Spirit Reaper - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: The Water Ghost Looking for Someone—Where Is She?!

Shocking: A heavy truck discovered in the deep-water zone of Lincheng’s Third Bathing Beach. Plate: Lin-ALYX52. A bloated, faceless female corpse found in the cab. What is the hidden truth behind this?

Searching the entire web, Wuyi could only find this single relevant report on the “Tomorrow’s Headlines” website.

The report was dated a month ago. By a conservative estimate, it had been about a month and a half since Yu Xin passed away. This meant that almost immediately after Yu Xin was escorted to the Underworld, she had escaped through the Ghost Gate.

Did she risk everything just to see Yu Zhu one last time?

The article used exaggerated language and offered very little factual information, likely written just for clickbait. However, it did provide Wuyi with the specific location: the Third Bathing Beach.

The beach was in the city district, a twenty-minute ride on her electric scooter. It was the largest and most famous beach in Lincheng, near a small fishing village that had been developed into a “farm-stay” tourist spot. Consequently, the area was always crowded.

Normally, someone committing suicide would choose a secluded spot. Why did Yu Xin choose such a popular tourist destination?

Wuyi realized she couldn’t solve the mystery of Yu Xin’s suicide and escape just by staring at these limited clues. She decided to visit the beach in person to look for potential witnesses.

As for her own neighborhood, she left the patrol duties to Xiao Tuan. With her enhanced senses, the ghost dog could easily monitor everything within a five-mile radius. Since they had signed a formal contract, Wuyi could instantly sense if Xiao Tuan encountered anything unusual.

…

By the time Wuyi reached the Third Bathing Beach, the sun was setting. The late hour didn’t dampen the tourists’ spirits; the vast beach was dotted with people like spilled black sesame seeds.

Wuyi avoided the crowds and headed toward the nearby village where smoke drifted from chimneys. At the village entrance, a group of aunties and uncles immediately swarmed her.

“Young lady! My family’s seafood is the best! We have guest rooms too. Are you a tourist? I’ll give you a discount!” “Come to my place! Our shrimp is fresh and cheap. I’ll give you a free plate!”

“Uncles, Aunties, you’ve got it wrong,” Wuyi waved them off, showing a pre-prepared press badge hanging from her neck. “I’m a local. You can call me Xiao Yu. I’m a reporter for Lincheng TV Station. I’m here to do a feature on the local farm-stays. Is the Village Chief available for an interview?”

“Yu Wu’er? That’s a unique name,” a woman in a floral shirt remarked, squinting at the badge. She smiled and welcomed Wuyi in. “I’m Auntie Lin. Sit at my place for a bit, and I’ll go fetch the Chief for you!”

Left alone in the house, Wuyi stared out the window at the boundless sea. The water was calm, and a half-sun hung on the horizon, painting the sky red. Did Yu Xin see this scenery before she drove into the water? Did she hesitate?

“Big sister…” a timid, childish voice spoke.

Wuyi started and looked down to see a little girl with a tiny ponytail, wearing a white T-shirt and holding a fruit platter. Wuyi quickly took the heavy platter and invited the girl to sit.

“What’s your name, little sister?” “Xiao Yu.” Little Fish

Almost sounds like Xiaoyu, Wuyi thought, remembering the little ghost girl waiting for her mother at home.

“Was that lady just now your mother?” “Yes.”

Sensing the girl’s nervousness, Wuyi took a “Protection String” from her bag. “Don’t be scared. I’m not a bad person. Here, a gift for you. You haven’t been sleeping well lately, have you? You’re starting to look like a little panda. This will help you have good dreams.”

Wuyi wasn’t exaggerating. The shadows under the girl’s eyes were deep, and there was a faint, abnormal dark tint between her eyebrows. This string had been blessed with incense and sutras for forty-nine days; it contained cinnabar and was designed to ward off unclean things.

The girl, Xiao Yu, took the red string and tied it to her wrist. Her wariness faded, replaced by childhood curiosity. “Are you a fairy with magic? Can you stop the nightmares?”

“Actually,” Wuyi whispered with a wink, “I’m a fairy from the ‘Underworld.’ I can help deal with the bullies who bother you.” Not technically a lie, she thought. I do work for Qin An.

Xiao Yu didn’t answer directly. She ran to her room and returned clutching a toy teddy bear. “A kind auntie gave me this bear to drive away the bad guys.”

“Then the bear and I will protect you together. Tell me about your dream.”

Xiao Yu took a breath. “The first dream was a week ago. I was alone on the beach. It was dark, and I couldn’t find my mom. Then, a head popped out of the sea. Her hair was very short, and her face was as white as the walls of our house! She waved at me from the water. My body started moving on its own toward her. I was crying, but I couldn’t stop. When the water covered me, I started choking on the salt water. I heard her saying: ‘I can’t find her. Where is she? Where is she?!’ She also mentioned something about a bear.”

“And then you woke up?” “Yes,” Xiao Yu buried her face in the teddy bear. “Sister, do you think a ghost wants to steal my bear? Was it that sister who died in the sea? Is she going to kill me?”

The girl began to hyperventilate. Wuyi quickly pulled her into a hug, patting her back. “I’m here. No one will hurt you. There are no ghosts—believe me. As long as you wear that string, she won’t come back.”

“I’m back… Xiao Yu?!” Auntie Lin entered the room, seeing her daughter trembling in Wuyi’s arms. Her eyes flashed with suspicion. “Xiao Yu! What’s going on?!”

“Mommy…” the girl calmed down, touching her red string. “Sister isn’t a bad person. She gave me this.”

Auntie Lin exhaled in relief and apologized to Wuyi. “Sorry, Xiao Yu. The Chief is busy and couldn’t come. We can reschedule, or you can just ask me whatever you want to know.”

Wuyi’s goal wasn’t a real interview anyway. Based on the girl’s description, Auntie Lin was a much better source of info than the Village Chief.

“That’s perfect!” Wuyi pretended to be excited, taking out a notebook. She asked a few fluff questions about the farm-stay business before pivoting.

“Auntie Lin, while I was chatting with Xiao Yu, she mentioned she’s been having nightmares about a ‘water ghost’ looking for someone. And she mentioned a ‘sister’ who died in the sea recently… Do you know anything about that?”