Chapter 3, Wang's Axe

Thief

Lu Yan put down his phone and stood quietly in front of the kettle, only picking it up to prepare tea once the water had boiled

He lowered his head and did not remember for a long time

This has been his habit for many years

The two households on the first floor have been converted into a mahjong room and a blind massage clinic, respectively. Lu Yan had visited the clinic when he had a stiff neck. The old blind man, who might have been a blacksmith before becoming a masseur, nearly extracted all the secrets from Lu Yan during the massage.

I mentioned that I would tell you when I remembered, my name is Wang Yue. 37 He said his name very seriously, this was the first time he introduced himself to someone

Lu Yan reached out and turned off the light: "Is it dispersed?"

Is it time to go now that dawn has arrived? Wang Yue stood up, bent down, and stared at Lu Yan's profile

You reacted really quickly, and your movements are fast as well. 37 stood still, looking at him with a face full of surprise

The corridor is devoid of light, and being a closed hallway, the light from the street lamps outside cannot penetrate. The entire corridor is shrouded in darkness, with only faint beams of light visible seeping through the cracks of others' doors.

Oh. Lu Yan boiled another kettle of water, wiped the water off the microwave with a cloth, and began to mop the water on the floor

Wang Yue has a strange feeling; this intense desire to be by Lu Yan's side is somewhat familiar to him.

Wang Yue glared at this person, who had been brandishing his claws beside him for quite some time. This individual merely shivered, not even glancing in his direction, and lowered his head to take out a few items from his bag, squatting down as if preparing to pick the lock.

When Lu Yan arrived home, it was nearly 10 o'clock. The night market stalls on the small street downstairs had already been set up, offering a variety of snacks that were hot, cold, sweet, and spicy. Rows of lights hung under the red awning, lining both sides of the road.

He slowed down, gently maneuvering through the crowd and the chaotic stalls on his small electric scooter

"Is that smoke, like what you just exhaled? Smoking? Cigarettes?" Wang Yue asked

If a fight really breaks out by accident, he won't be able to help at all, at most he will just shout a couple of times "Lu Yan, go for it" from the sidelines

Wang Yue wandered back and forth on several streets until late at night, peeking into a household to check the clock; it was nearly 4 o'clock.

"I just happened to grill a few more skewers," Xu Rong said as she walked over to him with a plastic bag containing several beef skewers, her arm intentionally or unintentionally brushing against his hand. "Do you want some beer?"

No," Wang Yue squatted down beside him, "I am just tired from the transfer and have nowhere to go

This was still the first time he had seen a thief at work with his own eyes

This woman is named Xu Rong, living below Lu Yan. The child in her womb is over six months old, and she does not know who the father is. Lu Yan partnered with her to rent a stall, and when he works the night shift, Xu Rong operates the stall, with the money divided between them.

Hmm. Lu Yan responded in a muffled voice while sitting on the sofa

Lu Yan exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "This is called dedication"

Lu Yan remained silent. Wang Yue asked again, and he sighed, sat up, and lit a cigarette: "Hmm."

"Ghosts can get tired too." Lu Yan closed his eyes, resting his arm over them.

Wang Yue was taken aback for a moment, and somewhat awkwardly pointed at the door, saying, "Steal."

He was taken aback, quickly stepped back, and with a swift motion, splashed the boiling water from the kettle onto the person's face

The night market downstairs gradually enters its most exhilarating phase, with people playing rock-paper-scissors, some intoxicated revving their motorcycle engines, others arguing, smashing bottles, and occasionally, residents unable to tolerate the noise throwing things or splashing water from above, creating a symphonic and grand atmosphere

Lu Yan pushed the clothes and quilt on the bed aside, cleared a space, and lay down, briefly going over the tasks he needed to accomplish tomorrow in his mind

Apart from remembering that it was a research institute, everything else in his mind had become a chaotic mess before he died

Lu Yan looked at him; after approaching the door, he became somewhat transparent, and then slowly seemed to seep into the door, disappearing.

Is mopping your hobby? Every time I see you, you are mopping the floor

Wang Yue walked around the room twice, and finally sighed: "Then I shall take my leave."

But now it is different

Morita Therapy. Lu Yan took the beef skewers, turned the car around, and drove it into the hallway

Wang Yue! Not Wang Axe!

A ghost that is afraid of the dark would surely make the other spirits in the underworld laugh their heads off

He has never told anyone that he is actually afraid of the dark, although apart from the boatman, he has no one else to talk to. It was not easy to encounter a handsome man who could see him, yet he was still driven away.

Lu Yan turned around and looked; there was nothing behind him.

"How can you understand so much?" Wang Yue came out from the inner room and bent down to stare at his face

After a moment of silence, the ghost named either Wang Yue, Wang Liang, or Wang Yueliang began to speak again: "Can you write? The character '钺'? Not the '月' of 'moon'"

He has heard that if a ghost is trapped in the human realm, it is often because of unfulfilled wishes, such as having loved someone for half a lifetime but not having the chance to confess before passing away, or being buried halfway with only the head left lingering at the bottom of the river. In short, someone must help fulfill their wishes before they can be reincarnated

I have already made arrangements with someone else, Guan Ning said, without inquiring about his reason for resigning

"I didn't ask how you got in here," Lu Yan turned off the water. No one had ever been able to get this close to him without being discovered. He was thoroughly frightened, especially when he realized that the guy behind him was not human. "I ask you why you keep following me. Haven't I already told you? Grandma calls me a good baby. The versions differ in the back. Do you want me to recite them to you one by one?"

Lu Yan opened the documents and reviewed them. He had previously worked with this person, and he was generally familiar with the photographs and the family situation. For him, this task posed no difficulty

Lu Yan stood at his door for two seconds, confirming that there was no one inside. He took out a small flashlight from his pocket and shone it around the gaps of the door, then opened the door and entered the room

Lu Yan parked the car in front of a stall selling barbecue, spicy hot pot, and beer. There were already two tables of people seated at the stall. A young woman with a big belly, busy behind the barbecue grill, looked up and was momentarily taken aback, then called out: "Yan Ge? Aren't you on the night shift today?"

"I wasn't here originally, I just passed by," Wang Yue turned around and leaned his head out the door to take a look, "There is someone at your door, didn't you hear the sound?"

Wenyuan Street is considered the oldest neighborhood in the old city, with security issues frequently making headlines in the local news. The environment is dirty and chaotic, and the residents who have lived here for decades carry a unique aura, blending seamlessly with the neighborhood, indistinguishable from one another. Stepping out onto the street, one can almost see the two characters "Wenyuan" written on their foreheads.

The fourth floor is very quiet. Opposite Lu Yan lives an elderly couple. The old man is mute, and the old lady gets up every day at 4:30 AM to scold the wicked new society for half an hour before going out to buy breakfast at 5:00 AM

"Are you on patrol?" Lu Yan stubbed out his cigarette and sat back down on the sofa

Are there any other mistresses, a fourth one would do as well? Lu Yan lit a cigarette and stood there, watching the tiny bubbles at the bottom of the pot, as fine as a needle's tip

After drinking two cups of tea, Lu Yan opened the computer. Guan Ning's email had already arrived, requesting a concise response, and the attached information was quite detailed

Only after the boiling water was splashed did Lu Yan finally see who this person was, suppressing the emotions of shock, anger, and fear, preventing him from smashing the kettle as well.

Since he could no longer take on major projects, he has been renting a place here for nearly three years, and has already adapted to the sounds filled with the essence of lower-class life. Listening to these sounds gives him a sense of stability, and before long, he feels drowsy

"Is it true, you have never seen smoke?" Lu Yan turned over, facing away from him, somewhat unable to comprehend, "How long do you plan to stay here with me"

Ah, 37 suddenly burst into laughter, "I remember my name!"

You..." Lu Yan turned around, put down the kettle, leaned over the sink, turned on the faucet, and splashed several handfuls of cold water on his face before managing to finish his sentence while holding onto the edge of the sink, "What on earth is going on with you?"

Wang Yue stood in the shadow of the streetlight, as a ghost that becomes weak during the day, yet he did not particularly like the night

So many books! he exclaimed in surprise

He is currently pondering how to make this ghost stop following him

The bustling night market has dispersed, leaving the ground littered with garbage, bamboo skewers, food containers, tissues, and many other items whose true nature is unrecognizable

This ghost... To be honest, Lu Yan still hasn't had the time to calm down and ponder this matter. He cannot fully believe that he has truly seen a ghost, but if this is indeed a ghost, it seems quite different from the impressions he has had since childhood. It does not look frightening; in fact, it is rather beautiful, with big eyes that appear innocent and harmless.

Wang Yue was taken aback for a moment, then quickly approached the man, discovering that he was carrying a bag and was pressed against the door, listening intently.

Thank you ... ... Thank you ... ... '' The voice by my ear seemed to suddenly let out a sigh, gradually becoming quieter, and then it disappeared

No," Lu Yan said, raising his hand to flick her arm.

"Has he left?" Lu Yan asked, but no one answered

Lu Yan ignored him and stood motionless in front of the kettle after mopping the floor

"Which one is becoming more and more annoying?" Lu Yan casually asked.

"Then are you on guard?" Lu Yan lay down on the sofa, casually pulling over a coat to drape over his stomach

He recorded the content, deleted the email, and then used specialized software to clean it up again

Cultural? Do you know the meaning of the character "钺"? Lu Yan turned off the induction cooker, took the boiled water into the living room, and leisurely sat on the sofa to start brewing tea

Lu Yan restarted the car, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, wondering just how stubborn this ghost must be

"Give me a few pieces of beef." Lu Yan waved his hand

Wang Yue had not read many books, having only flipped through a few medical journals. He was quite surprised to see such a large volume, but aside from the few rows of Chinese characters at the bottom, the rest were all foreign languages. He could recognize English, but there was a row of other languages he did not understand: "Do you read these books? Can you understand them?"

Lu Yan gently shook the cigarette between his fingers, leaned his head back, let out a long sigh, and said in a low voice, "Why are you still here?"

I have resigned," Lu Yan called Guan Ning, placed the kettle on the induction cooker to boil, "I will still go to see the mistress tomorrow.

There has been, there used to be

Wang Yue had no choice but to lower his head and walk through the door into the room. He knew that Lu Yan was at home; this person might not necessarily succeed in stealing, but he had seen a knife in this person's bag

Lu Yan remained silent, which could be considered as tacit approval

"No." Wang Yue stared at Lu Yan, who had changed into a black tight-fitting tank top and a pair of sports pants, clearly revealing his solid muscles and alluring waistline.

The water splashed loudly onto the microwave behind that person, instantly creating a cloud of steam.

The memories he cannot recall are related to that large grayish-white maze-like house, but he is also unwilling to think about them, as they do not seem wonderful.

He has little concept of time, but the nights are still too long, and the feeling of wandering aimlessly is quite uninteresting

He squatted by the riverbank, gazing at his own reflection for an entire day, noting down his appearance. He found himself quite good-looking and could not understand why other ghosts would avoid him so much.

He used to have such feelings, when was it? Where was it? For whom?

In the darkness, Wang Yue saw a bookshelf in the inner room, with books densely arranged from the floor to the ceiling, covering half the wall.

Someone is looking for a document. I will send you the details via email. If you are willing to accept it, please reply to me. After saying this, Guan Ning hung up the phone

"Yes, it's almost over," Wang Yue nodded and asked, "Can you turn off the lights?"

The axe is... Wang Yue followed out and stood in front of the coffee table, "It seems to mean axe."

He walked over and looked outside through the peephole, but it was pitch black and nothing could be seen

In the past, he would not have been able to take on such a task, and Guan Ning would not have assigned him such work; it is simply an insult

"Oh!" Xu Rong exclaimed, as Lu Yan's strength was considerable this time. She frowned and rubbed her arm vigorously, "What are you doing!"

No, no, it is... it is..." Wang Yue circled around him several times, "It is the axe of swords, spears, and axes!"

A family on the second floor is watching television, laughing wildly, while another household is not at home

I? Didn't I say that I could go directly into the house?" 37 wandered around in the kitchen, "I tried, but I couldn't knock on the door, I can't reach the door...

Oh. Lu Yan responded, "Swords, guns, axes, and halberds? This name is truly inappropriate, as it carries too much killing intent"

A man was lurking outside Lu Yan's door

The night invigorated him, and even his insubstantial body could feel at ease. However, in the darkness, he often experienced some inexplicable visions. No, not visions; dreams? Not that either, for he did not need to sleep

A series of somewhat panicked footsteps ran down the stairs outside the door two seconds later

Upon entering the room, he discovered a small lamp beside the sofa that illuminated only a small area of the sofa, and surprisingly, Lu Yan was leisurely leaning against the sofa, smoking.

I don't look frightening myself

According to this statement, is this little ghost trapped because it does not know what the next line of the "Bridge of Grandmother" is?

Upon reaching the corner on the fourth floor, he heard a sound

He hesitated for a moment, walked into the corridor, and slowly made his way to the fourth floor

He has always felt that "home" is a very interesting place, completely different from the atmosphere of the research institute, with many colors, a variety of items, various tables and chairs, cabinets, and... books

Lu Yan turned on the television, watching while sipping tea

There are no pedestrians on the street; not to mention people, he hasn't even encountered a solitary ghost or spirit.

Usually, I can encounter two or three, but I do not know why they run away upon seeing him, as if they have seen the King of Hell. Sometimes, they can even scatter themselves in their haste to flee.

Lu Yan closed his eyes for a moment to compose himself before slowly turning around and saying, "What does it have to do with me?"

After wandering around for another two laps, Wang Yue found himself back at the bottom of Lu Yan's building

He remembers the arrangement of every item, and even the clothes carelessly thrown on the sofa, he can tell whether they have been moved by someone.

Is it a unique culture? Wang Yue felt somewhat pleased.

"I heard it," Lu Yan said, standing up with a cigarette in his mouth. He walked over and knocked on the door, "It's been 20 minutes already. If it doesn't work, let's come back tomorrow. The old lady across the street is about to get up."

Wang Yue was pacing back and forth in the room; he had never stayed in someone else's home for such a long time and found it quite novel

Perhaps it is memory

There are people in Xu Rong's home on the third floor, likely her younger brother, who comes to scavenge Xu Rong's money every now and then. The family across the hall is beating their son, resembling a form of punishment, but it is evident that the one being punished is not a tough character. Lu Yan has ascended three flights of stairs, ... he has already shouted "Grandma, help!" four times ...

As soon as I turned around, I suddenly realized that someone had appeared behind me without my noticing.

Wang Yue knows what he is like, although he saw a mirror for the first time only after his death, and he could not see himself in the mirror, he discovered that there could be a reflection in the water

The room is somewhat messy, with clothes thrown about haphazardly, and the slippers scattered as if they have been carelessly tossed around. Lu Yan does not particularly enjoy tidying up; the more chaotic it is, the greater his sense of security.

"Oh, truly cultured," Lu Yan nodded, poured water into the teacup and sniffed it, then looked up at him, "Wang Futu, are you not leaving yet?"

Lu Yan slowly ascended while holding a skewer of beef, his steps light and his breathing gentle, his ears attuned to every sound within reach