Gasping for air and clutching my neck, I looked up to see the man who had been lounging arrogantly on my bed earlier. He now stood before me, his eyes fixed intently on a point not far away.
"The vicious offspring of the Mother-and-Son Ghost Duo!"
"Oh, such a mean big brother. I just wanted to play with this big brother here, but you went and broke my arm as soon as you attacked."
I stared at the empty space where a plaintive, tearful voice emanated. The sound sent chills down my spine. All I could think was, "You're not here to play with me; you clearly want my life!"
"Take your colleague and follow me out," he commanded without so much as glancing back.
Though I disliked his blunt and bossy tone, now wasn't the time to argue. I helped Zhang Yun up and moved to the man's side. "So, what now?"
He glanced back at me, his expression unchanging. "To the funeral home. The yin energy here is overwhelming. This isn't the right place to face it head-on; we need to leave."
With that, he took the lead, guiding Zhang Yun and me out.
His original plan had been to exit the funeral home, but after circling twice and failing to find the way out, Zhang Yun and I became increasingly confused. The route, which we had walked countless times before, now seemed impossible to navigate.
The man's already dark expression deepened further, and a sharp light gleamed in his eyes. That gaze unsettled me even more than the vicious, unseen offspring of the ghost duo—it felt as if this man was far more terrifying.
"Trying to trap me here with illusions? Dream on!" With those words, he pulled a triangular talisman from his pocket, muttered an incantation at lightning speed, and threw the talisman.
I couldn't tell whether he threw it randomly or aimed it deliberately. But as soon as he tossed it, the talisman disappeared.
"What do we do now? Are we trapped by a ghost wall?" Zhang Yun's teeth were chattering, his speech slurred. He clung to my arm with such force that it hurt.
"Don't panic. This guy will think of something."
He said he was tasked with protecting me. He wouldn't just leave us to die.
"Follow me closely later. And remember, don't stray. If you get separated, I won't come back for you." With that, he took the lead. His brisk pace left Zhang Yun and me scurrying after him. He made frequent sharp turns and doubled back several times. Just as I began following on instinct alone, the scenery suddenly brightened—I was now standing under a streetlamp outside the funeral home. The warm orange light gave me an unexpected sense of comfort.
But when I turned to look behind me, Zhang Yun was nowhere to be seen.
"Zhang Yun! Zhang Yun! Brother Zhang!"
I had assumed he'd been following closely behind, but now he was gone. Clearly, he had been trapped inside the funeral home.
The person who had been joking with me moments ago was now missing, his fate uncertain. I had no idea where I found the courage, but I turned and prepared to re-enter the funeral home.
The man behind me caught my hand, his icy gaze devoid of emotion. "If you go in now, I can't guarantee I'll be able to bring you back out."
"That's a living, breathing person! Are you just going to let him wait inside to die? You claim to follow the Tao, but is your heart made of stone?" The ghost wouldn't have targeted Zhang Yun if it weren't for me. If Zhang Yun died because of me, I'd carry that guilt for the rest of my life.
The moment I shouted at him, I regretted it. This man was essentially my shield right now. If I offended him and he left, wouldn't I be doomed?
But since I'd already said it, there was no taking it back. I braced myself, stiff-necked and defiant.
After about two minutes of tense silence, he finally relented. "You care so much for him, but he might not feel the same about you. Fine, if you want the truth, I'll take you to see it."
We re-entered the funeral home, and as soon as we stepped inside, the doors shut behind us. Turning back, I saw nothing but darkness. My heart tightened.
Retracing our steps, we found Zhang Yun lying unconscious at the entrance to the mortuary. Rushing over, I knelt beside him. The man tried to stop me, but it was too late—I was already at Zhang Yun's side.
"Zhang Yun! Zhang Yun! Wake up!"
Shaking him, I managed to rouse him. But as his eyes opened, I caught a glint of malice in them. After all the dangers I'd faced, my instincts had become finely honed. At the sight of that glint, I immediately leaped back, putting distance between us. His knife struck nothing but air.
Staring at him in disbelief, I saw the blade in his hand glint coldly. How could this happen? Just moments ago, we were colleagues fighting side by side. Now he wanted to kill me. His expression wasn't dazed or possessed; it was cold and calculated.
Racing through my memories, I couldn't recall ever offending him. Why would he want my life?
"Zhang Yun, what are you doing?"
He seemed disappointed his strike had missed and leaned against the wall to steady himself. "I can't believe you dodged that."
Had he been planning to kill me from the very start?
"I've never wronged you or done anything against you. Why are you trying to kill me?"
It didn't make sense. Had his friendliness been a façade, part of a premeditated scheme to catch me off guard?
"I die if you don't. So, for my sake, you have to go."
With that, he lunged at me with the knife. Panicking, I searched frantically for something to use as a weapon. The only thing I had was my phone, but throwing it at him seemed futile.
"Still want to save him now?" The black-clad man appeared at just the right moment, once again saving me from certain death.