C6 Drown Ghost

Ye Cheng hung up the phone with a huff, grumbling under his breath, "What a piece of junk, getting in the way of me saving the world." With a resounding clatter, he tossed the phone aside.

Wang Anshi watched in astonishment as the phone skittered across the ground, its cover flipping open. When he turned back, Ye Cheng, his face greasy from a recent meal, had already vanished without a trace.

"Damn it, can't he act like a normal person? Why does he have to be such a nutcase?"

In the mental hospital's backyard, two nurses sat under a tree, deep in conversation.

"Did you hear? The old man from the next street died last night. They found him with half his body missing, as if something had sliced him right down the middle."

"That's nothing compared to what happened on West Street. There's this young woman in her twenties, soaking wet, knocking on doors all night, claiming she's looking for her boyfriend. She latches onto any man she sees and won't let go."

"The world is such an unpredictable place these days."

Meanwhile, Ye Cheng was hiding behind the tree, pulling a striped bedsheet off the clothesline and wrapping it around himself. He had finally found his makeshift cloak of invisibility.

Warning! Warning! A dangerous entity is approaching. Host, please evacuate immediately!

Dangerous entity? What dangerous entity?

As soon as Ye Cheng draped the bedsheet over himself, his body weakened, and he collapsed onto the grass.

When Ye Cheng came to, he found himself back in his hospital room.

Host, please be advised that the system has detected a severe issue with your mental state. Host, please decide whether to accept the system's treatment.

The options, Yes or No, hovered on the display.

Ye Cheng, rubbing his head, sat up and with a flick of his right hand, dismissed the options panel.

"I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan. You dare to scheme against me from the shadows? Face me in open combat and see if I, Zhao Zilong, don't leave you utterly defeated."

The system, with an exasperated expression, stubbornly brought the options panel back up.

Host, please decide whether to accept the system's treatment.

"I'm not ill, no need for treatment. Get rid of this nonsense. I have to harness the vital energies of the sun and moon!"

The host refused treatment, resulting in a failed attempt at healing.

Ye Cheng gazed out at the splendid sunlight and quickly seated himself cross-legged on the hospital bed, eyes shut, breathing rhythmically.

A 'drip, drip' sound echoed through the hallway, drawing Ye Cheng's attention. He pressed his ear against the door, curious about the noise outside.

Had the cleaning lady lost her mind? Mopping the floors in the dead of night?

Ye Cheng leaped from the bed and peered through the small window in the door. The moonlight revealed lingering water stains on the floor.

Out of nowhere, a figure with black hair, drenched from head to toe, appeared at the ward's entrance. The ghostly pale face, devoid of any color, slowly lifted, and its lifeless gray eyes locked onto Ye Cheng.

Who was this woman, wandering around after a nighttime bath?

The drown ghost, having perished in water and filled with intense resentment, especially due to a man, had her resentment points doubled. Physical contact was forbidden, as it could result in being dragged underwater. The danger level was three stars.

The drown ghost's gray eyes shifted mechanically, fixated on Ye Cheng.

"Please leave the door!" the system urged, its voice nearly worn out. Ye Cheng remained motionless. Perhaps it was best to let him face his fate.

"What are you staring at? I may be Zhao Zilong, dashing and suave, but I'm not desperate enough to be the object of your desire!" Ye Cheng berated the drown ghost, who responded with a ghastly smile and retreated a step. The locked door creaked and the latch fell to the floor.

The door swung open slowly, pushed by an unseen force.

The drown ghost, clad in her earthly garments, stood over a puddle she had formed.

Ye Cheng frowned, slipped off his slippers, and delivered a resounding slap to the drown ghost's face.

"All my hard work cleaning, and you've flooded the place? Was my effort all for nothing?"

The drown ghost glared furiously at Ye Cheng, her hand lunging toward him.

"Host, please be aware, the drown ghost's resentment points have skyrocketed. You must leave immediately!"

"What's this about doubling? Are we playing cards now? I've got a royal flush!" Ye Cheng retorted, flinging his other slipper to the floor in defiance.

The system rolled its eyes in exasperation. "Forget it, let nature take its course."

A rattling, joint-shaking sound emerged from the throat of the Water Ghost as she twisted her neck and inched closer to Ye Cheng.

Sensing an approaching presence, Ye Cheng swiftly grabbed the Water Ghost's hair and slammed her against the wall. "I've already told you, I just cleaned this place today, and you dare to come in? You're going to have to lick it clean if you have to."

A powerful force immobilized the Water Ghost, who was now utterly infuriated. She spun around and lunged at Ye Cheng, only to be met with a punch that sent her crashing back into the wall, this time unable to extricate herself.

"Are you listening to me? Lick the water off the floor, now!" Ye Cheng demanded.

The Water Ghost was half-stuck in the wall, her hands flailing helplessly in mid-air, unable to fall.

It was truly a disgrace to be a ghost in such a state.

Growing impatient, Ye Cheng yanked the Water Ghost out of the wall and tossed a mop at her. "Clean this up properly before you even think of leaving."

The Water Ghost took the mop, her figure dripping with water as she cleaned, the embodiment of misery.

After toiling all night, the Water Ghost had finally cleared all the water stains from the floor, even wringing out her clothes to avoid dripping and having to start all over again.

Ye Cheng, sitting on the hospital bed, cracked sunflower seeds and nodded in approval. "You're much more efficient than the last one. Here, take this as a reward."

He extended a small handful of seeds to the Water Ghost, who accepted them with a forlorn expression and squatted beside the bed, not daring to leave.

"How did you get in here? When did we get a new ghost without me knowing?"

The Water Ghost looked up, bewildered. She had no idea how she had ended up here, only to be beaten without reason. To whom could she possibly voice her grievances?

Noticing her silence, Ye Cheng gave her a sharp slap. "What's the matter with you? Got too high and mighty after getting a little reward? Can't you respond when spoken to? Have you gone mute?"

The Water Ghost, nursing her cheek, slowly lifted her head and opened her mouth, revealing that only half of her tongue remained.

"Damn, why did someone cut off your tongue? Did you steal someone's food?"

The drown ghost shook her head and traced the words 'framed by someone' on the ground with her finger.

Seeing her in such a pitiful state, Ye Cheng gestured dismissively and said, "Off you go, off you go. I'm in a good mood today, so you're off the hook."

The drown ghost bolted as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Before she dashed off, she made sure to tuck away the small handful of melon seeds she had with her.