Rodin Villa

This was a large room filled with blood. The white fluorescent lights flickered continuously due to unstable voltage. In the center of the room stood an enormous white bathtub, filled with blood.

"Gurgle, gurgle~" Tiny bubbles rose from the bathtub. Slowly, a red head emerged from the surface of the blood. On closer inspection, the person had no skin at all, like one of the abnormal Titans from Attack on Titan. Threadlike capillary vessels gradually grew from the muscles and bones of his face, intertwining to weave themselves into skin.

Finally, the face of a handsome foreign man took shape. He looked at the mirror across from the bathtub, touched his smooth skin, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hm? Saro is dead?" The man suddenly muttered to himself. "Haha, looks like the livestock that came this time is of decent quality."

At that moment, the skin on his face instantly loosened and collapsed, while wrinkles abruptly multiplied.

"No, still not enough?" The man tore the skin off his face with one hand, then slowly sank back into the bathtub.

This was the first time Zhang Chen had swallowed such an enormous ghostly creature. The mouths on the wall filled his entire body with an incredibly powerful sensation in an instant.

Consumed one intermediate Corpse Ghost. Saturation obtained: 24%. Physical strength increased. Skill acquired: Flesh and Blood (Incomplete)

A compatibility of 11% has been detected between Flesh and Blood (Incomplete) and Water (Severely Incomplete). Proceed with fusion?

"No." Zhang Chen decisively refused without hesitation. He had no idea what would happen if it failed. Only an idiot would take such a risk over such a small chance.

Zhang Chen

Main Soul Slot status: Activated

Main Soul: Gluttonous Ghost

Saturation: 100% (Saturated)

Compatibility with current **: 41%

Secondary Soul Slot status: Not activated

Number of Skill Slots: 3

Skill Slots used: 2

Skills possessed: Telekinesis (Evolvable, used), Nail Growth (Arms, used), Water (Severely Incomplete, unusable), Flesh and Blood (Incomplete, unusable).

Telekinesis: Able to manipulate invisible force through thought. Current proficiency: 82%.

Nail Growth: Left and right arm strength increased by 350%, nail hardness increased by 1000%, length can be controlled freely.

Physical condition: Medium

Perception: High

Overall evaluation: Medium

Jailer rank: Pawn

"An intermediate Corpse Ghost really wasn't much weaker than that Yang Zi. I gained a lot this time. Although my physical condition is still only average, I can feel that my strength has increased by more than double. As for that incomplete skill, I should be able to fuse it if I encounter one with high compatibility."

Jia Xin watched Zhang Chen swallow both his Five Wood Trapping Array and that enormous monster in one bite, and he was deeply shocked. At the same time, after the creature was swallowed, he could sense the changes in Zhang Chen. This definitely was not merely an outside influence—Zhang Chen's body was becoming stronger.

This kid... I thought there was still some gap between our strength, but now it seems we're practically even. What a hassle. Looks like I'll have to change my plans.

After Jia Xin put away the wooden disk on the ground, each of the five fingers on his left hand had a bloody hole of moderate size. His clothes had also been torn somewhat by the explosion, leaving him without that fresh, handsome look.

Jia Xin walked over to Zhang Chen, then gave him a slight bow.

"Thanks."

"Ah, what are you thanking me for? We were working together anyway." Zhang Chen was somewhat surprised by Jia Xin's attitude, but he also developed a little goodwill toward him.

"You're Zhang Chen, right? My master told me that besides us, there seemed to be another group of dead people in this world, hunting demons, monsters, and ghosts. Are you one of them?"

Zhang Chen had not expected Jia Xin to say that. He smiled, nodded, and said,

"But I've never died."

"My master only instructed me to destroy those dead people whenever I encountered them. But since you, Zhang, have never died, that's another matter. Can we be friends?" Jia Xin said with a smile.

"Friends for seven days, or friends forever?" Zhang Chen asked.

"Friends forever, of course. Since I've become friends with you, Zhang, you must accept this greeting gift." With that, Jia Xin poured a green pill out of a small wooden jar at his waist.

"If you get injured later, and the wound is too severe or you lose too much blood, swallow this pill directly. It can save your life."

"Thanks." Zhang Chen did not refuse. After accepting it, he placed it in the Cosmic Bag at his waist.

"Brother Jia, let's hurry and find the others. It won't be good if they run into something while we aren't there," Zhang Chen said.

At that form of address, Jia Xin immediately smiled. He patted Zhang Chen on the shoulder and nodded. The two then ran toward the group at top speed.

"Haha, I actually made it out of this huge forest!" Er Wa saw that the space between the two trees ahead was no longer filled with endless woods, but instead revealed one corner of the white villa from the brochure.

At Er Wa's words, Tan Fei and the two girls ran over as well. Upon seeing the exit, they cried out happily.

At that moment, Zhang Chen and Jia Xin spotted the group and slowed down. Jia Xin even draped an arm over Zhang Chen's shoulder, pretending to be somewhat injured as they approached everyone.

"Ah, Brother Xin!" When one of the girls from First High saw Jia Xin's torn clothes and the black fluid covering his body, she immediately pulled several classmates from First High over to support him. At the same time, she gave Zhang Chen a grateful look.

Compared to Jia Xin, Zhang Chen was in much better shape. He was merely stained with quite a lot of black blood.

"What happened, Brother Chen? That guy from First High looks like he got hurt," Tan Fei asked.

"Not long after we left, we ran into a Black Bear. The two of us ran, but he got struck by one of its paws and was hurt pretty badly. Then, before we had run much farther, we came across a black swamp. That bear didn't follow us in, so we got this stuff all over ourselves."

Zhang Chen was accustomed to lying and making up stories, and his face did not redden nor did his heart race.

When Wang Yizhi heard that Zhang Chen had been chased by a bear and nearly gotten into trouble, she immediately ran over and began checking him all over. She did not even stop to think that Zhang Chen could handle ghosts, let alone a bear. She truly had a one-track mind.

"Zhang Chen, this black stuff on you is ugly as hell." Wang Yizhi hurriedly covered her mouth as she spoke.

"Didn't Er Wa find the villa? Once we get inside, I'll take a bath and change clothes." Zhang Chen sniffed himself and realized it really did smell awful.

So, following Er Wa, everyone walked out of the forest.

The feeling of seeing daylight again was truly wonderful. Moreover, the white villa before them was far larger than any of them had imagined. Everyone danced with joy.

"Damn, I actually get to live in a place like this? This is awesome!" Tan Fei shouted as he bounced around excitedly.

Er Wa, however, was unusually quiet. Without saying a word, he ran to the villa entrance as fast as he could and stood there looking around, seemingly searching for something.

"Hurry up, everyone! There's a letter here." Er Wa appeared to have found a letter on the ground and waved his arm to signal everyone over.

"Er Wa, why aren't you knocking? Is there no one inside?" Tan Fei asked.

"I knocked for ages and got no response. Then I found this letter on the ground."

The people from First High arrived as well, but they were much more polite this time. No one came over to say anything. They simply listened as Zhang Chen's group spoke.

"Since no one from the tour group is here, open the letter first," Zhang Chen said.

"We really came to the right place. First it was a jungle adventure, and now it's an escape room puzzle. Oh yeah!"

Er Wa excitedly tore open the envelope. A large antique bronze key immediately fell out, along with a small note that read:

Dear travelers:

We trust that you have fully prepared for this holiday trip. After passing through the forest, you have arrived at our tourist center, Rodin Villa. This villa has a long history, but after renovation by our travel agency, it has been restored to its original condition.

In addition, certain valuable items in the villa must not be touched. If any are damaged, you will be required to compensate us at their listed value. We will not interfere with you in any way during the seven-day trip.

Finally, we have prepared seven days' worth of ingredients for you, which you will need to cook yourselves. However, considering that you arrived after lunchtime today, we have prepared a lavish meal for you in the dining room. As for accommodations, please arrange them freely. There are two maps inside the envelope.

Wanda Travel Agency

Er Wa read the letter aloud to everyone. In truth, it only contained two main points.

First, no travel company personnel would be present. Second, they would need to handle their own food.

Zhang Chen took one map from Er Wa's envelope and smiled as he handed it to the group from First High. The sturdy boy who had been somewhat hot-tempered before also smiled and accepted it.

"I'm opening the door. I'm starving to death." Er Wa picked up the bronze key from the ground, inserted it into the keyhole in the center of the door, and with a click, the lock opened. Er Wa used all his strength before he could slowly push the heavy doors open.

"This..." Everyone was dumbfounded the moment they entered. Never mind the extravagant decor—just the enormous five-tier glass chandelier overhead dazzled them so badly they could barely keep their eyes open. In the hall stood a circular sofa over six meters long. Across from it was a large classical European fireplace, while a grand piano stood to one side.

Straight ahead of them, a glass-decorated spiral staircase led up to the second floor. Coffee-colored carpeting covered the entire room. Everyone changed into slippers in the shoe-changing area by the entrance, and some even walked in barefoot.

There were also many portraits hanging on the walls, all oil paintings that seemed to record the everyday life of the family who had once owned this place. Some depicted a family of three drinking afternoon tea on the lawn outside, while another showed a little boy playing the piano alone...

What drew the most attention was the painting on the wall in the center of the hall. It depicted a foreign man around thirty years old with brown hair, high cheekbones, deep-set eyes framed by prominent eye sockets, and a tall nose. Dressed in the European noble attire seen in films from the fifteenth or sixteenth century, he looked solemn and dignified. Especially those deep eyes—they seemed to be watching over the entire house.

Zhang Chen looked at Jia Xin, who was being supported by the people from First High. The two exchanged slight smiles and nodded.

From the instant Er Wa opened the door, Zhang Chen had felt an extreme sense of discomfort, though he had not known what was wrong.

But the instant he entered the house, he understood. He had encountered this feeling before, and it had left a deep impression on him—in Xie Wen's basement.

This house was alive...