Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Finding a ghost in a trash-filled shack and finding a human limb are two very different situations that require very different handling.

This was especially true for the human limb in question. It had been hacked several times, hanging on by a mere layer of skin.

It looked as if… as if someone had realized it wouldn’t fit in the pot and had chopped it up specifically to stuff it inside.

Qin Ying’s body felt heavy, and she couldn’t even lift her head. She twitched a finger, pointing toward the pressure cooker in front of the shack, which was blackened by woodsmoke.

Laodao took the flashlight from the security guard. When the beam of light moved to the pressure cooker-just large enough to hold the severed hand-an inexplicable chill rose in everyone’s hearts.

Laodao, who was often in contact with the police, spoke up. “There was a Dismemberment Case in the Wetland Park. They still haven’t found any leads.”

From all the signs, it was clear these cases could be merged.

Laodao said decisively, “Let’s go!”

The killer hadn’t been caught yet, and their group was a collection of the old, the weak, and the sick. Staying here was practically a death wish.

Old Miao clearly understood the gravity of the situation. He said immediately, “Wen Hao, Minmin, take Qin Ying and leave first.”

“Go straight back.”

He didn’t mention himself or Laodao. Clearly, the two old-timers intended to stay behind and wait for the police.

At this critical juncture, Qin Ying didn’t plan on playing out any tedious ‘I’m not leaving without everyone’ tropes.

However, she stood her ground and called out softly, “Don’t move!”

She gripped Yin Minmin’s arm tightly. “Something is coming. Don’t move!”

Despite having only known each other for a short time, no one present was stubborn enough to ignore her warning.

Everyone stood still.

Dead silence fell over the surroundings, broken only by the rustling of the night wind through the woods and the woven plastic bags atop the shack.

As time passed, something did indeed approach, just as Qin Ying had said.

It moved through the low shrubs, a rustling sound as it crawled along the ground.

Fright and the threat to her life were the best stimulants. Qin Ying’s heart rate accelerated and her body temperature rose; the previous feeling of discomfort actually receded like a ebbing tide.

She turned her head at an extremely slow pace. Having consumed the Strange Beast Danghu, her newly grown eyes possessed excellent night vision.

In the flickering shadows of the shrubs, she saw vine-like things heading their way.

About ten paces away, one figure after another stood upright.

Tall, short, fat, and thin-men and women alike. There were about a dozen of these humanoid creatures.

They simply stood there, silent and still.

Laodao grew bold enough to sweep the area with his flashlight.

Under the intense glare of the flashlight, the pupils of these ‘people’ didn’t change at all, let alone perform necessary actions like blinking. Their non-human characteristics were glaringly obvious.

All of them were staring straight at Qin Ying.

Suddenly, they all smiled in unison.

Wen Hao and Yin Minmin, who were supporting Qin Ying on either side, subconsciously stepped in front to shield her.

Rather than hiding behind others, Qin Ying preferred to face the strangeness head-on.

She didn’t try to act tough now, though. Instead, her mind raced.

Using Wen Hao and Yin Minmin as cover, she scanned her surroundings, her gaze finally landing on the earthen stove in front of the shack.

Han Lie had explicitly stated that Dream-Embracing Grass and Ghost-Shadow Vine were companion plants.

Whether it was grass or vine, Qin Ying had never heard of one that wasn’t afraid of fire.

There was dry wood by the stove, and flammable plastic bags were everywhere.

Qin Ying shifted her gaze to Laodao. “Uncle Dao, light a fire!”

Her voice was small, but it broke the stalemate.

The smiling faces of the surrounding Shadowy Figures remained fixed as they began to shuffle toward Qin Ying’s direction, step by step.

*Rustle, rustle, rustle-*

The unhurried sound of footsteps felt like a death knell.

Qin Ying looked left and right, her mind beginning to formulate a backup plan.

Assuming these things were all here for her, then if she ran off alone, Old Miao and the other three would actually be safer.

Before she could finish scouting an escape route, the first ‘person’ had already closed in.

Judging by its appearance, it was a middle-aged man, slightly pudgy-the kind of ordinary man you’d see on a bus during the nine-to-five grind.

‘He’ was smiling, reaching out a hand toward Qin Ying. A ring of black grime stained the cuffs of his thin windbreaker.

The smile actually carried a hint of benevolence.

The entire world seemed to slow down. Qin Ying could hear the rapid breathing of Yin Minmin and Wen Hao.

Suddenly, a flash of fire ignited behind them.

Qin Ying heard Laodao shout, “You three, get back!”

Laodao was waving a burning piece of a woven plastic bag, swinging it toward the ‘middle-aged man.’

A sharp, acrid stench accompanied the black smoke of the burning plastic.

The middle-aged man reaching for Qin Ying showed a human-like look of fear on his face.

But ‘he’ didn’t retreat. Instead, he opened his arms wide, attempting to pull Qin Ying into an embrace.

“Get lost!” Qin Ying’s long legs weren’t just for show; she lashed out with a kick.

However, her foot felt as if it had plunged into a pile of rotting cotton.

Her entire foot actually sank into the man’s abdominal cavity, leaving only her ankle visible on the outside.

The damp, squelching sensation made the hair on her neck stand on end.

She jerked her foot back, bringing out a spray of black liquid. It didn’t smell particularly bad, but it was purely disgusting.

Before she could finish being revolted, a flaming mass was tossed from behind her.

It hit the ‘person’ dead center and burst with a *pop*.

Without making a sound, the ‘person’ suddenly leaned back at a bizarre angle and then, lying flat like that, drifted backward as if swimming through the air.

Laodao didn’t bother giving chase. He continued to wave the burning plastic bag, guarding the front of Qin Ying and the other two.

Old Miao was in the back, picking out flammable plastic and cloth scraps, tying them into loose knots, lighting them, and throwing them.

He looked like he was tossing grenades, and his accuracy was incredibly high.

Almost every Shadowy Figure emerging from the woods was ‘gifted’ a fireball or two.

Under this barrage, the gathered Shadowy Figures retreated into the distance.

However, this tactic had its drawbacks. The ground was covered in trash and there were too many combustibles; small fires began to break out across the area.

It wasn’t enough to cause a massive wildfire, but the surrounding temperature rose sharply.

In this increasingly warm environment, the discomfort in Qin Ying’s body vanished completely.

Beyond the flames, under the smiling gazes of those ghostly things, Qin Ying felt a surge of nausea in her stomach-something inside her gut had just rolled over comfortably.