Chapter 008: Barking of Dogs

Before him, these gravestones belong to his old comrades who once fought alongside him, though they have merely departed a step ahead

I am almost going crazy. I have only heard of people being forced to repay money, but I have never heard of anyone being forced to borrow money. I tried to avoid him, but this guy just clung to me, refusing to let go. I had no choice but to say: "Bro, can I call you bro? There are so many people on the road, why did you have to pick on me? I really don't lack money."

Upon hearing this, he laughed heartily, eagerly exchanged phone numbers with me, and said, "What could be more important than money"

I still trust the old police officer; since he said this method would work, I have no doubts. Master Liu, holding a knife, sat in the middle of the flower shop like a fierce deity. I don't know if it's just my illusion, but it feels like the negative energy in the shop dissipated significantly as soon as he sat down

I appear to be smiling on the surface, yet inside I am exceedingly anxious. To be honest, if it weren't for my trust in the old police officer, I would definitely find a place to hide. Although hiding would ultimately be futile, at least I wouldn't be sitting so openly in the flower shop waiting. I truly have no confidence in Master Liu's capabilities.

He did not hear it and continued to walk forward. A thin mist rose in the darkness, slightly obscuring my vision, and a sense of foreboding arose in my heart

I have truly never encountered such unreasonable persistence. When did I ever consider you a brother? The more he clings on, the more I dislike him. However, looking at the darkening sky, I feel anxious and do not want to waste any more time with him. I can only go against my conscience and say: "Alright, we can discuss this. Let's exchange phone numbers, shall we? I really don't have time today; I have urgent matters to attend to."

Someone pried open his mouth, only to find it filled with fragrant ash and - images - books, along with a few unburned remnants, which were extracted using tweezers

Master Liu has a very straightforward personality; he is a genuine butcher, unafraid of the supernatural and not intimidated by trouble. With a bone knife hanging at his waist, he patted the handle of the knife and said, "If there really are ghosts, I will kill them just like I do with pigs"

Old policeman, old policeman, sigh... I took a deep breath, recalled his last words, and dialed the phone: "Hello, how are you?"

I shook my head and said, "I have never heard of it before"

To enhance his credibility, he also patted the gleaming boning knife at his waist

The other party responded quickly; the old police officer had already reached an agreement with him. As soon as I initiated the conversation, he understood and patted his chest, saying, "Don't worry, come to my flower shop tonight, I guarantee everything will be fine"

We found him in the cemetery, dressed in a brand new uniform, with his hat set aside, and the police badge shining brightly

I haven't lost my temper yet, yet you are already upset. I fear ghosts, not people. Grabbing Big Gold Tooth's tie, I said: "You old man, how dare you speak to me like that? Can't you talk properly? Why are you blowing air at my neck for no reason?"

The old police officer's superior is also not young, having partnered with him for many years. Although it is a subordinate relationship, it is actually quite similar to that of friends. He was so angry that his face turned pale.

I don't have time to waste with him. I picked up the handbag, and fortunately, the bottle didn't break. I said, "I'll say this one last time: I don't need money, nor do I want to borrow any. Please step aside."

He glanced at me and then walked out

As we ate, drank, and chatted, we became increasingly spirited. Glancing at the clock, it was nearly midnight. I couldn't help but swallow and looked towards Master Liu

I was terrified, feeling a chill run down my spine, and hurriedly ran forward. I could see the store ahead, but I couldn't afford to have any mishaps.

His manner of death was peculiar; there were no wounds on his body, yet his mouth could not close. One hand rested on the tombstone, as if in a moment of confession, while the other hand clutched his throat, his entire face contorted in agony

I stood by the side, tears streaming down uncontrollably. I wiped them away, only for more to flow out. I knew, I knew everything. Their investigation would yield no results; the murderer simply does not exist, or rather, the murderer is beyond their reach. Dying from inhaling fragrance, this manner of death has already revealed everything. I recalled the resentful gazes from last night; although I was somewhat prepared, I never expected them to be so ruthless!

In the eyes of others, I am a lost and foolish person, almost stumbling along the street. Ultimately, I am just an ordinary person, and when faced with such situations, I feel a sense of helplessness throughout my body

On top of the leather shoes were dress pants, followed by a suit. Summoning my courage, I took a look and exclaimed, "Damn! It turns out to be that big-toothed guy from last time who wanted to borrow money from me!"

I ran for my life, with someone chasing behind me. I could hear their footsteps clearly, and they were calling out to me. How could I dare to look back? I was so scared that I wet my pants. I hurriedly quickened my pace, but unexpectedly, I twisted my ankle and accidentally fell to the ground. The sound of the broken bottle clattering echoed around me. I thought to myself, it's over, and I covered my head, not daring to look up. A pair of polished leather shoes appeared in front of me.

People fear evil spirits, and spirits fear evil people. The butcher that the old policeman contacted for me is surnamed Liu, named Liu Xiong. True to his name, he is quite robust, nearly two meters tall, with broad shoulders and a sturdy waist. The moment I laid eyes on him, I felt a sense of security, believing that this person indeed exudes a fierce aura and can certainly intimidate those evil spirits

He hasn't gone far, perhaps about fifty steps away. I don't know what he is doing. I saw him draw the bone knife that was tucked at his waist, glinting in the moonlight. From a distance, I could see it clearly.

I found it strange, and just as I was about to ask further, Master Liu stood up and said, "I will go out and see where the wild dog came from"

I laughed it off and finally managed to deal with him, cursing him in my heart countless times. Fortunately, I returned safely to the flower shop, where Master Liu was already dozing off, snoring loudly. I woke him up and we drank together. Looking at such a robust man, his alcohol tolerance was quite average; after just a few drinks, his face turned red. He let out a belch and said, "Just for this round of drinks, I’ll help you settle this matter. Later, I’ll slay ghosts when I see them and gods when I see them, without any hesitation!"

Upon hearing this, Dajin Ya seemed to realize that he was indeed at fault. His demeanor weakened considerably as he muttered, "Who the hell knew you were so timid? I was just joking with you, and you, instead, ran off like a coward."

He spoke with great confidence, putting his arm around my shoulder and said: "This is fate, amidst the vast sea of people, the first time I saw you, I felt we were destined to meet. As for not lacking money, let's not even mention it; in this day and age, who isn't short on money? Really, treat me as a brother, just ask me to lend you money, no interest, just sign a receipt and that's it"

I was contemplating whether to tell him the truth when suddenly a loud barking of a dog came from outside

At the critical moment, he felt a bit anxious inside and said in a rough voice, "Do you really think there are ghosts in this world?"

He really believed in the book, patting his chest and saying: "Don't worry, as long as you borrow my money, I guarantee you won't see a single ghost; the ghosts will avoid you."

Other police officers also harbor anger; the veteran officer dedicated over 20 years of service, and in the end, he met such a fate, which leaves no one feeling good inside

As soon as Master Liu left, I immediately felt uneasy, sensing that the flower wreath shop had become eerie again. I shivered and decided to go out with him, calling out "Master Liu" before quickly chasing after him.

I don't know why, but Master Liu's expression suddenly turned a bit unpleasant as he looked at me and said: "Is there someone here who keeps a dog?"

Master Liu

So you still don't believe it

Is there any comparability between killing ghosts and killing pigs? I think this person is unreliable, but upon further reflection, being unreliable is actually good; the more foolish and reckless one is, the more likely it is that ghosts might be afraid of such individuals

One can imagine such a scene: someone is holding him down, grabbing a handful of lit incense and forcefully stuffing it into his throat. He knows he cannot resist. One hand rests against the tombstone, as if speaking to his deceased comrade, ... I have come to find you, while the other hand instinctively clutches his own throat, the pain overwhelming him.

Because of the barking of the dog, neither of us could chat normally, and we were both disturbed and irritated by the noise. I irritably shook my head, only to find that Master Liu was already sweating. Out of nowhere, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Why did it seem like he was afraid of something?

I felt a bit scared and shouted out loud

As night was approaching, I hurried back, but to my surprise, Big Gold Tooth was still relentless, blocking my way and saying: "Do you think I am a fraud? Let me tell you, I am truly not a fraud. How much do you want to borrow? Just name a number, and I will lend you both money and books."

This person was quite exhausted, panting heavily while pointing at me and cursing: "Damn it, why are you running? I've called you so many times and you didn't respond, all you know is to run. I just want to borrow money from you, not ask you to pay it back, so why the hell are you running!"

It can be said that the old policeman died for me, and I feel deeply pained yet also greatly admire him. He was a true man, a good policeman, but more than that, I feel fear. The old policeman shielded me from disaster, only to meet a tragic end. What about next time? Will my fate be the same as his, or even worse? Just thinking about this terrifies me. Furthermore, deep within my heart, there exists a trace of hatred that I am not even aware of. If I could, I would certainly not spare those murderers, whether they are human or ghost. However, the possibility of that is too small, and instinctively, I do not consider it. Pain and fear perfectly conceal the hatred.

This dog does not seem to belong to anyone, barking incessantly, and its voice is growing louder. It gives the impression of a wild dog, running towards us while howling.

I said with irritation: "Is this a ghostly death wish?"

As I noticed that it was still not dark, I planned to buy some wine and meat. When someone comes to visit, one must not be lacking in courtesy, and besides, alcohol can embolden the timid. I thought that having some wine at the right moment might yield a good effect. I quickly purchased the items, but by the time I returned, it was already dark. I felt a bit uneasy and deliberately quickened my pace, wondering if I might be blocked on the way. As it turned out, I was right; while walking, I felt a chill at the back of my neck, as if someone were breathing on me.

This is a scandal, this is a contempt towards us, we must capture the perpetrator and bring him to justice