Chapter Seventy-Three: Silencing Witnesses

I didn’t dare hesitate. Grabbing Duan Tianqi, I dashed toward the main road as fast as I could.

There were few people out at night in this area to begin with, and the elementary school was set in a remote spot with only a handful of houses nearby. All around us, emptiness stretched under the night sky—no passersby in sight.

The little ghost raised its arms and came after us. It seemed even faster than before, and in the blink of an eye, it was nearly upon us.

Dragging Duan Tianqi, I quickly dodged to the side, darting into a nearby side path. The little ghost instantly changed course to pursue us. This kind of headlong escape was pointless—the thing was simply too fast, there was no way to outrun it!

“Aah—” Duan Tianqi, who had remained silent until now, suddenly cried out in terror. The little ghost was already at his side, its two upraised arms reaching to seize him.

I acted on instinct, shoving Duan Tianqi away. The ghost lunged for me instead. Bracing myself, I prepared to take the blow.

Just then, a talisman paper flew from the side and slapped onto the ghost's body. With a shrill wail, the specter was blasted backward.

I froze, then turned to look. To my surprise, it was the same woman from earlier. But she was now a bit shorter than before—whereas she’d once been taller than me, she now stood below my shoulder. Glancing down, I saw she had traded her high heels for a more sensible pair.

“What are you standing there for? I only had one talisman of that strength—it won’t hold the ghost long!” she snapped.

The little ghost lay motionless on the ground, pinned by the talisman, which was already sparking faintly. It worked better than Old Ma’s ghost-suppressing charms, but it still wouldn’t last long.

I grabbed Duan Tianqi and followed the woman as she led us running ahead.

Earlier, I’d saved her at the school, and now she had repaid the favor in kind.

To prevent the little ghost from catching up, we turned this way and that, weaving through alleys and side paths.

“Stop running! There’s no way forward!” the woman called after a while. We’d reached the edge of the area, where buildings were sparse and darkness pressed in from all sides. Ahead, an expanse of fields stretched into the night.

I stopped, gasping for breath. I really had to start exercising, or I wouldn’t even have the strength to run for my life.

The woman was out of breath too, but not as badly as me. She looked at me with a trace of mockery. “I thought you were something special, but you’re just a rookie—and a pretty weak one, too. Look at you, winded after only a short sprint.”

I didn’t argue; after all, she was right. I glanced around and motioned for her to hide in the shadows of a nearby corner. Standing out in the open was too risky—the little ghost could catch up at any moment.

Crouched in the corner, I pulled out my phone and dialed the police officer’s number. Old Ma and the others wouldn’t be back any time soon, and I didn’t have their numbers. I couldn’t just sit here waiting for death—I had to find help.

The call connected quickly. As soon as I heard the officer’s voice, I said, “The real killer is the school’s security guard, Old Ding. I’m near the elementary school, next to a field.”

“Understood. I’ll bring people right away!” he replied.

I hung up, put away my phone, and listened intently to the sounds around us.

Duan Tianqi clung tightly to me. Apart from his earlier scream, he hadn’t uttered a word—the boy’s lips were pressed in a thin, silent line. Witnessing the murder, and now this—could his young mind bear such trauma?

A creeping chill began to seep over us. The woman whispered warily, “The yin energy is closing in—the little ghost is coming.”

I gestured for Duan Tianqi to stay silent, holding my breath and staying alert.

The icy feeling grew stronger, and faint footsteps approached. The little ghost itself made no sound when it moved, so odds were good that Old Ding was searching with it.

The footsteps drew closer, and the chill deepened. In the dimness, I could just make out a figure approaching.

“I know you’re nearby. You think hiding will save you?” Old Ding’s voice sounded out.

Duan Tianqi trembled even harder at the sound.

Old Ding went on: “I know this place better than you. There’s nowhere to hide. It’s only a matter of time before I drag you out. You only have yourself to blame for learning things you shouldn’t have.”

He prowled about as he spoke, making no other move.

The woman leaned close to my ear and whispered, “He’s using the little ghost to search for us.”

So, his talk was just a distraction—he wanted to keep us focused on his voice while the ghost hunted us in silence. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before we were found. The ghost alone was trouble enough, and who knew what powers Old Ding himself possessed? If he could command one ghost, he might well have more.

Clearly, escaping unharmed was impossible now. I bent down, leaned close to Duan Tianqi, and whispered, “Listen to me. When I tell you to run, you go down that path—don’t stop, don’t look back, understand?”

He nodded faintly.

The footsteps were getting closer. My heart pounded as I grew tense.

I handed my phone to Duan Tianqi. “Keep this with you. If anything happens, dial the first number in the call history. You know how to do that, right?”

He nodded.

The woman noticed and asked quietly, “What are you planning?”

“I’ll draw them away so the boy can escape. I’m the reason you’re in this mess, but I have to ask you to help distract them.”

She was silent for a moment, then said, “You lure the ghost. I have a way to deal with the man.”

I didn’t know what she had in mind, but there was no other choice. “All right,” I said.

The footsteps drew ever nearer, the chill intensifying. The enemy was almost upon us.

Clutching Duan Tianqi, my heart thumped wildly. Judging the moment was right, I whispered, “Run!”

I let go. As Duan Tianqi dashed off, I myself bolted toward the fields. It was all I could do—the rest was up to the boy’s own luck.

I burst from hiding, immediately caught in the beam of a flashlight. At the same moment, the little ghost leapt toward me, its toes barely brushing the ground.

I ran for my life toward the fields, the ghost in hot pursuit.

“You think I don’t know you’re trying to draw us away so the boy can get away?” Old Ding sneered behind me, but he didn’t chase after me himself.

He’d seen through my plan, but perhaps he hadn’t realized there was a third person involved. I could only hope the woman could deal with him—though, truth be told, I still had no idea what her “medicine arts” actually entailed.

At this point, I had no attention to spare for anything behind me. All I could do was run with all my might, every nerve focused on the ghost chasing at my heels.