C19 Old Temple

I asked if "never coming down again" meant he had died.

Ms. Liu responded with both a yes and a no, revealing that years later, I would encounter him again.

"Wang Tao?" I inquired, shivering.

Ms. Liu confirmed with a nod. It had been a long time, and if Boss Wang hadn't brought a team to inspect the second floor, uncovering traces of a 'spirit item' vanishing, Wang Tao's body might never have been found. At that moment, as everyone was devising strategies, I lost my mind. Someone claimed I was possessed, and they resorted to burning two talismans with a wine jar to place on my crown to calm me.

Wu Yi interjected, suggesting that the malevolence on the second floor likely originated from Wang Tao's remains. He had reviewed the surveillance footage, where Wang Tao appeared as nothing more than a murky shadow, his form indiscernible. Initially, Wu Yi suspected he was merely a spirit, unaware of the extent of his power.

Ms. Liu explained that this was a case of a spirit reclaiming a body, but the body was already decomposing and wasn't even Wang Tao's own. Eventually, the original owner of the body confronted him, leading to a violent clash. Wang Tao, living as a sort of zombie, was ultimately forced out, despite his formidable abilities in life.

Memories of the past flashed through my mind like a slideshow: my first meeting with Wang Tao, the chaos at the mass graves, the cat spirit, the Soul Devouring Jade...

Suddenly, I experienced a moment of clarity, as if the clouds had parted, and the enigmas began to unravel. It seemed that all these events were Wang Tao's doing. In his quest for resurrection, he set a trap for the cat spirit, but his plans led to his own demise and the destruction of the formation. His efforts were driven by the same instinct that makes even ants cling to life.

In truth, Wu Yi never meant me harm; he provided me with much-needed information, hoping I would lend him my support. Yet, I remain uncertain whether I've ever truly assisted him. Wang Tao expressed his weariness with confinement and his desire to break free from his destiny. Initially, I suspected hidden motives, but he was actually referring to his own physical form. His yearning for life was as distant and persistent as the stars, shining for eons before being witnessed by humankind.

Ms. Liu remarked that the world was brimming with wonders and curiosities. "Lee Fan, you're bound to get involved," she said. "Not for any particular reason, but because you are the sole key to this building."

"Do you have any idea how the previous staff met their ends?" Ms. Liu continued. "Look at it from a different angle; it wasn't just desserts. Sure, their greed and lust played a part, but more importantly, the ancient house didn't accept them. Cats can become spirits, and old trees can turn into demons. All things have a spirit. Your long, unscathed tenure in the Ghost Building is due to your unique traits and their recognition of you!"

In a state of alarm, I asked, "Who are 'they'?"

"Maybe by next Qingming Festival, you'll see them for yourself," Ms. Liu replied.

Frustrated, I pressed, "But who are they, exactly?"

"They are the Hundred Ghosts," Ms. Liu explained, "or you could call them the Hundred Demons, Hundred Spirits. This building is filled with hundreds of eyes watching us."

A shiver ran through me. "But I'm just a student, a regular person," I protested.

Wu Yi interjected, "Lee Fan, are you truly just an ordinary person?"

His question left me momentarily speechless, and I turned to Wu Yi with a look of bewilderment. He elaborated, "I'm not sure what my cousin told you, but he wouldn't have spoken those words without good reason. After decades of wandering and becoming disillusioned with the world, he chose to spend his final days in peace. Give it some thought; he must have been trying to communicate something to you."

After Ms. Liu and Wu Yi departed, I hailed a cab back to the university.

The monotonous routine of night shifts had dulled my senses to the rhythm of lectures and labs. I found myself dozing off during lectures and had to be nudged awake by classmates during experiments to stay focused. Back in my dorm room, I breathed a sigh of relief and lay down to rest. Old Zhang, my roommate, gave me a wide berth, as if avoiding contagion. Ever since they urged me to quit working at the Ghost Building and I stubbornly continued, they've treated me as though I were tainted. But I've grown accustomed to it. Sometimes, you just have to accept your fate. Having come this far, I knew there would be a price to pay.

I'd prefer they keep their distance from me. That way, even if I'm alone, I won't pass any bad luck onto others. I silently resolved to shoulder any future burdens on my own.

In my dream, a little girl with a hesitant step waved at me. She patted my shoulder and declared, "I'm older than you. You should call me sister."

I scoffed, "I'm a boy, taller and stronger than you. You should call me brother, and I'll protect you."

"Can you really protect me?" she challenged.

"Of course, I'm a guy," I asserted.

She grinned and called me "Brother."

Hand in hand, we walked down a country lane until we encountered a toad. I was about to grab a stick to hit it, but she protested, claiming the toad was poisonous and that a vengeful spirit could curse us. I dismissed it as nonsense, found a rock, and crushed the toad, splattering blood everywhere. I boasted that I feared nothing and would deal with anyone who dared cross my sister Lee Fann's path just like that toad!

The little girl's tears turned to laughter.

Later that evening, around eight, I wrapped up my study session and set out for work. As I approached the school's entrance, I stumbled upon a man and a woman burning paper. Drawing closer, I recognized my classmates Yu Bing and Ma Qiang. Yu Bing was weeping as she burned the paper, and Ma Qiang was by her side, offering comfort. I considered saying hello but decided it might be intrusive, so I walked on, feigning ignorance. A few meters on, Ma Qiang called out my name. I paused, surprised, and turned back to see both Ma Qiang and Yu Bing looking at me.

Ma Qiang, with a strained smile, said, "Lee Fan, off to work?"

I nodded.

With a sigh, Ma Qiang confided, "Yu Bing's grandfather has died. She can't get home because of exams, so she asked me to help her burn this paper on the main road as an offering to him. She hopes her grandfather won't hold a grudge against her."

I nodded and said, "Go ahead and continue. I need to get going."

Ma Qiang grabbed my arm and pleaded, "Lee Fan, we go way back as classmates. Could you do me a solid?"

I gave him a wry smile and said, "What do you need? If it's money, I'm tapped out."

Ma Qiang chuckled and asked, "Would I ask you for money? I heard you're working as a security guard in an office building?"

I hummed in affirmation. Ma Qiang's mouth twitched as he asked, "Is it that Ghost Building?"

I felt a jolt of surprise but managed a strained smile. "It's not haunted with ghosts. It's just an empty building."

"You've got guts," Ma Qiang remarked.

Noticing my impatience, he hurriedly continued, "You see, I've been pursuing Yu Bing lately. With her family's recent troubles, I wasn't able to help at all. I've heard about this old temple in the western suburbs, reputed for granting wishes when you burn incense there at night. Yu Bing's grandfather just passed away, and she hasn't been able to go back. I thought maybe I could take her there to pray for her grandfather's peaceful journey. She mentioned it to me today, but... I'm too scared to go alone. Would you come with me?"

"You're out of your mind, going to a temple at night," I retorted.

Ma Qiang explained that he had been chasing after Yu Bing for two years and couldn't back out now, or he'd have no chance in the future. He persisted in begging me to join him. I warned him that it's considered unlucky in the countryside to visit temples at night, and if we encountered something unclean, not all temples are safe. The one he mentioned, if it's a small one, could be even more unsettling.

Ma Qiang insisted, "I knew you'd understand, having spent so much time in the Ghost Building. That's why I'm asking for your help. We're classmates, after all, and we should have each other's backs after graduation."

Just then, Yu Bing approached, looking forlorn with tears still glistening in her eyes. I offered her some words of comfort, "We can't bring the dead back to life. It's important to mourn, but also to move on."

Yu Bing suddenly grabbed my hand and said, “Lee Fan, do you know any way to see ghosts? I want to see my grandpa one last time.”

Startled, I replied, “Are you out of your mind?” Just then, Ma Qiang took her by the arm, whispering, “Yu Bing, stop crying. How about I take you to the old temple right now?”

Yu Bing scoffed and challenged him, “Aren’t you too scared?”

Ma Qiang hung his head in defeat, stealing a glance at me before falling silent.

Yu Bing turned to me, pleading, “Everyone knows you work in the Ghost Building and that you’ve become this eerie, otherworldly figure. I’m sure you can help me see my grandpa!”

A wave of irritation washed over me. I had no clue who had started the rumor about my job at the Ghost Building, but it suddenly made sense why I’d been practically shunned at school lately. The phrase ‘neither human nor ghost’ sparked a surge of revulsion in me, and I clenched my fists.

“What’s the point of seeing ghosts?” Ma Qiang interjected. “Aren’t you scared of being harmed?”

“He’s my grandfather; he wouldn’t hurt me,” Yu Bing retorted. “You’re just a scaredy-cat, so cowardly!”

“I honestly don’t know how to meet ghosts,” I said. “And I think you should abandon this idea. Ghosts are bound by heavy attachments.”

Ma Qiang shoved me, his frustration boiling over. “Lee Fan, I lent you money for tuition once. Is it really that hard to do Yu Bing a favor? Damn it, I must’ve been blind!”

I was taken aback as Yu Bing continued to dab at her tears. Ma Qiang’s look turned venomous as he consoled her, insisting, “I’ll go with you, I’ll be there for you.” After a moment’s hesitation, I remembered Wang Tao and Ms. Liu mentioning my strong life force, impervious to spirits. Considering the early hour, I figured there was no harm in joining them.

Going alone, they might indeed run into trouble. “Okay,” I conceded, “I’ll go with you both.”