Chapter 11: The Haunted Hospital

Second Story: The Ghost Infant and the Ghost King!

If there were no hell in this world, where would all the ghosts and monsters go?

Chu Tian couldn’t make sense of it and decided not to dwell on it any longer.

After all, the Eighteen-Layer Exquisite Tower seemed to have acknowledged him as its master. Having such a treasure that greatly benefited him didn’t seem too bad.

Especially considering the tower’s function: each layer acted as a prison, trapping spirits and ghosts inside. The ghostly energy they emitted daily would flow from the first layer all the way up to the eighteenth. At the very pinnacle of the tower, this energy condensed into a ghost pearl. This ghost pearl could be refined by Chu Tian to aid his cultivation, and its effect was far faster than simply devouring ghosts.

Of course, this required a steady supply of ghosts to provide the ghost energy.

Thinking about it, imprisoning a bunch of ghosts to supply ghost energy day after day felt somewhat like those unscrupulous bosses.

But hey, the ghosts thrown in here were all guilty!

With that thought, Chu Tian felt much better.

Riding his little electric scooter, Chu Tian headed back home.

By the time he returned, evening had already fallen.

Chen Meng, who had slept most of the day, was now sitting at the table, enjoying her meal heartily.

Xiao Hua didn’t need to eat and stood nearby watching Chen Meng eat.

“Oh? You’re back?” Chen Meng said, still munching on chicken, looking much more energetic.

“Sir, do you want something to eat? I’ll bring it over,” Xiao Hua quickly asked upon seeing Chu Tian. After he nodded, she went to the kitchen and brought out the meal she had prepared earlier.

Chu Tian sat opposite Chen Meng and picked up a pair of chopsticks without hesitation.

“Where did you go today?” Chen Meng asked, stuffing a chicken leg into her mouth, then sucking all the meat off it clean before pulling out a bare chicken bone.

“Went home for a bit,” Chu Tian replied. He wasn’t about to tell anyone about the Eighteen-Layer Exquisite Tower. If there truly was no hell, then perhaps he was the only special ghost official here!

If he wasn’t crazy enough to preach to everyone about hell and the unique duties of ghost officials, outsiders would probably just think he was a delusional teenager who had given himself a dramatic nickname from a novel—no danger there.

The wisdom of the ancestors taught him that in any group, without overwhelming power, being an outlier usually meant becoming a target for attack.

“Any plans for tonight?” Chen Meng asked while eating. Under the table, she slipped her small foot out of her shoe and began rubbing it against Chu Tian’s leg.

Chu Tian looked down at the small foot wrapped in white silk.

What now? Planning to hunt demons and monsters again tonight?

“You’re so young, can’t you think about something serious for once?” Chu Tian gave Chen Meng a sharp look.

“Isn’t cultivation a serious matter?” Chen Meng replied. Just last night, her injuries—which might have taken years to heal—were completely gone. Besides, she was a fox spirit; would she ever pass up a good opportunity like this?

“Do you know where there are evil ghosts in Shang City?” Chu Tian asked her.

“Ghosts or me—which do you think is more fun?” Chen Meng teased.

Chu Tian glanced at her, then at the little foot reaching out again, and said seriously, “You? Compare yourself to ghosts?”

“I…” Chen Meng was stunned. Was he crazy? No, after last night, he seemed fine.

“Stop messing around, I have serious business!” Chu Tian said. “If you know where there are evil ghosts, it’s best to tell me.”

“You can contact Wang Dali,” Chen Meng said between bites, her tone tinged with irritation. “He’s the head of the Righteous Dao Alliance in Shang City. He knows all about the strange things happening around here.”

“Right!” Chu Tian’s eyes lit up, and he immediately pulled out his phone to message Wang Dali.

Before long, Wang Dali replied.

Chu Tian: Brother Wang, do you know where in Shang City there are evil ghosts that need to be dealt with?

Wang Dali: Hold on!

Ding—

A notification sounded, and Chu Tian found himself added to a new group.

The Righteous Dao Alliance—Shang City Demon Hunting Support Squad! Group owner: Wang Dali.

Wang Dali: Sorry, little brother Chu, last night was hectic and I forgot to add you earlier. You can check the group files or announcements. All unresolved supernatural cases in Shang City are logged there. Whenever someone solves one, the updates are immediate. Everyone in this group is a transcendental. If you encounter an unsolvable supernatural event, you can ask for help here.

Chu Tian: Thanks, Brother Wang. I’ll take a look.

After responding, Chu Tian opened the group. Few people were chatting, and no one reacted to his arrival.

But Chu Tian didn’t mind. Everyone here was a transcendental being; each had their own secrets. Even those genuinely wanting to make friends probably waited until he showed enough strength.

Opening the group files, the latest document recorded supernatural incidents across Shang City.

The Ghost Infant Incident at the Hospital, the Haunted Doll at the School, the Route 73 Ghost Bus Incident, the West Suburb Mass Graveyard Incident…

Not only were each of these events documented, but detailed analyses were included.

“Truly, it’s easier to thrive when you have a big tree to lean on,” Chu Tian thought as he skimmed the files and chose his target for tonight.

“You’re leaving again?” Chen Meng asked.

“Yeah, want to finish this job early so I can make it back in time to open the shop,” Chu Tian replied.

“Take me with you,” Chen Meng said eagerly.

“Let’s go!” Chu Tian agreed.

“Xiao Hua, the housework is yours,” Chu Tian said as he left with Chen Meng.

Once again, the little electric scooter led the way.

Chu Tian handed a helmet to Chen Meng.

Chen Meng took it and said, “Are you kidding? The two of us—one demon cultivator, one ghost cultivator—just riding this thing out to catch ghosts? Can’t you get a big jeep? And this outfit of yours—can’t you wear something dark and cool?”

“This is what we have. Take it or leave it. You think money grows on trees?” Chu Tian said.

“But didn’t you just make five million yesterday?”

“Donated it.”

“All of it?”

“No, kept some. But changing vehicles takes time. Tonight, it’s this little scooter. You riding or not?”

“Riding—didn’t say I wasn’t,” Chen Meng said, putting on the helmet and sitting behind Chu Tian, her hands wrapped around his waist.

“Where to tonight?” Chen Meng asked.

“The Seventh Hospital of Shang City!” Chu Tian answered.

“The Seventh Hospital?” Chen Meng pulled out her phone to search, then raised an eyebrow. “The haunted hospital that got shut down?”