Chapter 61: Candle That Cannot Be Blown Out
The elevator operated.
Red light flickered.
The dim lobby was eerily abnormal.
A figure wearing a mask stood in the middle of the lobby, looking at the six operating elevators.
The ghost came down again.
Unknown if six or one.
Under normal circumstances, confronting a fierce ghost was extremely unwise, especially in the ghost painting.
Should avoid its edge.
But…
“Am I avoiding its edge?”
Lin Qian looked directly at the fierce ghost within his body.
Five, a full five A-level fierce ghosts.
A ghost messenger that could suppress three ghosts.
Am I avoiding its edge?
Yang Jian with three ghosts in his body could wipe out everyone in a city in just three minutes, or even shorter.
That was just three.
While he had six, integrated in killing, survival, suppression, and origin.
Could fight, could escape, and could survive.
Would he fear the ghost coming out of the elevator?
On the weird mask, the ghost eye slightly turned.
Rumbling.
The elevator suddenly stopped.
Lin Qian’s eyes narrowed, “It’s here!”
The moment the elevator stopped, the iron door opened.
Dim yellow light emerged from the elevator.
Six figures appeared.
“Hm?”
After seeing the six figures in the elevator clearly, Lin Qian was stunned, his eyes flickering.
“Corpses?”
Inside the elevator, six people dressed differently held an extinguished candle, standing in the elevator.
They looked at the candle in their hands with despairing expressions.
Their skin was covered in corpse spots.
A thick corpse stench emanated from these people.
Lin Qian’s gaze shifted slightly; “Corpses.”
He didn’t sense any supernatural presence.
Strange thing.
Corpses also take elevators?
Lin Qian didn’t act rashly.
Instead, he observed carefully.
Perhaps because no one got on the elevator, the elevator door slowly closed.
The red light was extremely obvious in the dimness.
“Something’s not right.”
Suddenly.
Lin Qian’s peripheral vision swept over the mansion lobby’s counter, then he was stunned.
On the counter, at some point, a red candle had appeared.
Besides the candle, there was a yellowed piece of paper.
Judging from the degree of yellowing on the paper, this paper had been placed for quite a while.
“When?”
Lin Qian clearly remembered that when he entered here, there was nothing on the counter.
How did things appear in the blink of an eye?
And he hadn’t sensed any abnormality.
With vigilance, Lin Qian went to the counter.
The counter was covered in dust, untouched for a long time.
Only when he arrived at the counter did he notice that beside the candle, there was a red lighter.
Lighter and candle?
Both red…
Lin Qian looked at the yellowed paper, which had writing, and quite a lot:
“My name is Gao Ling. When you see this message, I might already be dead…
This is my last words. This inn is very dangerous. The moment you enter here and see the content on this paper, you’re destined to be unable to leave by normal means;
There is a ghost here, and not just one;
There is a lighter and candle on the counter. When the candle is lit, you are in absolute safety. The candle can only be extinguished by you blowing it out yourself. Please be sure to note whether you are safe before blowing out the candle;
The method to leave here is simple: take the candle to the top floor, in room 7736, find a box. Inside the box is a pure black fan. Take the fan and leave the room, and you will naturally leave here.”
Lin Qian touched his chin, looking at the content on the paper.
There was a lot of content, but most of it was already blurred.
He only saw part of it.
But this part conveyed some extremely important information.
“Absolute safety when the candle is lit?”
“To leave here, just find the pure black fan in a box in room 7736 on the top floor, and leave the room to exit this ghost place?”
Lin Qian looked at the content on the paper, “Why do I find it harder to believe the more I look?”
But recalling the six corpses in the elevator, they seemed to be holding candles too.
And in an extinguished state.
“If holding the candle guarantees safety, why are these people dead?”
“Did they blow out the candle themselves?”
Lin Qian looked toward the elevator; he didn’t think anyone would be that stupid.
He didn’t believe the content on this paper right away.
Is lighting the candle really safe?
As long as not blown out, nothing will happen for sure?
Lin Qian didn’t believe it.
But suddenly, Lin Qian seemed to think of something, his gaze falling on the candle.
Then his line of sight shifted sideways to the stairs. At the stairwell, on the wall, there was a red line.
This line extended horizontally, perfectly dividing the lobby in half.
In the lobby, footprints were messy.
There were also messy footprints at the elevator doorway, but the most footprints led to the stairs.
“Changes appeared again.”
Lin Qian was certain these footprints hadn’t been there before.
“Interesting.”
“Is the intimidation this strong?”
Lin Qian chuckled, looking at the candle and lighter on the counter.
“Come on, I’ll play with you.”
Lin Qian reached for the candle. The candle was icy cold, emanating a faint stench.
The smell was very familiar, corpse stench.
“Yo, it’s a supernatural candle.”
Lin Qian somewhat believed this candle could ensure safety now.
Because this candle had the same smell as the red ghost candle.
Click, a bright yellow flame ignited the candle.
A glow instantly appeared.
The pale yellow light dispelled the surrounding darkness.
Lin Qian was slightly stunned, “This feeling…”
The moment the candle was lit, he clearly felt the chill around him recede.
“There were ghosts around me all along?”
Lin Qian’s gaze shifted, scanning the surroundings.
He glanced at the yellowed paper on the table, thought for a moment, and didn’t touch it.
“Let’s go to the top floor.”
Lin Qian held the candle and walked toward the stairs.
Thud thud thud, muffled footsteps sounded.
Lin Qian went up the stairs toward the top floor.
The moment Lin Qian’s figure disappeared in the stairs.
The paper on the counter suddenly changed. A stream of blood extended from the paper, and a grinning blood-red human face slowly appeared on the paper.
The human face appeared, eyes turning, staring straight at the stairs, a weird smile gradually forming.
Lin Qian, holding the red candle and walking on the stairs, paused slightly. He tilted his head slightly, revealing half of a grinning sharp-toothed mouth.
“Looks like it’s really safe while the candle is lit.”
Lin Qian looked at the room in front of him.
He had spent an hour reaching the top floor.
During that time, he hadn’t encountered any ghosts.
But he had sensed the presence of fierce ghosts.
And seen them.
But those ghosts didn’t choose to attack him.
“7736…”
This was the room number in front of him.
Lin Qian looked at the candle in his hand; the candle burned without consuming.
This fit the situation of a supernatural item.
“Interesting.”
Lin Qian pushed open the room door and walked straight in.
The darkness was dispelled by the candle.
This was a cold, dust-covered room.
The room was very empty, with no other items except a box placed in the middle of the room.
A dark red old wooden box, very similar to the kind used by an opera troupe.
“Found it just like that?”
Lin Qian felt it wasn’t real.
He had found the item to leave here so easily?
He walked to the box, squatted down, and opened it.
Candlelight shone, the box creaked open.
Dust flew up, candlelight flickered.
But it didn’t extinguish.
Inside the box was a pure black fan.
The fan was pitch black, without any impurities.
The pitch-black fan even reflected light under the candlelight.
Lin Qian picked it up, “A dormant supernatural item?”
The fan was extremely cold; he could sense the supernatural within the fan.
But it had gone dormant.
This was actually a crashed fierce ghost.
Whoosh, the fan was opened, a chill emerged.
On the pure black fan surface, looking closely, a human face faintly appeared.
The human face had closed eyes, serene expression, as if asleep.
“Interesting.”
Lin Qian’s gaze flickered, he closed the fan and looked toward the room door.
Walk out and can leave?
Lin Qian still didn’t believe it.
He walked to the doorway and pushed open the room door.
Instantly, sunlight flooded in.
Lin Qian’s heart sank; at the moment he opened the door, he vaguely saw people in terror and panic walking out from other rooms.
But he only saw a glimpse, not clearly.
“This is…”
“Da Jiang City!”
Cars and horses bustling, bright sunshine, streets full of continuous pedestrians.
At this moment, many people stopped, looking at Lin Qian with terrified eyes.
Lin Qian was somewhat puzzled, but soon understood why.
He quickly put away the mask on his face, covered his abdomen with his clothes, and left quickly.
But at this moment, someone had already taken out their mobile phone to start filming.
“Really left?”
Lin Qian shuttled through the streets.
Looking at the familiar city, he frowned tightly.
He activated his ghost domain and headed straight to the club.
In just a few minutes, he arrived at the club.
“Lin Qian, you’re finally back.”
The moment Lin Qian appeared in the office, Wang Xiaoqiang stood up abruptly, excited.
Lin Qian looked at Wang Xiaoqiang, somewhat silent.
“Interesting.”
Lin Qian sensed the ghost in Wang Xiaoqiang’s body, and also sensed Ye Feng playing billiards below, Manyue, Yu Lin, Si Zeyuan.
And Zhang Han.
“When did Zhang Han arrive?”
Lin Qian sat down, looking at Wang Xiaoqiang and asked.
“The day before yesterday, on the third day after you left.” Wang Xiaoqiang said.
“The day before yesterday?”
Lin Qian looked at Wang Xiaoqiang, “So, I was gone for six days?”
“Yeah, if you didn’t come back, headquarters and circle of friends would send people to find you.”
Wang Xiaoqiang walked to Lin Qian’s side and sat down.
“This is…”
Wang Xiaoqiang pointed at Lin Qian’s abdomen, where the wound exposing intestines and organs was pale without blood.
The scene was somewhat creepy.
“Minor issue.”
Lin Qian waved his hand, “Anything happen while I was away?”
Hearing this, Wang Xiaoqiang thought for a moment and shook his head, “Nothing.”
“All very calm.”
“Lu Lin took office as the person in charge of Da Jiang City, then headquarters and circle of friends sent a few ghosts, wanting you to help make them crashed.”
“Headquarters gave three ghost candles worth of resources, five ghosts.”
“Two of them are extra as your reward.”
“Circle of friends sent three ghosts, gave money, one billion.”
“Circle of friends’ request is for you to crash one ghost, the other two are for you.”
Wang Xiaoqiang roughly explained the recent situation.
Lin Qian nodded upon hearing this.
Headquarters providing ghost candles was agreed beforehand, best to use ghost candles.
As for circle of friends, they had no ghost candles or supernatural items, so could only trade with money and ghosts.
“One billion per ghost, quite generous.”
Money was still very useful; at least now the club’s money wasn’t considered too much.
“Later I’ll crash the ghosts for you, then you can send them back.”
Lin Qian said.
Wang Xiaoqiang nodded.
“Right, have you chosen the fierce ghost I asked you to select?”
After leaving, he had Wang Xiaoqiang pick some fierce ghosts.
Logically, after so many days, there should be results.
“Chosen.” Speaking of this, Wang Xiaoqiang’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, what did you choose?” Lin Qian’s gaze flickered slightly.
“The one where walking triggers attacks.”
“Low harm level, but high terror level.” Wang Xiaoqiang quickly said.
Lin Qian’s gaze shifted, “This one?”
“Fine.”
Lin Qian nodded, “Ye Feng chose that red shroud?”
“Yeah, he still wants to wear two pieces of clothes.” Wang Xiaoqiang said somewhat helplessly.
Wearing two death robes, one plus one equals two?
Lin Qian imagined fighting other ghost controllers in the future: Ye Feng takes off his clothes, opponent suppresses one death robe, then Ye Feng grins, revealing the second death robe.
Didn’t expect that, I have another ghost death robe on.
Thinking of this scene, Lin Qian couldn’t help but chuckle.
He shook his head, “Fine, what did Yu Lin and the others choose?”
Lin Qian asked again.
“They follow our arrangements, as long as it can control a second one to delay fierce ghost revival, the level of the fierce ghost and killing pattern don’t matter.” Wang Xiaoqiang said.
“Alright.”
Lin Qian stood up, “I’ll go crash those ghosts for you. Come over later to control them together.”
Wang Xiaoqiang’s eyes lit up, “Then I’ll have to trouble you more.”
Lin Qian smiled, not minding too much.
He looked at Wang Xiaoqiang thoughtfully.
Next, Lin Qian crashed all the ghosts that needed to be crashed.
The ghosts collected from Dawn Organization had low terror levels.
The only terrifying one was the death robe chosen by Ye Feng.
That was the fierce ghost after the old man of Taiping Ancient Town died, its terror level needless to say.
Wang Xiaoqiang controlled a second ghost, his strength greatly improved, and no need to worry about fierce ghost revival.
Ye Feng controlled a third ghost.
One death robe suppressing two ghosts, lifespan issue perfectly solved.
As long as he didn’t court death by controlling high terror level, non-crashed ghosts later, his original two ghosts might never break free from the red shroud’s suppression in this lifetime.
The red shroud’s terror level was too high.
Yu Lin and the other two chose non-terrifying fierce ghosts, just right to delay fierce ghost revival.
But they controlled a crashed ghost, so as long as not overexerting, they could live a long time.
As for Zhang Han who came later, Lin Qian didn’t play favorites.
Also gave him a crashed fierce ghost to suppress fierce ghost revival.
Currently, in the club, two people controlled three ghosts.
Ye Feng, Zhang Han.
Four people controlled two ghosts.
Manyue, Yu Lin, Si Zeyuan, Wang Xiaoqiang.
The club’s strength instantly leaped forward.
Even their current members walking out could count as top ghost controllers of this period.
Well, of course, without provoking headquarters, circle of friends, or supernatural forum.
But their president, that is, him, Lin Qian, was a terrifying existence controlling six ghosts.
In this period, except for one chuunibyou, he could strut around.
Even if encountering Wang Chaling, he had confidence to take him down, of course, premise being suppressing Wang Chaling’s grandma and mother first.
After crashing the fierce ghosts needed by headquarters and circle of friends.
Everything returned to normal.
The following days were very bland.
The club’s members didn’t worry about fierce ghost revival, just wandering aimlessly in the city every day.
Look for appearing ghost controllers to recruit.
Or look for supernatural events, handle them if found; if one person can’t, two people.
If trapped, no problem, president is there, no major issues.
With Lin Qian’s club and Lu Lin, the international police with ghost domain, in Da Jiang City, supernatural events unless large-scale, could all be resolved.
Lin Qian also enjoyed the leisure.
Honestly, this life fit his requirements perfectly.
Body’s fierce ghosts wouldn’t revive, being a local tyrant in a city; he doesn’t offend others, others dare not offend him.
Peacefully, freely living days.
No worries about food, drink, or excretion.
This laid-back life was extremely comfortable.
Time passed slowly like this.
Three months had passed since he left the ghost painting; during which, Lu Lin’s fierce ghost was about to revive.
Headquarters gave him two ghosts and three ghost candles, asking him to find Lin Qian to help control a second ghost.
Lin Qian didn’t refuse and agreed directly.
Without accidents, Lu Lin controlled a second ghost, fierce ghost revival alleviated, his own strength more than doubled.
After all, headquarters valued Lu Lin highly; the ghost they gave him to control was an A-level fierce ghost, no ghost domain but very high terror level.
Lu Lin’s success made many people envious.
But due to deterrence from headquarters and circle of friends, no one dared crooked thoughts.
They could only spend money to have Lin Qian help control ghosts.
But for these people, Lin Qian was quite lenient; as long as resources were in place, anything was fine.
Everything was developing in a good direction.
September 23, 7 PM.
“Three months.”
Lin Qian propped his chin, looking at the night outside the window.
“Did I really leave the ghost painting?”
Just light a candle, reach the top floor to find that fan, walk out of the room back to reality.
No matter how you look at it, it’s eerie.
Not that Lin Qian didn’t believe, but impossible to believe.
“No abnormalities, ghosts can’t be killed either.”
“But I always feel it’s fake.”
While Lin Qian was thinking, the office lights suddenly went out.
Lin Qian looked up at the light bulb, gaze shifting.
Creak.
The room door opened, a candlelight appeared.
Immediately after, Chu He carried a cake with a lit birthday candle inserted in it.
Candlelight flickered, bright yellow candlelight casting faint shadows of people behind Chu He.
“President, happy birthday!”
Chu He trotted to Lin Qian with the cake, followed by Wang Xiaoqiang, Ye Feng, Zhang Han, Yu Lin, Manyue, Si Zeyuan, and Lu Lin.
Everyone smiled looking at Lin Qian.
Seeing the cake placed on the table, Lin Qian’s eyes slowly narrowed, “Happy birthday?”
“Yes, president, today is your birthday, forgot?” Manyue said.
Wang Xiaoqiang crossed his arms looking at Lin Qian, “Make a wish.”
As soon as Wang Xiaoqiang said this, everyone looked at Lin Qian expectantly.
Lin Qian looked at everyone, silent for a moment, showed a smile, “Okay.”
He nodded, closed his eyes, waited a bit, then opened them.
He looked at the candle on the cake, slowly approaching.
Just as he was about to blow out the candle, he suddenly looked up at everyone, revealing a weird mask, on which a grinning sharp-toothed mouth showed a weird terrifying smile:
“You really think I’m going to blow out the candle?”
Lin Qian moved away from the candle, eyes showing playful expression:
“Not playing with you anymore.”
As Lin Qian’s words fell, the surrounding environment instantly began to change.
Figures receded, environment distorted.
Lin Qian expressionless, calmly watching.
