Tomb Raider: Call Me Dragon Vein Cleaner

Chapter 476 The Empty Ghost Realm, Heavy Snow

The predecessor of this Qingshan Mental Hospital was a three-story red building.

Stepping through the door, you enter a straight corridor with reception rooms and treatment rooms on either side.

When Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya passed by the door, they did not see anyone in the examination room or the reception room.

"Strange, this is a ghostly realm filled with resentment, but it feels empty when I come in."

The hospital was completely silent at that moment, with only the faint echoes of their footsteps and Xiaoya's voice.

"Perhaps they're figuring out how to escape from the barrier."

As they spoke, Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya arrived at a staircase leading to the second floor.

Cheng Feng glanced at it but didn't stop.

Xiaoya asked doubtfully, "Aren't we going up to take a look?"

Cheng Feng shook his head: "No need, I can sense anything at this close range."

Xiaoya tilted her head and stopped talking. It was normal for Cheng Feng, the incarnation of an ancient god, to have better perception than her.

The two walked straight through the three-story building along the corridor, and after pushing open the door at the end of the corridor, a sunny little courtyard came into view.

Peach and cherry trees are planted in the courtyard, and peonies and lavender are blooming in the corner.

A clothes rack made of ropes was set up on two support frames, and washed white cloths were placed on it.

"These bastards really know how to enjoy themselves, making the ghost realm look like a garden full of flowers and sunshine."

Xiaoya bent down and plucked a handful of lavender flowers from beside her feet. After sensing them, she found that they were exactly the same as the ones outside.

"The ferrymen in this area have truly failed in their duty to allow them to exist on the land of China for so many years."

The Qingshan Mental Hospital is located in the suburbs and is no longer actually under Zhao Li's jurisdiction. As for who the ferryman of souls is here...

Cheng Feng had a guess in his mind; it was probably one of Murong or Mulan.

Xiaoya nodded in deep agreement:

“That’s right. This ghost realm isn’t hidden very well. If the ferryman is more dedicated, it won’t be difficult to find out anything unusual.”

Cheng Feng scoffed. This godforsaken place has never been peaceful in all these years, continuing World War II-era experiments using the souls of mental patients.

How could the ferryman of this area not have noticed that so many souls have been lost?

The two arrived at a building by following the cobblestone path.

The building's main entrance was painted a pale yellow, and the double doors looked quite exquisite.

This time, Xiaoya walked in front, and she pushed open the door with one hand, revealing a small auditorium.

There was a stage above the auditorium, with a red curtain painted with the Japanese flag.

Below were rows of seats facing the stage, one could imagine the scene of Japanese soldiers holding meetings and watching shows here.

Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya looked around the auditorium and slowly walked inside.

The door behind me was wide open, and sunlight streamed onto the back of the chair, creating a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere.

Once offstage, Cheng Feng glanced to his left and right.

There is an entrance on each side leading to the back of the stage.

Just then, the stage curtain suddenly began to shake slightly.

Xiaoya noticed immediately and asked in a serious voice:

"Who are you, get out of here!"

Xiaoya's shout caused the curtain to shake violently, and then a pair of hands, clearly belonging to a woman, reached out from behind the curtain.

Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya exchanged a glance, then jumped onto the stage together.

Hearing the noise from the two people, the hands gently pulled the curtain, and a woman in a cheongsam, who looked to be in her late twenties, peeked out from behind the curtain.

"How come you are here?"

Upon seeing Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya, the woman's expression turned anxious, and she stepped forward without any precautions.

Before the two could speak, the woman grabbed Xiaoya and Cheng Feng: "Get out of here quickly while those beasts are away!"

Both of them sensed that the woman was a ghost, but she didn't exude any malevolent energy.

Therefore, neither Cheng Feng nor Xiao Ya made a move.

"Young lady, please don't rush. We have some questions for you."

Cheng Feng exerted a little force to make the woman stop, and then spoke.

The woman frowned slightly, but considering that the beasts had suddenly left and probably wouldn't return so soon, she nodded in agreement.

"Okay, then I'll do it as soon as possible. I'll answer whatever you want to know."

Xiaoya looked at the woman in front of her with curiosity and spoke first:

"Let's get to know each other first. My name is Xiaoya, and his name is Cheng Feng. What's your name?"

"Xiaoya, Chengfeng..."

The woman murmured the two names for a moment, then smiled and said:

You can just call me Da Xue.

After exchanging names, Da Xue led Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya off the stage and into the courtyard.

Da Xue instinctively tried to lead the two to hide behind the bushes in a corner, but Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya pulled her into the pavilion instead.

In the pavilion, Da Xue seemed restless, frequently turning to look at the gates in front and behind him.

They were afraid that Japanese soldiers might suddenly rush out from there.

"Don't be afraid, heavy snow. We're here, nothing will happen."

Xiaoya's gaze softened; she could tell that Daxue must be a pitiful person, so she spoke words of comfort.

Da Xue nodded, her expression calming down slightly.

"The Japanese soldiers suddenly left en masse for some unknown reason; this is the first time such a situation has occurred."

What does "leave" mean?

This ghost realm is only so big, where can they possibly go?

The snow looked sorrowful.

"That's a gate leading to the outside. It's usually guarded by someone. I've never been there, and I don't know what's behind that gate."

Cheng Feng seemed to be deep in thought. It seemed that those Japanese devils had gone from the ghost realm to the mentally ill in the real world.

"You should be alive, right?"

Looking at their attire and Xiaoya's exquisite makeup, Daxue spoke with certainty.

Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya didn't try to hide it and nodded in confirmation of Da Xue's guess.

"Can you tell me, what has China become like now? Are people still struggling to get enough to eat and wear, like before?"

Da Xue's expression was full of anticipation. Trapped here, they had lost track of time, only occasionally seeing Japanese soldiers bringing living people in from the outside world.

She had many fantasies about what China is like now, and now she finally has the opportunity to learn all about it from living people.

Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya did not refuse Da Xue's request. Instead, they earnestly told Da Xue about the current state of China.

The hardships of the 1960s and 70s, the changes of the 1980s and 90s, and the economic boom after the millennium.

Now, skyscrapers stand tall across the country, and people have enough to eat and wear.

The nation is powerful, belonging to the five great villains of Earth, and is a strong contender for the leadership of the planet.

The once mighty Japan is now nothing more than a dead dog clinging to life on a moldy base.

Neon lights, televisions, mobile phones, highways extending in all directions, and high-speed trains moving faster than imagined.

Cars have become the mainstream mode of personal transportation.

The three seemed to forget about time. Da Xue was immersed in the new world described by the two, her eyes glazed over, as if she could see the lights of thousands of homes in the distance through the ghostly realm.

Before they knew it, more than two hours had passed, and Xiaoya, who had run out of words, stopped talking, still feeling like she hadn't said enough.

Da Xue then realized what was happening and quickly stood up, saying:

"It's all my fault. I didn't realize I'd wasted so much time. Xiaoya, Chengfeng, come with me! I'll take you away from here!"

After saying that, he hurriedly led the two through the auditorium and into the backstage corridor.

The corridor walls here are blue and white, and there are glass windows on both sides, so it doesn't look dark.

The floor was covered in deep red non-slip tiles, which was considered quite luxurious at the time.

As they passed through the auditorium, Da Xue stopped a short distance from the entrance and gestured for the two to remain silent.

Then she tiptoed to the door, peeked inside, and whispered:

"There's no one guarding it, come quick!"

The two followed the heavy snow with somber expressions to the backyard of the auditorium. The path there was wide, showing signs of frequent footsteps.

The backyard gate was a double wooden door, looking somewhat old, with red paper still stuck to it.

The remaining strokes show that a red "福" (fortune) character was once pasted there.

"This is it. You should leave quickly. Oh, and please take this with you."

As she spoke, Da Xue unabashedly unbuttoned her coat and took out a notebook, slightly larger than her palm, from her chest.

Daxue handed the notebook to Xiaoya and said:

"I've never been to school and I can't read a single word, but I believe that the beastly things the Japanese devils did shouldn't be hidden."

So I drew everything I saw, and I hope you can take this notebook with you.

Let people know what these beasts have done!

Xiaoya, with a complicated expression, silently handed the notebook to Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng carefully put the notebook away, then said:

"Don't worry, I guarantee that everyone will know this history, and the crimes committed by the Japanese devils will be remembered in the hearts of all Chinese people."

The university student nodded with satisfaction after hearing this, and then urged the two of them to leave.

Neither Xiaoya nor Chengfeng moved, which made Daxue even more anxious.

"Great God, do you have a way to save the soul of the heavy snow?"

Xiaoya bit her lip and looked at Cheng Feng expectantly.

When she came to earth, the land of China had already gone through its most difficult years, so she did not have a deep feeling about that period of history.

Now that she has personally experienced the heavy snow, the guilt in her heart almost overwhelms her.

As deities of the Chinese nation, she and Kunlun stood by and watched as people suffered.

Even if there are reasons for their suffering, they inevitably feel tormented.

Da Xue had been imprisoned in the Ghost Realm for many years, and her soul had long since merged with the Ghost Realm.

Once the ghost realm is broken, her soul will dissipate along with the disappearance of the ghost realm.

The guilt in her heart prompted Xiaoya to speak up, wanting to keep this strong and kind soul, even if it was just a chance for reincarnation.

Fortunately, Cheng Feng didn't mess things up.

"There is a solution, but we need your cooperation."

Seeing Cheng Feng nod, Xiao Ya breathed a sigh of relief. As expected of her mentor, he was reliable in crucial moments.

"Speak, what do you need me to do!"

Xiaoya patted her chest, and a surge of waves rose up.

Da Xue understood from their conversation that they hadn't wandered in by mistake, so she didn't disturb them further.

"Of course, this kind of thing can only be done using the divine power of my true form. Listen to me..."

Cheng Feng told Xiao Ya that his own body contained a small world, which was essentially similar to Kunlun, but much more advanced.

After Cheng Feng uses his divine power, Xiao Ya will need to use it to sense the existence of the small world.

Then, the soul of Daxue was transferred to Cheng Feng's small world, where Cheng Feng's true body could act without restraint.

Even a common soul like heavy snow finds it hard to dissipate.

"You understand the process now, right?"

In response to Cheng Feng's question, Xiao Ya made an OK sign.

"Don't worry, leave it to me!"

Upon seeing this, Cheng Feng took out a yellow talisman. With a thought, the talisman ignited, and the invisible thought traveled through time and space to the universe.

The entity on Venus contributed a wisp of divine power, and the shared power made the barrier unimpeded.

A familiar sense of fulfillment arose, and Xiaoya's eyes lit up with a golden and silver light.

The impact of this divine power was not strong; after all, practice makes perfect.

The snow was too close to the two of them; if they weren't careful, even a ripple of divine power could be enough to obliterate the snow's soul.

"I sensed it, your world."

Xiaoya looked up at the sky and murmured something to herself.

Cheng Feng then spoke up to comfort him:

"Don't be afraid, it's snowing heavily. Xiaoya will take you to a safe place after things are over here."

You will have the opportunity to see the world as it is today.

"Okay, I believe you!"

Da Xue nodded in agreement without hesitation.

At this moment, Xiaoya began her work, and an invisible force of attraction appeared around Daxue.

She offered no resistance, and following this force, her body began to glow.

"Be careful, there's a scary doll here."

As soon as Da Xue finished speaking, she disappeared with Cheng Feng's divine power.

Meanwhile, in a picturesque place within this small world, the soul of Da Xue appeared.

She looked around with curiosity, feeling no fear of being in an unfamiliar place, only curiosity about everything.

In the ghost realm, Xiaoya's divine power gradually faded.

After letting out a heavy sigh, Xiaoya rubbed her chest and said:

"The divine power is truly domineering. In just a short while, I already feel a bit short of breath."

Cheng Feng held Xiao Ya's arm and smiled:

"I think it's more like your breast bib is too small and too tight."

"Go to hell, you're such a jerk!"

Xiaoya rolled her eyes. After spending more time with Cheng Feng, the overwhelming aura of a powerful figure she felt when they first met completely vanished.

As the two chatted and laughed, they casually pushed open the wooden door in front of them.

Then a flash of light appeared, and Cheng Feng and Xiao Ya appeared in a dimly lit corridor.

As soon as they stood still, Xiaoya and Chengfeng saw countless pairs of ferocious eyes.

At the other end of the corridor, a large number of souls dressed in hospital gowns gathered, their bodies radiating an extremely dense aura of yin energy.

The combined resentment made Xiaoya shiver.

"It seems the mastermind here has already set a trap, just waiting for us to come out!"

Xiaoya silently raised her fists, azure divine power surging within them, ready for battle.

Although Cheng Feng did not move his body, yellow talismans were already floating in mid-air, forming two intersecting rings in front of the two of them.

"These cannon fodder are just there to wear down our strength; the real boss is still hiding."

As soon as Cheng Feng finished speaking, the ghosts suddenly took steps and almost simultaneously opened their mouths, unleashing a deafening wailing that swept towards the two of them.

The yellow talisman was activated by Cheng Feng's spiritual power, forming a shield that kept the ghost howl out.

But the overwhelming yin energy had already affected reality, forming a powerful yin wind that stirred the two people's hair.

“Something is controlling them, right behind these ghosts.”