Putting an end to it—the words were easy enough to say, but actually doing it proved to be quite different from what they had imagined.

For one, Kuang Feifan was only now realizing that no one truly knew what the inside of that doorless, windowless room was like. According to the old Daoist priest, his master had arranged for its construction back when he himself was quite young and utterly ignorant of the soul- (Soul-Suppressing) rituals. Later, as he studied various mystical Daoist arts, he discovered that nothing he learned resembled, even remotely, the method of soul suppression they were currently facing.

Over the years, he would sometimes look at the room and feel a twinge of doubt, but since nothing untoward had ever happened, he never delved deeply into the specifics.

Yet, his memory held that the room had been built around the soul-suppressing ceremony itself, with the walls erected sequentially on four sides before the roof was sealed on top.

The deliberate exclusion of doors and windows was clearly meant to prevent entry, but now it seemed that if they truly wished to see what was inside, there wasn't no way; they could descend through the roof.

This idea was jointly conceived by Feng Tian and Kuang Feifan. Looking up at the roof tiles, they instinctively stroked their chins and started laughing, unable to resist discussing the wuxia novels they had read—tales often featuring martial artists or thieves in black, scaling rooftops, prying off tiles one by one, and slipping down into the building. If they recalled correctly, this maneuver was known as "Swan Laying an Egg."

However, their proposed method was immediately vetoed by the old Daoist priest. Since they had no idea what the interior conditions were, any danger was unknowable. Descending recklessly might jeopardize their lives or interfere with the suppression of the lingering spirit—these were all uncertainties.

While the priest’s concerns were valid, without figuring out the room's interior, they couldn't ascertain precisely which method had been used to suppress the spirit back then.

Kuang Feifan circled the building twice from a distance, then stood on his toes to peer at the roof. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Do you think the town's Traffic Brigade has anything like a portable camera?"

Feng Tian hesitated upon hearing this. Kuang Feifan's idea meant alarming the police whether they had such equipment or not, and Feng Tian's initial intent was to keep this matter from involving too many people.

Yet, events swiftly took an unexpected turn. Just then, a Daoist approached quickly across the courtyard and informed the old priest that someone was asking to see him outside, and they were inquiring if Mr. Feng Tian and Mr. Kuang Feifan were currently staying at the temple.

Feng Tian casually blurted out, "Who is it?"

The Daoist paused, startled. Feng Tian offered an embarrassed smile, hushed himself, and stepped aside.

The old Daoist asked the same question, and the Daoist replied, "His name is Ji Ping."

Kuang Feifan glanced at Feng Tian, and both exchanged wry smiles. It seemed Officer Ji likely hadn't completely accepted Feng Tian’s earlier explanations.

As expected, when Ji Ping arrived in the back courtyard and saw the old Daoist, Feng Tian, and Kuang Feifan, the first question he posed was one casting doubt on Feng Tian's explanation from before.

Feng Tian spread his hands. "We can discuss that later. You didn't come here just to interrogate me, did you?"

Ji Ping let out a soft "Hmph," then sighed, a look of hesitancy crossing his face, as if burdened by something difficult to articulate.

After a prolonged silence, he finally spoke. "Actually, after I dropped off Wang Hai and the others, I didn't return to the precinct. I went to the housing complex where I had seen that paper effigy vehicle for the funeral, wanting to look at it again. When I got there, I happened to see the family heading to the crematorium, so I followed them in my car."

Kuang Feifan raised an eyebrow. "You followed them to the crematorium? Why? Fearing a zombie uprising?"

Ji Ping shook his head. "Certainly not. I wanted to watch that paper vehicle burn; otherwise, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease."

Kuang Feifan nodded. "Oh, so did it burn?"

Ji Ping frowned, seeming almost unconvinced by his own memory as he replied, "It probably... burned."

"But..." Kuang Feifan jumped in.

Ji Ping gave a wry smile. "I didn't actually see it. I suddenly felt a moment of mental fuzziness. The other items—the paper wreaths, the paper figures—I’m sure they burned those. But that vehicle, it was standing nearby, and then in the blink of an eye, it was gone. Still, they were burning a lot of things, and I wasn't standing that close, so I can't be certain."

Kuang Feifan shook his head. "So, you think there's a chance it not only didn't burn, but it vanished?"

Ji Ping stared at him and Feng Tian, as if hoping they could confirm this for him.

Feng Tian also found it odd. "Is this thing still causing trouble?"

Seeing Feng Tian lost in thought, Kuang Feifan pulled Ji Ping aside and asked, "Does your squad have anything like a small pinhole camera, the kind that can snake into a room for inspection?"

Ji Ping eyed him suspiciously. "What are you planning?"

Kuang Feifan gestured concisely toward the strange room. "See that? There’s a ghost locked inside. I need to use a camera to check the situation in there."

When Ji Ping first heard this, he thought it was a joke, but seeing Kuang Feifan's serious expression, he started. "You’re serious?"

"Nonsense. Who has the mood for jokes right now?" Kuang Feifan replied irritably.

Ji Ping pulled a long face, considered for a moment, then said, "The precinct doesn't have that thing, but I know a place where I can get one. When do you need it?"

"As soon as possible, of course. The sooner we check, the sooner we can figure out how to solve it," Kuang Feifan urged impatiently.

Ji Ping shrugged helplessly. "Fine. I'll go now. I'll be back in an hour or two."

After he left, Kuang Feifan couldn't help but ask Feng Tian, "What do you make of this paper car business?"

Feng Tian shook his head. "No clues, can't figure it out. But I’m not overly worried. No matter how much it changes, it’s still a paper car; it can't run someone over."

Kuang Feifan’s mind raced for a moment, then he suddenly posed, "What if its only purpose is to appear and scare people?"

"Uh..." Feng Tian had to admit that this scenario was possible, and if someone encountered it, it would certainly cause trouble.

Because of Ji Ping's arrival, Kuang Feifan hadn't paid attention to the old Daoist priest's whereabouts. He now noticed the priest wasn't in the courtyard and asked Feng Tian where he had gone.

"The old priest went to check the old records," Feng Tian informed him.

Kuang Feifan had a feeling that even checking the records probably wouldn't reveal any secrets. Looking at the strange room, his mood grew heavier. He vaguely sensed that there might have been some untold circumstances surrounding the spirit suppression of years ago.

The old Daoist’s door was shut, clearly indicating he didn't wish to be disturbed. The two of them sat down in the courtyard, leaning against a tree, staring at the nearby structure, each lost in their own troubled thoughts.

After an indeterminate amount of time, they suddenly heard a sound of an object scraping against the ground. Turning around, they saw the old Daoist dragging a wooden chest out of the room. Judging by its style, the box looked quite old.

They hurried over to help. Kuang Feifan couldn't help but blurt out a question, "No way, are those the records from back then inside?"

The old Daoist shook his head. "I finished reading the notes; there were no detailed records. This chest contains some artifacts my master used back then. I'm taking them out to see if anything is currently usable."

Kuang Feifan had never seen genuine magical artifacts before, but before he and Feng Tian could satisfy their burgeoning curiosity, Ji Ping walked in carrying a bag on his back.

This temporarily made them abandon their interest in the chest's contents, turning their attention instead toward tackling the strange house.

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