We were supposed to be doing horror movie guides, but what the heck is this "mysterious resurre

Chapter 172 Sadako Returns! Attack on the King's Organization (5.8k)

A transnational conference has begun.

Because of the irreconcilable contradictions at their root, both sides harbor a certain degree of hostility.

The reasons for this meeting are complex. Both the King's Organization, the headquarters, and Lu Ming's side have their own agendas.

However, until the meeting ends, no one knows what the outcome will be or who the ultimate beneficiary will be.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a major event had occurred on Lu Ming's side before the meeting even began.

After a long period of silence, Sadako finally showed signs of revival.

As the water surface was continuously layered, Sadako's supernatural power was terrifyingly amplified, even showing a tendency to break the balance between the red and white demons.

But this recovery is only temporary.

In an old, dry well, a tattered straw rope suspends Sadako, restraining the terrifying supernatural forces.

It looks like just an inconspicuous straw rope, but this straw rope used to lift buckets from the well is the embodiment of the ghost well's supernatural power.

This is not the end.

In this eerie place, separated from the real world, the sky darkened and a torrential rain began to fall.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Dense raindrops pelted down relentlessly, some striking the stone walls of the well, while others fell into the well itself, causing the water level to rise continuously.

The water level rose faster, and Sadako continued to multiply, using the ghostly power of the demon well to fight against the well itself...
A certain balance has been achieved among the three.

As an observer, Lu Ming did not need to participate in this supernatural confrontation, but he could achieve a subtle yet delicate harmonization through the other supernatural abilities he possessed, thereby stealing terrifying supernatural power from them.

"Is this Sadako who completes the puzzle of the Ghost Well and the Rainstorm?"

To be honest, Lu Ming had always thought that Sadako was far less terrifying than the Ghost Bride.

If it weren't for the help of the mourning clothes and the ghostly smiling face, Sadako alone wouldn't have been able to balance out the Red Demon, who had actively suppressed the supernatural.

But now the situation has improved.

A brand new Sadako, even more terrifying than before, has returned.

Lu Ming and the ghost bride stood frozen in place, hand in hand, motionless.

As a chill ran down his back, Sadako appeared behind him without warning, her pale right hand resting on Lu Ming's shoulder, revealing her dark blue-green fingernails.

Her long hair, which was draped over her forehead, was wet and looked as if she had just washed it in well water.

······
Click!

After a staff member dressed in black turned on the projector, an image of an indoor conference room immediately appeared on the wall.

The King's organization has clearly chosen the same strategy as its headquarters.

Using a makeshift tin shack to conceal one's location is risky, as many people can pinpoint your exact location by observing buildings, scenery, or even unique weather conditions.

The projection screen showed a large table in the conference room, with five or six people sitting on either side of the table, looking towards the camera.

It's obvious without even thinking that these five or six people can't all be kings of the King's Organization.

Although there are more kings than captains, it is not an easy task to gather so many kings in a short period of time.

Lu Ming glanced at them briefly and memorized their faces.

Before they officially clashed, he couldn't determine the identities of these kings.

On the other side, the attendees from the King's Organization all changed their expressions upon seeing Lu Ming's lineup, their faces darkening. Some of the hot-tempered ones even wanted to stand up immediately and hurl insults at Lu Ming.

The King's Organization produced at least six people.

However, only two people from China attended the meeting.

One was a young man dressed in white mourning clothes with a teru teru bozu (a Japanese doll symbolizing good weather) hanging from his waist. The other was a ghost tamer with a ghostly eye on his forehead, a cold demeanor, and an appearance that suggested he was not easy to get along with.

These two individuals are very well-known in the entire paranormal community; they are figures that anyone at a slightly higher level would know about.

The Ghost Groom Lu Ming and the Ghost-Eyed Yang Jian.

It's not a problem that China allowed these two ghost tamers to attend the meeting; the key issue is that only these two people actually participated.

This is a clear indication that they don't take the King's Organization seriously; calling it a provocation wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Even Jack felt that the headquarters' attitude was somewhat inappropriate, but then he thought that the reason the other party didn't take them seriously was probably because they were fully confident in starting a war.

If the King's Organization were to declare war or launch a supernatural attack on the two individuals, it might play right into their hands.

Considering this, he should not only refrain from showing anger, but should instead be even more respectful.

“Mr. Lu, it is a pleasure that you can personally attend this meeting. This should be our first meeting. Let me first introduce myself. My name is Jack, and I am a member of the King Organization. I am surrounded by high-ranking members of the King Organization. I hope that today’s talks will have a good outcome, clear up the misunderstandings, and rebuild our friendship.”

Lu Ming's expression remained unchanged, revealing no fluctuation in his emotions.

"I'm a straightforward person. I like to be direct and don't have the habit of beating around the bush. Just say what you want to say."

What misunderstanding, what friendship? Anyone with eyes can see it's all nonsense.

Lu Ming was certain that Jack was probably not telling the truth, and even his name was fake.

If the King Organization has now completed all preparations for Project Ark, they will absolutely not hesitate to wage war against China.

The reverse is also true.

If Lu Ming had already completed the wedding that was quite important to him, he wouldn't bother wasting time talking to the people from the King's Organization. If they wanted to come, he would just kill them all.

Jack didn't show much dissatisfaction with Lu Ming's cold and unsympathetic attitude.

A tough stance demonstrates confidence and self-assurance.

He gave a somewhat insincere smile and continued, "I saw some comments on the forum before, and that's when I realized that there was a big misunderstanding between us... Nobody wants the misunderstanding between us to continue to escalate, because it won't benefit anyone."

Jack spoke cryptically, but Lu Ming understood what he meant. Jack was referring to the notice issued by Cao Yanhua, which stated that "the King's organization's egregious behavior will not be tolerated."

Although Cao Yanhua was just making threats, the King's Organization seemed genuinely wary and unwilling to start a war in the short term.

Lu Ming understood these things in an instant.

He said calmly, "You planted spies in China, collected intelligence, and created supernatural events. You think all of this was a misunderstanding? If you hadn't killed the pianist, we would still be kept in the dark. Once you've stolen all the intelligence and turned China into a mess, you probably won't say it was a misunderstanding anymore, will you?"

Jack's expression froze, clearly not expecting Lu Ming to be so ruthless, blurting out everything directly.

He quickly considered Lu Ming's intentions in his mind.

Is this just a bluff?

Or is there really a chance of a full-blown war?

Lu Ming, the ghost groom, has solved numerous S-level paranormal cases... He is among the top ghost controllers, both domestically and internationally.

Jack thought the latter was more likely.

Moreover, he dared not gamble, nor could he afford to gamble.

So Jack could only force a smile and say, "Mr. Lu, I deeply apologize for everything the pianist has done. He's a foolish fellow who often acts on his own and makes decisions that no one can understand. The establishment of an intelligence station in China was entirely his personal act and had nothing to do with the King's Organization."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming couldn't help but sneer.

A classic example of shifting blame.

Before the incident, they turned a blind eye; after the incident, it was considered an individual act and had nothing to do with the collective.

This kind of tactic had been used to death by others in Lu Ming's previous life.

However, he didn't waste words with Jack and said directly, "Alright, we're all adults, not childish kids. Verbal apologies are meaningless. Just tell me how you want to compensate us."

As he spoke, Lu Ming glanced at the clock as if to make a show of it, and added, "Let me make this clear first, my time is limited, and I don't have time to haggle with you here. You only have one chance to make an offer. If you miss the chance, just wait to die. Anyway, it's not difficult for me to kill you."

Upon hearing this, a member of the King's Organization immediately lost his temper, slammed his fist on the table, and roared, "Damn bastard!"

Just as Lu Ming had guessed, the King's organization had come prepared for this video conference, and the member was riding a vengeful ghost capable of killing people remotely via video.

He can no longer contain himself and is now planning a supernatural attack on Lu Ming.

Upon seeing this, Jack's previously angry mind immediately cleared, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Top-tier ghost tamers are not fools.

The ghost groom Lu Ming and the ghost-eyed Yang Jian had probably already guessed that they had the ability to kill from a distance, but the two of them sat calmly on the sofa, looking completely unconcerned.

Combined with Lu Ming's easy killing of the pianist, Jack had reason to suspect that the other side was completely capable of ignoring their attack and even invading back to kill them.

If that's the case, all six of them will be wiped out here today.

The King's Organization would also be forced to start a war with China ahead of schedule.

And the ghost ship...
boom!
Jack's expression changed, and he slammed his hand on the table, angrily saying, "Alright, this is none of your business. I'm talking to Mr. Lu, and it's none of your business to interrupt! This is the first warning, and the last. If you continue to disrupt my friendly talks with Mr. Lu, I'll take care of you before Mr. Lu even has to lift a finger."

Upon seeing this, the King's organization member who was about to launch a supernatural attack, though still furious, managed to restrain himself and sat down with great resentment.

The King's Organization is highly complex and involves many countries.

Between people of equal rank, no one will submit to the other.

The fact that this member didn't retaliate when Jack insulted him clearly shows that he was no match for Jack.

Lu Ming watched the scene on the projection calmly, completely unmoved.

Yang Jian sat beside him, quite confident, showing no fear whatsoever of the so-called King's Organization.

Meanwhile, in a conference room at the Asian branch of the Ghost Riders headquarters in J City.

A group of senior headquarters executives, led by Cao Yanhua, gathered here.

They were watching Lu Ming's negotiations with the King's Organization in real time via a giant projection.

Although these high-level officials were not directly involved in the meeting, they were still very concerned about its outcome.

After all, this was the first time the headquarters had directly negotiated with a foreign royal organization.

This also involves Lu Ming, a key figure. "As expected of Lu Ming, he is so tough and fearless in the face of these foreigners. If it were a ghost tamer with average mental fortitude, he wouldn't be able to perform so well."

"Indeed, Minister Cao's previous attitude towards Lu Ming and the series of reforms he promoted at headquarters were correct. If Lu Ming hadn't exposed that pianist this time, who knows how many more cancerous tumors would have grown in headquarters, and how many more people would have died in vain..."

Because Lu Ming had previously infiltrated headquarters, many high-ranking officials at headquarters, while not exactly disliking him, didn't lean too much towards him. Their impression of him was that he was a very capable but difficult troublemaker.

Seeing Lu Ming's attitude towards these foreigners, many high-ranking officials immediately changed their opinion of him and began to discuss it excitedly.

Cao Yanhua gestured for them to quiet down; the meeting wasn't over yet, and every detail was important.

As for the psychological qualities someone just mentioned...

Lu Ming's composure had nothing to do with his mental fortitude.

This demonstrates our strength.

···········
Inside the King's Organization's meeting room, Jack subdued the other five people.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Mr. Lu, as I said before, the pianist's incident was indeed an accident, but we will not shirk our responsibility. Such an incident shows that there are significant loopholes and problems within the King Organization. After this, we will conduct a thorough internal investigation and strive to change the status quo through rectification."

"As for the compensation you mentioned, Mr. Lu... we are willing to offer a ton of gold to make up for your losses. What do you think?"

Jack made this decision after careful consideration.

The King's organization's top brass thought that Jack should apologize to China and that would be the end of it.

Avoid starting a war before the planning and preparation work is in place.

However, the King's Organization had no budget for compensation and had not made any prior preparations.

This ton of gold was still Jack's personal property.

"A ton of gold?"

Lu Ming remained expressionless, making it impossible to tell whether he was satisfied or dissatisfied with the result.

"Okay, I see."

"Since you are not sincere about the negotiations, there is no need for us to continue talking."

After the supernatural era fully erupted, the price of gold skyrocketed, becoming a hard currency that could be used anywhere.

A ton of gold is definitely not a small amount for an individual.

But Jack now represents the attitude of the entire King's Organization.

To offer a ton of gold as a bargaining chip after making a mistake that caused enormous losses to China is hardly sincere.

Just to deal with the supernatural events deliberately created in China by those traitors, the headquarters spent far more than just one ton of gold.

Lu Ming kept his word and gave Jack no further room to maneuver, immediately disconnecting the video call.

Lu Ming wasn't actually surprised by this result.

To put it bluntly, is a ton of gold being offered to a beggar?
When he solved an S-class paranormal incident for the island nation, the exorcism society not only paid him a commission of fifty tons of gold, but also gave him an extra two slots to choose from for the vengeful spirits.

It's fair to say they almost emptied their savings.

Moreover, his purpose in holding online meetings with the King was not to negotiate, much less to demand compensation.

The purpose is simple.

It's purely for deterrence.

······
Inside the headquarters conference room.

Many high-ranking officials were surprised by Lu Ming's actions.

"What is Lu Ming doing? He just hung up the video call?"

"He's still too young, and his impulsiveness went a bit too far."

"One ton of gold is indeed too little compensation, but judging from the King's Organization's stance, it's not impossible to continue negotiations."

Their perspective on the issue differs from Lu Ming's.

Simply put, their vision is somewhat short-sighted.

These high-level officials were still focused on negotiation skills and tactics, hoping to gain more benefits through maneuvering, without considering that this meeting was different from ordinary negotiations.

There is fundamentally no possibility of peaceful coexistence between the headquarters and the King's Organization.

Even if a war hasn't broken out yet for some reason, it will eventually break out sooner or later.

Cao Yanhua then spoke up: "There's no need to question it. Think about it carefully. How many ordinary people have lost their lives because of the supernatural events they created? And how many of the headquarters' ghost controllers have been brutally murdered by the pianist during their investigations?"

“Accepting this ton of gold would not only prove our weakness to the other side, but it would also be an insult to our fallen compatriots. I think Lu Ming did nothing wrong.”

Cao Yanhua's words immediately caused silence to fall over the headquarters conference room.

Just when everyone thought the meeting was over, someone noticed something was off about the projected image.

"Look! What is that?"

"The meeting was suspended, but the footage is still playing..."

"What's going on? What is Lu Ming trying to do?"

Inside the tin shack where Lu Ming and Yang Jian were, the projector's power had been turned off, but the image on the wall was still flickering.

The water surface covered the wall, creating a screen-like effect.

The small tin-roofed house was filled with damp moisture.

This is the Water Ghost Domain that Lu Ming hasn't used in a long time.

Things are different now; the flooding that has reappeared is even more alarming.

Some vengeful spirits that were previously unable to sink can now be directly sent away using the Ghost Domain.

Yang Jian's expression changed, and he was about to blurt out his five-word catchphrase, but he did not disturb Lu Ming's actions. He simply closed the scarlet ghost eyes that were stretching open the flesh.

Long before the King's Organization members even noticed, Lu Ming had already used Sadako's supernatural abilities to invade the past.

From the perspective of those in the King's Organization, the video conference had already been disconnected.

However, Lu Ming could still see the situation on the other side through the floodwater.

······
foreign.

On a remote, isolated island.

The atmosphere inside the makeshift meeting room was somewhat awkward and silent.

Even Jack didn't expect Lu Ming to be so ruthless.

They cut off the connection without saying a word.

"Aren't Chinese people supposed to be the most worldly-wise? Why is this groom acting like a complete idiot?"

"Heh, in my opinion, no matter how strong he is, he's just a ghost tamer. Even if he's stronger than our king, it's useless. If one king isn't enough, then three kings can gang up on him together. I don't believe he can survive."

The person who said this was still the ghost tamer who had previously prepared to launch a supernatural attack.

For some reason, he seemed very confident.

Jack didn't speak, but frowned as he thought about something.

From a strategic planning perspective, the King's Organization and Lu Ming shared similar ideas; neither wanted to start a war immediately.

In particular, the King's Organization, having lost the pianist as an intelligence agent, is like having a pair of eyes removed from China.

This made them very uncomfortable, and they dared not act rashly.

At the same time, Jack also harbored a sliver of wishful thinking.

Could it be that Lu Ming was afraid of a supernatural attack from the King's Organization because he was so eager to cut off the video?

Could this be interpreted as a sign of guilt?

"Forget it, I'll stop thinking about it now. I'll find a chance to test their attitude later..."

As soon as Jack had this thought, he suddenly felt a chill.

This cold wasn't caused by climate change, but rather by a strange, chilly cold.

You could even feel a faint moisture in the air, like a harbinger of an impending downpour.

"what is that?"

Suddenly someone pointed to the wall.

The projector was clearly turned off and the power was unplugged, but a black and white image was still playing on the wall.

The dampness causes newly built walls to age rapidly.

The image, dotted with white spots, started playing eerily.

The first shot shows a long-haired woman doing her makeup in front of a mirror, and at the end, a blurry-faced woman in white flashes by.

The second screen shows a bunch of jumping text with a headline about a volcanic eruption.

In the third scene, a figure with a white cloth covering her head appears. The figure approaches the camera in the blink of an eye, and a close-up shot is taken. You can see the character "贞" (zhen, meaning chastity) written in her pure black pupils.

When the last scene was played, everyone realized something was wrong.

Jack's back was soaked with cold sweat. He yelled, "Fuck! It's a paranormal attack! Get out of here!"

But it's too late.

The final image focuses on a dry well.

The well looked very old, as if it had been abandoned for a long time.

Then, a white-clad female ghost with long, flowing hair gripped the edge of the well and slowly crawled out...

　Asking for monthly ticket
　　
　
(End of this chapter)