Chapter 077: Destroying the Doll?

Z stretched her hands forward, aiming for the little ghost’s neck. I acted first, pulling the little ghost aside. Just as I was about to shout in anger, I realized that Z’s target was not the ghost at all, but the cabinet behind him. Z opened the cabinet, and once again, I saw the massive Kuman Thong doll inside. The sight made me uneasy.

Suddenly, Z picked up the Kuman Thong and headed for the door. Charlie blocked her path, nervously demanding to know what she was doing. With reddened eyes, Z replied that she wanted to throw away the source of all their troubles. Charlie desperately tried to stop her, his voice trembling. “Have you forgotten what Daoist Wu said? You must never discard the Kuman Thong, or it will turn into a vengeful spirit!”

Charlie switched to his native dialect in a flurry, leaving Chen Fan confused and standing awkwardly aside.

Z shook her head, saying she couldn’t take it anymore. Even Daoist Wu was dead; no one could restrain a Kuman Thong filled with resentment. She refused to live in fear for another moment. Nothing could stop Z now. As she rushed out, she suddenly let out a piercing scream.

Z fell to the ground, dropping the Kuman Thong. Charlie hurried over, asking her what had happened. Shaken, Z pointed at the doll, her voice quivering: “It smiled at me.”

Charlie didn’t dare touch the doll either. I walked over and picked up the Kuman Thong. For the first time, I held it in my hands. It was heavy, carved from solid wood. Painted, it was impossible to tell what it was made of just by looking.

Holding the Kuman Thong, I told Z, “Its mouth is always smiling.”

But Z shook her head fearfully. “No, it opened its mouth!”

I held the doll up to Z’s face. At first, she wouldn’t look, but after a few gestures from me, she finally glanced at it. Perhaps reassured by its unchanged expression, Z grabbed the Kuman Thong and bolted outside. Not even the bodyguards could stop her; we quickly followed.

Charlie’s legs were shaking as he begged us to stop Z. But I stopped Chen Fan from intervening. I wanted to see what Z planned to do. She dashed into the elevator; by the time we caught up, the doors had already closed. We had no choice but to take the stairs.

At every floor, we checked if the elevator had stopped. Eventually, we found Z had taken it to the underground parking garage. The police had posted warnings on the elevator, forbidding access to the garage, but Z didn’t care. We crossed the police tape as we entered the basement.

The police had already collected all the evidence they needed; the garage was empty and echoing.

I saw Z already far ahead, with Charlie panting and chasing after her. I didn’t hurry; if I wanted, I could catch up to Z in seconds. Reaching her car, she hurled the Kuman Thong to the ground and got in. She had her keys—it must be her car, parked here all along. Chen Fan grew anxious. “Han, she’s going to drive out!”

I shook my head. “Don’t worry. The police have set up barriers outside, and the exit gate is closed. She can’t leave.”

Sure enough, Z didn’t try to drive out. Instead, she tried to run over the Kuman Thong with her car. The doll was solid wood; how could she possibly crush it like that? The car rocked a few times, but the doll remained intact. Frantic, Z got out, picked up the Kuman Thong, and slammed it to the ground several times.

Some splinters came off, but before Z could pick it up again, I took the Kuman Thong from the ground. I smiled at her. “No need to go to such trouble. I’ll take care of destroying it for you.”

Z stared at me blankly. “Aren’t you afraid it will haunt you?”

I shook my head. “No.” Charlie spent a long time persuading Z before she finally agreed to go back upstairs. On our way back, Chen Fan pointed to a corner and said that was where the drunken man had been killed. Z and Charlie looked, fear written across their faces.

After seeing them safely back, Chen Fan and I left. I advised Charlie to move Z to a new place and increase security to avoid any more incidents. For once, Charlie thanked us.

It was one o’clock in the afternoon by the time we left the garage. In Chen Fan’s car, he asked where to next. I asked if he’d checked the surveillance footage. He shook his head, so I told him to find a way to get it. Soon, the car pulled up outside the police station. Chen Fan went inside.

I stayed in the car, examining the Kuman Thong. Aside from its unsettling appearance, I found nothing unusual. There weren’t many people outside the station. Chen Fan soon emerged with a black bag, but as he stepped out, someone called his name.

Glancing over, I saw it was Tang Jia and Gong Yuanhai. I cursed silently; these two were the last people I wanted to see. Ever since returning to the capital, it seemed I could never avoid them. Tang Jia was talking to Chen Fan, who was deferential, his police rank lower than Tang Jia’s. I walked up to the station entrance. “What are you talking to him about?” I asked.

Tang Jia glanced at me, not bothering to hide her intentions. “I’m asking what your relationship is.”

Gong Yuanhai stood behind her, impeccably dressed as always, a smile on his face that made my skin crawl.

“I’m his special operative. Is it so strange for the police to plant an informant or two?” I shot back.

Tang Jia frowned. “Fang Han, stop pretending. Did you threaten Chen Fan?”

I gave a derisive laugh. “I choose my friends as I please. If you think I’ve broken the law, feel free to arrest me.”

Gong Yuanhai cut in. “Fang Han, Tang Jia is trying to talk to you nicely. Don’t lose your temper.”

Chen Fan looked awkward, but in the end it was he who broke the tension. He told Tang Jia I was indeed his informant, placed at Luo Feng’s side to investigate him.

Tang Jia snapped at Chen Fan, “You acted without orders—aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to your superiors and get you disciplined?”

Chen Fan began to panic, while Gong Yuanhai egged Tang Jia on. I was sorely tempted to throttle Gong Yuanhai, but restrained myself. I sneered, “Go ahead and report me.”

Tang Jia’s face flushed. “Fang Han, do you think I won’t?”

I nodded, my tone mocking. “I know you will. Go right ahead. But I suggest you take a good look at the people around you. You really suit each other.”

With that, I got into the car with Chen Fan. At my request, he floored the gas and drove us to my place.

On the way, Chen Fan anxiously asked if Tang Jia really would report us. Once a delicate police cadet, Tang Jia had toughened up over the years and was no longer to be underestimated. She wasn’t joking—she might really report us. That’s why Chen Fan was so worried: if the higher-ups found out, he’d likely face discipline.

I shook my head. “Don’t worry.”

Chen Fan pressed, “Why not?”

My tone turned cold. “If I say it’s fine, then it’s fine. If you keep talking, I’ll make sure you’re no longer a cop.”

Chen Fan fell silent instantly.

When we arrived at my place, I brought out the DVD player and black-and-white TV. After hooking them up, Chen Fan inserted the surveillance footage disc.

We watched carefully.

The capital wasn’t like the port city. Even in luxury developments, security cameras were few and far between in those days.

I counted: only four cameras—one at the main entrance, one at the back door, one in the parking garage, and one in the elevator lobby.

“I just asked—they said the other cameras didn’t capture anything unusual. Only the one in the parking garage had a problem,” Chen Fan said.

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