Chapter 173: The Elusive Ghost

This time the mission worth ten Contribution Points was to capture this ghost.

From the mission description this Ability User could be seen as a ghost living inside other people’s bodies.

According to Han Bing this Ghost-type Ability User had an unknown origin and had been wandering for who knows how long. He was first discovered trying to parasitize someone to sneak into the Main City which brought him to the attention of the Special Cleaning Department.

Qinggang didn’t allow such an invisible person to wander around freely.

Originally Chen Jing was personally in charge of this mission but she got held up by other matters so it fell to Lu Xin.

The Investigation Team had been secretly searching for this ghost.

Clearly he was bold. Despite knowing he’d attracted the Special Cleaning Department’s attention he was still wandering around the Satellite City.

It took two days for the Investigation Team to determine the ghost’s general area of activity and identify its current target. They then notified Lu Xin. When Lu Xin first arrived he wasn’t sure what this ghost looked like.

That is until he approached the girl and observed the changes in the crowd around her.

He saw the ghost.

Because he saw people occasionally approaching the girl whispering something to her.

Whenever these people spoke in his vision they would suddenly take on the appearance of another person.

It was like countless people came before the girl changed their faces and then left.

…

…

“An invisible ghost that can wander between different people…”

Lu Xin silently wondered, “How do I capture it?”

He didn’t need to worry too much about this ghost harming him personally.

Just as he approached the girl to offer her a tissue the ghost suddenly drew near him. It looked like it intended to parasitize him but then for some unknown reason it changed its mind at the last second.

Instead Lu Xin abruptly grabbed the middle-aged man’s arm startling the ghost which immediately fled from the man’s body.

Ability Users of this type probably weren’t strong fighters but they came and went without a trace making capture difficult.

However after studying the materials Lu Xin already had a rough idea.

…

…

“We’re here.”

Lu Xin carrying the girl named Li Mengmeng behind him arrived in front of a tall building in the West City.

“Ah…”

The girl seemed to have fallen asleep on the back seat jolting awake only when Lu Xin called out to her.

She looked around confused, “Where is this?”

“It’s a hotel.”

Lu Xin carefully locked the motorcycle then got off and whispered, “Now you need to come inside with me.”

“What?”

Li Mengmeng was startled watching Lu Xin warily and instinctively hugged herself.

“Don’t make it so obvious. I’m not going to do anything to you.”

Lu Xin whispered to her then pulled an ID card from his pocket.

Shielding it with his body he showed it briefly to Li Mengmeng, “See this?”

Then he explained quietly, “It has the Qinggang seal. I’m official… Now I need you to enter the hotel with me. Try to act relaxed don’t scare him off… Don’t worry I’ll help you catch him and solve your problem!”

Perhaps it was Lu Xin’s earnest expression or the bright seal and stamp on the ID card but Li Mengmeng finally lowered her guard. She glanced around somewhat blankly bit her lip slightly and hopped off the motorcycle.

Lu Xin smiled and turned walking into the hotel.

Suddenly he felt a soft touch on his bent elbow—Li Mengmeng had linked her arm with his.

“Ah this…”

Lu Xin was a bit surprised. Seems he’d underestimated this girl’s nerve.

“Are you a Taoist priest?”

Li Mengmeng practically leaned her head onto Lu Xin’s shoulder.

But her entire body was tense remaining vigilant, “You catch ghosts right?”

“No.”

Lu Xin chuckled softly, “The books say there are no ghosts don’t they?”

“The Red Moon appeared. What else couldn’t possibly appear?”

Li Mengmeng blurted it out subconsciously then suddenly realized she shouldn’t have said that and fell silent.

“Don’t worry even if the Red Moon appeared there still wouldn’t be ghosts.”

Lu Xin whispered comfortingly, “After all what might appear could be even more terrifying than ghosts…”

“…”

Li Mengmeng was stunned. Was he trying to comfort her?

…

…

Lu Xin and the girl named Li Mengmeng walked into the hotel looking just like a real couple.

This hotel was quite large specializing in couple’s suites. The neon lights outside filled with an ambiguous atmosphere could be seen from far away.

This style became very popular after the cataclysm.

Perhaps because fewer people traveled for business reducing the need for business hotels while the release of some people’s repressed instincts increased demand for other aspects most hotels in the Second Satellite City were like this.

Lu Xin leading the girl who had linked arms with him went straight to the front desk to register and choose a room.

Throughout the process he remained aware of his surroundings.

He was waiting for the Ghost-type Ability User to appear especially now that they had reached the registration stage.

What if he really didn’t show up? Wouldn’t that mean he…

…actually had to pay?

…

…

Lu Xin really paid!

He frowned tightly as he handed over two fifty-yuan bills.

Just as he and the frightened girl clinging tightly to him started walking towards the elevator a cleaning lady who was slowly mopping the floor near the elevator entrance suddenly looked up her gaze cold as she stared at Lu Xin, “Who exactly are you?”

The cleaner looked like a woman in her fifties. The marks left by life on her face made her seem older or perhaps more tired.

When Lu Xin entered the hotel earlier he had noticed her mopping the lobby floor smiling obsequiously at everyone. Although no one paid her any mind she still tried hard to smile then lowered her head and quietly continued her work.

But now she slightly raised her head her pupils contracting as she stared intently at Lu Xin.

That gaze sent a chill down one’s spine.

If one hadn’t seen it firsthand it would be hard to understand how changing an expression could sometimes make someone seem like a completely different person.

However in Lu Xin’s eyes she hadn’t just changed her expression her face had changed too.

Her face now transformed into that of a man with slightly high cheekbones somewhat wide-set eyes and a cold arrogant expression he couldn’t quite conceal. His gaze greedily swept over the girl beside Lu Xin.

Lu Xin looked back at him. After a moment a smile slowly spread across his face:

“What took you so long?”