Chapter 2

After single-handedly giving Zhang Lihui a thorough beating, Song Wan instantly felt refreshed and clear-headed.

Although hospital security was eventually alerted, she picked up her high heels without looking back, elegantly adjusted her appearance, and ignored her husband’s impotent rage, taking their daughter firmly from Chu Ning’s arms.

Before long, their daughter was sleeping soundly and comfortably in the young man’s embrace, and her previous fever had noticeably subsided.

Facing her daughter’s sweet sleeping face, Song Wan’s heart softened. Disregarding Zhang Lihui’s resentful glances, she decisively retrieved the divorce lawyer’s number. After a preliminary discussion, she once again expressed her gratitude to Chu Ning.

Song Wan was a career-driven woman. Most businesspeople had some regard for feng shui and metaphysics, and although she firmly believed in science and rejected superstition, she still held a slight reverence and taboo toward such matters.

Upon calming down and reflecting on the strange events just now, Song Wan quickly realized that she and her daughter had likely encountered a stroke of great fortune today—a truly gifted young expert.

Thus, when facing Chu Ning again, her expression became even more respectful.

Having survived and struggled through a world overrun by ghosts and monsters for many years, Chu Ning felt a deep compassion for every newborn human. Seeing how tenderly Song Wan cared for her daughter, he didn’t mind offering some advice: “A child’s vitality is weak, especially when ill. For the next month, it’s best not to take her near any bodies of water.”

Song Wan’s daughter had just been forcibly taken as a substitute by a newly deceased vengeful spirit. Though rescued, her soul was still unstable, making her an extremely attractive target for water ghosts who favored finding replacements.

Hearing this, Song Wan’s heart tightened with a chill. Confirming her suspicions, she carefully expressed her thanks to Chu Ning again and, before parting, asked for his contact information. Without hesitation, she transferred a generous thank-you fee.

Chu Ning, who had only done a small favor, was stunned: “Wow, so much money!”

For a moment, he felt as if he had discovered the secret to wealth.

Seeing him stare blankly at the transfer amount, Song Wan worried that the expert might be displeased with the payment and felt a pang of anxiety.

Had she given too little?

But the next second, Chu Ning looked up slowly, fixed his gaze on Song Wan, and said deliberately, “You will come into a large sum of money next month, but be careful not to be greedy or reckless; it will only lead to loss.”

Song Wan was startled. Was this expert suddenly giving her a fortune reading?

Though surprised, she didn’t take his words too seriously and hugged her child cautiously. “If anything happens to the child again, can I contact you?”

Chu Ning accepted the money and nodded matter-of-factly: “You can.”

***

At six in the evening, the city of Tong was entering the late rush hour.

After parting from Song Wan and her daughter at the hospital, Chu Ning was in a good mood as he wheeled himself out. He headed to the nearby bus stop and messaged Chu Mingming, who had stood him up for nearly an hour.

Chu Mingming was the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Chu, three years younger than Chu Ning, and currently a freshman at Tong University.

After the scandal of the switched heirs was exposed, the true young master Chu Xiuran and the impostor Chu Ning each returned to their rightful places. The wealthy Chu family warmly welcomed back Chu Xiuran with lavish banquets, while the modest Chu family embraced Chu Ning with all their love.

Since Chu Ning’s biological parents were not locals of Tong City and worked in Lin City, considering the disparity in medical resources between Lin City and Tong City, they chose to let Chu Ning stay in Tong City under the care of his younger brother, Chu Mingming.

Chu Ning needed daily hospital visits for check-ups and rehabilitation. Responsible Chu Mingming never failed to pick him up and drop him off, rain or shine.

Tong University was located in the university district south of Tong City, less than three kilometers from Tonghua Municipal Hospital. Chu Mingming only needed to take three bus stops to get there.

After sending the message, Chu Ning watched his phone screen darken, then raised his eyes. The once bustling bus stop was now quiet, with only one or two scattered pedestrians remaining.

His gaze met that of an elderly woman in a red padded jacket with a hunched back.

Early winter in Tong City brought early darkness. The serene moonlight cast a cold glow on the bus stop sign, carrying a hint of chilling desolation.

Under the pale streetlight, shadows clung like phantoms, seemingly eager to swallow the last flicker of light.

The old woman smiled warmly and struck up a conversation with Chu Ning: “Young man, are you waiting for the bus alone?”

Standing close, Chu Ning could smell a pungent musty odor emanating from her.

He glanced at the time—exactly 6:44 p.m.—and saw no reply from Chu Mingming yet.

Putting away his phone, he chatted idly with the old woman.

“Do you know when the next Route 4 bus will arrive nearby?”

“Coming soon,” she replied.

As if to confirm her words, a wobbling bus emblazoned with the slogan “Dongyue Taishan Underworld Welcomes You” rolled into the stop.

“Let’s get on,” the old woman said, hobbling forward to board first.

***

Chu Ning followed her and peered inside. The interior was dimly lit, making it hard to see how many passengers were aboard. Only the driver’s face was clear—a pale, smooth visage with dull, black eyes glaring at him.

“Get on or not?” the driver demanded.

Chu Ning smiled politely: “Sir, could you please lower the wheelchair ramp? Thank you.”

The driver hesitated briefly, scrutinized Chu Ning for a moment, then widened his eyes.

“Wait here a bit.”

The wheelchair ramp quickly lowered. Taking advantage of his youth and strength, Chu Ning propelled himself onto the bus alone.

Suddenly, someone in the rear seats stood up and cried out in urgent, desperate tones: “No! Don’t get on—”

Chu Ning turned toward the voice.

It was none other than his foolish younger brother who had stood him up for over an hour.

The tall Chu Mingming, standing at six feet, instantly became the center of attention from all aboard.

Each gaze was filled with a sinister, ghostly aura. Though it was early winter, a chill ran down Mingming’s spine, soaking his shirt with sweat.

Behind him, a female student cowered, nearly fainting.

She sobbed with a thick quiver in her voice, tugging desperately at Mingming’s sleeve.

“Sit down quickly! They’re all watching you.”

“It’s so scary. Are we going to die?”

“I don’t want to be eaten by ghosts, waah!”

Mingming’s face darkened. Ignoring the girl, he stared at Chu Ning with sorrowful eyes.

“Brother, why did you get on too?”

***

If Chu Mingming were to name his biggest regret today, it would be dozing off while waiting for the bus, mistaking the Route 11 bus for Route 4, and inadvertently boarding a ghost bus.

At first, he hadn’t noticed anything amiss—only that the driver looked strange, the coin clink sounded dull as it dropped into the farebox, and the passengers were eerily quiet.

Once on board, he casually picked a rear seat, only to hear the neighboring female student’s restrained, fearful sobbing.

Embarrassed, Mingming politely offered her a tissue. “Here, wipe your tears. Your makeup’s running.”

Her crying stopped as she quickly accepted the tissue and wiped her face.

Then she cautiously looked up at him. “Are you... alive?”

Mingming was confused. “Huh?”

The girl took a deep breath and bravely poked his hand. It was warm.

“You’re alive too!” she whispered, excited but mostly desperate. “Do you know what kind of bus you’re on?”

Mingming scratched his head, puzzled. “Isn’t this Route 11?” Had he gotten on the wrong bus?

The girl urged him to look again.

Under the dim lighting, Mingming realized something was wrong. As he tried to read the route map inside the bus, someone in the front row suddenly turned, revealing a grotesque, bleeding purple head, grinning at him.

Mingming was speechless.

Had his nerves been weaker, his heart might have stopped.

Struggling to stay calm, he diverted his gaze and joked nervously, “Haha, is this some kind of cosplay party?”

The girl broke down. “What do you think?”

Mingming was at his wit’s end. “Is it still okay if I get off now?”

Of course, it was too late.

Ghost buses only pick up passengers and never let them off until the final stop.

Mingming tried several times, ignoring the driver and passengers, and forced his way to the door, but each step out was met with an invisible force pulling him back to his seat.

Just as despair settled in, something even more hopeless happened.

His older brother was on the same ghost bus. Fate had cruelly brought them together.

Truly, the heavens were punishing the Chu family.

***

Chu Ning thought his brother, though academically excellent, seemed a bit thick-headed and not very bright.

Especially after he boarded and rushed over like a whirlwind, nervously asking, “Brother, you’re not... dead, are you?”

Chu Ning was utterly baffled.

Who? Who was dead?

***

The chance of a living person boarding a ghost bus was extraordinarily slim.

Chu Mingming had mentally prepared for the worst, but even if his brother had turned into a ghost, he wouldn’t be afraid of him.

A real man must bravely face the storm.

He took a deep breath, trembling as he gripped Chu Ning’s hands. After a moment, tears welled up. “Thank goodness! Brother, you’re not dead!”

Chu Ning sighed. His brother was either foolish or ought to be stewed in a pot.

He patted Mingming’s arm, urging him to return to his seat.

“Brother?”

“Everyone’s watching you,” Chu Ning said quietly.

Mingming shuddered, his legs trembling again.

Though the bus interior was dim, the area around the “Civilized Travel” propaganda banner radiated a faint white light.

Chu Ning’s gaze flicked over it. He thought it must have been written by some high-ranking underworld official—otherwise, the ghosts wouldn’t be so well-behaved.

Under this pressure, most passengers appeared as they had in life, making it difficult to distinguish them from ordinary commuters.

Except for one newly dead ghost who clearly wanted trouble.

Attracted by Chu Ning’s strong living aura, the new ghost’s eyes lit up, rubbing its hands eagerly and staring directly at him. Blood tears streamed from its eyes, and its tongue dangled from its mouth, trailing on the floor.

Chu Ning looked at the new ghost with disdain, then scanned the other passengers who pretended to be indifferent but secretly watched the scene. He wheeled himself around and lightly tapped the “Prohibited” sign on the driver’s partition.

Unlike the propaganda banner, this simple A4-sized paper bore black text on a white background, looking very ordinary.

But as Chu Ning tapped it, the ghosts pretending to be bystanders all changed expressions and turned their heads away, clearly avoiding him.

Only the new ghost remained oblivious. To scare Chu Ning, it even detached its head and rolled it like a ball next to his wheelchair.

Chu Ning looked down and coldly scolded, “Are you blind? The underworld’s rules don’t control you?”

Folklore held that after encountering ghosts, one should fiercely scold them; the harsher the scolding, the less likely the demons would approach.

Though Chu Ning’s tone was calm, combined with the official underworld “Prohibited” sign, it was enough to discipline a new ghost.

Having only just died, the new ghost had boarded the Route 4 bus by accident and paid no attention to the driver’s partition signs.

Now reprimanded, its dark aura mostly dissipated, but its face twitched in frustration as it glared with bloodshot eyes.

Looking up, it saw the large printed notices on the partition:

【Passengers are prohibited from sticking out their tongues or dragging them on the floor!】

【Passengers are forbidden from discarding eyeballs, heads, limbs, or other body parts anywhere!】

【No blood, brain matter, or any unknown fluids may splash inside the bus!】

【Violators will be fined twenty ingots; serious offenders will be struck by ten heavenly bolts of lightning.】

【Final interpretation rights belong to the Dongyue Underworld Office.】

The new ghost was stunned.

Looking to the sky, it felt like death might come for it yet again, and soon.