Chapter 16: The Ghost Sister’s Final Lead

The camera pushed forward, sweeping past withered branches and fallen leaves.

 

Cangcang took a flashlight from her pocket, its beam illuminating the dark corners of the building.

 

Inside, the furniture was old and broken, scattered haphazardly on the floor.

Thick dust covered everything like a layer of cloth.

Cangcang pushed aside a chair blocking the doorway.

Dust immediately billowed up, making her cough several times.

 

“Did you ever see her before?”

Qianyang asked.

 

After a person dies and becomes a ghost, they forget everything from their life.

Only memories that were extremely important to them leave some trace.

 

Her leaving Cangcang’s home and coming to the orphanage probably wasn’t a coincidence.

Then, her initial choice to stay by Cangcang’s side likely wasn’t a coincidence either.

 

Cangcang said with confusion, “I don’t remember…”

 

– Could the ghost sister have been a child from this orphanage?

– Possibly.

– Maybe she knew Cangcang from before.

– …Unbelievable.

I know this orphanage.

– The one that was exposed for child abuse two years ago!

It was in the news.

I thought it looked familiar.

– Holy shit?

Cangcang and the ghost sister were both children from this orphanage!

 

Cangcang said, “I remember there were many children at the orphanage.

Everyone had a hard life.

Some children who were adopted out often got returned with injuries.”

 

“But I don’t remember if she was here too.”

 

Qianyang said, “Perhaps something happened to her, and she ended up at the orphanage.

Her parents have been searching for her all along.”

 

Cangcang smiled.

“Then she must miss her biological parents very much too.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Cangcang walked through the building and arrived at a desolate small courtyard.

 

The night wind stirred the dust on the ground.

In an instant, it suddenly turned into a strong gale, whistling through the openings in the doors and windows, making a wailing sound.

 

– So scary…

– It’s a shame they don’t film horror movies here.

 

“Master… there aren’t any other, other ghosts here, are there?”

Cangcang unconsciously lowered her voice.

 

Qianyang did not answer immediately.

 

Her gaze lingered on one spot in the screen.

After a moment of silence, she shook her head. “…No.”

 

Cangcang: “…”

 

– …

– AHHHHH!

– Why the hesitation!

– There aren’t!

There aren’t any other ghosts!

– There definitely aren’t, right!

 

Qianyang said, “Don’t let your imagination run wild.

There aren’t that many ghosts in the world.”

 

Cangcang immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s good.”

Although she wasn’t afraid of the ghost sister, that didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid of other ghosts.

 

Cangcang arrived at the doorway of a room.

She shone the flashlight on the floor.

Amidst the thick dust, she saw a single clear footprint, as if someone had passed by not long ago.

But it was only one footprint.

 

– Damn…

– Goosebumps.

– AHHH so scary!

– Streamer protect me!

– Sob sob, I really wish this was just a regular rule-bending stream.

 

“Master, is she inside?”

Cangcang asked.

 

Qianyang nodded.

“Inside.”

 

Qianyang put away the Sky-Asking Compass and said, “This place has very heavy yin energy.

Combined with your constitution, I have a way for you to sense her.

Are you willing to try?”

 

Cangcang answered without hesitation.

“I’m willing.”

 

“Good.”

 

Qianyang took the phone, placed it on a stand, then beckoned to Yang Mao.

“Apprentice, come over.

Learn together.”

 

Qianyang really didn’t like to waste any time.

 

Yang Mao grimaced, but didn’t dare resist.

He listlessly said, “Oh.”

 

Qianyang then said to the stream viewers, “This is a relatively simple method to see ghosts.

Choose the right time and place, and even people with weaker yang energy can sense ghosts.

It’s not as troublesome as mediumship.”

 

– AHHH I don’t want to hear this!

– Streamer, forget it… I’ll learn whatever comes up.

– Haha, I’m in criminal investigation.

Is it bad for me to learn this?

– …I’m alone on duty in the mortuary right now!

– That’s perfect!

Being alone on duty is so boring.

Learn with the streamer, and you’ll have company.

– …

– Just kidding.

That Object-Locating Art from before was completely useless.

– Right.

– Feudal superstition.

– Freaks.

Didn’t the streamer say not everyone can learn it?

– If you don’t believe in the occult, why are you clicking in?

 

The comments started arguing again at the drop of a hat.

Qianyang was used to it.

 

Qianyang said, “Interested viewers, watch my hand gesture closely.

I’ll try to go slow.”

 

Cangcang said, “I’m ready.”

 

“Good.”

 

Qianyang pressed her palms together to form a seal.

She placed her thumbs together against her forehead, then slid them outward to her temples.

Then she brought her hands together in front of her chest, forming a complex gesture.

A faint, almost imperceptible ripple of air appeared around her, then vanished in an instant.

After completing the sequence, Qianyang exhaled a breath.

“All done.”

“This is called Opening the Yin Eye.”

 

– What the hell?

– I don’t get it.

– Isn’t the streamer embarrassed?

– No incantation?

That’s how it works in the movies.

 

“Incantation?… Open!

Is that okay?”

 

– Pfft haha.

– Streamer, this feels so scripted.

I’m out.

– I suspect the little black cat story was scripted too.

 

[Xuanqing tipped streamer one durian]

[Zhenzhen Daozahao tipped streamer one durian]

[Second Person of the Occult tipped streamer one Fruit Stand]

 

– Thank you, fellow practitioner!

– First time learning such a simple method to open the yin eye.

– Fellow practitioner is truly skilled.

– AHHH why didn’t my master teach me such a simple method?

Every time I do mediumship, I have to prepare a ton of stuff!

 

Qianyang said, “This method of opening the yin eye needs to be done in a special place.

Fellow practitioners, haven’t you learned it before?

Later, I will teach everyone many more occult techniques.

Oh right, fellow practitioners from Xiaoyueliang platform, remember to pay your tuition.”

 

“Holy shit!”

Just then, Cangcang suddenly exclaimed.

 

Qianyang said, “How do you feel?”

 

Cangcang said with shock, “I, I think I sense something.

Is she at my feet?”

 

As she spoke, Cangcang pointed the camera at the ground.

 

“It feels like something is clinging to my foot,” Cangcang said.

 

Qianyang casually said, “That’s not her.”

 

Cangcang said “Oh,” then suddenly felt something was wrong.

 

– ???

– Damn!!!

– So there really are other ghosts here!

– AHHH!

Help!

I’m turning off the stream!!

– Sob sob, I want to cry.

So helpless.

– The streamer is so heartless!

– …

– …Oh no, I think I see a shadow.

– Me too.

– (Trembling) I see it too.

– Is it at Cangcang’s feet?

Shaped like a little dog?

– Yes!

– AHHHHH!

Oh my god!

It’s real!

– Holy shit?

– No way?

– So many people can see it??

– I can’t see anything!

 

Qianyang stared at the screen for a few seconds and said, “This is normal.

Viewers with low bodily energy right now, after opening the yin eye, will be able to see.”

“Those viewers, study the heart sutra every morning for the next week.

It will help restore your energy.”

 

– Shocked… so ghosts really exist.

– Seeing it with my own eyes for the first time!

– I’ve been unlucky lately.

Thank you, master!

– AHHH I admit it!

I admit it!

The streamer is the one true god of the occult streaming zone.

– Oh man, first time learning something real from an occult streamer!

 

“Master… can I keep walking?”

Cangcang asked shakily.

 

Qianyang said, “Yes.

It means no harm.”

 

“Okay…”

Cangcang carefully stepped around the dog-shaped shadow on the floor and walked deeper inside, shining her flashlight.

 

The room had no light at all.

It was pitch black.

Cangcang raised the flashlight, sweeping it across the dusty floor.

Her footsteps echoed through the empty room.

 

“Little sister?”

Cangcang called out tentatively.

 

The ghost sister no longer remembered anything from her past, naturally including her own name.

Cangcang didn’t know if calling her that would get a response.

 

The toy room was large, mostly empty, very spacious.

 

Cangcang walked further in, her courage gradually growing.

 

The flashlight beam scanned the corners, finding nothing unusual.

 

– Wait!

I think I see it!

– Left, left!

 

Qianyang said, “Cangcang, shine the light to your left.”

 

“Okay.”

 

The flashlight and the camera both moved left, stopping at a wall.

 

Qianyang said, “She’s standing by the wall.

Do you see her?”

 

Cangcang’s breath caught. “…I think so.”

 

– I see her, I see her!

– Holy shit!

I really see her!

– Like a shadow, standing by the wall!

– Oh my god!

The streamer wasn’t lying.

She really can see with her naked eye!

– I never believed in this kind of thing before.

Damn, my worldview is being overturned.

– As the saying goes, the end of science is the occult.

Sure enough!

– …

– Can you guys really see?

You’re not shills, are you?

– I’ve been unlucky lately too.

Why can’t I see anything?

– The streamer hired so many shills.

Isn’t she afraid of being exposed?

 

Although some viewers had opened their yin eye, the majority still couldn’t see anything.

Those viewers were outside Qianyang’s scope of teaching.

 

“What does she look like?”

Qianyang asked.

 

Cangcang stood frozen.

“I can only see a blurry shadow.

She’s facing away from me.

Exactly the same as I dreamed about her last night…”

“Try calling her.”

“…Little sister?”

Cangcang called out tentatively.

 

Yang Mao pressed close to the screen, staring intently at the wall.

Where was the shadow standing?

Hearing the voice, the shadow moved slightly, slowly turning around.

 

“Master, she heard!”

Yang Mao said excitedly.

 

– AHHH!

She really moved!

– Streamer, awesome!

 

Cangcang unconsciously stepped forward.

The facial area of the shadow fluctuated slightly.

 

Cangcang’s breathing quickened.

“I hear her!

She’s speaking!”

 

“Go home… go home…”

“Mom and Dad… are still waiting… go home…”

Cangcang murmured those words.

 

– Huh?

She spoke?

– I can see her, but can’t hear anything.

– Me neither.

 

“Go home… go home…” Cangcang’s voice grew choked.

“Master, she wants to go home!”

 

“She has a home!”

Cangcang could barely contain her excitement.

 

– Sob sob.

– The ghost sister isn’t a wandering ghost.

She wants to go home.

Her parents are waiting at home for her!

– She must have had a very hard life.

– I don’t know why, but I feel sorry for Cangcang.

– Me too…

She’s an orphan, abused as a child, ran away on her own, lives in a 300-yuan place, eats one-yuan instant noodles, has no family, no home, yet she’s happy for a ghost who has a home.

– I want to cry.

 

Yang Mao saw the shadow turn its body back to face the wall.

 

Then Qianyang said, “Cangcang, take a look at that wall.”

 

“Okay!”

Cangcang was no longer afraid at all.

She hurried to the wall.

“There’s something on the wall!”

 

“Take a look.”

 

The wall was covered in thick dust.

Cangcang extended her calloused hand and wiped away the dust, revealing a photograph.

 

Cangcang said, “This is a photo of the orphanage from before.”

 

The stream viewers also saw the photo.

 

It was taken when the orphanage had not yet fallen into disrepair.

Only the buildings were visible.

No people.

 

By the time the stream ended that day, viewership had approached one hundred thousand.

 

“Master, our tip income today was one hundred and twenty thousand yuan!”

Yang Mao looked at the backend tip amount, smiling so wide he couldn’t close his mouth.

 

“One hundred and twenty thousand…”

Qianyang actually had no concept of money amounts down the mountain.

Previously, she had measured everything against 25-yuan giant grab-and-go pancakes.

With one hundred and twenty thousand in tips a day, she didn’t know how many pancakes that could buy.

 

The next day, at nine in the morning, Qianyang started the stream on time.

 

The viewers who had been waiting early all popped up at once.

 

– Morning, morning, morning!

– After breakfast, listen to the heart sutra, then beautifully watch the stream.

– Wow!

Qing Ning Live has entered the top ten for seven-day downloads!

– The streamer is awesome!

All this traffic was brought by the streamer.

– Qing Ning official really should kowtow to the streamer.

– Agreed.

– …

Moderator 9958: Thank you, Master Qianyang (kowtow)!!

 

During this time, Qianyang had been all the rage online.

Many netizens had followed the trail to the Qing Ning Live app.

 

After yesterday, when Qianyang’s stream viewership nearly broke one hundred thousand, the viewership of other streamers on the same platform had also been pulled up significantly.

Qing Ning’s downloads and user activity were unprecedented.

 

– That’s it?

– That’s it??

– Your boss’s smile must be splitting his face these past two days, right?

– Signing the streamer for five million wasn’t a loss at all!

– You should show some appreciation for all the traffic she’s brought your platform.

Moderator 9958: Yes, yes, yes!

 

Immediately after, the moderator tipped a ton of gifts, nearly filling the entire screen.

 

– That’s more like it.

– Back when the streamer asked for a five hundred thousand signing fee, other platforms wouldn’t agree.

Now they must regret it, right?

– These past two days, many occult enthusiasts have migrated to Qing Ning.

Even the traffic of Qingsi, the head streamer on the neighboring platform, has dropped.

– Haha, just talking about this makes me laugh.

Qingsi’s fans, come out and take a few steps?

A few days ago you were mocking our Qianyang for being a nobody streamer.

Come out and take a few steps now?

– So this is the joy of nurturing a streamer into fame!

– Correction: Nurturing a *capable* streamer into fame is this joyful.

– I really wonder what the bosses of other platforms are thinking now (chin in hands).

At the start of the stream, it was as lively as an early morning vegetable market.

 

Before Cangcang came online, Qianyang taught them some acupoints beneficial to the body.

Everyone studied fairly seriously.

 

Soon, Cangcang entered the stream.

Qianyang invited her to connect.

 

“Master.”

Cangcang moved a chair and sat in the sun.

“Good morning.”

 

“Good morning.”

Qianyang greeted her.

“What did you dream about last night?”

 

Cangcang raised a hand to her forehead to block the sunlight streaming down, casting a shadow on her face.

She sighed.

“I dreamed that the ghost sister was lying on a hospital bed.”

 

“She looked very sick.

She had many tubes inserted into her.”

 

Cangcang said, “Was I wrong?

Maybe she died of illness.”

 

Qianyang shook her head.

“The specifics, probably even she herself doesn’t know.”

 

“Sigh.”

Cangcang sighed.

“Then what can we do to find her biological parents and send her home?”

 

Qianyang said, “If she doesn’t send you dreams about it, you’ll have to find a way to search yourself.”

 

Even though Qianyang had been called a once-in-a-century genius by her master, she couldn’t solve everything.

She couldn’t perform fortune-telling for ghosts, let alone that after a person dies, all connections to the world are severed, and all memories are lost.

She couldn’t calculate that either.

 

– Doesn’t the streamer have a way?

– After all, the ghost sister herself doesn’t know where her biological parents are.

– So what can be done?

– If the ghost sister isn’t sent to reincarnation soon, Cangcang’s luck will get worse and worse.

 

Qianyang thought for a moment and said, “Since she was able to go to the orphanage unconsciously, that place must hold deep memories for her, part of her obsession.

There should be clues at the orphanage.”

 

Cangcang said, “But the orphanage has been abandoned for so many years.

Even if there were clues, they’re probably gone by now.”

 

– Is the streamer capable or not?

– Occult streamers on four other platforms are also looking into this.

They say the ghost sister really exists and that she was still a minor when she died.

– If the streamer can’t do it, Cangcang, you should check out other platforms.

There are a few streamers willing to help you for free.

– If you don’t send the ghost sister away soon, it’s bad for your health too.

– Streamer, don’t waste time.

Yang Mao watched from the side, gritting his teeth.

 

What the hell?

What were those streamers doing before?

Why weren’t they willing to help for free before?

Now that the situation had blown up and caught the attention of netizens everywhere, these people were popping up like mushrooms after rain, wanting a piece of the pie, wanting to grab this massive traffic.

How could things be that easy?

 

Qianyang didn’t mind.

“If fellow practitioners are willing to help, of course I won’t refuse.

However, since they’re so enthusiastic, it shouldn’t matter where they put in the effort.

Why would Cangcang need to go into their streams?”

 

– Exactly!

– Dying of laughter.

We didn’t see them come out before.

Now that Cangcang and the ghost sister’s story has become popular, they’re all kissing up.

– Since you’re so enthusiastic, does it even matter if Cangcang goes into your stream?

– Agreed.

– Just say you want to ride on her traffic, okay?

 

Qianyang continued, “No matter which stream Cangcang is in, if fellow practitioners can find the ghost sister’s biological parents before me, your abilities will be there for all to see.

Naturally, believers will support your streams.”

 

– Right!

– Cut the pretentious nonsense.

– Whoever finds the ghost sister’s biological parents first is the one true god of the occult streaming zone!

– Escalate, escalate!

 

Yang Mao snorted.

“I hope you’re not all just talk.”

 

Qianyang said, “Of course, Cangcang, it’s your choice whether to stay or go.”

 

– This is magnanimity!

This is the magnanimity of a true master!

– Learn from this, you screen-lurkers!

– Truly, skill doesn’t match up, and temperament doesn’t match up either.

– The streamer deserves to be famous!

Cangcang gave a flattered smile.

“Master, this is the first time I’ve had a choice.”

 

Qianyang said, “We don’t have a contractual relationship.

You can choose someone else at any time.”

 

Cangcang shook her head.

“Master, I trust you.

You’re the only one I trust.”

 

“Then I will definitely not let down your trust.”

Qianyang smiled.

 

Qianyang didn’t pay further attention to the comments.

 

Qianyang had Cangcang ride her scooter directly to the orphanage.

Meanwhile, she had Yang Mao search online for any relevant information.

 

At the same time, Qianyang’s words from the stream had already been spread widely.

 

Recently, Qianyang’s streams had been everywhere online.

Naturally, occult streamers on other platforms also wanted a piece of the pie.

Somehow, a phenomenon formed.

If you clicked into any occult stream on any platform that day, every streamer was researching Cangcang and the ghost sister’s situation.

 

This resulted in more and more buzz.

Almost the entire occult circle was paying attention to this matter.

 

Whoever could first find the ghost sister’s biological parents would become the undisputed number one in the occult streaming zone.

 

– Oh man…

– Every occult streamer I follow is researching the ghost sister’s matter.

– Some streamers are already doing mediumship on the spot to ask ghosts.

– …Wait, why does it feel like we’ve suddenly shifted from a scientific world to an occult world overnight?

– The person above, this is your first time in the occult circle, right?

Actually, this is normal.

– Before yesterday, I was still a steadfast materialist.

Then I learned the streamer’s method to open the yin eye…

Haha, I saw a ghost.

The comments were lively.

In just a few minutes that Qianyang hadn’t paid attention, the viewership had already risen to sixty thousand, and was still visibly growing.

It was bound to break one hundred thousand today.

 

Yang Mao lifted his head from the computer and sighed.

“Master, I couldn’t find any news online about a one-year-old girl who went missing fourteen years ago.”

 

Qianyang thought for a moment.

“She was too young, couldn’t even walk properly.

It’s unlikely she wandered off on her own…

Could someone have taken her?”

 

Yang Mao agreed.

“Possible.

Also, fourteen years ago, many of the older generation preferred sons over daughters.

Maybe they hid the ghost sister from her biological parents and abandoned her at the orphanage?”

 

“That’s not impossible.”

 

As they spoke, Cangcang had already returned to the abandoned orphanage.

 

“Master, I remember there’s a record room here.

If we’re lucky, we might still find some clues.”

At this, Cangcang gave a dry laugh.

“But I don’t remember where it is.”

 

Qianyang said, “Do as I say.”

 

“Huh?

Okay…”

“Go through the corridor.”

 

“Oh…”

“Up the stairs.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“The second room at the end of the corridor.”

 

Cangcang grasped the dust-covered doorknob and turned it gently.

The door opened.

 

“The record room?”

Cangcang said with surprise.

“Master, how did you know this was the record room?”

 

Qianyang said, “The old man beside you told me.”

 

Cangcang: “…”

 

– ???

– AHHHH streamer, I’ll fight you!

– Don’t casually tell me there’s a ghost here!

– I’m done!

– Sob sob, being a timid person is so painful.

– It’s okay, it’s okay.

The sun is strong right now.

Not scared, not scared.

 

Qianyang said, “He seems to remember you.”

 

Cangcang shivered.

“Master… please don’t say anymore.”

 

“Oh.”

 

This record room wasn’t large.

Several bookshelves stood haphazardly.

Some papers were scattered messily on the floor.

 

Qianyang said, “In the grid on the third shelf, second row, there’s a document.”

 

Cangcang said, “…Also told to you by that old man?”

 

“Yes.”

 

– To be fair, the streamer’s ability to see ghosts with her naked eye is pretty useful.

– There might be ghosts who have been wandering here for a long time and know something.

– How is this different from cheating!

– Would you want this cheat?

– No, no!

I don’t want to see ghosts.

– It seems everyone has fully accepted the streamer’s ability to see ghosts with her naked eye.

– Dying of laughter.

Is anyone still doubting that?

Whether others believed her or not, Qianyang didn’t know.

But Cangcang naturally believed her one hundred percent.

 

She followed Qianyang’s instructions, walked to the third bookshelf, and found several documents from long ago.

 

Although the papers were moldy and yellowed, most of the content was still legible.

 

Cangcang looked them over carefully and said, “Master, this seems to be about me.”

 

“What?”

Qianyang asked.

 

Cangcang held one of the documents in front of the camera and explained,

“This has my photo from when I was five years old…

They said I died.

Died of illness.”

 

Qianyang: “?”

 

– ???

– Holy shit?!

– Damn!!!!

– No way?!!

– Oh man!

Extreme plot twist!

– Cangcang is the ghost?!

Cangcang muttered, “Am I dead?”

 

“You are not dead,” Qianyang said.

 

Yang Mao said, “Probably after you escaped from the orphanage, the staff, afraid of exposing the child abuse, lied that you died of illness.”

 

“Oh… right, possible.”

Cangcang nodded.

 

– I almost thought this was a supernatural event.

– Wake up.

It’s already a supernatural event.

 

“There’s also a form here… seems to be a visitor log for a certain day.”

 

Cangcang held up another piece of paper to the camera.

Some names were written on it, with the reason for visit written next to them.

But there was no date, so it was unclear which day.

 

Just then, Cangcang vaguely sensed something.

Her arm trembled unconsciously.

 

“Master… I think I sense little sister,” Cangcang said.

 

Qianyang looked at the screen, pressed her lips together, and nodded.

“She says, Mom and Dad are on the visitor list.”

 

– !!!

– Holy shit?

– Mom and Dad once came to the orphanage?!!

 

The stream instantly erupted.

 

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