I glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar phone number.
My first thought was that it was a wrong number, or perhaps a scam call.
Without much hesitation, I answered it.
But after the call connected, I heard a familiar and very hurried voice:
"Hello! Qin Ze, it's me, Chu Yue."
Hearing Chu Yue's voice, a smile spread across my face:
"Chu Yue, you got a new phone? What's wrong? Why are you so nervous?"
I asked with confusion, not yet sensing the gravity of the situation.
But Chu Yue's next words gave me a bad premonition.
I heard Chu Yue continue:
"No, this, this is my colleague's phone.
I, I'm trapped in our company's underground parking garage right now.
On the fourth basement level, the fourth basement level…
I, I'm scared, I can't get out.
Someone wants to kill me…"
Zhang Chu Yue said in a nervous and hurried tone.
But hearing this, I was stunned.
Trapped in an underground parking garage? Can't get out? Someone wants to kill her?
I hadn't even reacted yet.
When I heard Zhang Chu Yue suddenly shout:
"Ah!"
Hearing that sound, my heart sank again, and I quickly asked:
"Chu Yue, what's wrong, what's wrong?"
"They're here, they're here, he's here.
It's, it's a ghost, a ghost.
Qin Ze, save me, save me…"
With that, the call was disconnected.
I looked at the hung-up phone, completely bewildered.
It was early in the morning…
Master was nearby and had vaguely overheard some of the conversation.
He also frowned slightly:
"Xiao Qin, what's going on?"
"I'm not too sure, Master. Zhang Chu Yue said she's trapped in their company's underground parking garage. Being chased by a ghost!"
As I spoke, I tried calling the number again.
However, the call wouldn't go through at all.
It indicated that the number was out of service.
Master frowned:
"In the early morning, why would she be chased by a ghost? And trapped in an underground parking garage?"
I put down my phone and quickly said to Master:
"Master, do you have Chu Yue's father's contact information?
Call him and ask what's happening first.
I'll head over now to check out the parking garage!"
Master had previously helped the Zhang family with some matters and had also helped Chu Yue with the Japanese Onmyoji's malevolent curse.
Therefore, Master had Chu Yue's father, Zhang Youguo's, contact information.
As it turned out, before Master could even dial,
Zhang Youguo's call came in to Master's phone first.
Master answered the call and put it on speaker.
As soon as it connected, Zhang Youguo sounded extremely anxious:
"Master Gu, please help! My daughter is in trouble! She's trapped in the garage and is being chased by a ghost…"
Zhang Youguo spoke urgently, almost in tears.
From my previous encounter with Zhang Youguo, I could see how protective he was of Zhang Chu Yue.
Master responded with a "Mm":
"Boss Zhang, your daughter already called my disciple just now.
I understand the general situation.
But I'd like to know, what did your daughter experience before this incident?
Is she currently trapped in your home's underground parking garage?
If so, have your company's security guards search for her immediately.
Ghosts fear numbers.
That's the most important thing…"
Master quickly outlined a course of action.
However, Zhang Youguo replied anxiously:
"I've searched, Master.
Aside from my daughter's car, there was no sign of my daughter in the garage.
And I've already had the security room check the surveillance footage.
The footage shows my daughter went down to the garage via elevator after work last night and hasn't come out since…"
Zhang Youguo finished recounting what he knew and the current situation in a hurried manner.
Essentially,
Chu Yue finished work around ten last night and took the elevator to the garage.
The surveillance in the elevator showed Chu Yue exiting the elevator.
However, the surveillance in the parking garage, at the same time, did not capture Chu Yue exiting the elevator.
It wasn't due to a lack of cameras or blind spots.
Rather, in the garage's surveillance, Zhang Chu Yue simply did not exit the elevator at that time.
Yet, the elevator's surveillance clearly showed her leaving the elevator and going into the garage.
Both Master and I found it a bit confusing.
Furthermore, Zhang Youguo was too nervous and couldn't explain it clearly.
Something about going in and not coming out.
We finally decided that Master and I would go to see for ourselves.
After all, only professionals like us could discern the ins and outs of such matters.
This was the first job in a week.
But unexpectedly, it involved my good friend Zhang Chu Yue.
And the situation was being trapped in a parking lot and chased by a ghost?
It seemed rather inexplicable.
However, many of the things we deal with in this line of work sound inexplicable and bizarre.
Master didn't take it lightly.
Instead, he asked me to prepare all the necessary tools and artifacts.
I had already prepared these and kept them aside.
This was so that we could respond immediately in case of an emergency.
My Seven-Star Peach Wood Sword had broken at Little Cold Mountain last time.
Master had carved a new one for me to the same proportion these past few days.
Therefore, the tool bag and the treasure pouch contained all sorts of useful items.
After I had gathered all my gear,
Master and I left the shop immediately and took a car towards Chu Yue's company…