It started like any other day.
I was curled up with a book, finally enjoying some peace, while Yang Xi and Wei Ting played poker on the floor. Not that it was ever a fair game—everyone knew Wei Ting always let her win. Still, it was quiet. Almost perfect.
I didn't know then it would turn into the start of my nightmare.
A loud, mechanical buzz broke the silence as the robot floated into the room. "What now, ?" I snapped without looking up, irritation dripping from every word. "Attention, everyone!" Xiao Ming chirped in her synthetic voice, way too cheerful for the situation. "A new mission has popped up! Accept or decline—your choice!"
Then came the damn party horn. Again.
I sighed, setting my book down with a thud. "Well? Spit it out." "This one's more difficult than your previous missions," she continued, bobbing in midair like an excited drone with too much caffeine. "But the rewards are exceptional! Five thousand dollars in cash… and twelve thousand Star Stones!"
I blinked. Twelve thousand? "What the fuck?" I thought. Where the hell did Master Yu get that kind of budget?
"We're going," I said flatly, rising to my feet. My voice left no room for argument. "Any questions?" "Nope." Wei Ting and Yang Xi answered in perfect unison.
Yang Xi hesitated, though. Her eyes narrowed with that calculating look she got before every bad idea. "But… are you sure we can pull this off?" I turned to her with a glare. Like she'd just asked if water was wet. "Are you doubting our team?"
She winced and ran a hand through her hair.
"No. No, I guess not."
"Good." I grabbed my gear. "Because this time, failure isn't an option." "Where's the location?" "At Red Willow Provincial Hospital in Qinyang City, Hanxi Province."
After a half-hour drive, we finally arrived at Red Willow Provincial Hospital. According to the locals, it's been about ten years since the explosion. Before we came here, I asked a few of the townspeople about the hospital's history. They told me that years ago, a gas leak caused a massive fire that killed nearly two hundred people — patients and doctors alike.
Ever since that tragedy, no one has dared to step foot inside. People say the souls of those who perished still linger within the hospital walls, bound by hatred and grief from their former lives.
You see, the world is divided into two dimensions: the world of the living and the world of the dead. When people die, their souls are supposed to cross over into the afterlife. But sometimes, when their final wishes remain unfulfilled, their souls refuse to move on. They stay behind — and slowly, their sorrow and resentment twist them into monsters.
Left unchecked, these creatures can become a threat to the living. Ordinary people can't deal with them — only exorcists can. But exorcists aren't just anyone; they're chosen, gifted by the gods themselves.
For example, Yang Xi possesses the gift of Infinite Space — an ability that allows her to store or retrieve anything she desires with just a thought.
We arrived at the hospital, the sign hanging crookedly, looking like it could collapse any second. The smell of rust and dust permeated the air, making me gag. It felt like the place had been abandoned for years, and yet, the weight of the building still hung heavily in the air. I gripped my sword tighter, a sense of dread crawling up my spine. I didn't like this.
The money was good, but something about this place felt wrong.
"Let's go," I said, trying to steady my nerves.
The moment I stepped inside, the floor creaked beneath my feet, a mournful sound echoing through the decaying halls. The lobby was eerily quiet, and somehow, the front desk was still standing, its age and neglect evident. The fire that had ravaged this place—killing over two hundred people—was still a fresh wound in the building's history, and the scars were everywhere.
Yang Xi, visibly shaken, clutched my sleeve.
"Brother Ming… I'm scared."
I turned to her, giving a reassuring smile, though my own heart wasn't much steadier. "It's fine, Miss Yang Xi. We'll be fine." Wei Ting's voice came from behind, unconvincingly confident. "Yeah, we've got this."
I could tell he was just as afraid, but he had to keep up the facade of bravado.
I took a deep breath, trying to focus. "Let's recap the plan. We're here for a B-ranked spirit, and this hospital is massive. If we want to make this quick, we'll have to split up."
Yang Xi's face darkened with unease. "But... isn't it safer to stick together?"
"It's safer if we move fast," I replied, locking eyes with her. "I trust you both. You won't die."
I glanced at Wei Ting, then back at Yang Xi, trying to give them a sense of calm they clearly needed. "Here's the plan: Since there are three floors, each of us takes one. Wei Ting, you take the first floor. If the spirit tries to escape, stop it." He gave a nod, his confidence returning. "No problem."
"Yang Xi, you're on the second. If you find the spirit, either kill it or bring it back to HQ."
Her fear was still palpable, but I gave her a reassuring smile. "And if it gets too much, scream. I'll be right there."
She seemed to brighten slightly at the thought, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "Okay," she said, more determined now.
"Let's work," I said firmly
The moment we split up, I felt the oppressive weight of the silence. Wei Ting shut the door behind him, and Yang Xi and I climbed the stairs, the wood creaking under every step. The elevator hadn't worked for years.
By the time I reached the third floor, the air was thick with dust, and the long hallway stretched on, patient rooms lining both sides like a never-ending tunnel. I bit my lip, hard enough to feel the sting but not bleed. I couldn't let myself falter.
The first door I kicked open was room 301. Inside, the dust was thick enough to choke on, but the bed was untouched, a cruel reminder of the tragedy that had unfolded here. I quickly checked the bathroom, then moved on to the next room.
302, 303, 304... the same emptiness, the same quiet.
When I reached 308, I heard it—faint but unmistakable. A cry. My heart skipped. It had to be the spirit.
But I still checked 308 first, kicking down the door. The room was like the others, a thick layer of ash and dust covering everything, except for one thing: the corpse. And the spirit eating it.
I froze. The figure was kneeling, ravenous, as it consumed the charred remains of a body. His long, black hair reached the floor, matted and wild. He wore traditional Chinese robes, not a hospital gown. This wasn't a typical spirit.
I took a cautious step back, but as if sensing me, he snapped his head up. His eyes were two shades of unnatural: blue and yellow, glowing faintly in the dark room. My heart hammered in my chest as he fixed his gaze on me.
I tried to step back further, but he was too fast. In an instant, he lunged at me, his mouth wide, aimed at my throat.
I reacted on pure instinct, drawing my sword to block. But it was useless. He slammed into me with terrifying force, knocking me to the floor. His weight pressed down on me, his mouth inches from my skin, sharp teeth bared. I pushed against him, my sword scraping uselessly against his chest.
But then, his eyes softened. As soon as our gazes met, something in his expression shifted. He looked... lost. As if the violence left him, replaced by a deep sorrow. I didn't hesitate. I slapped a talisman on his chest.
For a moment, nothing happened. But then, he stopped moving. He just sat there, staring at me, tears threatening to spill from his eyes. He didn't attack again.
I ignored him for now. There was still the matter of the child I had heard crying earlier.
I moved to room 309 and kicked the door open. Inside, a child was holding a lifeless woman in his arms, shaking her violently.
"Mama… wake up!" the child wailed, his voice high and desperate.
The sound pierced my ears, making them ring, but I couldn't let it distract me. I approached cautiously, trying not to startle him. But when he saw me, his eyes turned wild. He charged at me, growling like an animal, drool dripping from his mouth.
I stepped aside, and he collided with the wall. I wasted no time, slapping a talisman on his chest. He froze, his body going limp before he collapsed to the ground.
Silence returned to the room.