Tang Cuo rembered Jin Cheng once ntioned that he had many enemies. Once they learnt that he was punished back to Zone F and that he needed to go through the missions once again, most of them would want to cause trouble for him in the dungeons. As such, he recruited Chi Yan as a temporary staff of the team to help them get through the trouble.
For now, it couldnt be concluded that there were enemies in this dungeon, but in a mission of such a high difficulty, having idiotic teammates posed more dangers than ever.
But was Tang Cuo scared? No, he was totally not.
He was a real warrior who didnt like to talk much; whatever he said, he would do it. And the target right now was still the basent.
In Jin Chengs year 1926, Yu Mansion had beco a house occupied by ghosts. There were ghosts wandering in the kitchen, the corridor and, in fact, everywhere. The only safe zone was next to the phone, but if they stayed there for too long, the ghosts would start attacking.
Luckily, the path from the phone to the built-in cupboard was unobstructed, so the three quickly turned on the chanism to enter the basent.
Tang Cuo didnt have to use a candle this ti, because Jin Cheng pulled out the glass lamp he got in the dungeon of [Kingdom Hidden In The Moonlight]. This thing wasnt very useful and could only be used for lighting, but because it was a mission item that could be stored in the Inventory Bar, it was very convenient to access.
The basent door was locked and Qi Hui still had the key from the other dinsion in his pocket, but Tang Cuo seed to think of sothing and asked Jin Cheng: Are the butlers keys still there?
Jin Cheng: I used three to open the attic. Theres still one left.
Tang Cuo: One only?
Was it because the ti and space changed, so the corresponding clue also changed? Tang Cuo thought for a mont and gave up his spot to Jin Cheng. Jin Cheng took out his only remaining key but couldnt open the door.
In other words, the key to the basent that used to be in the butlers hands was no longer in his hands in 1926.
Not saying another word, Tang Cuo opened the basent with the key he had. Qi Hui beca alert the second the door opened, but since he had already got into the basent once, he wasnt much scared.
But the scene he saw the mont they entered the place still had him surprised.
In the basent, besides the coffin, there were now two dead bodies lying on the ground.
Jin Cheng knelt down and turned over a corpse that had his back facing upward. With a single glance, he revealed this corpses identity as the butler, then he looked at the other corpse and said Yu Wangnian.
anwhile, Tang Cuo opened the coffin. He glanced over the corpse in the coffin that was even more shrivelled than before but still recognisable and said calmly: Yu Wangyue.
Qi Hui stuttered: A family massacre?
Tang Cuo turned around and asked Jin Cheng: Are the bodies of the lady and the others also here?
Jin Cheng: At least not in the rooms where I managed to open the door.
Tang Cuo nodded and went to check the corpse on the ground. Very soon, his eyebrows furrowed: These two died very recently. There were only small bumps on their bodies and no fatal injuries.
Jin Cheng stretched out his hands: It ans they were killed by a ghost. Mrs. Lin Wan died in hatred, so she killed her husband. A typical ghost story.
But this was no typical ghost story.
Tang Cuo was about to speak when he caught a glimpse of a ghost flashing by from a secluded corner and his expression quickly tensed up. Jin Cheng reacted faster than him and sprayed a handful of glimring dust at the ghost while pushing it back, at which point they could clearly see its face.
Yu Wangnian.
Qi Huis whole body shook up and he rushed to hide behind the two big bosses. Tang Cuo swiftly searched the two corpses, thinking to find whatever clues he could. He rummaged through their pockets then rapidly retreated.
Five minutes later, the three returned to the telephone in the living room.
Tang Cuo now had ti to ask Jin Cheng: What did you spray at the ghost just now?
Jin Cheng smiled: The ash from the incense pot in front of the Buddha. It may not be very useful, but it can drive away ghosts. But I only have one bag of this stuff. If we want to leave here alive, Ill have to rely on you, my great detective.
Tang Cuo ignored his nonsense and just went to inspect his harvest from the trip to the basent. In total, he found three things from the butlers and Yu Wangnians corpses, including a key, a gun and an old notebook the size of his palm.
Both the key and the gun were found from Yu Wangnian, and two bullets were missing from the gun.
The old notebook belonged to the butler. He flipped through to find a few notes on the butlers daily works, but he couldnt yet locate any important clues.
We have to go to the second floor. Yu Wangnians key may be able to open his bedroom or his study. Tang Cuo said. When he said this, his eyes were fixed on Jin Cheng.
Jin Cheng folded his arms and said: Youre really giving a difficult task.
There was only one way of doing this: While Jin Cheng restrained the ghosts on the second floor, Tang Cuo would try to find clues. As for Qi Hui, both Tang Cuo and Jin Cheng turned to look at him.
Qi Hui shuddered, for he was frightened by the perfect coordination of the two big bosses.
Tang Cuo: You stay on the phone and keep calling until you get through.
Qi Hui didnt want to be alone, but he glanced at the dark second floor, thought of the scary female ghost, then thought of Zhou Dahai and finally agreed to this arrangent.
But if the phone gets through, what should I say?
Tang Cuo said without even thinking: Tell them Jin Cheng is dead.
Jin Cheng: ???
Tang Cuo turned around to look at him but didnt say a word.
Jin Cheng: Dont you want to explain a bit?
Tang Cuo asked back: Arent you seeing my face now?
This is the explanation. Look at my handso face full of integrity.
Jin Cheng laughed angrily, raised one hand and fiercely rubbed Tang Cuos head till his hair was all ssed up and even his body was swayed to one side under the force. Tang Cuo glared from the corner of his eye Is this a horrible habit of yours? And how can you do it with such a guilt-free face?
Qi Hui hurriedly jumped in to persuade them: You two, please dont argue. Keep cool, we can talk.
Jin Cheng threw him a glance as sharp as a knife: Are we arguing?
Qi Hui: You are not???
Jin Cheng thought that he wouldnt want to talk to soone who never had the eyes to spot the unspoken details, so he grabbed Tang Cuos wrist and dragged him away: You co with .
Tang Cuos expression remained blank, but he didnt resist at all.
Qi Hui was even more worried now, afraid that they would fight, but he really didnt have the nerve to persuade them further.
Stepping onto the dark staircase leading to the second floor, Jin Cheng let go of Tang Cuos hand. He wanted to hold on for a while, but it wouldnt help with fighting the ghosts.
Tang Cuo had already taken out his Sword of Judgnt.
Are you thinking of tricking the remaining two players? Jin Cheng asked.
Dynamite fishing. Isnt it your specialty? As they spoke, the two had already reached the last step on the staircase. In the dark corridor drowned in a ghostly atmosphere, an eerie wind was blowing and the sound of a womans sobbing was coming from the front.
Jin Cheng lowered his voice: These ghosts have different triggers. The lady is an angry ghost, so whenever soone walks into her territory, shell attack. Shes also the strongest here. Most of the rest are just minor ghosts that are easy to handle. The patched-up ghost stands sowhere in between, but his attack isnt as fierce as the lady. One more thing, the ghosts on the first floor wont co to the second floor since theyre afraid of the lady.
This was what Jin Cheng found out in the first two hours of actual battles with the ghosts, and Tang Cuo noted them down one by one.
The two of them stayed close to the wall and walked forward. Because they both had received professional training, their footsteps were almost inaudible and even the sound of their breathing was muffled to the minimum. In the whole mansion, there was now only the wailing of the female ghost and the sound of Qi Hui making phone calls from the first floors living room.
Qi Hui was very nervous. He saw ghosts floating in the kitchen door, in the corridor and on the ceiling, then there was Yu Wangnian in the basent.
Pop! The chandelier above his head exploded, leaving only three lights twinkling feebly.
On the second floor, Tang Cuo had begun to test the first door. His movents were very light but very fast; if this door didnt work, he would imdiately jump to the next without wasting any second.
Jin Cheng stayed beside him. In the darkness, their bodies occasionally brushed against each other, feeling like a tiny spark of fire that suddenly flickered amidst a frosty snowfall.
But now wasnt the ti to think about such things.
Jin Cheng listened carefully to the female ghosts wailing, then suddenly he pulled out the small harp and played his Requiem. There was only half a bag of incense ash left, so they needed to save it.
At the sa ti, Tang Cuo moved faster. He rushed to the next door, precisely inserted the key into the keyhole, and click, it worked!
This was a study room.
Tang Cuo quickly glanced at the surroundings and headed straight to the desk. He flipped through the books, opened the drawers and tried to locate any hidden compartnts. All his actions were as smooth as flowing water, fast yet steady.
A fight was going on in the corridor.
Tang Cuo didnt have ti to look at it. He caught a glimpse of a cloth bag in the corner and imdiately swept everything he found useful into the bag. At this mont, his eyes landed on the first photo he had ever seen after entering this mansion.
The black-and-white photo taken during an old era wasnt very clear, but it could be seen that the subject was a family of four. The photo was taken on the lawn outside the mansion. Yu Wangnian sat beside his wife Lin Wan, Lin Wan held a sweet smiling girl in her arms, and behind Yu Wangnians back stood a gentle-looking Yu Wangyue.
Tang Cuo pulled out the photo from the fra and saw the date behind the photo: 3rd January 1923.
Judging from the photo, in early 1923, the family still looked happy.
Putting away the photo, Tang Cuo turned his gaze to a small door deep in the study that led to another room. Tang Cuo carefully observed the keyhole and a flash of light crossed his mind.
He rushed back to the door: The keys!
Jin Cheng understood. As his sound wave attacked the female ghost, he turned around and tossed the butlers keychain over. Tang Cuo firmly caught it and quickly returned to the small door, then nicely opened it.
Behind the door was a small bedroom. It wasnt difficult to see that this was where Yu Wangnian usually lived. The room carried a dark tone and no decoration, fully exuding its masters rigid and strict nature.
Clang. Tang Cuo kicked sothing and looked down to find that it was a key.
The key to the basent.
This dungeon was getting more and more interesting. The key to the basent was in the small room inside the study. Although the key to the small room was on the butlers keychain, they must enter the study to open the small room. And the key to the study was in the basent.
If Tang Cuo didnt bring the key to the basent from another dinsion, this would be a roundabout puzzle with no way to solve.
No wonder the teams who entered the dungeon all perished one after another.
Ti was running out, so Tang Cuo wasnt allowed to think much about it. He swiftly started to look for clues, and when he walked over to the bed, there was a corpse it was a maid dressed in a cheongsam with wide slits, with a collar button already untied. It seed that she intentionally dressed up and even had lipstick on. She hugged her chest and her eyes opened wide, as if she hadnt expected to et her end until the very mont she died.
The cause of death was a bullet in the chest, which killed her in a single blow.
Tang Cuo thought of Yu Wangnians gun with two missing bullets, then thought of the old fountain pen that the young maid hid in her room. The ssily scattered clues had begun to connect together, revealing a corner of the story.
There were very few things in the bedroom. Tang Cuo quickly turned around and returned to the corridor with the cloth bag.
Jin Cheng had led the female ghost to fight with the patched-up ghost, perfectly applying the very sa thod he used the last ti. Although the process wasnt as plain sailing as the last ti, he still contained both ghosts at the other end, far away from Tang Cuo.
Tang Cuo hurriedly glanced over to gauge the situation before rushing towards Yu Wangyues room. Before coming to the year 1926, he had already obtained the key to this room and encountered the ghost of Yu Wangyue inside.
In 1926, the mont the door opened, Tang Cuo had a second encounter with him.
Yu Wangyue sat by the window with a blank expression and calm deanour. He looked back again, his movents still slow and his expression unflinching.
Yu Wangyue? Tang Cuo tried to talk to him, but Yu Wangyue was like a tightly closed bottle that was neither trying to attack people nor interested in any sort of talking.
Tang Cuo simply ignored him and went to search the room instead.
With much struggle, Jin Cheng managed to push back the two ghosts. He breathed a sigh of relief, then poked his head into the room to check how things were going. What he saw was a scene where one person and one ghost each occupied one side of the room, both living in harmony.
Have you beco friends? Jin Cheng mumbled in his mind, Ive been fighting with ghosts for three hundred rounds since entering this dungeon, yet youre here making friends?
Today, Jin Cheng felt his luck running out and his head turning a bit green, lit. translated as have so green on the head, or , lit. translated as wear a green hat, is a Chinese slang which ans that youre getting cheated on by your romantic partner..
Tang Cuo explained: If you find it hard to believe, try attacking him, he wont attack you back.
Jin Cheng:
Tang Cuo said again: Have you noticed that the lady isnt attacking you anymore.
Jin Cheng:
He looked back. Indeed she wasnt.
In the dark corridor, peace had co again. The patched-up ghost was afraid of being beaten by the female ghost and had temporarily retreated into the toilet, while the female ghost started at Jin Cheng standing at the entrance to Wangyues room but didnt co forward.
Hatred was like a tide. It ca and went, leaving only grief on the sand. She looked at this side with such an indescribably sad expression, then turned to hide into the wall.
There was really sothing going on between Lady Lin Wan and Yu Wangyue.
As Jin Cheng was thinking, Qi Huis shocking shout suddenly ca from downstairs: It goes through! Is it Dahai? This is Qi Hui!
Qi Hui scread at the top of his lungs to inform the two upstairs. Jin Cheng turned around and exchanged a look with Tang Cuo, then the two quickly headed downstairs.
Stay calm first, whats happening over there? Qi Hui tried to pacify Zhou Dahai and winked at Tang Cuo to give a sign.
Tang Cuo didnt answer, instead, he took out the notebook found in the study and used the young maids old fountain pen to write down questions for Qi Hui to ask.
Qi Hui understood, made an OK gesture and asked on the phone: Are you alone on your side? Now Im the only one here. Tang Cuo just suddenly disappeared, it scared to death!
Zhou Dahai didnt doubt him one bit and asked nervously: Then what shall we do now?
Qi Hui: Now we can only rely on ourselves. Dahai, let ask you, when you saw Yu Wangyue in the basent, does he look like he died recently? Have you found who the murderer was?
Zhou Dahai: How can I know who the murderer is? But he seems to have died recently. Is everything okay over there? I found that Yu Wangyues ghost doesnt seem to want to attack . Im hiding beside the phone now. It should be okay for the ti being.
Qi Hui: When is it on your side? What year and what ti is it?
Zhou Dahai: I saw the newspaper on the table, 25th December 1923. Its 9 oclock in the evening. But what I read from the newspaper seems wrong. Isnt Yu Wangyue dead? The newspaper says hes gone to study abroad!
As Zhouhais gasping voice ca from the receiver, Tang Cuo heard it and finally determined three points in ti for each of their dinsions.
Zhou Dahai: On 25th December 1923, Yu Wangyue died.
Qi Hui and he: In 1924, a corpse was dismbered in the bathroom.
Jin Cheng: In 1926, the whole family was massacred in the mansion.
There were three homicides at three different tis. It was worth noting that based on the number of characters under the bed in the attic, the ti of Yu Wangyues death seed to coincide with the ti at which the person started being locked up in the attic.
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