Chapter 302
Chapter 302
The moment they realized it was dark outside, everyone’s nerves drew taut.
They had no idea where the ghosts would appear this time.
Would they show up directly outside the courtyard gate?
With that thought in mind, Lin Junruo spoke timidly. “Um, couldn’t we just use the Security Lock?”
There was only one door here. Once they used the Security Lock, the ghosts should be unable to enter. The Security Lock lasted twelve hours, which meant it would not expire until the following morning, by which time they would be out of danger.
It was a simple question, but Lin Junruo had asked only because Qin Weiyi showed no intention of using it.
She knew Qin Weiyi was smarter than her. If she could think of it, he certainly had too. But she truly did not understand why they would refrain from using the Security Lock. If they had a way to stay safe, why face danger head-on? It was not as if this were back when they had been unable to use Points.
A faint hope lingered in Lin Junruo’s mind. Perhaps Qin Weiyi had simply forgotten.
That hope, however, was destined to be dashed.
Qin Weiyi shook his head. “We can’t use the Security Lock.”
“We can’t?” Qin Nan was surprised.
He could understand why Qin Weiyi had not taken it out yet. They had to see what happened before making a decision. But Qin Weiyi had just said they could not use it at all.
“Right,” Jian Fan said.
Qin Nan immediately turned to him. “There’s nothing wrong with the Security Lock itself, so does that mean it isn’t suitable for our current situation?”
“Yes. We have to act at night,” Jian Fan said.
Qin Nan stared at him.
“Act at night?” Yellow Hair sucked in a sharp breath.
The streets outside were full of ghosts, and they were supposed to go out at night?
Was that not the same as dancing with ghosts?
Qin Nan was bewildered for a moment, but then the pieces slowly connected in his mind. “Because we can only discover what’s wrong at night?”
Unsure, Qin Nan voiced the guess tentatively.
He hoped he was wrong.
Jian Fan nodded.
Qin Nan fell silent.
In truth, aside from Lu Jing, they had all formed some suspicion the moment Jian Fan said they could only act at night. Most of them had still clung to a sliver of hope, but Jian Fan had shattered it without hesitation.
Perhaps their despairing expressions were too much to look at, because Jian Fan thought for a moment and added, “It’s only a theory. It may not be true.”
He might as well have said nothing.
It was only Jian Fan’s theory, but they all knew what he was capable of.
Besides, the evidence was right in front of them.
They had spent the entire day searching and found no clues whatsoever apart from the stone statue and the strange area that seemed to be some kind of Time-Space Junction. Jian Fan’s theory was entirely reasonable.
The logic made sense. They simply did not want to accept the possibility.
What would it mean?
It meant they would constantly be walking along the boundary between life and death. One careless mistake, and they could end up as dinner for these ghosts.
Staying alive around the ghosts was difficult enough. How were they supposed to search for clues right under their noses?
It was nothing but a pipe dream.
The Realm of Death had not targeted them from the very beginning this time, but the instance’s difficulty was steadily rising all the same.
Wonderful.
Exactly what they had come to expect from the Realm of Death.
While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a commotion came from outside.
They heard familiar voices and–familiar words.
“Hurry up! We’re going to miss the auspicious hour. If we’re late, Squire Xie will skin us alive.”
“Don’t worry, dear. I’ve prepared everything. We can head over as soon as we change our clothes.”
“Mother, is the groom Miss Xie chose this time handsome?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. Stop asking silly questions and hurry back inside. And remember to be sweet later so you can get more lucky money from Squire Xie.”
“Mm, I remember.”
Listening to the familiar exchange, Qin Nan paused, then turned to his companions. “Does this conversation sound… familiar to any of you?”
“It doesn’t just sound familiar. It is familiar,” Qin Weiyi said, giving him a definite answer.
They might not remember every single word perfectly, but they certainly remembered the substance of the conversation.
Was this not the exact exchange Brother Zhao’s family had shared the previous night, before the three NPCs first appeared?
And the contents were the same. Was the Xie Residence holding another wedding tonight?
Surely not. A wedding every day, a bride every night?
Then what about the groom?
Fang Kang had died yesterday and ultimately become Miss Xie’s groom. This time, however, everyone in their group was still alive. So who would the groom be? Was there someone else to choose from, or would they select an NPC?
Questions crowded Qin Nan’s mind, while the others were clearly turning over thoughts of their own.
It was then that Brother Zhao and his wife and daughter appeared before them.
Everything was exactly as it had been yesterday. Brother Zhao walked in front with a candle, while his wife and daughter followed behind him.
His first reaction upon seeing the group was identical as well. He handed the candle straight to his wife, grabbed a broom from nearby, and watched them warily. “Who are you?”
At those words, everyone was surprised, yet at the same time, they felt as though this was precisely what they had expected.
Then they all turned to Qin Nan.
Qin Nan was speechless.
All right. He understood.
Bearing the weight of everyone’s expectations, Qin Nan stepped forward, trying to let Brother Zhao’s family see his face clearly. “Brother Zhao, it’s us. We have nowhere to go…”
“Who are you? How do you know my surname is Zhao?” Brother Zhao looked utterly confused.
Qin Nan stopped dead mid-step.
What?
At first, he had assumed he was too far away for Brother Zhao to recognize him in the darkness. But now he had already walked so much closer. Even if the man could not see his face, surely he should recognize his voice.
Wait…
Qin Nan suddenly realized something.
If Brother Zhao remembered them, he should be a ghost trying to eat them. Why would he be holding a broom and acting defensive?
Qin Nan’s thoughts instantly descended into chaos, but he still offered an explanation on instinct. “We came to this town by accident and had nowhere to go. We thought this house was abandoned, so we came in to rest for a while.”
Brother Zhao immediately relaxed when he heard that.
“I see. It’s fine, it’s fine,” Brother Zhao said with a genial smile.
As he spoke, he approached Qin Nan and the others with his wife and daughter.
Knowing they were ghosts, Qin Nan instinctively retreated several steps as they drew near. Only when he was standing beside Lu Jing did he feel a little safer.
Brother Zhao and his family had already reached them. Smiling, he said to his wife, “Hurry and boil some hot water for our guests.”
Then Brother Zhao turned back to Qin Nan and the others. “Why don’t you all sit inside? Meeting like this must be fate. You can stay at my home tonight.”
This turn of events…
Qin Nan glanced at Jian Fan from the corner of his eye.
Jian Fan’s expression remained calm. After his initial surprise, Qin Weiyi had settled down as well. The others, however, were not nearly as composed. Qin Nan swept his gaze around and found their expressions just as strange as his, though none dared show it openly. The sight comforted him immensely.
See? He was not the only one reacting this way. Qin Weiyi and Jian Fan were simply the unusual ones.