Chapter 69: Forced Interrogation

Yang Han didn't even dare to meet Qi Yan's gaze. He only shook his head in a daze, swallowing hard. "I... I don't know, I don't know..."

Qi Yan licked his lips and pressed on, "You don't know? That can't be right. You said you're haunted by the souls of your two friends, and you're sure it's them. But why are they coming for you? You didn't kill them, they just died in your house, that's all. Why aren't they after Li Ruoke? Why not me? Or—wasn't there someone named Du Zhou there that night? And your girlfriend, Cheng Ziyue, why don't they go after them? Why only you, and why do they want your life?"

These questions revealed Qi Yan's growing suspicion and confusion, but Yang Han still offered nothing useful. He got up, moved aside, and turned his head away. "I really don't know, stop asking!"

Qi Yan looked at him, helplessly pursing his lips and spreading his hands. "Sorry, Young Master Yang, whatever trouble you're in now, whether you talk or not, it doesn't really concern me. Whether you're haunted by vengeful spirits or tormented by nightmares, it's your own problem.

"But here's the thing, I'm not a sorcerer who can exorcise ghosts and demons. If you want a new amulet for protection, I can help you with that. Not just amulets, we sell talismans, charms, and protective items too.

But that's the extent of it. Our studio doesn't offer exorcism services. There's a temple in Dongchuan Mountain Park in the city, and another one about nineteen miles south in the suburbs. Maybe you should try your luck there?"

"Useless!" Yang Han suddenly roared, grabbing the water cup from the table and hurling it at the wall. The sharp crack of shattered glass echoed, shards scattering across the floor, startling the two dogs and the cat.

Qi Yan glanced at the broken cup, hands in his pockets, not losing his temper, just staring at Yang Han in silence, making his stance clear.

Yang Han realized he was losing control and grew even more agitated, pacing anxiously and lowering his voice with a faint sob. "I'm sorry... I've already sought out several masters. I've gone to temples and such, but it was useless... All frauds, selling me worthless talisman papers that did nothing."

"Nothing has been resolved. I've tried everything I could. Starting about five days ago, every night I dream of them—covered in blood."

"Later, when I washed my hands or showered... the water from the tap was bright red blood! Sometimes, even the water I drank turned to blood... But to everyone else, it was just water—only I could see it..."

"Last night, I saw them—not in a dream, but for real! They suddenly appeared before me, backs turned... blood pouring from their bodies, soaking the floor, flowing all the way to my feet..." Yang Han's voice grew more fragmented.

"No matter how gruesome and terrifying they looked, I recognized them clearly—it was definitely them! Wang Yudong... Shi Xiaoxue..."

"We were... we were childhood friends, grew up together, our parents have always been business associates."

"Since that night, I haven’t slept well once. You saw it with your own eyes, didn’t you? How horribly they died... When their parents got the police notice and came to claim the bodies... Shi Xiaoxue’s mother fainted on the spot."

"My father was so distraught he ended up in the hospital, and Xiaoyue still hasn’t woken up... This case caused trouble and danger for you and Li Ruoke, but for me... it wasn’t just a night of terror—it’s a nightmare I’ll never escape for the rest of my life!"

"I shouldn’t have invited them, that pool party... that gathering... I really shouldn’t have organized it!"

Qi Yan couldn’t help but interrupt, "You’ve been going on and on, but you still haven’t told me what I want to hear. I’m asking, why did they come back for you, Yang Han? Aren’t you one of the victims too? Your hand is still injured—why would they want you to pay for this?"

"Stop asking me! I really don’t know, I truly don’t know anything!" Yang Han shouted again.

Despite his agitation, Qi Yan could see that the more worked up Yang Han became, the stranger he seemed.

That night’s events at Yang Han’s villa definitely had hidden layers. Qi Yan and Li Ruoke had put it out of their minds for lack of follow-up, but thinking back there were unresolved questions.

Now Yang Han had come again, in this fraught mental state, rekindling Qi Yan’s suspicions.

"Yang Han, I’ll ask you one last time. That party you organized—are you hiding anything from us?" Qi Yan raised his voice, pressing him relentlessly.

He even stepped forward to force Yang Han to look him in the eye. "What really happened? Since you came to us, you should tell us everything. Why did that ghost, with its human face, appear in your house that night? Why did it show up right when we arrived? You know disaster is imminent and you still won’t speak? Is there any secret more important than your own life?"

Facing Qi Yan’s questions, Yang Han only shook his head incessantly. "Please, stop asking, please! I’ll pay you... If you can help me, I’ll give you lots of money! You and Li Ruoke saved the rest of us that night—you really know how to deal with ghosts, don’t you?"

"This isn’t about money..."

"It is about money! Name your price—if I can afford it, I won’t haggle!"

Qi Yan gripped his shoulder, enunciating every word, "Speak! Do you really want your friends’ vengeful spirits to kill you? Has it come to this? If you know anything, you’re still going to hide it? Is there any secret more important than your own life?"

Yang Han’s mind finally snapped, pushed to the brink. He retreated, yelling, "I can’t tell! If I say it, it won’t just be those two coming for me!"

That declaration brought silence between them. Both fell quiet.

Yang Han’s lips were bluish, his eyes vacant and dull.

Qi Yan’s brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

The only sounds in the living room were their heavy breathing, and the Siamese cat’s low mew.

"What did you just say?" Nearly a minute passed before Qi Yan spoke again. "Who else wants your life?"

Yang Han felt weak all over, sweat pouring from his forehead.

He realized he’d let slip something that should never be revealed. He stood stunned for a long time, then, as if his soul had left him, he trudged heavily toward the door.

"Hey, where are you going?" Qi Yan tried to call after him, but Yang Han seemed not to hear, stumbling out the door.

He fled to the elevator, barely knowing how he made it downstairs to Coco’s building, muttering under his breath...