Chapter 27: Uniform

Tonight it was Xiao Wu’s turn for the night shift again. At this hour, the office building was deserted, not a soul in sight, and no one had stayed behind to work overtime. All the lights were off, save for the emergency exits that glowed an eerie green.

Xiao Wu took the elevator up, a flashlight in hand, and walked down the stairwell floor by floor.

The flashlight issued by management looked impressive—a hefty black baton that could easily be mistaken for a police truncheon. But the moment you touched it, you’d realize it was just plastic. If you tried to use it for self-defense, the casing would probably shatter before you even landed a blow.

The beam was equally illogical: blindingly bright up close, but with pathetic range. Beyond two meters, the light scattered and faded. In fact, the flashlight seemed to serve less as illumination and more as a warning for anyone lurking in the dark: “Someone’s coming.”

Xiao Wu kept the flashlight on mostly to see the ground at his feet. As for the office areas, he’d sweep his beam inside, just enough to pretend he was doing his job.

The working conditions were poor, the patrol area was vast, and the boss’s demands were endless. Still, the empty desks and chairs in this office building were far more comforting than the endless gravestones at Longevity Garden.

Xiao Wu quickly adapted to this new job.

If he hadn’t met Sheng Yao a few days ago, he might have been perfectly content with his current life.

As he passed the floor where Yu Guangchun and his colleagues worked, Xiao Wu paused, his flashlight cutting through the darkness of the unlit office. He suddenly recalled that Yu Guangchun and his group had a dinner gathering tonight.

Yu Guangchun had mentioned it to one of Xiao Wu’s coworkers that morning when he entered the building.

Xiao Wu felt a pang of envy.

He, a lowly security guard, had a meager salary, no benefits, and had to work overnight shifts—far tougher than the programmers who stayed late. But then again, even Yu Guangchun and his colleagues didn’t have the kind of perks or equity bonuses he’d read about online. Still, compared to a security guard, they were worlds ahead…

As Xiao Wu descended the stairs, his mind wandered restlessly.

He’d been satisfied with this job at first, but after meeting Sheng Yao and resolving their misunderstandings, his fear had faded and his thoughts grew restless.

With his flashlight swinging, Xiao Wu reached the first floor.

The building’s glass doors were tightly shut, the streetlights outside shrouded in shadow from thick branches overhead. The light was dim. Coupled with a moonless, cloud-covered night, Xiao Wu could barely make out the dark outline of the flowerbed by the entrance. Farther away, however, the asphalt road reflected the streetlights in a warm golden glow, bright and inviting.

Xiao Wu yawned, moved to the reception desk, and sat down. Sweeping his flashlight toward the entrance, he caught sight of two figures outside in his peripheral vision.

He set the flashlight on the desk, its beam aimed at the glass doors.

There were indeed two people at the entrance. Arms slung over each other’s shoulders, they staggered along, clearly drunk. They reached the flowerbed, and one of them seemed to bump into it, tumbling over and landing hard on the ground.

Xiao Wu watched the scene lazily, pulling out his phone.

He scrolled through short videos, glancing up now and then, but the man who had fallen didn’t get up. His companion seemed to be urging him, but made no move to help.

Frowning, Xiao Wu gripped his phone.

Were these drunks about to vomit at the entrance? Or maybe they’d just pass out and spend the night there?

He stood, slipped his phone into his pocket, grabbed his flashlight and keys, and walked to the glass doors. Squatting down, he unlocked the doors.

He tucked the flashlight under his arm, its beam jittering as he moved.

Click.

The lock disengaged.

Xiao Wu took the flashlight in hand, pushing the door open and preparing to shout at the drunks outside. Then his body froze.

What he saw was a bizarre shadow.

The drunk on the ground looked normal enough. But his companion’s body was suddenly inflating, as if he had a balloon in his hand or was wearing an inflatable life jacket that had just popped open—a round sphere swelling rapidly.

The sphere hovered in the air, still growing, swaying as it drifted closer to the man sprawled on the ground.

What the hell is that?!

Xiao Wu felt as if his throat was being gripped. His hand shook violently around the flashlight.

The beam swung and flickered, but couldn’t penetrate to the figures ten meters away. Still, the light seemed to draw the thing’s attention. The man and the sphere on his left arm turned toward Xiao Wu, as if to face him directly.

Terrified, Xiao Wu’s legs trembled, but he couldn’t run—his feet felt leaden and rooted to the spot.

In that instant, memories of Longevity Garden flashed through his mind—the strange woman by the gravestone, and Sheng Yao.

He thought he really saw Sheng Yao.

Sheng Yao’s figure burst onto the scene like a thunderclap, lunging straight for the floating sphere from behind.

…

In the darkness of the TV room, the projection screen flickered back to an old cathode-ray television. On the small screen, there was a close-up of Sheng Yao. He trailed the two staggering drunks ahead, making no sound, keeping the perfect distance, never noticed by his targets.

The camera seemed to hover right beside Sheng Yao’s ear, following his every move, steady and precise.

Suddenly, the camera stopped and shifted focus from the two drunks to Sheng Yao’s face.

Sweat broke out on Sheng Yao’s brow. He looked tense, his previously steady heartbeat suddenly quickening, heavy and resounding in the TV room.

On the sofa, the doctor crossed his legs, then shifted, as if unused to moving from a plush sofa to this peeling, worn-out one. His exposed blue eyes gleamed, his fingers rapping impatiently on the armrest.

The nails muttered and grumbled.

All these background noises vanished along with the abrupt silence of the heartbeat.

The doctor’s eyes widened, fists clenched, body leaning toward the small TV.

On screen, Sheng Yao’s pupils contracted, and his figure shot past the camera.

The lens spun around in a desperate 180-degree arc, capturing Sheng Yao’s back as he leapt at the sudden appearance of the fleshy tumor-like mass—like a panther pouncing on its prey.

…

His flying kick landed squarely on the mass.

Sheng Yao felt a strong rebound. Using the force, he flipped acrobatically into the air, landing softly and silently like a feather. The instant he touched down, he lunged again, this time smashing his fist into the tumor’s eyeball.

His fist struck something as hard as glass. The pain made him recoil instinctively.

His gaze met the mass’s eye.

In that dark green orb swirled icy hatred, greed, and every manner of negative emotion.

For a moment, Sheng Yao felt plunged into a frozen abyss.

This wasn’t human.

This wasn’t even a normal living thing.

It was the doctor’s… treatment…

Three thoughts flashed through Sheng Yao’s mind in a split second. Without pause, he unleashed another flurry of punches and kicks, but only managed to make the mass quiver slightly.

His growing unease, rooted in what Bai Xiao had told him about Liu Yu, now blossomed into certainty. Everything before him confirmed his instincts had been right.

Bai Xiao’s smile flickered in his mind. Gritting his teeth, Sheng Yao threw a punch with a sharp whoosh, finally denting the surface of the mass.

Liu Yu, standing nearby, remained motionless like a statue, indifferent to both the mass and Sheng Yao. The tumor-like mass acted like a punching bag—only the shifting eyes and the occasional twitch revealed its vitality.

It was as if the thing had just awakened from a long sleep: its consciousness rising from the depths, but its body still sluggish.

I have to stop it—now! Sheng Yao thought.

A flash from inside the building drew his attention.

There must be a fire axe or something similar inside. If fists and feet failed, perhaps a sharp weapon…

The mass swayed, serpentine, as if studying its prey. Sometimes it watched the drunken Yu Guangchun on the ground, sometimes it eyed Sheng Yao. Slowly, it split open a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.

Sheng Yao’s eyes narrowed. He smashed his fist into the mass’s eye, then lunged forward with all his might, barreling through the tumor. Without stopping, he bent down as he passed Yu Guangchun, grabbed him, and flung him forward.

A rush of air behind him—Sheng Yao spun on his heel, arms raised to block.

Bang!

The mass slammed into his arms, its gaping maw held shut by Sheng Yao’s grip. Viscous, greenish fluid dripped onto him.

Behind him came Yu Guangchun’s groan and Xiao Wu’s shrill scream; before him, the grotesque mass and the entranced Liu Yu.

The flashlight behind him flickered wildly, making Liu Yu’s eyes shift with light. His face was blank, as if trapped in a dream, oblivious to the world around him.

An idea seized Sheng Yao. He kicked the mass away, then dove beneath its next charge with a sliding tackle. He seemed to have springs inside him, bouncing up to lock Liu Yu’s neck in a textbook rear naked choke.

In that instant, Sheng Yao didn’t notice his arms had swelled to three times their normal size, completely sealing off Liu Yu’s throat.

The mass spun after Sheng Yao but seemed pinned by invisible hands, suddenly frozen in midair, its green eye rolling back as viscous fluid oozed from its mouth.

Sheng Yao couldn’t see Liu Yu’s expression, but with their bodies pressed together, he felt Liu Yu’s breath and pulse ebbing through his skin.

Liu Yu’s breathing and heartbeat slowed.

The tumor-like mass lost strength first, crashing to the ground in a pool of its own saliva, then shrank back into Liu Yu’s arm like a kite being reeled in.

Liu Yu’s arm returned to normal, his whole body collapsing against Sheng Yao.

Sheng Yao slowly released his grip.

With a thud, Liu Yu slumped to the ground.

…

Sheng Yao finally gasped for breath, gulping air. He looked at the unconscious Liu Yu, his gaze tracing over Liu Yu’s left arm, scanning every inch, then glancing at the ground and his own body.

The sticky fluid from the tumor had vanished without a trace.

Bending down, Sheng Yao lifted Liu Yu’s arm, rolling up his sleeve to inspect the skin.

Liu Yu’s skin was spotless—not a mark from the creature, no discoloration or wounds, not even the dried blood from their first encounter.

Sheng Yao let go of Liu Yu’s arm.

He slowly looked up, squinting at the flickering light inside the building.

Behind the glass doors, the light flashed incessantly.

Xiao Wu, desperate to turn off the flashlight, tried to hide. But the shoddy device was poorly made—even its switch was unreliable. His trembling fingers couldn’t turn it off. In the end, he just covered the beam with his hand like an ostrich, stealing a glance outside.

That one glance made Xiao Wu fall backward in terror, dropping the flashlight, which rolled far away.

The glass door was pulled open by Sheng Yao.

Xiao Wu, sprawled on the floor, scrambled backward on all fours.

“Why are you running? Why didn’t you help just now?” Sheng Yao’s tone was helpless.

Xiao Wu could only make strangled, guttural sounds.

“Aren’t you supposed to be the security guard here? Two drunks brawling outside and you do nothing? Good thing I happened to be passing by.” Sheng Yao picked up the flashlight and handed it back.

Xiao Wu was stunned.

“Got a phone? Call the police,” Sheng Yao said.

“Call the police?” Xiao Wu’s voice was odd, but the disbelief in it was unmistakable.

“Of course. What else? Let those two sleep at your doorstep all night?” Sheng Yao’s tone was matter-of-fact, and he looked at Xiao Wu in genuine surprise.

Xiao Wu retorted, “Why don’t you call the police?”

“Didn’t you see I just knocked them out? Sure, it was brave, but if the police come, it’ll be a pain to explain. Better if you call and just say two drunks are sleeping at your entrance. Saves us all some trouble.”

It sounded reasonable enough.

Xiao Wu looked at Sheng Yao, then glanced nervously at the two figures outside. “That person… just now, that thing… What was that? That wasn’t human, was it?”

Sheng Yao sighed, shining the flashlight at Xiao Wu. “Have you been watching too many movies? One moment it’s ghosts, the next it’s not human?”

“No!” Xiao Wu pointed at Liu Yu. “Just now—there—his hand! That thing! It got huge!” He gestured wildly, tracing a circle with his arms, struggling to describe it.

Sheng Yao listened, then followed Xiao Wu’s gaze outside. “You mean the little tree in the flowerbed? The bush trimmed into a ball?”

“No, not that! His hand! That man’s hand—it suddenly turned round! And it moved! It chased you!” Xiao Wu said, agitated.

Sheng Yao looked at Xiao Wu with confusion. “I just fought with him. He’s drunk—very strong. What round thing…? What did you see from here?”

Xiao Wu was left speechless.

“Xiao Wu, are you under too much stress, still thinking about Longevity Garden? I explained, I showed you the photos. Sheng Sheng was just sick, not a ghost. There are no ghosts in this world. Maybe it was too dark—you saw wrong. That flashlight isn’t great either.” Sheng Yao shook the flashlight. “If you don’t believe me, come check with me.”

Xiao Wu took the flashlight and, with Sheng Yao’s help, stood up—but didn’t follow him outside.

He was starting to doubt what he’d seen.

It had been pitch black outside. When he saw that swelling sphere and then Sheng Yao pouncing, he’d panicked and wanted to hide.

But Sheng Yao had swiftly subdued the drunk, and Xiao Wu hadn’t found a chance to hide—he was too busy wrestling with the flashlight. In fact, he hadn’t really seen the fight between Sheng Yao and the drunk clearly.

“All right. Remember to call the police; I’m leaving,” Sheng Yao said.

Xiao Wu hesitated, but seeing Sheng Yao’s nonchalance as he left, he began to doubt himself.

After a while, he calmed down. He didn’t call the police right away but first locked the building’s doors before finally taking out his phone.

The police arrived quickly. Two officers got out, switched on their flashlights, and checked on Yu Guangchun and Liu Yu.

The police flashlights were far superior to Xiao Wu’s. Hiding inside the building, Xiao Wu could see Yu Guangchun and Liu Yu’s faces clearly and even recognized them—they worked in this building, none other than Yu Guangchun and his new colleague.

Xiao Wu let out a breath. He must have made a mistake earlier… Surely…