Chapter 9: Possession

My pupils contracted suddenly, and I almost couldn't help turning around. Fortunately, I controlled myself and walked into the nearby restroom.

Leaning against the wall, I took a deep breath, suppressing the shock within me.

Han Shan—Zhang Han Shan? These two are aunt and nephew; they must share the same surname, so it's certain that the yellow-haired one is called Zhang Han Shan.

And He Wenjing's greatest obsession is none other than Zhang Han Shan!

So the question now is whether this Zhang Han Shan is that Zhang Han Shan.

If so, a thread of shadow, a thread of light, twisted and intertwined at last.

I peeked out just in time to see the yellow-haired man and Xu Bao'er entering the elevator.

I immediately exited, rushing down the stairs at the other end.

When I reached the ground floor, I saw the two of them driving out in an off-road vehicle.

I took a shortcut to the hospital entrance, ran to a small supermarket nearby, and called out to the owner, "Old Liu, lend me your motorcycle for a bit."

"Sure, it's right by the door. Here's the key." The owner, sporting a slicked-back hairstyle, tossed me the motorcycle key.

I mounted the bike, donned my helmet, and chased after the off-road vehicle through the wind and snow.

Half an hour later, the off-road vehicle entered an upscale neighborhood called Shangqing Gardens, the same real estate development Xu Baoguo had built, which caused quite a stir when it launched two years ago.

I parked the motorcycle outside, glanced at the security booth, saw two guards warming themselves by the heater and watching TV, and quickly slipped in from the side.

"Cousin, you should go back. I can go up by myself," Xu Bao'er said to Zhang Han Shan at the foot of the building.

"No way. I promised Aunt I'd see you home," Zhang Han Shan replied.

"I'm already downstairs, you..." Xu Bao'er was mid-sentence when she suddenly felt dizzy, staggering.

"Bao'er, what's wrong?" Zhang Han Shan asked with concern, though his gaze carried a strange undertone.

"I don't know. I feel a little lightheaded," Xu Bao'er replied.

"You must have been worrying too much about Uncle lately. Your body can't take it. Don’t push yourself. I'll walk you up," Zhang Han Shan said, supporting Xu Bao'er as they entered the building.

Just as the main door was closing, I wedged it open with a long tree branch and slipped inside.

Zhang Han Shan helped Xu Bao'er into the elevator; I hurried a few steps and followed them in.

Zhang Han Shan glanced at me cautiously. I wore a hat and mask—quite normal in this weather.

I nonchalantly pressed the button for the twenty-seventh floor, one below theirs.

When we reached the twenty-seventh floor, I exited the elevator, and only when the doors closed did I feel Zhang Han Shan's prickling gaze disappear.

I took the stairs up to the twenty-eighth floor, arriving just in time to hear a door slam.

"2803." I glanced at the door number, wondering what to do next.

Only five minutes passed before the door to 2803 suddenly opened. Zhang Han Shan emerged, face dark and unwilling.

He lingered at the doorway for a while but eventually took the elevator and left.

Based on his conversation with Zhang Huixiang, he had drugged Xu Bao'er, preparing her for someone called "Commander." If so, that "Commander" must already be in Xu Bao'er's home.

To be honest, I have little affection for Xu Bao'er. Despite her wealth and beauty, she's arrogant.

Yet, knowing what she's experiencing inside now, I can't remain indifferent.

Xu Bao'er's home is decorated in a girlish style, exuding luxury.

At this moment, she lay in her plush toy-laden bed, in a deep sleep.

Warm air from the central heating made the room feel like spring. Perhaps feeling hot, Xu Bao'er unconsciously tugged at her clothes, her cheeks flushed.

"Mmm..." Xu Bao'er moaned softly, twisting her body like a snake.

The lights in the room flickered, and faint black smoke drifted from the air vent.

The ghost mark by Xu Bao'er’s ear began to distort, finally morphing into a ghostly face.

On the walls, beads of cold moisture gathered, soon streaming down in rivulets.

The black air thickened, gradually forming a blurred silhouette.

Just then, the record player in the room started spinning, a woman's mournful singing echoing.

The shadow made of black smoke floated above Xu Bao'er, pressing down on her.

"Bang bang bang..." At that moment, the door was knocked heavily.

Xu Bao'er's eyes snapped open, terror-filled darkness within her gaze.

"Bang bang bang, bang bang bang..." The persistent knocking continued.

I stood outside, pounding the door again and again.

This was the only thing I could do—if something was happening inside, surely it couldn't continue now.

Suddenly, the door swung open. Xu Bao'er, draped in a nightgown, stared at me with cold, eerie eyes.

"Bao'er... I missed you so much!" The moment I saw her, I nearly understood what was happening. The ghostly aura around her was so thick it overflowed; clearly, things were different than I had suspected. The "Commander" wasn’t human, but a ghost, possessing her.

Feigning excitement, I hugged Xu Bao'er, then stepped back in surprise, saying, "Bao'er, why are you so cold? Hurry, close the door."

With a loud thud, the door slammed shut on its own, startling me. Xu Bao'er continued to glare at me coldly.

I felt uneasy. With my spirit-sight, I could clearly "see" the intense waves of dark energy in the room—its concentration was ten times greater than He Wenjing's ghost.

"Bao'er, turn up the air conditioning. I'll get you some hot water to warm up. You're such a grown girl, yet you don’t know how to take care of yourself." I spoke affectionately, quickly scanning the room as I walked to the wall-mounted water dispenser, grabbing a cup and pouring hot water.

Secretly, I tipped a small amount of red powder from my sleeve into the water. The whole cup instantly turned red, then just as quickly became colorless and tasteless.

This was refined cinnabar, harmless to humans, but highly corrosive to ghosts.

"Here, Bao'er, drink this hot water, and then we can take a bath together," I said, smiling stiffly as I brought the cup to her lips.

"Heh..." Xu Bao'er stared at me, her throat making a sound like air leaking from bellows.

"Come on, your throat is so dry. Open up," I said, throwing caution to the wind. I pried open Xu Bao'er's mouth and poured the water in.

"Ah..." Xu Bao'er screamed, swatting the cup from my hand and kicking me in the stomach.

I cried out as I flew across the room, crashing into the sofa and flipping it over.

Clutching my stomach, I struggled to stand, my guts cramped in agony, cold sweat pouring down.

Xu Bao'er glared at me, her body spewing black smoke as if she were a balloon pricked by needles.

Suddenly, Xu Bao'er charged at me, leaping with a kick aimed at my neck, swift as lightning.

I raised both arms to block, but her force sent me rolling sideways, my wrist bones aching as if they would crack.

Xu Bao'er, once a frail woman, had become terrifyingly strong under the ghost’s possession.

After rolling twice on the floor, I quickly shifted behind the dining table, facing Xu Bao'er across it.

"Quack quack..." Xu Bao'er's face twisted, her mouth making the sound of a drake. Suddenly, she took two steps and lunged at me with another kick.

I grabbed a chair and swung it at her.

Bang.

The chair shattered, Xu Bao'er flew across the room, but she climbed up unscathed and charged again.

I groaned inwardly—this ghost was no ordinary spirit. Even after being struck by the special cinnabar, it hadn't been forced out of Xu Bao'er's body.

I circled the dining table, trying to buy time.

But after several laps, I was gasping for breath, while the black smoke from Xu Bao'er stopped leaking out.

My heart sank; if I kept running, I'd soon be out of strength.

Just then, Xu Bao'er hurled a chair at me, then circled from the other side.

Nowhere left to dodge, I had to fight.

After a few exchanges, Xu Bao'er pinned me to the ground, her hands glowing black as she squeezed my throat; I could hear the bones in my neck cracking.

My eyes bulged close to bursting, and the suffocation made me dizzy.

In this critical moment, I didn’t care about anything else. I pulled out a portable electric baton from my pocket and jabbed it into Xu Bao'er's chest.

Zzz...

Blue-white sparks crackled across both our bodies, making us tremble violently as if struck by a fit.