Chapter 14: So There Really Are Ghosts in This World

After inspecting the scene, Zhang Xuefeng walked over to Song Guogang and reported,
“Captain Song, the forensic team’s initial assessment matches Lin Fenglan’s cause of death exactly.”

“Xiao Liu also looked into it—Tang Wen had no prior connection to Lin Fenglan, neither directly nor indirectly.”

Song Guogang nodded. “Got it.”

Zhang Xuefeng hesitated for a moment before asking,
“Captain Song, about Elder Xu and the others…”

Song Guogang had been in the conference room yesterday too, so he knew exactly what Zhang Xuefeng was hinting at.

After Elder Xu and Ren Hongtao left, the remaining officers had discussed the matter privately.
But no matter how they probed, neither Zhang Yue nor Song Guogang gave anything away.

In the end, it was Song Guogang who clapped his hands and sternly ended the discussion, only revealing a single sentence:

“That incident falls under unnatural phenomena. Do not speak of it to anyone—there will be serious consequences.”

But people are naturally curious. The more secretive something is, the more Zhang Xuefeng wanted to know.

And sure enough, only a few hours later, something just like it happened again.

Sure, no one felt bad about Lin Fenglan dying—she was a human trafficker. In fact, if a ghost really did kill her, they’d probably applaud it.

But Tang Wen wasn’t a trafficker. Why would that “thing” go after him?

What was the connection?

Just as he was thinking, Song Guogang’s phone rang.

“Hello, Director Ren…
Understood. I’ll wait here for Elder Xu…
Yes, I’ll make sure to brief everyone.”

The moment Zhang Xuefeng heard him say “Director Ren,” his heart skipped a beat—he had a rough idea what was coming.

The onlookers outside had already been cleared away. As Song Guogang spoke on the phone, he walked toward the entrance of the villa complex—clearly to meet someone.

Zhang Xuefeng glanced over at Zhang Yue, who was smoking at the door.

He walked over.

Zhang Yue eyed his stubbled face, then handed him a cigarette.
“Stick close to Song Guogang. He’s better than your master.”

Captain Song Guogang of Nancheng’s Criminal Investigation Division had gone to police academy with Zhang Yue. He was an old-school cop with years of experience.

Back when Zhang Xuefeng first joined the force, both of them had their eyes on him as a promising candidate—but the Zhang family got involved and swayed him toward Yun City.

If not for that, who knew whose apprentice he’d have ended up as?

Lighting the cigarette, Zhang Xuefeng took two hard drags, clearly frustrated.

What he hated most was this kind of foggy, unclear situation.

And after being his master for seven or eight years, how could Zhang Yue not know his personality?

He gave the back of Zhang Xuefeng’s head a solid smack and warned,
“Kid, don’t take what Old Song and I said lightly. That kind of stuff is not something we should mess with. Ordinary people should focus on ordinary things. Don’t try to peek behind the curtain—or your entire worldview might shatter.”

Zhang Xuefeng opened his mouth, wanting to ask more.

But Zhang Yue didn’t give him a chance.
“Alright, time’s up. I have to head to the airport. Do your job well. I’ll sort your things and have them mailed to you. Take care.”

He hadn’t even walked a few steps when a commotion arose behind him.

It was Song Guogang, returning with the guests.

Zhang Xuefeng and Zhang Yue turned around. Sure enough, it was the same three from yesterday—Elder Xu, Chen Rang, and Lin Xiuer.

But this time, they were dressed in matching black tactical uniforms.
Embroidered in gold thread on their chests were the words “Nancheng Field Office,” and beside the letters was a prominent Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol.

Zhang Yue and Zhang Xuefeng exchanged a look. Then Zhang Yue raised an eyebrow and pulled something from his pocket—a small yellow triangle—and stuffed it into Zhang Xuefeng’s coat pocket.
“Get back to work. I’m off. Stay safe.”

Zhang Xuefeng glanced down, then stubbed out his cigarette.
“Alright, Master. Take care. I’m heading in. We’ll stay in touch.”

—

Top floor, master bedroom of the villa.

Elder Xu and his team didn’t even look at the body at first. They started by examining the surrounding environment.

Only after thoroughly scanning the area did they approach the corpse.

Suddenly, Chen Rang’s eyes lit up.
“Elder Xu, there’s a trace of resentment lingering on the body—it’s what that thing left behind!”

He quickly pulled out a talisman and chanted an incantation with his eyes closed.

The talisman burst into flames on its own.

Chen Rang’s eyes snapped open.
“She’s not far—about 500 meters southwest!”

Lin Xiuer had already prepared herself. The moment he reported the direction, she shot off like a cannonball.

Elder Xu and Chen Rang followed immediately.

Just as Zhang Xuefeng arrived upstairs, he saw the shocking sight:

They jumped straight out the southwest-facing window.

This was the third floor of a three-story villa—and they had just leapt out the window?!

Zhang Xuefeng gritted his teeth and bolted down the stairs.

Song Guogang saw it happening and shouted,
“You little punk, get back here!”

But Zhang Xuefeng had already disappeared from sight.
Song Guogang cursed and ran after him.

There was no way two regular humans could keep up with those three.

Zhang Xuefeng made it downstairs at top speed, but he didn’t even catch a glimpse of their shadows.

Song Guogang, being older, was out of breath. When he finally caught up, he kicked Zhang Xuefeng in the back.
“Damn it, you little brat! Are you tired of living?! Fine. Looks like unless you know the truth, you won’t give up, huh?”

Zhang Xuefeng’s eyes lit up immediately.

Song Guogang glared at him and pulled out his phone, walked a few steps away, made a quick call, then returned.

He handed the phone to Zhang Xuefeng.
“Sign it. After you sign it, I’ll tell you everything.”

Zhang Xuefeng looked down at the screen.
It was an electronic agreement, titled in bold:

“Underworld Operations Bureau—Human Realm Field Office Confidentiality Agreement.”

Suspecting it was one thing.
Seeing it in black and white was another.

So—ghosts really do exist in this world.

And they could kill people so brazenly.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xuefeng signed his name.

His path ahead was long.
No one could guarantee he’d never encounter such things again.

Even if he couldn’t participate directly—he wanted to understand.

He didn’t want to be someone blindly solving cases in the dark anymore.