"You’ve also said it, one more point means a higher chance of winning. But that one point is just what you all think. The parents of that young girl sacrificed themselves, leaving behind only a little something, and yet you try to scheme for it. That’s just not ethical. Saying it’s unethical is too light—you’re just shameless. From what I know about Cui Wenyan, if you’d explained well from the beginning, talked about the pros and cons, and said that using that bracelet was to fight the Ghost King who killed her parents, that young girl who understands reason would definitely have contributed it. But look at your attitude at the time! You were just blatantly trying to rob her of her possession. You’ve lived so long, eaten so many years’ worth of meals for nothing?" Zhou Zhenghao unreservedly lashed out.

"At the time, Wu Zhongyuan said that Cui Wenyan would absolutely not hand it over, so in my panic and confusion, I agreed to his method," Ma Dong said regretfully, "Looking back now, our actions were indeed over the line."

"Don’t tell me that, if you really think it was too much, go apologize to that young girl," Zhou Zhenghao waved impatiently, "I have things to do; I need to intensify the training for my apprentice, the competition is in a few days. I’ll be satisfied if my apprentice can get into the top five."

"Oh, my junior brother is also going to participate. But he doesn’t seem anxious at all. The master isn’t anxious either," Ma Dong remembered this matter, "My apprentice, I’ll let it be. Over the years I’ve taken quite a few apprentices, but none of them are talented. Sigh..."

"Yan Qing? This year, I’m guessing he’ll be first," Zhou Zhenghao waved his hand, "Alright, I won’t chat with you anymore. I have to go."

"Alright, you go," Ma Dong nodded and turned to leave.

This year, it’s still the old rules, first the newcomers’ competition, then the academic seminar.

The newcomers’ competition is straightforward and brutal; all participants are taken to one place, then start catching ghosts. They’re scored based on the number caught and their performance during the catching.

This time, the competition venue is an abandoned mental hospital. The reason for its abandonment was exposed by a journalist who revealed their dark secrets. Initially, the hospital treated mental patients but later, for profit, the director engaged in monstrous acts.

There were cases of scumbags colluding with mistresses to take over family property, sending the legitimate wife to the mental hospital. Unable to endure various torturous treatments, the wife jumped to her death. There were also cases of rivals for family property being sent to this hospital for so-called treatment. Too many similar cases.

The hospital’s medical staff, colluding and conspiring, knew well that those sent there were not mentally ill, but for money, twisted facts and disregarded human life.

Later, a journalist went undercover for a week, endured various tortures, and escaped to expose the hospital’s dark side. That’s when the hospital was investigated and shut down, eventually being abandoned. No one wants to take over and renovate this hospital. People say it’s ghostly, with too many vengeful spirits, and whoever takes it over will die. Even if the buildings are torn down and rebuilt, those who move in will not find peace.

The hospital is located on the outskirts of a township, sparsely populated, with most of the walls collapsed, overgrown with green plants. From the outside, it indeed looks eerie. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

All the ghost hunters participating in the competition were brought to the gate by two buses. There are a total of seventy-five participants in this competition.