Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Enigma of Yang City (1)

Yang City, nine o’clock in the morning.

Gu Zhiheng, having just found a hotel, wore an expression of utter exhaustion—driving himself here had nearly done him in. Still, flying was too much of a hassle, so driving remained the best option. This morning, he was determined to sleep well, regain his energy, and then take a walk around Yang City to get a proper feel for the place.

“Sir, here’s your room card,” the front desk clerk said cheerfully, handing over both his room card and ID.

Glancing up, Gu Zhiheng noticed immediately that something was amiss with this woman. “Sister, don’t go home alone tonight. Make sure you have company,” he advised. It wasn’t that he was meddling, but her brow was shrouded with darkness—a bad omen. Worse still, there was an old man hovering near her, clearly up to no good.

Normally, Gu Zhiheng would have minded his own business, but this trip to Yang City was specifically because of a malicious spirit, so he couldn’t help but say something.

“Sir, do you mean… there really is something evil following me?” the woman asked, pale with fear as she glanced anxiously around, looking at Gu Zhiheng as if he were her last hope. She hurried to his side and poured out her troubles.

“The first time I walked home at night this month, a flowerpot almost fell on me from the tenth floor—thank goodness a passerby warned me just in time. The second time, I was crossing the street in broad daylight, the light was green, and a car suddenly sped toward me out of nowhere. And then last night, I barely slept. I was conscious the whole time but felt someone strangling me, even though I was alone at home!”

Three times now—each time she’d nearly died, only escaping thanks to someone’s timely shout.

“Take this. Tonight, you must go home with company—don’t forget,” Gu Zhiheng said, pressing a talisman into her hand before heading to his room with his belongings.

He’d noticed it as soon as he got off the plane: the area around the Yang City hotel was thick with ghostly energy, a heavy, lifeless atmosphere. As expected, the moment he entered the lobby, he encountered a powerful evil spirit.

He didn’t dwell on it. In broad daylight, nothing too serious was likely to happen. He’d get some proper rest first.

He’d heard Yang City was renowned for its snacks. Once he was up, he’d find a place to try some, and perhaps pick up a clue or two. It was said they grew medicinal herbs around here as well—he intended to take a good look around and see if he could buy some suitable ones.

He’d also heard the local mutton offal soup was excellent, but it was only available at five or six in the morning—he’d have to wait for another day. The wheat and potato dough soups were also supposed to be delicious; he could try those in the afternoon. He’d read about all these delicacies online, and even just looking at the photos made his mouth water. There was also a dish called sour vegetable gruel, which, when paired with the dough soup, was said to be even tastier than meat.

Chu Xingran: “Where have you gotten to, kid? We’ll be back in three days.”

Gu Zhiheng: “About to sleep. I’ll wander around this afternoon and act tonight.”

Gu Zhiheng: “I’m in Yang City. You three are too much, abandoning me like this.”

Seeing Chu Xingran’s message, Gu Zhiheng felt both exasperated and amused. To win his forgiveness, the three of them had been messaging him frequently these past days.

Gu Zhiheng: “I’m going to sleep. Message me if anything comes up—I’ll reply when I wake.”

After replying, he set his phone aside and lay down, trying to hypnotize himself to sleep. His sleep had been poor lately—probably because he’d been overthinking, piling needless pressure on himself.

...

“Kid, you’ve got nerves of steel—how can you sleep at a time like this?” a deep, magnetic voice sounded by his ear.

For a moment, Gu Zhiheng felt like cursing. He’d only just begun drifting off, and now, damn it, something had come to ruin his rest. Didn’t this thing know how wicked it was to wake someone just as they’d fallen asleep? It deserved a beating.

“Kid, get up. If you keep sleeping, the Gu family’s burden will only weigh heavier on you.” The speaker’s tone was slow and deliberate, as if afraid Gu Zhiheng wouldn’t catch every word.

Irritated, Gu Zhiheng yanked the blanket over his head, trying to block out the aggravating voice.

Seeing he was unmoved, the man threatened, “Don’t waste your energy. Get up now, or I’ll go and dig up your family’s ancestral graves!”

Damn it, Gu Zhiheng shot upright—was this guy looking for a beating?

What kind of lunatic threatened people like that? Digging up ancestral graves—he must be out of his mind!

He didn’t even know where his own family’s ancestral graves were. If this ghost could find them, Gu Zhiheng would bow nine times in respect!

“You’re annoying as hell. You’re already a ghost—can’t you stop with the nonsense?” Gu Zhiheng roared, regretting he hadn’t cast a fortune before trying to nap. This guy was something else—shameless and a bully.

“Gu Zhiheng, I am your ancestor! How dare you speak to me like that?” The man raised his hand and slapped Gu Zhiheng solidly on the shoulder.

“Settle the Yang City mystery for me, or I’ll haunt you every day. If I can’t rest, neither will you!” The man’s patience snapped, a surge of ghostly energy swirling around him, leaving Gu Zhiheng with a headache.

He fumbled around, but finding nothing useful, he drew a talisman in the air and slapped the highest-level spirit charm onto the man.

As the ghostly energy receded, Gu Zhiheng stepped closer. The man did bear a certain resemblance to him—unfortunately, only a resemblance. He wasn’t nearly as handsome.

“The key to the Yang City case is the Yang City Grand Hotel. Besides wild ghosts like you, do any others appear here during the day?” Gu Zhiheng muttered, dragging the man to the window, intent on tossing him out.

“This could’ve waited until tonight, but you had to disturb my rest. Get out of here! As far away as possible!” Anyone who disrupted his sleep was nothing good.

“Kid, I am your ancestor! How dare you throw me out!” The man roared, hurling several bolts of ghostly energy at him.

Gu Zhiheng didn’t even bother to look.

“Ancestor? Then today I’ll be the righteous one who destroys his own kin—get out of here, as far as you can!” Damn it, even ghosts these days were shameless—claiming to be his ancestor! He could well be this guy’s ancestor!

The nerve—taking advantage of the whole Gu clan, and if he hadn’t looked a bit like himself, Gu Zhiheng would’ve already marked him for extermination.

Unbelievable. Not only was he shameless, but he’d interrupted Gu Zhiheng’s sleep for the centennial mystery of Yang City—that was already the reason for his coming. No need for this self-important ghost to push him.

If it weren’t daytime, and making a scene would draw attention, he’d have wiped the guy out right then and there!