Judge of Souls - Chapter 44

He wore a white shirt with the collar standing up high, and a blue badge hanging on his chest. But because of the blurry reflection in the glass, the specific text on it was unclear.

Jiang Feng stepped back, distancing himself from the ghost figure, then glanced behind.

Behind him was empty, but in his peripheral vision, the ghost in the glass moved closer to him.

Jiang Feng suddenly moved, turning around to strike, slapping his hand toward the figure’s body.

When he made contact, there was no resistance; his hand passed straight through. The overlapping area felt like touching ice, with a cold sensation spreading from his palm.

He hesitated no longer, rushing forward, passing through the ghost’s body, then sidestepping through the narrow passage between desks to escape out the door.

The map in this game was strange, with eerily realistic details. Everything matched exactly—from the stains on the font of the east and west gate signs of the school, to which parts of the stone railings around the flower beds had gaps. This couldn’t simply be a database, nor was it likely to be a pure illusion.

He felt that this world might actually exist in reality, like the physical form that the little Mountain God hadn’t brought out when it transformed, but was somehow connected to the game. If so, things that existed in reality might also exist here.

Jiang Feng hurried toward Zhang Yangyang’s dormitory. Though he couldn’t see the presence behind him, the cold sensation pressing closely from behind kept him vigilant.

He ran across the white pedestrian crossing, rushing from the teaching area into the living area. At that moment, he heard the sound of keys unlocking a door. Then Zhang Yangyang called from a distance, “Jiang Feng, I’m here. I’ve left my stuff at the door.”

Jiang Feng felt disoriented for a moment because his game console was filled with background sounds: the shrill cries of stray cats, the sound of wind while running and jumping, and the tapping sound similar to leather shoes running on the road.

Cold sweat poured from his forehead, too tense to speak.

The street lights flickered, and the entire street was empty of people. The footsteps behind him gradually merged with those in reality. Jiang Feng heard Zhang Yangyang sit down beside him. The sound pulled away part of his attention.

“Jiang Feng?” Zhang Yangyang looked at the computer and said, “What are you running from? There’s nothing on the screen. Aren’t you getting dizzy from turning around so much?”

Jiang Feng rushed into the dormitory building. His clothes were unnaturally pulled from behind, with no sensation of touching skin, but the area across his chest definitely tightened. This was an absolute real feeling, a phenomenon impossible to experience in a VR game.

Jiang Feng shouted, “Zhang Yangyang!”

Zhang Yangyang was startled by him. Then heard him ask, “Did you just pull my clothes?”

Zhang Yangyang replied in confusion. “No, I didn’t. That would be dangerous, wouldn’t it?”

Jiang Feng: “Where are your talismans in the dormitory?”

Zhang Yangyang: “There’s one behind the main door, one in the shoes under my bed, a package tucked in the computer, and the one I’m wearing myself.”

Jiang Feng was climbing the stairs, taking large steps upward. His vision swayed considerably, shaking up, down, left, and right, parts of the image blurring into afterimages.

Zhang Yangyang, watching from the side, was getting dizzy himself, afraid Jiang Feng might accidentally fall. Knowing that something was wrong with Jiang Feng’s state, he remained quiet, not daring to make a sound.

Reaching the third floor, Jiang Feng’s footsteps halted as he discovered that Zhang Yangyang’s dormitory door was closed.

In that brief moment, both his arms were forcefully gripped by someone. A dull pain transmitted from his shoulders.

Jiang Feng immediately jumped up, kicking hard at the dormitory door, breaking free from the restraint.

“I—” Zhang Yangyang stood up, but afraid of affecting him, forcefully held back his voice, mentally adding a word—sh*t!

Four scratch marks suddenly appeared on the shoulder area of Jiang Feng’s clothes. Blood seemed to seep from the deeper parts.

Zhang Yangyang: “Behind the door, behind the door! No, no, no, hanging at the head of the bed, can you see it? Can you see it? There’s one pasted inside that big bookmark-like thing!”

Jiang Feng rushed over, grabbed the talisman package in his hand, and threw it backward forcefully. His instinct told him the person in the shadows was there.

Sure enough, as the talisman flew halfway through the air, it suddenly stopped, sticking in midair, emitting a golden light, then beginning to self-ignite. The evil ghost, who had been holding back and not making a sound, suddenly let out a shrill cry, covering its face and retreating.

The fire suddenly grew larger, enveloping its body in an instant, burning into a human shape.

Jiang Feng could now clearly see its form.

“Ah—!” Zhang Yangyang was the first to scream when it revealed its form, “My god, bro, Brother Jiang! Dad Jiang—! Stop chasing… Hey, take another talisman!”

The male ghost’s magic powers were quite strong; one talisman couldn’t defeat him, but only made him visible. He seemed very afraid of Jiang Feng seeing his face, immediately covering and turning his back, when his weakness was exposed. Surprisingly, Jiang Feng chased after him.

Jiang Feng leaped forward, falling off the treadmill below. Zhang Yangyang drew in a sharp breath.

Jiang Feng’s knees hit the ground hard, and after the pain came, he couldn’t help but tremble. But at the same time, he had also pinned down the evil ghost, pressing firmly on him from behind.

Jiang Feng grabbed his hand and forcefully twisted it aside while trying to see his face. The ghost struggled desperately, his muscles tense and bulging, but somehow couldn’t overcome Jiang Feng’s strength.

The male ghost screamed in pain, causing Jiang Feng’s eardrums to hurt, but he refused to let go. During the struggle, Jiang Feng caught a rough glimpse of his appearance.

He was a man with fair skin, but with quite delicate and handsome features. In his twenties, with a gloomy gaze, his eyes were opened too wide, causing the eyeballs to protrude. The moment he met Jiang Feng’s gaze, he unleashed a powerful force, pushing back and knocking him away.

Zhang Yangyang: “He’s escaping!”

Jiang Feng had no strength left. He took a couple of deep breaths, then removed his headset without pursuing.

Zhang Yangyang helped him up and asked, “Are you okay?”

Jiang Feng’s knees were still in pain; he couldn’t stand up. Zhang Yangyang said, “I’ll go get you some safflower oil, just wait.”

Jiang Feng didn’t have that at home, so Zhang Yangyang quickly ran to the pharmacy downstairs to buy him a bottle. Watching him apply the medicine, still with lingering fear, he paced around the treadmill saying, “You’re way too brave, bro. Don’t you realize you’re in a mortal body right now?”

Jiang Feng said, “I saw what the ghost looked like.”

“I saw it too. I even took a screenshot!” Zhang Yangyang said, “What’s there to be proud about seeing a ghost’s face? Bro, get a grip!”

Jiang Feng: “Fine, send the video to Officer Ye.”

Zhang Yangyang sighed in defeat and went to organize the screen recording files.

Jiang Feng uploaded the files to the cloud, then sent the account and password to Officer Ye, letting him download them himself.

Officer Ye replied with a bright-eyed emoji, then said, “Got it. Be careful yourself.”

Zhang Yangyang took out his life-saving talisman from his bosom, handing over the weight of life, and said, “I’ll give you one.”

Jiang Feng exclaimed in surprise, “How do you have so many?”

“I begged them all from Taoist Chu at the cost of my dignity,” Zhang Yangyang said with tears streaming down his face. “He said it’s fine to carry more if you’re going to be around me.”

Jiang Feng: “…Thanks. I have some.” But they weren’t effective.

Officer Ye said he would provide answers the next day, and Chu Xuanliang also said he would return tomorrow. Zhang Yangyang felt reassured, not as anxious as on the first day.

That night.

Zhang Yangyang lay on the narrow bed, turning over, feeling his head propped up unusually high, causing his neck to be uncomfortable.

Saliva flowed from the corner of his mouth, leaving a damp patch.

His snoring stopped abruptly. He raised his hand to touch, but didn’t feel his ears, just a smooth, unidentifiable texture. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself standing in the dormitory hallway.

A golden round moon hung outside the window, half-exposed. In front of him, a ghost was crouching, examining him carefully.

Zhang Yangyang’s body trembled violently as he quickly retreated, accidentally falling off the bed. Ignoring the pain, he shouted loudly, “Jiang Feng! Brother Jiang! I saw the ghost that wants to take over my dorm! Aren’t there two people? How can he still appear? He, he, he—”

Jiang Feng woke up, turned on the light, and went to remove his headset. “What’s wrong?”

However, the ghost merely gave him a faint glance, revealing a trace of contempt and disdain, then turned and left without hesitation.

Zhang Yangyang: “…???”

Something seemed off. Should he laugh now?

…Might as well laugh.

Jiang Feng noticed his sudden silence and asked, “What did you see?”

Zhang Yangyang removed his headset himself, quietly climbed back into bed, and said: “Nothing. I had a nightmare.”

Jiang Feng: “You had a nightmare and then put on the headset yourself?”

“I was sleepwalking!” Zhang Yangyang said, “Don’t say it! I’m blessed with good fortune, immune to evil ghosts, I’m telling you, I’ve got the protagonist’s luck!”

Zhang Yangyang turned off the light and commanded, “Sleep!”

The next day, Jiang Feng didn’t touch the VR headset again, and it didn’t show any abnormalities.

In the afternoon, Officer Ye came alone to discuss the situation with them.

“This is the first time I’ve seen a ghost with solid evidence…” Officer Ye scratched his hair and said, “This person is indeed a ghost. Guess who he is?”

Jiang Feng asked, “The founder of that company?”

“No,” Officer Ye said gravely. “He was the general manager’s secretary.”

Jiang Feng: “Was there something strange about him?”

“Well… how should I put it? We contacted employees at the company to inquire about the secretary’s situation. Many knew of him, but few knew him personally or had spoken with him. This person was somewhat mysterious, only communicating with upper management, and having only simple work handovers with those below. Normally quite aloof, he didn’t like people talking to him. Because his gaze always seemed a bit superior when looking at people, others didn’t really like him,” Officer Ye said. “He had considerable power, with many documents passing through his hands first. Everyone thought he was a parachuted executive with a limitless future, but unexpectedly, he resigned after just a year.”

Officer Ye took a sip of water. “The HR department handled it very discreetly, as if this person never existed. He died shortly after resigning, due to organ failure. The hospital has records. Same cause of death as the founder.”

Officer Ye: “Since he died after resigning, if the company doesn’t cooperate, it’s very difficult for us to investigate. Currently, we don’t know if there’s a third similar person.”

Jiang Feng: “Hmm…”

Both fell silent.

Zhang Yangyang said, “Would you two dare to make a bold guess, for my reference?”

“Don’t rush. Leave speculation to the professionals. Chu Xuanliang said he’d call later; he’s at A University now,” Officer Ye raised his hand to check the time. “He should be about there by now, right?”

Sure enough, Jiang Feng’s phone rang less than five minutes later.

Chu Xuanliang got straight to the point, “You said you kicked Zhang Yangyang’s dormitory door yesterday?”

Jiang Feng: “Yes. Is the door damaged?”

“No, the door is fine. The talisman is also there,” Chu Xuanliang said. “Try logging into the game again now.”

Jiang Feng did as he said and connected to the game.

Surprisingly, this time it was the normal login interface. Even Zhang Yangyang let out a “huh.”

After logging in, map options appeared. Jiang Feng selected a hospital, and after going online, it was indeed a hospital map.

Everything had returned to normal.

Chu Xuanliang said, “Good, I understand now. I’m coming over to see you all.”