Number 078 - Following Like a Shadow (5)

"Hey, what are you saying? Xiao Rui is already scared enough, can't you stop with the sarcastic remarks?"

"There are many evil spirits wandering in this world. Those with weak wills are easily targeted by them. What's been bothering you so far has only been trying to scare you. I can't be sure what it is yet, but without a doubt, its goal is your fear. The more you're scared, the more you care, the stronger it becomes. Miss Zheng, if you can't face it bravely, I don't know how powerful it will grow."

"What do you mean? Will it... will it kill me?"

"Xiao Rui, don't be afraid."

"I can't deny that possibility. So, Miss Zheng, please be brave."

"Easy for you to say! How can I be brave! You're not the one going through this! How can I not be scared? Would you not be scared if it were you?!"

"Scared... Xiao... Xiao Rui..."

"Hoo--! Hoo--!"

"I'm relieved to see you have such spirit. It would be even better if this spirit was directed at that thing."

"Hey, stop talking!"

"What do you know... you don't understand how I feel at all... sob..."

"Little sister Zheng Xiao Rui, if you're so scared that you're just waiting for others to save you, I suggest you just kill yourself. I can recommend some places with heavy Yin energy. If you choose the right time to commit suicide, you might even become the kind of thing you're afraid of. That way, you won't be scared anymore, right? After all, you might encounter supernatural events in your next life after reincarnation. It's better to just become a ghost, then you'll be fearless."

"Sob... sob sob..."

"That's enough! Xiao Rui, don't listen to him talk nonsense. Xiao Rui, it's okay. We can find other mediums, someone will surely be able to save you!"

"Hey, boss..."

"Are you done crying?"

"You..."

"If you're done crying, go home and carefully look for anything that has appeared or disappeared. This is crucial, please take it seriously. You're the only one who can do this; no one can help you. If you don't want to die, then be brave."

"..."

"Spirit, escort them out."

"Alright. Ladies, please."

"Xiao Rui, let's go. Don't come back here again."

"..."

Tap, tap, tap... Bang.

"Boss, there was no need to be so harsh on a young girl."

"Did you see something?"

"Sigh... that little girl's Yang energy has been weakening."

"Is that thing causing trouble?"

"I didn't see anything. I guess she's not in good spirits, and she encountered a passing Yin spirit, which has been slowly draining her Yang energy. If it continues, even without this strange occurrence, she won't live much longer."

"Ah... what can we do then?"

"She has to rely on herself. Many people, even after we've dealt with their evil spirits, we can't save their lives."

"Is it like falling seriously ill? Are there treatment methods? If the body is already damaged, and the recovery isn't managed well..."

"Exactly."

January 15, 2014, received a call from the client. Call recording 201401151603.mp3.

"Hello, Miss Zheng."

"..."

"Miss Zheng?"

"I... found... something..."

"Oh? What is it? Is it convenient for us to come to your home now?"

"Yes, you can come over. The thing... it's a mask and a kimono..."

"Okay, we'll be right there."

January 15, 2014, arrived at the client's home. Audio file 07820140115.wav.

"Miss Zheng... Miss Duan, hello."

"Yes, you've arrived."

"Did you encounter anything these past two days? You both look unwell."

"I didn't find anything, Xiao Rui... found these two items..."

"A mask and a kimono?"

Bang!

"Ah!"

"Yaaahhh!"

"What is it? Boss!"

Bang!

Bang bang! Crash! Clatter!

"Screech--Awooo!"

"Wh-what is that? A fox?"

"Hoo--hoo--hoo--Woooo..."

"Xiao Rui, don't be scared, it's been caught."

"Wuuu..."

"Is this a fox? Did it come out of this mask just now?"

"It's a fox spirit, a fox demon, likes to play tricks."

"This thing hurt Xiao Rui?"

"It seems so."

"The kimono... is it okay?"

"The kimono also has heavy yin energy, it's an old item that has had several owners. Someone like Miss Zheng isn't very suitable for using such an old item."

"Wuuu..."

"So, can you guys handle this?"

"We can."

"Then Xiao Rui will be fine, right?"

"Temporarily, she's fine."

"Huh?"

"Zheng Xiao Rui, do you remember what I told you last time?"

"..."

"If your will is not strong and your mind is unstable, you'll easily be targeted by evil spirits. If you don't want to encounter this kind of thing again, you need to be brave. Ghosts and spirits aren't that scary; they don't have physical forms, after all, and can't compare to living people. But if you're afraid, they might be able to kill you."

"..."

"I'll protect Xiao Rui well!"

"Oh? Alright. Then good luck."

"You!"

January 15, 2014. Fox spirit killed, fox mask and cherry blossom kimono destroyed. Incident concluded.

Appendix: Photos of the fox spirit, fox mask, and cherry blossom kimono.

Several enlarged photos were tucked at the end of the file.

The photo of the fox spirit was a bit blurry. It looked like an ordinary red fox, curled up with one hand on its neck, its large tail wrapped around its body. It looked terrified of the person holding it down.

The fox mask was a common type of white, squinting-eyed mask from Japan, with red patterns painted on it. It was quite beautiful and gave no indication of being a terrifying object.

The kimono gave me an uncomfortable feeling. Its base color was black, with a few pink petals on the upper body. The skirt was layered with many cherry blossoms, and cherry blossoms danced on the sleeves. The back featured a cherry blossom tree with dense branches and leaves. The layered cherry blossoms on the front were an extension of its branches, with the uppermost canopy reaching the shoulders, resembling a hand desperately reaching out to grab someone's shoulder.

"If you're afraid, they might be able to kill you."

The "Boss's" words echoed in my ears, reminding me of the chilling feeling in the office. Was it because I was scared that I felt that way? Could that office really have ghosts?

"Psychological factors, probably," I muttered to myself.

It would be too ridiculous if the place where ghost hunters operate also had ghosts. This Qingye Supernatural Agency, although it had failed before, wasn't like those unreliable scam shops, and its members didn't seem incompetent.

The feeling in the office was psychological. The discomfort I felt looking at the kimono photo now was also psychological.

As I lowered my head to close the file, I suddenly noticed something seemed to be added to the kimono photo. I looked closely and found two people standing beneath the cherry blossom tree, one on each side, both with their hands on the trunk, their torsos partially obscured by the tree. Compared to the cherry blossom tree, these two people were tiny. They were both wearing black clothes with red flowers, making them easy to blend into the background.

For some reason, my heart started to race. I had a feeling this was a significant discovery.

"Brother, you're not sleeping yet? You have to go to work tomorrow, right?"