Chapter 39: The Dual Yin-Yang Corpses (Part One)

At this moment, theory dictates that I must not turn back—I should keep moving forward. Yet my neck seemed to rebel, twisting repeatedly to look behind me. When I finally turned around, I saw nothing. My body relaxed, only for my foot to suddenly step on a worn-out plank ahead, which promptly emitted a piercing screech. The sound shocked me so badly that I trembled all over. Tensing up again, I brought my phone closer to inspect, only to discover it was merely an old piece of wood.

Frustrated, I pressed on, guided by the faint light from my phone. At last, I reached the fifth floor. I had expected to encounter some uncanny phenomenon—perhaps a looping hallway or something worse—since stairs at night are notorious for attracting things best left undisturbed. I had read such descriptions in Chen Chuyi’s notes, which also included a few ways to break the spell, such as spitting or urinating. But tonight, nothing happened, perhaps because I possess the ability to see both realms.

Counting the classrooms, I made my way toward the lady ghost in the red dress. In the past, I would never have dared, but now, after all I’d seen, ghosts no longer terrified me. Wasn’t Xia Yue at home a moonlit corpse herself?

I finally found her, the lady ghost in red, standing by the window, gazing out. I opened the door and entered. I intended to approach her quietly, but the moment I did, my phone rang. Annoyed, I answered.

“Xiao Dong, what did you just say?”

“I’ll talk later, I’m busy right now!” I quickly hung up, but by then, the lady ghost in red had already turned to look at me.

She seemed surprised to see me here, staring in my direction.

“Are you Nie Xiaoke?”

I showed no fear, putting my phone away and stepping closer. As soon as I entered the room, I sensed that although this ghost was a creature of extreme yin, she did not exude a powerful ghostly aura. When I had confronted the hospital ghost before, its terrifying presence was overwhelming. This one, despite her crimson dress, seemed far less formidable.

“Hm? You can see me?” Her voice was surprisingly pleasant.

“Of course I can. Would I have climbed five flights of stairs to find you otherwise?”

Upon hearing I was here for her, Nie Xiaoke suddenly released a surge of ghostly energy, making it almost impossible to breathe.

“Nie Xiaoke, calm down. I’m not here to exorcise you today. Look—I didn’t bring a single talisman or magical item!” As I ascended, I had deliberately left all my protective charms and artifacts behind—not out of arrogance, but to show goodwill. After all, with Tu by my side, even without any tools, these lesser ghosts couldn’t harm me. Tu’s power far eclipsed theirs.

I spun around once, demonstrating I had nothing with me.

“You’re a Yin-Yang master?”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Was this university ghost brain-damaged from her fall? Who else could stand before her like this?

I nodded.

“What do you want with me?” Nie Xiaoke finally asked, perhaps realizing I was not easily intimidated and choosing to speak first.

“Master, there seems to be some force drawing this ghost here. She’s just a minor spirit; the real one isn’t here at all.” Tu, awakened by the nearby dark energy, communicated with me telepathically.

From the first moment I saw Nie Xiaoke, I had sensed that her aura didn’t match the level of her attire. I suspected she was under some external control.

“You ought to know why I’m here.”

“You’re the person that Director Li invited?”

I nodded, without hesitation.

Seeing my response, Nie Xiaoke’s aura shifted dramatically—her hair flew wildly, her fingers lengthened, and the winds howled around us.

“In that case, you must die now!”

Without waiting for my reply, Nie Xiaoke lunged for my throat.

Damn!

I dodged quickly, spitting as I retreated and sketching a Soul-Calming Talisman in the air.

“Dispel!”

The space trembled, but my talisman was swiftly broken as the ghost merely frowned.

“Listen, I’m not here to fight. If you have conditions, say so—I can fulfill them. Do you want me to force you into eternal damnation?”

“A mere Yin-Yang master thinks he can challenge me? Die!”

I felt frustrated and angry. Chen Chuyi’s damned notes claimed that ghosts rarely attack people and that persuasion and granting wishes were the preferred methods. Clearly, this was not a negotiation.

“Master, let me handle this!”

“Tu, don’t hurt her—just restrain her.”

As I spoke, Nie Xiaoke’s hand clamped around my neck, sending a chilling, terrifying sensation coursing through me.

“Back off!” Tu’s voice thundered from my lips, the sound wave blasting Nie Xiaoke into the wall.

“Are you going to keep fighting?” I quickly adopted a spell-casting stance.

“If you refuse to listen, I’ll make your soul scatter!”

The words worked. The ghost stopped attacking and stood up, her resentment dissipating.

“If you have any grievances or unresolved issues, share them with me. We’re both from rural backgrounds. I’ve seen your records—I know you still have an elderly mother back home. You wouldn’t want her to know you can’t be reincarnated, would you?”

As I spoke, I moved closer. This time, she seemed receptive, and the blood-red dress slowly faded to yellow.

“You’re really willing to help me?”

I nodded.

“Then I want Li Hongbo dead. Only then will my resentment vanish!”

This demand vexed me. If Li Hongbo’s death would resolve everything, I wouldn’t have gotten involved—I’d simply let you claim his life tomorrow night.

“That’s your only condition?”

Nie Xiaoke nodded.

“No other demands?”

“I want to see Li Hongbo die with my own eyes, and then you must send me to Ghost City!”

I shook my head with a bitter smile. “Li Hongbo is truly evil, I agree he deserves death. But—”

The moment I uttered “but,” Nie Xiaoke’s expression turned hostile, her yellow dress swiftly reverting to blood-red.

“So Master Wuwang was right—you’re in league with Li Hongbo!”

“Master Wuwang?”

Suddenly, an explosion resounded nearby and flames shot skyward.

“Hahaha, Master Wuwang is true to his word. He told me tonight a young Yin-Yang master would try to stop me, so he’s taken action and killed Li Hongbo for me. Hahaha…”

Hearing this, my mind reeled.

Where had Master Wuwang come from?

As I stood stunned, the window before me was smashed open by a surge of terrifying dark energy from outside. The lady ghost in red, her face twisted in fury, suddenly darted out toward the fiery blaze...