Chapter 67

"Inspiration... it's definitely there. Honestly, I'm a weird fiction writer. The characteristic of this type of novel is listing a bunch of rules, telling you what you can't do. Of course, you also have to write out that sense of eeriness."

"Actually, this kind of novel isn't the super terrifying type; the horror that text can create is actually quite limited... but I don't know if I'm just too tired, I've started having some hallucinations. When I write stories at night, I always feel as if many eyes are watching me."

"I'm thinking, maybe it really is what you said, a Feng Shui problem? Friend, you came at a really good time. Help me take a look! I want to sleep, but I can't."

"No... or maybe I don't want to sleep either?"

Wen Xishu began to pretend to inspect the layout of the room. The layout of 14-1 was actually almost identical to his 14-2.

The difference was that Wen Xishu's room was in its initial state, while the room of this writer, Yin Junchi, had some personal items in the living room: photo albums, creative books, an ashtray, tissues, a notebook, and a cell phone.

Judging by the phone and notebook, this writer's income was not low.

Wen Xishu discovered that inspecting the other party's room did not consume Action Points; it was already counted under "interacting with neighbors."

So this game actually possessed a certain degree of freedom and technicality. Whether one could reasonably enter the other party's room to inspect it, to what extent one could inspect, and how to avoid making the other party feel repulsed, all depended on one's personal skill.

In order to be able to inspect for a longer time, Wen Xishu said:

"This room of yours is indeed a bit sinister... Tell me honestly, have you encountered anything strange recently? Before you came here, did anyone advise you not to come?"

"These things of yours don't look cheap. Given your income, you shouldn't need to envy the people who moved in here."

"Why did you come here? Was it purely because the price-performance ratio here is high?"

Yin Junchi shook his head:

"Mainly because my updates were too slow. My editor and readers were urging me, and then I posted a thread asking if there was a 'black room' suitable for updating."

"It turned out there really was one. You might not believe it, but the one who sent me a private message was a prominent figure in Qi City, the official Weibo account of the Three Balls Group, saying they had prepared a room for me that could stimulate inspiration."

Wen Xishu was slightly moved. This guy's status was not low; he wasn't just some ordinary novelist, but a best-selling author who had been invited in proactively.

Wen Xishu felt this person would give him quite a few clues:

"The placement of some things in this room is indeed problematic. I might need to inspect them. Don't worry, I guarantee immediate results. By the way, is it convenient to know your pen name?"

Regardless of whether he could produce immediate results, he had to say it first. He could just make it up later; in any case, the other party seemed to believe in this, which gave Wen Xishu a lot of room to maneuver.

Yin Junchi said:

"My pen name is Three Days Two Living Banana Pei Jia."

"A good name. It's a pen name comparable to Yoshihiro Togashi. Although I haven't heard of it, I imagine your updates must be... very concise and powerful. By the way, does anyone else live in this room?"

"No, no. During the creative process, I am very resistant to other people being around."

Wen Xishu nodded, having an idea in his mind.

According to known information, people died in all seven households, and seven families were broken, but in text, it didn't mean all seven households were wiped out.

However, this household of Yin Junchi only had Yin Junchi himself. This meant that this man would meet with misfortune in seven days.

"It's a pity I don't know the cause of death. Although this person currently seems to have some issues with his mental state—excited with dark circles, typical insomnia—it definitely shouldn't be enough to kill him."

Wen Xishu combined various clues in his mind and said:

"You said you have auditory and visual hallucinations. I see that the placement of items in this room is very likely to attract certain things. Why don't you tell me what these hallucinations and auditory hallucinations are, and I'll see if I can find any leads?"

Yin Junchi said:

"That would be great. I'll tell you right now."

Wen Xishu actually hadn't discovered anything worth noting, so it was very likely that Yin Junchi's problem lay within himself.

This writer had no suspicions about Wen Xishu.

In his view, anyone who could enter this place had been screened by the Three Balls Group; how could they have bad intentions?

Yin Junchi began to recount his hallucinations and auditory hallucinations.

Wen Xishu listened silently.

……

……

Wen Xishu had already begun to obtain information related to the main quest.

By comparison, the other four people each had their own situations.

Wen Xiange was a very enthusiastic person. Although in the bunker, Wen Xiange would grab anyone he could to propagate the doctrines of the Wen Xishu Divine Sect, letting people find serenity and peace from Wen Xishu.

But he wasn't stupid; he knew he couldn't pull this in the Three Towers. After all, these believers couldn't be brought back to the bunker.

The point wasn't to propagate the doctrine, but to build a good relationship and then slowly overcome the other party's psychological defenses, letting them realize the value of life again.

Wen Xiange was actually very good at this.

So he didn't immediately choose to interact with neighbors at first, but instead made some delicious food. The fresh-keeping layer of the kitchen refrigerator had seasonal vegetables and fruits. The freezer layer had lamb and beef.

Although the bunker's supplies were all randomly obtained in the Three Towers, many people had mastered culinary skills and earned money by processing supplies.

Wen Xiange had this ability. He was grateful to everyone who could bring back level-six supplies, because with these supplies, no one would go hungry for a period of time. Only when ingredients were abundant could one practice the technique of processing them.

He carried the fragrant, mouth-watering food, thinking of sharing it with his neighbors.

But the strange thing was here: after Wen Xiange knocked on the door, the resident of 7-5 was a big guy, whose hair wasn't much thicker than Wen Xiange's bald head.

His body was covered in trembling fat. His attitude was initially okay, but after seeing the food Wen Xiange brought, he said with some disgust:

"What's so good about that? I'm on a diet recently. I'm sorry, I can't eat these things. I have to lose weight. I have to lose weight to go on a blind date."

Wen Xiange was shocked, never expecting that this big guy, who looked like he should have a good appetite, would actually refuse his food...

With a bang, the door closed.

Wen Xiange became someone who had finished his activities for the day.

【Interaction with neighbors has ended. 50 Action Points have been deducted. Current remaining Action Points: 20.】

All events in Wen Xiange's list that required Action Points were now grayed out and could not be triggered.

He was a bit discouraged. Only after he finished eating the food he had made himself did his mood improve a little.

He also made some attempts, such as what would happen if he went out again after having no Action Points.

Naturally, there were no bugs.

At least the method he thought of had no bugs. When Wen Xiange prepared to do so, the following prompt appeared.

【You have no Action Points left and cannot perform the next action.】

Wen Xiange's body began to be controlled and then sat back on the sofa in the living room. About thirty seconds later, his body regained control.

At this moment, Wen Xiange suddenly felt a bit terrified.

There was no way to leave this place.

As he thought this, he felt the room's temperature seemed a bit low, and his stomach felt a bit nauseous.

He suddenly felt that the so-called delicacies he had made might not have been that delicious.

……

……

Wu Xiangjiao's luck was a bit better than Wen Xiange's. The floor Wu Xiangjiao was on was the first floor.

He was at 21-8; the neighbor he wanted to visit was the resident of 21-9.

The resident on this floor was a college student, the very introverted type. Wu Xiangjiao was thinking that after he snuck in, he would take the opportunity to steal something.

Although he had been reformed and, with Wen Xiange's help, had no other bad habits besides being a bit lecherous, and hadn't stolen anything for a long time...

But this time, in order to let all members of the Wen Xishu Divine Sect survive, Wu Xiangjiao thought it would be nice if he could steal something valuable or with clues.

Wu Xiangjiao was still quite good at talking; his rogue-like attitude actually suited this college student's taste.

After the two chatted at the door for a while, Wu Xiangjiao was invited into the room.

In the college student's room, there were many two-dimensional items: posters of beauties with huge breasts, a figure of a golden-haired, muscular warrior in an explosive state, and the smell of... photinia flowers permeating the air.

This made Wu Xiangjiao immediately think of a breakthrough point. What should boys of this age talk about? Of course, it's talking about women.

That was what Wu Xiangjiao thought, but after he brought up this topic...

The college student's expression immediately became serious:

"Doing that kind of thing will only consume yourself. We cannot sink into it. A-Jiao, you too. If you do that kind of thing, I will look down on you."

"You should read more philosophy books and study knowledge more. In this world, can only carnal desire satisfy us? You make me a bit disappointed! You must be a high-class person!"

Huh? Wu Xiangjiao was stunned.

Seeing Wu Xiangjiao show this expression, the college student shook his head and said:

"Perhaps we are not on the same path. You should go back. I have to study. I am a law student at Qi City University. In the future, I am going to be a prosecutor!"

The book placed on his table was actually a manga, telling the story of a protagonist who obtained magical glasses. The glasses could see various data, and so the protagonist began to madly collect a harem relying on the glasses.

Wu Xiangjiao wasn't stupid. He felt his judgment was accurate. How could a student of this age not crave big breasts and long legs? But he really didn't expect that after talking about the topic of women, the other party would show him the door!

Could this be... because of the post-coital clarity?

【Interaction with neighbors has ended. 50 Action Points have been deducted. Current remaining Action Points: 45.】

Just like that, Wu Xiangjiao was forced to leave the college student's room and return to his own home.

His current remaining Action Points were 45. The things he could do were to initiate a meeting and explore his own room.

……

……

A-Miao was considered the one with the smoothest progress among the few, besides Wen Xishu.

The floor she lived on was very high, on the 35th floor. Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling window, one could see a very beautiful scene.

However, she had no heart to appreciate it at all, because after her body was controlled to knock on the neighbor's door, she was very nervous and very afraid. She was afraid that there would be strange things here.

But the resident of 35-13 was a comedian, a very funny comedian. Upon hearing A-Miao knock, he opened the door immediately.

He appeared very happy:

"Wow! You must be the neighbor who moved in today! That's great, that's great! Hahahaha, welcome, welcome! Come into my house and take a look!"

This comedian was very enthusiastic, prepared food and water for A-Miao, and also invited A-Miao to watch the movies he had acted in.

In the movie, he played a villain role. But this villain didn't have that kind of oppressive feeling; he was more like a comedic character, specifically bullied by the protagonist, and then threatening to come back to deal with the protagonist next time, failing repeatedly but fighting repeatedly, using comical failures to create laughs.

A-Miao felt the comedian's performance was very on point. There was a plot segment where the comedian said: "So what?"

Then this comedian was slapped continuously by a group of people and mocked: "You said so what?"

The sound of the slaps was very loud, a series of "pa pa pa pa pa," and the comedian had several changes in expression during this process.

"Great, right! Hahahaha, when the audience scrolls to this part, they are all playing my memes! I am very happy to be able to bring them laughter."

"Oh, I was beaten very miserably at that time. The first few times, because it was too painful, my expression wasn't on point, and the director cut it a few times. Hahahaha..."

A-Miao didn't expect that the other party was such an optimistic person.

After talking with the other party for about half an hour, A-Miao's mood also improved. Infected by that kind of smile, she gradually forgot about those troublesome things in her reality. She didn't even feel the Mysterious Tower was terrifying.

This comedian gave A-Miao a very good impression, but A-Miao didn't know how to continue the topic.

Because the topics were all being found by the comedian himself:

"You don't look very happy. The first time I saw you, I felt it. But life is just like this; everything is worth being happy and joyful about!"

"Thank you... Don't you ever feel uncomfortable? Shooting that kind of movie, and being teased by the audience... wouldn't it be uncomfortable?"

"Oh, how can you say that? This is all a pleasant experience. There are many things in this world that can bring happiness. Maybe in your eyes they make you uncomfortable, but for me, they are joys worth savoring."

The actor continued to laugh loudly.

A-Miao felt healed, but that was all. Many topics she initiated were brushed aside by the comedian using the great theme of "one must enjoy life to the fullest when one is successful."

A-Miao was ultimately not strong enough. About an hour later...

She could only leave this room.

【Interaction with neighbors has ended. 50 Action Points have been deducted. Current remaining Action Points: 45.】

Once again, her body began to be driven by a mysterious force, standing up against her own will.

But perhaps encouraged by the actor's gaze, A-Miao couldn't help but think, what could be such a big deal about this?

One must enjoy life to the fullest; she shouldn't be angry or sad about the suffering before her.

……

……

Among the few people, the one most speechless had to be Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu was in Room 10 on the 28th floor; the neighbor he wanted to visit was in Room 28-11.

This neighbor was a lawyer.

When the lawyer opened the door, Xiao Wu, as a former prisoner, was actually a bit afraid when facing this profession that was extremely good at sending people to prison...

Although at first, he didn't know the other party was a lawyer.

But as soon as the other party spoke, Xiao Wu understood:

"Hello... this, this is the Qishen Office, I am lawyer Jiang Yingce... Is there anything you need from me?"

Xiao Wu also stuttered a bit:

"Oh oh... I, I am called Xiao Wu, I am your new neighbor. I wanted to chat with you and get to know you."

Jiang Yingce nodded:

"Then... then please come in. But I am cleaning the room, I'm sorry... my room is still not clean enough, I... I... why don't you wait a bit longer?"

He seemed very hesitant and lost. At first, he thought about letting the other party in, but as soon as he thought about his room being very dirty, he felt it was better not to let the other party come in and see his joke.

The door was opened slightly, then closed again.

Xiao Wu stood outside the door, a bit dumbfounded.

Because fifty Action Points for just this?

He still didn't observe the lawyer carefully enough, which led to a wrong opening line.

However, Xiao Wu still had some gains.

After his body was forcibly dragged back to his own room, Xiao Wu had an uncomfortable feeling.

It was weird.

"His room was clearly... clearly clean to the point of glowing!"

You could say he had severe mysophobia, but there wouldn't be such a clean room. Xiao Wu suddenly felt some fear. He scratched his head and ears, suddenly wanting to take a bath.

……

……

Compared to the others, the writer Wen Xishu experienced was actually the most normal.

The story the writer told was like this.

"I had a severe case of writer's block, and then the people from the Three Balls Group said this room had a very good magnetic field, which would help me write, so I came here."

"Honestly, the first night was actually okay... We write weird fiction. Although what we write isn't considered too terrifying, when conceiving the plot, sometimes I get scared."

"Some say authors who write horror novels are bold... Wrong. Those who are extremely bold might write very well, but people who are timid, at the same level, often can do better."

"Alright, I'm making excuses for my timidity. In short, I was scared by the plot I conceived."

"In my mind, images and sounds began to appear frequently. Both of these made me feel terrified."

"On a dim flat ground, a group of people formed many circles, and I was in the middle of that group of people. They all looked at me with a kind of look that showed no emotion... but just wanted to open their eyes wide, open them to the maximum."

"Everyone's eyeballs looked like they were about to burst. Then everyone opened their mouths wide... Can you imagine this expression?"

Speaking of this, the writer Yin Junchi suddenly began to widen his eyes and open his mouth wide. He widened his eyes as if he wanted to burst his eyeballs, but the force with which he opened his mouth was no less than that of opening his eyes.

This expression made Wen Xishu frown slightly.

It wouldn't hurt to try following along and making this expression: open your eyes with force, use the greatest strength, and then open your mouth with force, also using the greatest strength.

If you do this, you will find that this is the expression of terror.

And this expression naturally could transmit fear to others. Wen Xishu didn't feel terrified, but he realized the sinister nature of this.

Yin Junchi was still recounting:

"In total, how many people were there? Let me think... I have to think, there were 630 people in total! Circle after circle surrounding me! Circle after circle surrounding me, their eyes staring at me, their eyes bloodshot, their mouths opened to the extreme, emitting a strange 'ah' roar."

630 people? Such a precise number made Wen Xishu quite surprised.

But soon, that dense feeling of fear arrived.

If hundreds of people were sitting beside you, surrounding you in circles, could you count how many people were there in an instant? Perhaps someone with extremely high mathematical talent could do it, but Yin Junchi was likely not such a genius.

So why would Yin Junchi know there were 630 people surrounding him in many circles, emitting a strange "ah" roar at him?

Wen Xishu guessed—

In all likelihood, Yin Junchi simply couldn't escape that hallucination, so he could only be surrounded in the middle and start counting numbers. This image might not be terrifying, but when you finish counting 630 terrified faces, I imagine the mental pollution received in your heart wouldn't be too low.

Wen Xishu felt it was getting interesting:

"Is there a follow-up?"

"No more. No more. I just frequently saw such hallucinations. It's so scary. I felt as if I struggled in the hallucination for a long time, but when I got rid of the hallucination, I found that only a short while had passed."

Yin Junchi said:

"Only writing makes me calm. As long as I close my eyes and try to rest, the hallucinations will attack me from time to time."

"But do you know, I can write. In the process of creating, I feel serenity. This is very good. Honestly, this is the flow state I pursue."

"I wish I could stay in this state forever, but my reason tells me I have to find a way to rest."

"This state is certainly great, but it's impossible for the body to always be in this state! Impossible!"

Yin Junchi suddenly widened his eyes, opened his mouth, and said somewhat hideously:

"Good neighbor, you can help me, right?"

This scene made Wen Xishu feel it was increasingly interesting. You have to know, Yin Junchi was quite normal at the beginning. Although he had very deep dark circles, who among the few people writing novels didn't?

But gradually, Wen Xishu realized that in the process of recalling these fears, Yin Junchi's heart began to have great fluctuations.

He began to appear somewhat bizarre and manic; he actually made this terrified expression at himself.

"I'm looking," Wen Xishu replied.

Actually, the placement of any items in the room was not a problem. In modern decoration, there are rarely any Feng Shui items. Feng Shui problems are often already solved by the developer when a real estate project is launched.

People in civil engineering know this best. Before a project starts, there is often a sum of money specifically used to hire Feng Shui masters.

Wen Xishu didn't understand these things at all; he just took the opportunity to check those items with notes.

Possessing over a dozen points of Magic Resistance, he had actually already discovered several items with notes.

First was the laptop.

【A laptop with excellent performance and high cost, but rarely used for work.】

Then the cell phone.

【A cell phone with excellent performance and high cost, frequently receiving calls urging for manuscripts.】

Then the bed.

【Very soft and comfortable, but very easily prone to ghost oppression.】

Finally, there was a newspaper.

【A newspaper from an unreliable newspaper office, containing many bizarre stories, usually used by Yin Junchi as a publication to find inspiration. It is much luckier than newspapers from other periods because it is read repeatedly.】

Nothing else.

In this room, there were no more items with notes, which meant that other items were not strange.

Wen Xishu had a preliminary judgment in his mind and asked:

"Mr. Yin, could you tell me, when you first moved in, before you started conceiving the weird fiction plot, did you have any hallucinations?"

(Two updates, ten thousand words! Continuing ten thousand words a day tomorrow. However, I'm still not used to posting books at midnight... I might change back to posting at noon tomorrow.)

(End of chapter)