I Do Science Popularization Live Streams in the Supernatural World - Chapter 5

The night grew deeper. The dark clouds scattered and revealed a bright, clear moon.

The exorcist trio felt a little cold. The damp air made their already uncomfortable uniforms feel even worse. But they remained focused on Wang Qi’s livestream.

After coolly snatching the red cloth—the very thing the female ghost possessed—Wang Qi, as if treating it like a souvenir, stuffed it straight into his pocket. Then, as though nothing unusual had happened, he resumed his careful exploration, moving from room to room.

This went on for another hour.

Once they confirmed that the ghost haunting the Hongqi Apartment had been dealt with by Wang Qi, the trio naturally lost their initial tension and excitement.

However, they didn’t turn off the stream. They wanted to see his investigation through to the end as a sign of respect. They would properly introduce themselves to this master when he came out.

“I’ve explored every floor, every room, both inside and outside of this old building, and still didn’t bump into anything. You see, there are no ghosts in this world. It’s just self-inflicted fear.” Wang Qi walked down the stairs from the fourth floor and gave earnest instructions to his viewers, “We have to trust in science and not be swayed by groundless sayings.”

The image of an atheist popularizing science in such a cool way was now forever seared into the minds of thousands.

[I’ll be tuning into every one of your streams from now on!]

[This is too much! We viewers are more scared than the streamer!]

[I still think you should burn some incense at a temple.]

[No way, no way, after watching this stream, there are still people who think Hongqi Apartment is haunted?]

[Finally, I can leave my bed…]

Wang Qi read through comments with a smile and occasionally said a few words, creating a harmonious atmosphere. Although it was his first livestream, he felt that this line of work was quite suitable for him.

The number of followers on his channel had skyrocketed to 8,000 after he finished exploring the fourth floor. At its peak, the viewer count exceeded 30,000. As for the virtual gifts he received, he couldn’t check just yet, but Wang Qi roughly estimated it to be well over ten thousand yuan.

Paranormal streams had always been a niche in the streaming industry. For Wang Qi to hit these numbers in his debut stream was truly remarkable. Wang Qi felt a deep sense of accomplishment. I was born to do this.

Most importantly, the popularity value tracked by the system officially hit 5,000 shortly after he reached the fourth floor. The current value was 5,834. With this, he would now be able to unlock the next stage of the system’s rewards.

Wang Qi could hardly wait to see what he would receive from the system. But that would have to wait until he got home.

“Friends, that’s it for today’s stream. Thank you for your company. We had a wonderful night.” After leaving the doorway of the old Hongqi building, Wang Qi turned the camera around and waved to his viewers with a smile.

“I’ll notify you before the next stream and continue to explore haunted locations. I will also debunk the rumors and myths surrounding the events. If you have any place you’d like me to investigate, you can also send me a private message.” With these words, he formally ended the livestream.

Shaking his hand, which was a little sore from holding the selfie stick, Wang Qi was about to look for the scooter he had ridden there when he saw the three colleagues he had met earlier inside the building blocking his path.

“You three haven’t left yet?” Wang Qi greeted them with a smile.

The exorcist trio quickly put on flattering expressions. “We were waiting for your stream to end,” Old Chen said with a grin. “Brother Gaoren… no, Brother Qi, thank you for helping us just now.”

Linlin also quickly added, “We owe you one.”

“It was nothing.” Wang Qi waved it off.

Xiao Gao, with a serious expression, adjusted his glasses and said earnestly, “If not for you leading us out, we would have been in serious trouble.” He wasn’t exaggerating. They were trapped in an illusion far above their level, and if Wang Qi hadn’t appeared, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

But hearing Xiao Gao’s words, Wang Qi was a little speechless. You guys came to a haunted building to explore but were too scared to come down. I just helped you out. There’s no need for all this, right?

“Can we treat you to a meal, Brother Qi?” Linlin’s eyes were bright with expectation.

Wang Qi hadn’t paid much attention before, but he now noticed that this girl was actually quite pretty and had a nice figure. Especially now, wearing her tight black uniform, her curves were well-defined. Wang Qi couldn’t help but glance twice.

However, he was a disciplined person and immediately shook his head. “No need. It’s almost dawn. I have to go home.”

“Then can we give you a ride?” Linlin didn’t give up.

“I drove myself here,” Wang Qi replied, shaking his head again.

Seeing Wang Qi was about to leave, Xiao Gao stepped forward. “Brother Qi, do you mind exchanging contact information? After all, we are in the same profession. It would be good to stay in contact.”

By “same profession” he meant they were all exorcists, but Wang Qi was under the impression of them being streamers. Since they had met, it was perfectly normal to get to know each other. So, he happily shared his name and phone number.

The trio hurriedly took it down and introduced themselves.

“My surname is Lin, while my given name is Lin. It’s the same character as ‘forest’ with the radical ‘Jade’ next to it,” Linlin said. “Everyone calls me Linlin.”

“My name is a bit awkward. My surname is Gao, and my given name is Xiao Gao.” Xiao Gao looked slightly embarrassed as he said so “Everyone just calls me Xiao Gao.”

Your names are so strange. Wang Qi was sighing in his heart when Old Chen introduced himself.

“I’m Chen Dehua. Everyone usually calls me Old Chen.” His unshaven face was weathered with vicissitudes of life, but it was also quite good-looking.

“Your name is very cool,” Wang Qi commented.

“Hehe, it’s not as cool as yours, Brother Qi,” Old Chen quickly flattered him.

When they called him “Brother Qi,” Wang Qi wanted to correct them. He was only twenty-one and probably younger than all three of them. It was fine to just call him Xiao Qi. But after thinking about it, he reconsidered.

In a professional setting, titles don’t necessarily depend on age, and “Brother Qi” was a term of respect. They respected him for the popularity and effect of his stream, so he should accept their goodwill gracefully.

Wang Qi checked the time; it was already 5 a.m. He waved goodbye to the trio and went to fetch his scooter parked in the corner of the building.

The exorcist trio wanted to know Wang Qi better and were reluctant to part with him so soon. He was a big shot. They must hold his thigh tight! However, considering that a master like him might have an eccentric temper, they didn’t dare say too much for fear of offending him.

Then, they watched as Wang Qi wheeled an electric scooter out from the corner. It looked second-hand. He even put on a helmet with a little yellow duck on it.

“This…” The three exchanged glances again.

Being an exorcist was a high-risk job, but high risk meant high income. People in this line of work generally earned quite a lot. But Brother Qi’s mode of transport was a bit… unique.

“A powerful exorcist like him can’t possibly be short on money. This must be his unique hobby,” Xiao Gao analyzed rationally. Old Chen and Linlin felt that he was correct and nodded in agreement. Great masters are all so inspiring!

Just then, all three of them suddenly felt something. Their nerves instantly tensed up, and their eyes involuntarily darted to the spot behind Wang Qi.

A figure in red slowly materialized. Her black hair was draped messily around her face, and her pale face was stretched in a grin that revealed sharp fangs. Her claw-like hands glinted under the moonlight. Her appearance was terrifying.

It was the ghost of the Hongqi Apartment! She wasn’t dead and had been following Wang Qi the whole time!

“This kind of momentum…she must be a resentful spirit!” Old Chen whispered in shock.

Specters were categorized by their threat level: baleful spirit, resentful spirit, evil spirit, fierce spirit, and demonic spirit. This female ghost in red should have reached the resentful spirit level. If the three of them, as novice exorcists, had encountered her, they would have certainly died.

Linlin was about to shout a warning to Wang Qi to be careful. But Xiao Gao stopped her. “Wait, this must be intentional on Brother Qi’s part.”

During the stream, Wang Qi had put the red cloth hanging on the fourth-floor balcony into his pocket. The female ghost was an attachment-type spirit and she could only reside in the red cloth. She couldn’t move too far away from it.

Given Wang Qi’s strength, he couldn’t possibly be unaware of such basic ghost knowledge. He must have been fully aware of the ghost’s presence!

They watched as the female ghost shrieked in fury. She was about to pounce on Wang Qi under the trio’s nervous gaze, but then—thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk-thunk!

The old scooter made a series of rough, spluttering sounds due to its age, and in a whoosh, it sped away down the small road. The speed was surprisingly fast.

The female ghost couldn’t detach herself beyond a certain range from the red cloth. As the scooter sped away, her figure froze in the air. Then she was yanked forward, dragged along behind the scooter.

From a distance, it looked just like a kite flailing in the wind.

The three exorcists: “…”

Are you walking your ghost like a dog?!