Horror Game Designer Chapter 43: Ghost Market

“We would become like that? But we haven’t done anything!” Zhu Weiwei didn’t get it. She was scared just thinking about Auntie Pang and Busybody.

“There are 365 Gods in the building, but on the surface, we can only worship the God of Flesh and Blood. Therefore, all the tenants will be influenced by it.” Granny Shen brought over a copper basin. “The God of Flesh and Blood can manifest a person’s thoughts in their hearts through flesh. Look into this mirror. You’ll see your future.”

Zhu Suisui leaned over and looked into the water. Burnt paper money fell into the basin. The water rippled. Zhu Suisui’s reflection faded. Slowly, two burnt bodies appeared on her shoulders. They were joined to her. Zhu Suisui wasn’t afraid when she saw this. If anything, her eyes turned red. “That’s my mom and dad!”

The fire during her childhood destroyed everything. Her deepest obsession was her memories of her parents. That was evoked by The God of Flesh and Blood’s power.

“Don’t suspect it. This is the answer.” Granny Shen pitied Zhu Suisui, but she didn’t say anything more. She burnt another talisman and waved Gao Ming over.

Gao Ming was curious. He stood beside the basin silently. When the ash of the paper money fell on the water's surface, blood leaked out of the bottom of the basin. Then, the blood spread and coloured everything red!

The basin was pushed over by some force. The bloody water splashed on the figurines in the room. Granny Shen’s eyes bled. She pointed at Gao Ming, “This is not your first time here!”

“I’ve been here this morning.” Gao Ming said innocently.

“No. This is not your first time attending The God of Flesh and Blood’s ritual!” Granny Shen moved away from Gao Ming. She even pulled Zhu Suisui to her side to protect her.

“How can that be? This ghost story hasn’t been triggered. There’s no way for me to be here before!” Gao Ming was very confused.

“Granny, this is indeed our first time here.” Zhu Suisui added.

“This won’t be wrong.” Granny Shen’s white eyes stared at Gao Ming, “What is your relationship with Situ An?”

“Situ An? He’s the vice president of the Han Hai Charity Organisation. I know of him, but he doesn’t know me.” Gao Ming had only seen this man on the television. The difference between status was too large.

“The construction of the Si Sui Street Apartment was spearheaded by Han Hai Charity. They wanted to provide a place to stay for the poor in the east city. However, the project stopped after building four apartment buildings.” To help Gao Ming, Zhu Suisui memorised many things. “At first, the place was lawless, but there hadn’t been any murders. It was after Situi An joined the charity that strange cases would occur here every year.”

“Has Situ An been using the resources of the charity to feed a ghost here?” Gao Ming shivered. Han Hai Charity would help the poor every year. Some of the tenants were the receipts of their aid, including Zhou Ji from earlier.

“Granny, have you seen Situ An here?”

“He wears that black band like you. You both have The God of Flesh and Blood’s presence on you!” Granny Shen suddenly laughed. “There are two worshippers. Only one will survive!”

“You seem to hate The God of Flesh and Blood. Is it because of your faith?” Gao Ming was a psychiatrist. He quickly picked up the change in the old lady’s tone. “If I destroy the ritual or kill The God of Flesh and Blood, will you trust me then?”

“The God of Flesh and Blood can’t be killed. Are you trying to fool me?” Granny Shen smiled wickedly. “But you can kill Situ An. In any case, if you don’t kill him, he’ll kill you.”
“Then, do you know where he is now?” Gao Ming had long suspected that was a traitor within the centre. His suspicion was confirmed when Granny Shen said she saw Situ An wearing the black band.

“You can go to the ghost market on the ninth floor of Building 1.”
Gao Ming exited the room. Zhu Suisui was about to follow him when Granny Shen pulled him back. “You’ll perish if you follow him. You won’t even become a ghost! Keep these three murder talismans! If he eats the flesh and is taken over by The God of Flesh and Blood, the axe pasted with the murder talisman can kill him.”

“Granny, he is not a bad guy.” Zhu Suisui didn’t know how to explain.

“The murder talismans will not kill The God of Flesh and Blood, but they can kill the God’s worshippers.” Granny Shen held Zhu Suisui’s hand. “Ghosts eat humans. Humans eat meat. Meat eats ghosts. The scariest thing here is the meat. Remember this. After they eat the meat, they are not humans anymore.” The three talismans were soaked with blood.

“You’ll have to kill him, or you’ll both regret it.” Granny Shen let go and looked at Gao Ming’s back. “Muscular and thin, tall and handsome. A wonderful vessel.”

The door closed, and the lights inside the room went out.

Zhu Suisui didn’t hide anything from Gao Ming. She told him about the three talismans.

“Keep them. If Situ An is really the traitor, you can chop him.” Gao Ming trusted Zhu Suisui a lot. “This anomaly is different from the rest. It has evolved to form its own rules. Ghosts aren’t even the scariest here.”

Gao Ming had more questions for Granny Shen, but after she noted The God of Flesh and Blood’s presence on him, her kindness was gone. He had no choice but to bring Zhu Suisui to the ninth floor. They walked up the stairs. When they reached the ninth floor, it felt like everything had changed.

They were hit by a scent of blood. Tattered investigator uniforms were tossed at the corner. Some were still wet with blood. So many investigators entered the building, but Gao Ming hadn’t seen a single one. It was like they had been eaten.

Zhu Suisui felt uncomfortable. She was just a firefighter. She hadn’t seen such gore.

“Stay close to me.”

None of the doors on the ninth floor were locked. Blood stained the doorknobs. A scary massacre had happened here. Gao Ming followed the trail of blood on the ground and came to the end of the corridor. He stood at the corridor that connected Building A and Building B. The short corridor was dyed red. Just the blood could help one imagine how horrifying the slaughter was.

The investigators were chased away from Building A and went into hiding at Building B. However, they were found and dragged back to Building A. Every handprint was a sign of a struggle. Every sign was the investigator’s desire for life and fear of death.

“Is the Ghost Market the place where the ghosts feast?”

This scene caused Gao Ming to want to retreat, but the ghosts seemed to sense his and Zhu Suisui’s fear. Inside the corridor, a pair of bloodshot eyes opened. The shadows moved, and a pair of rain boots appeared. His body was hidden under the old raincoat. The raincoat’s original colour was covered by blood.

“Was it he who killed the others?”

The cap of the coat fell to reveal Bai Xiao’s face. His lips were stained with blood. Madness spread in his eyes.

The hands hidden in the raincoat slowly raised. Bai Xiao held two bone-carving knives. He reminded Gao Ming of the culprit behind the murder of the two families many years ago.