All the evil beasts in the world, I feed on demons and monsters

Chapter 226 Invisible Ghost
The night was clear and bright, with twinkling stars.

The entire cabin of the cruise ship was serene, with only two orange-yellow floor lamps, making it seem like a quiet, isolated island amidst the surrounding hustle and bustle.

Cruise ships offer a variety of activities both day and night, catering to both night owls and regular passengers.

"How does it feel?"

Su Su's voice came from the side.

Ji Ran turned her head and saw her standing next to her, having tossed her pink down jacket onto a chair. Underneath the white turtleneck were loose black sweatpants, and the fitted sweater accentuated her graceful figure.

Ji Ran glanced at it a couple more times.

In the dream, Su Su's original vibrant girlishness was diluted, replaced by a languid and charming feeling, like the gentle flow of peach blossom water in spring.

However, visually, Su Su did not change.

"Very real."

Sha Jiu, standing beside him, nodded in agreement: "A very powerful dream-entering technique; that magical treasure is very strong."

Ji Ran looked around and asked, "What time is it now?"

"3 o'clock in the morning."

Su Su stretched her body and said, "The time I captured was between 3:00 AM and 4:30 AM."

"The cruise ship was discovered at around 4:40 a.m.

Ji Ran's eyes narrowed, and he said, "At this time, it's still the time of the Demon Encounter!"

“That’s right. When it was discovered, the regional team from Qing City inspected and questioned people. The killing on the yacht started around 3:15 a.m., but ended at 4 a.m..”

"The whole process was very strange. According to witnesses, one moment they could hear screams and terrifying roars, but the next moment everything disappeared."

Su Su tilted her head slightly to examine the cicada's voice and said, "Also, a message just came from outside Zha Hu. According to the latest information provided by the passengers, there may be more than one vengeful ghost here."

"Oh?"

“There were also deaths at the bow theater. Unlike here, there were eyewitnesses who survived and said that an animal performing on stage jumped into the crowd and killed people.”

"In addition, someone in the top-floor accommodation area said that he heard the sounds of fighting in the corridor. After the noise stopped, he secretly glanced over and found half a monster corpse on the ground, which was evaporating."

Upon hearing this, Ji Ran's eyes lit up, and he asked, "You said it was some kind of ghost's corpse?"

"No. It only has the upper half of the ghost's body. It has a head that resembles a human's, but the only feature on its face is a thick lip with large, protruding canines. The rest of its face has no facial features."

Su Su shook her head and said, "The Yashan base compared the Japanese Hundred Ghosts Catalogue with the Yashan Catalogue, but did not find any matching ghosts. It's possible that the guest described it incorrectly in the rush."

Ji Ran nodded with slight disappointment.

The records of the Japanese Hundred Demons are quite detailed, and during the month that the problem occurred in the East Ninth District, it had already spread throughout the Special Operations Department.

If we knew what kind of ghost it was, it would be much easier to deal with.

Ji Ran looked at himself and asked, "What are we in a dream?"

"The bystander, the observer who does not exist."

Su Su explained, "You can only participate in it within your own dream."

Suddenly, Su Su smiled slyly and said, "Wait until I reach the second level."

"Save up your money, and when the time comes, you can use it to build a local temple for me. I can then help you enter your dreams and return to a certain time in the past."

Ji Ran's eyes lit up, and he said, "Like the Mirror of Oblivion?"

"It's different. It can only take you into the events you've experienced before, but you can't remember the moves. But going back to the past doesn't necessarily mean you have to fight."

Su Su smiled and said, "At Yuzhen Temple, the ordinary people who come to pray often yearn to return to a time they regretted or a beautiful period of their lives."

"Yuzhen Temple can induce dreams?"

"Yes, but only ordinary people. To accommodate travelers, I need to break through to the second tier."

"Moreover, we also need to rely on the local earth god temple. This is also a troublesome matter; obtaining the necessary permissions depends on our connections in Jia Chen District."

Ji Ran's eyes flickered slightly, and he nodded. He figured he could be of help when that time came.

However, Su Su's life tool is already extremely powerful. It's just unknown what the price is, but judging from the fact that it can be used to build a temple, the price must be quite low.

"You two, go find some clues."

A faint blush appeared in Su Su's eyes as she said, "I need to control the jade pillow. When I use this life-binding tool, I cannot move normally."

"it is good."

As Ji Ran finished speaking, Su Su's figure slowly dissipated, like a wisp of smoke, her sweater and trousers twisting into a black and white wind.

"You have a lot of good stuff."

Sha Jiu glanced at them and said, "And they're all quite daring."

"Oh?"

Ji Ran glanced at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

“When I was in Xiniu Hezhou, only elders who had attained immortality, that is, those who had reached the third rank, were qualified and dared to use spiritual treasures.”

"If an ordinary disciple uses it, he will surely suffer a terrible disaster."

"You guys dare to use anything, even a cultivator. You have so many good things, and you're really bold."

Ji Ran smiled upon hearing this. All life tools possess a trace of the power of rules, and all have the potential for backlash. If many life tools are not used properly, the backlash can truly be fatal.

"This is the present world."

Rapid promotions are often the result of countless journeys through the heavens. Unless one is determined to slack off, many times, to become powerful, one must dance on a tightrope.

"Let's go."

Ji Ran waved and walked towards the glass in front of him with Sha Jiu.

For the people here, neither he nor Sha Jiu existed. He had traveled back several hours through a dream.

Since no one could see them, the two of them were quite relaxed.

Rows of lounge chairs line both sides of the greenhouse, with some switched-off ultraviolet lamps above them. It's presumably a place for visitors to sunbathe in the morning, but it's deserted at night.

Da da da.

Ji Ran stood at the end of the greenhouse, with an exit door on her right leading to the climbing area below.

And right in front of him was the window covered in bloody handprints, just like in reality.

There's also a rock climbing spot right below the window.

The indoor climbing area is very spacious, with some blue folding chairs in the center for people to rest and watch.

The climbing wall opposite the glass is the largest and tallest. The other three walls also make full use of the space, with climbing areas installed, mainly consisting of obstacles and slopes that increase the difficulty.

"Shh-"

At that moment, a whistle rang out!

The referee, wearing a striped shirt, stood on the hanging boom, waving colorful flags!

Dozens of participants, suspended by safety ropes, gripped the climbing wall. The instant the referee's whistle pierced the air, anti-slip magnesium powder exploded on the rock face! And immediately, figures began their ascent!
"Oh oh oh!"

"Mom, get me the pirate treasure!"

"Dad, go for it!!"

"Go, number 3!"

……

moment!

The central audience area erupted in cheers!

Tonight, a parent-child rock climbing competition is underway here. Thirty or forty children, fully equipped in climbing gear, are jumping and cheering in the center.

At that climbing spot were their teammates—their parents.

Ji Ran observed for a moment and didn't see anything wrong. He walked directly out of the greenhouse through the side door, up the stairs, and with Sha Jiu, went to the indoor climbing area.

"Ok?"

Ji Ran touched the tourists standing in the arena, but saw that the originally solid body, which looked exactly like a real person, melted away like water when it touched him, allowing him to easily pass through it.

Ji Ran turned around and glanced back.

The tourist looked excited and showed no signs of distress, his eyes fixed on the climbers on the climbing wall. He was also holding a beautifully sculpted little girl in his arms.

The little girl excitedly waved her tiny fists, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at her mother, like two black stars.

"Don't look at it."

Sha Jiu, standing to the side, shrugged, crossed his paws over his chest, and said, "We're just in a dream."

"If I'm not mistaken, the place Miss Su sent us to through that magical artifact is the dream of this multi-story ship."

"A dream of a ship?"

"Yes."

Sha Jiu nodded and said, "We are not people in its dream, so it is impossible for us to have any contact with these people in the dream."

Ji Ran nodded. He looked around and said, "I'll try contacting Zha Hu and ask him if he can send over all the locations where deaths occurred."

"Then the two of us divided up the area and kept a close watch."

"it is good."

Ji Ran tried sending a message to Zha Hu through the cicada's song, and received a reply a moment later!

really!

The barrier of dreams cannot sever the communication of cicada sounds! After all, cicada sounds can transmit information and mission prompts throughout the myriad realms.

There are three main positions.

"Climbing area, dining area, rooftop residential area, theater area."

Ji Ran glanced at the layout and said, "The first three areas are connected. I'll keep an eye on them."

Although these three areas are connected, the death locations shown on the death map sent by Zha Hu are quite scattered.

Asking a dog from Journey to the West to wander around a modern cruise ship and find its way around would indeed be quite a challenge.

Ji Ran looked at Sha Jiu and said, "The theater area is easy to find; it's on the largest deck at the front. Go and observe, paying particular attention to the animal performances on stage."

"it is good."

The black dog wagged its tail and said, "Then I'll leave this place to you."

"Ah."

Sha Jiu turned around, leaped up, and jumped onto the ship's side! His figure flew directly onto the roof of the cabin and disappeared into the night.

Ji Ran checked the time; it was still early before the murder. His gaze swept over everyone again, and unsurprisingly, the vengeful ghost had jumped in through the glass of the greenhouse.

Ji Ran was somewhat puzzled by this.

The rock climbing area is located at the rear of the cruise ship. The bow of the cruise ship faces Japan.

If encountering a vengeful ghost, shouldn't the bow of the ship be attacked first, and then the attack spread to the rear?
Why is the area with the highest concentration of deaths the rear of the cruise ship?
Ji Ran couldn't quite figure it out, but seeing that there was still time, she decided to go and check out a few of the death sites first.

He turned and walked out of the climbing area, across a terrace, and into the restaurant.

Inside the ten-meter-high main restaurant, crystal chandeliers cast champagne-colored light onto the columns adorned with various seashells.

Food delivery robots push their carts among velvet seats, and the wheels make a crisp sound as they roll over the anchor emblem on the marble floor, reminding tourists who are engrossed in their phones and not watching where they are going.

"Oh ho ho ho!"

A group of children excitedly gathered around the kitchen counter in the center of the restaurant, where a cast iron pan was sizzling as steaks were being cooked. The chef, an elderly man dressed in a clean white chef's uniform, was smiling as he arranged the French fries into the shape of a miniature life raft.

This drew cheers from the children.

"How about it?"

"Would you like to try some?"

At this moment, at a table next to Ji Ran, a woman in a blue hoodie and a man in a polo shirt were smiling as they watched the boy across from them.

The boy had delicate features and neat, medium-length hair.

She had long, large eyes, a high nose bridge, and some features characteristic of ethnic minorities, but her facial features were softer. However, her skin was excessively pale, and her eyes held a hint of dimness.

He looked no more than ten years old, but passersby couldn't help but glance at him. The little guy was dressed in a black and white baseball uniform, looking like a boy straight out of a comic book.

In front of him was a plate of chocolate mousse disguised as a rusty anchor, with caviar dots on the chocolate to resemble rust.

This is a molecular gastronomy dish with an excellent presentation.

However, what attracted Ji Ran's attention was not his appearance, but his eyes—his gaze seemed to be following her the whole time.

Is it...he can see himself, or is it just a coincidence?
Ji Ran also stood beside him and looked at the boy.

However, at that moment, upon hearing the boy's parents' voices, he turned his head to look at the plate.

The boy's pale fingers picked up the spoon, gently put a spoonful of mousse into his mouth, nodded, and said, "Delicious."

The parents opposite her smiled gently and said, "That's good. Mom has signed up for the next rock climbing event. Would you like to come and watch?"

The woman reached out, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at the boy with concern, saying, "Mom just learned this recently."

"I want to climb it too."

The woman's smile froze slightly as the boy's voice rang out.

She said slowly, "Your injury from last time hasn't healed yet. Let's get some rest, okay?"

"Ah."

Ji Ran looked around the family, and seeing that the boy wasn't looking at him anymore, he left and headed towards the residential area.

As Ji Ran walked by, the little boy tilted his head and said, "That older brother was so tall."

"Ok?"

The woman opposite her was taken aback and immediately looked around.

The huge restaurant was only occupied by food delivery robots, besides the tourists dining nearby.

"Who is there?"

Just now—

The little boy casually pointed behind him, turned around, and suddenly froze.

Ji Ran's figure was gradually becoming transparent in his eyes until he stepped out of the restaurant and disappeared completely.

Bang!

The fork in the boy's hand fell onto the plate.

"Xiang Yun, what's wrong?"

The woman asked with concern.

Xiao Xiangyun looked at her mother, opened her mouth slightly, but said, "I... want to go back to my room to rest."

The woman was taken aback and was about to speak when the man next to her interrupted her, saying, "Go."

The man smiled and said, "Wait until Mom wins you first place in rock climbing, and she'll give you the pirate treasure!"

"it is good."

The boy forced a smile and turned to walk towards Ji Ran. The precocious boy understood that if he said he saw someone become transparent, his parents would think he was lying.

Unless you take the picture yourself!

He quickened his pace, stepped out of the archway outside the restaurant, and rushed into the top-floor residential area!

The incomprehensible scene just now gave the ten-year-old boy an unprecedented feeling of excitement.

Even the most aloof boy has a drawer full of Ultraman toys from his childhood.

Everyone longs for the M78 Nebula, or some other wondrous place.

The supernatural scene gave Xiao Xiangyun the same thrill she felt when she reached the top of a rock climb.

As he walked around the corner, he saw that almost transparent shadow.

This is the lobby of the penthouse suites. On both sides of the spacious corridor are large suites with private balconies and excellent views.

The boy saw Ji Ran's figure turn the corner and immediately chased after him!

He felt like he had discovered a ghost!
The boy's pale face flushed with excitement! He immediately followed!
Turning the corner, the boy saw the tall, blurry figure standing in the corridor, seemingly observing something.

The little guy took out his phone and turned on the camera.

But the camera only showed an empty corridor.

The boy shrugged, but could still see the transparent figure. He stared at the screen, adjusting the focus.

"Drip-"

The sound of a door opening came from the door next to his. The little guy didn't seem to care, but simply took a step back to avoid obstructing other passengers from leaving.

The door opened silently on the velvet carpet.

The phone screen glowed with the orange-yellow light of the corridor lamps, which, against the backdrop of the gold and red carpet, resembled a vintage film reel.

then.

A pale head entered his frame.

"Coo-coo-coo-"

The owner of the head was dressed in a black suit, blending into the dark room.

But this head only has a mouth with jagged, canine teeth; it has no other facial features.

Snapped!
The sound of the phone hitting the velvet carpet was muffled and faint, but it was still clear and distinct in the quiet corridor.

The boy stood trembling slightly at the corner.

He saw that the faceless monster and the unseen ghost... turned their heads to look at him together!

(End of this chapter)