Chapter 6, Predicament

The energy-saving light suddenly began to flicker, alternating between bright and dim, while a cold wind swirled around the room, stirring up paper scraps, instant noodle bags, and ash. A wave of coldness surged through my back, reaching the top of my head, causing my hair to stand on end. It felt as if a massive stone was pressing down on my chest, making it difficult to breathe, while my heart seemed to be squeezed up into my throat, leaving my mouth dry and strange, unable to swallow even my saliva

I spent two hours at the North Station without any results. By the time I met Xu Guangli at the First People's Hospital in Baiyun District, it was already evening. I had initially been filled with anger and wanted to scold him, but upon seeing him, the words just wouldn't come out. He looked like a frostbitten eggplant, hardly resembling a living person except for the fact that he could still breathe. In the end, I found myself comforting him instead: "Forget it, try to look on the bright side. Let's just say we didn't win the lottery; after all, for you, three hundred thousand is still within a bearable range."

Oh no, the dealer might have absconded with the funds

Xu Guangli was breathing heavily, possibly wiping sweat continuously. After a while, he said: "I am trying to contact his superior to clarify the situation... There are two possibilities: the first is that he embezzled the money we deposited and did not report it, and now he cannot afford to compensate and has fled; the second is that his superior transferred the money to his account, and he absconded with over ten million from us."

When I went downstairs, I realized I had a fever, felt lightheaded, weak in my limbs, and my whole body felt off, yet I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was wrong. It turned out well; not only did I fail to make a windfall, but I also ended up losing a significant amount of money and attracting misfortune. Truly, it is a case of trying to steal a chicken and ending up losing a grain of rice.

Three hundred thousand, he should give me twelve million, including you it is twelve million four hundred thousand

Is there anyone more unfortunate than the two of us? I finally understand why many people choose to jump from buildings

I said in a low voice: "Cousin, something sinister has been following me. I've been having strange dreams these past two nights, feeling weighed down... In short, something is definitely not right."

Suddenly, a sound came from my phone, a cacophony that resembled many people shouting, with a faint sobbing of a young woman mixed in. I thought it was Xu Guangli arguing with his wife. After listening for more than ten seconds without hearing his voice, I focused my gaze and saw that the phone still had no signal

In a daze, I heard my phone ringing. I reached out, grabbed the phone, and brought it to my ear, weakly asking, "Who is it?"

After sitting quietly for a while, my mood gradually calmed down, and I felt less afraid. It seems that the abilities of the female ghost are also limited; she can only torment me when I am asleep and cannot affect me while I am awake. The saying that ghosts fear evil people is indeed true.

I don't even know if I'm awake, it's really bizarre

I immediately jumped out of bed: "What, he ran away? Didn't you say he was very reliable? A person can run, but the temple cannot; his teahouse and house are still there"

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out the talisman. To my astonishment, it had changed color and was cracked, just like the one I saw in my dream. I was completely bewildered; when was I dreaming and when was I awake? My voice didn't even sound like it was coming from my mouth: "The talisman has lost its effectiveness, this is too strange, I can't get out, you must come and save me"

At last, the outside gradually brightened, and in the distance, the sounds of early risers and vehicles could be heard. In the community, some people's kitchens also lit up. I relaxed my mind, unable to hold on any longer, and fell asleep on the bed.

I was filled with a mix of anger and frustration, swinging a chair wildly, yet the window's glass was as impenetrable as a fortress, showing no signs of damage. My breathing became increasingly labored, and I began to feel weak and fatigued all over. Ultimately, I could no longer hold on and fell backward, crashing heavily to the ground

I found a fruit knife and gripped it tightly in my hand, sitting on the bed with my back against the wall, my eyes wide open. Damn it, I’m not afraid of the urban management officers, so why would I be afraid of a female ghost? If you have the guts, come out and see if I won’t chop you in half with one strike!

Fortune does not come in pairs, and misfortune does not come alone. Xu Guangli, in a state of anxiety, rushed to the airport and had an accident before even leaving the city, hitting someone. The injured party was not seriously hurt, but was a difficult local individual who insisted on a comprehensive examination at the hospital, followed by hospitalization and a long list of supplements prescribed. Xu Guangli was nearly driven to madness.

Xu Guangli hurriedly said: "His name is Zhou Xin'an, commonly known as Mouse An. I, I do not know where he might run to"

Xu Guangli said in exasperation: "I just found out that his teahouse is rented. How much can his family be worth? It wouldn't even cover a fraction of my losses, and we can't sell his property or take him to court. Damn it, damn it..."

My hand trembled, and the phone fell down, landing with a "bang" on the ground, causing the back cover and battery to pop out.

... ...

Oh, oh... didn't I give you a talisman? You should be fine with it, right

I can no longer stay here

Xu Guangli's voice came through immediately, sounding somewhat anxious and panicked: "Cousin, something seems off. The teahouse still hasn't opened, and I've called him several times without an answer. I even went to his house to knock on the door, but no one responded..."

The phone cannot make calls, the door cannot be opened, and the windows and balcony are secured with anti-theft nets, making it impossible to escape. What else can I do? I gritted my teeth and grabbed a chair to smash against the window. I believe the sound of breaking glass will awaken Zhou Jian and Fang Liping, and even alert the people upstairs and downstairs, so that I will not have to face the female ghost alone.

I hung up the call in frustration; this coward would never come to my rescue. It is pointless to say more; I must find a way on my own. I believe the door can be opened now, but I lack the courage to try, and even if I go out, it may not be safe. Just thinking about the dark, filthy staircase and the stretch of shadowy trees from the staircase to the community entrance is more terrifying than staying in the room. I believe the door can be opened now, but I lack the courage to try, and even if I go out, it may not be safe. Just thinking about the dark, filthy staircase and the stretch of shadowy trees from the staircase to the community entrance is more terrifying than staying in the room

I believe he is hiding some things from me, and he may have even planned from the very beginning to use me as a scapegoat; I just don't know at which point he played tricks. Initially, I voluntarily went with him; no one forced me at knife-point, and I also benefited from it, so I cannot confront him directly. However, being deceived certainly does not put me in a good mood, which is why I exclaimed, "I can't take it anymore!" Initially, I voluntarily went with him; no one forced me at knife-point, and I also benefited from it, so I cannot confront him directly. However, being deceived certainly does not put me in a good mood, which is why I exclaimed, "I can't take it anymore!"

The phone was held to my ear for a while, but no sound came through. When I brought it closer to my eyes, the screen displayed that it was dialing. I hung up and redialed, yet it still showed that it was dialing, but there was no sound. Looking again at the signal strength, I was shocked; there wasn't even one bar. Usually, it shows full bars at home!

I shouted, "What difference does it make? Anyway, he has run away and we won't get a single cent! What is his name, and where is he most likely to flee?"

Time passed second by second, yet the female ghost did not appear. Instead, I felt increasingly drowsy. I had never felt this tired even after staying up all night playing games or cards. I began to suspect that during the past two nights, the female ghost had been sucking my energy in my dreams, possibly draining my spirit and strength, which is why I constantly felt fatigued all over.

Indeed, this form of gambling is illegal and is explicitly prohibited by the authorities. If we were to report him, it would be akin to throwing ourselves into the trap. I asked, "How much did you actually invest?"

Ah... no, no. ... Don't be afraid, dawn will come soon, just hold on a little longer. Tomorrow you will be able to get the money; four hundred thousand is not a small amount for you. Just think about how much money you will have, and you won't be scared anymore. I am telling you the truth, I am terrified as well, but for the sake of the money, I have to endure the fear. Now we have succeeded; as long as we burn more paper money for it, everything will be fine, everything will be fine

Everything just now felt so real, the phone hitting the ground was real, and my body falling onto the bed was also real, I still feel some pain. If it were a dream, how could I clearly see the phone falling to the ground? If it is not a dream, what did I just do? Initially, I was pressed down by a female ghost, I had already woken up, and after doing many things, I found that I was startled awake again in a dream. So am I really awake now? Am I still dreaming? Initially, I was pressed down by a female ghost, I had already woken up, and after doing many things, I found that I was startled awake again in a dream. So am I really awake now? Am I still dreaming?

I glanced at my phone; it was just past 2 AM. Staying awake until dawn would not be easy. Unable to resist, I dialed Xu Guangli's phone number. This matter must be shouldered by him; he is the main character and stands to gain more. There is no reason for me to bear it alone

Ah?!" Xu Guangli exclaimed softly, and quickly added, "It's nothing, it's nothing, don't worry. Tomorrow night we will go to fulfill our vow, and once the vow is fulfilled, everything will be fine.

A dull thud echoed as the solid wooden chair struck the glass, yet surprisingly, it did not shatter, while my hand went numb from the impact. The window was merely ordinary glass; how could it withstand such force? The energy-saving light flickered a few times before completely extinguishing, plunging the room into darkness, as if a pair of hands reached from behind to grip my neck, rendering me unable to breathe

I rushed to the door, twisting the doorknob to pull it open, but it wouldn't budge. I exerted force in the opposite direction, twisted it again, and pulled, yet it still wouldn't move. I became anxious, turning left and right, using all my strength to tug at it, but while the handle could turn, the door remained locked.

I am not fully awake yet, my mind cannot think, and I impatiently say: "What are you talking about?"

Although the hope is very slim, we still need to pursue it. Xu Guangli immediately drove to the airport, while I went to the nearby North Train Station, hoping that fate might just allow us to catch it.

Xu Guangli shook his head vacantly and said: "You don't know, all my money has been swindled, the shop has been transferred to someone else, and the money I bet was borrowed from friends. I originally thought I could turn things around, but instead, I fell deeper into the pit. It's over, it's over..."

I was drenched in cold sweat, panting heavily like a bull. After a while, I turned on the light, but I couldn't find my phone. Peering out, I was startled again—a shiver ran through me—my phone had fallen to the ground, the back cover and battery had popped out, just like in my dream when it fell.

I gasped in shock; the unscrupulous merchant actually invested so much, this is simply too greedy

The excruciating pain from the impact jolted me awake; I had not fallen to the ground, but rather onto the bed. The hands gripping my neck were, in fact, my own. Everything that had just transpired was merely a dream.

I have nothing to say; he is more pitiable than I am. A wealthy person who suddenly becomes poor is undoubtedly more pitiable than someone who has always been in poverty

I have the impulse to spit blood; these unscrupulous merchants are always thinking of cheating others, but this time they have been cheated themselves. It is estimated that when Laoshu An called Xu Guangli last night, he was speaking falsehoods, already preparing to flee, and has taken what he needed. It is now close to noon, and he may have already traveled a thousand miles away.

I picked up the phone and the battery, installed the battery properly, powered it on, and everything was normal with a good signal. I dialed Xu Guangli's number, and soon his voice came through: "Hehe, I knew you were just like me, too excited to sleep."