Chapter 390: The Plate Spirit

Xiao Yu felt the warm air suddenly turn chill. Yet his palms were slick with hot sweat.

He knew very well—these three photographs weren’t some clickbait clips off the internet, the kind that pandered to the crowd with exaggerated, absurd skits just to farm views and likes.

Anything that came out of National Security never joked around.

And Wang Dong definitely wouldn’t joke about this kind of thing with him, the leader of Group Ten.

Ghosts… really?

Xiao Yu couldn’t make sense of it. “These photos were taken from surveillance footage?”

If someone in the criminal investigation couldn’t tell that much, they might as well quit being a cop.

“Yeah.” Wang Dong noticed the sweat in his younger brother’s palm and snorted. “What, got scared?”

“Just so you know, this is just a side effect of my supreme martial technique,” Xiao Yu defended his pride with a straight face. “Doesn’t mean I’m a coward like Ruan Xiao’er.”

“Who the hell is Ruan Xiao’er?” Wang Dong blinked in confusion.

“Not someone you’d want to be,” Xiao Yu said seriously.

“Stop messing around.” Wang Dong looked annoyed. “This case was picked up by Group Two. Six dead, and the nature of the incident is seriously weird. It was immediately categorized as a Class C special case. We’re at a loss here. No one can figure out what’s going on. But everyone knows it can’t be ghosts. There are no such things as ghosts in this world. That’s why we need you. You’re the expert at handling this kind of stuff.”

‘Expert my ass.’ Xiao Yu wanted to spit that out, but he held back, giving his buddy some face. He knew the guy was buttering him up, begging for help.

“Honestly, before I met you, my world was pitch black.”

Xiao Yu looked at Wang Dong with a sigh.

“Oh?” Wang Dong’s eyes lit up. “And after meeting me, your world lit up?”

“No.” Xiao Yu’s mouth twitched. “It went completely dark.”

Wang Dong, “…”

Bastard! Did you have to say that out loud? Do I not deserve any dignity?!

***

At the front door.

“Guess why I liked you in the first place?” Mu Qingwu helped straighten Xiao Yu’s clothes, smiling warmly.

“Because I’m handsome?” Xiao Yu answered with a perfectly serious face. “Yeah, the biggest regret of my life is not being able to kiss this devilishly handsome face of mine.”

“Pfft—!”

Wang Dong and Bai Ting, standing nearby, burst out laughing.

“It’s because… you’re a police officer.”

Mu Qingwu pinched her little brother’s cheek, lightly scolding him.

No woman wanted to date a thug or a scumbag player. Everyone wanted someone righteous, reliable, and not a bad guy. And the profession of a police officer just happened to tick all those boxes, didn’t it?

“Knew it. I picked the coolest job,” Xiao Yu grinned even wider.

“Never forget why you started, never disgrace your mission, protect the people, defend the country.” Mu Qingwu gazed into his eyes, soft as water. “You look very handsome when you do.”

“Handsome or not…” Xiao Yu put away his joking expression. “It’s tough on you, Sister. I can’t always be by your side.”

“I’m a woman too, you know. I get vain.” Mu Qingwu smiled gently. “What woman wouldn’t want her man to be a true hero, standing tall and proud?”

“Still…”

Even with all his shamelessness, Xiao Yu felt embarrassed saying anything more in front of others.

“To me, you already are.” Mu Qingwu’s hands rested on her pregnant belly, her smile sweet and tender. “And our baby will know it too.”

“Mm.” Xiao Yu wrapped her in his arms, warmth blooming in his chest. “Don’t worry, no one can stop me from coming home. They’re not worthy.”

“Got it!”

Mu Qingwu leaned into his embrace, her beautiful face glowing with happiness.

Wang Dong and Bai Ting exchanged glances, both at a loss between a laugh and a sigh. They were already at this age, yet they still got force-fed PDA by this young couple.

Now it all made sense.

The whole world was drenched in the sour stench of romance. Only they exuded the crisp scent of middle age.

Damn it!

***

J City.

A group of security officers in plainclothes stood at attention as two National Security team leaders stepped out of the airport, saluting sharply.

Xiao Yu and Wang Dong returned the salute and boarded a business vehicle.

Inside the car, Xiao Yu held a tablet, watching a surveillance recording.

Rules were rules.

Cases classified as Class C or above had strict protocols. Unless you were directly involved or took over the case, you had no right to view the case files. That was why, earlier, Wang Dong had only shown Xiao Yu three photos and briefly summarized the situation.

Even now, with Xiao Yu being the head of Group Ten—a true heavyweight—those rules couldn’t be broken.

Of course, for cases below Class C, no one cared.

“Since I joined National Security, this is only the third Class C case I’ve encountered.” Wang Dong had a cigarette hanging from his lips, his face dark like he was constipated. “This is the third time.”

That statement alone told Xiao Yu just how serious the case was.

It didn’t necessarily mean the case was dangerous.

But some cases were so damn difficult to crack, they defied logic.

These types of cases often danced dangerously close to the supernatural, beyond scientific explanation.

Paranormal events?

Xiao Yu never believed in that crap. He only believed he hadn’t yet found the right answer.

Just like the last case he handled for National Security—The Murder Novel Case.

At first, everyone thought it was supernatural too. But once the truth was revealed…

Let’s just say everyone had the same reaction: Holy sht!

It was like how ancient people believed the world was flat. Only to later realize—damn, Earth was actually round!

The things you can’t understand are often just things you haven’t figured out yet.

Just like now.

Xiao Yu was watching the footage.

At the start of the video, six young people appeared to be playing some kind of game. No, not some silly fantasy game. They were playing Plate Spirit.

A lot of people had either heard of it or even played it.

It was a type of divination, originating from the ancient practice of fuji—a method of spirit-writing communication.

“Fu” means to support or guide, and “ji” means to divine or seek answers.

Four candles.

A circle inscribed with thousands of characters.

A plate placed at the center.

On the outside of the circle were the words “Plate Spirit Fuji,” matching the four corners where candles were placed.

The name said it all—summoning the Plate Spirit was a form of divination.

Three consistent features defined this game. One, it had to be played in a place with heavy yin energy. Two, it had to start after 10 p.m. Three, the lights must remain off.

To put it bluntly, this game was about chasing a thrill. Just like watching a horror movie—it was all about the scare.

As for why the plate moved on its own?

Take a guess.

But right now, Xiao Yu couldn’t guess at all. His eyes were fixed on the surveillance footage—on six fingers, each from one of the six participants.

He saw it clearly. The six fingers left the plate. No one was touching it anymore.

Yet that plate…

Still moved on its own?!

Xiao Yu’s pupils shrank. His scalp tingled. A chill ran down his spine.