Bright rays of the sun shine down upon the group of four individuals standing in front of an apartment complex.
These four figures captured the attention of many passersby due to their outstanding appearances and demeanor. Perhaps they care none for those numerous prying sights or perhaps, have gotten used to such looks.
They huddle close in a loose circle as glinting sights locked onto the building in front of them while discussing in a lowered tone.
"Is this the place?" Rong Cheng asked while staring down at Chu Nuan's feet.
"This should be the correct address…" Man Tingshu checked the information on his phone once more while comparing it to the location on the map.
"But how do we get in? There's a guard standing by the gate." Xie Luochen questioned in a worried voice.
"Why are you worrying so much?" Chu Nuan furrowed her brows while nudging the ball of fur sitting beside her feet. "Go." The young woman ordered in a careless tone while motioning with her chin towards the security guard at the gate.
"... …"
The black dog stare towards the hinted direction for a few seconds before releasing a sigh of defeat. Rolling its large beady eyes at the young lady, the furry creature stood up with a shake of its fur before trotting towards its target.
Under the fervent gaze of the group, Blackie sauntered to sit right beside the foot of the occupied guard.
Tap.
"Hm?"
The security guard was in the middle of a conversation with one of the residents when a sudden light tap captured his attention.
Lowering his vision towards the direction of that sudden sensation, the guard and resident beside revealed a surprised expression. A small black dog with large beady eyes and sleek fur of a healthy shine returned their gazes with a wag of its tail.
"So cute!" The elderly resident exclaimed with widened eyes.
"Where is your owner, little guy?"
The security guard crouches down to pat the small creature on its head before revealing a large smile due to its response. The furry creature licked the man's rough fingers before placing its soft pads over the man's palm. Seemingly giving the man a handshake in exchange for patting its head.
Melting the hearts of the guard and resident in an instant.
"Are you alone?"
The guard grasps around the collar on the dog's neck to see the name [Blackie] embedded on the tag.
"Oh? You have an owner, where are they at?"
Just as the guard was about to ask if anyone has seen this dog before, a clear voice rang out in the air.
"Sorry! That dog is mine!"
Vision raised in reaction to that voice, the security guard and resident widened their eyes in surprise. Never have they seen such a radiant group of youngsters smiling at them in so many years of their life.
Inducing their train of thoughts to turn sluggish in the face of such beauty that the guard could only stutter his sentences.
"Th- This dog is your's?"
"Yes! That's right! Sorry, he ran off by himself!"
Seeing the young woman run over in a hurry, the guard made an unconscious stopping motion for fear of the young lady tripping.
"Don't worry, it's okay! We have the dog here, he won't run off!"
"Thanks!"
The group of young men and woman paused in front of the gate with an embarrassed smile while the sole female in the group started to rummage in her bag for the gate card.
All the while trying to make small talk with the guard and resident who is looking on the side.
"The apartment planted new flowers? It's been a while since I've returned from vacation, I almost don't recognize the place."
"Oh? How long was your vacation?" The resident asked with curiosity.
"About a month and a half ago, went to visit my parents in another city with my dog. Just got back today and decided to invite my friends over for a small get together." Chu Nuan answered while rummaging through the small bag in hand.
Willow brows furrowed as if annoyed at being unable to find the required item that allows her access into the area. Movements became rough with the gradual pass of seconds as soft lips pinch together in displeasure.
"How nice, I wish my kids would visit me often too." The resident gave a depressed sigh while swiping the card in hand on the gate. "You guys can go in, don't party too hard or it'll be bad for your health."
"Thank you!" The group expressed with a polite smile before walking through the opened gate.
The resident and security guard gave those childrens a warm chuckle while sending the group away with their gazes. Turning back to their conversation not long after in a better mood compared to before.
"... …"
After making sure that they have left the area far enough away from the gate. The group paused in their steps before exchanging a knowing look of relief.
"Good job." Chu Nuan patted Blackie on the back before taking out an indigo leash to clasp on the collar.
"A good owner must always leash their dogs whenever outside."
Blackie: "... …"
Putting on an expression of indolence towards this treatment, the weeping ghost felt too lazy to even react. In fact, the young woman is treating him much better than when he was in Hell. At least she stopped torturing him after he took on the appearance of an animal.
"Which floor?" Xie Luochen scanned the area full of walking residents while trying to blend into the environment. Eyes subconsciously trying to avoid the many gazes of others due to a somewhat guilty conscience.
"The fifth floor of the B2 building located to our left." Man Tingshu checked his phone once more while leading the group towards their destination.
"People…"
The figure of a woman and young child is seen in the distance as the team approaches the entrance of the building. Sights collided with the mother and child duo which induced both parties to give each other a polite nod before minding their own thoughts.
Chu Nuan swept a glance at the mother and little boy whose beady eyes blinked with young innocence and curiosity. The young woman lowered her gaze to stare at her dog before tugging on the leash with a faint whisper.
"Be obedient." To which Blackie merely lifted his right paw as agreement. Sticking close to the young lady almost to the point of sitting right on her foot.
Ding!
The elevator arrived as the group waited to enter after the other residents before crowding to stand on one side.
In order to avoid the awkwardness of standing in an enclosed space with strangers. Man Tingshu and Rong Cheng took out their phones after pressing the button for the fifth floor.
Xie Luochen lowered his sights to stare at his feet while Chu Nuan slanted a gaze to observe the side profile of the youth's face.
Just as everyone within this small space assumed that silence would continue until arrival.
A sudden childish voice echoed in the elevator akin to the ringing of a bell. "Excuse me aunty, can I pet your dog?"
Startled by this voice, all eyes including the child's own mother became fixated on the young boy. Surprised by this sudden request as their gazes flitted from Chu Nuan to the kid in silent wait for the results.
"Huh?" The young woman was confused at first to hear the kid say aunty. Presuming that the "aunty" the boy was inferring to is the woman standing beside him.
However, after the passing of a few seconds, when she continues to see the child stare at her in anticipation. Chu Nuan seemed to have realized who the little boy was actually referring to.
"... …"
Lips twitched unconsciously as the young woman asked in a lowered voice for confirmation.
"You… you're talking to me?"
Witnessing the young kid nod his head with vigorous excitement. What can the young lady do but approve of the request?
Nonetheless, there are some things that she still cannot swallow without a bit of correction.
"Call sister." Chu Nuan said in a sulky voice that seemed to express a magnitude of complicated emotions.
Although she is a few centuries old, what normal woman would want to hear someone call them aunty? At least appearance wise, she is still considered a budding flower in the wonderful age of mid-twenties.
Blackie: "... …"
The little black dog gave a faint snort before leaning completely on the shoe of the young woman's left foot.
For him who has seen every side of the young woman's terrifying looks. He can guarantee with every fiber of his being that the young lady does not deserve to be called sister.
Demon is a better title to refer to.
"...?"
The little boy furrowed his small brows while puckering his cherry lips in confusion as if trying to figure out some kind of complicated problem.
Tilting his head to the right while staring at Chu Nuan before tilting to the left to stare at Blackie. Round beady irises alternated from the young woman to the black dog a few times before the little boy finally nodded his head in understanding.
Blinking with an innocent charm a young child should have, the little kid opened his mouth to ask in a sweet and polite tone. "Aunty, may I pet this sister?"
The air in the elevator froze the instant those words resounded in the enclosed space.
"... …"
"Phfff!" A few seconds passed before the sound of restrained laughter echoed in the area.
Man Tingshu and Rong Cheng turned the other way immediately while pretending to play on their phones. But the incessant shaking of the shoulders revealed the truth of their current emotions.
Xie Luochen released a small cough while covering his mouth with a hand to hide the excessive twitching of lips. Attempting to pretend that nothing had happened, the youth turned his body three hundred and sixty degrees once while shuffling in the same spot.
Looking busy while in truth, doing nothing at all.
Even the mother of the little boy couldn't help but stifle the laughter that's about to pour out of her throat. She quickly took a large swig of water from the bottle in hand only to spit everything out the next second from a cough.
The water that spat out formed an elegant curve before pouring itself on the face of the bewildered child.
The only two people that are not laughing are the kid himself and Chu Nuan.
The boy does not know why the adults suddenly started to laugh.
Did he say something wrong?
Why did his mom pour water on him?
While Chu Nuan could not smile at all because she is the victim in this situation.
Her smile did not disappear, it just moved onto other people's lips.
Chu Nuan: "... …"
Ding!
Fortunately, the elevator reached the third floor of the building which is the stop of the mother and son duo.
Giving Chu Nuan a look that's a mix between laughter and embarrassment, that mother pulled the disappointed boy out of the elevator. Disappearing within the blink of an eye.
_____
Ding!
The door to the elevator opened to reveal the interior of the fifth floor where only four residents live.
Without hesitation nor need to ponder further.
The group spread out to form a semi-circle around Rong Cheng who is crouching in front of a specific door.
A few intakes of breaths was all it took before the door was unlocked and the group filed in without notice.
The interior of this living space is neat and tidy with very little clutter and decorations except for a few picture frames on the walls.
Two bedrooms and a small bathroom and kitchen with simple furnishing does not seem to provide much for these uninvited guests. But nonetheless, the group must find the reason or bait that can lure Xu Qianqian out from hiding.
"I wish I could just tie those two up instead of wasting time here searching…" Rong Cheng murmured under his breath while referring to the two victims of the curse.
"But that would mean putting innocent people in danger." Man Tingshu refuted while striding in with careful steps.
"If they were as innocent as you say, then they wouldn't have been cursed in the first place." Rong Cheng puckered his lips in displeasement. "It's better to use them as bait instead of sneaking around like this."
This is Xu Qianqian's residence for those who are confused.
The reason Chu Nuan and the team snuck into this apartment is to find a clue of some kind, perhaps an item or hint. Anything that can lure their target out from hiding.
That, and more specifically, the truth behind Xu Qianqian's death which led to such a powerful haunting.
In the eyes of the public, her death was due to suicide. But in the eyes of our protagonists who saw the malicious aura clinging at the place of her death. There is no reason for such a situation unless that young woman was murdered.
Of course, this thought was further solidified by those two cursed dolls.
Right now, since the ghost in question has yet to kill, there is still a chance for reincarnation without much trouble.
"But I still don't understand the reason we have to go through so much? Can't we just wait till night time before confronting that spirit?" Rong Cheng mumbled in a lackluster tone.
For this young man who mostly stays inside of the temple without needing to participate in missions. He cannot understand the reasoning behind such actions.
Isn't it much easier to just exorcize the ghost? Why do we need to understand their death?
"This is why you need to participate in missions with us more…" Releasing a helpless sigh, Man Tingshu began to explain in simple words for the young man to understand.
"It's true that we can just exorcize any spirits we meet, especially for those that appear dangerous to human society."
"But at the same instance. As a soul that was formerly human, they are also what we are and will be in the future."
Chu Nuan: "… …"
The young woman raised a brow whilst hearing this wisdom filled speech. Sharing a quiet glance with the dog by her feet, the young lady sauntered towards the kitchen.
"It should be our duty to listen and try to fulfill those poor soul's last wishes before sending them away. Ghosts that have killed in the past cannot be saved therefore we exorcize them, barring their ways to reincarnate."
"This is all for the sake of the future so that less malicious spirits would return to this realm as monstrous beings."
Cupboards open and close as Chu Nuan tries to find loose leaves to steep while the pot on the stove begins to warm.
The black dog beside her feet gaze at the three figures standing in the living room preaching as if worshippers of a cult. Its short tail tapped on the ground in rhythmic motions as its beady eyes stare with a pitying look.
"What do you think, Your Honor? About what they are saying."
Hearing this inquiry, the young woman paused in mid action to glance at the trio outside. Placing the kettle back on the stove, Chu Nuan placed the warm cup beside her lips before answering in a low tone.
"Bullshit."
"However, for ghosts like Xu Qianqian who show signs of murderous intent but have yet to take a life. We can still attempt to help her, but only if we understand her pains and reason of death."
"That is why we are here, trying to sense a part of her life and find hidden clues."
"This is also the teachings of our sect."
Man Tingshu explained with a faint smile on his lips while patting their third youngest on the head. "You're still young it might be a little difficult for you to understand right now but you can learn."