Assistant Li Yao

When Yang Jian took the elevator to the twentieth floor of the Ping An Building, the elevator did not stop at the twentieth floor as expected, but continued to go up.

"Um?"

Yang Jian was still thinking about how to come up with a legitimate reason to fool his mother and explain that he had become Ghost Tamer when the elevator's anomaly brought him back to his senses.

"It can't be a paranormal event." Yang Jian ruled out the worst possibility after only a brief glance.

Since it's not a paranormal event, it's probably just an elevator malfunction.

However, the possibility of an elevator malfunction here is obviously quite small; there's no reason why the elevator would malfunction right after we got on.

"Was it man-made?" Yang Jian thought of a third possibility.

He wasn't flustered, because once he was certain it wasn't a paranormal event, there wasn't anything else he needed to worry about.

The elevator finally stopped at the top floor, the 100th floor.

This is one of the tallest buildings in J City, much taller than the Shangtong Building in Dachang City where Yang Jian lives.

Moreover, the elevator goes directly to the top floor without stopping at any other floor, which further proves that Yang Jian's guess might be correct.

"Ding-dong~!"

Finally, the elevator opened its doors on the 100th floor.

This floor is very spacious, somewhat like a fireproof floor in the middle of a building. There is no fancy decoration or complicated architecture, only a few desks, a few computers and a few sofas.

Compared to the area of the first floor, these furnishings are insignificant.

Yang Jian stepped out of the elevator, looked around, and saw no one. Finally, he coldly said to the empty floor, "Since there's no one on this floor, let's just make it disappear. It's pointless anyway."

He didn't believe there was really no one on this floor.

Ping An Building is used to house the company's employees' families, so every floor must be very valuable. It's impossible that they would intentionally leave one floor unused.

"Sorry, I thought you wouldn't just take the elevator up. After all, when you discover an elevator malfunction, most people would think of stopping it or using some kind of ability to escape. I didn't expect you to do nothing at all. You have a very keen intuition; did you already guess that the elevator was tampered with?"

A woman's voice rang out.

Then a tall and mature woman wearing a professional short skirt and white shirt walked out from behind a pillar in high heels.

She smiled, her enthusiasm tinged with confidence. "Hello, Yang Jian, my Li Yao, I'm the assistant here. I hope my actions just now didn't offend you, after all, being able to contact Ghost Eye Yang Jian under reasonable and legal circumstances is a rather rare opportunity."

"So I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

"Li Yao?" Yang Jian's expression shifted. "Never heard of her."

"I'm just an insignificant nobody; I've naturally never heard of a hero like you," Li Yao said.

Yang Jian, "No need to flatter me. You know I'm here to visit my mother, so you specially controlled the elevator to bring me here. Obviously, you were prepared. So, what do you want to see me about? I have a bad temper and am prone to offending people, so you'd better be prepared no matter what it is."

"Because in most cases I wouldn't agree."

Li Yao smiled and said, "It's rare to meet someone so direct and genuine."

"Only incompetent people need to be hypocritical with others for fear of offending them and indirectly affecting their own interests. Why would someone like me, whose life is not even in my own hands, care about that?"

Yang Jian said, "So just say what you have to say quickly, because I don't want to waste time and energy on people I don't know."

"That makes sense. People like you don't need to waste words on polite formalities. A direct approach is more in line with your style." Li Yao gestured, "However, we still need to observe proper etiquette when entertaining guests. Please have a seat, and I'll pour you a cup of tea so we can talk slowly. There are some things that are closely related to you, and I think you should know the details."

"Since you're an employee of Ping An Building, I'll give you five minutes." Yang Jian frowned. Considering the Headquarters' background here, he didn't turn around and leave immediately. Instead, he checked the time and walked over.

"Would you like tea or coffee? We also have juice," Li Yao said, walking to a small bar counter nearby.

Yang Jian, "A sugary drink will do."

Li Yao paused for a moment, then took a canned beverage and placed it on the coffee table; "Your taste is truly unique."

"It's very ordinary, nothing special," Yang Jian.

"Tell me, what do you want? You're not trying to seduce me, are you? To be honest, I'm not really interested in older women like you. If you're going to try to seduce me, I hope you can find someone who suits my taste."

Li Yao's smile froze slightly, "Your idea is also very strange."

"Is it strange? After all, your outfit is just like one of the older women I know. But it seems your information is outdated. Just because she likes to dress like this doesn't mean I do," Yang Jian said slowly.

Jiang Yan became hopelessly enamored with the allure of her profession, believing she could completely captivate Yang Jian, unaware that his tastes were not what she expected at all.

"Before we get down to business, I'd like to ask you what your thoughts are on the Captain Plan?" Li Yao asked.

Yang Jian, "I firmly support any decision made by Headquarters. I fully agree with any plan that is for the benefit of the people and am willing to fight for it for the rest of my life, even at the cost of my life."

"..." If Li Yao hadn't known about Yang Jian's file, she would almost have been moved by his words.

"According to my information, the spots for the Captain Plan have been gradually determined, and there aren't many left—there should be two," Li Yao said slowly. "And you're not among them, which means that under normal circumstances, you most likely won't be selected for the Captain Plan."

Even if you've already been nominated, and are considered a frontrunner.

Yang Jian frowned. "I didn't even know about the Captain Plan, and the selection is already over? This is too ridiculous, it feels like there's something fishy going on."

Li Yao smiled and said, "Some things were decided at the very beginning of the plan, and not just anyone can change them. Moreover, this plan has the support of various parties, not just Headquarters. Although your resume is impressive, your presence does not align with the interests of all parties, so you understand, right?"

"Got it. To put it bluntly, it's about losers like me. I'm neither competitive nor controllable. It's a waste to put resources on me. Hmm, I think someone mentioned this to me before, and it was similar to what you said." Yang Jian recalled what Zhong Shan had said at the airport yesterday.

His intention was to gather a group of top Ghost Tamer, fight for a voice, and obtain a captain's position, but he refused. However, Zhong Shan was not angry and was still waiting for his reply.

"Your special circumstances will naturally attract more than one group of people to contact you, but I believe no one will ask for a higher price than us," Li Yao said with a smile, very seriously.

"Who are we referring to?" Yang Jian asked.

"Most people."

"Most of whom are they?"

Li Yao said, "Most people are like you."

"What can I get in return?" Yang Jian asked.

"You have to do something first before you can get anything," Li Yao said with a smile.

Yang Jian, "Does this have anything to do with not joining you?"

"It's very relevant. Once the Captain Plan is implemented, the situation will change completely. Even if you are the person in charge of Dachang City, you could still be taken down if you offend certain people," Li Yao said. "This is a new rule, and you should be within this new rule, not outside of it. This is better for you and for all of us."

Yang Jian laughed at that moment, like a 200-pound child.

"You think it's funny?" Li Yao asked.

Yang Jian's smile was cold, sending chills down one's spine. "You're threatening me?"

"There's no threat involved; it's just describing something that's about to happen, a reality you have to face," Li Yao said.

"I'm curious, an ordinary person would be nervous or even afraid when facing me, but you are fearless. Who gave you such courage and confidence?" Yang Jian leaned forward slightly and stared at the unfamiliar woman Li Yao.

Li Yao said, "Because you are only valuable to us, not essential. If we weren't worried about the resurgence of vengeful spirits, we could have dealt with you right here. Don't forget, you're just a newcomer. Do you know what level the first batch of Ghost Tamer had reached before you?"

"The paranormal may no longer pose a threat."

Yang Jian laughed again, this time with a mocking smile, "Have you been brainwashed? You actually believe this kind of lie?"

"I won't be angry if someone says something out of ignorance," Li Yao said, shaking her head slightly.

"Ignorance? What makes you think my conclusion is based on ignorance? How many paranormal events have you experienced?" Yang Jian said, "The earliest Ghost Tamer weren't afraid of the supernatural? That's because they hadn't experienced enough."

The most remarkable early Ghost Tamer only lived for two or three years, perhaps controlling three ghosts, or even becoming an anomaly among Ghost Tamer, so they didn't have to worry about the resurgence of vengeful ghosts.

But compared to the Ghost Tamer of the Republican Era, these people are nothing.

A hundred years ago, all the top figures have died, leaving only dilapidated old houses and some soul bottles as evidence of their past ghost-catching efforts.

What does this mean?

This means that this resurgence of terror has only just begun.

The truly terrifying part is yet to come.

Yang Jian witnessed many potential horrors, but they hadn't yet manifested in the world. For example, the enormous black shadow nailed to a coffin beneath the temple, the ghost behind Zhao Kaiming, the secret of the human skin paper, what the ghost coffin was gestating, the cemetery the ghost carriage passed through, the existence of the mummified bride, and the walking male corpse at the Caesar Hotel in Z City.

Countless hidden dangers are gradually emerging, and the supernatural events encountered by the initial Ghost Tamer are no longer on the same level as those that occur later.