I've always been a wild and unruly character.
Since childhood, I've been on the run with my grandfather, Du Wenzhong. I've never hesitated when it comes to taking action.
Whenever danger looms, I immediately flee without a second thought.
Now, as the elevator doors slowly slide open to the sides, an inexplicable chill runs down my spine. There's no one outside. Only the beige marble walls reflect the cold light from the ceiling.
Instinctively, I form the Five - Thunder Seal. Then I remember that my thunder spell has lost its power. I bite my lip dejectedly and frantically press the close - door button.
"Ding."
The elevator stops again. The display shows that it's on the second floor.
Still no one!
Third floor, fourth floor, fifth floor...
The elevator stops at every floor, as if someone is playing a prank, pressing the elevator button on each floor.
"The essence of the Yangming, its divine might hidden in the heart, capturing evil spirits, and hiding the human form..."
When the elevator doors open again on the sixth floor, I've already taken out a Six - Ding and Six - Jia Evil - Exorcising Talisman and slapped it on the elevator door.
Although I've lost my most powerful Yang Five - Thunder Seal, it's impossible for such a dirty little ghost's tricks to get the better of me!
I'm a very diligent exorcist. I draw talismans in my shop every day!
As the talisman touches the shiny elevator door, the lights inside the elevator suddenly flicker a few times. Then a little boy's voice rings out menacingly, "Stupid woman, meddling in other people's business will get you killed!!"
With the flickering lights, I'm shocked to find countless reflections of myself on the mirror - like walls of the elevator. Behind each reflection stands a little boy shrouded in black mist. It's the same one I saw on the escalator on the second floor of Hyatt City!!
Seeing that I've noticed him, he grins, showing his sharp teeth. His completely red pupils stare straight at me, and he lets out a shrill scream: "You... die!"
The scream is like a harsh brake. The ultra - high frequency instantly shatters the light tube on the ceiling. The elevator suddenly plunges into darkness. Then the green emergency lights come on. I feel the elevator rising out of control. 7, 8, 9, 10...
The numbers on the display keep climbing. The whole elevator is like a runaway wild horse, charging towards the top floor.
The strong pressure forces me to press tightly against the elevator wall.
"...A spiritual talisman to make evil demons disappear without a trace. Those who dare to disobey will be punished by the heavenly soldiers. Command!"
As the elevator car is filled with the sound of metal friction and the little ghost's shrill curses, I finish chanting the evil - exorcising spell.
"Puff!"
The yellow talisman stuck on the metal wall suddenly trembles as if blown by the wind. It floats up and sticks to the air vent on the elevator ceiling.
"Squeak!"
The little ghost was laughing maniacally at my embarrassed state.
He never expected that the yellow talisman I casually stuck would jump up and stick to such an unexpected position. In an instant, a cloud of black mist floats down along with the yellow talisman, and the little ghost in the reflections disappears at the same time.
The little ghost had been eyeing me from the start. He seemed to know that I knew some magic. He used illusions to let me see him in the mirror while hiding his real body above the elevator.
But he didn't know that my Six - Ding and Six - Jia Talisman was taken from the twelve true gods under the seat of the True Martial Emperor. I walk in the world every day, doing the job of catching and exorcising ghosts. As long as I use the talisman, no matter where the little ghost hides, he will be captured.
I quickly bend down to pick up the yellow talisman, skillfully fold it into a small triangle, and put it back in my pocket.
"Click!"
Without the little ghost's interference, the elevator finally stops rising and halts on a certain floor.
I say "a certain floor" because... I don't know where this is. The numbers on the display are all messed up.
I'm not too worried. The hotel in Hyatt City is no more than eighteen floors high. Since it didn't reach the top floor, it must be around the tenth floor.
"Ding - dong, ding - dong."
I stand up and press the emergency call button.
"Sorry, sorry, miss. We'll immediately send someone to let you out."
The voice of the security manager comes from the phone. He recognized me from the surveillance.
Although the elevator has stopped, I still stick carefully to the wall, afraid to move. Since the elevator could rise out of control, then... it would be even easier for it to fall if it loses control.
Just as I'm thinking this, there are a few "clucking" sounds of metal fatigue outside the elevator.
No way! Bad luck always comes true!
I immediately press the open - door button. After pressing it desperately a few times, the elevator door opens with a harsh screeching sound.
When I see the situation outside, I'm instantly stunned.
It's not the ghostly realm in ordinary horror stories, nor some strange alternate dimension... What's blocking my way is a wall made of bricks and cement. Only about a meter above is there light shining down.
I'm trapped in the interlayer of the building!!
"Is there anyone? Help!!"
I stand on tiptoe and shout out.
After shouting a few times, I hear voices.
"Someone is calling for help."
"Yeah, go and check."
Then there are footsteps. I feel that one of the voices is a bit familiar. Before I can think anything, a familiar face pops out from the light above.
"Miss, are you okay?"
It's someone from Si Jiangchen's entourage... I'm almost scared to shrink into a ball.
The familiar face that pops in is actually the male assistant who follows Si Jiangchen around every day. He's about thirty years old. I seem to have heard Si Jiangchen call him "Ji Chen".
"Squeak!"
There's another loud noise above the elevator, and the whole car suddenly sinks.
"Quick, get something to support it!"
Ji Chen orders the people around him.
Immediately, two security guards carry over a decorative stone pier made of polished granite and place it in the gap between the top of the elevator door and the floor.
Ji Chen then reaches his hand in and says to me, "Grab my hand. I'll pull you out."
I hesitate for a moment. Thinking about my full - body gear, I gain a bit of confidence and reach out to grab Ji Chen's hand.
He and another security guard pull together and finally drag me out of the elevator car. As my feet leave the elevator door, I hear a few terrible cracking sounds. The fatigue of the elevator locking device has reached its limit.
The nearly two - ton elevator actually squeezes the granite stone pier out and, with a trail of sparks from the friction and a harsh sound, plummets down the elevator shaft.
"Thank you!"
Still in a state of shock, I instinctively thank Ji Chen. But he pauses for a moment.
He looks at me curiously, tilting his head, "Miss Du... Miss Du?"
"No!"
I almost slap myself!
To be an assistant by Si Jiangchen's side, one must be extremely smart. He's seen me several times and must recognize my voice!