Half an hour later.


    Zhang Xiaoman stretched, closing endless tabs.


    He’d found dozens of games and movies referencing holy water, with varied lore.


    Staring at the vial, he recalled the clue: Liquid gold.


    He searched again, eyes lighting up at the results.


    “Liquid gold—from Western mythology, refers to water blessed by gods…”


    “A true holy water requires pure mountain spring water, collected by a devout soul, then consecrated for a thousand days…”


    “Holy water blesses and repels demons. Any evil touched by it dissolves instantly…”


    “Difficult to create, hence its name ‘liquid gold.’”


    He closed the browser, reassured.


    Putting the vial down, fatigue washed over him. Before sleeping, he made a call.


    “Hello? Zhang Xiaoman? Why calling so late?”


    A man’s voice answered.


    Zhang Xiaoman was relieved it picked up. “Brother Haohan! Thank god you’re awake. Don’t go to the office tomorrow!”


    “What? Why?”


    “There’s a ghost there!”


    He almost said “monster” but changed his mind for credibility.


    The man paused. “Zhang Xiaoman… Are you telling ghost stories at midnight?”


    “Not joking! The elevator broke, so I took the stairs… I was chased! I barely escaped!”


    “Did you see it?”


    Zhang Xiaoman hesitated—he hadn’t dared look back.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Before he could lie, the man said, “You didn’t see it, did you? The fifth-floor intern brings her dog. You were chased by a dog! Hahaha!”


    “……”


    Zhang Xiaoman sighed. “Can you take a day off? Come to my place. I need help.”


    “Zhang Xiaoman, we’re brothers, but I can’t skip tomorrow! It’s my promotion 考核. I’ve waited a year for this!”


    Zhang Xiaoman knew Brother Haohan—Lu Lin Haohan—was dedicated. Married with two sons, he worked hard and moonlighted as a deliveryman.


    “Alright, I’ll see you later.”


    Zhang Xiaoman hung up and messaged the office group:


    “I saw something unclean in the stairwell last night! The building is haunted! Don’t go alone!”


    He sent a resignation text to his boss and blocked him.


    ……


    The next morning.


    Zhang Xiaoman slept soundly, waking at 10 AM.


    Checking his phone, he saw endless messages.


    Ignoring them, he checked the group chat.


    Colleagues mocked him, turning his warning into a meme.


    He sighed, dialing Brother Haohan.


    “Hello?”


    “Haohan, did you take the elevator?”


    “Yeah, it’s fixed. Why?”


    “Good. Stay safe.”


    Relieved, Zhang Xiaoman worried about being exposed. If the monster harmed someone, police might check surveillance.


    He couldn’t let them find his teleportation footage.


    After walking his dog, he decided to borrow his uncle’s cart to sell sushi.