Chapter 18
The streets and alleys of Hui City were far from bustling.
Especially in this area near the outskirts, calling it desolate would not be an exaggeration.
The neighboring buildings were mostly old, small two-story houses.
The entire area’s economy was mainly driven by the two nearby hospitals.
The narrow alleys were shrouded in a ghostly chill.
Only two or three households had their doors open, with dim yellow lights glowing inside.
Following Brother Wang’s directions, Jiang Li looked into the distance.
After passing through these low houses, a tall hospital building stood ahead.
That should be the Red Cross Hospital.
Jiang Li quickened her pace and walked in that direction.
“Miss, would you like to look at coffins? Top-quality nanmu coffins.”
The Coffin Shop Owner next door greeted Jiang Li enthusiastically.
Jiang Li glanced over indifferently and did not respond.
Selling coffins early in the morning-Jiang Li really couldn’t figure out what this owner was thinking.
“It’s fine if you don’t want a coffin. I also have items to ward off evil.”
The Coffin Shop Owner grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth.
He stretched out his thick, stubby finger and pointed to the black door inside the dim shop, his face full of mystery.
“There’s something good inside.” The owner looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice to Jiang Li.
Jiang Li averted her gaze and kept walking without stopping.
“Come by anytime if you change your mind. My shop is open 24 hours!”
The Coffin Shop Owner craned his neck and called after Jiang Li’s back, unwilling to give up.
Seeing that Jiang Li was unmoved, the Coffin Shop Owner curled his lips and let out a sneer.
He shook his head and muttered to himself, “Ah… young people, they’ll be back.”
Jiang Li, with Red Infant in tow, hurried down the street.
She took out the Finger Biscuits from her pocket and ate a couple of bites for breakfast, crunching as she chewed.
It was barely enough to fill her stomach.
As she tossed the wrapper, Jiang Li instructed Red Infant:
“Red Infant, once we get to the hospital, don’t act rashly. There will probably be new rules.”
Red Infant nodded.
They had only walked a short distance when Red Infant suddenly shouted.
“Mommy, look! It’s that old grandpa!”
Jiang Li’s heart skipped a beat.
Was it the one who had hidden under her bed?
Wasn’t he already dead…
Jiang Li looked up.
A cold sweat instantly broke out on her back!
An Old Beggar, wearing Red High Heels and sporting long, blood-red fingernails, was staring at her without blinking.
The old man’s body was clad in a mishmash of women’s clothing.
Women’s blouses, underwear, leather jackets, and floral skirts were all messily layered on him.
“You… you are… beautiful.” The old man gazed at Jiang Li with a foolish smile.
Jiang Li quickly lowered her head and looked away.
She instinctively quickened her pace.
Jiang Li clearly remembered that Red Infant had said this old man had climbed through her window at four in the morning.
He was even caught by Red Infant and had his heart eaten.
If that was the case, why was he appearing on the street again?
Jiang Li walked on for another four or five minutes before she finally felt the old man’s gaze disappear.
But what she didn’t expect was that she would encounter another coffin shop ahead.
The Coffin Shop Owner looked exactly the same as the one she had just met.
Only this owner was not as enthusiastic as the previous one.
This Coffin Shop Owner was squatting at the door, picking his teeth with a grimace.
He dug out a bit of meat from between his teeth and spat it on the ground.
Noticing Jiang Li looking at him, the owner immediately stood up.
The Coffin Shop Owner grinned, “Hey, little lady, you’re back again. Want to take a look at some coffins?”
He pointed inside, signaling for Jiang Li to go in and have a look.
Jiang Li frowned, a sense of doubt rising in her heart.
Why did he say ‘again’?
Could it be that the owner of the previous shop was also him?
This time, Jiang Li became more alert.
She asked directly, “Have we met before?”
The Coffin Shop Owner touched his nose. “Questions cost money. I’m a businessman.”
“How much do you charge?”
“Ask a question, pay with a finger-cheap, right? Want to make a deal now?”
“No, I don’t need it for now.” Jiang Li refused directly.
It wasn’t that she was reluctant to part with Dai Chunli’s finger.
It was just that the cost-effectiveness of this deal was far too low.
Once you use a finger, you have one less. To waste it like this-it’s not worth it.
Jiang Li found it very simple to get the answer she wanted.
She only needed to take two steps, and everything would become clear.
Maybe the shop was run by two brothers, Jiang Li thought.
Upon hearing Jiang Li’s refusal, the Coffin Shop Owner knew the deal had fallen through.
He pursed his lips, seeming a bit dissatisfied.
But considering Jiang Li had the potential to become a future customer, the owner still offered a kind reminder.
“Be careful. The ‘dogs’ on the street bite. If a ‘dog’ catches up to you, never run. The more you run, the faster the ‘dog’ chases.”
Jiang Li’s eyes flickered. “Thank you.”
Although she didn’t quite understand what the owner meant, Jiang Li felt that this advice might just save her life.
The Coffin Shop Owner waved at Jiang Li. “Go on, go on. Don’t keep the children waiting.”
The owner turned and went back inside.
Jiang Li didn’t linger either; she turned and walked away.
After walking about five hundred meters, a cool breeze swept through the alley.
A plastic wrapper rustled along the ground, blowing to Jiang Li’s feet.
Jiang Li glanced at it casually, and a chill ran down her spine.
Could it really be a Ghost Wall?
This familiar wrapper-wasn’t it from the Finger Biscuits she had just eaten this morning?
Red Infant also noticed something was off.
“Mommy, could it be someone else threw it away?” Red Infant asked.
Jiang Li bent down, picked up the wrapper, and looked inside.
Her fingertips were icy cold.
“No. I threw this away,” Jiang Li asserted.
“When I was eating this morning, there was a piece of Finger Biscuit that was so hard it hurt my teeth, so I didn’t eat it. It’s still inside.”
Jiang Li took out the biscuit and showed it to Red Infant.
Red Infant understood as well.
It seemed they might not be able to leave this alley.
Jiang Li opened her Pocket Watch and checked the time.
It was now 6:40.
Ten minutes had passed since they left the residential complex.
Just as Jiang Li was looking down at her Pocket Watch,
the sound of “clack, clack, clack” high heels caught her attention.
The steps were uneven, each one coming closer and closer.
Jiang Li immediately looked up, alert.
She saw the Old Beggar in women’s clothes from earlier, grinning foolishly, limping toward them.
“Pretty… heh heh, so pretty.”
The Old Beggar had a crippled leg.
He dragged his right foot, blocking the street ahead, step by step approaching Jiang Li.
Jiang Li barely had time to think.
She turned around and started walking back.
At that moment, she suddenly remembered what the Coffin Shop Owner had said.
“If a ‘dog’ catches up to you, never run. The more you run, the faster the ‘dog’ chases.”
Was this what he was hinting at?
Better safe than sorry.
If the Coffin Shop Owner intended to do long-term business with her, he probably wouldn’t lie.
Jiang Li abandoned the idea of running and switched to a brisk walk.
Jiang Li walked quickly, and before long, the Strange Old Man with the crippled right leg was left behind.
When Jiang Li finally relaxed, she realized she was standing in front of the Coffin Shop again.
The Coffin Shop Owner saw her return and his eyes curved with a smile.
“Miss, you’re back. Want to come inside and have a look?”
The Coffin Shop Owner promoted his shop enthusiastically.
Jiang Li remembered that the owner had said, besides selling coffins, he also sold items to ward off evil.
So Jiang Li spoke up, “I’d like to see your items for warding off evil.”
The Coffin Shop Owner beamed, eagerly inviting Jiang Li inside.
“Come in, come in! Our shop may be small, but it’s got everything you need. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got it.”
The Coffin Shop Owner led Jiang Li into the shop and brought her to the black door.