Chapter 108 Legend
Old Deng’s gaze fixed intently on the pair of red embroidered shoes.
He knew very well that in such a grim and eerie place, the appearance of such a festive item was absolutely not a good omen, but a sign of great misfortune.
Especially the terrifying aura emanating from the embroidered shoes made Old Deng unable to resist taking a step back.
The old man remembered a legend.
A strange legend that circulated in Jiangliu City, but which had become little known at some point…
It had many names.
There were various theories about its origin, and no one knew what it truly was.
However, one widespread belief was that it was a Night Walker, a god that roamed at night, killing both humans and ghosts, and anyone who saw its true form was certain to die.
According to legend, in the 1980s, a group of powerful ghost exorcists decided to take action against it.
The operation was successful, and the terrifying monster was subdued by the combined efforts of the ghost exorcists.
As the most fierce ghost in this place, the Night Walker could naturally be used to suppress other ghosts and monsters.
It was a case of fighting evil with evil, and poison with poison.
And to achieve this effect, the Night Walker had to be made controllable.
For this purpose… these ghost exorcists performed a mysterious ritual.
The ritual was kept entirely secret, and no one but them knew what had happened.
All that was known was that after the ritual, the haunting incidents in Jiangliu City began to decrease.
But with it came terrifying legends about the Night Walker.
At that time, the best way to stop children from crying at night was to mention the Night Walker.
“If you don’t sleep, the Night Walker will come for you” was a childhood fear specific to that era.
And it truly scared many children.
But with the development of technology and the popularization of compulsory education.
These ghost legends were gradually forgotten, and people born after the 1990s had basically never heard of the Night Walker.
And if Old Deng hadn’t seen these red embroidered shoes, filled with such a menacing aura, he would have almost forgotten this legend.
However, whether this story was true or not, and whether the ritual had succeeded, no one knew.
All that was known was that those ghost exorcists were arrested at the time under the pretext of “eliminating feudalism and smashing the Four Olds.”
Then, somehow, when people found these ghost exorcists again.
These individuals were found dead in prison in an unspeakably bizarre state.
Their heads and limbs were all twisted, and their bodies were curled up like balls.
Even more chilling were the torn marks all over their bodies, with scratches and claw marks everywhere, as if they had been torn apart by countless hands…
Returning to reality from these memories.
Old Deng looked at the red embroidered shoes in front of him, his expression extremely solemn.
At one point, Old Deng had always doubted the authenticity of this legend, and he also felt that the ghost exorcists of that year were not harmed by fierce ghosts, but by villains.
But now, seeing these red embroidered shoes radiating a terrifying aura, he felt that… the Night Walker was probably not a legend, but a real event.
Old Deng dared not touch these red embroidered shoes.
Once such a powerful ghost and monster was provoked, even he would have no chance of winning.
“Old Deng… this thing is a bit creepy.”
Wang Wenqi’s body was also trembling slightly, the most primal instinct of a creature urging him to flee.
But as a police officer, he knew he couldn’t retreat.
Behind him were the people and the nation.
Old Deng shifted his gaze from the red embroidered shoes and looked back at the gray-white wall.
The red gate had long since disappeared.
Instead, something even more terrifying had appeared here…
According to that legend, after the Night Walker was subdued, a ritual was performed to control ghosts with ghosts, but regarding the ghost exorcists who went mad in prison, no one knew whether it was an enemy or a friend.
Old Deng slowly took two steps back, took a deep breath, and said to Wang Wenqi and Xiong Ying.
“You two, you go first. Close your eyes and leave this place. Remember, no matter what happens or what you hear, do not open your eyes!”
It was the first time Wang Wenqi had seen this legendary ghost exorcist show such a solemn expression.
At this point, they also understood that the origin of these red embroidered shoes was very terrifying.
Wang Wenqi secretly swallowed his saliva.
Suppressing the fear in his heart, the police officer took out his handgun and said.
“Old Deng, we can’t leave. If we go out, what about you?”
And the moment he took out his handgun, for some reason, the chilling gaze that had been fixated on the three of them suddenly disappeared.
However, due to the extreme oppressive environment and panic about the current situation, the three of them did not notice this.
Old Deng took a deep breath and said to Wang Wenqi.
“My son is a proud people’s police officer, and so are you. Whose son are you, and whose father are you? You are the pillars of your families, while I am just an old man on the verge of death. Such a terrifying thing appearing before us… you should know what that means.”
“…”
Wang Wenqi and Xiong Ying fell silent.
As members of the Special Task Force, they were naturally very familiar with supernatural events.
In supernatural events, any strange occurrences were never accidental.
It was like a gun appearing in a novel; it would eventually fire.
The appearance of these red embroidered shoes, filled with menacing aura, also signified that… the names of the three of them were flashing on King Yama’s book of life and death.
Perhaps the true owner of these embroidered shoes was now staring at the three of them from the shadows with terrifying eyes filled with malicious hatred.
If it was a fierce ghost with murderous intent, and it wasn’t attacking now, it was likely just watching their desperate and fearful reactions.
As for closing their eyes and choosing to leave, it was a way of surrendering to the fierce ghost.
It seemed a bit humiliating, but it was indeed a way to leave safely.
But the price was that one person had to stay behind… to perform a ghost appeasement ritual.
And this person would have almost no chance of survival.
“Is there no way to resist?”
Xiong Ying, as a young and impetuous police officer, was naturally a little unconvinced.
However, Old Deng shook his head and said.
“Violence can solve many problems, but it cannot solve all problems. We don’t know if it is friend or foe. To be safe, you should leave quickly… I have a feeling that I will survive.”
Old Deng’s words made the two police officers fall silent.
Before they could react, Old Deng left first and disappeared into the depths of the dark aisle.
“Team leader, what do we do now?”
“Xiong Ying…”
Wang Wenqi lit a cigarette, the scent of tobacco numbing his fearful nerves. After exhaling the smoke, he asked the square-faced man beside him.
“I ask you, do you want to be a coward or a hero?”
To this, Xiong Ying replied without hesitation.
“There are no cowards among the people’s police.”
