Shrouded in Mist

Yang Jian set off promptly at eight o'clock the next morning.

The setback on the first day did not discourage him. After rethinking everything, he prepared for a second operation. The incident in Z City was not over yet, and the longer it dragged on, the greater the impact would be, not only on society but also very detrimental to himself.

The nearby streets were blocked off, but a pickup truck drove unimpeded toward the Caesar Hotel.

"How confident are you about this operation?" Luo Suyī had been silent the whole time, couldn't help but ask in the car.

"I can't answer that question for you. Anything can happen in paranormal events, and the situation at that hotel is very complicated. It's not just about one ghost. There must be a reason why that thing chose that place to face me. But don't be afraid. If you really encounter danger, as long as you don't do anything reckless, I can get you out without any problem."

Yang Jian drove the car, his expression calm.

He showed no signs of tension or fear, a testament to the mental fortitude he had cultivated through numerous experiences with paranormal events.

This composure, in most cases, is contagious to those around him, making them feel that as long as he's there, everything will be alright.

"If we really encounter danger, could you save her first?" Luo Suyī glanced at Lin Luomei, who was unable to speak, beside him.

Lin Luomei, around twenty years old, was originally youthful and energetic, but because she became Ghost Tamer, she appeared gloomy and indifferent, making people wonder if she had mental problems.

Yang Jian replied, "In terms of priority, Xiong Wenwen is above you. If I really have to make a choice, I will only choose to save those I can save. But you don't need to be so pessimistic. That thing isn't as troublesome as you think. After all, we are not ordinary people, we are not that fragile. You should have some confidence."

"These are things we'll have to face sooner or later."

Luo Suyī's lips twitched slightly. "You have such confidence because you are Ghost Eye Yang Jian, who has solved S-class paranormal cases. You are just a nobody. How could you not feel insecure?"

"Cowards, I'm not afraid, yet you adults are. If anyone's going to die, it won't just be you." Xiong Wenwen glanced at him with disdain, thinking Luo Suyī a coward.

Yang Jian fell silent. He knew that this operation had already used all available resources, and if it failed, the situation would deteriorate to an unimaginable degree.

Therefore, success is imperative.

Because neither Xiong Wenwen nor Lin Luomei can withstand repeated abuse, especially Xiong Wenwen, whose ability usage is extremely precious, and it would be a huge waste if she couldn't make good use of it.

"Hey, Yang Jian, don't you think that hotel up ahead looks a little different from yesterday?" As the car approached, Xiong Wenwen in the passenger seat suddenly widened her eyes and grabbed his arm, shaking it.

"What's going on?" Luo Suyī and Lin Luomei, who were in the back seat, curiously leaned out of the car window to look out.

The Caesar Hotel still stands here as it did yesterday, its location and condition unchanged. The only alarming thing is that the hotel is shrouded in fog.

A thick fog enveloped the entire hotel, making it impossible to discern anything beyond its outline from a distance. Details such as windows and exterior decorations were completely obscured by the fog.

"Something's very wrong. Have you noticed that only this hotel is shrouded in thick fog? Once you leave the hotel's perimeter, there's no fog anywhere else." Luo Suyī turned grim. "This is an ominous sign. If we rashly enter the hotel, we'll definitely encounter danger."

"What would we be doing here if it weren't dangerous?" Yang Jian also noticed the strange thick fog; after all, it was impossible for him to miss something so obvious right in front of him.

But what he cared about more was the dense fog itself.

Because Yang Jian had checked the files, especially the files of Feng Quan and Guo Fan, and Feng Quan's code name was Ghost Mist.

Ghost Fog Feng Quan.

This is his name on his file.

Yang Jian had witnessed this ability before during the Huanggang Village incident, but Feng Quan did not overuse it, and the area covered by the ghost mist was only one room, not very large.

But now, a ghostly fog has enveloped the entire hotel.

This is not something that someone like Feng Quan, who controls two ghosts, could easily accomplish.

"Could it be that Feng Quan is dead and the resurgence of the Ghost Mist caused this situation?" Yang Jian frowned, stepped on the brakes, and stopped the car in front of the Caesar Hotel.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that this dense fog was completely different from ordinary fog.

Ordinary fog is formed by the condensation of water vapor, but this fog is more like a haze—cold, heavy, and gloomy. Once inside, you find it is gray and hazy, not the pure white fog you see from the outside. Moreover, your vision and hearing are severely restricted, as if you are cut off from the world once you enter the fog.

Forget about sound and sight, even location will be lost.

"Yang Jian, you've finally arrived." Zhang Gao, who had been waiting in the guard post, rushed out. His eyes were bloodshot, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept all night.

"What's the current situation?" Yang Jian asked.

Although he hasn't returned since leaving last night, the security and surveillance around the hotel have never stopped, but no one dares to enter.

"Around 1:40 a. m., someone suddenly started calling for help in the hotel. This is the audio recording from the scene. The cries for help continued until 2:00 a. m. After that, all the lights on the second, third, and fourth floors of the hotel suddenly came on, and there were shadowy figures standing by the windows looking in this direction. This situation lasted for about two hours."

"Around four o'clock in the morning, fog suddenly rolled in at the hotel, just like what you see now. It's a very strange fog. We've been ordered to evacuate to the second warning line, and a fifth warning line will be drawn up. You should have already noticed this on the way here. All the nearby streets are blocked off, and even some of the surrounding residential areas have been evacuated."

"The cries for help came around 1:40 a. m.?" Yang Jian thought back for a moment.

This is the time when operator Qin Meirou notified me to go to the hotel for rescue yesterday. Although there was a slight difference in timing, it shouldn't be too long.

However, Yang Jian refused the request for help.

Based on his experience, he believed that the plea for help last night was a trap, so he ignored it.

"The dense fog has persisted since 4 a. m. and has not dissipated at all. Moreover, the area affected by the fog continues to expand. Judging from the rate of spread, it will cross the second and third warning lines within just 24 hours. If it cannot be effectively contained and resolved, the affected area will likely grow even larger."

Zhang Gao quickly prepared a report, telling Yang Jian everything he could summarize and observe.

"I understand. Leave this to me. If I can't resolve this, you should prepare for the worst." Yang Jian looked up at the Caesar Hotel shrouded in thick fog and said very seriously.

This particular incident wasn't a big deal, but when combined, it caused him a huge headache.

The loss of the ghost face had already been a blow to Yang Jian; if Feng Quan were to fall as well, and the ghost mist were to revive, it would be another troublesome matter.

"Okay, then I'll leave everything to you."

After finishing his report, Zhang Gao didn't linger. He solemnly said one sentence and then left with the last two security personnel, thus completing his final shift.

"Yang Jian, things have gotten worse than we thought. I know you're very capable, but you can't handle this situation alone. Let's retreat, otherwise we might all be doomed." Luo Suyī was having second thoughts again.

He increasingly felt that his previous decision was correct; he should have stayed away from the Z City incident, otherwise he might have lost his life if he had gotten involved.

Yang Jian stood before the thick fog, his eyes flashing as he fell into deep thought.

Things hadn't gone as planned, and the appearance of this ghostly fog forced him to be even more cautious.

As for withdrawal, it is not currently under consideration.