Chapter 3: Sunrise Not for One Person
To be honest, being alone in the room watching this suspenseful murder case was a little exciting.
Especially for Qin Liu, who was a bit timid.
But the uploader who was explaining the case was so brilliant and captivating that even the somewhat timid Qin Liu found herself engrossed.
However, the more she watched, the more something felt off.
Why did the location where the case was described… seem so familiar?
And it felt like it was so close to her.
But soon, after seeing the victim’s photo, Qin Liu froze.
One of the deceased in the photo was the front desk lady!
At that moment, Qin Liu’s brain buzzed, and the entire ghost subconsciously moved her phone away.
She widened her eyes, disbelievingly glanced at the video again.
It was exactly the same!
Whether it was her height, her attire, or her facial features, they were all identical.
If there were truly two identical people in this world, they would either be twins or… ghosts!
It was clear that the video did not mention the victim being a twin, so it was highly likely to be the latter.
Upon realizing this, Qin Liu’s scalp tingled a little.
She finally understood that Liu Haoyu’s early morning departure at five was not for some sunrise.
He had gone to catch ghosts!
He should at least have told her! What was the point of leaving her in this scary place?
However, Qin Liu had actually misunderstood Liu Haoyu.
This man simply felt that this level of ghost did not require Qin Liu’s intervention, and since Qin Liu did not seem like the type of person who liked to roam around, he decided it was best to leave her in the room.
As for safety…
Considering Qin Liu’s safety was less important than considering whether the ghosts would have the psychological problem after seeing Qin Liu.
Upon realizing that this place was haunted, Qin Liu’s heart was pounding in her chest.
She turned off the video and then went to a music app and played “Good Fortune is Coming.”
The cheerful singing made Qin Liu feel a little bit better.
Even when “Good Fortune is Coming” was playing, the room seemed to have a festive New Year’s atmosphere.
How nice…
Nice my foot!
With such a festive atmosphere, but only one ghost in the room, it made things even weirder!
So, Qin Liu changed the song to “March of the Volunteers.”
Under the protection of the national anthem, she finally felt at ease.
Despite feeling at ease, Qin Liu now wished Liu Haoyu would return quickly.
And she didn’t dare to go out and look for him.
After all, in most horror movies, acting alone rashly was even more dangerous.
So Qin Liu chose to wait where she was for Liu Haoyu to return.
Time ticked by.
She didn’t know how many times the stirring music had repeated, and the moment the room door was opened, Qin Liu’s trembling heart leaped into her throat.
And then she saw not the middle-aged woman from the front desk, but Liu Haoyu holding a fire axe.
Upon seeing Liu Haoyu, Qin Liu’s entire ghost finally calmed down completely.
She even said with a hint of complaint.
“You went ghost hunting, didn’t you?”
Liu Haoyu hadn’t expected Qin Liu to see through his lie.
Fortunately, he didn’t deny it and frankly replied.
“Yes, I remembered the murder case from back then, so I confirmed the identity of the front desk woman, and found out that she is indeed a ghost, but she has no killing intent, she just wanted to absorb some Yang energy.”
“Huh… That weak?”
Seeing Liu Haoyu’s nonchalant expression, Qin Liu was a little surprised.
In response, Liu Haoyu explained.
“Not every ghost has the strength of the Red Gate or the fierce ghost of Longshan Vocational High School. Most of them are not that strong, even the front desk lady at this hotel just wanted to possess me while I was sleeping.”
In fact, this was the usual strength that ghost exorcists faced. If every fierce ghost was as powerful as Liu Xiaoxiao or Longshan Vocational High School, the world would have descended into chaos long ago.
A Zhenlei Talisman, a fire axe, and a few threatening words would make those wandering spirits much more obedient.
Hearing Liu Haoyu’s explanation, Qin Liu finally understood.
But even so, she had been frightened just now, so she said.
“Um… I mean, next time, next time at least make it clear…”
Qin Liu’s voice sounded a little complaining, to which Liu Haoyu just smiled and said.
“Understood, it’s almost six in the morning, want to go see the sunrise together? This time it’s really to see the sunrise.”
“Okay.”
This time, facing Liu Haoyu’s invitation, Qin Liu did not refuse, but decisively agreed.
As the man and the ghost left the hotel, the middle-aged woman at the front desk showed a look of terror, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Especially after learning Qin Liu’s identity from Liu Haoyu, she wished she could find a hole to bury herself in.
She was truly terrified now, if she had really tried to possess him then…
She could have actually died as a ghost!
Therefore, at this moment, the ghost at the front desk even felt a little fortunate that her strength was not enough.
So weak that she couldn’t even phase through walls, she could only use a room card to open doors.
Qin Liu followed behind Liu Haoyu, arriving at a slope where the terrain was high enough to look over the sea of trees on Panwang Mountain and directly see the sun slowly rising on the horizon.
The bright red sun climbed higher and higher.
The early morning sun cast its rays on the earth, dispelling the chill of the night and illuminating the dark mountains.
When the sunlight fell on Liu Haoyu, the man couldn’t help but take out a cigarette, light it, and say.
“After the sun rises, all demons and ghosts will retreat into darkness, which means it’s time for humans. So I’ve always been curious, Qin Liu, aren’t you afraid of the sun?”
“That…” Qin Liu hesitated, she felt if she said she wasn’t afraid, wouldn’t it seem too peculiar? But thinking that it was Liu Haoyu, she honestly replied, “No.”
After speaking, she looked at the morning sun again. The sunlight passed through her cheeks, making them rosy and very cute.
However, Liu Haoyu could no longer see Qin Liu. He could only hear her voice.
“You really don’t seem like a ghost, more like a person.”
Liu Haoyu’s words made Qin Liu a little nervous, but the latter didn’t say anything more.
The two them began to quietly admire the sunrise.
For Qin Liu, the little ghost guarding the haunted house, she had seen countless sunrises and sunsets.
But this time, it felt completely different.
Before, watching the sunrise alone, her heart was filled with emptiness and loneliness, but now… she felt a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Qin Liu hadn’t experienced this feeling for a very, very long time.
Even when she was alive, she hadn’t experienced this feeling.
Her childhood was filled with countless cram schools,
Her teenage years were spent buried in mountains of homework,
She hadn’t managed to break through when she became an adult, constantly struggling for a living…
They say that after reaching a certain stage, life becomes easier, but when she reached that so-called easier stage, she found only more exhaustion and fatigue.
After becoming Qin Liu, the burden on her was indeed lighter.
However, the lonely life day after day was even worse than being imprisoned.
Qin Liu had tried more than once to explore the reason for her reincarnation as Qin Liu.
But even the longest time could not give her any answers.
If she hadn’t died once and tasted the pain of death, in her most solitary and desperate moments, Qin Liu had even considered suicide.
However… having experienced death, Qin Liu cherished her life very much.
Qin Liu had seen many sunrises and sunsets, but this time, she was truly immersed in it.
It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky and Liu Haoyu shook her body that Qin Liu came back to her senses.
“Let’s go, the sun has completely risen.”
“Oh…”
Qin Liu came back to her senses, a little reluctant, but still followed by Liu Haoyu’s side.
Feeling a little ashamed, she pretended to be unfazed and said.
“The scenery here is quite nice… Will you come again later?”
“Later?” Liu Haoyu smiled and said, “There are so many beautiful sights in this world, why linger on just one?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, there are even better sights in the world, and if you want to see them, I’ll take you along.”
“…”
Liu Haoyu’s direct and simple words left Qin Liu completely silent.
The man’s words were indeed straightforward, but sometimes, directness could be very impactful.
So much so that Qin Liu didn’t know how to respond to Liu Haoyu.
When she observed Liu Haoyu interacting with Deng Xiaolin before, Qin Liu felt that his emotional intelligence wasn’t very high.
But looking at it now, was his emotional intelligence really low, or was he faking it?
Qin Liu didn’t know the answer, but she couldn’t help but feel a little pleased with Liu Haoyu’s response.
“I don’t like running around everywhere. I’d be grateful if you could just stay honestly in the haunted house.”
“That won’t do, I’m a ghost exorcist, and a ghost exorcist won’t stop here.”
For Liu Haoyu, the fierce ghost of Longshan Vocational High School had been dealt with, but the Red Gate had not been resolved, and he had to face the imminent danger.
Thinking of this, Liu Haoyu took out the Red Jade and motioned for Qin Liu to enter it.
The latter was indeed getting a bit sleepy. She yawned and said.
“I’m going to take a nap. You should go back quickly too. You’ve only slept for two hours since yesterday, don’t suddenly die.”
After speaking, Qin Liu entered the Red Jade.
After feeling the icy aura from Qin Liu disappear, Liu Haoyu fell into thought.
Last night, when he unbuttoned Qin Liu’s collar, he had indeed seen the expanse of white hills.
Qin Liu didn’t seem to have the habit of wearing underwear, so Liu Haoyu could easily see a black mole on the right hill.
It wasn’t large, but it was exactly the same as the mole shown by the Qin Liu in his dream.
After all, illusions are created based on cognition, and he saw the mole in his dream first, and then confirmed the mole in reality.
So, this could generally indicate one thing…
That his dreams were definitely not illusions.
Thinking of this, Liu Haoyu took out the Black Book, opened a blank page, and wrote.
“I dreamed of that ‘no-three’ Qin Liu again, are she and Qin Liu really the same person? Why… don’t they seem alike at all?”
In response, the Black Book replied in a very decisive and firm handwriting.
“There is only one guide, the Qin Liu you see is the same ghost.
Do not be deceived by your eyes, that is the true appearance of the guide,
Cold, ruthless, once locked onto by her, it’s certain death.
Unfortunately, you are now one step closer to death.
Your name is flashing frequently on King Yama’s life and death register.
Sensing your death omen, the Red Gate will absolutely not let you escape alive,
And the guide cannot protect you forever.”
The Black Book’s words were not long, but each word was insightful, and its strokes were powerful and firm, appearing extremely confident.
After thinking for a moment, Liu Haoyu wrote again.
“I have now captured the fierce ghost of Longshan Vocational High School, how can I determine the location of the tombstone engraved with my name?”
The blood on the Black Book brewed for a while, and then began to transform.
“Shaking off the Red Gate’s lock is your primary goal.
Take this fierce ghost you captured to the public cemetery in Longdong Village at midnight.
The foul blood within it can attract that blood-stained rusty iron gate.
This time, you will face the Red Gate directly.
Life and death are only a thought away, either live or die…
Finally, before heading to the public cemetery, please deliver me to Deng Xiaolin.
I don’t want to compare fortunes with you, damn it!”
This time, the Black Book wrote a lot, filling two pages.
And without giving Liu Haoyu a chance to ask, it directly closed the book.
Recalling what the Black Book had just said, Liu Haoyu’s mouth twitched.
It was obvious that the preceding words were its guidance, and the latter two sentences were definitely its personal additions.
But it was through the Black Book’s words that Liu Haoyu finally knew how to proceed.
Only… the public cemetery in Longdong Village…
This is not a good place.
Public cemeteries, if not managed properly, have very strong grudges, and can even give birth to extremely powerful fierce ghosts.
If he chooses to summon the Red Gate there, he must be fully prepared.
Otherwise, even he would meet an unfortunate end.
Liu Haoyu returned to the hotel, packed his backpack, and prepared to return.
As soon as he stepped out, two police cars sirened and stopped directly in front of him.
Liu Haoyu was a little confused, but the police car doors opened, and Wang Wenqi walked out.
“Xiao Liu? What are you doing here?”
Seeing Liu Haoyu, he was first surprised, then his face lit up with a smile.
Liu Haoyu calmly took out a novel and replied.
“Didn’t I tell you last time, Brother Wang? I’m a man who aspires to become a famous supernatural novelist.”
Wang Wenqi wanted to say something more, but remembering Old Deng’s instructions, he restrained his smile, coughed twice, and said sternly.
“We received a police report last night from a driver who said he encountered a murderer holding a fire axe with a terrifying and grim expression… Do you have any leads on this, Xiao Liu?”
