The Fu River, a tributary of the Gan River, winds its way into Hongcheng City, becoming an inland river within the city limits.

　　The Fu River Bridge falls under the jurisdiction of the Zigu Road Police Station.

　　When I arrived at the Fu River Bridge, the floating corpse had retrieved. Due to prolonged immersion in the river water, the body was severely swollen and emitted a foul odor, presenting a horrifying sight. However, it was still possible to discern that the deceased was a teenager in his teens, still wearing the uniform of a certain middle school.

　　The forensic expert arrived with his toolkit, preparing to conduct an autopsy, when a middle-aged couple burst in and threw themselves onto the body, wailing loudly in grief.

　　"It's them!" My heart tightened.

　　Because I had been paying close attention to the matter concerning Fang Zijun, I had come into contact with all the classmates who had played that spirit-summoning game. And regarding the missing classmate, I had learned some details from his parents.

　　The middle-aged couple before me were none other than the parents of the missing classmate, and it was clear that this floating corpse was their son.

　　"Never close the door, or those outside will be in mortal danger..."

　　Perhaps the taboos of the spirit-summoning game didn't seem alarming when read at face value. But with the real consequences laid bare before me, I felt as if an invisible hand was clutching my throat, leaving me breathless.

　　"Please, take it easy. We're on duty here. If it's confirmed that the deceased is your family member, we'll naturally return the body to you," I said, trying to soothe them along with Zhao Junhua.

　　The middle-aged couple recognized me and immediately grabbed my collar, shouting, "You cops are always too late! If you had found my son a day earlier, would this have happened?"

　　I was speechless. Judging by the appearance of the floating corpse, it was clear he hadn't died just a day ago. But the couple was in a state of irrationality, and I could only try my best to calm them down.

　　It didn't take long for the forensic expert to reach a conclusion. I took the report and glanced at it. It showed that the deceased had no external injuries, clearly indicating death by drowning.

　　"Impossible! My son couldn't swim. How could he end up in the water? This must be murder!" The middle-aged man's eyes were bloodshot as he roared. "You useless cops, give me back my son's life!"

　　Overwhelmed by grief, the couple went berserk, scratching and clawing at us. We could only endure it with humility.

　　Against criminals, we could act without mercy. But facing the family of the deceased, we couldn't raise a hand. We could only retreat and console, even though it felt humiliating. But that was our professional requirement.

　　After shaking off the couple, I was exhausted. I hailed a taxi and went straight back to my place.

　　I had bought an apartment on the 26th floor of an elevator building. The development was a few years old, and the occupancy rate was less than half. I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the 18th floor, and the elevator slowly ascended.

　　I lived on the 18th floor, where the price per square foot was cheaper than on the 17th or 19th floors because the number 18 was considered unlucky—hell was said to have 18 levels.

　　I was the only one in the elevator, but for some reason, I felt cramped, as if the elevator was crowded with people. Just as I was wondering about this, the elevator's signal lights flickered erratically, and the elevator, which was supposed to be going up, suddenly plummeted downward.

　　"Why is the elevator going down when it's supposed to go up?" I wondered, thinking, "There must be a malfunction!"

　　I hurriedly pressed the buttons inside the elevator, trying to make it go up, but it continued to descend. I hoped it would stop, but it didn't. It kept going down, passing the 10th, 9th, 8th floors...

　　It didn't take long to reach the 1st floor, and the elevator came to a stop. I pressed the door-open button, but the door didn't open. Then, to my astonishment, the elevator started descending again. I stared at the row of buttons, my eyes wide. Another row of buttons had appeared on the panel, labeled "-1," "-2," "-3"... My mind was in a daze. I had lived here for so long and never knew that this elevator building had underground floors. Could there really be basements beneath my building?

　　"-7," "-8," "-9," "-10"... The elevator kept descending into the earth's depths. My head was spinning. I was sure the elevator was malfunctioning. Even if the building had basements, they couldn't possibly be dozens of floors deep.

　　I took out my phone to call the police, but to my frustration, there was no signal. I pressed the emergency button in the elevator, but there was no response. No matter how hard I pressed the buttons, the elevator wouldn't stop.

　　Even though I tried to remain calm, I was starting to panic. My eyes were fixed on the row of descending numbers.

　　"-12," "-13"... "-16," "-17," "-18." The elevator finally stopped, but I was gasping for breath, too afraid to press the door-open button.

　　Negative 18th floor. Hell was said to have 18 levels. Could this elevator be leading to hell?

　　I didn't dare open the door, but at that moment, the elevator doors automatically opened. A black-faced female ghost with bloody forks in both hands and disheveled hair rushed in. She stretched out her bony, eagle-claw-like hands and grabbed at me.

　　"You're asking for it!" I wasn't one to be trifled with. I grabbed her arm, pulled, and pushed, and she fell flat on her backside.

　　I got up and was about to close the elevator door when I heard the female ghost wail miserably, "Officer Wang, I was just trying to wake you up, and you hit me! That's so unreasonable! Ouch, my butt!"

　　I froze and then realized it was the cleaning lady responsible for the elevator, a woman in her fifties whom we all called Auntie Li. At that moment, Auntie Li was holding a dripping-wet mop, which I had mistaken for bloody forks.

　　I looked at the elevator buttons again. There were no negative 18th-floor buttons. We were on the 18th floor. I hurried out and helped Auntie Li up, apologizing, "Auntie Li, I'm so sorry. I fell asleep and had a nightmare. Are you hurt? Let me take you to the doctor."

　　Auntie Li gave me a strange look and rubbed her sore butt. "No need for a doctor. But it's surprising that a cop like you would have nightmares."

　　"Do cops not have nightmares?" I found Auntie Li's logic amusing.

　　"Cops have a strong killing aura. Any unclean spirits would stay away," Auntie Li said seriously.

　　"Auntie Li, you're old and wise. You've crossed more bridges than I've walked on roads. Do you think ghosts really exist?"

　　"Definitely!"

　　"Have you ever seen one?"

　　Auntie Li shook her head. "I haven't seen one, but I just know they exist."

　　Auntie Li obviously didn't want to say more. She picked up her mop and started cleaning.

　　Since Auntie Li wasn't willing to talk, I didn't press her. I opened the door and went into my apartment.

　　It was already evening, and a beam of golden sunlight shone through the window. I walked to the window and looked out. In the city, towering buildings stood tall, but there were bound to be dark corners that the sunlight couldn't reach. And in those dark corners, could ghosts exist?

　　This thought suddenly popped into my head, and I couldn't help but shiver with cold and fear. I felt ashamed. After all, I was a people's policeman.

　　Not knowing if it was to prove my bravery, I picked up the DVD I had gotten from the taxi.

　　"That year, snowflakes fell, and plum blossoms bloomed on the branches / That year, by the Huaqing Pool, too much sorrow lingered / Don't say who's right or wrong, or if love is right or wrong / I just want to get drunk with you in my dreams once more..."

　　Li Yugang's voice had barely started when the female narrator's voice came on again. I listened intently.

　　"Hello! I don't know who you are, but please listen to what I have to say. I'm an 18-year-old girl. A month ago, I played the 'Ouija Board' game with three roommates. Something went wrong, and then my three roommates died in mysterious ways one after another. I'm so scared. I suspect that an evil spirit is at work. I told my family, but they don't believe me and want to send me to a mental hospital. Please help me. My name is Yang Qianyun, and I live at 44 Garden Community, Unit 2, Apartment 404..."

　　Garden Community was right here on Zigu Road, under the jurisdiction of the Zigu Road Police Station.