"Sorry, sir. The surrounding neighborhoods are under lockdown. You're not allowed to leave for now."
At the entrance of a place called Happiness Community in Xiadu City, Chen Xuan and many other residents were stopped.
"Why would they suddenly stop us from going out?"
Chen Xuan muttered to himself but said no more, turning to head back to his apartment.
It had only been three days since he transmigrated into this world. Though it looked almost identical to his past life on the surface, it hid a terrifying secret beneath.
That is—Malevolent Ghosts existed in this world, and their numbers were increasing rapidly.
He knew this because his only living relative, his younger sister Chen Ruoqing, had just become a Ghost Tamer not long ago.
All of this information came from her.
"Could it be... a Paranormal Incident?"
Chen Xuan muttered while walking, pulling out his phone and dialing a special number.
It was a direct line Chen Ruoqing had given him—only this number would go through when something happened.
"Hello, Chen Ruoqing? Where are you?"
The call connected quickly, and Chen Xuan spoke.
"I'm on a mission. Bro, just eat by yourself tonight. Don't wait for me."
The voice on the other end was low and slightly hoarse.
"I wasn't planning to wait for you!"
Chen Xuan said. "I just wanted to ask—our community is suddenly under lockdown. Is it related to a Paranormal Incident?"
"Happiness Community?"
Chen Ruoqing paused. Her tone suddenly changed, growing heavy.
"It is. Bro, get home right now. Lock all doors and windows. Don't go outside."
"Got it!"
Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He could sense the urgency in her voice. He immediately hung up and rushed back to his apartment.
Chen Ruoqing had once told him how terrifying Paranormal Incidents could be. If you weren't careful, you could be marked by a Malevolent Ghost—and by then, you might not even know how you died.
At 8 p.m., Chen Xuan stood on the balcony on the sixth floor, looking out at the still brightly lit Xiadu City.
But the area around him was eerily quiet.
Not only was there no sign of anyone downstairs, even the lighting seemed to grow dim and gray.
Zzzzz!
Suddenly, the chandelier in the living room flickered as if hit by a power surge.
Chen Xuan frowned instinctively and turned to look.
But just as quickly, the lights returned to normal.
"That's weird. Didn't I just replace that bulb? Is it broken again?"
Chen Xuan wondered if he should grab a ladder to check.
But then, from the corridor outside, a loud and unusually clear sound of footsteps echoed through the air.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
The footsteps were abrupt. Though they seemed distant, each step rang out as if they were right next to Chen Xuan's ear.
His expression changed instantly. He held his breath on instinct.
Why would there be footsteps at a time like this?
And even if there were, why were they so clear, so rhythmic, almost mechanical?
A chilling atmosphere was slowly building.
Just then, a neighbor's voice shouted from the stairwell.
"It's the middle of the night! Can't you walk quieter? It's too loud!"
As soon as the words rang out, the footsteps stopped—eerily and instantly.
But not long after, a sharp, bloodcurdling scream came from the neighboring apartment.
"Ahhh! Hel—"
The scream ended abruptly.
Chen Xuan's face changed. That was the same neighbor who had just yelled.
"Did... did he already get killed?"
A wave of dread washed over him. Chen Xuan stood frozen, not daring to make a sound.
He might have transmigrated here, but he didn't have a golden finger!
He definitely didn't want to be targeted by a Malevolent Ghost right now.
Tick tock, tick tock...
The ticking of the clock's second hand felt like an eternity.
Tap!
Tap!
Suddenly, the familiar footsteps started again, tightening Chen Xuan's nerves like a taut string.
They were getting closer—closer and closer.
He could feel it—the sound was moving toward his apartment.
It might even be just on the other side of the wall.
Then, without warning, the footsteps stopped.
Chen Xuan clenched his trembling fists and stared unblinkingly at the door.
Thud!
A sudden knock echoed.
"Damn it! Is it... is it that thing? Or someone else?"
Chen Xuan's expression changed. He hadn't expected anyone to knock at a time like this.
But his instincts screamed at him—do not respond.
That neighbor was targeted the moment he spoke.
Yet—
The knocking didn't stop. It only grew louder and more violent.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud thud!
The door shook violently under the force. Chen Xuan felt it might collapse at any moment.
Carefully, he crept to the door, trying to peek through the peephole.
But the moment he looked out, his heart nearly stopped.
There was no one.
No shadow, no figure—nothing.
Except… at the very bottom of his view, he saw a pair of Embroidered Shoes.
Instantly, the hairs on Chen Xuan's body stood on end. A chill crept into his heart.
Just a pair of Embroidered Shoes—how could they be knocking?
What do I do? Run?
But where could I run?
As confusion filled his mind, the Embroidered Shoes outside the door suddenly vanished.
"Did... did it leave?"
Chen Xuan let out a breath, relaxing a little, and pulled his gaze back.
But just as his eyes casually swept across the floor—
He almost screamed.
That pair of Embroidered Shoes had somehow appeared right next to his feet.
The antique-style Embroidered Shoes were now pointed directly at him, their toes aimed dead-on.
A wave of bone-deep fear surged through his chest.
It's over.
He didn't need to guess—Chen Xuan knew.
He had been marked by a Malevolent Ghost.
Just when despair was about to take over—
Suddenly, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
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