Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 10 The Paper Doll Leads the Way
Bai Yu's voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet conference room, it was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples that spread far and wide. Every word struck a chord clearly in the hearts of everyone present.

For the first time, undisguised anger surfaced on An Mu's usually sharp and resolute face. He slammed his hand on the table with a loud thud, making the water glass on the table jump.

"Nonsense!" he roared, his sharp gaze fixed on Bai Yu like a hawk's. "I'll say it again, you're currently in the highest priority mandatory recuperation period! Don't you know your own physical condition? This isn't the time for you to play the hero!"

“I know very well.” Bai Yu calmly met the captain’s anger, his eyes unwavering. “Precisely because I know, I must go.”

He stretched out his finger and gently tapped the eerie paper figure wedding photo on the holographic projection.

“Captain, you understand better than I what we’re facing. It’s a rule-distorting nightmare, and a high-level one rooted in ancient folklore and collective fear. Its core isn’t energy intensity, but the ‘rules’ themselves. Conventional physical expulsion and energy countermeasures have little effect on it, and might even trigger more dangerous death rules. To break this deadlock, someone must delve into the core of the rules, understand them, and even… exploit them.”

His gaze swept over everyone present, finally returning to An Mu's face.

"In the Nightmare Investigation Bureau, no one is more suitable than me in terms of affinity and analytical ability regarding 'rules.' Or rather, no one is more suitable than 'us.'"

He spoke those last few words very softly. But Mo Fei and Lan Ce, who were present, both understood. He meant that he was talking about himself and the terrifying nightmare within him—Black Words.

Mo Fei scratched his short hair in frustration, his face filled with conflict and worry. He wanted to rush over and push Bai Yu back to the lounge, but he also knew that what Bai Yu said was true. Faced with this strange thing, his brute strength, which he was so proud of, might not even be able to lift the curtain of the bridal sedan chair.

“Old Bai…” he began with difficulty, “but what about your health…”

“My body is meant for use in situations like this,” Bai Yu interrupted him, her tone still calm, yet carrying an undeniable resolve.

Lan Ce, who had been silent all along, pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting an ominous red light from the screen. He pulled up another set of data, and a cold, electronic voice sounded.

"Captain, based on the available intelligence, we've conducted a preliminary modeling analysis. The target Nightmare's danger level is tentatively set at 'Disaster Level.' If we send in a standard A-level team, without being able to decipher the core rules, the mission success rate is... 1.7%, and the team member survival rate is less than 5%. But if..."

Lan Ce paused for a moment, then looked up at Bai Yu with a complicated expression.

"If Bai Yu is added to the operation as the core of rule analysis, based on his past data on handling similar events, the mission success rate will increase to 43%, and the team survival rate will increase to 65%."

Cold, hard data is often more persuasive than any language.

A success rate of 43% is still terrifyingly low, but it's a world of difference compared to the despairing 1.7%. This means that Bai Yu's addition has pulled the entire team back from the brink of certain death to the precipice of possible survival.

An Mu's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the force. Of course he knew all this, but he couldn't easily push his most capable and trusted teammate to the brink of collapse again. The scene from a year ago was still a nightmare he couldn't erase from his mind.

Bai Yu looked at him and suddenly softened her tone: "Captain, I'm not making a request, but stating a fact. You need me for this mission."

A long silence fell over the conference room, broken only by the low hum of the equipment and the heavy breathing of the attendees.

Finally, An Mu slowly loosened his clenched fist. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the anger in his eyes had faded, leaving only endless exhaustion and the decisiveness of a commander.

"Lan Ce".

"exist."

"Add Bai Yu to the action list. Action team members: me, Bai Yu, Mo Fei, and Lan Ce. The rest of the team will be responsible for perimeter blockade and logistical support."

"Yes!"

"Mo Fei".

"To!"

"Go to the armory and collect the 'Soul Suppressor' set and the highest-level 'Awakening Agent'. Double-check everyone's equipment; I don't want anything to go wrong at this crucial moment."

"Understood!" Mo Fei immediately turned around and rushed out, as if trying to hide his emotions with his actions.

"Bai language".

"exist."

An Mu walked up to him, reached out and pressed hard on his shoulder, the force was incredibly heavy.

"I have only one request." He stared into Bai Yu's eyes and said, word by word, "Come back alive. That's an order."

“…Yes.” Bai Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded.

The task was thus finalized.

Half an hour later, the atmosphere in the underground straitjacket of the Investigation Bureau was tense.

The four had changed into specially made black combat suits, lightweight yet durable, with faint energy patterns on them to maximize protection against the Nightmare's mental erosion. Mo Fei carried a huge equipment box on his back, filled with heavy gear for various purposes, and two of his signature high-frequency battle axes hung at his waist. Lan Ce was adjusting a precision instrument on his wrist—the latest model of a "Rule Fluctuation Detector," capable of initially sensing and analyzing the Nightmare's power field. An Mu was making final communication confirmations; his expression had returned to its usual calm and collected state.

Bai Yu stood to the side, simply tucking a specially made short knife into his waistband. The scabbard and hilt were made of a material called "Tranquil Wood," which could soothe the user's mind. Aside from that, he carried no other heavy weapons. Because he himself was the most dangerous weapon.

He could feel the dark whispers within him excitedly anticipating the upcoming "feast," a mixture of cruelty, anticipation, and the joy of an artist about to appreciate a masterpiece.

"I can't wait any longer, my dear little white tongue. This kind of collective fear, rooted in ancient ignorance, often gives birth to the most delicious 'rules.' I wonder what kind of melodious lament will be produced when it's torn apart?"

Bai Yu ignored its whispers, instead casting its gaze into the deep darkness beyond the exit. A specially modified black armored SUV sat there silently, like a beast poised to pounce.

"Let's go." An Mu gave the final command.

The four men boarded the vehicle one by one. The doors closed, shutting out the bright light from inside the base. Only the eerie green glow of the dashboard illuminated their solemn faces. The engine roared, and the SUV plunged into the dark tunnel, speeding towards the surface.

The vehicle exited the Bureau of Investigation's secret exit and merged into the city's traffic in the dead of night. Outside the window, neon lights flickered, skyscrapers stood tall, and the scene was one of peace and prosperity.

The SUV headed south, gradually leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city. Streetlights became sparse, and tall buildings were replaced by low-rise houses and rolling fields. Finally, the vehicle left the highway and turned onto a rugged mountain road. A damp smell, mixed with the scent of earth and decaying plants, began to fill the air.

“We have entered the outer perimeter of the target area.” Lanze’s voice rang out in the quiet carriage. “From now on, communications may be disrupted. Activate mental stabilization rings for everyone.”

The four of them simultaneously pressed a button on a metal ring around their necks, and a slight cool sensation instantly spread throughout their bodies, resisting the invisible erosion from the outside world.

After driving for another ten minutes or so on the mountain road, Anmu suddenly slammed on the brakes.

"Stop."

The headlights pierced the darkness, illuminating the path ahead. The mountain road, which should have continued forward, was shrouded in a thick, impenetrable red mist. The mist churned slowly, as if alive, its viscosity like congealed blood, completely engulfing everything in its path. At the edge of the red mist stood a crooked, ancient stone tablet, three large characters carved in faded vermilion.

Luoshui Village.

“…We’ve arrived,” Mo Fei murmured to himself.

Just then, a faint suona horn sound pierced through the soundproofing of the carriage. The sound drifted out from the thick, blood-red fog.

The sound of the suona initially seemed distant, like the mournful whisper of wind in a valley, but within a few breaths, it became much clearer. It played no familiar tune; its melody soared like the shriek of a vengeful ghost, piercing eardrums and reaching the depths of the soul; at its lowest, it lingered like the weeping of a wronged woman, tender and poignant, filled with endless sorrow and despair. Even more bizarrely, these two contrasting emotions were perfectly blended into the same melody, forming a chillingly harmonious blend.

"Get out of the car." An Mu's voice was as calm as ever. He pushed open the car door first, and a cold, damp air immediately rushed in, mixed with a strong smell of rust, as if he were in a slaughterhouse that had not been opened for a long time.

The three followed closely behind. Only when they all stood before the stone tablet did they truly feel the oppressive aura of the red mist. Unlike ordinary fog, it was not ethereal but rather like a solid wall, writhing with an ominous rhythm. The beams of the car headlights, instead of penetrating it, were stained with an eerie blood-red hue, making everything around them appear bizarre and surreal.

"Lan Ce, the data," An Mu ordered.

Lanze raised his wrist, looking at the sophisticated "regular fluctuation detector," his brows furrowing deeply. "...The readings are chaotic. Captain, the instrument shows that the spatial parameters, energy index, and even the flow of time here are undergoing drastic and irregular fluctuations. It's like...throwing the instrument into a high-speed blender. I can't get any useful data."

"So, we've become blind?" Mo Fei gripped the battle axe at his waist, cautiously looking around. The sound of the suona seemed to be everywhere, drilling into his ears from all directions, making him feel increasingly agitated, and his blood seemed to flow faster.

“It’s not just blind people.” Bai Yu suddenly spoke, his voice soft, yet it made everyone’s hearts leap into their throats. He never looked at the stone tablet or the rolling red mist, but instead closed his eyes slightly, as if listening to something.

"This fog... is 'inviting' us."

"An invitation? This is a damn trap!" Mo Fei spat.

"Ha...what a vulgar metaphor." Hei Yan's voice lazily echoed in Bai Yu's mind, tinged with a hint of appreciation. "This is far more elegant than a mortal's banquet. Can't you feel it, my dear little Bai Yu? Every particle in this mist is whispering the verses of 'rules.' They are saying: 'Come in, obey my etiquette, or you will become part of me.' What a polite threat."

Anmu looked at Baiyu, asking with his eyes.

Bai Yu opened her eyes and nodded: "We have no other choice but to go in. But from the moment we step into the red mist, we must be careful with every move we make. Here, the logic of reality no longer applies."

"Everyone, get ready." An Mu took a deep breath and made a decision. "Maintain formation. I'll lead the way, Mo Fei will bring up the rear, and Bai Yu and Lan Ce will be in the middle. No matter what you see or hear, you are absolutely not allowed to act without my order."

"Yes!"

The four men formed a diamond-shaped tactical formation and walked step by step toward the blood-red fog that seemed to be alive.

The moment Anmu's combat boots stepped into the red fog, it was as if he were passing through a cold, viscous film. The scene before him didn't change immediately, but everything around him began to feel unreal. The off-road vehicle behind them and the mountain road they had come from were completely swallowed up by the thick fog in a few breaths, as if they had never existed. They were utterly cut off.

The mournful sound of the suona suddenly amplified several times the moment it entered the fog. It no longer came from a distance, but as if countless unseen musicians were playing wildly against their eardrums.

Mo Fei's temples throbbed; he felt his heartbeat almost being assimilated by the eerie melody. Lan Ce's face was also pale; the screen of the detector on his wrist was now just a blinding static.

Only Bai Yu remained calm. Under the protection of Hei Yan's power, these direct mental shocks had little effect on him. He was more concerned with the "rules" contained within the fog.

“They’re robbing us of our sense of direction,” Bai Yu whispered a reminder. “Don’t trust your eyes, follow my steps.”

He spoke without pausing, as if he could see the path clearly even in the darkness. An Mu and the others immediately focused their attention and followed closely behind him. In this space distorted by rules, Bai Yu's perception was far more reliable than any high-tech instrument.

They walked for an unknown amount of time in the red mist—perhaps minutes, perhaps hours. Here, even the sense of time became blurred. Finally, the mist ahead seemed to thin out a bit, and the outlines of some buildings became faintly visible.

Just then, the sound of the suona became even more intense, as if it were announcing something.

Immediately afterwards, a series of "rustling" sounds, like paper rubbing against the ground, rang out. The sound was uniform and came closer and closer to their ears.

"Take cover!" An Mu immediately gave the signal.

The four quickly slipped behind a withered tree shrouded in red mist and held their breath.

A strange procession slowly emerged from the thick fog in front of them.

That was the wedding procession they had seen in the photograph. Leading the way were two paper figures, each about a person tall. They were incredibly lifelike, dressed in ancient official robes, with two incongruously round blobs of cinnabar painted on their faces, their mouths twisted into stiff, eerie smiles. In each hand, they carried a white lantern, on which a large "囍" (double happiness) character was written in black ink, but the lanterns emitted a ghostly green light, like will-o'-the-wisps. The green light shone on their paper faces, making their smiles appear even more sinister and terrifying.

Their gait was strange; it was less like walking and more like "floating." Their feet were about an inch off the ground, and as their bodies swayed, they made a "rustling" sound on the decaying leaf-covered ground, as if they had no weight.

Behind the two paper figures leading the way was a large sedan chair carried by eight people. The chair was a festive bright red, embroidered with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns in gold thread, but the red was a dark, somber color, like dried blood. Four equally tall paper figures carried the chair, dressed in the short clothes of sedan chair bearers. Their bodies swayed rhythmically back and forth with each step, the movements exaggerated, as if they might fall apart at any moment. The curtains were tightly closed, obscuring what sat inside.

The last group followed by a dozen or so villagers. They were all dressed in faded blue cloth shirts, and without exception, their faces bore the same stiff smiles as the paper figures. Their eyes were empty, staring blankly ahead, like a group of puppets controlled by invisible threads. Their movements were equally stiff, each step as if precisely calculated, uniform and without the slightest disorder.

This silent and eerie procession, accompanied by the mournful sound of suona horns, slowly passed by the withered tree where they were hiding. Mo Fei's heart was in his throat; he could even smell the stale paper mixed with the scent of burning incense emanating from the paper figures.

However, just as the group was about to pass completely in front of them, a sudden change occurred.

The paper figure carrying the lantern at the very front suddenly stopped. Immediately afterward, the entire procession stopped, and the suona music ceased abruptly.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

"Click...click...click..."

With a cracking sound of bones dislocating, the paper figure that had stopped slowly turned its head. Its neck twisted at an unbelievable angle, and finally, the face with the eerie smile was directly facing the dead tree where they were hiding.

It "saw" them.

Mo Fei's muscles tensed instantly, and the veins on his hand gripping the battle axe bulged. An Mu grabbed his shoulder, the force almost crushing his bones, and stopped his impulse with a look.

"Don't move." Bai Yu's voice rang in their minds. This was a short-range mental link established through the mental stabilization ring. "It's not 'watching' us; it's waiting."

"Wait for what?" Mo Fei growled in the telepathic link.

"Wait until we make a mistake."

The paper figure silently "stared" at them, its smile appearing incredibly sinister in the eerie green light. It made no further move, but the pressure from this silent standoff was more terrifying than any direct attack.

“Oh, what an interesting little game.” Hei Yan’s voice was full of interest. “It’s testing whether you know ‘etiquette.’ It’s very impolite for ‘guests’ to hide in front of the host’s wedding procession. Now that it’s stopped, it’s giving you a chance to correct yourselves.”

"What do you mean? You want us to leave?" Mo Fei could hardly believe it.

“Go out, and then what?” Lan Ce calmly analyzed. “Is it an attack? Negotiation? Or… surrender? Any wrong choice could trigger the death rule.”

Bai Yu remained silent, his mind racing, analyzing every detail before him in conjunction with the clues Hei Yan had provided. Etiquette, guests, the wedding…

He suddenly noticed a detail. Although the paper figure was facing them, its eyes, dotted with ink, were not focused on any of them, but rather on an open space about three steps in front of them.

There, it seemed no different from other places.

“No…that’s not right.” Bai Yu’s pupils contracted slightly. On that open ground, the pile of decaying leaves seemed to be sparser than the surrounding area, vaguely forming an imperceptible circle.

“It’s about ‘positioning’,” Bai Yu said quickly in the telepathic link. “This isn’t a choice; it’s a procedure. We are ‘guests’ and have encountered the ‘hosts’ team. What we should do is… make way and stand where guests should stand, welcoming the team through.”

"How can you be so sure?" Anmu asked.

“Intuition, and… its gaze,” Bai Yu explained. “It’s not looking at us, it’s looking at that location. It’s prompting us, or rather, commanding us, to stand there.”

"That's too risky! What if it's a trap?" Mo Fei retorted.

“We’re already in a trap.” Bai Yu’s tone left no room for argument. “The biggest risk is not following the rules. Captain, trust me.”

An Mu gave Bai Yu a deep look, and finally nodded: "Do as you say. I'll go out first."

“No, I’ll go first.” Bai Yu stopped him. “Hei Yan is the only way we can defy the rules to some extent. If we misjudge, I have the best chance of surviving. I’ll stand in that position first, and you can move according to the situation.”

After saying that, without waiting for An Mu to object again, he took a deep breath and slowly walked out from behind the withered tree.

The moment he appeared, the surrounding temperature seemed to drop several degrees. The dozen or so villagers, like puppets, all turned their empty gazes to him. It was a gaze devoid of any emotion, as if they were looking at a lifeless object.

Despite the immense pressure, Bai Yu kept his eyes straight ahead and walked steadily step by step to the circular area he had identified. He then stopped, lowered his head slightly, and adopted a respectful posture.

The moment he stood still, a miracle happened.

The eerie smile on the paper figure's face seemed to... widen a little. Its twisted neck snapped back to face forward again.

The crisis seems to have been averted.

Upon seeing this, An Mu, Mo Fei, and Lan Ce immediately realized that Bai Yu's judgment was correct. Without further hesitation, they stepped out from behind the tree one by one, imitating Bai Yu's posture, and stood in a row behind him, heads bowed in solemn silence.

Once all four people were in position, the stalled line began to move again.

The suona horns sounded again, and the paper figures, with stiff steps, carried the bridal sedan chair, followed by the villagers, slowly passing in front of them. This time, they didn't even glance at them, as if they were truly just a few guests who had come to offer their congratulations by the roadside.

Only after the entire group had passed and disappeared into the red mist ahead did the four of them breathe a sigh of relief. Mo Fei then realized that his back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

"Holy crap... this is even more exciting than fighting an S-class materialized nightmare," he muttered under his breath.

"Welcome to the world of rules." Bai Yu's face was also a little pale. Just now, he had risked the lives of his entire team.

"What do we do now? Follow them?" Lan Ce asked.

“We have no choice.” An Mu looked in the direction the group had disappeared. “We’ve already been ‘marked’ as guests. If we don’t go and attend the wedding, we might trigger even more terrible rules. Let’s go.”

The four set off again, following the clear trail left by the group, heading deeper into the red mist.

This time, they hadn't gone far when the fog completely dissipated. An ancient and dilapidated village appeared before them.

At the village entrance stood a weathered wooden archway, the three characters "Luoshui Village" barely legible. On one of the archway's two pillars, a white mourning couplet adorned the side, while the other was hung with bright red silk flowers—the contrast of red and white creating an eerie atmosphere. The village houses were all old-fashioned buildings with blue tiles and mud walls. At the door of each household hung a white lantern, identical to those carried by the wedding procession, emitting a ghostly green light.

However, next to these white lanterns that symbolize funerals, every house has a large red "囍" (double happiness) paper-cut on its window.

The entire village was like an absurd drama that forcibly combined weddings and funerals; it was so quiet that there was not a trace of human life, except for the omnipresent sound of suona horns echoing in the sky above the village.

The wedding procession was slowly making its way deeper into the village along the only bluestone path.

"Look there." Lan Ce suddenly pointed to the archway at the village entrance.

There stood a new stone tablet, much newer than the weathered one at the village entrance, its inscription written in a bright red liquid that seemed not yet fully dried.

【Rules for Congratulating a Parent】

First, as guests, please follow the wedding procession without making noise or falling behind.

Second, the bride is beautiful, and guests are free to admire her as a way of showing their appreciation.

Third, the groom is hospitable. If the groom offers you a toast, please be sure to drink it as a sign of respect.

4. The wedding banquet is sumptuous. Please enjoy the food to your heart's content and do not waste any.

Fifth, the elders in the village are all blessed people. When you meet them, please kneel down and pay your respects.

VI. The paper figures are friendly guides; please follow their instructions.

7. There are no children in the village. If you hear a child crying, please immediately seek help from the paper effigy.

8. The auspicious time has not yet arrived, and the groom is sleeping soundly. Please do not disturb him.

There were eight rules in total, each written in that blood-like liquid, exuding an ominous aura under the dim green light.

"It's that damn rule again..." Mo Fei looked at the stone tablet, feeling a chill run down his spine. "And there's definitely something fake in there!"

“No, this time, it might... be all true.” Bai Yu stared at the rules, his voice carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"what?"

“In the ‘Dream Cafe,’ there is an adversarial relationship between the rule-makers and the victims, so the rules can be altered, some true and some false,” Bai Yu explained. “But here… the entire village seems to have been completely assimilated by the nightmare. The rules here may not contain any ‘deception,’ they are simply stating the facts. However, we may not be able to bear the consequences of abiding by these ‘facts.’”

“For example, the second rule, ‘The bride is beautiful, and guests may freely admire her.’” Bai Yu’s gaze fell on this rule. “It sounds like a trap, but perhaps its true intention is to make you look. And the act of ‘looking’ itself will trigger some deeper rule that we don’t know about.”

"This is getting more and more interesting." Hei Yan whispered with a hint of excited thrill. "It's not setting up riddles for you to guess; it's telling you the rules of the chessboard and then inviting you to play against it fair and square. If you lose, you become a piece. I'm starting to like this place."

Just as they were studying the rules, the wedding procession that had already gone far away stopped again.

The last puppet villager in the group slowly turned around, its empty gaze falling on them. Then, it stretched out a stiff hand and beckoned to them.

That was to urge them to catch up with the group.

“Let’s go,” An Mu said in a deep voice. “The first rule is, ‘Don’t fall behind.’ We don’t have time to study this here; we can only proceed as we go.”

The four dared not delay any longer and quickly caught up with the group, merging into the group of villagers who were like walking corpses.

As soon as they entered the procession, a thick stench of rotting corpses mixed with the smell of incense enveloped them. They could only follow the example of the villagers, heads bowed, taking stiff steps as they slowly moved forward with the procession.

Mo Fei walked behind Bai Yu, forcing himself not to look at the strange faces of the villagers around him. But just then, out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the profile of a "villager" walking diagonally in front of him.

He was a very young man, dressed like the other villagers in an ill-fitting blue cloth shirt, with a stiff smile on his face.

But that profile... Mo Fei felt it was incredibly familiar.

His heart skipped a beat, and his pupils instantly contracted to pinpoints. He remembered—it was a member of the missing Class D investigator team that An Mu had shown them in the conference room half an hour earlier!
The young investigator who was supposed to be scouting on the periphery but ultimately went missing is now dressed in villagers' clothes, wearing a strange smile, and has become a member of this funeral-like wedding procession.

Mo Fei's breathing stopped completely at that moment.

(End of this chapter)