Yama Rising

Chapter 109: In the Lead

It just ended there.

Qin Ye furrowed his brows and scrolled down. No matter how peculiar or unorthodox it was, the top sticky post was bound to have some audience. As expected, the number of comments below had already exceeded several hundred.

“Cats are mediums.” Arthis muttered, “This is something that both the east and the west are in agreement to. In the west, cats are considered the spokesperson of the god of death, and it has the ability to see all Emissaries of Hell. In the east, cats are said to have nine lives, and all cats, and especially black cats, are able to see things that most ordinary people aren’t able to see.”

The comments were similar to the ones on the city forum - “God, why is this post everywhere?! How much money has Mount Tai City received from the author of the post?” “This proves that cats are better than humans. The disappearance of a single cat is immediately made a sticky post, but the disappearance of a human being is simply treated like a drop in the ocean.” “Author, please tell us your story.” “Have you guys tried replying to the post? I can’t do it at all.”

His finger hovered over the reply button for some time, before he decided to look through the other forums as well.

Every single forum that was even remotely affiliated to Mount Tai City in some way or other had the very same sticky post at the top of its threads!

“This is why I say there’s still a generation gap between us.” Qin Ye\'s finger gently hovered over the reply button, “Did you notice that there isn’t a single reply to the author’s post?”

Qin Ye continued explaining, “The number of views is already in the hundred thousands, yet there’s not a single reply. You clearly don’t understand the hearts of the netizens. Such sticky posts would definitely attract a huge internet footprint from users. Yet everything thus far has only been comments, and there’s not been a single reply at all.”

Qin Ye coughed dryly, “Sorry… I couldn’t help myself. What I’m trying to say is that the reply button might contain more than meets the eye.”

Immediately, the phone screen turned scarlet, and a line of striking black words appeared on the screen.

Qin Ye clicked on the yes button.

“All cultivators are given registration numbers for administrative matters. I’m one hundred percent certain that this post pertains to a supernatural incident. And I’m afraid that it might be a troublesome one at that.” Qin Ye licked his lips. He was thoroughly intrigued by the cat mentioned in the post.

Furthermore, this appeared to be an outstanding, unresolved matter that had plagued provincial capital Mount Tai City for some time. Didn’t this mean that not even Hunter-class experts or even Hellguard-class experts were able to root out the problem?

“The following information pertains to a supernatural incident in Mount Tai City.

Impact: minimal.

Threat: extremely high.”

He skimmed through its contents, and immediately found the hidden information on the post.

There was only a single line of information, and approximately only ten comments below. That said, the comments were all far more informative and constructive than the others in the main forum.

“Friend, Operative-class experts aside, I’ve heard that the esteemed Inspector Jiang, a Hunter-class expert, has personally investigated this hunting zone as well, only to return covered with bite and claw marks all over his body. If not for the fact that Operative-class ghosts can’t penetrate the defenses of a Hunter-class expert, I’m quite certain Lord Jiang would have perished in that hunting zone as well. And it’s precisely because of this that the hunting zone was assessed to be an Operative-class hunting zone. It’s probably one of the most peculiar ones among its class.”

“What?”

“The ghosts you’ve encountered in the past never had a corporeal body. Even the household god that you’ve encountered is only an illusory existence at best. When all is said and done, spirits are only spirits, and their existence can never breach the gap between what is illusory and what is corporeal. But this hunting zone is different. The fact that the master of the hunting zone is able to leave marks on the physical body of cultivators means that it undoubtedly possesses a corporeal body.”

“There are several possible situations. Incidentally, this is quite relevant to the public lecture you’ll have to give at the start of the semester. Each of these possible situations are incredibly rare to find, even by the standards of Hell. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to tell exactly what the cause is with the information we have right now. Should I continue?”

“... Why do I get the feeling that you’re only facing this bravely because you’re peerless among all ghosts of the same level as you? After all, it’s not quite like you to display such a headstrong attitude…”

Meanwhile, a number of notification bubbles were appearing on Zhou Xianlong’s phone.

“So soon?” Zhou Xianlong raised his eyebrows. He hesitated for a moment, before selecting the ‘no’ option.

Even though Zhou Xianlong abhorred S9527’s ill-disciplined and disorganized personality, he couldn’t deny that S9527 was one of the strongest among all of the other instructors around.

“S9527 has officially accepted the ‘Lost Tracks’ assignment. Difficulty: C-grade. Awarded 5 teaching credits. Current total: 10 teaching credits, first place.”

“Bloody hell…” Lin Han stared at his phone with gritted teeth, “Does he have to be so fast?!”

Elsewhere, in an abandoned factory building, a young man was just chatting with one of the guards when his cell phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and glanced at the notification, and his brows immediately furrowed, “It’s him again…”

It was now patently clear to everyone that the selections competition had begun.

“Time… is still on our side…”

Are you really that displeased by the fact that I’m doing well?

Here I am, going about covertly, doing what I need to do - even refraining from seizing and snatching, yet there you are, announcing my achievements to everyone like a gun salutation?!

Qin Ye let out a muffled groan, hailed a taxi and promptly made his way towards Coffee Shop No. 4.

That’s right. They were headed in the exact direction where the Insignia University was located.

Qin Ye shook his head. He truly hadn’t noticed such details.

“How did you know?” Qin Ye casually responded.

Then, almost as though he recalled a frightening incident, he bit down on the cigarette butt, “All of us locals here know that taxis steer clear of that area after six at night. Every month or so, there’s a person who would stumble upon that area and vanish mysteriously! In fact, the seafood market located at the northern gate of Insignia University has gained such infamy that it’s even been dubbed one of the ‘three great mysteries’. You… you’ve arrived at your destination.”

It was an old neighbourhood. The surroundings revealed traces of the prosperity that the neighbourhood used to enjoy. Poles for telephone lines were erected at every corner of the street like dried, decaying tombstones. Wires hung loosely from the poles with a slight, depressing arc. All sorts of advertisements and signs were pasted on the telephone poles wherever there was space. The garbage cans were filled to the brim, and the stench of rotting garbage assaulted one’s olfactory senses. Everything pointed to the fact that the neighbourhood was well past its prime, and it was in its twilight years.

A dusty signboard peeked out of the corner of the street. Four words were scribbled haphazardly on the signboard - Coffee Shop No. 4.