A Special Rag Doll

Yang Jian originally planned to extort money from Zhao Jianguo, but unexpectedly, a person in charge named Shen Liang was temporarily replaced.

It doesn't matter who I extort; it's all the same.

He wouldn't let this go easily unless he reimbursed himself for the losses of this operation. After all, this incident was too dangerous due to the supernatural encounter. He was inexplicably slashed by a ghost, which destroyed an entire ghost candle. He went through two or three life-or-death situations. Although he gained two teammates, Feng Quan and Tong Qian, some things still needed to be settled.

Think about it, if Yang Jian hadn't taken a ghost candle with him last time, he would have died in the Z City incident.

Therefore, one cannot be so noble; one must be selfish when necessary.

About ten minutes later.

Shen Liang returned with a serious expression. This time, he didn't have a warm smile. It was unclear whether he was heartbroken because Yang Jian had extorted him, or if he was afraid of Tong Qian's face staring at him again.

"How did it go?" Yang Jian asked.

He wasn't so bored as to eavesdrop on Shen Liang's conversation, so he had no idea what Shen Liang was discussing during those ten minutes.

It doesn't matter; he only cares about the result, not the process.

Shen Liang sat down, sighed, and said, "Reimbursing two ghost candles is definitely not something that can be done in a short time. Such strategic resources require strict application. Yang Jian, you know that you were only rewarded with one ghost candle last time for solving an S-class paranormal case, so I really can't do anything about it."

"Then there's nothing to discuss," Yang Jian.

Shen Liang added, "However, since we don't have ghost candles, I can use something else as a substitute, as compensation for your losses in this operation."

After he finished speaking, he waved to his companions.

A specially made briefcase was brought over and placed on the desk.

"What could possibly be more valuable than two ghost candles?" Yang Jian didn't look at the briefcase, but stared at Shen Liang and said, "Let's not even talk about the white ghost candles; Wang Xiaoming probably has plenty of those. The key is the red ghost candles, which can ward off attacks from vengeful ghosts. Without those, no one can guarantee they won't die in a supernatural event next time."

"This thing is even more special than the ghost candle in some ways, and it's very difficult to obtain, but in terms of value, it far surpasses the two ghost candles you're asking to reimburse this time." Shen Liang said very solemnly, "I would never have taken it out for anyone else, but because you made a contribution in the Z City incident and rescued Feng Quan and Tong Qian, greatly reducing casualties for Headquarters, I made an exception and took it out."

"I knew your Headquarters had some special stuff. You've been researching ghosts for so long, and you have top-notch, highly intelligent people like Wang Xiaoming working with you. How could you possibly have no results at all?"

Yang Jian chuckled softly; "Hiding things and holding back, to put it bluntly, means they don't trust us Ghost Tamer."

"What's in the box? Let's take it out and see."

Shen Liang said, "I can take the things out, but I have one condition."

"Condition?"

Yang Jian tilted his head and looked at him. "You haven't even given me anything yet and you're already making demands, making it seem like I'm begging you. If that's the case, don't call me for help next time there's a supernatural event somewhere."

"No, it's not a condition, just a small request. I hope that Tong Qian can come to J City with me after this incident is over," Shen Liang said.

"Why are you asking me why I want to transfer Tong Qian to J City? Wait, the higher-ups are very concerned about Tong Qian's resurrection, aren't they? I also have to go to J City next month. Do you want to take this opportunity to find out about this?" Yang Jian said in a deep voice, his eyes flashing.

A perceptive fellow.

Shen Liang was secretly amazed. Although Yang Jian was young, his intuition and reaction were extremely fast. No wonder he had survived so many supernatural events.

There's a reason why they survived.

"This is an order from above. I hope you won't be offended. After all, if there are any lessons to be learned from Tong Qian's resurrection, it will reduce a lot of unnecessary casualties in the future. This would be a fortunate thing for the whole country. Of course, you don't need to worry. Headquarters will not treat you unfairly."

Since the matter had been clearly stated, Shen Liang spoke frankly.

Yang Jian, "Tong Qian's resurrection is irreplaceable. Do you think ghosts are easy to control? These taboos should not be broken because the consequences are unimaginable. Tong Qian will not go to J City with you; she will only be in charge of Z City, now and forever."

But before he could finish speaking, Tong Qian interjected, "Yang Jian, I know what you mean, but if my resurrection can be replicated, it would be a good thing for everyone. Captain Shen, don't worry, I will go to J City. I will act immediately as soon as I receive the order."

Upon hearing this, Captain Shen was overjoyed, thinking that Tong Qian was following Yang Jian's lead, but he didn't expect that the situation was not like that.

Yang Jian's face darkened. Tong Qian's saintly heart was overflowing. It seemed he hadn't reformed her thoroughly enough. Didn't she know that the reason she could be resurrected was because she had never actually died?

Moreover, in terms of true resurrection, only Zhang Wei has achieved this so far.

However, Zhang Wei's resurrection comes at a great cost: each resurrection requires the release of a ghost from the Ghost Mirror, and the consequences of abusing this power would be incredibly terrible.

"Whatever, whatever makes you happy," Yang Jian waved his hand, remaining calm.

Since the secret to resurrection is in my hands anyway, studying Tong Qian would only be a waste of time. The reason I don't want Tong Qian to get involved is because I'm afraid it will bring me some trouble.

"Then it's settled. Please accept this." Captain Shen opened the briefcase and turned it towards Yang Jian.

Yang Jian frowned immediately upon seeing the contents of the suitcase.

The suitcase contained a palm-sized rag doll, made of dirty, worn-out fabric. It was stuffed with something that reeked of decay and death. A gold needle, about the thickness of a pencil, was stuck in each of the doll's limbs, stomach, and head.

Six golden needles were firmly fixed on the object inside the briefcase.

"Something strange." Yang Jian's eyes flickered slightly; he instinctively sensed an eerie aura emanating from the rag doll.

This aura is exactly the same as when facing a ghost.

After observing it for a moment, he looked up and asked, "What's the use of this rag doll?"

Shen Liang didn't speak, but simply removed the gold needle from the doll's head.

Immediately.

The doll's head started moving; it twisted and turned from side to side, like a trapped little person trying to break free.

Shen Liang immediately put the gold needle back in, and the rag doll stopped moving again.

"It can move. If it's not pinned down, it will run away, but it's not very dangerous. It will only run for a few days at most. Once the cloth on top wears out and tears, the contents inside will leak out, and the doll will die. It's a special kind of consumable," Shen Liang said.

"As for its function, it's very simple: it can die in your place once."

"This thing can replace a person's death once? Are you kidding me, Captain Shen? You're not lying to us, are you?" Feng Quan, who was standing to the side, was astonished when he saw it, but he didn't believe that such a good thing existed.

Shen Liang said, "How can this be a lie? All you need to do is drip a drop of your blood onto this rag doll, then remove the golden needles and let the rag doll run away. Any ghosts that attack you will turn their attacks on the rag doll instead. And most importantly, as long as the rag doll isn't killed by the ghosts, you'll be absolutely safe."

"Scapegoat dolls?" Yang Jian's gaze sharpened. "Have they been tested?"

"Of course, how could I dare to release it without testing it?" Shen Liang said confidently.

Yang Jian looked at the crooked, black stitches on the rag doll and, after careful examination, was certain that they weren't sewn with cotton thread, but with hair—a woman's hair, because only a woman's hair would be that long.

However, the stitching technique used on the rag doll was truly appalling; it could only be described as barely successful. No one's handiwork would be this bad.

"This thing can't be made by humans, can it?" He looked up and said solemnly, "Whether it's by hand or machine, it's impossible to make a doll like this. This technique is very similar to that of a ghost."

Like the writing left by a ghost on a newspaper, it was crooked and pieced together, with no trace of writing at all.

"I'm sorry," Shen Liang said, "This is all confidential, I can't tell you any more information."

"Is it possible that I, at my current level, wouldn't know?" Yang Jian.

Shen Liang shook his head and said, "To be honest, even I don't know. I only know it's highly confidential. Perhaps Professor Wang knows."

Yang Jian didn't ask any more questions. He pondered for a moment and said, "If this thing is really as you say, then the losses from this operation will be reimbursed. However, Wang Xiaoming still owes me a ghost candle, so you'll have to go and urge him to pay it."

He was a little worried about the doll.

This is most likely something created by a ghost; it has a strange, eerie, and malevolent quality.

But Shen Liang's words were so resolute; he must know that this thing is truly useful to dare to take it out, yet the information about this rag doll seems to be highly confidential.