Chapter 67: The Strange Residents

"Inspiration... it certainly exists. Honestly, I am a writer of weird-tale novels. The characteristic of this type of novel is listing a bunch of rules, telling you what you cannot 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 it's because I'm too tired, I've started having some hallucinations. When I write stories at night, I always feel as if there are many eyes watching me."

"I'm thinking, perhaps it really is as you said, a Feng Shui problem? Friend, you really came at the right time. Help me take a look! I want to sleep a little, 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 no different from his 14-2.

The difference was just 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 mobile phone.

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

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

So this game actually also possesses a certain degree of freedom and technicality. Whether one can reasonably enter the other person's room to inspect, to what extent one inspects, and how not to make the other person feel repulsed, depends 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 live here."

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

Yin Junchi shook his head:

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

"As it turns out, there really was one. You might not believe it, but the one who sent me a private message was a prominent figure in Qicheng, the official Weibo account of the Three-Ball 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 bestseller. He had actually been invited in proactively.

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

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

Regardless of whether it could be effective immediately, he said it first. At worst, he could make it up later. In any case, the other party seemed to believe this somewhat, which gave Wen Xishu a lot of room to maneuver.

Yin Junchi said:

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

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

"No, no, I am very resistant to others being present during my creative process."

Wen Xishu nodded, having an idea in his mind.

According to known circumstances, people had died in all seven households, and seven families were broken, but in text, it did not mean that the seven households were completely wiped out.

However, this household of Yin Junchi only had Yin Junchi himself. That is to say, 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 looks like he has some mental state issues—excited with dark circles under his eyes, typical insomnia—he definitely shouldn't be dying."

Wen Xishu combined various clues in his mind and said:

"You said you have auditory and visual hallucinations. I see that the placement of various items in this room easily attracts certain things. Tell me, what kind of hallucinations and auditory illusions are they? Let me see if I can find some clues."

Yin Junchi said:

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

Wen Xishu actually hadn't found 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, those who could enter here were all people screened by the Three-Ball Group; how could they have bad intentions?

Yin Junchi began to recount his hallucinations and auditory illusions.

Wen Xishu listened silently.

Wen Xishu had already begun to acquire intelligence related to the main quest.

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

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

But his brain wasn't stupid; he knew he couldn't pull this stunt 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, then slowly overcome the other party's psychological defenses, letting them realize the value of life again.

Wen Xinge was actually very good at this.

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

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

Wen Xinge had this ability. He was grateful to everyone who could bring in Level 6 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 ingredients.

He carried the fragrant, mouth-watering delicacies, thinking of sharing them with his neighbors.

But the strange thing was right here. After Wen Xinge knocked on the door, the resident of 7-5 was a big guy, whose hair was not much more than Wen Xinge's bald head.

His whole body was full of trembling fat. His attitude was originally okay, but after seeing the food Wen Xinge brought, he said with some disgust:

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

Wen Xinge was shocked. He didn't expect 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 Xinge became someone who had finished today's activities.

[Interaction with neighbor ended. 50 action points deducted. Current remaining action points: 20.]

All events in Wen Xinge's list that required action points were already grayed out and could not be triggered.

He was a bit dejected. Only after he finished eating the food he 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 this method he thought of had no bugs. When Wen Xinge prepared to do so, the following prompt appeared.

[You have no action points left and cannot perform the following actions.]

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

At this very moment, Wen Xinge suddenly felt a bit terrified.

This place was impossible to leave.

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 made might not have been that delicious.

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

He was in 21-8, and the neighbor he wanted to visit was the resident of 21-9.

The resident on this floor was a university student, the very homebody type of university student. Wu Xiangjiao was thinking that after he snuck in, he would steal something while he was at it.

Although he had been reformed and, with Wen Xinge'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 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 ruffian-like attitude was actually very much to this university student's taste.

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

In the university student's room, there were many two-dimensional things: posters of beauties with huge breasts, figures of golden-haired, muscular warriors 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 when he brought up this topic...

The university 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, is it possible that only carnal desire can satisfy us! You make me a bit disappointed! You should be a high-class person!"

Huh? Wu Xiangjiao was stunned.

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

"Perhaps we are not on the same path. You go back. I'm going to study. I am a law student at Qicheng 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 that could see various data, and so the protagonist began to madly collect a harem relying on the glasses.

Wu Xiangjiao was not 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 chatting about the topic of women, the other party would issue an eviction order!

Could this be... because of the "sage time"?

[Interaction with neighbor ended. 50 action points deducted. Current remaining action points: 45.]

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

His remaining action points now were 45. The things he could do were initiating meetings and exploring his own room.

A-Miao could be 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 eerie things here.

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

He appeared very happy:

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

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 together.

In the movie, he played a villain. But this villain lacked that sense of oppression; he was more of a comedic character, specifically designed to be bullied by the protagonist, only to threaten to come back and deal with the protagonist next time—losing repeatedly but fighting on, a character who created laughs through his ridiculous failures.

A-Miao felt the comedian’s performance was spot on. There was a scene where the comedian said: "So what?"

Then, this comedian was slapped repeatedly by a group of people, who mocked him: "You said 'so what'?"

The sound of those slaps was very loud, a continuous *pap-pap-pap-pap-pap*, and during this process, the comedian displayed several changes in expression.

"Pretty great, right! Hahahaha, when the audience scrolls to this part, they’re all using my meme! I’m very happy to be able to bring them laughter."

"Oh, I was beaten up quite miserably at that time. The first few times, because it hurt too much, my expressions weren't quite right, and the director called 'cut' several times. Hahahaha..."

A-Miao hadn't expected the other party to be such an optimistic person.

After chatting with him for about half an hour, A-Miao’s mood improved as well. Infected by that kind of smile, she gradually forgot about the frustrating things in her reality. She didn't even feel that the Ghost Tower was terrifying.

This comedian left a very good impression on A-Miao, but A-Miao found herself not knowing how to continue the conversation.

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

"You look unhappy. The first moment 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 bad? Filming scenes like that, and being teased by the audience... doesn't it make you uncomfortable?"

"Oh, how can you say that? All of this is a pleasant experience. There are many things in this world that can bring happiness. Perhaps in your eyes they make you feel bad, but to me, they are joys worth savoring."

The actor continued to laugh loudly.

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

A-Miao was, after all, not strong-willed enough. About an hour later...

She could only leave this room.

[Interaction with neighbor ended. 50 Action Points deducted. Current remaining Action Points: 45.]

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

However, 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 over the hardships before her.

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

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

This neighbor was a lawyer.

When the lawyer opened the door, Xiao Wu, as a former convict, felt a bit afraid when facing a profession so adept at putting people away...

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... um, this is the Jishen Law Firm, I am Lawyer Jiang Yingce... Is there something you need from me?"

Xiao Wu was also a bit stuttery:

"Oh, oh... I, I'm Xiao Wu, 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 anxious. At first, he thought about letting the other person in, but as soon as he thought about his room being dirty, he felt it was better not to let the other person come in and see him make a fool of himself.

The door was slowly opened a bit, then closed again.

Xiao Wu stood outside the door, a bit dazed.

Because that was it for fifty Action Points?

He still hadn't observed the lawyer carefully enough, leading to a wrong opening line.

However, Xiao Wu did have some gains.

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

It was strange.

"His room was clearly... clearly clean enough to be glowing!"

You could call it severe mysophobia, and even then, there wouldn't be a room that clean. Xiao Wu suddenly felt a bit of fear. He scratched his head and ears, suddenly wanting to take a shower.

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

The story the writer told was like this.

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

"Honestly, the first night was actually fine... We write ghost stories. Even if what we write isn't too terrifying, sometimes when conceiving the plot, we get scared."

"Some say authors who write horror novels have big guts... Wrong. Those with exceptionally big guts might write well, but people with small guts, at the same level, can often do better."

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

"In my mind, images and sounds began to appear frequently. Both 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. They all looked at me with a kind of expression where you couldn't tell their emotions... but they just had to open their eyes wide, as wide as they could."

"Each of their eyeballs looked like they were about to pop out. And 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. He widened his eyes as if he wanted to pop his eyeballs out, but the force with which he opened his mouth was no less than that of his eyes.

This expression made Wen Xishu frown slightly.

Try doing this expression yourself: open your eyes with all your might, and then open your mouth with all your might, using the maximum force for both.

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

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

Yin Junchi continued to narrate:

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

But soon, that dense feeling of fear arrived.

If hundreds of people were sitting around you, circling you, could you instantly count how many people were there? Perhaps someone with extreme 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, making strange 'ah' roars at him?

Wen Xishu guessed—

Most likely, Yin Junchi was simply unable to escape that hallucination, so he could only be trapped in the middle and start counting. This scene might not be terrifying, but after you finish counting 630 terrified faces, the mental pollution you receive would surely not be low.

Wen Xishu found it interesting:

"Is there more?"

"No more. No more. I just frequently see such hallucinations. It's truly terrifying. I felt like I struggled in the hallucination for a long time, but when I broke free, I found that only a short while had passed."

Yin Junchi said:

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

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

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

"This state is certainly great, but it's impossible for the body to stay in this state forever! 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 find it increasingly interesting. You know, Yin Junchi started off quite normal; although he had deep dark circles, who among the people writing novels didn't?

But gradually, Wen Xishu realized that in recalling these terrifying situations, Yin Junchi's inner heart began to have great fluctuations.

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

"I'm looking," Wen Xishu replied.

In fact, the placement of any items in the room was fine. In modern renovations, there are rarely any Feng Shui objects. Feng Shui issues are often resolved 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 a Feng Shui master.

Wen Xishu didn't understand these things anyway; he was just taking the opportunity to check those items with notes.

Possessing over ten 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 mobile phone.

[A mobile phone with excellent performance and high cost, frequently receiving calls urging for manuscripts.]

Then the bed.

[Very soft, very comfortable, but very prone to being pressed by ghosts.]

Finally, there was a newspaper.

[A newspaper from an unreliable press, containing many bizarre stories, usually used by Yin Junchi to find inspiration. It is much luckier than other issues of the newspaper because it is read repeatedly.]

That was all.

There were no more items with notes in this room, meaning other items had nothing strange about them.

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

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

(Two updates, ten thousand words! Continuing the ten-thousand-word daily updates tomorrow. However, I'm still not used to posting at midnight... I might change back to posting at twelve noon tomorrow.)

(End of chapter)