Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 9 Luoshui Village

The evening breeze carried a hint of coolness, rustling the carefully trimmed leaves of the trees in the residential area. The streetlights cast warm orange circles on the ground, stretching Bai Yu's shadow long and thin, making him appear exceptionally lonely. He stood quietly at the boundary between light and shadow, the glass marble in his palm seemingly still carrying a trace of the coldness of another world.

Hei Yan's elegant yet cruel words still seemed to echo in his ears, like a precise carving knife that had once again dissected his already riddled soul, allowing him to clearly see every ugly crack within. He did not refute, because every word Hei Yan spoke was the truth.

"Hey—! Lao Bai! What are you standing there for? Trying to outstand a telephone pole?"

A loud, rough voice suddenly came from not far away, like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly breaking the heavy silence. Mo Fei's tall figure jumped out of the driver's seat of an SUV, ran to Bai Yu in a few quick steps, and habitually put his large, fan-like hand on Bai Yu's shoulder.

"Hey kid, why are you acting like you've lost your soul after bringing a girl back? What's wrong? Did you fall for Miss Qi Yue because she's pretty? Let me tell you, if you like her, just go for it! When are you going to change your taciturn nature..."

Bai Yu's body stiffened instinctively, but just before Mo Fei's hand landed, he subtly took a step forward, perfectly avoiding the overly enthusiastic contact. He slowly raised his head, a hint of helplessness and a faint smile, as if dealing with a child, already gracing his face.

"Is there anything else on your mind besides these?" His voice sounded a little tired, but his tone had returned to its usual calm. "Finished the report? Has Captain An given you any more tasks?"

"Hey, don't even mention it!" Mo Fei complained like a cat whose tail had been stepped on as soon as he heard this. "The report is about that guy Lan Ce, but Captain An did indeed drag me out to do hard labor again. He said that the logistics department had a batch of new equipment being stored and he wanted me to help move it. Do you think it's a waste of my talents to be an A-level investigator doing these kinds of odd jobs every day?"

As he spoke, he naturally followed Bai Yu toward the exit of the living area. The warm lights were gradually left behind, and ahead lay the cold and solemn silhouette of the Investigation Bureau's main building, like a silent steel behemoth in the night.

"That means Captain An trusts your strength," Bai Yu replied casually. His gaze fell on the distant building, his eyes becoming somewhat complicated. That was the place where he had once poured out his passion and created glory, and also the place where he... was utterly shattered. Every return felt like reliving that grand death.

"Trust my ass!" Mo Fei curled his lip, but quickly put on a concerned expression and lowered his voice, "Seriously, Lao Bai, are you alright? I noticed you didn't look too good when you came out of the mall. That strange rule... is it even more troublesome than you told us before?"

Although Mo Fei seemed careless, as a teammate who had fought side by side for many years, he was extremely sensitive to Bai Yu's state. He knew that the more nonchalant Bai Yu appeared, the greater the pressure he was under.

"It was a bit tricky; Nightmare's abilities interfered with Hei Yan's abilities somewhat." Bai Yu didn't hide anything, only glossing over the most crucial part. "But it's resolved now. A poor child was trapped within the rules."

He didn't speak of the cracks in his soul, the damage to the very essence of Black Words, or that he was, in fact, a "work of art" that could shatter again at any moment. These truths were too heavy to bear; speaking of them would only cause his companions more worry. He had long been accustomed to carrying all of this alone.

“It’s happening again…” Mo Fei cursed under his breath, his fists clenching unconsciously. “These damned demons always seem to target children.” He paused for a moment, then nudged Bai Yu with his elbow. “Anyway, it’s good that you’re back. Captain An has given you a week of mandatory leave. You’d better rest properly and not sneak off to the training room again. You hear me?”

"Okay, okay." A very faint smile appeared on Bai Yu's lips.

This somewhat clumsy act of concern from his companion was like a faint warm current, quietly seeping into the cold wasteland of his heart. It was precisely to protect these things, to protect this daily routine, that he had to continue walking with this broken body.

The two chatted casually as they returned to the investigation team's office area. The office was still brightly lit late at night, the sounds of keyboard clicks and the low hum of instruments creating a tense yet orderly atmosphere. Lan Ce, wearing his black-rimmed glasses, sat in front of the computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard, the screen displaying dense data streams and on-site analysis diagrams.

"Hey, data geek, still not off work?" Mo Fei shouted as soon as he entered the door.

Lan Ce didn't even look up, simply replying, "If my partner could write a slightly more logical on-site report instead of a primary school student's rambling account, I might be able to go home sooner."

"Hey! What do you mean! That's a documentary style, you know? I'm aiming for authenticity!" Mo Fei retorted defiantly.

Bai Yu didn't participate in their usual bickering. He walked over to Lan Ce and his gaze fell on the screen. It displayed the case report on the "Dream Cafe" incident.

“How is the victim?” he asked softly.

Lan Ce then stopped what he was doing, adjusted his glasses, and looked at Bai Yu. His eyes held the scrutiny characteristic of an analyst, as if he were assessing Bai Yu's condition.

“They’ve all been rescued—seven customers and three employees in total. Their vital signs are stable, but they all exhibit varying degrees of short-term memory loss and acute stress disorder. The medical department’s psychological intervention team has already intervened.” Lanze pulled up a file containing photos and basic information of several victims. “Their memories have been altered by the nightmare. Regarding what happened in the coffee shop, they only remember drinking a delicious cup of coffee and then falling asleep. They have no recollection of the rules, the monster, or the child. This is the best outcome for them.”

"Mm." Bai Yu nodded. Forgetting, sometimes, is indeed a form of kindness.

“Furthermore,” Lan Ce continued, “we traced the child’s identity. His name was Lin Xiaole, he was seven years old, and he went missing in that shopping mall a year ago and has not been found since. At the time, it was believed that he had been abducted by human traffickers. Now it seems that he was killed by the predecessor of that nightmare, that cleaning lady.”

Bai Yu's eyes darkened. Behind the birth of every nightmare, there is often a tragedy in the real world. What they are doing is not just eliminating monsters, but also seeking justice for these innocent victims.

"Has the core of the nightmare been analyzed yet?" he asked, as this was what he was most concerned about.

Lan Ce shook his head: "Still analyzing. The energy structure of that glass marble is very peculiar. It has the characteristics of a rule-distorting nightmare, and also contains a very pure obsession of 'protection'. It's contradictory. But we can be sure that its danger level is not high. It has stabilized and can be sealed as research material."

"That's good." Bai Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

"You should worry about yourself first." Lan Ce looked at his pale face and said a few more words, which was rare for him. "Captain An specifically instructed that you go directly to the rest room after you come back. Your mandatory rest order has already taken effect. There's nothing for you to do here."

"That's right!" Mo Fei chimed in from the side, "Go to sleep now! Otherwise, I'll have to carry out the captain's orders and carry you back!"

Under the "escort" of two people, Bai Yu was half-pushed and half-forced into his private lounge. The door closed, shutting out all the noise from the outside world, and the whole world instantly fell silent.

The lounge was simply furnished with a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk—nothing more. It felt more like a temporary hideout than a home. He didn't turn on the lights; instead, he walked to the window and, using the dim light streaming in from outside, surveyed the small space.

He took the eyeball-shaped glass marble out of his pocket again.

In the dim light, a faint glow seemed to flow inside the marble, like a distant star. He could feel Lin Xiaole's obsession quietly slumbering within it. It was no longer the source of terror, but a child's final, silent gratitude.

"What cheap self-satisfaction."

The silhouette of Hei Yan silently coalesced behind him, his impeccably tailored black suit standing out clearly even in the darkness. His voice, tinged with a mocking laugh, drifted elegantly through the silent room.

"Does saving a long-dead soul make you feel that your broken work of art has regained some value? My dear Xiaobaiyu, your 'hero complex' is the most pathetic and fascinating thing I've ever seen."

Bai Yu didn't turn around, but gently rubbed the cool surface of the marble with her thumb.

"At least, he found peace..."

"Rest in peace?" Hei Yan chuckled softly, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "So-called rest in peace is nothing but another form of 'nothingness.' You went to great lengths, almost sacrificing yourself, only to send him from one nightmare into another eternally empty dream. What was the point of all that for you?"

“Meaning…” Bai Yu repeated the word. He slowly turned around and, for the first time alone, calmly faced the nightmare before him. His eyes no longer held the struggle and resistance of the past, only a bottomless calm, like the sea after a storm.

"The significance lies in the fact that I can still fight."

Hei Yan paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his crimson eyes. He had anticipated Bai Yu's breakdown, anger, or bewildered silence, but he hadn't expected such a calm and composed response.

“I am indeed broken.” Bai Yu spread his hands, as if showing the unseen cracks. “It was you who used your power to glue me back together. I am no longer the whole Bai Yu, and I know that better than anyone else.”

His voice was soft, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness.

“But you seem to have misunderstood something, Hei Yan.” Bai Yu’s lips curled into a slightly self-deprecating smile. “A piece of porcelain, even if broken, still has value as a container as long as it can still hold water. A sword, even if broken, can still kill enemies as long as the broken blade is still sharp.”

“This body of mine, this soul of mine, is my vessel, my sword. No matter how broken it is, no matter how much the cracks deepen with each use, as long as it can still move, can still hold a weapon, can still fight against those things that crawl out of nightmares, then my existence has meaning.” He placed the glass marble on the desk, making a crisp, light sound.

“I no longer crave ‘healing,’ nor fear ‘shattering.’ I accept my current state, and I accept the fate of coexisting with you. You may see me as your work of art. But please remember, the sole purpose of this work of art is to fight. Until… the day it is completely reduced to dust.”

These words were like a declaration. A declaration of awareness made both to oneself and to the demons that coexist with oneself.

Hei Yan watched him quietly. For the first time, the mockery and amusement were gone from his scarlet eyes, replaced by a more complex emotion. It was the feeling of an artist seeing their most prized work shine with a brilliance that surpassed their expectations—a mixture of admiration, possession, and a touch of awe.

"...Hehe...hahahaha..." He suddenly laughed, his low chuckle turning into a hearty laugh. The laughter echoed in the small room, filled with a morbid pleasure.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! My dear Xiaobaiyu!" He gracefully bowed to Baiyu with a hand on his chest, like a theatrical actor. "You have finally... finally understood the true meaning of 'the beauty of brokenness'! You are no longer that mortal who futilely tried to escape fate, but a martyr who chose to dance in shackles! Oh, this is even more perfect than I imagined!"

He slowly floated in front of Bai Yu, his illusory fingers almost touching Bai Yu's cheek, and his voice became as seductive as a devil's whisper.

"Then let us dance together. Shine brightly on this crumbling stage. I will mend every wound and polish every crack for you until you reach your final, magnificent curtain call! And I will be the only audience."

After he finished speaking, his figure slowly dissipated into the air like smoke.

Bai Yu ignored him, simply taking off his coat and lying down on the cold bed. He closed his eyes, every muscle in his body screaming with exhaustion, but his mind was clearer and more resolute than ever before.

A dreamless night.

The next day, Bai Yu truly began his "well-behaved" vacation. He didn't go to the training room or review the case files; instead, he spent the entire day in the Investigation Bureau's library, reading some unimportant historical or literary works, as if he were genuinely relaxing.

As evening approached, the internal communicator on his wrist vibrated slightly. He raised his wrist and saw a new message pop up on the screen.

The sender was Lu Yueqi.

[Mr. Bai, hello. I've packed everything up, and the new place is safe. Thank you. Um... are you alright? Your teammates said you were injured; please make sure you get plenty of rest.]

The message ended with a cartoon emoji representing "Go for it!"

Bai Yu stared at the message, remaining silent for a moment. He could imagine the girl mustering the courage to send it in an unfamiliar environment. This clumsy yet sincere concern from the "everyday" world he protected brought a touch of real warmth to his heart, which was shrouded in coldness.

He thought for a moment and replied: "I'm fine, just living my life well."

These seven simple words serve as both a reply and a reminder to myself.

Just as he was about to put away his communicator and head to the cafeteria for dinner, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire investigation bureau! Red warning lights flashed wildly in the corridor, casting an ominous crimson hue on everyone's faces.

A state of emergency at the highest level!
Bai Yu's body tensed instantly, his vacation laziness vanishing in an instant, replaced by the alertness of a cheetah. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately turned and rushed towards the team's meeting room.

When he pushed open the conference room door, it was already in complete chaos. An Mu, Mo Fei, Lan Ce, and the other core members of the team were all present, their expressions extremely grave. A top-secret emergency file that had just been transmitted was displayed on the holographic projection in the center.

"What happened?" Bai Yu asked in a deep voice.

An Mu frowned even more when he saw him: "Bai Yu? What are you doing here? You should be on vacation right now!"

"This is not the time to talk about this." Bai Yu's gaze was already fixed on the file.

The file's title consists of only three characters: "Luoshui Village".

“Three hours ago, we received a distress signal from Luoshui Village, but the signal lasted for less than five seconds before it was cut off.” Lan Ce quickly pulled up the data, speaking at an astonishing pace. “Luoshui Village is located deep in the southern mountains. It is an ancient village isolated from the world, with a registered population of 312. After the signal was cut off, we immediately mobilized satellites and drones for reconnaissance, but… but all the drones lost contact after entering the village area, and the satellite images only showed a thick, eerie red fog.”

A blurred, manipulated satellite image appeared on the holographic projection. At the center of the image, where the village should have been, was shrouded in an ominous red mist, like congealed blood.

"The only thing that came back was the last audio clip captured by the drone before it lost contact."

Lan Ce pressed a button, and a suona horn-like sound that seemed to pierce eardrums suddenly burst from the speakers! It wasn't a festive tune, but a melody filled with sorrow, eeriness, and madness, the sound shrill and mournful, like a funeral procession, or some kind of evil ritual. In the background of the suona sound, there were also faint sounds of a woman's weeping and a... rustling sound of paper rubbing together.

Just hearing that voice made everyone in the conference room turn pale.

"What the hell is this?" Mo Fei couldn't help but curse, goosebumps rising all over his body.

“Based on comparisons with ancient texts in our database, this melody sounds very much like a ‘ghost wedding song’ played during a wedding ceremony for the dead.” Lan Ce’s voice was also somewhat hoarse.

A ghost marriage?

“Just half an hour ago, our D-level investigator team sent to the outskirts of the village sent back the last message, and then we lost contact.” An Mu’s voice was extremely heavy. He pulled up the message, which was a shaky photograph taken in the last moments of his life.

In the photo, a bizarre wedding procession moves along a country road under the cover of night. Leading the procession are two paper figures with strange blushes on their cheeks, carrying white lanterns that emit an eerie green light. In the middle is a large red sedan chair, carried by four swaying paper figures. Behind the procession follows a group of villagers dressed in ancient costumes, each with a stiff, unsettling smile; their eyes are empty, like a group of manipulated puppets.

What's most chilling is that in the corner of the photo, the investigators seem to have captured a picture of a missing villager. It's a young girl, dressed in an ill-fitting bright red wedding gown, with heavy makeup on her face and an eerie smile, being "supported" by two paper figures, one on each side, following behind the wedding procession.

Her feet left the ground.

“The living carry the sedan chair, paper figures lead the way, suonas blow the soul, red and white clash with evil…” Bai Yu looked at the photo and recited the ancient proverb, whose origins were unknown, word by word. His eyes became sharp as knives. “This is not an ordinary nightmare. This is a rule-distorting nightmare rooted in ancient folk customs and collective fears, and its level may be very high.”

There was dead silence in the conference room.

This time, they will encounter an unprecedented and extremely dangerous opponent.

“I’ll lead the team myself.” An Mu took a deep breath and made a decision. “Mo Fei, Lan Ce, you…”

"team leader."

A calm voice interrupted him.

All eyes were on Bai Yu.

He stood there, his figure still somewhat thin, his face pale with illness. But in those deep eyes burned a flame called "determination" that had never been extinguished.

"I'm going on this mission too."

(End of this chapter)