Not Just Some Run-Down Shack

There were only four households in total, and none of them were alive, so this place was actually a haunted house.

However, precisely because they knew this clearly, they didn't feel much tension about dealing with ghosts; after all, the unknown is the most terrifying.

"I have a question." Zhao Yijiu pondered for two seconds before joining the discussion. "It's almost impossible for living people to appear in the Yin Yang Corridor. Although we don't know what's in the Yin Yang City, I guess there aren't any living people in the conventional sense."

Yu Xing nodded calmly, her inner thoughts quite rich—listen to this, the child has grown up, analyzing things logically and clearly. Indeed, Brother Jiu has taken on a lot of work this past year.

Yi Qing did not deny Zhao Yijiu's speculation.

Zhao Yijiu then continued, this time directly asking Yiqing: "Therefore, the residents of abandoned houses cannot be said to be 'alive' in the first place."

"So, when you say 'not alive,' are you referring to the inherent attributes of the Yin Yang Corridor, or do you specifically mean that in the second phase of the test, the residents changed from a living state to a dead state because they moved into the abandoned house?"

Yi Qing raised the corners of her lips, revealing a somewhat surprised smile.

He didn't answer the question immediately, but instead exclaimed, "What's wrong with this world? Even a half-mute person who can't speak is becoming so amazing!"

He glanced at Zhao Yijiu's expressionless face and added, "Even if you're talking with an expression like you're visiting someone's grave... I still feel like you're a stranger to me, the one who secretly studies behind my back."

Zhao Yijiu: "..."

In fact, Yi Qing "disappeared" along with Yu Xing. After Yu Xing disappeared, when the Dead Silent Island was destroyed, Yi Qing, as a contracted ghost, was unable to leave and was left on the island.

They hadn't been teammates for a long time.

--Although Zhao Yijiu felt that she and Yiqing were not very close to begin with.

He didn't intend to explain what he had been secretly studying. His heavy gaze fell on Yi Qing's floating, translucent blue shadow, with a numb expression that said, "You think you're good at the art of conversation, huh?"

Yu Xing laughed out loud, "Stop teasing him, Yi Qing. The question he raised is crucial. Don't think you can get away with it by deliberately changing the subject."

Yi Qing sighed softly, "You've already figured it out... When did I become an intelligence-gathering tool?"

A hint of resentment flickered in the eyes of the Sheqing Ghost, who glanced at Yu Xing but couldn't discern from Yu Xing's usual expression... what exactly Yu Xing had noticed.

He could only shrug and say, "Alright, I'll tell you."

The two concepts of "not alive" proposed by Zhao Yijiu are very different. If it is the former, then whether the residents are human or ghosts has nothing to do with them and is irrelevant.

Because it has nothing to do with the "plot".

Just like the old man outside who gave them instructions, he certainly wasn't a "living person," but that didn't affect anything.

If it's the latter, and the residents are supposed to be living people, but they become "dead" in the story because they entered the abandoned house, then you need to be careful.

"It's the second scenario," Yi Qing said with a smile. "These residents can be understood as NPCs extracted from the living world by the Yin Yang Corridor. The outside world in their memories isn't Yin Yang City, but a real ancient town."

"So the old man's claim that the legendary abandoned house, a place of seclusion that could bring its inhabitants eternal peace, is false." Zhao Yijiu's voice was cold and low. "The very existence of the abandoned house is problematic; any imagery here could bring danger."

"That's right~" Yu Xing snapped her fingers, "For now, forget that this is the test of the Yin Yang Corridor, and just treat it as a small simulation exercise. These residents are the source of danger for the participants, but we don't have any system tasks."

He walked to the door, listened intently, and made sure there was no sound outside.

The Woodcutter returned to his room, the child stayed with the Lingren, and the other two residents remained in their rooms.

Yu Xing said, "That old man asked us to stay here for a day and get to know the residents. Obviously, he wants us to use this day to get something out of him and make some judgments. We're not free; time is actually very tight because after today, we don't know what conclusions or answers we need to give that old man tomorrow."

"Even today we're not necessarily safe. If we trigger the death conditions during the day, we'll definitely be in trouble at night— the Woodcutter's four points of caution can all be seen as reminders."

"We should go into each resident's room during the day to check, right?" Zhao Yijiu looked up at Yu Xing with a questioning gaze.

With Yu Xing around, he still preferred to follow Yu Xing's orders.

"That's right, it seems there's no fixed schedule today, but actually, daytime is our only chance." Yu Xing said this with a sense of urgency, but her demeanor was relaxed. "Anyway, there are few people, so I'll just make the arrangements."

"Don't rush to the residents' houses. We need to search each house first, find clues left by previous guests, compare them, and confirm where they died... No doubt about it, they're definitely dead. I bet their bodies are in that well."

"Then I contacted each of the four residents one by one, figured out their temperaments and obsessions, and coaxed out the reasons why they came to the abandoned house to escape reality."

"Next, find a way to get into their room and, through the layout of the room, determine their method and circumstances of the murder. Ideally, check for any clues about what they can and cannot eat during mealtimes."

"Also, the row of rooms between the east and west sides should theoretically be uninhabited, but the Woodcutter hasn't mentioned it. Let Yiqing check it out and see what's inside."

"The rest depends on tonight. We'll see what changes the residents undergo, whether the abandoned house reveals its true nature, and what benefits our arrival can bring to the residents. We'll find the answers then."

Yu Xing leaned against the door, still looking lazy and listless.

However, the series of instructions caused the mystery surrounding the abandoned house to disintegrate automatically, and the difficulty level dropped sharply.

Yi Qing sighed deeply, "You're an interesting person, but you make everything else boring. Sigh... Now that you mention it, this dilapidated house doesn't seem worth exploring anymore. I really want to tear it down."

The name for the abandoned house was upgraded to "broken house".

Upon hearing this, the sky above the abandoned house seemed to darken even further.

In exploring and deducing the plot, the most important thing is the "direction," and Yu Xing can easily provide that direction.

--Of course, this is also backed by solid skills. If there were people present who were unfamiliar with him or inexperienced newcomers, Yu Xing would not have assigned the task so simply and clearly; he would have chosen to guide them slowly.

Or they might just give up because they don't like someone.

Zhao Yijiu stood ramrod straight, a glint of light subtly appearing in his eyes as he looked at Yu Xing... In truth, he had always held a certain admiration for Yu Xing.

The same applies to Zhao Mou.

Because he is not good at thinking, he thinks smart people are very capable, especially those as smart as Yu Xing and Zhao Mou.

When they issue commands with absolute confidence and certainty, they seem to radiate light, as if there is no problem that cannot be solved, no matter how terrifying the hypothetical world is.

Distracted, Zhao Yijiu thought that perhaps he wasn't angry when he realized he had been Yu Xing during the new recruit test at Qingyuan Pharmaceutical Factory because, under Zhao Mou's influence, he liked and relied on this kind of person.

He had even thought before that if one day he died in the trap of a highly intelligent person, he might not be too angry, but would only feel that he hadn't lost unjustly... except for disgusting guys like Lingren.

Zhao Yijiu didn't have a deep understanding of the emotion of "worship," but at this moment, he felt good and seemed to be in a good mood.

The next second, he heard Yu Xing say, "Come and see."

Despite being in a good mood, Zhao Yijiu walked past with a blank face, as if she had no interest in anything, just like always.

Yu Xing beckoned Zhao Yijiu and Yi Qing to come to the window.

The doors and windows of this room are all made of wood, with paper lattice in the middle, the kind you see in TV dramas where you can poke a hole in it to blow out poisonous smoke.

The paper was translucent, so it would be very clear, but unfortunately the whole sky was overcast, so no light could get in, and the room suddenly felt a bit dark and gloomy.

Standing in front of the paper window, separated from the courtyard by a sheet of paper, my view was completely obstructed.

"Do you want to poke a hole in it?" Yi Qing anticipated Yu Xing's actions and threatened, "What if damaging something is one of the conditions for death...?"

"No need for me to poke it, it's already here." Yu Xing shrugged and raised her chin. "Look, this is it. It looks like someone who stayed here before made it. The location is really good."

Zhao Yijiu went over to look and saw a very well-hidden small hole near the corner of the window frame.

The hole is quite high; you can easily peer through it by simply bending down slightly, making it perfect for spying on the outside.

This is for nighttime use. The Woodcutter said that one shouldn't go out at night, so this kind of spy hole is the best medium to utilize.

Only...

Since this hole was made by people who stayed overnight in the past, it has a rather profound meaning.

"It seems that something happened to the previous guests, forcing them to observe the courtyard in this way," Yu Xing murmured softly. "Were they afraid back then?"

When those who once stayed overnight peered through this small hole, did they glimpse the horrors within the courtyard? Did the creatures within notice them, thus hastening their deaths?

Or perhaps there's another eye pressed against the hole, making the lodgers think that it's pitch black outside...

Then suddenly blink.

"Then I'll go back to my room." Zhao Yijiu's voice interrupted Yu Xing's daydreams. He came back to his senses and nodded.

The first thing to do is search everyone's rooms.

"Watch out for the Lingren; I don't want to deal with any trouble he might cause right now," Yu Xing reminded Zhao Yijiu, as if she had finally remembered there was someone next door.

Zhao Yijiu nodded silently, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Yi Qing and Yu Xing were left staring at each other in the room.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Yiqing asked innocently. "I really don't have any more information to tell you."

"Then you can search the house too." Upon hearing this, Yu Xing made a dismissive gesture without any politeness, and said with a half-smile, "Whenever you want to give me some 'insider information,' you're welcome anytime~"

The human and the ghost seem to be playing cryptic games regarding the so-called "insider information."

Yi Qing didn't even glance at Yu Xing, and in a flash, she passed through the wall and fled the scene, leaving only the crisp clinking sound of the crystal ornaments.