Chapter 523: Apology

This was an amalgamated creature!

“Hmm?” Cao Yang asked between breaths when they reached the seventh floor. “The footsteps have ceased. Did it stop?”

“That’s right.” Director Qi turned around with a pale face. “Also, where is Mr Jiang? Has he been caught?”

“You’ll be caught before he does!” Kui Yi glared at Director Qi, shutting him down. He believed Jiang Cheng must have discovered something. Soon, Jiang Cheng came down the stairs. With a look, Kui Yi noticed the latter looked better than before. Even his frown had relaxed.

“Where is the ghost?” Director Qi hurried to ask.

Jiang Cheng answered, “It chased after us for a while and then retreated to its room.”

Kui Yi quickly reacted. “I was right about that room being a safe house, or else the ghost would have come after Director Qi. It is guarding the place to stop us from returning there! It is buying time!” Kui Yi continued to analyse. “I believe the safe house has a time limit. If we fail to enter it before the time is up, the safe house will lose its effect, and the ghost will become invincible!”

“But, how are we supposed to return when the ghost is guarding it?” Director Qi pleaded.

“Someone is already inside the room,” Jiang Cheng explained, “So you don’t need to worry about that.”

“Lin Wan ‘Er?!” Cao Yang gasped.

Jiang Cheng turned to him. The latter laughed awkwardly. “That’s great. Miss Lin is still alive.”

Jiang Cheng paused to observe when he noticed the ghost purposely slow down. He noticed the door of a nearby room opening. Lin Wan ‘Er slipped into Room 906 instantly. After that, the ghost stood outside the door, as if there was an invisible barrier preventing it from entering. Kui Yi’s hypothesis was correct.

Jiang Cheng led the rest to Room 806. After he opened the window, he tapped twice on the wall. Soon, a rope made from curtains dangled downwards. Director Qi quickly tried to climb it, but he was kicked away by Jiang Cheng. He winced as he fell.

“You first.” Jiang Cheng looked at Kui Yi.

Time was of the essence. Kui Yi was the first to climb. Then came the grousing Director Qi. When Jiang Cheng wanted to urge Cao Yang, Lin Wan ‘Er’s chilly voice came from above, “You go next.”

When Jiang Cheng heard that, his eyes shifted. Cao Yang’s hands were already on the rope. However, he could only let go and hand it unwillingly to Jiang Cheng.

“Brother Jiang,” He held the rope with one hand and looked at Jiang Cheng strangely, “I have been quite nice to you, right?” He added, “Without me, you would have died when we chatted with Blind Zheng. There’s a misunderstanding between Miss Lin and me.” Cao Yang pouted, “I know you are close to her. Please put in some good words for me. Please don’t leave me here. I have saved your life!” He stressed.

Jiang Cheng looked at him and nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Thank you!”

Cao Yang watched as Jiang Cheng climbed up the rope. In less than five seconds, heavy footsteps came from the corridor. “Not good!” Cao Yang hurried to close the door. “That’s probably the ghost!” He stayed by the window. He waited, but the rope didn’t return. His heart pounded as the footsteps approached. Finally, the rope appeared.

Cao Yang grabbed it hastily and started to climb. “Miss Lin, I faulted you. Thank you for helping me. When we’re out, I will…” Cao Yang reached the window and saw Lin Wan ‘Er’s frosty expression and the giant scissors she held.

“No… AH!”

BANG! Following the scream, a heavy thud came from downstairs. Cao Yang fell from the ninth floor. Even if he survived, he couldn’t escape the ghost. The next second, a shadow appeared on the eighth-floor window. The ghost jumped through the window, and there was another heavy thud. Then, there was the sound of squishy things being stomped.

Lin Wan ‘Er pulled her gaze back to glance at Director Qi and Kui Yi. Both of them turned away. The woman’s aura was too strong. Plus, she had Jiang Cheng. Cao Yang’s death had nothing to do with him, so Kui Yi wouldn’t offend her for him.

“He was the one who killed Yu Yu,” Lin Wan ‘Er began. “Yu Yu was dead when I arrived. The ghost was close by. He intended to injure my leg so I’d be killed by the ghost.” Lin Wan Er’s tone was robotic. Lin Wan ‘Er raised her arm to reveal the wounds left by sharp objects.

“He deserves to die!” Director Qi cursed loudly. “How dare he harm a pretty lady like Miss Lin?!”

Lin Wan ‘Er turned to him. “Shut up.”

“Okay!” Director Qi obeyed.

Then, Lin Wan ‘Er’s gaze moved to a clock on the wall. It looked old. Someone left a conspicuous mark on the clock face. It was a clear hint. The time was 1.40 am. The carving marked 44.

“Can we leave this place at 1.44 am?” Kui Yi realised something and turned to Lin Wan ‘Er for verification. “Is that right?”

That should be the time required by the ritual. If Director Qi was inside the room when the time arrived, the ritual would fail. That was the solution. As expected, at 1.44 am, the space they occupied twisted. The only thing that didn’t change was Director Qi.

After Jiang Cheng’s group disappeared, Director Qi collapsed. Even though he didn’t know why those people had vanished, he knew that he had survived. The strange feeling the hospital gave him dissipated.

Just as he was ready to leave, he froze as he stood up.

Through the gap in the door, a shattered face peeked through to smile at him…