Old House Exploration

For the current Gao Tian, killing a mobster was as easy as crushing an ant. After smoothly incorporating the other party's subordinates and resources, the real task for tonight had just begun.

Ghosts were far more terrifying than the underworld.

Several subordinates took shovels from the back of the SUV and, panting, dug a large pit in the ground, piling the faceless Zhao Qiang inside. They began filling the pit, thinking they were burying Zhao Qiang's old classmate. No one suspected that the "Zhao Qiang" supervising them had long been replaced.

After about twenty minutes of busy work, the scene was finally cleaned up. The subordinates piled the shovels back into the SUV, preparing to leave. Gao Tian coldly called out to them:

"What's the rush? Trying to get home to reincarnate?

"Did you forget why we came here today? Aren't we going to search that old house belonging to Xu Yuan? You've got the large pliers ready to break the lock."

Shou Hou looked at "Zhao Qiang" with some surprise:

"Everyone's been dealt with, why are we still going to that old house?

"Boss, didn't you say we could leave after killing someone? The people who wanted to see the house are lying in the dirt. Are we doing this for the ghosts to see?"

Gao Tian raised his hand and slapped him hard:

"I said we're going to take a look, so we'll take a look. What are you babbling about here?"

The usual Zhao Qiang spoke to his subordinates like this. He was moody, often acting on impulse, and his subordinates were long accustomed to his fiery temper.

The slapped Shou Hou grumbled a few words, not daring to resist, fearing he would become the next roommate of the person in the dirt. Looking at the dilapidated three-story detached house in the distance, Gao Tian smiled:

"My old classmate was looking for a good place.

"This house is said to be where a certain corrupt official hid his money, with a large jar of gold bars buried inside. The owner of the house met with an accident and never returned. Otherwise, why do you think I would have called him out in the middle of the night to travel all this way? If I wanted to kill someone, there are plenty of places in the wilderness."

Anyway, these subordinates knew nothing, and coupled with his Memory Ghost ability, he could just make things up. As long as he could find an excuse to drive them.

Under "Zhao Qiang's" tyranny, few dared to resist; plus, upon hearing the word "gold bars," everyone's eyes lit up.

Immediately, someone took out the huge pliers from the SUV, and the group approached the dilapidated White House. With a snap, they broke the completely rusted iron chain on the gate, and it fell to the ground.

Creak...

Without the support of the iron chain, the two iron gates of the White House's yard, swayed slightly inward in the breeze, their completely rusted hinges emitting an unusually painful groan.

From the outside, the White House's yard was pitch black and overgrown with weeds. Nothing could be seen clearly. After all, it was Xu Yuan's old home. This person was a Ghost Hunter in life, and became a ghost after death. The post he made seven years ago carried supernatural power. No one could be sure what evil spirits were hidden in the uninhabited house.

Although Gao Tian's Ghost Card could revive him five or six times at least, he believed in using good steel on the blade and didn't want to waste his supernatural items in a place like this.

He would use Zhao Qiang's subordinates as stepping stones, throwing them out to see if they would trigger any vengeful ghost's killing rules inside.

"Shou Hou, San Hu, you two go around the yard first and see if there's any movement inside. If it's clear, then let our brothers waiting outside go in."

San Hu was simple-minded and chuckled foolishly, thinking the boss valued him and was letting him go first. He didn't realize that in his boss's eyes, he had already become cannon fodder. Without any caution, he and Shou Hou pushed open the iron gate and walked in, one after the other.

Gao Tian waited outside for about five minutes. The iron gate of the courtyard creaked and shook again. San Hu and Shou Hou walked out:

"Boss, we searched the whole courtyard. Besides a pile of weeds and furniture that looks like it hasn't been moved in years, we didn't find anything.

"But behind a window on the second floor, I thought I saw a shadow flicker. It scared me half to death. I thought maybe someone was still living in this White House that's been abandoned for decades... I almost drew my gun."

San Hu honestly recounted everything he saw in the courtyard. As he mentioned the shadow on the second floor, Shou Hou kicked him hard in the buttocks:

"You lazy bum, what shadow? I told you you were mistaken.

"This house hasn't been lived in for decades, no water or electricity. How could anyone still be on the second floor? You can walk ten kilometers around here and not find a single supermarket, and you think someone's living here?

"I think you're just in a hurry to go back and made up an excuse."

San Hu said he saw a shadow moving on the second floor?

This White House had three floors in total, each with several dusty windows that offered a vague glimpse inside. Above the third floor was a small attic used for storing miscellaneous items; it had no windows and would be hard to hide in.

Xu Yuan's parents were dead, his Teacher was dead, and he himself had died in Shanghai City. If there were any living beings in the White House right now, who could it be?

Could it be a local Hobo who snuck over the courtyard wall and was using this abandoned house as a temporary shelter?

That didn't make sense either. All the houses nearby had their doors wide open. Why would a Hobo choose this one, which was sealed shut, and go to the trouble of climbing the wall and prying open the door?

If it wasn't a Hobo, could it be some Anthropomorphic Object on the second floor, like an Overcoat that fell over from the wind?

This house had been empty for so many years; anything that could fall would have fallen already. Why would it fall now, just as San Hu went inside?

Perhaps there was some Evil Spirit guarding the house, which would fit Xu Yuan's usual style.

But he had come prepared today. First, he brought San Hu, Shou Hou, and so many Henchmen as Cannon Fodder – no point in not using them. Second, in the worst-case scenario, he could use his Black Card to leave immediately. Even if he stepped on some fatal trap and died in the White House, the Ghost Card would revive him.

Gao Tian had many Backup Plans. No matter what was in the White House, it was worth the risk to investigate.

He immediately commanded his subordinates:

"Let's go. Go in pairs. First, pry open the Main Door on the first floor, then we'll search floor by floor. This large jar of Gold Bars is in this White House and isn't going anywhere.

"Whoever finds the jar of Gold Bars first gets an extra Gold Bar. Even those who don't find it, as long as you follow my orders tonight, you'll get at least half a Gold Bar."

Hearing that there was money to be made, the subordinates' enthusiasm increased slightly. Although the White House looked increasingly gloomy and ominous in the dark night, it couldn't overcome their eagerness for wealth.

The seven brothers Zhao Qiang brought, led by San Hu and Shou Hou, went in first. At the entrance on the first floor, they used the same Pliers to easily cut through the Bolt. After pushing the door open, a fetid smell of long disuse assaulted them. They coughed a few times, turned on their flashlights, and continued into the darkness.

This place had clearly not been lived in for a long time. The furniture in the first-floor rooms was covered in a thick layer of Dust, and Spider Webs hung in the corners of the Ceiling. A shadow flickered in the distance, possibly a Mouse or a Gecko darting past.

The seven Underworld Henchmen ransacked every corner of the first floor, overturning furniture and searching everywhere. They made a lot of noise downstairs, working enthusiastically for a while. Not only did they not find the non-existent jar of Gold Bars, but they didn't find anything useful either.

They only found a few stacks of Old Newspapers from thirty years ago and a few boxes of Old Clothes – none of which were what Gao Tian wanted.

In a sense, his objective had already been achieved. Seven burly men were rummaging through the White House on the first floor, making such a racket. If there were any ghost's Killing Rule here, it would have been triggered long ago.

As long as no one was hurt now, it meant the first floor was relatively safe.

"Damn it, can you stop laughing?"

A man named Gray Wolf suddenly flew into a rage and inexplicably punched San Hu beside him.

San Hu was bewildered by the blow. After staggering, he became furious and lunged at Gray Wolf. The two men began to wrestle, throwing punches and curses at each other. The other men quickly stepped in, pulling the two red-eyed lunatics apart.

San Hu was held aside, panting as he cursed:

"Is this bastard sick? I wasn't making any noise at all, and he suddenly told me to stop laughing. I'll laugh at your mom, I will."

Gray Wolf's shirt was torn halfway off, revealing large muscles underneath. He was also pulled aside, yelling at San Hu:

"You were the only one near me then, who else could it be if not you laughing? This ghost place is already creepy enough, and you come in here giggling. If you like laughing so much, I'll send you to the crematorium, you old fart."

Suddenly, as if by some strange unspoken agreement, everyone in the room stopped talking at once.

Gray Wolf slowly raised his head, surprised to find that San Hu opposite him was still panting, but the soft giggling sound had never stopped. Instead, it continued intermittently.

He realized he had made a foolish mistake. San Hu was right beside him, but the strange laughter he heard might not have come from San Hu. After all, how could such a big, burly man make a delicate giggle like a young woman?

The men slowly turned around. The giggling sound was coming from the second floor.

Is there really someone upstairs?

At the same time, Gao Tian, who had witnessed all this, knew that Xu Yuan had indeed set a trap for him at his Old Home.

It was like he had left a Trap in a previously posted thread, leading to the death of Cao Hua, who was recovering files.

"Release all the safety catches on your guns.

"Gray Wolf, Crocodile, you two, go up to the second floor and check it out first.

"The rest of you brothers stay downstairs and await orders."