C27 Dried Corpse

Listening to Liu Tian's words, I pressed on, "What's your plan for dealing with the basement level?"

I'd never been down to the basement before.

Liu Tian spoke with feigned mystique, "My friend, as I mentioned earlier, only the one who tied the bell can untie it. That person is you. It seems you'll have to handle this personally."

Then what's your role here?

Liu Tian chuckled, his cheeks jiggling.

"I'll keep watch tonight, but I'll give you a red string," he explained.

What red string?

"This red string has quite the tale behind it. It was passed down from my granduncle and is called the Karma String. It can help you meet the person you wish to see."

The person I wish to see... could he mean the girl? When I probed further, Liu Tian dodged the question. His demeanor almost made me want to punch him.

I suddenly realized these guys all loved to be cryptic, none of them giving me a straight answer.

"Lee Fan, you should get ready," Liu Tian advised.

"What kind of preparations?" I inquired.

"Do you think you can just go anywhere you please? For instance, if you're going to meet someone on the basement floor, you need to 'dress to impress,'" he said.

"Cut the nonsense and get to the point," I retorted.

"I am serious. Once you've freshened up, I'll take you down tonight," he insisted.

I had thought Liu Tian was just playing games, but his serious tone made me reconsider.

Wu Yi watched silently from the side.

After pondering for a moment, I decided it sounded plausible and said, "Alright, I'll go get ready now."

After my shower, dusk had settled in. I entered the office building, where Wu Yi and Liu Tian were waiting for me in the surveillance room, keeping an eye on the basement level.

I took a good look around.

Liu Tian grinned at me, "Looking sharp. Shall we head down now?"

Facing Liu Tian, I couldn't help but ask, "We're not expecting any trouble, are we? I'm not usually one to worry, but I prefer to be cautious with these matters."

Liu Tian chided, "Kid, you've managed to traverse so many floors on the fourth and second without a hitch. Why the sudden indecision?"

At that moment, Wu Yi chimed in, "Relax, Lee Fan. He's got some skills."

With that said, I found myself at a loss for words.

We approached the spiritual staircase and pressed a button, which caused it to open before us.

Staring into the void of the spiritual staircase, a heavy, oppressive feeling descended upon us. Liu Tian handed me a segment of red rope, instructing me earnestly to keep hold of it no matter what.

I glanced between Liu Tian and Wu Yi.

Wu Yi asked Liu Tian, "There won't be any trouble, will there?"

"What do you think? In this Ghost Building, such questions are pointless," Liu Tian retorted. "Some challenges he must face on his own; others can't help him. Let's get started."

Wu Yi fell silent.

They began their preparations. Liu Tian produced several ritualistic items, laying a yellow cloth on the ground before inscribing Lee Fan's name in blood.

After writing the name, Liu Tian's brow furrowed. He turned to me and said, "Lee Fan, you and Wu Yi will head down together shortly."

I acknowledged his instruction.

"The basement is a peculiar place, full of unpredictability, especially the vicious creature within. Luckily, there's some karmic connection between it and him," Liu Tian explained.

"What do you mean?" Wu Yi inquired.

Liu Tian whispered something in Wu Yi's ear, cautious not to be overheard.

As Wu Yi listened, his face grew increasingly grim, until he finally blurted out, "How do you know all this?"

With a sly grin, Liu Tian replied, "The Buddha teaches us there are things we must not speak of."

Watching this exchange, I couldn't contain my curiosity and protested, "What are you whispering about? Why not just tell me directly?"

Liu Tian, adopting a stern demeanor, urged, "Enough dawdling. Get moving."

I pressed the button, stepped onto the spiritual staircase, and Wu Yi quickly followed, pressing the button for the basement level.

As the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Liu Tian's enigmatic smile. It struck me as odd, and a sense of unease settled in as I descended.

While sitting in the elevator, I couldn't resist asking Wu Yi, "What did Liu Tian tell you earlier?"

Wu Yi replied with a grave tone, "I'll fill you in after we get off."

Once we reached the basement level, I found myself in a parking lot that had been deserted for years. To prevent any accidental intrusions, the area had been completely sealed off. Stepping out, I was immediately struck by the eerie atmosphere. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of sinister things might be lurking here, given the odd occurrences on the other floors.

Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the surroundings. Nothing seemed amiss, but I remained on high alert, knowing all too well the building's mysterious nature. Clutching the red rope tightly, I realized that despite my lingering suspicions about Liu Tian, there was no turning back now.

Finally, Wu Yi spoke up, "Lee Fan, Liu Tian asked me to tell you..." He then whispered in my ear as if to keep the words from being overheard.

My expression darkened as I processed what I'd heard.

"Did Liu Tian really say that?" I questioned.

Wu Yi gave a confirming nod.

A wave of unease washed over me. How could this impostor monk know so much? Who was he, really? These thoughts troubled me.

"Can we trust him?" I asked Wu Yi.

"I believe we can," Wu Yi responded. "He's your only hope. You're not in a position to be choosy, and trusting him might be your only shot at survival. Plus, it could be your chance to see her."

With that, my skepticism about Liu Tian began to wane, replaced by a growing curiosity about his true identity.

"Alright," I agreed with Wu Yi.

Following Liu Tian's instructions, Wu Yi placed Buddha Beads on my crown and covered my eyes with a yellow cloth.

"Lee Fan, you're now in the Void," Wu Yi informed me. "Return here immediately after you've taken care of business."

I nodded in acknowledgment.

The next thing I heard was the sound of Buddha Beads hitting the floor. As they clattered to a stop, I lost consciousness.

Time seemed to blur until, at last, I faintly heard someone calling my name: "Ming."

I opened my eyes to find myself lying in a room filled with antique charm. Beside me sat a person dressed in men's clothing, yet I could immediately tell she was a woman.

Her features were delicate and refined, but her eyes held a trace of sorrow.

As I surveyed the room, a memory seemed to flicker into existence. Gazing at the girl before me, everything came rushing back.

"Are you alright?" I inquired.

"I'm fine," she replied.

Yet, looking into her eyes, I sensed an unspoken burden. This might be a dream, but the girl felt strikingly familiar, as if I'd met her before, though I couldn't pinpoint where. Nevertheless, I recognized her as Miss Loong in this place.

"You can tell me anything," I offered, puzzled by the pang of empathy her presence evoked.

Miss Loong exhaled deeply, "My father has set up another marriage for me. If this one fails, he'll beat me to death."

My expression darkened with concern. I was well aware of who Old Master Loong was. As Miss Loong's attendant, I was acutely aware of the dire consequences of a failed marriage arrangement.

But the notion of forcing a woman to marry another woman was preposterous.

I took in my surroundings, realigning myself with the situation. Crossing from that side to this, I was beginning to realize this was no mere dream.

Liu Tian had spoken of past lives in the car, and in my haze, I found myself half-believing. For some reason, Wang Tao's phrase "a billion stars..." echoed in my mind.

I rose from the bed.

"Has your father proposed another marriage for you?" I asked.

She gave a slight nod.

Silence enveloped us for a moment. Old Master Loong's obsession with having a son had clearly driven him to madness. His motives were beyond my comprehension.

This oppressive silence couldn't continue. Liu Tian had sent me to meet her, yet the little girl was nowhere to be found.

I was the first to break the silence, "When is the wedding planned?"

"In three days, I am to marry the eldest daughter of the Zhang family," Miss Loong disclosed.

The eldest daughter of the Zhang family? They were well-matched with the Loong family in status. How could they willingly doom their daughter to such a fate, effectively destroying her life?

The lobster mentioned that he was clueless, suggesting that perhaps my father had struck some sort of deal with them. As Miss Loong spoke, her voice took on a tinge of distress.

I observed Miss Loong, finding her increasingly familiar. It was as if I had truly seen her somewhere before, and I'm not referring to that dream I had previously; I mean an actual encounter...

Liu Tian, the phony monk, referred to me as a 'dream demon.' While I couldn't fully grasp the concept, there was a vague sense that I knew a bit about it.

I was lost in thought when suddenly Miss Loong asked, "Can you help me?"

Miss Loong's question snapped me out of my reverie. "Do you want me to help you get out of this marriage?" I inquired.

She shook her head. "You're aware of my father's temperament. There's no way he would agree to call it off. What I'm asking is for you to meet with Miss Zhang and convince her to reject the marriage."

"How am I supposed to meet Miss Zhang, and what exactly should I say to her?" I questioned.

Seeing Miss Loong so troubled was heart-wrenching. For some reason, I found myself wishing for her well-being. Her father had been abusive since her childhood, insisting on raising her as if she were a son.

After whispering something to me, Miss Loong departed.

It was deep into the night. Her father typically forbade her from playing with other girls, preferring she spend time with boys to foster a more masculine demeanor.

Miss Loong's words made me furrow my brow in concern.

The Zhang family had a notorious reputation, having built their fortune on the coffin trade. Rumors swirled that they kept a horrifying zombie within their household.