Chapter 85 An Acquaintance

After wandering aimlessly out of the villa district, a pressing problem confronted Chu Ning and his companions: they had no idea how to reach the distant abandoned factory.

They had not accounted for the fact that the villa district, too, was sparsely populated. Their arrival had been so smooth that the thought of how they would return simply never crossed their minds.

Chu Ning had originally planned to risk exposure and shamelessly spend a night at Wang Jinkai’s house. After all, villas were never short of rooms, and tight quarters would not be an issue—a distinct advantage.

Yet, all Chu Ning’s mental preparation proved useless; he never expected the villa to be empty, nor that Wang Jinkai would vanish as if evaporating from the world, leaving behind a trail of mysteries and clues for them to unravel. Chu Ning couldn’t help but remark how much this resembled the plotlines of traditional film and television: protagonists, compelled by circumstance, receive mysterious clues and embark on a journey to solve them, ultimately uncovering the truth.

Returning to the matter at hand, Chu Ning and his companions faced the problem of finding no usable means of transport. He discovered that taxis rarely ventured into the villa district—a fact that, truthfully, was quite normal. Those who lived here were either wealthy or influential, and private vehicles were ubiquitous.

Taxis naturally avoided remote areas; supply and demand dictated their routes, and unless returning by happenstance, sightings were scarce.

When the sound of fire engines echoed, most people would eagerly gather to investigate, curious about the cause. In such moments, windows nearby would fill with inquisitive faces craning for a better view.

Indeed, people loved a spectacle, as long as their own safety wasn’t threatened. If danger was perceived, their retreat would be swifter than anyone else’s. This blend of curiosity and caution was an innate human instinct.

Whenever personal interests were at risk, people would choose to avoid possible danger. For instance, taxi drivers would steer clear of areas filled with sirens, and Chu Ning and his group chose to avoid unnecessary contact with officials.

Tanya also vetoed the idea of becoming bait to lure a taxi, even if it meant a free ride. Although they’d succeeded once before, she resolutely refused Chu Ning’s suggestion.

She saw it as an embarrassing stain on her past, and besides, their previous success owed much to the abundance of taxis, making repeated attempts possible until someone took the bait.

But this time, the plan was doomed from the start—there simply weren’t enough taxis for multiple tries. Tanya rejected the proposal before it could be put into action.

Seeing Tanya’s determination, Chu Ning acquiesced. He disliked forcing others, especially when it might solve their problem. Such coercion would only strain their relationship, a situation he wished to avoid.

When the road ends, another will begin; there’s always a solution!

Since Tanya refused his proposal, Chu Ning kept his head down, pondering the key to their predicament. His first thought was the internet, but this time, it failed him. His phone could only provide detailed maps; its other functions were nearly useless.

The phone could only connect to certain people—like the dead. That explained why Chu Ning’s earlier calls went unanswered. Had he tried contacting someone involved in the supernatural, the call would have gone through.

The dead calling the living always carried intent, and connecting to the human world was no easy feat. Otherwise, if the deceased called their living relatives without reason, those with weaker constitutions might collapse from shock.

Just imagining such a scenario sent chills down Chu Ning’s spine. If the deceased needed supplies, they could simply dial a cross-realm number, and the recipient would dutifully prepare what was needed—no one could withstand constant harassment from the departed.

Even the closest kin would struggle; dreams from the dead were within the realm of tolerance, but if the deceased showed up unannounced, it would surely breed resentment and conflict.

Perhaps selling materials to the “Horror Expedition” company would solve things, earning a generous reward and resolving unmanageable issues—a win-win.

A hidden boundary separated the living from the dead; crossing it was forbidden. Yet clandestine crossings happened endlessly, and no one could guarantee the two worlds would never intersect.

Even parallel lines, under special circumstances, might touch for a fleeting moment.

Before Chu Ning could devise a solution himself, fate intervened—the answer arrived on its own. He had never felt so lucky; ordinarily, his luck was average at best.

In the distance, a taxi approached, and from afar, Chu Ning recognized their old friend—it was fate, perhaps.

The driver was none other than Li Han, who had brought them here. The group looked unchanged, but Li Han himself seemed strangely unfamiliar, as though a new common language had emerged between them.

Li Han was now dead, his spirit driving the taxi. Perhaps his attachment to the vehicle in life kept him bound to it in death.

Seeing this, Chu Ning waved, and Li Han, spotting the gesture, instinctively stopped. This time, Tanya’s involvement was unnecessary; in fact, her presence might only remind Li Han of unpleasant memories, prompting him to flee or, worse, to speed toward her in a rage. Although ghostly attacks were mitigated, a collision would still cause harm, especially if Li Han’s taxi had become a spirit vehicle.

As Chu Ning anticipated, the taxi slowed and stopped before them, patiently waiting for them to board.

Tanya watched in silence, clearly recognizing Li Han. Had she been in his place, she would never have entertained those who had once played tricks on her, but would have left immediately.

Chu Ning observed Li Han closely, noting his dazed state. He could answer simple questions about his profession, but had no recollection of them whatsoever, as if they were complete strangers.

He urged Tanya to hurry and get in—the bright future awaited.

Chu Ning guessed Li Han’s condition stemmed from his recent transformation into a ghost—his mind not yet fully awakened.

Recovery of memory was a lengthy process. Tanya had faced the same predicament, wandering the streets by instinct.

After all, not everyone could accept becoming a ghost; inner conflict was inevitable. Time would wash away many things, even those once impossible to accept.