Chapter 105: Escape
The water ghosts’ resentment pierced Gao Ming like poisonous needles. Even if he had escaped, the hatred didn’t dissipate. Seeing Gao Ming in such pain, Zhang Ding silently walked to Gao Ming and pressed down on Gao Ming’s head. The pain and resentment lingering on Gao Ming flowed into Zhang Ding’s palm like water. Very soon, a new wound appeared on Zhang Ding’s arm. At the same time, Gao Ming felt much better.
He opened his eyes and gasped for air. He held his heart and slowly sat up. He turned to Bai Xiao. “I’m sorry I can’t save everyone. I’ve tried my best.”
Bai Xiao was a cool person. He didn’t know how to respond. After a while, he said, “Thank you for saving my teammates and my little sister.” This was probably Bai Xiao’s first time thanking someone. He was very sincere.
“You don’t need to thank you. I have my own goals to help you. It’s not innocent.” Gao Ming’s honesty surprised the people and ghosts present.
Gao Ming raised his hand and grabbed Bai Xiao’s arm. “Are the regulars in the supermarket ghosts? Did they save you?”
Bai Xiao didn’t know what was Gao Ming’s angle. After some thought, he nodded. “These customers saved us, but we are also trapped here because of them.”
“It’s the underground water ghosts who trap you here. Furthermore, these victims were trapped in the water when the flood came. Was it their fault?” Gao Ming didn’t let go. He needed Bai Xiao to see his point of view.
Since Bai Xiao didn’t speak, Gao Ming continued, “Did we want to be like this? Did they have a choice not to be a ghost?”
Bai Xiao had an answer in his heart, but he was confused, “Why are you speaking for them?”
“There are good and bad ghosts, like how there are good and bad humans. I’m only helping the good and innocent.” Gao Ming looked at Bai Xiao’s uniform. “Do you think everyone in the investigator centre is good?”
Seeing the change in Bai Xiao’s expression, Gao Ming slowed down. “Qin Tian will die on his trip to the east city. After that, it’ll be your turn to die. You think your deaths can protect the citizens, but for Situ An, you are just sacrifices for the evil ghosts. Even your souls have been priced.”
“Situ An? I think you have a misunderstanding of the centre.” Bai Xiao had no idea Situ An was already the temp chief of the east city.
“You are the best investigator at Li San. After you leave the supermarket, you can contact Qin Tian. You will discover the other side of the east city centre.” Gao Ming stared into Bai Xiao’s eyes. “I was once the chief of a centre myself. I know more things than you realise.”
“Was there a chief as young as you?” Bai Xiao didn’t believe it. However, if that were true, it would explain Gao Ming’s understanding of the anomalies.
“There is one younger than me, but he’s already dead.” Gao Ming tried a few times but couldn’t stand up. He gave up. “After Qin Tian gives you the news, you can contact me.”
Gao Ming wanted to gift Qing Ge’s black knife to Bai Xiao. The knife was found by Doctor Lu in the shadow world. It was extremely rare because it could damage ghosts. However, the owner of the knife would be suspected as Qing Ge’s murderer.
Bai Xiao didn’t think Gao Ming was lying. Gao Ming could have stood and watched everything crumble, but he had paid a heavy price to save so many people. A person like that did not need to lie to him. Bai Xiao just couldn’t accept the truth for now.
“Be it ghosts or humans. I just want you to understand one thing.” Gao Ming let go of Bai Xiao. “Those who want money will do anything for money. Those who want power will turn on each other to achieve their goal. Think about what you want in life and see who is on your side.”
Bai Qiao and the other newbies slowly woke up. Their bodies were wet with shadow. Their skins were unusually white. They were more like ghosts than humans.
“Big brother…” Bai Qiao was weak. The first thing she did was to call for her big brother and then remove her black band. “I’ve recorded everything. You have to carry out the new rules for the supermarket.”
Bai Xiao took the black band and hugged his sister. He had been doing this a lot, so he knew once the body was infiltrated by shadow. They would be lost in the shadow world, and they couldn’t return to the real world anymore.
“Your sister and the other members are still Li San investigators. They can be the security here.” Gao Ming didn’t treat Bai Qiao as a hostage. They just happened to stay in the shadow world. “You will meet again. I will turn Li San into a large base. When the tragedy arrives, humans and ghosts can find sanctuary here. I will save everyone that deserves to be saved. That is my stance.”
Gao Ming used many deaths to recognise many reliable partners, so he didn’t need to fight alone anymore. After the chat with Bai Xiao, he turned to Zhang Ding. None of his death memories contained Zhang Ding. Based on the fact that Gao Ming was once the chief of Li San Centre, he made a bold guess that he and Zhang Ding had once cooperated in the past.
“There are too many water ghosts trapped underground. If we don’t wear down their resentment, the tragedy can explode at any time. You will never find freedom too.” Gao Ming stared at the wounds on Zhang Ding’s arms. “They have already morphed into the new flood. If you keep them here, it’ll only attract more resentment. When you can’t support this anymore, the ‘dam’ will burst again.”
The past memories tortured everyone in the supermarket. They knew Gao Ming was right.
“Perhaps we can take them out one by one and help them.”
“You don’t mean killing them, right?” When Zhang Ding ran the supermarket, the neighbours supported him a lot. Therefore, he wanted to support them now.
“How is that possible? Every one of them is kind. They are the best citizens here.” Gao Ming still remembered what he saw in the nightmare. They worked together to stabilise the ladder on the floor to help the kids escape.
“The two worlds are colliding. Perhaps we have a new solution now.” Hugging the corpses of the two kids, Gao Ming continued, “I’ll bring them out of the shadow world and get the two kids to return to their normal lives, and then I’ll come back to help the other customers.”
At that point, Zhang Ding didn’t reject Gao Ming’s good intentions. He told Gao Ming some things and walked to the supermarket entrance. “Every time the door opens, the water ghosts underground will attack. Line up and try to get out in five seconds.”
The investigators carried their partners. Gao Ming grabbed the two kids.
As Zhang Ding opened the door, the supermarket floor crumbled. All the dirty water leaked out. The water ghosts rammed into the floor.
“Leave!”
The investigators ran out into the storm. After leaving the supermarket, the shadow started to fade. They survived the anomaly.
“Brother…” As the shadow disappeared, so did the investigators saved by Gao Ming from the underground. Their expression was pained.
“Zhang Ding not only opened the supermarket door but also the door to leave the shadow world. The boss’ power is very special.” Gao Ming wanted to leave the supermarket and meet up with Wei Dayou. Then, he would have Wei Dayou tell Bai Xiao how evil the east city centre was. However, Zhang Ding sent them out of the shadow world directly.
After leaving the shadow world, the corpses of the two kids disappeared and became a death portrait. When the flood came, the neighbours held up the ladder to send up the two kids with black faces. There was no word on the back of the picture, only the time when the dam broke.
Bai Xiao had a complicated expression. Including all the newbies there were only six newbies left from Investigation Team One.
Bai Xiao found a place to hide from the rain. Bai Xiao didn’t use the black band but used his private phone to contact Qin Tian.
After a few simple exchanges, Bai Xiao’s face turned solemn.
“Have Qin Tian met Situ An?” Gao Ming came over.
Bai Xiao nodded. “He will be sent to Han De Private School tomorrow morning. Based on records, four batches of investigators have been sent there already but no one has survived.”
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