Volume One, Chapter 16: Two Hundred Million

After class, Chu Guang was stopped by Shui Ying.

“Old Chu, when are you moving back to the dorm? I’m terrified living alone.”

Since the incident in Qing City, Shui Ying hadn’t been sleeping well. Every little noise at night sent chills down her spine, leaving her drenched in cold sweat.

She sat on a chair, holding Chu Guang’s hand, her head resting on the desk.

After tidying her things, Chu Guang glanced at her, feeling puzzled. “I can’t move out for now.”

Shui Ying sighed. “Aren’t you scared being alone? The whole city is on edge. For ordinary people like us, all we can do is hide. I’m scared out of my mind at school, so how can you live by yourself?”

“Of course I’m scared,” Chu Guang admitted quietly, though she didn’t show it clearly. “That’s why I have to get back early.”

Shui Ying lay helplessly on the desk. “Where in this world is there a place for ordinary people like us?”

Chu Guang sighed and was about to take her to eat when an inexplicable sense of pressure came from behind.

Two faint sounds of chairs scraping were heard nearby.

She turned around and met a pair of eyes looking down on her.

Under Zhou Wei’s gaze, her calm eyes flickered with surprise.

Chu Guang instinctively stepped back two paces. She didn’t know when Zhou Wei and his group had appeared in the classroom, all dressed in the Special Management Bureau’s uniforms, walking straight toward them.

He paused briefly. “You’re blocking my way.”

Chu Guang looked toward the door. Sitting in the front row with the podium ahead, she was standing in the middle of the passage, completely blocking the way.

She moved aside.

The group sparsely ascended the stage. As she looked up, she spotted a familiar figure.

Ru An’s eyes flashed with surprise when he saw her and opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing.

Because he saw Zhou Wei accidentally brush against Chu Guang’s canvas bag as he passed by. The girl remained composed, patting the bag.

Ru An watched her retreating figure thoughtfully.

After finishing her meal in the dining hall, Chu Guang was about to leave when Ru An caught up to her.

“Chu Guang.”

She looked up. “I remember your grandmother’s deal is over. You shouldn’t be looking for me.”

Ru An raised his hand. “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to report you. I just want to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

In a low voice, he asked, “Is my grandmother doing well down there?”

Chu Guang nodded. “She’s fine.”

“Are ghosts really real in this world? Then why is that ghost that devours people still here?”

“Ru An, I think you’re mistaken,” Chu Guang said, blinking. “I’m just an ordinary person, only my side job is a bit special. I don’t know anything about murder or arson, and I don’t get involved. I just earn money and avoid trouble.”

Having said that, she didn’t look at Ru An again and passed by him.

Hearing his words, Chu Guang’s expression changed.

Thinking about the tragic deaths reported on the news, she felt a foreboding sense.

It was the work of a ghost.

But she really didn’t want to get involved.

She was just a reseller, powerless to intervene in vengeful ghost killings.

Ru An watched her back silently.

Murmuring to himself, “Not getting involved means you do know something…”

Chu Guang left the school and took out the address Lao Pang had given her.

She pulled a small token from her canvas bag—a little black amulet exuding a chilling aura. It was about half a palm in size, entirely black, with a faintly inscribed character.

She looked closely; the character seemed blurry: “Judgment?”

She found it strange that such a tiny token was worth twenty ghost lilies.

Taking a taxi, she arrived at the address on the note.

It was a bustling night market.

Crowds everywhere, with vendors hawking their goods.

The scent of food lingered in the air.

It was Chu Guang’s first time here, and she was curious. Following the alley, she reached a teahouse at the far end.

Inside, many people were gathered.

The atmosphere was lively.

As Chu Guang entered, many wore traditional robes and Taoist uniforms.

The moment she stepped in, the lively mood suddenly chilled.

All eyes turned toward her.

In the blink of an eye, someone spoke, “What’s with this kid? Here to drink tea? Lao Pang, why didn’t you put up the black copper coins at the door? How did an ordinary person get in?”

Chu Guang withdrew her gaze, no longer scrutinizing the crowd.

Lao Pang poked his head out. “Let me see what the matter is.”

He glanced toward the door and recognized the outfit, surprised. “It’s you. Got something to sell?”

Chu Guang nodded. “Bulk goods.”

“Alright, let’s go to the private room and have a look.” Without delay, Lao Pang addressed the tea drinkers, “I’ve got guests. Behave yourselves and don’t use those things. Recently, Old Zhao and the others went to catch ghosts but got injured by that thing. They’ve been recovering for quite a while.”

“Don’t bring that thing here.”

Climbing upstairs, Chu Guang heard this and furrowed her brows slightly.

Lao Pang led her into the private room and poured her a cup of tea. “It’s your first time here, right? We get all kinds of people in this line of work. It’s chaotic, but they’re all pretty capable. Just bear with it.”

He handed her the tea. “So, what’s the bulk goods this time? Show me.”

Chu Guang took out the small token. Instantly, a bone-chilling aura surged into the air.

Those drinking tea simultaneously opened their eyes, wary.

Lao Pang got goosebumps. “The yin energy is so strong it’s become tangible. This thing’s extraordinary.”

He stared at the token, shivering.

The token lay quietly on the table, looking like an ordinary small iron trinket, seemingly harmless.

Chu Guang looked down and asked, “Can you handle it?”

Lao Pang hadn’t expected her to bring something so terrifying. He frowned. “I can’t handle it alone. This is an offensive underworld item—could be deadly. Where did you get it?”

“None of your business.” Chu Guang sipped her tea, lifting her gaze. “Do you want it? If not, I’ll take it elsewhere.”

“But this thing…”

“Don’t worry. It’s from a legitimate source. I’m just here to make money. The deal’s straightforward. I won’t risk my life over this.”

Lao Pang hesitated. “How much are you asking?”

Chu Guang thought for a moment, raised two fingers, but before she spoke, Lao Pang’s heavy voice cut in, “Two hundred million? No wonder it’s so valuable.”

Though he had known it was expensive, hearing the price still tightened his chest.

He looked at the token, hesitating.

Finally, he bit the bullet. “I’ll buy it! Even if I have to sell everything!”

Chu Guang, who only wanted twenty million, was speechless.

She glanced at her two fingers and silently lowered them.

Fine, it’s all money.

An extra zero is acceptable.

She was a very tolerant businesswoman.

Lao Pang looked at the token and gritted his teeth. “I don’t have that much liquid cash now. I can gather about twenty million worth of energy metals in my safe as a deposit. I’ll write you an IOU for the rest. You come back in three days to pick it up. Deal?”

Chu Guang nodded. “Deal.”

Lao Pang kept a stern face and sent someone to fetch the energy metals.

While waiting, he stared at the token and exhaled deeply. “I owe you thanks. Without this, I’d be in danger lately.”

Chu Guang held her tea cup. “Is it about that big ghost?”

“Yes. Several high-level Taoists went to exorcise it but were injured instead,” Lao Pang said, pale. “Judging by their assessment, it’s a malevolent ghost that’s devoured dozens of people and keeps growing stronger by eating more. At this rate, we’re doomed.”