C6 Corpses Burial Ground

Yu Er's words may have seemed like gibberish to his brother and others, perhaps even like superstitious nonsense, but to me, they were incredibly significant. One thing was clear: Yu Er had been deceived into working as an intern in the building. His missing the elevator's activation time was almost certainly tied to the money he found. How that money came to be there was a mystery, but it was evident that his tragedy stemmed from that missed moment.

I felt a surge of anger. Ms. Liu had already caused the deaths of three people, and now she was trying to pull me into her web of deceit. Her actions were unforgivable!

Even though I couldn't be sure about Wang Tao's reliability, and I still didn't know if he was a human or a ghost, I found myself more inclined to trust him over Ms. Liu.

I called Wang Tao, and the line was noisy on his end. After a brief pause, he answered and instructed me to meet him at a bar on San San Street to talk further. Hanging up, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. If Wang Tao were a ghost, how could he move about freely all day and even hang out at a bar? My suspicion that Ms. Liu was the architect of this entire scheme deepened—she was deceiving me!

I resolved that if I could gather solid evidence, I would go to the police and have Ms. Liu arrested for her ruthless crimes.

Upon reaching the bar, Wang Tao was waiting for me at the entrance. We settled into a secluded corner; he ordered a cocktail, while I opted for a fruit juice. Wang Tao inquired about the events that had unfolded. I played it safe, not divulging the full story, and instead asked what might happen if I left the building.

Taking a sip of his drink, Wang Tao replied earnestly that the most likely outcome would be a mental breakdown followed by suicide, much like what happened to Yu Er. But it would depend on the specific circumstances. Yu Er, driven by greed and having broken a taboo, had met a fate he brought upon himself.

A chill ran through me as I protested that he had merely picked up money in the elevator—something anyone might have done involuntarily. It seemed utterly unjust that such an act could lead to his death.

Wang Tao countered that ghosts don't operate on logic. Besides, Yu Er's mistakes weren't limited to neglecting the elevator door; he had also ventured into two restricted areas.

"What are the forbidden areas?" I asked. Wang Tao explained that one was the basement and the other was the 14th floor. Both places were used to imprison ghosts, but the 14th floor was particularly notorious. Anyone who entered there at midnight was doomed. He suspected that Yu Er had picked up some money and was taken straight to the 14th floor by the elevator.

I shuddered at the thought. "Where did the money in the elevator come from?" I asked.

"It was deliberately left there as a trap for Yu Er," Wang Tao replied. Then, out of the blue, he asked, "You haven't been to the 14th floor, have you?"

Caught off guard, I recounted the incident of Wu Yi and me visiting the 14th floor. Wang Tao pondered for a moment before responding, "You're too naive. The 14th floor is off-limits. I wouldn't dare to venture there myself. Red paper, a pen, and water... I've never heard of such a ritual. Wait, now I get it—Liu Rong is trying to involve you in a hell wedding. You didn't give her your birthday, did you?"

I admitted that I had.

Slapping his thigh, Wang Tao exclaimed, "Brother, you've been far too careless."

He went on to explain, "Liu Rong manages this building and is desperate to increase its value. She's tried many methods, but the building's deep-seated resentment and lingering obsessions are beyond the capabilities of most warlocks. Then, a mysterious individual arrived and suggested that to deal with the building's monster, they needed to identify the vicious creatures within. He proposed a vile scheme: find the vicious creature, use a medium, and arrange a living person to enter into a hell wedding with a ghost. The idea was that this could neutralize the creature's malevolence, allowing it to consume the other vicious creatures and achieve a significant breakthrough. It's a dark and twisted approach, and I can't believe Liu Rong is actually pursuing it."

Realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I declared my intention to confront Liu Rong, but Wang Tao grabbed me, warning, "You can't afford to antagonize Liu Rong right now. She's got leverage over you. If she wishes to harm you, she could easily employ a nomadic warlock to curse you using your birth details. If that happens, you'd have no chance of escape."

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked. Wang Tao replied, "Get married within three days, as quickly as possible!"

I exclaimed, "Damn, Ms. Liu and Wu Yi told me I had seven days!"

Wang Tao gave a wry smile. "You're too naive. In seven days, everything will be set in stone. By then, the hell wedding will be a done deal, and you'll be ready for the coffin!"

Curious, I asked Wang Tao about the woman from the 14th floor. He shook his head, remaining silent, and mentioned only that she was a formidable person. There were many rumors about her, some even suggesting she was a wandering spirit. The thought alone gave me the chills!

I couldn't help but smile bitterly. "I'm the one who should be scared. What are you afraid of?" Wang Tao gestured dismissively and said, "I've done as much as I can for you. Here, take this Evil Warding Jade Talisman. It'll do you some good."

"Why are you helping me?" I asked. Wang Tao replied, "You're too kind-hearted and easily exploited. By helping you, I'm also helping myself."

I didn't quite grasp his meaning. After finishing his drink, Wang Tao announced he had urgent matters to attend to and had to leave. He cautioned me one last time not to act rashly, reminding me that Liu Rong had leverage over me and that I should focus on getting out of this situation unscathed. On my way back, I pondered whether this was a blessing or a curse, but if it was a curse, it was inescapable. According to Wang Tao, I had a mere three days. If I couldn't find someone to marry by then, I'd be at a significant disadvantage. Back in my dorm room, lying on my bed, life suddenly seemed overwhelmingly desolate. I could have led a normal life, earning money, studying, and after graduation, finding a simple job, getting married, and starting a family. Instead, I chose to chase after more money and found myself on a path of no return.

I drifted off to sleep, unsure of how much time had passed when I vaguely sensed darkness outside. The dorm was empty; my roommates were likely out at a gathering. I rolled over, trying to sleep again. Oddly enough, despite the typical May heat, I felt an intense cold. I sat up, pulled a blanket from the closet, and lay back down. As I was dozing off, a sudden cool sensation on my neck jolted me awake—it felt like someone was breathing on me. Panicked and unable to move, as if paralyzed, I mustered all my strength to sit up, banging my head on the upper bunk in the process, which nearly brought me to tears. As I nursed my head, cursing under my breath, an icy hand suddenly rested on my shoulder. I froze, thinking it must be one of my roommates playing a prank. In a low voice, I said, "Old Zhang, you can't fool around like this. I'm exhausted and just want to rest!"

"Brother, it's me." A gentle voice suddenly reached my ears, startling me to the point where I nearly fell to my knees.

I turned around to see a young face with pursed lips, dimples showing, and eyes smiling warmly at me. I managed a strained smile and asked, "What are you doing here?"

To my surprise, the little girl responded, "Wherever you are, brother, that's where I'll be." I gulped, my anxiety skyrocketing. A painful lump had formed on my head, and it throbbed intensely. This was no dream; it seemed I had truly encountered a ghost! Taking a deep breath, I inquired, "Little sister, how can you leave that building?"

With a smile, she replied, "You're the one who took me out."

My heart sank. It seemed she had latched onto me. "How is that possible?" I thought. "Ghosts can't leave the spiritual staircase or the Yang Gate, unless... you're not..."

The little girl gently placed her hand on my head and said, "Brother, don't you remember? I have your clothes. Now I can follow you wherever you go!"

I pleaded, "Can you please not follow me? I've got enough bad luck as it is. Just surviving is a challenge for me, and now you—and Liu Rong—what do you want from me?"

Confronted with my questioning, the little girl looked at me, bewildered and teary-eyed. I pressed on, "Do you all wish for my death? You want me to be your scapegoat, don't you? And Ms. Liu, for the sake of money, you've taken several lives. You're both despicable! If you're already dead, why not move on to the next life? Why stay here?"

Suddenly, the girl looked up, fury flashing in her eyes, but it quickly subsided to a silent shiver. After a moment, she said, "Brother, you need to throw away that jade piece!"

Her words jogged my memory of the Evil Warding Jade that Wang Tao had given me. I hastily pulled out the jade and warned the little girl, "Leave now, or I'll have to be harsh!"

The little girl pouted and insisted, "Brother, trust me, that jade is bad for you!"

"I said, 'This is an Evil Warding Jade, specifically for repelling evil. Are you frightened?'"

The little girl shook her head and replied, "I'm not scared. I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay with you."

Thinking to myself, if that's the case, we'll just wait it out. Let's see who can outlast the other. When the rooster crows at three or four in the morning, we'll see if you're still here! But I had another concern. Although I was alone in the dormitory, the silence outside was eerily oppressive. The entire hallway seemed devoid of any sound of movement. I began to wonder if I was experiencing hallucinations, yet everything was happening for real. Oh, that's right, the ghost hitting the wall! Wu Yi once told me he encountered a ghost hitting the wall on the 14th floor, and he even broke an arm. I was skeptical at the time, but now I'm genuinely unnerved.

As a child, the elders told me that if you encounter a ghost hitting the wall, biting your middle finger could break the spell.

Whether it worked or not, it was worth a shot. The pain was so intense it nearly knocked me out, proving the old saying true that each finger is connected to the heart. Yet, the ghost hitting the wall remained. When I regained my composure, the little girl sitting nearby was watching me intently, whispering, "Brother, throw the jade away. Use your saliva to wipe your eyelids, and then you'll be able to see."

I hesitated, reasoning that if the Evil Warding Jade truly had power, she wouldn't be near me. After pondering, I placed it within reach. Glancing at the little girl once more, I still couldn't read any expression on her face. Following her advice, I opened my eyes and gasped, nearly choking.

The area was desolate, with mounds of graves starkly rising before me, and there I was, clutching an unnamed stone tablet, leaning against a grave!

I was on the verge of collapse, my mind stretched to its limit. In a haze, I heard a voice say, "Brother, you're not alone. I'm here with you. Don't be afraid!"