CH 97

Chapter 97 – Without a Key 9

The guest room that Xu RenDong lived in was on the third floor. Going up the stairs, he had to do several circles to get to the ninth floor.

All was silent at this time. There were no birds chirping or cicadas chirping in this ghostly place and only the whirring of the wind could be heard.

Unlike the horror story villa last time, this tulou was leaking. When Xu RenDong was walking on the stairs, the cool cold wind poured into his neck and downwards, making his entire back chilled.

As he was walking, he suddenly heard a sound other than the wind. At first it was a few odd splatters and then it became more regular. When he circled around and came back to the corridor, the rain outside the railing had already drifted onto his face.

It was raining?

Xu RenDong was stunned.

Did it rain last time? How come he had no impression of it?

Xu RenDong glanced at the time. At this time last time, he should still be in the room. At that time, he and Lian Qiao were both overwhelmed by the torture of the aphrodisiac so they probably didn’t pay attention to whether it was raining outside.

Still, Xu RenDong felt a strange feeling in his heart. He kept going up. The rain was getting heavier and heavier and soon it was like pebbles falling from the air, falling to the ground with a thud.

A wild wind was blowing with rain and the wind in the hallway became cold and damp, making people feel uncomfortable.

When Xu RenDong arrived at the ninth floor, there was already a storm outside. Even when he was walking under the eaves, the rain that blew in had already soaked him. Xu RenDong originally felt a little hot but at this time he couldn’t help shivering.

There are also rows of maids standing in the corridor on the ninth floor. They all stood quietly beside the railing and their bodies were naturally soaked. The rain dripped down their hair and their clothes clung to their bodies, outlining their graceful girlish figures.

They were originally expressionless but when they saw Xu RenDong, they raised the corners of their mouths and smiled lightly.

Xu RenDong ignored them and walked straight to Shi JianChuan’s room. A swaying figure appeared on the paper-pasted window paper. Xu RenDong knocked on the carved wooden door a few times and soon a maid came to answer the door.

“I’m here to find…” Before Xu RenDong finished speaking, a gleaming white figure flashed behind the maid.

Xu RenDong was startled. Looking closely, it was a shirtless man. The man turned his back to him, his skin was as white as jade, and the luster was warm and beautiful. The two shoulder blades spread out like butterflies and his waistline was deep. It was a good figure with wide shoulders and a narrow waist.

Xu RenDong was taken aback. The man turned his head and gave him a warm smile.

“Looking for me?”

Xu RenDong frowned slightly. What was Shi JianChuan doing in there with the maid? With no clothes on…

The maid saluted him and slowly backed away. Shi JianChuan picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea and said leisurely: “What are you doing at the door? Come in and sit.”

“…Sorry for disturbing you.” Xu RenDong said a little uncomfortably. He stepped back, stood outside the door and said, “You should put on your clothes first.”

Shi JianChuan sighed, “I can’t wear my clothes anymore.”

…So violent?

In Xu RenDong’s mind, the scene of the black-gold dark-patterned Tang suit being torn into strips of cloth came to mind but suddenly he felt that something was wrong- why was the one who was getting his clothes torn, Shi JianChuan?

He couldn’t help looking at the maid and was stunned to find that the maid was neatly dressed. Her makeup and hairstyle were not messed up at all.

Which are they playing at…

Xu RenDong was at a loss but then he heard Shi JianChuan say with a smile, “What are you thinking about?”

Shi JianChuan raised his hand and pointed to the inside of the house. Xu RenDong followed his finger subconsciously and saw a black Tang suit hanging on the hanger, wet and dripping with water. Only then did he realize that Shi JianChuan’s clothing was wet so that’s why he was walking around the house topless.

Xu RenDong couldn’t help but sigh with relief. Shi JianChuan looked at him with interest and saw the slight change in his expression.

This feeling of being stared at was very uncomfortable. Xu RenDong felt like there was a cold snake crawling along his skin. He quickly schooled his expression, waved his hand to tell the maid to go out and close the door.

“I’m here to make an alliance with you.” Xu RenDong said bluntly.

Shi JianChuan was noncommittal and just ordered the maid to light a brazier. He said, “Your clothes are also wet. Take it off and bake it?”

“No need.” Xu RenDong thought about how to gain Shi JianChuan’s trust and said slowly, “You took the ring at the entrance of the stairs, right?”

Shi JianChuan’s eyes changed slightly and then he pursed his lips and smiled: “You actually noticed this? I knew you were not simple. How many times?”

How many times had he been through this one? Xu RenDong looked directly at him and lied without hesitation: “Nine times.”

Before Shi JianChuan could open his mouth, Xu RenDong added: “I know it’s also the ninth time for you. Among the eighty-one people, there are at least 60 of them who can’t survive tonight. The rest are all ordinary people. If you want to find someone to form an alliance with, I am the best choice.”

“Oh?” Shi JianChuan looked at him with interest. “How do you know that I need to form an alliance? Since I dare to come in alone, of course I have my trump card.”

“Because…” Xu RenDong slowed his words, his eyes still staring at Shi JianChuan, “By yourself, you can’t enter the ancestral hall.”

Shi JianChuan narrowed his eyes and finally stopped smiling.

It looked like he was finally getting serious. Xu RenDong was at peace in his heart.

This is a confrontation, a confrontation of their auras. Shi JianChuan is smart and alert, and his strength is outstanding. Xu RenDong still doesn’t know what trump card he has in his hand. What’s more, Shi JianChuan was a legitimate Nine Level boss. He had more experience in instance clearances than Xu RenDong. If he can get Shi JianChuan’s help, he will save a lot of trouble in this instance.

But Xu RenDong couldn’t let himself be led by his nose. Shi JianChuan was cunning and his character was unpredictable, so it was hard to guarantee that he would not have other thoughts secretly.

All in all, Xu RenDong was forced to pretend today. He had to get Shi JianChuan to join him and obey him.

Therefore, Xu RenDong stared at Shi JianChuan with a calm and confident look.

After an unknown amount of time, Shi JianChuan finally sighed softly.

Then he nodded.

Xu RenDong breathed a sigh of relief. He only heard Shi JianChuan: “I can cooperate with you. Tell me about your plan.”

Xu RenDong told him the next plan. After Shi JianChuan heard it, he raised his eyebrows in surprise: “Then what after?”

Xu RenDong said: “No afterwards. Let’s live through tonight before talking about it.”

Shi JianChuan laughed: “You don’t even have the confidence to live through tonight? Why do I feel cheated?”

Having said that, Shi Jian Chuan did not go back on his word. The two agreed on the specific details of the plan and Shi JianChuan didn’t dither-dather any more. He reached out and put on the black Tang suit that was on the hanger.

The Tang suit was not completely dry yet. It was wrinkled and looked a little miserable. Even so, Shi JianChuan patiently buttoned the buttons one by one and carefully smoothed out the folds at the corners of his clothes with his fingers.

Xu RenDong looked at the lifelike dark silver snake pattern on the Tang suit and suddenly said: “These are not ordinary clothes, right?”

Shi JianChuan moved his hands, raised his eyes and smiled: “Your eyes are good.” But he didn’t explain what was so special about his clothing.

Xu RenDong was too lazy to inquire. The two walked out the door and it was still stormy outside. The rain was heavy, as if the sky had tipped pots of beans down. The roar of thunder was accompanied by the sound of rain beating on the building. It was terrifying to hear.

Amid the sound of the wind and rain, bad sounds could be faintly heard from the guest rooms on both sides.

Xu RenDong knew that Lian Qiao had a ring on his body and should not be affected by desire but he was inexplicably still uneasy.

He suppressed his thoughts, forcing himself to turn his attention back to the front.

There was only one maid left in the corridor and it was the one who served Shi JianChuan. When Shi JianChuan wagged his fingers, the maid lowered her eyes and leaned towards him.

Shi JianChuan whispered something in her ear. The maid nodded with a smile, then walked into the house and closed the door again.

Xu RenDong glanced at him in surprise and Shi JianChuan asked with a smile, “Want to know what I told her?”

Xu RenDong said, “It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

Shi JianChuan smiled and said nothing. When he came to the corner of the corridor, according to the agreed plan, Xu RenDong hid in the dark. Only then did Shi JianChuan say, “I told her to go back in the room and find a quiet way to off herself.”

Xu RenDong was shocked, so shocked that he was speechless.

Shi Jian Chuan said gently: “Although she is obedient, she is the old lady’s person after all. Keeping her around will get in the way.”

Xu RenDong was silent for a moment, then said coldly: “If she is willing to kill herself that means she will naturally obey your other orders. Why don’t you tell her not to tell on you?”

“You believe her?”

“She is just an NPC and will strictly follow the rules.”

“Since she is an NPC, why do you feel bad?”

Xu RenDong was silent again.

Shi Jian Chuan said calmly, “Actually, my intention is not really to kill her to hide secrets. When I said she’s in the way it’s just because I think she looks dull and is disgusting.” 

As he spoke, he slanted his long and narrow phoenix eyes, full of water mist. A gleam of golden color flashed in his swirling eyes: “She’s just a puppet, how can she be as interesting as you?”

Xu RenDong didn’t want to listen to him any more and waved his hand: “Okay, let’s go.”

Shi JianChuan took two steps away and then looked back and smiled again: “Your reaction makes me a little curious. How did you survive to the ninth level?”

Xu RenDong just wanted to smash a brick on his forehead and send him on his way.

According to the plan, Shi JianChuan arrived at the entrance of the ancestral hall alone. Before he could step in, a thin arm stretched out abruptly in the darkness and stopped him abruptly.

“Guest.” The sullen face of the old lady in red with the bound feet appeared at the door, “This is the ancestral hall, it is not allowed for outsiders to enter. It is not auspicious.”

Shi JianChuan smiled and leaned over to say something in the old lady’s ear. The old lady’s expression immediately eased but she still shook her head firmly.

Shi JianChuan sighed, with a look of pity on his face and said a few words in a low voice. The old lady’s expression was a little shaken and, after a while, she actually walked out of the ancestral hall.

Shi JianChuan reached out to help her with a calm demeanor. The old lady was also not polite, her fingers like dry claws tightly grasping Shi JianChuan’s arm. The two of them walked towards the stairs chatting and laughing.

Xu RenDong hid in the dark place on the other end and couldn’t help but sigh. He was very curious about what Shi JianChuan said to actually persuade the old lady to leave the ancestral hall.

After the two went downstairs, Xu RenDong no longer hesitated, his figure flashed, and he was already in the ancestral hall.

The wind and rain outside the building was raging but the ancestral hall was still quiet. The air seemed to be stagnant and no wind and rain could blow in.

The incense case was covered with green smoke and the two candles were separated on both sides. There are three sticks of incense sticks on the censer, half of which are already burned. Eighty-one tablets stood quietly and the names on the tablets were densely packed, like eighty-one pairs of eyes peeping at him in the dark.

Xu RenDong took a deep breath and walked to the incense table. The moment he reached out and touched the tablet, the back of his neck suddenly froze.

He heard a hoarse hum from overhead in the darkness.

Like a mocking laugh.

***