Resurgence of the Unknown

Chapter 32: The Closed Mall

Yang Jian spent over an hour tormenting the deceitful shop owner, nearly driving him to the brink of collapse. Only then did he return to the phone repair shop to retrieve the phone he had embedded in the shop owner's head.

Grabbing the shop owner's collar, Yang Jian coldly remarked, "You must have scammed a lot of people with your switcheroo tricks. Who knows how much money you've cheated others out of? Let me tell you something: I can be a regular guy and do business with you normally, but I can also be ten times worse than you and make you regret ever crossing me. I'll be passing by here often. If I catch you pulling this stunt again, next time, it won't just be a phone I shove into your head."

"Big brother, I swear, I won't do it again, I won't!" The shop owner, thoroughly frightened, stammered, shaking like a leaf.

"You people are all the same, selling your soul for a quick buck. When caught, you're arrogant, even accusing me of selling stolen goods. And now that you're in my hands, you think an apology will cut it? That's too easy. The price of deceit should be steep—no wonder crooks like you are everywhere. Consider this a lesson learned at the cost of your wallet. Next time, you might lose your life."

With a final stern warning, Yang Jian turned and left the shop. His wallet was now heavier by ten thousand yuan, likely all the shop owner could muster after borrowing from online lenders.

Though his methods weren't exactly honorable, Yang Jian didn't care anymore.

If someone had to play the villain, it might as well be him. After all, he was already in a state between life and death. If he couldn't find the ghost, he wouldn't live much longer anyway.

"My time is short. I have to make enough money for my mom to live comfortably after I'm gone. It doesn't matter how I get it. If I die, who will take care of her? She's not in the best of health..." Yang Jian thought to himself, his expression turning somber. "It's a shame there's no bounty system for dealing with supernatural events in this country. Otherwise, I'd risk it all for a few million dollars."

Wandering aimlessly through the streets, Yang Jian was on the lookout for any opportunity to make money. Eventually, he stopped at a telephone pole plastered with various advertisements.

One ad caught his eye, though it was partially torn: "Hefty reward for a master to perform an exorcism... One million yuan if effective."

Beneath it were a contact number and an address.

Yang Jian hesitated. "Should I give it a shot?"

It could be a scam, but then again, it could be a legitimate call for help from someone facing a supernatural event. Otherwise, the reward wouldn't be so high.

"One million yuan... If I can earn that, it'd cover half of what I need to ensure my mom's future." After some thought, Yang Jian decided to check out the address in person before making a call, just to see if the situation was genuine.

He hailed a taxi and headed for the address listed on the ad.

The address led to a large shopping mall on a busy main road, surrounded by residential complexes and bustling with people. The mall itself, however, was eerily quiet.

After paying the driver, Yang Jian got out and studied the mall. There were police barricades at the entrance, which hadn't been removed, suggesting that something had happened recently. Inside, the mall was dimly lit, with most of the lights turned off, and there wasn't a single customer in sight. It seemed the mall was closed for business.

Yang Jian approached the entrance and noticed several job postings offering six thousand yuan a month with room and board.

"On the surface, it looks like something happened here. But is it a supernatural event?" He wondered as he walked into the mall.

The moment he stepped inside, his expression shifted. A faint, almost imperceptible stench wafted through the air. He recognized it—it was the smell of rotting corpses, something he had encountered just days ago at the school.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the interior of the mall. Aside from the lights near the entrance, most of the mall was shrouded in darkness due to its closure, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Yang Jian couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him from the shadows.

Tap, tap, tap...

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed from deep within the darkness, reverberating through the empty mall. A shadowy figure was approaching, getting closer with each step.

Yang Jian instinctively tensed up, holding his breath. Was this... a ghost?

The figure drew nearer, steadily advancing toward him without any hesitation.

"Sorry, the mall is closed for renovations. If you need to buy something, there's a small shop down the street," a voice called out as the figure emerged from the darkness—a thin young man in a security uniform.

"Huh? Why are you staring at me like that?" The security guard asked, puzzled by Yang Jian's intense gaze.

Yang Jian paused before responding, "Where were you just now?"

"I was in the restroom. Why, is there a problem?" The guard replied.

"Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

"The boss is strict about the electric bill. We're not allowed to use the lights unless necessary. If you don't have any business here, you should leave. If anyone sneaks in, I'll be in big trouble. Last time, a kid got in, and it took forever to find him. I almost lost my job," the guard explained.

Yang Jian replied, "I'm not here to shop. I'm here to see your boss."

"The boss isn't in today," the guard said.

"When will he be back?" Yang Jian asked.

"He's out of town on business. Won't be back for a few days," the guard responded. "Why are you asking so many questions? You're not here to cause trouble, are you?"

Yang Jian thought for a moment before saying, "No, I'm here for a job."

"A job?" The guard gave him a once-over. "You know there was a missing persons case here, right? Someone disappeared inside the mall, and they still haven't been found."

"I didn't know before, but I do now," Yang Jian replied.

"And you still want to work here?"

"Why not? Six thousand a month is good pay. It's just a missing person case, not a ghost story," Yang Jian said.

The guard nodded, "Alright, follow me. I'll take you to see Sister Li. She handles the hiring."

Yang Jian followed him.

Inside a small shop within the mall, four or five mall employees sat around, some watching TV, others playing on their phones. They all looked bored, with nothing to do.

"Sister Li, someone's here for a job," the guard announced.

A middle-aged woman in a work uniform looked up and smiled as she stood. "The mall will reopen soon, and we're short on staff. We're not too picky about qualifications or experience right now. The pay is six thousand a month, with room and board included. The hours are long, though. If that's okay with you, when can you start?"

Yang Jian thought for a moment, "I can start today."

"The probation period is three days. Do you have any preferences for the position? We're short on security, cashiers, and front desk staff," Sister Li explained, outlining the job requirements and hours.

Yang Jian only half-listened. He wasn't interested in the job. He was here for the potential payout, not for employment.

"I don't have much work experience, so I'll apply for the security position. By the way, I saw a flyer outside saying your boss is looking for a master or a Taoist to perform an exorcism. Is that true?"

Sister Li's smile faded slightly. "There's some truth to that, but it doesn't concern you. You're a new employee, so why don't you introduce yourself to everyone?"

She seemed intent on steering the conversation away from the topic.

Yang Jian couldn't shake the feeling that there was something very wrong with this mall.