Chapter 98: There Are Always Exceptions
“So that’s how it is.”
Yue Linhai indeed did not grow suspicious, merely asking thoughtfully.
“So you coming to attend the funeral was also your master’s idea?”
“Yes and no…” Zhang Qian quickly fleshed out his story, “Master just told me to visit your father and didn’t know about his death, so I was puzzled about your identity.”
Based on Yue Linhai’s words, he probably hadn’t sent invitations to others; if Zhang Qian had known in advance that his father was dead, it would seem too fake.
The story of originally just coming to visit and unexpectedly discovering his father’s death was clearly more reliable.
As for why he didn’t say he was a messenger.
From the tattoo parlor’s attitude, it was clear these places weren’t very friendly toward messengers; if Yue Linhai found out he was there to deliver a letter, Zhang Qian feared he wouldn’t make it to the destination.
“That makes sense.” Yue Linhai looked at Zhang Qian, seemingly nodding in affirmation.
“Unfortunately my father has already died. Why don’t you go worship him instead, consider it a visit, how about it?”
Though it was a question, Yue Linhai’s tone carried a bit of firmness, clearly wanting Zhang Qian and the others to stay.
He pressed step by step, like a reminder or a threat: “You’ve already come; if you don’t worship, maybe my father will get angry because of it, and the situation then would be serious. Moreover, your master probably wouldn’t want you to return empty-handed…”
“Then let’s go.”
Zhang Qian interrupted Yue Linhai’s next words; at worst it was just death, how serious could it be.
He stared at the gradually approaching Yue Linhai, feeling no fear.
Whether he died or not was still uncertain; the post office’s goal was to train messengers, not eliminate them, so it definitely wouldn’t issue a certain death mission.
If he guessed right, the post office was the main force in this operation, and he was probably just running errands again.
But weren’t there a full five levels of messengers? Why did these dangerous missions always have to be left to me!
Zhang Qian inwardly slandered Luo Wensong a bit, then proactively stepped forward under Xu Zheng’s shocked gaze.
He said loudly: “Passing by without worshiping is indeed impolite. Please lead the way ahead and take me and my junior brother to worship your father.”
“Oh?” Yue Linhai paused, not expecting Zhang Qian to agree so readily.
“Then come on up, I’ll take you to the mourning hall.”
Xu Zheng grabbed Zhang Qian wanting to ask something, but closed his mouth under Zhang Qian’s gaze.
When facing the supernatural, a team could only have one person making decisions; that was headquarters’ iron rule.
As the captain of the operation, since Zhang Qian had made the decision, as long as it wasn’t sending Xu Zheng to die in vain, Xu Zheng would not disobey.
But the doubts in his heart wouldn’t dissipate because of this; once Yue Linhai turned away, he immediately wanted to know Zhang Qian’s thoughts.
Zhang Qian made a gesture, pulled out a mobile phone, and shook it toward Xu Zheng.
Xu Zheng immediately got it, pulled out the satellite phone, and started tapping the keyboard.
After entering the old house, they had lost contact with the outside world, even satellite signals had disappeared.
But headquarters had considered this, so the satellite phone actually had a built-in frequency chip that could connect to other phones like a walkie-talkie when necessary. Though the range was short, it wouldn’t be interrupted by the supernatural.
The two deliberately slowed their steps, leisurely trailing behind Yue Linhai.
Soon, Xu Zheng’s message came through.
“The main entrance is right behind us; why don’t we just leave directly? The ghost candle in your hand is already lit; according to its length, it should withstand several attacks, enough for us to open the door and get out.”
Zhang Qian handed the ghost candle to the cloaked ghost shadow and quickly tapped the keyboard.
“Because I can’t confirm if that’s the exit. The ghost candle can block supernatural attacks but can’t isolate supernatural influence.”
Facts proved the ghost candle couldn’t affect supernatural land; previously in the ghost post office, Zhang Qian had lit a ghost candle, but he wasn’t kicked out directly, and the ghost post office didn’t dissipate.
“Then just let the ghost candle keep burning like this? Won’t that be a bit wasteful?” Xu Zheng asked.
The ghost candle burned slowly without encountering a fierce ghost, but it still fell under the category of candle and would normally be consumed.
By calculation, even without supernatural power’s influence, a ghost candle’s burn time was less than five hours.
Otherwise, there’d be no need to light it only when in danger; keeping it burning could guard against fierce ghost sneak attacks.
“Don’t worry about waste at a time like this. I’m concerned that Yue Linhai can communicate with us because of the ghost candle’s existence; if we extinguish it and he goes crazy again, we’re done for.” Zhang Qian replied.
“True, and he definitely attacked us with supernatural power before; lighting the ghost candle now is like insurance. Hope the mourning hall isn’t too far, hope the ghost candle holds out until then…”
Xu Zheng focused on tapping the keyboard, but suddenly a voice came to his ear.
“What are you chatting about? Chatting so happily.”
Zhang Qian turned in shock, discovering that Yue Linhai, who had just been leading the way ahead, had vanished and somehow appeared at the back of the team.
But Zhang Qian was certain he’d been watching Yue Linhai’s movements and it was impossible for him to be overtaken unnoticed.
Ghost domain again?
One per person?
At this moment, Yue Linhai was curiously looking at the satellite phone’s small screen, the screen’s glow reflecting on his glasses, revealing a hint of danger.
But Zhang Qian knew the mobile phone’s screen was very small; without touching it, the visible information was absolutely limited.
So he took the initiative to strike first, “Peeking at others’ privacy isn’t good, right? You clearly studied abroad; you should know about respecting privacy, right?”
“Respect privacy?” Yue Linhai boredly withdrew his head and shook his head: “Then I hope you respect me first. You’d rather chat on your phone behind me than talk to me; have you considered my feelings?”
“Very sorry.”
Zhang Qian glanced at Xu Zheng, who was nearly scared silly, and explained, “We just felt the environment here was a bit strange, so we wanted to discuss it.”
“Mm… indeed strange. How about you extinguish that candle, and I’ll show you something even more interesting?”
Yue Linhai suddenly appeared beside Zhang Qian, his eyes with a hint of smile staring dead at Zhang Qian’s eyes.
Seeing Zhang Qian not respond, the smile in his eyes grew, and with his left hand he scooped behind Zhang Qian’s head, pulling out a ghost candle like a magic trick.
Zhang Qian’s pupils contracted sharply; this candlelight felt no different from a real ghost candle.
Looking at the cloaked ghost shadow beside him, the ghost candle in its hand was indeed gone.
“This is just a little quirk of mine. Could you indulge me and give it back?” Zhang Qian said through gritted teeth.
“Of course.”
Yue Linhai gladly agreed, adding, “But after it’s extinguished.”
With that, he gently blew out a breath.
The flame flickered a few times, turning into wisps of green smoke.
Ghost candle, extinguished…
