A woman in a qipao and a cloak walked onto the stage, surrounded by ten security guards.
When the singers saw her, they hurriedly bowed and stepped down from the stage. "Manager Su, you're here."
The woman addressed as Manager Su surveyed the crowd packing the entertainment hall. She tapped the microphone in front of her and said softly, "Esteemed guests, there are three hours left until the midnight curfew. The main event now officially begins. Please choose someone you like, obtain their consent, and enjoy yourselves together."
Manager Su clapped her hands, and a strange noise came from within the room as twenty briefcases slowly descended. "There are fifteen stimulants in each briefcase. Please help yourselves."
Smiling brightly, she left once she was done, surrounded by the ten security guards.
A great amount of scarlet mist poured into the entertainment hall, concealing everyone's figures as they breathed heavily. Fervor and the most primal desire burst forth in many people's eyes. Watching the scene before him, Si Yehan understood what the woman had meant by the main event.
That was in keeping with the usual state of affairs at a luxury cruise party, Si Yehan thought. He quickly moved toward a corner of the entertainment hall. Now was a good time to kill.
Watching the men and women gripped by lust, Si Yehan rubbed his fingers over his dagger. The scarlet mist filled the air, perfect for concealing his figure.
The mist did not arouse the participants' lust, but they could not see clearly through it either. It was the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters.
Si Yehan walked through the mist, listening as the sounds from every direction intertwined, their final notes shifting and rising.
He took the opportunity to reap lives, stabbing through the heads of the couples lost in their fervor. He suddenly felt how inconvenient the dagger was. If he had a long, sharp blade, he could have beheaded them.
Blood spilled onto the carpet as Si Yehan reaped lives at an unhurried pace. He deliberately held back his speed to ensure the quality of his killing remained high. After all, killing too many people would only make him a target for everyone.
In a while, he would go find Yan Jingxing and learn the ghost's killing rules. Only then could he ensure he survived until the final reaping stage.
At that moment, Si Yehan had his foot on a woman's head. She was like a rabid dog, her long hair trailing on the floor and the muscles in her face somewhat contorted.
A man lay on the floor nearby, the wound on his back still seeping blood. Yet he seemed unable to feel it, still reaching out frantically, trying to touch the woman.
The scene before him was especially amusing. Si Yehan watched it with interest when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching. His expression unchanged, he simply bent down and finished off the man and woman in front of him.
Blood spattered across the floor. Si Yehan walked away casually, using the mist to conceal himself. Judging by the footsteps, there were about four people wandering around here, though he had no idea what they were looking for.
Could it be Chen Zhongshou and the others? It was possible. After all, the only people here unaffected by the mist were the participants, including himself.
Of course, he could not rule out security guards who had just come in. They ought to have a way to deal with it. Si Yehan moved through the mist, walking against the approaching group's path until he was behind them.
Through the mist, he could make out only their blurry figures from behind. Three of them wore black security uniforms. As he drew closer, Si Yehan saw that the one in front was the bartender who had made him a drink earlier.
Si Yehan rubbed the dagger in his hand, considering whether to kill them. They presumably worked for Yan Jingxing. Now was not the time to act.
"What are you looking for?"
Si Yehan's voice rang out behind the four, giving them a fright.
When the bartender saw it was Si Yehan, his alarm turned to delight. "Honored guest, President Yan wants to see you."
Si Yehan's expression did not change. "Lead the way," he said calmly.
The four led him through the mist. When they left the entertainment hall and stepped onto the deck, a sea breeze swept over them.
Gazing at the deep, dark sea in the distance, where the waves lapped gently, Si Yehan could not help feeling an urge to push someone into the depths. His thoughts stirred, and he suppressed the destructive desire within him.
The killing a short while ago had already left him in a thoroughly cheerful mood.
After they reached the fourth floor, the three security guards withdrew. The bartender pushed the door open, then withdrew of his own accord as well.
The hall was exceptionally quiet. Yan Jingxing stood alone in front of the seats. The attendants from Si Yehan's last visit were absent, and the other three were nowhere to be seen either.
When Yan Jingxing saw Si Yehan, he handed him a glass of red wine, an arrogant look on his face. "Didn't tonight's killing put you in a much better mood?"
Si Yehan gave no indication either way. He took the wine but did not take up the topic Yan Jingxing had thrown out. Instead, he said bluntly, "It's your turn to tell me the ghost's killing rules."
There was no one else in the room. If necessary, Si Yehan would force the answers out of him himself. After all, if he were in Yan Jingxing's position, he certainly would not keep his promise.
Pride showed in Yan Jingxing's eyes, and he carried himself with an overbearing arrogance. "I disdain deception. Why are you in such a hurry? I've already given you the tool for hunting. As for the ghost's killing rules..."
At that point, Yan Jingxing looked around the room and took a sip of red wine. "Anyone who feels lust before falling asleep will die. Anyone who stays awake all night watching the sea will die. Anyone who looks in a mirror for more than a minute while alone will die. Anyone lost in pleasure will die if left alone. Anyone in a bad mood will die if they fall asleep. Those are the only five killing rules. The four of us verified every one of them after extensive testing. If you don't believe me, you can find people to test them on."
Si Yehan did not entirely believe the five killing rules he had learned. It would be a good idea to test them on other people later. The five rules did indeed correspond to the information mentioned in the envelope, and they were somewhat more precise.
Yan Jingxing looked at Si Yehan's cool, calm face, his expression arrogant. "You're certainly cautious. Survive the first three days before anything else. A word of warning: you don't need to worry about killing people on the ship. Someone is assigned to take care of it, but don't be too blatant. And don't think about killing any one of the four of us. Once one person dies, the other three will immediately set about killing everyone on the ship."
Si Yehan keenly picked up on "any one" and "the other three" in Yan Jingxing's words. By that logic, if he killed all four of them together, he would not have to worry about retaliation or a subsequent purge.
The staff on this ship could likewise be killed, and they would be dealt with too.
I can give this some careful planning. Thoughts stirred in Si Yehan's mind as he drained his glass in one gulp. That was how he always drank.
He then threw the wineglass onto the floor, where it shattered into fragments.
Si Yehan's gaze was indifferent as he said, "I understand what you've said. I hope I can have some fun over the next three days. After all, there are quite a lot of people on your ship."
"Tianxia No. 4 has another name: the Iblis. So naturally, we need to bring plenty of people aboard. Go back to your room. Don't kill anyone else tonight. With more people, things will be livelier later. The ghost will appear after curfew." Yan Jingxing drank his wine, his voice tinged with a lofty air of superiority.
Si Yehan's gaze remained unchanged. Naming the cruise ship after the god of death suited the vessel's nature.
Yan Jingxing clapped his hands. The door opened, and a gemstone shone brilliantly. At that moment, the room was pitch-dark.
No one followed Si Yehan on his way back, so he went straight to his own cabin.