Chapter 37: Li Hongjun's Persistence

  "What's wrong? Zhao Yan, Zhao Yan——" After calling out several times, there was no movement from Zhao Yan. The team leader and other police officers exchanged a glance, each person's eyes filled with thick fear. This day's experience was really too frightening, especially at night, two people were already shivering with fear. What was going on? Although no one wanted to admit it, almost everyone was thinking about one thing - ghosts.

  But no one said it out loud, there's an old saying in our hometown that you can't talk about ghosts at night or you'll definitely see them. Of course, most of the time it's just paranoia, but either way, people get scared and nobody wants to see that thing. Finally, someone couldn't take it anymore and weakly said to the captain: "Captain, I think we should retreat for now and talk about this again during the day... or maybe call the bureau for backup."

  The captain hesitated for a moment, looked at Zhao Yan again, pondered for a moment, and suddenly gritted his teeth: "Alright, let's go back first, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

  As soon as the words fell, everyone supported Zhao Yan and another policeman to leave, but didn't know that Fat Dog also came out of the house at this time, while patting his belly, he muttered: "It's really not interesting, Li Hongjun doesn't go to lie in a coffin, and we're messing around with what, it's not even good for playing cards——"

  However, as soon as he saw the police officers preparing to leave, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment. Although he instinctively had some fear of the police, there was one advantage to being a simple-minded person - after freezing for a moment, he actually turned around and called out: "Little Hai, they're leaving."

  The fat dog wasn't quite clear what was going on, but he knew I didn't want the police to leave, so he called out. Originally, when I heard Fat Dog's words, I stood up abruptly, and if they really left, who knows what might happen next? So I didn't plan on letting them leave, but as I stood up, I suddenly felt that whether I went out or not was the same, anyway, I couldn't tie them up to prevent them from leaving. After a moment's thought, I just coughed and said: "It's so late already, what's the point of going back? If you feel it's not good, why don't you come in and sit for a while instead?"

  Actually, I was saying this to Sanmei, no matter how she and I are, but when it comes to big things, there won't be any problems. I think Sanmei's cleverness can hear the implication of my words. As expected, the police didn't pay attention to me at all, but someone had already opened the door. However, as soon as the door was opened, the police were stunned, really stunned. Because in front of the door, there was a person hanging from a rope, wearing white clothes, with their tongue sticking out and laughing at everyone. One hand was stretched out towards the police, with long, bright red fingernails that almost reached the officer's face.

  "Ahh!" a blood-curdling scream, the three policemen's souls were scared away, they didn't care about anything else, and hastily slammed the door shut, then stumbled and staggered as they rushed inside.

  The people behind didn't see what happened, but the policeman's mournful cry scared everyone. For a moment, you looked at me and I looked at you, but no one dared to open the door again. No one had the courage to see what was outside. But who knew that Sanmei was sitting on a tree branch at the door with a smug face, humming a tune with her legs crossed, actually scaring people like this is quite interesting.

  Only Sanmei has this kind of freedom, but how can she understand the fear in the hearts of those police officers at this time? Even though they are surrounded by each other, they still feel very scared and have no sense of security. The police officer who opened the door has already started to go crazy, constantly shouting hysterically, then not knowing where to run, just running around the yard non-stop, sometimes hiding behind a chair, sometimes hiding in a corner.

  "It seems like we've gone a bit too far, I hope this won't scare people to death." Inside the house, I heard a blood-curdling scream, and finally couldn't help but feel that if someone really got scared sick, my conscience would be uneasy, feeling very guilty.

  Just about to get up and walk out, but Li Hongjun suddenly said: "What a big deal, kid, don't mind them, they're the ones who got scared and it's their own business, who's the coward?"

  I ignored him and walked out, only to see the police officer standing there shivering with fear. My heart skipped a beat as I realized he had clearly gone mad. But what could be done about it? As I hesitated, Li Hongjun suddenly appeared beside me, letting out a cold laugh: "Scared by just one female ghost and reduced to this state - how pathetic."

  "Now still speaking in a cold tone, he let out a bitter laugh and looked at Li Hongjun: "Is there any way to make him not so afraid?"

  Li Hongjun smiled at me and nodded: "I'll help you solve it as long as you ask me, how about that?"

  I was stunned for a moment, but then I gritted my teeth and said, "Alright, consider it me begging you, help him out."

  "Hey!" Li Hongjun took only three steps to reach the policeman's side. He didn't know what Zhang had splashed on him, but the policeman just grunted a few times and stopped screaming. He stood there stupidly, then saw Li Hongjun take off a jade pendant from his neck and wave it in front of the policeman's eyes, muttering: "Don't think about anything, you're sleepy, sleep for now, and when you wake up tomorrow, you'll forget everything..."

  Swaying back and forth, the police officer even started swaying along with him, and in just a few moments, he was lying on the ground, after which he let out a faint snore. This scene left everyone stunned, and a word popped into their minds - hypnosis.

  Having done all that, Li Hongjun felt a little complacent, walked over and patted his hand, laughing: "Alright, it's settled, you owe me another favor."

  At this time, Captain Zhao Yan and the others surrounded him, looking at the policeman lying there, already sleeping soundly. For a moment, a look of horror appeared in his eyes, and he had a few more reservations about Li Hongjun. He didn't think that Li Hongjun would be so uncomplicated and mysterious. In fact, I was also curious, but I didn't ask anything. I just nodded and waved my hand at Li Hongqi: "Hongqi, help me out, lift him to the kang in the house, sleeping here will catch a cold."

  No one stopped me from carrying the policeman, and even the captain followed us into the house. After we put the man on the kang and covered him with a quilt, the room was quite strange for a while. Although I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, under the gaze of the policemen, my heart began to palpitate, and I could only force a smile. Before I had time to speak, Zhao Yan suddenly rushed up and grabbed my collar, shouting in a hysterical voice: "It's all your doing, what do you want to do?"

  I didn't try to struggle free, understanding that everyone's hearts had already become very fragile at this time. I too had experienced such fear before. I just sighed and said: "I didn't want to harm you guys, nor did I ever think of harming anyone. I just wanted to wait quietly for Li Hongjun to die, then burn him afterwards. It was that simple."

  "You have no right to do this, you can't just watch Li Hongjun kill himself, there must be something wrong with you, you're crazy!" Zhao Yan was scared out of her wits, she became hysterical, but the person she was yelling at seemed somewhat powerless, and as she continued to shout, she started sobbing.

  "I have to die, and you don't need to make things difficult for Liu Hai either. He understands why I must die. If I don't die, many people will die," said Li Hongjun, his face already darkening, every time he brings it up, his mood becomes very bad. In fact, he has never been willing to die. With a fierce punch on the earth wall, he actually punched out a hole, and didn't feel any pain in his hand. He panted heavily for a while before spitting: "Do you think I'm willing to die? I have no choice. Who wants to die? Don't give me more trouble, or else if you provoke me, I'll really make you take the fall for me."

  For a moment, no one dared to speak, Li Hongjun's ferocity oppressed everyone's heart, and his mysteriousness also made people fearful, they just stared at him blankly. After a long while, only I let out a sigh, took out a cigarette from my pocket, and handed it to Li Hongjun: "Have a smoke, if I were in your shoes, I would have no choice but to do the same, not for anyone else's sake, who would want to become like that? It's better to die and get it over with."

  Li Hongjun took the cigarette, waited for me to light it up, and took a strong drag. When the smoke rose, he indeed let out a sigh of relief, but leaning against the wall, he looked somewhat tired. He gazed out the window into the darkness, everything was so nostalgic. Suddenly, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a photo, on which was a girl who looked very spirited and sunny. Li Hongjun's eyes showed a hint of nostalgia, and he stared at it absent-mindedly.

  "Is that your daughter? She's really beautiful—" I exclaimed, whether true or not, it would make Li Hongjun feel a little comforted. I wasn't stingy with my words, saying things that would put people at ease.

  The good atmosphere was broken by Li Hongjun's one sentence. As soon as my voice fell, Li Hongjun rolled his eyes and stared at me, humming a sound from his nose: "You little brat, don't even think about having ideas about my daughter."

  "What's the matter with you, I'm not a dog that wags its tail at anyone. I let out a cold snort and ignored Li Hongjun's words. Closing my eyes, I felt a bit tired. Who knew that Li Hongjun would sigh and say: 'Unfortunately, I won't be able to see my daughter again.' In fact, I've been hesitant all along. If Xiaoman were to see me like this, not only would she definitely not let me die, but I also wouldn't have the courage to die in front of her. That's why I asked you to call her after I'm gone, hoping that she won't blame me. You promised me one thing, kid - take care of Xiaoman for me. This photo is my apology to Xiaoman. Put it in the coffin with my clothes and personal belongings. When Xiaoman arrives, let her handle them."

  Although I nodded, I was hesitant in my heart. It wouldn't be that simple. Li Hongjun's words at this time were meant to confuse me. His legacy must have hidden some secret that he wanted to leave for his daughter. If I'm not mistaken, it might be about the zombie that bit Li Hongjun. It absolutely wouldn't be that simple. I didn't really believe Li Hongjun's words.