Records of Spirits and Ghosts Chapter Twelve: The Return

Appearing in the same horror story, Jiang Li's words awakened the two great authors.

Yes, this was an event triggered by the plot of a novel itself.

Since they couldn't simply write the evil spirit to death, they decided to add new characters.

Ye Xiang was the strongest presence in the Black novel, wielding time-based swordsmanship with mastery.

Mars’ Yun Che had inherited the Evil God’s profound veins and mastered the Heavenly Poison Pearl. Though characters in novels couldn’t step out into reality, the authors in the real world could easily transpose their protagonists into another world.

With the combined efforts of both authors, the plot finally shifted. The two protagonists battled the evil spirit together, and the outbreak of the ghost tide turned the entire theater into a realm of spirits.

Ye Xiang, the protagonist from Black, was arranged to be seated in the outer audience within the Black plot.

With only a minute and a half remaining, the vicious woman Xie Anqi was ultimately taken away by Ling Hen, who had become a spirit.

Ling Hen didn’t harm Jiang Li and the others—he was a kind child in life, retaining his consciousness after becoming a spirit.

Jiang Li had discovered the key to it all: when Mars made Jiang Li the protagonist, the spirit mistakenly believed him to be the murderer from back then, thus planting a grudge in Mars’ script.

That grudge was the spirit encountered by Fei Ling. Jiang Li’s early entry was actually intended to allow him to meet Black and Mars sooner.

That way, he would get hints about survival—the clues were given from the very start. The protagonists of Black and Mars fought spirits within the stories the two authors wrote, not in reality.

After the time ended, Jiang Li and Song Zhi were instantly teleported back to the apartment.

Xie Anqi and Ling Hen didn’t survive to the end of the task, which was regrettable.

Fei Ling, Mo Han, Mo Yan, and Su Zheyuan were still waiting in the lobby for Jiang Li’s return. After a brief recounting, Jiang Li, exhausted, went to rest.

Seeing Fei Ling and Jiang Li safe, and with a newcomer joining the apartment, Mo Han and the others, drained from the lengthy ordeal, took Song Zhi to select a room. Once rooms were settled, everyone said goodnight and went to sleep. With everyone safely back, they could finally sleep soundly.

Returning to his room, Jiang Li continued his bedtime exercises, showered, and prepared to sleep. Though he had been tired, now sleep eluded him.

Jiang Li pondered the hints for survival and why he’d been teleported early—it was because he liked Mars and Black, and there had indeed been a signing event before the activity.

It seemed the clues had always rested with Black and Mars.

His early entry was the Ghost Registry’s way of letting him meet Mars and Black sooner.

This way, he could learn about the supernatural events tied to them. Unfortunately, Jiang Li hadn’t attended the signing, missing the prime opportunity for information.

Bored, Jiang Li opened his phone and searched for Mars’ novels in the browser; the latest chapter had been made into a side story.

Authors in the web fiction world did visit each other’s works, but it was the first time the protagonists of these two novels had crossed over. In the reviews under Mars’ book,

Mars’ devoted fans teased Old Star and Black about an unsavory exchange between them.

Otherwise, how could one explain why Mars’ protagonist Yun Che and Black’s protagonist Ye Xiang appeared together in the new chapter? Fans of both sides crossed platforms and visited each other’s circles.

This chapter by Mars and Black became wildly popular.

Both novels topped the monthly ticket and reward charts once again.

There were true fans as well as detractors; some critics believed Mars and Black had joined forces to pad out a chapter, given the plots were eighty percent similar.

The only difference was that each wrote from their own protagonist’s perspective.

Mars and Black trended on hot searches; their Weibo comments soared past ten million in moments, and their fan popularity skyrocketed. Outsiders might think the pair were about to break into the entertainment industry.

Both authors replied to some fan comments.

But the sheer volume meant they couldn’t respond to everyone. Every true fan’s message was carefully read, while sensationalist critics were ignored.

Such is web fiction: those who enjoy it read; those who don’t aren’t forced. A novel is a carefully crafted story the author tells to those who appreciate and understand it.

Those who dislike it can move on freely. There’s no need to change anything for meaningless criticism.

The content of a novel is a bridge between author and reader, a medium for the author to express personal viewpoints—nothing wrong with that, nor with not liking it.

After browsing Weibo for a while, Jiang Li finally drifted into sleep.

In his dream, Jiang Li came to Su Mo’s hospital room, a white and bright chamber where Su Mo lay quietly on the bed. A bottle of medicine hung on the wall, its fluid flowing through a tube into the needle in Su Mo’s hand.

Su Mo’s room was a single, while elsewhere, in a dark corner—

“What now?”

“What can we do?”

“But he’s…”

Jiang Li, in the dream, watched Su Mo sleeping, a faint smile on her face as she lay in bed.

After graduating from high school and entering Jianghai University, Jiang Li joined the army as a campus recruit.

As a student soldier, the school preserved his academic status.

When he returned, tuition would be fully waived. After joining the army, Jiang Li gradually lost touch with Su Mo.

It wasn’t until after his discharge, upon returning to school and society, that he reconnected with Su Mo.

This return home was prompted by news of Su Mo’s illness. It was Jiang Li’s first time back since graduating from Jianghai University. Because of this, Jiang Li was chosen by the Ghost Registry.

To endure the horrors of the abyss, Jiang Li, once troubled by employment, now need only focus on surviving.

As for money, the apartment could provide. A sudden, severe headache struck.

Jiang Li awoke and glanced at his phone for the time.

It was already eleven in the morning—the latest he’d ever slept.

Jiang Li still felt exhausted, likely not fully recovered, but didn’t dwell on it.

He made some favorite noodles, then returned to his room, planning to exercise in the lobby’s gym area.

Everyone’s rooms were near the lobby; the main area was to the right.

Just as Jiang Li stepped out, he saw everyone gathered on the sofa in the lobby.

They all looked solemn, the atmosphere heavy.

Jiang Li was about to ask when he saw Mo Han, Mo Yan, and Su Zheyuan conversing quietly.

Early that morning, the three discovered a new task appearing on the Ghost Registry.

This time, the location was listed as unknown, with no simple description as before. For Mo Han and Mo Yan, it was their fourth task.

The last task of each stage was far more difficult than any before, with the highest mortality rate.

This task had many unknowns, causing the three to worry.

As time passed, it was already six in the evening. Three minutes remained before the task. Mo Han suddenly stood, speaking confidently to everyone.

“Let’s pull ourselves together. We can all survive to the end.”

“If you don’t believe in me, at least have faith in yourselves.”

“Brother, I believe in you,” Mo Yan said, grasping his brother’s hand and speaking earnestly.

“Brother Mo Han, I believe we’ll make it to the end.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Mo Han. I’m not afraid. I’m already a man—I can protect myself, and protect Sister Mo Yan.”

Su Zheyuan’s youthful face spoke words so mature it was heart-wrenching.

Other boys of eighteen or nineteen were in their restless youth, sweet romances, carefree years—the most beautiful times. But all that ended when Su Zheyuan was chosen by the Ghost Registry.

Mo Han, after speaking, instinctively glanced back at Fei Ling. Fei Ling seemed lost in memories and didn’t notice.

Jiang Li, however, caught it: Mo Han’s gaze toward Fei Ling was full of reluctance and a deeply concealed affection. It seemed Mo Han also liked Fei Ling.

It was understandable; a talented and beautiful girl like Fei Ling was hard not to admire.