Der Weg der zu Unrecht behandelten Geister, Teil 1Der Weg der zu Unrecht behandelten Geister

Kapitel 17

"Zhang Song hasn't come back yet. We should at least wait for him." Qin Ge said this without any confidence.

Half an hour later, Zhang Song returned alone. By this time, even Qin Ge was almost certain that something must have happened to Tong Hao. Zhang Song asked a young model next to him in a low voice what had happened. After a moment, his brows furrowed, clearly at a loss as to what to do.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 5, Chapter 71: The Disappearance (2)

“We know nothing about this town of Asi. If something happens here, it will be difficult for us to handle it on our own.” Qin Ge stood up after a moment of silence. “But there is one thing we can be sure of: even if Tong Hao encounters some misfortune, we don’t need to worry about his safety. The person who secretly planned all this has gone to so much trouble to bring us to Asi. I think he won’t let us suffer any misfortune so easily.”

Su He felt a little calmer, but thinking of Tong Hao's sorrowful expression as he slumped over the bar table that afternoon, and of him shouting "I love you!" at her in the night street, a searing pain shot through her heart. Moreover, she had a vague, ominous premonition, a feeling that left her feeling utterly drained. "Maybe I'll never see that fragile, sorrowful boy again," she thought.

"Maybe we can find someone to help us tomorrow," Qin Ge said.

“Takahashi,” Dong’er blurted out, “He’s the one who brought us to Asi Town. We’re one person short, he definitely won’t abandon us.”

Qin Ge nodded approvingly at Dong'er: "Asi Town is like a country isolated from the world. It has its own complete operating system. Gao Qiao once told us that there is a town affairs center in the town, and there is a special department called the police department in it, which is used to maintain the security of Asi Town. I think this police department is no different from the public security bureau outside. If someone goes missing in the town, it has an obligation to investigate it thoroughly."

"But what if Tong Hao was kidnapped by that black-robed wizard?" Su He was still worried.

“We don’t yet know what role that black-robed wizard plays in this town. Since he’s also here, he must have some connection with the people who built Asi Town. Perhaps the people who built Asi Town are the same people who brought us here. In that case, the black-robed wizard seems to have no reason to kidnap Tong Hao in this town. If he really wanted to harm us, we’re all in the town, under his control, so he wouldn’t need to go to such lengths.” Qin Ge said thoughtfully, “Of course, all of this is just my speculation right now. Let’s go to the town center tomorrow to find Gao Qiao and see what his attitude is.”

Zhang Song and several young models nodded in agreement. Some of the girls had already stood up, clearly knowing that nothing more would happen tonight and that they were going back to their rooms to rest. But just then, Su He suddenly stood up and, without even saying a word to Dong'er and Qin Ge beside him, walked towards the door.

Qin Ge took a step forward, but Su He had already reached the door. Qin Ge quickly gave Dong'er a wink, and Dong'er hurried after her, grabbing Su He's arm: "It's so late, are you still going out?"

“I can’t wait until tomorrow. I need to go to the town affairs center. I’ll go now,” Su He said in a deep voice.

Dong'er was speechless.

Su He turned around and said, "The longer time goes by, the greater the possibility that Tong Hao will have an accident. Although you have deduced that he is not in mortal danger, in this strange town, anything can happen." She paused and looked directly at Qin Ge, "If it were Dong'er who had gone missing now, I think you would not sit and wait until tomorrow."

This time, Qin Ge was speechless.

Su He gently broke free from Dong'er and strode out the door. Suddenly, she heard Qin Ge's loud shout behind her, "Stop!" She paused, turned around again, and saw that Qin Ge had already run to her side.

"Go back and rest. Leave the matter of finding Tong Hao to me," Qin Ge said.

Su He forced a smile: "Tong Hao disappeared with me. I'm already very grateful that you came with me."

“Let’s go together.” Dong’er also came over and took Qin Ge’s arm. “Tong Hao looks so innocent. If something really happens to him, I will be sad.”

Su He nodded gratefully to Dong'er.

Zhang Song followed behind, and was about to say something when Qin Ge waved his hand at him: "You should stay here with Lei Ming and take care of those girls. I don't want anything else to happen to them."

Zhang Song hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

Qin Ge and the other two left the Tan Guan Tang and headed straight for the town center, following the route Gao Qiao had led them along that morning. As they walked, Dong'er approached the Su River, pulled her arm, and whispered in her ear, "It's only been a short while, and you're already so concerned about Tong Hao. Did you two have some intimate contact this afternoon?"

Su He blushed, wanting to argue, but ultimately remained silent.

Dong'er nodded, looking like she understood perfectly, and then said softly, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's popular for older women to date younger men these days. That silly boy who took a liking to you is definitely a good catch."

Su He sighed softly to herself. Although Dong'er was a bit older than her, the naive girl had no idea about the stories behind her and Tong Hao. In fact, even if she were told those stories, Dong'er probably wouldn't understand. Being able to live a simple life is truly a fortunate thing. However, not everyone can be as simple as Dong'er. Some things are predetermined, and you have no choice in the matter.

A shadow crossed Su He's mind, but she shook her head vigorously to shake it off.

The two-story white town center building stood out against the night sky, with a high-hanging spotlight illuminating the open space in front of it as bright as day. From a distance, it appeared that there was hardly anyone inside; several windows on both floors were completely dark, with only some light coming from the lobby.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 5, Chapter 72: The Disappearance (3)

Qin Ge led Dong'er and Su He into the hall without hesitation. The town affairs center building was surprisingly similar in layout to typical government offices in the outside world. A room was separated from the main hall by glass, with a window visible above it and the words "Duty Room" posted. The duty room contained a bed and a table. The curtains behind the glass were drawn, but a crack was left open, through which a young man could be seen lying on the bed reading a magazine. Before knocking on the window, Qin Ge surveyed the hall again. A row of sofas lined the wall opposite the duty room, and a full-length mirror stood against the front wall, flanked by several bonsai trees of pine and bamboo. To the right was a corridor connecting several rooms downstairs, with a staircase directly in front, and a small storage room at the bottom of the stairs.

Qin Ge was amazed. He remembered that the layout of the Haicheng Public Security Bureau was almost exactly the same as this place.

The person on duty heard a noise outside, followed by knocking on the window. He drew back the curtains, opened the small door, and cautiously asked the man and two women outside what they wanted.

“We want to find Takahashi,” Qin Ge said.

"Come back during office hours tomorrow; you've already closed for the day."

“But we have important matters to attend to and can’t wait until tomorrow.” Qin Ge’s expression was unusually grave, so that the young man inside the glass window would feel the seriousness of the situation. “One of our companions went missing in town last night. We’ve searched many places, but we haven’t found him.”

"Missing?" The young man on duty repeated, a bewildered expression on his face. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then opened the door and came out. "You guys sit here for a while, I'll go find Takahashi and Shoyo."

"Who is Jiao Yang?" Qin Ge asked, startled.

"In charge of the police department, for cases like this where someone goes missing, of course we have to bring him in."

Qin Ge and the other two sat down on the sofa by the wall. A moment later, the sound of an engine came from outside, and the young man in the duty room rode a motorcycle and disappeared into the night in the blink of an eye. Qin Ge smiled wryly at Dong'er and Su He: "This young man is a government employee in Asi Town, right? His work style is not bureaucratic at all."

The more convincing everything seemed, the more uneasy Qin Ge felt.

“What kind of bureaucracy could a menial worker have?” Dong’er said dismissively.

"It's easier to see the King of Hell than to see a lowly ghost. Look at those government agencies and public institutions outside. The higher-ranking officials may not necessarily put on airs, but the lower-ranking scoundrels are the more they think they're important. If you have something to ask them for help, they'll grin from ear to ear. They all look like they're unwanted and unloved."

Qin Ge's words were somewhat harsh, but Su He was the first to nod in agreement. Although she was younger than Dong'er, she had lived alone for many years and naturally had more insights into life than Dong'er.

Gao Qiao and Jiao Yang arrived quickly. Everyone had already seen Gao Qiao before; he was a frail-looking scholar with fair skin, a tall stature, and a hint of melancholy between his brows. Jiao Yang, standing beside him, was a burly man with short, upright hair, some excess fat on his cheeks, and slightly droopy eyes, making it difficult to tell at a glance whether he looked fierce or simple-minded.

Su He briefly explained the circumstances of Tong Hao's disappearance, but Jiao Yang interrupted gruffly, saying, "Impossible."

Gao Qiao waved his hand, and Jiao Yang stopped talking. The melancholy between Gao Qiao's brows seemed to deepen, and he frowned and said, "I have been in Asi Town for more than a year, and nothing like this has ever happened before."

“But it has happened now, it’s a reality,” Su He said urgently.

Takahashi nodded: "Tong Hao is missing. The most urgent thing is to find him." He thought for a moment and then said, "Don't worry, Ashi Town is only so big. It shouldn't be difficult to find him."

Qin Ge and Su He felt a little relieved, but Dong'er said, "I want to see how you're going to find it."

Takahashi paused for a moment, then turned to Jiao Yang: "Go and assemble the Self-Defense Forces now, and have them search for Tong Hao's whereabouts in and around the town. Make sure to find him before dawn."

Jiao Yang agreed, but without saying goodbye to Qin Ge and the others, he turned and left.

"Why search inside and outside the town? Is it possible that Tong Hao isn't even in town?" Qin Ge asked.

"Asi Town is surrounded by mountains, and the town is very close to the mountains, so there is no absolute standard for whether it is inside or outside the town. If Tong Hao is hiding halfway up the mountain, would you say he is inside or outside the town?"

“Tong Hao won’t run away from us on his own; he’s not a very opinionated person,” Qin Ge said.

"Besides, I was still waiting for him when he went back to that bar. If it weren't for the accident, he wouldn't have left me alone," Su He said confidently.

Takahashi remained silent, a hint of worry showing in his deep eyes.

The young man who had gone to find Gao Qiaojiao had returned to the duty room and gone back to sleep. Gao Qiao, meanwhile, sat on the sofa with Qin Ge and the other two, waiting. Dong'er was sleepy; she first dozed off leaning on Qin Ge's shoulder, and then simply fell asleep on Qin Ge's lap. Qin Ge was also sleepy, but working late nights was commonplace for police officers, and seeing that Gao Qiao was quite energetic, he also perked up. Su He was extremely anxious. Two hours had passed since Jiao Yang went out to assemble the self-defense force to search for Tong Hao. Asi Town was only so big; two hours was enough to circle the town twice. The longer it dragged on, the more worrying Tong Hao's situation became, so she couldn't rest easy sitting there, getting up every few minutes to check on him at the door.

The small street outside was as silent as iron; there hadn't been a sound for so long.

Ashe Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 5, Chapter 73: The Disappearance (4)

Looking at Takahashi sitting so upright, Qin Ge felt a little tired for him. The long night was agonizing, and waiting was incredibly frustrating. So, Qin Ge thought about what to talk to Takahashi about.

"There's something I've never understood, and I wonder if I could ask you for help?" Qin Ge said.

Takahashi was somewhat wary, but he still said calmly, "Although I've been in As Town for over a year, I don't understand everything. But don't worry, I'll tell you whatever I know."

Qin Ge nodded: "Before we came to Asi Town, we went to another valley not far from here. There was a small building there, and you brought several of my companions here from there. I want to know what that small building is, and why you knew that we were there."

Takahashi smiled wryly: "I'm just following instructions. Every time a new person arrives at the small building, I get a notification, and then I go there to bring them to As Town. If you ask me what that small building is, I think it's probably an intermediate station in As Town. People from outside who want to come to the town will have to go there first."

"So who is it that informs you each time that new people have arrived at the building?"

“The Self-Defense Forces.” Takahashi clearly didn’t want to hide it. “Our staff at the town affairs center are just the ones who handle the specific tasks. The real core of Asu Town is inside the high walls in the southeast corner. Many orders are transmitted from there.”

Who else lives in those walled courtyards?

“The Self-Defense Forces and the wizards.” Takahashi paused, seemingly hesitant. “I know you were a policeman before you came here. If I don’t tell you what you want to know, you’ll find out for yourself. I’m telling you this now only so you don’t have to risk your life alone. I told you from the beginning that you can do anything in this town, except for that courtyard in the southeast corner that’s separated by a high wall. That’s a restricted area in As Town. I’ve been here for over a year and haven’t seen anyone dare to cross that line, so I don’t know what the consequences of trespassing there would be.”

Qin Ge nodded, understanding Takahashi's good intentions: "Now that we've entered the 21st century, I didn't know that there were still wizards in China. Is being a wizard a profession or a status?"

Takahashi sighed, “I don’t want to say you’re ignorant, but I really can’t find any other words. Wizardry is an ancient profession; it not only existed in the past and exists now, but it will not disappear for a long time to come. We don’t need to reject modern civilization, but there are indeed many things in reality that science cannot explain. Among many ethnic minorities in China, the ancient profession of wizardry is still preserved. Wizards are divided into two types: those who pray for blessings and ward off disasters, and those who practice witchcraft. The magical powers possessed by wizards astonish even many scholars; some of them have even dedicated their lives to studying these folk magical powers. However, some self-righteous so-called modern people, upon hearing the word ‘wizard,’ immediately associate it with feudal superstition. These people will never understand what true science is. The essence of science includes a pragmatic attitude. If one is unwilling to face even established reality, what qualifications does such a person have to talk about science and civilization?”

Qin Ge blushed deeply, feeling quite embarrassed.

“There are some things that you really can’t believe unless you see them with your own eyes. After all, our generation was educated to be very rational.” He shook his head, not wanting to talk to Takahashi about these theoretical things anymore. “What I can’t figure out the most right now is what’s going on with those zombie-like people led by the black-robed wizard. Before we arrived in As Town, I saw them all rush to the small building and fall to the ground dead.”

Takahashi sighed again: "Your question was once my question too. Later, because of my work, I had the opportunity to meet the black-robed wizard a few times. He told me that those who rushed to the small building and died were people who didn't believe they were dead. They didn't want to stay in Ast Town and wanted to return to their original world. But their souls were already in Ast Town. If they left, they would lose their way, and the farther they were from Ast Town, the weaker they became. That small building was the passage connecting Ast Town to the outside world, which is why they all went there by chance. Once they got there, they could no longer hold on, which is what you saw as them collapsing and dying. The black-robed wizard would then rush to the small building and use his power to gather their scattered souls together again, and then bring them back. The black-robed wizard called this process 'soul summoning.'"

Qin Ge looked helpless: "I also want to believe that there are some things in this world that modern science cannot explain, but when I say such things, I really can't convince myself that they are true."

"What other choice do I have but to believe you?" Takahashi retorted, and Qin Ge noticed that the melancholy between his brows had deepened.

Perhaps he didn't believe what he was saying, but for some reason, he forced himself to believe it. That was Qin Ge's feeling at that moment.

"I'd only ever heard of folk tales about summoning the souls of the living before, I never imagined that the shamans of Asi Town could summon the souls of the dead," Qin Ge said with a hint of sarcasm.

“What’s the difference between the living and the dead?” Takahashi said. “When I was a child, I was sick and the hospital diagnosed me with a tumor in my stomach. I had to have surgery on my ribs to remove it. I was only eleven years old at the time, and my family couldn’t bear to see me suffer like that at such a young age, so they hired a shaman from the countryside. The shaman was illiterate, but according to him, he wasn’t the one who treated people; instead, he was one of the three ghost doctors from the underworld. On the first day he treated me, he simply burned an incense stick and then told me that the ghost doctors were away on business and wouldn’t be back for a week. At the time, I wondered, do ghosts in the underworld go on business trips like people do? The shaman told me that everything in the underworld was no different from the living world. Sometimes, when people die, they think they are still alive in the underworld.”

Gao Qiao's words were chilling, even Qin Ge felt a chill run down his spine. He subconsciously covered Dong'er's ears with his hand. Dong'er was sleeping soundly with her head on his lap when she mumbled something and then fell into a deep sleep again.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 5, Chapter 74: The Disappearance (5)

“It’s already past midnight. I think you should go back to the Danguan Hall to rest. I promise to notify you as soon as I have any news about Tong Hao.” Takahashi stood up and said, “I also need to go out and contact Jiao Yang to see the specific situation of the Self-Defense Forces’ search.”

Qin Ge could tell that Gao Qiao didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Although Su He was anxious, she knew that staying here was no different from staying in the Tan Guan Tang (a government office), and Gao Qiao's words had just given her the creeps. The town center building was obviously much more spacious than the Tan Guan Tang, but it was cold and the dark passageways and staircases instilled a sense of dread. So, when Qin Ge later woke Dong'er up to return to the Tan Guan Tang, she obediently followed beside her.

Inside the official's office, Zhang Song was dozing alone in the outer hall. Hearing the noise, he immediately opened his eyes. Qin Ge briefly explained the situation to him, and he slumped down, head bowed in silence.

Qin Ge escorted Dong'er back to her room to sleep. Returning to the hall, he saw Su He sitting opposite Zhang Song, her face wide with sleeplessness, her eyes wide open and tense, as if every nerve in her body was on edge. He went over, placed his hand on her shoulder, wanting to comfort her, but before he could speak, tears welled up in Su He's eyes. Qin Ge was puzzled. How could Su He have developed such deep feelings for Tong Hao in just half a day?

They sat in silence all night. As drowsiness grew stronger, Qin Ge, without realizing it, leaned back, his mind becoming hazy. When he was finally woken, dawn was breaking, the pale light of day dispelling the darkness. The person who woke him was Su He; her sleeplessness had made her look much more haggard. She shook Qin Ge vigorously, and when she saw he was awake, her voice trembled with tears.

“Takahashi sent someone over just now. He wants you to go to the altar,” she said.

The altar. Qin Ge recalled that night when he and Lei Ming were following the mysterious black-robed wizard and the group of zombie-like people. They lost their way in a pine forest, and the zombies swarmed in from all directions. He and Lei Ming somehow passed out. When they woke up, they saw a tall statue and thirteen round stone pillars.

That place is naturally the altar that Takahashi mentioned.

What is the connection between that altar and Tong Hao?

Qin Ge dared not delay. He woke Zhang Song and, without saying goodbye to the others, the three of them headed straight for the altar. That night, Qin Ge and Lei Ming had made their way to Asi Town from the altar in the dark. There were three mountain paths outside the town, and Qin Ge was hesitating about which one to choose when Zhang Song and Su He had already stepped onto the left path.

The altar was situated in a location that offered a complete panoramic view of the entire town of As. After a moment, Qin Ge broke out in a light sweat. He turned around and saw that As had become a city that resembled a stack of building blocks.

They quickly reached the altar. Su He, anxious, hurried forward, leaving Qin Ge and Zhang Song behind. Before Qin Ge could even look up, she heard a piercing scream. Qin Ge's expression changed drastically, and she ran off. Several people were already standing on the altar, including Gao Qiao and Jiao Yang, who stood side-by-side along the path leading to the altar, seemingly waiting for Qin Ge. Behind them, scattered about were nearly ten pale-faced individuals. These people had cold, vacant eyes, blank expressions, and exuded a sinister and eerie aura.

Before Qin Ge could say much to Gao Qiaojiaoyang, he had already passed them and reached the banks of the Su River where they were running. Now, in front of him were the stone statue and the thirteen stone pillars. He saw Tong Hao sitting on the ground, leaning against one of the pillars, his head drooping and his chest covered in crimson blood.

Qin Ge arrived at Tong Hao's side before Su He. After a brief examination, he confirmed that Tong Hao was already dead.

As Hell: 773 Horror Series 12, Part 5, Chapter 75: The Mandate (1)

According to Takahashi, this is the first murder case to occur in Aso Town.

The deceased, Tong Hao, was stabbed through the heart with a sharp weapon, dying instantly. According to the on-site investigation, the deceased was found leaning against a stone pillar on the altar, but that was not the primary crime scene. In a corner on the west side of the altar, a pool of blood was found on the ground. Although the blood type could not be determined, almost everyone had no doubt that it was left by Tong Hao when he was murdered. In other words, Tong Hao was stabbed to death in that corner on the west side of the altar and then moved to the stone pillar. Furthermore, there were marks on the deceased's wrists, indicating that he had been bound before being killed.

Tong Hao, sitting leaning against a stone pillar, was disheveled; his belt was missing and was later found not far from the pool of blood. There were marks on his left cheek, suggesting he had struggled before his death and may have even fought with his assailant. The expression on his face was very strange: his eyes were wide open, and his mouth was slightly agape, as if he had suffered immense shock before dying. One of his hands was tightly clutching a photograph, crumpled into a ball. When unfolded, it revealed a woman's picture; the woman was very beautiful, radiating a star-like glow.