"Mr. Wen," a bureau chief asked, trying to remain calm, "If all supernatural events are caused by Fierce Ghosts, how can we eliminate Fierce Ghost?"
Upon hearing this question, Wen Jingyan suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent chills down one's spine.
He said, "I don't know where Fierce Ghost come from. I only know that once Fierce Ghost is created, it cannot be destroyed; it can only be contained, restricted, delayed, or transferred."
A commotion erupted at the scene, everyone's faces turning deathly pale. "The Fierce Ghost can't be destroyed?! But modern weapons are ineffective against Fierce Ghost, so how can we possibly contain or contain them?"
Wen Jingyan replied, "We can utilize the conflicting rules between different Fierce Ghosts. For example, Looking-Up Ghost and Looking-Down Ghost that dies if it looks down can be placed together. The conflicting rules will bring both of them into a state of equilibrium, restricting each other and preventing them from killing anyone."
"Alternatively, a solid, Fierce Ghost can be completely encased in a sealed Golden Container, leaving no gaps. This is the most effective way to contain a vengeful Fierce Ghost."
"Gold?" The group looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wen Jingyan explained, "The Supernatural power of Fierce Ghost can influence all matter in this world in ways that defy common sense, except for gold."
"The Supernatural can only affect the surface of gold; it cannot penetrate it. If you don't believe me, you can conduct more experiments later, and you'll know for sure."
This is a very important piece of intelligence. With this intelligence, humanity will at least have some means of resistance when facing those monstrous things.
At the same time, everyone couldn't help but complain inwardly about the Investigation Bureau's inefficiency. After being established for so long, they hadn't discovered any use for gold! Were the researchers in the lab just sitting around doing nothing? Were they just producing papers all day long?
"Then, the black mist that's shrouding Jing City now, and Bai Jingjing who's manipulating the black mist and the skeletons..." Feng Qian asked, frowning.
"It's obvious she's Ghost Tamer," Wen Jingyan said, "A very powerful and dangerous Ghost Tamer."
"Didn't you already defeat her?" Feng Qian continued to ask.
"It's just a temporary setback." Wen Jingyan head. "Neither of us can really do anything to the other. Don't even think I'll kill her. While she was alive, she still had some reservations; at least we could communicate and negotiate. Once she's dead, Fierce Ghost revives within her, that will be the real problem for us!"
"And..." He paused, "There's more than one Fierce Ghost active in Jing City right now."
After he said that, an atmosphere of despair spread through the makeshift meeting room.
The thought of Fierce Ghosts that cannot be destroyed, and Ghost Tamer are like ticking time bombs that could explode at any moment, makes one feel that the future is bleak.
At this moment, everyone finally understood the cause and effect of the destruction of Shanque City and the rise of Bai Jingjing. The mysterious Black-Mist Ghost erupted in Shanque City, almost killing the entire city's population, but was fortunately controlled by Bai Jingjing...
Bai Jingjing once claimed she was possessed by the "White Bone Madam," but that was likely a lie, wasn't it?
Sitting in the corner, Feng Qian frowned even more deeply. If all extraordinary beings were Ghost Tamers, then his golden eyes must be Ghost Eyes?
This is terrible! Every time the Ghost Tamer uses their power, it intensifies the demon's corruption, ultimately leading to death. Won't I die young?
Wait, something's not right!
Since winning back these Transcendent Eyes at the Lucky Casino, Feng Qian has never felt any discomfort, nor has he experienced a decline in his physical condition after using them.
This doesn't quite match what Wen Jingyan just said.
But judging from Wen Jingyan's demeanor, he didn't seem to be lying.
Could it be...?
Feng Qian suddenly thought of a possibility.
I must be incredibly lucky to have become a unique exception among the Ghost Tamers!
Someone asked in a trembling voice, "Mr. Wen, then in your opinion... what should we do?"
Wen Jingyan silent for a moment.
"First, abandon the illusion of 'eliminating the source'," he said calmly. "The first thing you need to do is evacuate the people of Jing City and establish an isolation zone. Some Supernatural events are contagious and must be prevented from spreading to other cities."
"Secondly, we need to find other Ghost Tamers. Fierce Ghosts have likely existed since ancient times, and there may be many low-profile Ghost Tamers among the common people. Not all Ghost Tamers are as dangerous as the one in the black mist; there must be some willing to cooperate with the authorities."
"Finally..." Wen Jingyan's eyes deepened, "Prepare for the worst. If the situation gets out of control, we might need to... abandon Jing City."
"This is impossible!" A bureau chief surnamed Zhao suddenly stood up. "Do you know what Jing City means?! We can't give up—"
"Do you know how long it would take for the black fog to spread throughout the city?" Wen Jingyan coldly retorted. "Three days. If that woman named Bai Jingjing wanted, she could turn all the ordinary people into skeletons within three days. Then, it wouldn't just be Jing City that would be sacrificed."
Director Zhao looked as if his spine had been removed, and slumped back into his chair.
"Isn't there... any other way?" the other person asked, their voice trembling.
Wen Jingyan looked out the window; the sky in the distance had already turned an ominous gray-black.
"Yes," he said softly. "If you can deceive Bai Jingjing and trap her with gold, the black mist shrouding Jing City will naturally dissipate, and the other Fierce Ghosts won't be a big problem."
The meeting room fell into a deathly silence.
Feng Qian kept his head down, having no expectations for the officials who had survived by sheer luck, always feeling that those he had rescued were all worthless.
Moreover, this isn't a disaster relief meeting; it's more like a desperate discussion about how to survive in an apocalypse.
Wen Jingyan leaned back against the wall, his expression hidden in the shadows.
The others looked at each other, and no one spoke.
The emergency lights suddenly flickered a few times, casting a shadow over everyone's faces, as if the terror yet to come had already crept into the room.
After the meeting, the group launched a rescue operation in a seemingly professional manner.
The main contributors were Wen Jingyan and Feng Qian.
As for the others?
Feng Qian's intuition was correct; they were all dregs, a bunch of incompetent fools who only knew how to give random orders. In the process of constantly testing Wen Jingyan's bottom line, they had already been physically silenced by Wen Jingyan.
Afterwards, Wen Jingyan was in charge of clearing out the surrounding Fierce Ghost, while Feng Qian was in charge of rescuing the people. The two cooperated quite well, and now quite a few survivors have been gathered together.
At this moment, Feng Qian stood on the roof of the apartment building, gazing at the black fog that was slowly advancing like a tide in the distance.
Three days have passed. Since that meeting, Jing City has been collapsing at an even more visible rate, with most of the city shrouded in that black fog of death.
"Brother Feng, everything's packed." Xiao Li, panting, climbed to the rooftop, clutching a crumpled list in his hand. "But the food will only last us a week, if we include Aunt Wang's family..."
Xiao Li, Aunt Wang, and others are all survivors that Feng Qian recently rescued.
Hearing Xiao Li's words, Feng Qian nodded, his gaze remaining fixed on the churning black fog in the distance. Under the sunlight, the fog appeared eerily dark black, like a ball of black cotton candy, slowly and irresistibly engulfing building after building.
"I heard the entire southern part of the South City has been wiped out," Xiao Li whispered. "My cousin checked it with a drone yesterday; the whole area... was full of skeletons, standing on the street like in a museum."
Feng Qian felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He thought of Bai Jingjing and the moving skeletons around her. Wasn't she afraid of reviving herself by using the power of the Fierce Ghost so desperately?
"Let's go, while it's still light." Feng Qian took one last look at the black fog, turned and went downstairs. The elevator had long since stopped running, so they went down the fire escape to the fifteenth floor, where the corridor was crowded with panicked survivors.
"Mr. Feng!" Aunt Wang grabbed his arm, her bloodshot eyes filled with fear. "When will the government come to rescue us? My granddaughter has a fever, and we've almost finished her medicine..."
Feng Qian opened his mouth, but couldn't utter any words of comfort. Wen Jingyan's warning was still ringing in his ears: this was no ordinary disaster, and no rescue team would likely come. The survivors would have to save themselves.
"Aunt Wang, let's try to lower the child's temperature with physical methods first," he finally said, taking a box of fever reducers from his backpack. "Use them sparingly; I'll go to the pharmacy on the east side tomorrow."
Back in the room, Feng Qian's makeshift rescue team had already gathered. Besides Xiao Li, there was Professor Zhang, a retired teacher; Xiao Mei, a supermarket cashier; and two college students, Wang Lei and Lin Yu.
These individuals are remarkably clear-headed, able to remain calm amidst the disaster, and desperately fight for their own survival.
They are far more useful than those incompetent fools who only give orders haphazardly.
Six people squeezed into a room with the curtains drawn, studying a hand-drawn map by the dim light of a solar-powered lamp.
"The black fog is advancing faster than yesterday." Professor Zhang drew a crooked line on the map with a red pen, "Only our area is relatively safe for now."
Xiao Mei suddenly started sobbing. "My parents are still in West City District... I can't get through to them on the phone..."
Wang Lei scratched his head in frustration. "Damn it, what the hell is this? A biological weapon? An alien attack?"
"None of those." Feng Qian recalled Wen Jingyan's icy gaze, "It's something far more terrifying."
Lin Yu suddenly raised her phone, "I took this picture earlier... you can use it as a reference..."
The video footage was shaky, but the black mist billowing between the supermarket shelves was still clearly visible. A man in a security guard uniform stood by the checkout counter, then suddenly coughed violently. He collapsed to his knees, his skin turning ashen at a visible speed, and then—
Feng Qian abruptly turned off the screen, but the scene was already etched into everyone's minds: the security guard's flesh peeled off like melting wax, revealing stark white bones, and then the skeleton stood up on its own.
"Ugh—" Xiao Mei rushed into the bathroom, followed by a heart-wrenching sound of dry heaving.
"Is this what's happening inside the black mist?" Professor Zhang's face turned deathly pale. "Those skeletons... is this where they came from?"
Feng Qian nodded heavily. He wanted to tell these people the truth about Fierce Ghosts and Ghost Tamers, but he swallowed the words back. The truth was too cruel, and he was afraid they couldn't bear the blow.
The area they are currently in can be considered a safe zone, protected by Wen Jingyan and not covered by Bai Jingjing's black mist.
However, this does not mean that the area is absolutely safe, because besides Bai Jingjing, there are other Fierce Ghosts and Ghost Slaves wandering in the city.
While Feng Qian was discussing survival strategies with several others.
"Something's up!" Wang Lei, who was standing guard by the window, suddenly shouted in a low voice.
Feng Qian cautiously parted the curtains a crack, and suddenly his eyes widened—
Down on the street, a dozen corpses were slowly marching in an eerie procession, like a ceremonial guard from Hell, their empty eye sockets staring straight at the window where Feng Qian was.
Feng Qian's blood seemed to freeze, and his eyes burst forth with dazzling golden light.
"They... are on patrol?" Xiao Li's voice trembled.
"No, it's more like they're hunting living people," Professor Zhang said. "They seem to be gathering here because they're chasing the scent of living people, but thankfully Mr. Feng is here..."
Feng Qian frowned. "I don't know where Wen Jingyan went. I can't hold off these Ghost Slaves for long."
As if to confirm his words, a scream suddenly came from afar. Through his binoculars, Feng Qian saw a man jump out of a third-floor window on the opposite building and run wildly. Behind him, the Ghost Slaves immediately gave chase.
"They're the survivors who were hiding!" Lin Yu exclaimed.
Some people have a habit of stockpiling supplies at home, which allows them to survive for a while even when disaster strikes. Therefore, it's normal for them to hide and ignore Feng Qian's rescue efforts. Joining Feng Qian's survivor group might even allow you to share in their stockpiled supplies.
"It's a pity, the sturdy security door couldn't stop these ghostly things." Feng Qian watched helplessly as the Ghost Slave caught up with the man and killed him, without offering any help.
He doesn't have that much ability; he'll only try to save others if he can protect himself first.
No one dared to sleep tonight; they took turns keeping watch. At three in the morning, Feng Qian was having a nightmare about being chased by skeletons when he was suddenly awakened by the vibration of a cell phone.
After the call connected, Wen Jingyan's calm voice came through intermittently, telling them that a relatively safe area had been cleared in East City District, and that he had rescued a military unit and established a cordon.
The cell phone signal was weak, and the call was disconnected quickly.
The others, who were awakened by the noise, were very excited to hear the news. With the troops there, they would definitely be safer than they were now.
Feng Qian noticed the weariness hidden in Wen Jingyan's voice.
Before dawn, the team made a decision to move to the East City District, as supplies there were running low. The East City District had a military-established isolation zone, which was also the relatively safe area mentioned by Wen Jingyan.
While packing his necessities, Feng Qian was in a terrible mood. He would rather face an ordinary natural disaster, at least that was a catastrophe with an end. The existence of Fierce Ghosts was truly despairing.
"Brother Feng, let's go." Xiao Li carried a bulging hiking backpack and held a baseball bat in his hand.
Feng Qian nodded silently.
"Let's go." He opened the door. The other survivors in the corridor were already prepared, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hope.
Black mist churned in the distance, and wandering Fierce Ghosts and their Ghost Slaves were hiding in some unknown corner. Feng Qian took a deep breath and led the group of survivors outside.