Chapter 123: No Need for a Knife to Kill.
By this time, Chi Shen and Ji Xingchen were already in the kitchen.
Upon entering, Chi Shen remarked, "Where are the wild beasts and venomous snakes?"
Ji Xingchen reminded him, "It's winter. Both snakes and wild animals hibernate."
Chi Shen shook his head, "A bit of a letdown. Thought there'd be an unexpected bonus—look, there's a grill!"
Ji Xingchen glanced in the direction Chi Shen was pointing and spotted a grill in the corner, unused for some time and covered in various items. Chi Shen recalled the cheerful images in the promotional brochure of handsome men and beautiful women enjoying an outdoor barbecue. While he had little interest in the people, his enthusiasm for barbecuing was immense.
"Alright, let's clean it up and grill some meat!"
Ji Xingchen followed Chi Shen, pausing for a moment before opening the freezer in the kitchen.
Chi Shen cleared the grill but couldn't find any charcoal. Deciding to put that concern aside for now, he focused on the ingredients Ji Xingchen had found.
The kitchen was well-stocked. Even with few guests, staff meals were still necessary. Chi Shen selected various ingredients, preparing to chop them himself.
As he reached for a kitchen knife, he hesitated, a puzzled look crossing his face: "There's a knife missing."
However, he quickly found an alternative, cheerfully saying, "Never mind, I'll use my own."
As he spoke, with a flick of his wrist, a boning knife appeared in his hand. He skillfully and cheerfully dissected a rabbit along its muscle lines. His technique was so graceful and pleasing to the eye that Ji Xingchen couldn't help but gaze in admiration for a moment longer.
Yet Ji Xingchen didn't inquire why Chi Shen wielded the knife so proficiently. After selecting some ingredients, he took another round in the kitchen and then commented, "Someone's been here."
Chi Shen nodded in agreement.
"They came for this knife," Ji Xingchen continued.
Chi Shen nodded once again.
"Taking a knife in the dead of night indicates danger," remarked Ji Xingchen.
"Don't be alarmed," Chi Shen replied with a smile, threading the rabbit meat onto skewers, "Perhaps a greedy chef simply took it home. Besides, if they came for the knife, it means they're human, not a ghost. Ghosts don't need knives to kill."
Chi Shen prepared the ingredients efficiently and swiftly. In less than twenty minutes, the grilling tray was neatly filled with various skewers. After doing so, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
From the moment they entered Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel, their phones had no signal. Yet, this call went through.
Because the call wasn't to a human.
——
The soundproofing of the Hot Springs Hotel was subpar, to say the least. The haunting screams of the woman in red could be distinctly heard echoing through the hallway.
Bai Wan didn't hesitate for a second. Suddenly, red candles filled the entire corridor. The door to their room flew open, and a chilling gust of wind blew inside.
Following that, noises emanated from the room of the two members of the Zhong family. Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu vaulted over the railing from the hot springs and dashed toward the room of Bai Wan and the red-clothed ghost.
However, as they reached the corridor, they hesitated. The cold aura emanating from the floor covered in red candles was palpable, and neither dared to approach.
Both were taken aback, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Unfamiliar with Bai Wan's true capabilities and seeing the sea of red candles, they instinctively thought that the hotel's ghost had emerged, wearing grave expressions on their faces.
They stood no chance against the candle formation in front of them. If this was the final adversary, they feared their end was near.
But during their moment of hesitation, the multitude of red candles gradually vanished, clearing a path for them.
From a door diagonally across, Bai Wan's voice beckoned, "Come in."
Zhong Yi glanced at his uncle, preparing to move forward.
Zhong Jingzhu gently tugged him back, and courteously said, "Thank you for your understanding. Our apologies for the intrusion."
With that, he began to tread the path lined with red candles on both sides.
Zhong Yi followed closely. Amid the vivid glow of the red candles, they felt an intense chill. Not daring to linger, they quickly made their way through and entered the room where Bai Wan and the lady in red resided.
The room was in complete disarray: chairs overturned, sheets scattered. The woman in red sat on the floor, clutching her red paper phone. Her oversized eyes brimming with tears, she lamented to Bai Wan, "A knife! Such a long knife! He tried to kill me!"
It took a moment for Zhong Yi to recognize the woman in red. He stared for a while before the familiarity of her clothes dawned on him. Then, after further contemplation, he realized this skeletal-featured ghost with a young girl's appearance was the same half-bodied ghost who accompanied Chi Shen.
It was as if there were two distinct spirits now!
"Who tried to kill you?" Zhong Jingzhu quickly pinpointed the crux of the matter and inquired.
The woman in red vigorously shook her head, "I don't know him! The knife was right at my neck. Then the phone rang, and he fled!"
"Do you remember what he looked like?" Zhong Jingzhu knelt to be eye-level with her and asked intently.
The woman in red seemed momentarily lost for words. Struggling, she said, "He looked... just like a person."
The two men and the ghost present all fell silent.
Sensing the skepticism in the room, the woman in red, leaning on her skeletal legs, leaped up defensively, "He simply looked human! Why wouldn't you believe me?"
"Why weren't you two in your room?" Bai Wan deftly changed the subject.
Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu abandoned the idea of further conversation with the ghost in red and explained their actions.
The paper warning urged them not to leave the hotel at night, while the bloody message by the hot spring had prompted them to vacate their room. Weighing their options, they chose a middle ground: scaling the wall to wait outside the hot springs, keenly observing which warning rang true.
They concluded, "The hotel isn't entirely safe at night. The bloody message seemed to warn us that someone—or some ghost—intended to attack. As we weren't there, 'it' turned to your room instead."
Bai Wan listened and gave a slight nod, remaining silent.
"We've decided to venture out tonight to investigate. Time isn't on our side," Zhong Jingzhu declared.
"My brother just called. He's outside as well and will be fine," Bai Wan informed them.
Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu exchanged glances. They weren't entirely convinced by Bai Wan's reassurances. They found her unwavering trust in Chi Shen peculiar given her formidable ghostly prowess. However, they recognized it wasn't the time for such questions and, after a polite acknowledgment, made their exit.
They began by investigating the damp footprints in the hallway and, after thorough scrutiny, were stunned to discover their origin was in their very own room!
Although many footprints had already faded, the remaining wet spots indicated someone seemed to have climbed out of their room's hot spring pool and exited through the main door.
Yet they had been closely monitoring the hot spring pool the entire time, noticing no disturbances or signs of any ghostly emergence.
This revelation sent shivers down their spines.
"Let's follow and see!" Zhong Jingzhu decisively suggested. The two traced the moist footprints from the corridor to the lobby, where they vanished at the hotel's entrance.
The hotel was eerily silent at night, and other than the footprints, Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu encountered no one. They did, however, spot the receptionist on duty that evening.
Glancing at the time, Zhong Yi noted it was past midnight, a time most would be drowsy.
But this receptionist was different. She appeared alert and awake, not even engaging with a phone or TV. She sat there, slightly bowed, statue-like.
It was rather odd.
Zhong Yi approached for a closer look, then signaled to Zhong Jingzhu with a shake of his head.
There was no malevolent aura. As he got closer, the receptionist looked up at him. Though she remained silent, her gaze indicated she was alive and perhaps just lost in thought due to the lack of activities.
The two left the hotel lobby, venturing out into the night.
Chapter 123: No Need for a Knife to Kill.
By this time, Chi Shen and Ji Xingchen were already in the kitchen.
Upon entering, Chi Shen remarked, "Where are the wild beasts and venomous snakes?"
Ji Xingchen reminded him, "It's winter. Both snakes and wild animals hibernate."
Chi Shen shook his head, "A bit of a letdown. Thought there'd be an unexpected bonus—look, there's a grill!"
Ji Xingchen glanced in the direction Chi Shen was pointing and spotted a grill in the corner, unused for some time and covered in various items. Chi Shen recalled the cheerful images in the promotional brochure of handsome men and beautiful women enjoying an outdoor barbecue. While he had little interest in the people, his enthusiasm for barbecuing was immense.
"Alright, let's clean it up and grill some meat!"
Ji Xingchen followed Chi Shen, pausing for a moment before opening the freezer in the kitchen.
Chi Shen cleared the grill but couldn't find any charcoal. Deciding to put that concern aside for now, he focused on the ingredients Ji Xingchen had found.
The kitchen was well-stocked. Even with few guests, staff meals were still necessary. Chi Shen selected various ingredients, preparing to chop them himself.
As he reached for a kitchen knife, he hesitated, a puzzled look crossing his face: "There's a knife missing."
However, he quickly found an alternative, cheerfully saying, "Never mind, I'll use my own."
As he spoke, with a flick of his wrist, a boning knife appeared in his hand. He skillfully and cheerfully dissected a rabbit along its muscle lines. His technique was so graceful and pleasing to the eye that Ji Xingchen couldn't help but gaze in admiration for a moment longer.
Yet Ji Xingchen didn't inquire why Chi Shen wielded the knife so proficiently. After selecting some ingredients, he took another round in the kitchen and then commented, "Someone's been here."
Chi Shen nodded in agreement.
"They came for this knife," Ji Xingchen continued.
Chi Shen nodded once again.
"Taking a knife in the dead of night indicates danger," remarked Ji Xingchen.
"Don't be alarmed," Chi Shen replied with a smile, threading the rabbit meat onto skewers, "Perhaps a greedy chef simply took it home. Besides, if they came for the knife, it means they're human, not a ghost. Ghosts don't need knives to kill."
Chi Shen prepared the ingredients efficiently and swiftly. In less than twenty minutes, the grilling tray was neatly filled with various skewers. After doing so, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
From the moment they entered Dongshan Hot Springs Hotel, their phones had no signal. Yet, this call went through.
Because the call wasn't to a human.
——
The soundproofing of the Hot Springs Hotel was subpar, to say the least. The haunting screams of the woman in red could be distinctly heard echoing through the hallway.
Bai Wan didn't hesitate for a second. Suddenly, red candles filled the entire corridor. The door to their room flew open, and a chilling gust of wind blew inside.
Following that, noises emanated from the room of the two members of the Zhong family. Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu vaulted over the railing from the hot springs and dashed toward the room of Bai Wan and the red-clothed ghost.
However, as they reached the corridor, they hesitated. The cold aura emanating from the floor covered in red candles was palpable, and neither dared to approach.
Both were taken aback, momentarily at a loss for what to do.
Unfamiliar with Bai Wan's true capabilities and seeing the sea of red candles, they instinctively thought that the hotel's ghost had emerged, wearing grave expressions on their faces.
They stood no chance against the candle formation in front of them. If this was the final adversary, they feared their end was near.
But during their moment of hesitation, the multitude of red candles gradually vanished, clearing a path for them.
From a door diagonally across, Bai Wan's voice beckoned, "Come in."
Zhong Yi glanced at his uncle, preparing to move forward.
Zhong Jingzhu gently tugged him back, and courteously said, "Thank you for your understanding. Our apologies for the intrusion."
With that, he began to tread the path lined with red candles on both sides.
Zhong Yi followed closely. Amid the vivid glow of the red candles, they felt an intense chill. Not daring to linger, they quickly made their way through and entered the room where Bai Wan and the lady in red resided.
The room was in complete disarray: chairs overturned, sheets scattered. The woman in red sat on the floor, clutching her red paper phone. Her oversized eyes brimming with tears, she lamented to Bai Wan, "A knife! Such a long knife! He tried to kill me!"
It took a moment for Zhong Yi to recognize the woman in red. He stared for a while before the familiarity of her clothes dawned on him. Then, after further contemplation, he realized this skeletal-featured ghost with a young girl's appearance was the same half-bodied ghost who accompanied Chi Shen.
It was as if there were two distinct spirits now!
"Who tried to kill you?" Zhong Jingzhu quickly pinpointed the crux of the matter and inquired.
The woman in red vigorously shook her head, "I don't know him! The knife was right at my neck. Then the phone rang, and he fled!"
"Do you remember what he looked like?" Zhong Jingzhu knelt to be eye-level with her and asked intently.
The woman in red seemed momentarily lost for words. Struggling, she said, "He looked... just like a person."
The two men and the ghost present all fell silent.
Sensing the skepticism in the room, the woman in red, leaning on her skeletal legs, leaped up defensively, "He simply looked human! Why wouldn't you believe me?"
"Why weren't you two in your room?" Bai Wan deftly changed the subject.
Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu abandoned the idea of further conversation with the ghost in red and explained their actions.
The paper warning urged them not to leave the hotel at night, while the bloody message by the hot spring had prompted them to vacate their room. Weighing their options, they chose a middle ground: scaling the wall to wait outside the hot springs, keenly observing which warning rang true.
They concluded, "The hotel isn't entirely safe at night. The bloody message seemed to warn us that someone—or some ghost—intended to attack. As we weren't there, 'it' turned to your room instead."
Bai Wan listened and gave a slight nod, remaining silent.
"We've decided to venture out tonight to investigate. Time isn't on our side," Zhong Jingzhu declared.
"My brother just called. He's outside as well and will be fine," Bai Wan informed them.
Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu exchanged glances. They weren't entirely convinced by Bai Wan's reassurances. They found her unwavering trust in Chi Shen peculiar given her formidable ghostly prowess. However, they recognized it wasn't the time for such questions and, after a polite acknowledgment, made their exit.
They began by investigating the damp footprints in the hallway and, after thorough scrutiny, were stunned to discover their origin was in their very own room!
Although many footprints had already faded, the remaining wet spots indicated someone seemed to have climbed out of their room's hot spring pool and exited through the main door.
Yet they had been closely monitoring the hot spring pool the entire time, noticing no disturbances or signs of any ghostly emergence.
This revelation sent shivers down their spines.
"Let's follow and see!" Zhong Jingzhu decisively suggested. The two traced the moist footprints from the corridor to the lobby, where they vanished at the hotel's entrance.
The hotel was eerily silent at night, and other than the footprints, Zhong Yi and Zhong Jingzhu encountered no one. They did, however, spot the receptionist on duty that evening.
Glancing at the time, Zhong Yi noted it was past midnight, a time most would be drowsy.
But this receptionist was different. She appeared alert and awake, not even engaging with a phone or TV. She sat there, slightly bowed, statue-like.
It was rather odd.
Zhong Yi approached for a closer look, then signaled to Zhong Jingzhu with a shake of his head.
There was no malevolent aura. As he got closer, the receptionist looked up at him. Though she remained silent, her gaze indicated she was alive and perhaps just lost in thought due to the lack of activities.
The two left the hotel lobby, venturing out into the night.
