As night fell, the world seemed enveloped in an aura of danger.
All the travelers gathered in the unlit lobby, reviewing the events of the day.
At Gu Moleng’s urging, they had agreed to share information—any discoveries made during the day would be exchanged among them, hoping to quickly uncover the rumored crystal coffin nestled in a sea of white roses.
Gu Moleng spoke first, "Has anyone found anything worth sharing?"
A balding man in a suit, who looked every bit the successful businessman, took the lead. "The town’s library keeps a chronicle of its history. Flipping through that book might yield some clues."
A gaunt man, thin as a bamboo pole, asked, "Did you get a chance to read it?"
The balding man shook his head. "The librarian said it’s already been checked out."
"By whom?" the thin man pressed.
"The town’s schoolteacher," came the reply.
No doubt, that teacher was another monster in disguise.
Jiang Du spoke up next. "I walked around the town earlier and drew a map based on what I saw."
Having studied art before, his map was impressively precise and well-drawn.
Wen Sisi took a glance and remarked, "Jiang Du, you’re quite talented. When I publish my book someday, you should illustrate it for me."
Wen Yaoyao tugged discreetly at Wen Sisi’s sleeve. "Jiang Du doesn’t like it when people associate his art with money."
Jiang Du snatched the map back without sparing Wen Sisi a second glance.
Wen Sisi pouted.
She had always dreamed of becoming a writer, a literary figure of renown.
Though Jiang Du and Wen Yaoyao were classmates, Wen Sisi was in a different class. Wen Yaoyao, however, shared not only a class with Jiang Du but also with Gu Moleng.
Ming Buchang scanned the group with a sneer. "So, these are the useless scraps you’ve gathered?"
A heavily made-up woman, known for her fiery demeanor, retorted, "Oh? Did you uncover something more valuable?"
Nicknamed "Little Spice," she had a figure that turned heads and eyes that smoldered. Initially, Ming Buchang had tried to charm her, but she clearly had no interest in him, instead directing coy glances at Gu Moleng—clearly seeing him as the one worth clinging to.
Ming Buchang, resentful of Gu Moleng’s influence, smirked and pulled out a tattered travel guide from his pocket. "This is what I dug out of the trash. It’s packed with details about the town’s attractions."
All eyes locked onto the booklet in his hands.
Gu Moleng reminded him, "We agreed to share any findings."
Ming Buchang scoffed. "That was your agreement, not mine."
Hands in his pockets, he brushed past Gu Moleng and headed for the stairs. Pausing, he glanced back at the women in the room, stroking his chin with a lewd grin. "Though… if any of you lovely ladies can… entertain me, I might be persuaded to share."
With that, he sauntered up to the second floor, clearly pleased with himself.
Wen Sisi grew frantic. "Moleng, that creep won’t show us the guide. What do we do?"
Gu Moleng’s expression darkened, but he suppressed his irritation. "I’ll think of something."
As the clock neared ten, the group dispersed to their rooms.
Once the crowd thinned, Wen Yaoyao mustered her courage and approached Gu Moleng, Wen Sisi, and Jiang Du. "That travel guide seems important… and from what he said… maybe… maybe I should go talk to him—"
"Are you insane? Absolutely not!" Wen Sisi snapped, her temper flaring. "That guy is disgusting. Just being near him makes my skin crawl."
Wen Yaoyao’s eyes welled up. "I just… I feel useless. I wanted to help—"
Wen Sisi, long immune to her sister’s tears, was about to lash out again when Gu Moleng cut in. "Enough, Sisi. She meant well. Don’t be so harsh."
Wen Sisi stiffened. "Harsh? How am I being harsh?"
Gu Moleng recognized the storm brewing in her tone and rubbed his temples wearily. "Sisi, grow up."
Turning to Wen Yaoyao, he softened his voice. "She’s just impulsive. Don’t take it to heart. Go rest—and don’t even think about approaching Ming Buchang."
With that, he retreated to his room.
In the past, he might have indulged Wen Sisi’s tantrums, but trapped in this nightmarish world, with death lurking at every turn, his patience had worn thin.
Jiang Du glanced at Wen Yaoyao’s tearful face and silently handed her a tissue from his pocket.
He was a man of few words, his demeanor cool and detached.
Wen Yaoyao accepted it with a quiet, "Thank you."
Without another word, Jiang Du ascended the stairs to his room.
Wen Yaoyao hesitated before whispering to Wen Sisi, "Should we head back too?"
Wen Sisi shot her a glare. "I don’t need you to tell me what to do!"
Used to living in her sister’s shadow, Wen Yaoyao shrank back. "Then… don’t stay up too late."
Left alone in the stairwell, Wen Sisi angrily wiped away the tears that had escaped.
Her fiancé had humiliated her in front of everyone. The fury inside her burned like a volcano.
The sudden sound of an abacus clicking broke the silence.
Wen Sisi whipped her head toward the noise, then stormed up the stairs, her footsteps pounding.
Fang Min, who had been watching the scene unfold, scratched his head in confusion. Why was he suddenly the target of her glare?
"Uncle! There’s a ghost! The witch’s house has a ghost! It’s terrifying!"
A child’s panicked scream shattered the quiet as he barreled into Fang Min’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Fang Min took in his nephew’s crooked head and the eyeball that had popped loose from its socket during his frantic run. After a brief pause, he calmly reinserted the eyeball. "You’re not even human. What’s there to be scared of?"
Meanwhile, the very ghost that had terrified the child was being forcibly dragged by the so-called "witch" into the town’s only clinic.
The doctor, an elderly man with glasses, had been on his way to the inn for his night shift when the unexpected patient arrived. He sighed and settled behind his desk.
Studying the freshly developed X-ray, the old doctor adjusted his spectacles. "This image…"
Xia Miao tensed. "What’s wrong?"
"It doesn’t look good."
Beside her, a long-haired man hunched over, his posture eerily submissive. His shadowed face occasionally twitched, his fingers clutching the hem of Xia Miao’s skirt like a lost child.
Xia Miao bit her lip. "Doctor, is his toothache caused by something more serious?"
The old doctor handed the scan to Xia Miao and said, "Look at his body—the ribs are flared outward, organs compressed and deformed, and the entire skeletal structure is twisted. The situation isn’t good."
The scan revealed strange, shadowy shapes, as if his body were filled with things that didn’t belong to him.
Xia Miao frowned slowly before speaking, "Doctor, wait a moment."
She turned to E Gui and ordered, "Open your mouth."
E Gui sluggishly obeyed, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
Xia Miao said again, "Wider."
With an "ah-woo," his mouth split open, stretching as wide as a head.
Xia Miao stood up, thrusting one hand inside. It was unclear how she rummaged around in there, but E Gui let out a muffled laugh, his body trembling as he slurred, "Miao… Miao… tickles."
Xia Miao snapped, "Stop moving!"
He froze immediately.
Two bottles of Wangzi Milk were pulled out, followed by three packs of Yueliyue Cookies, then four bags of nuts.
The old doctor’s hand, adjusting his glasses, paused mid-air.
Suddenly, Xia Miao shuddered and yanked out three lively squirrels, which immediately scurried away and vanished.
Xia Miao gasped, "You even caught squirrels?!"
E Gui replied sluggishly, "Yesterday… Miao Miao… complained… no squirrels… wanted to eat."
Xia Miao’s expression turned indescribable.
Was this what she meant by "three squirrels"?
Her hand suddenly brushed against something else. She plunged both arms in and, with great effort, hauled out a "Laughing Happy" brand water jug.
But the liquid inside didn’t look like mineral water.
She asked, "What’s in here?"
E Gui answered honestly, "Miao Miao… bath… smells nice."
—It was her bathwater.
Xia Miao’s face went blank.
The old doctor’s glasses finally slipped off his nose.
Since when had human relationships gotten this deranged?
