Chapter 22: Visions of the Ghost-Hunting Squad

"The police have invited me to Sha Tau Kok to help them resolve some issues. They've promised me one hundred thousand if I succeed."

Ma Xiao-Ling beamed, her eyes crinkling with delight. Her "Ling Ling Tong" agency hadn't even finished the registration process, yet she was already landing one job after another. With the backing of Lin Bei—one of Hong Kong's top ten wealthiest individuals—she felt that her dream of becoming a wealthy woman was within reach. When that day came, she could buy any Hermès or Louis Vuitton bag she set her eyes on.

When Lin Bei had heard Ma Fei mention Sha Tau Kok earlier, he had already guessed that the plot of "The Haunted Cop Shop" was likely underway. That police station was filled with incompetent fools; he truly wouldn't feel at ease letting Ma Xiao-Ling go there alone. Furthermore, beyond that Colonel Miyake, the club hidden within was teeming with ancient, long-dormant spirits. Even if they eliminated Miyake, those old ghosts would remain a persistent threat if left behind.

Inexplicably, Lin Bei was reminded of the plot of "The First Rule." He had already checked; the characters from that film did not exist within the police force. If that movie's worldview were also integrated, he might as well stop struggling against the fate and the threats of Luo Hou, put on a red dress, and find a tree to hang himself from—it would be much simpler. After all, according to the worldview of "The First Rule," humans were merely livestock raised by those spirits; as long as people kept dying, new ghosts would be born. It was an endless, inescapable cycle. If those old ghosts from the club were to escape and possess the officers in the station, the story of "The First Rule" could very well come to pass.

Lin Bei didn't like meddling in other people's affairs, but he made it a point to eliminate potential threats to his own existence at the very first opportunity. He looked at Ma Xiao-Ling and said, "I'm going with you this time!"

Ma Xiao-Ling paused in surprise. "They should just be some run-of-the-mill minor ghosts; I can handle them myself. It's not like I'm unlucky enough to run into a zombie again, right?"

Lin Bei gave her a strange look. Seeing his expression, the smile on Ma Xiao-Ling's face froze. She twitched her lips and asked, "There aren't actually any zombies, are there?"

Lin Bei nodded. "Based on the intelligence I’ve received, that is indeed the case. Also, I have an idea. Since we are establishing a cleaning company, we might as well do it right. Otherwise, we’ll be forced to handle every petty ghost ourselves."

Ma Xiao-Ling asked, confused, "What do you mean?"

Lin Bei gestured toward Xiahou Wu and Gao Jin. "I intend to incorporate my bodyguards into Ling Ling Tong and train a team specifically to deal with demons and ghosts."

Ma Xiao-Ling, rather than being pleased, frowned. "I haven't asked you this before, but given your net worth, any one of your existing projects earns more than 'cleaning' ever could. Why are you interested in this?"

Lin Bei shrugged helplessly. "I’d love to go back to my previous life of indulgence, but reality doesn't permit it. I won't hide it from you: the world we live in is about to face a series of crises. If we don't handle them well, we won't even need to wait for the July 1, 1999, Nostradamus prophecy—we might all be dead before that."

Hearing this, Ma Xiao-Ling's brow furrowed even deeper. "Then why haven't you reported this to the state?"

Lin Bei countered, "How do you know I haven't?"

Ma Xiao-Ling was rendered speechless. Although she had just returned to the country, she had thoroughly investigated Lin Bei's background after meeting him. She knew his relationship with the mainland was excellent; his Red Flag limousine was the best proof of that.

Seeing that Ma Xiao-Ling was about to ask more, Lin Bei shook his head. "It’s not convenient to discuss the specifics right now. I will tell you when the time is right. Just remember: no matter what happens, only by increasing your strength can you survive the coming catastrophe."

Ma Xiao-Ling nodded helplessly, though she felt a headache coming on as she looked at his bodyguards. She was a person who disliked trouble; the prospect of having to train a team to fight demons and ghosts meant her future days would be quite busy.

Lin Bei didn't mind her reaction. Among the exorcists he currently knew, Ma Xiao-Ling was the most suitable for this task. She had not only inherited the traditions of the Southern Mao and Northern Ma schools but had also studied theology abroad, making her well-versed in both Eastern and Western knowledge. She was also familiar with modern weaponry. Only she could build a modernized ghost-hunting squad. Zhang Tian-Ai and Yun Qing could assist her.

As for Uncle Feng, Uncle Qiu, Zhong Fa-Bai, and Zhang Shi-San, while they were arguably stronger than the current Ma Xiao-Ling, if he asked them to train a ghost-hunting squad, Lin Bei would likely end up with nothing more than a group of cannon fodder charging at ghosts with peachwood swords and paper talismans. If the enemy had even the slightest knowledge of modern warfare, they wouldn't even need to use their special powers; a single RPG would clear the entire battlefield.

Lin Bei's vision for the ghost-hunting squad was for every member to carry a Gatling gun and an RPG. When they encountered zombies or ghosts, they would first apply "physical salvation." If they couldn't eliminate the target physically, only then would they resort to Taoist arts.

Although this wasn't something that could be mastered overnight, Lin Bei lacked nothing but money. He would simply throw thousand-year-old lightning-struck peachwood, Five Emperors coins, and various talismans at the problem until it was solved. And if that still didn't work, he would just close the doors and let Kuang Tian-You handle it.

Uncle Qiu and Zhang Shi-San, unaware of what Lin Bei and Ma Xiao-Ling were whispering about, continued to discuss Taoist techniques. Once they were in the car, Zhang Shi-San asked, "Mr. Lin, is there any news regarding that ancient earthen jar?"

Lin Bei smiled. "I was just about to tell you. There is an upcoming auction that features an ancient jar. I’m not sure if it’s the one you’re looking for, but I’ll have someone take you to see it later."

Zhang Shi-San nodded repeatedly. As long as the mystery of the jar remained unsolved, his heart would remain heavy. If the demon sealed within were to escape and wreak havoc, he would never be able to atone for the sin.

Seeing Zhang Shi-San’s anxiety, Lin Bei decided to have Wang Jian-Jun accompany him to find the jar. Since the jar hadn't fallen into the hands of Qi Da-Chuan yet, the demon was still contained and posed no immediate danger. If it did escape and possess Qi Da-Chuan, he would simply beat the demon and Qi Da-Chuan to death together. He had long disliked the man's horse-like face, and with his status as a councilor, he spent his days spouting nonsense to the public.

As the car drove into Central, Lin Bei dropped off Zhang Shi-San and Wang Jian-Jun near a hotel. Afterward, he went to pick up Zhang Tian-Ai and Yun Qing. With so many ghosts in the club, he needed more hands to wipe them out completely. The ghost-hunting shop where Zhang Tian-Ai and Yun Qing worked had already been acquired by Lin Bei and would be merged into Ling Ling Tong. Uncle Shui, who only knew how to talk business and couldn't actually hunt ghosts, would be perfect for the role of manager, handling client negotiations. As for Zhang Tian-Ai's girlfriend, Xiao Long-Nu, she could handle the logistics.