Mysterious Revival

Chapter 382: Chapter 381: A Special Rag Doll

Yang Jian originally intended to extort Zhao Jianguo, but unexpectedly, the person in charge changed to someone named Shen Liang at the last minute.

It doesn’t matter, extorting anyone is the same.

If today he didn’t receive a reimbursement for the losses incurred during this operation, he wouldn’t relent easily; after all, this supernatural incident had been too perilous, having mysteriously suffered a slash from a ghost, he completely ruined a whole Ghost Candle. Despite having faced life-threatening dangers two or three times and gaining two teammates, Feng Quan and Tong Qian, some matters needed clear accounting.

Just think, if Yang Jian hadn’t insisted on taking a Ghost Candle with him last time, he would have died in the Z city incident.

So one cannot be so noble; one must be selfish when it’s time to be selfish.

About ten minutes passed.

Shen Liang returned with a serious expression. This time he didn’t have a warmly enthusiastic smile. Whether he was bleeding internally from being extorted by Yang Jian or he was afraid that Tong Qian’s face was staring at him again, was unknown.

“What’s the result?” Yang Jian asked.

He wasn’t so idle as to eavesdrop on Shen Liang’s conversation, so he didn’t know what had been discussed in those ten minutes.

It didn’t matter; he only cared about the result, not the process.

Shen Liang sat down, sighed, and said, “It’s definitely impossible to reimburse the two Ghost Candles right away. Such Strategic Level resources require strict application. You know, Yang Jian, last time after you solved an S-level supernatural incident, the higher-ups rewarded you with a Ghost Candle, so there’s really nothing I can do.”

“So there’s nothing to talk about.” Yang Jian said.

Shen Liang said, “However, although there are no Ghost Candles, I can use something else as a substitution to reimburse you for the losses of this operation.”

Having said that, he gestured with his hand to the accompanying personnel.

A specially made briefcase was brought over and placed on the desk.

“What kind of thing is worth as much as two Ghost Candles?” Yang Jian didn’t look at the briefcase, but instead fixated on Shen Liang: “Let alone the white Ghost Candles—those Wang Xiaoming probably has plenty of—the key is the red Ghost Candle that can resist the attacks of malicious spirits. Without it, no one can guarantee they won’t die in a supernatural incident next time.”

“This thing in some ways is even more special than a Ghost Candle, it’s very difficult to obtain, but in terms of value, it far exceeds the two Ghost Candles you want to be reimbursed for,” Shen Liang said solemnly. “If it were anyone else, I would not possibly offer it, but because you contributed to the Z city incident, and you saved Feng Quan and Tong Qian, greatly reducing the casualties for the headquarters, that’s why I’ve made an exception.”

“I knew the headquarters had some special things. You’ve been researching malicious spirits for so long, and with top minds like Wang Xiaoming working there, how could there be no outcomes?”

Yang Jian chuckled lightly, “Hiding and holding back, in plain words, is just not trusting us Necromancers.”

“What’s in the box, take it out and let’s have a look.”

Shen Liang said, “I can take the item out, but I have a condition.”

“A condition?”

Yang Jian tilted his head and looked at him, “You’re talking about conditions before even giving me anything, as if I’m begging you. If that’s the case, next time a supernatural incident occurs somewhere, don’t call me for support.”

“No, it’s not a condition; it’s just a small request. I hope Tong Qian can accompany me to J city after this incident ends,” Shen Liang said.

“Why are you asking me about transferring Tong Qian to J city? Wait a minute, the higher-ups are very concerned about Tong Qian’s resurrection, aren’t they? I remember I have to go to J city next month as well. Are you trying to use this opportunity to clarify what happened?” Yang Jian said, his gaze sharpening as he spoke gravely.

Sharp fellow.

Shen Liang inwardly marveled, despite Yang Jian’s young age, his intuition and reaction were extremely quick. No wonder he hadn’t died in so many supernatural incidents.

There was a reason he had survived so far.

“It’s an order from above, and I hope you won’t take it the wrong way. After all, if there’s anything from Tong Qian’s resurrection that can be used as a reference, it could reduce a lot of unnecessary casualties in the future. This would be a fortunate thing for the entire country. Of course, you don’t have to worry, the headquarters won’t shortchange you,” Shen Liang explained frankly.

Now that the issue was laid bare, Shen Liang spoke straightforwardly.

Yang Jian said, “Tong Qian’s resurrection is not reproducible. Do you think ghosts are that easy to control? These taboos should not be touched, because the consequences are unimaginable. Tong Qian will not go to J city with you. She will only be responsible for Z city, now and in the future…”

But before he could finish, Tong Qian, who was at his side, interjected: “Yang Jian, I know what you mean, but if my resurrection could be replicated, it would be a good thing for everyone. Captain Shen, rest assured, I will go to J city. Just give the order, and I’ll act immediately.”

Captain Shen was overjoyed at her words, having thought that Tong Qian looked up to Yang Jian as her leader; he hadn’t anticipated this turn of events.

Yang Jian’s face darkened as Tong Qian’s overflowing compassion seemed to suggest that the modifications he had given her were still not thorough enough. Didn’t she know that the only reason she could be revived was because she had never truly died?

Moreover, speaking of true resurrection, so far, only Zhang Wei had experienced it.

But the price of Zhang Wei’s resurrection was too steep; reviving just once required releasing a ghost from within the Ghost Mirror. If this was abused, the consequences would be unimaginably horrific.

“Whatever, as long as you’re happy,” Yang Jian waved his hand indifferently and calmly said.

After all, the secret of resurrection was in his own hands, and studying Tong Qian would only be a waste of time. The reason he didn’t want Tong Qian to get involved was that he feared it would bring him unnecessary trouble.

“Then it’s settled. Please, take this,” Shen Liang said at this moment as he opened the briefcase and turned it towards Yang Jian.

Yang Jian saw what was inside the briefcase and immediately furrowed his brows.

Inside the briefcase was a palm-sized cloth doll made from dirty, old fabric. Whatever was stuffed inside emitted a rotting stench, and on the doll’s limbs, belly, and head were embedded pencils’ thickness golden needles.

Six Golden Needles firmly pinned it inside the briefcase.

“A creepy thing,” Yang Jian’s gaze shifted slightly, instinctively sensing an eerie aura emanating from the doll.

This aura was exactly the same as when facing a ghost.

After observing for a while, he raised his head and asked, “What’s the use of this cloth doll?”

Shen Liang didn’t speak but simply pulled out the Golden Needle from the doll’s head.

Immediately.

The cloth doll’s head began to move, twisting left and right, like a trapped little person trying to break free.

Shen Liang quickly nailed the Golden Needle back into place, and the cloth doll stopped moving again.

“It moves. If it’s not pinned down, it’ll run away, but it’s not very harmful. At most, it can run for a few days, and once the fabric wears off and the contents leak out, this cloth doll will die. It is a specific type of consumable,” said Shen Liang.

“As for its function, it’s simple; it can die once for you.”

“This thing can die in place of a person? What kind of joke is that, Captain Shen? You wouldn’t be deceiving us, right?” Feng Quan, who was beside him, was incredibly astonished; he couldn’t believe such a wonderful thing existed.

Shen Liang said, “How could I deceive anyone with this matter? You only need to drop a drop of your blood onto this cloth doll and then remove the Golden Needles, letting the doll run away. Any ghost that attacks you will instead attack this cloth doll. And most importantly, as long as the cloth doll hasn’t been killed by a ghost, you will be in absolute safety.”

“A scapegoat doll?” Yang Jian’s gaze became sharp. “Have you tested it?”

“Of course, I wouldn’t dare bring it out without testing,” Shen Liang confidently stated.

Yang Jian observed the crooked black stitches on the cloth doll, and after careful examination, he could ascertain that it wasn’t sewn with cotton thread but instead with hair, a woman’s hair, because only a woman’s hair could be so long.

However, the doll’s stitching was dreadfully poor; it could only be said to be barely assembled, and anyone else’s handiwork could never be so inferior.

“This item couldn’t have been made by a human,” he said solemnly as he raised his head. “Whether by hand or machine, it would be impossible to create a doll like this. The technique is very similar to that of ghosts.”

Like the handwriting ghosts leave on newspapers, distorted and jumbled, with no semblance of actual handwriting.

“I’m sorry,” Shen Liang said. “Everything about this object is confidential; I can’t tell you any more.”

“I’m not allowed to know even with my current level?” asked Yang Jian.

Shen Liang shook his head, “Honestly, even I do not know. All I know is that it is highly confidential. Perhaps Professor Wang knows.”

Yang Jian did not ask any further. He pondered for a moment and then said, “If this thing is really as you say, then let’s consider the losses of this operation compensated. However, Wang Xiaoming still owes me a Ghost Candle, and you’ll have to follow up on that.”

He was a bit wary of this cloth doll.

There was a great likelihood that it was an object created by ghosts, possessing an inexplicable eeriness and malevolence.

However, Shen Liang’s words were so firm, he must know the doll was genuinely useful to dare present it, yet the information concerning this cloth doll seemed highly classified.