Translator: CinderTL
The vendor was a woman, though her face was covered in grime. Her clothing still suggested she wasn't a local—perhaps she had once been well-off but had fallen on hard times and was now forced to sell her wares on the street.
The goods on her stall were far more refined than ordinary merchandise. There were oddly shaped mirrors, small tools, and numerous cloth dolls.
What truly caught everyone's attention was the dolls' appearance.
Unlike the dolls commonly seen, these were distinctly foreign in style. They had round faces, straight bangs, and narrow, almost slit-like eyes instead of the usual large, round ones.
Prominently displayed was a wooden doll carved with exquisite detail, far more refined than the others.
The doll wore a patchwork cloth garment with a bulging cloth pouch at its waist. Its hair was styled in a tall, upright bun, and its face was painted a deathly white.
"Japanese goods?" Huai Yi stared at the dolls in surprise.
"Hey, what's so strange about a Japanese person selling Japanese goods?" Wu Ergou, a police officer, said. "We won the war, and the Japanese devils were driven out. But some Japanese merchants who had been living and working here stayed behind."
"But they're not so arrogant now. They're all completely subdued. Their houses, land, and valuables have been confiscated, leaving them with nothing but their handicrafts to sell."
When the woman revealed she was Japanese, everyone glanced at her again. But sensing their gazes, she seemed terrified, clutching the clothes in her arms tightly and not daring to raise her head.
"Officer, what's your name?" Jiang Cheng asked Wu Ergou, as they couldn't directly address him by his nickname.
"Hehe," Wu Ergou squinted. "My name is Wu, Wu Dali."
"Brother Wu."
"Hehe, no problem, no problem."
After some polite formalities, they became more familiar. Wu Dali began to tell Jiang Cheng and the others about the current situation of the Feng Family.
"Ah," Wu Dali sighed, recalling, "It's truly tragic. You wonder how such a thing could happen to such a good family."
"Let me tell you in confidence," he whispered, "Master Feng almost passed out this morning."
"That Old Daoist died a miserable death. Yesterday, he boasted to the heavens about being a Celestial Master sent down to help Master Feng's family overcome their misfortune, promising a reward of ten thousand silver dollars upon success." Wu Dali led them around a corner, sneering. "Turns out he was just another fraud. He met the same fate as the rest."
"Again?"
"Yes," Wu Dali nodded, surprised. "What, you didn't know? This is the fourth expert we've brought in."
"The previous ones were Master Du'e of Puhua Temple, Daoist Fengchanzi of the Wandering Poet Temple, and a Gu Master reportedly from the Farming Land. They all failed too."
Hearing this, Huai Yi couldn't help but shake his head. Against a ghost, they'd be lucky if they were even useful.
"How much does Brother Wu know about the May Train?" Director Qiao had seemed to say a lot about it, but the clues were scarce.
To Huai Yi's surprise, Wu Dali's face, normally a ruddy crimson, drained white at the mention of the May Train.
"Don't even mention it," Wu Dali interrupted urgently, his voice trembling. "You dare speak of the May Train? Aren't you afraid that ghost train will come knocking at your door tonight?"
Jiang Cheng feigned ignorance. "What? Does that train kill people besides the Feng family?"
The deaths of the previous experts were undoubtedly because they had gotten involved with the Feng family. The ghost had mistaken them for Feng family members and killed them all together.
"Who can say for sure? Just because it hasn't killed you yet doesn't mean it won't later," Wu Dali swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. "And look at how few Feng family members are left now."
Everyone understood Wu Dali's meaning: he was worried that once the Feng Family was wiped out, it would be their turn next.
"Don't worry, Brother Wu," Huai Yi said, his expression brimming with confidence. "Director Qiao brought us here specifically to resolve this matter."
"Heh, you're young, but your words are bold," Wu Dali scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, who was your master?"
Under Jiang Cheng's gaze, Huai Yi didn't bother to explain. He was, after all, a Disciple of the Door, and while cursed, he had also gained some of a Ghost's abilities.
If it came to a fight, even those four fake masters combined wouldn't stand a chance against him.
Seeing Huai Yi remain silent, Wu Dali shrugged, his expression dismissive. "Let me warn you all: when you enter the Feng Family's mansion, watch your words. Their household is already in chaos. One wrong sentence could cost you your life."
Jiang Cheng wasn't particularly interested in visiting the Feng Family. His attention was focused on Train No. 5. If he had the chance, he'd love to see it firsthand.
Unfortunately, according to Wu Dali, Train No. 5 was destroyed by Japanese aircraft shortly after the incident.
The fire raged for an entire day and night, leaving the entire station in ruins.
"Are there any photographs or reports left?" Jiang Cheng asked. "Newspaper articles or anything like that would be helpful too."
The incident had been a major scandal at the time, so there should be some clues left behind.
"Well..." Wu Dali scratched his head. "Maybe. I can go back and look for you, but what do you need them for?"
Wu Dali blinked, his voice rising. "You're not actually thinking of getting involved with that Ghost Train, are you?"
Judging by the situation, Wu Dali clearly didn't understand the gravity of their predicament. He still thought they were just sent down by higher-ups to go through the motions.
Little did he know that their orders were: fail to complete the mission, and they'd be executed in seven days.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Wu Dali stopped walking and led them to a secluded spot far from the main street, where few people passed.
"Listen to an old man's advice," he said, glancing around and lowering his voice. "You can't handle this. Just take a quick look and then find an excuse to slip away. Go back where you came from."
He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "A true master examined this place and said it's the work of a fierce ghost, a vengeful spirit killing with the help of yin soldiers!"
(End of the Chapter)
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