At six in the evening, Qin Ye hailed a tricycle and drove excitedly to the Fenglai Hotel.
Inland counties weren't wealthy, and some coastal counties were even wealthier than the cities inland.
Therefore, the Fenglai Hotel wasn't big.
Although it was called a hotel, it didn't look like one at all. It was built in the late nineties and was said to have been a state-run guest house. After the restructuring, Wang Chenghao's father rented it and turned it into the Fenglai Hotel.
This was the only hotel in the entire Clear Creek County that was presentable. Therefore, business was fairly good.
"What the hell …" Qin Ye got off the tricycle and stared at the six-storey hotel with great interest.
Arthis was baffled, "What's so good about this?
It's old. "
"You don't understand …" Qin Ye lamented, "It's been almost three years since I've been to such a high-class place …"
If possible, Arthis wanted to stay away from him.
You're tarnishing my image, alright?!
He walked into the hotel, gave his room number, and took the elevator to the sixth floor. As soon as he opened the door, he was immediately greeted by a loud commotion.
This was a large space of nearly two hundred square meters. All of the county's weddings and funerals were held here.
The decor wasn't bad. Ancient palace lanterns that were more than a meter in size hung here and there. Ink and wash screens that were more than ten meters in size separated the space. The red carpet was cheap yet festive. Coupled with the ancient solid wood table, the place seemed to have a certain charm to it.
The entire floor had been booked, and all thirty-five students from their class were present.
There was a table that could seat eight people, and four and a half of it was occupied.
It appeared somewhat spacious.
As soon as the elevator doors opened and Qin Ye appeared, he immediately waved his hand, "Qin Ye, over here!
Over here! "
Qin Ye was conflicted.
He was conflicted about where to sit. I've already skipped lunch. Where can I eat without being noticed?
Can you not be so enthusiastic?
You're making it seem like we're very familiar with each other. I just want to be myself.
"Qin Ye, over here."
Just as he was hesitating, a voice called out. Wang Chenghao had stood up at some point and was waving at him.
There was a sudden silence.
"I don't want to see you!"
At another table, Zhang Yilong glared at Qin Ye and muttered under his breath, "Why is this idiot with Brother Hao?"
"What's going on?" Although the voice was low, the people at the table were not far away. Immediately, a curious student asked.
"It's not a big deal.
Last time, he stayed to help Brother Hao clean the house. Who knew he would take advantage of the situation?
She actually caught Brother Hao's eye! "
Naturally, Qin Ye was oblivious to Zhang Yilong's thoughts.
He looked in Wang Chenghao's direction.
Lin Yue and Wang Chenghao were both sitting at a table in the middle that only had four people.
Apart from the two of them, there was also a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was wearing a black mask and was wearing a police uniform. The only thing missing was the big cap with the national emblem.
The last one was the vice-class monitor, Su Chaoyang.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he silently walked to the main table and sat down.
As soon as he sat down, the middle-aged man asked, "You are?"
Qin Ye furrowed his brows imperceptibly, and then smiled faintly, "Class monitor Lin Yue's classmate …"
A strange thought flashed across his mind, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
However, when he looked at Lin Yue, his pupils twitched slightly.
It was early autumn.
The weather was still a little stuffy.
However, Lin Yue was wearing her school uniform.
She could be considered somewhat good-looking. After all, a seventeen-year-old girl hadn't fully matured yet.
Her eyes were delicate, and her hair draped over her shoulders.
However, it was only at this moment that Qin Ye discovered that Lin Yue hadn't said a single word from the beginning to the end. Instead, her head was slightly lowered, and her black hair draped over her shoulders, almost obscuring her entire face.
Coupled with the fact that she was wearing an extremely ill-fitting school uniform … she looked no different from an ugly, ragdoll.
He was looking at Lin Yue. The man's gaze appeared gentle, but his face remained completely still.
"Have you … noticed that she's different from usual?" A hoarse voice interrupted Qin Ye's gaze. He scratched his head, "Is she sick?"
The middle-aged man looked at him, and his facial muscles twitched slightly. His face was obscured by his mask, but he appeared to be smiling, "That's right … she's quite ill …"
"Hello … I'm her uncle, Lin Chaosheng."
Qin Ye glanced at the middle-aged man, and his heart grew even more perplexed.
He had lived for far too long. Even if he didn't deliberately absorb some knowledge, he would still understand a lot.
For instance, he knew that a person's speech wasn't just a matter of the tongue.
Rather, it involved the entire oral cavity, and even the muscles of the throat working together.
But … he could clearly see that Lin Chaosheng didn't speak at all.
He was just like the living dead. No … Or rather, he resembled a puppet in human skin.
Although his words were coherent, there wasn't a trace of emotion in them.
"This man …" Arthis hesitated for a moment, "He's not someone who lives in the mortal realm."
She couldn't see, but she could hear.
Qin Ye nodded slightly, but didn't move.
This was a county under the jurisdiction of the state.
Furthermore, the supernatural perimeter had already been fully activated.
The fact that they were able to escape from the Eighteen Abysses of Hell meant that they knew better than any human how precious life was. Who would be so bold as to barge into this place?
Qin Ye raised his eyebrows, smiled faintly, and nodded back at Arthis. Then, he turned around and began to converse with Wang Chenghao.
Wang Chenghao was still grieving over the passing of his parents, and his expression didn't look too good. He forced himself to deal with Qin Ye, "Mm … the most famous dish here is the steamed river dumpling. I'll treat you next time … It tastes pretty good as well …"
Just then, he suddenly looked up in bewilderment, because Qin Ye was gently writing something on his thigh.
One stroke, two strokes … He squinted his eyes, only to realize that it was the word "go".
Wang Chenghao glanced at him in surprise. Qin Ye's expression remained the same as ever, and he continued to chat happily with Wang Chenghao. When he was done, Qin Ye patted Wang Chenghao on the shoulder, "Bathroom?
Want a cigarette? "
"Sure." Wang Chenghao responded, and the two of them stood up and left.
Clack … As soon as they left, Lin Chaosheng set down his chopsticks and followed closely behind them.
It was only when the two of them finally disappeared around the corner that a somewhat apprehensive voice suddenly called out, "Uncle Lin … what's wrong with Lin Yue?
She hasn't even lifted her head today … If she's sick, why don't you get some rest? "
Lin Chaosheng turned around and stared straight at Su Chaoyang.
Su Chaoyang pursed his lips.
His hands were clutching at his pants under the table.
It was only when Su Chaoyang felt a chill run down his spine that he finally asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Hah … no … I'm not nervous.
W-what am I nervous about? "
Su Chaoyang didn't understand why.
Ever since Qin Ye and Wang Chenghao had left, he had felt a particularly cold sensation.
It wasn't the temperature of his body. Rather … it was a feeling of coldness, and a feeling of … silent terror.
The golden lights and the clamor of the crowd around him made him feel as though he had been cut off from the rest of the world, as though he had been plunged into an icehouse.
It was a pervasive sense of terror that he couldn't even begin to describe, and it caused his heart to palpitate wildly.
Lin Chaosheng held onto the wine glass with two fingers as he turned around and smiled at Su Chaoyang, "Have a taste of the fruit wine here. It's not bad. It might even soothe your nerves a little."
"N-no need!
Y-you can drink it. "Su Chaoyang was already regretting sitting at this table, and he subconsciously responded.
He didn't know.
It was the most instinctive fear of the unknown.
Lin Chaosheng gazed deeply at him for a long time, before hissing hoarsely, "Then have a taste."
He picked up the wine glass.
Yet, he lowered his head.
Then, he slowly pulled off his mask.
A split second later, Su Chaoyang's jaw dropped, and his mind went completely blank!
Lin Chaosheng's mask didn't reveal a human mouth.
Rather … it was the mouth of a skeleton!
Pitch-black insects crawled out from the gums of the skeleton's white gums. A long, thin, scarlet tongue dripping with fresh blood reached into the wine glass and gently licked it.
It's not human …
Uncle Lin, who I've been sitting with for almost an hour, isn't human at all!
I'm sitting right next to an evil ghost in a vast sea of people … Su Chaoyang couldn't even remember whether he had screamed or not. Extreme fear had transcended the limits of one's psyche, and one's senses and thoughts had already gone completely blank.
T-t-t-t-t … His teeth began to chatter wildly.
Lin Chaosheng muttered softly, "It tastes good …"
"Ahhh …" Just as Su Chaoyang was about to scream and return to his senses, a sharp knife pierced straight into his third and fourth ribs.
Lin Yue slowly raised her head for the first time.
She looked no different from a puppet.
In fact … one could even see a red line running along her lower jaw.
It was almost as though someone had removed her head and reinstalled it!
Her hand was still holding onto the knife.
"What … are … you …" Su Chaoyang's vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.
The entire hall was silent.
Thud … Crash!!
Su Chaoyang's eyes were wide open as his body lay in a pool of blood. Before he died, he tugged at the tablecloth, causing the dishes on it to scatter all over the floor.
The cheering students immediately turned around. Their gazes changed from suspicion, to shock, to shock, and then to their mouths and eyes wide open. It all happened in less than three seconds.
The female students subconsciously covered their mouths, while the male students gasped in disbelief as they instinctively took a few steps back.
The bright red blob in the middle of the hall was glaring to the eyes.
"Let me formally introduce myself."
Lin Chaosheng and Lin Yue stood up at the same time, to the horror of the other students.
"There's a very special profession among linkers. They call me a puppeteer."
"I'm sorry, but you're all going to die here.
After all, I'm not too sure who it was that touched Lord Lin's belongings. "
"I'd rather kill three thousand. Not bad."
… … …
Back at the entrance to the emergency exit, Wang Chenghao stared at Qin Ye, "What's the matter?
You're not eating anymore? "
"Let's go!" Qin Ye gritted his teeth with a grave expression, "There's a problem here!"
"What's going on?" Wang Chenghao was baffled, "It's already 6.30 p.m. outside!
I don't dare to go out. "
"Come with me, and you'll be fine!
Staying here is ten thousand times more dangerous than staying outside! "Qin Ye smashed the door several times, and then cursed under his breath," Damn it! "
"What the hell is going on?"
Qin Ye ran his hands through his hair in frustration. The Fenglai Hotel wasn't large, and there was only one passageway.
It had to pass through the main hall.
And he was now a hundred percent certain that there was something wrong with Lin Chaosheng!
"Listen carefully."
Qin Ye looked straight into Wang Chenghao's eyes, "Did you notice that as soon as I sat down, Lin Chaosheng asked me who I was?"
"What's the problem?"
"Of course there's a problem!" Qin Ye drew a deep breath and tried his best to calm himself down, "Normally, he would ask Lin Yue.
But he didn't.
Why didn't he?
Because … Lin Yue couldn't answer him! "
He enunciated each word, "And because … she's already dead."