Death Route on Parasol Tree Road

The "Parasol Tree Road" bus stop on the outskirts looked like the skeletal remains of a colossal beast sprawled beneath the moonlight—desolate and eerie.

Ever since the subway opened ten years ago, this place had been abandoned. The rust-covered bus stop sign creaked and groaned in the night wind, as though recounting the crowds that had once passed through.

"This is the place."

The Special Cases Department's operations vehicle silently glided to a stop nearby. Shen Bingyue was the first to step out, her black combat uniform accentuating her upright figure, though a trace of gravity lingered in her gaze.

"The files show that over the past three months, seven longtime residents have gone missing here. They were all elderly people living alone who liked coming here for nostalgia."

"Captain, the resentment here... it pricks like needles."

The moment Liu Min stepped out of the vehicle, she clutched her forehead, her face turning pale.

"Thick, frigid, and extremely focused. It's 'waiting' for something."

As the team's resentment analysis specialist, her senses were far sharper than those of ordinary people.

"It's clever."

Shen Bingyue pulled up the information on her tablet, its cold light illuminating her stern face.

"Every Wednesday, exactly at midnight, as punctual as clocking in for work.

It specifically targets elderly people who are alone. If the children of that retired teacher hadn't insisted on filing a police report last week, it probably would have continued."

On the other side, Lei Yun was adjusting a device covered in runes, radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away.

He had deliberately kept five or six meters away from Qin Feng. Ever since boarding the vehicle, the looks he cast at Qin Feng had been filled with scrutiny and disdain.

"Xiao Li, how are the devices?"

Shen Bingyue asked a bespectacled technician.

"Reporting, Captain! The energy detector and spirit tracker have been deployed!"

Xiao Li adjusted his glasses and reported nervously.

"But... the energy residue on the bus stop sign indicates that its destination... is the Place of Rest."

"The Place of Rest?"

One of the team members blurted out.

"Isn't that the abandoned crematorium in the western outskirts?"

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze, and a chill shot from everyone's feet straight to the tops of their heads.

"Looks like our intelligence was correct."

Shen Bingyue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the team's panic. Her gaze swept across each person before finally settling on Qin Feng and Lei Yun.

"The operation plan remains unchanged. I'll engage the C-rank core entity—the Ghost Bus.

You will clear out the D- to E-rank passengers inside.

Qin Feng, Lei Yun, you're a team. Handle the rear half of the bus."

Lei Yun's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot, his muscles tensing. But faced with Shen Bingyue's unquestionable gaze, he could only force out one word through clenched teeth. "Yes."

"No problem."

Qin Feng merely shrugged and lazily raised a hand.

"But Captain, I have a small question."

"Go on."

"Does this ghost bus have air conditioning?"

Qin Feng asked with a perfectly serious expression.

"It gets stuffy when there are too many people on the bus. I can't handle heat—it might affect my performance."

Everyone: "..."

The veins at Lei Yun's temples bulged as he practically roared, "Qin Feng! Do you think this is a sightseeing tour? This is a C-rank mission!"

"Don't be so tense, Brother Lei."

Qin Feng blinked, his smile utterly innocent.

"I just want to know about the riding environment. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

What if it has a service rating system? I need to leave objective feedback, right?

For example, does it support mobile payment? I didn't bring any change."

"You..."

Lei Yun was so furious that faint arcs of electricity actually began flickering around him.

What he hated most was Qin Feng's carefree attitude, as though everything were under control. It reminded him of a particularly painful lesson.

Shen Bingyue rubbed her temples and forced herself to remain calm. "Listen carefully! This is a supernatural horror domain. Don't worry, it's filled with yin energy. It definitely won't be hot.

Also, once you board, no one can get off before reaching the terminal. Otherwise, you'll be stranded in the ghost domain!"

"Before the terminal..." Qin Feng stroked his chin, looking thoughtful.

"Yes." Shen Bingyue's voice turned exceptionally grave. "And according to the energy model projections, the closer we get to the terminal, the higher the rank of the supernatural entities drawn aboard will be. There may even be... a Class B presence."

Class B!

Those two words struck every team member like a sledgehammer. Even Lei Yun's expression changed. That was a city-level disaster, far beyond what their little squad could contend with.

"So our mission is to destroy the Ghost Bus before it reaches the crematorium!" Shen Bingyue raised her wrist to check the time. "Ten minutes left. Prepare for combat!"

The moment she finished speaking, the flickering streetlamp beneath the station canopy crackled and turned completely sickly green.

A line of blood-red text slowly appeared on the battered electronic display:

[The last bus will arrive shortly]

[Destination: Place of Rest]

"It's here!" Qin Feng said in a low voice. The terrifying malice he sensed was already right on top of them.

Blue arcs of electricity crackled around Lei Yun's body. An ancient longsword shimmering with a cold, clear radiance appeared out of thin air in Shen Bingyue's hand, while the other team members drew their weapons and talismans, bracing themselves for battle.

Only Qin Feng leisurely pulled a handful of colorful things from his pocket.

"What are you doing?!" Seeing this, Lei Yun's anger flared again.

"Checking my ammunition."

Ignoring everyone else, Qin Feng counted the lollipops in his hand, then nodded with exaggerated seriousness.

"Mm, five strawberry-flavored, three apple-flavored, two grape-flavored... should be enough to eat."

After saying that, he unwrapped a strawberry lollipop and, with a crisp crack, popped the candy into his mouth with an expression of pure enjoyment.

Everyone was utterly speechless. Even Shen Bingyue began to wonder whether bringing him along had been a mistake.

Just then, two scarlet points of light abruptly lit up in the distant darkness. Accompanied by the roar of an engine that seemed to come from the depths of hell and a piercing screech of brakes, they drew rapidly closer.

A rusted bus, its body covered in dents and dark-red stains, burst through the darkness like a ghost and came to a steady stop before the platform.

The driver was an old man whose face was covered in livor mortis. His hands were nowhere near the steering wheel, yet it turned on its own.

"Hiss—"

The doors opened, and a foul stench of rot, blood, and corpse oil washed over them.

Inside the bus, a cold, synthesized female voice spoke:

"Please board and insert one yuan."

"This bus is bound for: Place of Rest."

"Have a... pleasant journey."

Facing the bus that looked as though it had driven straight out of hell, several team members involuntarily took half a step back.

Under the red light, the rust covering the bus's surface looked like dried blood scabs. Some of the windows were shattered, and through the gaps, they could see rows of blurry figures seated inside. They maintained rigid postures, utterly motionless.

"The operation begins." Shen Bingyue was the first to step forward and mount the bus's entrance steps.

"Please board and insert one yuan. This bus is bound for: Place of Rest. Have a... pleasant journey."

The synthesized female voice echoed through the night, carrying an eerie sort of politeness.

Shen Bingyue was the first to step onto the bus stairs. Her combat boots landed on the rusted metal step with a crisp click.

Every step she took was incomparably cautious. The tip of her sword hung slightly downward, its blade glowing with icy blue light, ready to strike at any moment.

"Captain, be careful!"

Liu Min followed close behind, her face pale as she took a compass from her pocket. Its needle was spinning wildly.

"The concentration of resentful energy here has already exceeded the limit. My spirit sight is being severely disrupted!"

Lei Yun gritted his teeth as he walked in the middle of the group. Electric arcs slithered across his body like little snakes, clearly still stewing over his earlier setback.

He shot a glare at Qin Feng, who was dawdling along at the very back, and lowered his voice in warning. "Qin Feng, you'd better not hold us back!"

Qin Feng was intently peeling the wrapper off a lollipop. At that, he looked up and gave an utterly harmless smile. "Don't worry, Lei. I'm very professional."