The Vanished Corpse

Because Master Luo was performing a ritual, the entire mall had been closed, including the emergency exits.

No one knew how this young man named Yan Li had appeared in the mall. He had not been spotted during the earlier patrol.

Could he have been here all along?

Was he the person Yang Jian had sensed somewhere in the mall over the past two days?

Yang Jian studied Yan Li, his mind racing with countless thoughts.

But how could the already rotting corpse be explained? He had not found it during his earlier patrol either.

Moreover, the wound at the corpse's neck was smooth and clean. Only a milling cutter used in factories could create such a cut. Yet strangely, not a drop of blood had flowed from the body.

Boss Tang, Manager Li, Master Luo, and the others watched Yan Li approach as if nothing had happened, fear written all over their faces.

A murderer? A lunatic? Or some kind of monster?

A flood of thoughts surfaced in their minds.

Yan Li held out his hand to Boss Tang. But Boss Tang took several steps back instead of shaking it and asked nervously, "Who exactly are you? What do you want?"

"I only came here to discuss a deal with you, Boss Tang. I just wonder whether you would be interested." He withdrew his hand with a smile.

"What deal?"

Yan Li said, "If I'm not mistaken, there's a ghost hiding in your mall. Everyone who disappeared here before was killed by that ghost. And right now, it's still somewhere in this mall, watching us. I can solve this problem for you, but in return, I want five million."

Boss Tang understood. This man had come to extort him.

He had already hired a master. Why would he need some shady stranger?

Before he could speak, Master Luo sneered. "Young man, what school are you from? Do you know the rules? And you're so young, barely over twenty by the looks of it. Do you even understand feng shui or the Eight Trigrams? You're probably just some half-trained amateur. I'll handle Boss Tang's problem today. If you know what's good for you, get lost."

"Otherwise, I'll have security throw you out."

Yan Li sneered as well. "You ignorant fraud. Feng shui? It might work on nouveau riche fools, but your little tricks are useless now, because there really is a ghost here. If that ghost comes out, what can that peachwood sword in your hand do? Those useless paper talismans? Even if you invited the Buddha himself from a temple, it still wouldn't do a damn thing."

"And let me warn you: watch your attitude when you speak to me. Otherwise, I'll rip out your heart and stuff it into your mouth."

The smile vanished from his face. His expression suddenly turned savage and cold as he grabbed Master Luo and lifted him into the air with terrifying strength.

That sinister tone left no doubt that he would do exactly what he said.

Cold sweat broke out across Master Luo's forehead, and panic filled his eyes. He instinctively felt terrified of the man before him.

This man was like the most vicious murderer in a prison, cold-blooded and violent.

No, even the most vicious murderer would not be as sinister and terrifying as him.

"This man is definitely a Ghost Tamer." Seeing his terrifying demeanor, so unlike that of a normal person, Yang Jian was certain that Yan Li had also been tormented by the ghost inside his body.

When a ghost lived inside someone's body, that person would constantly be affected by the vicious ghost.

The changes happened gradually and imperceptibly.

Yang Jian had already felt those changes within himself.

"Security! Security! Hurry up and restrain him! Make him let go of Master Luo!" Manager Li's expression changed as he urged them anxiously.

Liu Qiang froze for a moment, then could only force himself to walk over.

"What's wrong with you, security guard? Why aren't you coming over to help? Do you still want your job? Get over here, now!"

When Manager Li saw that Yang Jian was standing still and refusing to follow orders, he pointed at him and shouted angrily.

Yang Jian said, "You fired me earlier. I'm not a mall security guard anymore. I'll return this uniform later, which means you have no authority over me now. Handle this yourselves."

"And stop pointing and yelling at me. You may be the mall manager, but if you really piss me off, I won't mind beating you up."

"Damn it." Manager Li's face turned livid with rage.

Were security guards this bold these days? He had fired Yang Jian earlier, and now Yang Jian was openly standing against him.

Boss Tang said, "Young man, I'm the owner of this mall. If you're willing to help, you're still an employee of the company. I'll even give you a raise afterward. What do you say?"

"I think this job is a little too dangerous. I'd rather find another one." Yang Jian spoke indifferently. "But I appreciate your kind offer, Boss."

Boss Tang felt a pang of frustration. He did not blame Yang Jian, merely giving Manager Li a strange look.

This manager was an idiot. He would replace him later.

The mall was already having trouble hiring people. They had finally found two young, strong security guards, and at a time when they needed manpower, this fool had thrown his weight around and fired one of them. Now the man was refusing to help. Since Manager Li was so good at yelling, why was he not stepping up himself?

"Call the police." Boss Tang suppressed his anger and gave the order quietly.

Sister Li immediately came to her senses, took out her phone, and began making the call.

"Big Brother, calm down." Liu Qiang forced himself to approach, not daring to provoke this strange young man.

After all, he was only working for a salary. There was no need to risk his life.

"I'm very calm. If I weren't, you'd all be dead by now." A cold smile appeared at the corner of Yan Li's mouth. He slowly lowered the pale-faced Master Luo, then shoved him hard, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Boss, I've called the police," Sister Li said quietly.

Boss Tang nodded. "Don't do anything rash yet. Just keep him calm."

Looking at the corpse giving off a rotten stench nearby, it was very likely that Yan Li was the murderer. The earlier disappearances in the mall were probably his doing as well.

"Boss Tang, I think we can continue our earlier discussion. Five million, and I'll catch that ghost for you so your mall can resume normal business. How about it?" Yan Li said.

"Y-Your price is too high." Boss Tang's expression was grave.

"Compared to what's in your mall, my price is quite fair." Yan Li grinned.

"If it were lower, I could consider it." Boss Tang was stalling for time. He believed Yan Li was the murderer, and someone had already called the police.

Yang Jian watched Yan Li bargain with Boss Tang and quietly shook his head.

Yan Li was too reckless.

Although supernatural incidents were cropping up all over the world, most people still did not believe in them.

Demanding five million right from the start—no one would agree to that.

Only after Boss Tang truly saw a ghost and understood how terrifying it was would the deal become easier to negotiate.

After his previous deal with Wang Bin, Yang Jian had gained some experience.

But just as the atmosphere grew heavy—

Suddenly.

The sound of lights switching off rang out.

The entire mall was plunged into darkness.

A power outage?

Everyone froze.

"No." Yan Li's expression suddenly changed. He abruptly looked up toward the mall's fifth floor.

In the dimness, a figure stood vaguely beside the glass railing on the fifth floor, seemingly looking down at them.

And that figure seemed to have no head.

"So it's finally appeared?" A hint of madness flashed across Yan Li's face.

Ignoring everyone else, he immediately sprinted up the escalator.

"Hm?" Yang Jian narrowed his eyes. He had noticed the figure on the fifth floor as well, but then he frowned.

Because the stench of rotting flesh was on the first floor.

Was the ghost upstairs, or downstairs?

"Ah!" A female employee suddenly screamed and pointed in a direction on the first floor.

This employee was Wei Xiaohong, a cashier around twenty-five years old.

"What happened? It's just a power outage. Stop screaming." Manager Li cursed. "Now that the murderer has run off, open the doors and leave. Someone will come deal with this later."

"N-No, it's not that. The corpse that man threw down earlier... it's... it's gone." Wei Xiaohong trembled as she pointed at where the corpse had been lying.

When they looked over, there was nothing there anymore.

The corpse had truly vanished.

Seeing this, everyone's pupils contracted, and a chill ran through their bodies.

But the stench of decay still hung in the air, and it seemed to be growing stronger.