Chapter 13: Fierce Ghost Game Console
The three walked together in the somewhat dim tattoo parlor.
“……That’s more or less it.” Feng Quan simply explained the recent situation, “You were also saved because of Zhang Qian.”
Zhang Han was draped in the jacket Feng Quan had lent him. He looked incredulously at the tattoo on his hand. His bloodied arm overlapped with his original arm, and the chilling feeling reminded him that everything just now was not a dream.
“Fierce ghost…… Ghost Controller…… Truly unimaginable things.” Zhang Han turned his head and bowed to Zhang Qian, “Thank you very much for saving my life. I’ll find a way to collect the reward.”
“No need. It was also thanks to you that I discovered this method.” Zhang Qian waved his hand generously, “This time’s fee is waived. Just help me promote to other Ghost Controllers in the future.”
Feng Quan looked at Zhang Qian eagerly, “What about me?”
“You won’t do. Aren’t you an old-brand Ghost Controller? Catching one ghost is nothing.” Zhang Qian thought for a moment, “But I can give you a cut. For every ten Ghost Controllers you bring for treatment, I’ll suppress for you once. How’s that?”
“No problem.” Feng Quan agreed without hesitation. Those dying Ghost Controllers outside would definitely beg him to lead the way once they heard the news. Not to mention ten people, even twenty would do.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Wang Shang ran in a dark space, encouraging Xu Shaowen while running, “You must hold on. If you die, we’re both done for.”
“Not that bad……” Xu Shaowen lay on Wang Shang’s back, blood flowing from the wound on his abdomen.
His face was pale, yet he focused intently on playing a game console. On the simple screen, a pixelated little figure was sprinting in the darkness. Xu Shaowen had relied on it to direct Wang Shang to escape danger.
This was the supernatural item Ghost Game Console his brother had given him. Once activated, it could predict surrounding dangers in advance, allowing correct choices.
But the game console’s battery drained with use. Once the battery reached zero, the user would be pulled into the game, becoming the running little figure and enduring endless death pains, until the next one replaced him.
Suddenly.
The little figure turned into a puddle of pus and blood and died again. After loading the save, Xu Shaowen tried several directions in a row and finally found the path to survival, “It’s here, go left!”
Wang Shang immediately turned left upon hearing this, narrowly brushing past a bluish-black arm.
“How much longer until we reach a safe place?” Wang Shang was gasping for breath, his steps already slowing.
“Almost there, we’ll arrive soon.” Xu Shaowen stared at the screen and suddenly spotted a wisp of light, “Right side!”
“Got it!” Wang Shang turned right, and a bluish-black arm suddenly stretched out from the darkness, blocking straight in front of them.
Xu Shaowen’s thoughts raced, looking unwillingly as the arm drew closer, “Did the game console glitch?”
Wang Shang also closed his eyes in resignation.
“Pa——”
“Holy shit, I’m awesome!”
Hmm? Ghosts can talk?
Wang Shang opened his eyes and found an unfamiliar youth in front of him. He had actually grabbed the fierce ghost with his hand and even pushed the ghost back into the darkness!
“I advise you to use the fierce ghost’s ability less.” Feng Quan also walked out from the darkness, “The more you use it, the faster you die. Your current state can last half a year no problem.”
“First time touching this power, a bit excited.” Zhang Han touched the tattoo on his hand. Though creepy, it gave him a full sense of security.
Wang Shang saw Feng Quan and immediately looked expectantly into the darkness. Finally, he saw the familiar figure. As if finding support, his legs gave out and he knelt on the ground, “Big Brother!”
White light faintly gleamed in Zhang Qian’s eyes. After seeing through the darkness, he discovered this was a huge studio, with dense easels arranged in the vast space.
The paintings all depicted fierce ghosts with green faces and fangs. Many paintings were still dripping paint, clearly just drawn.
“What happened on your side? Where’s Gao Yong?”
Xu Shaowen slowly stood on the ground and said solemnly, “Gao Yong was grabbed by the ghost hand and turned into blood water to save us. I didn’t have time to save him.”
If he had activated the game console a bit earlier, become a Ghost Controller a bit earlier, maybe Gao Yong wouldn’t have died. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in this world.
“…… Brother Yong pushed me away. He saved me with his own life……” Wang Shang knelt on the ground, his body trembling badly, “I’m just a waste. I shouldn’t have come……”
“Hmph, I told you you’re cannon fodder……” Feng Quan’s expression was numb, his bruised and swollen face looking very comical.
“Enough. If you keep it up, no treatment next time.” Zhang Qian interrupted Feng Quan’s mockery but ignored Wang Shang. Instead, he helped Xu Shaowen toward the depths of the darkness, “Tell me about the ghost you encountered……”
Feng Quan followed without hesitation. Zhang Han looked at Wang Shang with a sigh and also walked into the darkness.
After a long silence, Wang Shang punched the ground, “Brother Yong……”
He wiped away his tears and chased after Zhang Qian’s footsteps, secretly resolving some determination.
“The three of us arrived here as soon as we crossed the shop door.” Xu Shaowen limped along with Zhang Qian’s support, “It was very dark all around, so we didn’t notice the fierce ghost lurking within.”
Zhang Qian led the way ahead, guiding the team around the easels, “There are many portraits of fierce ghosts in this darkness. The ghost hand should come from these paintings. You guys were probably unlucky, teleported next to a painting and got attacked.”
“Where there are portraits, there’s a painter. Do you have any way to find it?”
Feng Quan’s eyes flickered, “I can cover this place with ghost mist and find the ghost, but afterward you have to help me suppress the fierce ghost.”
Hearing this, Zhang Qian stopped, “Am I too easygoing, making you have some illusion? You’re sent by headquarters to support me. Not playing your role and still wanting to negotiate conditions?”
He suddenly turned and grabbed Feng Quan’s neck, “If I can suppress the fierce ghost, I can naturally pull out the ghost and use it myself. You still dare to bargain?”
“Gak gak gak——” Feng Quan’s legs kicked, terrified to find his ghost mist had fallen into silence. But he immediately reacted and began showing his value, “No one can control two fierce ghosts! Even if you stuff the ghost mist to someone else, they might not qualify to control it!”
Xu Shaowen pulled at Zhang Qian’s clothes upon seeing this, “Brother Zhang, I can find it too.”
With that, he showed the game console in his hand, “My ghost has no combat ability, but it’s sensitive to danger. That painter who drew so many paintings must be in the most dangerous place. That way, I should be able to find it.”
Zhang Qian casually threw Feng Quan to the ground, “Hope this doesn’t happen a second time. Pulling ten people for treatment quota isn’t hard for you. But offend me, and the ghost mist might need a new owner later.”
Zhang Qian didn’t really want to kill Feng Quan, just to warn him. Once compromised this time, Feng Quan would probably laugh at him as an idiot and keep demanding Zhang Qian suppress fierce ghosts for him.
Sure enough, after falling to the ground, Feng Quan didn’t say much. He even stood up and took the initiative to apologize to Zhang Qian, “Sorry. Been a Ghost Controller too long, my head’s not clear. I know quite a few Ghost Controllers. I’ll bring them as your clients.”
