Records of Seeing Spirits and Ghosts Chapter Thirteen: Release of Pressure

On this road of survival that offers no promise for the future, love seems far too distant. Each day is consumed by the struggle to stay alive, completing one supernatural task after another. When even life itself is not guaranteed, everything else becomes mere fantasy.

Even if I truly harbor feelings for Fei Ling, in this phase, I can only set them aside. Fei Ling’s thoughts are much the same. At present, the two of us have only just begun to develop a fondness for each other. No one is certain what the other truly feels; a rash confession might only bring awkwardness.

As for Mo Han’s affection for Fei Ling, Jiang Li finds it perfectly natural. Whether Mo Han can control his feelings for Fei Ling is something he must resolve himself. The most important thing is Fei Ling’s own attitude.

At the moment, Fei Ling is a senior at Yunhai Academy, studying finance. Seniors rarely spend much time on campus, most are out interning in the real world. To avoid graduating into unemployment, many students begin internships early, so Fei Ling doesn’t need to apply for leave from school.

Having just finished her latest ordeal, Fei Ling decided to return home and visit her parents and younger brother. Thinking back on the previous incident, she still feels a sense of relief.

The clues about the path to survival in the last task were quite clear—there was no indication of time on the bus, not a single clock or watch in sight. Even the left hand, which usually displayed the time, showed nothing during that task.

Those selected by the Ghost Record all share a distinct feature. Although others cannot see it, those chosen can clearly spot a red digital clock at their left wrist, which can be tapped to switch to a countdown for the task.

The countdown only appears during mission execution; otherwise, a time mark glows on the skin at the wrist. The previous task lacked any concept of time, making Fei Ling wonder if she had truly boarded the bus. The windows were sealed tight, another oddity since normal buses have windows that can be opened.

Moreover, the task required them not to leave the bus, for the moment they stepped off, they would realize they had never actually boarded it. When Fei Ling and the man boarded the last bus, they were plunged into a dream, their world forcibly altered by a spirit.

All their experiences took place within the dream, which explained why, during the final wave of ghosts, when Fei Ling was scratched by a spirit, she felt no pain at all.

At the end, Fei Ling was injured by the spirit, but since she felt no pain immediately, it didn’t catch her attention. Surrounded by spirits, her every thought and action was focused on finding a way out, determined to complete the task.

Only after the ordeal did she notice a faint scar on her body. Being hurt in a dream world brings no pain, but the physical body retains the mark. If Fei Ling hadn’t gambled everything and jumped from the bus, she would have lost herself entirely within the dream, emerging after the task as a soulless shell.

Indeed, it would be worse than being in a vegetative state; those in such a state have a sleeping consciousness and a chance to awaken. But once lost in the dream, the soul cannot return to the body, leaving a living corpse—functioning in every way, but forever lacking a soul, with no hope of waking.

Aside from the clues of time and the absence of pain, another hint came when Fei Ling heard the story told on Jiang Li’s phone come true. It made her wonder—if stories in novels could happen, was it possible she had never truly boarded the bus?

In the critical moment, Fei Ling combined these three flaws, summoned her courage, and made her final choice, successfully finding a way out and surviving.

Had someone else been given Fei Ling’s task, anyone lacking in courage, intelligence, or daring experimentation would not have survived. Fei Ling’s actions at the last moment seemed simple, but first one had to notice the absence of time, then realize the ghost story had come true, and finally muster the bravery to risk everything.

Only by placing oneself in mortal danger and then dissecting the situation could the key issue be found and the task overcome.

Jiang Li, with nothing pressing, decided to visit Su Mo at the hospital again.

Fei Ling is a local of Zhengxin City, living on the edge of South District. Her mother works as a private tutor, her father as a factory manager. After a lifetime of hard work, they managed to buy a three-bedroom apartment in South District.

Back then, housing prices weren’t as astronomical; when Fei Ling’s parents bought their home, it was only 5,000 yuan per square meter, and they paid 500,000 yuan in total. For a long time after, the family lived frugally.

Her parents’ combined monthly salary was only 5,000 yuan. The down payment was 300,000, the renovations cost another 100,000, and then came the monthly mortgage. They borrowed 200,000 yuan, to be repaid over six years, at 5,000 yuan a month, with 100,000 more in interest.

Though wages were low, those able to buy a home then were considered well-off. And once they bought it, its value soared. Now, the average price in South District is 15,000 yuan per square meter, and Fei Ling’s home is worth over 1.5 million.

Before prices skyrocketed, Fei Ling gained a younger brother. Her parents’ salaries rose, and they took another loan to buy a home for him as well.

Now, Fei Ling’s family is middle-class, with no worries about food or clothing. Her parents still do ordinary work, but to keep them from worrying about her, Fei Ling carefully applied makeup, stared into the mirror for half an hour, adjusted her mood and mindset until she felt like her old self before the ordeal, and finally took a taxi home.

She couldn’t let her parents know about her current situation—it would only cause them anxiety.

It was Saturday, and Fei Ling returned home at two in the afternoon. She paused at the door for a long time before putting on a smile and quietly entering.

Her mother was home, since students are off on Saturdays, and her father was resting as well. Only her brother, busy with his senior year, had not yet finished school.

As soon as Fei Ling opened the door, her mother heard the sound and came out of her room.

She saw Fei Ling carrying a large bag. “You’re coming home and you bring so much stuff? It’s not easy to earn money—keep it for yourself! Your dad and I have money, you just make sure you eat well and stay healthy.”

Fei Ling hadn’t even spoken when her mother started in, “Mothers are always like this, never changing,” Fei Ling thought, her heart full of emotion.

She used to find her mother’s nagging annoying, but hearing her voice again, Fei Ling suddenly felt her eyes grow hot.

Her mother took the bag from Fei Ling and shouted toward the study, “Honey, our precious daughter is home! Come help me carry the things she brought—getting old, even a little weight feels tiring.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming, my precious daughter’s home!” Her father’s voice came before he appeared.

He emerged from the study, embraced Fei Ling, and gently stroked her hair, his eyes full of affection. “My darling, you’ve gotten thinner,” he said seriously after a moment.

Every time Fei Ling came home, her parents said she looked thinner, though she always thought it strange—her weight had increased by several pounds. But this time, she truly was thinner.

She’d faced terrifying tasks time and again, any misstep could cost her life. Lately, she hadn’t eaten properly, and her weight had dropped considerably.

Hearing her parents’ concern, the usually strong Fei Ling could no longer hold back. She hugged them fiercely and burst into tears.

The girl who stood strong before spirits cried like a child in her parents’ arms.

Her parents’ hearts ached as they comforted her gently. “What’s wrong? Are you upset? Tell Dad,” her father said softly, stroking her hair.

“Whatever happens, don’t be afraid. No matter how big the problem, you have us. You’ll always be our precious daughter.”

At that moment, Fei Ling sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming from her eyes as she clung to her parents.

No matter how strong she was during those ordeals, in front of her parents, she was still their little girl. She thought she could hide her feelings well, but once home, she couldn’t stop the tears.

“Mom, Dad, I’m fine. It’s just… at work, my boss scolded me.”

Fei Ling stammered out a believable lie.

“It’s alright! If you’re upset out there, tell us when you come home. If it gets too much, your dad and I can invest in a little business for you, so you don’t have to work for anyone.”

“Yes, all we hope for is that you and your brother grow up healthy and someday find good partners.”

Her parents’ sincere words rang in her ears, and after crying, her mood improved a little. She had been repressing herself for too long, unable to confide in anyone. All the negative emotions built up inside, but after seeing her parents, they finally burst forth.