Mysterious Awakening

“Are you genuinely contemplating aiding that firm with their paranormal issue?” Ethan began. “The risk seems incredibly high, and the payoff scarcely seems worth it. Moreover, even if we manage to aid them in solving the problem, the possibility of delaying the revival of the malevolent spirit is far from certain.”

The car rolled to a stop in front of a suburban townhouse where Ethan stepped out.

“Are you suggesting we sell that box and divide the proceeds?” Miles questioned, studying Ethan’s face.

A blush crept onto Ethan’s face. “Isn’t that the most sensible option?”

“Isn’t your goal to survive?” retorted Miles.

“Even if we manage to postpone the spirit’s revival for now, what happens next? Aren’t we doomed anyway? If not by the ghost, then from other dangerous encounters.”

“We’re different, you and I. You’re young, you can afford to take risks. I’ve come to accept my fate. To be honest, I’ve made all the necessary arrangements for my departure. All I need now is a substantial sum of money,” Ethan admitted, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Miles fell silent, pondering Ethan’s words.

Ethan’s acceptance of their circumstances, and his yearning for stability, seemed quite rational. Miles has had similar thoughts in the past as well.

“Alright then, there’s no need for you to accompany me in three days. I’ll entrust you with this object. Once I’ve gone, find a buyer and sell it. We’ll divide the proceeds equally as we agreed,” Miles suggested, pulling out the golden box and handing it to Ethan.

“I… how can I…” Ethan stammered, taken aback.

Miles shot back, “I must be ready too. What if I don’t return? If I manage to survive, then great. If not, follow through with our previous agreement.”

“Try to avoid using the club’s contacts. Something about Cockroach’s club doesn’t sit right with me. Find another buyer.”

“I understand,” Ethan agreed, nodding and not voicing any further objections.

Changing the topic, Miles asked, “By the way, how did Writing manage to acquire these unique weapons before? My gun is out of ammo, and I need to restock. These may not be particularly effective against ghosts, but they can hold their own against ghost tamers. It doesn’t matter if we can’t kill the ghost, taking out the handler works just as well. I anticipate this supernatural event will draw a number of ghost tamers. We might face a powerful ghost, and I don’t want to fend off rival ghost tamers at the same time.”

“I’m not entirely sure about Writing’s sources, but I know a website where we could get what we need. I’ve never personally made a purchase from it, but others have, so it should be reliable,” Ethan offered.

“Why haven’t you? Haven’t you considered getting some weapons for self-defense?” Miles probed.

Obviously, this self-defense didn’t refer to protection against ghosts, but rather against people. Wielding the power of a malevolent spirit against ordinary people or fellow ghost tamers was recklessly extravagant, making defensive weapons indispensable.

Ethan’s cheeks reddened slightly. “They are rather pricey, and I’ve been hesitant to splurge. Anyway, let’s go to my house first, and then I’ll show you how to make the purchase.”

Shortly afterwards, Ethan guided Miles to a villa within the residential compound.

“Nice place, living in a villa,” Miles remarked.

“I just bought it recently. I’ve invested all the money I’ve earned into this place,” Ethan confided.

Once inside, they saw a young boy and girl engaged in a water gun fight. Despite being the elder of the two, the girl was losing to the rambunctious boy and running about, soaking wet.

“Dad, Dad, he’s bullying me again!” cried the little girl, taking refuge behind Ethan as soon as she spotted him.

“Dongdong, are you causing trouble again? Is this how you behave with your sister? Give me the water gun now,” Ethan reprimanded, feigning anger.

“Dad’s going to hit me, Dad’s going to hit me!” Panicked, the little boy named Dongdong ran headlong into the house.

Turning to Ethan, Miles asked, “Your daughter?”

“Yes, she’s six. Quite adorable, isn’t she?” Ethan replied, ruffling his daughter’s hair affectionately.

“She sure is. But it looks like your son is quite afraid of you,” Miles observed.

Ethan admitted, “Since becoming a ghost tamer, I seldom come home and never stay overnight, afraid that the ghost might unintentionally manifest while I’m asleep. It’s only natural my son would feel somewhat distant.”

“How did you become a ghost tamer?” Miles inquired.

“It was accidental. I was a plumber back then. While refurbishing a historical building, about sixty years old, I accidentally drilled a hole in the wall,” Ethan began. “Then, fresh blood started to ooze from the hole.”

“I was unaware of the supernatural circumstances at the time. Unprepared, I ended up touching it purely out of curiosity.”

Ethan chuckled ruefully, “Curiosity did indeed kill the cat. The moment the blood made contact with my skin, it seeped into my body. Since then, my veins have been flowing with ghost blood.”

“My hand is the starting point, and my body serves as the vessel. The more I draw upon the malevolent spirit’s power, the more ghost blood accumulates within me. I’ve started to sense anomalies, as though something is filling up, on the verge of spilling over,” Ethan confessed.

Miles considered this for a moment. “Would it help to drain some of the blood?”

“No, absolutely not, I’ve tried,” Ethan protested vehemently, a hint of terror flashing in his eyes. “My blood has to be reabsorbed. If it stays exposed for too long, a horrifying ghost will rise from the pool of blood. Upon its emergence, the ghost would surely aim to kill me. I’ve encountered that ghost; I’m safe only when the ghost blood remains inside my body.”

“But the situation is quickly deteriorating. Each night, as I sleep, I experience a sensation as if my body is tearing apart; the pain is excruciating. When I wake up, the bed is drenched in fresh blood.”

“That’s my blood, progressively being expelled from my body. I suspect that the day my blood is completely drained will mark the day the malevolent spirit revives.”

Miles fell into silence because his own situation wasn’t too dissimilar.

Lately, his sleeping hours had been gradually diminishing, from six hours initially, now down to merely four. As soon as he lies down, his body freezes, and his eyes frantically whirl within their sockets.

All signs pointed towards the growing presence of the ghost within him.

“Where have you been these past few days, husband? I’ve been unable to reach you through the phone. With the kids’ school starting soon, you’re needed at home,” a woman entered the room, directing her complaint at Ethan.

“I’ve been rather occupied recently, working on a significant transaction. Once it’s concluded, I believe I’ll be able to take a breather,” Ethan responded with an apologetic grin. “By the way, this is my friend Miles. He’s an… executive.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Miles offered.

“Likewise,” the woman responded with a hint of shyness.

Ethan continued, “I need to discuss some business matters with Miles. Could you keep an eye on the kids for a bit? We’ll go out for dinner afterwards.”

Without uttering a word, the woman took her daughter and exited the room.

Ethan then led Miles into another room, quickly pulling up a website on his computer. “This is a foreign site. I’m not sure who operates it, but it offers weapons tailored for combating ghosts. The prices aren’t within the average person’s reach. I was unaware of this site initially. Zhang Han from the club introduced me to it.”

As the website loaded, it resembled any conventional shopping website, with a wide range of items on display.

From everyday cutlery and GPS-enabled smartphones to clothing, it stocked virtually anything one could possibly need.

“For weapons, check here,” Ethan navigated to a webpage dedicated to weaponry.

Miles glimpsed at the screen, his expression immediately turning to shock. “A hundred thousand? Are they kidding? Isn’t it easier just to rob people?”

“These are specialized weapons crafted for ghost confrontation. Given the production costs and the intricate workmanship, the price isn’t outrageous. After all, they’re made of gold. Have you seen the gold prices recently?” Ethan reasoned.

“If you’re considering ghost hunting, I suggest buying one of these body bags. They’re also crafted from gold, highly portable, albeit a bit pricey.”

A product resembling a sleeping bag appeared on the screen.

More accurately, it was a golden body bag.

For the capture and containment of malevolent spirits, this product was evidently a superior choice compared to the small box Ethan had previously used.

That’s because certain ghosts have physical manifestations.

“Twenty million?” The corners of Miles’ mouth twitched as he read the price tag.

Upon clicking on the product, a tutorial video featuring a foreigner popped up, demonstrating how to properly insert a body into the bag and seal it securely.

Observing the video, one had to concede that the product seemed worth its price – it indeed appeared incredibly practical.

“That’s why I said I couldn’t bring myself to purchase it,” Ethan admitted, his face reflecting resignation.

After some contemplation, Miles deemed this investment essential. He promptly picked up his phone to call River.

River, busy trading stocks from home, answered, “Hello, who’s this?”

“It’s me, Miles. I need you to wire some money.”