve the situation, and staying inside a few seconds longer might save your life. Let's first observe the surroundings and see what the situation is like before we act." Discover more stories at

Zhang Lei instantly stiffened in his steps upon hearing this.

Although he had always been cautious, he hadn't thought it through this much.

At that moment, Yang Jian took a brief glance outside the elevator.

The situation didn't look good.

The corridor was shrouded in darkness; some lights had already gone out, while others seemed to flicker due to a short circuit, crackling and intermittently going on and off. The walls and the ground were covered with damp patches, like the muggy days of the south, everything wet and moist.

Every so often drops of water would fall from above.

A foul, rotten stench pervaded the air.

"Indeed, the environment around has already been affected. Lin Shan is very likely already dead," Yang Jian's eyes narrowed slightly.

If so, that truly made this a full-blown paranormal incident, and he was reluctant to get involved.

But as long as Lin Shan was still alive and conscious, and the malevolent ghost hadn't fully revived, the whole situation was much more manageable.

Dealing with a person and dealing with a ghost are not the same thing.

"Do you have any good ideas?" Zhang Lei inquired.

Yang Jian glanced at the shallow layer of water on the floor, "No, but since we're here, it's naturally better to go and see for ourselves. Let's find out if Lin Shan has truly been resurrected as a vengeful ghost. After confirming the situation, we can plan our next steps. Until then, self-preservation is our priority."

His shadow gradually disappeared, withdrawing back into his body.

It was as if a layer of black shadow shrouded him, blurring his figure, as if to merge into the surrounding dim environment.

He covered himself with the Headless Ghost Shadow, like putting on a Ghost Cloth, which in most cases could fend off some ghostly attacks and avoid sudden death.

"Let's go."

Yang Jian stepped out of the elevator, his foot not touching the water on the ground but instead swept aside by the shadow under his feet, leaving a clear space.

He felt the severe water seepage on this floor was definitely not normal. If there were ghosts involved, they had to be related to this, so he did not want to touch the water.

The further they walked, the darker it became ahead, and the walls became increasingly damp. The water on the ground also grew more abundant.

Previously, when only small damp spots were on the ground, now there was a layer of water two to three centimeters thick, and the further forward they went, the thicker the water accumulated. At the same time, a rotten, fishy smell became denser in the air.

Zhang Lei, brave and confident, walked ahead, not afraid to step into the water. It wasn't clear whether he relied on Yang Jian being behind or whether he had enough confidence in himself to handle the situation.

The two advanced through the dim corridor, neither hastening nor slowing, as most of their attention was on staying alert to their surroundings.

However, everything seemed very calm.

Although the surrounding environment was eerie, nothing strange had happened, at least for the time being; no paranormal activity had appeared.

Yang Jian slightly frowned.

He thought he might have assumed the worst. Perhaps... Lin Shan was still alive.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be possible to have walked this long without encountering a vengeful ghost's resurgence.

"Lin Shan's room is just up ahead."

At the last turn, Zhang Lei stopped. About ten meters ahead, a door was ajar, with several bullet holes in it, and it seemed as if water was seeping through the gap.

Behind that door seemed to be the source of it all.

However, the water on the corridor leading up to this last stretch was knee-high, strangely pooling together without seeping down to the lower floors.

"I advise against going any further. I think it's better to take a detour, like from above or from the adjoining room," Yang Jian said after giving Zhang Lei a glance.

It was obvious that something was not right ahead.

Zhang Lei's stiff expression twitched slightly; he too thought the suggestion sensible. The distance ahead might seem manageable, but the excessive water, and its strangeness indeed warranted a detour.

"Wait, listen, is there a sound coming from Lin Shan's room?" Suddenly, Zhang Lei, his face altering, pressed the issue.

Yang Jian heard it too.

From the semi-open door of the room ahead, a low murmur of a man could be faintly heard, like a madman talking to himself or a dying person groaning in pain.

"He's not dead," Zhang Lei said, slightly taken aback.

"It seems so, but even if he's not dead, he's close to it. Given the circumstances, it's not far from a vengeful ghost's resurrection," Yang Jian said. "Maybe he's already on the verge of resurrection, or perhaps..."

"In that case, we should act now, before he resurrects as a vengeful ghost," Zhang Lei said and immediately took action. He didn't follow Yang Jian's advice to make a detour; instead, he stepped straight into the water and quickly headed toward Lin Shan's room.

Yang Jian frowned slightly.

Too young.

This Zhang Lei was too young.

Some ghosts deliberately set traps to lure you in. Maybe Lin Shan was already dead, and this sound was produced by a ghost.

As if to validate Yang Jian's speculation,

Zhang Lei only took a few steps forward when his expression suddenly changed. Something seemed to grab his foot, and in an instant, he stumbled, lost his balance, and fell into the water.

"Gurgle~!"

Before he could call for help, he was submerged in the water as if plunging into a bottomless pool, and in an instant, water barely half a meter deep engulfed him.

A living person just vanished before Yang Jian's eyes, leaving only ripples echoing on the water's surface.

"Shen Liang, Zhang Lei is down, Lin Shan has been resurrected as a vengeful ghost. I've determined this is a paranormal event, so... you'll have to pay more," Yang Jian murmured as he took out his satellite-positioning phone and dialed Shen Liang's number.

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