Chapter 140: Memory Ghost, I Need Your Ability

By the time Gao Tian came downstairs, he found Xia Ta, Jiang Yang, Zhao Zhenjia, and the others already waiting for him.

In the first-floor lobby, a television screen embedded in the wall was looping the exact same broadcast: a muddy path, a woman holding an umbrella, and a view that only ever revealed her blood-red lips.

"I tried several channels, along with all the livestreams and networks. They've all turned into this.

"It started around three in the afternoon. Changing the channel doesn't do a thing."

Jiang Yang looked up and briefed him as soon as he saw Gao Tian come down.

Zhao Zhenjia stood up and paced back and forth across the lobby, looking incredibly anxious. "At this rate of infection, over ten million people must have seen the Woman in the Rain by now.

"Why isn't anyone doing something about this? If they just let it spread at this speed, by the time we leave the Living Apartment, won't all of Shanghai City be a ghost town?"

While inside the apartment, they didn't have to fear any Fierce Ghosts.

But they couldn't stay cooped up in here for the rest of their lives. They would eventually have to go outside to execute the green-text tasks.

The rustle of rain, along with the metallic scraping of an umbrella pole knocking against something, rang out incessantly.

At first, Gao Tian thought the noise was coming from the television screen.

That was until Jiang Yang lightly tapped the table, directing their attention to the outer glass doors of the lobby.

Outside the doors stood the towering figures of women holding umbrellas, repeatedly tapping their metal poles against the glass to signal the people inside to let them in.

He hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.

It was clear that, just like last time, they couldn't get inside.

The only difference was—this time, there were simply too many of them.

Looking through the doors, even within their limited field of view, they could see at least seven or eight female figures blocking the apartment's entrance.

Layered one after another, there was no telling how many more Women in the Rain were waiting in line outside.

Moreover, judging by their bulk, they seemed even larger than the first time they had encountered them.

With their stubby, elephantine legs and towering bodies, they almost reached the second floor.

"Motherfucker."

Zhao Zhenjia exhaled a heavy breath, spitting out a curse.

It might actually be true. They might never be able to leave the Living Apartment.

As if remembering something, Gao Tian sprinted back up to the Third Floor as fast as he could. Back in his room, he pushed open the bedroom window.

From this vantage point, he could see the entire area outside the Living Apartment and determine exactly how many Women in the Rain were out there.

Looking down, Gao Tian's heart sank.

The line stretched into the distance—a dense, packed sea of countless white umbrellas with no end in sight.

How were they supposed to fight this?

The distant streets and intersections were completely devoid of people. Corpses lay strewn everywhere, alongside cars that had crashed and died. Further out, scattered flashes of gunfire flickered, and several black shooting stars streaked across the sky, flying toward the distant landmarks of Shanghai City.

Down below, the umbrella-toting women seemed to sense his gaze. Every towering figure slowly tilted her umbrella back, revealing the blood-red lips on her broad lower jaw. In eerie unison, they all looked up at Gao Tian on the Third Floor and flashed him a spine-chilling smile.

Gao Tian shut the window and stepped back into his room.

Although he knew the inside of the apartment was still relatively safe and the Women in the Rain were unlikely to get in, a primal, physiological fear made him want to avoid making eye contact with those filthy things.

Right at that moment, the mobile phone in his pocket rang. It was a completely unknown number.

At a time like this, with all of Shanghai City engulfed in war, who would be calling him?

Gao Tian quietly stared at the unfamiliar avatar pulsing on the screen. His heartbeat pounded in time with it.

It has to be Old Man Sun, right?

If he was still alive, he should be making a move by now.

If he held back any longer, he really would turn into a cowardly old turtle.

A national-level administrative organization like the Supernatural Disaster Bureau had access to immense resources and information. If Old Man Sun wanted to track down a young man's mobile phone number, it wouldn't be difficult at all.

With that thought in mind, Gao Tian hit the answer button.

The other end of the line was silent for a moment.

Then a composed, faintly cold voice that Gao Tian found all too familiar spoke up. "Is this the Memory Ghost?"

Gao Tian's breath hitched.

It wasn't Old Man Sun.

It was Xu Yuan.

Gao Tian forced himself to calm down. In front of this dangerous tiger, he had to tread carefully, ensuring he didn't expose any flaws while figuring out exactly what the man wanted.

"It's me, the Memory Ghost.

"I'm currently in Shanghai City. Have you launched your full-scale assault yet?

"What do you need me to do?"

Through the mobile phone, muffled snickers echoed in the background. It sounded as though Xu Yuan was surrounded by ghosts, not just one or two.

Xu Yuan's voice came through again. "We've only just made contact. We hold the upper hand for now, but the Supernatural Disaster Bureau's core forces haven't exposed themselves yet. At best, it's just a mutual probing.

"I originally wanted to force that old turtle, Old Man Sun, out of hiding. As long as I kill him, Shanghai City's entire defense line will collapse. I just didn't expect him to be this patient. Even at a time like this, he's still hiding.

"But it doesn't matter. If he comes out, he dies. If he keeps hiding, he dies. Ultimate victory belongs to us."

Having finished making his grand promises, Xu Yuan finally revealed his plan. "Memory Ghost, I need your ability right now.

"I'll text you an address. Head there immediately. We've already restrained a female ghost hunter. All you have to do is alter her memories. Make her believe certain things and forget others.

"The Ghost Infant will fill you in on the specifics once you arrive.

"Can you do it?"

He then briefly went over the situation regarding the true and fake headquarters of the Supernatural Disaster Bureau.

The Galan Society had just destroyed the decoy headquarters. Although it inflicted some casualties on their combat personnel, it fell far short of destroying their foundation.

Gao Tian stayed quiet for a moment. "I can do it."

Xu Yuan replied, "I believe in you.

"I haven't forgotten my promise. In the new era to come, I will reserve a place for you in the Ghost Nation."

Right before hanging up, Xu Yuan added one last sentence: "Do not disappoint me."

The endless drone of a busy tone echoed from the other end. The President of Galan Society had hung up.

The situation across Shanghai City was shifting rapidly. Xu Yuan was locked in a game of chess with the Supernatural Disaster Bureau somewhere else, and the Memory Ghost was nothing more than one of his many pawns.

Should he bend to Xu Yuan's will and carry out the task?

Should he stand on the side of the Galan Society in this Battle of Shanghai, crush the decaying Supernatural Disaster Bureau, rewrite the fate of humanity, and usher in a new era?

Or...

Before Gao Tian could finish his thoughts, the mobile phone vibrated again, breaking the silence.

He tapped the screen. It was another unknown number—not Xu Yuan's, but a completely new one.

This time, Gao Tian didn't hesitate for long before answering. "Who is it?"

A croaky, toad-like old man's voice sounded from the other end. "Kid, you're not dead yet.

"Just checking. Good to know you're still kicking."

It was Old Man Sun.

This final hope of Shanghai City, the formidable enemy Xu Yuan was desperately searching for, was hiding in some unknown location while everyone else outside was beating each other's brains out. He sounded completely carefree, without the slightest hint of urgency.

Hearing Old Man Sun's voice eased Gao Tian's tension a little.

At the very least, he could confirm that the old geezer wasn't dead, nor was he badly injured. He just didn't want to make a move yet.

Gao Tian snapped back in annoyance, "Seeing all of Shanghai City spiral out of control, I thought you were already dead.

"The Woman in the Rain—the Supernatural Disaster Bureau hasn't dealt with her at all! She's swarming every street and alleyway!

"Have your higher-ups been infiltrated by ghosts? Did you ever find that traitor?"

By now, the Woman in the Rain had fully spread, evolving into an S-Level Fierce Ghost incident.

The Galan Society's plan was already set in stone: Xu Yuan, the Artist, and the Woman in the Rain—three S-Level threats descending upon Shanghai City simultaneously. When the time came, Old Man Sun would have to face three major Fierce Ghosts all by himself. Gao Tian truly had no idea how the old man could still sound so composed, acting as if victory were already within his grasp.

Hearing Gao Tian's frantic questions, Old Man Sun showed absolutely no remorse. Gao Tian could practically smell the cigarette smoke through the mobile phone as the old man took a drag and drawled, "This is better."

Gao Tian was momentarily speechless.

What did Old Man Sun mean by that?

Judging by his tone, was he deliberately sitting back and even allowing the widespread propagation of the Woman in the Rain?

Gao Tian glanced at his phone screen, half-suspecting that Old Man Sun had been possessed by a ghost.

Listening to the "music" woven from the rain and artillery fire outside his window, Gao Tian was forced to swallow his temper and patiently ask, "Shouldn't Meme-type anomalies be dealt with as early as possible for the best results?

"What is your goal in letting her grow into an S-Level threat? Do you have any idea how many people are going to die in Shanghai City tonight?"

Given their difference in seniority and strength, a rookie like Gao Tian wouldn't normally dare criticize a heavyweight elder of the supernatural circle like Old Man Sun.

But the old man's words were simply too outrageous.

Sensing Gao Tian's growing agitation, Old Man Sun stopped beating around the bush. His cynical tone turned dead serious. "Kid, listen to me.

"Every word I say next concerns the future of Shanghai City. Since it's important, I'm only going to say it once."