Thriller Zone: From the Mental Hospital to the Ghostly World

Chapter 199 [Domain - Tuotuo Mountain] Mining

"Where does Zeng Guichuan live? I know he hasn't left."

Chen Ji immediately asked, as he had a vague sense of unease.

Four-Eyes was taken aback for a moment, and it took him two seconds to realize that Chen Ji was talking about the mine manager.

A hint of doubt appeared in his eyes; he wondered how Chen Ji knew the mine manager's full name.

However, Four-Eyes still pointed to the east:

"Did you see that red brick building when you came? The mine manager lives in there."

"But I advise you not to provoke him."

Four-Eyes then explained that the thug he always carried with him was surnamed Tang, had connections to organized crime, and was extremely ruthless.

Yesterday, some miners went to see Zeng Guichuan, but without exception, they were all beaten up and thrown out by Tang and his men.

"We all call him Tang Scorpion behind his back."

Four-Eyes said warily, "He's very cunning and only listens to the mine manager."

Chen Ji's heart stirred slightly.

Tang...

It might just be a coincidence, but who knows?

Chen Ji temporarily suppressed his speculations and brought up the matter of the cafeteria with Si Yan.

“Her name is Amei,” Four-Eyes said. “Her husband died in a collapse last year, but she didn’t leave; she stayed in the mine.”

After that, she got involved with Liu Yunfeng.

Four-Eyes roughly knew about Ah Mei's situation, thought for a moment, and made a decision:

“I had everyone in Amei’s dorm move out, and then the cafeteria closed in the morning. Amei only cooked breakfast.”

This can greatly reduce the probability of other people encountering ghosts.

He took the baby from Chen Ji's arms, and Xiao Yu sat obediently next to Si Yan, seemingly very familiar with him.

Four-Eyes took a book out of the drawer and handed it to Xiaoyu.

It is a children's book.

Then he called to the adults and went outside.

"How many ghosts have appeared so far?"

Four-Eyes adjusted his glasses, his face pale from the cold: "Zhang Xiangdong's death was suspicious. Do you know something about it?"

"three."

Xu Sandao said, "But there should be seven in total."

He told Four-Eyes everything that had happened last night and asked about all the deceased's information and daily routines.

The appearance of these three ghosts seems to follow the trajectory of their previous lives.

All five miners died underground, but for some reason, only Liu Yunfeng and Liu Er appeared outside.

The three missing persons were Lao Yang's wife, Lili, a thug, and a coal truck driver.

"......"

Four-Eyes frowned deeply, thought for a moment, and said:

"I'll make the arrangements to ensure that the ghosts don't come into contact with the workers."

Chen Ji nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

The three left Four-Eyes' office, leaving Xiaoyu and the baby in Four-Eyes' office.

Old Yang said sullenly, "I'll pick them up after work."

"Siyan is kind-hearted and good to children. Let's leave Xiaoyu and the others here during the day so they can study."

Chen Ji also noticed that Si Yan was a cultured person, and the children's books were clearly bought by him specifically for the children.

The changing of the guard bell rang...

Before we knew it, it was past noon.

This means that Chen Ji and the other person should go down the well with Lao Yang.

The mine entrance is at the foot of a hillside in Tuotuo Mountain, next to which are several dilapidated tin shacks, with people standing guard at the entrance.

The three arrived early and just in time to see the miners from the morning lining up as they walked out of the mine, their footsteps dragging.

Chen Ji and Xu Sandao both fell silent.

These miners were almost black, their bodies covered in coal dust, and wherever their wet liberation shoes stepped, the white snow turned into black mud.

Chen Ji couldn't see their expressions.

But you could read deep weariness and numbness in their eyes.

"Even if these people survive, without mining accidents or ghosts... within ten years, they will suffer from pneumoconiosis and live a life worse than death."

Xu Sandao said gloomily from the side.

Zeng Guichuan certainly wouldn't provide dust masks.

They spend all day holed up in the mine digging coal, and when they swung their pickaxes, coal dust would get into their noses and mouths.

Old Yang remained silent, seemingly accustomed to it all.

These people left quickly, and the next shift of workers gradually arrived.

Chen Ji saw Pan Yin, Zheng Jinming, and the boy they used as an "idea".

After receiving the pickaxes, the three of them went down into the well.

Chen Ji and Xu Sandao were undoubtedly lucky.

Old Yang had contracted a coal mining site; the holes had already been drilled, blasting had been done, and the shed had been set up. All they had to do was dig coal with picks.

The group turned left and right. The layout of the mine was extremely chaotic. The tunnels were as complicated as a maze. It was pitch black, and there was only a miner's lamp every ten meters or so.

If we dig here for a few more years...

Chen Ji strongly suspected that the mountain might have been hollowed out.

Xu Sandao rummaged in his pocket and took out a cloth bag.

Inside were several strips of torn clothing. He took two and handed them to Chen Ji and Lao Yang, indicating that everyone should take them.

"It's better than nothing."

Xu Sandao said that even with his mouth and nose covered, he could still faintly smell a peculiar odor—a mixture of coal dust, sweat, and a faint smell of gunpowder smoke.

It makes your throat feel like it's been smoked.

"Uncle Yang," Chen Ji glanced at the preoccupied Old Yang, "where were Liu Yunfeng and Liu Er's bodies found?"

Old Yang stepped through a small puddle and pointed ahead:

"Liu Yunfeng died while mining coal, which was very close to where I live."

"Liu Er... seems to be a bit further away, at the very end of this alley."

Before long, they passed by the shed where Liu Yunfeng had died, and Chen Ji was shocked!

On the coal face, there was a very obvious indentation in the shape of a human, with bloodstains remaining around it.

"Wasn't Liu Yunfeng killed by having his neck broken?"

Old Yang nodded: "Yes, but at that time, it was like a gas explosion in the mine, and the shock wave just happened to smash Liu Yunfeng's body inside."

According to survivors underground, the situation was extremely chaotic. They were startled by the noise, and when they turned around, they found that Liu Yunfeng's neck had been broken.

Afterwards, Liu Er arrived, and everyone scattered and fled before the shockwave appeared.

Liu Yunfeng's body has now been removed..

The three of them stood there for a while, but found nothing unusual, nor did they see anything related to the "waste".

Just then, a series of footsteps suddenly came from behind!

What are you doing here?

Old Yang frowned: "All the seats up ahead have been booked. You'll have to go somewhere else!"

The visitors were none other than Pan Yin and his two companions.

"None of your business?" Zheng Jinming spat on the ground, ignoring him completely.

Pan Yin, holding a pickaxe, looked the shed up and down.

The boy behind seemed uneasy and said hesitantly in his local accent, "Brother, this place is booked. Let's go somewhere else..."

"Being kept by someone?"

"That man is long dead!"

Zheng Jinming chuckled and ran his hand over the bloodstains on the wall.

Chen Ji already knew that their purpose was not to mine coal; they were just putting on a show.

"what's your name?"

Chen Ji asked the boy.

Immediately, Zheng and Pan narrowed their eyes, their expressions turning cold.

“Xiao Fei…” The boy carefully observed Zheng Jinming’s expression and quickly added, “Zheng Xiao Fei.”

"Zheng Jinming is my brother, and Brother Pan is from my hometown."

This statement is clearly an attempt to cover up the truth.

"is it?"

Old Yang suddenly spoke up from the side: "Xiao Fei, why are you here instead of going to school at your age?"

Xiao Fei seemed to want to say something, but was so frightened by a glare from Zheng Jinming that he dared not speak.

"I'm helping my brother make money, do you need to ask me?" Zheng Jinming sneered.

Meanwhile, Pan Yin, with his honest and simple face, stepped in to smooth things over: "Old Zheng is all bark and no bite. He already said that once he has saved enough tuition fees, he will let Xiao Fei continue his studies."

Chen Ji noticed that Xiao Fei's eyes lit up when he heard that he should continue going to school.

Old Yang gave Xiao Fei a meaningful look:

"make money?"

"It's very dangerous inside the kiln. Don't risk getting yourself killed before you even make any money."