Chapter 14: A Spectacle Awaits Tonight

“They’re inside, eating. The village chief and Luo Wenyuan are both there!” the two little spirits said.

I nodded upon hearing this, preparing to go in and speak with the chief. But just then, Xiao Fang suddenly tugged at my sleeve. “Sir, Zhao Xue is there as well. Her resentment is too heavy—we don’t dare go in.”

“I understand. You two wait outside,” I replied, then entered on my own.

Inside, I still knocked on the door.

From within came an impatient voice: “Again?”

“Who is it? Go see!” That was the chief’s voice.

Soon, the chief’s wife appeared. She managed a forced smile when she saw me. “Xiao Bei, have you eaten?”

“I have. Has Uncle Luo returned?” I asked respectfully.

“He’s here, but still eating. Why not sit inside? He’ll come out when he’s done.”

“All right, Auntie, you go eat. I’ll wait inside.” Without caring whether she truly wanted me to wait, I went straight in.

She glanced at me with obvious dislike, but said nothing and turned back toward the dining room.

Yet as I stepped inside, I could sense the house was suffused with resentment.

So it really was Luo Wenyuan who did it. But why was he so determined to kill her?

I waited in the room for quite a while before the chief came out. “Xiao Bei, I heard you wanted to see me. What’s the matter?”

I stood and nodded, then said, “Uncle Luo, about the female corpse found this morning—I know who she is.”

He froze at my words, then stared at me. “You? How do you know? The constables haven’t figured it out yet!”

“That’s why I’m here to tell you, so you can inform the police,” I replied with a friendly smile.

“Ah, so what’s her name?” the chief asked.

“Zhao Xue, isn’t it?”

“How should I know if that’s correct?” he retorted swiftly.

“You may not know, but someone does,” I said again.

This time, the chief’s face darkened, though he still tried to look ignorant. “Who?”

“Not an outsider—your son,” I said, smiling.

No sooner had I finished than the chief’s wife stormed out, her demeanor changed. She cursed at me, “Zhang Xiaobei, what nonsense are you spouting? Got nothing better to do than stir up trouble in our home?”

“Auntie, don’t be upset. I only said your son knows who she is—not that he killed her,” I replied, meeting her gaze.

She was momentarily speechless, then hurried to defend her son. “My son doesn’t even know her. How could he harm her? Stop spreading rumors!”

“Rumors? Well, call your son out and you’ll see whether it’s a rumor,” I said calmly.

My words made her nervous; she looked to the chief, too scared to summon her son herself. The chief, however, was more composed. Smiling, he said to his wife, “Go on, bring our son out.”

Seeing she had no choice, she shot me a poisonous glare and went to fetch Luo Wenyuan.

Soon she returned with her son.

If I had any doubts before about the source of the resentment in this house, now I was sure—it was Zhao Xue’s.

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When Luo Wenyuan emerged, Zhao Xue’s spirit followed behind him, shrouded in dark energy.

Seeing me, she instinctively prepared to strike.

I merely smiled at her, then turned to Luo Wenyuan. “Wenyuan, it’s been a while.”

He glanced at me with disdain, took a seat, and ignored me.

I wasn’t offended. Smiling quietly, I discreetly activated the recorder on my phone.

“Wenyuan, you know Zhao Xue, don’t you?” I asked directly.

“No, I don’t!” He didn’t hesitate.

I looked at him. “Don’t rush to answer—think carefully. Maybe she was a classmate or a friend, and you’ve forgotten her name after so long?”

“Hey, Zhang Xiaobei, what authority do you have? Are you interrogating me?” Luo Wenyuan stood up, dissatisfied, and complained to the chief, “Dad, can’t you stop letting just anyone come in? I’m not a criminal, and even if I were, he’s nobody—he can’t interrogate me.”

With that, he stormed off. Zhao Xue lingered, watching me; I whispered to her in a way only she could understand, “Then make as much trouble as you like!”

Zhao Xue’s ghostly face twisted into a sly grin before she followed Luo Wenyuan out.

Seeing his son say nothing, the chief gave me his signature forced smile. “You saw it yourself—my son says he doesn’t know her. So head home, it’s getting late.”

He eyed the door, clearly urging me to leave. I understood, but added, “If anything strange happens tonight, you can come find me—especially if it’s supernatural. That’s my specialty!”

With that, I turned and left, their expressions full of contempt as they watched me go.

Outside, the two little spirits were still waiting. They rushed over as soon as I appeared. “Sir, how did it go? Did you see Zhao Xue?”

“I saw her. There’ll be a good show tonight, so keep watch here for me,” I said, heading home.

They asked, “What about now?”

“Now? Didn’t you want something to eat? Come with me,” I replied.

Hearing they could eat, the two spirits burst with excitement, racing ahead—clearly, they hadn’t eaten in ages.

At home, I reheated the dishes my mother had made that morning, arranged them on the table as offerings for spirits.

The two little ghosts dove in, fighting over the food—it was obvious they’d gone too long without.

Leaving them to eat, I called the town police station, quickly getting through and asking for Lin Chuan.

“Officer Lin!”

“It’s you again?” He sounded resigned.

“Do you want to solve the Zhao Xue case?” I asked directly.

“Are you going to make up another story?” He was exasperated.

“Of course not. If you want to crack the case, come by my house tonight. There’ll be a good show,” I said before hanging up.

I wasn’t sure he’d believe me, but I was certain he would come.

When night had fully fallen, the two little spirits had already gone to keep watch at the chief’s house. I’d told them to alert me immediately if anything happened.

“Zhang Xiaobei, when will you let me take Zhao Xue back to the underworld? I’m getting pressured again,” Tan Xiao complained, slumping on the sofa.

“If nothing unexpected happens, tonight,” I replied.

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She perked up. “You convinced her?”

“Not yet. But once her case is solved, she should agree to leave with you.”

“So you haven’t spoken with her at all?” Tan Xiao was even more exasperated.

I nodded, but I believed her refusal to depart was because the guilty still walked free—her spirit was unwilling. Once justice was served, she would go.

“… Zhang Xiaobei, you’re really putting me through it. If not for you, I’d just forcibly take her away,” Tan Xiao sighed helplessly, leaning back.

What did she mean by that? I looked at her. “Are you saying that, in the world of the living, you mostly follow my lead?”

“What else? I can’t communicate with people,” she said, head bowed in frustration.

Hearing this, I understood: among all the underworld officials who serve me in the world of the living, my authority as a living envoy is supreme. Given this, my role must be more than simply escorting unwilling spirits; it’s to vindicate those who died unjustly, so their souls may depart willingly.

Suddenly, I felt rather noble.

As I was pondering this, there was a knock at the door. Judging by the sound, it had to be Lin Chuan.

Indeed, when I opened the door, Lin Chuan stood there in casual clothes.

“Officer Lin!” I greeted him with a smile.

He waved his hand. “No need for formalities at this hour—I’m off duty.”

“All right. Then should I call you Brother Lin, or Brother Chuan?”

“Suit yourself. But are you sure tonight you can help me crack the case?”

“Maybe not solve it, but you’ll definitely gain something,” I said confidently.

“Fine. I don’t know why I believe you, but since I’m here, I hope you won’t disappoint me,” he said, moving to enter.

But before he could, I stopped him. “With all that righteous energy on you, best not come inside. My house is already full of ghostly miasma.”

“What do you mean?” He didn’t get it.

“I told you—I really can see ghosts. There’s one inside right now. So stay out. It’s not good for someone full of positive energy to be exposed,” I said seriously.

He still seemed skeptical, but looking into my eyes, he nodded, willing to trust me for the moment.

Why couldn’t Lin Chuan enter, but He Yanran could? Because she often visited my home, she was already immune—her body carried ghostly energy by now.

“If I don’t go in, where should I wait?” Lin Chuan asked.

“Hold on, let me check,” I said, running inside and taking out the box, knocking twice.

“Living envoy, what brings you?” the spirit guarding the box asked.

“If I want ordinary people to avoid picking up ghostly energy, what should I do?” I inquired.

“Just wear protective charms. Why, do you need one?” he asked.

I nodded. “Do you have any right now? Give me one!”

“Not at the moment, but when you have time, I can teach you how to make some,” he replied.