Following Mr. Xian out of the basement, I noticed him frantically trying to call Mr. Xu, but the phone kept ringing with no answer.
Frankly, I didn't care much about what might have happened to those two. My primary goal today was to survive. Considering the deeds they'd committed, they deserved whatever consequences befell them.
After countless attempts, it became clear to both of us that something terrible had happened.
"Even if something did happen, it shouldn't have happened this way," Mr. Xian muttered.
I couldn't wrap my head around his comment. What did he mean by "it shouldn't have happened"? Wasn't that contradictory?
As we pushed open the door to enter the house, I tripped over something at the entrance and nearly fell. Turning on the light, we were met with a gruesome sight: the Xu couple's mangled bodies, right there at the doorstep.
We recognized them by their clothing, which matched what they'd been wearing earlier, and by their severed pinkies. These identifiers were crucial because their faces were unrecognizable, covered in claw marks, and their legs were mutilated. Without these clues, it would have been impossible to distinguish who was who.
Mr. Xian's expression darkened, and I felt a heavy weight in my chest. Although I worked in a funeral parlor and dealt with the dead regularly, those were corpses that had been dead for a while. This was my first encounter with freshly deceased bodies, still radiating residual warmth. I was both nervous and terrified.
According to Mr. Xian, even if they were destined to die, it shouldn't have been in their own home. Perhaps they had returned to collect their valuables, only to fall victim to the child ghost in such a brutal manner.
"You were told to leave, but you refused, clinging to your wealth. Now, you'll have to spend it in the afterlife," Mr. Xian said, glaring angrily at the corpses.
To be honest, I'd never seen Mr. Xian this angry before. Even when I questioned his skills or doubted his words, he would at most chastise me lightly. This time, however, his displeasure was unmistakable. Perhaps the Xu couple's actions had crossed a line for him.
"Mr. Xian, now that they're both dead, what do we do next? Will the child ghost come for me?" I asked, glancing nervously at the mutilated bodies. The thought of ending up like them was horrifying.
"The child ghost's actions are likely limited by certain conditions. This time, he achieved his revenge and fulfilled his part of the deal. From now on, he will serve the one who summoned him. If I'm right, he will come for you next," Mr. Xian said solemnly.
It was a harrowing night, but I managed to survive until morning.
As we left, we called the police to report the deaths. For cases like these, the police were powerless. After conducting their investigation, they inexplicably turned their attention to me, leading to my current predicament: sitting in an interrogation room.
Frankly, I've rarely been to a police station, and being brought in and interrogated like this had my heart pounding.
"I didn't kill anyone. Why am I here?" I asked the young officer who was questioning me. He looked fresh out of training, with a baby face that made him seem less intimidating, despite his serious demeanor. His attempt to project authority was almost comical, and I had to suppress a smile out of respect for his uniform.
"You were the one who called to report the incident. We want to know why you were at Mr. Xu's house. We investigated you and found no prior connection to the Xus. So why were you there?"
What? Was he insinuating that I'd gone there to steal something?
My face darkened. Being baselessly accused and investigated would sour anyone's mood. I looked the officer in the eye and said, "Officer, as a member of law enforcement, you should know the difference between legal actions and baseless harassment. I've cooperated fully, but if you continue to accuse me without evidence, I have the right to sue for defamation."
Being the same age as this officer, I couldn't understand why he'd assume I'd commit such heinous acts. Even if I had the intent, I lacked the capability to mutilate corpses in such a way. Some of the injuries were clearly beyond human ability.
"Before you talk about suing for defamation, have you considered that I could beat you so badly your own mother wouldn't recognize you?" the officer retorted, his temper flaring.
I was equally hot-headed. Standing up, I shot back, "I didn't do it, and you're trying to pin it on me. I won't accept it, even if you beat me to death." I emphasized my words, making it clear I wasn't afraid.
Initially, I'd considered telling them the truth—that the murders were the work of a ghost. But I worried they'd think I was insane and send me to a mental institution. Plus, promoting superstition is illegal and could lead to fines, detention, or even prison time. Weighing my options, I chose to stay silent.
"You…" The young officer's patience snapped, and he raised his fist, ready to strike.
I quickly covered my face with my hands. Anywhere but the face, I thought. A broken nose would make it even harder to find a girlfriend.
At that moment, my savior appeared. Officer Li, whom I'd met once before, entered the room and whispered something to the young officer. Reluctantly, the officer gave me a strange look before storming out.
"Thank you, Officer Li. If not for you, I might have been roughed up today," I said gratefully.
Officer Li was polite, assuring me that I was free to leave and wouldn't be bothered about this matter again.
Although I was curious about how the case had been resolved, I decided not to ask. It wasn't my place to question their internal affairs.