I have a ghost diary

Back at the hotel, it was past noon. Chu Jiang grabbed a quick takeout bite and then continued cramming on paranormal websites and forums to learn more about the subject.

.......

Nothing unusual happened that day, until nightfall.

After spending most of the day surfing the internet, Chu Jiang came to the conclusion that most ghost masters were not in a normal mental state.

Despite the fact that Chu Jiang, Li Bu Huo, and Xu Bing appear to be very clear-headed and rational, they definitely do not belong to the majority.

Because most ghost masters are people who are possessed and tormented by vengeful ghosts.

People like Chu Jiang, whose symptoms are relatively mild, usually only experience attacks at night.

However, once it gets serious, even during the day, one can feel all sorts of pain from being possessed by ghosts.

When tormented by ghosts day and night, and with little life left, many ghost masters become irritable, easily angered, sensitive, impulsive, and even reckless, disregarding the consequences.

Since they don't have much time left to live, many people don't care about anything anymore.

Moreover, the claim that someone could be driven insane by a ghost is not an exaggeration at all.

Therefore, the research institute does not want to see too many people become ghost masters, because this would become a source of instability.

Not to mention that as the host dies, the demon within the demon master will awaken at an accelerated rate.

In other words, a new paranormal event will occur shortly after the death of the ghost master...

Chu Jiang could only sigh at this, saying that embarking on the path of a ghost master was practically like entering hell mode.

If you don't use supernatural powers, you'll be killed by ghosts; if you do, you'll die sooner or later anyway.

Moreover, for many people who have gained superhuman powers, to be forced to stop using them and become ordinary people who can only live for a few years is more painful than killing them.

Lying in bed, looking at his hands, Chu Jiang felt a little lost. Would he eventually become like that?

......

No! Chu Jiang's eyes suddenly hardened. He didn't want to die, and he didn't want to be tormented by ghosts, living a muddled and aimless life, becoming someone he no longer recognized.

He wants to take control of his own destiny, and that's where the ghost diary comes in.

Looking at the pure black diary lying quietly beside him, Chu Jiang didn't know whether relying on this thing was the right or wrong thing...

Just then, the phone rang again.

Chu Jiang picked it up and looked at it, somewhat surprised to find it was Chen Jie.

He didn't have the class beauty's number before, and given their previous conflict, they hadn't even spoken, so there was no possibility of them communicating by phone.

This was after we escaped from school and exchanged phone numbers with people who didn't have each other's numbers.

Chu Jiang answered the phone. Chen Jie sounded a little nervous. She said, "Chu, Chu Jiang, are you alright now?"

"It's alright, go ahead."

"I just wanted to ask if anyone wants to go to the hospital tomorrow to see Gao Yifei and Zhang Haoran."

"Also, I created a WeChat group. There are only a few of us left from No. 7 Middle School, so I think we might need a place where we can talk to each other."

Chu Jiang thought for a moment, "You can add me in the group. As for the hospital, you can go there yourselves. I've already left Luoxi City."

Chapter Thirty-Five: One More Person

"What?" Chen Jie was taken aback.

She never imagined that Chu Jiang would leave the city in just one day.

"I have my own things to take care of, nothing to be surprised about. Also, I have a favor to ask you." Chu Jiang's mind was very clear.

"After you go to the hospital tomorrow, check on Zhang Haoran's mental state and how he's recovering. If he's recovering well, ask him what he went through at school."

After hesitating for a moment, Chu Jiang added, "Be careful when you're with Zhang Haoran. I'm afraid he won't be able to control his emotions."

Chen Jie didn't think much of it and simply agreed.

After chatting for a few more minutes, the two hung up the phone. At Chen Jie's invitation, Chu Jiang joined the senior high school (2) class group that she had created.

It's a sad story, but now there are only five people left in the whole class. If he could, Chu Jiang really wished that Zhang Haoran was just Zhang Haoran and not something else.

......

At midnight, Chu Jiang lay in bed, repeatedly opening and closing his eyes.

In the end, he tried to sleep. After all, he was still a human being who needed to eat, drink, and rest. He couldn't force himself to stay awake for days.

Chu Jiang fell asleep quickly because of all the things that had happened during the day.

Just like last time, I slept well at first, but after a short while, that familiar feeling of sleep paralysis came back.

It's like having an extra consciousness inside your body that doesn't belong to you. It's cold, ruthless, and feels heavy, pressing down on your body and even your soul.

This realization chilled Chu Jiang's body, slowing his physiological activity, as if he were gradually transforming into a corpse.

Especially during the day, Chu Jiang used the power of the Blood Handprint again, and blood continuously oozed from his right palm, staining the sheets red and dripping onto the floor, flowing outwards...

During this process, Chu Jiang felt pain from the inside out. At the same time, his thoughts became cold and devoid of any emotion. Even though his rationality remained, he was devoid of thoughts of love, hate, and other such feelings.

This is the process of ghosts invading the living, the process of ghosts reviving and awakening, and the process of ghosts assimilating the living; everything is almost irreversible.

In this state, Chu Jiang's mental perception was greatly enhanced once again. This time, it was no longer limited to the area of ​​just one home; he could clearly perceive the movements of the entire hotel.

The woman in room 302 seemed to have fallen asleep long ago; only her even breathing could be heard.

The man in room 304 seemed to be asleep, but even in his sleep, he was still muttering something, and it was unclear what had triggered it.

From the fourth floor, faint, suppressed sobs could be heard; someone was crying on the fourth floor...

No, wait a minute, Chu Jiang remembered that the female receptionist said that only the first, second and third floors of the hotel were occupied.

To distract himself from the physical pain, Chu Jiang forced himself to focus on the activity throughout the hotel.

Three people lived on the third floor, and two people lived on the second floor.

The front half of the first floor is the lobby and reception area, while only the back half contains the guest rooms, so there are only three rooms.

In room 101 in the latter half, another crying sound came from inside. It was a woman's crying sound, and in Chu Jiang's perception, this crying sound was exactly the same as the crying sound coming from the fourth floor.

When Chu Jiang realized this, the crying on the fourth floor suddenly stopped, and only the sound from the first floor continued.

Chu Jiang then focused all his attention on the fourth floor, leaving only a small group to observe room 101.

Then something incredible happened: Chu Jiang "saw" the entire fourth floor.

This kind of "seeing" is without blind spots. It's as if all the scenes and details on the entire fourth floor are completely presented in his mind, and at the same time, he can hear all the noises coming from here.

The fourth floor was quiet at this moment. There was no one in any of the rooms, and no tears or footprints could be seen, as if the sound Chu Jiang had heard earlier was just an illusion.

So Chu Jiang looked down at the first floor again.

The woman staying in room 101 was the same receptionist with the ponytail I'd seen during the day.

She seemed unable to sleep; she simply wrapped herself in a blanket, lay on her side in bed, and cried secretly.

After observing for a while without success, Chu Jiang could only withdraw his attention and silently endure the pain.

He thought to himself, "After a while, I'll probably get used to it."

......

The next morning, Chu Jiang sat up in bed expressionlessly.

He had actually woken up long ago and dealt with the blood that had spilled onto his body again. He simply rested with his eyes closed for the rest of the time.

Although he actually slept very little, perhaps because of the ghost inside him, Chu Jiang didn't feel sleepy.

Early in the morning, Chu Jiang went to the front desk on the first floor. There were some things he needed to clarify in advance, otherwise he would have to move out of the hotel.

Chu Jiang still remembered that the temporary task posting issued by the local leader mentioned a supernatural event called "Ghost Cry".

Could it be that he's run into me now? Am I really that unlucky?

When Chu Jiang came down, the receptionist, who was preparing to open the door, was somewhat surprised.

By the way, she doesn't seem to be just the receptionist. At least, apart from her, Chu Jiang didn't see any other staff members in this small hotel.

"You're up so early." As she spoke, the receptionist opened the hotel door, letting the sunlight stream in.

She wore a light blue dress today, and apart from looking a little tired, she looked fine.

Were you crying last night? Why?

Chu Jiang went straight to the point with his question, which left the female receptionist completely stunned.

Then she shook her head in a flustered manner, "No, no, why would I cry? Besides, even if I did cry, you live on the third floor, you wouldn't be able to hear me, would you?"

Chu Jiang pointed up, "I heard your crying coming from the fourth floor, but you said no one lives on the fourth floor."

Upon hearing this, the receptionist turned pale and seemed to lose all her strength. She took two steps back and leaned weakly against the glass door.

After a long pause, she lowered her head and said, "You might... have misheard."

After saying that, the receptionist looked up and forced a smile, "A cleaning lady who was scheduled to come and clean your room will be here shortly."

"I'll go out to buy breakfast first. Do you need me to bring you anything?"

Chu Jiang thought for a moment and then said, "See if there's anyone selling rice noodle rolls. Could you get me a serving? I'll transfer the money to you via QR code."

"Okay." After agreeing, the receptionist hurriedly left, afraid that Chu Jiang would ask further questions about the matter.

Chu Jiang wasn't in a hurry. He sat on the sofa in the living room and waited. Even if there really was a ghost, he wasn't the one being targeted right now. It was this woman who was the real problem.

......

To Chu Jiang's surprise, just a few minutes later, a woman with a slightly haggard face walked out from the corridor connecting the lobby and the first-floor guest rooms.

She had her hair tied in a ponytail, wore a light blue dress, and yawned as she walked.

Yes, this woman was the receptionist who had rushed out to buy breakfast. The problem was, Chu Jiang hadn't seen her return at all...

Chapter Thirty-Six: Which One is Real?