Free Web NovelChapter 101: Chapter 19: An Intelligent Ghost
Gao Tian leaped directly into the black chasm, landing steadily on the first floor of Jin Hai Mansion. Amidst the ruins, he was surprised to see a familiar figure: Wang Bowen, sitting on the ground in his plaid shirt. It was hard to imagine how unbelievably lucky he must have been. With half of Jin Hai Mansion destroyed and surrounded by collapsed, fractured pillars, Wang Bowen, who had been on the first floor, was completely unscathed. Not even his glasses were broken.
He had probably been blessed by some of Gao Tian’s ghost luck. People Gao Tian didn’t want to die simply wouldn’t.
Seeing Gao Tian jump down from the second floor and land right in front of him, Wang Bowen stared blankly for a long time. He slowly struggled, trying to get up, but his footing was unsteady. He stumbled to one knee and began to wail. Then he started dry-heaving, vomiting up everything he could from his stomach until it was empty. When there was nothing left to throw up, he continued to sob convulsively.
It was unclear if he was celebrating his narrow escape from death or mourning the loss of the entire company. His department was gone. Everything he had worked so hard for in the big city, the reason he had persevered until now—it was all gone.
The scene before him felt familiar.
He had already seen this outcome in the Altar of the Future.
However, the only difference was that right now, he lacked the confidence and arrogance of the "Gao Tian" from the altar’s vision.
The luck from the black tie could only save him and Wang Bowen; it couldn’t save everyone in Jin Hai Mansion. In the end, Gao Tian hadn’t managed to eradicate the two mass murderers, Ghost Cave and Ghost Infant. He had only reached a temporary compromise with Xu Yuan, the leader of the Jialan Society.
’I’ll have to take things slowly from now on.’
Gao Tian took out the mirror he was carrying. With a thought, he placed two urns—one empty, one containing the Shattered-Face Ghost—into the mirror.
’Now, let’s see who arrives first: the Spirit Disaster Bureau or Xu Yuan.’
Just as Gao Tian was standing there waiting, the sound of a train whistle echoed from the distance, beyond the smoke-filled ruins of the mansion.
A train...
’A train?’
’How could a train suddenly appear in a place like this?’
’This is insane.’
For a moment, Gao Tian thought he had misheard. He looked up toward the distance where an entire wall had collapsed. A black, old-fashioned train was actually hurtling toward him, its whistle blowing repeatedly.
The rushing wind was so strong Gao Tian could barely keep his eyes open. Before this massive "black dragon," Gao Tian and the still-kneeling Wang Bowen were as insignificant as ants.
Strangely, no one else seemed to notice the ghost train that had appeared at the fire scene—not Wang Bowen, nor the firefighters, paramedics, and reporters rushing into the blaze in the distance. Only Gao Tian could see it.
The fierce wind whipped at the corners of Gao Tian’s clothes. When the train was just a few meters away, Gao Tian remained perfectly still, ready to escape into his mirror at a moment’s notice.
The train screeched to a halt with an exaggerated, physics-defying deceleration.
From the engine cab, a rotting arm reached out the window. A crimson mouth split open on the hand dripping with thick fluid, and it spoke in a human voice, asking Gao Tian:
"Memory Ghost?"
Hearing that name, Gao Tian knew who had sent this phantom.
He asked in return:
"From the Jialan Society?"
The bloody mouth on the arm grinned.
"Boss Xu Yuan sent me to take you to the Divine Tree."
"Hurry up, those lunatics from the Spirit Disaster Bureau are almost here. Go around to the other side and get on."
Before leaving, Gao Tian pulled Wang Bowen up from the ground, urging him to flee the fire and meet up with the rescue teams rushing into Jin Hai Mansion.
After sending Wang Bowen away, he circled to the other side of the engine, where the footplate had already been lowered. Gao Tian stepped up and entered the ghost train.
Inside the cab of the old-fashioned engine, a rotting male corpse was at the controls. The ghost’s appearance was utterly bizarre: its mouth was on its arm, its two eyes were on its legs, its nose was on the back of its skull where bone was exposed, and its two ears were on its chest.
Even for a ghost, he was a real weirdo. It looked like this guy had completely let himself go after becoming a ghost.
Seeing Gao Tian aboard, the driver ghost wasted no time, yanking a lever to drive the phantom train away from Jin Hai Mansion.
To look at Gao Tian while speaking, it had to lift its legs so the two eyes on them could face him.
"We’re about to enter the Inner World directly, pass through a few stations, and arrive at the Divine Tree."
"When we’re flying high in the Inner World, don’t look at the scenery below. Especially near the dangerous stations, like Pagoda Primary School, Blood Gate Village..."
"Those places have been real strange lately. Unsettled."
"If you see something you shouldn’t and get yourself killed, that’s one thing. But this dead man’s head will have to be buried right along with you."
So, this bizarre-looking driver ghost was named Dead Man’s Head.
Hearing this warning, Gao Tian quickly spotted a flaw and couldn’t help but ask:
"Aren’t we all ghosts? Are you still afraid of dying?"
"The things in Pagoda Primary School are ghosts, and I’m a ghost. It’s the first time for all of us being ghosts, so why should I have to defer to them?"
Hearing Gao Tian’s question, Dead Man’s Head slowly turned its legs. The eyes on them stared directly at him, a strange look appearing in their pale gaze.
A moment later, it spoke a sentence that was absolutely earth-shattering. Gao Tian’s expression remained calm, but inside, a storm was raging.
"Memory Ghost."
"You’re not actually a ghost, are you? You’re a living person."
Hearing Dead Man’s Head’s probing question, Gao Tian’s expression didn’t change much.
His mind raced:
’What did I say wrong? Where did I slip up?’
’The ironclad rule that ghosts can’t die came from Ghost Cave in the chat group. It’s not something I just made up.’
’Why are even ghosts from the Jialan Society afraid of the ghosts at Pagoda Primary School? Is there some kind of hierarchy among ghosts?’
’Or is Dead Man’s Head just trying to bluff me on Xu Yuan’s orders?’
He calmly asked in return:
"What’s wrong, Dead Man’s Head? Did I say something incorrect?"
"Or are you saying you think ghosts can die?"
Dead Man’s Head sighed. Under its control, the ghost train slowly ascended, soon flying away from Jin Hai Mansion and floating high above Shanghai. Clouds drifted below, and they were about to enter the skies of the Inner World.
It calmly repeated a sentence:
"You’re not wrong. Ghosts really don’t die."
"But do you think these forms we’re in now—not quite human, not quite ghost—really count as being ghosts?"
Hearing Dead Man’s Head’s explanation, Gao Tian grew even more confused.
’It’s not a ghost?’
That was quite possibly the most ridiculous thing Gao Tian had heard in months.
Dead Man’s Head reached for one of its ears, which was on its chest.
"Forget it. You were probably just turned into a ghost by the Divine Tree, so you don’t know anything."
"Let me explain some of the basics. Otherwise, you’ll really start thinking you’re an immortal, unkillable ghost, and you won’t even know how you died when it happens."
It was hard to say if it was his ghost luck at work or if Dead Man’s Head was just this type of person in life. It didn’t seem to suspect Gao Tian anymore, instead coming up with an excuse for him on its own.
Gao Tian was more than happy to play along and listen attentively.
’What exactly is the Jialan Society up to? They’ve been calling themselves ghosts for so long, so why is Dead Man’s Head suddenly denying it?’
’It’s better to make a fool of myself here and figure out how the Jialan Society operates than to go to the Divine Tree, meet the cunning Xu Yuan, and have my cover blown then.’
Dead Man’s Head said:
"First off, if we’re going to discuss something, we need to define it. Otherwise, you’ll be talking about apples, and I’ll be talking about oranges. We’d be wasting our time."
"In your opinion, what kind of existence is a ghost?"
Gao Tian thought for a moment.
"Ghosts are what humans become after they die."
"Ghosts are immortal and unkillable."
"Every ghost has mastered at least one killing rule. A small number of powerful ghosts can manifest a Ghost Realm."
"Also, killing the living is a powerful, instinct-like attraction for them."
Dead Man’s Head retorted:
"So, do you think a ghost should possess intelligence?"
"Like us, able to hold a normal conversation, even discuss rather abstract concepts?"
"Does a ghost like that fit your stereotype, or perhaps, the public’s perception?"
Its question made Gao Tian fall into deep thought.
It was true. Under normal circumstances, ghosts shouldn’t be intelligent.
The Shattered-Face Ghost, the Long-necked Woman, the Mirror Ghost—all the ones he had encountered were muddle-headed, unintelligent beings. They couldn’t communicate and refused to try, carrying out their slaughter like pre-set programs.
The Memory Ghost could communicate with humans, but that was just part of its killing rule. Ultimately, it was also just a creature that only knew how to kill.
But the existence of this group of "ghosts" from the Jialan Society seemed exceptionally special.
Looking at their chat logs, they seemed just like a group of living people.
Xu Yuan even had emotions. He could negotiate a deal with Gao Tian and make mutual concessions.
This was a misconception Gao Tian hadn’t noticed for a long time—
The "ghosts" of the Jialan Society were an extremely special type, fundamentally different from other, naturally formed ghosts.
Dead Man’s Head let out a strange laugh.
"I’ll just give you the answer, kid."
"Ghosts aren’t supposed to have intelligence. Ghosts are indescribable, incomprehensible beings that refuse to communicate with humans."
"If a ghost retains its human memories and emotions while also gaining the immortal, unkillable nature of a ghost—"
"Then in a sense, how is it any different from an Immortal?"
"The Immortals of ancient legends were said to live forever, their lifespans equal to the heavens, and they were masters of all kinds of magical arts. Isn’t that just a ghost that has retained its intelligence?"
"If every ghost could keep their memories and intelligence from life, then becoming a ghost after death would seem like a wonderful thing. The flesh is weak; who would resist becoming a ghost?"
"That’s not a normal ghost. Normal ghosts don’t even have self-awareness; they become walking corpses. That’s why the living are so opposed to becoming them."
"Do you understand my logic?"
Gao Tian could hear his own voice trembling slightly. He did his best to hide it.
"Then, according to you..."
"What exactly are the members of the Jialan Society, and Ghost Cave, for that matter?"
