Chapter 18: The First Night

Unbeknownst to her, the first night had come and gone.

At the start, Qichuan Feng was determined to stay awake, but for some reason, Bai Yuliang’s presence gave her a profound sense of security, dispelling much of her fear. By the end, exhaustion finally overpowered her resolve, and she slept soundly through until late morning.

“Umph…”

Feeling the sunlight streaming through the window, Qichuan Feng instinctively thought she was home, about to slip on her slippers and head to the bathroom. But a glance at the opposite bed revealed Bai Yuliang seated in meditation, eyes closed.

“Awake?” Bai Yuliang smiled faintly, still keeping his eyes shut. “You slept quite soundly. Your drooling was quite entertaining.”

“Um—”

Qichuan Feng suddenly realized she was still in the dormitory, quickly wiping the drool from her mouth as she blushed deeply. Damn, she thought, embarrassed to have been seen in such a state.

“As I mentioned last night, if we find the key during the day, we can leave early.” Bai Yuliang pointed to the bottle of water in his bag. “Clean up a bit, and then we’ll set out to search.”

“Okay.” Qichuan Feng couldn’t think of a reason to object, muttering under her breath, “Guess you’re pretty capable.”

“What?”

“Nothing!”

After a quick freshen up and a tidy of their clothes—though they remained quite soiled—they opened the door. Despite the bright midday sun, an eerie chill lingered in the hallway.

“Looks like something’s stirring, even if it’s not showing itself.”

Bai Yuliang’s eyes narrowed as his gaze fixed on the elevator at the end of the hall. The doors were tightly shut, appearing normal from the outside.

“Qichuan, don’t stray too far from me.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t understand?”

Bai Yuliang turned and leaned in close, his fingers brushing her chest where she wore a protective amulet.

“Before coming here, I said this amulet has some effect. Look, it’s cracked, which means a ghost has taken notice of you.”

“Oh…”

This close, Qichuan Feng could see the fine details of his features, feeling the warmth of his breath against her skin. As a wealthy girl, this was the first time a man outside her family had been so close.

Bai Yuliang stepped back to a respectful distance, reiterating, “Ghosts are cunning creatures. While the day is relatively safe, we can’t let our guard down. Let’s stick together and search room by room for the key.”

“Okay… Okay.”

Though the chill remained, they found reassurance in the assignment’s instructions that daytime was safe. They began their search methodically, one room at a time.

The building was vast, and their search was time-consuming. As they explored, they chatted to pass the time.

“Yuliang, why don’t these ghosts come out during the day?”

“Ghosts thrive on yin energy, just as humans need oxygen. During the day, yang energy is strong, making it impossible for most ghosts to appear.”

“What’s yin energy?”

“Yin energy to ghosts is like oxygen to humans. Without it, they weaken and perish.”

“So that’s why it feels so cold here—lots of yin energy?”

“Exactly. This place has seen several tragic deaths and has been abandoned for years, allowing the yin energy to build up. It’s almost like a graveyard.”

“Ah… That’s scary! If this place is so creepy, what about actual graveyards?”

“Ha… Don’t worry too much. I’m not as familiar with Sakura Prefecture as you are, but I doubt there are any chaotic burial grounds here. Ordinary graveyards usually don’t have vengeful spirits lingering.”

He paused, his expression softening as a hint of nostalgia crossed his face.

“Even beloved spirits, would they fear us?”

Qichuan Feng paused, her thoughts drifting to her grandfather. In her memories, he was a man of both warmth and strictness. He was always kind to her, even when she accidentally dropped a shoe on his head. But when it came to her father’s mistakes, he was quick to anger.

Her grandfather had passed away when she was ten. On the day before his death, she remembered seeing him frail and weak, surrounded by people. When called to his side, he reached out a rough, swollen hand to gently stroke her face, his voice slow and labored as he told her to take care of her grandmother after he was gone.

Though her childhood memories had faded, the warmth of her grandfather’s touch remained vivid in her mind. It was the warmth of family, of love.

“No,” she shook her head, sighing. “If possible, I’d like to see them one last time.”

“Mostly impossible. Without regrets, spirits reincarnate. With regrets, they become ghosts.”

“I see…”

“Oh, found it!”

They chatted casually, almost forgetting the passage of time. Suddenly, Bai Yuliang pulled a brass key from a drawer, surprise etched on his face.

“The key to the back door!”

“Finally! We can leave!”

“But…” Bai Yuliang’s expression turned serious as he looked out the window. “The sun is setting.”

“Aah… So what do we do? Stay another night?”

“Don’t worry.”

Bai Yuliang took her hand and rushed out, explaining quickly. “This is the time of transition between day and night. Though yin energy is rising, it’s not yet at its peak. We just need to hurry downstairs!”

“Okay!”

But soon, Qichuan Feng noticed Bai Yuliang had stopped abruptly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Damn, that thing is already making its move.”

“Huh?”

“Look at our current floor.”

Qichuan Feng glanced at the wall and was shocked to see they were on the 19th floor.

“Nineteen! How did we end up higher up?”

“Ghost trap.”

Bai Yuliang didn’t elaborate, but took a stone and marked the wall before leading her on. When they descended a flight of stairs, they found themselves back on the 19th floor, facing the same mark.

“Ha… Ha… Ha ha ha ha ha!” Bai Yuliang suddenly laughed, covering his face. “Clever! Clever! Truly a ‘ghost’ with many tricks! By manipulating the stairs, it can prevent us from leaving quickly. Once yin energy peaks, it can reappear! Ha ha ha!”

Hearing Bai Yuliang’s explanation, Qichuan Feng felt a chill down her spine. She glanced outside; the last rays of the sun were being swallowed by darkness, their hope fading with the light.

Just then, Bai Yuliang wore a knowing smile.

“Indeed, you’re a cunning ghost. Among all the ghosts I’ve encountered, you might not be the strongest, but you’re definitely one of the most devious.”

“Your plan is impressive, but not flawless. Ghosts can only influence our senses, making us believe we’re in an endless loop, not actually altering space.”

Without a word, Bai Yuliang continued leading her downwards.

“Eighteen…” Qichuan Feng watched the floor numbers change. “We keep going down?”

“Let’s see.”

Bai Yuliang led her halfway down the stairs, noticing her heavy breathing. “Up,” he said, turning back.

This pattern repeated several times—sometimes changing direction midway, sometimes going up when they should have been going down.

After numerous back-and-forth trips, just as Qichuan Feng collapsed from exhaustion, a vast open space came into view. The back door was within reach!

“Ah… Ah… Finally… Finally made it…”

Qichuan Feng was so exhausted, her face flushed and sweat-soaked, nearly collapsing. Bai Yuliang let her rest briefly before approaching the back door, calmly speaking.

“You’ve succeeded in confusing our senses, making us misperceive our surroundings. Using the ghost trap to buy time is a clever tactic, but unfortunate for you, it can’t change the physical exertion required to climb stairs.”

“Qichuan is a girl, after all, and not strong. When her breathing becomes rapid, I know she’s climbing. Conversely, when she’s calm, we’re descending.”

“By using this method repeatedly, I can break the ghost trap!”

“However, you are truly cunning! A normal person might have rushed to open the door, but I knew this wasn’t the real back door. Instead, it was—”

Bai Yuliang pulled out a yellow talisman from his waist, pressing it against the door. [“Heavenly clarity, earthly peace, hide the ghosts, reveal your form!”].

As he spoke, the talisman burst into flames. The door began to warp and twist, transforming into an open elevator door.

“Ah—”

Qichuan Feng gasped, horrified by the sight within. A male corpse stood there, its head shattered, leaving only a jaw, skin pale and limbs twisted. Just seeing it sent shivers down her spine.

“If I had opened that door, I would have fallen for your trick.”

Bai Yuliang stepped closer to the elevator, his voice cold. “Don’t harm anyone else. It’s time to rest in peace.”

He showed her a news article on his phone.

“When you took your life here, the news sparked much attention. The developer is now facing legal consequences, and your former colleagues have received their due wages. You can rest easy now.”

In that moment, Qichuan Feng felt the chill in the dormitory lessen. The elevator ghost slumped to the floor, its deformed hands covering its face as it let out a mournful wail.

Bai Yuliang knew the ghost had put down its grudge, ready to move on. He prepared to recite a [“Transference Chant”], but the ghost beat him to it, bowing deeply before vanishing in a soft golden light.

“Hmph, a Buddhist?”

Bai Yuliang shook his head with a bitter smile, turning to take Qichuan Feng’s hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Just now…”

“Put down your sword, become a Buddha instantly… He laid down his evil intent and became enlightened.”

****

The next morning, Qichuan Feng woke up to find herself back in her own room, the events of the previous night feeling like a distant dream. She looked around, her heart still pounding from the memory. As she got ready for the day, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed, something profound.

****

Meanwhile, Bai Yuliang stood by the window, gazing at the rising sun. He thought about the ghost they had encountered, its cunning and the peace it finally found. Life, he mused, was a series of encounters and departures, each leaving an indelible mark.

****