Seeing the message from senior He Xing, Yan pursed her lips slightly.
She quickly grasped the meaning behind the words—it seemed Officer Zheng Yi had asked He Xing to consult her.
Previously, due to the Lanruo Xie family incident, Yan and Jue Jue had been unofficially affiliated with another government department dealing with supernatural phenomena—the organization behind Ding Ling.
Yan guessed that Officer Zheng Yi probably assumed she had connections within that organization and had thus delegated this matter to her.
But the truth was, she only knew Ding Ling!
Well, if Da He in Ning City was included, then two people.
In the end, this matter would still require her to reach out to Ding Ling again.
It almost felt like she was acting as a middleman.
At this moment, Yan really wanted to shout out loud: "Senior, why not just contact Ding Ling directly? No middleman markup!"
Of course, she kept that thought to herself.
Reading the message again, she sighed inwardly and replied:
[Yan]: I’ll ask around.
She wasn’t part of the supernatural community, but she figured that arranging a meeting between a living person and their deceased loved ones in the afterlife shouldn’t be too difficult for Ding Ling and her associates.
From what Yan knew, even non-official practitioners in the supernatural field had methods to facilitate such conversations, not to mention the common trope of spirit possession in ghost stories.
However, this matter needed to be discussed with Ding Ling in person—WeChat wasn’t the right platform.
Rubbing her temples, Yan pondered how to bring it up once Ding Ling returned.
There was also the matter of Zhuo Si, the guy they’d met on the antique street earlier. If something happened to him, who should they contact?
Ding Ling was always elusive, and though Yan had no idea what she was busy with, she sent a message anyway, letting her know there was something to discuss.
That evening, Yan received a reply from Ding Ling saying she was downstairs, so Yan headed out.
"I’m going to the supermarket. Need anything?" she asked her roommates.
"I want chips—wasabi flavor!" Chu Bingbing raised her hand.
"Got it. How about you guys?" Yan glanced at the others.
"Cucumber flavor."
"Original."
Yi Zhi and Gu Jiasui voiced their preferences.
"Nothing for me," senior He Xing replied succinctly.
Yan grabbed a reusable shopping bag from her drawer and went downstairs to meet Ding Ling.
Seeing Ding Ling in her plaid wool coat, Yan noticed she seemed more lively compared to last semester. She wasn’t standing under the streetlight, and her complexion no longer looked as pale as before.
The walk from the dorm to the supermarket only took a few minutes. Yan lowered her voice and made her request: "A friend wants to see her parents, who passed away three years ago. Can you help find someone for this?"
Ding Ling tilted her head slightly. Such a simple task—had Yan sought her out because she couldn’t handle it herself, or was there something special about this case?
Though unsure of the reason, Ding Ling agreed without hesitation.
"Sure."
Yan had her reasons, and Ding Ling trusted her judgment.
The response came so quickly that Yan didn’t even need to explain further. But then Ding Ling added:
"Though I’ll need to bring in someone else to help. I can’t do it myself."
She paused, searching for the right words. "Specialized personnel for specialized tasks."
Before Yan could react, Ding Ling was already pulling out her phone to send messages.
By the time they finished shopping for snacks, Ding Ling had already arranged everything.
"All set. Is your friend free this weekend?" she asked.
Yan quietly messaged He Xing with the same question, playing her role as the efficient intermediary.
Back in Room 320, He Xing saw the message and immediately understood—Yan must have stepped out to make arrangements discreetly.
What surprised her was how quickly Yan had found someone, even scheduling a time already.
Early Saturday morning, He Xing followed her usual routine of leaving early for practice to avoid raising suspicions among her roommates. She planned to meet Yan at the school gate.
Weekends in Room 320 were always busy, with everyone occupied by their own affairs, so no one questioned her whereabouts.
At 9 a.m., He Xing, wearing a black face mask, spotted not just Yan and her boyfriend at the gate but also Ding Ling.
Her eyes flickered toward Yan in silent question—what was going on?
Maybe Ding Ling just happened to be heading out at the same time?
Should she greet them and explain that she was waiting for a friend?
Before she could decide, the trio walked toward her, with Yan waving enthusiastically.
He Xing had no choice but to approach. Then she heard Yan ask Ding Ling:
"Is the car here?"
He Xing and Ding Ling locked eyes.
Yan, standing between them, made quick introductions.
Gesturing to He Xing with her left hand: "The client."
Then sweeping her right hand toward Ding Ling: "The contractor."
They boarded a black van under Ding Ling’s guidance. The couple took the back seat while Ding Ling studied her new roommate with curious, dark eyes.
He Xing’s aura was complex—sour, salty, bitter, spicy.
When had she grown so close to Yan? What else had happened without Ding Ling’s knowledge?
Once inside, Ding Ling gave a brief introduction: she was from the Special Cases Division, a department overseeing supernatural and paranormal affairs.
He Xing’s pupils dilated in shock.
Such a department existed?
And to think… within a single dorm room, there were two extraordinary individuals—Yan and Ding Ling.
Truly, a gathering of talents!
Even more coincidental, both had played crucial roles in helping her since her return.
Was this fate’s design, or the system’s mercy?
"The person handling this case today is Li, one of our affiliated practitioners," Ding Ling explained during the ride.
"Affiliated?" Yan leaned forward.
"Not officially employed, but registered in our roster. We can call on them when needed."
Many independent practitioners preferred the freedom of this arrangement.
Yan nodded—she and Jue Jue were probably listed similarly, though she wasn’t sure under which category.
He Xing listened quietly, absorbing the revelations.
The version of herself who had once focused solely on dance would never have imagined such departments operating in the shadows of society.
Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. How would she meet her parents after all this time?
Three years… no, it felt much longer than that.
As the van wound through the streets, the scenery outside grew increasingly antiquated—century-old buildings mingled with modern life.
"Is this near a historical site?" Yan asked.
Zhu Jue checked his phone’s GPS. The 5G signal was strong, and the navigation app displayed their location.
"This is… Xue Family Alley," he said, surprise coloring his tone.
"The infamous Xue Family Alley? The one where developers fled overnight because of ghost rumors?" Yan perked up instantly.
It is well known that every city has its share of urban legends, strange tales, and infamous haunted spots.
Xue Family Alley is one of the most notorious ghostly locations in Bin City.
Is that professional, Li, really living here?
"We have to get out and walk from here," Ding Ling said. This wasn’t her first time visiting.
"Sister Ding Ling, the things Sister Li asked us to bring are in the back," the driver chimed in.
"Got it," Ding Ling replied.
After getting out of the car, Yan noticed two enormous suitcases tucked behind the rear seats. Were these the props they needed for today?
Though Xue Family Alley was infamous as a haunted place, it was also a century-old architectural relic, complete with an ancient opera stage. Cultural preservation units conducted regular maintenance, and during the day, curious tourists would wander in, snapping photos and marveling at the scenery.
Zhu Jue carried the two suitcases, struggling slightly on the uneven cobblestone path. Ding Ling effortlessly took one from him and led the way.
Yan and He Xing cautiously observed their surroundings. The towering gray-brick walls blocked their view of the courtyards inside the alley, but they spotted a few people dressed in elegant outfits posing for photos.
Pushing their suitcases along, the group—composed of strikingly attractive individuals—looked like just another photography crew scouting locations.
After following Ding Ling through a maze of twists and turns, they finally arrived at a gate. Before they could knock, the heavy door with its brass rings creaked open on its own—revealing no one behind it.
"Classic horror movie opening," Yan remarked.
Had they not been in a group and aware of the alley’s peculiarities, the sudden movement of the door would have been downright terrifying.
But with the Ghost King present, Yan felt no fear. Just in case, she had even hauled out two bells from the cabinet earlier, adding to Zhu Jue’s already considerable burden.
Once all four stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind them. Despite the absence of wind, the ancient tree in the courtyard rustled ominously, and faint, ghostly sobs seemed to drift through the air.
In short—the horror movie atmosphere was dialed up to the max.
At that moment, Yan watched as Ding Ling set the suitcase down and snapped her fingers.
"Enough messing around. I brought the stuff—come get it yourselves."
With that, Ding Ling motioned for Zhu Jue to leave the suitcases there and led the group toward the house. He Xing hesitated.
"Aren’t those suitcases holding the things we need?"
"Nah, those are props for them. Not for you," Ding Ling replied.
He Xing glanced back and saw a black umbrella floating in midair.
Her heart skipped a beat.
As they entered the house, they found a woman in a blood-red wedding dress lounging on an antique chair, a long-stemmed pipe dangling from her lips. She appeared to be in her thirties, her striking beauty undiminished.
Rolling up her sleeves, she grumbled, "I told them the measurements were off." Spotting the newcomers, she greeted them with a casual "You’re here," then shooed away unseen others with, "All of you, scram next door for a bit."
He Xing looked around but saw no one else—yet the door opened and closed on its own.
"Li," Ding Ling called, gesturing toward He Xing.
Li wiped something over her eyelids before studying He Xing, her expression shifting to unmistakable shock.
"We’ll step out. You two talk." Yan, acting as the intermediary, took Zhu Jue outside. The spirits that had been in the room earlier had already left, and since this involved He Xing’s private matters, it wasn’t their place to stay.
Still, something about Li seemed oddly familiar. Though she lacked a halo, that striking face… where had Yan seen it before?
The three waited outside, sitting on the threshold.
Yan gazed at the towering locust tree in the courtyard, its branches nearly blotting out the sky, and the ghostly figures darting about. It was like stepping onto the set of a haunted house.
"Huh?" A young female ghost holding an umbrella suddenly rushed over, eyeing the trio excitedly.
"Sister Ding Ling! And you two—long time no see!"
"Haven’t run into you since the convention!" He Jiajia chirped at Yan and Zhu Jue.
"Want a sneak peek at what we’ve been working on?"
Convention? Yan studied the little ghost girl, slowly placing her. The veiled white-robed ghost from back then—was this her?
"What kind of project?" Yan asked.
"Were you transferred here recently?" Ding Ling cut in.
"Yeah! The group’s encouraging us wandering ghosts to be self-sufficient instead of relying on welfare. Sister Li’s Haunted House Business Incubator is hiring, so I joined!" He Jiajia beamed.
Haunted House Business Incubator? Yan felt like her ears had just caught something absurdly surreal.
"All the mischievous spirits and minor ghosts haunting Xue Family Alley have been recruited under Sister Li’s leadership. Now they’re getting a chance to reform, both in mindset and action. After rehabilitation, they’re assigned jobs on-site!" He Jiajia rambled on.
"I’m aiming for team leader of the female ghost division!"
Through He Jiajia and Ding Ling’s explanations, Yan and Zhu Jue finally grasped the situation.
In recent years, for reasons unknown, spiritual energy had begun to resurge. Supernatural incidents were multiplying, and the number of wandering ghosts had skyrocketed—alongside those who had lingered in the mortal world due to unusual circumstances.
The Special Cases Division was now encouraging powerful spirits to mentor weaker ones, pairing Taoist practitioners with ghosts in support programs, and establishing supernatural business incubators. Otherwise, the system would collapse under the strain—too many ghosts, not enough resources. New arrivals were given three months’ shelter before having to choose: reincarnate, move to the underworld, or support themselves.
Currently, the entire Xue Family Alley had been transformed into Li’s "Haunted House Business Incubator." Without damaging the historic architecture, they were adding ghostly mechanisms to turn it into a profitable haunted attraction.
The two suitcases they’d brought? Special props Li had ordered from the division.
Yan and Zhu Jue were floored. Genius. Absolute genius.
"By the way," Yan mused, "why does Li look so familiar? I can’t place her…"
"I know! I know!" He Jiajia eagerly raised her hand.
"Sister Li is Cheng Li!"
"Cheng Li?!" Yan and Zhu Jue exclaimed in unison.
Cheng Li had been a famous actress over a decade ago. They’d grown up watching her dramas! But after her sudden rise to fame, she’d vanished without a trace. Rumors swirled—some claimed she’d aged overnight, others whispered she’d been cursed by dark rituals. To this day, she remained an enigmatic figure, often listed among the internet’s nostalgic "old-school goddesses."
Ding Ling nodded solemnly. "I don’t know the details, but back then, Li supposedly hit her molting phase, decided she’d made enough money, and just… left."
Yan’s face froze. Wait—molting phase? Had she heard that right? What kind of creature molts?!
Behind them, the door rattled ominously, as if displeased by their conversation. He Jiajia immediately clammed up, covering her mouth.
Yan pulled out her phone, searching for old photos of "Cheng Li." Twenty years ago, Cheng Li had claimed to be twenty—her face in those images was indeed younger than the woman they’d just seen.
Scrolling through her feed, Yan’s eyes suddenly locked onto something.
【Mystery House Owner—Zhuo Si】: Closed today. Please don’t make a wasted trip.
Zhuo Si is taking another day off on a Saturday. Is he performing some ritual again?
...
Of course, Zhuo Si wasn’t conducting any rituals today—because he was busy.
This was the seventh day since he was chosen as a 【Supernatural Intern】.
And also the first day of his impending adventure.
The trial mentioned by that grand voice within seven days had finally arrived.
When he woke up this morning, he found a letter by his pillow.
【Supernatural Intern: Zhuo Si】
【First Trial Location: Xue Family Alley】
【Your trial is about to begin. Arrive at Xue Family Alley within 24 hours, investigate the supernatural truth, and survive.】
【Failure to arrive within 24 hours will be considered voluntary withdrawal, resulting in dismissal.】
As soon as Zhuo Si finished reading the letter, it spontaneously combusted without a trace of wind, vanishing into thin air. Yet, the contents of the letter were etched into his mind.
By now, Zhuo Si had packed his gear and done some preliminary research on Xue Family Alley.
Just wait and see! His first trial would be completed flawlessly!
