Chapter 59: House of Malevolence

The sky was dark and gloomy.

Thick, ink-black clouds hung heavily overhead.

Howling winds blew without cease; leaves on the trees rattled fiercely, the streets nearly empty, birds and other creatures all hidden away.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning flashed.

The thunderous sound jolted Wu Xian awake.

Wu Xian opened his eyes.

Because residential areas in this world all looked more or less the same.

This kind of thing…

At the center of the dining table sat a four-tiered cream cake, suggesting they were preparing for a birthday party.

The mistress seemed to sense Wu Xian’s discomfort, and kindly said to him.

How, then, could one preserve one’s memories?

As he pondered.

“Who are you?”

“I saw you earlier—you’ve been lying outside for a long time. You must be cold and hungry. Have some tea to warm up?”

“Sir, just stay, don’t worry. If Dad knew Mom drove away a heroic detective in the rain, he’d be the one angry at her!”

A bright-smiling girl greeted him.

But he spoke politely.

On the tray lay a teapot, a teacup, and a small snack.

Wu Xian’s lip twitched; under the mistress’s gaze, he forced himself to pour a cup of tea.

“Madam!”

He’d just picked a random house—how had he stumbled upon another malevolent entity?

“Come in. I’m sorry for doubting you—it’s just that times are dangerous now.”

So he picked up his clothes and rose to leave. Though he still had eight uses of the Flying Blade Spell, he had no desire to plunge into another inexplicable malevolent crisis.

Wu Xian didn’t know how long he’d lain there.

He walked toward the nearest house and rang the doorbell.

It was good tea.

Warm light and heat leaked from the door crack; a woman with side-swept hair watched Wu Xian warily.

Wu Xian sat on the warm sofa.

“I think it’s time I left. I don’t want to trouble you.”

He looked up at the sky and shivered.

“Please try my tea—it’s top-grade leaves, given to my husband by a patient from Miaojiang. Their tea isn’t available here.”

Hearing Wu Xian’s request.

“Recent home-invasion murders have surged. Citizens, please remain vigilant and do not let strangers into your homes.”

The tea was emerald green, the infusion clear, the aroma rich…

After testing, Wu Xian confirmed his memories from the real world were intact.

But his memories since entering the Fudi had begun to blur—the details of the first mental test, and some events upon returning home, were now impossible to recall fully.

It seemed the home-invasion murders had a significant impact within the Fudi.

The woman was skeptical.

She was hanging streamers on the stairs; hearing their conversation, she spoke to detain Wu Xian. Then she walked upstairs—but Wu Xian saw clearly: she didn’t step at all; she glided unnaturally sideways!

She was also a malevolent entity!

This entire family were malevolent entities!

But he wore thin clothing, so he was cold; his body heat had drained heavily. If caught in the rain, he might suffer hypothermia and a severe cold.

“You needn’t fear I’m a killer.”

Wu Xian was already cursing inwardly.

She covered her mouth and left, as if suffering from a toothache.

The small house wasn’t large; the interior was plainly but thoughtfully decorated. The layout felt familiar to Wu Xian, but in this monotonous world, similar room designs were normal.

Wu Xian turned his head.

The woman hesitated. Recent home-invasion murders had been rampant; she didn’t want to risk letting a stranger into her home.

The mistress and an old woman were cooking in the kitchen; the old man and a girl were decorating the house, hanging streamers and colored lanterns everywhere.

At the other end of the bench lay a radio left by someone unknown, broadcasting a news bulletin from Xianwei City Radio Station.

He re-entered the house, watched the news, compared details, and finally confirmed Wu Xian’s identity.

The mistress placed a stainless-steel tray on the coffee table.

Wu Xian’s posture on the sofa shifted from relaxed to tense. The events before him felt deeply eerie, and he sensed a strange familiarity—he was extremely nervous.

His body temperature gradually returned.

Wu Xian may have been here before, or may not have.

He discovered he was in a residential area, lying on a bench like a vagrant. The neighborhood looked vaguely familiar.

But Wu Xian had no further excuse to refuse; defying these two might invite disaster.

Wu Xian rubbed his arms, shivering: “I’m freezing. Rain’s coming soon—maybe even hail. Can I take shelter in your home?”

This had a fatal impact on his actions within the Fudi.

But Wu Xian was curious about the tea’s appearance. He opened the teapot, looked down, and his expression froze again.

Wu Xian thought his excuse was excellent.

Inside the teapot’s strainer lay a dozen green, multi-legged insects!

The door opened a crack.

Four people were busy in this cozy home.

“Rain’s coming soon… maybe even hail.”

Wu Xian sat up and turned off the radio.

“Detective, do you have any other requests?”

Through the door crack, Wu Xian saw the TV inside playing a Bureau of Investigation press conference. He pulled out his detective credentials and showed them to the woman.

But just now, when the woman smiled, Wu Xian clearly saw a crack appear at the corner of her mouth…

She smiled gently at Wu Xian.

The woman ushered Wu Xian inside, seated him on the sofa—his body’s chill finally began to fade.

His greatest problem now was memory loss.

The insects were still alive, writhing in the boiling water. When they noticed the lid open, they scrambled wildly. Wu Xian quickly slammed the lid shut.

Wu Xian looked around and soon spotted a nearby house glowing warmly; through the window, he saw people moving inside.

Wu Xian truly wanted something hot.

“Miaojiang tea…”

“You wouldn’t want your husband to find out you entertained a strange man at home, would you?”

Wu Xian suddenly cried out.

It was a single-family detached house.

“The heroic detective who caught the serial killer—the one being praised on the news—that’s me!”

Tension made his mouth dry.

The woman spun around quickly—her head turned fully, but a trickle of blood burst from her neck. Her body rotated slowly, then aligned perfectly.

How could he possibly drink it?

Wu Xian stared at the teacup, motionless. As his movement ceased, heavy footsteps echoed behind him.

(End of Chapter)