Chapter 8: Almost Suffocated

  That face revealed a sinister smile, making my whole body tremble uncontrollably, feeling like my heart was about to stop. I struggled to run, but both legs were soft and weak, unable to muster any strength.

  "What's wrong with you, don't get excited, do you want to be surrounded by others? Didn't notice, you're quite fond of seeking stimulation!" Xiaolan didn't even realize her own abnormality and turned around to glare at me.

  I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The temperature around me seemed to drop suddenly, and my hands and feet trembled even more violently, rolling my eyes frantically to remind her that there was a ghost.

  However, the sky was too dark, and she probably couldn't see anything either. After finishing speaking, she turned her head around, seemingly observing the terrain. As she turned her head, the little girl's face on the back of her head was facing me again, with a wide open mouth laughing and making "gulu gulu" strange noises.

  "Let's go over by that big rock, I don't want to lie on the ground. Later you press against the rock and I'll come from behind, it'll definitely be exciting. If you really want to find excitement and have others watch, that'll cost extra." Little Lan didn't turn her head, pointing to a large rock not far away.

  I'm about to die from anxiety, and she's still here talking nonsense with me. Can't she hear that strange noise coming from her own body? Ren Binghua is also unreliable, I've already arrived at the destination, but there's no sign of her.

  At this moment, I suddenly remembered the ghost talisman that Ren Binghua had left for me before. She said that the talisman could save my life, but it could only be used when I was in the most dangerous situation.

  I think it's already quite dangerous, that little girl smiled strangely and stuck out her tongue, licking her own lips, clearly showing a lot of interest in me.

  Never mind the three sevens and twenty-one, first use that talisman and then talk, escaping is the right thing to do. It's not that I'm heartless, but Xiaolan has really been possessed by a ghost and I couldn't save her either. If something really happens when we turn back, it can only be blamed on Ren Binghua.

  My hands were still shaking, but when I reached into my pocket and touched the talisman, a warm current suddenly surged through my body. My body instantly recovered, and I took off running.

  "Hey handsome, what are you running for? I'm already prepared to take off, what's going on?" Little Lan shouted from behind me.

  My inner fear overcame my curiosity, and I didn't dare to look back. Even if she was stark naked, I had no mind to appreciate it, after all, my own life was the most important thing.

  Suddenly, I felt as if a cold hand was placed on my shoulder. I became even more frightened and let out a strange cry. In a moment of carelessness, I almost tripped over a stone on the ground.

  Something's not right. I saw this rock a long time ago, it was less than a meter away from me, how did it end up under my feet?

  "Alright, stop messing around, come quickly, I can't wait any longer." Xiaolan's voice was full of temptation, very close to me, seemingly right by my ear!

  I subconsciously turned my head to take a glance, and Xiao Lan was actually standing beside me, with one hand resting on my shoulder. Seeing her face is always better than seeing that little girl, I let out a slight sigh of relief.

  "Run quickly, there's a ghost, I'm not lying to you. I brought you here thinking of helping you get rid of the ghost, but now it seems like I'm in over my head, my partner is unreliable." My heart softened and I told her everything.

  As I said this, one of my hands had been tightly grasping the talisman, which was a bit scorching hot to the touch, but holding it made me feel much more at ease.

  I took a closer look around and it was just as I thought, all the struggling I did to run away earlier was in vain, I had been running on the spot the whole time.

  Xiao Lan obviously didn't quite believe me, and was stunned for a moment. I tentatively pushed her hand down from my shoulder, but suddenly she grabbed it with great force, like a pair of pliers, pinching my hand until it felt scorching hot with pain.

  "A ghost? How could you, do you want to play a game of unfinished love between humans and ghosts? Do I look like a ghost?" Little Orchid said with a smile.

  She transformed into a little girl in an instant, covered in blood and let out a "heh heh" laugh that sent chills down my spine. I don't know where I got the courage from, but with my other hand, I took out the ghost talisman and slapped it onto her face.

  "Ah!"

  Xiao Lan let out a cry of alarm, seemingly terrified of the talisman. Before I could stick it to her face, she nimbly dodged and retreated several steps away. My heart was filled with great joy - as long as she loosened her grip on my hand, I would be able to make a run for it.

  This time I really ran away, because I was afraid she would chase me again. I held onto that talisman all the way. Several times on the road, I almost fell over, and it seemed to have startled a few pairs of wild mandarin ducks that were "exercising".

  I ran while silently cursing Ren Binghua. I was supposed to lure the person over, and she would take care of the rest, but instead I almost got caught by the little demon, and there was no sign of her.

  Ran from the riverbank to the main road, it took more than ten minutes. The main road has streetlights, although they are very dim, but at this time you can see the light, it really gives people a sense of security.

  I cautiously looked around, didn't find anything chasing after me, let out a sigh of relief, and took out my phone to call Ren Binghua. But unexpectedly, the phone had no signal, I couldn't help but curse loudly.

  Damn, what kind of place doesn't have cell service? It's clearly just the outskirts of town, but the signal is as bad as some remote mountain valley. I instantly decided to head back along the main road, screw the scenic route.

  "Wu Tian, what are you doing here? Where is that woman?" As he walked, a voice called out from behind, it was Wang Kun's.

  I turned my head and took a look, Wang Kun, that dead fatso, was running towards me with a huff, I muttered: "You still followed? I told you to stay away from Ren Binghua, this time I got screwed by her again!"

  The fatty ran to my side, panting heavily for a while before arguing: "Don't talk about my goddess like that, she's been waiting for you over there all along. You're the one who's dragging your feet, why haven't you brought her over yet?"

  Damn it, this fat guy is completely gone, indeed a bastard who values sex over friendship. No matter what I'm his brother, he doesn't consider me at all, but instead follows Ren Binghua's ass with a smile.

  But he's that kind of person, if he doesn't come tonight, I'd be surprised. It's just that his miserable fate has already been sealed, a woman like Ren Binghua would never look up to him.

  "Alright, stop nagging me, I've already taken that woman to the riverside, let her handle it herself." I turned around and left, my task was done, what's left is Ren Binghua's business.

  Fatso blocked my way: "Don't go, I'll take you to see her. Don't worry, with her around, the two of us are absolutely safe. You going back alone now is even more dangerous."

  It's true, all the fat guys are here, and thinking of myself going back alone, I really feel a bit uneasy.

  "How come you're still holding onto that charm? Once it's been used, it's useless. You've already used this charm to harm the vengeful spirit, so hurry up and get rid of it. Otherwise, that thing might remember the grudge and come after you for revenge." The fatty caught sight of the charm in my hand.

  I didn't think that much, casually threw the charm away. At this critical moment, I couldn't take risks. What if it's really like what Fatso said, wouldn't I become a living target for vengeful spirits to attack?

  After throwing away the token, I walked a few steps forward and suddenly found that Fatso was standing still on the spot. I turned my head to look at him: "What are you dazing about? Didn't you want to go find Ren Binghua?"

  The fat boy didn't respond, he just stared at me with a straight face and smiled. That smile looked so strange, his eyes also gave me a feeling of being chilled to the bone.

  I wanted to go over and ask him what was wrong, but suddenly I found that Wang Kun under the streetlight had no shadow. Subconsciously, I glanced at the shadow under my feet, and a chill ran down my spine in an instant.

  Wang Kun let out two strange laughs, and the surroundings suddenly turned pitch black. The air also became much colder. I was scared stupid and didn't know what to do, so I could only take out the computer desk leg I had prepared earlier for self-defense.

  To be honest, I really want to give myself two big slaps on the face right now. Even if I'm stupid, I've realized that the one just now wasn't Wang Kun, but a resentful spirit transformed into something else.

  The real purpose of the vengeful spirit was to make me throw away the talisman in my hand. I didn't react and foolishly listened to his words, it's really a case of bringing ruin upon oneself!

  "Ren Binghua, where have you gone to die? Hurry up and come save me, if you don't come soon I'll just have you collect my corpse directly!" I bellowed into the darkness a few times.

  Without the ghostly symbols, I didn't have the capital to confront the vengeful spirit at all. All I could do was spit out saliva everywhere while tightly grasping the legs of the computer desk, trying to give myself some courage.

  In the endless darkness, a pair of icy hands grasped my neck. I instantly felt a bit breathless, desperately struggling and kicking my legs wildly.

  I feel like I'm suffocating, the more I struggle, the more panicked I become, already a bit exhausted, my whole head is numb. What's most unbearable is the fear in my heart, am I really going to die?

  This is the first time I've been so close to death, and it's even more terrifying than what happened last night. For a moment, I felt like I was just an insignificant speck of dust, and even if I died, the world wouldn't care.

  But if I die, what will my mother do? My grandfather has been a little mentally abnormal since I was a child and never paid attention to me or my mother. My father left home when I was ten years old and there has been no news from him until now.

  When I was twelve, my elderly and ailing grandmother passed away. Since then, it has been my mother who took care of my mentally ill grandfather and me, who was still young. She pinned all her hopes on me; if I were to really...

  I don't dare to think about it anymore, and I don't have the energy to think. I can feel that my mind is becoming unclear, and my strength throughout my body is gradually draining away.

  Suddenly, I saw a flash of light coming from my chest. Accompanying that light was a shrill cry, and the hands that were choking me finally loosened!

  "Vengeful spirits, be put to death!" Ren Binghua's voice also rang out at this time.

  As I opened my eyes, I saw Ren Binghua wearing a Taoist robe, descending from the sky.