Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 164 Undercurrents
Sunlight streamed obliquely through the broken window frames, casting long shadows into the dusty corridor. Tiny dust particles floated in the air, swirling wildly in the beams of light, as if the soul-crushing nightmare that had just transpired had never happened.

Bai Yu stood in the center of the ruins, the red umbrella in his hand already folded. His face was even paler than before, the purple light in his right eye completely faded, returning to its deep and weary black. He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the palm of his left hand.

There, a black rune the size of a longan lay silently beneath the skin. The rune's lines were twisted and complex, like countless tiny black worms connected end to end, exuding a chilling aura.

"Old Bai, your hands..." Mo Fei slung the two heavy battle axes back behind his back and strode over. His movements were gentle, his eyes filled with deep worry, but he didn't reach out to touch them. He knew that in the world of investigators, some things were not to be touched lightly.

"It's temporarily under control." Bai Yu's voice was a little hoarse. He tucked his left hand into his sleeve and turned to look at Lu Yueqi, who was lying in An Mu's arms.

Lu Yueqi's breathing had stabilized. The eerie red wedding dress, after the red phantom was stripped away, had reverted to an ordinary hospital gown, though faint, dark spots resembling bloodstains remained. Undried tears of blood still clung to the corners of her eyes, and her face was heartbreakingly pale.

"Captain, how is Lu Yueqi?" Lan Ce pushed up his glasses, the detector in his hand humming softly as it scanned the surrounding residual energy.

An Mu leaned against the crumbling wall, coughing violently a few times. A trickle of dark red blood escaped from the corner of his mouth, the backlash from the excessive strain of the "Iron Wall Royal Authority." He looked down at the girl in his arms, his voice steady yet tinged with exhaustion: "The mental strain is immense, but your life has been saved. Bai Yu, just now, in that instant, you..."

An Mu didn't finish his sentence, but Bai Yu could clearly see the complex emotions in his eyes.

“Hei Yan has woken up.” Bai Yu didn’t hide anything. His gaze swept over Mo Fei and Lan Ce. “In the Ruins of Return, I had no other choice. If we don’t wake him up, none of the three of us will be able to get out. The remaining consciousness of our mentor Chen Mo has dissipated, but before he disappeared, he told me that Lu Yueqi was just a trigger, and the real ‘Mountain God’ has already locked onto Linjiang City.”

“Mentor Chen Mo…” Lan Ce’s eyes dimmed for a moment, then became firm. “If Mentor’s choice is to sacrifice himself to transmit intelligence, then we must not let his sacrifice be in vain. Bai Yu, I just scanned the rune in your body. Its energy frequency does not belong to any known Nightmare. It is more like a kind of… positioning device.”

"Location?" Bai Yu murmured to himself.

Just then, a series of neat and cold footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

That wasn't the rhythmic, combative footsteps of an investigator, but rather a rigid, somber voice, full of a sense of judgment.

"Quickly." Mo Fei sneered, leaning forward slightly like a lion ready to pounce. He didn't display his usual recklessness, but instead precisely positioned himself in front of Bai Yu and An Mu, occupying the only tactical high ground in the corridor.

A group of people in dark gray uniforms came into view. The leader was a middle-aged man with a gaunt face and eyes as cold as a venomous snake. He held a document stamped with a blood-red stern seal in his hand, and the badge on his chest was engraved with a scale—the emblem of the Nightmare Investigation Bureau's Inspection Department.

Shen Ling, the director of the Second Division of the Supervision Department, is a man referred to as "Vulture" by investigators.

“Captain Anmu, Investigator Bai Yu.” Shen Ling’s voice was dry and harsh, as if it had been sanded on sandpaper. “We have received a report that Team One illegally activated forbidden-level nightmare power during a mission, causing extensive damage to buildings and psychological harm to civilians (Lu Yueqi). Now, please cooperate with us to hand over all items involved in the case and undergo quarantine and investigation.”

The inspectors behind Shen Ling pulled out specially made suppression handcuffs, which were engraved with binding runes targeting the power of nightmares.

"Director Shen, your information network is as good as ever." An Mu stood up, leaning against the wall. Even though he was seriously injured, his authority still made the young inspectors dare not look up. "The battle ended less than five minutes ago, and your review documents have already been approved? It seems that the efficiency of the inspection department is much higher than our frontline fighting."

“Captain An, please watch your words.” Shen Ling waved the document in his hand expressionlessly. “The ‘Black Words’ within Bai Yu’s body is a forbidden item that the bureau is closely monitoring. The energy fluctuation that just erupted a moment ago has triggered the highest-level alarm at headquarters. According to the ‘Regulations on the Management of Forbidden Powers,’ I have the right to take any necessary measures in an emergency.”

Shen Ling's gaze passed over An Mu and fixed on Bai Yu: "Bai Yu, hand over what you're hiding in your left hand. That's not a power you can control; it's the source of pollution."

Mo Fei stepped forward, blocking Shen Ling's view. His burly frame was like a wall, and his voice was deep and powerful: "Director Shen, Lao Bai just saved our lives, and he also saved Lu Yueqi. If you want to take him away, first ask the axe in my hand if it agrees. Of course, you can try and see if your men are faster, or if my high-frequency blade is faster."

The atmosphere in the corridor instantly plummeted to freezing. The inspectors gripped their weapons at their waists, while Lan Ce silently tapped a few times on his tablet, instantly sending a jamming wave across the entire floor and severing the inspection department's communication with the outside world.

"Mo Fei, step back," Bai Yu said slowly.

Mo Fei paused for a moment, glanced at Bai Yu with some resentment, but still obediently turned his body to the side.

Bai Yu walked up to Shen Ling, less than half a meter away from the scales emblem symbolizing judgment. His eyes, calm to the point of being like still water, sent a chill down Shen Ling's spine, even though Shen Ling was used to seeing life and death.

"Director Shen, do you want this?" Bai Yu slowly extended her left hand, palm up, and slowly opened it.

The black rune stood out starkly in the sunlight.

Shen Ling's pupils suddenly shrank to the size of pinpoints. He instinctively reached out to grab it, but just as his fingertips were about to touch the rune, a faint dark red light suddenly appeared in Bai Yu's palm.

An indescribable chilling aura erupted instantly. Shen Ling felt as if his soul had fallen into an icy abyss, and the scene before him instantly distorted. What he saw was no longer a ruined corridor, but a huge phantom dressed in a bright red wedding gown, looking down at him with eyes full of indifference towards an ant.

"Uh..." Shen Ling let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning deathly pale. He stumbled back five or six steps, bumping into his subordinate behind him.

"Director Shen, be careful." Bai Yu withdrew her hand, her voice calm as usual. "This is a remnant of the 'Red Silk Rule' that we just recorded. It's extremely unstable. If you insist on taking it back for research, I can't guarantee that the laboratory of the Supervision Department can survive tonight."

"You...you've actually managed to borrow rules at this level?" Shen Ling gasped for breath, his greed replaced by fear.

“It’s not borrowing, it’s analysis,” Bai Yu corrected. “Director Shen, our team is dealing with a ‘Mountain God’ level threat. If you insist on instigating internal strife at this time, causing the collapse of Linjiang City’s defenses, I think the headquarters’ court will prefer to hear your explanation.”

An Mu snorted coldly and took over the conversation: "Shen Ling, take your men and get out of here. I will personally monitor Bai Yu's physical condition, and Team One will be responsible for Lu Yueqi's follow-up arrangements. If you are not satisfied, have the Minister of the Supervision Department call me directly. Now, we are going back to headquarters for treatment, and good dogs don't block the way."

Shen Ling gritted his teeth. He knew that with An Mu present, he couldn't take Bai Yu away today. Moreover, the power Bai Yu had just displayed truly made him feel a deadly threat.

"Let's go!" Shen Ling waved his hand and led the people from the Supervision Department away from the ruins in a sorry state.

Watching the people from the Ministry of Supervision leave, Mo Fei spat out a mouthful of saliva: "These vultures, they're nowhere to be seen when it's time to fight, but when it comes to dividing credit and labeling people, they're more diligent than anyone else."

"Don't be careless." Lan Ce put away the jammer, his expression grave. "Although Shen Ling is gone, he will definitely report Bai Yu's situation. Bai Yu, that rune you just saw... was it really just a remnant of the Crimson Ribbon Rules?"

Bai Yu was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No. I have already included the rules of the Red Silk in the ancient book. This rune is something that Hei Yan pulled out from the depths of 'Guixu' the moment he awoke. It protects my soul from being burned by the mountain god's gaze, but at the same time, it is also absorbing my life force."

"What?" An Mu's expression changed, and he grabbed Bai Yu's wrist, probing in with golden nightmare power. After a moment, An Mu released his hand, his eyes becoming extremely heavy. He discovered that the already fragile cracks in Bai Yu's soul were being forcibly glued together by a black energy, but the price of this gluing was the slow loss of Bai Yu's essence.

"Return to headquarters first." An Mu decisively ordered, "Lan Ce, contact the medical department and prepare the highest level of soul repair fluid. Mo Fei, you are in charge of Lu Yueqi's transfer. Remember, no one is allowed to approach her except our people."

……

Two hours later, at the Nightmare Investigation Bureau's Linjiang headquarters.

This is a magnificent building hidden beneath the city center. Its cold metallic hue, crisscrossing pipes, and rune displays everywhere form this last bastion protecting humanity.

Bai Yu sat in the VIP ward of the medical department, her body covered with various sensors. Lu Yueqi was placed in the next room, personally watched over by Mo Fei.

"Hei Yan, what exactly did you grab?" Bai Yu asked softly in her mind.

"Hehe... my friend, you're always so impatient." Hei Yan's elegant yet teasing voice rang out. "That's not a thing, it's a fragment of the 'Mountain God's' authority. Although it's only one in ten thousand, it's already the best tonic for a fragile soul like yours."

"Fragments of authority?"

“That’s right. That so-called ‘mountain god’ is nothing more than a nightmare that stole ancient rules. It wanted to use that girl as a vessel to descend, so I just cut off one of its ‘fingers’. This rune contains the underlying logic of the ‘red thread of cause and effect’. Try to analyze it now; it will be of great benefit to you in dealing with rule-based nightmares in the future.”

Bai Yu closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the nameless ancient book.

On the first page of the ancient book, a delicate painting has now appeared on the originally blank paper: a woman in a wedding dress stands under a broken bell tower, holding countless red silk threads in her hands.

[Title: The Red Silk Bride (Echoes)]
[Rule Level: Deep Psychic/Rule Distortion]
[Core Logic: Causal Bond, Mental Harmony, Flesh and Blood Construction]
[Parsing progress: 12%]
[Gained Ability: Red Silk Mimicry. Allows brief manipulation of fibrous materials in reality, imbuing them with the ability to cut through souls.]
Bai Yu felt a faint but pure power return to his soul, and the tearing pain he had felt was greatly reduced.

This is the "harvest". Every time Bai Yu analyzes and collects a powerful nightmare, his strength will experience a qualitative leap, even though this leap is built on the edge of his soul shattering.

Just then, the door to the ward opened.

An Mu walked in. He had changed into a clean uniform, and the wound on his shoulder had been bandaged, but his face still looked terrible.

"Bai Yu, I have bad news." An Mu got straight to the point, his tone serious. "Lan Ce just discovered through satellite monitoring and energy sensing that there are large-scale anomalies in the supernatural fluctuations around Linjiang City. Not only the old clock tower, but also several other ruins where major nightmare events have occurred are showing signs of 'returning to the void'."

"They're resonating?" Bai Yu suddenly opened his eyes.

“Yes. It’s like performing some kind of ritual.” An Mu projected a map onto the wall, on which five red dots flashed, perfectly encircling the central area of ​​Linjiang City. “These five dots are called the ‘Five Sacrificial Positions.’ If all of them are activated, Linjiang City will become a giant ‘Ruins of Return,’ completely detached from the real world.”

How much time do we have left?

“When the red moon rises again,” An Mu stared at Bai Yu, “that is, tomorrow night at midnight. The bureau has already requested reinforcements from headquarters, but before the reinforcements arrive, we must first remove one of the sacrificial altars to break their resonance.”

"I'll go." Bai Yu stood up without the slightest hesitation.

“Your current state…” An Mu frowned.

“Captain, I am the only rule interpreter.” Bai Yu put on his coat, his eyes resolute. “Mo Fei and Lan Ce need my guidance. Moreover, I just deciphered something from the Red Silk Rules. The opening of these sacrificial altars is related to those forgotten ‘sacrifices.’ Lu Yueqi is just the first; there are four more victims being created.”

An Mu remained silent for a long time before finally patting Bai Yu's shoulder heavily: "Alright. Mo Fei and Lan Ce are already waiting for you in the preparation room. Remember, for this mission, I allow you to use the power of Hei Yan, but on the condition that you come back alive."

Bai Yu nodded and walked out of the ward.

When he passed by Lu Yueqi's ward, he found Mo Fei sitting on the bench by the door, holding Lu Yueqi's ghost hat in his hand, with an unusual tenderness in his eyes.

"Old Bai, you're out." Mo Fei stood up, stuffed his hat into his clothes, and his face regained its usual sternness. "Lan Ce is already waiting for us in the car. Where are we going this time? Whether it's climbing mountains of knives or wading through seas of fire, my two axes are already thirsty for fire."

“Go to the old street in Linjiang City.” Bai Yu looked at the dark, overcast sky in the distance. “There is a second sacrificial altar there—the ‘Headless Opera Troupe’.”

The three quickly crossed the corridor and disappeared at the elevator entrance.

……

At this moment, on an old stage in the old street of Linjiang City.

The once empty stage is now adorned with rows of pale lanterns.

A mournful erhu melody drifted through the empty street.

On the stage, several figures in theatrical costumes were stiffly twisting their bodies. If you looked closely, you would see that their necks were bare, with only red silk threads guiding their movements.

In the shadows beneath the stage, a figure in a black cloak let out a low laugh.

"The groom has received the keys; now it's time to invite the opera troupe to begin their performance..."

In the figure's hand, a black rune exactly like the one in Bai Yu's left hand was being played with.

(End of this chapter)