Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Scapegoat

“This should be the place, right?” Under a locust tree, Fang Yong found the old tree the girl had mentioned.

The ancient locust tree looked aged, its surroundings lush with greenery, the earth beneath it appearing almost black.

Fang Yong took a deep breath beneath the tree. “Alright, let’s begin.”

He started digging with both hands under the locust, searching for the toy the girl had described. “This must be something really important to that little ghost, right?”

Time ticked by. Back in the rented room, Fang You sat quietly, watching the bodies of Fang Yong and Zhang Song lying on the bed.

“They’ll be alright, won’t they?” Fang Min asked anxiously.

“This is the karma they sowed themselves. They must face the consequences on their own. No one can help them if they don’t come to terms with it themselves.” Fang You, understanding the cycle of cause and effect, knew he couldn’t interfere with the karma of others. All he could do was offer support from the sidelines; as for the outcome, that would depend on their own fate.

“I just hope they’re safe.”

Meanwhile, beneath the locust tree, Fang Yong continued digging with empty hands until, at last, the half-buried shape of a rubber ball appeared from the dark earth.

Grabbing the ball, he pulled it from the ground. “This must be it.”

Holding the small rubber ball, he walked deeper into the forest, calling out, “Hey, I’ve got your toy! Come out now or you’re going to regret it!”

After about five minutes with no response, Fang Yong deliberately took out a knife and threatened the ball, “I’ll count to five. If you don’t come out, I’ll cut it in two!”

“Five!”

“Four!”

“Three—”

“Big brother, don’t!” A timid voice sounded behind him.

Fang Yong turned to find a little boy standing there. “That’s my mother’s gift to me!”

“Where is my friend?” Fang Yong kept the knife pointed at the ball, his expression fierce.

“Over there.” The boy pointed in a direction. “Please, don’t hurt my mother’s gift!”

Looking at the boy, Fang Yong, still in his spirit state, considered teaching this mischievous little ghost a lesson. But on second thought, to have died so young must be a tragic fate. His anger cooled, and he tossed the ball aside, hurrying toward the direction the boy had indicated.

After Fang Yong left, the boy picked up the ball, but turned his head to watch Fang Yong’s retreating figure, a chilling grin spreading across his face.

Elsewhere, Zhang Song, following the red-dressed ghost woman’s directions at the crossroads, finally found Lin Xue wandering aimlessly deep in the forest. Only a small ghost stood at her side, blocking her way.

“Lin Xue!” Zhang Song called, rushing toward her, but suddenly, countless wandering spirits appeared, drifting aimlessly with terrifying visages.

Seeing this, Zhang Song dared not move recklessly. He crouched low, carefully weaving through the ghosts, inching forward.

At the same time, Lin Xue wandered through the grove, lost. “It’s over… I lost the black cat. What if they can’t find me?” She’d been wandering for what felt like hours, searching for an exit she couldn’t seem to find. She didn’t know that, in the real world, several days had passed. In her mind, it was still just a few hours since she’d played hide and seek with Zhang Song and Fang Yong.

Suddenly, she tripped over something and fell painfully to the ground. “Ouch!” She stood, rubbing her leg. “What is that?”

Under a pile of dead leaves, Lin Xue’s pupils contracted as she glimpsed something shocking. “I…”

Just then, Zhang Song finally made it through the throng of ghosts. Before the small ghost blocking Lin Xue even reacted, Zhang Song snatched it up. “Finally found you! You really made me search!”

“So you found me after all. Boring—you win.” The little ghost crossed its arms, sounding indifferent.

Anger welled up in Zhang Song. He raised his fist, and the little ghost covered its eyes in fear, but Zhang Song couldn’t bring himself to strike a child-like spirit. “Get lost! Don’t let me see you again!” he shouted, setting the ghost down and giving it a kick.

Lin Xue was crouched, fussing with something on the ground.

Zhang Song ran over, relief flooding his face. “I finally found you! Come on, we have no time left!” He grabbed her right hand, intending to lead her away, but Lin Xue did not budge.

Fang Yong arrived, breathless. “What’s wrong? Did you find Lin Xue? We need to hurry back!”

Lin Xue, her back to them both, suddenly began to sob.

“Lin Xue, what’s wrong?” Fang Yong sensed something was amiss.

“Our time is short—just as long as a candle burns!” Zhang Song grew anxious. They’d wasted too much time already.

Lin Xue slowly turned to face them, her face as pale as a ghost’s.

“What’s happening?” A chill of fear crept into Zhang Song and Fang Yong’s hearts.

Lin Xue opened her mouth but no words came out. Instead, she slowly began clearing away the dead leaves on the ground.

Beneath the leaves lay a woman’s corpse, her head smashed against a stone, blood staining the earth black.

“What is this?” Fang Yong stepped forward, trembling.

A sense of dread filled Zhang Song’s heart.

It was Lin Xue’s own corpse.

“I… can’t go back now. You two… must leave!” Lin Xue’s voice was cold and raspy, like a ghost’s whisper, sending chills down their spines.

Zhang Song and Fang Yong exchanged a shocked glance.

Suddenly, more and more ghosts gathered around them. Behind the spirits, the two little ghosts from before perched in the trees, laughing maniacally.

“They’re both living souls—they can be substitutes! Just stop them from returning to their bodies, and we’ll have found our replacements!” the two little ghosts shouted, egging on the surrounding spirits with glee.

“Despicable! I should have taught them a lesson earlier!” Zhang Song realized the two little ghosts were behind it all, instigating the other forest spirits to seize him and Fang Yong as their substitutes.

“Run!”