Dòu Táng frowned, staying alert for a while.
When he was sure there was nothing abnormal within his perception range, he stepped away from Kume Chinatsu and sat down again.
Within his spiritual senses, the trace of resentment had faded into stillness. So that skull on the rooftop wasn't simple after all.
But if it only showed itself to frighten Kume Chinatsu, it had chosen the wrong moment—
because it had run straight into him.
That alone said plenty.
This spirit attached to the skull wasn't the same as the blood-robed wraith from before. Bold, yes—but ignorant. It had no idea how dangerous Dòu Táng truly was.
To most spirits, even his human form radiated a pink-black brilliance that leaked from the core of his soul.
Lesser ghosts found it terrifying by instinct; stronger ones recognized it as a warning of mortal peril.
Sometimes Lu Zizhen called him things like The Evil Spirit of Evil Spirits or Hell's Walking Man. Given his line of work, those weren't entirely wrong.
Kume Chinatsu glanced nervously toward the roof, then back at him.
She had seen his movement clearly—clean, fast, precise—and her heart couldn't stop racing.
Could normal people even do that?
Kick off a wall and leap two meters like that? Kiryu-kun was amazing.
No wonder he could protect his sister from ghosts. He must have trained so hard… What a dependable big brother!
If Dòu Táng could have heard her thoughts, he'd have sighed and called her a chronic over-thinker.
He gave her an odd look. "Kume-san, what exactly did you see just now?" Kume Chinatsu waved her hands frantically. "N-nothing! It's fine!"
Since she insisted, Dòu Táng didn't push.
He already had a good idea of what had happened anyway.
Still shaken, Kume Chinatsu hurried to finish her lunch, then tugged at his sleeve, insisting he come downstairs with her.
She didn't trust him to stay up there alone—what if that white-coated thing appeared again? And if she were alone next time… she'd be helpless.
The last time she'd been possessed, she hadn't been able to resist at all. And this was the roof.
Just imagining it made her shudder.
So the two descended together.
Their classmates buzzed with shock at the rumor that they'd spent the entire lunch break alone, but Dòu Táng couldn't have cared less.
After school, Kume Chinatsu ran off to dance practice, and Dòu Táng went home. Once there, he picked up his phone and called Lu Zizhen.
Lu Zizhen's Apartment
The room was brightly lit.
So was the bathroom—the half-open door spilling out curls of damp steam.
Lu Zizhen stepped out barefoot, wearing only a white T-shirt, a thin bronze chain wrapped around one hand.
Trailing behind her was another woman—hair cascading to her waist, face lost in shadow. The bronze chain vanished into that dark curtain, looped tight around her neck.
Lu Zizhen snatched her phone from the table, dropped into a chair, crossed one leg over the other to hide her soaked shirt, and answered the call.
"Yeah? What is it? I'm a little busy right now."
Dòu Táng paused for half a beat. "If you're busy, I can call later." She smirked. "Please. Like I'd ever be too busy for you."
Her eyes slid to the obedient spirit standing before her. She waved a hand and loosened the chain.
The spirit stepped back instantly.
Ever since that night, Lu Zizhen had established something like a partnership—or perhaps ownership—over this spirit.
She intended to use it to unearth the secrets Dòu Táng kept from her. Curiosity this sharp was a blade; she couldn't stand not knowing.
It wasn't power she chased— it was understanding.
Hearing his voice again, she smiled faintly.
"I found the skull that wraith's attached to," Dòu Táng reported. "It showed itself during lunch today. Kume Chinatsu was there too. It doesn't feel ordinary. Let's check the school again tonight."
Lu Zizhen's lips curved.
She looked the spirit up and down, then beckoned it closer.
The spirit sank to its knees, a faint golden crown flickering above its bowed head.
She hadn't taken the crown for herself; doing so might trigger Dòu Táng's senses and paint a target on her.
"Sure," she said lightly. "Whenever you say.
Oh, by the way—your birthday's in October, right? The first?"
He hesitated at the sudden shift but answered, "Yeah. October first. So… meet at the school gate, nine-thirty tonight?"
"Fine, fine. I'll follow your lead."
She extended her hand, letting jade-pale fingers hover above the crown's glow.
Her touch slipped through light that clung but never connected, and a sly smile spread across her face.
"When your birthday comes," she murmured, "I'll give you a present."
Dòu Táng frowned slightly. "That's not necessary. I don't care about birthday gifts." "Oh, you'll care." Her chuckle was low and wicked.
Feeling the spirit tremble, she yanked the chain tighter, forcing it upright. Snap. "My gift," she whispered, "is something you won't be able to refuse~."
"…Then I'll try to look forward to it?" Dòu Táng said uncertainly.
"Mm-hmm. See you at nine-thirty. I'll dress up nice and pretty for you." She didn't hang up immediately.
Instead, she waited—listening—to make sure he was the one who ended the call first.
Only then did she grin at the kneeling spirit.
"You heard him, didn't you? It's early September now. That means you've got one month to live." The spirit said nothing.
"In that month, hunt down the ones who killed you," she said softly, almost kind. "But don't touch him—or his sister. Understand?"
The woman's hair rippled upward in silent defiance.
Lu Zizhen's gaze sharpened. "Don't pout. You're my gift to him. If you can kill him, I won't stop you.
If you can't—then enjoy your last month while you can."
She folded her arms, voice rich with amused cruelty.
"Go wild. Raise hell. I don't care what you do, as long as you don't die. I want to watch you fight him—it might help me understand him better."
Cold air thickened. Moisture pooled across the floor.
Lu Zizhen sighed. "My flooring's expensive. Don't you dare leak on it, sloppy girl. Do that, and I'll take away your revenge entirely."
The spirit jerked, silent as ever.
No one knew what Lu Zizhen had done to make her this obedient.
"Now," Lu Zizhen said, smirking, "put your clothes back on and get out of my house. Don't ruin my mood—I've got a date tonight."
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