Chapter 160: House Of Evil Ghosts
Seeing these hideous corpses, Lu Jinzhao thought of this platform’s name.
【House of Evil Ghosts】
“Does it mean these corpses were once tenants here, treating this place as their home, and after new tenants move in, they get haunted by these corpses turned evil ghosts?”
This possibility just flashed through her mind before Lu Jinzhao rejected it.
Too simple, suitable for Class D Platform, but absolutely not for Class A Platform.
However, since it’s the “House of Evil Ghosts,” things appearing in the home are definitely related clues. These corpses must represent some information.
She just didn’t know the true meaning yet.
“Find the truth behind the haunted house?” Lu Jinzhao looked at the three corpses: “I hope you don’t suddenly start moving in the middle of the night.”
She only had this simple wish.
The room layout was very simple: a narrow living room and an equally narrow bedroom, no bathroom, and a public toilet at the end of the corridor.
There was no white cloth in the bedroom, but a crude bed without a quilt, though at least there was a mattress, albeit still covered in dust.
Lu Jinzhao had no intention of cleaning it up simply. If she were still an ordinary person physically, she would need to consider where to sleep at night to recharge, but after her fate improved, she could “stand by” for an exceptionally long time after one good sleep—at least three days without closing her eyes was feasible.
Sometimes, Lu Jinzhao felt her body was developing in a “non-human” direction, especially after fusing the ghost bone, with her body temperature and heartbeat lowering, further distancing her from ordinary people.
However, inside the platform, such a change could be considered a good thing.
After checking the room, the time was about right for the appointment. Lu Jinzhao covered the white cloth back on and left the room.
When she opened the door, the others were also standing at the doorway.
Visibly, their complexions didn’t look good, and among them, Lu Jinzhao surprisingly had the calmest complexion.
Just from their complexions, she knew the others’ rooms probably also had “surprises.”
The few people looked at each other, and finally the eldest spoke first: “I assume your rooms also have some… not-so-pleasant things?”
Hearing this, Tan Meng tugged at the corner of their mouth: “Auntie Duan, your wording is quite elegant. I’ll be direct: do your rooms also have corpses?”
“Yes.” The few nodded, and then Tan Meng suggested: “How about we visit each other’s rooms?”
“…No need for now?” Unexpectedly, Qiu Tian refused.
Her refusal drew attention from the others.
“Is there something different in your room from ours?” Tan Meng widened their eyes, asking in an innocently curious tone.
Qiu Tian’s complexion didn’t look good: “Nothing different. I just don’t want to share anything with you, and I don’t need to enter your rooms.”
“After all, we don’t know each other, do we?” Her gaze swept over everyone present: “Who knows if you’re good people or something else?”
She didn’t even use the word “bad people,” but “something else.”
A slight scoff came from Tan Meng’s direction. When Lu Jinzhao looked over, they had an indifferent look again: “Then those who are willing can check each other’s out.”
“Once you’ve seen them, come call me.” Qiu Tian said no more, turned, returned to her room, and closed the door.
“…Strange person.” Tan Meng muttered softly: “Better keep distance later.”
“So, shall we exchange?” they asked.
Perhaps Qiu Tian’s actions caused concern, as Auntie Duan also became hesitant.
“We’re assigned to different rooms, perhaps the platform doesn’t want us to cooperate,” she said slowly.
“So what do you mean?” Tan Meng blinked their eyes, the word “you” carrying a sarcastic tone.
“How about we wait a bit more.” Auntie Duan hesitated for a moment, finally saying this: “Observe more.”
Lu Jinzhao had been rather silent and going with the flow after meeting these “teammates.” With both refusing, she naturally followed the majority choice.
She could roughly guess what the refusers were thinking. Perhaps they believed the clues in the rooms were important, and who found the “truth” first mattered, so it was better to keep some unique information rather than exchange clues right away.
Lu Jinzhao couldn’t judge if such thoughts were right or wrong, as the mission’s difficulties hadn’t emerged yet. She just planned to find an opportunity to check the others’ rooms.
Presumably, they would do the same.
A helpless expression appeared on Tan Meng’s face: “Being this timid might not suit surviving as passengers, huh?”
After saying this, their expression turned indifferent again: “Since it’s decided, call Qiu Tian out. Let’s go explore other floors together.”
“Sticking together means no worry about anyone sneaking into others’ rooms, right?” They smiled, unhesitatingly pointing out what others were thinking.
Lu Jinzhao had no opinion, her complexion unchanged. No matter what others said now, she wouldn’t change her prepared decision.
Qiu Tian’s door was knocked on. When she opened it and heard Auntie Duan explain they weren’t checking others’ rooms, a mocking expression appeared on her face.
Lu Jinzhao observed these temporary teammates’ every move from the side, trying to analyze their deeper true thoughts from their words and actions.
“Let’s start from this floor. Since we can’t check each other’s rooms, checking other empty rooms on this floor should be fine, right?” Tan Meng’s voice was a bit softer than outside the building, perhaps carefully following the rule 【No loud noise】.
The others had no objection. They opened the closed doors one by one, finding nothing special inside—mostly abandoned, dilapidated scenes. Some rooms had remaining damaged furniture, but nothing particular.
As for the public toilet at the end, the environment was indescribable.
“…I’d rather use an empty room than come here.” Tan Meng frowned, almost pinching their nose: “No one’s lived here for so long, how does it still smell this bad?!”
It was already stinging the eyes!
“Maybe it’s deliberately made like this to keep us out?” Qiu Tian countered her.
Amid the two occasionally bickering as they glared at each other, the four inspected the entire apartment.
The apartment had no rooftop or basement, just six floors. As expected, besides them, there was no one else here—it was an abandoned apartment.
When Lu Jinzhao followed her teammates back to the third floor, the parchment that had been silent for a long time suddenly appeared.
It said nothing extra, as if back to the beginning, just giving a cold choice.
【Pay the price, exchange for a way to survive】
It thought Lu Jinzhao had once again reached a desperate situation.
Clearly, at this moment, nothing had happened yet.
