Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: The Buried Talisman

Fortunately, it was dark enough that the bloodstains on the equipment weren't too visible—otherwise, I'd have no way to explain myself.After the balding uncle dropped me back at the adult shop, I collapsed onto the bed. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't sleep. When dawn finally broke, I dozed off briefly, only to have a nightmare about being locked inside a haunted inn by a ghostly woman.With two massive dark circles under my eyes, I opened the shop for business. No matter how drained I felt, work still had to go on.Making myself a strong cup of tea, I sat at my desk to organize my thoughts. Writing down my experiences from the night before, I recorded every detail into the computer. It's a habit I developed years ago—meticulously documenting events helps me think more clearly and ensures I don't miss any critical clues.As the fresh morning breeze blew in, it lifted the army coat serving as a curtain for my shop. A lively, youthful girl slipped inside with a shy smile."Xia Qingzhi? Don't you have class today?" I asked, my train of thought interrupted, and my tone lacking energy."Not yet—it's still early. I just dropped by to check in on you." Xia Qingzhi's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "So? Any progress with my brother?"Faced with her eager gaze, I couldn't bring myself to tell her the harsh truth. Looking at her flushed cheeks—uh, her flushed cheeks—I turned my computer screen aside and said, "Last night, I followed the address on the card to the Hell Show at Lightless Road. I found traces of your brother. At the very least, I can confirm that you weren't lying—your brother did exist.""Then... do you know where he is now?""That still needs further investigation. It'll take some time." Reaching for the egg-filled pancake she'd brought; I realized just how hungry I was after the harrowing events of the night."Hey! That's my breakfast!""Next time, skip the lettuce and add more chili..."After Xia Qingzhi left, I turned my attention to the suitcase I'd retrieved from the Hell Show. Carefully, I wiped off the bloodstains on the live-streaming equipment and started to examine it.The selfie sticks and camera seemed unremarkable, but the large-screen phone immediately caught my attention.Plugging it into a charger, I waited five minutes for it to power on. The nearly eight-inch screen displayed only three icons: a phonebook, a mailbox, and a strange app featuring my own black-and-white photo.I tapped on the unusual app, and a line of text appeared: Time until task release: 12 hours and 30 minutes."Not bad. This knockoff tech is surprisingly sophisticated." I glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 7:30 a.m., meaning the task would be released at 8 p.m."Another nighttime event?" The timing made me uneasy. There was clearly a deeper conspiracy at play. This time, I wouldn't rush in blindly—I had to be fully prepared.Pulling out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts until I found a familiar number."Hey, Er Gouzi, I've got a job for you."On the other end of the line came the sound of breaking glass and a woman's shriek before someone finally answered. "Gao Jian, I'm kind of busy here. Keep it short, will you?""Oh, look at you, using big words now?" Chen Ergou—better known as Er Gouzi—dropped out of school at fourteen to run with street gangs. Three years ago, he came to my shop demanding protection money. I tied him up, gave him a half-hour lesson with a stun gun, and sent him on the path of righteousness. Now, he's one of my most reliable informants."I'm investigating a supernatural disappearance case and need you to source some items that can ward off spirits.""Gao Jian, the cops are coming! Not you, I mean—hey, keep it down over there!" The background noise grew more chaotic."I'm serious. I need authentic talismans or consecrated charms by sundown. Money's no issue, but they've got to work.""No problem, consider it done!" He hung up, his voice still barking orders to someone.Around mid-afternoon, Chen Ergou showed up at the shop, his arm in a cast and a battered wooden box in hand."Here's the stuff," he said, setting the box on the table and opening it to reveal a mess of colorful talismans and random exorcism tools. "I wasn't sure what you needed, so I raided Liu Blind's place. This is everything I found.""Liu Blind?" I recognized the name—an infamous scam artist who got busted for installing hidden cameras at hotels. We'd met at the police station once.Sifting through the box, I found a silver cross and two cloves of garlic."Cross-cultural protection?" I muttered. With little choice, I decided to sort and pocket the talismans, hoping against hope that Liu Blind might have been a hidden master.Just as Chen Ergou was about to leave with the now-empty box, I noticed a weathered talisman stuck to the bottom. Its faded yellow paper blended almost seamlessly with the wooden surface.Peeling it off carefully, I realized it was surprisingly thin and far more durable than ordinary paper. The characters scrawled across it were incomprehensible, though clearly ancient."What's it says?" Chen Ergou asked."If I could read it, do you think I'd be running an adult shop?"By the time night fell, I was fully geared up, seated at my desk, and watching the clock intently.At exactly 8 p.m., the phone lit up.No ringtone, no vibration, no notifications—just the cold glow of the screen displaying an incoming call from an unfamiliar number."Hello?" I pressed the phone to my ear. On the other end was the sound of a woman sobbing."Who's this?" I asked.The crying stopped abruptly, but the unsettling feeling only grew stronger. It felt as though the woman was stepping out of the phone, leaning over my shoulder."I'm looking for someone." Her voice was devoid of emotion, as cold as a tombstone in a desolate graveyard."Uh, sorry, we only sell adult products here. If you need... other services, maybe add me on WeChat?" My words tumbled out in panic, even as my hands trembled."Find him. He hid me—under the floorboards, inside the walls, behind the bathtub. Find him!" The line went dead, leaving me with only unanswered questions."Was she dismembered?" I shivered. Almost immediately, a new message appeared in the phone's mailbox:"The stillness of night will erupt. Pick up the room phone and answer the ambiguous questions. She's at the door, staring at you with crimson eyes, waiting to be invited in..."Live Stream Task: Stay in Room 203 of the Peaceful Inn until sunrise.Reading the message, any lingering doubt vanished. That inn wasn't just any place—it was where a gruesome murder had occurred three months ago.Acute myocardial infarction was determined by the forensic examiner as the cause of death, but why a perfectly healthy person would suddenly drop dead from a heart attack remained a mystery.I found a newspaper from that day, skimmed through it quickly, then stuffed it into my pocket before grabbing my gear and heading out."I don't believe in ghosts—unless I see one with my own eyes."To save time, I flagged down a taxi. By coincidence, the driver was none other than the balding uncle from before."Hey, streamer! Just got on shift and ran into you again. What are the odds?""North suburbs, Peaceful Inn. Please drive faster." I wasn't in the mood for small talk; my mind was consumed by the Hell Show's live-stream task.Why had they chosen that location? Who was the woman who had called me?"I heard someone recently died at the Peaceful Inn," the driver started chatting. "You sure know how to pick your spots, streamer."He was quite talkative, though his lack of awareness was almost impressive. "Good thing you got me. Most drivers wouldn't take you there. Did you know the rumors? They say that guest didn't die of natural causes but was scared to death. Tsk, that place is cursed. A few years back, someone else vanished there without a trace..."The balding uncle was getting more and more into his storytelling. I wanted to put my hand on my heart and ask: "Have you considered how I might feel right now?""Uncle, my live streams might not be what you think they are. Can you give me some quiet, please?""What's there to misunderstand? I've seen plenty of young people like you. Sing a song, dance a bit, brag some, play a few games. So, what platform are you on? Let me check it out and support you!""Support's not necessary. But if you ever do stumble upon my stream, please remember to call the police immediately. A lot of what you'll see might not be just for show."Revealing the existence of the Hell Show was strictly forbidden, as stated in the contract's first clause.With a sigh, I pulled out the oversized eight-inch phone. Its screen displayed the same three lonely icons. Eventually, I tapped on the third app—the one featuring my own black-and-white photo.