I Went Crazy Killing in the World of Gods and Demons - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Feeling the cold sensation on his neck, Yu Wei’s eyes held a moment of disbelief.

But soon, he curved his eyes into a smile, his expression showing no trace of anger but instead brimming with a certain joy. Yu Wei laughed heartily and said, “Not bad, not bad. You’re improving quickly. Whether it’s a feint or a trick, if you can keep your opponent guessing during a fight, you’ve already won half the battle.”

“Remember, it’s always the moves and actions you haven’t revealed yet that are the most frightening. Don’t let your opponent easily see through you.”

Yu Wei lavished praise, his tone filled with delight and a sense of relief that he had found a worthy successor.

He had initially thought Xie Qingling merely possessed strong combat talent and, due to the unique nature of her profession, could easily deal high damage despite her smaller stature. But now, it seemed her talents extended beyond that.

On the battlefield, more fearsome than a high-damage berserker is a strategist who excels at scheming. No matter the situation, a strategist can quickly analyze the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and devise corresponding tactics.

Such individuals often turn decay into miracle, overcoming greater odds with lesser means and winning in unexpected ways.

Yu Wei saw these qualities in Xie Qingling.

Xie Qingling moved Blood Oath away and smiled, saying, “It’s because you taught me well, Brother Yu.”

Yu Wei stood up from the ground, brushing off nonexistent dust. “Let’s stop here for today. I feel like you’re almost ready to graduate.”

“I still need more practice.” Yu Wei’s skill level was high, and Xie Qingling wanted to continue sparring and learning from him, maintaining a humble attitude.

The two ended their training session and walked out of the practice room drenched in sweat.

Feeling her body overly depleted and hungry, Xie Qingling took out a hard candy and put it in her mouth to replenish some energy.

It was candy she had bought while on external duty, with a refreshing sweetness that wasn’t cloying.

Just as she was about to throw the wrapper into the trash, she heard Yu Wei say, “Can I have it? The candy wrapper.”

“Huh?”

She hadn’t expected Yu Wei, a middle-aged man, to have such a girlish hobby.

How unexpectedly deep!

Xie Qingling was taken aback but quickly adopted an expression of “I don’t understand but I respect it.”

“My daughter would probably like it,” Yu Wei said somewhat sheepishly.

Xie Qingling immediately understood and also felt a bit embarrassed, handing the candy wrapper to Yu Wei.

This vintage-style glassine candy wrapper would scatter rainbow-colored light under the sun, looking sparkling and shiny, especially pretty.

Young girls generally liked collecting them Xie Qingling had too when she was little.

She remembered having a very old mooncake box in the orphanage specifically for storing these odd little treasures.

They were treated like precious items back then.

She just hadn’t expected Yu Wei, who radiated such a fierce aura, to have a daughter and even be quite the doting father.

He wanted to save even these tiny things for his daughter.

Xie Qingling said with some envy, “Brother Yu is such a good dad.”

Yu Wei smiled, reached out to take it, and said nothing.

The next day, it was Xie Qingling’s turn for external duty.

Ling Fang assigned her a task: “After the previous cleanup of the Carrion Ghouls, the teaching building of your forensic department has been under repair. Now that the repairs are nearly complete, the task of placing the anchor point is handed over to you.”

“Received,” Xie Qingling said.

By now, she had grown accustomed to the daily operations of the department.

Going out alone to place an anchor point was no challenge for her.

Ling Fang took out a pre-carved statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and handed it to Xie Qingling.

The statue felt heavy and substantial in her palm.

Moreover, Xie Qingling keenly sensed that the statue contained a mysterious, forbidden power this must be the curse Ling Fang had prepared in advance.

Seeing this, Xie Qingling couldn’t help but ask, “Chief, since Curse Casters are so powerful, could you teach me a few tricks?”

Xie Qingling had already figured out everyone’s abilities in the department.

Among them, Ling Fang was the most unique he was a Curse Caster.

He was neither an Innate Spirit nor an Acquired Spirit; his body was that of an ordinary person, but through studying curses, he could create these peculiar items.

These objects, crafted through ancient curse techniques, often possessed some kind of miraculous power.

Ling Fang compensated for his lack of combat ability with these mysterious items created through curses.

Ling Fang smiled and said, “No.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“Being a Curse Caster isn’t as great as you think,” Ling Fang explained. “The way of heaven dictates that for every gain, there must be a sacrifice. If an ordinary person gains extraordinary power through curses, they must pay a certain price.”

He added, “I became a Curse Caster halfway through my life.”

[Lu Ban’s Complete Book, the five misfortunes and three deficiencies. His unborn child and wife fell to their deaths from a flying wooden hawk he crafted. Lu Ban, master of mechanical curses, left behind a remarkable book but also a curse. Ordinary people who open that door of intertwined fortune and misfortune gain Lu Ban’s power but also carry his curse. Widowed, orphaned, lonely, disabled lacking in fate, authority, or wealth one must bear at least one of these.]

So, Xie Qingling simply fell silent, took the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue, and left the office.

An ability that comes with a curse… Being a Curse Caster is such a high-risk profession…

She remained silent all the way, riding her motorcycle she had learned to drive it and could now travel independently.

Soon, Xie Qingling arrived at the gate of the university campus.

Carrying the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statue given by Ling Fang, she went to the forensic department’s teaching building.

She could see that the partially collapsed east wing was still under reconstruction, while the west wing remained in normal use.

At the construction site, the workers had cleared a path for faculty and staff to pass through, with the rest cordoned off by yellow tape.

Xie Qingling carried the Ksitigarbha stone statue through the passage and entered the east wing under reconstruction.

There were no specific taboos for placing the anchor point, but it needed to be hidden to prevent mischievous people from damaging it. Having to return for maintenance would be troublesome.

She found a secluded corner and had a cement worker embed the stone statue into the wall. After about ten minutes, the cement work was completed.

If one didn’t look carefully, it would be impossible to tell that a stone statue was embedded in the wall.

Xie Qingling checked the details that needed attention afterward and found everything had been properly handled. Only then did she leave the campus and head to the next patrol point.

After a full day of fieldwork, when Xie Qingling returned to the office, the others who had been on duty had already left.

Xie Qingling took off her clothes, went into the bathroom for a shower, and relaxed her body. She lay sprawled on the bed, planning to unwind with her phone.

But when she picked up her phone, she noticed that around four in the evening, Jiang Lvlv had sent her a WeChat message:

“Ahhhh help me, Qingling!!!!!!”

Xie Qingling frowned, her heart suddenly pounding heavily.

When she left the school, Xie Qingling had mentioned that if anything strange happened, Jiang Lvlv could contact her.

This message from Jiang Lvlv now made it impossible for her to ignore.

Xie Qingling immediately replied, asking what was wrong, where she was, and what the situation was.

About half an hour passed with no response her messages seemed to have vanished into the void. She was genuinely starting to lose her composure.

She picked up her phone and called Jiang Lvlv.

The ringing tone echoed, each beep striking directly at Xie Qingling’s heart.

After about thirty seconds, the call was answered.

Jiang Lvlv’s voice came through: “Hello.”

“Lvlv,” Xie Qingling said urgently, “What was that ‘help me’ message about? You scared me to death!”

But at least her heart settled a little.

It was Jiang Lvlv’s voice.

“Um… it’s nothing,” Jiang Lvlv mumbled. “Just a joke, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t make jokes like that in the future I’ll take them seriously,” Xie Qingling reiterated sternly, then added, “I’m quite busy with work now and don’t have much time to contact you all. Here, I’ll give you my work address. If you ever need my help with anything, you can come find me directly.”

Although Xie Qingling was vague, Jiang Lvlv had fought Mountain Goblins alongside her before she would surely understand.

Both Dong Jia and Jiang Lvlv were the type who rarely bothered others, so Xie Qingling wasn’t worried about Jiang Lvlv pestering her unless something was truly wrong.

“Okay,” Jiang Lvlv agreed readily.

What Xie Qingling didn’t expect was that Jiang Lvlv would show up the very next morning.

Early dawn, with the sky just beginning to brighten.

Xie Qingling woke up early and, as usual, completed her incense-offering duties before considering breakfast.

When she opened the door to head to the bun shop on the next street, she saw a disheveled figure sitting at the entrance of the small western-style building.

She was seated on the steps, not going inside, her expression dazed as if lost in thought.

Xie Qingling was shocked and called out, “Lvlv? How… how are you here?”

Jiang Lvlv looked up, startled, and only then did Xie Qingling notice how terrifyingly pale her face was. A faint greenish hue tinged her skin, as if she hadn’t seen sunlight in a long time, devoid of vitality.

When Xie Qingling’s figure appeared, Jiang Lvlv visibly breathed a sigh of relief. She blinked her somewhat dazed eyes and said, “I finally waited for you. I thought I came to the wrong place.”

“Let’s go inside first.”

But Jiang Lvlv shook her head vigorously. “No, no, I won’t bother you. I just… I just…”

She kept stammering “just” for a long time without finishing her sentence.

Xie Qingling frowned deeply, sensing that Jiang Lvlv had encountered some serious trouble.

Seeing her trembling like a frightened bird, shoulders still shaking, Xie Qingling felt compassion and didn’t press further. Instead, she said, “Alright then, come with me to buy breakfast.”

The two walked one after another to the breakfast shop on the next street.

Xie Qingling ordered a bowl of millet porridge and two meat buns, getting the same for Jiang Lvlv.

After they found seats, Xie Qingling focused on eating while waiting for Jiang Lvlv to explain her purpose.

But Jiang Lvlv just held the buns in her hands without eating, staring at Xie Qingling with a conflicted expression, lost in thought.

After a moment of silence, when Xie Qingling finished her breakfast, she wiped her mouth deliberately and asked directly, “Lvlv, have you… seen a ghost?”

Instantly, Jiang Lvlv’s eyes widened, her entire body seeming to stiffen.

After the two stared at each other for a moment, Jiang Lvlv finally let out a bitter laugh and relaxed, asking, “How could you tell?”

[One can draw a tiger’s skin but not its bones; one can know a person’s face but not their heart. The Huapi Ghost despises its ugly body, longing for a perfect painted skin to use as disguise while wandering the mortal world. However, human skin is a gift from heaven to mankind. No matter how much the Huapi Ghost envies and covets, it can never possess one… No, it always finds a way.]

It seemed this Huapi Ghost was quite troublesome.

Always finds a way? What way? By stealing? Stealing human skin?

Just the thought made Xie Qingling’s scalp tingle.

Xie Qingling said, “If you hadn’t encountered some supernatural being, you wouldn’t have come to me.”

After all, they had just graduated and found internship positions, both extremely busy. On weekends, they practically merged with their beds, only occasionally popping up in group chats. Who had time for private meetings to maintain relationships?

Moreover, Jiang Lvlv’s absent-minded appearance… After living together for so long, Xie Qingling had never seen her like this.

Jiang Lvlv hadn’t sent “hahaha” in the group chat for a long time.

With just a little thought, it was clear something had happened to Jiang Lvlv.

Jiang Lvlv said bitterly, “I don’t know what to do… I could only come to you… But I’m afraid of dragging you into this.”

“Don’t be afraid. You did the right thing coming to me.” Xie Qingling said with fierce determination, “These Demons and Monsters causing trouble in the human world – it’s my duty to eliminate them!”

Then, as if remembering something, her tone softened. “Don’t be scared. Just tell me everything you know.”

Jiang Lvlv remained terribly frightened, still looking deeply troubled. Under Xie Qingling’s gentle coaxing, as if recalling something terrifying, her entire body shuddered.

She murmured, “I just wanted to find an internship at a law firm. After sending out resumes everywhere, I landed an internship at one firm. And then… my nightmare began…”

“My boss was a charming middle-aged man, but…” At this point, Jiang Lvlv grabbed Xie Qingling’s arm with a terrified expression, as if seeing something horrifying before her eyes, “But later I discovered… he wasn’t human… he was a ghost. I… I saw him changing skins.”

She buried her face in her hands, letting out painful sobs. “It’s so terrifying. It’s a ghost, and it wants my human skin. But because I’m female, it hesitated. Still, it didn’t let me go. Later, somehow… this thought appeared in my mind it wants me to help it kill people.”

“It wants me to help it kill a man, then skin him… I don’t know how it’s influencing me, but now my mind is filled with… killing, I need to kill someone…”

Jiang Lvlv looked up at Xie Qingling, her eyes filled with pain and bloodshot. “Tell me, is there any way out for me?”

Xie Qingling’s heart sank. No wonder the usually carefree Jiang Lvlv was so terrified. Witnessing a Huapi Ghost changing skins just thinking about it was chilling.

Jiang Lvlv and Dong Jia were different from Xie Qingling.

Strictly speaking, they had only accidentally stumbled upon the tip of the iceberg of this mysterious world.

These terrifying events must have been far beyond their psychological capacity to handle.

Xie Qingling held her hand, comforting her: “Don’t be afraid. Calm down first. With me here, I won’t let it harm you.”

“I need to ask you some questions now. Answer them truthfully.”

After Jiang Lvlv’s cold hands were held by Xie Qingling, they warmed slightly. She nodded, “Okay.”

“The Huapi Ghost has a physical form and can live normally in sunlight, right?”

Jiang Lvlv nodded: “Yes, my boss appears to be a successful middle-aged man who works and lives normally. If I… if I hadn’t fallen asleep in the office that day without leaving, I wouldn’t have discovered its abnormality.”

At this point, Jiang Lvlv nearly burst into tears again.

It seemed this was another type of ghost that wasn’t afraid of sunlight.

Xie Qingling asked another question: “Why does it want you to help it kill people?”

Jiang Lvlv was just an unarmed, vulnerable young woman. Going through such convoluted methods to have her help find human skins seemed terribly inefficient.

Jiang Lvlv said: “It wants me to seduce human men, keep them from panicking, then skin them when they’re off guard. Otherwise, the removed skin becomes unusable and can’t make realistic expressions that’s all I know. This is the instruction it gave me, and I just need to carry it out.”

“I understand. Stay with me these next few days… Wait a moment, let me consult my superior,” Xie Qingling said.

She stood up and moved away from Jiang Lvlv, wanting to shield her from learning too much about this world.

After creating some distance, Xie Qingling immediately activated her earpiece and contacted Ling Fang.

“Chief, we have a situation,” Xie Qingling reported. “My friend has encountered a ghost.”

“It’s a Huapi Ghost, using human skin to create disguises and living among humans. I suspect there are already victims.”

Ling Fang responded immediately, connecting all department members simultaneously. All six could now hear each other, achieving information sharing.

Ling Fang announced: “Emergency situation. All Special Events Department members assemble.”

Yu Wei: “Received.”

Shen Huaizhou: “Received.”

Ye Anran: “Received.”

Dai Xingyu: “Received.”

As Xie Qingling prepared to join the assembly, Jiang Lvlv grabbed her hand anxiously, asking: “Where are you going?”

“I’m returning to work. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.” After some thought, Xie Qingling requested permission from Ling Fang about whether Jiang Lvlv could remain at the office during their mission.

Considering Jiang Lvlv’s nervous mental state and the fact that her mind was controlled by the Huapi Ghost, leaving her outside would be too dangerous – both for her and for others.

Ling Fang said: “Approved.”

However, Jiang Lvlv refused to stay.

Frowning, she said: “No, besides you, I don’t trust anyone right now. Let me stay by your side. I… I won’t be able to sleep, I’ll live in constant fear unless I see with my own eyes that the Huapi Ghost is eliminated.”

“I… I can help you. I know where his law office is, but it’s weekend now so he’s not working. He should be at home. He lives in Qinghua District, Xingfu Community. I’ve been there before.”

Jiang Lvlv spoke in broken sentences, clearly agitated: “I also know his name is Yang Zhenhua, and his phone number is 1345XXXX5678.”

“I know a lot about him. I might be able to provide useful information.”

Xie Qingling frowned, feeling conflicted.

Were there precedents for bringing civilians on missions?

She wasn’t sure if Ling Fang would approve.

Xie Qingling sighed: “Wait here for now. I need to consult my superior before I can give you an answer.”

Jiang Lvlv nodded and watched as Xie Qingling returned to 221 Central Street.

About ten minutes later, all department members had assembled.

Xie Qingling approached Ling Fang, reporting additional information about the Huapi Ghost while inquiring about Jiang Lvlv’s situation.

“With her mind controlled by the Huapi Ghost, leaving her alone would indeed create an unstable factor.” Ling Fang frowned. Besides mind control, they didn’t know what other abilities the Huapi Ghost possessed. Jiang Lvlv’s current condition was indeed problematic.

She might potentially cause the next casualty incident.

“Let her come along then. She’ll stay with me under my supervision,” Ling Fang decided. “This time I’ll take rear position for field control.”

Xie Qingling nodded: “Understood.Meanwhile, the other members went to the second-floor preparation room and retrieved their personal cases from the shelves – the silver cases bearing the twin serpent totem that were mandatory for all missions.

Xie Qingling had already seen the contents: standard equipment included a Ksitigarbha clay statue, Ghost Binding Banner, palm-sized empty Shrine, and two bottles of medicine.

Xie Qingling still didn’t understand the specific effects of the potions.

Ye Anran had only mentioned that the pink potion should be taken when one felt there was still a last breath of life and could be saved.

As for the white bottle, it was to be used when it was certain that survival was impossible, and the method of administration was through injection.

In addition to the silver case and the Blood Oath weapon, Xie Qingling also took a handgun from the weapon rack, tucking it into the strap on her calf. On the other calf, she carried a spare dagger, ensuring she wouldn’t be left unarmed in case of unexpected circumstances.

After recent training, Xie Qingling’s proficiency with the handgun had improvedat least she no longer consistently missed the target. In terms of ease of use, firearms were still the most convenient optioncertainly more so than Shen Huaizhou’s flying daggers.

Once preparations were complete, Ling Fang said to Dai Xingyu, “Herdsman, lead the way and scout ahead first”

Suddenly, Ling Fang paused.

In previous operations, Dai Xingyu had always initiated the action. As the Herdsman, he was fast and could sense spirits. By clearing out bystanders and deploying the Killing Field, the spirit would be trapped like a fish in a net, allowing them to act directly.

But this spirit was different.

It could openly live within the orderly fabric of human society, be touched, be seen, and even had a social identity. Clearly, the same approach to clearing the area wouldn’t work.

Xie Qingling also sensed something amiss. She said, “The Huapi Ghost disguises itself as a human, holds a regular job, and lives according to human normsit appears just like a normal ‘person.’ Could it have other social connections? Or even… a family? Does its family know it’s a Huapi Ghost?”

Ling Fang’s brow furrowed deeply.

Statistically speaking, a successful middle-aged man like that was likely to have a family.

If the family didn’t know, they could be held hostage by the Huapi Ghost.

If they did know, they probably weren’t human either.

Either way, the situation had just become more complicated.

Ling Fang instructed Dai Xingyu, “First, confirm Yang Zhenhua’s social connections, especially his family situation.”

Dai Xingyu replied, “Understood.”

“The rest of you, come with me to Xingfu Community.”

“Let’s move out,” Ling Fang said.