Chapter 84 Part 2
They were truly hungry. Once they had a taste for souls, they were always hungry.
The passengers, hearing this, wanted to disappear.
After eating those ghosts, it would be their turn, wouldn’t it?
Lai Jun kicked the half-faced ghost away and stepped on Zhang Qiang, his voice menacing, ‘Who dares steal my earnings?! Find something else to eat!’
The lead police officer, noticing the shadowy figure of the Yin messenger, said politely, “Comrade, although from different realms, our work is similar, don’t take away our… achievements either.”
014 immediately sneered at Yuan Song, ‘Don’t be so pathetic.’
“Doctor Wu, they’re hungry! What do we do?!” Chen Ying turned to the camera anxiously.
Wu Heng’s lips twitched slightly, “I have a recipe for a nourishing medicinal stew, vegetarian, suitable for both the living and the dead.”
Malicious ghosts, hungry, were dangerous. Better to feed them first.
He posted the recipe.
“Thank you, Doctor Wu! We’ll find these ingredients,” the officer said, shining his flashlight.
The skinny ghost scoffed, ‘Doctors only prescribe bitter medicine. Is this stew more delicious than souls? … My house has a big pot! A clean pot! Never used it for cooking that bastard!’
Several strong men went to get the pot.
Since there were so many people, they got other pots from the villagers’ houses.
Knowing there was no escape, and afraid of angering the ghosts, the passengers stayed put, helping with gathering firewood, vegetables, and fruits, even setting up the pots and boiling water.
[??? They’re having a picnic now?]
[My foodie brother would be so focused on the food right now.]
[It looks delicious, can we eat it too?]
[Humans and ghosts, sharing a meal. So creepy…]
‘Ying Ying, this way,’ Nie Wei, her sanity somewhat restored, her voice still hoarse, called softly, waving discreetly from her old house.
Her fiancé, seeing this, his heart clenched.
Without hesitation, Chen Ying followed her.
The dilapidated house was a mess, a wooden bed with rusty chains, an old black and white TV and a fan.
Tears welled up, how did Duo Duo survive here? A fate worse than death.
Nie Wei floated into the main room and returned with a cup of instant noodles, her eyes shining. ‘Ying Ying, look, Zhang Qiang bought these before he died! They haven’t expired yet!’
Then, lowering her voice, ‘You must be hungry. I’ll make this for you, don’t tell those hungry ghosts, they’ll steal it from you! Their husbands wouldn’t let them eat when they were alive, and now they devour everything they see.’
This was all she could offer.
Chen Ying hugged her, crying, “Duo Duo… silly Duo Duo…”
That night, Chen Ying ate a bowl of warm noodles, made by her best friend.
“The stew’s ready!” A passenger with cooking experience called out.
The passengers and ghosts queued up separately, each receiving a small bowl.
‘This is… edible?’ some of the ghosts asked doubtfully.
For the passengers, a warm meal in the cold night was a blessing.
The starving ghosts cautiously took a sip, then, their eyes lighting up, ‘Delicious!’
They devoured it eagerly, ‘Who invented this? So good!’
Wu Heng, watching as they ate, felt a pang of hunger.
“Want some?”
A piece of peeled pomelo was offered to him. Wu Heng glanced over. Shi Xuan, he hadn’t even noticed him peel it. He took it and ate it.
Wu Su, who was eating, looked up abruptly. “Huh? Who was that?”
He thought he heard a familiar voice.
[So instead of a horror movie, we have a mukbang (eating show)?]
[Perhaps this is their best meal in this village.]
[Please don’t eat my dad/grandpa after you’re full.]
[Doctor Wu’s stew is trending tomorrow, a business opportunity!]
‘I’m full…’ the ghosts said, patting their bellies, satisfied grins on their pale faces.
They had been human once, and even without their full sanity, devouring souls was… disgusting.
But this stew… no moral dilemmas.
Some passengers, their stomachs full, their courage returning, couldn’t help but remark, “You really shouldn’t have caught us, you might get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease! And punished by the underworld! It’s not worth it!”
The skinny little ghost, licking its bowl clean, accepting another spoonful from the chef, retorted, ‘We didn’t catch you! You came yourselves!‘
‘Exactly! You barged into our village! Who would turn down such a readily available feast? Only idiots!’ another ghost said angrily.
One of the passengers protested, “No! You lured us here! All those cooking fires, you were waiting for us!”
‘Liar! That’s slander!’
Nie Wei, sitting with Chen Ying, sharing her instant noodles, said, ‘That’s our dinner time, not for you.’
They had been planning to eat the remaining villagers’ souls, who knew these passengers would arrive.
And they would return to their houses soon, like humans going to bed after dinner, different schedules, that’s all.
The passengers and netizens were puzzled.
Huh?
Wu Heng explained, “Ping An village has a ghost king now, and someone’s been sending her… snacks… free deliveries.”
The more she devoured, the more powerful and irrational she would become, a true monster.
Who could even stop her then?
[Holy crap, so those ghosts just wanted revenge on the villagers? The passengers were just collateral damage?!]
[Reminds me of Su Chenyu and that soul-swapping bell. What are these people doing?]
[The end is near. They were operating in the shadows before, but this is out in the open now. Okay, I’m getting vaccinated tomorrow.]
[I predict a supernatural apocalypse next month!]
[Don’t jinx it! I haven’t even stocked up on ginger yet!]
The police officers’ faces were grim, they knew more than ordinary people, about the increasing supernatural incidents.
“Burn some incense when you get home,” an officer said helplessly.
‘Are you crazy?! What did we ever do to you?! Haven’t we suffered enough?‘ a ghost shrieked.
Wu Heng sighed, during times of peace, it was difficult to see the true nature of humans, some not only lacking empathy but even more oppressive towards the vulnerable.
“S-since this was all a misunderstanding… can we leave now?” a passenger asked, looking at the gray sky, almost dawn.
The ghosts exchanged looks, turning to Nie Wei. ‘Sister Ying, what do you say?’
Nie Wei looked at them coldly, ‘No.’
Their hearts sank. What was she planning now?
She said, ‘This village is filled with our resentment. You’re weak, you’ll be trapped here if you leave now.’
A faint smile on her lips, ‘We’ll escort you to the train.’
[Now I understand why that girl came here. She’s a true friend, worth it.]
[She’s quite reasonable when she’s not raging. A true leader.]
[Hopefully, the police will investigate this village later, at least find their remains.]
Nie Wei stood up, floating towards the exit. ‘Let’s go.’
The passengers looked towards the live stream, and Wu Heng nodded. “Follow them.”
Since Doctor Wu said so, they followed.
Nie Wei and Chen Ying led the way, the other ghosts flanking them, making sure no one was left behind.
Holding hands, they walked through the field, just like during their travels together, towards the train.
Although no train stopped for her, she could help others leave this place of nightmares, her wish fulfilled.
“Open the door! We’re back!” Chen Ying banged on the train door, with Wu Su, who was clutching his phone, and the passengers behind them.
The passengers inside wiped the windows and peered out, recognizing the girl who left last and that game-loving uncle, Doctor Wu’s father.
“Hurry up and open the door! It’s cold out here!” Chen Ying, rubbing her hands together, yawned.
Wu Su nodded, “We brought the others back! Open the door!”
The passengers hesitated. Wu Heng told them not to open the door! But this was his father…
The young woman who played games with him asked, “Uncle Wu, how many heroes are there in Honor of Kings?”
Wu Su confidently answered, “132!”
The woman immediately shouted, “Don’t open it! That’s a ghost!”
“The underworld version only has 104 heroes! He might be bad at the game, but he’s definitely a ghost!”
The fake Wu Su outside: ‘…’
Damn, that was their password?
Suddenly, a throng of ghastly faces with bloodshot eyes pressed against the windows, their tongues grotesquely long.
Screams erupted inside, they pushed against the door, children hiding in their parents’ arms as they pulled the curtains shut.
The disabled woman, limping, threw ginger water at the windows.
“Dawn, when will it be dawn,” a passenger cried silently, afraid his tears would weaken him further.
Chilling screams and wails from outside, they didn’t know what was happening.
A strong man carefully peeked through the curtains, then froze, his face pale.
Countless ghosts floating around, some attacking others, the victims’ wails echoing.
These were malicious spirits, but no match for those who had devoured souls.
Nie Wei, no longer gentle, her voice sharp, ‘Catch them all, give them to the Yin messenger!’
The female ghosts, empowered by their leader’s order, quickly subdued the attackers, then looked around, slightly disappointed now that only the living remained.
‘Good! Kick him! Hit him! Sister, I’ll remember this! You’ve earned some merits. I’ll put in a good word for you later in the underworld, Lai Jun, swinging his lantern excitedly, cheered them on.
One punch, one merit point, he should request a net next time.
Yuan Song joined in, the two Yin messengers now competing.
The spirits, caught off guard, were pulled into the lanterns.
014 just watched, speechless, these newbies…
The passengers who had escaped were stunned. Being protected by malicious spirits?!
[Wow, those ghost sisters are so badass! Their claws are like razors!]
[I take back my curses. They saved my father, thank you!]
[Dying such tragic deaths, and now they’re escorting these irrelevant people, the very ones who caused their misery… ]
[Let’s visit their graves and make offerings after the police investigate this village, they deserved better.]
Nie Wei turned to Chen Ying. ‘I’ll escort you back to the train, the police will handle things now.’
Chen Ying shook her head. Everyone else could go, but not her.
Seeing her refusal, Nie Wei asked, ‘Ying Ying, how did you know I was here?’
Chen Ying sniffled, “I consulted Doctor Wu Heng from Chengde Medical Clinic, he told me.”
‘A clinic, a doctor?’ Nie Wei looked at her, “Is he a gynecologist?”
Chen Ying was confused, but Nie Wei turned towards the camera, ‘Hello, Doctor Wu! Ying Ying has been busy all night, could you prescribe some prenatal medicine for her?‘
She had to go back, for the sake of her child.
Chen Ying froze, her fiancé watching, dumbfounded.
His hands trembled as he typed, [??? Pregnant?! Am I going to be a father?! Is Duo Duo telling the truth?! How does she know?! She’s not a doctor! A baby?!]
Wu Heng nodded, “The baby’s happy that its mother is reunited with her friend, a strong sperm, unlikely to miscarry, but I can prescribe some prenatal medicine after dawn.”
[Congratulations! No wonder she was chosen for a consultation, she’s pregnant!]
[Congratulations! Double happiness! Marriage and a baby!]
[Checking his profile, wedding preparations underway, such a lucky couple!]
“I’m… pregnant…” Chen Ying gently placed a hand on her still flat belly.
How wonderful, her baby had seen its godmother, even separated by her belly.
Chen Ying looked at Nie Wei, her heart aching, she had a good job, a stable life, about to be married, a baby on the way.
And Duo Duo… nothing left, only pain and suffering.
Her beautiful life destroyed.
So she hadn’t told her, it would be too cruel.
‘Idiot, your happiness is all that matters,’ Nie Wei said, although her own life was a mess.
Chen Ying said seriously, her voice filled with emotion, “Duo Duo, I’m getting married. Welcome back, bridesmaid.”
Nie Wei, tears blurring her vision, muttered, ‘Silly.’
Not even afraid of her bad luck.
‘That…’ A small, skinny ghost behind them hesitated, then stepped forward.
Nie Wei, wiping her tears, forced a smile, ‘Ying Ying, this is Ling Shanshan, my friend, my right hand.’
Ghosts weren’t ranked by age, but power. Nie Wei’s resentment, a potent force, had made her the leader.
And this Ling Shanshan, she had been mocked for being too skinny, not being able to have children, but she was exceptionally clever, just like Nie Wei, a university graduate.
So she naturally became Nie Wei’s advisor, her strategist.
Nie Wei, seeing her hesitation, not liking her beating around the bush, ‘What do you want to ask?‘
Finally, the question. ‘Sister Ying, why does she keep calling you Duo Duo? Didn’t you say Sister Ying was your real name?‘
