https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-45-Shanchi-Haunted-House-Arc-Part-5-/13510925/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-47-Shanchi-Haunted-House-Part-7-/13510927/
Chapter 46: Shanchi Haunted House, Part 6
Chapter 46: Shanchi Haunted House, Part 6
The dining hall was enormous. A long table stretched across its center, so lengthy that people seated at either end would have to shout to converse. White tablecloths lay scattered with empty plates, scattered cutlery, and three overturned candlesticks.
A grand chandelier hung directly above the table—larger than the one in the living room—but it no longer worked. The dining hall’s lighting came from wall lamps lining the room.
Wooden chairs were strewn about haphazardly, several overturned and already veiled in spiderwebs.
Siyu Ruoli paused for just a second when she heard the system prompt, then resumed searching, her icy expression unchanged.
Beiling Xiaogu spoke first: “That guy who looked so tough ended up dead too.”
“Tough?” Siyu asked, not glancing up. “What makes you say that?”
“He was a high-level Classplayer,” Bei Ling replied.
Siyu Ruoli used her sword to flick aside a corner of the tablecloth, continuing her search as she replied, “Our levels can rise too. We could call ourselves Classplayers if we wanted.”
“Cousin… you’re arguing again,” Bei Ling muttered, narrowing her eyes. “If even a Classplayer died, shouldn’t you be more worried?”
At that moment, Siyu Ruoli pulled a letter from under the table and stated flatly, “Story item.”
[Name: Ink-Stained Letter]
[Type: Plot-Related]
[Quality: Common]
[Function: Unknown]
[Can Be Taken Out of Scenario]
[Background: Portions of the letter’s text are obscured by ink stains, making them illegible.]
She handed the letter to Bei Ling, who scanned it briefly before tucking it into the satchel at her waist. “If this is a clue for solving the main plot,” she mused, licking her lips, “maybe carrying it draws attacks from some unknown force in this house. That would put the bearer in serious danger…”
“So even Classplayers can die,” Siyu Ruoli finished.
“But that’s strange,” Bei Ling frowned. “There were four of them. Why did only one die—especially the strongest one?”
“Don’t ‘maybe’ me,” Feng Bu Jue interrupted, entering from the doorway. “It’s obvious—we split up.”
Both women turned as Feng Bu Jue continued, “And judging by his corpse, that ‘strongest’ title needs serious doubt.”
“He was a higher level than you and a Classplayer,” Siyu countered, echoing Bei Ling’s earlier words.
“My level can rise too. I could call myself a Classplayer,” Feng Bu Jue shrugged. “Does that make me strong?”
Bei Ling stifled a giggle.
Siyu Ruoli’s expression shifted slightly. “How long have you been here?”
“Just arrived,” Feng Bu Jue said truthfully—he’d missed their earlier conversation, catching only Bei Ling’s last sentence.
Si Yu fell silent for two seconds. “You were the one who found the Ghost Palace side task?”
“Yep,” Feng Bu Jue confirmed. “I found the first and fifth stanzas. Did you find the others?”
Bei Ling shook her head. “Nope. We just ran into traps.”
Si Yu pressed, “What exactly is Ghost Palace? Words? An object?”
“It’s a poem,” Wang Tan Zhi said, appearing in the doorway with Long Ao Min.
“Perfect timing,” Feng Bu Jue remarked. “Which stanzas did you find?”
“We found two,” Long Ao Min said.
“The bad news?” Wang Tan Zhi grinned unabashedly. “We can’t remember them.”
“Recite what you can recall,” Feng Bu Jue urged.
They mumbled fragments of four or five lines.
Feng Bu Jue nodded. “That’s the second and third stanzas.” Then he stunned everyone by reciting the two stanzas Xiao Tan and Long Ge had discovered, asking if they matched.
“Feng Bu Jue… what the hell?” Wang Tan Zhi gaped. “Were you stalking us?”
“This house was built from my real-world memories,” Feng Bu Jue said calmly. “Actually, I’m a serial killer, and this is one of my hideouts. ‘Ghost Palace’ was just something I scribbled on the wall during my free time.”
Wang Tan Zhi’s jaw dropped like a dislocated hinge as he stared, mind reeling.
Ten seconds later, Feng Bu Jue added, “You’re the only one who hasn’t figured out that was a joke.”
Long Ao Min snorted. He’d realized it was a joke immediately but found Wang Tan Zhi’s gullibility too amusing.
“Mr. Crazy,” Bei Ling cut in, “now that your terrible joke’s over, can you explain how you know the poem’s order and content? You must know where ‘Ghost Palace’ comes from.”
Feng Bu Jue sat on a stool. “It’s from Edgar Allan Poe’s short story The Fall of the House of Usher. This scenario was likely inspired by it. Anyone read it?”
“No~” The other three chorused like schoolchildren, dragging out the word—except Siyu Ruoli.
“Good,” Feng Bu Jue continued. “His stories aren’t worth reading anyway. Poe was a pretentious hack—gambling, drinking, chasing older women and underage girls. He wrote sarcastic drivel, prioritizing atmosphere over plot. He even cheated in Ligeia by making up a quote, slapping a dash and ‘Joseph Glanvill’ on it. If 19th-century critics had search engines, he’d have been publicly shamed.”
“You sound like a diehard fan,” Siyu Ruoli deadpanned.
“You’re just jealous,” Bei Ling shot back.
“Sounds more like you,” Wang Tan Zhi added.
“Feng Bu Jue, please,” Long Ao Min sighed.
Feng Bu Jue stood, unflinching. “Just a passing familiarity. Nothing special.”
Si Yu interrupted, “You memorized the entire poem—no need to explain further.”
“Dear lady,” Feng Bu Jue began.
“Excuse me? ‘Lady’?”
“Miss—”
“Try again.”
Feng Bu Jue inhaled deeply. “Esteemed martial maiden, I’m simply well-read and possess an excellent memory—”
“Mr. Crazy,” Siyu Ruoli cut in, a faint smile tugging her lips, “no explanation needed.”
Feng Bu Jue froze for three seconds, then turned casually. “The wind’s particularly noisy today.”
Long Ao Min winced. “Feng Bu Jue, even if you got caught out, let’s keep searching for clues.”
Feng Bu Jue nearly choked on his own blood. You could’ve skipped the first half of that sentence, he thought bitterly.
“Actually,” Feng Bu Jue turned serious, “doesn’t it seem odd we all ended up in the dining hall? This house’s structure should shift. If we’ve converged here at the same time, does that mean…”
Before he could finish, a loud bang echoed as the dining hall’s only door slammed shut.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
