Chapter 21 Night of Sacrifice (17)
They were strangers, unlikely to meet again. There was no harm in telling the truth. Miss Zhao said, “Actually, I knew Xiao Song and Xiao Yan when they were alive. I’m in that group photo.”
Xiao Song had assigned the rooms when the participants entered the instance. He had known Miss Zhao would be there.
Initially, the four pages in the basement had been complete, without any bloodstains or the photoshopped message, and the group photo had also been in the basement.
The original game was for the ten participants to find the ghost, the one who wasn’t a participant, and offer them to the formation. During the midnight knocking, Xiao Song had told Miss Zhao that she not only corresponded to the housekeeper ghost, but her face was also visible in the photo. He had threatened to tell everyone about their connection if she didn’t cooperate, forcing them to sacrifice her in the ritual. Terrified by the revelation that the ghost was someone she knew, Miss Zhao had no choice but to believe and cooperate with him, framing other female players as the ghost.
Xiao Song had prepared meticulously. He had even placed a fake window in room 1001, disguising it as a guest room, and planted a red swimsuit in Yun Zouchuan’s room as evidence.
He hadn’t directly revealed the formation’s true purpose but had been deliberately vague because anyone with a conscience wouldn’t sacrifice an innocent player. This could lead them to question the situation and discover another way to complete the instance. Sacrificing a ghost, however, was much easier to accept, seeming just and righteous. This would prevent them from looking for other clues.
But when Xiao Song knocked on the door of 2007, the woman inside had said, “Before you go, there are a few things I’d like to say: first, I won’t appear before anyone in the next few days. Second, I’ll dismantle the disguise in your room at night.”
Xiao Song: “…”
Damn it! His entire plan had fallen apart!
If the occupant of 2007 didn’t appear during the day, there would be nine people present, matching the nine participants. If he claimed there was a ghost among them, and then the occupant of 2007 removed the disguise in the housekeeper’s room, his identity would be exposed!
His plan was useless. Xiao Song had been forced to improvise, leading to the events that followed. He removed the fake window, put the housekeeper’s sign back on the door, and pretended to be staying in room 2007.
Due to the rules, he couldn’t directly tamper with the existing clues, only make superficial changes.
As for the “good woman” requirement, he figured changing the formation to something more positive would be easier for the others to accept. With limited time and restricted actions, that was the best he could do.
And the group photo? Well, they needed a good woman now, not a female ghost. Keeping the photo would only encourage them to think, so he hid it.
Of course, a clever person might realize the formation actually required a female ghost, not a good woman. Xiao Song had prepared a countermeasure for that as well: planting the suspicion on Yun Zouchuan and adapting to the situation.
But who would have thought Zhu Ming would sleep in on the first day?!
She was the only anomaly. He had no choice but to direct suspicion towards her. At least she was female.
Damn 2007! Damn Zhu Ming! Those two had ruined his plan from the very beginning!
…
Zhu Ming finally understood. No wonder the clues had seemed so strange. She had thought the ghost was just stupid, but there was a whole other layer to this.
The occupant of 2007 was truly an interesting person.
Zhu Ming said, “You helped him quite a bit, didn’t you, Miss Zhao?”
Miss Zhao replied, “At least that formation wouldn’t have killed anyone. If it had worked on the first day, no one would have died. It was your interference that caused more deaths.”
Zhu Ming: “Bullshit. You’re an idiot. Bye.”
Miss Zhao was furious. “How can you be so rude?!”
Zhu Ming said, “I’m only polite to humans, not to a ghost’s lapdog. Since you know the formation wouldn’t have killed anyone, why didn’t you volunteer? How ridiculous.”
Miss Zhao was speechless.
Zhu Ming pulled over a dining chair and sat down, holding the skewer.
A moment later, the housekeeper’s room door creaked open. Unlike at night, Xiao Song was visible and tangible during the day. When not revealing his ghost identity, he was indistinguishable from a human. And even after being exposed, he wasn’t intangible like at night.
Only when tangible could he be killed. Xiao Song could only die during the day.
He pushed the cleaning cart, nervously making his way to 1004. Even though he was unwilling, he had to play the role of a cleaner. Having exposed his identity and returned to the housekeeper’s room, he was now bound by its rules. When a guest requested cleaning service, he had to comply, no matter how much he delayed.
Yun Zouchuan, along with Xiao Cheng, Old Man Xu, and Xiao Xue, who had entered at some point, all silently watched Zhu Ming and the skewer in her hand.
As Xiao Song reached the door of 1004, Zhu Ming slowly stood up. “I said I would skin you alive. But… I’m a kind person. I won’t interrupt your work.” She grinned.
She stepped aside, politely holding the door open for him, her thoughtful gesture enough to make a ghost weep.
Miss Zhao, her voice filled with hatred, threatened from behind the door, “Zhu Ming! If I don’t die today, I won’t let you get away with this!”
Zhu Ming rolled her eyes. “There’s a long line of people who want me dead. Get in line.”
Xiao Song glared at Zhu Ming, then lunged forward, bursting through the door of 1004. Since reincarnation was no longer an option, he might as well take someone down with him. The more people he killed, the stronger he would become!
Miss Zhao wasn’t about to sit still and wait for death. As a seasoned Awakened, she also possessed items like Old Man Xu. And Xiao Song was much weaker during the day, the sunlight diminishing his power.
Holding a small, gray protective amulet in each hand, she punched Xiao Song in the face before he could attack. He yelped in pain and swung his broom, knocking her to the ground. Then, a skewer appeared in his hand, and he lunged at her.
The amulet blocked the skewer, shattering in the process.
A fierce chase ensued. Zhu Ming stood at the doorway, watching the show.
Finally, after all her amulets were gone, Miss Zhao tricked Xiao Song into leaving the room and slammed the door shut. She was injured and disheveled, but alive, though at a heavy cost.
From behind the door, she gritted her teeth. “You’re ruthless, Zhu Ming! I won’t forget this!”
Zhu Ming ignored her. She stepped forward, blocking Xiao Song’s path as he tried to escape with his cleaning cart. She twirled the rusty skewer in her hand. It was dirty, old, and dull, yet it posed a great threat to Xiao Song, making him instinctively recoil.
Zhu Ming advanced. Xiao Song, pressed against the door of 1004, had nowhere to retreat. He yelled, “Show some mercy—Argh!”
Zhu Ming covered his mouth, raising the skewer. Yun Zouchuan, understanding instantly, stepped forward and plunged the skewer into Xiao Song’s left eye.
“Skinning you alive seems a bit complicated. Let’s keep it simple.”
The skewer, like a magic needle, held Xiao Song in place, despite his struggles and screams. His strength rapidly faded as his body began to rot, starting from his eye socket, then his nose, his skin, his neck, his limbs…
Zhu Ming held up a finger, smiling. “Shhh… Remember this for next time. Don’t disturb my sleep.”
Unfortunately for him, there wouldn’t be a next time. Xiao Song’s body rapidly dissolved into a puddle of putrid blood and gore.
The skewer clattered to the floor, landing in the mess, filthy and disgusting.
Having avenged herself, Yun Zouchuan beamed. “Boss, we should go now.”
“No. Before we leave, there’s someone I need to meet.”
…
Time passed. Noon arrived. The statue was broken, and the barrier vanished.
Xiao Cheng came to find her. “Are you coming down the mountain? Although Xiao Song and the water ghost seem to be dead, there might be other ghosts here. Once the mission is over, the rules will disappear, and it could be dangerous.”
Zhu Ming was delighted to see him. “Perfect timing! It’s time to pay your tuition. After the barrier is broken, don’t leave. Wait for everyone else to finish the mission and descend the mountain, then use your ability to trap someone for me.”
She was really curious about the occupant of room 2007.
Xiao Cheng: “…” He regretted coming to find her.
Worried about the dangers of descending the mountain, Xiao Xue, Old Man Xu, and Yun Zouchuan left together, promising to send Yun Zouchuan back if anything unexpected happened.
Zhu Ming and Xiao Cheng stayed behind. Xiao Cheng, less curious than Zhu Ming, was more concerned about potential dangers, like Miss Zhao causing trouble. So after setting up a barrier around the villa, he kept an eye on room 1004, instead of joining Zhu Ming in her search.
Zhu Ming passed by room 2007 without stopping, heading straight for the terrace.
She had a feeling this person wasn’t in their room, but waiting for her on the rooftop.
The heat was relentless, the midday sun so bright it bleached the world of color.
Zhu Ming climbed the stairs to the rooftop terrace. The bougainvillea and clematis, thriving in the heat, showed no signs of wilting. Their vibrant blooms made the terrace as beautiful as the garden, especially with a certain someone basking in the sunlight.
Yin Yu.
She sat at the small, white, round table, surrounded by flowers, holding a teacup. She wore a simple white French blouse and a misty blue midi skirt. Her smooth, waist-length hair cascaded down her back like a black waterfall, her delicate features unchanged from Zhu Ming’s memory. Bathed in sunlight, she looked less like a living person and more like a beautiful statue carved from white jade.
Zhu Ming stood at the top of the stairs, hesitant to approach. As she gazed at this beautiful scene, her fists clenched.
Another illusion.
After the mission was completed, the rules became unstable. The participants could use their abilities again, which meant the ghosts could likely use theirs to the fullest extent as well.
It seemed even after being broken, that statue could still create mischief.
Ridiculous.
This was the third time. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. She had defeated the housekeeper and the water ghost; she wasn’t afraid of a statue!
However…
This illusion was so realistic. The boss must have put a lot of effort into it. It would be rude not to appreciate its hospitality.
Yin Yu looked up and saw Zhu Ming. She put down her teacup, smiled, and greeted her. “Long time no see, Mingming.”
Zhu Ming walked forward, her knuckles cracking, swept the teacup aside, and sat on the table, directly in front of Yin Yu, her eyes narrowed.
Seeing this, Yin Yu couldn’t help but tease, “The way you’re looking at me makes me think you still have feelings for me.”
Zhu Ming snorted. “If you play your cards right, maybe I do.”
Yin Yu: “…”
She looked surprised, then tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing the elegant curve of her neck. Her lips, the color of pale pink cherry blossoms, curved into a smile. “That wasn’t your attitude when you pushed me away.”
Zhu Ming said, “Come on, seduce me.”
Yin Yu: “?”
Zhu Ming clicked her tongue impatiently. “Why aren’t you as proactive as last time? Or are you trying a new, heartfelt approach this time?”
Yin Yu: “…”
Zhu Ming grabbed Yin Yu’s collar, her grip so tight it wrinkled the pristine fabric. “Let’s see what tricks you have up your sleeve this time. Impress me.”
Yin Yu fell silent. After a long while, she sighed and gently removed Zhu Ming’s hand from her collar.
Oh, taking the subtle route this time?
Zhu Ming chuckled and pinched Yin Yu’s cheek. “That’s all you’ve got?”
Leave a Reply