Nightmare Assault

“We are having increasingly intimate interactions with the ghost,” Xia Meng offered, “Therefore, snatching the pouch from the ghost is not entirely impossible.”

Fatty knew that Xia Meng had a point. Based on what the Doctor said, the paper dolls on their backs suddenly turned into the ghost the night before. The important thing was to confirm the identity of Young Master Huang’s new wife and how she died. That was the only way to cure Young Master Huang’s madness. It was what they should do as doctors.

“By the way, Doctor,” Fatty looked at Jiang Cheng, “Young Master Huang’s residence also appeared suddenly. It wasn’t there in the painting before.”

Jiang Cheng nodded. “Yes. We need to check out that place but now is not the time.”

Fatty frowned, “Doctor, I still remember what you’ve taught me. We have to do everything as soon as possible. On top of that, I worry we’ll have another intimate interaction with the ghost tonight.” He added, “Plus, I believe this ghost is rather reserved in the day. We should make use of this time to gather more clues so that we have greater leeway when dealing with her at night.” Even though Fatty was not the cleverest among them, he had the greatest imagination. He could think of several ways the ghost could interact with them. Fatty shivered violently when he thought about the ghost chasing after him and trying to use her long tongue to give him a French kiss.

Plus, the Doctor predicted that Young Master Huang was not a ghost. This strengthened Fatty’s resolve to search his place.

Xia Meng interrupted, “Your Doctor is not worried about running into ghosts.”

Fatty frowned. Before he could say anything, the Doctor raised his hand. Jiang Cheng corrected her formally, “I am not someone’s possession. Please do not use ‘your Doctor’ to refer to me.”

Fatty’s lips twitched. They were on a mission and might die that night. Why would the Doctor care about something like that?

“I belong to the entire human race.” Jiang Cheng raised his head and said proudly, “A fortune teller told me that I was born with the responsibility to procreate for humanity…”

Fatty silently ignored the Doctor. Xia Meng resisted the urge to punch him.

After breakfast, the three gathered again to continue the conversation.

“If he’s not afraid of ghosts, then what is he afraid of?” Fatty began the conversation, “Is it Young Master Huang?” He lowered his voice, “But just look at Young Master Huang. If he’s just a human, I can take down ten of him without breaking a sweat.”

“What about his servants?” Xia Meng looked at him like he was dumb, “Do you think they’ll stand there quietly and allow their master to be attacked?”

Fatty thought about it and had to agree with her. In most television dramas, the rich and powerful often had servants to help them bully the honest and the poor. Fatty would get angry whenever he saw something like that. The Doctor would be equally angry but for a different reason. The Doctor kicked himself in regret for not being born as a rich, second-generation young master. Then, he’d go around bullying people.

Fatty shook off the strange thoughts in his mind and licked his lips. “Then, what should we do?”

He didn’t think they could search Young Master Huang’s place without alerting the other travellers.

“Where… where are you guys?” A person ran over. His breathing was uneasy. Compared to when they had just entered the nightmare, You Qi looked several years older.

“Why are you looking for us?”

You Qi said between breaths, “We… have found Qin Jian.”

At the shore, a blanket covered a human-shaped object. The other travellers stood beside it silently. They looked like they were mourning him. Fatty didn’t dare to take a look. He curled up at the back. Jiang Cheng and Xia Meng walked over.

Jiang Cheng gave a slight bow and pulled back the blanket slightly. After a glance, he placed the blanket back. Different from Xia Meng’s detachment, Jiang Cheng bowed to Qin Jian again. Then, with Fatty looking on in shock, Jiang Cheng walked over to the other travellers and shook their hands one by one.

“Doctor,” Fatty asked the Doctor who was walking back to join them, “What is going on with Qin Jian? How did he die?”

Jiang Cheng was still acting. He revealed much melancholy. His nose twitched. After he adjusted his emotions, he turned to Fatty, “Qin Jian said he’s quite well. He doesn’t want us to miss him too much and tells us to go on with our lives. If we’re free, we can burn him some paper money. There is no monogamy where he is, and he plans to get several concubines.”

Fatty’s brain buzzed. He looked at Qin Jian, who was on the ground. If he could hear the Doctor, he’d jump up in anger.

Fatty turned his head away from the Doctor and looked at Xia Meng with anticipation.

“He’s similar to Tang Shirou. His skin is gone. Part of his flesh and internal organs are missing. I believe they have been eaten by the fish in the lake.” Xia Meng hugged her chest. Her words were quick and straightforward. She didn’t show much respect to the old man even though he was dead.

“Who discovered the body?” Jiang Cheng asked.

Chen Qiang wanted to answer but he noticed a glare from Zuo Qing. Therefore, he closed his mouth. In the end, Zuo Qing glanced at Jiang Cheng and said calmly, “It was Shi Liaozhi.”

“Where is he?”

“Over there.” Zuo Qing tilted her head. “He was affected by what he saw. Mr. An is accompanying him.”

Hearing An Xuan’s name, Jiang Cheng and Xia Meng rushed over. They passed the small forest. They heard the voices. One of them was consoling the other. They followed the voices and saw An Xuan and Shi Liaozhi.

Shi Liaozhi looked pale. He jumped when Jiang Cheng’s group suddenly appeared out of the forest.

“Let me do the talking.” An Xuan stood up and walked over to accost them. He said lightly, “Mr. Shi’s emotions are frayed. Please do not disturb him. If you have any questions, you can direct them to me.”

Jiang Cheng sighed in relief. He looked at An Xuan with sincerity. He grabbed his hands and shook them vehemently, “Mr. An, you are such a good man. Miss Tang Shirou is definitely looking down on you from the heavens.”